JP7473913B2 - Paper handling equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a paper processing device.

There is a sheet-like recording medium sorting device in which one or two output modules are connected to a basic module, and an emergency output pocket is provided at the output of the output module connected to the end opposite the basic module (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this device, if a malfunction occurs due to, for example, a failure of the control device, it cannot be guaranteed that the banknotes will be placed in the correct output pocket of the output module, so in such a case, the banknotes are supplied to the emergency output pocket.

JP 2002-507803 A

However, there is a demand for paper processing devices that can effectively utilize limited configurations to achieve multi-functionality.

Therefore, the present invention provides a paper processing device that can effectively utilize a limited configuration to achieve multi-functionality.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a base machine having an input section into which paper sheets are input from outside the machine, an identification and conveying section which conveys the paper sheets input into the input section, a recognition section which identifies the paper sheets being conveyed by the identification and conveying section, a reject conveying section which receives paper sheets from the identification and conveying section and conveys them, a reject section which removes paper sheets conveyed by the reject conveying section to the outside of the machine, an outboard conveying section which receives paper sheets that have been properly identified by the recognition section from the identification and conveying section and conveys them towards the outside of the machine, an operation section, and a display section; an additional conveying section which is connectable to the base machine and receives paper sheets that have been properly identified by the recognition section and conveyed by the outboard conveying section and conveys them towards the outside of the machine on the opposite side to the base machine; a processing and conveying section which branches off from the additional conveying section and conveys the paper sheets; and a processing section which processes the paper sheets conveyed by the processing and conveying section. and an end pocket that can be connected to the base machine and the addition unit and that accepts paper sheets transported by the outward conveying section or the addition conveying section at the end of the conveying position. This paper sheet processing device is configured by connecting at least the base machine and the end pocket, and is characterized in that it has a detection means for detecting that paper sheets are being transported normally in the range from the outward conveying section to the end pocket, and a control unit that, when an end pocket counting mode is selected on the operation unit, transports paper sheets that have been inserted into the insertion section and identified normally by the recognition section and detected as being transported normally by the detection means to the end pocket , and causes a display unit to display the denomination and number of paper sheets transported to the end pocket .

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect described above , when the terminal pocket counting mode is selected on the operation unit, the control unit transports paper sheets that have been inserted into the insertion unit and not properly recognized by the recognition unit to the reject unit, and displays on the display unit the fact that paper sheets that have not been properly recognized are present.

The third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the first or second aspect is configured with the base machine and the terminal pocket that is adjacent to and connected to the base machine.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to third aspects, characterized in that the base machine and the expansion unit are provided with a connection detection means for detecting whether the expansion units are adjacently connected, whether the terminal pockets are adjacently connected, or whether nothing is adjacently connected.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned fourth aspect, the control unit makes the terminal pocket counting mode selectable only when the connection detection means detects that the terminal pocket is connected.

The present invention provides a paper sheet processing device that can effectively utilize a limited configuration to achieve multi-functionality.

1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration example of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view showing a base machine constituting a paper sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a front view showing a base machine constituting a paper sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view showing a first extension unit that can be used to configure a paper sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a front view showing a schematic diagram of a first extension unit that can be used to configure a paper sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a second expansion unit that can be used in the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a third extension unit that can be used in the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a front view showing a fourth add-on unit that can be used to configure the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic diagram of a trailing end pocket constituting the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a minimum configuration of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 11 is a perspective view showing a first extension unit that can be used to configure a paper sheet processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 11 is a front view showing a display example of an operation display unit of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a front view showing a display example of an operation display unit of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[First embodiment]
A paper sheet processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the paper sheet processing device 1 according to the first embodiment is configured by combining a base machine 2, for example, a plurality of types of first to fourth add-on units 3 to 6, and a terminal pocket 7. Here, the paper sheet processing device 1 according to the first embodiment is manufactured by selecting and setting at least one of the number and type of the plurality of types of first to fourth add-on units 3 to 6 and combining them with the base machine 2 and the terminal pocket 7. Specifically, the paper sheet processing device 1 is a banknote processing device that processes banknotes S among various types of paper sheets. The paper sheet processing device 1 is configured by connecting various first to fourth add-on units 3 to 6 that are appropriately selected by user operation, etc., to the base machine 2 as the mother body, and connecting the terminal pocket 7 to the position furthest from the base machine 2.

<Base unit 2>
2 and 3, the base machine 2 is a banknote sorter that sorts banknotes S, and performs a predetermined sorting process on banknotes S inserted from outside the machine by an operator. For example, the base machine 2 performs a sorting process in which the banknotes S inserted from outside the machine by an operator are identified, counted by denomination, and sorted by denomination, and a sorting process in which multiple batches of banknotes S are identified and counted for each batch, and separated and stacked for each batch.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base machine 2 has an input section 15 provided on the right side surface 11 on the right side when viewed from the operator's side of the machine and opening continuously to the right side surface 11 and the front surface 12 of the machine on the operator's side, and a reject section 16 provided above the input section 15 on the right side surface 11 and opening continuously to the right side surface 11 and the front surface 12 of the machine.

The operator inserts banknotes S into the insertion section 15 from outside the machine. At this time, the banknotes S are stacked vertically in the insertion section 15 with their long sides aligned along the front-to-rear direction of the machine body and their short sides aligned along the left-to-right direction of the machine body, and placed on the bottom surface 17. The insertion section 15 moves the banknotes S thus loaded and stacked one by one, starting from the bottom one, with their short sides aligned along the transport direction, and pays them out to the left of the machine body. The banknotes S move with their long sides aligned along the front-to-rear direction of the machine body throughout the entire paper sheet processing device 1 shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the base machine 2 has an identification and transport unit 21 that receives and transports banknotes S inserted into and dispensed from the insertion unit 15, and an identification unit 22 that identifies banknotes S being transported by the identification and transport unit 21. The identification and transport unit 21 extends horizontally from the insertion unit 15 toward the left side 24 opposite the right side 11 of the machine body, and then extends upward. The identification unit 22 is provided in this horizontally extending portion of the identification and transport unit 21.

The base machine 2 has an outward conveying section 28 that extends from the upper end of the identification and conveying section 21 toward the left side surface 24 and opens at an opening 29 on the left side surface 24. The base machine 2 also has a reject conveying section 27 that extends from the upper end of the identification and conveying section 21 toward the right side surface 11 and is connected to the reject section 16. At the upper end position of the identification and conveying section 21, a sorting section 30 is provided that sorts the banknotes S conveyed by the identification and conveying section 21 to the outward conveying section 28 and the reject conveying section 27. In other words, the sorting section 30 switches the destination of the banknotes S from the identification and conveying section 21 to the outward conveying section 28 and the reject conveying section 27. The outward conveying section 28 and the reject conveying section 27 receive the banknotes S from the identification and conveying section 21 and convey them. The outward conveying section 28 accepts the banknotes S that have been properly identified by the identification section 22 from the identification and conveying section 21 and conveys them outward from the base machine 2.

The base machine 2 has multiple, specifically three, branching conveying sections 31 to 33 that branch off from the middle of the reject conveying section 27. The base machine 2 has a sorting section 34 at the branching conveying section 31 that sorts the banknotes S of the reject conveying section 27 to the branching conveying section 31 and the side closer to the reject section 16 than the branching conveying section 31 of the reject conveying section 27. The base machine 2 also has a sorting section 35 at the branching conveying section 32 that sorts the banknotes S of the reject conveying section 27 to the branching conveying section 32 and the side closer to the reject section 16 than the branching conveying section 32 of the reject conveying section 27. The base machine 2 also has a sorting section 36 at the branching conveying section 33 that sorts the banknotes S of the reject conveying section 27 to the branching conveying section 33 and the side closer to the reject section 16 than the branching conveying section 33 of the reject conveying section 27, i.e., the reject section 16.

The reject unit 16 receives banknotes S from the end of the rejected transport unit 27 and stacks the banknotes S thus fed so that they can be removed to the outside. In other words, the reject unit 16 removes the banknotes S transported by the rejected transport unit 27 from the machine. Specifically, the reject unit 16 stacks banknotes S that cannot be properly recognized by the recognition unit 22, for example. Therefore, the rejected transport unit 27 accepts and transports banknotes S that cannot be properly recognized by the recognition unit 22 from the recognition and transport unit 21. The rejected transport unit 27 also accepts and transports banknotes S that can be properly recognized by the recognition unit 22 from the recognition and transport unit 21.

The reject unit 16 has a bottom surface 37, a wall surface 38, and a vane wheel 39 that causes the banknotes S dispensed from the reject transport unit 27 to come into contact with the wall surface 38 and fall toward the bottom surface 37. Thus, the reject unit 16 stacks the dispensed banknotes S vertically and places them on the bottom surface 37.

The branch conveying sections 31-33 all branch downward from the reject conveying section 27, and multiple, specifically three, stacking sections 41-43 of the same shape are provided below them in a left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the stacking sections 41-43 open to the front surface 12 of the machine body. As shown in FIG. 3, the leftmost stacking section 41 of the stacking sections 41-43 is connected to the leftmost branch conveying section 31 of the branch conveying sections 31-33, the middle stacking section 42 is connected to the middle branch conveying section 32, and the rightmost stacking section 43 is connected to the rightmost branch conveying section 33. The stacking sections 41-43 are provided above the recognition section 22.

The stacking unit 41 stacks the banknotes S fed from the branching transport unit 31 so that they can be removed from the front surface 12 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the stacking unit 41 has a bottom plate 45 that is inclined slightly downward to the right from the horizontal and can be raised and lowered, a wall surface 46 that extends upward on the right side of the bottom plate 45, and a vane wheel 47 that is disposed on the upper part of the wall surface 46 and causes the banknotes S fed from the branching transport unit 31 to abut against the wall surface 46 and fall toward the bottom plate 45. Thus, the banknotes S fed to the stacking unit 41 are stacked vertically on the bottom plate 45. The bottom plate 45 moves vertically depending on the amount of banknotes S stacked in the stacking unit 41.

Stacking units 42 and 43 have the same structure as stacking unit 41, with stacking unit 42 stacking banknotes S fed from branching transport unit 32 so that they can be removed to the outside, and stacking unit 43 stacking banknotes S fed from branching transport unit 33 so that they can be removed to the outside. Stacking units 41 to 43 select and stack banknotes S that have been properly recognized by recognition unit 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base machine 2 has a touch panel type operation display unit 55 on its front surface 12, which receives operation inputs from the operator and displays information to the operator. As shown in FIG. 3, the base machine 2 also has a banknote detection sensor 51 (detection means) located near the opening 29 in the outward conveying section 28, which detects and counts banknotes S while detecting the conveying state in the outward conveying section 28. The banknote detection sensor 51 detects whether the conveying state of the banknotes S is normal conveying with no skewing or double feeding, or abnormal conveying with skewing, double feeding, etc.

