JP7634251B2 - Banknote collection safe - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a banknote collection safe.

Banknote collection safes are known that are placed at the end of an island in an amusement parlor, such as a pachinko parlor or a pachislot (a pachinko-type slot machine), and that collect banknotes transported by a banknote transport device (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-213954 A

Typically, a banknote collection safe is provided with a banknote transport path between a banknote insertion port on the most upstream side and a banknote delivery port on the most downstream side through which the banknotes are delivered to a banknote storage unit.
In order to make the banknote collection safe compact, the banknote transport path is generally formed in a roughly zigzag shape, and the banknotes are transported while changing direction along the roughly zigzag transport path.
In addition, the banknote transport path is configured so that the straight-line transport path and the reversing transport path can both be opened in order to perform internal maintenance, and each transport path is provided with a sensor that detects whether it is open or closed.
Only when the sensors of the respective transport paths detect that all of the transport paths are closed, the banknote recovery safe and the banknote transport paths are controlled to be operable.
However, conventional banknote collection safes have sensors on each transport path, which results in a large number of sensors, wiring, wiring processes, number of ports used on the control side, number of processes on the control side, etc., and there is a demand for a banknote collection safe that can reliably detect the open/closed state while reducing the number of sensors.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a banknote recovery unit in an openable/closable box, the banknote recovery unit comprising: a banknote transport path section including a banknote processing path section and a plurality of sub-path sections continuing from the banknote processing path section in a range from a banknote insertion port on an upstream side to a banknote outlet on a downstream side; a sensor for detecting an operational state of banknote transport in the banknote transport path section; and a banknote storage section detachably provided for the banknote transport path section, the banknote processing path section of the banknote transport path section and the plurality of sub-path sections continuing from the banknote processing path section each including a drive section and an opening/closing section, the banknote storage section being capable of being positioned only when the opening/closing section of the banknote processing path section is closed, The opening/closing section of the path section is supported so as to be freely rotatable on a plane parallel to the banknotes to be transported and by a support shaft in a direction perpendicular to the banknote transport direction, the plurality of sub-passage sections are arranged to open in the same rotation direction and close in the same other rotation direction, the sensor is arranged at a position to detect a closed state of an opening/closing section of a sub-passage section which outputs banknotes to the banknote storage section among the plurality of sub-passage sections when the opening/closing sections of the plurality of sub-passage sections are closed and all of the opening/closing sections of the plurality of sub-passage sections are in a closed position, and the sensor detects the closed or open state of an opening/closing section of a sub-passage section which outputs banknotes to the banknote storage section among the plurality of sub-passage sections.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a banknote transport device according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged top view of the banknote transport device, with a portion cut away. 2A is an enlarged perspective view of a piece member, FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a main portion of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2C is an enlarged top view of a main portion showing a curved state of the annular body 1 in the curved surface range of the banknote transport device. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a straight range and a curved range of an annular body. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the downstream end side of the banknote transport device. 13A and 13B are top views showing the direction change of the ring-shaped body, where (a) shows a state in which the banknote transport direction in the straight-line range is the same as the discharge direction of the banknote discharge port, and (b) and (c) show a state in which the banknote transport direction in the straight-line range is inclined with respect to the discharge direction of the banknote discharge port. FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the installation state of the inter-unit machine. 1A shows a banknote guiding device, FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the banknote guiding device, and FIG. 1C is a perspective view showing a tip member, an intermediate member and a base member of the banknote guiding device. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the installation state of the inter-machine connection device. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the installation state of the inter-machine connection device. 8A is a cross-sectional view taken along line (12)-(12) in FIG. 8, (b) is a perspective view of a connector, and (c) is an enlarged view of a main portion of (a). 1A is a cross-sectional view of the banknote transport device with the inter-machine connection device removed, FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the connecting body, and FIG. 1C is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 1 is a schematic top view showing a closed state of a bill collection unit in the bill collection safe. FIG. 1 is a schematic top view showing a state in which a bill collection unit in a bill collection safe is open; FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the banknote recovery unit.

