Paper Sheet Separation Transport Device and Paper Sheet Handling Device

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-064817, filed on Apr. 12, 2024, with the Japanese Patent Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a paper sheet separation transport device and a paper sheet handling device that include a separation function to prevent multi-feed.

A banknote separation transport device that takes out a banknote one by one from a bundle of banknotes set on a deposit part and that transports the banknote to be stored in a cashbox in the device is installed in a banknote handling device such as a banknote deposit machine, a banknote counting machine, or various types of automatic vending machines.

A multi-feed prevention mechanism is installed in the banknote separation transport device because accurate processing such as deposit processing and count processing including recognition is interrupted if multi-feed of banknotes occurs. One banknote having passed through the multi-feed prevention mechanism is subjected to judgment of authenticity, denomination, and the like by a recognition unit and a banknote that is judged to be acceptable is stored in the cashbox.

Japanese Patent No. 6427246 discloses a multi-feed prevention mechanism including a set-out roller that rotates in contact with a bottom part of a banknote bundle, a separation roller pair that blocks passing of second and subsequent banknotes when banknotes set out by the set-out roller are in a multi-feed state, and a drawing transport roller pair that draws and transports a first banknote that has a part remaining in a separating part.

However, since the set-out roller, the separation roller pair, and a drawing transport part are arranged substantially linearly along a flat transport surface, the length of the entire device in the transport direction is increased and downsizing of the device is difficult. Specifically, to downsize the device, the distance between a separating part and a drawing part in the drawing transport roller pair needs to be reduced as much as possible. However, there is a limitation in arranging these parts close to each other on a linear transport route in view of the diameter of each roller, a driving mechanism, and the like.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,662,490 discloses a configuration in which banknotes fed by a feeder pulley from a bundle of paper sheets on a paper feed bin are transported to an acceptor module through an S-shaped route that is formed by separation of the banknotes into one banknote by being turned over upward along the outer circumferential surface of a high friction wheel, and drawing transport of the banknote while the banknote is further turned over to the opposite direction along the outer circumferential surface of a reverse roller located immediately above the high friction wheel. An auxiliary roller that assists the drawing nips the reverse roller to form a drawing roller pair and a banknote is drawn and transported with a high frictional resistance of the nip part of this roller pair.

The separating part comprises a high friction wheel and a fixed belt that is fixedly placed in a state where a part thereof is in sliding contact with the outer circumferential surface of the high friction wheel. When a banknote fed by rotation of the feeder pulley enters the interface between the high friction wheel and the fixed belt, the banknote is transported upward by rotation of the high friction wheel. When two banknotes enter the interface, the second banknote is stopped by the frictional force of the fixed belt and only the first banknote is allowed to advance.

The leading edge of the banknote having passed through the separating part enters the nip part of the drawing roller pair described above and the drawing transport is performed. The fixed belt is stationary and is just tensioned, and does not have a function to draw a separated banknote.

That is, the fixed belt is obviously dedicated to separation and does not have a function of drawing transport. Since the fixed belt forms the curved separating part with the high friction wheel, the fixed belt becomes a high resistance to pulling transport by the drawing roller pair and is likely to become a cause of jam occurrence.

As proof of this, in a practical device to which the invention according to U.S. Pat. No. 8,662,490 is applied, a plurality of rollers (bearings) with an extremely small diameter of about 2 to 3 mm are additionally arranged along the fixed belt to reduce adverse effects of the frictional resistance of the fixed belt and facilitate turnover transport at the time of separation.

Since advancement of multi-fed banknotes is blocked by a high frictional resistance of the fixed belt, the fixed belt becomes a large resistance also when one banknote passes the fixed belt. In order to transport a banknote under a large resistance of the fixed belt upward, the transport is facilitated by drawing the banknote with a large force of the drawing roller pair. This is because the fixed belt does not travel or move in the banknote transport direction and does not function to draw and transport a banknote.

In practical products, the frictional resistance between the high friction wheel and the fixed belt is too high. Therefore, a banknote cannot be smoothly drawn upward only with the drawing transport force of the drawing roller pair. Accordingly, a plurality of extremely small bearings are arranged along the fixed belt to reduce the transport resistance produced by the fixed belt.

However, in practice, realization of downsizing by upward transport of banknotes makes it impossible to provide a sufficient space or arrangement space to arrange the bearings. Therefore, to decrease the transport resistance, there is no other choice other than to arrange rollers with an extremely small diameter that are greatly downsized and that have a low function. As a result, it is possible that multi-fed banknotes are not separated causing a jam to occur.