The base machine 2 is also provided with a control unit 56 that controls the input unit 15, the reject unit 16, the recognition and transport unit 21, the recognition unit 22, the reject transport unit 27, the machine outward transport unit 28, the sorting unit 30, the branch transport units 31-33, the sorting units 34-36, the stacking units 41-43, and the banknote detection sensor 51, etc., such as sorting the banknotes S to the reject unit 16 and the stacking units 41-43 based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 22. The control unit 56 controls the entire base machine 2, and is also connected via an interface to the first to fourth additional units 3-6 shown in FIG. 1 that are connected to the base machine 2 and constitute the same paper sheet processing device 1, and outputs control commands. As shown in FIG. 3, the base machine 2 is provided with a power supply unit 57 that is connected to an external power source and supplies power to each unit of the base machine 2.

The base unit 2 can be connected adjacently to the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 1 on its left side 24 side. When any one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7 is connected adjacently to the upper left side 24 of the base unit 2, a connection receiving hole 2b is formed as shown in FIG. 3 to fit the connection pins of the adjacent ones to be connected among the connection pin 3a of the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5, the connection pin 4a of the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6, the connection pin 5a of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7, the connection pin 6a of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8, and the connection pin 7a of the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 9.

The base unit 2 has a connection detection sensor 2c (connection detection means, end pocket detection means) that detects whether the one connected adjacent to the left side surface 24 of the connecting pins 3a to 7a connected to the connecting receiving hole 2b is one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 or the end pocket 7.

That is, when the connection detection sensor 2c detects that the connecting pin 3a of the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 2b, it detects that the first expansion unit 3 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 24 of the base unit 2, and when the connection detection sensor 2c detects that the connecting pin 4a of the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 2b, it detects that the second expansion unit 4 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 24 of the base unit 2. Also, when the connection detection sensor 2c detects that the connecting pin 5a of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 2b, it detects that the third expansion unit 5 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 24 of the base unit 2, and when the connection detection sensor 2c detects that the connecting pin 6a of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 2b, it detects that the fourth expansion unit 6 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 24 of the base unit 2. In addition, when the connection detection sensor 2c detects that the connection pin 7a of the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 9 is engaged with the connection receiving hole 2b, it detects that the terminal pocket 7 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 24 of the base unit 2, and when none of the connection pins 3a to 7a are detected in the connection receiving hole 2b, it detects that none of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7 are adjacently connected to the left side surface 24 of the base unit 2.

The connection detection sensor 2c of the base unit 2 detects whether the first expansion unit 3 is adjacently connected to the base unit 2, the second expansion unit 4 is adjacently connected to the base unit 2, the third expansion unit 5 is adjacently connected to the base unit 2, the fourth expansion unit 6 is adjacently connected to the base unit 2, the terminal pocket 7 is adjacently connected to the base unit 2, or nothing is adjacently connected to the base unit 2. The connection detection sensor 2c also detects whether the terminal pocket 7 is adjacently connected to the base unit 2. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the connection detection sensor 2c shown in FIG. 3 detects the connection pin 3a shown in FIG. 5, and detects that the first expansion unit 3 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 24 of the base unit 2 as shown in FIG. 1.

<First expansion unit 3>
As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the first expansion unit 3 has an opening 60 at the top of the right side 61 of the machine body, an expansion conveying section 64 that extends horizontally and linearly toward the left side 62 opposite the right side 61 and opens at an opening 63 at the top of the left side 62, and a processing conveying section 65 that branches off from the middle position on the left side 62 side of the expansion conveying section 64 and extends downward. The openings 60 and 63 of the expansion conveying section 64 are aligned in height with the opening 29 of the outward conveying section 28 of the base machine 2 shown in Fig. 3. When the first expansion unit 3 is connected adjacent to the base machine 2 so that its right side 61 is overlapped, for example, on the left side 24 of the base machine 2 as shown in Fig. 1, the expansion conveying section 64 receives and conveys the banknotes S from the opening 29 of the outward conveying section 28 of the base machine 2 shown in Fig. 3, which is outside the first expansion unit 3, at the opening 60 shown in Fig. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first expansion unit 3 has a sorting section 66 that sorts the banknotes S transported from the opening 60 to the opening 63 by the additional transport section 64 to the processing transport section 65 and the side of the processing transport section 65 of the additional transport section 64 that is closer to the opening 63. The first expansion unit 3 has a banknote detection sensor 67 (detection means) at a position near the opening 60 in the additional transport section 64 that detects and counts the banknotes S received in the opening 60 while detecting the transport state in the additional transport section 64. The first expansion unit 3 also has a banknote detection sensor 68 (detection means) at a position closer to the opening 63 than the processing transport section 65 of the additional transport section 64 that detects and counts the banknotes S fed from the opening 63 while detecting the transport state in the additional transport section 64. The banknote detection sensors 67 and 68 detect whether the transport state of the banknotes S is normal transport without skewing or double feeding, or abnormal transport with skewing, double feeding, etc.

The processing and transporting unit 65 has a main transport unit 70 that receives banknotes S from the intermediate position of the additional transport unit 64 and transports them downward, and three branching units 71 to 73 that branch off from the main transport unit 70. The branching units 71 to 73 are arranged in a line in the vertical direction of the machine body, and branch off from the main transport unit 70 towards the right side surface 61.

The first expansion unit 3 has a sorting section 74 at the branching section 71 position that sorts the banknotes S of the main transport section 70 to the branching section 71 and the branching section 72 side of the main transport section 70 relative to the branching section 71. The first expansion unit 3 also has a sorting section 75 at the branching section 72 position that sorts the banknotes S of the main transport section 70 to the branching section 72 and the branching section 73 side of the main transport section 70 relative to the branching section 72. The first expansion unit 3 also has a sorting section 76 at the branching section 73 position that sorts the banknotes S of the main transport section 70 to the branching section 73 and the side opposite the additional transport section 64 of the main transport section 70. The banknote detection sensor 67 is also used as a timing sensor when switching the sorting sections 66, 74 to 76.

The first expansion unit 3 has a plurality of stacking units 81-84 (processing units) of the same shape, specifically four, on the right side of the ends of the branching units 71-73 and the main transport unit 70. The stacking units 81-84 are arranged in a line in the vertical direction. Each of the stacking units 81-84 performs a stacking process of receiving and stacking the banknotes S fed from the processing transport unit 65, and opens on the front of the body of the first expansion unit 3. The topmost stacking unit 81 of the stacking units 81-84 is connected to the topmost branching unit 71 of the branching units 71-73, the topmost stacking unit 81 of the stacking units 81-84 is connected to the branching unit 72 below the branching unit 71, the stacking unit 82 below the stacking unit 81 is connected to the branching unit 73 below the branching unit 72, the stacking unit 83 below the stacking unit 82 is connected to the end of the main transport unit 70, and the bottommost stacking unit 84 is connected to the end of the main transport unit 70.

The stacking section 81 stacks the banknotes S fed from the branching section 71 so that they can be removed from the front of the first expansion unit 3. The stacking section 81 has a bottom surface 88 that is inclined slightly downward to the right from the horizontal, a wall plate section 89 that is arranged vertically above the bottom surface 88 and can move left and right, and a blade wheel 90 that is arranged on the left side of the bottom surface 88 and pushes the banknotes S fed from the branching section 71 toward the wall plate section 89 by abutting them against the bottom surface 88. Therefore, the banknotes S fed to the stacking section 81 are stacked in the left and right direction and are removed forward from the opening on the front of the first expansion unit 3. The wall plate section 89 moves left and right depending on the amount of banknotes S stacked in the stacking section 81.

Stacking units 82 to 84 have the same structure as stacking unit 81, with stacking unit 82 stacking banknotes S fed from branching unit 72 so that they can be removed to the outside, stacking unit 83 stacking banknotes S fed from branching unit 73 so that they can be removed to the outside, and stacking unit 84 stacking banknotes S fed from the end of the main transport unit 70 so that they can be removed to the outside.

Inside the first expansion unit 3, there is provided a control unit 95 as shown in FIG. 5, which is communicatively connected to the base device 2 shown in FIG. 3, receives control commands from the control unit 56, and controls the first expansion unit 3 based on the control commands. In addition, the first expansion unit 3 is provided with a power supply unit 96 that is connected to an external power source and supplies power to each part of the first expansion unit 3.

The first expansion unit 3 can be selectively connected adjacently to the base unit 2 and the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6, including another first expansion unit 3, on its right side 61 side. The first expansion unit 3 can be selectively connected adjacently to the other first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6, including another first expansion unit 3, and the terminal pocket 7 on its left side 62 side, which is the side opposite the base unit 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first expansion unit 3 has a connecting pin 3a on the upper part of its right side surface 61 that, when it is connected adjacent to any one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 including the base unit 2 and the other first expansion unit 3, fits into the connecting receiving hole of the one that is adjacent to and connected among the connecting receiving hole 2b of the base unit 2 shown in FIG. 3, the connecting receiving hole 3b of the other first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5 (described later), the connecting receiving hole 4b of the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6 (described later), the connecting receiving hole 5b of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7 (described later), and the connecting receiving hole 6b of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8 (described later).

As shown in FIG. 5, the first expansion unit 3 has a connection receiving hole 3b formed on the upper part of its left side surface 62 into which the connecting pins of the adjacent ones to be connected among the connecting pin 3a of the other first expansion unit 3, the connecting pin 4a of the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6, the connecting pin 5a of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7, the connecting pin 6a of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8, and the connecting pin 7a of the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 9 are fitted when any one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 including the other first expansion unit 3 and the terminal pocket 7 is connected adjacently.

The first expansion unit 3 has a connection detection sensor 3c (connection detection means, end pocket detection means) that detects whether the one connected adjacent to the left side surface 62 of the connecting pins 3a to 7a connected to the connecting receiving hole 3b is one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 or the end pocket 7.

That is, when the connection detection sensor 3c detects that the connecting pin 4a of the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6 is engaged with the connecting receiving hole 3b, it detects that the second expansion unit 4 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 62 side of the first expansion unit 3, and when the connection detection sensor 3c detects that the connecting pin 5a of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7 is engaged with the connecting receiving hole 3b, it detects that the third expansion unit 5 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 62 side of the first expansion unit 3. Also, when the connection detection sensor 3c detects that the connecting pin 6a of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8 is engaged with the connecting receiving hole 3b, it detects that the fourth expansion unit 6 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 62 side of the first expansion unit 3, and when the connection detection sensor 3c detects that the connecting pin 7a of the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 9 is engaged with the connecting receiving hole 3b, it detects that the terminal pocket 7 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 62 side of the first expansion unit 3. In addition, when the connection detection sensor 3c shown in FIG. 5 detects that the connection pin 3a of another first expansion unit 3 is engaged in the connection receiving hole 3b, it detects that another first expansion unit 3 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 62 of the first expansion unit 3 including this connection detection sensor 3c, and when none of the connection pins 3a to 7a are detected in the connection receiving hole 3b, it detects that none of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7 are adjacently connected to the left side surface 62 of the first expansion unit 3 including this connection detection sensor 3c.

Therefore, the connection detection sensor 3c provided in the first expansion unit 3 detects whether the first expansion unit 3 is adjacently connected to the first expansion unit 3, whether the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6 is adjacently connected to the first expansion unit 3, whether the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7 is adjacently connected to the first expansion unit 3, whether the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8 is adjacently connected to the first expansion unit 3, whether the end pocket 7 shown in FIG. 9 is adjacently connected to the first expansion unit 3, or whether nothing is adjacently connected to the first expansion unit 3. In addition, the connection detection sensor 3c detects whether the end pocket 7 is adjacently connected to the first expansion unit 3. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the connection detection sensor 3c shown in FIG. 5 detects the connection pin 4a shown in FIG. 6, and detects that the second expansion unit 4 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 62 side of the first expansion unit 3 as shown in FIG. 1.

