JP2015056126A - Medium accommodation device and medium transaction device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medium accommodation device and a medium transaction device capable of reducing maintenance work or reduce the frequency of maintenance work by using a simple configuration.SOLUTION: For a temporarily holding unit 15, a stage prism 55 is assembled in a stage 31 and a side prism 56 is assembled in a rear part 30R of a housing 30, both of the light emission direction of detection light L1 from a light-emitting unit 51A in a residue detection unit 51 and the light reception direction of the detection light L1 in a light-receiving unit 51B being lower diagonally backwards. Therefore, when the stage 31 is moved to the uppermost position and contacted with a picker roller 40, a banknote control unit can detect whether there is a residual banknote in the stage 31 on the basis of a detection light-receiving signal which is the light reception result of the detection light L1, and also can detect whether there is a dropped banknote at a position close to the rear part 30R of the stage 31 on the basis of the detection light-receiving signal.

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium accommodation device and a medium transaction device, and is suitable for application to an automatic teller machine (ATM) or the like that performs a desired transaction by inserting a paper-like medium such as a banknote.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an automatic teller machine used in a financial institution or the like, for example, a customer deposits cash such as banknotes or coins according to transaction details with a customer, and also withdraws cash to a customer. ing.

  As an automated teller machine, for example, a customer service unit that exchanges banknotes with a customer, a transport unit that transports banknotes, and a discrimination unit that discriminates the denomination and authenticity of inserted banknotes One having a temporary storage unit for temporarily storing banknotes, a banknote cassette for storing banknotes for each denomination, and a reject cassette for storing banknotes that should not be reused has been proposed.

  This automatic teller machine, when a customer inserts banknotes into the customer service section in a deposit transaction, conveys the inserted banknotes and discriminates them with a discrimination section, and stores the banknotes identified as normal banknotes in a temporary storage section. Then, the banknotes identified as not to be traded are returned to the customer service department and returned to the customer.

  Subsequently, when the deposit amount is confirmed by the customer, the automatic teller machine pays out the banknotes stored in the temporary holding unit and re-discriminates the denomination by the discrimination unit. While storing in a banknote cassette, the banknote discriminated that the degree of damage is large is stored in a rejection cassette.

  Also, the automatic teller machine, when the amount to be withdrawn is determined by the customer's operation instruction in the withdrawal process, pays out the bill according to the amount to be withdrawn from the bill cassette and transports it by the transport unit. After discriminating that normal banknotes have been fed out without excess or deficiency, they are transported to the customer service section and taken out by the customer.

  As such a banknote cassette, while accommodating the banknote received | paid from the customer in the deposit transaction, what was made to withdraw | pay out and withdraw the said banknote from the said banknote cassette in withdrawal transaction is proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 23, the temporary storage unit 315 having the same function as that of the banknote cassette forms an accommodation space 30S in which the banknotes are accumulated in the housing 30, and the banknote BL is placed on the upper surface. A stage 331 that moves up and down in the accommodation space 30S is provided. The temporary storage unit 315 releases the banknotes supplied from the outside in the deposit transaction etc. into the accommodation space 30S on the upper side of the accommodation space 30S, while being accumulated on the stage 331 in the withdrawal transaction etc. A separation discharge unit 35 is provided for separating banknotes one by one and delivering them to the outside.

  Further, the temporary storage unit 315 has a residual detection unit 351 that detects whether or not banknotes remain on the stage 331. The residual detection unit 351 includes a light emitting unit 351A that emits predetermined detection light L1, and a light receiving unit 351B that receives the detection light L1 after being appropriately reflected by a stage prism 355 incorporated in the stage 31. ing.

  When the detection light L1 is blocked by the banknote BL, the residual detection unit 351 can detect that the banknote BL remains on the stage 331 because the light reception unit 351B does not receive the detection light L1. Moreover, the residual detection part 351 can detect that the banknote BL does not remain on the stage 331, when the detection light L1 is received in the light-receiving part 351B.

  Here, the temporary storage unit 315 may handle banknotes of various sizes. Therefore, in the residual detection unit 351, the optical path of the detection light L1, the irradiation location on the stage 331, the shape of the stage prism 355, and the like are detected so that even when a relatively small banknote BL remains biased on the stage 331. It is properly defined.

  The temporary storage unit 315 is provided with an upper surface detection unit 52 that recognizes the height of the bills BL accumulated on the stage 331 based on whether or not the detection light L2 is blocked.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-23822 (FIGS. 4, 6 to 9, etc.)

  However, in the temporary storage unit 315 having such a configuration, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the banknote BL released from the separation / release section 35 is stacked on the opposite side of the banknote BL stacked on the stage 331 in a deposit transaction or the like. There is a risk of falling into the gap between the bill BL and the rear side 30R of the housing 30 (hereinafter referred to as a dropped bill BLD).

  Thereafter, when all the banknotes BL are fed out in the temporary storage unit 315, the stage 331 is raised, so that the fallen banknote BLD remains on the stage 331 at a position close to the rear side part 30R as shown in FIG. Sometimes. Even if the falling bill BLD at such a position is fed out by the separation / release unit 35, it does not block the optical path of the detection light L1 in the residual detection unit 351 and cannot be detected by the residual detection unit 351.

  As a result, in the automatic teller machine, even if the banknote BL is fed out until the banknote BL is no longer detected by the residual detection unit 351, the number of banknotes BL stored in the temporary storage unit 315 and the temporary storage unit 315 are fed out. Therefore, the number of bills BL does not match.

  In such a case, the automatic teller machine has a serious problem that the bill BL deposited from the customer cannot be returned. In addition to this, in the automatic teller machine, if a new transaction process from the next customer is accepted, there is a possibility that the dropped banknote BLD is normally accumulated again by contact with the new customer's banknote or the like. There is also a possibility that a new problem of misidentifying the falling bill BLD as a part of the bill of the new customer may arise.

  Therefore, in such an automatic teller machine, in such a case, it becomes necessary to perform maintenance work for the purpose of searching for and collecting the remaining banknote BL by a staff member or a worker after stopping the acceptance of a new transaction process. There is a problem that this maintenance work takes time.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and intends to propose a medium accommodation apparatus and a medium transaction apparatus that can reduce maintenance work or reduce the frequency of maintenance work with a simple configuration. .

  In order to solve such a problem, in the medium accommodation device of the present invention, a housing having an accommodation space for accommodating a paper-like medium inside, and an upper side of one side portion of the accommodation space, the medium is placed in the accommodation space. The emitting part to be emitted, the stage where one surface of the medium is opposed to the upper surface and gathered to one side part, the conversion part for changing the traveling direction of the light, and the detection light emitted from the light emitting part into the accommodation space Then, by detecting the detection light whose traveling direction is converted or not converted by the conversion unit by the light receiving unit, the state of the medium in the integration portion where the medium is to be integrated on the stage is detected, or one of the stages on the stage is detected. And a detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of the medium in the non-stacked portion near the opposite side portion opposite to the side portion.

  In the medium transaction apparatus of the present invention, a medium input / output unit for inputting / extracting a paper sheet medium to be processed, a transport unit for conveying the medium input to the medium input / output unit, and a storage space for storing the medium are provided inside. A housing having a housing, a discharge unit that is provided above one side of the storage space and discharges the medium transported by the transport unit into the storage space, and has one surface of the medium facing the top surface, and is brought to one side. A stage that accumulates, a conversion unit that converts the traveling direction of light, a light emitting unit that emits detection light from the light emitting unit into the accommodation space, and a light receiving unit that detects whether the traveling direction has been converted or not converted by the conversion unit Detects the state of the medium in the stacking part where the medium is to be stacked on the stage by detecting the presence of light, or detects the presence or absence of the medium in the non-stacking part on the opposite side opposite to one side on the stage. With the detector I was kicking way.

  This makes it possible to detect the state of the medium in the integrated portion on the stage while commonly using the detecting portion that receives the detection light emitted from the light emitting portion by the light receiving portion, and in the non-integrated portion on the stage. The presence or absence of a medium can also be detected.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to detect the state of the medium in the integrated portion on the stage while commonly using the detection unit that receives the detection light emitted from the light emitting unit by the light receiving unit, and to detect non-detection on the stage. It is also possible to detect the presence or absence of a medium in the accumulation portion. Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a medium stacking apparatus and a medium accommodation apparatus that can reduce maintenance work or reduce the frequency of maintenance work with a simple configuration.

It is a rough-line perspective view which shows the structure of an automatic teller machine. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of a banknote depositing / withdrawing machine. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the temporary storage part by 1st Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the position of the passage hole on a stage, and the position of a banknote. It is an approximate line figure showing storage operation of a bill by a 1st embodiment. It is an approximate line figure showing feeding operation of a bill by a 1st embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows generation | occurrence | production of the fallen banknote at the time of storage operation | movement. It is an approximate line figure showing feeding operation (1) at the time of falling bill generation. It is an approximate line figure showing feeding operation (2) at the time of falling bill generation. It is a basic diagram which shows the position of the fall banknote on a stage. It is an approximate line figure showing feeding operation (3) at the time of falling bill generation. It is an approximate line figure showing delivery operation (4) at the time of falling bill generation. It is an approximate line figure showing feeding operation (5) at the time of falling bill generation. It is a flowchart which shows the banknote feeding process procedure in 1st Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the height number table by 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the height confirmation process sequence in 2nd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the detection (1) of the height of the banknote by 2nd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the detection (2) of the height of the banknote by 2nd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the temporary storage part by 3rd Embodiment. It is an approximate line figure showing storage operation of a bill by a 3rd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the banknote feeding process procedure in 3rd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the drawing | feeding-out operation | movement of the banknote by 3rd Embodiment. It is a basic diagram which shows the structure of the conventional temporary storage part. It is an approximate line figure showing storage operation in the conventional temporary storage part. It is a basic diagram which shows the drawing-out operation | movement in the conventional temporary storage part.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[1. First Embodiment]
[1-1. Overall configuration of automatic teller machine]
As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic teller machine 1 is configured with a box-shaped housing 2 as the center, and is installed in a financial institution, for example, for a deposit transaction or a withdrawal transaction with a customer. To deal with cash.

  The case 2 has a shape in which a portion where it is easy to insert a bill or operate with a touch panel while the customer faces the front side, that is, a portion extending from the upper part of the front surface to the upper surface is obliquely cut off, A customer service section 3 is provided at this portion.

  The customer reception unit 3 directly exchanges cash and bankbooks with the customer, and is also configured to receive information related to transactions and accept operation instructions. A display unit 6, a numeric keypad 7, and a receipt issuing port 8 are provided.

  The card entry / exit 4 is a portion into which various cards such as a cash card are inserted or ejected. A card processing unit (not shown) for reading account numbers and the like magnetically recorded on various cards is provided on the back side of the card slot 4. The deposit / withdrawal port 5 is a portion where a bill to be deposited by a customer is inserted and a bill BL to be dispensed to the customer is discharged. The deposit / withdrawal port 5 is opened or closed by driving a shutter. Incidentally, the banknote is comprised, for example with the rectangular paper.