At the time of drawing of a banknote immediately after separation, it is ideal that the banknote is quickly drawn with a large force by rotating the reverse roller at a higher speed than that of the high friction wheel. It is not impossible to create a difference in the speed by a mechanical structure such as gears using one drive source to realize such a difference in the transport speed. However, in such a case, when the drawing speed needs to be about 30% higher than the transport speed of the high friction wheel, for example, the speed difference can be realized only with adoption of a combination of many complicated gears. Therefore, the device cannot be downsized because the number of components is increased.

Furthermore, since the high friction wheel and the reverse roller for the drawing transport are driven by one motor, driving of the separating part and driving of the reverse roller cannot be independently controlled. Accordingly, the drawing operation interferes with the separating operation and the transport speed difference described above cannot be obtained. Therefore, quick drawing with a large force becomes difficult and the reliability of the separating operation decreases.

In the drawing roller pair, a banknote is drawn out by the nip part of the roller pair being a point. In order to realize this configuration, a large transport force needs to be produced by applying a significantly high pressure (grip weight) between the reverse roller and the auxiliary roller. Accordingly, drive load is increased, the durability of the components is decreased, and the robustness against environmental changes is lost.

Since the configuration described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,662,490 realizes return processing of a banknote as well as deposit processing of a banknote, the separating part cannot be stopped at the time of a return operation. Therefore, there is a problem that adverse effects on a banknote to be returned due to interference of the separation roller and adverse effects on the durability of components such as the separation roller occur, which decreases reliability.

This problem similarly occurs also in devices that process other paper sheets such as securities, tickets, and ballot papers, as well as banknotes.

The embodiments of the present invention have been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a paper sheet separation transport device and a paper sheet handling device that solve various problems occurring due to downsizing.

In order to solve the above problems, a paper sheet separation transport device according to the embodiments of the present invention includes, a tray on which a paper sheet bundle is set, a set-out part that sets out paper sheets from a paper sheet bundle on the tray, a separating part that allows only a first paper sheet to pass and sends the paper sheet downstream and to block second and subsequent paper sheets from advancing when the paper sheets set out from the set-out part are in a multi-fed state, a first motor that drives the set-out part and the separating part, a drawing transport part that draws and transports the first paper sheet with a part thereof remaining in the separating part, a storage transport part that is driven by a second motor to receive the paper sheet discharged from the drawing transport part and to transport the paper sheet further downstream, and a controller that controls various control targets, wherein the separating part includes a feed roller that rotates on an axis of a feed roller shaft and that is brought into contact with a surface of a paper sheet set out by the set-out part to transport the paper sheet when rotating forward, and a frictional separation member that forms a separation nip part with the feed roller and that blocks advancement of second and subsequent paper sheets, the drawing transport part includes at least two idle rollers that are supported about an axis at portions of the feed roller shaft on both sides of the feed roller in an axial direction to be rotatable (be fixed in the axial direction), and endless drawing belts that each form a curved drawing transport route with (in contact with) a curved outer circumferential surface of an associated one of the idle rollers and that travel in a drawing direction to turn the first paper sheet in a direction intersecting with a direction of set-out by the set-out part in cooperation with the idle rollers and transport the paper sheet, and the drawing belts are driven by the second motor.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a paper sheet separation transport device and a paper sheet handling device that solve various problems occurring due to downsizing.

The present invention will be described in detail below with embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

is an exterior perspective view of one example of a paper sheet separation transport device according to the embodiments of the present invention.

are front views illustrating an internal configuration of the paper sheet separation transport device, and separation transport, storing, and return operations thereof.is an internal configuration diagram illustrating a state immediately before an inlet sensor detects a banknote and starts driving motors in a state where a bundle of banknotes is set on a paper feed tray, andis an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where set-out of banknotes is started.illustrates a state where a feed roller rotates to start separation, andis an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where a banknote leading edge starts being transported toward a storage transport route (a banknote storing part).illustrates a state where a banknote back edge has passed through a drawing transport part, andis an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where a banknote is stopped at an escrow position to perform recognition and judgment.is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where a banknote is to be returned.is a perspective view illustrating a specific configuration example of the set-out part, the separating part, and the drawing transport part according to one embodiment of the present invention.

While banknotes are mainly described as one example of paper sheets in the present specification, the present device is also applicable to separation and transport of paper sheets other than banknotes. The paper sheets also include sheets made of a resin or other materials as well as sheets made of paper.

A banknote separation transport deviceis a unit that is installed in or provided along with a banknote handling device, such as a banknote deposit machine, an automatic vending machine or a game media dispensing machine in a game hall, to perform processing of receiving banknotes and discharging rejected banknotes. The banknote separation transport deviceis described in detail below.

The banknote separation transport deviceschematically includes a first module Mdincluding a deposit processing unit Uand a storage unit U, a second module (including a cashbox CB) Mdremovably coupled to the first module Md, a controller (CPU, MPU, ROM, RAM, and the like)that controls various control targets, and the like.

