JP2006001665A - Bill processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bill processing device capable of effectively housing a large number of bills by effectively using a limited space. <P>SOLUTION: This bill processing device 1 is provided with a bill identifying part 2 for determining validity of the bill inserted into a bill insertion port 6, a bill housing case 40 for housing the bill in a vertical state, a conveying mechanism 30 for conveying the bill determined as valid in the bill identifying part 2 to the bill housing case in the vertical state, and upper part pushing mechanisms 32 and 62 for pushing the stacked bill to one side of the bill housing case by abutting an upper part of the bill conveyed to the bill housing case 40 in the vertical state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a banknote processing apparatus that identifies and stores banknotes, and is installed in a game hall where, for example, pachinko machines, slot machines, etc. (hereinafter collectively referred to as “game machines”) are installed. It relates to the banknote processing apparatus arrange | positioned.

  In general, in a game hall such as a pachinko hall, for the convenience of the player, pachinko balls and coins (game media) are placed between adjacent gaming machines in an area where many gaming machines are installed (also referred to as “islands”). ) Is installed in a vertically long game medium lending device. This game medium lending device is attached to a frame that is fixedly installed between each game machine, and a signal that prompts the lending of game media, for example, when a bill, a coin, a prepaid card or the like is inserted through a corresponding insertion slot. Is sent to the gaming machine.

  Specifically, the gaming medium lending device includes a bill identifying device (bill valid unit) for identifying the validity of an inserted bill, and a coin identifying device (coin selector unit) for identifying the validity of an inserted coin. , A recording medium processing device (card processing unit) for reading recording information and writing information by taking in a recording medium such as a prepaid card or an IC card, and controlling each of the devices, and encouraging lending of game media A control unit that transmits a signal to the gaming machine and a power supply unit are included.

Moreover, an above-described banknote identification apparatus is generally provided with the banknote identification part which identifies the inserted banknote, and accommodates the banknote conveyed by the banknote conveyance mechanism which conveys the banknote determined to be effective in the banknote identification part. The banknote processing unit is configured together with the banknote storage unit (safe), and after the banknote is identified, the banknote is conveyed and stored in the banknote storage unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Actual Kaihei 7-23757

  Usually, the banknote handling apparatus described above is based on the premise that an unused space secured between gaming machines is used so that adjacent players do not feel cramped. As shown, the banknote transport mechanism for identifying and transporting banknotes and the banknote storage section for storing banknotes are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the game medium lending device so as to fill the unused space. Yes. For this reason, there is little storage space of a banknote accommodating part, and it is difficult to make it the structure which accommodates many banknotes using the limited space.

  On the other hand, due to various factors such as the type of gaming machine and gaming machine installation conditions in the gaming hall, there is a need to increase the number of gaming machines installed in the gaming hall by reducing the distance between gaming machines as much as possible. The width of the banknote processing device is made as small as possible, the banknote processing device is stored compactly in the limited space between gaming machines, and moreover, a large number of banknotes can be efficiently stored in consideration of the labor of collection work. It is desirable to be able to do this.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a banknote processing apparatus that can efficiently use a limited installation space and efficiently accommodate a large number of banknotes. And

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the banknote handling apparatus described in claim 1 includes a banknote recognition unit that determines the effectiveness of a banknote inserted into a banknote insertion slot, and a banknote storage that stores the banknote in an upright state. A case, a banking mechanism that transports the banknote determined to be valid by the banknote recognition unit toward the banknote storage case in an upright state, and an upper part of the banknote transported in the banknote storage case in a standing state And an upper push-in mechanism for pushing the stacked banknotes into one side of the banknote storage case.

  In the banknote handling apparatus having such a configuration, banknotes that are determined to be valid by the banknote identification unit are conveyed toward the banknote storage case via the conveyance mechanism in an upright state. And the banknote introduced into the banknote storage case comes to be pressed against the one side of the banknote storage case by the upper pushing mechanism at the upper part, and as a result, the banknotes that are sequentially introduced stand up. Thus, the sheets are stacked and stored while being pressed against one side of the banknote storage case. In this way, since it is stacked and accommodated upright in the width direction, it is possible to secure the maximum number of sheets accommodated.

  Moreover, the banknote processing apparatus described in Claim 2 is applied to the lower part of the banknote conveyed to the banknote storage case in a standing state, and pushes the stacked banknote into one side of the banknote storage case. It is characterized by having.