  The operation display unit 6 is a touch panel in which an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays an operation screen at the time of a transaction and a touch sensor for inputting a transaction type, a password, a transaction amount, and the like are integrated. The numeric keypad 7 is a physical key that accepts input of numbers such as “0” to “9”, and is used when an input operation such as a password or transaction amount is performed. The receipt issuing port 8 is a part that issues a receipt on which transaction details are printed at the end of transaction processing. Incidentally, a receipt processing unit (not shown) for printing transaction contents and the like on the receipt is provided on the back side of the receipt issuing port 8.

  In the following, the side of the automated teller machine 1 facing the customer is the front side, the opposite is the rear side, the left and right are the left side and the right side as viewed from the customer facing the front side, and the upper side and the lower side. Is defined and explained.

  In the housing 2, a main control unit 9 that performs overall control of the entire automatic teller machine 1, a banknote depositing and dispensing machine 10 that performs various processes related to banknotes, and the like are provided. The main control unit 9 is mainly configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), and by reading and executing a predetermined program from a ROM, a flash memory, etc. (not shown), various transactions such as deposit transactions and withdrawal transactions are performed. It is made to perform the process. The main control unit 9 includes a storage unit including a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk drive, a flash memory, and the like, and various information is stored in the storage unit.

  Incidentally, the housing | casing 2 is comprised by the door which can open and close some side surfaces, such as a front side and a rear surface side. That is, the housing | casing 2 protects the banknote accommodated in the banknote depositing / withdrawing machine 10 by closing each door as shown in FIG. 1 at the time of the transaction operation | movement which performs the transaction regarding cash with a customer. . On the other hand, the housing 2 can be easily operated on each part by opening the doors as necessary during maintenance work performed by an operator or the like.

  As shown in the side view of FIG. 2, the banknote depositing / dispensing machine 10 includes a plurality of parts that perform various processes relating to banknotes. Each part of the bill depositing / dispensing machine 10 is controlled by the bill control unit 11.

  The banknote control unit 11 is configured around a CPU (not shown) as in the case of the main control unit 9, and determines a banknote transport destination by reading and executing a predetermined program from a ROM or flash memory (not shown). Various processes such as a process and a process for controlling the operation of each unit are performed. Moreover, the banknote control part 11 has a memory | storage part which consists of RAM, flash memory, etc. inside, and memorize | stores various information in this memory | storage part.

  The banknote control unit 11 is provided in the customer service unit 12 by opening a shutter after receiving a predetermined operation input via the operation display unit 6 (FIG. 1), for example, when a customer performs a deposit transaction for depositing a banknote. A bill is inserted into the storage space 12A. The customer service unit 12 detects whether or not one or more banknotes are stored in the storage space 12A by a predetermined sensor and whether or not the maximum amount of banknotes that can be stored in the storage space 12A is stored. The banknote control unit 11 is notified of the detection result.

  When a bill is inserted into the accommodation space 12 </ b> A, the customer service unit 12 closes the shutter, feeds the bills one by one from the accommodation space 12 </ b> A, and delivers the bill to the transport unit 13. The transport unit 13 includes a plurality of rollers, belts, and the like, and advances the bills along the short side direction and transports the bills to the discrimination unit 14. The discrimination unit 14 discriminates the denomination and authenticity of the banknote, the degree of damage, and the like using an optical element, a magnetic detection element, and the like while conveying the banknote inside the banknote control unit 11. To notify. In response to this, the banknote control unit 11 determines a transport destination of the banknote based on the acquired discrimination result.

  At this time, based on the control of the banknote control unit 11, the transport unit 13 temporarily holds the banknote discriminated from the normal banknote in the discrimination unit 14 by transporting it to the temporary storage unit 15, and should not be traded. The rejected banknote is conveyed to the customer service unit 12 and returned to the customer. Thereafter, the bill control unit 11 counts the total amount of the inserted bills and displays it on the operation display unit 6, and allows the customer to select whether or not to continue the deposit transaction.

  Here, the banknote control unit 11, when instructed to stop the deposit transaction by the customer, transports all banknotes held in the temporary storage unit 15 to the customer service unit 12 by the transport unit 13 and returns them to the customer. Moreover, the banknote control part 11 conveys all the banknotes currently hold | maintained at the temporary storage part 15 to the discrimination part 14 by the conveyance part 13, and the denomination and the extent of damage, when the customer is instructed to continue the deposit transaction. Etc., and the result of the discrimination is acquired.

  And the banknote control part 11 will convey this to the rejection cassette 16 by the conveyance part 13 as a banknote which should not be reused if the damage degree of a banknote is large, and will reuse this if the degree of damage is small. It is made to convey as a banknote which should be conveyed by the conveyance part 13, and is accommodated in the banknote cassette 17 according to the money type.

  Moreover, the banknote control part 11 respond | corresponds to the money which should withdraw, after receiving predetermined operation input via the operation display part 6 (FIG. 1), for example, when a customer performs the withdrawal transaction which withdraws a banknote. The banknote is fed out from the banknote cassette 17 and conveyed to the discrimination unit 14 by the conveyance unit 13. Subsequently, the banknote control unit 11 discriminates the banknotes by the discrimination unit 14, transports the banknotes to the customer service unit 12 by the transport unit 13, accumulates them in the storage space 12 </ b> A, and shutters the deposit / withdrawal port 5 (FIG. 1). Open and let the customer pick it up.

  Incidentally, at the rear part of the banknote depositing / dispensing machine 10, a supplementary cabinet 18 for storing banknotes to be replenished to the banknote cassette 17 and banknotes collected from the banknote cassette 17 is provided. Above this auxiliary store 18, there is provided an auxiliary deposit / withdrawal unit 19 for loading banknotes to be stored in the auxiliary store 18 and taking out the banknotes collected in the auxiliary store 18. . Further, below the auxiliary storage 18 is provided a forgotten storage 20 for collecting and storing the banknotes when the customer forgets to take out the banknotes withdrawn.

  In this way, the temporary holding unit 15 temporarily holds all the banknotes received from the customer in the deposit transaction, and conveys all banknotes to the banknote cassette 17 when the contents of the transaction processing are confirmed, When transaction processing is stopped, all banknotes are conveyed to the customer service unit 12 and returned to the customer.

[1-2. Temporary Hold Configuration]
As schematically shown in FIG. 3A, the temporary storage unit 15 takes in and accumulates bills BL as a medium in a rectangular parallelepiped housing 30. Incidentally, FIG. 3A shows a right side view. For convenience of explanation, in FIG. 3A and the subsequent drawings, there are portions through which some components are transmitted and portions omitted.

  The casing 30 substantially closes the front, rear, left and right side surfaces, and protects banknotes, components, and the like accumulated therein. A rectangular parallelepiped accommodation space 30 </ b> S is formed in the housing 30. In other words, the accommodating space 30S is a space sandwiched from the front and rear by the front side portion 30F as one side portion and the rear side portion 30R as the opposite side portion that respectively constitute the front side portion and the rear side portion of the housing 30. ing. A flat stage 31 is provided in the housing space 30S.

  The stage 31 is provided so that the plate surface is oriented almost horizontally in the accommodation space 30 </ b> S, and the bills BL to be stored are stacked on the upper surface of the stage 31. On the upper surface of the stage 31, a plurality of passage holes 31H for allowing detection light L1 of a residual detection unit 51 described later to pass therethrough are formed. A stage prism 55 that reflects the detection light L1 that has passed through the passage hole 31H is incorporated in the stage 31 (details will be described later).

  The automatic teller machine 1 in which the temporary holding unit 15 is incorporated is assumed to handle a plurality of types of banknotes BL having different sizes in various transactions such as a deposit transaction and a withdrawal transaction. For this reason, the position of the passage hole 31 </ b> H in the stage 31 is appropriately determined so that it can be detected even when the smallest banknote BL is located at any position on the stage 31. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the passage holes 31 </ b> H are formed at four positions apart from each other on the upper surface of the stage 31.

  Also, the hatched portion in FIG. 4 is the one that is folded so that the bill having the shortest length in the long side direction among the bills handled in the automatic teller machine 1 is divided into four equal parts along the long side direction (hereinafter referred to as the bills). This is referred to as a four-fold bill BLQ). Here, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the passage hole 31H extends in any direction on the stage 31 with the quarter-fold banknote BLQ rotated as it is or 90 degrees in the accommodation space 30S. Even when it is biased, it is arranged so as to block any one place.

  A stage moving unit 32 that moves the stage 31 up and down is incorporated in the housing 30 (FIG. 3A). The stage moving unit 32 is configured by a combination of a motor, a gear, a belt, and the like (not shown).

  The stage moving unit 32 moves the stage 31 up and down based on the control of the banknote control unit 11 (FIG. 2), so that the stage moves downward in the accommodation space 30S as shown in FIG. 31 or the stage 31 can be positioned in the vicinity of the upper end in the accommodation space 30S as shown in FIG.

  A transport path W for moving the banknote forward and backward is formed at a position on the front upper side of the housing 30 so that the front upper portion of the accommodation space 30S communicates with the external space. Above and below the transport path W, transport guides 34 for guiding bills are provided.

  In a relatively wide range from the upper side to the front side of the housing 30 including the upper and lower sides of the conveyance guide 34, a separation / release portion 35 configured by a combination of a plurality of rollers and a conveyance guide is provided. The separation / release part 35 separates and conveys the banknotes collected on the stage 31 one by one, and a discharge mode in which the banknotes BL delivered from the transport unit 13 are discharged into the accommodation space 30S and accumulated. The operation is performed in two types of operation modes such as a separation mode for feeding to the unit 13.

  Specifically, the separation / release part 35 is provided mainly on a feed roller 37 and a reverse roller 38 opposed to each other across the banknote conveyance path W, an impeller 39 having a plurality of tongue pieces, and a ceiling surface of the accommodation space 30S. And picker roller 40.

  Incidentally, a plurality of rollers are arranged along a central axis facing in the left-right direction, and each roller is configured to be rotatable around the central axis. Each roller is transmitted with a driving force from a motor, a gear, or the like (not shown). For convenience of explanation, the center axes of the feed roller 37 and the picker roller 40 are hereinafter referred to as a center axis 37X and a center axis 40X, respectively.

  The feed roller 37, reverse roller 38, and picker roller 40 are all formed in a cylindrical shape. Further, the feed roller 37 and the picker roller 40 are each provided with a member having a high friction coefficient only at a part of the peripheral side surface.

  Incidentally, the picker roller 40 is provided at four positions separated from each other in the left-right direction with respect to the central axis 40X. The picker roller 40 is disposed so as to come into contact with the stage 31 at the contact position 30P indicated by a broken line in FIG. 4C when the stage 31 is moved upward. Even if the abutting position 30P is in a position biased in any direction after the four-fold banknote BLQ shown in FIGS. It is determined so that the folded banknote BLQ can be brought into contact with any picker roller 40.

