JP7570638B2 - Paper handling equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a paper processing device.

Conventionally, there has been known a paper sheet processing device that takes in paper sheets such as banknotes from a deposit unit, identifies them in a recognition unit, temporarily stores them in a temporary storage unit, and then classifies them into a predetermined denomination and stores them in a storage unit for each denomination. Among such paper sheet processing devices, there is one in which the temporary storage unit and the storage unit for each denomination are configured by a drum-type (or tape-type) storage and payout device that stores paper sheets by wrapping them one by one in a tape around a drum that is a rotating body, and pays out the paper sheets by rotating the drum in the opposite direction to the rotation when the sheets were stored (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Compared to a stacker that stores paper sheets in an accumulated state, a drum-type storage and payout device has the advantage that it is less likely to cause payout problems because it can pay out the paper sheets wound around the drum one by one without changing the position of the paper sheets (the direction of the paper sheets when viewed from the thickness direction).

JP 2020-149414 A

However, as the overall size of the paper processing device becomes smaller, each of the drum-type storage and payout devices installed in the paper processing device is made up of a compact unit. Therefore, in order to store the maximum amount of paper sheets in a drum-type storage and payout device installed in a limited space, it is required to wind the paper sheets around the drum with the pitch of the paper sheets wound around the drum (the distance from the leading edge of the preceding paper sheet to the leading edge of the succeeding paper sheet) as small as possible.

However, in order to wind paper sheets onto the drum with tight pitch, if the length of the paper sheets in the direction in which they are transported toward the drum-type storage and payout device (the transport direction) cannot be correctly grasped, an abnormality will occur in which a following paper sheet collides with a preceding paper sheet (a paper sheet collision jam error), which may lead to poor storage of the paper sheets in the drum. For example, if some paper sheets are transported toward the drum-type storage and payout device in a skewed position in the transport path (one side of the paper sheet is inclined relative to the transport direction of the paper sheets), if the length of the paper sheets in that skewed position cannot be correctly grasped, the following paper sheet may collide with the preceding paper sheet.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a paper sheet processing device that can prevent poor storage of paper sheets in the drum even when the paper sheets are wound around the drum with a tight pitch.

A paper sheet processing device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a transport path along which paper sheets are transported, an identification unit that identifies paper sheets being transported along the transport path, a drum-type storing and paying out device that holds each of the paper sheets transported along the transport path in a tape and winds the paper sheets around a drum that is a rotating body for storage, and pays out the paper sheets one by one to the transport path, and a paper sheet length detection unit that detects the length of the paper sheets along the storing and paying out direction of the paper sheets relative to the drum-type storing and paying out device, and the identification unit has an entire surface information acquisition sensor that acquires information of the entire surface of the paper sheets transported along the transport path, and the acquired information a paper sheet length detection means for detecting a length of the paper sheet along the storing and paying out direction based on the angular coordinate position during a storing operation of the paper sheet by the drum type storing and paying out device, a passing sensor provided on the conveying path for detecting the passage of the paper sheet being conveyed on the conveying path towards the drum type storing and paying out device, a paper sheet interval detection means for detecting an interval between the paper sheets being continuously conveyed on the conveying path based on the detection information output from the passing sensor, and a detection means for detecting an interval between the paper sheets being continuously conveyed on the conveying path based on the detection information output from the passing sensor, and a control unit that controls the rotation speed of the drum based on the length of a preceding paper sheet calculated by the paper sheet length detection means and the interval between the preceding and succeeding paper sheets detected by the paper sheet interval detection means, during a paper sheet storage operation by the drum type storing and paying out device, or when the interval between the paper sheets detected by the paper sheet interval detection means is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the control unit controls the rotation speed of the drum based on the length of the preceding paper sheet calculated by the paper sheet length detection means and the interval between the preceding and succeeding paper sheets detected by the paper sheet interval detection means, during a paper sheet storage operation by the drum type storing and paying out device. The rotation speed of the drum is controlled based on the length of a preceding paper sheet and a uniform specified value that is preset as the distance between the preceding paper sheet and a following paper sheet, and when the distance between the paper sheets detected by the paper sheet distance detection means exceeds the predetermined value, the control unit controls the rotation speed of the drum based on the length of the preceding paper sheet calculated by the paper sheet length detection means and the distance between the preceding paper sheet and a following paper sheet detected by the paper sheet distance detection means during the paper sheet storage operation by the drum-type storage and payout device .

The present invention provides a paper sheet processing device that can prevent poor storage of paper sheets in the drum, even when the paper sheets are wound around the drum with tight pitch.

1 is a side view illustrating a schematic internal configuration of a banknote processing device according to an embodiment. 4 is a plan cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematic diagram of a transport passage in the vicinity of a recognition unit of the banknote processing device according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a corner coordinate position of a banknote acquired by a recognition unit of the banknote processing device of the embodiment, and the length of the banknote detected by a banknote length detection means based on the corner coordinate position. FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic internal configuration of the banknote processing device according to the embodiment, in which a deposit processing route is indicated by a thick line. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic internal configuration of the banknote processing device according to the embodiment, in which distribution processing routes are indicated by thick lines. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic internal configuration of the banknote processing device according to the embodiment, in which a dispensing process route is indicated by a thick line. 1 is a front view showing a drum-type storing and dispensing device of a banknote processing device according to an embodiment, showing a state in which no banknotes are stored. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a drum-type storing and paying out device of a banknote processing device according to an embodiment, illustrating a state in which there are only a few banknotes stored; 1 is a front view showing a drum-type storing and paying out device of a banknote processing device according to an embodiment, illustrating a state in which a large number of banknotes are stored. FIG. 2 is a plan cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematic diagram of a conveying passage in the vicinity of a drum-type storing and paying out device of the banknote processing device according to the embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first example (reference example) of a relationship between a banknote length and a banknote pitch and a winding speed (rotation speed) of a drum in a banknote processing device according to an embodiment. FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a second example of the relationship between the banknote length and banknote pitch and the winding speed (rotation speed) of the drum in the banknote processing device of the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a third example of the relationship between the banknote length and banknote pitch and the winding speed (rotation speed) of the drum in the banknote processing device of the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a fourth example of the relationship between the banknote length and banknote pitch and the winding speed (rotation speed) of the drum in the banknote processing device of the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a fifth example of the relationship between the banknote length and banknote pitch and the winding speed (rotation speed) of the drum in the banknote processing device of the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a sixth example of the relationship between the banknote length and banknote pitch and the winding speed (rotation speed) of the drum in the banknote processing device of the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a seventh example of the relationship between the banknote length and banknote pitch and the winding speed (rotation speed) of the drum in the banknote processing device of the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an eighth example of the relationship between the banknote length and banknote pitch and the winding speed (rotation speed) of the drum in the banknote processing device of the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a ninth example of the relationship between the banknote length and banknote pitch and the winding speed (rotation speed) of the drum in the banknote processing device of the embodiment.

The paper sheet processing device of the embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The paper sheet processing device of this embodiment is a banknote processing device that processes banknotes as one type of paper sheet. Of course, it is also possible to process paper sheets other than banknotes.

<Overall configuration of banknote processing device 10>
1 is a banknote deposit/withdrawal device capable of a deposit process in which banknotes S set from outside the device are identified and temporarily stored inside, a distribution process in which the temporarily stored banknotes S are classified by type and stored inside, and a withdrawal process in which the classified and stored banknotes S are dispensed so that they can be removed outside the device, etc. In the following description, the "front side in the front-rear direction of the device" refers to the operator side of the banknote processing device 10, the "rear side in the front-rear direction of the device" refers to the opposite side of the banknote processing device 10 from the operator, and the "left-right direction of the device" refers to the left and right sides of the banknote processing device 10 as seen by the operator.

A deposit section 11 is provided at the top of the front side of the banknote processing device 10, where banknotes S to be deposited are inserted and set from outside the device, and where the set banknotes S are taken into the device and dispensed. Banknotes S are inserted into the deposit section 11 by an operator from outside the device. At this time, the banknotes S are inserted into the deposit section 11 in a state where they are stacked vertically with their long sides aligned with the left-right direction of the device and their short sides slightly slanting backward along the front-rear direction of the device. The deposit section 11 moves the banknotes S thus loaded and stacked one by one from the top one so that their short sides are aligned with the transport direction, and dispenses them into the device. The banknotes S move throughout the banknote processing device 10 while maintaining a position where their long sides are aligned with the left-right direction of the device.

In addition, at the top of the front side of the banknote processing device 10, above the deposit unit 11 and behind the front-to-rear direction of the device, there is provided a withdrawal unit 12 that feeds out unacceptable rejected banknotes S among the banknotes S to be deposited from within the device and also feeds out banknotes S to be withdrawn from within the device, and withdraws these so that they can be removed outside the device.

On the top surface of the banknote processing device 10, behind the dispensing unit 12 in the front-to-rear direction of the device, there are provided a touch panel type operation display unit 14 that accepts operation inputs from the operator and displays information to the operator, a control unit 15 that controls the entire banknote processing device 10, and a memory unit 16 that stores data, etc. The operation display unit 14 displays an operation screen for the banknote processing device 10 and an information screen regarding the operating status.

Inside the banknote processing device 10, a recognition unit 17 that recognizes banknotes S is provided behind the deposit unit 11 in the front-to-rear direction of the device, and a drum-type storage and payout device 18 (A) is provided behind the recognition unit 17 in the front-to-rear direction of the device as a temporary storage unit that temporarily stores banknotes S identified by the recognition unit 17 and can pay out the stored banknotes S one by one.

The deposit unit 11 is provided with a loading plate 19, which raises and lowers the banknotes S in the stacking direction within the deposit unit 11. In the deposit unit 11, banknotes S in a stacked state are placed on the loading plate 19, which is in a lowered state, from outside the device, and after the loading plate 19 rises, the banknotes S in a stacked state are fed into the banknote processing device 10 one by one, starting from the top of the stacking direction.

In addition to the deposit unit 11, withdrawal unit 12, recognition unit 17, and drum-type storage and payout device 18 (A) described above, the banknote processing device 10 has an accumulation-type storage 51 that stores banknotes S in an accumulated state so that they can be paid out, and a drum-type storage and payout device 18 (B) that is a multiple return storage that stores banknotes S so that they can be paid out. The banknote processing device 10 also has a transport path 20 that transports banknotes S between the deposit unit 11, withdrawal unit 12, recognition unit 17, drum-type storage and payout device 18 (A), accumulation-type storage 51, and multiple drum-type storage and payout devices 18 (B). The recognition unit 17 recognizes banknotes S being transported in the transport path 20. The width direction (path width direction) of the transport path 20 is the left-right direction of the device, and therefore the banknotes S are transported by the transport path 20 with their long sides aligned in the path width direction.

The transport path 20 has a deposit transport path 21 that extends from the rear end of the deposit unit 11 in the front-to-rear direction of the device and transports the banknotes S dispensed from the deposit unit 11 to the recognition unit 17 and then to the drum-type storage and payout device 18(A). In other words, the deposit transport path 21 connects the deposit unit 11 and the drum-type storage and payout device 18(A), with the recognition unit 17 provided at the midpoint.

