JPH0525776B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an article conveying device for loading or unloading paper sheets (articles) such as banknotes onto a conveying body that conveys them, and in particular, The present invention relates to an improvement in an article conveying device in which articles can be loaded or taken out by opening the cover of the conveyor.

Office automation has made remarkable progress in recent years, and various tasks have been automated. In particular, since financial institutions and the like handle cash, there is a high demand for automation in order to further increase the reliability of the transactions. For this reason, automatic cash dispensing machines and automatic teller machines have been developed and are used to automate cash handling operations. On the other hand, since these machines are automatic machines installed separately from normal counters, and their use is limited to depositing and withdrawing money from accounts using cash cards, it is desirable to automate normal counter operations. It is rare. In order to automate such counter operations, cash processing systems shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 have been developed. This cash processing system is constructed by connecting a teller counter 1 and a cash teller machine 2 with a conveyance means 3.

The teller counter 1 is provided with a cash handling slot 10, a teller terminal 11, and a teller deposit machine 12 for depositing cash, and the cash teller machine 2 includes an automatic cash dispenser 2a and an automatic cash storage machine 2b. The conveying means 3 is a linear motor car having a rail 3b that connects the cash teller machine 2 and the teller counter 1, a conveying carrier 3a that moves on the rail 3b, and a stator 3c that drives the conveying carrier 3a. It is configured. These are controlled by a control device 4, and the conveying means 3 is further controlled by a linear motor controller 5. In this teller system, in the deposit operation, the teller inserts the cash received from the customer from the teller into the cash handling slot 10, loads it directly onto the transport carrier 3a, and inputs the deposit amount etc. from the teller terminal 11. The control device 4 drives the transport carrier 3a of the teller counter 1 along the rail 3b to the cash teller machine 2 via the linear motor controller 5, and stores the cash loaded on the transport carrier 3a in the safe of the automatic cash storage machine 2b. do. This may be done through the teller deposit machine 12. In this case, the teller deposit machine 12 discriminates the cash and confirms the deposited amount, and then the money is loaded onto the transport carrier 3a. On the other hand, in the withdrawal operation, when the teller inputs a withdrawal (deposit) command and withdrawal amount into the control device 4 from the teller terminal 11,
The control device 4 gives a dispensing command to the cash dispensing machine 2a and the linear motor controller 5 in order to start the system. This causes the linear motor controller 5 to control the conveyance carrier (CR) of the counter 1.
3a is driven along the rail 3b to the automatic cash dispenser 2a, cash is counted and dispensed from the safe of the automatic cash dispenser 2a, and cash corresponding to the dispensed amount is loaded onto the transport carrier 3a ( loading).

Furthermore, the linear motor controller 5 is connected to the rail 3
Utilizing the empty space in b, the cash dispensing machine 2a is transferred to the conveyance carrier 3a along the rail 3b to the teller counter 1.
The teller was made to transport cash to the cash handling port 10.
The person is asked to take out the cash.

In this type of cash processing system, cash can be transferred between the safe and the counter without human intervention, so counter operations can be omitted, cash management can be centralized, and it is also excellent in crime prevention. It is extremely effective for use in cash handling operations.

In order to realize such a cash processing system, it is necessary for the cash teller machine 2 to automatically load and unload cash (namely, banknotes) onto and from the transport carrier 3a.

[Conventional technology]

For this reason, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-30726, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 59
-As shown in Publication No. 53992, cash teller machine 2
(That is, each of the cash dispensing machine 2a and the cash storage machine 2b) is provided with a gripping part for gripping an article (cash). As shown in FIG. 9, the transport carrier 3a is generally provided with a cover 31 (or shutter) to prevent loaded items (cash) from flying out during transport. 9th
The cover 31 is opened as shown in FIG. I am trying to take out items from there.

The operation of the article gripping section AH and the closing operation of the cover 31 must be controlled so as not to interfere with each other.

For this reason, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-30726,
When the main control unit that controls the entire system receives a storage completion signal from the cash teller machine, the cover is closed, thereby preventing a collision between the cover 31 and the article gripping section.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, if such a centralized control system is adopted in which one main control unit controls everything, there will be many interfaces with each unit, the response will be slow, and the efficiency of the system will deteriorate.

For this reason, it is conceivable to adopt a so-called distributed control system that distributes control.

