JPS6214879B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention is a banknote handling device in an automatic teller machine, etc., and detects when a specified amount of banknotes has been delivered into a banknote storage box disposed inside the banknote handling device and the banknote handling device is saturated. The present invention relates to a banknote handling device with functions.

It has been common practice in the past to detect the saturation of banknotes in a banknote storage box using a photoelectric detector, micro-switch, or other position detector. However, in the conventional method, it is impossible to detect the saturation of banknotes when the position detector itself is malfunctioning and does not operate. Therefore, even though the banknotes are saturated and no more banknotes can fit into the storage box, the banknote pushing operation may continue, and if this happens, various parts of the banknote handling device may also be affected. There is a risk of causing adverse effects.

This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and in a banknote handling device having a banknote saturation detection function, the operation of a position detector for detecting banknote saturation is controlled every time a banknote is pushed into a storage box. The purpose is to enable confirmation.

Hereinafter, embodiments in which the present invention is applied to an automatic teller machine will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a banknote inserted into a banknote insertion slot 1 of an automatic teller machine is fed into the machine by a feed roller 2, and is carried into a carry-in path 3, 4 consisting of a large number of pulleys and a conveyor belt hooked around them. It is conveyed to the temporary storage drum 5 through the storage drum 5. A presser belt 8, which is hung around pulleys 6 and 7, is wound around the drum 5, and a shaft 1 is attached to the outlet of the drum 5.
A conveyance path switching pawl 9 is provided which is pivotably mounted at 0. The switching claw 9 is normally located at a position, as shown by 9A, that prevents the bill from being sent to the conveyance path 11.
When a plurality of banknotes are sequentially inserted into the machine from the insertion slot 1 in one deposit operation, all of the inserted banknotes are wrapped around the drum 5 in a stacked state. When the next deposit operation is performed or the return button is pressed, the switching claw 9 is moved to the position 9B, the drum 5 is driven to rotate, and the stacked banknotes are sent out to the conveyance path 11. The end of the conveyance path 11 is a branch point to a return path 12 and an alignment device 13, and a conveyance path switching pawl 14 pivotally mounted on a shaft 15 is also provided here. The switching claw 14 is normally located at a position where it closes the entrance of the return path 12, as indicated by 14A, and the banknotes sent from the transport path 11 are transported to the matching device 13. When the return button is pressed, the switching claw 14 is moved to the position 14B, and the bill is conveyed through the return path 12 to the return port.

The aligning device 13 is arranged slightly in front of a bill storage opening 41 formed in the bill storage box 40. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6, the aligning device 13 has a vertical banknote transport path 16;
This vertical conveyance path 16 is composed of endless movable belts 19 and 20 that guide both sides of the banknote B, and both side guide members 21 that guide both side edges of the banknote B. The belt 19 is hung around the pulley 17,
The belts 20 are hung around the pulley 18 and other pulleys (not shown), and two belts 20 are provided at intervals in the center of the banknote B in the width direction. Although both belts 19 and 20 are in a state where they can be moved by external force, they are not driven by pulleys 17 and 18, etc., but are driven only by alignment roller 23. Also, both belts 19, 2
The distance between the surfaces facing each other in the conveyance path 16 of the banknotes B is set to such an extent that a required number of banknotes B can be loosely present without being pinched by both belts 19 and 20. The both side guide members 21 have grooves 21a for guiding both side edges of the banknote B, and in the above-mentioned 21b, the guide grooves 21a extend upward and outward on both sides in an inclined manner. The distance between both guide grooves 21a is slightly larger than the width W of the banknote B. The aligning device 13 further includes a receiving plate 22 disposed at approximately the same height as the bottom surface 40a of the bill storage box 40, and an aligning roller 23 disposed above the receiving plate 22 by at least the length L of the bill B.
It is equipped with Both belts 19 are attached to the receiving plate 22,
A notch is formed through which the 20 can pass. The alignment roller 23 is attached to a rotating shaft 24, and is provided with a large-diameter alignment portion 23a at a location that coincides with the belt 19, and a drive groove 23b for the belt 20 at a location that coincides with the belt 20 inside these. It is formed. The circumferential surface of the alignment portion 23a is cut out at four locations (indicated by 25a), and the uncut surface 25b serves as a feeding surface. As the roller 23 rotates, the feeding surface 25b contacts the belt 19 and pushes it slightly, and the removed portion 25
a is arranged at a position where it does not contact the belt 19.