  Thus, in addition to the upper push-in mechanism, the lower push-in mechanism is provided, so that it is possible to stably push the banknote in an upright state into one side of the banknote storage case, and to stably store the number of stored sheets. Can be increased.

  In the bill processing apparatus according to claim 3, the upper push-in mechanism includes a flap plate that is swingable and abuts against a surface of an upper region of the bill. The upper part of the banknotes carried in after the banknotes are brought into the carry-in space by forming a carry-in space for the newly transported banknotes by hitting the upper part of the banknotes in the stacked state. It is characterized by being swung so as to get over the area.

  By using the flap plate as described above for the upper push-in mechanism, when the banknote is introduced into the banknote storage case, in order to ensure the introduction space, the jam does not occur and the banknote is stably held. It is possible to accommodate a large number of banknotes while being introduced.

  According to the structure of this invention, the banknote processing apparatus which makes it possible to accommodate many banknotes efficiently is obtained using the limited installation space effectively.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a banknote handling apparatus 1 constituting a part of a game medium lending device installed between gaming machines. In this embodiment, on the lower side of the banknote processing apparatus 1 (not shown by being broken halfway in the figure), other devices constituting the game medium lending device, such as a coin identifying device, a recording medium processing device, Although a power supply device or the like is provided, the banknote handling apparatus 1 may be configured separately from these other apparatuses, and the banknote handling apparatus 1 is used alone or in the other space other than between the gaming machines. Needless to say, it may be installed together with the apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the banknote handling apparatus 1 includes a banknote recognition unit 2 that draws and identifies a banknote in a vertical state (standing state), and a banknote that is provided and identified below the banknote recognition unit 2. Is stored in a vertical state.

  The banknote recognition unit 2 includes a banknote insertion slot 6 into which a banknote in a vertical state is inserted, and a first transport mechanism 8 that transports the banknote inserted into the banknote insertion slot 6 in a vertical state and draws it into the interior (see FIGS. 2 and 2). 3). In this case, the bill insertion slot 6 is formed as a vertically long slit on the front surface of the housing case 1a of the bill processing apparatus 1, and has a width that can accept one bill.

  Further, as clearly shown in FIG. 3, the first transport mechanism 8 includes a pair of driving side and driven side roller assemblies 8A and 8B facing each other. These roller assemblies 8A and 8B hold the banknotes between them and rotate the conveyance belt 10 (described later) of the drive side roller assembly 8A in frictional contact with the banknotes, thereby rotating the banknotes along the longitudinal direction of the conveyance belt 10. Transport.

  Specifically, the drive-side roller assembly 8A extends along the bill insertion direction (the direction indicated by the arrow in FIGS. 1 and 2) and frictionally contacts a bill inserted through the bill insertion slot 6. Shaped conveyor belts (toothed belts) 10, 10. These conveyor belts 10 and 10 cooperate to form a banknote transport path, and are spaced apart in parallel in the vertical direction (direction perpendicular to the banknote insertion direction) and extend in the banknote insertion direction. A plurality of rollers (gears) 12a and 12b arranged along the belt are engaged (engaged). More specifically, each conveyor belt 10 is stretched over one drive roller 12a and a plurality of driven rollers 12b that are spaced apart from each other along the bill insertion direction. Driven by rotation. In this case, the driven rollers 12b and 12b of the conveyor belts 10 and 10 adjacent in the vertical direction are rotatably supported by a common fixed shaft 13 extending in the vertical direction. That is, in the present embodiment, a plurality of fixed shafts 13 extending in the vertical direction and spaced apart from each other along the bill insertion direction are fixed to the housing case 1a, and each fixed shaft 13 has a corresponding separate shaft. A pair of driven rollers 12b, 12b that respectively support the conveyor belt 10 are supported so as to be spaced apart from each other.

  On the other hand, the driving rollers 12a and 12a of the conveyor belts 10 and 10 adjacent in the vertical direction are fixed to a common rotating shaft 14 extending in the vertical direction. The rotating shaft 14 is rotatably supported by the housing case 1a, and one end of the rotating shaft 14 is connected to the first conveying motor M1 (FIGS. 2 and 4) via a gear train 15 including a plurality of gears meshing with each other. (See (a) of FIG. 1). Therefore, when the first conveyance motor M1 is driven, the rotation shaft of the first conveyance motor M1 rotates, and the rotational force is transmitted to the rotation shaft 14 via the gear train 15 to drive the drive roller 12a. The conveyor belt 10 that is rotated (engaged) around the drive roller 12a is rotated.

