DESCRIPTION
BANKNOTE HANDLING APPARATUS AND BANKNOTE HANDLING
METHOD
5
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[ O O O l ]
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No.
10 2012-028620 filed on February 13, 2012, the entire contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002]
15 The present invention relates to a banknote handling
apparatus configured to handle banknotes and a banknote
handling method. In particular, the present invention relates to
a banknote handling apparatus and a banknote handling method
which are capable of directly using a banknote having been
20 stored into a storing unit by a depositing process or the like, as
a banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be
dispensed to a customer in a bank counter, even when only an
banknote whose serial number is managed is to be used as a
banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be
25 dispensed to a customer in a bank counter.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003]
As a banknote handling apparatus for handling banknotes,
30 various type ones have been conventionally known. For
example, JP2002-203264A discloses a banknote depositing
machine to be installed in a bank lobby and so on. In the
banknote depositing machine disclosed in JP2002-203264A,
when a plurality of banknotes of various denominations are
35 deposited, banknotes having been put into a banknote inlet unit
are fed, one by one, to a transport unit in a machine body, the
banknotes are recognized by a recognition unit disposed a t the
transport unit, and, based on the recognition result, the
banknotes are stored for each denomination into a plurality of
storing units. In the banknote depositing machine disclosed in
5 JP2002-203264A, a banknote having been recognized as a fit
note by the recognition unit and a banknote having been
recognized as an unfit note by the recognition unit are stored
into the different storing units.
[0004]
10 In a banknote handling apparatus configured to perform
a banknote depositing and dispensing process, there is a case in
which, after a banknote has been stored into a storing unit in a
machine body by a depositing process, the banknote having
been stored into the storing unit is used as a banknote to be
15 loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be dispensed to a
customer in a bank counter. At this time, when only a
banknote whose serial number, which is unique information for
specifying an individual banknote, is to be used as a banknote
to be loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be dispensed to a
20 customer in a bank counter, the conventional banknote handling
apparatus has a problem in that it cannot directly use the
banknote stored in the storing unit, as a banknote to be loaded
into an ATM or as a banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a
bank counter. This is because, in the conventional banknote
25 handling apparatus, a banknote whose serial number has been
read out by the recognition unit and a banknote whose serial
number has not been recognized by the recognition unit are
stored in a mixed state in the storing unit.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[OOOS]
The present invention has been made in view of the
above circumstances. The object of the present invention is to
provide a banknote handling apparatus and a banknote handling
35 method in which, even when only an banknote whose serial
number is managed is to be used as a banknote to be loaded
into an ATM or as a banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a
bank counter, since a banknote whose serial number has been
read out by a recognition unit and a banknote whose serial
number has not been read out by the recognition unit are
5 managed in a physically separated manner, a banknote having
been stored into a storing unit by a depositing process or the
like can be directly used as a banknote to be loaded into an ATM
or as a banknote to be dispensed for a customer in a bank
counter.
10 [0006]
The preset invention is a banknote handling apparatus
comprising:
a plurality of storing units configured to store a
ban knote;
15 a transport unit configured to transport the banknote
having been put into a machine body to each of the storing
units;
a recognition unit disposed at the transport unit and
configured to read out a serial number of the banknote having
20 been put into the machine body; and
a control unit configured to control the transport unit
such that the banknote whose serial number has been read out
by the recognition unit and the banknote whose serial number
has not been read out by the recognition unit are stored into
25 different storing units.
[0007]
According to such a banknote handling apparatus, the
recognition unit is configured to read out a serial number of a
banknote having been put into the machine body, while the
30 control unit controls the transport unit such that a banknote
whose serial number has been read out by the recognition unit
and a banknote whose serial number has not been read out by
the recognition unit are stored into the different storing units.
Thus, even when only a banknote whose serial number is
35 managed is used as a banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as a
banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a bank counter, since
a banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
recognition unit and a banknote whose serial number has not
been read out by the recognition unit are managed in a
physically separated manner, a banknote having been stored
into the storing unit by the depositing process or the like can be
directly used as a banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as a
banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a bank counter.
Further, a banknote whose serial number has not been read out
can be managed separately from a banknote whose serial
number has been read out and a banknote whose serial number
is not yet read out.
[0008]
In the banknote handling apparatus of the present
invention,
the recognition unit may be configured to recognize a
denomination of the banknote; and
the control unit may control the transport unit such that
the banknotes of different denominations having been
recognized by the recognition unit are stored into the different
storing units.
[0009]
In the banknote handling apparatus of the present
invention,
the recognition unit may be configured to recognize the
fitness of the banknote; and
the control unit may control the transport unit such that
the banknote having been recognized as a fit note by the
recognition unit and the banknote having been recognized as an
unfit note are stored into the different storing units.
[OOlO]
The present invention is a banknote handling apparatus
comprising:
a plurality of storing units configured to store a
banknote;
a transport unit configured to transport the banknote
having been put into a machine body to each of the storing
units;
a recognition unit disposed at the transport unit and
configured to read out a serial number of the banknote having
been put into the machine body; and
a control unit configured to control the transport unit;
wherein:
the recognition unit is configured to recognize the fitness
of the banknote; and
when the banknote is recognized as a fit note by the
10 recognition unit, the control unit controls the transport unit such
that the banknote whose serial number has been read out by
the recognition unit and the banknote whose serial number has
not been read out by the recognition unit are stored into
different storing units; and
15 when the banknote is recognized as an unfit note by the
recognition unit, the control unit controls the transport unit such
that the banknote whose serial number has been read out by
the recognition unit and the banknote whose serial number has
not been read out by the recognition unit are stored into the
20 same storing unit.