In addition, the transport path 20 has an upper and lower transport path 55 which branches downwardly between the deposit section 11 and the identification section 17 on the deposit transport path 21, a withdrawal transport path 35 which branches upwardly between the identification section 17 and the drum-type storage and dispensing device 18 (A) on the deposit transport path 21, and a connecting transport path 36 which branches upwardly between the branching position of the withdrawal transport path 35 on the deposit transport path 21 and the drum-type storage and dispensing device 18 (A) to join the withdrawal transport path 35. By branching into the upper and lower conveying paths 55, the dispensing conveying path 35, and the connecting conveying path 36, the deposit conveying path 21 is divided into a front conveying path section 21a between the deposit section 11 and the branching position of the upper and lower conveying paths 55, an intermediate conveying path section 21b between the branching position of the upper and lower conveying paths 55 and the branching position of the dispensing conveying path 35, an intermediate conveying path section 21c between the branching position of the dispensing conveying path 35 and the branching position of the connecting conveying path 36, and a rear conveying path section 21d between the branching position of the connecting conveying path 36, the branching position of the dispensing conveying path 35, and the drum-type storage and dispensing device 18 (A).

The identification unit 17 is provided on the intermediate feed path section 21b and identifies the authenticity, degree of dirt, degree of damage, and denomination of the banknotes S being transported on the intermediate feed path section 21b, as well as the presence or absence of transport abnormalities, including double transport in which multiple banknotes S are transported with at least a partial overlap, and skewing at an angle exceeding a specified value.

1 and 2, the recognition unit 17 has a full-surface information acquisition sensor 301 that acquires information on the entire surface of the banknote S being transported in the transport passage 20. The arrow in FIG. 2 indicates the transport direction of the banknote S in the transport passage 20. The full-surface information acquisition sensor 301 acquires information on the overall shape and size of the banknote S as viewed in the thickness direction of the banknote S. Specifically, the full-surface information acquisition sensor 301 is a line sensor (CIS sensor: also called a contact image sensor) that extends in the width direction of the passage. The full-surface information acquisition sensor 301 acquires images of the banknote S being transported in the transport passage 20 line by line at a predetermined time interval, and by arranging and synthesizing these images in chronological order, acquires image information of the entire banknote S as "information on the entire surface of the banknote S". The full-surface information acquisition sensor 301 may be, for example, an optical camera such as a CCD camera that can acquire the entire image information of the banknote S at once.

Based on the "information on the entire surface of the banknote S" acquired by the entire surface information acquisition sensor 301, the recognition unit 17 performs the following operations on the banknote S: authenticity discrimination to determine whether it is a genuine note or a counterfeit note; dirt discrimination to determine whether it is a highly dirty note; damage discrimination to determine whether it is a highly damaged note such as a stub or a torn note; and denomination discrimination, and outputs the resulting identification information to the control unit 15. In response, the control unit 15 counts the acceptable banknotes S by denomination, and controls the conveying path 20 by determining the conveying destination of each banknote S.

The recognition unit 17 has an angular coordinate position indexing means 302 that indexes the angular coordinate position of the banknote S based on the information acquired by the full-surface information acquisition sensor 301 (information on the entire surface of the banknote S). As shown in FIG. 3, the angular coordinate position indexing means 302 indexes the angular coordinate positions indicating the positions of the four corners (x1, y1), (x2, y2), (x3, y3), and (x4, y4) of the banknote S in the xy coordinate plane viewed from the thickness direction of the banknote S based on the "information on the entire surface of the banknote S" acquired by the full-surface information acquisition sensor 301. In FIG. 3, the x coordinate is the coordinate in the passage width direction (the left-right direction of the device), and the y coordinate is the coordinate in the conveying direction of the banknote S in the conveying passage 20. The full-surface information acquisition sensor 301 for acquiring the "information on the entire surface of the banknote S" used to index the angular coordinate position is not limited to a sensor that acquires image information, and may be, for example, a thickness detection sensor that acquires the distribution information of the thickness of the banknote S viewed from the thickness direction of the banknote S as the "information on the entire surface of the banknote S". The angular coordinate position determination means 302 outputs the determined angular coordinate position data to the banknote length detection means 201 (paper sheet length detection means) of the control unit 15 shown in FIG. 1.

In the banknote processing device 10, banknotes S set in the deposit unit 11 are transported, for example, from the deposit unit 11 to the recognition unit 17 via the front feed path section 21a and the intermediate feed path section 21b of the deposit transport path 21, and after being recognized by the recognition unit 17, are transported to the drum-type storage and payout device 18(A) via the intermediate feed path sections 21b, 21c and the rear feed path section 21d.

The drum-type storage and payout device 18(A) temporarily stores banknotes S, takes in and stores banknotes S conveyed one by one on at least the intermediate feed path sections 21b, 21c and the rear feed path section 21d of the deposit conveying path 21, and pays out the stored banknotes S one by one to the rear feed path section 21d. The drum-type storage and payout device 18(A) stores, for example, banknotes S set in the deposit section 11 and pays out the stored banknotes S. This drum-type storage and payout device 18(A) is a winding storage type in which banknotes S are wound around a rotating drum 31 together with a tape 30 at intervals and stored, and therefore the stored banknotes S are unwound from the drum 31 together with the tape 30 and paid out one by one at intervals while being counted. The banknotes S wound around the drum 31 together with the tape 30 are sandwiched in the radial direction of the drum 31 between the portion of the tape 30 that is wound around the drum 31 together with the banknotes S and the portion of the tape 30 that is already wound around the drum 31. In other words, the drum-type storing and paying out device 18(A) has a drum 31 that stores banknotes S by wrapping them around the tape 30 while holding them one by one, and the drum 31 pays out the wound banknotes S one by one.

The drum-type storage and payout device 18(A) of the winding storage type pays out banknotes S in the reverse order to the order in which they are stored. Therefore, even when multiple denominations of banknotes S are randomly mixed and stored, the control unit 15 can determine the denomination of each banknote S stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18(A) from the recognition results of the recognition unit 17, and therefore can determine the denomination of each banknote S paid out from the drum-type storage and payout device 18(A).

The drum 31 of the drum-type storage and payout device 18(A) is rotatable about its axis of rotation, and is adapted to wind up the tape 30 by rotating in one direction about the axis of rotation (clockwise in FIG. 1). By winding up the tape 30, the drum 31 holds the banknotes S one by one between the tape 30 being wound. In addition, the drum 31 rotates in the other direction about the axis of rotation (counterclockwise in FIG. 1) to feed out the tape 30 that was being wound up, and pay out the banknotes S held on the tape 30 being fed one by one.

The withdrawal conveying path 35 extends upward from between the intermediate feed path sections 21b, 21c of the deposit conveying path 21, and then extends to the front of the device, with the end of the withdrawal conveying path 35 connected to the withdrawal unit 12. The connecting conveying path 36 and the withdrawal conveying path 35 convey the banknotes S conveyed by the intermediate feed path sections 21b, 21c to the withdrawal unit 12. The withdrawal conveying path 35 also conveys the banknotes S fed from the drum-type storage and payout device 18(A) and conveyed by the rear feed path section 21d and the intermediate feed path section 21c to the withdrawal unit 12.

Here, the dispensing unit 12 stacks the banknotes S fed from the dispensing conveying path 35 in order from bottom to top. The banknotes S stacked in the dispensing unit 12 are removed from the dispensing unit 12 to the outside of the device. The dispensing conveying path 35, for example, branches and conveys the banknotes S fed from the drum-type storing and feeding device 18(A) to the rear feed path section 21d and the intermediate feed path section 21c upward to the dispensing unit 12.

The deposit section 11, withdrawal section 12, operation display section 14, recognition section 17, drum-type storage and payout device 18 (A), deposit transport path 21, withdrawal transport path 35, connecting transport path 36 and control section 15 are provided in an upper unit 41 that constitutes the upper part of the banknote processing device 10.

Below the upper unit 41, a lower unit 42 is provided, which constitutes the middle to lower part of the banknote processing device 10 in the height direction. In the lower unit 42, an accumulation type storage 51 is provided at the front position on the front side of the device, and a total of eight drum type storage and payout devices 18 (B) are provided in two upper and lower tiers and four rows in the front and rear direction of the accumulation type storage 51. Of the eight drum type storage and payout devices 18 (B), the four in the upper tier are aligned in the height direction, and the four in the lower tier are also aligned in the height direction. The height of the accumulation type storage 51 is equal to the height of two drum type storage and payout devices 18 (B), and the accumulation type storage 51 overlaps in the height direction with the two upper and lower tiers of drum type storage and payout devices 18 (B).

The upper and lower conveying paths 55, which branch downward from between the front feed path section 21a and the intermediate feed path section 21b of the deposit conveying path 21, extend downward from the deposit conveying path 21 and are connected to the accumulation type storage 51. Between the front feed path section 21a and the intermediate feed path section 21b, it is possible to transport banknotes S from the front feed path section 21a to the intermediate feed path section 21b, and banknotes S can move between the upper and lower conveying paths 55 and the intermediate feed path section 21b. The upper and lower conveying paths 55, for example, convey banknotes S that are fed from the drum type storage and payout device 18 (A) to the rear feed path section 21d of the deposit conveying path 21, are conveyed by the rear feed path section 21d and the intermediate feed path sections 21c and 21b, and have passed through the recognition section 17, and then branch downward from between the intermediate feed path section 21b and the front feed path section 21a to be stored in the accumulation type storage 51.

The accumulation type storage 51 can take in and store the banknotes S one by one, and can dispense the stored banknotes S one by one. The accumulation type storage 51 is an accumulation type that receives the banknotes S from above and stores them by stacking them directly from bottom to top in a horizontal state, and dispenses the stored banknotes S from the top end. The accumulation type accumulation type storage 51 has a significantly higher storage efficiency for banknotes S than the winding storage type such as the drum type storage and dispensing device 18 (A) and the drum type storage and dispensing device 18 (B) described later. On the other hand, the winding storage type such as the drum type storage and dispensing device 18 (A) and the drum type storage and dispensing device 18 (B) described later is less likely to cause double feeding of banknotes S than the accumulation type accumulation type storage 51, and can accurately separate the stored banknotes S one by one and dispense them at intervals.

The transport path 20 has a storage transport path 57 that branches off rearward from the middle position of the vertical transport path 55 in the device front-rear direction. This storage transport path 57 extends rearward from the vertical transport path 55 in the device front-rear direction, then extends downward near the rear end of the banknote processing device 10 in the device front-rear direction and is connected to the upper drum-type storage and payout device 18(B) in the last row in the device front-rear direction, and is also connected to the lower drum-type storage and payout device 18(B) in the last row via the drum-type storage and payout device 18(B). By branching off the storage transport path 57 from the vertical transport path 55, the vertical transport path 55 is divided into an upper feed path section 55a above the branch position of the storage transport path 57 and a lower feed path section 55b below the branch position of the storage transport path 57.