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

[Overall composition]
As shown in FIG. 1, an island 100 of an amusement parlor for pachinko, pachislot, etc. is equipped with a banknote transport device A, a banknote recovery safe B, a machine-interval device C, a gaming machine D, a machine-interval device connection device E, etc., and further, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, is equipped with a banknote guide device 4 and a connection device F.
Two rows are provided back to back on one island 100, in which a plurality of inter-machine machines C and game machines D are alternately arranged, and a bill transport device A is provided along the rows between the two rows.
The banknotes inserted into the inter-machine C are sent to a banknote transport device A, which transports them to a banknote recovery safe B provided on an end plate 101 constituting the downstream end of the island 100. In the banknote recovery safe B to which the banknotes have been transported, the banknotes are recovered while being processed, identified, etc.
The machine C here refers to both one that is configured with a built-in banknote processing device that determines the authenticity of inserted banknotes, and one that is configured with an external banknote processing device connected.
In this specification, the inter-machine spacing machine C, which will be described using various figures such as Figure 7 in which the inter-machine spacing machine C is illustrated, is configured by connecting an external banknote processing device, and each of the figures in which the inter-machine spacing machine C is illustrated shows the banknote processing device portion connected to the inter-machine spacing machine C.

[Configuration of the banknote transport device]
As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the banknote transport device A is equipped with a ring-shaped body 1 wound around a driven rotor (first rotor) a and a driving rotor (second rotor) b, which are supported on the upstream and downstream sides of the transport direction, respectively, so as to be able to rotate endlessly, and a plurality of idle rollers 102.
The ring-shaped body 1 has a plurality of piece members 1a connected along the circumferential direction, and adjacent piece members 1a in the circumferential direction are connected by support shafts 1b having axes parallel to the axes of the rotating bodies a and b, and are arranged so that the banknote support surfaces 10a of the piece members 1a are flush within the linear range of the endless rotation range of the ring-shaped body 1.
As shown in Figure 1, when the island 100 needs to be bent halfway due to the shape, area, etc. of the game center, the piece member 1a can be rotated around the support shaft 1b to curve the ring-shaped body 1 as shown in Figures 3(c) and 4.
This allows the banknote transport device A to be curved in accordance with the shape of the island 100.

The piece member 1a is made of a synthetic resin material, and as shown in FIG. 3, has an extension 1c extending from one end 11a in the circumferential direction.
The extension portion 1c is elastic and thinner than the thickness of the piece member, has a second banknote support surface 10c that is flush with the banknote support surface 10a, and an end portion 11c of the extension portion 1c faces close to the other circumferential end portion 12a of the adjacent piece member 1a in the straight-line range.
The idle roller 102 comes into contact with the banknote support surface 10a and the second banknote support surface 10c so as to be pressed by the repulsive force of a spring (not shown), thereby forming the banknote transport unit 10 which sandwiches and transports the banknote 200.

The other end 12a of the piece member 1a has an inclined surface 12b formed so as to be inclined from the one end 11a side of the bill supporting surface 10a toward the other end 12a in the thickness direction.
An end portion 11c of the extension portion 1c has an inclined surface 12c formed so as to be inclined from the second banknote supporting surface 10c side toward the piece member 1a side in the thickness direction.
As shown in FIG. 3B and FIG. 4, the inclined surfaces 12b, 12c face each other at substantially the same angle in the straight-movement range.
In addition, in the curved surface range shown in Figures 3(b) and 4, a force is applied in a direction in which the end 11c of the extension portion 1c and the other end 12a of the piece member 1a approach each other, but this force is absorbed by the fact that, as shown in Figure 3(c), the inclined surface 12c is guided by the inclined surface 12b and moves toward the banknote support surface 10a, and the extension portion 1c elastically deforms as the inclined surface 12c moves.

