WO2015015534A1 - Paper currency processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A paper currency processing device is provided with: an identification unit that stores identification templates and that is configured so as to identify paper currency while using the identification templates as a reference; and a size information acquisition unit that is configured so as to obtain size information about paper currency from the identification templates that are stored in the identification unit. The paper currency processing device is also provided with a processing unit that is configured so as to carry out predetermined processing after identification by the identification unit, said processing corresponding to the size of paper currency and being based on information related to the paper currency that is identified by the identification unit and the size information about the paper currency that is acquired by the size information acquisition unit.

Description

Banknote handling equipment

The technology disclosed here relates to a banknote handling apparatus.

Patent Document 1 describes a banknote processing apparatus that performs a binding process of binding a bundle of a predetermined number of stacked banknotes with a tape. This banknote handling apparatus binds banknote bundles with the tape after printing on a predetermined range of the tape. If the size of the banknotes, particularly the short-side dimension of the banknotes, is different, the outer peripheral length of the banknote bundle changes, and the overall length of the tape to be wound changes accordingly. For this reason, if the printing range on the tape is always set at a fixed position, the printing may be positioned on the side surface of the banknote bundle. Therefore, the banknote processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 stores a data table including size information of each banknote to be handled in advance on a magnetic disk or the like. When the operator inputs the type of banknotes to be bundled, the banknote handling apparatus refers to the data table to obtain banknote size information, and based on the size information, the printable range on the tape is Show on the display. The operator determines the number of characters to be printed there and / or the size of the character font while looking at the printable range displayed on the display. Thus, the banknote processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 performs a binding process adapted to the size of banknotes.

Patent Document 2 describes a banknote handling apparatus that performs a bundling process of banknote bundles as in Patent Document 1. The banknote processing apparatus described in Patent Literature 2 includes, for example, the size information and the binding position information of each banknote to be handled in order to cope with the binding position (that is, the position in the longitudinal direction) being different for each denomination. The information table to be included is stored in the storage unit in advance. When the operator inputs the denomination information of the banknote, the banknote handling apparatus refers to the information table, acquires the banknote size information and the binding position information, and based on the information, the banknote of the denomination The stacking reference position of the stacking unit for stacking is adjusted. This stacking reference position is related to the relative position between the banknote bundle and the tape when the banknote bundle is transported to a binding unit that performs a binding process after stacking banknotes, and the banknote bundle is changed by changing the stacking reference position. By changing the relative position between the tape and the tape, the binding position changes. Thus, the banknote processing apparatus described in Patent Document 2 also performs a bundling process adapted to the size of the banknote.

JP 2003-281598 A JP 2008-250982 A

By the way, all the banknote processing apparatuses described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above store banknote size information as a table. The banknote size information must be stored for all banknotes to be handled by the banknote handling apparatus. When the banknote handling apparatus is configured to be usable in various countries with different currencies, the information included in the table must be rewritten for each country in which the banknote handling apparatus is used.

The technology disclosed herein has been made in view of such a point, and an object thereof is to eliminate the need for a table for storing banknote size information necessary for processing performed by the banknote processing apparatus. .

The inventor of the present application has focused on the fact that the banknote handling apparatus including an identification unit that identifies banknotes has an identification template that is referred to when identifying banknotes. The identification template includes information necessary for identification, and includes size information of each banknote to be handled by the banknote handling apparatus. Therefore, if the size information of the banknote is acquired from the identification template and the acquired size information is used for processing performed by the banknote processing apparatus, a separate table becomes unnecessary.

Specifically, the technology disclosed herein is a banknote processing apparatus that identifies a plurality of types of banknotes having different sizes and performs predetermined processing relating to the banknotes.

The banknote handling apparatus stores an identification template including information necessary for identifying the banknote, and identifies the banknote while referring to the identification template. A size information acquisition unit configured to acquire size information of the banknote from the identification template stored in the identification unit; and information on the banknote identified by the identification unit after the identification unit is identified. And a processing unit configured to perform a predetermined process adapted to the size of the banknote on the banknote based on the size information of the banknote acquired by the size information acquisition unit.

According to this configuration, the identification unit in the banknote handling apparatus stores the identification template including information necessary for identifying the banknote, and identifies the banknote while referring to the identification template. The identification template includes information regarding the feature of each bill. The identification unit identifies at least the denomination, authenticity, and correctness of the banknote by comparing the characteristics of the banknote acquired by the various sensors with the characteristics of the banknote included in the identification template. The identification template usually includes size information of each banknote, specifically, information on the short dimension and long dimension of the banknote.

The size information acquisition unit acquires the size information of the banknote from the identification template stored in the identification unit. There is no particular limitation on the timing at which the size information acquisition unit acquires the size information.

Based on the information on the banknote identified by the identification unit and the size information of the banknote acquired by the size information acquisition unit from the identification template after the identification unit identifies the processing unit, the processing unit is a predetermined adapted to the size of the banknote. Perform the process. As the size information necessary for processing performed by the processing unit, information included in the identification template stored in the identification unit is used. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a table different from the identification template as in the conventional banknote processing apparatus. As the identification template, a template corresponding to the country in which the banknote handling apparatus is used is always prepared and stored in the identification unit.

In addition, when there is a need to newly change the identification template due to, for example, banknote reprinting (that is, issuance of a new ticket), the processing performed by the processing unit can be performed by updating only the identification template. Processing is adapted to the size of the new ticket. That is, in the configuration including a table different from the identification template, the table needs to be updated together with the identification template. In the configuration described above, it is only necessary to update the identification template. This improves the maintainability of the banknote handling apparatus. Further, for example, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of mistakes such as updating only the identification template and forgetting to update the table.

Here, the processing unit may perform a process of creating a bundled banknote by winding a tape around the bundle of banknotes.

The processing unit performs printing on the tape before being wound around the bundle of banknotes, and the processing unit is configured so that printing is located at a predetermined position of the bundled banknotes based on the size information of the banknotes. It is also possible to set a print range.

In a bundling process in which a tape is wound around a bundle of banknotes, since the outer peripheral length of the banknote bundle changes depending on the size of the banknote (that is, the dimension in the short direction), the tape length wound around the banknote bundle also changes. Here, when printing is performed on the tape wound around the bundled banknotes on the front surface and / or back surface of the bundled banknotes, it is not preferable that the printing is located on the side surface of the bundled banknotes.

In the above configuration, when printing on the tape, the processing unit sets the print range so that the print is positioned at a predetermined position of the bundled banknote based on the banknote size information acquired from the identification template. To do. Specifically, when the relative position of the tip of the tape with respect to the banknote is predetermined when the tape is wound around the bundle of banknotes, from the tip of the tape to be wound around the bundle of banknotes to the position where printing is started. The distance and the distance from the printing start position to the end of printing may be set. By doing so, it becomes possible to set an appropriate printing range adapted to the size of the banknote, and it is possible to position the print at a desired position of the bundled banknote.

The processing unit is configured to cut the tape after winding the leading end portion of the tape fed from a tape reel around the bundle of banknotes, and the leading end of the tape after cutting is positioned at a predetermined standby position. The processing unit also has a print head disposed in the middle of the tape supply path from the tape reel to the standby position, and the tape is running on the tape supply path. The processing unit further performs rewinding of the tape in which the leading end of the tape is positioned at the standby position so that the printing range of the tape becomes the position of the print head based on the set printing range. You may do.

From now on, by rewinding the tape to be wound around the banknote bundle, the print start position set based on the size information can be positioned at the position of the print head. That is, after printing in the set printing range, the tape can be wound around a bundle of banknotes.

When the tape is wound around the bundle of banknotes, the processing unit sends out the tape having a predetermined length from a tape reel and then pulls back the tape. The processing unit is based on the size information of the banknotes. Then, the pull back length of the tape may be set.

As described above, in the bundling process, the tape length wound around the banknote changes according to the size of the banknote. Here, when winding a tape around a bundle of banknotes, after feeding a tape of a predetermined length from a tape reel, the tape is wound around by pulling back the tape, that is, winding an excess tape. In such a configuration, the amount by which the tape is pulled back varies depending on the size of the bill. In the bundling process, it is common to wind up an excess tape and wind the tape around a bundle of banknotes, and then pull the tape back to tighten the tape.

For example, regardless of the size of the banknote, it is possible to retract the tape at a predetermined speed and torque set in advance, to wind up the excess tape, and to tighten the tape. In this case, however, the tape must be pulled back at a relatively low speed in consideration of the tightening of the tape. If it does so, when the size of a banknote is relatively small and the winding amount of an excess tape becomes relatively large, there exists a problem that the time which a bundling process requires will become long by that much.

In the above-described configuration, the processing unit calculates an excess tape amount based on the bill size information, and sets the tape withdrawal length. The processing unit may perform the tape withdrawal at a relatively high speed based on the set withdrawal length. By doing so, the time required for the bundling process is shortened.

The processing unit creates a tape ring of a predetermined size, and inserts the bundle of banknotes into the created tape ring in a direction in which the longitudinal direction of the banknotes is along the axis of the tape ring. After positioning at a predetermined position, the tape loop may be reduced by pulling back the tape, and the tape may be wound around the banknote bundle.

In this way, the length of the tape that is sent out when creating a tape ring of a predetermined size is determined, and the length of the tape that is pulled back when winding the tape around a bundle of bills by reducing the tape ring. Is determined according to the size of the bill.

The processing unit performs pull-back of the tape at a predetermined speed, and the processing unit also performs pull-back of the tape at a lower speed than the predetermined speed after the tape is pulled back, thereby tightening the tape. You may do.

In this way, it is possible to wind up the surplus tape adapted to the size of the banknote at a relatively high speed, shorten the time required for the bundling process, and after winding the surplus tape, By tightening the tape on the banknote, it is possible to bind the banknote bundle firmly.

The processing unit winds the tape around a designated position in the banknote bundle, and the processing unit winds the tape based on the size information of the banknote and the designated position. A relative position between the bundle and the tape may be set.

In the bundling process, the position of the tape in the banknote bundle is determined by the relative position between the banknote bundle and the tape when the tape is wound around the banknote bundle. In the said structure, the relative position of the bundle | flux of a banknote and a tape is set based on the size information of a banknote, and the position (namely, designated position) which winds a tape. Thereby, depending on the size of the banknote, the tape is wound so that the center in the width direction of the tape is the center in the longitudinal direction of the banknote, the tape is wound so that the end of the tape is in the center in the longitudinal direction of the banknote, And it becomes possible respectively to wind a tape in arbitrary positions from the edge of a bill.