<Second expansion unit 4>
The second expansion unit 4 can be connected to the base machine 2, the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 including another second expansion unit 4, and the terminal pocket 7. As shown in FIG. 6, the second expansion unit 4 has an opening 100 at the top of the right side 101 of the machine body, an expansion transport section 104 that extends horizontally and linearly toward the left side 102 opposite the right side 101 and opens at an opening 103 at the top of the left side 102, and a processing transport section 105 that branches off from the middle position on the left side 102 side of the expansion transport section 104 and extends downward. The openings 100 and 103 of the expansion transport section 104 are aligned in height with the openings 60 and 63 of the expansion transport section 64 of the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5. As shown in Figure 1, when the second expansion unit 4 is connected adjacent to the first expansion unit 3, for example, with its right side surface 101 overlapping the left side surface 62 of the first expansion unit 3, the expansion conveying section 104 receives and conveys banknotes S from the opening 63 of the expansion conveying section 64 of the first expansion unit 3 shown in Figure 5, which is outside the second expansion unit 4, at the opening 100 shown in Figure 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, the second expansion unit 4 has a sorting section 106 that sorts the banknotes S transported from the opening 100 to the opening 103 by the additional transport section 104 to the processing transport section 105 and the opening 103 side of the processing transport section 105 of the additional transport section 104. The second expansion unit 4 has a banknote detection sensor 107 (detection means) at a position near the opening 100 in the additional transport section 104, which detects and counts the banknotes S received at the opening 100 while detecting the transport state in the additional transport section 104. The second expansion unit 4 also has a banknote detection sensor 108 (detection means) at a position closer to the opening 103 than the processing transport section 105 of the additional transport section 104, which detects and counts the banknotes S fed from the opening 103 while detecting the transport state in the additional transport section 104. The banknote detection sensors 107 and 108 detect the transport state of the banknotes S, whether they are being transported normally with no skewing or double feeding, or whether they are being transported abnormally with skewing, double feeding, etc.

The processing and transporting section 105 has a main transport section 110 that receives banknotes S from an intermediate position of the additional transport section 104 and transports them downward, and a branching section 111 that branches off from the main transport section 110. The branching section 111 branches off from the main transport section 110 toward the right side surface 101. The second additional unit 4 has a sorting section 114 at the position of the branching section 111 that sorts banknotes S from the main transport section 110 to the branching section 111 and the side opposite the additional transport section 104 from the branching section 111 of the main transport section 110. The banknote detection sensor 107 is also used as a timing sensor when switching between the sorting sections 106 and 114.

The second expansion unit 4 has multiple, specifically two, stacking units 121, 122 (processing units) on the right side of the branching unit 111 and the end of the main transport unit 110. The stacking units 121, 122 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. Each of the stacking units 121, 122 performs a stacking process of receiving and stacking banknotes S fed from the processing transport unit 105, and opens at the front of the body of the second expansion unit 4. Of the stacking units 121, 122, the upper stacking unit 121 is connected to the branching unit 111, and the lower stacking unit 122 is connected to the end of the main transport unit 110.

The stacking section 121 stacks the banknotes S fed from the branching section 111 so that the fed banknotes S can be taken out from the front of the body of the second expansion unit 4. The stacking section 121 has a bottom plate section 126 that is arranged horizontally and can be raised and lowered, a wall surface 127 that is arranged vertically to the left of the bottom plate section 126, and a blade wheel 128 that is arranged on the top of the wall surface 127 and causes the banknotes S fed from the branching section 111 to abut against the wall surface 127 and fall onto the bottom plate section 126. Thus, the banknotes S fed to the stacking section 121 are stacked vertically on the bottom plate section 126 and are taken out forward from the opening on the front of the second expansion unit 4. The bottom plate section 126 moves vertically depending on the amount of banknotes S stacked in the stacking section 121.

The stacking section 122 has a similar structure to the stacking section 121, and stacks the banknotes S fed from the end of the main transport section 110 so that they can be removed to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 6, a control unit 135 is provided inside the second expansion unit 4, which is communicatively connected to the base machine 2 shown in FIG. 3, receives control commands from the control unit 56, and controls the second expansion unit 4 based on the control commands. The second expansion unit 4 is also provided with a power supply unit 136 that is connected to an external power source and supplies power to each part of the second expansion unit 4. The stacking units 121 and 122 each have a larger stackable amount of banknotes S than the stacking units 81 to 84 of the first expansion unit 3.

The second expansion unit 4 can be selectively connected adjacently to the base unit 2 and the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6, each including another second expansion unit 4, on its right side 101 side. The second expansion unit 4 can be selectively connected adjacently to the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6, each including another second expansion unit 4, and the terminal pocket 7 on its left side 102 side, which is the side opposite the base unit 2.

As shown in FIG. 6, the second expansion unit 4 has a connecting pin 4a on the upper part of its right side surface 101 that, when connected adjacent to any one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 including the base unit 2 and another second expansion unit 4, fits into the connecting receiving hole of the one that is adjacent to and connected among the connecting receiving hole 2b of the base unit 2 shown in FIG. 3, the connecting receiving hole 3b of the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5, the connecting receiving hole 4b of the other second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6, the connecting receiving hole 5b of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7, and the connecting receiving hole 6b of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 6, the second expansion unit 4 has a connection receiving hole 4b formed on the upper part of its left side surface 102 into which the connecting pins of the connecting pins that are adjacent and connected among the connecting pin 3a of the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5, the connecting pin 4a of the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6, the connecting pin 5a of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7, the connecting pin 6a of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8, and the connecting pin 7a of the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 9 are fitted when any one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 including the other second expansion unit 4 is connected adjacently.

The second expansion unit 4 has a connection detection sensor 4c (connection detection means, end pocket detection means) that detects whether the one connected adjacent to the left side surface 102 of the connecting pins 3a to 7a connected to the connecting hole 4b is one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 or the end pocket 7.

That is, when the connection detection sensor 4c of the second expansion unit 4 detects that the connecting pin 3a of the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 4b, it detects that the first expansion unit 3 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 102 side of the second expansion unit 4, and when the connection detection sensor 4c detects that the connecting pin 5a of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 4b, it detects that the third expansion unit 5 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 102 side of the second expansion unit 4. Also, when the connection detection sensor 4c detects that the connecting pin 6a of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 4b, it detects that the fourth expansion unit 6 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 102 side of the second expansion unit 4, and when the connection detection sensor 4c detects that the connecting pin 7a of the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 9 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 4b, it detects that the terminal pocket 7 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 102 side of the second expansion unit 4. In addition, when the connection detection sensor 4c detects that the connection pin 4a of another second expansion unit 4 is engaged in the connection receiving hole 4b, it detects that another second expansion unit 4 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 102 of the second expansion unit 4 including this connection detection sensor 4c, and when none of the connection pins 3a to 7a are detected in the connection receiving hole 4b, it detects that none of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7 are adjacently connected to the left side surface 102 of the second expansion unit 4 including this connection detection sensor 4c.

Therefore, the connection detection sensor 4c provided in the second expansion unit 4 detects whether the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5 is connected adjacent to the second expansion unit 4, whether the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6 is connected adjacent to the second expansion unit 4, whether the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7 is connected adjacent to the second expansion unit 4, whether the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8 is connected adjacent to the second expansion unit 4, whether the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 9 is connected adjacent to the second expansion unit 4, or whether nothing is connected adjacent to the second expansion unit 4. In addition, the connection detection sensor 4c detects whether the terminal pocket 7 is connected adjacent to the second expansion unit 4. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the connection detection sensor 4c shown in FIG. 6 detects the connection pin 5a shown in FIG. 7, and detects that the third expansion unit 5 is connected adjacent to the left side surface 102 side of the second expansion unit 4 as shown in FIG. 1.

<Third Expansion Unit 5>
The third expansion unit 5 can be connected to the base machine 2, the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 including another third expansion unit 5, and the terminal pocket 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the third expansion unit 5 has an opening 140 at the top of the right side 141 of the machine body, an expansion transport section 144 that extends horizontally and linearly toward the left side 142 opposite the right side 141 and opens at an opening 143 at the top of the left side 142, and a processing transport section 145 that branches off from the middle position on the left side 142 side of the expansion transport section 144 and extends downward. The openings 140 and 143 of the expansion transport section 144 are aligned in height with the openings 100 and 103 of the expansion transport section 104 of the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6. As shown in Figure 1, when the third expansion unit 5 is connected adjacent to the second expansion unit 4, for example, with its right side surface 141 overlapping the left side surface 102 of the second expansion unit 4, the expansion conveying section 144 receives and conveys banknotes S from the opening 103 of the expansion conveying section 104 of the second expansion unit 4 shown in Figure 6, which is outside the third expansion unit 5, at the opening 140 shown in Figure 7.

7, the third expansion unit 5 has a sorting section 146 that sorts the banknotes S transported from the opening 140 to the opening 143 by the additional transport section 144 to the processing transport section 145 and the side of the additional transport section 144 closer to the opening 143 than the processing transport section 145. The third expansion unit 5 has a banknote detection sensor 147 (detection means) at a position near the opening 140 in the additional transport section 144, which detects and counts the banknotes S received in the opening 140 while detecting the transport state in the additional transport section 144. The third expansion unit 5 also has a banknote detection sensor 148 (detection means) at a position closer to the opening 143 than the processing transport section 145 of the additional transport section 144, which detects and counts the banknotes S fed from the opening 143 while detecting the transport state in the additional transport section 144. The banknote detection sensors 147 and 148 detect the transport state of the banknotes S, whether they are being transported normally with no skewing or double feeding, or whether they are being transported abnormally with skewing, double feeding, etc.

The processing and transporting section 145 has a main transport section 150 that receives banknotes S from the intermediate position of the additional transport section 144 and transports them downward, and branch sections 151 and 152 that branch off from the main transport section 150. The branch sections 151 and 152 branch off from the main transport section 150 toward the right side surface 141. The third additional unit 5 has a sorting section 154 at the branch section 151 that sorts banknotes S of the main transport section 150 to the branch section 151 and the branch section 152 side of the main transport section 150, and a sorting section 155 at the branch section 152 that sorts banknotes S of the main transport section 150 to the branch section 152 and the side opposite the additional transport section 144 from the branch section 152 of the main transport section 150. The banknote detection sensor 147 is also used as a timing sensor when switching between the sorting units 146, 154, and 155.

The third expansion unit 5 has multiple, specifically three, stacking sections 161-163 (processing sections) of the same shape on the right side of the branching sections 151, 152 and the end of the main transport section 150. The stacking sections 161-163 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. Each of the stacking sections 161-163 performs a stacking process of receiving and stacking banknotes S fed from the processing transport section 145, and opens at the front of the body of the third expansion unit 5. The uppermost stacking section 161 of the stacking sections 161-163 is connected to the upper branching section 151 of the branching sections 151, 152, the middle stacking section 162 is connected to the lower branching section 152, and the lowermost stacking section 163 is connected to the end of the main transport section 150.