In other words, in the curved area, the force in the direction in which the piece members 1a of the annular body 1 approach each other in the curved area can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the extension portion 1c and the movement of the extension portion 1c so as to ride up onto the banknote support surface 1a.
This allows the banknote support surface 10a and the second banknote support surface 10c to form a flat surface with no gaps in the straight-line range, and the banknote 200 can be conveyed by being sandwiched between this flat surface and the idle roller 102.
Therefore, since banknotes can be transported without deforming them, damage to the banknotes during transport or transport problems due to slipping of the banknotes can be prevented, and a banknote transport device A can be configured that can transport banknotes stably without damaging them.
In the curved area, as shown in Figure 3 (c), the extension portion 1c elastically deforms and rides up onto the banknote support surface 10a, creating a step; however, since the curved area is not a long distance, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the adverse effect on banknote transport is extremely small.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a banknote delivery section 3 having a banknote delivery opening 3a is provided downstream of the banknote transport device A.
The bill delivery section 3 is fixed to an end plate 101 of the island 100, and two pivot support plates 3b are fixed thereto, one above the other.
Two rotary support plates 3c are fixed to the banknote transport unit 10, one above the other, and these rotary shaft support plates 3c are arranged so as to sandwich the shaft support plate 3b from above and below.
The rotation shaft b1 of the driving rotor b passes through the shaft support plate 3b and the rotation support plate 3c.
The rotation shaft b1 rotatably supports the rotation support plate 3c, and the banknote transport unit 10 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotation support plate 3c.
A rotation limiting portion 3d is provided between the support plate 3b and the rotation support plate 3c to limit the rotation of the rotation support plate 3c.
The rotation limiting portion 3d is composed of a long hole 30d that is curved around the rotation axis b1 and a screw 31d that passes through the long hole 30d and is screwed into the support plate 3d. By loosening the screw 31d, the rotation support plate 3c can be rotated within the range of the long hole 30d, and by tightening the screw 31d, the rotation support plate 3c can be fixed.

In other words, even if the banknote dispensing direction becomes oblique to the banknote dispensing outlet 3a due to the shape of the amusement park or improper installation of the island 100, the banknote dispensing direction can be made straight to the banknote dispensing outlet 3a, as in the state shown in Figure 6(a), by rotating the rotating support plate 3c as shown in Figure 6(b) and (c).
Therefore, it is possible to prevent failure to insert banknotes and to prevent failure to transport the banknotes in the banknote transport device caused by such failure to insert banknotes, thereby making it possible to configure a banknote transport device A that can stably insert banknotes into the banknote insertion port.

[Configuration of the banknote guide device]
As shown in Figures 9(a) to (c), the banknote guiding device 4 comprises a base member 4a fixed to the back surface C1 of the inter-unit unit C, a tip member 4b fixed to the banknote taking-in device 20 arranged in the banknote transport device A, and a plurality of intermediate members 4c interposed between the base member 4a and the tip member 4b.
The base member 4a, the tip member 4b and the intermediate member 4c are formed into a cylindrical shape from an elastically deformable synthetic resin material, and the banknotes pass through the inside of the cylindrical shape.

As shown in FIG. 9C, a fitting protrusion 40a is provided on the front of the base member 4a so as to fit into a fitting recess 40c provided on the rear of the intermediate member 4c.
The side of the base member 4a is provided with an engagement protrusion 41a which engages with an engagement hole 41c formed in the side of the intermediate member 4c, and a positioning plate 42a which engages with a positioning recess 42c recessed forward from the rear end of the intermediate member 4c.
To attach the intermediate member 4c to the base member 4a, the fitting recess 40c of the intermediate member 4c is fitted into the fitting protrusion 40a from the front of the base member 4a.
At this time, by fitting the positioning recess 42c into the positioning plate 42a, the fitting recess 40c is properly fitted into the fitting protrusion 40a and the fitting hole 41c is fitted into the fitting protrusion 41a, thereby fixing the intermediate member 4c to the base member 4a.

As shown in Figure 9 (c), an insertion convex portion 40b that is inserted into the banknote feeding device 20 is protruded at the front of the tip member 4b, and an engagement recess 41b into which an engagement convex portion 43c that is protruded at the front of the intermediate member 4c is engaged is provided at the rear of the tip member 4b.
At the top and bottom of the tip member 4b, there are formed shaft support holes 42b in which fitting shafts 44c protruding from the top and bottom of the intermediate member 4c are rotatably supported.
To attach the intermediate member 4c to such a tip member 4b, the fitting protrusion 43c of the intermediate member 4c is fitted into the fitting recess 41b from the rear of the tip member 4b.
At this time, the fitting shaft 44c of the intermediate member 4c is fitted into the shaft support hole 42b of the tip member 4b, so that the intermediate member 4c is axially supported so as to be freely rotatable relative to the tip member 4b.
The tip member 4b is provided with a positioning recess 43b and a fitting hole 44b having the same configuration as the positioning recess 42c and the fitting hole 41c of the intermediate member 4c, so that the tip member 4b can be directly attached to the base member 4a.