Here, for example, the banknote handling apparatus may be configured to convey a bundle of banknotes accumulated in the stacking unit to the binding unit, and wrap a tape around the bundle of banknotes there. In such a configuration, if the conveyance amount from the stacking unit to the bundling unit is fixed to a certain amount, the position of stacking banknotes in the stacking unit is adjusted according to the size of banknotes and the position where the tape is wound. That's fine. By carrying out like this, it becomes possible to adjust the relative position of the bundle | flux of a banknote and a tape after being conveyed to the binding part. In contrast to this, if the conveyance amount when conveying a bundle of banknotes from the stacking unit to the binding unit can be changed, the conveyance amount may be adjusted according to the size of the banknotes and the position where the tape is wound. . By carrying out like this, it becomes possible to adjust the relative position of the bundle | flux of a banknote and tape after being conveyed to the binding part similarly to the above.

For example, the processing unit creates a tape ring of a predetermined size, and inserts the bundle of banknotes into the created tape ring in a direction in which the longitudinal direction of the banknotes is along the axis of the tape ring. Then, after positioning at a predetermined position, the tape loop is reduced by pulling back the tape, the tape is wound around the bundle of banknotes, and the processing unit is also set based on the size information. It is good also as adjusting the insertion amount of the said banknote bundle with respect to the said tape ring according to the relative position of the banknote bundle and the said tape.

As described above, according to the banknote processing apparatus, a table for storing size information necessary for processing performed by the banknote processing apparatus becomes unnecessary.

It is an external view of a banknote processing apparatus. It is a schematic block diagram of a banknote processing apparatus. It is a schematic block diagram of a binding stacker and a binding part. It is a perspective view of a tape ring production part. It is the perspective view which looked at the upper part of a tape holding part from diagonally downward. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of a banknote processing apparatus. It is a figure of the state which the 2nd conveyance part extracted the banknote from the binding stacker. It is a figure of the state which the 2nd conveyance part conveyed the banknote to the side of the tape ring. It is a figure of the state which the tape holding part hold | gripped the front-end | tip part of the tape. It is a figure of the state which the tape holding part created the small tape ring and the large tape ring. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of each part until a banknote is conveyed to a large tape ring and a tape is wound around a banknote when it looks toward the thickness direction of a banknote, Comprising: (A) is a banknote to a large tape ring. A state immediately before being transported, (B) shows a state in which a bill is transported to a large tape ring, and (C) shows a state in which a tape is wound around the bill. It is a figure of the state of a guide part when a clamp part presses a banknote. It is explanatory drawing of joining, a cutting | disconnection, and a stamp of a tape. It is a flowchart of the control which a control part performs regarding a bundling process. It is a figure explaining the dimension of the bill and tape about bundling of a bill. It is a figure explaining the dimension of the bill regarding the bundling of the bill, and the amount of bills inserted. It is a figure explaining the binding position of a banknote, (A) is the center winding which makes the center of a tape correspond to the center of a banknote bundle, (B) is the band edge center winding which makes the end of a tape match the center of a banknote bundle, ( C) is an example in which the tape is bound at an arbitrary position.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Schematic configuration of banknote handling apparatus>
FIG. 1 shows an external view of the banknote handling apparatus 100, and FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the banknote handling apparatus 100.

The banknote handling apparatus 100 is installed, for example, in a bank teller counter and used by an operator. The banknote handling apparatus 100 takes in banknotes in a loose state, accumulates predetermined types of banknotes, binds the banknotes in a predetermined number of bundles, and throws them out.

The banknote handling apparatus 100 is configured to stack a banknote on which a banknote is placed, a hopper section 2 that takes in the banknote, an identification section 3 that identifies the banknote, a binding stacker 4 that stacks banknotes to be bound, and a banknote that is not to be bound. A binding stacker 5, a reject stacker 6 for collecting rejected banknotes, and a first transport section 7 for transporting banknotes taken from the hopper section 2 to the identification section 3, the binding stacker 4, the unbound stacker 5, and the reject stacker 6. , A second transport unit 8 that transports the banknotes accumulated in the binding stacker 4 to a predetermined position, a binding unit 9 that binds banknotes transported by the second transport unit 8, and a bundled banknote (hereinafter, “binding” 3rd conveyance part 10 which conveys a banknote ", the discharge part 11 which throws out a bundled banknote, the identification part 3, the bundling stacker 4, the non-bundling stacker 5, the reject stacker 6, the 1st conveyance part 7, 2 the conveyor 8, and a box-shaped casing 12 that houses the bundling unit 9 and the third conveying unit 10.

The housing 12 has an upper surface 121, a lower surface 122, and four side surfaces. The housing 12 is a desktop type. That is, the lower surface 122 of the housing 12 is not provided with casters or the like, and is configured to be installed on a table.

The first side surface 123 that is one of the four side surfaces of the housing 12 is provided with the hopper portion 2 and the dispensing portion 11. The second side surface 124, which is one of the four side surfaces, is provided with a first outlet 47 of the bundling stacker 4 and a second outlet 53 of the non-bundling stacker 5, which will be described in detail later. The first side surface 123 and the second side surface 124 are adjacent to each other.

The inside of the housing 12 is divided into a first processing unit 126 that performs processing related to banknote identification and classification, and a second processing unit 127 that performs processing related to binding of banknotes to be bound. The second processing unit 127 is provided above the first processing unit 126. The first processing unit 126 includes a hopper unit 2, an identification unit 3, a non-binding stacker 5, and a reject stacker 6. The second processing unit 127 includes a binding stacker 4, a second transport unit 8, a binding unit 9, and a third transport unit 10. Most of the first transport unit 7 is included in the first processing unit 126.

The binding stacker 4 includes two stackers, a first binding stacker 4A and a second binding stacker 4B. Both the first binding stacker 4A and the second binding stacker 4B accumulate the banknotes to be bound. The banknotes accumulated as the banknotes to be bound can be set as appropriate. The banknote to be bound is a predetermined type of banknote. The predetermined type is specified by the denomination, whether it is a correct or non-defective ticket, the front and back of the banknote, the direction of the banknote, whether it is a new or old ticket, and the like. Here, the banknote to be bound is a predetermined denomination (for example, 100 yuan) and a genuine banknote. Here, the banknotes identified as normal banknotes by the identification unit 3 are conveyed as “normal banknotes”, and the banknotes that are not identified as normal banknotes by the identification unit 3 are conveyed as “abnormal banknotes” by skew feeding or double feeding. A banknote in which the state is abnormal is referred to as a “transport abnormal banknote”. For example, one of the conditions for determining whether or not the banknote is normal is whether or not the serial number can be identified. However, it may be determined whether the banknote is normal under different conditions, or another condition may be added to determine whether the banknote is normal. In addition, even if it is a normal banknote, a banknote of a type in which a transport destination (a binding stacker, a non-binding stacker, etc.) is not designated is referred to as “non-designated banknote”. Further, among normal banknotes, a banknote with a relatively small amount of dirt, tears, and the like is referred to as a “correct ticket”, and among normal banknotes, a banknote with a relatively large number of dirt, tears, and the like is referred to as a “damaged ticket”. The bundling stacker 4 is an example of a stacking unit.

The first and second bundling stackers 4A and 4B are arranged substantially vertically in the second processing unit 127. The first binding stacker 4A is located above the second binding stacker 4B. The first bundling stacker 4A and the second bundling stacker 4B have the same configuration. When the two stackers are not distinguished, they are simply referred to as “binding stacker 4”. The detailed configuration of the bundling stacker 4 will be described later.

The non-bundling stacker 5 includes two stackers, the first and second non-bundling stackers 5A and 5B. The first and second non-bundling stackers 5A and 5B are arranged side by side in a substantially horizontal direction in the first processing unit 126. The second non-bundling stacker 5B is disposed closer to the hopper portion 2 than the first non-bundling stacker 5A. When the two stackers are not distinguished, they are simply referred to as “unbound stacker 5”. The banknotes stacked on the non-binding stacker 5 can be set as appropriate. Here, the first non-bundling stacker 5A is the predetermined denomination and accumulates non-use tickets. The second non-binding stacker 5B accumulates banknotes of denominations other than the predetermined denomination.

The reject stacker 6 accumulates reject banknotes. The reject stacker 6 is closer to the hopper portion 2 than the first and second unbundled stackers 5A and 5B. The reject stacker 6 is positioned slightly above the first and second unbundled stackers 5A and 5B. The banknotes accumulated in the reject stacker 6 can be set as appropriate. Here, the reject stacker 6 accumulates “non-designated banknotes”, “abnormal banknotes”, and “conveyance abnormal banknotes” as reject banknotes.

The hopper unit 2 is provided in a portion corresponding to the first processing unit 126 in the first side surface 123, and the dispensing unit 11 is provided in a portion corresponding to the second processing unit 127 in the first side surface 123. .

The hopper unit 2 includes a mounting table 21 on which banknotes are mounted, two guide units 22 and 22 for guiding banknotes mounted on the mounting table 21, an intake roller 23, and an intake port for taking in banknotes. 24 and a banknote sensor 25 for detecting a banknote on the mounting table 21. In this embodiment, a banknote is mounted in the hopper part 2 so that a banknote is taken in a transversal direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inlet 24 is formed at a corner where the mounting table 21 and the first side surface 123 intersect. The mounting table 21 is inclined so as to be positioned downward as it approaches the intake port 24. Thereby, the banknote on the mounting table 21 goes to the intake port 24 naturally. The banknotes placed on the placement table 21 are taken into the housing 12 from the take-in port 24.

Further, the bill sensor 25 is provided in the vicinity of the intake port 24. The banknote sensor 25 includes a transmission unit that transmits light and a reception unit that receives light, and detects a banknote by blocking light that is emitted from the transmission unit and reaches the reception unit. In addition, the 1st banknote sensor 45, the 2nd banknote sensor 46, the accumulation sensor 52, the accumulation sensor 62, the passage sensor 74, the 1st tape sensor 9210, and the 2nd tape sensor 9211 which are mentioned later have the same structure. The bill sensor 25 is arranged such that light is blocked by the bill placed on the placing table 21. That is, the bill sensor 25 can detect that a bill is placed on the placement table 21 by blocking light.

The guide portions 22 and 22 are configured so that the interval can be adjusted. That is, the interval between the guide portions 22 and 22 is adjusted according to the banknotes placed on the placement table 21.

The take-in roller 23 has a kicker roller 23a, a feed roller 23b, and a gate roller 23c. The kicker roller 23 a is partially exposed from the mounting table 21 and is in contact with the lowest banknote among the banknotes on the mounting table 21. The kicker roller 23 a feeds the lowest banknote out of the banknotes placed on the placing table 21 to the loading port 24. In this way, banknotes are taken one by one from the take-in port 24. The bills fed from the take-in port 24 are separated one by one by the feed roller 23b and the gate roller 23c and taken into the housing 12. The taken banknote is sent to the first transport unit 7.

The throwing-out part 11 has the throwing-out port 111 into which a bundled banknote is thrown out. In the throwing-out part 11, a bundled banknote is thrown out in the transversal direction of a banknote through the outlet 111.