The stacking section 161 stacks the banknotes S fed from the branching section 151 so that the fed banknotes S can be removed from the front of the body of the third expansion unit 5 to the outside. The stacking section 161 has a bottom surface 168 that slopes downward to the right from the horizontal, a wall plate section 169 that is arranged vertically above the bottom surface 168 and can move left and right, and a blade wheel 170 that is arranged on the left side of the bottom surface 168 and pushes the banknotes S fed from the branching section 151 toward the wall plate section 169 by abutting them against the bottom surface 168. Therefore, the banknotes S fed to the stacking section 161 are stacked in the left and right direction and are removed forward from the opening on the front of the third expansion unit 5. The wall plate section 169 moves left and right depending on the amount of banknotes S stacked in the stacking section 161.

Stacking units 162 and 163 have the same structure as stacking unit 161, with stacking unit 162 stacking banknotes S fed from branching unit 152 so that they can be removed to the outside, and stacking unit 163 stacking banknotes S fed from the end of main transport unit 150 so that they can be removed to the outside.

Inside the third expansion unit 5, as shown in FIG. 7, there is provided a control unit 175 that is communicatively connected to the base machine 2 shown in FIG. 3, receives control commands from the control unit 56, and controls the third expansion unit 5 based on the control commands. The third expansion unit 5 is also provided with a power supply unit 176 that is connected to an external power source and supplies power to each part of the third expansion unit 5. The stacking units 161 to 163 each have a larger amount of banknotes S that can be stacked than the respective stacking units 81 to 84 of the first expansion unit 3, and a smaller amount of banknotes S that can be stacked than the respective stacking units 121 and 122 of the second expansion unit 4.

The third expansion unit 5 can be selectively connected adjacently to the base unit 2 and the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6, including another third expansion unit 5, on its right side 141 side. The third expansion unit 5 can be selectively connected adjacently to the other first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6, including another third expansion unit 5, and the terminal pocket 7 on its left side 142 side, which is the side opposite the base unit 2.

As shown in FIG. 7, the third expansion unit 5 has a connecting pin 5a on the upper part of its right side surface 141 that, when it is connected adjacent to any one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 including the base unit 2 and another third expansion unit 5, fits into the connecting receiving hole of the one that is adjacent to and connected among the connecting receiving hole 2b of the base unit 2 shown in FIG. 3, the connecting receiving hole 3b of the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5, the connecting receiving hole 4b of the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6, the connecting receiving hole 5b of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7, and the connecting receiving hole 6b of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 7, the third expansion unit 5 has a connection receiving hole 5b formed on the upper part of its left side surface 142 into which the connecting pins of the connecting pins that are adjacent to and connected among the connecting pin 3a of the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5, the connecting pin 4a of the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6, the connecting pin 5a of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7, the connecting pin 6a of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8, and the connecting pin 7a of the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 9 are fitted when any one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 including the other third expansion unit 5 is connected adjacent to and connected.

The third expansion unit 5 has a connection detection sensor 5c (connection detection means, end pocket detection means) that detects whether the one connected adjacent to the left side surface 142 of the connecting pins 3a to 7a connected to the connecting hole 5b is one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 or the end pocket 7.

That is, when the connection detection sensor 5c of the third expansion unit 5 detects that the connecting pin 3a of the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 5b, it detects that the first expansion unit 3 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 142 side of the third expansion unit 5, and when the connection detection sensor 5c detects that the connecting pin 4a of the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 5b, it detects that the second expansion unit 4 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 142 side of the third expansion unit 5. Also, when the connection detection sensor 5c detects that the connecting pin 6a of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 5b, it detects that the fourth expansion unit 6 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 142 side of the third expansion unit 5, and when the connection detection sensor 5c detects that the connecting pin 7a of the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 9 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 5b, it detects that the terminal pocket 7 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 142 side of the third expansion unit 5. In addition, when the connection detection sensor 5c detects that the connection pin 5a shown in FIG. 7 of another third expansion unit 5 is engaged in the connection receiving hole 5b, it detects that another third expansion unit 5 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 142 of the third expansion unit 5 including this connection detection sensor 5c, and when none of the connection pins 3a to 7a are detected in the connection receiving hole 5b, it detects that none of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7 are adjacently connected to the left side surface 142 of the third expansion unit 5 including this connection detection sensor 5c.

Therefore, the connection detection sensor 5c provided in the third expansion unit 5 detects whether the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5 is connected adjacent to the third expansion unit 5, whether the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6 is connected adjacent to the third expansion unit 5, whether the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7 is connected adjacent to the third expansion unit 5, whether the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8 is connected adjacent to the third expansion unit 5, whether the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 9 is connected adjacent to the third expansion unit 5, or whether nothing is connected adjacent to the third expansion unit 5. The connection detection sensor 5c also detects whether the terminal pocket 7 is connected adjacent to the third expansion unit 5. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the connection detection sensor 5c shown in FIG. 7 detects the connection pin 6a shown in FIG. 8, and detects that the fourth expansion unit 6 is connected adjacent to the left side surface 142 side of the third expansion unit 5 as shown in FIG. 1.

<Fourth extension unit 6>
The fourth expansion unit 6 can be connected to the base machine 2, the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 including another fourth expansion unit 6, and the terminal pocket 7. As shown in FIG. 8, the fourth expansion unit 6 has an opening 180 at the top of the right side 181 of the machine body, an expansion transport section 184 that opens at an opening 183 at the top of the left side 182 and extends horizontally and linearly toward the left side 182 opposite the right side 181, and a processing transport section 185 that extends downward from the middle position on the left side 182 side of the expansion transport section 184. The openings 180 and 183 of the expansion transport section 184 are aligned in height with the openings 140 and 143 of the expansion transport section 144 of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7. As shown in Figure 1, when the fourth expansion unit 6 is connected adjacent to the third expansion unit 5 with its right side surface 181 overlapping, for example, the left side surface 142 of the third expansion unit 5, the expansion conveying section 184 receives and conveys banknotes S from the opening 143 of the expansion conveying section 144 of the third expansion unit 5 shown in Figure 7, which is outside the fourth expansion unit 6, at the opening 180 shown in Figure 8.

8, the fourth expansion unit 6 has a sorting section 186 that sorts the banknotes S transported from the opening 180 to the opening 183 by the additional transport section 184 to the processing transport section 185 and the side of the additional transport section 184 closer to the opening 183 than the processing transport section 185. The fourth expansion unit 6 has a banknote detection sensor 187 (detection means) at a position near the opening 180 in the additional transport section 184, which detects and counts the banknotes S received in the opening 180 while detecting the transport state in the additional transport section 184. The fourth expansion unit 6 also has a banknote detection sensor 188 (detection means) at a position closer to the opening 183 than the processing transport section 185 in the additional transport section 184, which detects and counts the banknotes S fed from the opening 183 while detecting the transport state in the additional transport section 184. The banknote detection sensors 187 and 188 detect the transport state of the banknotes S, whether they are being transported normally with no skewing or double feeding, or whether they are being transported abnormally with skewing, double feeding, etc.

The processing and conveying unit 185 is connected on the opposite side to the additional conveying unit 184 to a bundling unit 189 (processing unit) that stacks and bundles a predetermined number of banknotes S (100 sheets).

The processing and transporting section 185 has a main transport section 190 that receives banknotes S from the intermediate position of the additional transport section 184 and transports them downward, and a branch section 191 that branches off from the main transport section 190. The branch section 191 branches off from the main transport section 190 toward the right side surface 181. The fourth additional unit 6 has a sorting section 194 at the position of the branch section 191 that sorts banknotes S from the main transport section 190 to the branch section 191 and the side opposite the additional transport section 184 from the branch section 191 of the main transport section 190. The banknote detection sensor 187 is also used as a timing sensor when switching between the sorting sections 186 and 194.

The bundling section 189 has multiple, specifically two, alignment/stacking sections 201, 202 on the right side of the branching section 191 and the end of the main transport section 190. The alignment/stacking sections 201, 202 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. Each of the alignment/stacking sections 201, 202 receives banknotes S fed from the processing/transport section 185 and performs alignment/stacking processing to align and stack a predetermined number of bundling units (specifically 100 sheets) in the vertical direction in a horizontal position. Of the alignment/stacking sections 201, 202, the upper alignment/stacking section 201 is connected to the branching section 191, and the lower alignment/stacking section 202 is connected to the end of the main transport section 190.

The bundling unit 189 has a descending conveying unit 204 to the right of the alignment/stacking units 201 and 202, which places the stacked banknotes S sent from the alignment/stacking units 201 and 202 to the right while remaining horizontal and conveys them downward vertically. The bundling unit 189 also has a bundling mechanism unit 205 below the alignment/stacking unit 202, which uses bundling tape to bundle up the loose banknotes S in a predetermined number of bundling units and to create a small bundle of banknotes S integrated with the bundling tape by bundling the stacked banknotes S conveyed downward by the descending conveying unit 204 and sent from the descending conveying unit 204 to the left of the machine body while remaining horizontal.

The bundling mechanism 205 creates small bundles of banknotes S one by one, and has clamping members 207, 208 that clamp the stacked banknotes S sent from the descending transport section 204 to the left of the machine body from above and below, bending them into a V shape. While the clamping members 207, 208 clamp the stacked banknotes S, they wrap bundling tape around them, glue and cut them, and then pull out the clamping members 207, 208 from the bundling tape to create a small bundle of banknotes S.

The bundling unit 189 further has a retractable external discharge unit 211 below the bundling mechanism unit 205, which accepts the small bundles of banknotes S produced by the bundling mechanism unit 205. The external discharge unit 211 can be retracted from the front of the body of the fourth expansion unit 6. In other words, the external discharge unit 211 accepts the small bundles of banknotes S from the bundling mechanism unit 205 while being pushed into the body, and then the small bundles of banknotes can be removed from the machine by being retracted from the front. A door 216 is provided on the front of the body of the fourth expansion unit 6 at the position of the alignment stacking units 201 and 202, allowing the fractional banknotes S of the alignment stacking units 201 and 202 to be removed from the machine.

Inside the fourth expansion unit 6, as shown in FIG. 8, there is provided a control unit 225 that is communicatively connected to the base device 2 shown in FIG. 3, receives control commands from the control unit 56, and controls the fourth expansion unit 6 based on the control commands. In addition, the fourth expansion unit 6 is provided with a power supply unit 226 that is connected to an external power source and supplies power to each part of the fourth expansion unit 6.

The fourth expansion unit 6 can be selectively connected adjacently to the base unit 2 and the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6, including another fourth expansion unit 6, on its right side 181 side. The fourth expansion unit 6 can be selectively connected adjacently to the other first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6, including another fourth expansion unit 6, and the terminal pocket 7 on its left side 182 side, which is the side opposite the base unit 2.