  On the other hand, the driven roller assembly 8B has a plurality of driven rollers 22 facing the rollers 12a and 12b of the driving roller assembly 8A. These driven rollers 22 are rotatably supported by a plurality of common fixed shafts 23 in the same form as the driven roller 12b in the driving roller assembly 8A, and the bills are between the driving roller 12a and the driven roller 12b. This can be conveyed while sandwiching.

  The fixed shaft 23 is supported by a frame 11 (see FIG. 4) that can rotate with respect to the driving roller assembly 8A (and therefore the housing case 1a that supports the driving roller assembly 8A). Further, the frame 11 is supported by the housing case 1a so as to be rotatable with respect to the driving side roller assembly 8A in conjunction with a swinging motion of a conveying roller pair 32 of a second conveying mechanism 30 described later. When the frame 11 rotates, the driven roller assembly 8B has a holding position where the driven roller 22 can hold a bill between the driving roller 12a and the driven roller 12b of the driving roller assembly 8A (FIG. 3). 3) and a retracted position where the driven roller 22 can be separated from the driving roller 12a and the driven roller 12b of the driving side roller assembly 8A to release the sandwiched state of the bills (see FIG. 3). It is possible to rotate between the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in the circular frame.

  Moreover, as FIG. 2 shows, the banknote identification part 2 is the 1st sensor S1 which detects carrying in / out of the banknote with respect to the banknote identification part 2, and several 2nd sensor S2 for identifying a banknote. Along the banknote transport path. In the present embodiment, these sensors S1 and S2 are, for example, reflective optical sensors, and are connected to a CPU mounted on a control board 38 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) supported by the housing case 1a. Yes.

  Moreover, the banknote accommodating part 4 conveys below the banknote accommodating case 40 provided in the downward direction of the banknote conveyance path | route, and the banknote identified by the banknote identification part 2 to the banknote accommodating case 40 with a perpendicular state. Transport mechanism 30.

  The banknote storage case 40 is formed of a box having a substantially rectangular cross section having an upper opening 40a that opens upward toward the banknote recognition unit 2 and a front opening 40b that opens forward. . Further, on both sides of the front edge portion of the banknote storage case 40, substantially arc-shaped cutouts 40c are provided so that banknotes stored in a bundle in the banknote storage case 40 can be picked up by fingers from the outside of the case. Is formed.

  An urging spring 47 is interposed between the bill housing case 40 and the housing case 1a. The biasing spring 47 connects the banknote storage case 40 and the housing case 1a, and constantly biases the banknote storage case 40 in a direction in which the banknote storage case 40 protrudes to the outside of the housing case 1a.

  A front door 43 is provided in front of the front opening 40b of the bill housing case 40 so as to face the front opening 40b. The lower edge of the front door 43 is rotatably attached to the housing case 1a via a support shaft 49, and the banknote storage case 40 is placed in the housing case 1a against the urging force of the urging spring 47. The closed position (the position indicated by the solid line in FIGS. 2 and 8) that closes the front opening 40b while being pushed in, and the open position (the dashed line in FIG. 10 that opens the front opening 40b toward the front of the housing case 1a). (Position shown) is rotatable around the support shaft 49.

  In the closed position of the front door 43, a locking hook 43a provided on the upper edge is detachably locked to the locking portion 50 of the housing case 1a. Further, the locking state between the locking hook 43a and the locking portion 50 is released by a door lock releasing solenoid 52 attached and fixed in the housing case 1a.

  Moreover, as clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, there are a plurality of second transport mechanisms 30 that transport the banknotes identified by the banknote recognition unit 2 downward to the banknote storage case 40 in a vertical state. In the present embodiment, three conveyance roller pairs 32 are provided. Each conveyance roller pair 32 includes a driving roller 55, a driven roller 56 that can project into the bill recognition unit 2, and a driving belt 55 and a driving belt 57 stretched over the driven roller 56. In this case, when the driven roller 56 protrudes into the bill recognition unit 2, the drive belt 57 comes into frictional contact with the bill in the bill recognition unit 2 and conveys it downward.