The deposit processing unit Uis a unit that receives a deposited banknote to transport the banknote to the storage unit Uor discharges a rejected banknote returned from the storage unit Uto outside the device.

The deposit processing unit Uincludes a housing H, a paper feed tray (a tray, a deposit part)that is removably attached to the front surface of the housing H and on which banknotes before being supplied into the housing H are mounted in a stacked state, a set-out part (a set-out rollerand a pick pusher)that takes out a banknote one-by-one from the topmost part of a banknote bundle on the paper feed tray to supply the banknote into the housing H, a separating part (a feed rollerand a brake roller)that allows only a first banknote Bto pass sending the banknote downstream and blocks second and subsequent banknotes from advancing when banknotes set out by the set-out partare in a multi-fed state, a drawing transport partthat is located close to the feed rollerconstituting the separating partto form a drawing transport routeand that draws out one banknote Bhaving a part remaining in the separating partsending the banknote downstream (to the storage unit U) by rotating forward, and a first motor Mthat drives various driven members constituting the set-out partand the separating part(a set-out and separation mechanism (separation unit)).

The drawing transport routeis a curved contact travel region formed by idle rollersand drawing beltsillustrated inwhile being in contact with each other. A banknote having passed through the drawing transport routeand having been transported upward is transported in the upward direction by being further lifted by the drawing beltsand guided by a transport guide member. Second reverse rollers, that each reverse the associated drawing beltat an upper part in the clockwise direction, guide a banknote to the side of a storage transport routein the storage unit Uby rotating in the clockwise direction (rotating forward).

A flapperserves to switch the banknote transport direction. The flapperis a sort unit that guides a banknote having been transported to the position of the second reverse rollersby the drawing beltstoward the storage transport route, and that guides a banknote transported reversely from the storage transport routetoward a return transport route. The flapperis supported by a pivot shafton the axis to be capable of rotationally moving in an upper-lower direction to close a passage from the drawing transport routetoward the storage transport routeby lowering a right end part (a leading edge part) by the own weight balance of the flapperin normal times (an initial attitude). At the time of passing of a banknote, lifted by the drawing belts, the right end part is pushed up by the banknote and the flapperallows the banknote to move to the right. When the back edge of the banknote passes the right end part of the flapper, the flapperreturns to the initial attitude.

When a banknote once having moved into the storage transport routeis judged by a recognition unitto be unacceptable, the controllercauses motors Mand Mto reversely rotate transport membersandconstituting the storage transport route, thereby transporting the banknote reversely toward the flapper. Since the flapperis in the initial attitude at this stage, the rejected banknote passes on the flapperfrom the back edge part to enter the return transport route. A return roller pair (transport members)is arranged on the return transport routeand is driven by the second motor Min a direction to discharge a banknote. A return banknote storage trayis placed at the terminal end part of the return transport routeand discharged return banknotes are sequentially stored therein.

The return transport routeis arranged above and substantially parallel to a set-out route from the set-out part toward the separating part, and the return banknote storage trayis arranged above and substantially parallel to the paper feed tray. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first motor Mdrives the set-out and separation mechanism (the separation unit)and the second motor Mdrives the transport member. Therefore, these components do not interfere with each other and a stable separating operation and a stable return transport operation can be realized.

The storage unit Uincludes the storage transport route (a storage transport mechanism, a storage transport part)that receives a banknote B transported by the drawing beltsconstituting the drawing transport partto transport the banknote to the inside, the recognition unitthat judges the denomination, the authenticity, and the like of a banknote transported downstream on the storage transport routeby combined use of an optical or magnetic sensor, and the like. A banknote judged to be acceptable as a result of the recognition is transported downstream to be stored in the cashbox CB included in the second module Md, and a banknote (a rejected banknote) judged to be unacceptable is transported reversely to be discharged to the return banknote storage traythrough the deposit processing unit U. The storage unit Ufurther includes the second motor Mthat drives the transport members (such as a gear and a roller)located upstream of the storage transport routeand the return roller pair, and the third motor Mthat drives the transport members (such as a gear and a roller)located downstream of the storage transport route.

One characteristic configuration of the embodiments of the present invention is that the drawing transport partis driven by the second motor Mincluded in the banknote storage unit U. That is, the second motor Mdrives the drawing transport partand the return roller pairas well as the transport rollerslocated upstream of the storage transport route.

The third motor Mdrives the transport roller grouplocated from a midstream part to a downstream part of the storage transport route. A transport roller pairlocated at the most downstream part of the storage transport routeis a unit that discharges a banknote to the cashbox CB.

Configurations and operations of the set-out part, the separating part, and the drawing transport partare described next.