In such a distributed control system, the cash teller machine is controlled by the cash teller machine's control device, and the opening and closing of the cover, etc., is controlled by the station control device.
A central control device controls these.

In this distributed control, if a central control device monitors the operations of the cash teller machines one by one and controls the operations of the stations, the same problem as the above-mentioned centralized control occurs.

For this reason, since the central control device gives a start command to each control device and each control device performs control, the central control device as shown in the above-mentioned prior art receives the storage end signal, The sequence of controlling the closing of the cover is no longer possible,
Cash storage operation and station operation are performed independently.

Since this cash storage operation and the station operation are performed independently, if the cash storage operation is delayed, a cover closing command may be given in the state shown in FIG.
1 closes, the cover 31 collides with the article gripping section, and there is a risk that both may be destroyed or damaged.

[Means for solving problems]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an article conveying device that can prevent the cover and article gripping portion from being destroyed when loading or unloading articles even if distributed processing is employed.

For this reason, the present invention has a transport body that transports articles by moving on a transport path between one station and another station, and has a cover opening/closing mechanism for opening and closing the cover of the transport body at the other station. and an article handling section that takes out or loads articles into the conveyor, the cover of the conveyor is opened at the other station, and the article handling section takes out or loads articles onto the conveyor. In the article conveying device, the article handling device includes a control device that outputs an operation command for the unloading or loading of the article handling section and at least a closing instruction for the cover opening/closing section, and an operation command for the article handling section according to the operation instruction. a first control section that controls and outputs an operating state signal during operation; a first control section that receives the operating state signal and a closing command; The present invention is characterized in that a second control section is provided that causes the cover opening/closing section to perform a cover closing operation.

[Effect]

In the present invention, the first control section that controls the article handling section outputs the operation state signal, and the second control section executes the closing command after the operation of the article handling section is completed based on the operation state signal, so that the cover closing operation is performed. This can be done when the article handling section is not in operation, and since the cover is not closed while the article handling section is inside the carrier, there is a risk of collision between the cover and the article handling section. Even if distributed processing is performed, destruction can be prevented.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Examples.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as in FIGS. 7 to 9 are indicated by the same symbols, and 7 is a lift mechanism, which is placed on the rail 3b. It raises the transport carrier 3a to a position where articles (banknotes) can be easily handled, and will be described later with reference to FIG.
A cover opening/closing part 6 provided at the station is provided at the position where the machine starts or stops (hereinafter referred to as station), and in FIG.
8a is a close command setting section for controlling the lift mechanism 7, stator 3c, etc.; 8b is an AND gate; 8a is an AND gate; 8c, which outputs the AND of the output of and the operating state signal described later.
1 is a cover opening/closing control section, which drives and controls the cover opening/closing section 6. As shown in FIG. Reference numeral 20 denotes an article gripping section, which will be explained in FIG. Reference numeral 29 is a control unit (first control unit) of the cash storage machine (article handling unit) that rotates the gripping unit 20 to grip an article, and controls the entire device in response to a take-out command from the control device 4. It controls the storage operation and outputs an operating state signal of the article gripping section 20 to the AND gate 8b of the station controller 8.

FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram of the conveying means 3 configured in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is a detailed configuration diagram of the transport carrier 3a, in which numeral 30 is a cash container, and a cover 31
The cover 31 is supported by a hinge 34 and can be opened. 32 is a banknote storage body having a notch 32a, 33 is a coin storage body,
35 is a base that stores banknotes and coins, and is provided in the cash container 30. The upper part supports the cash container 30, and the lower center is a rotor plate corresponding to the rotor (secondary conductor) of the motor. 36 and guide plates 37 are provided on both sides of the lower part, and guide rollers 38 and 39 are provided before and after each guide plate 37. FIG. 2B is a detailed configuration diagram of the rail 3b, and the rail 3b has a generally U-shaped cross section as a whole, with an upper guide 3d and a horizontal guide 3e.
It has 3c is the stator, rail 3b
It is provided on the lower surface and has a coil wound around it, and a conveying carrier 3a is placed between a pair of stators 3c.
A rotor plate 36 is positioned therein, and the conveyance carrier 3a is accelerated (or started) driven or braked by applying a current to the coil.
This stator 3c is used to determine the positions on the rail 3b where starting and stopping are to be performed (hereinafter referred to as stations), for example, the positions of the cash dispensing machine 2a, cash storage machine 2b, cash ejection ports 10a and 10, and appropriate positions for accelerating and decelerating. It is installed in a suitable position. Figure 2C shows the transport carrier 3a.
When the transport carrier 3a is fitted to the rail 3b, the rotor plate 36 is positioned between the pair of starters 3c as described above, and the guide roller 39 of the guide plate 37 is connected to the rail 3b.
The pair of guide rollers 38 of the guide plate 37 sandwich the upper guide 3d of the rail 3b on both sides of the upper guide 3d of the rail 3b to guide the transport carrier 3a in the lateral direction. Acts as a guide in the vertical direction. Therefore, the transport carrier 3a is guided by the rails 3b and moves.