  Note that the bill guiding method by the second transport mechanism 30 does not necessarily have to be configured to transport the bill to the bill storage case 40 while keeping the bill strictly vertical. The configuration may be such that it is transported toward the storage case 40. Moreover, it is preferable to comprise so that the conveyance path | route to the banknote storage case 40 may be introduce | transduced from the edge part area | region of the banknote storage case 40 so that the number of sheets accommodated in a banknote storage case may increase.

  The driving roller 55 of each of the conveying roller pairs 32 described above is attached to a common rotating shaft 58. As shown in FIG. 4B, the rotary shaft 58 is coupled to the rotary shaft of the second transport motor M2 via a gear train 60 composed of a plurality of gears. Therefore, when the second conveyance motor M2 is driven, the rotation shaft of the second conveyance motor M2 rotates, and the rotational force is transmitted to the rotation shaft 58 via the gear train 60 and is transmitted to each conveyance roller pair. 32 drive rollers 55 are rotated, and a drive belt 57 stretched around the drive rollers 55 is rotated.

  Further, each transport roller pair 32 can be swung around the central axis of the drive roller 55 by a swing mechanism (not shown) so that the driven roller 56 protrudes into the bill recognition unit 2. Specifically, each conveyance roller pair 32 has a conveyance position (one point in FIG. 3) that causes the driven roller 56 to protrude into the banknote recognition unit 2 and the upper part of the drive belt 57 is brought into frictional contact with the banknotes in the banknote recognition unit 2. A position indicated by a chain line) and a retreat position (represented by a solid line in FIG. 3) for retracting the driven roller 56 from the bill recognition unit 2 so as not to prevent the introduction of the bill into the bill recognition unit 2 through the bill insertion slot 6. Oscillates between

  The swing mechanism that swings each pair of transport rollers 32 is connected to the frame 11 of the driven roller assembly 8B. As a result, the frame 11 of the driven roller assembly 8B rotates in conjunction with the swinging motion of the conveying roller pair 32 from the retracted position to the conveying position, and the driven roller assembly 8B is moved from the clamping position to the retracted position. It is moved to the position (the banknote clamping state by the driving side roller assembly 8A and the driven side roller assembly 8B is released). In this case, the swing mechanism may be driven by the second transport motor M2, or may be driven by a separately installed drive source.

  Moreover, the banknote accommodating part 4 pushes in the banknote B (or banknote bundle B '... refer FIG. 3) already accommodated in the banknote accommodating case 40 to the one side (one surface side) of the banknote accommodating case 40, Pushing means for forming a banknote drop space S (see FIG. 3) in the banknote storage case 40 below the banknote transport path transported by each transport roller pair 32 is provided. Specifically, this pushing means pushes the upper part of the banknote in the banknote storage case 40 into one side of the case 40, and forms a space for receiving the banknote in the upper part in the case 40 ( An upper pushing mechanism) and a second pushing mechanism (lower part) that pushes the lower part of the banknote in the banknote storage case 40 into one side of the case 40 and forms a space for receiving the banknote in the lower part of the case 40 Pushing mechanism).

  The first pushing mechanism only needs to press the banknote conveyed by the second conveyance mechanism 30 against one side of the banknote storage case 40. In the configuration of the present embodiment, each pair of conveyance rollers 32 is provided. For example, one flap plate 62 that swings integrally with each pair of conveying rollers 32. The flap plate 62 extends along the longitudinal direction of the banknote storage case 40, and can abut on or get over the upper edge of the banknote in the banknote storage case 40 as the conveyance roller pair 32 swings. Thereby, the space for receiving the banknote can be formed in the upper part of the case 40 by pushing the upper part of the banknote in the banknote storage case 40 into one side of the case 40 (about this) , Described later).