The first transport unit 7 is composed of a transport belt or the like. The first transport unit 7 includes a main transport path 71, first to fourth branch paths 72a to 72d branched from the main transport path 71, a sorting mechanism 73 provided at a branch point from the main transport path 71, and a bill And a plurality of passage sensors 74 for detecting the passage of. The 1st conveyance part 7 conveys a banknote in the transversal direction. The first transport unit 7 is an example of a transport unit.

The main transport path 71 extends from the take-in roller 23 to the first binding stacker 4A. The first branch path 72a is located on the most upstream side of the main conveyance path 71, and from the first branch path 72a toward the downstream side, the second branch path 72b, the third branch path 72c, and the fourth branch path 72d. Are in this order. When the first to fourth branch paths 72a to 72d are not distinguished from each other, they are simply referred to as a branch path 72. The first branch path 72 a extends to the reject stacker 6. The second branch path 72b extends to the second non-bundling stacker 5B. The third branch path 72c extends to the first non-bundling stacker 5A. The fourth branch path 72d extends to the second binding stacker 4B.

The distribution mechanism 73 is driven by a solenoid (not shown). The sorting mechanism 73 sorts whether or not the banknotes that are being conveyed on the main conveyance path 71 are branched to the branch path 72. A passage sensor 74 is provided on the upstream side of each sorting mechanism 73. The passage sensor 74 has the same configuration as the banknote sensor 25. That is, the passage of the banknote can be detected when the reception of light in the receiving unit of the passage sensor 74 is interrupted and the light reception is resumed thereafter. The sorting mechanism 73 operates when the passage sensor 74 immediately upstream detects the passage of the bill when guiding the bill to the branch path 72.

The identification unit 3 is provided on the upstream side of the first branch path 72 a in the main transport path 71. The identification unit 3 is configured to identify the denomination, authenticity, and correctness of each banknote to be conveyed. Although the detailed illustration is omitted, the identification unit 3 is unitized in the banknote processing apparatus 100, and the identification unit 3 includes a control board different from the control unit 120 that controls the entire banknote processing apparatus 100. have. The control board includes information necessary for identifying a banknote and includes an identification template 33 that is referred to when the identification unit 3 performs identification. Moreover, the identification part 3 has the line sensor 31 and the magnetic sensor 32, and acquires the characteristic of a banknote. The identification unit 3 determines whether the characteristics of the banknotes coincide with the characteristics of various banknotes included in the identification template 33, and identifies the denomination, true / false, and correctness.

In addition, if the identification part 3 is a sensor for acquiring the characteristic of a banknote, it will not be restricted to a line sensor and a magnetic sensor, You may have sensors, such as an infrared sensor and an ultraviolet sensor. The line sensor 31 also has a function of optically reading the serial number printed on the banknote. The control unit 120 described later may perform functions other than the sensor in the identification unit 3.

Bundle unit 9 binds stacked banknotes. As will be described in detail later, the bundling unit 9 creates a tape ring L, pulls the tape back after the banknote is conveyed into the tape ring L, and binds the banknote with the tape.

The second transport unit 8 grips the banknotes accumulated in the binding stacker 4 and transports the banknotes into the tape ring L. The second transport unit 8 includes a gripping unit 81 that grips a banknote, and a first horizontal movement mechanism that moves the gripping unit 81 in the horizontal direction and the short direction of the banknote (hereinafter referred to as “first horizontal direction”). A second horizontal movement mechanism that moves the gripping unit 81 in the horizontal direction and in the longitudinal direction of the banknote (hereinafter referred to as “second horizontal direction”), and a vertical movement mechanism that moves the gripping unit 81 in the vertical direction. have. The second transport unit 8 is an example of a paper sheet transport unit.

The gripping unit 81 has an upper arm portion 81a, a lower arm portion 81b opposite to the upper arm portion 81a, and a gripping mechanism that moves the upper arm portion 81a in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 11 and the like, the upper arm portion 81a has three finger portions that extend in parallel to each other and a connecting portion that connects the three finger portions. Similarly, the lower arm portion 81b has three finger portions that extend in parallel to each other and a connecting portion that connects the three finger portions. The gripping mechanism supports the upper arm portion 81a so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and moves the upper arm portion 81a up and down by a motor and a driving belt. Thereby, a banknote can be hold | gripped with the upper arm part 81a and the lower arm part 81b.

The first horizontal movement mechanism supports the gripping unit 81 so as to be movable in the first horizontal direction, and moves the gripping unit 81 in the first horizontal direction by a motor and a driving belt.

The vertical movement mechanism supports the first horizontal movement mechanism so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and moves the first horizontal movement mechanism in the vertical direction by a motor and a driving belt.

The second horizontal movement mechanism supports the vertical movement mechanism so as to be movable in the second horizontal direction, and moves the vertical movement mechanism in the second horizontal direction by a motor and a driving belt.

Thus, the gripping unit 81 is configured to be movable in directions along three orthogonal axes by the first horizontal movement mechanism, the second horizontal movement mechanism, and the vertical movement mechanism.

The third transport unit 10 transports the bundled banknotes to the dispensing unit 11. The third transport unit 10 includes an upper gripper 101, a lower gripper 102, and a horizontal movement mechanism that moves the upper gripper 101 and the lower gripper 102 in the first horizontal direction. The horizontal movement mechanism moves the upper gripper 101 in the vertical direction when moving the upper gripper 101 in the first horizontal direction. Specifically, the third transport unit 10 is configured to pass through the side of the binding unit 9 in the first horizontal direction. When the third transport unit 10 is located on the side opposite to the projecting unit 11 with respect to the bundling unit 9, the upper gripping part 101 is sufficiently separated upward from the lower gripping part 102. The upper gripping part 101 moves downward from this position as it approaches the bound banknote of the binding part 9, and when it reaches the bound banknote, the upper gripping part 101 and the lower gripper 102 grip the bound banknote. The upper holding unit 101 and the lower holding unit 102 convey the bundled banknotes to the vicinity of the dispensing unit 11 while holding the bundled banknotes. The upper gripping portion 101 moves upward in the vicinity of the throwing portion 11 as it approaches the throwing portion 11. As a result, the bundled banknotes gripped by the upper gripping portion 101 and the lower gripping portion 102 are released from the upper gripping portion 101 and the lower gripping portion 102 in the dispensing portion 11 and are thrown out to the dispensing portion 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, the second side surface 124 of the housing 12 is provided with a touch panel 17 that is an operation unit for inputting information to the banknote processing apparatus 100 and a display unit for displaying information on the banknote processing apparatus 100. It has been. The touch panel 17 is a human interface part for an operator who operates the banknote handling apparatus 100.

<Detailed Configuration of Bundling Stacker 4>
In FIG. 3, the schematic block diagram of the binding stacker 4 and the binding part 9 is shown.

Bundled stacker 4 stacks banknotes B and accumulates them. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the bundling stacker 4 includes a container 40 that accumulates banknotes B, a stage 41 that is placed in the container 40 and on which the banknotes B are placed, and the banknotes B that have been transported. An impeller 42 to be carried in, a door 43 that opens and closes a first outlet 47 to be described later, a top plate 44 that defines the ceiling of the container 40, a first banknote sensor 45 that detects the banknote B in the container 40, And a second banknote sensor 46 that detects a banknote B having a predetermined height in the container 40.

The container 40 is configured such that the front wall 40a on the front side in the conveyance direction of the bills B can be moved back and forth in the conveyance direction. The position of the front wall 40a is adjusted according to the short direction dimension of the banknote B set as a binding target. Specifically, the banknote B carried into the container 40 hits the front wall portion 40a and falls to the bottom of the container 40 as it is, and is finally accumulated with the banknote B in contact with the front wall portion 40a. The front wall portion 40a is disposed at a position where The front wall 40a is configured to open and close up and down. The front wall portion 40 a is in an open state when the stacked banknotes B are conveyed by the second conveyance unit 8.

The stage 41 is configured to be movable up and down. For example, the stage 41 moves up and down according to the accumulation amount of the bills B.

The container 40 is opened on the second side surface 124 of the housing 12. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the second side surface 124 is provided with a first outlet 47 for taking out the bills B accumulated in the bundling stacker 4 to the outside of the housing 12.

The door 43 is provided for each binding stacker 4 individually. The door 43 is configured to be rotatable about a predetermined rotation axis between an open state in which the first outlet 47 is opened and a closed state in which the first outlet 47 is closed, and is manually opened and closed. The door 43 is made of a material that allows the inside to be visually observed from the outside. For example, the door 43 is made of a transparent or translucent material (for example, glass or resin).

The impeller 42 has a plurality of flexible wings, and has a role of accelerating the falling of the banknote B by hitting the end of the banknote B falling in the container 40 on the rear side in the transport direction. is doing. Even when the banknotes B are continuously carried into the container 40, the subsequent banknotes B are prevented from entering the rear end of the preceding banknotes B, and the banknotes B are stacked one by one in order. I can go.

A plurality of first banknote sensors 45 are provided for each binding stacker 4. In the present embodiment, two first banknote sensors 45 and 45 are provided at different positions in the conveyance direction of the banknote B in the container 40. The first banknote sensor 45 has the same configuration as the banknote sensor 25. Each first banknote sensor 45 is arranged to transmit light in the stacking direction of banknotes B in the container 40. That is, the 1st banknote sensor 45 can detect that the banknote B exists in the container 40 by light being interrupted | blocked. Moreover, even if there is variation in the position of the bill B in the transport direction in the container 40 by providing the two first bill sensors 45, 45 at different positions in the transport direction, any one of the first bill sensors 45 The presence of the banknote B can be detected. In addition, the 1st banknote sensor 45 may be provided with two or more in the different position in the direction (paper surface depth direction in FIG. 2) orthogonal to both the conveyance direction of the banknote B, and the thickness direction of the banknote B. As shown in FIG.

The second banknote sensor 46 is configured to detect the banknote B located at a predetermined height in the container 40. The second banknote sensor 46 has the same configuration as the banknote sensor 25. When the banknote B is present at a position higher than the predetermined height, the second banknote sensor 46 blocks light from the transmitting section toward the receiving section by the banknote B, while the banknote B is higher than the predetermined height. When the light does not exist at a high position, the light from the transmission unit is arranged to reach the reception unit.

<Detailed configuration of the binding unit 9>
As shown in FIG. 3, the bundling unit 9 includes a tape supply unit 91 that supplies a tape T, a tape ring creation unit 92 that creates a tape loop L with the tape T, and a bill B that is bundled with the tape T A clamp portion 94 that presses the bill B in the stacking direction, a heater 95 that joins the tapes T with the tape T wound around the bill B, and a cutter 96 that cuts the tape T at a position where it is not wound around the bill B. And a printing unit 97 for printing on the tape T and a stamping unit 98 for stamping on the tape T.

The tape supply unit 91 includes a tape reel 911 around which the tape T is wound and a tape transport unit 912 that transports the tape T drawn from the tape reel 911. The tape transport unit 912 transports the tape T along a predetermined transport path. The tape transport unit 912 has a guide (not shown) and a plurality of roller pairs.