When the alignment roller 23 is rotationally driven in the direction shown by arrow D, the belt 20 is driven continuously because it is in contact with the groove 23b, and the belt 19 is driven intermittently because it is in contact with the feeding surface 25b. , an excitation force is applied to the belt 19 by the feeding surface 25b. Therefore, the plurality of banknotes B sent through the conveyance path 11 are
5b and the belt 19, a forced downward conveying force is applied intermittently and the belt 19 is vibrated (see FIG. 8). Therefore, even if the plurality of banknotes B are slightly misaligned in the longitudinal direction, the banknotes B are gradually adjusted in the lengthwise direction by falling and vibrating due to their own weight. Further, since both side edges of the banknote B are regulated by the both-side guide members 21 and the above-mentioned vibration force is applied, the banknote B is also adjusted in the width direction. Since the upper part 21b of the guide member 21 expands upward and outward,
The alignment in the width direction is performed more smoothly. In this way, the plurality of banknotes B are conveyed downward while being aligned, and the lower ends thereof hit the receiving plate 22 and are stopped.

The aligned banknotes B are then put into the storage box 40 through the storage opening 41 by the banknote pushing device 26. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pushing device 2
6 is equipped with a push plate 27 that presses the center portion of the banknote B in the width direction and an expanding arm 28. The expansion arms 28 are provided in pairs of two on the top and bottom, and each pair of the arms 28
are pivotally connected to each other by a shaft 29, and their tips are biased by a spring 30 in the direction of opening. Furthermore, a guide roller 31 for regulating the opening angle of the arm 28 is arranged outside the tip of each arm 28 . The push plate 27 and the expansion arm 28 are each attached to a movable body 33 that is slidably supported by a support rod 32. The movable body 33 is reciprocated once for each push-in operation via an automatic one-turn clutch 34. That is, a drive lever 39 is pivotally mounted at its lower end by a shaft 38, and the output side rotating body of the one-turn clutch 34 is inserted into elongated holes 39a and 39b formed at the center and upper ends of the lever 39. 35, and a shaft 37 fixed to the movable body 33.
is fitted loosely.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 and 7, a presser plate 42 is disposed within the banknote storage box 40. As shown in FIG. The bottom plate 40a of the storage box 40 is made up of two plates attached approximately at the center with a gap 43 between them, and the gap 43 serves as a guide for the holding plate 42. The presser plate 42 is attached in a vertical position to a support 45 having front and rear rollers 44a, 44b in contact with the upper surface of the bottom plate 40a and a central roller 44c in contact with the lower surface of the bottom plate 40a. The front roller 44a is positioned near the side of the storage box 40 by a long shaft 46a, and the rear and center rollers 44b, 4
4c are respectively arranged near the guide 43 by shafts 46b and 46c, and the roller 44c is
It passes through the guide 43 of the support body 45 and is attached to a downwardly protruding portion 45a of the bottom plate 40a. The support body 45 is held in an upright state by these rollers 44a to 44c and is movable along the guide 43. Further, an elastic body 47 is attached to the front surface of the holding plate 42, and in opposition to this, receiving plates 48 are provided on the inner front surface of the storage box 40 and on both sides of the storage opening 41. Pressing plate 42
That is, the support body 45 is always urged in the direction of the storage opening 41 by the return spring 49. This spring 49 has one end hooked on a protrusion 50 provided at the rear of the lower surface of the bottom plate 40a, and the other end hooked on a shaft 44c of a roller 44c provided on the support body 45, and a portion of the spring 49 is placed in front of the bottom surface of the bottom plate 40a. It is deflected by a pulley 51 rotatably attached to the section. A somewhat wide leg stand 52 is attached to the lower end of the storage box 40. A guide wall 54 is provided on a support plate 53 inside the automatic teller machine, and by moving the leg stand 52 inside this guide wall 54, the storage box 40 is removably housed inside the automatic teller machine. .