[OOii]
In the banknote handling apparatus of the present
invention,
when the fitness of the banknote is recognized, the
25 recognition unit may determine the fitness of the banknote into
three or more grades; and
the control unit may control the transport unit such that
the banknotes of different grades of the banknote fitness
determination are stored into the different storing units.
30 [0012]
In the banknote handling apparatus of the present
invention,
when the fitness of the banknote is recognized, the
recognition unit may determine the fit note into two grades; and
3 5 the control unit may control the transport unit such that
the fit notes whose serial numbers have not been read out by
the recognition unit are stored into the same storing unit,
regardless of the grade of the determination for the fit note.
[0013]
In the banknote handling apparatus of the present
Invention,
the storing unit configured to store the banknote whose
serial number has been read out by the recognition unit may be
a cassette that is detachable from inside the machine body of
the banknote handling apparatus.
[0014]
The banknote handling apparatus of the present invention
may further comprises:
an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a
banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit; and
a memory unit configured to store an image data of the
banknote having been captured by the imaging unit.
[0015]
At this time, the image data of the banknote having been
captured by the imaging unit may be stored in the memory unit
in such a manner that the image data is associated with a
transaction data.
[0016]
The present invention is a banknote handling apparatus
comprising:
a storing unit configured to store a banknote;
a transport unit configured to transport the banknote
having been put into a machine body to the storing unit, or to
return it outside of the machine body;
a recognition unit disposed at the transport unit and
configured to read out a serial number of the banknote having
been put into the machine body; and
a control unit configured to control the transport unit
such that the banknote whose serial number has been read out
by the recognition unit is stored into the storing unit, and that
the banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit is returned outside of the machine body.
[0017]
According to such a banknote handling apparatus, the
recognition unit is configured to read out a serial number of a
5 banknote having been put into the machine body, while the
control unit controls the transport unit such that a banknote
whose serial number has been read out by the recognition unit
is stored into the storing unit, and that a banknote whose serial
number has not been read out by the recognition unit is
10 returned outside of the machine body. Thus, even when only a
banknote whose serial number is managed is used as a
banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be
dispensed to a customer in a bank counter, since a banknote
whose serial number has been read out by the recognition unit
15 and a banknote whose serial number has not been read out by
the recognition unit are managed in a physically separated
manner, a banknote having been stored into the storing unit by
the depositing process or the like can be directly used as a
banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be
20 dispensed to a customer in a bank counter.
[0018]
In such a banknote handling apparatus, the recognition
unit may be configured to recognize a denomination of the
banknote.
[0019]
In addition, the recognition unit may be configured to
recognize the fitness of the banknote.
[0020]
In this case, when the fitness of the banknote is
30 recognized, the recognition unit may determine the fitness of
the banknote into three or more grades.
[0021]
In addition, the storing unit configured to store a
banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
35 recognition unit nay be a cassette that is detachable from inside
the machine body of the banknote handling apparatus.
[0022]
The present invention is a banknote handling apparatus
comprising:
a plurality of storing units configured to store a
5 banknote;
a transport unit configured to transport the banknote
having been put into a machine body to each of the storing
units;
a recognition unit disposed at the transport unit and
10 configured to read out a serial number of the banknote having
been put into the machine body; and
a control unit configured to selectively perform any one
of two operation modes including a first operation mode wherein
the control unit controls the transport unit such that the
15 banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
recognition unit and the banknote whose serial number has not
been read out by the recognition unit are stored into different
storing units, and a second operation mode wherein the control
unit controls the transport unit such that the banknote whose
20 serial number has been read out by the recognition unit and the
banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit are stored into the same storing unit.
[0023]
According to such a banknote handling apparatus, even
25 when only a banknote whose serial number is managed is used
as a banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be
dispensed to a customer in a bank counter, since the control
unit is caused to perform the first operation mode, a banknote
whose serial number has been read out by the recognition unit
30 and a banknote whose serial number has not been read out by
the recognition unit are managed in a physically separated
manner, a banknote having been stored into the storing unit by
the depositing process or the like can be directly used as a
banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be
35 dispensed to a customer in a bank counter.
[0024]
The preset invention is a banknote handling apparatus
comprising:
a storing unit configured to store a banknote;
a transport unit configured to transport the banknote
having been put into a machine body to the storing unit, or to
return it outside of the machine body;
a recognition unit disposed at the transport unit and
configured to read out a serial number of the banknote having
been put into the machine body; and
a control unit configured to selectively perform any one
of two operation modes including a third operation mode
wherein the control unit controls the transport unit such that
the banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
recognition unit is stored into the storing unit, and that the
banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit is returned outside of the machine body, and a
fourth operation mode wherein the banknote whose serial
number has been read out by the recognition unit and the
banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit are stored into the storing unit.
[0025]
According to such a banknote handling apparatus, even
when only a banknote whose serial number is managed is used
as a banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be
dispensed to a customer in a bank counter, since the control
unit is caused to perform the third operation mode, a banknote
whose serial number has been read out by the recognition unit
and a banknote whose serial number has not been read out by
the recognition unit are managed in a physically separated
manner, a banknote having been stored into the storing unit by
the depositing process or the like can be directly used as a
banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be
dispensed to a customer in a bank counter.