  Further, the second pushing mechanism abuts on the lower part of the bill conveyed to the bill housing case 40, and cooperates with the first pushing mechanism to place the entire bill on one side of the bill housing case 40. In the configuration of the present embodiment, a plurality of pushers 65 that are continuously struck and pushed toward the one side of the case 40 toward the lower side of the bills in the bill housing case 40. It is composed of

  These pushing bodies 65 have a plurality of blades 65b around the rotating main body 65a, and the blades 65b are continuously applied to the banknotes as the main body 65a rotates, whereby the banknotes are placed in the case 40. Continue to push into one side. Note that the second pushing mechanism may be a simple rotating roller having a columnar shape. However, the second pushing mechanism is formed by the pushing body 65 having a plurality of blades in the circumferential direction of the rotating body as in the present embodiment. It is preferable because banknotes can be smoothly dropped onto the bottom surface of the case accompanying the conveyance of the roller pair 32 without any obstacles.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the pushing body 65 is arrange | positioned at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the banknote storage case 40 on the outer side of the banknote storage case 40, and was formed in the lower part of the banknote storage case 40. The banknotes in the banknote storage case 40 are brought into contact with each other through a plurality of notched openings 70. Further, in the present embodiment, the opening 70 constitutes a regulating means for regulating the amount of protrusion of the banknote storage case 40 from the housing case 1 a due to the urging force of the urging spring 47 in cooperation with the pusher 65. It has become. That is, when the banknote storage case 40 protrudes from the housing case 1 a by a predetermined amount by the biasing force of the biasing spring 47, one end edge 70 a of the opening 70 comes into contact with the pusher 65, thereby further protruding the banknote storage case 40. Are now regulated.

  In the present embodiment, the rotation of the pusher 65 is interlocked with the conveying operation of the second conveying mechanism (conveying roller pair 32). Specifically, each pusher 65 is attached to a common rotating shaft 72, and this rotating shaft 72 is connected to the rotating shaft 58 of the second transport mechanism 30 via a belt / pulley mechanism 75. Yes. Therefore, when the rotary shaft 58 rotates, the rotary shaft 72 is rotated via the belt / pulley mechanism 75, and the pushers 65 are rotationally driven accordingly.

  The first transfer motor M1 and the second transfer motor M2 described above are connected to the control board 38, the detection signals from the sensors S1 and S2, and the CPU mounted on the control board 38. The rotation (drive, stop) is controlled by the control operation.

  Next, the operation of the bill processing apparatus 1 having the above configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, when the bill B is inserted into the bill insertion slot 6 in an upright state, the bill B is detected by the first sensor S1. In the present embodiment, when the bill B is inserted through the bill insertion slot 6, for example, the first sensor S1 is turned on. When the first sensor S <b> 1 is turned on, the first transport motor M <b> 1 is driven, and the bill B inserted through the bill insertion slot 6 is introduced into the bill recognition unit 2 by the transport belt 10. At this time, the transport roller pair 32 of the second transport mechanism 30 retracts the driven roller 56 from the bill recognition unit 2 so as not to prevent introduction of the bill B into the bill recognition unit 2 through the bill insertion slot 6. It has been rotated to the retracted position (see FIG. 5B).

  Further, while the banknote B is being transported by the transport belt 10 as described above, the second sensor S2 identifies the type and authenticity of the banknote. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the banknote B reaches the terminal position for banknote identification detection (for example, the position immediately after the rear end of the banknote B passes the second sensor S2), it is the second sensor S2. And the driving of the first transport motor M1 is stopped. Here, if the identification part of the control board 38 discriminate | determines that the banknote B is an improper banknote by the detection signal from 2nd sensor S2, banknote B will be reversely driven by the 1st conveyance motor M1. It is discharged out of the bill processing apparatus 1 through the bill insertion slot 6. On the other hand, when the identification unit determines that the bill B is an appropriate bill based on the detection signal from the second sensor S2, the first transport motor M1 is reversely driven by a predetermined amount, and the bill B is shown in FIG. Is positioned at the storage standby position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line (at this time, the driving of the first transport motor M1 is stopped).

  The reason why the bill B is once returned to the storage standby position in this manner is that the bill B should be transported by the transport belt 10 in the bill recognition unit 2 in order to detect the bill B by the second sensor S2. This is because there is a difference in the longitudinal dimension (depth dimension) of the compact banknote accommodating portion 4 that substantially corresponds to the length of the banknote B. Therefore, when the identification of the banknote B by the second sensor S2 is completed, the banknote B is once returned to the storage standby position so that the banknote B can be inserted into the upper opening 40a of the banknote storage case 40 of the banknote storage section 4. Thus, it is necessary to align the bill B on the upper opening 40a.

  The positioning state of the bill B with respect to the storage standby position as described above is detected by, for example, the second sensor S2, and the CPU of the control board 38 receives each detection roller via the swing mechanism based on the detection signal. The pair 32 is rotated to the transport position (see FIG. 7B) and the second transport motor M2 is driven.