The tape ring creating unit 92 creates a tape ring L with the tape T, and after the accumulated banknotes B are arranged in the tape ring L, the tape T is pulled back and the tape T is wound around the banknotes B. The tape ring creating unit 92 includes a feed roller pair 920 that feeds and retracts the tape T, a tape gripping unit 921 that grips the leading end of the tape T, and the tape ring L when the tape T is created with the tape T. It has a guide portion 925 that defines the shape, a first tape sensor 9210 that detects the tip of the tape T, and a second tape sensor 9211 that detects that the large tape ring L2 has been created. The tape ring creating unit 92 creates the small tape ring L1 with the tape T by the tape gripping unit 921, and then feeds the tape T by the feed roller pair 920 to enlarge the small tape ring L1 to create the large tape ring L2. To do. At that time, the guide portion 925 guides the tape T to define the shape of the large tape ring L2, and the second tape sensor 9211 detects the formation of the large tape ring L2.

The feed roller pair 920 is driven by a tape feed motor 9212 (see FIG. 6), and feeds the tape T when the tape ring L is created. The feed roller pair 920 is located at the downstream end of the tape transport unit 912 and also constitutes a part of the tape transport unit 912. The delivery roller pair 920 is an example of a delivery unit. The roller pair of the tape transport unit 912 is also driven by a tape feed motor 9212 via a belt and gears.

Further, the tape reel 911 is provided with a tape reel motor 9111 (see FIG. 6) for rotating the tape reel 911 in the rewinding direction of the tape T, and after the bill B is arranged in the tape ring T, When the tape T is wound around the bill B, the tape reel motor 9111 and the tape feed motor 9212 rotate in a direction to rewind the tape T. Both the tape feed motor 9212 and the tape reel motor 9111 are constituted by stepping motors.

The first tape sensor 9210 is provided in the transport path of the tape T and is provided between the feed roller pair 920 and the tape grip portion 921. The first tape sensor 9210 has the same configuration as the banknote sensor 25. The first tape sensor 9210 detects the tape T when light is blocked. For example, the leading end of the tape T can be detected when the pair of delivery rollers 920 pulls back the tape T and the first tape sensor 9210 is in a state where light is received from a state where the light is blocked.

The tape gripping portion 921 is disposed at a position where the tape T fed from the feed roller pair 920 can be received. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the tape gripping portion 921 is configured to be able to grip the tape T between the base portion 922 and the movable portion 923, and is configured to be rotatable while gripping the tape T. Yes. The tape gripping portion 921 creates a tape loop L by rotating in a state where the tip end portion of the tape T fed from the feed roller pair 920 is gripped.

The guide portion 925 defines the shape of the large tape ring L2 by making contact with the outer peripheral surface of the large tape ring L2 when creating the large tape ring L2. The guide part 925 defines the large tape ring L2 in a substantially rectangular shape, specifically, a rectangular shape with curved corners.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tape loop creating unit 92. The guide portion 925 includes a lower guide portion 926 that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the large tape ring L2 from the lower side of the large tape ring L2, a first side guide portion 927 that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the large tape ring L2 from the horizontal direction, and It has a second side guide portion 928 and four first to fourth corner guide portions 929a to 929d corresponding to the four corner portions of the rectangle.

The lower guide portion 926 has a pair of side walls 926a, 926a and a bottom wall 926b (see FIGS. 9, 10 and 12) that regulate the position of the tape T in the width direction, and is formed in a groove shape. The width of the bottom wall 926b is wider than the tape width. As shown in FIG. 13, the bottom wall 926b is provided with a plurality of rollers 926c, 926c,... That improve the slidability of the tape T. The bottom wall 926b is provided with a through hole 926d through which a stamp 981 of a stamping portion 98 described later passes. A first corner guide portion 929a and a second corner guide portion 929b are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall 926b. The first corner guide portion 929a bends the tape T located at the corner formed by the lower guide portion 926 and the first side guide portion 927. The second corner guide portion 929b bends the tape T located at the corner formed by the lower guide portion 926 and the second side guide portion 928. Each of the first corner guide portion 929a and the second corner guide portion 929b is composed of two plates (see also FIG. 4). Each of the two plates has an edge that curves in a concave shape, and is erected on the bottom wall 926b so as to face each other.

The lower guide portion 926 is provided with a moving mechanism, and is configured to be movable up and down by the moving mechanism. This moving mechanism is common to the moving mechanism of lower clamp parts 943 and 944 described later.

The first side guide portion 927 extends in the vertical direction at the end portion of the lower guide portion 926 on the binding stacker 4 side in the longitudinal direction. The 1st side guide part 927 has the side wall 927a and the bottom wall 927b, and is formed in groove shape. The side wall 927a regulates the position of the tape T in the width direction. The width of the bottom wall 927b is wider than the tape width. Two slits through which the first corner guide portion 929a passes are formed in the bottom wall 927b.

2nd side guide part 928 is extended in the up-down direction in the edge part by the side of the projection part 11 of the longitudinal direction of the lower guide part 926. As shown in FIG. The second side guide portion 928 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape, and a portion corresponding to the side wall 927a of the first side guide portion 927 is not provided. The second side guide portion 928 is supported by the support portion so as to be vertically movable, and is connected to the lower guide portion 926 via a link. As a result, the second side guide portion 928 rises in conjunction with the rise of the lower guide portion 926 and descends in conjunction with the fall of the lower guide portion 926. Note that the amount of movement of the second side guide portion 928 is amplified by the link. The second side guide portion 928 is configured to retract upward so as not to hinder the conveyance of the bundled banknote B when the bundled banknote B is conveyed.

In addition, a third corner guide portion 929c and a fourth corner guide portion 929d are provided above the first corner guide portion 929a and the second corner guide portion 929b and at substantially the same height as the tape grip portion 921. Yes. The third corner guide part 929c is provided adjacent to the first side guide part 927. Although the detailed illustration is omitted, the third corner guide portion 929c has two plates. The two plates have end edges that curve in a concave shape, and stand on the bottom wall 927b so as to face each other. The fourth corner guide portion 929d is provided adjacent to the second side guide portion 928. The fourth corner guide portion 929d is formed of a block having a curved surface that is curved in a concave shape. Hereinafter, when the first to fourth corner guide portions 929a to 929d are not particularly distinguished, they may be simply referred to as corner guide portions 929.

The second tape sensor 9211 has the same configuration as the banknote sensor 25 and detects the tape T when light is blocked. The receiving part of the second tape sensor 9211 is attached to the fourth corner guide part 929d as shown in FIG. The transmission unit of the second tape sensor 9211 is disposed at a position where light from the transmission unit is blocked by the tape T guided by the fourth corner guide unit 929d. In other words, the second tape sensor 9211 is configured such that the fourth corner guide portion 929d guides the tape T when the transmitting portion transmits light and the receiving portion does not receive light. Detects that it has reached a predetermined size.

The clamp part 94 presses the banknote B in the stacking direction when binding the banknote B with the tape T. The clamp portion 94 presses a portion in the vicinity of the portion to be bound bound by the tape T in the bill B. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the clamp portion 94 is provided below the bill B and a pair of upper clamp portions 941 and 942 provided above the bill B conveyed into the tape loop L. It has a pair of lower clamp parts 943, 944, and a moving mechanism for moving one upper clamp part 942 and lower clamp parts 943, 944 up and down.

The upper clamp portions 941 and 942 are provided on both sides of the tape T in the tape width direction. The upper clamp part 941 far from the second transport part 8 is fixed and cannot move up and down. On the other hand, the upper clamp part 942 closer to the second transport part 8 is configured to be movable up and down. In distinguishing the two, the former is referred to as a fixed upper clamp portion 941 and the latter is referred to as a movable upper clamp portion 942.

The fixed upper clamp portion 941 has first and second contact portions 941a and 941b. The first and second contact portions 941 a and 941 b are arranged in the short direction of the bill B. The first contact portion 941a and the second contact portion 941b are located at the same height. A base portion 922 of the tape gripping portion 921 is disposed between the first contact portion 941a and the second contact portion 941b. The base portion 922 is located at a position lower than the first and second contact portions 941a and 941b.

On the other hand, the movable upper clamp portion 942 has first to third contact portions 942a to 942c. The first to third contact portions 942a to 942c are arranged in the short direction of the bill B. The third contact portion 942c is located between the first contact portion 942a and the second contact portion 942b in the lateral direction. The first contact portion 942a and the second contact portion 942b are located at the same height. The third contact portion 942c is located at a position lower than the first contact portion 942a and the second contact portion 942b. The movable upper clamp portion 942 includes a clamp position where the first contact portion 942a and the second contact portion 942b are the same height as the first contact portion 941a and the second contact portion 941b of the fixed upper clamp portion 941. The third contact portion 942c moves up and down between a retracted position that is higher than the first contact portion 941a and the second contact portion 941b of the fixed upper clamp portion 941. When the movable upper clamp portion 942 is located at the clamp position, the third contact portion 942c is located at substantially the same height as the base portion 922 of the tape grip portion 921.

The lower clamp portions 943 and 944 are provided on both sides of the tape T in the tape width direction. The lower clamp part 943 far from the second transport part 8 and the lower clamp part 944 closer to the second transport part 8 have the same configuration. The lower clamp portion 943 includes first and second contact portions 943a and 943b. The first and second contact portions 943 a and 943 b are arranged in the short direction of the bill B. The first contact portion 943a and the second contact portion 943b are located at the same height. The first and second contact portions 943a and 943b are opposed to the first and second contact portions 941a and 941b of the fixed upper clamp portion 941, respectively. The lower clamp portion 944 has first and second contact portions 944a and 944b. The first and second contact portions 944 a and 944 b are arranged in the short direction of the banknote B. The first contact portion 944a and the second contact portion 944b are located at the same height, and the first contact portion 943a and the second contact portion 943b of the lower clamp portion 943 are located at the same height. Yes. The first and second contact portions 944a and 944b oppose the first and second contact portions 942a and 942b of the movable upper clamp portion 942, respectively.

The lower clamp parts 943 and 944 are configured to be movable up and down. In the present embodiment, the lower clamp portions 943 and 944 are attached to the lower guide portion 926 of the guide portion 925 and move up and down integrally with the lower guide portion 926. That is, the moving mechanism that moves the lower clamp portions 943 and 944 up and down is the same as the moving mechanism of the lower guide portion 926.

The heater 95 joins the tapes T with the tape T wound around the bill B. The heater 95 thermally welds the tapes T to each other. The heater 95 is an example of a joint.

The cutter 96 cuts a portion where the tape T is not wrapped around the bill B, that is, a portion of the tape T where the bill B is bound and left over. The tip of the cutter 96 is provided with a sawtooth cutting blade. As shown in FIG. 4, the cutter 96 has guide pieces 96 a that protrude outward at both side edges. The cutter 96 is an example of a cutting part.