FIG. 3 is a detailed configuration diagram of the lift mechanism 7 in FIG. 1. Although the figure shows the station lift mechanism 7 at the cash storage machine position, the same mechanism is also used at other stations (start/stop position). provided.
In the figure, reference numeral 70 denotes a lift belt, which is provided on both sides of the conveyance carrier 3a, and is provided with a bracket 71, in which a pin 71a of the bracket 71 engages with an engagement hole (not shown) in the base 35 of the conveyance carrier 3a. Reference numerals 72 and 73 are pulleys which move the lift belt 70 by rotation of the pulleys and vertically move the conveyance carrier 3a that engages with the pin 71a of the bracket 71. Reference numeral 75 is a motor that moves the lift belt 70. In order to drive the lift belt 70, the lift belt 70 is driven by rotating the pulley 76 and transmitting the rotation of the pulley 76 to the pulley 73 via the belt 74. Reference numeral 3f denotes a hinge, which is provided only at the station position where the lift mechanism of the rail 3b is provided, and rotates the horizontal guide 3e of the rail 3b to move the horizontal guide 3 above the rail 3b.
d, 3e and the guide roller 3 of the transport carrier 3a
8 and 39 to release the restraint of the transport carrier 3a. Next, to explain the operation of the lift mechanism shown in FIG. 3, when the transport carrier 3a reaches the target station traveling on the rail 3b, it is stopped at the target station by the braking force of the stator 3c at that position, and then the lift belt 7
0 moves slightly upward to engage the pin 71a of the bracket 71 with the engagement hole of the base 35 of the transport carrier 3a, and at the same time rotates the horizontal guide 3e around the hinge 3f by a release mechanism (not shown), and releases the rail 3b. , release the restraint on the transport carrier 3a,
A lift operation by the lift belt 70 is enabled. Thereafter, the lift belt 70 is driven by the rotation of the motor 75, and the transport carrier 3a is driven upward and positioned below the cash storage machine 2b. In the stations of the cash handling ports 10a and 10b, this position is the home position of the transport carrier 3a, and the transport carrier 3a has two stations for each cash handling port 10a and 10b in FIG.
When not in use, the station is located at its home position (corresponding to a siding line). On the other hand, the rail 3b is released and returns to its original position after the lift operation, and is used as a rail for the passage of another transport carrier 3a. When the transport carrier 3a is used, the rail 3b is released and the transport carrier 3a is moved downward by the lift belt 70, descends to the rail 3b, and
is restored, and the guide roller 3 of the transport carrier 3a
8, 39 and above the rail 3b, horizontal guides 3d, 3e
engage with. The lift belt 70 further descends and disengages the pin 71a of the bracket 71 from the engagement hole of the base 35, releasing the conveyance carrier 3a and allowing the conveyance carrier 3a to run on the rail 3b.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the cover opening/closing part 6 configured in FIG. 1. In the figure, the same parts as in FIG. 62 is its fulcrum. 31
a is a protruding part of the cover 31, which is contacted by one end of the lever 61; 31b is a mounting part;
The cover 31 is attached to the storage body 30 via the hinge 34, and 32a is a mounting tool that connects the banknote storage body 32 to the hinge 34 and rotates when the cover 31 is opened.

To explain the operation of FIG. 4, to open the cover 31, the plunger magnet 60 is driven. As a result, the lever 61 rotates about the fulcrum 62, pushes down the protrusion 31a of the cover 31, and opens the cover 31 about the hinge 34 against a toggle spring (not shown). On the other hand, since the banknote storage body 32 is also engaged with the hinge 34 and the mounting portion 31b of the cover 31 by the mounting tool 32a, it rotates as shown in FIG. 4B, making it easy to store or take out banknotes from the left side. do.