The conveying passage 20 has a plurality of branched conveying paths 61, 62, 63, specifically three branched conveying paths, which branch downward from the middle position of the storage conveying path 57. The branched conveying path 61 is connected to the upper drum-type storage and feeding device 18(B) in the front row in the front-rear direction of the device, and is connected to the lower drum-type storage and feeding device 18(B) in the front row through this drum-type storage and feeding device 18(B). The branched conveying path 62 is connected to the upper drum-type storage and feeding device 18(B) in the second row from the front, and is connected to the lower drum-type storage and feeding device 18(B) in the second row from the front through this drum-type storage and feeding device 18(B). The branched conveying path 63 is connected to the upper drum-type storage and feeding device 18(B) in the third row from the front, and is connected to the lower drum-type storage and feeding device 18(B) in the third row from the front through this drum-type storage and feeding device 18(B).

All of the eight drum-type storage and payout devices 18(B) store banknotes S and have a configuration similar to that of the drum-type storage and payout device 18(A). All of these drum-type storage and payout devices 18(B) are of the winding storage type in which banknotes S are wound around the drum 31 together with the tape 30 at intervals and stored one by one, and the stored banknotes S are unwound from the drum 31 together with the tape 30 and paid out while being counted one by one at intervals. The banknotes S wound around the drum 31 together with the tape 30 are sandwiched in the radial direction of the drum 31 between the part of the tape 30 that is wound around the drum 31 together with the banknotes S and the part of the tape 30 that has already been wound around the drum 31. In other words, the drum-type storage and payout device 18(B) has a drum 31 that stores banknotes S by wrapping them around the tape 30 one by one, and the drum 31 pays out the wound banknotes S one by one.

The drum-type storage and payout device 18(B) of the winding storage type pays out banknotes S in the reverse order to the order in which they are stored. Therefore, even if multiple denominations of banknotes S are randomly mixed and stored in one drum-type storage and payout device 18(B), the control unit 15 can determine the denomination of each banknote S stored in this drum-type storage and payout device 18(B) from the recognition results of the recognition unit 17, and therefore can determine the denomination of each banknote S paid out from this drum-type storage and payout device 18(B).

The upper feed path section 55a, storage conveying path 57 and branch conveying paths 61, 62, 63 of the upper and lower conveying paths 55, for example, convey banknotes S that are fed from the drum-type storage and dispensing device 18(A) to the rear feed path section 21d of the deposit conveying path 21, and are conveyed by the rear feed path section 21d and the intermediate feed path sections 21c, 21b and pass through the recognition section 17, and are branched and conveyed from between the intermediate feed path section 21b and the front feed path section 21a for selective storage in eight drum-type storage and dispensing devices 18(B). For example, all eight drum-type storage and dispensing devices 18(B) can be set as single-denomination storage units that store only banknotes S of a single denomination that has been set for each device, or some of them can be set as single-denomination storage units that store only banknotes S of a single denomination that has been set for each device, and the rest can be set as mixed-denomination storage units that store banknotes S of multiple denominations in a mixed denomination, or one of them can be set as a withdrawal reject storage unit that stores banknotes that have been rejected for withdrawal.

The lower unit 42 is provided with an accumulation-type storage shed 51, eight drum-type storage and feeding devices 18 (B), the lower part of the upper feed path section 55a of the vertical conveying path 55, the lower feed path section 55b, the storage conveying path 57, and the branching conveying paths 61 to 63. The upper part of the upper feed path section 55a of the vertical conveying path 55 is provided in the upper unit 41.

The lower unit 42 has a rectangular box-shaped housing 75 that opens to the front in the front-to-rear direction of the device, a unit main body 76 that is provided with eight drum-type storage and payout devices 18 (B) and is arranged inside the housing 75, and a door body 77 that opens and closes the opening at the front of the housing 75 in the front-to-rear direction of the device. The accumulation-type storage 51 is detachably provided at the front of the unit main body 76.

<Main processes of the banknote processing device 10>
Next, main processes controlled by the control unit 15 of the banknote processing device 10 of the embodiment will be described.

[Deposit Processing]
The deposit process is a process in which banknotes S set in the deposit unit 11 from outside the device are temporarily stored in a drum-type storing and paying out device 18(A) inside the device.

When a sensor (not shown) detects that a banknote S has been placed in the deposit unit 11 from outside the device, and an operation to start the deposit process is input to the operation display unit 14, the control unit 15 controls the deposit unit 11 and the transport path 20 to transport the banknote S along the deposit process route shown by the thick line in Figure 4.

That is, the deposit unit 11 separates the banknotes S one by one and dispenses them at a predetermined interval, and the dispensed banknotes S are conveyed by the front feed path section 21a and intermediate feed path section 21b of the deposit conveying path 21 of the conveying passage 20. During conveying by the intermediate feed path section 21b, the recognition unit 17 recognizes the banknotes S. Specifically, the recognition unit 17 performs the following for the banknotes S: authenticity discrimination to determine whether they are genuine or counterfeit, dirt discrimination to determine whether they are highly dirty, damage discrimination to determine whether they are highly damaged, and denomination discrimination. In addition to these discriminations, the recognition unit 17 recognizes the presence or absence of conveying abnormalities, including double feeding and skewing of the banknotes S (skewing where the inclination angle exceeds a specified value (e.g. 10 degrees)).

As a result of the recognition by the recognition unit 17, normal banknotes S that are recognized as genuine, soiled, damaged, and have no transport abnormalities and are recognized as acceptable are conveyed by the intermediate feed path sections 21b, 21c and rear feed path section 21d of the deposit transport path 21 to the drum-type storage and payout device 18(A) and stored by the drum-type storage and payout device 18(A) (see the thick solid line in FIG. 4). Other banknotes S that are rejected banknotes S that the recognition unit 17 recognizes as unacceptable are conveyed by the intermediate feed path sections 21b, 21c of the deposit transport path 21 to the connecting transport path 36, and the connecting transport path 36 and the withdrawal transport path 35 are conveyed to the payout unit 12 (see the thick solid line to the thick dashed line in FIG. 4). The control unit 15 stores the storage order and denomination of each banknote S temporarily stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18(A).

The rejected banknotes S that are rejected by the withdrawal unit 12 under the control of the control unit 15 during the deposit process are counterfeit notes, soiled notes with a soiling rate (degree of soiling) higher than a specified value, damaged notes with a damage rate (degree of damage) higher than a specified value, and abnormally transported notes such as multiple banknotes S transported with at least a partial overlap, and skewed banknotes with the inclination angle of the banknotes S exceeding a specified value.

When all the banknotes S set in the deposit unit 11 have been transported to either the drum-type storage and dispensing device 18 (A) or the withdrawal unit 12, the operation display unit 14 displays the deposit result including monetary information such as the number of banknotes S by denomination and the total amount stored in the drum-type storage and dispensing device 18 (A) based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 17. The banknotes S transported to the withdrawal unit 12 can be removed from the device. Note that a reject unit that allows banknotes S to be removed from the device may be provided separately from the withdrawal unit 12, and unacceptable banknotes S may be transported to this reject unit. The control unit 15 then causes the operation display unit 14 to display a display prompting the user to decide whether to confirm the deposit process, cancel the deposit process, or insert additional banknotes S into the deposit unit 11.

[Distribution Processing]
The distribution process is a process in which the banknotes S temporarily stored in the drum type storing and dispensing device 18(A) during the deposit process described above are sorted and stored in the drum type storing and dispensing device 18(B) inside the device.

After the amount information after the deposit process is displayed on the operation display unit 14, when the operator inputs an operation to confirm the deposit process on the operation display unit 14, the control unit 15 controls the drum-type storage and dispensing device 18 (A), the transport path 20, and an appropriate one of the eight drum-type storage and dispensing devices 18 (B) to transport and store the banknotes S, for example, along the distribution process route shown by the thick line in Figure 5.

In other words, the banknotes S temporarily stored by the drum-type storing and dispensing device 18(A) are dispensed one by one at intervals, and are transported by the rear transport path section 21d and intermediate transport path sections 21c and 21b of the deposit transport path 21, and the upper transport path section 55a of the upper and lower transport paths 55 and the storage transport path 57. During transport by the intermediate transport path section 21b, the recognition unit 17 again recognizes the recognition order of the banknotes S and the presence or absence of transport abnormalities including double feeding and skewing. At this time, the recognition unit 17 does not perform authenticity discrimination, soiling discrimination, damage discrimination, or denomination discrimination.

Then, if there is no transport abnormality, the control unit 15 obtains and counts the denomination of the banknotes S based on the identification order of the banknotes S identified by the identification unit 17 and the denomination information at the time of the deposit process that has already been stored. The control unit 15 controls the storage and transport path 57 and appropriate branch transport paths 61 to 63 to store the banknotes S whose denomination has been obtained and counted in this manner in one of the eight drum-type storage and payout devices 18 (B) that stores banknotes S of the determined denomination.

[Withdrawal process]
The dispensing process is a process of dispensing the banknotes S stored in the drum-type storing and dispensing device 18 (B) inside the device to the dispensing section 12 so that they can be taken out of the device.

When a selection operation for a dispensing process is input to the operation display unit 14 along with monetary information of the banknotes S to be dispensed, the control unit 15 determines the number of banknotes to be dispensed by denomination according to the monetary information, and transports the banknotes S from the drum-type storage and dispensing device 18 (B), in which the banknotes S of the denomination to be dispensed are stored, to the dispensing unit 12 via the transport path 20, for example, along the dispensing process route shown by the thick line in Figure 6.

For example, the dispensing process will be described below using the case where a single denomination is specified and banknotes S are dispensed from one first drum-type storing and dispensing device 18 (B) and transported to the dispensing unit 12. Note that when dispensing a combination of multiple denominations, the same process as for a single denomination is repeated while switching between the multiple drum-type storing and dispensing devices 18 (B) as appropriate.

In other words, the first drum-type storing and dispensing device 18 (B) separates and counts the stored banknotes S one by one while dispensing them at intervals, and the dispensed banknotes S are transported toward the dispensing unit 12 via appropriate branch transport paths 61-63, the storage transport path 57, the upper transport path section 55a of the upper and lower transport paths 55, the intermediate transport path sections 21b and 21c of the deposit transport path 21, the connecting transport path 36, and the dispensing transport path 35. During transport on the intermediate transport path section 21b, the recognition unit 17 again recognizes the recognition order of the banknotes S and whether there are any transport abnormalities. Note that at this time, the recognition unit 17 does not perform authenticity discrimination, damage discrimination, or denomination discrimination, but performs damage discrimination.

Then, if the banknotes S identified by the recognition unit 17 are not damaged notes such as stubs or duplicated notes, the control unit 15 causes the banknotes S to be dispensed as is to the dispensing unit 12, including notes with transport errors such as skewed notes.

On the other hand, if the banknote S identified by the recognition unit 17 is a damaged note such as a stub or a duplicated note, the control unit 15 determines that the banknote S cannot be processed, stops driving the first drum-type storage and payout device 18 (B), the transport path 20, and the dispensing unit 12, and causes the operation display unit 14 to display a message urging the user to perform error recovery processing. This allows the operator to remove the banknotes S remaining in the transport path 20, including the damaged note S or the duplicated note.