The heater 95 and the cutter 96 are unitized and are opposite to the stamp portion 98 with respect to the bill B arranged in the tape ring L, specifically, the stamp portion 98 in the stacking direction of the bill B. It is disposed on the opposite side, that is, above the tape gripping portion 921.

More specifically, the heater 95 and the cutter 96 are unitized together with the first and second tape pressers 991 and 992. The first and second tape pressers 991 and 992 are arranged side by side in the first horizontal direction. Each of the first and second tape pressers 991 and 992 is a flat plate member, and a lower end surface extends in the tape width direction. The heater 95 and the cutter 96 are disposed between the first and second tape pressers 991 and 992.

The heater 95, the cutter 96, the first tape press 991, and the second tape press 992 are configured to be movable in the vertical direction. At the time of joining and cutting of the tape T, the heater 95, the cutter 96, the first tape press 991 and the second tape press 992 are lowered toward the tape gripping portion 921. As shown in FIG. 13, the first tape retainer 991 is configured to fit into the first concave groove 922c provided in the base portion 922 and to sandwich the tape T between the bottom surface of the first concave groove 922c. ing. The second tape press 992 is configured to sandwich the tape T with the movable portion 923. The heater 95 joins the tape T at a portion between the first concave groove 922c and the second concave groove 922d provided in the base portion 922. The cutter 96 enters the second concave groove 922d of the base portion 922 and cuts the tape T.

The printing unit 97 is provided in the tape transport unit 912 as shown in FIG. The printing unit 97 includes a print head that performs printing on the tape T conveyed by the tape conveyance unit 912. The printing unit 97 prints information (for example, denomination, date and time, serial number, etc.) related to the banknotes B to be bound on the tape T, for example. The printing position of the printing unit 97 is shifted in the tape width direction with respect to the portion to be imprinted by the imprinting portion 98 so that the printing does not overlap with the imprinting by the imprinting portion 98.

The stamp portion 98 compresses the bill B with the clamp portion 94 and stamps the tape T with the tape T wound around the bill B. The stamping part 98 stamps, for example, a mark related to the banknotes B to be bound (for example, a financial institution mark, a mark indicating the type of banknotes such as a correct note or a non-performing bill) on the tape T. As shown in FIG. 4, the stamping portion 98 is provided on the opposite side of the heater 95 and the cutter 96 with respect to the bill B arranged in the tape ring L, specifically, in the stacking direction of the bill B, It is arranged on the side opposite to the cutter 96. The stamp unit 98 includes a stamp 981 and a moving mechanism 982 that moves the stamp 981 in the vertical direction. When the moving mechanism 982 moves the stamp 981 upward, the stamp 981 impresses the tape T wound around the banknote B from the stacking direction of the banknote B. The stamp portion 98 is provided integrally with the lower guide portion 926, and moves in the vertical direction integrally with the lower guide portion 926 when the lower guide portion 926 moves in the vertical direction. The stamp 981 is disposed between the pair of side walls 926a and 926a of the lower guide portion 926 in the short direction of the lower guide portion 926, that is, in the width direction of the tape T. However, in the normal state, the stamp 981 is disposed below the through hole 926d in the bottom wall 926b of the lower guide portion 926, and does not protrude upward from the bottom wall 926b. When the stamp 981 is moved upward by the moving mechanism 982, the stamp 981 passes through the through-hole 926d, protrudes upward from the bottom wall 926b, and is stamped on the tape T (see also FIG. 13).

<System configuration of banknote processing device>
In FIG. 6, the block diagram which shows schematic structure of the banknote processing apparatus 100 is shown.

The banknote handling apparatus 100 includes a control unit 120 based on a known microcomputer, for example. The control unit 120 includes a storage unit 1201 that stores various types of information. The control unit 120 includes the hopper unit 2, the identification unit 3, the binding stacker 4, the non-binding stacker 5, the reject stacker 6, the first transport unit 7, the second transport unit 8, the binding unit 9, and the third transport unit 10. The touch panel 17 is connected to be able to transmit and receive signals. Further, the control unit 120 includes a banknote sensor 25, a first banknote sensor 45, a second banknote sensor 46, an integrated sensor 52 that detects the presence or absence of banknotes in the non-bundling stacker 5, and an integration that detects the presence or absence of banknotes in the reject stacker 6. The sensor 62, the passage sensor 74, the first tape sensor 9210, and the second tape sensor 9211 are connected and their detection signals are input. The control unit 120 generates a control signal based on an input signal from the touch panel 17 and detection signals from various sensors, and outputs the control signal to the hopper unit 2 and the like. The hopper unit 2 and the like operate according to the control signal. For example, taking the bundling stacker 4 as an example, the front wall 40a, the stage 41, and the impeller 42 of the container 40 are controlled by the controller 120.

<Operation description of banknote processing device>
Hereinafter, the deposit process of the banknote handling apparatus 100 will be described. In the deposit process, the banknotes in a loose state are classified and accumulated in a predetermined stacker, and further, the predetermined banknotes are bound. In the following, a predetermined type of genuine bills to be bound are stacked alternately on the first and second binding stackers 4A, 4B by a predetermined number, and the predetermined number of stacked banknotes are sequentially bound by the binding unit 9. The type bundling process will be described.

The banknote handling apparatus 100 is on the teller counter, and is installed slightly on the left side (right side of the customer) of the operator when the operator faces the customer across the teller counter. At this time, the banknote handling apparatus 100 is installed such that the first side surface 123 of the housing 12 faces the customer. In this state, the second side surface 124 of the housing 12 faces the operator. However, since the banknote handling apparatus 100 is located slightly on the left side of the operator, the customer can also visually recognize the second side surface 124.

First, an operator receives a bill in a rose state to be deposited from a customer, and places the bill on the hopper unit 2. At this time, even if a plurality of types of banknotes are mixed in the banknotes in a rose state, they are placed on the hopper unit 2 without being classified. An operator adjusts the guide part 22 according to the dimension of a banknote. Subsequently, the operator operates the touch panel 17 to start taking in banknotes. Note that when the bill sensor 25 detects the placement of the bill on the hopper unit 2, the bill processing apparatus 100 may automatically start taking in the bill.

The banknotes placed on the hopper unit 2 are taken into the housing 12 from the take-in port 24 one by one when the take-in roller 23 is operated. The taken banknote is transported by the first transport unit 7 and passes through the identification unit 3. The identification unit 3 acquires the banknote type of the banknote that passes through and notifies the control unit 120 of the banknote type.

Control part 120 determines the conveyance destination corresponding to a banknote according to the kind of banknote. Specifically, when the banknote is a banknote of a predetermined denomination to be bound and is a correct banknote, the control unit 120 sets the transport destination as the binding stacker 4 (any one of 4A and 4B). When the banknote is a banknote of a predetermined denomination and is a banknote banknote, the control unit 120 sets the transport destination as the first non-binding stacker 5A. When the banknote is a banknote of a denomination other than the predetermined denomination, the control unit 120 sets the transport destination as the second non-binding stacker 5B. When the banknote is a reject banknote, the control unit 120 sets the transport destination as the reject stacker 6.

Control part 120 controls the 1st conveyance part 7 so that a bill may be conveyed to the stacker used as a conveyance place. Specifically, the control unit 120 controls the sorting mechanism 73 corresponding to the branch path 72 connected to the stacker as the transport destination so that the bill is guided from the main transport path 71 to the branch path 72. The control unit 120 switches the sorting mechanism 73 when the passage sensor 74 immediately before the branch path 72 detects a bill. Then, the banknote is carried into the stacker.

The bills conveyed to the bundling stacker 4 are conveyed to one of the two bundling stackers 4. When the number of banknotes stacked on one binding stacker 4 reaches a predetermined number (for example, 100), the subsequent banknotes are conveyed to the other binding stacker 4. Here, it is assumed that the banknote is first conveyed to the first binding stacker 4A. In each first binding stacker 4 </ b> A, when bills are conveyed, the bills are stacked one by one by the rotation of the impeller 42. At this time, when the uppermost banknote on the stage 41 is detected by the second banknote sensor 46, the stage 41 is lowered by a predetermined amount, and the second banknote sensor 46 is not detecting the banknote. Thereafter, when the banknotes are further stacked and the second banknote sensor 46 detects the banknotes, the stage 41 is lowered again by a predetermined amount. By repeating this process, the falling distance of the banknotes falling into the bundling stacker 4 can be kept within a certain range, so that the falling position of the banknotes that fall naturally and the posture when they fall can be made constant.

When the banknotes accumulated in the first binding stacker 4A reach the number of bindings, the control unit 120 controls the second transport unit 8 to grip the banknotes in the first binding stacker 4A by the gripping unit 81, and to remove the banknotes. It is conveyed to the binding unit 9. Thereafter, the control unit 120 controls the binding unit 9 to bind the banknotes with the tape T.

Note that when the banknotes stacked on the first binding stacker 4A reach the binding number, the subsequent banknotes are stacked on the second binding stacker 4B. Thereafter, when the banknotes stacked on the second binding stacker 4B reach the binding number, the subsequent banknotes are again stacked on the first binding stacker 4A. By this time, since the banknotes in the first binding stacker 4A have been unloaded, the first binding stacker 4A is empty. Thus, by providing the two binding stackers 4, the binding process can be performed while the banknotes are continuously collected.

Subsequently, the control unit 120 controls the third transport unit 10 to throw out the bundled banknotes from the outlet 111.

The banknotes of a predetermined denomination and banknotes are conveyed to the first non-bundling stacker 5A and accumulated in the first non-bundling stacker 5A. Similarly, banknotes of denominations other than the predetermined denomination are conveyed to the second non-bundling stacker 5B and accumulated in the second non-bundling stacker 5B. Reject banknotes are also transported to the reject stacker 6 and accumulated in the reject stacker 6.

The above processing is continued until there are no more banknotes placed on the hopper unit 2. The presence or absence of banknotes in the hopper 2 is detected by the banknote sensor 25.

When the processing of the banknotes placed on the hopper unit 2 is completed, the rejected banknotes are taken in and identified again. That is, the operator removes the reject banknote from the reject stacker 6, places it on the hopper unit 2, and takes it in again. Since the reject banknote is a banknote that has not been identified as a normal banknote for some reason, it tries to capture and identify again. Nevertheless, the banknotes identified as reject banknotes are again accumulated in the reject stacker 6. The operator returns the accumulated banknotes to the customer.

In addition, about the banknote integrated | stacked on the 1st and 2nd non-bundling stackers 5A and 5B, it does not take in again.

Thus, when the processing of the banknotes placed on the hopper unit 2 and the reprocessing of the rejected banknotes are completed, the same-type bundling process is completed, and the counting and sorting of banknotes to be deposited passed from the customer are completed. On the touch panel 17, the counted amount is displayed. When the operator obtains the approval of the amount from the customer or confirms the coincidence between the amount and the amount described in the payment slip described by the customer, the operator confirms the amount of money with the touch panel 17. When the confirmation operation is performed, the confirmed deposit amount is notified to a higher-level device (not shown), and the deposit process is completed.