FIG. 5 is a detailed configuration diagram of the article gripping section in the configuration shown in FIG. 1. In the figure, the same parts as in FIG. 23 is an upper belt that is rotated, and 24 is a lower belt that is stretched between a pair of rollers RL1 and RL2.
What is stretched between RL3 and RL4, 25 is a support part that supports the pair of rollers RL1 and RL2, 26 is a sandwich drive part, and the support part 25
is driven in the vertical direction in the figure to drive the upper belt 23 downward and grip the article (banknote) between it and the lower belt 24. 27 is a feed drive unit, which is installed at the tip of the arm 22. The lower belt 24 is driven by driving the roller RL3 which is attached to the lower belt 24.

To explain the operation of the structure shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG.
The arm 22 rotates, and the banknote storage body 32 is placed between the upper belt 23 and the lower belt 24 as shown in FIG.
is sandwiched in. As shown in FIG. 2A, the banknote storage body 32 has a notch 32a, so the upper and lower belts 23, 24 are located in this part. Furthermore,
When the pinch drive unit 26 is driven to move the support unit 25 downward, the upper belt 2 is moved as shown in FIG. 5D.
3 comes into contact with the banknotes stored in the banknote storage body 32 through the notch 32a, further presses the banknotes against the lower belt 24, and grips (sandwiches) the banknotes by the upper and lower belts 23 and 24. After the arm 22 is returned to the position shown in FIG. 5B by the drive unit 28, the feed drive unit 27 is driven to move the lower belt 24 and feed the held banknotes into the banknote storage unit 21. In this way, the banknotes are taken out from the transport carrier 3a.

Next, the operation of the configurations in FIGS. 1 to 5 will be explained with reference to the operation explanatory diagram in FIG. 6.

First, according to the deposit command from the teller terminals 11a and 11b, the transport carrier 3a is
arrives at the cash storage machine 2b.

When the counter teller receives deposited cash, deposit request slip, and passbook from the user, the counter inputs the deposit amount into the control device 4 from the teller terminal (for example, 11a) of the counter. The control device 4 further receives the contents of the magnetic stripe of the passbook read by the teller when the teller inserts the passbook into a terminal writer (not shown), and determines whether or not the transaction is possible through communication with the host computer. (Command/Data Analysis). If the transaction is possible, the control device 4 takes a deposit processing serial number, and thereafter this serial number serves as an identification number for processing.

Next, the control device 4
At the same time as issuing a payment notification response to a, a book entry is made to the passbook inserted in the terminal writer. Furthermore, the teller at the cash counter 10a,
10b, cash is loaded into the banknote storage body 32 of the waiting transport carrier 3a, and the control device 4 is notified of the completion of loading.

Upon receiving this completion of loading, the control device 4 controls the transport carrier 3a of the corresponding counter (CC) station.
In order to move the machine to the AD (cash storage machine) station, drive communication is performed to the linear motor controller 5. Hurry up and CC the departure station.
The station issues a drive command to set the arriving station as the AD station.

As a result, the linear motor controller 5
Then, the lid 31 is closed by the cover opening/closing mechanism of the lift mechanism 7 of the CC station, and the transport carrier 3a is lowered from the home position and engaged with the rail 3b. Next, the stator 3c of the CC station is driven to start the transport carrier 3a. The linear motor controller 5 detects the position of the conveyance carrier 3a based on the output of a sensor (not shown) provided at a predetermined interval on the rail 3b, and drives the stators 3c at passing points of the rail 3b one after another to move the conveyance carrier 3a to the rail. 3b. In this way, the transport carrier 3a
When it arrives at the station, it is detected by the output of the sensor, and the stator 3c of the AD station is reversely excited to brake and stop the transport carrier 3a.

In this way, when the transport carrier 3a arrives at the AD station of the cash storage machine 2b, the station controller 8 drives the lift mechanism 7 of the AD station to remove the transport carrier 3a from the rail 3b and raise it as described above.
Upon completion of this upward movement, the linear motor controller 5 gives an open command to the cover opening/closing control section 8c of the station controller 8, drives the cover opening/closing section 6 to open, and opens the cover 31 of the transport carrier 3a. Then, the linear motor controller 5 notifies the control device 4 that preparation is complete.

Upon completion of this preparation, the control device 4 issues a withdrawal command to the cash storage machine 2b. In the cash storage machine 2b, the control section 29 operates the drive section 28 to drive the arm 22, as described in FIG. The drive unit 2
8 to return the arm 22 and drive the feed drive section 27 to send out the held bill to the bill storage section 21.