  The impeller 39 (FIG. 3A) is provided with a plurality of tongue pieces 39 </ b> A so as to go radially outward from a relatively small-diameter central portion. The tongue piece 39A has elasticity, and the coefficient of friction of the surface is increased.

  An impeller moving unit 41 is provided in the front side portion 30 </ b> F of the housing 30, that is, on the lower side of the conveyance guide 34. The impeller moving unit 41 includes a link mechanism unit 42 in which a plurality of link arms are combined so as to be interlocked, and a motor 43 controlled by the banknote control unit 11 (FIG. 2).

  In the link mechanism portion 42, a part of the link arm is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing 30 at a support point 42P. An impeller 39 is rotatably supported at one end of the link arm in the link mechanism unit 42. The other end of the link arm in the link mechanism 42 is attached to the output shaft 43 </ b> P of the motor 43.

  When the motor 43 rotates the output shaft 43P based on the control of the bill control unit 11 (FIG. 2), the impeller 39 is shown in FIG. 3A by interlocking each link arm of the link mechanism unit 42. It is possible to move between the actuated position and the retracted position shown in FIG.

  Here, the operating position (FIG. 3A) is a position where a part of the tongue piece 39 </ b> A of the impeller 39 is protruded into the accommodation space 30 </ b> S. On the other hand, in the retracted position (FIG. 3B), all the tongues 39A in the impeller 39 are located inside the front side portion 30F and below the conveyance guide 34, and the accommodation space 30S and the conveyance The tongue 39A of the impeller 39 is retracted from the road W.

  Further, a picker arm 44 that constitutes a part of the separation / release portion 35 is provided on the upper portion of the housing 30. The picker arm 44 is formed long in the front-rear direction, and the central shaft 37X of the feed roller 37 is inserted in the vicinity of the front end thereof, while the central shaft 40X of the picker roller 40 is rotatably supported in the vicinity of the rear end thereof.

  Between the central shafts 37X and 40X, a belt 45 is wound around the periphery of both. In the separation / release part 35, the picker roller 40 can be rotated in synchronization with the rotation of the feed roller 37 by running the belt 45 when the feed roller 37 rotates.

  Further, the picker arm 44 is driven by a picker arm driving unit (not shown), so that the rear side can be rotated around the central axis 37X, that is, the picker roller 40 can be moved up and down. Specifically, the picker arm 44 is rotated to be in a state where the picker roller 40 is moved upward (FIG. 3A) or a state where it is moved downward (FIG. 3B). it can.

  Further, two bill stoppers 46 are provided at predetermined positions on the left and right sides of the rear side portion 30R of the housing 30 near the upper end. The bill stopper 46 is formed in a small rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is attached to the rear side portion 30R of the accommodation space 30S via an elastic body (not shown).

  The bill stopper 46 absorbs the impact of the bill BL while moving slightly backward by the action of the elastic body when the bill BL released from the separation / release section 35 collides, and slightly by the restoring action of the elastic body. While moving forward, the banknote is pushed back slightly.

  In addition to such a configuration, the temporary storage unit 15 is provided with a residual detection unit 51, an upper surface detection unit 52, and a passage detection unit 53 as sensors for detecting the passage or the residual of the bill BL.

  The residual detection unit 51 includes a light emitting unit 51A that emits the detection light L1 and a light receiving unit 51B that receives the detection light L1. The light emitting unit 51A is attached to the upper part of the housing 30 and emits the detection light L1 obliquely downward and rearward. The light receiving unit 51B is attached to the rear of the light emitting unit 51A in the upper portion of the housing 30, and receives the detection light L2 that travels obliquely forward.

  On the other hand, a stage prism 55 is incorporated in the stage 31. The stage prism 55 is provided with reflecting surfaces 55A and 55B that reflect the detection light L1 at positions below the passage holes 31H provided in the stage 31. The positions and angles of the reflection surfaces 55A and 55B are appropriately adjusted.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3B, the stage prism 55 is located at the position where the stage 31 moves upward and contacts the picker roller 40 (hereinafter referred to as the uppermost position). The detection light L1 emitted from 51A obliquely downward to the rear and passing through the passage hole 31H can be reflected by the reflection surface 55A and guided to the reflection surface 55B. Subsequently, the stage prism 55 can cause the detection light L1 to re-reflect on the reflection surface 55B to advance obliquely upward in the forward direction, pass through the passage hole 31H, and be guided to the light receiving unit 51B.

  When the bill BL is not placed on the stage 31 at the uppermost position (FIG. 3B) as the detection position, the residual detection unit 51 detects the detection light L1 emitted from the light emission unit 51A in the stage 31. The portions sequentially reflected by the reflecting surfaces 55A and 55B of the prism 55 are received by the light receiving portion 51B. On the other hand, when one or more banknotes BL are placed on the stage 31 at the uppermost position, the remaining detection unit 51 can receive light by the light receiving unit 51B because the detection light L1 is shielded by the banknotes BL. Can not.

  The light receiving unit 51B generates a residual detection signal indicating whether or not the detection light L1 has been received, and supplies this to the banknote control unit 11 (FIG. 2). The banknote control unit 11 can recognize whether one or more banknotes BL remain on the stage 31 based on the residual detection signal. Incidentally, in the temporary storage unit 15, two sets of the residual detection unit 51 and the stage prism 55 are provided side by side in the left-right direction.

  Further, a side prism 56 corresponding to the stage prism 55 is incorporated behind the passage hole 30RH in the rear side portion 30R. The side prism 56 is configured such that the stage prism 55 is inverted and rotated so that the upper surface thereof is directed forward, and has the reflecting surfaces 56A and 56B corresponding to the reflecting surfaces 55A and 55B, respectively. .

  At the front side of the side prism 56 in the rear side portion 30R, the optical path of the detection light L1 emitted from the light emitting portion 51A and the optical path of the detection light L1 traveling to the light receiving portion 51B are respectively extended at the detection light. A passage hole 30RH through which L1 passes is formed. Incidentally, the positions of the reflecting surfaces 56A and 56B of the side prism 56 are adjusted so that the reflecting surfaces 56A and 56B are located on the extended lines of the respective optical paths of the detection light L1, and the angles thereof are also adjusted appropriately.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3A, the side prism 56 is located at a position where the stage 31 moves relatively downward and does not block the optical path of the detection light L1 (hereinafter referred to as a non-light blocking position). The detection light L1 emitted from the light emitting portion 51A obliquely downward and rearward and passing through the passage hole 30RH can be reflected by the reflecting surface 56A and guided to the reflecting surface 56B. Subsequently, the side prism 56 can cause the detection light L1 to re-reflect on the reflection surface 56B to advance obliquely forward, and can pass through the passage hole 30RH and be guided to the light receiving unit 51B.

  When the detection light L1 is not blocked on the optical path, the residual detection unit 51 can receive the light by the light receiving unit 51B. On the other hand, when the detection light L1 is blocked by a bill or the like on the optical path, the residual detection unit 51 cannot receive the light by the light receiving unit 51B. For this reason, the banknote control part 11 can recognize whether the banknote BL exists in the position which interrupts the detection light L1 based on the residual detection signal obtained at this time.

  The upper surface detection unit 52 includes a light emitting unit 52A that emits the detection light L2 and a light receiving unit 52B that receives the detection light L2. The light emitting unit 52A is attached to the front side portion of the housing 30, that is, the front side portion 30F, and emits the detection light L2 obliquely upward and rearward. The light receiving unit 52B is attached to the upper part of the housing 30 and receives the detection light L2 traveling from the lower front side.

  The upper surface detection unit 52 is when the upper surface of the stage 31 or the uppermost surface of the bill BL placed on the stage 31 (hereinafter referred to as the placement uppermost surface) is at a position lower than a predetermined reference height H1. The light receiving unit 52B can receive the detection light L2. On the other hand, the upper surface detection unit 52 cannot receive the detection light L2 at the light receiving unit 52B because the detection light L2 is blocked when the placement top surface is at a position higher than the reference height H1. Incidentally, the reference height H1 corresponds to a position (height) at which the uppermost mounting surface should be separated from the ceiling surface of the storage space 30S in order to release the bill BL into the storage space 30S by the separation / release part 35.

  The light receiving unit 52B generates an upper surface detection signal indicating whether or not the detection light L2 has been received, and supplies this to the banknote control unit 11 (FIG. 2). In response to this, the banknote control unit 11 can recognize whether or not the uppermost mounting surface is higher than the reference height H1 based on the upper surface detection signal. In other words, the banknote control unit 11 can recognize the accumulation state of the banknotes BL on the stage 31 based on the upper surface detection signal.

  The passage detection unit 53 includes a light emitting unit 53A that emits the detection light L3 and a light receiving unit 53B that receives the detection light L3. The light emitting unit 53A is attached to the upper portion of the transport path W and emits the detection light L3 downward. The light receiving unit 53B is attached to the lower portion of the transport path W and receives the detection light L3 traveling from above.

  The passage detection unit 53 can receive the detection light L3 in the light receiving unit 53B when there is no banknote BL on the optical path of the detection light L3 in the transport path W. On the other hand, when the banknote BL is on the optical path of the detection light L3 in the transport path W, the passage detection unit 53 cannot receive the detection light L3 in the light receiving unit 53B.

  The light receiving unit 53B generates a passage detection signal indicating whether or not the detection light L3 has been received, and supplies this to the banknote control unit 11 (FIG. 2). Accordingly, the banknote control unit 11 can recognize whether or not the banknote BL has passed through the conveyance path W of the temporary storage unit 15 based on the passage detection signal.

  Moreover, the banknote control part 11 can count the number of the banknote BL which passed the conveyance path W based on the frequency | count that the passage detection signal changed, and also temporarily hold | maintains by combining with the conveyance direction of the banknote BL at this time. The number of banknotes BL stored in the section 15 and the number of banknotes BL fed out from the temporary storage section 15 can be totaled.

  As described above, the temporary storage unit 15 includes the residual detection unit 51, the stage prism 55, and the side prism for detecting the presence and state of the banknote BL, in addition to the separation / release section 35 and the like for storing or feeding the banknote BL. 56 etc.

[1-3. Storage operation and feeding operation]
Next, the storing operation for storing the bill BL in the temporary storage unit 15 and the feeding operation for feeding out the banknotes stored in the temporary storage unit 15 one by one will be described.

[1-3-1. Storage operation]
When the banknote control unit 11 stores the banknotes BL sequentially transferred from the transport unit 13 to the temporary storage unit 15, the banknote control unit 11 first operates the separation / release unit 35 in the discharge mode.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, the separation / release unit 35 moves the picker roller 40 upward by the picker arm 44 and moves the impeller 39 to the operating position by the impeller moving unit 41. Further, the separation / release part 35 rotates the feed roller 37 in the counterclockwise direction and rotates the reverse roller 38 and the impeller 39 in the clockwise direction which is the opposite direction.