After completion of the depositing process, the operator takes out the bundled banknotes thrown to the dispensing unit 11, the banknotes accumulated in the bundling stacker 4, and the banknotes accumulated in the non-bundled stacker 5, and takes a predetermined storage location. Store in.

By the above processing, a banknote in which a plurality of types of banknotes are mixed and in a loose state is a regular banknote of a predetermined denomination, a banknote banknote of a predetermined denomination, and a banknote of a denomination other than the predetermined denomination, The bills are classified as reject banknotes, and the correct banknotes of a predetermined denomination are in a state of being bound for each bound number.

<Detailed description of processing after integration>
Hereinafter, a process from when the banknotes are accumulated in the bundling stacker 4 until the banknotes are thrown out to the dispensing unit 11 will be described in detail.

-Transporting banknotes from the stacking unit to the binding unit-
When the stacking of banknotes B is completed in the binding stacker 4, the second transport unit 8 transports the banknotes B from the binding stacker 4 to the binding unit 9. In FIG. 7, the figure of the state which the 2nd conveyance part 8 extracted the banknote B from the binding stacker 4 is shown. In FIG. 8, the figure of the state which the 2nd conveyance part 8 conveyed the banknote B to the side of the tape ring L is shown.

Specifically, when the stacking of the banknotes B is completed, the second transport unit 8 moves to the binding stacker 4 where the stacking of the banknotes B is completed, grips the banknotes B in the binding stacker 4, and binds as shown in FIG. Pull out from the stacker 4. Here, it is assumed that the accumulation of the bills B is completed in the first binding stacker 4A. And the holding unit 81 of the 2nd conveyance part 8 hold | grips the banknote B in 4 A of 1st binding stackers. The second transport unit 8 extracts the gripped banknote B from the first binding stacker 4A in the first horizontal direction. At this time, the 2nd conveyance part 8 moves the banknote B to a 1st horizontal direction to the predetermined | prescribed 1st position (position shown in FIG. 7). This 1st position corresponds with the position about the 1st horizontal direction at the time of conveying bill B mentioned below into large tape ring L2.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8, the second transport unit 8 moves the banknote B up and down to a predetermined second position. This 2nd position is a position which conveys bill B into large tape ring L2. In the second position, when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the bill B, the bill B is located near the center of the large tape ring L2.

-Creation of tape ring-
The control unit 120 creates the tape loop L while the second transport unit 8 transports the banknote B from the binding stacker 4 to the second position. FIG. 9 shows a state where the tape gripping portion 921 grips the leading end portion of the tape T. FIG. 10 shows a state where the tape gripping portion 921 has created the small tape ring L1.

First, the delivery roller pair 920 pulls back the tape T until the first tape sensor 9210 detects the tip of the tape T. As will be described later, when printing is performed within a predetermined range of the tape T, the tape T is pulled back to the printing unit 97, and therefore the first tape sensor 9210 is sent from the printing unit 97 toward the tape gripping unit 921. The leading end of the tape T is detected. When the leading end of the tape T is detected, the feed roller pair 920 feeds the tape T. At this time, the tape gripping part 921 stands by in a state where a gap is left between the movable part 923 and the base part 922 and the tape T sent from the feed roller pair 920 enters the gap. When the leading end portion of the tape T enters between the movable portion 923 and the base portion 922, the leading end portion of the tape T is gripped by the movable portion 923 and the base portion 922 as shown in FIG. The movable part 923 is locked in a state where the tip part of the tape T is gripped together with the base part 922. The tip of the tape T is held by the tape holding portion 921 in a substantially horizontal state.

Next, the tape gripping portion 921 starts to rotate while gripping the tip end portion of the tape T, as indicated by the one-dot chain line arrow in FIG. At this time, the delivery of the tape T by the delivery roller pair 920 continues. The tape gripping portion 921 rotates to move the tip of the tape T downward, that is, counterclockwise in FIG.

When the tape gripping portion 921 rotates approximately once, a tape ring L is created as shown in FIG. Thus, the tape loop L created by the tape gripping portion 921 rotating substantially once is referred to as “small tape loop L1”. The tip of the tape T gripped by the tape gripping portion 921 is positioned above the small tape ring L1, and the small tape ring L1 is created below the tape gripping portion 921. The small tape ring L1 is formed at a position lower than the feed roller pair 920.

When the small tape ring L1 is formed, the rotation of the tape gripping portion 921 stops, while the feeding of the tape T by the feeding roller pair 920 is continued. As a result, the small tape ring L1 gradually increases as shown by a dashed line arrow in FIG. Here, the tip end portion of the tape T gripped by the tape gripping portion 921 is positioned above the small tape ring L1, and the tape T from the feed roller pair 920 is supplied from the top of the small tape ring L1, so that the small tape The ring L1 swells downward. Since the guide portion 925 is disposed below the tape grip portion 921, the tape ring L eventually comes into contact with the guide portion 925, and the shape of the tape ring L is defined by the guide portion 925. When the feed amount of the tape T from the feed roller pair 920 finally reaches a predetermined amount, a tape ring L formed in a substantially rectangular shape is created by the guide portion 925 as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. . This tape ring L is referred to as “large tape ring L2”. The large tape ring L2 is in contact with the lower guide portion 926, the first side guide portion 927, and the second side guide portion 928, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. In addition, the large tape ring L2 is in contact with the first to fourth corner guide portions 929a to 929d, thereby forming a rectangular shape with curved corner portions.

The control unit 120 creates the large tape ring L2 when the second tape sensor 9211 detects the tape T when the amount of the tape T fed from the pair of feed rollers 920 reaches the predetermined amount. Is detected. The control unit 120 obtains the feed amount of the tape T based on the drive amount of the stepping motor of the feed roller pair 920 after the first tape sensor 9210 detects the leading end of the tape T. When the second tape sensor 9211 does not detect the tape T even though the amount of the tape T fed from the pair of feed rollers 920 has reached the predetermined amount, a part of the tape ring L bends inward, The tape ring L may not have an appropriate shape (that is, the large tape ring L2) along the guide portion 925. Therefore, when the second tape sensor 9211 does not detect the tape T when the feed amount of the tape T from the feed roller pair 920 reaches the predetermined amount, the control unit 120 moves the tape T by a predetermined pullback amount. After pulling back, the tape T is fed again until the total delivery amount reaches the predetermined amount. Then, the control unit 120 confirms whether or not the second tape sensor 9211 detects the tape T. When the second tape sensor 9211 does not detect the tape T, the control unit 120 repeats the above-described pull-back and feed-out of the tape T and confirmation of the tape detection.

The second tape sensor 9211 is configured to detect the tape T guided by the fourth corner guide portion 929d. That is, the second tape sensor 9211 detects the presence or absence of the tape T at a predetermined position above the banknote B when the banknote B is conveyed into the large tape loop L2. If a part of the tape ring L bends inward, there is a high possibility that the upper part of the tape ring L bends due to its own weight. That is, by arranging the second tape sensor 9211 at the aforementioned position, it is possible to accurately detect the bending of the tape ring L.

The production of the large tape loop L2 is performed in parallel with the process in which the second transport unit 8 transports the banknote B from the binding stacker 4 to the binding unit 9 as shown in FIGS. Normally (that is, when the large tape loop L2 is created by feeding the tape T once), the creation of the large tape loop L2 is completed when the bill B is conveyed to the second position.

-Tape winding-
In FIG. 11, when the banknote B is conveyed to the large tape ring L2 when it sees facing the thickness direction of the banknote B, operation | movement explanatory drawing of each part is shown until the tape T is wound around the banknote B. FIG. In FIG. 11, (A) is a state immediately before the banknote B is conveyed to the large tape ring L2, (B) is a state where the banknote B is conveyed to the large tape ring L2, and (C) is The tape T is wrapped around the banknote B. In FIG. 12, the state of the guide part 925 when the clamp part 94 presses the banknote B is shown.

As described above, the second transport unit 8 transports the banknote B to the second position (see FIG. 11A) and then moves the banknote B in the second horizontal direction as shown in FIGS. And enter the large tape loop L2. The 2nd conveyance part 8 moves the banknote B to the predetermined | prescribed 3rd position of a 2nd horizontal direction, as shown to FIG. 11 (B). In the example shown in the figure, the third position is a position where the tape T coincides with the center of the bill B in the longitudinal direction in the second horizontal direction. However, as will be described later, the third position is appropriately changed according to the size of the bill B and the designated binding position.

After the bill B is conveyed to the third position, the gripping unit 81 re-grips the portion other than the portion to be bundled of the bill (the portion around which the tape T is wound in the subsequent processing), and then the clamp portion 94 has the bill B. Are pressed from both sides in the stacking direction, that is, in the vertical direction. Specifically, the lower clamp portions 943 and 944 of the clamp portion 94 move upward. At this time, the movable upper clamp portion 942 is located at the clamp position. Finally, the lower clamp parts 943 and 944 press the bill B against the upper clamp parts 941 and 942. The upper clamp portions 941 and 942 and the lower clamp portions 943 and 944 sandwich both sides of the bill B in the longitudinal direction of the bill B from above and below. Thus, the banknote B is compressed from above and below by the upper clamp portions 941 and 942 and the lower clamp portions 943 and 944. The lower clamp parts 943 and 944 that rise are stopped at positions where the upper clamp parts 941 and 942 and the lower clamp parts 943 and 944 compress the bill B to a predetermined thickness.

Since the lower clamp portions 943 and 944 are integrally formed with the lower guide portion 926, the lower guide portion 926 also moves upward as the lower clamp portions 943 and 944 are raised. At this time, by driving the tape reel motor 9111 and the tape feed motor 9212 in the return direction, the tape T is pulled back in conjunction with the ascent of the lower guide portion 926. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12, the tape ring L becomes smaller as the lower guide portion 926 rises. In addition, the second side guide portion 928 also rises in conjunction with the rise of the lower guide portion 926. Thereby, the space which can deform | transform the tape ring L is securable. That is, when the rise of the lower guide portion 926 is too fast with respect to the speed at which the tape ring L becomes smaller, the tape ring L is deformed so as to protrude from the guide portion 925. At this time, since the second side guide portion 928 is retracted from the side of the tape ring L, the tape ring L may swell toward the space where the second side guide portion 928 was originally located. it can. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the tape T from being bent.

Here, a third abutting portion 942c is provided between the first abutting portion 942a and the second abutting portion 942b of the movable upper clamp portion 942, and the third abutting portion 942c includes the first and second abutting portions 942c. It is located at a position lower than the two contact portions 942a and 942b. Further, a base portion 922 of the tape gripping portion 921 is disposed between the first contact portion 941a and the second contact portion 941b of the fixed upper clamp portion 941, and the base portion 922 has the first and second contact portions. It is located at a position lower than the contact portions 941a and 941b. On the other hand, in the lower clamp portions 943 and 944, the first clamp portion 943a and the second contact portion 943b are disposed downward, and the first clamp portion 944a and the second contact portion 944b are disposed downward. A recessed space is formed. Therefore, the bill B pressed by the clamp portion 94 has a shape in which a substantially central portion in the short direction is recessed downward.