As shown in FIG. 9C, in addition to the aforementioned fitting recess 40c, fitting hole 41c, positioning recess 42c, fitting protrusion 43c, and fitting shaft 44c, the intermediate member 4c is provided with fitting holes 45c above and below the fitting recess 40c.
The intermediate members 4c are arranged such that the fitting convex portion 43c of one intermediate member 4c fits into the fitting concave portion 40c of the other intermediate member 4c.
At this time, the fitting shafts 44c provided above and below the fitting protrusions 43c are fitted into the fitting holes 45c, so that the intermediate members 4c are connected to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other.
The number of intermediate members 4c is increased or decreased depending on the distance between the inter-unit unit C and the banknote feeder 20.

As shown in Figure 7, when the inter-machine unit C is perpendicular to the conveying direction of the banknote conveying section 10 (the right side in Figure 7), this type of banknote guide device 4 can connect intermediate members 4c in a straight line in the perpendicular direction from the base member 4a to the tip member 4b, the number of which corresponds to the distance between the inter-machine unit C and the banknote taking-in device 20.
Furthermore, when the inter-machine C intersects diagonally with the conveying direction of the banknote conveying unit 10 (the left side in Figure 7), as shown in Figure 9 (a), the intermediate member 4c is rotated and bent along the diagonally intersecting direction while being connected, so that the tip member 4b can be inserted straight into the banknote taking-in device 20 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.
Furthermore, even if the position of the inter-machine C is misaligned parallel to the conveying direction of the banknote conveying unit 10 relative to the banknote taking-in device 20, the intermediate member 4c can be rotated and bent in a direction that absorbs the misalignment while being connected, so that the tip member 4b can be inserted straight into the banknote taking-in device 20 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[Configuration of the inter-machine connection device]
The inter-machine connection device E includes a connection device F as shown in FIGS.
The connecting device F is for attaching the inter-unit unit C to the bill transport device A.

[Configuration of connected device]
As shown in Figures 7, 8 and 10 to 13, the connection device F includes a connector 5 that connects the inter-machine C and the banknote transport device A, a guide groove 6 provided in the banknote transport device A, and a second connector 7 interposed between the inter-machine C and the banknote taking-in device 20.

As shown in Figures 7, 8, and 11 to 13, the connector 5 comprises a connector main body 5a fixed to the back surface C1 of the inter-machine C, a connecting body 5b connected to the connector main body 5a so as to be able to slide freely between the banknote transport device A and the inter-machine C, and a hook-up body 5c fastened to a sliding body 50b provided on the connecting body 5b.
The connector main body 5a and the connecting body 5b are connected and fixed by tightening a screw 51a from the connecting body 5b so that it passes through a long hole 50a opened in the connector main body 5a along the longitudinal direction of the connector main body 5a, and by loosening the screw 51a, the connecting body 5b is connected so that it can slide within the range of the long hole 50a.
That is, the length of the connector 5 can be adjusted by sliding the connector 5b according to the distance between the inter-machine C and the guide groove 6.

As shown in Figs. 7, 8, 12(a) and 12(c), and 13(a) and 13(c), the guide groove 6 is provided on the upper surface of the banknote transport unit 10 over the entire length in the transport direction.
The guide groove 6 is provided with its groove direction parallel to the conveying direction and return direction of the banknote conveying device A, and a hooking body 6a is provided within the guide groove 6 with which the hooked body 5c hooks within the guide groove 6.
The hooks 6a are provided on each of the inner walls 60a, 60a of the guide groove 6, and protrude toward the opposing inner walls 60a, 60a so that the tip ends 60 of the hooks 6a face each other, and also protrude to ensure a groove opening portion 60b between the opposing tip ends 60.