  Moreover, the banknote control part 11 is integrated | stacked on the mounting top surface, ie, the upper surface of the stage 31, or the said stage 31 by controlling the stage moving part 32, monitoring the upper surface detection signal from the upper surface detection part 52. The top surface of the banknote BL is adjusted to a position that is lower than the reference height H1 by a predetermined minute height ΔH. Incidentally, the minute height ΔH corresponds to, for example, a height in which about ten banknotes BL are stacked.

  When the banknote BL is delivered from the transport unit 13 (FIG. 2), the temporary storage unit 15 advances the bill forward along the transport path W. At this time, the passage detection unit 53 changes the signal level of the passage detection signal every time the bill BL passes. The banknote control unit 11 updates the number of banknotes BL conveyed in the conveyance path W, that is, the number of banknotes BL stored in the temporary storage unit 15 by counting the number of times the passage detection signal has changed. Remember.

  Subsequently, the temporary storage unit 15 sandwiches the banknote BL from above and below by the feed roller 37 and the reverse roller 38 of the separation / release unit 35, and discharges it into the accommodation space 30S as shown in FIG. The banknote BL discharged into the accommodation space 30S collides with the front surface of the bill stopper 46, and after the impact is absorbed, it is pushed back slightly forward.

  Next, when the front end of the banknote BL reaches the rotational radius of the impeller 39, the front end is moved downward, that is, the top surface of the stage 31 or the top surface of the banknote BL stacked on the stage 31. After being knocked down on the top surface (that is, the uppermost mounting surface), it is attracted forward by the friction of the tongue piece 39A, and its front end is integrated so as to contact the rear surface side (that is, the inner surface side) of the front side portion 30F of the housing 30. Is done. In other words, the separating and releasing unit 35 accumulates the front portion on the stage 31 as the accumulation portion that is the portion on which the bills BL are to be accumulated on the stage 31.

  Thereafter, the temporary storage unit 15 can sequentially accumulate the bills BL sequentially delivered from the transport unit 13 on the stage 31 by repeating a series of operations.

  In parallel with this, the banknote control unit 11 monitors the upper surface detection signal from the upper surface detection unit 52, and every time the uppermost surface of the placement reaches the reference height H1 due to the accumulation of the banknotes BL, the stage 31 is made minute. Move downward by height ΔH. Thereby, the banknote control part 11 can continue ensuring the space required for discharge | release of banknote BL above the mounting top surface.

[1-3-2. Feeding operation]
When the banknote control unit 11 pays out the banknotes BL stored in the temporary storage unit 15 and sequentially delivers them to the transport unit 13, first, the separation discharge unit 35 is operated in the separation mode.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3B, the separation / release part 35 moves the picker roller 40 downward by the picker arm 44 and moves the impeller 39 to the retracted position by the impeller moving part 41. In addition, the separation discharge unit 35 rotates the feed roller 37 and the picker roller 40 in the clockwise direction, and stops the reverse roller 38 and the impeller 39.

  The banknote control unit 11 controls the stage moving unit 32 to move the stage 31 upward, so that the uppermost surface of the placement, that is, the uppermost surface of the banknotes BL stacked on the stage 31 is brought into contact with the picker roller 40. Let Further, the banknote control unit 11 continues to monitor whether one or more banknotes BL remain on the stage 31 based on the residual detection signal from the residual detection unit 51.

  The separating / releasing unit 35 causes the frictional force to act on the topmost banknote BL among the banknotes BL stacked on the stage 31 and sends it forward by the rotation of the picker roller 40. At this time, when the frictional force between the uppermost banknote BL and the second or lower banknote BL is high, the second or lower banknote BL is also sent out together with the uppermost banknote BL.

  Subsequently, the separation / release unit 35 sends out the bill BL sent by the rotation of the picker roller 40 further forward by the rotation of the feed roller 37. At this time, since the gap between the reverse roller 38 and the feed roller 37 is extremely narrow and stationary, when the second or less banknote BL is sent out together with the uppermost banknote BL, this second sheet The following banknotes BL are blocked and only the uppermost banknote BL is advanced forward.

  The banknote control unit 11 controls the stage moving unit 32 and gradually moves the stage 31 upward while rotating the picker roller 40 and the feed roller 37, thereby stacking the banknotes on the stage 31. The uppermost surface of BL is always brought into contact with the picker roller 40.

  Incidentally, although the picker roller 40 and the feed roller 37 are continuously rotated, the bill BL is fed forward by a member having a high friction coefficient attached only to a part of each peripheral side surface, while in other parts. , Do not send out by sliding against the bill BL.

  Thereby, the temporary storage unit 15 can separate the time from sending out one banknote BL to sending out the next banknote BL, and one banknote BL can be transferred to the transport unit 13 (FIG. 2). It can be delivered sequentially in a separated state.

  Eventually, when the banknote controller 11 detects that no banknote BL remains on the stage 31 based on the residual detection signal from the residual detector 51, the banknote controller 11 feeds out all the banknotes BL accumulated on the stage 31. It is determined that the process has been completed (FIG. 3B).

  Next, the banknote control unit 11 controls the stage moving unit 32 to move the stage 31 downward to a non-light shielding position, that is, a position where the detection light L1 is not blocked (FIG. 3A). At this time, in the temporary storage unit 15, the detection light L <b> 1 can be received by the light receiving unit 51 </ b> B of the residual detection unit 51 if no bill BL remains on the stage 31.

  By the way, in the temporary storage unit 15, when the storage operation is performed, when the rigidity is low due to, for example, the banknote BL discharged from the separation / discharge unit 35 being used in the storage space 30S, the tip of the bank is suspended, The building stopper 46 may slide down against the front surface. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the bill BL falls into a gap between the bill BL accumulated on the stage 31 and the rear side portion 30 </ b> R. Hereinafter, the dropped bill BL is referred to as a dropped bill BLD. The falling banknote BLD is located on the stage 31 on the rear side portion 30R side other than the accumulation portion, that is, the non-accumulation portion.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, the temporary storage unit 15 raises the stage 31 to perform the feeding operation and brings the uppermost surface of the banknotes BL stacked on the stage 31 into contact with the picker roller 40, so that this stacking is performed. The bills BL are fed out sequentially.

  At this time, the temporary storage unit 15 gradually raises the stage 31 as the banknote BL is fed out, and eventually brings the upper end of the falling banknote BLD into contact with the ceiling surface 30SC of the accommodation space 30S, thereby And the ceiling surface 30SC hold the falling bill BLD.

  For this reason, the falling bill BLD cannot fall on the upper surface of the stage 31, that is, cannot come into contact with the picker roller 40, and even after all the bills BL accumulated on the stage 31 are fed out, as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is left in the accommodation space 30S.

  Here, as shown in a plan view in FIG. 10, the dropped banknote BLD is located at a location that is out of the passage hole 31 </ b> H provided in the stage 31. For this reason, the banknote control part 11 cannot detect the fallen banknote BLD by the residual detection signal from the residual detection part 51 in the state shown in FIG.

  Next, the banknote control unit 11 feeds out the banknotes BL accumulated on the stage 31 by the separation / release unit 35, and then controls the stage moving unit 32, thereby removing the stage 31 as shown in FIG. Move down to the light blocking position.

  At this time, the falling bill BLD is in a state where the upper end is separated from the ceiling surface 30SC and slightly extends in the vertical direction along the rear side portion 30R, and blocks the detection light L1. At this time, the banknote control unit 11 can recognize that there is a falling banknote BLD on the stage 31 based on the residual detection signal from the residual detection unit 51.

  Further, the falling bill BLD has an upper end that is separated from the ceiling surface 30SC and is not supported at all from the front side and is unstable, and may fall forward as shown in FIG. Therefore, the banknote control unit 11 controls the stage moving unit 32 again to move the stage 31 upward, and the falling banknote BLD that has fallen on the stage 31 is brought into contact with the picker roller 40 as shown in FIG. .

  At this time, the falling bill BLD is tilted on the stage 31 so as to close the passage hole 31H. For this reason, the banknote control part 11 can recognize based on the residual detection signal from the residual detection part 51 that the falling banknote BLD exists on the stage 31, that is, the banknote BL which should be drawn out remains. As with the case where the banknotes BL accumulated on the stage 31 are fed out, the temporary storage unit 15 continues to operate the separation / release unit 35 in the separation mode, thereby feeding out the fallen banknotes BLD to the transport unit 13 (FIG. 2). Can be handed over.

  Incidentally, the temporary storage part 15 will be in the state shown in FIG. 9 again, when the fallen banknote BLD does not fall forward. At this time, the banknote control unit 11 recognizes that the falling banknote BLD remains and that the separating and discharging unit 35 cannot deliver the falling banknote BLD, interrupts the deposit transaction, and performs the staff of the financial institution or maintenance work. Error processing such as notifying employees.

  As described above, the temporary storage unit 15 pays out the banknotes BL on the stage 31 and then lowers the stage 31 to the non-light-shielding position by the residual detection unit 51 based on the control of the banknote control unit 11. The presence or absence of BLD can be detected. Further, the temporary storage unit 15 can be expected to cause the falling bill BLD to fall on the stage 31 when the stage 31 is lowered to the non-light-shielding position. In this case, the separation discharge unit 35 is raised by raising the stage 31. The fed banknote BLD can be fed out.

[1-3-3. Feeding process procedure]
Here, when the feeding operation in the temporary holding unit 15 is summarized as a flowchart, it can be expressed as a bill feeding processing procedure RT1 shown in FIG.

  The banknote control unit 11 transports and stores all banknotes BL input to the customer in the deposit transaction to the temporary storage unit 15, and then totals and displays the total amount on the operation display unit 6 (FIG. 1). . Here, when an operation instruction is given from the customer to continue the deposit transaction, the banknote control unit 11 starts the banknote feeding process procedure RT1 and proceeds to step SP1.

  In step SP1, the bill control unit 11 starts monitoring the bill BL based on the residual detection signal obtained from the residual detection unit 51, and proceeds to the next step SP2. In step SP2, the bill control unit 11 moves the picker roller 40 downward by rotating the picker arm 44 (FIG. 3A), and further moves the impeller 39 to the retracted position by the impeller moving unit 41. Then, the process proceeds to the next step SP3.

  In step SP3, the bill control unit 11 controls the stage moving unit 32 to move the stage 31 upward, and the top surface of the stacked bills BL is brought into contact with the picker roller 40 (FIGS. 6 and 8). Then, the process proceeds to the next step SP4. In step SP4, the bill control unit 11 starts the separation operation by rotating the feed roller 37 and the picker roller 40 of the separation / release unit 35 in a predetermined direction, and proceeds to the next step SP5.

  In step SP5, the banknote control unit 11 separates the topmost banknote BL from the banknotes BL stacked on the stage 31 by the separation operation of the separation / release section 35, and feeds the banknotes one by one to the transport section 13 (FIG. 2). ) And move to the next step SP6.