[0026]
The present invention is a banknote handling method to
be performed in a banknote handling apparatus, comprising:
reading out a serial number of a banknote having been
put into a machine body of the banknote handling apparatus by
a recognition unit; and
5 storing the banknote whose serial number has been read
out by the recognition unit and the banknote whose serial
number has not been read out by the recognition unit into
different storing units.
[0027]
According to such a banknote handling method, a
banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
recognition unit and a banknote whose serial number has not
been read out by the recognition unit are stored into the
different storing units. Thus, even when only a banknote
15 whose serial number is managed is used as a banknote to be
loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be dispensed to a
customer in a bank counter, since a banknote whose serial
number has been read out by the recognition unit and a
banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
20 recognition unit are managed in a physically separated manner,
a banknote having been stored into the storing unit by the
depositing process or the like can be directly used as a
banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be
dispensed to a customer in a bank counter.
2 5 COO281
The present invention is a banknote handling method to
be performed in a banknote handling apparatus, comprising:
reading out a serial number of a banknote having been
put into a machine body of the banknote handling apparatus by
30 a recognition unit; and
storing the banknote whose serial number has been read
out by the recognition unit into a storing unit, and returning the
banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit outside of the machine body.
3 5 [0029]
According to such a banknote handling method, a
banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
recognition unit is stored into the storing unit, and a banknote
whose serial number has not been read out by the recognition
unit is returned outside of the machine body. Thus, even when
5 only a banknote whose serial number is managed is used as a
banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be
dispensed to a customer in a bank counter, since a banknote
whose serial number has been read out by the recognition unit
and a banknote whose serial number has not been read out by
10 the recognition unit are managed in a physically separated
manner, a banknote having been stored into the storing unit by
the depositing process or the like can be directly used as a
banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be
dispensed to a customer in a bank counter.
15 [0030]
According to the banknote handling apparatus and the
banknote handling method of the present invention, even when
only a banknote whose serial number is managed is used as a
banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as a banknote to be
20 dispensed to a customer in a bank counter, a banknote having
been stored into the storing unit by the depositing process or
the like can be directly used as a banknote to be loaded into an
ATM or as a banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a bank
counter.
25
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031]
Fig. 1 is a structural view showing an inside structure of a
banknote handling apparatus according to one embodiment of
30 the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a functional block view of the banknote handling
apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a table for explaining how to select one storing
unit among six storing units into which a banknote having been
35 recognized by a recognition unit is stored, when a depositing
process or the like is performed in the banknote handling
apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a structural view showing an inside structure of
the banknote handling apparatus according to another
configuration of the present invention.
5 Fig. 5 is a structural view showing an inside structure of
the banknote handling apparatus according to yet another
configuration of the present invention.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
10 [0032]
One embodiment of the present invention will be
explained with reference to the drawings. Figs. 1 to 3 are
views showing a banknote handling apparatus in this
embodiment. In more detail, Fig. 1 is a structural view
15 showing an inside structure of the banknote handling apparatus
in this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a functional block view of the
banknote handling apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a table
for explaining how to select one storing unit among six storing
units into which a banknote having been recognized by a
20 recognition unit is stored, when a depositing process or the like
is performed in the banknote handling apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
[0033]
A schematic structure of the banknote handling apparatus
25 in this embodiment is explained with reference to Fig. 1. As
shown in Fig. 1, the banknote handling apparatus 1 in this
embodiment includes a depositing and dispensing unit 10 having
a depositing unit 12 and a dispensing unit 14, and a
deposited-money reject unit 16. The depositing unit 12 is
30 configured to feed one by one the banknote(s) having been put
into the depositing unit 12 to an inside of a machine body
(housing) 2, by a feeding mechanism 12a. A transport unit 18
is disposed inside the machine body 2 of the banknote handling
apparatus 1, so that the banknotes, which have been fed one by
35 one to the inside of the machine body 2 by the feeding
mechanism 12a, are transported one by one, by the transport
unit 18. In addition, the transport unit 18 is connected to the
dispensing unit 14 and the deposited-money reject unit 16, so
that the banknotes are sent one by one from the transport unit
18 to the dispensing unit 14 and the deposited-money reject
5 unit 16. In addition, the dispensing unit 14 is provided with a
feeding mechanism 14a, so that the banknote having been sent
from the transport unit 18 to the dispensing unit 14 can be
returned to the transport unit 18 by the feeding mechanism
14a.
10 [0034]
A recognition unit 40 is disposed at the transport unit 18,
so that the banknote transported by the transport unit 18 is
recognized by the recognition unit 40 as to its denomination,
authenticity, fitness and so on. In addition, the recognition unit
15 40 is provided with an imaging unit configured to capture an
image of the banknote so as to obtain an image data of the
banknote. Based on the image data of the banknote captured
by the imaging unit, the recognition unit 40 is configured to
read out a serial number of the banknote. A serial number of
20 the banknote is unique information for specifying an individual
banknote. The banknotes respectively have different serial
numbers composed of, e.g., ten digits. The imaging unit may
also use an image sensor used for recognizing a denomination
of the banknote and/or fitness of the banknote. Alternatively,
25 an imaging camera 42 may be installed separately from the
image sensor.
[0035]
In addition, as shown in Fig. 1, a collecting unit 44 is
connected to the transport unit 18. In a dispensing process,
30 when the banknote was sent to the dispensing unit 14 but the
banknote was not taken out from the dispensing unit 14 after a
predetermined time has passed, the banknote is returned to the
transport unit 18 by the feeding mechanism 14a disposed on
the dispensing unit 14, and the banknote returned to the
35 transport unit 18 is sent to the collecting unit 44. The
collecting unit 44 is detachable from inside the machine body 2.