<Configuration of drum type storing and feeding device 18>
In the banknote processing device 10, the drum-type storing and dispensing device 18(A) used as a temporary storage repository and the drum-type storing and dispensing device 18(B) used as a recycling repository by denomination have substantially the same configuration. The drum-type storing and dispensing device 18 will be further described. The operation of the drum-type storing and dispensing device 18 is controlled by the control unit 15.

As shown in FIG. 7, the drum-type storage and payout device 18 has the drum 31 described above, one of the tape 30 described above, one end of which in the longitudinal direction is connected and fixed to the drum 31, and a reel 101 to which the other end of the tape 30 in the longitudinal direction is connected and fixed. Both the drum 31 and the reel 101 wind the tape 30 around a cylindrical portion having a predetermined outer diameter. The tape 30 has a predetermined length and a predetermined constant thickness.

The drum-type storage and payout device 18 has a housing 110 and a drum rotation shaft 111 that is rotatably supported in a fixed position on the housing 110. The drum 31 is supported by the drum rotation shaft 111 and rotates integrally with the drum rotation shaft 111 around the drum rotation shaft 111. The drum-type storage and payout device 18 has a drum rotation motor 115 consisting of a stepping motor that rotates the drum rotation shaft 111. The drum rotation motor 115 rotates the drum rotation shaft 111 and the drum 31 with a driving force and brakes the drum rotation shaft 111 and the drum 31 to stop them. The drum rotation motor 115 is designed to keep the drum rotation shaft 111 and the drum 31 stopped by a magnetic force even when the device power is off. When the device power is on, the drum rotation motor 115 applies a resistance force to the tape 30 and generates tension when the tape 30 wound around the drum 31 is pulled out from the drum 31 by a driving force, and rotates together with the tape 30. The drum-type storage and dispensing device 18 is not equipped with an encoder to detect the amount of rotation of the drum 31.

The drum-type storage and payout device 18 has a reel rotation shaft 121 that is rotatably supported at a fixed position on the housing 110. The reel rotation shaft 121 is arranged parallel to the drum rotation shaft 111. The reel 101 is supported by the reel rotation shaft 121 and rotates integrally with the reel rotation shaft 121 around the reel rotation shaft 121. The drum-type storage and payout device 18 has a reel rotation motor 125 consisting of a stepping motor that rotates the reel rotation shaft 121. The reel rotation motor 125 rotates the reel rotation shaft 121 and the reel 101 with a driving force and brakes the reel rotation shaft 121 and the reel 101 to stop them. The reel rotation motor 125 is designed to keep the reel rotation shaft 121 and the reel 101 stopped by magnetic force even when the device power is off. When the device power is on, the reel rotation motor 125 rotates together with the tape 30 wound around the reel 101 while applying a resistance force to the tape 30 to generate tension when the tape 30 is pulled out from the reel 101 by the driving force. The drum-type storing and paying out device 18 is not provided with an encoder for detecting the amount of rotation of the reel 101.

The drum-type storage and payout device 18 has a roller shaft 131 that is disposed between the drum 31 and the reel 101 and is supported in a fixed position by the housing 110. The roller shaft 131 is disposed parallel to the drum rotation shaft 111 and the reel rotation shaft 121. The roller shaft 131 is provided with a guide roller 132. The guide roller 132 is a free roller and can rotate around the roller shaft 131 with respect to the housing 110. The portion of the tape 30 between the drum 31 and the reel 101 is hung on the guide roller 132. The guide roller 132 forms a linear portion 135 of the tape 30 between the guide roller 132 and the drum 31. As shown in FIG. 8, the linear portion 135, together with the winding portion 136 of the tape 30 wound around the drum 31, constitutes a bill input/output port 138 for inputting and outputting bills S in the drum 31. The drum-type storage and payout device 18 is not provided with an encoder for detecting the amount of rotation of the guide roller 132. In other words, the drum-type storage and payout device 18 does not have an encoder in the drive system of the tape 30.

The drum-type storage and dispensing device 18 has a guide arm 141 that is supported by a roller shaft 131 and rotates around the roller shaft 131 relative to the housing 110. A support shaft 142 that is parallel to the roller shaft 131 is provided at the tip of the guide arm 141 on the opposite side to the roller shaft 131, and a tip roller 143 that is a free roller that rotates around the support shaft 142 is provided on this support shaft 142.

The guide arm 141 extends along the straight portion 135 between the guide roller 132 of the tape 30 and the drum 31, and the tip roller 143 abuts against the outer end of the winding portion 136 of the tape 30 wound around the drum 31 in the radial direction of the drum 31. This causes the guide arm 141 to rotate approximately along the straight portion 135 of the tape 30, whose position changes depending on the amount of tape 30 wound around the drum 31.

The drum-type storage and payout device 18 has a storage and payout opening 151 through which banknotes S enter and exit the drum-type storage and payout device 18, a banknote guide 152 and a banknote guide 153 that extend to connect the storage and payout opening 151 and the banknote inlet/outlet 138 of the drum 31, and a plurality of conveying rollers 155 that are arranged near the banknote guides 152 and 153 and move the banknotes S guided between the banknote guides 152 and 153 between the storage and payout opening 151 and the banknote inlet/outlet 138. These banknote guides 152 and 153 and the plurality of conveying rollers 155 constitute a connecting conveying passage 157 that connects the storage and payout opening 151 and the banknote inlet/outlet 138. The connecting conveying passage 157 receives banknotes S from the conveying passage 20 and conveys them toward the drum 31, and also receives banknotes S dispensed from the drum 31 and conveys them toward the conveying passage 20.

In the drum-type storage and payout device 18, the banknotes S that have been transported by the transport path 20 and paid out to the storage and payout opening 151 are guided by the connected transport path 157 with banknote guides 152, 153 while being transported by multiple transport rollers 155 toward the banknote inlet/outlet 138 of the drum 31. In addition, the drum rotation motor 115 rotates the drum rotation shaft 111 and the drum 31 in the banknote storage direction (clockwise direction in Figures 7 to 9) in which the banknotes S are stored so that the banknotes S transported by the connected transport path 157 are received and stored. At that time, the control unit 15 controls the rotation speed of the drum 31 so as to synchronize it with the transport speed of the connected transport path 157.

Then, the banknote S conveyed to the banknote inlet/outlet 138 by the connecting conveying passage 157 is pushed between the winding portion 136 of the tape 30 and the straight portion 135 immediately before being wound around the winding portion 136 together with the banknote S, which both constitute the banknote inlet/outlet 138, and is wound around the winding portion 136 together with the portion constituting the straight portion 135 of the tape 30. As a result, the banknote S is sandwiched in the radial direction of the drum 31 by the winding portion 136 of the tape 30 and the portion of the tape 30 that is wound around the winding portion 136 together with the banknote S. In this way, the drum-type storing and paying out device 18 wraps the banknotes S conveyed by the conveying passage 20 and paid out to the storing and paying out outlet 151 around the drum 31 while holding them one by one at a predetermined interval in the conveying direction of the banknote S, i.e., the storing and paying out direction of the banknote S, and stores them in the winding portion 136 of the tape 30.

Here, the drum 31 and the winding portion 136 of the tape 30 wound around the drum 31 form the drum storage section 161 that stores the banknotes S inside. In other words, the banknotes S transported to the banknote inlet/outlet 138 by the connecting transport passage 157 are located between the drum storage section 161 and the straight portion 135 immediately before being wound around the drum storage section 161 together with the banknotes S, which constitute the banknote inlet/outlet 138, and are wound around the drum storage section 161 together with the portion of the tape 30 that constitutes the straight portion 135. At that time, the portion of the tape 30 wound around the drum storage section 161 becomes the drum storage section 161, and the banknotes S are stored in this drum storage section 161.

In addition, in the drum-type storing and paying-out device 18, when the reel rotation motor 125 rotates the reel rotation shaft 121 and the reel 101 in the tape winding direction (counterclockwise in Figures 7 to 9), which is the direction in which the tape 30 is wound onto the reel 101, the portion of the tape 30 on the reel 101 side is wound onto the reel 101, and the tape 30 is thus paid out from the drum storage section 161. Then, the tape 30 is paid out from the winding section 136 that was wound around the drum 31 and constituted the drum storage section 161, and the banknotes S that were previously in the drum storage section 161 and held by the tape 30 are paid out from the drum storage section 161 to the storage and pay-out opening 151 side together with the tape 30. Then, this banknote S is guided by banknote guides 152, 153 of the connecting transport path 157 and transported by multiple transport rollers 155, and is fed from the storage and pay-out opening 151 to the transport path 20, and is transported along the transport path 20. At this time, the control unit 15 also controls the rotation speed of the reel 101 so that the pay-out speed of the drum 31 is synchronized with the transport speed of the connecting transport path 157.

Here, in the banknote processing device 10, the banknote S moves in a posture with its long side aligned along the passage width direction and its short side aligned along the banknote transport direction as described above. Therefore, in the connected transport passage 157 in the drum-type storage and payout device 18, the banknote S also moves in a posture with its long side aligned along the passage width direction and its short side aligned along the banknote transport direction while being guided by the banknote guides 152, 153. Then, the banknote S is stored in the drum storage section 161 with its short side aligned along the storage and payout direction, and is paid out from the drum storage section 161. In the drum-type storage and payout device 18, since the banknote S is aligned with its long side along the passage width direction in this way, the drum 31 is cylindrical in shape and long in the axial direction that is the passage width direction (not shown), and two sets of the tape 30 and the reel 101 are provided at a distance from each other in the axial direction of the drum 31 that is the passage width direction.

The housing 110 is provided with a banknote detection sensor 171 between the two tapes 30. The banknote detection sensor 171 is provided at a position equivalent to the banknote inlet/outlet 138 in the transport direction of the banknote S, and detects the presence or absence of the banknote S at this position. The banknote detection sensor 171 is a light-shielding optical sensor consisting of a light-emitting sensor 172 and a light-receiving sensor 173 that are provided to sandwich the banknote S at the banknote inlet/outlet 138 in the thickness direction.

If there is a bill S between the light emitting sensor 172 and the light receiving sensor 173, the bill detection sensor 171 detects that there is a bill S at the position of the bill detection sensor 171. If there is no bill S between the light emitting sensor 172 and the light receiving sensor 173, the bill detection sensor 171 detects that there is a bill S at the position of the bill detection sensor 171. If there is no bill S between the light emitting sensor 172 and the light receiving sensor 173, the bill detection sensor 171 detects that there is a bill S at the position of the bill detection sensor 171. If there is no bill S between the light emitting sensor 172 and the light receiving sensor 173, the bill detection sensor 171 detects that there is no bill S at the position of the bill detection sensor 171. The bill detection sensor 171 is provided on the bill inlet/outlet 138 side of the drum 31, and detects bills S stored inside the drum type storage and payout device 18 and stored in the drum storage section 161, or paid out from the drum storage section 161 and paid out to the outside of the drum type storage and payout device 18.