When a plurality of banknotes B are aligned by the aligning device 13, the movable body 33 is moved in the direction of the storage opening 41, and the central part of the banknote B in the width direction is first pushed by the push plate 27, so that the banknotes are aligned. B is put into the storage opening 41 from this central part while being curved. Then, as the arms 28 are expanded and push the portions of the banknote B corresponding to both sides of the push plate 27, the banknote B is corrected from its curved state to a flat state within the storage box 40. During this process, the presser plate 42 is also pushed rearward against the lever 49, reaching the position shown at 42A in FIGS. 1 and 2. After this, the movable body 33 returns to its original position, so the push plate 27 and the arm 28 exit from the storage box 40, and the push plate 42 also moves in the direction of the storage opening 41 due to the biasing force of the spring 49. The bill B is held vertically between a receiving plate 48 provided on both sides of the storage opening 41 and an elastic body 47 of the presser plate 42.

Now, with reference to FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 7, a connecting pin 56 is provided at one end of a horizontally arranged detector operation confirmation lever (moving body) 55. 56 fits into a recess 39c formed at the lower end of the drive lever 39, thereby connecting the one end of the lever 55 and the lever 39. This lever 55 is bent in the middle to avoid the roller 17, and further extends to the rear of the storage box 40 below. A long hole 55a is formed in the longitudinal direction at an intermediate position of the length, and a through hole (light transmitting portion) 57 is formed at the other end. A holding member 58 having an L-shaped cross section and provided with a holding pin 58a is fixed on the support plate 53, and the holding pin 58a is seated in the elongated hole 55a. This allows the lever 55 to be held horizontally and movably in its longitudinal direction. On the other hand, a detection station 59 is attached to the protruding portion 45a of the support body 45. A photoelectric detector (position detector) 60 is attached to a support member 61 fixed on the support plate 53 at a position sandwiching the other end of the lever 55 and the extension line of the detection piece 59. This photoelectric detector 60 is activated when the pushing device 26 is in the inactive state (the position shown in FIG. 1).
is positioned so that the projected light passes through the through hole 57 of the lever 55. Further, when the banknotes B in the storage box 40 are almost saturated, the presser plate 42 reaches the position indicated by 42S, and at this time, the detection piece 59 approaches the position where it blocks the projection light of the charge detector 60, as indicated by 59S. do. Furthermore, when the bill is pushed into the storage box 40 by the pushing device 26, the presser plate 42S retreats to the position indicated by 42SO.

When there are still few bills stored in the storage box 40, the detection piece 59 is located far away from the photoelectric detector 60 (see FIG. 9A), and the pushing device 26
Even if the presser plate 42 is pushed backward during the banknote pushing operation, the light projected by the photoelectric detector 60 will not be blocked by the detection piece 59 (see FIG. 9B). However, when the banknotes in the storage box 40 approach saturation, the detection piece 59 approaches the photoelectric detector 60 (see FIG. 10A), and the detection piece 59 approaches the photoelectric detector 60 (see FIG.
When the detector 9 moves backward, the projection light of the photoelectric detector 60 is interrupted (see FIG. 10B).

On the other hand, since the lever 55 is interlocked with the drive lever 39, it reciprocates once for each pushing operation. When the pushing device 26 is in the non-operating state, the projected light of the photoelectric detector 60 passes through the through hole 57 made in the lever 55 (see FIGS. 9 and 10 A), but due to the pushing operation, When the lever 55 moves forward, light is blocked by a portion (light blocking portion) 55b located at the rear end of the through hole 57, and when the lever 55 returns to its original position, light is blocked by the portion 55b again (Fig. 9). , see Figure 10b). In the end, regardless of whether the amount of banknotes in the storage box 40 is low or saturated, the light projected by the photoelectric detector 60 is interrupted twice by the lever 55 in one pushing operation.