As shown in FIG. 8, the fourth expansion unit 6 has a connecting pin 6a on the upper part of its right side surface 181 that, when it is connected adjacent to any one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 including the base unit 2 and another fourth expansion unit 6, fits into the connecting receiving hole of the one that is adjacent to and connected among the connecting receiving hole 2b of the base unit 2 shown in FIG. 3, the connecting receiving hole 3b of the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5, the connecting receiving hole 4b of the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6, the connecting receiving hole 5b of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7, and the connecting receiving hole 6b of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 8, the fourth expansion unit 6 has a connection receiving hole 6b formed on the upper part of its left side surface 182 into which the connecting pins of the connecting pins 3a of the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5, the connecting pin 4a of the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6, the connecting pin 5a of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7, the connecting pin 6a of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8, and the connecting pin 7a of the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 9 that are adjacent and connected when any one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 including the other fourth expansion unit 6 is connected adjacent to the terminal pocket 7 are formed.

The fourth expansion unit 6 has a connection detection sensor 6c (connection detection means, end pocket detection means) that detects whether the one connected adjacent to the left side surface 182 of the connecting pins 3a to 7a connected to the connecting receiving hole 6b is one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 or the end pocket 7.

That is, when the connection detection sensor 6c of the fourth expansion unit 6 detects that the connecting pin 3a of the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 6b, it detects that the first expansion unit 3 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 182 side of the fourth expansion unit 6, and when the connection detection sensor 6c detects that the connecting pin 4a of the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 6b, it detects that the second expansion unit 4 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 182 side of the fourth expansion unit 6. Also, when the connection detection sensor 6c detects that the connecting pin 5a of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 6b, it detects that the third expansion unit 5 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 182 side of the fourth expansion unit 6, and when the connection detection sensor 6c detects that the connecting pin 7a of the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 9 is engaged in the connecting receiving hole 6b, it detects that the terminal pocket 7 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 182 side of the fourth expansion unit 6. In addition, when the connection detection sensor 6c detects that the connection pin 6a of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8 is engaged with the connection receiving hole 6b, it detects that another fourth expansion unit 6 is adjacently connected to the left side surface 182 of the fourth expansion unit 6 including this connection detection sensor 6c, and when none of the connection pins 3a to 7a are detected in the connection receiving hole 6b, it detects that none of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7 are adjacently connected to the left side surface 182 of the fourth expansion unit 6 including this connection detection sensor 6c.

Therefore, the connection detection sensor 6c provided in the fourth expansion unit 6 detects whether the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5 is connected adjacent to the fourth expansion unit 6, whether the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6 is connected adjacent to the fourth expansion unit 6, whether the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7 is connected adjacent to the fourth expansion unit 6, whether the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 9 is connected adjacent to the fourth expansion unit 6, or whether nothing is connected adjacent to the fourth expansion unit 6. In addition, the connection detection sensor 6c detects whether the terminal pocket 7 is connected adjacent to the fourth expansion unit 6. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the connection detection sensor 6c shown in FIG. 8 detects the connection pin 7a shown in FIG. 9, and detects that the terminal pocket 7 is connected adjacent to the left side surface 182 side of the fourth expansion unit 6 as shown in FIG. 1.

<Terminal pocket 7>
The terminal pocket 7 can be selectively connected to the base unit 2 and the first to fourth extension units 3 to 6. As shown in FIG. 9, the terminal pocket 7 has an opening 230 at the top of a right side surface 231. The terminal pocket 7 is a storage pocket that receives the banknotes S fed into the opening 230 and stores them by accumulating them in a horizontal position in the vertical direction on a bottom surface 235. The terminal pocket 7 has an opening/closing door 232 on the front surface for allowing the banknotes S stored in the terminal pocket 7 to be taken out to the outside. In addition, a residual sensor 233 is provided inside the terminal pocket 7, and it is possible to detect whether or not the banknotes S are stored inside the terminal pocket 7.

The base machine 2 and the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 can be selectively connected to the right side surface 231 of the terminal pocket 7. When the base machine 2 is connected adjacent to the right side surface 231 of the terminal pocket 7, the opening 230 is provided to cover the opening 29 of the outward conveying section 28 of the base machine 2 shown in FIG. 3, and the banknotes S conveyed by the outward conveying section 28 of the base machine 2 are received and stored at the conveying end position in the paper processing device 1. In this case, the banknote detection sensor 51 provided in the outward conveying section 28 of the base machine 2 detects the same conveying state as described above in the outward conveying section 28 while counting the number of banknotes S stored in the terminal pocket 7.

When any one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 is connected adjacent to the right side surface 231 of the terminal pocket 7, the opening 230 is provided to cover the opening of the expansion unit adjacent to this terminal pocket 7 among the openings 63, 103, 143, 183 shown in Figures 5 to 8, and the banknotes S transported by the additional transport section of the additional unit adjacent to this terminal pocket 7 among the additional transport sections 64, 104, 144, 184 shown in Figures 5 to 8 are received and stored at the transport terminal position of the paper sheet processing device 1. In this case, the banknote detection sensor of the additional unit adjacent to this terminal pocket 7 among the banknote detection sensors 68, 108, 148, 188 shown in Figures 5 to 8 counts the number of banknotes S stored in the terminal pocket 7 and detects the same transport state as above in the additional transport section immediately before the terminal pocket 7.

As shown in FIG. 9, the terminal pocket 7 has a connecting pin 7a on the upper part of its right side surface 231 that, when connected adjacent to the base unit 2 and any one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6, fits into the connecting receiving hole of the one that is adjacent to and connected among the connecting receiving hole 2b of the base unit 2 shown in FIG. 3, the connecting receiving hole 3b of the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 5, the connecting receiving hole 4b of the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 6, the connecting receiving hole 5b of the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 7, and the connecting receiving hole 6b of the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 8.

<Overall configuration of paper sheet processing apparatus 1>
As shown in Fig. 1, the base unit 2 and the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 are all equal in height and length in the front-rear direction. In addition, the upper part of the left side surface 24 side of the base unit 2, the upper part of the left side surface 62 side of the first expansion unit 3, the upper part of the left side surface 102 side of the second expansion unit 4, the upper part of the left side surface 142 side of the third expansion unit 5, and the upper part of the left side surface 182 side of the fourth expansion unit 6 are provided with one component part of a common shape of the connecting mechanism (not shown), and the upper part of the right side surface 61 side of the first expansion unit 3, the upper part of the right side surface 101 side of the second expansion unit 4, the upper part of the right side surface 141 side of the third expansion unit 5, the upper part of the right side surface 181 side of the fourth expansion unit 6, and the right side surface 231 side of the terminal pocket 7 are provided with the other component part of a common shape of the connecting mechanism (not shown). Then, by connecting one component of the connecting mechanism to the other component, the base unit 2 and the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 are connected so that adjacent units are aligned in the front-to-rear position and height.

The paper sheet processing device 1 is manufactured by preparing the required number of the required types from among the multiple types of first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 that have different processing functions as described above, connecting these to the base machine 2 in a set order, and connecting the terminal pocket 7 to the position furthest from the base machine 2.

In other words, various combinations are possible, such as connecting only one of the first to fourth expansion units 3-6 adjacent to the base machine 2 and connecting the end pocket 7 to form a paper sheet processing device 1, connecting multiple units of different types selected from the first to fourth expansion units 3-6 to the base machine 2 and connecting the end pocket 7 to form a paper sheet processing device 1, connecting multiple units of the same type from the first to fourth expansion units 3-6 to the base machine 2 and connecting the end pocket 7 to form a paper sheet processing device 1, connecting multiple units of the same type from the first to fourth expansion units 3-6 to the base machine 2, and further connecting one or multiple units of different types and connecting the end pocket 7 to form a paper sheet processing device 1. In other words, a paper sheet processing device 1 is manufactured by combining any number of any of the first to fourth expansion units 3-6 with one base machine 2 and combining the end pocket 7. Of course, in any combination, if multiple units from the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 are connected to the base unit 2, the order in which the expansion units are arranged can also be selected and set.

When the sheet processing apparatus 1 includes at least one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6, in any combination, the control unit 56 of the base machine 2 is communicatively connected to the control unit of the connected one of the control units 95, 135, 175, 225 of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6, and outputs a control command signal to the control unit of the connected one. Also, when the sheet processing apparatus 1 includes at least one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6, in any combination, the power supply unit of the connected one of the power supply units 96, 136, 176, 226 of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 is turned on/off in conjunction with the on/off of the power supply unit 57 of the base machine 2.

For example, as shown in Fig. 1, a first expansion unit 3 is placed on the base machine 2 with the opening 60 shown in Fig. 5 facing the opening 29 shown in Fig. 3, and the right side 61 abuts against the left side 24 as shown in Fig. 1, and the machine outward conveying section 28 and the additional conveying section 64 are arranged so that banknotes S can be passed between them, and are connected by a connecting mechanism not shown. Also, a second expansion unit 4 is placed on the first expansion unit 3 with the opening 100 shown in Fig. 6 facing the opening 63 shown in Fig. 5, and the right side 101 abuts against the left side 62 as shown in Fig. 1, and the additional conveying section 64 and the additional conveying section 104 are arranged so that banknotes S can be passed between them, and are connected by a connecting mechanism not shown. A third expansion unit 5 is connected to the second expansion unit 4 with the opening 103 shown in Fig. 6 facing the opening 140 shown in Fig. 7, and the right side surface 141 abuts against the left side surface 102 as shown in Fig. 1, and the additional transport section 104 and the additional transport section 144 are arranged so that banknotes S can be transferred between them, and are connected by a connecting mechanism not shown. A fourth expansion unit 6 is connected to the third expansion unit 5 with the opening 180 shown in Fig. 8 facing the opening 143 shown in Fig. 7, and the right side surface 181 abuts against the left side surface 142 as shown in Fig. 1, and the additional transport section 144 and the additional transport section 184 are arranged so that banknotes S can be transferred between them, and are connected by a connecting mechanism not shown. In addition, one terminal pocket 7 is attached to the fourth additional unit 6 with the opening 230 shown in FIG. 9 facing the opening 183 shown in FIG. 8, and the right side 231 abuts against the left side 182 as shown in FIG. 1, so that banknotes S can be transferred from the additional transport section 184 into the terminal pocket 7, and the fourth additional unit 6 is connected by a connecting mechanism (not shown). In this manner, an integrated paper sheet processing device 1 is manufactured.

In this case, the control unit 56 of the base unit 2 of the paper sheet processing device 1 controls the base unit 2 and outputs a control command signal to each of the control unit 95 of the first expansion unit 3, the control unit 135 of the second expansion unit 4, the control unit 175 of the third expansion unit 5, and the control unit 225 of the fourth expansion unit 6.

In the paper sheet processing device 1, the control unit 56 of the base machine 2 sets the destination for transporting the classified banknotes S according to classification to either the stacking units 41-43 of the base machine 2, the stacking units 81-84 of the first expansion unit 3, the stacking units 121 and 122 of the second expansion unit 4, the stacking units 161-163 of the third expansion unit 5, the bundling unit 189 of the fourth expansion unit 6, or the terminal pocket 7, based on the setting input to the operation display unit 55.