Thus, by detaching the collecting unit 44 out of the machine
body 2, an operator can collect the banknote(s) in the collecting
unit 44. In this manner, the banknote left in the dispensing
unit 14 can be collected.
5 [0036]
In addition, the banknote handling apparatus 1 in this
embodiment has, inside the machine body 2, a plurality of
(specifically six) storing units 52 which are configured to store
tile banknotes in a stacked state. These storing unlts 52 are
10 indicated by reference numbers 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e and 52f
in this order from the left side in Fig. I. Each of the storing
units 52 is connected to the transport unit 18, so that the
banknotes are sent from the transport unit 18 to the respective
storing units 52 so as to be stored therein in a stacked state.
15 Each storing unit 52 is provided with a feeding mechanism 54,
so that the banknote(s) stored in each storing unit 52 can be
fed out, one by one, to the transport unit 18 by the feeding
mechanism 54. In the banknote handling apparatus 1 in this
embodiment, each storing unit 52 is formed of a cassette that is
20 detachable from inside the machine body 2 by an operator.
Thus, by detaching each storing unit 52 from the machine body
2, an operator can collect the banknote(s) stored in the storing
unit 52.
[0037]
25 In addition, a control unit 70 is disposed inside the
machine body 2 of the banknote handling apparatus 1 in this
embodiment. The respective constituent elements of the
banknote handling apparatus 1 are controlled by the control unit
70. A structure of the control unit 70 will be described in more
30 detail later.
COO381
In addition, an operation display unit 4 formed of, e.g., a
touch panel is provided on the machine body 2. Contents of
the banknote process by the banknote handling apparatus 1,
35 specifically, an amount of the banknotes for each denomination
which are stored in the respective storing units 52, the number
thereof and/or a total amount of the stored banknotes and so
on are displayed on the operation display unit 4. In addition,
an operator can transmit various commands to the control unit
7 through the operation display unit 4.
[0039]
Fig. 2 is a functional block view of the banknote handling
apparatus shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, connected to
the control unit 70 are the depositing unit 12, the dispensing
unit i4, the transport unit 18, the recognition unit 40, the
storing unit 52, the operation display unit 4 and so on. The
control unit 70 is configured to transmit command signals
respectively to the depositing unit 12, the dispensing unit 14,
the transport unit 18, the recognition unit 40, the storing unit
52, the operation display unit 4 and so on, so as to control
these constituent elements. In addition, recognition
information of the banknote having been recognized by the
recognition unit 40 is transmitted to the control unit 70. At this
time, the recognition unit 40 includes, e.g., a line sensor
configured to read out the banknote being transported. The
image data of the banknote having been captured by the line
sensor are also transmitted to the control unit 70. In addition,
a command having been inputted by an operator through the
operation display unit 4 is transmitted to the control unit 70.
[0040]
In addition, as shown in Fig. 2, a memory unit 72 is
provided at the control unit 70. The memory unit 72 is
configured to store various set information of the banknote
handling apparatus 1, contents of the banknote process by the
banknote handling apparatus 1 and so on. To be specific, the
memory unit 72 is configured to store, for example, an amount
of the banknotes for each denomination which are stored in the
respective storing units 52, the number thereof and/or a total
amount of the stored the banknotes and so on. In addition, the
memory unit 72 is configured to store the image data of the
banknote having been captured by the imaging unit of the
recognition unit 40. At this time, the image data of the
banknote having been captured by the imaging unit are stored
in the memory unit 72 such that the image data of the banknote
is associated with a transaction data of the banknote handling
apparatus 1.
5 [0041]
Next, a depositing process to be performed in the
banknote handling apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 1 and so on is
explained below. When the depositing process is performed in
the banknote handling apparatus 1, an operator firstly puts the
10 banknote(s) into the depositing unit 12 of the depositing and
dispensing unit 10. Then, the operator inputs a command for
starting the depositing process to the control unit 70 through
the operation display unit 4. Thus, the banknotes are fed one
by one to the inside of the machine body 2 by the feeding
15 mechanism 12a disposed on the depositing unit 12, and the
banknotes are sent to the transport unit 18. The banknotes are
sent to the recognition unit 40 by the transport unit 18, and the
denomination, an authenticity, the fitness and so on of each
banknote are recognized by the recognition unit 40. At this
20 time, the image of the banknote is captured by the imaging unit
disposed in the recognition unit 40 so as so as to obtain the
image data of the banknote. Based on the image data of the
banknote captured by the imaging unit, the recognition unit 40
reads out a serial number of the banknote.
25 [0042]
When the banknote having been recognized by the
recognition unit 40 is a normal banknote, the banknote is sent
to the respective storing units 52 by the transport unit 18 so as
to be stored into one of the storing units 52. How to select one
30 storing unit among the six storing units 52 into which the
banknote is stored will be explained later. On the other hand,
when the banknote having been recognized by the recognition
unit 40 is not a normal banknote, such as a counterfeit
banknote or an abnormal transport banknote, the banknote is
35 sent as a reject banknote to the deposited-money reject unit 16
by the transport unit 18 so as to be stored into the
deposited-money reject unit 16. The reject banknote having
been stored into the deposited-money reject unit 16 is taken
out from the deposited-money reject unit 16 by the operator,
after the depositing process has been performed.