  In step SP6, the banknote control unit 11 determines whether or not the detection light L1 emitted from the light emitting unit 51A has reached the light receiving unit 52B via the stage prism 55 based on the residual detection signal obtained from the residual detection unit 51. That is, it is determined whether there is a remaining banknote on the stage 31. If a positive result is obtained here, this means that the separation operation by the separation and discharge unit 35 should be continued and the remaining banknotes should be fed out. At this time, the banknote control part 11 returns to step SP5 again, and continues to manipulate the banknote BL.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP6, this indicates that all the banknotes BL accumulated on the stage 31 have been fed out by the separation and discharge unit 35 (FIG. 3B). At this time, the banknote control unit 11 proceeds to the next step SP7 to continuously detect the presence or absence of the dropped banknote BLD.

  In step SP7, the banknote control unit 11 controls the stage moving unit 32 to move the stage 31 to the lower non-light-shielding position (FIG. 3A), and proceeds to the next step SP8.

  In step SP8, the banknote control unit 11 determines whether or not the detection light L1 emitted from the light emitting unit 51A has reached the light receiving unit 52B via the side prism 56 based on the residual detection signal obtained from the residual detection unit 51. That is, it is determined whether or not there is a falling bill BLD on the stage 31. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the falling bill BLD could not be detected by the residual detection unit 51.

  However, in this case, in addition to the possibility that the falling bill BLD does not exist on the stage 31, there is a falling bill BLD on the stage 31, but the upper end of the falling bill BLD falls immediately after leaving the ceiling surface 30SC of the accommodation space 30S. For example, there is a possibility that the detection has not been possible because it is already lying on the stage 31. Therefore, the banknote control unit 11 proceeds to the next step SP9.

  In step SP9, the bill control unit 11 controls the stage moving unit 32 to move the stage 31 to the uppermost position, and the upper surface or the falling bill BLD is brought into contact with the picker roller 40 (FIG. 13). The process proceeds to step SP10.

  In step SP10, the banknote control unit 11 receives the detection light L1 emitted from the light emitting unit 51A via the stage prism 55 and reaches the light receiving unit 52B based on the residual detection signal obtained from the residual detection unit 51, as in step SP6. Whether or not there is a remaining banknote on the stage 31 is determined. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that the falling bill BLD standing at the position close to the rear side portion 30R on the stage 31 falls and is sandwiched between the picker roller 40 and the stage 31, That is, this means that the falling bill BLD can be fed out in the same manner as the ordinary bill BL. At this time, the banknote control unit 11 proceeds to the next step SP13.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP8, this means that there is a falling bill BLD on the stage 31 (FIG. 11), and that the falling bill BLD is unstable and may fall down (FIG. 11). 12). At this time, the banknote control unit 11 proceeds to the next step SP11. In step SP11, the banknote control unit 11 controls the stage moving unit 32 to move the stage 31 to the uppermost position, and causes the upper surface of the stage 31 or the fallen banknote BLD to contact the picker roller 40 (see FIG. 13) Move to the next Step SP12.

  In step SP12, the banknote control unit 11 receives the detection light L1 emitted from the light emitting unit 51A via the stage prism 55 and reaches the light receiving unit 52B based on the residual detection signal obtained from the residual detection unit 51, as in step SP6. Whether or not there is a remaining banknote on the stage 31 is determined.

  If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that, as shown in FIG. 13, the falling bill BLD standing on the stage 31 along the rear side portion 30 </ b> R falls down, and between the picker roller 40 and the stage 31. This means that the falling bill BLD can be fed out in the same manner as a normal bill BL. At this time, the banknote control unit 11 proceeds to the next step SP13.

  In step SP13, the banknote control unit 11 feeds out the banknote BL remaining on the stage 31, that is, the fallen banknote BLD, and delivers it to the transport unit 13 (FIG. 2) by the separation operation of the separation and discharge unit 35, as in step SP5. Then, the process proceeds to the next step SP15. Incidentally, the banknote control part 11 can confirm that the fallen banknote BLD was normally drawn out based on the residual detection signal obtained from the residual detection part 51 at this time.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP12, this means that, as shown in FIG. 9, there is a falling bill BLD in the accommodation space 30S, but the falling bill BLD cannot be fed out by the separation / release part 35. Represents. At this time, the banknote control unit 11 proceeds to the next step SP14. In step SP14, the banknote control unit 11 performs an error notification process such as interrupting the deposit transaction and notifying the staff of the financial institution or the maintenance worker, and proceeds to the next step SP15.

  In step SP15, the banknote control unit 11 ends the separation operation by the separation and discharge unit 35, and proceeds to the next step SP16. In step SP16, the banknote control unit 11 ends the monitoring of the banknote BL based on the residual detection signal obtained from the residual detection unit 51, moves to the next step SP17, and ends the banknote feeding process procedure RT1.

[1-4. Operation and effect]
In the above configuration, the temporary holding unit 15 according to the first embodiment directs the detection light L1 emitted from the light emitting unit 51A of the residual detection unit 51 to the lower diagonal rear and the detection light traveling from the lower diagonal rear. L1 is received by the light receiving unit 51B. In addition, the temporary storage unit 15 incorporates a stage prism 55 into the stage 31 and a side prism 56 into the rear side 30 </ b> R of the housing 30.

  For this reason, when the banknote control part 11 moves the stage 31 to the uppermost position (FIG. 3 (B)) by the temporary storage part 15, and makes it contact | abut on the picker roller 40, the residual detection which is a light reception result of the detection light L1. Based on the signal, it is possible to detect whether or not the banknote BL remains on the stage 31.

  In addition to this, when the banknote control unit 11 moves the stage 31 to the lower non-light-shielding position (FIG. 3A) with respect to the temporary storage unit 15, the banknote control unit 11 outputs a residual detection signal that is a light reception result of the detection light L1. Based on this, it is possible to detect whether or not there is a falling bill BLD at a position close to the rear side portion 30R on the stage 31.

  Accordingly, the temporary storage unit 15 does not need to separately provide a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit for detecting the falling bill BLD, as compared with the conventional temporary storage unit 315 (FIG. 23), and the light emitting unit 51A and the light receiving unit 51B. It is only necessary to add the side prism 56, which is an optical component with a simple structure, while adjusting the mounting direction of the stage and optimizing the reflection angle of the stage prism 55 and the like. In other words, the temporary storage unit 15 can be simply configured and can be manufactured at a low cost.

  In particular, in the temporary storage unit 15, it is not necessary to change the position of the passage hole 31H drilled on the stage 31 from the conventional one. For this reason, in the temporary storage part 15, as shown to FIG. 4 (A)-(C), even if the folded four-fold banknote BLQ is located in various places, or has faced various directions, these Can be detected satisfactorily and can be fed out by the picker roller 40.

  Moreover, the banknote control part 11 pays out the banknote BL on the stage 31 during the operation, detects the banknote BL not remaining based on the residual detection signal, and then lowers the stage 31 to the non-light-shielding position. Then, it was raised again (FIGS. 9 to 13).

  Therefore, the banknote control unit 11 can increase the possibility of detecting the presence of the falling banknote BLD when the stage 31 is lowered to the non-light-shielding position. By pulling the upper end away from the ceiling surface 30SC, it becomes unstable and the possibility of falling forward can be increased. Furthermore, since the banknote control part 11 raises the stage 31 again, the fallen banknote BLD which fell can be pinched | interposed between the picker roller 40 and the stage 31, Therefore This is drawn out like normal banknote BL, and a conveyance part It is also possible to pass to 13.

  Furthermore, after the banknote control part 11 descend | falls the stage 31 to a non-light-shielding position and detected the falling banknote BLD, when the said stage 31 was raised to the uppermost part, when the said falling banknote BLD was not able to be detected, It can be determined that the falling bill BLD remains in a state where it cannot be delivered (FIGS. 9 and 10). In this case, the banknote control unit 11 can cause the staff of the financial institution to recognize that the banknote BL remains in the temporary storage unit 15 by performing a predetermined error notification process, and can promptly deal with it. it can.

  According to the above configuration, the temporary storage unit 15 according to the first embodiment determines the light emission direction of the detection light L1 from the light emission unit 51A in the residual detection unit 51 and the light reception direction of the detection light L1 in the light reception unit 51B. In addition, a stage prism 55 is incorporated into the stage 31 and a side prism 56 is incorporated into the rear side portion 30R of the housing 30 so as to be obliquely rearwardly downward. For this reason, when the banknote control part 11 moves the stage 31 to the uppermost position and makes it contact | abut with the picker roller 40, based on the detection light reception signal which is the light reception result of the detection light L1, it is banknote BL on the said stage 31. Can be detected, and when the stage 31 is moved to the lower non-light-shielding position with respect to the temporary holding unit 15, the rear side portion 30R on the stage 31 is based on the detected light-receiving signal. It is possible to detect whether or not there is a falling bill BLD at a position close to.

[2. Second Embodiment]
The automatic teller machine 101 (FIG. 1) by 2nd Embodiment has the banknote depositing / withdrawing machine 110 replaced with the banknote depositing / withdrawing machine 10 compared with the automatic teller machine 1 by 1st Embodiment. However, the other parts are configured similarly.

  Although the banknote depositing / dispensing machine 110 (FIG. 2) is different from the banknote depositing / dispensing machine 10 according to the first embodiment in that it has a banknote control unit 111 instead of the banknote control unit 11, the temporary storage unit 15. The other parts including are configured in the same manner.

  The banknote control part 111 recognizes the position (namely, height) of the stage 31 with control of the stage moving part 32 of the temporary storage part 15. Specifically, the banknote control unit 111 uses the upper surface of the stage 31 as the reference height H1 (FIG. 3A) when the banknote BL is not placed on the stage 31. Then, when the banknote control unit 111 stores the banknote BL in the temporary storage unit 15, the height of the stage 31 is determined based on the number of times the stage 31 is lowered by the minute height ΔH by the control of the stage moving unit 32. Can be recognized.

  In addition to this, when only one bill BL is placed on the stage 31, the bill control unit 111 is at a height at which the detection light L1 is not blocked by the bill BL accumulated on the stage 31. A certain second reference height H2 (FIG. 3) and a differential height HA that is a distance from the reference height H1 to the second reference height H2 are stored.

  Moreover, the banknote control part 111 has memorize | stored the height number table TBL1 shown in FIG. This number-of-height table TBL1 represents the relationship between the height of the stacked banknotes BL and the number at that time. Incidentally, the height of the banknote BL at this time represents a height when a so-called new ticket, that is, a banknote BL that has not yet been distributed in the market and has no folds, folds, or the like is accumulated. For this reason, when banknotes BL that have already been distributed in the market and have folds or folds are accumulated, the apparent thickness increases due to the folds or folds. Is expected to be high.

  Furthermore, the banknote control part 111 is based on the passage detection signal obtained from the passage detection part 53 (FIG. 3 (A) and (B)) of the temporary storage part 15 of the banknote BL accommodated in the temporary storage part 15 concerned. The number of sheets and the number of banknotes BL fed out from the temporary storage unit 15 can be totaled.