The control unit 56 causes the input unit 15 to feed banknotes S one by one to the identification and transport unit 21, and has the banknotes identified by the identification unit 22. The control unit 56 determines the transport destination of each banknote S based on the recognition result of the identification unit 22. The control unit 56 guides banknotes S that cannot be properly identified by the identification unit 22 from the identification and transport unit 21 to the reject transport unit 27 by the sorting unit 30 shown in FIG. 3, and feeds them from the end of the reject transport unit 27 to the reject unit 16. The control unit 56 also guides banknotes S of a type that can be properly identified and transported to the stacking unit 41 from the identification and transport unit 21 to the reject transport unit 27 by the sorting unit 30 based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 22, and has them sorted by the sorting unit 34 to the branch transport unit 31 and fed to the stacking unit 41. The control unit 56 also guides the banknotes S of the type that can be normally identified and transported to the stacking unit 42 from the identification and transporting unit 21 to the reject transporting unit 27 by the sorting unit 30 based on the identification result of the recognition unit 22, and distributes them from the reject transporting unit 27 to the branch transporting unit 32 by the sorting unit 35 and feeds them to the stacking unit 42. Also, the control unit 56 guides the banknotes S of the type that can be normally identified and transported to the stacking unit 43 from the identification and transporting unit 21 to the reject transporting unit 27 by the sorting unit 30, and distributes them from the reject transporting unit 27 to the branch transporting unit 33 by the sorting unit 36 and feeds them to the stacking unit 43.

The control unit 56 also guides the banknote S of the type that is identified as acceptable based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 22 and is to be transported to any of the stacking units 81-84 of the first expansion unit 3, the stacking units 121 and 122 of the second expansion unit 4, the stacking units 161-163 of the third expansion unit 5, or the bundling unit 189 of the fourth expansion unit 6 from the recognition and transport unit 21 to the outward transport unit 28 by the sorting unit 30, and transports the banknote S toward the first expansion unit 3 shown in FIG. 1 by the outward transport unit 28, and outputs a control command signal including identification information of the transport destination for the banknote S to the control unit 95 of the first expansion unit 3, the control unit 135 of the second expansion unit 4, the control unit 175 of the third expansion unit 5, and the control unit 225 of the fourth expansion unit 6.

The control unit 95 of the first expansion unit 3 controls the first expansion unit 3 based on the control command signal received from the control unit 56. For example, when a banknote S is detected by the banknote detection sensor 67, if the control command signal for this banknote S includes a designation of one of the stacking units 81 to 84 as the transport destination, the control unit 95 controls the additional transport unit 64, the processing transport unit 65, and the sorting units 66, 74 to 76 shown in FIG. 5 to send this banknote S to the designated one of the stacking units 81 to 84. On the other hand, if the control command signal for the banknote S detected by the banknote detection sensor 67 does not include a designation of any of the stacking units 81 to 84 as the transport destination, the control unit 95 controls the additional transport unit 64 and the sorting unit 66 to send this banknote S to the second expansion unit 4 shown in FIG. 1.

Therefore, in the first expansion unit 3, the expansion transport section 64 accepts banknotes S that have been properly identified by the recognition section 22 of the base machine 2 and transported by the machine outward transport section 28, and transports the banknotes toward the outside of the machine on the opposite side of the base machine 2 of the first expansion unit 3. Also, in the first expansion unit 3, the processing transport section 65 branches off from the expansion transport section 64 to transport banknotes S. In the first expansion unit 3, the stacking sections 81 to 84 process the banknotes S transported by the processing transport section 65.

The control unit 135 of the second expansion unit 4 controls the second expansion unit 4 based on the control command signal received from the control unit 56. For example, when a banknote S is detected by the banknote detection sensor 107, if the control command signal for the banknote S includes a designation of either the stacking unit 121 or 122 as the destination, the control unit 135 controls the additional transport unit 104, the processing transport unit 105, and the sorting units 106 and 114 shown in FIG. 6 to send the banknote S to the designated stacking unit 121 or 122. On the other hand, if the control command signal for the banknote S detected by the banknote detection sensor 107 does not include a designation of either the stacking unit 121 or 122 as the destination, the control unit 135 controls the additional transport unit 104 and the sorting unit 106 to send the banknote S to the third expansion unit 5 shown in FIG. 1.

Therefore, in the second expansion unit 4, the expansion transport section 104 accepts banknotes S that have been properly identified by the recognition section 22 of the base machine 2 and transported by the machine outward transport section 28, and transports the banknotes S toward the outside of the machine on the opposite side of the base machine 2 of the second expansion unit 4. Also, in the second expansion unit 4, the processing transport section 105 branches off from the expansion transport section 104 and transports the banknotes S. In the second expansion unit 4, the stacking sections 121 and 122 process the banknotes S transported by the processing transport section 105.

The control unit 175 of the third expansion unit 5 controls the third expansion unit 5 based on the control command signal received from the control unit 56. For example, when a banknote S is detected by the banknote detection sensor 147, if the control command signal for this banknote S includes a designation of one of the stacking units 161 to 163 as the transport destination, the control unit 175 controls the additional transport unit 144, the processing transport unit 145, and the sorting units 146, 154, and 155 shown in FIG. 7 to send this banknote S to the designated one of the stacking units 161 to 163. On the other hand, if the control command signal for the banknote S detected by the banknote detection sensor 147 does not include a designation of any of the stacking units 161 to 163 as the transport destination, the control unit 175 controls the additional transport unit 144 and the sorting unit 146 to send this banknote S to the fourth expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 1.

Therefore, in the third expansion unit 5, the expansion transport section 144 accepts banknotes S that have been properly identified by the recognition section 22 of the base machine 2 and transported by the machine outward transport section 28, and transports the banknotes toward the outside of the machine on the opposite side of the base machine 2 of the third expansion unit 5. Also, in the third expansion unit 5, the processing transport section 145 branches off from the expansion transport section 144 and transports the banknotes S. In the third expansion unit 5, the stacking sections 161 to 163 process the banknotes S transported by the processing transport section 145.

The control unit 225 of the fourth expansion unit 6 controls the fourth expansion unit 6 based on the control command signal received from the control unit 56. For example, when a banknote S is detected by the banknote detection sensor 187, if the control command signal for this banknote S includes a designation of the bundling unit 189 as the destination, the control unit 225 controls the additional transport unit 184, processing transport unit 185, and sorting units 186, 194 shown in FIG. 8 to send this banknote S to the banknote being stacked at that time in the alignment stacking units 201, 202. On the other hand, if the control command signal for the banknote S detected by the banknote detection sensor 187 does not include a designation of the bundling unit 189 as the destination, the control unit 225 controls the additional transport unit 184 and sorting unit 186 to send this banknote S to the terminal pocket 7 shown in FIG. 1.

The control unit 225 of the fourth expansion unit 6 feeds banknotes S into one of the alignment stacking units 201 and 202 shown in FIG. 8, and when the number of stacked notes in one reaches the number of sheets per bundling unit, it feeds banknotes S into the other one, and transports the stacked banknotes S of the number of sheets per bundling unit by the descending transport unit 204, bundles them by the bundling mechanism unit 205, and sends them to the external discharge unit 211.

Therefore, in the fourth expansion unit 6, the expansion transport section 184 accepts banknotes S that have been properly identified by the recognition section 22 of the base machine 2 shown in FIG. 1 and transported by the machine outward transport section 28, and transports the banknotes toward the outside of the machine on the opposite side of the base machine 2 of the fourth expansion unit 6. Also, in the fourth expansion unit 6, the processing transport section 185 branches off from the expansion transport section 184 and transports the banknotes S. In the fourth expansion unit 6, the bundling section 189 processes the banknotes S transported by the processing transport section 185.

The control unit 56, 95, 135, 175, 225 is configured to transport the banknote S that is normally identified by the recognition unit 22 of the base machine 2 and detected as being normally transported by all of the banknote detection sensors 51, 67, 68, 107, 108, 147, 148, 187, 188 to the terminal pocket 7. In other words, the banknote detection sensors 51, 67, 68, 107, 108, 147, 148, 187, 188 detect that the banknote S is normally identified by the recognition unit 22 of the base machine 2 and is normally transported in the entire range from the outward conveying unit 28 to the terminal pocket 7. In other words, the control unit 56, 95, 135, 175, 225 transports the banknote S that is normally identified by the recognition unit 22 of the base machine 2 and detected as being normally transported in the entire range from the outward conveying unit 28 to the terminal pocket 7 to the terminal pocket 7.

The minimum configuration of the paper sheet processing device 1 is the base device 2 with the end pocket 7 connected adjacent to it, as shown in FIG. 10. In other words, the paper sheet processing device 1 is configured by connecting at least the base device 2 and the end pocket 7 from among the base device 2, the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6, and the end pocket 7.

"Example 1 of using end pocket 7: End pocket counting mode 1"
On the operation display unit 55 of the base machine 2, a mode for counting and sealing the banknotes S can be selected from a predetermined menu list. When "terminal pocket counting mode 1" is selected from this menu list, the control unit 56, in cooperation with the control units 95, 135, 175, and 225, performs an operation of transporting and storing all banknotes S inserted into the insertion unit 15, without specifying the denomination thereof, and only the terminal pocket 7, and transporting all banknotes S that are not properly recognized by the recognition unit 22, to the reject unit 16.

Then, the control unit 56 causes the operation display unit 55 to display the denomination and number of banknotes S that have been correctly recognized and transported to the terminal pocket 7 based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 22, and if there are rejected banknotes S that were not correctly recognized, causes the operation display unit 55 to display a message to that effect and a guide to remove the rejected banknotes S from the reject unit 16 and recount them. When all banknotes S inserted into the insertion unit 15 have been correctly recognized in this way and transported to and stored in the terminal pocket 7, the control unit 56 causes the operation display unit 55 to display that the counting operation has been confirmed and a total display of the denomination and number of the confirmed banknotes S.

If, during the counting operation described above, a banknote S jams during transport on the outward transport section 28 or the additional transport sections 64, 104, 144, 184, or if a transport abnormality such as skewing or double feeding occurs, one of the banknote detection sensors 51, 67, 68, 107, 108, 147, 148, 187, 188 will detect it. Then, the control section 56 will put the sheet processing device 1 into an error state and stop the transport operation.

The operator then opens the top cover (not shown) of the sheet processing device 1 to expose the location where the error occurred among the outward transport section 28 and the additional transport sections 64, 104, 144, 184, removes the banknotes S that are stuck at the location where the error occurred, and presses the reset button on the operation display section 55. The control section 56 then performs a reset operation of the sheet processing device 1. Then, when the reset operation is successfully completed and re-counting operation is possible, the control section 56 causes the operation display section 55 to display a message to that effect. The operator then re-inserts all of the removed banknotes S into the insertion section 15 to start the re-counting operation. The control unit 56 causes the paper sheet processing device 1 to perform a recounting operation. If all of the banknotes S are correctly identified in the recounting operation, no transport abnormalities occur on the outward transport unit 28 and the additional transport units 64, 104, 144, and 184, and all of the banknotes S are transported to and stored in the terminal pocket 7, the operation display unit 55 displays that the counting operation has been confirmed and the total denomination and number of confirmed banknotes S.