A count sensor (passing sensor) 181 is provided in the conveying passage 20 in the vicinity of the storage and payout opening 151 to count the banknotes S transferred from the conveying passage 20 to the storage and payout opening 151 and the banknotes S transferred from the storage and payout opening 151 to the conveying passage 20. The count sensor 181 is a light-shielding optical sensor consisting of a light-emitting sensor 182 and a light-receiving sensor 183 arranged to sandwich the banknotes S in the conveying passage 20 in the thickness direction. If a banknote S is present between the light-emitting sensor 182 and the light-receiving sensor 183, the count sensor 181 is in a light-shielding state in which the light emitted by the light-emitting sensor 182 is blocked by the banknote S and is not received by the light-receiving sensor 183, and in this light-shielding state, the count sensor 181 detects that the banknote S is present at the position of the count sensor 181. Furthermore, if there is no banknote S between the light-emitting sensor 182 and the light-receiving sensor 183, the count sensor 181 enters a light-transmitting state in which the light emitted by the light-emitting sensor 182 is not blocked and is received by the light-receiving sensor 183, and in this light-transmitting state, the count sensor 181 detects that there is no banknote S at the position of the count sensor 181. When the count sensor 181 goes from the light-transmitting state to the light-blocking state and then returns to the light-transmitting state, it detects that one banknote S has passed the position of the count sensor 181.

As shown in FIG. 10, two count sensors 181 are arranged at a distance in the passage width direction (left-right direction of the device). The distance between the two count sensors 181 along the passage width direction is shorter than the long side of the banknote S. This allows the banknote S to pass through the two count sensors 181 even if the banknote S is transported in the transport passage 20 in a slanted position as shown in FIG. 10.

<Banknote storing operation of drum type storing and paying out device 18>
When storing the banknotes S in the drum type storing and paying out device 18 shown in Figs. 7 to 9, the control unit 15 drives the drum rotation motor 115 to rotate the drum 31 in the banknote storing direction (clockwise direction in Figs. 7 to 9). Then, with the rotation of the drum 31 in the banknote storing direction, the reel 101 rotates by the tension of the tape 30 in the tape payout direction (clockwise direction in Figs. 7 to 9) in which the tape 30 is paid out, which is opposite to the tape winding direction, and the tape 30 is drawn out from the reel 101. Then, the control unit 15 causes the banknotes S entering the storing and paying out opening 151 of the drum type storing and paying out device 18 from the conveying passage 20 side to be sandwiched by the tape 30 at the position of the banknote inlet/outlet 138 and wound around the drum 31. As a result, the banknotes S are stored in the drum storage unit 161 of the drum type storing and paying out device 18.

In conjunction with the above-mentioned storage operation, the control unit 15 counts the number of banknotes S to be stored by detection by a count sensor 181 provided in the transport passage 20 near the storage and pay-out opening 151. In addition, the banknote interval detection means 202 (paper sheet interval detection means) (see FIG. 1) of the control unit 15 detects the interval between the banknotes S continuously transported toward the storage and pay-out opening 151 based on the detection information output from the count sensor 181. The interval between the banknotes S is the interval D between the rear end of the preceding banknote S (preceding banknote S) toward the storage and pay-out opening 151 and the front end of the following banknote S (following banknote S), as shown in FIG. 11 etc. The specific detection of the interval D between the banknotes S is described below.

First, the count sensor 181 outputs data on the time (banknote non-detection time) from when the detection state of the count sensor 181 changes from the banknote detection state (light-blocking state) to the banknote non-detection state (light-transmitting state) until it returns to the banknote detection state (light-blocking state) to the banknote interval detection means 202 of the control unit 15 as data representing the interval D of banknotes S. After that, the banknote interval detection means 202 calculates the interval D of banknotes S based on the banknote non-detection time data output from the count sensor 181 and the conveying speed of banknotes S in the conveying path 20. The detection of the interval D of banknotes S in the conveying path 20 is performed each time a banknote S passes through the count sensor 181.

In addition, in conjunction with the above-mentioned storage operation, the banknote length detection means 201 of the control unit 15 calculates the length of the banknote S along the banknote storage direction (storage and pay-out direction) relative to the drum-type storage and pay-out device 18 based on the angular coordinate position of the banknote S output from the angular coordinate position indexing means 302 of the recognition unit 17. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the banknote length detection means 201 calculates the difference between the minimum and maximum y coordinates in the y-axis direction (transport direction, storage and pay-out direction) of the position coordinates (x1, y1), (x2, y2), (x3, y3), and (x4, y4) of the four corners of the banknote S as the length L2 of the banknote S along the y-axis direction. For this reason, the angular coordinate position indexing means 302 of the recognition unit 17 may, for example, only index the y coordinates of the four corners of the banknote S.

The banknote S shown in Fig. 3 is conveyed in the negative y-axis direction (upward in Fig. 3) in an oblique position with its left end leading the way. Therefore, of the y-coordinates of the four corners of the banknote S, the second y-coordinate from the left, "y1", is the minimum value, and the second y-coordinate from the right, "y4", is the maximum value. Therefore, the banknote length detection means 201 calculates the length L2 of the banknote S using the following formula.
L2 = y4 - y1
Although not shown, for example, when the banknote S is transported in the negative y-axis direction in an oblique position with the right end leading, the banknote length detection means 201 calculates the length L2 of the banknote S using the following formula.
L2 = y3 - y2
In addition, if one point on the y coordinate corresponds to an actual length (e.g., 0.5 mm), the banknote length detection means 201 can calculate the actual length L2 of the banknote S in the conveying direction by multiplying the above-mentioned difference by the actual length.
The length L2 of the banknote S is detected every time the banknote S passes the full surface information acquisition sensor 301 of the recognition unit 17.

Furthermore, in conjunction with the above-mentioned storage operation, as shown in FIG. 11 etc., the control unit 15 controls the rotation speed of the drum 31 based on the length L2 of the preceding banknote S detected by the banknote length detection means 201 and the interval D between the preceding banknote S and the following banknote S detected by the banknote interval detection means 202. The rotation control of the drum 31 during the storage operation of the banknotes S will be described below.

The rotation control of the drum 31 during the storage operation of the banknotes S is performed by the control unit 15 calculating the rotation speed of the drum 31 (drum winding speed) using the following calculation formula (1) each time a single banknote S (preceding banknote S) is wound onto the drum 31.
(Drum winding speed) = (Reference speed) x (Length conversion) x (Bill spacing correction) ... (1)

Here, the "reference speed" is the rotation speed of the drum 31 that corresponds to the cumulative winding length (the length of the tape 30 wound around the drum 31) described below.

The "length conversion" is a value calculated using the following formula (2).
(Length conversion)=(wound bill length)/(reference bill length) (2)
Here, the "wound banknote length" is the length L2 (banknote length L2) of the preceding banknote S detected by the banknote length detection means 201. Also, the "reference banknote length" is the length (e.g., 82 mm) of the short side of the reference banknote S (reference banknote S), and is the length of the banknote S along the banknote storage direction (storage and pay-out direction) when the reference banknote S is transported without being skewed.

The “bill spacing correction” is a value calculated using the following formula (3).
(Bill spacing correction)=(standard banknote pitch)/(wound banknote pitch) (3)
Here, the "wound banknote pitch" is the sum of the length L2 (banknote length L2) of the leading banknote S detected by the banknote length detection means 201 and the interval D between the leading banknote S and the trailing banknote S detected by the banknote interval detection means 202, i.e., the pitch P of one banknote S from the front end of the leading banknote S to the front end of the trailing banknote S (banknote pitch P). Also, the "reference banknote pitch" is the pitch of one banknote S that serves as a reference (reference banknote pitch; for example, 143 mm).

In the process of successively storing preceding banknotes S in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 (the process of storing succeeding banknotes S in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 after preceding banknotes S are stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18), the control unit 15 controls the rotation speed (winding speed) of the drum 31 for each banknote S using the above-mentioned calculation formulas (1) to (3).

For example, if the pitch P (banknote pitch P) of one banknote S exceeds the reference banknote pitch, in other words, if the passing time of one banknote S derived from the banknote pitch P and the conveying speed of the banknote S in the conveying passage 20 exceeds a predetermined reference value (e.g., 143 msec), the control unit 15 drives the drum 31 to narrow the interval between the banknotes S stored in the drum 31 (the interval between the preceding banknote S and the following banknote S) by switching the rotation speed of the drum 31 when storing the preceding banknote S to a second rotation speed slower than the first rotation speed. The value (143 msec) given as an example of the predetermined reference value of the passing time is a value when seven banknotes S are conveyed per second in the conveying passage 20, but is not limited to this.

When the control unit 15 controls the rotation speed of the drum 31 as described above, the banknotes S can be stored with smaller intervals (closer intervals) when wrapped around the drum 31 than when they are being transported in the transport path 20. This point will be described below.

If the passing time for one banknote S exceeds a predetermined reference value, the banknotes S are transported with greater spacing between them than the spacing between banknotes S determined by the device specifications. If banknotes S transported at such spacing through the transport path 20 were stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 at the same spacing, they would not be able to be stored efficiently in the drum-type storage and payout device 18, making it difficult to meet the specification value for the storage capacity of the drum-type storage and payout device 18 (for example, a maximum of 600 sheets). Therefore, by the control unit 15 switching the rotation speed of the drum 31 when storing the following banknotes S to a rotation speed (second rotation speed) slower than the rotation speed (first rotation speed) of the drum 31 when storing the preceding banknotes S, it is possible to store the banknotes S by making the intervals between the banknotes S wound around the drum 31 smaller (closer) than the intervals between the banknotes S when they are being transported in the transport path 20, for the banknotes S transported at a constant speed in the transport path 20 toward the drum-type storing and dispensing device 18. This makes it possible to store more banknotes S in the drum-type storing and dispensing device 18.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 11 to 19, several examples of the rotation speed (winding speed) of the drum 31 controlled by the calculation formulas (1) to (3) will be described.
11, the banknote length L2 is the reference value (i.e., the length of the reference banknote S), and the banknote pitch P is the reference banknote pitch. In this case, since "length conversion" and "bill spacing correction" in the calculation formula (1) are both 1.00, the rotation speed of the drum 31 is the reference speed (100% of the reference speed). Therefore, the banknotes S are stored in the drum-type storing and paying out device 18 while maintaining the interval D between the leading banknote S and the trailing banknote S transported in the transport path 20.

12, the bill pitch P is the standard bill pitch shown in FIG. 11, but the bill length L2 is shorter than the standard bill S length shown in FIG. 11. Therefore, the interval D between the leading bill S and the trailing bill S transported in the transport passage 20 is longer than the example (standard example) shown in FIG. 11. In this case, the "bill interval correction" in the calculation formula (1) is 1.00, but the "length conversion" is less than 1.00 (0.76). Therefore, the rotation speed of the drum 31 after the leading bill S is stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 is slower than the standard speed (76% of the standard speed). Therefore, the bill S is stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 so that the interval between the leading bill S and the trailing bill S is shorter than the interval D between the leading bill S and the trailing bill S transported in the transport passage 20 (in other words, the interval between the leading bill S and the trailing bill S in the example (standard example) shown in FIG. 11).