The rising of the lower guide part 926 stops with the rising of the lower clamp parts 943, 944. On the other hand, the return of the tape T by the tape reel motor 9111 and the tape feed motor 9212 is continued even after the lower guide 926 stops moving up. Finally, the tape T is wound around the banknote B as shown in FIG. Here, as described above, the position of the tape T in the width direction is regulated by the lower guide portion 926 until just before being wound around the bill B. Therefore, the tape T is accurately wound around the planned binding portion of the banknotes.

-Joining, cutting and stamping tape-
Subsequently, the heater 95 joins the tapes T, and the cutter 96 cuts the tapes T. In addition, the stamp portion 98 stamps the tape T. In FIG. 13, explanatory drawing of joining of a tape T, a cutting | disconnection, and a stamp is shown.

When the winding of the tape T around the bill B is completed, the heater 95 and the cutter 96 descend together. At this time, the first and second tape pressers 991 and 992 are also lowered together with the heater 95 and the cutter 96.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 13, first, the first tape press 991 is fitted into the first concave groove 922c of the base portion 922, and the tape T is sandwiched between the bottom wall of the first concave groove 922c. At the same time, the second tape press 992 clamps the tape T with the movable portion 923. At this time, welding by the heater 95 and cutting by the cutter 96 are not performed.

Subsequently, although not shown in the drawing, the heater 95 sandwiches the portion where the tip of the tape T overlaps the tape T with the base portion 922 of the tape grip portion 921. Specifically, the heater 95 holds the tape T at a portion of the base portion 922 between the first concave groove 922c and the second concave groove 922d. The heater 95 welds the overlapping tapes T by heat.

In parallel with the thermal welding by the heater 95, the cutter 96 cuts the tape T. The cutter 96 cuts a portion of the tape T upstream of the welded portion by the heater 95, that is, a portion on the feed roller pair 920 side of the welded portion (hereinafter referred to as “surplus portion”). In this way, the tapes T wound around the banknote B are joined together, and the excess portion of the tape T is cut.

Further, the stamping portion 98 stamps the tape T in parallel with the welding with the heater 95 and the cutting with the cutter 96. The stamp part 98 is raised together with the lower guide part 926 and is located immediately below the bill B when the tape T is welded and cut. After the tape T is pulled back by the delivery roller pair 920 and the tape T is wound around the bill B, the stamping unit 98 raises the stamp 981. The stamp 981 abuts on the tape T wound around the banknote B and stamps on the tape T.

Here, since the stamp portion 98 is integrally formed with the lower guide portion 926 that regulates the position in the width direction of the tape T, the stamp 981 is positioned with respect to the tape T. Specifically, the tape T passes through the through hole 926d of the bottom wall 926b of the lower guide portion 926 and is stamped on the tape T between the side walls 926a and 926a. Since the position of the tape T wound around the lower surface of the banknote B in the tape width direction is regulated by the side walls 926a and 926a, the tape T is placed at the point where the stamp 981 rises between the side walls 926a and 926a. positioned. Thus, the stamp 981 is stamped without protruding from the tape T.

Further, in the longitudinal direction of the tape T, even if the character or code printed by the printing unit 97 is located at the portion where the stamp 981 is imprinted, the portion where the stamp 981 is imprinted and the portion where the printing portion 97 is printed Is shifted in the tape width direction, the printing by the stamp 981 and the printing by the printing unit 97 do not overlap.

-Banknote discharge-
The bound banknotes B bound by the tape T are transported to the dispensing unit 11 by the second transport unit 8 and the third transport unit 10. That is, although detailed illustration is omitted, when the joining, cutting, and stamping of the tape T are completed, the gripping unit 81 grips the bundled bills B. Subsequently, the lower clamp portions 943 and 944 are lowered, and the pressing by the clamp portion 94 is released. In addition, the movable upper clamp portion 942 rises. Thereafter, the second transport unit 8 transports the bundled banknotes B in the second horizontal direction, and transports the banknotes by a predetermined amount to the side opposite to when the banknotes are transported to the large tape ring L2.

Next, the holding unit 81 releases the holding of the bundled banknote B. Instead, the third transport unit 10 grips the bundled banknote B. Thus, the third transport unit 10 transports the bundled banknotes B toward the dispensing unit 11 in the first horizontal direction. Finally, the bundled banknotes B are pushed out to the dispensing unit 11 by the third transport unit 10.

Bundled banknotes pushed out to the dispensing unit 11 are thrown out of the housing 12 through the dispensing unit 11.

<Bundling process using size information from identification template>
As described above, the identification unit 3 includes the identification template 33. In the conventional banknote processing apparatus, the identification template is used only for identification by the identification unit 3.

On the other hand, the bundling unit 9 uses the size information of the bills during the bill bundling process. Specifically, the binding position of the banknote B is set based on the longitudinal dimension of the banknote B and the designated binding position. With this setting, as described above, the second transport unit 8 causes the banknote B to be A predetermined third position in the second horizontal direction when entering (that is, inserting) into the large tape loop L2 is determined.

Further, the printing performed on the tape T is performed at a predetermined position on the front surface (or the back surface) of the bundled banknote, and is set so that the printing is not positioned on the side surface of the bundled banknote. On the other hand, according to the short direction dimension of the banknote B, the outer peripheral length of a banknote bundle changes, and the length of the tape T wound around it also changes. Therefore, if printing is performed at the same position on the tape T, printing may be positioned on the side surface of the bundled banknote. Therefore, in the banknote handling apparatus 100, a printing range of the tape T, specifically, a position where printing starts from the tip of the tape T and a position where printing ends are set according to the short dimension of the banknote. In addition, the tape T is rewound before the bundling process is performed based on the set print start position.

Further, as described above, the binding unit 9 of the banknote handling apparatus 100 creates the large tape loop L2 and then pulls the tape T back to wind the tape T around the banknote B. The pull-out amount of the tape T at the time of creating the large tape ring L2 is set to a predetermined amount, but as described above, the outer peripheral length of the banknote bundle changes according to the short direction dimension of the banknote B. For this reason, the amount by which the tape is pulled back varies depending on the short direction dimension of the bill. In this banknote processing apparatus, although the details will be described later, the pull back amount of the tape T is set according to the short direction dimension of the banknote B, thereby reducing the time required for the bundling process.

In the banknote processing apparatus 100, the identification template 33 stored in the identification unit 3 is used for the banknote size information necessary for each operation related to the bundling process. That is, the identification template 33 is not only used for identification but also used in other processes.

FIG. 14 shows a control flow executed by the control unit 120 regarding the bundling process. This flow starts when the bill processing apparatus 100 is turned on. In first step S <b> 1, the control unit 120 reads the size information of the banknote from the identification template 33 stored in the identification unit 3 and stores it in the storage unit 1201.

In subsequent step S2, if the depositing process is started as described above, in step S3, the control unit 120 acquires the identification result by the identification unit 3, and the identification result and a preset banknote are set. Based on the setting contents of the transport destination, the transport destination of the banknote is determined (step S4).

In step S5, it is determined whether or not the transport destination is the bundling stacker 4, and when it is not the bundling stacker 4 (that is, when NO), the process proceeds to step S8, while when it is the bundling stacker 4 (that is, If YES, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S5, it is determined whether or not there is a possibility of performing the bundling process.

In step S6, it is determined whether or not the stacking number of the binding stacker 4 that is the conveyance destination of the bills B is zero. When the number of stacked stackers 4 is 0 and the banknote to be conveyed is the first (that is, YES), the process proceeds to step S7, while the number of stacked stackers 4 is 0. Instead, when one or more banknotes are already accumulated (that is, when NO), the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S7, the size of the banknotes to be stacked on the bundling stacker 4 is specified based on the size information of the banknote B read from the identification template 33 in step S1 and the identification result of the identification unit 3 acquired in step S3. The size information (that is, the lateral dimension and the longitudinal dimension) is retained. The size information is held for each of the two binding stackers 4.

In step S8, it is determined whether or not the number of stacked stackers 4 has reached 100. If the number is less than 100 (that is, NO), the process returns to step S3. On the other hand, when the number of stacked sheets reaches 100 (that is, when YES), the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the print range of the tape T is set based on the size information held in step S7, and the tape T is rewound to the printing unit 97 (that is, the print head) based on the set print range.

As conceptually shown in FIG. 15, a position spaced a predetermined distance D ₁ is printed from one end (right end in FIG. 15) of the front surface (lower surface in FIG. 15) of the bundle of stacked bills B. As a start position, a range from there to the other end in the short side direction (left end in FIG. 15) is set as a print range. Here, as described above, the bundling stacker 4 is configured to adjust the position of the front wall 40a, which is one end side in the short direction of the bill B, according to the short direction dimension of the bill. Thus, in the bundling stacker 4, the other end in the short direction of the bills B is always accumulated at the same position regardless of the short direction dimension. Moreover, since the 2nd conveyance part 8 which conveys the banknote B from the bundling stacker 4 to the bundling part 9 always sets the conveyance amount when conveying to the 1st position in the 1st horizontal direction, it is bound. In the part 9, the position of the other end in the short direction in the banknote B when it is conveyed into the large tape loop L2 is always constant regardless of the dimension in the short direction of the banknote B. Further, since the relative position D2 of the tape gripping portion 921 (that is, the base portion 922) that holds the leading end of the tape T with respect to the reference of the bill B is constant, the position of the other end in the short direction of the bill B (that is, The distance from the leading end of the tape T to the printing start position and the distance from the printing end position when the tape T is wound around the banknote B with respect to the left end position in FIG. It is changed according to the dimension D.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, after the end of the previous bundling process, the leading end position of the tape T is set to a predetermined standby position downstream of the printing unit 97 in the tape feeding direction. Therefore, if printing is to be started from a predetermined position on the tape T, it is necessary to rewind the tape T once before the tape T is wound around the bill B. This rewinding amount is set based on the distance from the leading end of the tape T to the printing start position. Specifically, the tape length X ₁ from the tip of the tape T to the printing start position, as shown in FIG. 15, the shorter dimension of the bill B is D,
X ₁ = D−D ₂ + H + D ₁ (1)
Is calculated by As described above, D ₁ is the distance from one end of the bill B to the printing start position, and this D ₁ is arbitrarily set. D ₂ is the distance from the other end of the bill (i.e., reference) to the tape gripper 921, in other words, a tip position of the tape T wrapped around the paper currency B. The _{D 2} is determined by the device structure of the banknote handling apparatus 100. H is the thickness of the bundle of banknotes B. These D ₁ , D _2, and H are fixed values (however, when changing the number of sheets to be bound and the type of bills, H can also be changed).