5 [0043]
Next, a dispensing process to be performed in the
banknote handling apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 1 and so on is
explained below. When the dispensing process is performed in
the banknote handling apparatus 1, an operator inputs a
10 command for starting the dispensing process to the control unit
70 through the operation display unit 4. At this time, the
operator inputs the number of the banknotes to be dispensed
for each denomination, a total amount thereof and so on. After
the command for starting the dispensing process has been
15 inputted to the control unit 70, the banknote is fed out from
each storing unit 52 by the feeding mechanism 54 to the
transport unit 18. Then, the banknote is sent to the
recognition unit 40 by the transport unit 18, and the
denomination, the authenticity, the fitness and so on of the
20 banknote are recognized by the recognition unit 40.
[0044]
When the banknote having been recognized by the
recognition unit 40 is a normal banknote, the banknote is sent
to the dispensing unit 14 by the transport unit 18 so as to be
25 stored into the dispensing unit 14. In this manner, the
operator can take out the banknote stored in the dispensing unit
14, as the banknote to be dispensed, from the dispensing unit
14. On the other hand, when the banknote having been
recognized by the recognition unit 40 is not a normal banknote,
30 such as an abnormal transport banknote, the banknote is sent
as a reject banknote to the collecting unit 44 by the transport
unit 18 so as to be stored into the collecting unit 44. The
reject banknote having been stored into the collecting unit 44 is
collected, together with the whole collecting unit 44, from the
35 machine body 2 by the operator, after the dispensing process
has been performed.
[0045]
Next, a money change process to be performed in the
banknote handling apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 1 and so on is
explained below. In the money change process to be
performed in the banknote handling machine 1, when the
banknote is put into the depositing unit 12 of the depositing and
dispensing unit 10, the banknote is fed to the inside of the
machine body 2 by the feeding mechanism 14a, and the
banknote is recognized by the recognition unit: 40. Thereafter,
when the recognized banknote is a normal banknote, the
banknote is sent to one of the storing units 52. Meanwhile,
when the recognized banknote is not a normal banknote, the
banknote is sent as a reject banknote to the deposited-money
reject unit 16. After that, a plurality of the banknotes, which
are the same in total amount as an amount of the banknote
having been stored into the one storing unit 52 but are different
therefrom in denomination, are fed out from the respective
storing units 52 to the transport unit 18 by the feeding
mechanism 54. The banknotes are recognized by the
recognition unit 40, and then the banknotes are sent to the
dispensing unit 14 so as to be stored into the dispensing unit 14.
In this manner, an operator can take out the banknotes stored
in the dispensing unit 14, as changed banknotes, from the
dispensing unit 14.
[0046]
In the banknote handling apparatus in this embodiment,
when the depositing process and the money change process are
performed, the control unit 70 controls the transport unit 18
such that the banknote whose serial number has been read out
by the recognition unit 40 and the banknote whose serial
number has not been read out by the recognition unit 40 are
stored into different storing units 52. Note that a condition
where " the banknote whose serial number has been read out
by the recognition unit 40" is not limited to a case where all the
digits in the serial number of the banknote are correctly read
out by the recognition unit 40. The condition includes a case
where a serial number of the banknote is read out in such a
manner that at least the banknote can be specified, e.g., a case
where eight or more digits among ten digits in the serial
number are read out.
5 [0047]
In addition, the control unit 70 controls the transport unit
18 such that the banknotes having been recognized by the
recognition unit 40 are stored into the different storing units 52
deperidii~go n their denorriinations. In addition, the control unit
10 70 controls the transport unit 18 such that the banknote having
been recognized as a fit note by the recognition unit 40 and the
banknote having been recognized as an unfit note by the
recognition unit 40 are stored into the different storing units 52.
The unfit note includes a torn banknote that is restored by a
15 tape, for example. How to select one storing unit among the
six storing units 52 into which the banknote having been
recognized by the recognition unit 40 is stored is explained
below with reference to Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, there is explained a
case in which the banknotes to be stored into the respective
20 storing units 52 are the banknotes of Chinese yuan. However,
the banknotes to be stored into the respective storing units 52
are not limited to the banknotes of Chinese yuan, and the
banknotes of Japanese yen, US dollar, euro and so on may be
stored into the respective storing units 52.
2 5 [0048]
As shown in Fig. 3, in the banknote handling apparatus 1
in this embodiment, while the depositing process or the money
change process is being performed, when the fitness of the
banknote is recognized by the recognition unit 40, the
30 determination of the fit notes is performed into two grades. To
be more specific, there are two grades for the determination of
the fit note: one is an ATM-Fit note which is close to a new
banknote so that it can be loaded into an ATM (Automated-Teller
Machine) and can be dispensed from the ATM; and the other is a
35 Teller-Fit note which is more stained as compared with an
ATM-Fit note so that it cannot be loaded into an ATM but can be
dispensed to a customer in a bank counter or the like. Namely,
the recognition unit 40 is configured to recognize the fitness of
the banknote as three grades, i.e., an ATM-Fit note, a Teller-Fit
note, and an Unfit note. In Fig. 3, the banknote having been
5 recognized as an ATM-Fit note by the recognition unit 40 is
stored into the storing unit (storing unit 52a) having a mark "0"
in the ATM-Fit column. The banknote having been recognized
as a Teller-Fit note by the recognition unit 40 is stored into one
che storing units (sror-rng units 52u, 52c, 52a and 52e) having
10 the mark "0" in the Teller-Fit column. The banknote having
been recognized as the unfit note by the recognition unit 40 is
stored into the storing unit (storing unit 52f) having the mark
"0" in the Unfit note column.