As shown in Figures 12(a) and 12(c) and Figures 13(a) and 13(c), the sliding body 50b is placed on the upper end of the hooking body 6a of the guide groove 6, and the hooked body 50c is arranged below the hooking body 6a so as to sandwich the hooking body 6a between the sliding body 50b and the hooked body 50b.
The sliding body 50b and the hooked body 5c are fastened to the guide groove 6 by tightening a screw (fastening body) 5d from above the sliding body 50b, and are fixed to the guide groove 6. By loosening the screw, the sliding body 50b and the hooked body 5c can slide freely relative to the guide groove 6, and this sliding allows the connector 5 to slide.
Furthermore, by loosening the screw 5d, the sliding body 50b becomes rotatable about the axis of the screw 5d, and the entire connector 5 can be rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the sliding body 50b.
That is, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the connector 5 can be slid to match the arrangement position of the inter-machine C, and can be fixed at a predetermined position by tightening the screw 5d.
In addition, when the inter-machine C intersects obliquely with the conveying direction of the banknote conveying unit 10, the angle of the connector 5 can be adjusted to match the angle of the inter-machine C by rotating the connector 5 to a specified angle.

As shown in Figures 12(b) (c) and 13(b) (c), a guide plate 52 is provided on the slide body 50b so as to face the outer wall portions 61a, 61a of the guide groove 6, and a rotation space S for the slide body 50b is provided between the guide plate 52 and the outer wall portions 61a, 61a of the guide groove 6.
The slide body 50 b rotates within a range in which the guide plate 52 contacts the outer walls 61 a, 61 a of the guide groove 6 .

The hooked body 5c is adapted to rotate by rotating the screw 5d, and as shown in Figures 12(b) and 12(c) and 13(b) and 13(c), is formed into an approximately rectangular shape whose longitudinal width is wider than the width of the groove opening portion 60b and whose lateral width is less than the width of the groove opening portion 60b.
In other words, when the longitudinal direction of the hooked body 5c intersects with the groove opening portion 60b in the width direction (see Figures 12(b) and 12(c)), it is prevented from slipping out of the guide groove 6, and when the longitudinal direction of the hooked body 5c is aligned with the groove direction of the groove opening portion 60b (see Figures 13(b) and 13(c)), it can be removed from and fitted into the guide groove 6.

As shown in Figures 12(b) (c) and 13(b) (c), the hooked body 5c is formed with an abutment portion 50 that abuts against the inner walls 60a, 60a of the guide wall 6 to prevent rotation of the hooked body 5b when the hooked body 5b rotates in the direction of tightening the screw 5d, and a non-abutment portion 51 that avoids abutment against the inner walls 60a, 60a of the guide wall 6 when the hooked body 5b rotates in the direction of loosening the screw 5d.
The contact portion 50 is a corner portion located on one diagonal of the hooked body 5c, and the non-contact portion 51 is a corner portion located on the other diagonal formed in an arc shape.
That is, when the screw 5d is tightened, the contact portion 50 comes into contact with the inner walls 60a, 60a of the guide wall 6, thereby preventing rotation, and thus the screw 5d can be tightened.
Furthermore, when the screw 5d is rotated in the direction of loosening, the non-contact portion 51 is prevented from contacting the inner walls 60a, 60a of the guide wall 6, so that the hooked body 5c can be rotated by rotating the screw 5d.

As shown in Figures 7, 8, 10 and 11, the second connector 7 comprises a connector main body 7a which is fixed to the inter-machine unit C, and a connector 7b which is connected to the connector main body 7a and attached to the banknote transport device A side.
The connector main body 7a is integrally formed with a fixed portion 70a which is fixed facing the back surface C1 of the inter-machine C which faces the banknote transport device A, and a support portion 71a which connects the connector 7b so as to be able to slide freely between the banknote transport device A and the inter-machine C, so as to present an L-shape when viewed from above.
In addition, the boundary portion 72a between the fixed portion 70a and the support portion 71a has flexibility and can be bent freely, so that when the inter-machine C intersects obliquely with the conveying direction of the banknote conveying unit 10, the second connector 7 can be attached to match the angle of the inter-machine C by bending the boundary portion 72a.
Specifically, the direction of the support portion 71a is set perpendicular to the conveying direction of the banknote conveying unit 10, and while maintaining this direction, the boundary portion 72a is bent while the fixing portion 70a is fixed to the back surface C1 of the inter-machine C, thereby allowing the second connector 7 to be attached to the banknote conveying device A.