  When the second transport motor M2 is driven, the drive belt 57 of each transport roller pair 32 is rotationally driven, and the pusher 65 is also rotated via the belt / pulley mechanism 75. The lower part of the stored banknote bundle B ′ is pushed into one side of the case 40, and a space for receiving the banknote B is formed in the lower part of the case 40.

  Moreover, when each conveyance roller pair 32 is rotated to the conveyance position, the driven roller 56 protrudes into the banknote recognition unit 2, and the banknote in which the upper part of the drive belt 57 is positioned at the storage standby position in the banknote identification unit 2. The upper portion of the banknote bundle B ′ already accommodated in the banknote storage case 40 is pushed into one side of the case 40 by the flap plate 62 integral with the conveying roller pair 32 while being in frictional contact with B (the flap plate 62 is In accordance with the movement of the conveyance roller pair 32 to the conveyance position, the position moves from the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. A space for receiving is formed.

  That is, a large introduction space is formed on the other surface side of the bill housing case 40 for the newly introduced bill by the rotation of the pusher 65 and the rotation of the flap plate 62 described above. . Therefore, by forming such an introduction space, the banknote is smoothly introduced into the banknote storage case without causing a jam or the like.

  Further, when each pair of transport rollers 32 is rotated to the transport position in this manner, the frame 11 of the driven roller assembly 8B is also rotated in conjunction with the rotation, so that the driven roller assembly 8B is moved from the clamping position to the retracted position. And the holding state of the bill B by the driving side roller assembly 8A and the driven side roller assembly 8B is released. Therefore, the banknote B located in the storage standby position is shown in FIG. 8 by the drive belt 57 of each conveyance roller pair 32 that rotates in frictional contact with the banknote B without any restriction from the roller assemblies 8A and 8B. Thus, it is conveyed downward into the bill housing case 40. At this time, the bill B is transported along the flap plate 62 (see FIG. 8B), and smoothly into the space S in the bill housing case 40 secured by the flap plate 62 and the pusher 65. It will be drawn. When the frictional contact state between the bill B and the transport roller pair 32 is released, the bill B has a space for receiving the bill B in the lower portion of the case 40 by the pusher 65. It can be smoothly dropped onto the bottom surface of the case 40 without any obstacle (see FIG. 9B).

  Further, when the next bill B is inserted into the bill insertion slot 6 following the above, it is detected by the first sensor S1, and each pair of transport rollers 32 is retracted from the transport position based on the detection signal. Moved to position. At this time, the flap plate 62 integral with the transport roller pair 32 comes into contact with the upper edge of the bill B that has fallen along the flap plate 62 by the above-described operation (see FIG. 9C) and overcomes this. (See (d) of FIG. 9) and prepares for the next bill bundle pushing operation.

  And when collect | recovering the banknote accommodated in the banknote storage case 40, by transmitting a lock release signal with respect to the door lock release solenoid 52, for example by a wireless type lock release controller, What is necessary is just to cancel | release the latching state of the latching hook 43a provided in the upper edge part, and the latching | locking part 50 of the housing case 1a. By releasing the locked state of both, the front door 43 can be opened, and by opening the front door 43, the banknote storage case 40 is no longer regulated, and the biasing force of the biasing spring 47 Thereby projecting to the outside of the housing case 1a (see the one-dot chain line in FIG. 10).

  In this case, the protruding amount of the bill housing case 40 is regulated by the one end edge 70 a of the opening 70 formed in the regulation means, that is, the bill housing case 40, contacting the pusher 65. And a banknote can be easily collect | recovered from the inside of the banknote storage case 40 if a banknote is picked through the notch 40c of the banknote storage case 40 partially protruded ahead, and a banknote is pulled out from the front side opening part 40b.

  As described above, in the banknote handling apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the banknote determined to be valid by the banknote recognition unit 2 stands up toward the banknote storage case 40 via the second transport mechanism 30. Be transported. And the banknote introduced into the banknote storage case 40 is pressed against one side of the banknote storage case by the upper pushing mechanism (the flap plate 62 or the like), and as a result, the banknotes are sequentially introduced. The coming banknotes are stacked and stored while being pressed against one side of the banknote storage case 40 in an upright state. In this way, the banknotes are stacked and accommodated upright in the width direction, so that it is possible to secure the maximum number of stored sheets.