[0049]
15 As shown in Fig. 3, in the banknote handling apparatus 1
in this embodiment, when the depositing process or the money
change process is performed, the banknote whose serial number
has been read out by the recognition unit 40 is stored into one
of the storing units 52a, 52b and 52c. Meanwhile, the
20 banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit 40 is stored into the storing unit 52d or 52e.
As described above, the unfit note is stored into the storing unit
52f. Thus, the banknote whose serial number has been read
out by the recognition unit 40 and the banknote whose serial
25 number has not been read out by the recognition unit 40 are
stored into the storing unit 52f in a mixed state. Among the
storing units 52a, 52b and 52c into which the banknote whose
serial number has been read out by the recognition unit 40 is
stored, the banknote having been recognized as an ATM-Fit note
30 by the reaction unit 40 is stored into the storing unit 52a, and
the banknote having been recognized as a Teller-Fit note by the
recognition unit 40 is stored into the storing unit 52b or 52c, as
described above. In addition, the banknotes are stored into the
storing units 52b and 52c depending on their denominations.
35 To be more specific, the banknote of 100 yuan is stored into the
storing unit 52b, while the banknote of 50 yuan is stored into
the storing unit 52c. Note that the banknote of 100 yuan is
stored also into the storing unit 52a.
[0050]
On the other hand, as described above, the banknote
5 whose serial number has not been recognized by the recognition
unit 40 is stored into the storing unit 52d or 52e. Specifically,
the banknotes are stored into the storing units 52d and 52e
depending on their denominations. To be more specific, the
banknote of 100 yuan is stored into the storing unit 52d, while
10 the banknote of 50 yuan is stored into the storing unit 52e. In
addition, the unfit note is stored into the storing unit 52f.
Specifically, the unfit notes are stored into the storing unit 52f
in a denomination mixed state.
[0051]
As to the banknote having been stored into the storing
unit 52a, the banknote in the storing unit 52a can be directly
loaded into an ATM, after an operator has taken out the whole
storing unit 52a outside of the machine body 2. On the other
hand, as to the banknotes having been stored into the storing
20 units 52b, 52c, 52d and 52e, the banknotes in the storing units
52b, 52c, 52d and 52e cannot be directly loaded into an ATM,
but the banknotes can be dispensed to a customer in the
banknote counter or the like, after an operator has taken out
the whole storing units 52b, 52c, 52d and 52e outside of the
25 machine body 2. In addition, since the banknote having been
stored into the storing unit 52f is the unfit note, the banknote
cannot be dispensed to a customer. The banknote is returned
to a central bank or the like.
[0052]
30 As described above, according to the banknote handling
apparatus 1 in this embodiment, the recognition unit 40 is
configured to read out a serial number of the banknote having
been put into the machine body 2, while the control unit 70
controls the transport unit 18 such that the banknote whose
35 serial number has been read out by the recognition unit 40 and
the banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit 40 are stored into the different storing units 52.
Thus, even when only the banknote whose serial number is
managed is used as the banknote to be loaded into an ATM or
as the banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a bank
5 counter, since the banknote whose serial number has been read
out by the recognition unit 40 and the banknote whose serial
number has not been read out by the recognition unit 40 are
managed - in a physically separated manner, the banknote having
been stored into the storing unit 52 by a depositing process and
10 so on can be directly used as the banknote to be loaded into an
ATM or as the banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a bank
counter.
100531
In addition, in the banknote handling apparatus 1 in this
15 embodiment, the recognition unit 40 is configured to recognize
the denomination of the banknote, while the control unit 70
controls the transport unit 18 such that the banknotes having
been recognized by the recognition unit 40 are stored into the
different storing units 52 depending on their denominations. In
20 addition, the recognition unit 40 is configured to recognize the
fitness of the banknote, while the control unit 70 controls the
transport unit 18 such that the banknote having been
recognized as the fit note by the recognition unit 40 and the
banknote having been recognized as the unfit note by the
25 recognition unit 40 are stored into the different storing units 52.
[0054]
In the banknote handling apparatus 1 shown in Fig. 1,
the control unit 70 controls the transport unit 18 such that,
when the banknote is recognized as the fit note by the
30 recognition unit 40, the banknote whose serial number has been
read out by the recognition unit 40 and the banknote whose
serial number has not been read out by the recognition unit 40
are stored into the different storing units 52 (see storing units
52b, 52c, 52d and 52e in Fig. 3), and that, when the banknote
35 is recognized as the unfit note by the recognition unit 40, the
banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
recognition unit 40 and the banknote whose serial number has
not been read out by the recognition unit 40 are stored into the
same storing unit (storing unit 52f in Fig. 3).
[0055]
5 In addition, in the banknote handling apparatus 1 in this
embodiment, when the fitness of the banknote is recognized,
the recognition unit 40 determines the fitness of the banknote
into three grades (ATM-Fit note, Teller-Fit note, Unfit note). In
more detail, when the fitness of the banknote is recognized, the
10 recognition unit 40 determines the fit note into two grades
(ATM-Fit note, Teller-Fit note). The control unit 70 controls the
transport unit 18 such that the banknotes of different grades of
the banknote fitness determination are stored into the different
storing units 52. As a modification example, when the fitness
15 of the banknote is recognized, the recognition unit 40 may
determine the fitness of the banknote into two grades: one is
the fit note and the other is the unfit note. Alternatively, as
another modification example, the recognition unit may 40 may
determine the fitness of the banknote into four or more grades.