On the other hand, the distance to the printing section 97 from the tip end of the tape T in the standby state when the C ₁ (see FIG. 3), rewinding amount Re ₁ of the tape T is,
Re ₁ = C ₁ −X ₁ = C ₁ − (D−D ₂ + H + D ₁ ) (2)
Can be expressed as Here, C ₁ is a fixed value determined by the apparatus configuration of the banknote handling apparatus 100.

In step S9, the control unit 120 performs rewinding of the tape T based on the formula (2). As described above, the tape T is rewound by the tape reel motor 9111 and the tape feed motor 9212 which are stepping motors. Therefore, the control unit 120 calculates the necessary number of pulses based on the set rewind amount Re ₁ of the tape T and the rewind amount per pulse of each of the motors 9111 and 9212 (that is, the necessary number of pulses). The number of pulses = (rewinding amount Re ₁ ) / (rewinding amount per pulse)), and the motors 9111 and 9212 are driven based on the number of pulses. By doing so, it is possible to perform printing on the tape T from a position adapted to the size of the bill B.

In subsequent step S10, a print range is calculated from the size information of the bill B, and printing is performed based on the calculated print range. Specifically print range _{X 2} is
_{X 2 = D-D 1 ...} (3)
Set by. The control unit 120, while feeding the tape T by driving the tape feed motor 9212, based on the print range X ₂ set, performs printing on the tape T by the printing unit 97. Thus, by setting the print range X ₂ in accordance with the size information of the bill B, it is possible to perform printing within the range adapted to the size of the bill B, for example, print contents is positioned on the side surface of the banknote It is possible to avoid such a situation.

When printing on the tape T is completed, in step S11, as described above, the large tape ring L2 is created, and in the subsequent step S12, the insertion amount S when the bill B is inserted into the large tape ring L2 is determined. It sets based on the size information of a banknote, and the information on the binding position of the banknote B set and input beforehand. As shown in FIG. 16, the insertion amount S is
S = A + C ₂ + W / 2−L (4)
Can be expressed as Here, L is the longitudinal dimension of the bill B, and W is the width of the tape T. Also, C ₂ is the distance prior to insertion into the large tape wheel L2, from one longitudinal end of the bill B to the center of the tape T. The longitudinal position (position corresponding to the first position) of the bill B before being inserted into the large tape loop L2 is determined by the longitudinal reference position when the bills are stacked in the bundling stacker 4. Thus, C ₂ is a fixed value determined by the device structure of the banknote handling apparatus 100.

A is a value set in accordance with the binding position of the tape T, and when the so-called “central winding” is performed, the center of the tape T coincides with the center of the bill B as shown in FIG. , A is
A = (L−W) / 2 (5)
It is represented by Unlike this, as shown in FIG. 17 (B), when the end of the tape T coincides with the center of the banknote B, so-called “band end center winding”, A is:
A = L / 2-W (6)
It is represented by Further, as shown in FIG. 17C, when the tape T is bound at an arbitrary position in the longitudinal direction of the bill B, A is a value as it is regardless of the longitudinal dimension of the bill B.

When the insertion amount S is set, the control unit 120 inserts the bill B into the large tape ring L2 based on the insertion amount S. Thus, by adjusting the insertion amount S of the bill B with respect to the large tape ring L2 according to the size of the bill B, the relative position in the longitudinal direction between the bill B and the tape T before the tape T is wound is adjusted. Thus, the tape T can be wound around a desired position.

In step S13, the excess tape is pulled back from the large tape loop L2, and the tape T is wound around the bill B. First, the control unit 120 sets a surplus tape pull-back amount Re ₂ based on the size information of the banknote B. Specifically, the retraction amount Re ₂ is obtained by subtracting the length E ₂ of the tape T wound around the bundle of banknotes B from the length E ₁ of the tape T fed from the tape reel 911 in order to create the large tape ring L _2. Can be calculated. Therefore, Re ₂ is,
Re ₂ = E ₁ −E ₂ = E ₁ − (D × 2 + H × 2 + D ₃ ) (7)
It can be expressed as Here, D ₃ corresponds to the length D ₃ of the overlapping portion of the tape T when the banknotes B are bound, and this is a fixed value that is appropriately set in the banknote processing apparatus 100. The control unit 120 calculates the necessary number of pulses based on the set retraction amount Re ₂ and the rewind amount per pulse of the tape reel motor 9111 and drives the tape reel motor 9111 based on the calculated number of pulses. At the time of pulling back, it is preferable to drive the tape reel motor 9111 at a relatively high speed. In this way, the tape T can be quickly wound around the bill B.

In step S14 after the excess tape T is pulled back, the tape T is pulled back at a lower speed than in step S13, and the tape T wound around the bundle of bills B is tightened. In step S14, for example, the motor may be driven until the tape reel motor 9111 steps out. In the subsequent step S15, similarly to step S14, the tape T is pulled back at a relatively low speed, whereby the tape T wound around the bundle of banknotes B is further tightened. Even in step S15, the motor may be driven until the tape reel motor 9111 steps out. Thus, after the excess tape T is pulled back at a relatively high speed, the time required for the bundling process can be shortened while securing a high tightening force by performing the tightening twice.

In step S16, as described above, the tape T is joined by driving the heater 95, and the tape T is cut by driving the cutter 96. In the subsequent step S17, the bundled banknote B is passed through the dispensing unit 11. Throw out of the housing 12 and the flow ends.

Thus, according to the banknote processing apparatus 100 of the said structure, the size information of the banknote in the identification template 33 which the identification part 3 memorize | stores is acquired, and the tape which concerns on a bundling process using the size information is used. A printing operation for T and a binding operation for tape T are performed. For this reason, when the conventional banknote processing apparatus prepared the table different from the template for identification, this banknote processing apparatus 100 does not need to prepare such another table.

Further, the identification template 33 is a template corresponding to the country in which the banknote processing apparatus 100 is used, and is stored in the identification unit 3. In addition, when it becomes necessary to change to a new identification template 33 due to, for example, banknote revision, if only the identification template 33 is updated, the bundling operation related to the bundling process can be performed to the size of the new ticket. It becomes an adapted operation. Accordingly, in a configuration including a table different from the identification template 33, the table needs to be updated together with the identification template 33. In the above configuration, the identification template 33 only needs to be updated. As a result, the maintainability of the banknote handling apparatus 100 is improved. Further, for example, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of mistakes such as updating only the identification template 33 and forgetting to update the table.

As described above, the technique disclosed herein is applied to the bundling portion 9 configured to insert the banknote B into the large tape ring L2 and wind the tape T around the banknote after the large tape ring L2 is created. In addition to this, the present invention can also be applied to bundling portions having other configurations. For example, although illustration is omitted, a tape loop is created by moving the tape gripping part that grips the tip of the tape by approximately a half circumference, and a bill is inserted in the radial direction of the loop from the cut of the tape loop. After that, the tape gripping part that grips the tip of the tape may be configured to move the remaining semicircular portion and wrap the tape around the banknote. Even in the bundling portion having such a configuration, the printing position of the tape can be adjusted by performing printing in a predetermined printing range on the tape according to the size information of the bill, and adjusting the relative position between the bill and the tape. It is possible to set the desired position according to the size of the banknote and to set the pullback amount after winding the tape to an amount according to the size of the banknote.

In the above-described configuration, the bundling position from the bundling stacker 4 to the bundling unit 9 is adjusted by changing the conveyance amount from the bundling stacker 4 to the bundling unit 9. On the other hand, the relative position between the banknote and the tape is adjusted by adjusting the reference position when stacking the banknotes in the binding stacker 4 based on the size of the banknotes and the designated binding position, The bundling position may be set to a desired position according to the size of the banknote.

Moreover, in the banknote processing apparatus 100 of the said structure, although the size information of the banknote of the identification template 33 is utilized for the bundling process in the bundling part 9, the process adapted to the banknote size is limited to a bundling process. Instead, the banknote size information of the identification template 33 may be used for other processing.

100 banknote processing apparatus 120 control part (size information acquisition part)
3 Identification Unit 33 Identification Template 9 Bundling Unit (Processing Unit)
97 Printing department (printing head)
911 Tape reel 912 Tape transport unit (tape supply path)
B Banknote L, L1, L2 Tape ring T Tape

Claims (9)

A banknote processing apparatus that identifies a plurality of types of banknotes having different sizes and performs a predetermined process related to the banknote,
An identification unit configured to identify the banknote while storing the identification template including information necessary for identifying the banknote, and referring to the identification template;
A size information acquisition unit configured to acquire size information of the banknote from the identification template stored in the identification unit;
Based on the information of the banknote identified by the identification unit and the size information of the banknote acquired by the size information acquisition unit after identification of the identification unit, a predetermined value adapted to the size of the banknote for the banknote And a processing unit configured to perform the process. The bill processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit performs a process of creating a bundled banknote by winding a tape around the bundle of banknotes. The processing unit performs printing on the tape before winding the bundle of banknotes,
The banknote processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit sets a printing range based on size information of the banknote so that printing is positioned at a predetermined position of the bundled banknote. The processing unit is configured to cut the tape after winding the leading end portion of the tape fed from a tape reel around the bundle of banknotes, and the leading end of the tape after cutting is positioned at a predetermined standby position. And
The processing unit also includes a print head disposed in the middle of the tape supply path from the tape reel to the standby position, and performs printing on the running tape through the tape supply path,
The said processing part further performs rewinding of the tape in which the said tape front-end | tip is located in a standby position so that the printing range of the said tape may become the position of the said print head based on the set printing range. 3. The bill processing apparatus according to 3. The processing unit, when winding the tape around the bundle of banknotes, after feeding out the tape of a predetermined length from a tape reel, pulling back the tape,
The banknote processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit sets a pullback length of the tape based on size information of the banknote. The processing unit creates a tape ring of a predetermined size, and inserts the bundle of banknotes into the created tape ring in a direction in which the longitudinal direction of the banknotes is along the axis of the tape ring. The banknote processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the tape ring is contracted by retracting the tape after being positioned at a predetermined position, and the tape is wound around the bundle of banknotes. The processing unit performs pullback of the tape at a predetermined speed,
The banknote processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the processing unit also tightens the tape by pulling back the tape at a speed lower than the predetermined speed after the tape is pulled back. The processing unit winds the tape around a designated position in the banknote bundle,
The bill processing device according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit sets a relative position between the bundle of bills and the tape when the tape is wound based on the size information of the bill and the designated position. . The processing unit creates a tape ring of a predetermined size, and inserts the bundle of banknotes into the created tape ring in a direction in which the longitudinal direction of the banknotes is along the axis of the tape ring. After positioning at a predetermined position, the tape ring is reduced by pulling back the tape, and the tape is wound around the bundle of banknotes,
The banknote according to claim 8, wherein the processing unit also adjusts an insertion amount of the banknote bundle with respect to the tape ring according to a relative position of the banknote bundle and the tape set based on the size information. Processing equipment.

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