  In this case, when the banknotes are transported by the second transport mechanism 30, the flap plate 62 abuts on the upper portion of the banknotes in a stacked state, forming a carry-in space for the newly transported banknotes, and After the banknotes are carried into the carry-in space, the banknotes are swung over the upper area of the carried-in banknotes and returned to the state where they hit the top banknote again. That is, when a banknote is introduced into the banknote storage case 40, it is possible to store a large number of banknotes while introducing the banknotes in a stable state without causing jams or the like in order to ensure an introduction space. It becomes.

  Moreover, in the structure of this embodiment, in addition to the above upper pushing mechanism, the lower pushing mechanism (pushing body 65 etc.) is arrange | positioned, and the standing banknote is stably pushed into the one surface side of a banknote accommodation case. This makes it possible to increase the number of sheets accommodated.

  Furthermore, in the banknote processing apparatus of the above-described embodiment, the banknote recognition unit 2 and the banknote storage case 40 are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction, and the upper side of the banknote storage case 40 is configured to receive banknotes via the second transport mechanism 30. Since the opening 40a is formed and the banknote validated by the banknote recognition unit 2 is sent as it is, the banknote storage case 40 can be installed in the entire width direction of the banknote processing apparatus. It is possible to accommodate the banknotes to the maximum while reducing the width of the card (reducing the installation space).

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be configured and implemented as follows, for example, in addition to the above-described embodiment.

  The present invention only needs to be configured so that the banknote is raised and pushed into one side of the banknote storage case 40, and the configuration of a specific pushing method can be modified as appropriate. Further, the structure of the transport mechanism for transporting banknotes, the drive means for driving the transport mechanism, the power transmission mechanism, and the like can be modified as appropriate.

  In addition to being installed between various gaming machines, the banknote handling apparatus of the present invention can be installed in various devices that handle banknotes, for example, external devices such as various vending machines.

The perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the banknote processing apparatus which concerns on this invention. The side view which shows the internal structure of a banknote processing apparatus. The front view which shows the internal structure of a banknote processing apparatus. (A) is a figure which shows the structure of the 1st conveyance mechanism which introduces a banknote, (b) is a figure which shows the structure of the 2nd conveyance mechanism which conveys a banknote to a banknote storage case. (A) is a side view which shows the state at the time of introducing a banknote into a banknote insertion slot, (b) is the front view. (A) is a side view which shows the state by which the banknote was introduce | transduced in the banknote identification part, (b) is the front view. (A) is a side view which shows the state just before a banknote is introduce | transduced in a banknote identification part, and is conveyed below, (b) is the front view. (A) is a side view which shows the state in which the banknote introduced in the banknote identification part is conveyed toward a downward banknote accommodation case, (b) is the front view. (A) is a side view which shows the state in which a banknote is conveyed to a banknote storage case, (b)-(d) is a figure which shows the pushing operation | movement of a banknote in order. The side view which shows the state which takes out the banknote accommodated in the banknote storage case.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Banknote processing apparatus 1a Housing case 2 Banknote identification part 6 Banknote insertion slot 8 1st conveyance mechanism 30 2nd conveyance mechanism 40 Bill accommodation case 43 Front door 62 Flap board

Claims (3)

A bill discriminating unit for discriminating the validity of a bill inserted into the bill insertion slot;
A bill storage case for storing bills in an upright state; and
A transport mechanism that transports the banknote determined to be valid by the banknote recognition unit in a standing state toward the banknote storage case;
An upper push-in mechanism that pushes the stacked banknotes into one side of the banknote storage case by hitting the upper part of the banknotes conveyed in a standing state to the banknote storage case,
A bill processing apparatus comprising:   The banknote according to claim 1, further comprising a lower push-in mechanism that presses the stacked banknotes into one side of the banknote storage case by contacting the lower part of the banknotes conveyed in a standing state on the banknote storage case. Processing equipment. The upper push-in mechanism includes a flap plate that can swing and abuts against the surface of the upper region of the banknote,
When the banknotes are transported by the transport mechanism, the flap plate abuts on the upper part of the banknotes in a stacked state to form a transporting space for newly transported banknotes, and the banknotes are transported into the transporting space. After that, the banknote processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the banknote processing apparatus is swung so as to get over an upper region of the banknotes carried in.

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