As illustrated in, the set-out rollerconstituting the set-out partis fixed to a shaft partthat rotates by drive from the first motor M, and a downstream timing pulleyis coaxially fixed to the set-out rolleron the side of one surface thereof. The downstream timing pulleyreceives the drive from the first motor Mvia a timing beltprovided endlessly in a tensioned manner between the downstream timing pulleyand an upstream timing pulleyprovided on the side of the feed roller.

The separating partincludes a feed roller shaftdriven by the first motor M, the feed rollerthat is supported by the feed roller shaftto be rotatable on the axis thereof, and that is brought into contact with a surface of a first banknote set out by the set-out partto transport the first banknote when rotating forward, and the brake roller (a frictional separation member)that forms a separation nip part Nwith the feed rollerto block second and subsequent banknotes from advancing. The feed rollermay have a configuration in which the axis thereof is fixed to the feed roller shaftto enable both to rotate together. However, in a case where a drive transmission delay mechanism D described later is adopted, the feed rolleris not necessarily directly fixed to the feed roller shaft.

The drawing transport partincludes at least two idle rollers (freely rotating members)that are supported about an axis (unfixed in the rotation direction and fixed in the position in the axial direction) at feed roller shaftportions on both sides of the feed rollerin the axial direction to be rotatable, and endless drawing beltsthat are each in contact with the curved outer circumferential surface of an associated idle rollerto form the curved drawing transport route (a drawing nip part)and that rotate (rotate forward) in the drawing direction to turn a first banknote in a direction (obliquely upward) intersecting with the direction of set-out by the set-out part (the direction in which the banknote passes the separation nip part N) in cooperation with the idle rollersto transport the banknote.

Each of the drawing beltsis endlessly provided in a tensioned manner by a first reverse roller (a driven roller)that is arranged to form the drawing transport routewith the outer circumferential surface of the associated idle roller, and the second reverse roller (a driving roller). The first reverse rollersform a banknote introducing partof the drawing transport routebetween the drawing beltsand the associated idle rollers. The second reverse rollersreverse the associated drawing beltsto cause a banknote introduced from the banknote introducing partto be transported toward the storage transport routeafter passing through a downstream end part (a paper sheet discharge part)of the drawing transport route. Each of the first reverse rollershas an axis rotatably supported in a free unfixed state by a first shaftthat is rotationally driven by the first motor M. That is, the first reverse rollersare driven rollers that do not rotate to follow the rotation of the first shaft. The drawing beltsare driven by the rotation of the associated second reverse rollersfunctioning as driving rollers.

The feed rollerand the idle rollersare coaxially assembled on the feed roller shaftand the outer circumferential surfaces thereof are located at substantially the same positions in the radial direction. Therefore, while the feed rolleris slightly in contact with a central portion of a banknote, there is no positive grip and a large transport resistance is not produced.

The drawing beltsdraw up a banknote having passed through the separation nip part Nand the feed rolleris rotationally driven by a minimum necessary angle only at the time of separation. Accordingly, the feed rolleris not involved with the operation of drawing up a banknote after the separation and does not have a function to draw up a banknote. Even when the feed rolleris rotated to follow the drawing beltswith a banknote interposed therebetween by an action of the drive delay transmission mechanism D described later, the members that draw up the banknote are the drawing belts.

In one embodiment, the circumferential surfaces of the idle rollersare low friction such that slip occurs between the circumferential surfaces and a banknote. The circumferential surfaces of the drawing beltsare higher in friction so that slip is unlikely to occur between the circumferential surfaces and a banknote.

The idle rollersserve to bring the drawing beltsinto contact with a banknote, and a banknote is pressed against the outer circumferential surfaces of the low frictional resistance of the idle rollersdue to the tension applied to the drawing belts, and produces a transport grip force in cooperation with the frictional resistances of the drawing belts.

The idle rollersshould be made of a rigid material that is not flexibly deformed by pressure from the drawing belts. In one embodiment, the width of the outer circumferential surface of each of the idle rollersis substantially the same as that of the associated drawing beltin the form of a narrow band or wider than the width of the drawing belt.

While being a direction upward by about 90 degrees in, the “direction intersecting with the direction of set-out by the set-out part” widely includes directions bent or curved upward (non-parallel directions) with respect to the surface direction of banknotes set out on the paper feed tray.

The banknote introducing partof the drawing transport routeis formed at a portion where the drawing belt, having been turned to the upper direction by the first reverse rollerrotating in the clockwise direction, is first brought into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the idle roller. One banknote having passed through the separation nip part Nis brought into contact with the drawing beltsurface (a portion inclined to the obliquely upper right direction inand other figures) before the banknote introducing part, so that the banknote is smoothly drawn obliquely upward to be immediately drawn into the banknote introducing part

The banknote having passed through the paper sheet discharge partis transported upward between the drawing beltand the transport guide member, and is subsequently introduced to the inlet of the storage transport routealong a reverse route between the outer circumferences of the second reverse rollersand a transport guide member.