The support part 71a and the connector 7b are connected and fixed to the support part 71a by tightening a screw 75a so that it passes through a long hole 74a opened in the support part 71a in the direction toward the banknote transport device A and into the connector 7b. By loosening the screw 75a, the connector 7b is connected so that it can slide within the range of the long hole 74a.

Even if the position of the inter-machine C is shifted due to poor construction of the island 100 or errors in the installation position of the equipment, this type of connection device F can absorb the shift in the position of the inter-machine C by sliding, rotating, and extending and contracting the connection device 5, so that the inter-machine C can be connected to the banknote transport device A without performing various tasks such as adjusting the position of the banknote take-in device or the inter-machine C.
In addition, the inter-unit unit C can be connected to the banknote transport device A by the extension and contraction of the second connector 7 and the bending of the border portion 72a in response to the sliding, rotation and extension and contraction of the connector 5.

[Configuration of the banknote collection safe]
As shown in FIG. 1, the bill collection safe B has a bill collection unit G housed in a box B2 fixed to an end plate 101 of an island 100 and equipped with an openable/closable door B1.
As shown in FIG. 14, the banknote recovery unit G is provided with a banknote insertion port G1 that communicates with the banknote discharge port 3a, and the banknotes 200 discharged from the banknote discharge port 3a are inserted into the banknote insertion port G1, and the inserted banknotes 200 are transported to the banknote storage section H located at the most downstream position.
As shown in Figure 14, the banknote recovery unit G has a banknote transport path section J that is zigzag in the vertical and horizontal directions in the drawing from the upstream banknote insertion port G1 to the downstream banknote outlet G2 leading to the banknote storage section H.
As shown in FIG. 14, the banknote transport passage section J is composed of an inlet passage section J1 including a banknote insertion port G1, a banknote processing passage section J2 arranged downstream of the inlet passage section J1, a first sub-passage section J3 arranged downstream of the banknote processing passage section J2, a second sub-passage section J4 arranged downstream of the first sub-passage section J3, an opening/closing sensor 400, and a detectable body 401.

As shown in FIG. 15, the banknote processing passage portion J2, the first sub-passage portion J3 and the second sub-passage portion J4 are configured to be freely opened and closed for internal maintenance.
The banknote processing passage section J2 is made up of a drive section J20 incorporating a drive roller R1, and an opening/closing section J21 incorporating an idle roller R2.
The drive unit J20 is fixed and stationary, while the opening/closing unit J21 has its upstream end rotatably supported by a support shaft 300 relative to the inlet passage unit J1, and is adapted to open and close by rotation about the support shaft 300.
As shown in FIG. 14, when the opening/closing section J21 is closed, the drive section J20 and the opening/closing section J21 form a passage for transporting banknotes 200, and when the opening/closing section J21 is opened, the inside of the banknote processing passage section J2 is exposed.

The first sub-passage section J3 constitutes the curved portion between the banknote processing passage section J2, in which the banknote transport direction is horizontal, and the second sub-passage section J4, in which the banknote transport direction on the downstream side is vertical, and is composed of a drive section J30 incorporating a drive roller R3, and an opening/closing section J31 incorporating an idle roller R4.
The drive unit J30 is provided integrally with the opening/closing unit J31.
The opening/closing unit J31 has its upstream end rotatably supported by a support shaft 301 relative to the downstream end of the drive unit J20 of the banknote processing passage unit J2, and is adapted to open and close together with the drive unit J30 by rotation about the support shaft 301.
As shown in FIG. 14, when the opening/closing portion J31 is closed, it faces the banknote processing passage portion J2 in the upstream/downstream direction, and banknotes 200 can be transported from the banknote processing passage portion J2 to the first sub-passage portion J3.
As shown in FIG. 15, when the opening/closing part J31 is opened, the inside of the banknote processing passage part J2 can be largely exposed from the downstream end part opened by the opening/closing part J21.