In the example shown in Figure 13, the banknote pitch P is the reference banknote pitch, but because the leading banknote S is in a slanted position, the banknote length L2 is longer than the length of the reference banknote S. Therefore, the distance D between the leading banknote S and the following banknote S transported in the transport path 20 is shorter than the example (reference example) shown in Figure 11. In this case, the "bill spacing correction" in calculation formula (1) is 1.00, but the "length conversion" exceeds 1.00 (becomes 1.04). Therefore, the rotational speed of the drum 31 after the leading banknote S is stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 is faster than the reference speed (104% of the reference speed). Therefore, the banknotes S are stored in the drum-type storing and dispensing device 18 so that the distance between the leading banknote S and the trailing banknote S is longer than the distance D between the leading banknote S and the trailing banknote S transported in the transport path 20 (in other words, the distance between the leading banknote S and the trailing banknote S in the example (reference example) shown in FIG. 11).

14, the bill length L2 is the length of the reference bill S, but the bill pitch P is shorter than the reference bill pitch. Therefore, the interval D between the leading bill S and the following bill S transported in the transport path 20 is shorter than the example (reference example) shown in FIG. 11. In this case, the "length conversion" in the calculation formula (1) is 1.00, but the "bill interval correction" is greater than 1.00 (1.08). Therefore, the rotation speed of the drum 31 after the leading bill S is stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 is faster than the reference speed (108% of the reference speed). Therefore, the bill S is stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 so that the interval between the leading bill S and the following bill S is longer than the interval D between the leading bill S and the following bill S transported in the transport path 20 (in other words, the interval between the leading bill S and the following bill S in the example (reference example) shown in FIG. 11).

In the example shown in FIG. 15, the banknote length L2 is shorter than the length of the reference banknote S, and the banknote pitch P is shorter than the reference banknote pitch. In addition, the distance D between the preceding banknote S and the following banknote S transported in the transport passage 20 is longer than the example (reference example) shown in FIG. 11. In this case, the "length conversion" in the calculation formula (1) is below 1.00 (becomes 0.76), and the "bill spacing correction" is above 1.00 (becomes 1.08). In addition, the degree to which the "length conversion" is below 1.00 is greater than the degree to which the "bill spacing correction" is above 1.00. Therefore, the rotation speed of the drum 31 after the preceding banknote S is stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 is slower than the reference speed (81% of the reference speed). Therefore, the banknotes S are stored in the drum-type storing and dispensing device 18 so that the distance between the leading banknote S and the following banknote S is shorter than the distance D between the leading banknote S and the following banknote S transported in the transport path 20 (in other words, the distance between the leading banknote S and the following banknote S in the example (reference example) shown in FIG. 11).

In the example shown in FIG. 16, the preceding banknote S is in a slanted position, so that the banknote length L2 is longer than the length of the reference banknote S and the banknote pitch P is shorter than the reference banknote pitch. Therefore, the distance D between the preceding banknote S and the following banknote S transported in the transport path 20 is shorter than the example (reference example) shown in FIG. 11. In this case, the "length conversion" in the calculation formula (1) exceeds 1.00 (becomes 1.04), and the "bill spacing correction" also exceeds 1.00 (becomes 1.08). Therefore, the rotation speed of the drum 31 after the preceding banknote S is stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 becomes faster than the reference speed (111% of the reference speed). Therefore, the banknotes S are stored in the drum-type storing and dispensing device 18 so that the distance between the leading banknote S and the trailing banknote S is longer than the distance D between the leading banknote S and the trailing banknote S transported in the transport path 20 (in other words, the distance between the leading banknote S and the trailing banknote S in the example (reference example) shown in FIG. 11).

17, the bill length L2 is the length of the reference bill S, but the bill pitch P is longer than the reference bill pitch. Therefore, the interval D between the leading bill S and the following bill S transported in the transport path 20 is longer than the example (reference example) shown in FIG. 11. In this case, the "length conversion" in the calculation formula (1) is 1.00, but the "bill interval correction" is less than 1.00 (0.93). Therefore, the rotation speed of the drum 31 after the leading bill S is stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 is slower than the reference speed (93% of the reference speed). Therefore, the bill S is stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 so that the interval between the leading bill S and the following bill S is shorter than the interval D between the leading bill S and the following bill S transported in the transport path 20 (in other words, the interval between the leading bill S and the following bill S in the example (reference example) shown in FIG. 11).

18, the bill length L2 is shorter than the length of the reference bill S, and the bill pitch P is longer than the reference bill pitch. Therefore, the interval D between the leading bill S and the following bill S transported in the transport passage 20 is longer than the example (reference example) shown in FIG. 11. In this case, the "length conversion" in the calculation formula (1) is less than 1.00 (becomes 0.76), and the "bill interval correction" is also less than 1.00 (becomes 0.93). Therefore, the rotation speed of the drum 31 after the leading bill S is stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 is slower than the reference speed (71% of the reference speed). Therefore, the bill S is stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 so that the interval between the leading bill S and the following bill S is shorter than the interval D between the leading bill S and the following bill S transported in the transport passage 20 (in other words, so that the interval between the leading bill S and the following bill S in the example (reference example) shown in FIG. 11).

In the example shown in FIG. 19, the preceding banknote S is in a slanted position, so that the banknote length L2 is longer than the length of the reference banknote S, and the banknote pitch P is longer than the reference banknote pitch. In addition, the interval D between the preceding banknote S and the following banknote S transported in the transport passage 20 is longer than the example (reference example) shown in FIG. 11. In this case, the "length conversion" in the calculation formula (1) exceeds 1.00 (becomes 1.04), and the "bill interval correction" falls below 1.00 (becomes 0.93). In addition, the degree to which the "bill interval correction" falls below 1.00 is greater than the degree to which the "length conversion" exceeds 1.00. For this reason, the rotation speed of the drum 31 after the preceding banknote S is stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 is slower than the reference speed (97% of the reference speed). Therefore, the banknotes S are stored in the drum-type storing and dispensing device 18 so that the distance between the leading banknote S and the following banknote S is shorter than the distance D between the leading banknote S and the following banknote S transported in the transport path 20 (in other words, the distance between the leading banknote S and the following banknote S in the example (reference example) shown in FIG. 11).

Furthermore, when storing banknotes S in the drum-type storing and paying out device 18, the control unit 15 calculates the cumulative winding length described below based on the length L2 of the banknote S calculated by the banknote length detection means 201 and the interval D of the banknotes S detected by the banknote interval detection means 202, and stores this in the memory unit 16. The control unit 15 also stores the number of banknotes S detected by the count sensor 181 in the memory unit 16. That is, the memory unit 16 stores the number of stored banknotes S and the cumulative winding length for the banknotes S stored in the drum-type storing and paying out device 18.

When the final banknote S to be transported to the drum-type storage and payout device 18 passes the count sensor 181, the detection state of the count sensor 181 changes from a banknote detection state (light-blocking state) to a banknote non-detection state (light-transmitting state). After that, when this final banknote S passes the banknote detection sensor 171, the detection state of the banknote detection sensor 171 changes from a banknote detection state (light-blocking state) to a banknote non-detection state (light-transmitting state).

The drum-type storage and payout device 18 is equipped with a drum position detection means 191 that detects the position of the drum 31 based on the position of the banknote S detected by the banknote detection sensor 171. The drum position detection means 191 includes the banknote detection sensor 171. The drum position detection means 191 detects that the drum 31 is located at a predetermined drum standby position when the banknote detection sensor 171 changes from a banknote detection state (light-blocking state) to a banknote non-detection state (light-transmitting state) due to the final banknote S transported to the drum-type storage and payout device 18 as described above. In other words, the drum-type storage and payout device 18 detects the position of the drum 31 immediately after the banknote detection sensor 171 changes from a banknote detection state (light-blocking state) to a banknote non-detection state (light-transmitting state) due to the passage of the final banknote S to be stored in the drum 31 as the drum standby position.

When the drum position detection means 191 detects that the drum 31 is located at a predetermined drum standby position, the control unit 15 stops driving the drum rotation motor 115. The drum 31 then stops at the predetermined drum standby position to wait for the next banknote S to be received. In other words, when the banknote detection sensor 171 changes from a banknote detection state (light-blocking state) to a banknote non-detection state (light-transmitting state) due to the passage of the banknote S to be stored in the drum 31 during the operation of storing the banknote S in the drum-type storage and payout device 18, the drum position detection means 191 detects that the drum 31 is located at the drum standby position. In a non-operational state in which the storage and payout operations of the banknote S are not being performed, the drum-type storage and payout device 18 stops the drum 31 at this drum standby position and waits in preparation for the storage and payout operations of the next banknote S.

<Banknote Paying-Out Operation of Drum-Type Storing and Paying-Out Device 18>
When paying out banknotes S from the drum-type storing and paying out device 18, the control unit 15 drives the reel rotation motor 125 to rotate the reel 101 in the tape winding direction (counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 7 to 9). Then, with the rotation of the reel 101 in the tape winding direction, the drum 31 is rotated by the tension of the tape 30 in the banknote pay-out direction (counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 7 to 9) in which the banknotes S are paid out, which is opposite to the banknote storage direction. Then, the banknotes S stored in the drum storage unit 161 are paid out from the drum storage unit 161 and transported from the storage and pay-out opening 151 of the drum-type storing and paying out device 18 to the transport path 20 side.

When bills S are dispensed from the drum-type storing and dispensing device 18 in this manner, the control unit 15 counts the number of bills S dispensed by detection by the count sensor 181 disposed in the conveying passage 20 near the storing and dispensing opening 151. Then, the control unit 15 stops driving the reel rotation motor 125 at a predetermined timing after the last bill S of the dispensed bills passes through the bill detection sensor 171.

The control unit 15 then subtracts the number of dispensed banknotes S detected by the count sensor 181 to calculate the number of banknotes currently stored in the drum-type storage and dispensing device 18, stores this calculated number of banknotes and the cumulative winding length (described below) obtained by subtracting the number of dispensed banknotes S in the memory unit 16, and ends the banknote dispensing operation. In other words, the memory unit 16 stores the number of stored banknotes S and the cumulative winding length for the banknotes S stored in the drum-type storage and dispensing device 18.

<Cumulative winding length>
Here, the accumulated winding length will be described. The accumulated winding length is the total length of the tape 30 wound around the drum 31, in other words, it is the accumulated value of the length of the banknotes S stored in the drum-type storing and feeding device 18 along the storing and feeding direction and the interval between adjacent banknotes S in the storing and feeding direction. The accumulated winding length is calculated by accumulating the length L2 of the banknotes S calculated by the banknote length detection means 201 and the interval D of the banknotes S detected by the banknote interval detection means 202.