FIG. 11 shows the output waveform of the photoelectric detector 60. As described above, the projected light of the photoelectric detector 60 is transmitted to the lever 55 within one pushing operation period T.
Since the light is blocked twice by , the photoelectric detector 60 outputs two pulses P ₁ due to these blocks of light. If there are still few bills in the storage box 40, the light projected by the photoelectric detector 60 is not blocked by the detection piece 59, so the output of the photoelectric detector 60 is only two pulses _P1 (the (See Figure 11 A).
When the banknotes in the storage box 40 approach saturation, the light projected by the photoelectric detector 60 is also blocked by the detection piece 59, so during the output of the photoelectric detector 60, a pulse P generated by this blocking occurs. ₂ appears between the two pulses P ₁ (see FIG. 11b). and pulse
The pulse width t of P ₂ becomes wider as the banknote approaches saturation. In this case, three pulses are output from the photodetector 60 within the period T. Eventually, the light blocking by the portion 55b of the lever 55 and the light blocking by the detection piece 59 will occur at the same time, and then the pulses _P1 and _P2 will overlap and the photoelectric detector 6
One pulse _P3 is output from 0 (see FIG. 11C).

Detection of the saturation of banknotes in the storage box 40 and confirmation of the operation of the photoelectric detector 60 can be performed using the circuits shown in FIGS. 12 to 14. In FIG. 12, the output of photoelectric detector 60 is sent to timer 71. A required reference time longer than the pulse width of the pulse _P1 is set in the timer 71. Only when a pulse _P2 with a pulse width t longer than this reference time is sent to the timer 71, an output is generated from the timer 71, the flip-flop 72 is set, and a saturation detection signal is output from the flip-flop 72. Ru. The output of the photoelectric detector 60 is a flip-flop.
Also sent to flop 73, flip flop 7
3 is set by the first pulse _P1 , and an operation confirmation signal of the photoelectric detector 60 is output. This flip-flop 73 is reset every push-in operation by a push-in start signal. Therefore, the operation of the photoelectric detector 60 is checked every time a banknote is pushed in. If the operation confirmation signal is not output, measures such as indicating a failure of the photoelectric detector or canceling the pushing operation are taken. As the pushing operation start signal, for example, the output of a micro switch or the like that is provided in the conveyance path 16 near the alignment roller 23 and detects passage of a banknote can be used. The slip-flop 72, for example, takes out the storage box 40 from the automatic teller machine, removes the banknotes from the box 40, and
After the storage box 40 is returned to its original position, it is reset by pressing the reset push button switch.

In FIG. 13, the output of the photoelectric detector 60 is 16
It is sent to the advance counter 74. When the output pulse of the photoelectric detector 60 during period T is one (corresponding to Fig. 11C), there are two output pulses from terminal A only.
When there are 3 output pulses (corresponding to Figure 11B), the count output of the counter 74 is generated only from terminal B, and when there are 3 output pulses (corresponding to Figure 11B), the count output of the counter 74 is generated from both terminals A and B. do. If a count output is generated from at least one of the terminals A and B, an operation confirmation signal is output from the OR circuit 75. The AND circuit 76 generates an output when three pulses are output from the photoelectric detector 60, and the signal is passed through the OR circuit 77 only when there are one or three output pulses.
It is sent to an AND circuit 78. The AND circuit 78 has
When the push-in operation is completed, a pulse-like push-in operation end signal is sent, and if an output is generated from the OR circuit 77, this output is sent to the flip-flop 72 via the AND circuit 78; is set. As a result, a saturation detection signal is output. In this circuit, the saturation detection signal is not outputted only in the case shown in FIG. The push-in operation end signal can be easily obtained by detecting the positions of the movable body 33, one-turn clutch 34, and other movable parts of the push-in device 26. Note that the counter 74
The flip-flop 72 is reset by a reset push button switch each time a push-in operation is performed by a push-in operation start signal.

The circuit shown in FIG. 14 outputs a saturation detection signal only when there is one output pulse from the photoelectric detector 60 (FIG. 11C). That is, when there is one output pulse, a counting output is generated only from terminal A of the counter 74, and no counting output is generated from terminal B, so a signal is output from the NOT circuit 79, and the AND circuit An output will be generated from 76. The other configurations are the same as those shown in FIG.