20 In addition, as yet another modification example, the control
unit 70 may control the transport unit 18 such that the fit notes
whose serial numbers have not been read out by the recognition
unit 40 are stored into the same storing unit, regardless of the
grade of the determination for the fit note.
[0056]
In addition, in the banknote handling apparatus 1 in this
embodiment, the storing unit 52, which is configured to store
the banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
recognition unit 40, is formed of a cassette that is detachable by
30 an operator from inside the machine body 2 of the banknote
handling apparatus 1.
[0057]
In addition, in the banknote handling apparatus 1 in this
embodiment, the image data of the banknote whose serial
35 number has not been read out by the recognition unit 40 is
captured by the imaging unit, and the image data of the
banknote is stored in the memory unit 72. At this time, the
image data of the banknote having been captured by the
imaging unit are stored in the memory unit 72 such that the
image data of the banknote is associated with the transaction
5 data of the banknote in the banknote handling apparatus 1.
Thus, an operator can trace (follow) the banknote whose serial
number has not been read out by the recognition unit 40.
When a process speed of the control unit 70 and/or a storage
capacity of the memory unit 72 are/is allowed, the image data
10 of the banknote whose serial number has been read out may be
captured, and the image data of the banknote may be stored in
the memory unit 72 and/or associated with the transaction
data.
[0058]
The banknote handling apparatus 1 in this embodiment is
not limited to the above one, but can be variously modified.
[0059]
For example, when the depositing process is performed,
the control unit 70 is not configured to control the transport unit
20 18 such that the banknote whose serial number has been read
out by the recognition unit 40 and the banknote whose serial
number has not been read out by the recognition unit 40 are
stored into the different storing units 52. Instead, the control
unit 70 may be configured to control the transport unit 18 such
25 that the banknote whose serial number has been read out by
the recognition unit 40 is stored into one of the storing units 52,
and that the banknote whose serial number has not been
recognized by the recognition unit 40 is returned outside of the
machine body 2. More specifically, when the depositing process
30 is performed, the control unit 70 controls the transport unit 18
such that the banknote whose serial number has not been read
out by the recognition unit 40 is sent to the deposited-money
reject unit 16. Then, an operator can take out the banknote
having been sent to the deposited-money reject unit 16, from
35 the deposited-money reject unit 16. According to the banknote
handling apparatus 1 in such a modification example, even
when only the banknote whose serial number is managed is
used as the banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as the
banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a bank counter, since
the banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
5 recognition unit 40 and the banknote whose serial number has
not been read out by the recognition unit 40 are managed in a
physically separated manner, the banknote having been stored
into the storing unit 52 by the depositing process or the like can
be directly used as the banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as
10 the banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a bank counter.
[0060]
In addition, in the banknote handling apparatus 1 in such
a modification example, the recognition unit 40 may be
configured to recognized the denomination of the banknote,
15 while the control unit 70 may be configured to control the
transport unit 18 such that the banknotes are stored into the
different storing units 52 depending on denominations of the
banknotes having been recognized by the recognition unit 40.
In addition, the recognition unit 40 may be configured to
20 recognize the fitness of the banknote, while the control unit 70
may be configured to control the transport unit 18 such that the
banknote having been recognized as the fit note by the
recognition unit 40 and the banknote having been recognized as
the unfit note are stored into the different storing units 52.
25 [0061]
In addition, in the banknote handling apparatus 1 in the
aforementioned modification example, when the fitness of the
banknote is recognized, the recognition unit 40 may determine
the fitness of the banknote into three or more grades (e.g.,
30 ATM-Fit note, Teller-Fit note, Unfit note and so on). The control
unit 70 may be configured to control the transport unit 18 such
that the banknotes of different grades of the banknote fitness
determination are stored into the different storing units 52.
[0062]
In addition, in the banknote handling apparatus 1 in the
aforementioned modification example, the storing unit 52,
which is configured to store the banknote whose serial number
has been read out by the recognition unit 40, may be formed of
a cassette that is detachable by an operator from inside the
machine body 2 of the banknote handling apparatus 1.
5 [0063]
In addition, as the banknote handling apparatus 1 in still
another modification example, the following embodiment can be
employed. Namely, in the banknote handling apparatus 1 in
still another modification example, the control unit 70 is
10 configured to selectively perform any one of two operation
modes, i.e., a first operation mode in which the control unit 70
controls the transport unit 18 such that the banknote whose
serial number has been read out by the recognition unit 40 and
the banknote whose serial number has to been read out by the
15 recognition unit 40 are stored into the different storing units 52,
and a second operation mode in which the control unit 70
controls the transport unit 18 such that the banknote whose
serial number has been read out by the recognition unit 40 and
the banknote whose serial number has not been recognized by
20 the recognition unit 40 are stored into the same storing unit 52.
Switching of the operation between the first operation mode and
the second operation mode in the control unit 70 is performed
by an operator who gives a command for performing the first or
second operation mode to the control unit 70 through the
25 operation display unit 4. According to such the banknote
handling apparatus 1, when only the banknote whose serial
number is managed is used as the banknote to be loaded into
an ATM or as the banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a
bank counter, an operator gives a command for performing the
30 first operation mode, whereby the banknote whose serial
number has been read out by the recognition unit 40 and the
banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit 40 can be managed in a physically separated
manner. Thus, the banknote having been stored into the
35 storing unit 52 by the depositing process or the like can be
directly used as the banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as the
banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a bank counter.