Specifically, the banknote length detection means 201 of the control unit 15 calculates the length L2 of the banknote S based on the corner coordinate position (the coordinates of the four corners of the banknote S in FIG. 3) of the banknote S output from the recognition unit 17 provided in the transport path 20 as described above. Therefore, regardless of the posture of the banknote S (whether it is inclined or not, and the degree of the inclination), the length L2 of the banknote S along the storage and pay-out direction can be correctly grasped. In addition, the banknote interval detection means 202 of the control unit 15 detects the interval between the front and rear banknotes S in the transport path 20 based on the detection information of the banknote S output from the count sensor 181 provided in the transport path 20 as described above. Then, the control unit 15 determines the sum of the length L2 of the banknote S and the interval between the front and rear banknotes S as the winding length of one banknote S (the pitch of one banknote S). The control unit 15 calculates the cumulative winding length by accumulating this winding length (the pitch of one banknote S) for all banknotes S stored in the drum storage unit 161 of the drum-type storage and payout device 18.

As described above, the banknote length detection means 201 of the control unit 15 calculates the length L2 of one banknote S based on the angular coordinate position of the banknote S output from the recognition unit 17. The banknote interval detection means 202 of the control unit 15 calculates the interval between the front and rear banknotes S based on the detection information of the banknote S output from the count sensor 181. Here, since the recognition unit 17 and the count sensor 181 are both provided in the transport path 20, the transport speed of the banknote S passing through the recognition unit 17 and the count sensor 181 is determined by the rotation speed of the transport drive motor that drives the transport path 20, and is not affected by the moving speed of the tape 30 caused by the rotation of the drum 31 in the storage direction. Therefore, even if the moving speed of the tape 30 changes due to a change in the outer diameter of the drum storage section 161 of the drum 31, the banknote S passes through the recognition unit 17 and the count sensor 181 stably at a predetermined constant speed. Therefore, the length of the banknotes S and the spacing between the banknotes S can be calculated with high accuracy using the recognition unit 17 and the count sensor 181.

This cumulative winding length corresponds to the outer diameter of the drum storage section 161 when the tape 30 and the banknotes S are wound around the drum 31. In other words, when the cumulative winding length is a first length, if the cumulative winding length is longer than the first length by a predetermined length, the outer diameter of the drum storage section 161 increases by an amount corresponding to this predetermined length.

Here, when the outer diameter of the drum storage section 161 changes, if the drum 31 is rotated at a constant rotation speed, the peripheral speed of the outer periphery constituting the banknote inlet/outlet 138 of the drum storage section 161 will be slow if the outer diameter of the drum storage section 161 is small, and will be fast if the outer diameter of the drum storage section 161 is large. In contrast, since the connecting transport passage 157 transports the banknotes S at a constant speed, it is necessary to match the transport speed of this connecting transport passage 157 with the peripheral speed of the outer periphery constituting the banknote inlet/outlet 138 of the drum storage section 161. For this reason, the control section 15 changes the rotation speed of the drum rotation motor 115, which is a stepping motor, that is, the amount of rotation per unit time, to a value corresponding to the cumulative winding length so that the shorter the cumulative winding length corresponding to the outer diameter of the drum storage section 161 is, the faster the cumulative winding length becomes, and the longer the cumulative winding length becomes, the slower the cumulative winding length becomes. Therefore, the control section 15 stores the cumulative winding length in the memory section 16 and manages it. However, if the cumulative winding length cannot be accurately determined, the speed of the connecting transport path 157 and the drum storage section 161 may not match, which may result in transport problems (jams).

In addition, when controlling the rotation speed of the drum rotation motor 115, that is, the amount of rotation per unit time, if the cumulative winding length is short, the weight of the drum storage section 161 is light, and if the cumulative winding length is long, the weight of the drum storage section 161 is heavy, and the load changes. For this reason, it is necessary to drive the drum rotation motor 115 appropriately according to the size of the load. Specifically, when the load is large, the drum rotation motor 115 is driven at a low speed, and when the load is small, the drum rotation motor 115 is driven at a high speed, and so on, so that the drive pattern is switched. If the drive pattern is not appropriately selected for the load, there is a risk of inducing a step-out phenomenon in the drum rotation motor 115. For this reason, the control unit 15 stores and manages the cumulative winding length in the memory unit 16. This makes it possible to drive the drum 31 with an appropriate drive pattern according to the load currently applied to the drum rotation motor. In other words, when rotating the drum 31, the control unit 15 determines the current load on the drum rotation motor 115 by reading the above-mentioned accumulated winding length from the memory unit 16 and driving the drum rotation motor 115 with a drive pattern according to the current accumulated winding length.

That is, the load on the rotational drive of the drum 31 is not uniform, but increases or decreases depending on the size and number of banknotes S stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18. For this reason, the control unit 15 needs to appropriately drive the drum rotation motor 115, which is a stepping motor that is the drive source of the drum 31, without causing loss of synchronism, using a control method (drive pattern) according to the load determined for each size and number of stored banknotes S. For this reason, in the banknote processing device 10 equipped with the drum-type storage and payout device 18, in order to grasp the amount of banknotes S stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18, the memory unit 16 stores the cumulative value of the length of the stored banknotes S (cumulative winding length) together with the number of stored notes. In the banknote processing device 10 equipped with multiple drum-type storage and payout devices 18, the control unit 15 stores the cumulative value of the length of the stored banknotes S (cumulative winding length) together with the number of stored notes for each drum-type storage and payout device 18, and uses it to manage the number of stored notes and control the drum rotational drive. This makes it possible to appropriately drive the drum rotation motor 115, which is the drive source for the drum 31, according to the cumulative winding length.

As described above, the control unit 15 controls the drum rotation motor 115, i.e., the drum 31, according to the accumulated winding length stored in the memory unit 16. For this reason, if the accumulated winding length cannot be properly grasped, it may not be possible to properly control the rotation of the drum rotation motor 115, i.e., the drum 31, which may cause malfunctions and lead to reduced processing efficiency. In other words, if the accumulated winding length that is supposed to be stored and managed in the memory unit 16 differs from the actual accumulated winding length, this may cause malfunctions and lead to reduced processing efficiency.

In contrast, in the banknote processing device 10, the accumulated winding length stored in the memory unit 16 is calculated based on the length L2 of the banknote S correctly grasped by using the recognition unit 17 as described above, so that the accumulated winding length can be grasped properly. In other words, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the accumulated winding length stored in the memory unit 16. Therefore, it is possible to drive the drum 31 at an appropriate rotation speed, and it is possible to suppress or prevent the occurrence of the above-mentioned problems.
The rotation speed of the drum 31 controlled in accordance with the accumulated winding length stored in the memory unit 16 corresponds to the "reference speed" in the above-mentioned calculation formula (1).

The cumulative winding length stored in the memory unit 16 changes with the rotation of the drum 31 (storage and dispensing of banknotes S from the drum 31). Therefore, the control unit 15 updates the cumulative winding length stored in the memory unit 16 to the latest data each time a banknote S is stored in the drum-type storage and dispensing device 18 or dispensed from the drum-type storage and dispensing device 18. Specifically, during the storage or dispensing operation of banknotes S by the drum-type storage and dispensing device 18, the control unit 15 updates the cumulative winding length to the latest data by adding the pitch of one banknote S, which is the sum of the length L2 of the preceding banknote S calculated by the banknote length detection means 201 and the interval D between the preceding banknote S and the following banknote S detected by the banknote interval detection means 202, to the cumulative winding length stored in the memory unit 16. This allows the rotation of the drum 31 to be appropriately controlled based on the latest cumulative winding length.

According to the banknote processing device 10 of this embodiment described above, the length L2 of the banknote S along the storage/feeding direction is calculated based on the angular coordinate position (see FIG. 3) of the banknote S output from the recognition unit 17, so that the length L2 of the banknote S can be correctly determined regardless of the posture of the banknote S. As a result, even if the banknote S is wound around the drum 31 with the pitch of one banknote S reduced, it is possible to prevent the following banknote S from colliding with the preceding banknote S. Therefore, it is possible to prevent poor storage of banknotes in the drum. This point will be described below with reference to FIG. 3.

For example, information on the length of the banknote S can be obtained using two count sensors 181 (see FIG. 10) arranged side by side in the passage width direction (left and right direction of the device). In this case, the control unit 15 obtains the length L1 of the banknote S based on the time (banknote detection time) at which a single banknote S is detected by the two count sensors 181 when the single banknote S passes through the two count sensors 181 in its transport direction (x-axis direction) and the transport speed of the banknote S.

However, when the banknote S is transported in a slanted position in the transport passage 20, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the banknote detection time measured by the count sensor 181 may be shorter than the passing time (time to pass through the count sensor 181) of the banknote S corresponding to the actual length L2 of the banknote S in the transport direction. That is, the length L1 of the banknote S acquired based on the banknote detection time by the count sensor 181 may be shorter than the actual length L2 of the banknote S. In this case, the drum 31 may be driven at a rotation speed slower than the rotation speed actually required, or the data for driving control of the drum 31 (e.g., the cumulative winding length) stored in the memory unit 16 may be inappropriate. If such a malfunction occurs, an abnormality may occur in which the following banknote S collides with the preceding banknote S (banknote S collision jam error) when the banknote S is stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18, resulting in storage failure.

In contrast, in this embodiment, the length L2 of the banknote S can be correctly determined based on the angular coordinate position of the banknote S, regardless of the posture of the banknote S. This allows the drum 31 to be driven at an appropriate rotational speed, and appropriate data for driving and controlling the drum 31 (e.g., cumulative winding length) can be stored in the memory unit 16. This makes it possible to suppress or prevent the occurrence of a collision jam error of the banknote S even if the banknote S is wound around the drum 31 with the pitch of one banknote S packed tight when storing the banknote S in the drum-type storing and paying out device 18.

In addition, according to the banknote processing device 10 of this embodiment, the control unit 15 controls the rotation speed of the drum 31 during the storage operation of banknotes S by the drum-type storing and paying out device 18 based on the length L2 of the preceding banknote S calculated by the banknote length detection means 201 and the interval D between the preceding banknote S and the following banknote S detected by the banknote interval detection means 202. Specifically, the control unit 15 calculates the rotation speed (winding speed) of the drum 31 using the above-mentioned calculation formulas (1) to (3). This makes it possible to reliably wind the banknotes S onto the drum 31 while keeping the interval between the banknotes S as small as possible and preventing the following banknote S from colliding with the preceding banknote S.

In addition, according to the banknote processing device 10 of this embodiment, the cumulative winding length stored in the memory unit 16 is calculated based on the length L2 of the banknote S correctly identified by using the recognition unit 17, so the accuracy of the cumulative winding length can be improved. This allows the drum 31 to be driven at an appropriate rotation speed. As a result, it is possible to reduce the intervals between the banknotes S stored in the drum 31.