The second sub-passage section J4 is configured by connecting an upstream passage whose conveying direction is vertical and a downstream passage whose conveying direction is horizontal, and a banknote outlet G2 is provided on the most downstream side.
The second sub-passage portion J4 shares the drive unit J30 with the first sub-passage portion J3, and the banknotes 200 are transported through the first sub-passage portion J3 and the second sub-passage portion J4 by the driving rotation of the drive roller R3 of the drive unit J30.
The second sub-passage portion J4 is composed of the drive portion J30 and an opening/closing portion J41 incorporating an idle roller R5.
The opening/closing portion J41 has an upstream end rotatably supported by a support shaft 302 relative to the downstream end of the first sub-passage portion J3, and is adapted to be opened and closed by rotation about the support shaft 302.
As shown in FIG. 14, when the opening/closing unit J41 is closed, the drive unit J30 and the opening/closing unit J41 form a passage for transporting the banknotes 200, and by rotating the opening/closing unit J41 in the closing direction, a rotational force in the same direction is applied to the drive unit J30, and in response to this force, the opening/closing unit J31 of the first sub-passage unit J3, which is integral with the drive unit J30, rotates in the closing direction and is closed.
As shown in FIG. 15, when the opening/closing portion J41 is opened, the inside of the second sub-passage portion J4 is exposed.
The opening/closing section J41 is provided with a rotation prevention section J42 that prevents the opening/closing section J21 of the banknote processing passage section J2 from rotating in the opening direction when in the closed state, so that the opening/closing section J21 will not open simply when the holding device J5 described below is released from its hold.

As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, a holding device J5 for holding and releasing the open/close portion J21 in a closed state is provided between the open/close portion J21 of the banknote processing passage portion J2 and the drive portion J30 of the first sub-passage portion J3.
The holding device J5 is composed of a hook portion J50 formed on the drive portion J30, a hooking rod J51 that is rotatably supported on the opening/closing portion J21 and is hooked and detached from the hook portion J50 by rotation, and a spring J52 that biases the hooking rod J51 in a direction to hook it to the hook portion J50.

A holding device J6 for holding and releasing the closed state of the opening/closing part J41 is provided between the opening/closing part J41 of the second sub passage part J4 and the drive part J30.
The holding device J6 is composed of a hook portion J60 formed on the drive portion J30, a hooking rod J61 that is rotatably supported on the opening/closing portion J41 and is hooked and detached from the hook portion J60 by rotation, and a spring J62 that biases the hooking rod J61 in a direction to hook it to the hook portion J60.

As shown in FIG. 14, the holding devices J5, J6 hold the banknote processing passage portion J2, the first sub-passage portion J3 and the second sub-passage portion J4 in a closed state when the engaging rods J51, J61 are engaged with the hook portions J50, J60.
When the engaging rods J51, J61 are engaged with the hook portions J50, J60, the engaged state is maintained by the biasing forces of the springs J52, J62.
Then, by rotating the engaging rods J51, J61 in the disengaging direction against the biasing force of the springs J52, J62, they come off the hook portions J50, J60 as shown in FIG. 15, thereby opening the banknote processing passage portion J2, the first sub-passage portion J3, and the second sub-passage portion J4.

The bill storage section H is provided so as to be freely detachable from the bill transport passage section J.
As shown in FIG. 15, by removing the banknote storage section H of the opening/closing section J21 of the aforementioned banknote processing passage section J2, the area where the banknote storage section was located becomes an opening/closing movement space S1 of the opening/closing section J21, and the opening/closing section J21 can be opened and closed in this opening/closing movement space S1.
Furthermore, unless the opening/closing portion J21 of the banknote processing passage portion J2 is closed, the banknote storage portion H cannot be disposed.
The bill storage unit H is provided with a bill recognition passage H2 on the upstream side of the storage unit main body H1, which faces directly opposite the bill outlet G2 when the bill storage unit H is in an arranged state.
The bill discrimination passage H2 is provided with a drive roller R6, an idle roller R7, and a discrimination sensor H20. The drive roller R6 and the idle roller R7 sandwich the bill 200 and transport it to the storage unit main body H1.

The opening/closing sensor 400 detects a detectable object 401 provided in the opening/closing section J41 of the second sub-passage section J4, and is positioned at a position to detect the detectable object 401 when the opening/closing sections J31, J41 are closed. By detecting the detectable object 401, it is determined that the banknote transport passage section J is closed.
In addition, the opening/closing sensor 400 may be configured to detect the open state of the opening/closing section J41. In this case, the banknote transport passage section J is not closed while the open state is continuously detected, and the banknote transport passage section J is determined to be closed when the open state is no longer detected.