  In such a configuration, the banknote control unit 111 performs a height confirmation process for confirming the height of the banknote BL after performing the storing operation of storing the banknote BL in the temporary storage unit 15. Specifically, the banknote control part 111 will start the height confirmation process procedure RT2 shown in FIG. 16, and will transfer to step SP21, if storage operation | movement is complete | finished similarly to 1st Embodiment.

  At this time, although the temporary storage unit 15 has the upper surface of the banknotes BL stacked on the stage 31 at the reference height H1, the height is different depending on the state of the stored banknotes BL even if the number is the same. To do. For example, in the temporary storage part 15, if many of the banknotes BL accumulated on the stage 31 are banknotes that are new or close to the new banknote, as shown in FIG. If many of the bills BL have folds, folds, etc., the stage 31 is at a relatively low position as shown in FIG.

  In step SP21, the banknote control unit 111 confirms the number of banknotes BL recognized based on the passage detection signal obtained from the passage detection unit 53 during the storing operation of the temporary storage unit 15, and proceeds to the next step SP22. In step SP22, the banknote control unit 111 reads the height corresponding to the number of banknotes BL stored by referring to the height number table TBL1 (FIG. 15), and stores this as a standard height. Control goes to the next step SP23.

  In step SP23, the banknote control unit 111 starts monitoring the banknote BL based on the residual detection signal obtained from the residual detection unit 51, and proceeds to the next step SP24. Incidentally, since the banknotes BL are accumulated up to the reference height H1, the residual detection unit 51 cannot receive the detection light L1 when monitoring is started.

  In step SP24, the banknote control part 111 starts the downward movement of the stage 31 by controlling the stage moving part 32, and proceeds to the next step SP25.

  In step SP25, the banknote control unit 111 determines whether or not the detection light L1 is received by the residual detection unit 51. If a negative result is obtained here, this indicates that the state in which the detection light L1 is blocked by the accumulated bills BL is still continuing. At this time, the banknote control unit 111 waits for the residual detection unit 51 to receive the detection light L1 by repeating this step SP25.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained in step SP25, this means that the detection light L1 has been received by the residual detection unit 51, that is, as the stage 31 is lowered as shown in FIGS. 17 (B) and 18 (B). This indicates that the uppermost surface of the bill BL has reached a position where it does not block the optical path of the detection light L1. At this time, the banknote control unit 111 moves to the next step SP26, stops the downward movement of the stage 31 by controlling the stage moving unit 32, and moves to the next step SP27.

  In step SP27, the banknote control unit 111 recognizes the distance moved from the reference height H1 until the detection light L1 is detected by the residual detection unit 51, and subtracts the difference height HA (FIG. 3) from this distance. Then, the measurement height representing the actual height of the bills BL accumulated on the stage 31 is obtained, and the process proceeds to the next step SP28.

  In step SP28, the banknote control unit 111 recognizes the state of the banknote BL by comparing the standard height obtained in step SP22 with the measured height obtained in step SP27, and proceeds to the next step SP29. At this time, the banknote control part 111 calculates the expansion rate on the basis of the case where a new ticket is integrated | stacked, for example by dividing a measurement height by standard height. The expansion rate indicates that the ratio of the new bill or the banknote BL in a state close to the new ticket is high if the value is close to the value “1”, while the larger the value “1”, the larger the value of the banknote BL having the folds and the folds. The ratio is high.

  In step SP29, the banknote control unit 111 has a high ratio of banknotes BL in a state similar to a new ticket or a new ticket, or a ratio of banknotes BL having folds or folds, based on the expansion rate as a comparison result. Is reflected in other processing in the banknote depositing / dispensing machine 110 (FIG. 2), is notified to the staff of the financial institution via a predetermined communication means, etc., and the process proceeds to the next step SP30 to check the height. End RT2.

  In the above configuration, the banknote control unit 111 according to the second embodiment stores in advance a height number table TBL1 (FIG. 15) that represents the relationship between the height of the banknote BL and the number of banknotes BL. The banknote control unit 111 obtains a standard height by referring to the height number table TBL1 based on the number of banknotes detected by the passage detection unit 53 in the storing operation of storing the banknote BL in the temporary storage unit 15.

  Furthermore, the banknote control part 111 measures the actual height of the banknote BL integrated | stacked on the stage 31 by using the residual detection part 51 after completion | finish of storing operation, and makes it measurement height. And the banknote control part 111 is based on the comparison result of standard height and measurement height, and the ratio of the banknote BL close | similar to a new ticket or a new ticket is high about the banknote BL integrated | stacked on the stage 31, or a crack or folding The state that the ratio of the banknotes BL having eyes or the like is high is recognized, and this is reflected in other processing, and is notified to the staff of the financial institution.

  Thereby, the banknote control part 111 becomes possible [changing the content of a process according to the state of the said banknote BL in the other process performed in the banknote depositing / withdrawing machine 110]. For example, in the conveyance process of the banknote BL, the banknote control unit 111 detects that the banknote BL being conveyed is lowered or the banknote BL being conveyed is detected when the ratio of the banknote BL having a fold or a crease is high. The frequency at which the presence / absence of banknotes is determined in the portion can be increased. Moreover, the banknote control part 111 authenticates about the damaged banknote BL etc., while increasing the processing load by increasing the determination item at the time of discriminating a money type and authenticity in the discrimination process of banknote BL, for example. It is also possible to set the threshold for the denomination and the like slightly lower.

  Further, in a financial institution or the like in which the automatic teller machine 101 is installed, the state of the automatic teller machine 101 is installed by statistically processing the state of the bill BL notified from the banknote control unit 111. It is also possible to grasp that the ratio of banknotes BL having folds, folds, etc. tends to be high as the characteristics of the place. In such a case, in the automatic teller machine 101, for example, the overall conveyance speed of the banknote BL in the banknote depositing / dispensing machine 110 is slightly reduced, and the determination items in the discrimination unit 14 (FIG. 2) are increased from the beginning. As described above, each unit can be set in advance so as to perform processing corresponding to the state of the bill BL.

  Regarding other points as well, the banknote control unit 111 according to the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as the banknote control unit 11 according to the first embodiment.

  According to the above configuration, the banknote control unit 111 according to the second embodiment has a height based on the number of banknotes detected by the passage detection unit 53 in the storing operation of storing the banknotes BL in the temporary storage unit 15. The standard height is obtained with reference to the sheet number table TBL1 (FIG. 15). Moreover, the banknote control part 111 measures the actual height of the banknote BL integrated | stacked on the stage 31 based on the residual detection signal from the residual detection part 51, and makes it measurement height. And the banknote control part 111 compares the standard height and the measurement height, and about the banknote BL integrated | stacked on the stage 31, the ratio of the banknote BL near a new ticket or a new ticket is high, or a crease or a crease It is possible to recognize a state that the ratio of the banknotes BL having high and so on is high, so that this can be reflected in other processing and notified to the staff of the financial institution.

[3. Third Embodiment]
Compared with the automatic teller machine 1 according to the first embodiment, the automatic teller machine 201 according to the third embodiment has a banknote depositing and dispensing machine 210 that replaces the banknote depositing and dispensing machine 10. However, the other parts are configured similarly.

  The banknote depositing / dispensing machine 210 (FIG. 2) has a banknote control unit 211 and a temporary storage unit 215 in place of the banknote control unit 11 and the temporary storage unit 15 as compared with the banknote depositing / withdrawing machine 10 according to the first embodiment. Although the points are different, the other parts are configured similarly.

  The banknote control unit 211 is configured around a CPU (not shown), similar to the banknote control unit 11 according to the first embodiment, and by reading and executing a predetermined program from a ROM or flash memory (not shown), Various processes such as a process for controlling the temporary storage unit 215 and a process for controlling the operation of each unit are performed. Moreover, the banknote control part 211 has a memory | storage part which consists of RAM, flash memory, etc. inside, and memorize | stores various information in this memory | storage part.

[3-1. Temporary Hold Configuration]
As shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B corresponding to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the temporary storage unit 215 includes the stage 31, the residual detection unit 51, the upper surface detection unit 52, the stage prism 55, and the side. Although different in that it has a stage 231 instead of the prism 56, a residual detection unit 251, an upper surface detection unit 252, a stage prism 255, and a top prism 256, the other parts are configured similarly.

  The stage 231 is configured in a flat plate shape as in the case of the stage 31 in the first embodiment, and a passage hole 231H is formed on the upper surface thereof. The passage hole 231H is provided at the same position as the passage hole 31H (FIGS. 4A to 4C) in the first embodiment. Similar to the stage 31, the stage 231 is moved in the vertical direction by the stage moving unit 32.

  Similar to the conventional residual detection unit 351 (FIG. 23), the residual detection unit 251 emits the detection light L1 with the light emitting unit 251A substantially downward, and the detection light L1 with the light receiving unit 251B traveling from directly below. Is received.

  A stage prism 255 corresponding to the stage prism 55 is incorporated in the stage 231. The stage prism 255 has reflection surfaces 255A and 255B that reflect the detection light L1 at a position almost directly below the passage hole 231H. The angles and positions of the reflecting surfaces 255A and 255B are optimized in accordance with the positions of the light emitting unit 251A and the light receiving unit 251B.

  Therefore, when the bill BL is not placed on the stage 231, the residual detection unit 251 sequentially detects the detection light L1 emitted from the light emitting unit 251A by the reflecting surfaces 255A and 255B of the stage prism 255 in the stage 231. However, the light receiving unit 251B receives the light. On the other hand, when one or more banknotes BL are placed on the stage 231, the residual detection unit 251 cannot receive light by the light receiving unit 251B because the detection light L1 is blocked by the banknote BL.

  The light receiving unit 251B generates a residual detection signal indicating whether or not the detection light L1 has been received, and supplies this to the banknote control unit 211 (FIG. 2). As in the first embodiment, the banknote control unit 211 can recognize whether one or more banknotes BL remain on the stage 231 based on the residual detection signal. Incidentally, in the third embodiment, since the detection light L1 travels in a substantially vertical direction, not only when the stage 231 is at the uppermost position (FIG. 19B), The presence or absence can be detected.

  The upper surface detection unit 252 includes a light emitting unit 252A and a light receiving unit 252B corresponding to the light emitting unit 52A and the light receiving unit 52B in the first embodiment, respectively. The light emitting part 252A is provided in the front side part 30F of the housing 30 similarly to the light emitting part 52A, and emits the detection light L2 obliquely upward and rearward. The light receiving unit 252B corresponds to the light receiving unit 52B, but has a different position and direction, is provided in the rear side portion 30R, and receives the detection light L2 that travels obliquely from above and forward.

  A top prism 256 that reflects the detection light L <b> 2 is provided on the upper portion of the housing 30. Similar to the stage prism 255 and the side prism 56 (FIG. 3) in the first embodiment, the top prism 256 has two reflecting surfaces 256A and 256B. The positions and angles of the reflecting surfaces 256A and 256B are appropriately adjusted.