The present invention has been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

In the present invention, for example, when the interval D of the banknotes S detected by the banknote interval detection means 202 is equal to or less than a predetermined value (e.g., 61 mm), the control unit 15 may control the rotation speed of the drum 31 based on the length L2 of the preceding banknote S calculated by the banknote length detection means 201 and a uniform specified value (e.g., 5 mm) that is preset as the interval between the preceding banknote S and the following banknote S in the storage operation of the drum-type storage and payout device 18. Also, when the interval D of the banknotes S detected by the banknote interval detection means 202 exceeds a predetermined value, the control unit 15 may control the rotation speed of the drum 31 based on the length L2 of the preceding banknote S calculated by the banknote length detection means 201 and the interval D between the preceding banknote S and the following banknote S detected by the banknote interval detection means 202 in the storage operation of the banknotes S in the drum-type storage and payout device 18.

Here, when banknotes S are continuously transported from the same location (e.g., deposit section 11) to the same drum-type storage and payout device 18, the spacing D between banknotes S is likely to be equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the variation in spacing D between banknotes S is small. Therefore, when spacing D between banknotes S is equal to or less than a predetermined value, there is no problem in using a uniform specified value as the spacing between banknotes S in controlling the rotation of the drum 31.

On the other hand, when banknotes S are distributed and transported from the same location (e.g., drum-type storage and dispensing device 18(A)) to multiple locations (e.g., multiple drum-type storage and dispensing devices 18(B)), the interval D between banknotes S transported to a specific drum-type storage and dispensing device 18(B) is likely to exceed a specific value. Furthermore, banknotes S are transported intermittently toward a specific drum-type storage and dispensing device 18(B), and the interval D between banknotes S transported to a specific drum-type storage and dispensing device 18(B) is likely to vary greatly. For this reason, when the interval D between banknotes S exceeds the specific value, it is not preferable to use a uniform specified value as the interval between banknotes S in controlling the rotation of the drum 31.

In the above-described configuration, when the distance D between the front and rear banknotes S is within a predetermined value (i.e., the distance D between the banknotes S is clogged), and the banknotes S are continuously transported and stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18, the length L2 of the banknotes S is calculated by the banknote length detection means 201, so accurate length information (actual measurement value) is used, and a uniform specified value is used for the distance between the banknotes S, thereby shortening the processing time in the control unit 15 when controlling the rotation speed of the drum 31. By shortening the processing time, it becomes possible to correctly control the rotation of the drum 31 even if the transport speed of the banknotes S increases.

On the other hand, when the distance D between the front and rear banknotes S exceeds a predetermined value (i.e., the distance D between the banknotes S is wide), and the banknotes S are continuously transported and stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18, the length of the banknotes S is calculated by the banknote length detection means 201 to use accurate length information (actual measurement value), and the actual measurement value detected by the banknote distance detection means 202 is used for the distance D between the banknotes S, so that an accurate pitch for one banknote S can be obtained. This makes it possible to drive the drum 31 at an appropriate rotation speed. In particular, even if the distance between the banknotes S varies due to the banknotes S being transported intermittently toward the drum-type storage and payout device 18, the drum 31 can be driven at an appropriate rotation speed.

In the present invention, the method by which the control unit 15 updates the cumulative winding length stored in the memory unit 16 to the latest data each time a banknote S is stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18 is not limited to the method described in the above embodiment.
In the present invention, for example, when the spacing D of banknotes S detected by the banknote spacing detection means 202 is less than a predetermined value (e.g., 61 mm), the control unit 15 may update the accumulated winding length to the latest data by adding the pitch of one banknote S, which is the sum of the length L2 of the preceding banknote S calculated by the banknote length detection means 201 and a uniform specified value (e.g., 5 mm) that is previously set as the spacing between the preceding banknote S and the following banknote S, to the accumulated winding length stored in the memory unit 16 during the storage operation of banknotes S by the drum-type storage and payout device 18. Furthermore, as described in the above embodiment, when the spacing D of banknotes S detected by the banknote spacing detection means 202 exceeds a predetermined value, the control unit 15 may update the accumulated winding length to the latest data by adding the pitch of one banknote S, which is the sum of the length L2 of the preceding banknote S calculated by the banknote length detection means 201 and the spacing D between the preceding and following banknotes S detected by the banknote spacing detection means 202, to the accumulated winding length stored in the memory unit 16 during the storage operation of banknotes S by the drum-type storage and dispensing device 18.

In the above-described method, when the distance D between adjacent banknotes S is within a predetermined value (i.e., the distance D between banknotes S is clogged), banknotes S are continuously transported and stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18, the length L2 of the banknotes S is calculated by the banknote length detection means 201, so accurate length information (actual measurement value) is used, and a uniform specified value is used for the distance between banknotes S, thereby shortening the processing time in the control unit 15 when updating the data on the cumulative winding length. By shortening the processing time, it becomes possible to correctly control the rotation of the drum 31 even if the transport speed of the banknotes S increases.

On the other hand, when the distance D between the front and rear banknotes S exceeds a predetermined value (i.e., the distance D between the banknotes S is wide), and the banknotes S are continuously transported and stored in the drum-type storage and payout device 18, the length L2 of the banknotes S is calculated by the banknote length detection means 201 to use accurate length information (actual measurement value), and for the distance D between the banknotes S, the actual measurement value detected by the banknote distance detection means 202 is used, thereby making it possible to obtain a more accurate pitch for one banknote S. This further improves the accuracy of the cumulative winding length stored in the memory unit 16, making it possible to drive the drum 31 at a more appropriate rotation speed.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Banknote processing device 15 Control unit 16 Memory unit 17 Recognition unit 18 Drum-type storing and dispensing device 20 Transport path 30 Tape 31 Drum 181 Count sensor (passage sensor)
201 Banknote length detection means (paper sheet length detection means)
202 Banknote interval detection means (paper sheet interval detection means)
301: Full surface information acquisition sensor 302: Corner coordinate position indexing means S: Banknote (paper sheet)

Claims (5)

a conveying path along which paper sheets are conveyed;
a recognition unit for identifying paper sheets being transported through the transport path;
a drum-type storing and paying out device that stores the paper sheets conveyed through the conveying path by wrapping the paper sheets one by one in a tape around a drum that is a rotating body, and pays out the paper sheets one by one to the conveying path;
a paper sheet length detection means for detecting the length of the paper sheet along the storing and paying out direction of the paper sheet with respect to the drum type storing and paying out device,
the recognition unit has an entire surface information acquisition sensor that acquires information of an entire surface of the paper sheet transported through the transport path, and outputs an angular coordinate position of the paper sheet based on the acquired information of the entire surface of the paper sheet;
the paper sheet length detection means calculates the length of the paper sheet along the storing and paying out direction based on the angular coordinate position during a storing operation of the paper sheet by the drum type storing and paying out device,
a passage sensor provided in the conveying passage and configured to detect the passage of paper sheets conveyed along the conveying passage toward the drum-type storing and paying out device;
a sheet interval detection means for detecting an interval between sheets continuously conveyed on the conveying path based on detection information output from the passing sensor;
A control unit that controls the operation of the drum type storing and dispensing device,
The control unit controls the rotation speed of the drum during the storage operation of the drum-type storage and payout device for storing paper sheets based on the length of the preceding paper sheet calculated by the paper sheet length detection means and the interval between the preceding and following paper sheets detected by the paper sheet interval detection means . a conveying path along which paper sheets are conveyed;
a recognition unit for identifying paper sheets being transported through the transport path;
a drum-type storing and paying out device that stores the paper sheets conveyed through the conveying path by wrapping the paper sheets one by one in a tape around a drum that is a rotating body, and pays out the paper sheets one by one to the conveying path;
a paper sheet length detection means for detecting the length of the paper sheet along the storing and paying out direction of the paper sheet with respect to the drum type storing and paying out device,
the recognition unit has an entire surface information acquisition sensor that acquires information of an entire surface of the paper sheet transported through the transport path, and outputs an angular coordinate position of the paper sheet based on the acquired information of the entire surface of the paper sheet;
the paper sheet length detection means calculates the length of the paper sheet along the storing and paying out direction based on the angular coordinate position during a storing operation of the paper sheet by the drum type storing and paying out device,
a passage sensor provided in the conveying passage and configured to detect the passage of paper sheets conveyed along the conveying passage toward the drum-type storing and paying out device;
a sheet interval detection means for detecting an interval between sheets continuously conveyed on the conveying path based on detection information output from the passing sensor;
A control unit that controls the operation of the drum type storing and dispensing device,
When the interval between the paper sheets detected by the paper sheet interval detection means is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the control unit controls the rotation speed of the drum during the paper sheet storage operation by the drum-type storing and paying out device based on the length of the preceding paper sheet calculated by the paper sheet length detection means and a uniform specified value that is preset as the interval between the preceding paper sheet and a succeeding paper sheet,
When the interval between the paper sheets detected by the paper sheet interval detection means exceeds the predetermined value, the control unit controls the rotation speed of the drum during the paper sheet storage operation by the drum-type storage and payout device based on the length of the preceding paper sheet calculated by the paper sheet length detection means and the interval between the preceding and following paper sheets detected by the paper sheet interval detection means . A process in which paper sheets are successively stored in the drum type storing and paying out device, in which a preceding paper sheet is stored in the drum type storing and paying out device, and then a succeeding paper sheet is stored in the drum type storing and paying out device,
When the passing time of one sheet of paper, which is calculated by adding the length of the preceding sheet of paper calculated by the sheet length detection means to the interval between the preceding sheet of paper and the succeeding sheet of paper detected by the sheet interval detection means, and the conveying speed of the sheet of paper in the conveying path, exceeds a predetermined reference value,
The paper sheet processing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit drives the drum to reduce the spacing between the paper sheets stored in the drum by switching the rotational speed of the drum to a second rotational speed slower than the first rotational speed when the preceding paper sheet was stored. A storage unit stores a cumulative winding length of the paper sheets stored in the drum-type storing and paying out device, the cumulative length being the cumulative total of the length of the paper sheets along the storing and paying out direction and the intervals between the paper sheets,
the accumulated winding length stored in the memory unit is a cumulative total of the length of the paper sheet calculated by the paper sheet length detection means and the interval between the paper sheets detected by the paper sheet interval detection means,
The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls a rotation speed of the drum based on the accumulated winding length stored in the memory unit. The control unit is
Each time a sheet is stored in the drum type storing and paying out device, the cumulative winding length stored in the memory unit is updated to the latest data,
When the interval between the paper sheets detected by the paper sheet interval detection means is equal to or less than a predetermined value, in the paper sheet storage operation by the drum-type storing and paying out device, the cumulative winding length stored in the memory unit is updated to the latest data by adding the pitch of one sheet of paper, which is the sum of the length of the preceding paper sheet calculated by the paper sheet length detection means and a uniform specified value that is preset as the interval between the preceding paper sheet and the following paper sheet,
The paper sheet processing device according to claim 4, characterized in that when the interval between the paper sheets exceeds a predetermined value, in the paper sheet storage operation by the drum-type storage and payout device, the cumulative winding length stored in the memory unit is updated to the latest data by adding the pitch of one paper sheet, which is the sum of the length of the preceding paper sheet calculated by the paper sheet length detection means and the interval between the preceding and following paper sheets detected by the paper sheet interval detection means, to the cumulative winding length stored in the memory unit .

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