In addition, even when the opening/closing portion J21 of the banknote processing passage portion J2 is open and the first sub-passage portion J3 and the second sub-passage portion J4 are closed, the banknote transport passage portion J is detected as being closed.
In this regard, as mentioned above, when the banknote storage section H is positioned, it cannot be positioned unless the opening/closing section J21 of the banknote processing passage section J2 is closed, and therefore an operation of closing the opening/closing section J21 of the banknote processing passage section J2 is inevitably performed.
That is, all the opening/closing portions J21, J31, and J41 are finally closed, whereby the banknote transport passage portion J is in a closed banknote transport operating state.

As shown in FIG. 16, the drive roller R3 of the second sub-passage portion J4 has a one-way clutch R31 interposed between the drive roller R3 and a drive shaft R30.
The drive shaft R30 is adapted to be driven to rotate in the conveying direction by the power of a motor (not shown) via a power transmission mechanism such as a gear train (not shown).
The one-way clutch R31 is interposed so as to operate only in a direction to transmit the driving rotation of the drive shaft R30 in the transport direction as rotation of the drive roller R3 in the transport direction.
The drive conveying speed of the drive roller R3 by the drive shaft R30 is set lower than the drive conveying speed of the drive roller R6 of the banknote discrimination passage section H2, and the drive roller R6, which is driven to rotate in the conveying direction by a motor and a gear train (neither of which are shown), pulls out the banknote 200 conveyed from the drive roller R3.
When the banknote 200 is pulled out by the rotation of the drive roller R6, a contact frictional force of the banknote 200 is generated on the drive roller R3, and this contact frictional force causes the drive roller R3 to rotate at a drive conveying speed that exceeds the drive conveying speed of the drive shaft R30.

In other words, when the drive conveying speed of the drive roller R3 exceeds the drive conveying speed of the drive shaft R30, the drive roller R3 rotates freely in the conveying direction relative to the one-way clutch R31, thereby reducing the load on the drive roller R6 when pulling out the banknote 200 and preventing conveying slippage on the drive roller R6.
Therefore, since slippage during transport at the drive roller R6 can be prevented, bills can be reliably recognized in the bill recognition passage H2.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes design changes that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined by reusing each other's technologies, so long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in their purpose, configuration, etc.

B: Banknote collection safe B1: Box G: Banknote collection unit G1: Banknote insertion slot G2: Banknote outlet J: Banknote transport path J2: Banknote processing path J3: First sub-path J4: Second sub-path J20: Drive J30: Drive J21: Opening/closing section J31: Opening/closing section J41: Opening/closing section 400: Opening/closing sensor

Claims (1)

The box can be opened and closed and is equipped with a bill collection unit.
The banknote recovery unit includes a banknote transport path section including a banknote processing path section and a plurality of sub-path sections continuing from the banknote processing path section in a range from a banknote insertion port on an upstream side to a banknote outlet on a downstream side, a sensor for detecting an operational state of banknote transport in the banknote transport path section, and a banknote storage section provided detachably relative to the banknote transport path section,
The banknote processing passage section of the banknote transport passage section and the plurality of sub-passage sections continuing from the banknote processing passage section each include a drive section and an opening/closing section,
the banknote storage unit can be disposed only when the opening/closing part of the banknote processing passage unit is closed,
the opening/closing portions of the plurality of sub-passage portions are rotatably supported by a support shaft in a plane parallel to the banknotes being transported and in a direction perpendicular to the banknote transport direction, and the plurality of sub-passage portions are arranged to open in one same rotation direction and close in the other same rotation direction;
the sensor is disposed at a position to detect a closed state of an opening/closing portion of a bypass passage portion that outputs banknotes to the banknote storage portion among the plurality of bypass passage portions when the opening/closing portions of the plurality of bypass passage portions are closed and all of the opening/closing portions of the plurality of bypass passage portions are in a closed position,
the sensor detects whether an opening/closing part of a sub-passage part that discharges banknotes to the banknote storage part is in a closed state or an open state, among the plurality of sub-passage parts.

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