As described above, the present invention includes a banknote storage box with a banknote storage opening and a banknote pushing device for pushing banknotes from the storage opening into the storage box. In a banknote handling device in which a presser plate is placed between the presser plate and the edge of the storage opening to hold the banknote, a detection piece connected to the presser plate, and a detection piece connected to the presser plate when the presser plate moves a predetermined distance away from the storage opening. The position detector, whose detection area is set to detect the detection piece and output a detection signal, is linked to the pushing operation of the pushing device, and the position is determined by advancing and retreating the detection area of the position detector for each pushing operation. Is it based on the detection of a detection piece or the detection of the detector operation confirmation moving body that outputs a detection signal to the detector, every time a pushing operation start signal is input from the pushing device? Regardless of whether the detection signal is output from the position detector, the operation status confirmation means determines that a detection signal is output from the position detector and generates an output to confirm the operation status of the position detector, the duration of the detection signal, and the detection of each push-in operation by the push-in device. It is characterized by comprising a banknote saturation detection means for generating a banknote saturation detection output by identifying a detection signal based on the detection of the detection piece based on the characteristics of the detection signal output from the position detector such as the number of times the signal is output. shall be.

The detector operation confirmation moving body advances and retreats in the detection area of the position detector in conjunction with the pushing operation of the bill pushing device into the bill storage box, so if the position detector is operating normally, the position detector A detection signal is output from. On the other hand, as the banknotes are stored in the banknote storage box, the presser plate gradually moves away from the banknote storage opening. When the presser plate reaches a position a predetermined distance away from the banknote storage opening corresponding to the saturation of banknotes, if the position detector is operating normally, the detection piece interlocked with the presser plate will be detected by the position detector. detected. Therefore, if the position detector is operating normally, a detection signal will be output in any case, and based on this, an operation status confirmation output will be generated, and the normal operation of the position detector will be confirmed. .
This prevents the banknotes from continuing to be pushed in even though the banknotes are saturated and no more banknotes can fit into the banknote storage box, and various banknote damage that may occur as a result of this. It can be prevented. In addition, the output from the position detector differs between when the position detector detects only the moving object for confirming the operation of the detector and when the position detector detects the detection piece moving on the presser plate in addition. Since the detection signals have different characteristics such as duration and number of outputs, the banknote saturation detection means generates a banknote saturation detection output based on these characteristics, and saturation of banknotes can also be detected.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is an overall side view, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the banknote storage box and the pushing device, and FIG. 3 is the inside of the banknote storage box. 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing the lower part of the banknote storage box, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the support plate showing the arrangement of the detector operation confirmation lever, etc., and FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the alignment device. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the inside of the banknote storage box, FIG. 8 is a side view showing an enlarged alignment roller, and FIGS. 9 and 10.
The figure is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the lever, the detection piece, and the photoelectric detector in the operating state, Figure 11 is a waveform diagram of the signal output from the photoelectric detector, and Figures 12 to 14 are for saturation detection. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific circuit for carrying out the operation. 26...Banknote pushing device, 40...Banknote storage box,
41...Banknote storage slot, 42...Press plate, 49...
Return spring, 55...Lever for detector operation confirmation (moving body), 55b...Light blocking section, 57...Through hole, 5
9... Detection piece, 60... Photoelectric detector (position detector), 71... Timer, 72, 73... Flip-flop, 74... Hexadecimal counter, 75, 7
7...OR circuit, 76, 78...AND circuit, 79
...NOT circuit, B...banknote.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A banknote storage box having a banknote storage opening, and a banknote pushing device for pushing banknotes from the storage opening into the storage box, the storage box always having the storage opening in the banknote storage box. A bill handling device in which a presser plate is disposed that is biased in a direction and holds the banknotes between the edge of the storage opening, a detection piece interlocking with the presser plate, and a detection piece that moves away from the storage opening when the presser plate moves away from the storage opening. a position detector whose detection area is set so as to detect the detection piece and output a detection signal when the detection piece is separated by a predetermined distance; a detector operation confirmation moving body that outputs a detection signal to the position detector by moving forward and backward through the detection area of the detector; an operation state confirmation means for determining that a detection signal is output from the position detector and generating an output for confirming the operation state of the position detector, regardless of whether it is based on detection of a moving body for detector operation confirmation; and Identifying the detection signal based on the detection of the detection piece based on the characteristics of the detection signal output from the position detector, such as the duration of the detection signal and the number of outputs of the detection signal for each pushing operation by the pushing device. A banknote handling device comprising: banknote saturation detection means that generates a banknote saturation detection output.