In the above, when a conveying abnormality occurs on the outward conveying section 28 and the additional conveying sections 64, 104, 144, 184, the operator manually removes the banknotes S remaining on the outward conveying section 28 and the additional conveying sections 64, 104, 144, 184. However, this is not limited to the above. The control section 56 may cooperate with the control sections 95, 135, 175, 225 to reverse the conveying direction of the outward conveying section 28 and the additional conveying sections 64, 104, 144, 184, and forcibly convey all banknotes S remaining on the outward conveying section 28 and the additional conveying sections 64, 104, 144, 184 to the reject section 16 of the base machine 2. In this case, the operator removes all banknotes S stacked in the reject section 16, inserts them into the insertion section 15 in the same manner as above, and has the paper sheet processing device 1 recount them.

This end pocket counting mode 1 (the same applies to the end pocket counting mode 2 and the additional end pocket counting mode below) is a mode that can only be selected when there is information that there is a end pocket at the end, by checking whether or not the connection pin 7a of the connection detection sensor 6c at the end furthest from the base unit 2 is detected among the connection detection sensors 2c to 6c of the base unit 2 and the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6.

In this case, the presence of terminal pocket information may allow the selection of terminal pocket counting mode 1 (the same applies to terminal pocket counting mode 2 and terminal pocket counting additional mode below), or the presence or absence of terminal pocket information may be confirmed by selecting terminal pocket counting mode 1 (the same applies to terminal pocket counting mode 2 and terminal pocket counting additional mode below), causing the installation status of terminal pocket 7 to be reconfirmed, and after the installation is confirmed, operation of terminal pocket counting mode 1 (the same applies to terminal pocket counting mode 2 and terminal pocket counting additional mode below) may be enabled.

"Example 2 of using end pocket 7: End pocket counting mode 2"
The menu list also includes a "terminal pocket counting mode 2." In this mode, the banknotes S transported only to the terminal pocket 7 in the above-mentioned "terminal pocket counting mode 1" are limited to special banknotes S that are basically not handled by the paper sheet processing device 1, such as banknotes S of high denominations that are rarely circulated in the market (for example, a 100,000 yen note when a 100,000 yen note is issued) and counterfeit banknotes S that are suspected to be counterfeit.

That is, in the "terminal pocket counting mode 2", the control unit 56 cooperates with the control units 95, 135, 175, and 225 to cause the outward conveying unit 28 and the additional conveying units 64, 104, 144, and 184 to convey the banknotes S that are correctly identified as these special banknotes S among the banknotes S inserted into the insertion unit 15 to only the terminal pocket 7. On the other hand, all banknotes S other than these special banknotes S (including banknotes S that are not correctly identified) are conveyed to the reject unit 16 as being to be rejected. Then, when the counting operation is completed, the control unit 56 causes the operation display unit 55 to display that the counting operation has been confirmed, as well as the total denomination and number of the confirmed banknotes S. Here, the control unit 56 determines that the banknotes S that have common features (e.g., serial numbers) with features of counterfeit banknotes discovered in the past are counterfeit banknotes.

In this terminal pocket counting mode 2, as described above, when a conveying abnormality occurs on the outward conveying section 28 and the additional conveying sections 64, 104, 144, 184, the operator can manually remove the banknotes S remaining on the outward conveying section 28 and the additional conveying sections 64, 104, 144, 184. In addition, the control section 56 may cooperate with the control sections 95, 135, 175, 225 to reverse the conveying operation of the outward conveying section 28 and the additional conveying sections 64, 104, 144, 184, to forcibly convey all the banknotes S remaining on the outward conveying section 28 and the additional conveying sections 64, 104, 144, 184 to the reject section 16 of the base machine 2. In this case, the operator removes all the banknotes S stacked in the reject section 16, inserts them into the insertion section 15 in the same manner as above, and has the paper sheet processing device 1 count them again.

In addition, among the predetermined high value bills and counterfeit bills, only the bills S that are correctly identified as the predetermined high value bills may be transported to the terminal pocket 7, and all other bills S (including bills S that are not correctly identified) may be transported to the reject unit 16 as reject targets. In this case, it is also possible to use one of the stacking units 41-43, 81-84, 121, 122, and 161-163 exclusively for counterfeit bills, and transport the counterfeit bills S to this stacking unit. In addition, among the predetermined high value bills and counterfeit bills, only the bills S that are correctly identified as counterfeit bills may be transported to the terminal pocket 7, and all other bills S (including bills S that are not correctly identified) may be transported to the reject unit 16 as reject targets. In this case, it is also possible to use one of the stacking units 41-43, 81-84, 121, 122, and 161-163 exclusively for counterfeit bills, and transport the counterfeit bills S to this stacking unit.

"Example 3 of using end pocket 7: End pocket count addition mode"
The menu list also includes an "additional end pocket counting mode." This additional end pocket counting mode is an operation mode in which the above-mentioned "additional end pocket counting mode 2" is added to any operation mode selected from the menu list. That is, for example, the selected any operation mode is a mode in which bills S of 10,000 yen notes, 5,000 yen notes, 2,000 yen notes, and 1,000 yen notes are sorted by denomination and stacked in the four stacking sections 81 to 84 of the first expansion unit 3. Then, the control unit 56 cooperates with the control units 95, 135, 175, and 225 to stack the banknotes S of 10,000 yen notes, 5,000 yen notes, 2,000 yen notes, and 1,000 yen notes among the sheets inserted into the insertion unit 15 by denomination into the four stacking units 81 to 84 of the first additional unit 3 as described above, and also transports special banknotes S that are basically not handled by this sheet processing device 1, such as banknotes S of high denominations (for example, a 100,000 yen note when a 100,000 yen note is issued) and banknotes S that are suspected to be counterfeit, by the outward transport unit 28 and the additional transport units 64, 104, 144, and 184 and stores them only in the terminal pocket 7. Then, when the counting operation is completed, the control unit 56 causes the operation display unit 55 to display that the counting operation has been confirmed and the total denomination and number of the confirmed banknotes S.

Even in this terminal pocket counting additional mode, if a transport abnormality occurs on the outward conveying section 28 and the additional conveying sections 64, 104, 144, 184, the operator may manually remove the banknotes S remaining on the outward conveying section 28 and the additional conveying sections 64, 104, 144, 184. In addition, the control section 56 may cooperate with the control sections 95, 135, 175, 225 to reverse the conveying operation of the outward conveying section 28 and the additional conveying sections 64, 104, 144, 184, to forcibly transport all the banknotes S remaining on the outward conveying section 28 and the additional conveying sections 64, 104, 144, 184 to the reject section 16 of the base machine 2. In this case, the operator removes all the banknotes S stacked in the reject section 16, inserts them into the insertion section 15 in the same manner as above, and has the paper sheet processing device 1 recount them.

In addition, in the terminal pocket counting additional mode, only the banknotes S that are correctly identified as the specified high value banknotes among the specified high value banknotes and counterfeit banknotes may be transported to the terminal pocket 7, and all the banknotes S that are correctly identified as counterfeit banknotes and banknotes S that are not correctly identified may be transported to the reject unit 16 as reject targets. In this case, it is also possible to use one of the stacking units 41-43, 81-84, 121, 122, and 161-163 exclusively for counterfeit banknotes, and transport the counterfeit banknotes S to this stacking unit. In addition, in the terminal pocket counting additional mode, only the banknotes S that are correctly identified as counterfeit banknotes among the specified high value banknotes and counterfeit banknotes may be transported to the terminal pocket 7, and all the banknotes S that are not correctly identified may be transported to the reject unit 16 as reject targets. In this case, one of the stacking units 41-43, 81-84, 121, 122, and 161-163 will be used for the specified high value bills, and the specified high value bills S will be transported to this stacking unit.

According to the paper sheet processing device 1 according to the first embodiment described above, the control unit 56, 95, 135, 175, 225 constituting the paper sheet processing device 1 transports to the terminal pocket 7 the banknotes S that are normally identified by the identification unit 22 of the base machine 2 and detected as being normally transported by all of the banknote detection sensors 51, 67, 68, 107, 108, 147, 148, 187, 188 between the machine outward transport unit 28 and the terminal pocket 7. Therefore, since banknotes S that were not previously transported to the terminal pocket 7 can be transported to the terminal pocket 7, the use of the terminal pocket 7 is not limited to banknotes S when a transport abnormality occurs, but can be used as a pocket for various purposes, such as a sorting pocket for banknotes S that meet specific conditions (such as specific denominations or counterfeit banknotes) during normal transport. Therefore, it is possible to effectively utilize the limited configuration to achieve multi-functionality.

In addition, the paper sheet processing device 1 transports banknotes S to the terminal pocket 7 which are specified high denomination banknotes or counterfeit banknotes, so banknotes S which are not considered as targets for the stacking units 41-43, 82-84, 121, 122, 161-163 during normal operation can be stacked in the terminal pocket 7 as a simplified stacking unit.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, by configuring the paper sheet processing device 1 with a base machine 2 and a terminal pocket 7 connected adjacent to the base machine 2, the simplest and least expensive configuration can be realized in which the base machine 2 has the terminal pocket 7 without providing any of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6. Furthermore, with this simple configuration, the transport path is extremely short, which means that there is almost no occurrence of transport abnormalities of the banknotes S on the transport path, so there is no need to stop the transport operation due to transport abnormalities, and the counting operation of the banknotes S transported to the terminal pocket 7 can be performed smoothly. In terms of cost, it is also possible to realize an inexpensive configuration.

The paper sheet processing device 1 is also equipped with connection detection sensors 2c-6c that detect whether the base machine 2 and the first to fourth expansion units 3-6 are connected adjacent to each other, whether the end pocket 7 is connected adjacent to each other, or whether nothing is connected adjacent to each other, so that the overall connection configuration can be automatically detected. This makes it easy to determine whether the paper sheet processing device 1 is connected in the wrong configuration.

The sheet processing device 1 is also equipped with connection detection sensors 2c-6c that detect whether the terminal pocket 7 is adjacently connected to the base device 2 and the first to fourth expansion units 3-6, so it can automatically detect whether the terminal pocket 7 is provided. This makes it possible to determine whether the terminal pocket 7 is correctly provided at the transport end and whether a predetermined banknote S can be transported to the terminal pocket 7. This makes it easy to determine whether at least the base device 2 and the sheet processing device 1 having the terminal pocket 7 among the base device 2, the first to fourth expansion units 3-6, and the terminal pocket 7 are in an incorrect connection configuration.

{Modification of the first embodiment}
The configuration of the base machine 2 has been described with reference to an example having three stacking units 41 to 43 as shown in Fig. 3, but a bundling unit 189 (not shown) may be provided instead of the stacking units 41 to 43. In such a configuration, if the base machine 2 is connected adjacent to the terminal pocket 7 to configure the paper sheet processing device 1, the banknotes S to be sealed are sealed by the bundling unit 189 of the base machine 2, and the banknotes S other than the banknotes to be sealed can be transported to the terminal pocket 7 and simply stacked. It is also possible to configure a base machine 2 without the stacking units 41 to 43.

[Second embodiment]
A paper sheet processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below, focusing on differences from the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the structure of the base device 2 and the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 is partially different from that described above. The base device 2 and the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 have a common connection type detection mechanism 251 shown in FIG. 11. Here, of the connection type detection mechanisms 251 of the base device 2 and the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6, the connection type detection mechanism 251 of the first expansion unit 3 will be used as an example for explanation.