During the operation of the article gripping section 20, the control section 29 outputs the operating state signal shown in FIG. 6, so the AND gate 8b of the station controller 8 is closed. Therefore, even if a close command is given from the linear motor controller 5 to the station controller 8, the cover opening/closing control section 8c does not perform the closing control. Then, when the AND gate 8b is opened by the operation state signal of the article gripping section 20, that is, the article gripping section 20 opens.
0 leaves the transport carrier 3a, the close command set in the setting section 8a is given to the cover opening/closing control section 8c, which closes the cover opening/closing section 6 and closes the cover 31 of the transport carrier 3a. do.

On the other hand, in the banknote storage section 21 of the cash storage machine 2b, banknotes are stored in the safe 21b by the feed roller 21a. The control unit 29 thereby notifies the control device 4 of the completion of the capture.

Upon completion of this acquisition, the control device 4 performs carrier return processing. The control device 4 issues a drive command to the linear motor controller 5 to set the departure station as the AD station and the arrival station as the CC station. Thereby, the linear motor controller 5 drives the lift mechanism 7 of the AD station via the station controller 8. That is, the transport carrier 3a
is lowered and engaged with the rail 3b. Next, the linear motor controller 5 drives the stator 3c of the AD station via the station controller 8, and starts the transport carrier 3a. Similarly to the above, the linear motor control roller 5 is connected to the stator 3c at the passing point on the rail 3.
are driven one after another to move the transport carrier 3a onto the rail 3.
Run along b. When the transport carrier 3a arrives at the CC station in this way, the CC
The stator 3c of the station is reversely excited to brake and stop the transport carrier 3a. Furthermore, the linear motor control roller 5 drives the lift mechanism 7 of the CC station, and the transport carrier 3
Remove a from the rail 3b, raise it, and return it to the home position.

In this way, the linear motor controller 5
Even if the close command is issued due to a malfunction, the close command will not be executed while the article gripping section 20 is in operation. Further, even if the linear motor controller 5 issues a close command regardless of the operation of the cash storage machine 2b, the closing control will be performed normally.

In the above explanation, the storage (taking in) of banknotes was explained, but the same applies to the case where banknotes are loaded onto a conveyance carrier.Although the explanation was given using banknotes as an example, the explanation is not limited to this, and other paper sheets, etc. The article holding section 20 may have a different configuration. Further, although the cover 31 has been described as being able to open and move around a hinge, it may be a shutter type sliding type, and other known conveying means may be used.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to examples, the present invention can be modified in various ways according to the gist of the present invention.
These are not excluded from the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the first control section that controls the article handling section outputs the operation state signal, and the second control section terminates the operation of the article handling section in response to the operation state signal. Since the cover of the transport body is later controlled to close using a close command, even if the control device (controller 5) issues a close command by mistake when a distributed control configuration is adopted, the cover closes and the cover is closed during operation. This has the effect of ensuring the closing operation of the cover without the risk of colliding with the article gripping section and breaking it, and also allows the control device (controller 5) to control the operation status of the article gripping section (handling section). It is possible to output a close command without any problems, and the load on the controller is also reduced, further improving the advantages of distributed processing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the conveyance means 3 configured in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the lift mechanism 7 configured in FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the cover opening/closing unit 6 configured as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the article gripping unit 20 configured as shown in FIG. Processing system configuration diagram, FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a conventional article handling device. In the figure, 3a...transport carrier (transport body), 31
...Cover, 6...Cover opening/closing section, 8...Station controller (cover drive section), 20...
Article gripping part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A carrier that transports articles by moving along a transport path between one station and another station, and a cover opening/closing mechanism for opening and closing the cover of the carrier at the other station. and an article handling section that takes out or loads articles onto the conveyor, the cover of the conveyor is opened at the other station, and the article handling section takes out or loads articles onto the conveyor. In the article conveyance device, the control device outputs an operation command for the unloading or loading of the article handling section and at least a closing instruction for the cover opening/closing section; a first control section that controls and outputs an operating state signal during operation; and a first control section that receives the operating state signal and a closing command, and that controls the article handling section according to the operating state signal after the operation of the article handling section is completed and according to the closing command. An article conveyance device comprising: a second control section that causes the cover opening/closing section to perform a cover closing operation.