  Incidentally, the stage 231 is appropriately provided with a through hole penetrating in an obliquely vertical direction so as not to block the optical path of the detection light L2 when in the uppermost position (FIG. 19B). In addition, holes for allowing the detection light L2 to pass therethrough are appropriately formed in the passages of the detection light L2 in the housing 30.

  For this reason, when the uppermost surface (that is, the uppermost mounting surface) of the banknotes BL stacked on the stage 231 is below the reference height H1, the upper surface detection unit 252 has the detection light L2 emitted from the light emitting unit 252A as the top. The portions sequentially reflected by the reflecting surfaces 256A and 256B of the prism 256 are received by the light receiving unit 252B.

  When the detection light L2 is not blocked at all on the optical path, the upper surface detection unit 252 can receive the light by the light receiving unit 252B. On the other hand, when the detection light L2 is blocked by the bill BL or the like on the optical path, that is, when the uppermost surface of the stage 231 is higher than the reference height H1, the upper surface detection unit 252 receives the light reception unit 252B. It cannot receive light.

  For this reason, the banknote control part 211 is based on the upper surface detection signal obtained at this time, whether the banknote BL exists in the position which interrupts the detection light L2, ie, the mounting top surface of the stage 231 is more than the reference height H1. Or not. In other words, the upper surface detection unit 252 determines whether there is an uppermost surface of the banknotes BL stacked on the stage 231 with a portion higher than the reference height H1 as a detection range, that is, the stacking state of the banknotes BL. It can be detected.

  In addition to this, the upper surface detection unit 252 is, when the detection light L2 reflected by the reflection surface 256B of the top prism 256 is blocked by the banknote BL while reaching the light reception unit 252B, that is, the rear side portion 30R on the stage 231. Even when there is a falling bill BLD at a position close to, the detection light L2 is not detected. For this reason, the banknote control part 211 can also recognize whether the falling banknote BLD exists in the position which approached the rear side part 30R based on the upper surface detection signal obtained from the upper surface detection part 252 (it mentions later in detail). ).

  As described above, the temporary storage unit 215 according to the third embodiment detects only the presence or absence of the remaining banknote on the stage 231 by the residual detection unit 251, while the top surface of the stage 231 is detected by the upper surface detection unit 252. It is possible to detect whether or not the height is higher than the reference height H1 and whether or not there is a falling bill BLD on the stage 31.

[3-2. Storage operation and feeding operation]
As shown in FIG. 20A, the temporary storage unit 215 performs the storing operation of storing the bill BL therein, and the bill BL is placed on the stage 231 by the same operation as in the first embodiment. Will be accumulated. At this time, the banknote control unit 211 recognizes whether or not the uppermost surface of the banknote BL accumulated on the stage 231 exceeds the reference height H1 based on the upper surface detection signal from the upper surface detection unit 252, and the stage moving unit 32 is controlled to move the stage 231 downward.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 20B corresponding to FIG. 7, the temporary storage unit 215 drops the bill BL into the gap between the bill BL accumulated on the stage 231 and the rear side portion 30 </ b> R of the housing 30. In other words, a fallen banknote BLD may occur.

  At this time, in the temporary storage unit 215, the falling bill BLD is positioned below the optical path of the detection light L2, and does not block the detection light L2. In the temporary storage unit 215, the detection light L2 immediately after being emitted from the light emitting unit 252A may be blocked by the uppermost surface of the bills BL (that is, the uppermost mounting surface) accumulated on the stage 231. For this reason, the banknote control part 211 cannot detect correctly the presence or absence of the fallen banknote BLD by the upper surface detection signal from the upper surface detection part 252 at this time.

  After that, when the temporary holding unit 215 performs the feeding operation, the banknote control unit 211 sequentially performs processing according to the banknote feeding processing procedure RT3 shown in FIG. 21 corresponding to FIG.

  That is, the banknote control unit 211 stores all banknotes BL input to the customer in the deposit transaction in the temporary storage unit 215, and then totals and displays the total amount for the transaction display unit 6 (FIG. 1). Is instructed to continue, the bill feeding process procedure RT3 is started, and the process proceeds to step SP41.

  The banknote control part 211 performs the same process as step SP1-SP6 in step SP41-SP46, and moves to following step SP47. In step SP47, the banknote control unit 211 keeps the stage 231 at the uppermost position, and based on the upper surface detection signal from the upper surface detection unit 252, is there a banknote BL at a position near the rear side part 30R on the stage 231? It is determined whether or not there is a falling bill BLD. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that the fallen banknote BLD is present as shown in FIG. 22, so that the fallen banknote BLD should be fed out by the separation and discharge unit 35 if possible. Yes. At this time, the banknote control unit 211 proceeds to the next step S48.

  In step SP48, the banknote control unit 211 controls the stage moving unit 32 to move the stage 231 downward once, and proceeds to the next step SP49. Thereby, in the temporary storage part 215, it can be expected that the fallen bill BLD falls forward and lies on the stage 231 as in the case shown in FIG.

  In step SP49, the banknote control unit 211 continues to control the stage moving unit 32 to raise the stage 231 to the uppermost position, and proceeds to the next step SP50. Thereby, in the temporary storage part 215, when the fallen banknote BLD has fallen ahead, the said fallen banknote BLD can be pinched | interposed between the picker roller 40 and the stage 231.

  In step SP50, the banknote control unit 211 determines whether or not the banknote BL (that is, the dropped banknote BLD) remains on the stage 231 based on the residual detection signal from the residual detection section 251. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this means that the falling bill BLD is sandwiched between the picker roller 40 and the stage 231 and is ready to be fed out.

  At this time, the banknote control unit 211 moves to the next step SP51 and feeds the fallen banknote BLD by the separation and discharge unit 35 in the same manner as the normal banknote BL and delivers it to the transport unit 13 (FIG. 2), and moves to the next step SP53.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP50, this means that the dropped bill BLD has not changed in the state shown in FIG. At this time, the banknote control unit 211 proceeds to the next step SP52, performs an error notification process similar to step SP14 (FIG. 14), and then proceeds to step SP53.

  In steps SP53 and SP54, the bill control unit 211 ends the monitoring of the bill BL based on the separation operation by the separation and discharge unit 35 and the residual detection signal obtained from the residual detection unit, similarly to steps SP15 and SP16 (FIG. 14). It moves to following step SP55 and complete | finishes banknote feeding process procedure RT3.

[3-3. Operation and effect]
In the configuration described above, the temporary storage unit 215 according to the third embodiment receives the detection light L2 traveling from the upper front side in the rear side 30R through the light receiving unit 252B of the upper surface detection unit 252. The top prism 256 is provided on the upper portion of the housing 30.

  For this reason, the banknote control part 211 is a light reception result of the detection light L2 about whether the mounting top surface on the stage 231 exceeds the reference height H1 when the storing operation is performed in the temporary storage part 215. Detection can be performed based on the upper surface detection signal.

  In addition to this, when the banknote control part 211 pays out all the banknotes BL accumulated on the stage 231 when the temporary holding part 215 performs the feeding operation, the banknote control part 211 moves to the rear side part 30R on the stage 231. Whether or not there is a falling bill BLD at the close position can also be detected based on the upper surface detection signal.

  Accordingly, the temporary storage unit 215 does not need to separately provide a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit for detecting the dropped bill BLD, as compared with the conventional temporary storage unit 315 (FIG. 23), and the mounting position of the light receiving unit 252B and It is only necessary to change the mounting direction and add the top prism 256. In other words, the temporary storage unit 215 can simply be suppressed in its configuration and can be manufactured at a low cost.

  The banknote controller 211 should monitor whether the uppermost surface of the banknotes BL stacked on the stage 231 exceeds the reference height H1 during the storing operation, and on the stage 231 during the feeding operation. Whether or not there is a falling bill BLD near the rear side 30R should be monitored. For this reason, the banknote control part 211 can switch appropriately the meaning which the same upper surface detection signal represents by combining with the operation | movement currently performed, and can utilize it without confusion.

  Regarding other points as well, the temporary storage unit 215 and the banknote control unit 211 according to the third embodiment can achieve the same functions and effects as the temporary storage unit 15 and the banknote control unit 11 according to the first embodiment.

  According to the above configuration, the temporary storage unit 215 according to the third embodiment includes the top prism 256 at the top of the housing 30 and the light receiving unit 252B of the top surface detection unit 252 in the rear side 30R. . For this reason, when the storing operation is performed in the temporary storage unit 215 based on the upper surface detection signal that is the result of receiving the detection light L2, the banknote control unit 211 determines that the uppermost surface of the banknote BL accumulated on the stage 231 is When it is possible to detect whether or not the reference height H1 is exceeded and the payout operation is performed, when all the bills BL stacked on the stage 231 are drawn out, the rear side portion 30R on the stage 231 is It is possible to detect whether or not there is a falling bill BLD at the approached position.

[4. Other Embodiments]
In the above-described first embodiment, the case where the light emitting unit 51A and the light receiving unit 51B are provided in the upper part of the accommodation space 30S has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, at least one of the light emitting unit 51A and the light receiving unit 51B may be provided at various other locations such as being provided on any side of the accommodation space 30S. In this case, it is only necessary that the detection light L1 emitted from the light emitting portion 51A can be incident on the stage prism 55 incorporated in the stage 31 or the side prism 56 positioned on the extension line thereof. In this case, the optical path of the detection light L1 may be appropriately bent through an optical element such as a mirror as appropriate. The same applies to the second embodiment.

  In the first embodiment described above, the stage prism 55 having the two reflecting surfaces 55A and 55B is provided in the stage 31, and the reflection from the reflecting surfaces 55A and 55B is utilized to advance from the light emitting portion 51A. The case where the optical path of the detected light L1 is converted and advanced to the light receiving unit 51B has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the optical path of the detection light L1 may be converted by incorporating various optical elements such as a combination of two or three or more mirrors and the combination thereof into the stage 31. . The same applies to the side prism 56, and the same applies to the second and third embodiments.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, when the stage 31 is in the uppermost position, that is, when the upper surface of the stage 31 is in a position where the upper surface of the stage 31 is in contact with the picker roller 40, the presence or absence of residual banknotes on the stage 31 The case where it was made to detect was described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the stage 31 is at another position (height) such as the reference height H1, the presence or absence of a remaining banknote on the stage 31 may be detected. The same applies to the second embodiment.

  Further, in the above-described first embodiment, after separating the bills BL accumulated on the stage 31 by the separating and discharging unit 35 in the feeding operation, the stage 31 is lowered to the non-light-shielding position, and the dropped bill BLD. The case of detecting the presence or absence of was described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the separation operation of the bills BL stacked on the stage 31 is interrupted once, the stage 31 is lowered to the non-light-shielding position, and the presence or absence of the falling bills BLD is detected. The presence / absence of the dropped bill BLD may be detected at another timing, for example, by raising 31 and restarting the separation operation. The same applies to the second embodiment.