As shown in FIG. 11, the connection type detection mechanism 251 of the first expansion unit 3 has a connection fixing member 252 near the upper part of the left side surface 62 that engages with one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7 when the connection fixing member 252 is connected adjacent to the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7, and a connection detection sensor (connection detection means, terminal pocket detection means) (not shown) that detects which of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7 the connection fixing member 252 has connected.

The connecting and fixing member 252 is provided at a predetermined position on the left side surface 62 side of the first expansion unit 3, and one of its first ends 255 is connected to the middle part in the up-down direction of the housing 256 of the first expansion unit 3. The connecting and fixing member 252 is rotatable relative to the housing 256 around a fulcrum 257 on the side of this first end 255, and the other second end 258 is adapted to rotate left and right above this first end 255.

In a standby state where none of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7 are connected to the left side surface 62, the connecting and fixing member 252 is fixed to the housing 256 with a screw 259 in a standby position where it does not protrude to the left from the housing 256, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 11. When any of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7 are connected to the left side surface 62, the connecting and fixing member 252 has the screw 259 removed and the second end 258 side is rotated so that the connecting member 252 is fixed with the screw 259 at a predetermined fixed position of the one to be connected, among the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7.

The angles of the connecting and fixing member 252 from the standby position are different among the standby position where none of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7 are connected to the connecting and fixing member 252, the first position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11 where the first expansion unit 3 is connected, the second position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11 where the second expansion unit 4 is connected, the third position shown by the third expansion unit 5, the fourth position shown by the fourth expansion unit 6, and the fifth position shown by the dashed line in FIG. 11 where the terminal pocket 7 is connected.

The connection detection sensor (not shown) is an angle sensor that detects the angle of inclination of the connection fixing member 252. The first expansion unit 3 is configured to automatically detect, by angle detection by this connection detection sensor, whether the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 and the terminal pocket 7 are adjacently connected to the left side surface 62, or whether none are connected to the left side surface 62.

When a selected one of the first to fourth expansion units 3 to 6 is connected to the base unit 2, a communication line (not shown) is also connected, so that in addition to the "connection information" related to the automatically detected expansion unit, the "type information" of each expansion unit is also transmitted to the base unit 2 by communication and is centrally managed by the control unit 56 of the base unit 2 as "connection and type information." As an example, the "type information" of each expansion unit includes, for example, that the first expansion unit 3 is a unit having four stacking sections, that the second expansion unit 4 is a unit having two stacking sections, that the third expansion unit 5 is a unit having three stacking sections, and that the fourth expansion unit 6 is a unit having two alignment stacking sections and one bundling mechanism section. In other words, the "type information" is type information related to the internal configuration of the expansion unit.

The operation display unit 55 can display this "connection and type information" in an image. As an example, the setup of the paper sheet processing device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 12. When the units are connected and the power is turned on during installation of the paper sheet processing device 1, the control unit 56 first guides the user by displaying a setup screen as shown in FIG. 12 on the operation display unit 55. That is, based on the "connection and type information", the control unit 56 recognizes that, in this case, six first additional units 3, which are a unit type having four stacking units, are connected to the base machine 2, and that the terminal pocket 7 is connected to the terminal first additional unit 3. This information can be visualized and the paper sheet processing device image display 301 as shown in FIG. 12 can be displayed to guide the user.

The sheet processing device image display 301 is configured by displaying a base machine image display 302 that depicts the base machine 2, a first expansion unit image display 303 that depicts the first expansion unit 3 having four stacking sections, arranged in six locations, and a terminal pocket image display 307 that depicts the terminal pocket 7.

Then, the installer checks this guide screen displayed on the operation display unit 55, compares it with the actual paper sheet processing device, and if he or she is satisfied that the setup is correct, presses the "Complete button" 310 on the operation display unit 55. The control unit 56 then completes the setup.

Conversely, if it is not possible to confirm that the setup is correct, for example, six first expansion units 3 each having four stacking sections should be connected to the base machine 2 and the terminal pocket 7 should be connected, but the guide screen displayed on the operation display unit 55 incorrectly displays five first expansion units 3 each having four stacking sections connected to the base machine 2, or, for example, six first expansion units 3 each having four stacking sections are connected but the terminal pocket 7 is not connected, the installer can recognize that he has made a mistake in the setup by checking the incorrect display, and can recheck the connection status of each unit and the connection status of the communication lines performed during installation to find the parts that were connected incorrectly and then correctly connect those parts.

As shown in FIG. 12, the setup screen is divided into two areas: an L-shaped display area 311 occupying the left and bottom sides of the screen displayed on the operation display unit 55, and a display area 312 other than the L-shaped display area. The paper sheet processing device image display 301 is described as being arranged and displayed in the display area 312 other than the L-shaped display area 311, but this display form is not limited to this.

As another example, the operation of the paper sheet processing device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 shows an operation screen displayed on the operation display unit 55 during the deposit counting operation when the paper sheet processing device 1 is in operation. That is, a deposit statement showing that 1,000 100 euro bills have been deposited and counted is displayed in the display area 321 of the operation display unit 55. In addition, in the L-shaped display area 322 of the screen displayed on the operation display unit 55, the control unit 56 recognizes that six first expansion units 3 having four stacking units are connected to the base machine 2, and that the terminal pocket 7 is connected to the terminal first expansion unit 3, based on the "connection and type information" of the paper sheet processing device 1 that has been confirmed when the setup is completed, and displays a paper sheet processing device image display 331 that visualizes this. This paper sheet processing device image display 331 is configured by displaying a base machine image display 332 that depicts the base machine 2, a first expansion unit image display 333 that depicts the first expansion unit 3, a unit type having four stacking sections, lined up in six locations, and a terminal pocket image display 337 that depicts the terminal pocket 7.

Furthermore, in the paper sheet processing device image display 331, a remaining state image display 341 is displayed, which shows whether or not there are remaining banknotes S in each section and, if there are, the number of remaining banknotes. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the first expansion unit image display 333 on the far right side and the first expansion unit image display 333 on the far left side of the first expansion unit image display 333 display a remaining state image display 341 indicating that there are remaining banknotes S in all stacking sections 81 to 84. In addition, the base machine image display 332 also displays a remaining state image display 341 indicating that there are remaining banknotes S at the position of the reject section 16. The remaining state image display 341 is made to stand out by changing the color from the other display parts. In addition, the remaining state image display 341 is displayed in layers so that the more the number of remaining banknotes S, the more layers there are. This allows the operation staff to check the paper sheet processing device image display 331 and perform operation while checking how many remaining banknotes there are in which part of which expansion unit.

As shown in FIG. 13, the operation screen displayed on the operation display unit 55 is divided into two areas: an L-shaped display area 322 occupying the left and bottom sides of the screen, and a display area 321 that occupies the rest of the screen. The paper sheet processing device image display 331 has been described as being arranged and displayed in the L-shaped display area 322, but this display form is not limited to this.

{Modification of the second embodiment}
To simplify the second embodiment, an optical sensor may be arranged in the vicinity of the left side surface 24, 62, 102, 142, 182 of each of the base machine 2 and the various expansion units 3 to 6, taking into consideration the position, so as to block the optical axis when the terminal pocket 7 is connected, although not shown in the figure. This makes it possible to automatically detect whether the terminal pocket 7 is correctly arranged. In other words, when performing an operation mode in which counting is performed using the terminal pocket 7, regardless of the configuration of the base machine 2 and the various expansion units 3 to 6 (in other words, even if, for example, a configuration in which only the base machine 2 is connected to the expansion units 3 to 6 and none of them are connected, or a configuration in which any three of the expansion units 3 to 6 are connected to the base machine 2), as described above, if the terminal pocket 7 is not arranged, the operation mode cannot be performed. Therefore, focusing only on the terminal pocket 7, it is automatically detected whether the terminal pocket 7 is arranged at the end of the paper sheet processing device 1.

The paper sheet processing device 1 of the first and second embodiments has been described above using banknotes S as an example of the medium to be processed, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to devices that process all types of paper sheets, such as gift certificates, checks, bills, and other vouchers and securities. In other words, the present invention can be applied to paper sheet processing devices that process various types of paper sheets, including banknotes S.

1 Paper sheet processing device 2 Base device 2c to 6c Connection detection sensor (connection detection means, end pocket detection means)
3 First additional unit 4 Second additional unit 5 Third additional unit 6 Fourth additional unit 7 End pocket 15 Insertion section 16 Reject section 21 Recognition and conveyance section 22 Recognition section 28 Machine outward conveyance section 27 Reject conveyance section 51, 67, 68, 107, 108, 147, 148, 187, 188 Banknote detection sensor (detection means)
56, 95, 135, 175, 225 Control unit 64, 104, 144, 184 Additional transport unit 65, 105, 145, 185 Processing transport unit 81-84, 121, 122, 161-163 Stacking unit (processing unit)
189 Binding section (processing section)
S Banknotes (paper sheets)

Claims (5)

a base machine having an input section into which paper sheets are input from outside the machine, an identification and conveying section which conveys the paper sheets input into the input section, a recognition section which identifies the paper sheets being conveyed by the identification and conveying section, a reject conveying section which receives the paper sheets from the identification and conveying section and conveys them, a reject section which removes the paper sheets conveyed by the reject conveying section to the outside of the machine, an outward conveying section which receives the paper sheets which have been properly identified by the recognition section from the identification and conveying section and conveys them outwardly of the machine, an operation section, and a display section ;
an expansion unit that can be connected to the base machine and has an additional conveying section that receives paper sheets that have been normally identified by the recognition section and conveyed by the machine outward conveying section and conveys them toward the outside of the machine on the opposite side to the base machine, a processing conveying section that branches off from the additional conveying section and conveys the paper sheets, and a processing section that processes the paper sheets conveyed by the processing conveying section, the expansion unit being capable of being connected to another expansion unit on the opposite side to the base machine;
a terminal pocket that can be connected to the base machine and the additional unit and that receives the paper sheets conveyed by the outward conveying section or the additional conveying section at a conveying terminal position;
From among them,
A paper sheet processing apparatus configured by connecting at least the base unit and the end pocket,
a detection means for detecting whether the paper sheets are being normally conveyed in the range from the outward conveyance section to the end pocket;
a control unit that, when a trailing pocket counting mode is selected on the operation unit, transports to the trailing pocket paper sheets that have been inserted into the insertion unit, properly identified by the recognition unit, and detected as being properly transported by the detection means, and causes a display unit to display the denomination and number of the paper sheets transported to the trailing pocket ;
A paper sheet processing apparatus comprising: 2. The paper processing device according to claim 1, wherein, when the end pocket counting mode is selected on the operation unit, the control unit transports paper sheets that have been inserted into the insertion unit and not properly recognized by the recognition unit to the reject unit, and displays on the display unit that there are paper sheets that have not been properly recognized. The paper processing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is composed of the base machine and the end pocket connected adjacent to the base machine. The paper processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base machine and the expansion unit are provided with a connection detection means for detecting whether the expansion unit is adjacently connected, whether the end pocket is adjacently connected, or whether nothing is adjacently connected. 5. The paper processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit enables the selection of the trailing pocket counting mode only when the connection detection means detects that the trailing pocket is connected.

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