  Further, in the above-described first embodiment, after separating the bills BL accumulated on the stage 31 by the separating and discharging unit 35 in the feeding operation, the stage 31 is lowered to the non-light-shielding position, and the dropped bill BLD. The case where the stage 31 is raised again to the uppermost position after detecting the presence or absence of is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the presence of the falling bill BLD cannot be detected when the presence or absence of the falling bill BLD is detected, the stage 31 may not be raised. The same applies to the second embodiment.

  Further, in the second embodiment described above, the relationship between the height and the number of banknotes BL is stored in a table format in the number-of-height table TBL1 (FIG. 15), and the predicted height is determined from the number by referring to this. The case where it asked to ask was described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the standard height may be obtained from the number of sheets by various methods, for example, the height is calculated based on the number of sheets using a predefined function.

  Further, in the above-described third embodiment, the case where the light emitting unit 252A of the upper surface detection unit 252 is provided in the front side portion 30F of the housing 30 and the light receiving unit 252B is provided in the rear side portion 30R has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the light emitting unit 252A and the light receiving unit 252B are arranged on arbitrary side portions separated from each other, for example, the light emitting unit 252A is provided in the rear side 30R and the light receiving unit 252B is provided in the front side 30F. May be provided. In this case, the point is that the detection light L2 is shielded when the placement top surface of the stage 231 exceeds the reference height H1 and when there is a falling bill BLD at a position close to the rear side 30R on the stage 231. It ’s fine.

  Further, in the above-described third embodiment, when the separation operation of the bills BL stacked on the stage 231 by the separation / release unit 35 is finished and the stage 231 is at the uppermost position, the presence or absence of the dropped bill BLD is detected. The case where it was to be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even if the presence or absence of the dropped bill BLD is detected at various timings, for example, the presence or absence of the dropped bill BLD is detected after the stage 231 is moved downward to some extent after the separation operation is completed. good.

  Furthermore, in 1st Embodiment mentioned above, each part of the temporary storage part 15 is also controlled by the banknote control part 11 which carries out overall control of the banknote depositing / withdrawing machine 10, and the banknote feeding process procedure RT1 (FIG. 14) by the said banknote control part 11 ) And the like are described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the temporary storage unit 15 may be provided with a unique control unit, and the control unit may execute each process such as the bill feeding process procedure RT1, or the automatic teller machine 1 The main control unit 9 (FIG. 1) may execute each process such as the bill feeding process procedure RT1. The same applies to the second and third embodiments.

  Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and other embodiments. That is, the scope of the present invention extends to embodiments in which some or all of the above-described embodiments and other embodiments described above are arbitrarily combined, and embodiments in which some are extracted. It is.

  Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the temporary storage unit 15 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, various bills BL are stored and fed out by accumulating on a stage that moves up and down in the internal storage space, such as the bill cassette 17 and the auxiliary cabinet 18. You may apply to a location. The same applies to the second and third embodiments.

  Furthermore, in 1st Embodiment mentioned above, in the banknote depositing / withdrawing machine 10 of the automatic teller machine 1 which performs the transaction processing regarding cash with a customer, the banknote BL as a medium is temporarily accommodated and it pays out. The case where the present invention is applied to the temporary storage unit 15 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is applied to various places where the medium is stored and fed out in an apparatus that handles various types of paper-like media such as various vouchers and securities, or admission tickets and numbered tickets. You may make it do. The same applies to the second and third embodiments.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the casing 30 as the casing, the separation / release section 35 as the discharge section, the stage 31 as the stage, the side prism 56 as the conversion section, and the detection section. The case where the temporary storage unit 15 as a medium storage device is configured by the residual detection unit 51 is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the medium accommodating device may be configured by a casing, a discharge unit, a stage, a conversion unit, and a detection unit having various other configurations.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the customer service unit 12 as a medium input / output unit, the transport unit 13 as a transport unit, the housing 30 as a housing, the separation / release unit 35 as a discharge unit, The case where the automatic teller machine 1 as the medium transaction apparatus is configured by the stage 31 as the stage, the side prism 56 as the conversion unit, and the residual detection unit 51 as the detection unit has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a medium transaction apparatus is configured by a medium input / output section, a transport section, a casing, a discharge section, a stage, a conversion section, and a detection section having various other configurations. Anyway.

  The present invention can be used in various apparatuses that discharge and store a medium in a space.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 101, 201 ... Automatic teller machine, 6 ... Operation display part, 9 ... Main control part, 10, 110, 210 ... Banknote depositing / withdrawing machine, 11, 111, 211 ... Banknote control part, 12 ...... Service section, 13 ... Transport section, 15, 115, 215 ... Temporary storage section, 30 ... Case, 30F ... Front side, 30R ... Rear side, 30RH ... Pass-through hole, 30S ... Accommodating space, 30SC ... ceiling surface, 31,231 ... stage, 31H, 231H ... passing hole, 32 ... stage moving part, 35 ... separating discharge part, 40 ... picker roller, 51,251 ... residual Detection unit, 51A, 251A ... Light emission unit, 51B, 251B ... Light reception unit, 52,252 ... Top detection unit, 52A, 252A ... Light emission unit, 52B, 252B ... Light reception unit, 53 ... Pass detection unit , 53A: Light emitting part, 53B: Light receiving part 55, 255 ... Stage prism, 56 ... Side prism, 255 ... Stage prism, 256 ... Top prism, BL ... Bill, BLD ... Falling bill, H1 ... Reference height, H2 ... Second reference Height, L1, L2, L3 ... Detection light.

Claims (11)

A housing having an accommodating space for accommodating a paper-like medium inside;
A discharge unit provided above one side of the storage space and discharging the medium into the storage space;
A stage where one surface of the medium is opposed to the upper surface and is gathered toward the one side part;
A conversion unit for converting the traveling direction of light;
The detection light is emitted from the light emitting part into the accommodating space, and the traveling direction is converted by the conversion part, or the detection light that is not converted is received by the light receiving part. A detection unit for detecting the state of the medium in the integration part to be integrated, or detecting the presence or absence of the medium in a non-accumulation part on the opposite side opposite to the one side part on the stage. A medium storage device characterized by the above. A stage moving unit for moving the stage along a stacking direction in which the medium is to be stacked in the accommodating space;
The detection unit detects a state of the medium in the accumulation portion on the stage when the stage is located within a predetermined detection position or detection range, and the stage is other than the detection position or the detection 2. The medium storage device according to claim 1, wherein the presence or absence of the medium in the non-stacked portion on the stage is detected when the medium is located outside the range. A second conversion unit that is incorporated in the stage and converts the traveling direction of the detection light;
The light emitting unit of the detection unit is provided on an upper portion of the housing space in the housing, and irradiates the detection light on the upper surface of the stage when in the detection position,
The conversion unit is incorporated in a side surface of the accommodation space,
When the detection unit receives the detection light whose optical path has been converted by the second conversion unit, the detection unit detects the presence or absence of the medium in the integrated portion on the stage, and the conversion unit converts the optical path. The medium storage device according to claim 2, wherein when the detection light is received, the presence / absence of the medium in the non-integrated portion on the stage is detected. A separation unit that is provided in an upper portion of the accommodation space and separates the medium accumulated on the stage and feeds the medium to the outside;
A control unit that controls the stage moving unit to cause the medium accumulated on the stage to abut against the separating unit while separating the medium by the separating unit;
The detection unit detects the presence or absence of the medium in the accumulation portion on the stage when the stage is in a position where the stage is in contact with the separation unit, and the stage is separated from the separation unit and the optical path of the detection light 4. The medium storage device according to claim 3, wherein the presence / absence of the medium in the non-integrated portion on the stage is detected when the position is not obstructed. 5. The control unit, after finishing feeding the medium accumulated on the stage by the separation unit, is longer than the length of the stage moving unit in the direction in which the stage is discharged from the separation unit to the stage moving unit. Control to descend to a non-light-shielding position that is a distance away and does not block the optical path of the detection light,
The medium storage device according to claim 4, wherein the detection unit detects the presence or absence of the medium in the non-integrated portion on the stage when the stage is moved to the non-light-shielding position. The control unit moves the stage to the non-light-shielding position with respect to the stage moving unit, and after detecting the presence or absence of the medium in the non-integrated portion on the stage by the detection unit, The medium accommodating device according to claim 5, wherein the medium accommodating device is controlled so as to be moved again to a position where it abuts on the separation unit. The light-emitting part of the detection part is provided on the one side part or the opposite side part of the housing space in the housing, and on the stage until the detection light is received by the light-receiving part. When the accumulated medium is accumulated more than a predetermined upper limit height, the medium emits light so as to pass through a portion blocked by the vicinity of the one side portion on the uppermost surface of the medium,
The light receiving unit of the detection unit is provided on a side opposite to the light emitting unit across the accommodation space,
The medium storage device according to claim 1, wherein the conversion unit is provided above the storage space. A stage moving unit that moves the stage along an accumulation direction in which the medium is to be accumulated in the accommodation space;
A separation unit that is provided in an upper part of the housing space and separates the medium accumulated on the stage and feeds it out to the outside;
The detection unit detects whether or not the medium has been accumulated on the stage at a predetermined upper limit height or more during a discharge operation in which the medium is discharged from the discharge unit and collected on the stage. The presence / absence of the medium in the non-stacked portion on the stage is detected while a feeding operation for separating and feeding out the medium stacked on the stage is performed. The medium accommodating device according to 1. The detection unit detects the presence or absence of the medium in the non-stacked portion on the stage after finishing the operation of the medium stacked on the stage by the separation unit. The medium storage device described in 1. A medium loading / unloading section for loading / unloading paper-like medium to be traded;
A transport unit for transporting the medium input to the medium input / output unit;
A housing having therein a housing space for housing the medium;
A discharge unit that is provided above one side of the storage space and discharges the medium transported by the transport unit into the storage space;
A stage where one surface of the medium is opposed to an upper surface and is gathered toward the one side part; and
A conversion unit for converting the traveling direction of light;
The detection light is emitted from the light emitting part into the accommodating space, and the traveling direction is converted by the conversion part, or the detection light that is not converted is received by the light receiving part. A detection unit for detecting the state of the medium in the integration part to be integrated, or detecting the presence or absence of the medium in a non-accumulation part on the opposite side opposite to the one side part on the stage. A medium transaction apparatus characterized by the above. A quantity detection unit for detecting the number of the media delivered from the transport unit;
A stage moving unit that moves the stage along an accumulation direction in which the medium is to be accumulated in the accommodation space;
A control unit that moves the stage by controlling the stage moving unit, and
After the operation of discharging the medium by the discharge unit is completed, the control unit moves the stage downward, and until the detection unit detects the uppermost surface of the medium accumulated on the stage. While recognizing the height of the medium as a measured height based on the moving distance of the stage, the height of the medium calculated from the quantity of the medium detected by the quantity detection unit is calculated as a standard height, The medium transaction apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the medium state is recognized based on a comparison result between the standard height and the measured height.

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