[0064]
In addition, as the banknote handling apparatus 1 in yet
another modification example, the following embodiment can be
5 employed. Namely, in the banknote handling apparatus 1 in
yet another modification example, the control unit 70 may be
configured to selectively perform one of two operation modes,
i.e., a third operation modes in which the control unit 70
controls the transport unit 18 such that the banknote whose
10 serial number has been read out by the recognition unit 40 is
stored into one of the storing units 52, and that the banknote
whose serial number has not been read out by the recognition
unit 40 is returned to the outside of the machine body 2, and a
fourth operation mode in which the control unit 70 controls the
15 transport unit 18 such that the banknote whose serial number
has been read out by the recognition unit 40 and the banknote
whose serial number has not been read out by the recognition
unit 450 are stored into the storing unit 52. Switching of the
operation between the third operation mode and the fourth
20 operation mode in the control unit 70 is performed by an
operator whose gives a command for performing the third or
fourth operation mode to control unit 70 through the operation
display unit 4. According to such the banknote handling
apparatus 1, when only the banknote whose serial number is
25 managed is used as the banknote to be loaded into an ATM or
as the banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a bank
counter, an operator gives a command for performing the third
operation mode, whereby the banknote whose serial number
has been read out by the recognition unit 40 and the banknote
30 whose serial number has not been read out by the recognition
unit 40 can be managed in a physically separated manner.
Thus, the banknote having been stored into the storing unit 52
by the depositing process or the like can be directly used as the
banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as the banknote to be
35 dispensed to a customer in a bank counter.
[0065]
Other than the banknote handling apparatus according to
the present invention having the structure shown in Fig. 1,
apparatuses having structures shown in Figs. 4 and 5 can be
5 employed. The banknote handling apparatus 101 shown in Fig.
4 includes a depositing and dispensing unit 110 having a
depositing unit 112 and a dispensing unit 114. The depositing
unit 112 is configured to feed one by one the banknote(s)
having been put into the depositing unit 112, to an inside of a
10 machine body (housing) 102. A transport unit 118 is disposed
inside the machine body 102, so that the banknotes having
been fed one by one to the inside of the machine body 102 are
transported one by one, by the transport unit 118. In addition,
the transport unit 118 is connected to the dispensing unit 114,
15 so that the banknotes are sent one by one from the transport
unit 118 to the dispensing unit 114.
[0066]
A recognition unit 140 is provided at the transport unit
118, so that the banknote transported by the transport unit 118
20 is recognized by the recognition unit 140 as to its denomination,
authenticity, fitness and so on. In addition, the recognition unit
140 is provided with an imaging unit configured to capture the
image of the banknote so as to obtain the image data of the
banknote. Based on the image data of the banknote captured
25 by the imaging unit, the recognition unit 140 is configured to
read out a serial number of the banknote. The imaging unit
may also use the image sensor used for recognizing the
denomination of the banknote and/or the fitness of the
banknote of the banknote. Alternatively, an imaging camera
30 142 may be installed separately from the image sensor.
[0067]
In addition, as shown in Fig. 4, the banknote handling
apparatus 101 has, inside the machine body 102, a plurality of
(specifically four) storing units 152 which are configured to
35 store the banknotes in a stacked state. Each of the storing
units 152 is connected to the transport unit 118, so that the
banknotes are sent to the respective storing units 152 so as to
be stored therein in a stacked state. Each storing unit 152 is
provided with a feeding mechanism 154, so that the
banknote(s) stored in each storing unit 152 can be fed out one
5 by one to the transport unit 118 by the feeding mechanism 154.
In the banknote handling apparatus 101 in this embodiment,
each storing unit 152 is formed of a cassette that is detachable
by an operator from inside the machine body 102. Thus, by
detaching each storing unit 152 from the machine body 102, an
10 operator can collect the banknote(s) stored in the storing unit
152.
[0068]
In addition, the banknote handling apparatus 101 shown
in Fig. 4 is provided with a storage unit 160. The storage unit
15 160 is divided into two storing units for storing the banknote,
i.e., an upper storing unit and a lower storing unit. To be more
specific, the storage unit 160 has an upper storing unit 162a
and a lower storing unit 162 that are configured to store the
banknotes in a stacked state, and feeding mechanisms 164a
20 and 164b configured to feed one by one the banknotes stored in
the respective storing units 162a and 162b to the transport unit
118. In the banknote handling apparatus 101 in this
embodiment, the storage unit 160 is formed of a cassette that is
detachable by an operator from inside the machine body 102.
25 Thus, by detaching the storing unit 160 from the machine body
102, an operator can collect the banknote(s) stored in the
storage unit 160.
[0069]
Iri addition, as shown in Fig. 4, a control unit 170 is
30 disposed inside the machine body 102 of the banknote handling
apparatus 101. The respective constituent elements of the
banknote handling apparatus 101 are controlled by the control
unit 170.
[0070]
3 5 More specifically, the control unit 170 controls the
transport unit 118 such that the banknote whose serial number
has been read out by the recognition unit 140 and the banknote
whose serial number has not been read out by the recognition
unit 140 are stored into the different storing units 152, 162a
and 162b. Thus, even when only the banknote whose serial
number is mange is used as the banknote to be loaded into an
ATM or as the banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a bank
counter, since the banknote whose serial number has been read
out by the recognition unit 140 and the banknote whose serial
number has not been read out by the recognition unit 140 are
managed in a physically separated manner, the banknote having
been stored into one the storing units 152, 162a and 162b by
the depositing process or the like can be directly used as the
banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as the banknote to be
dispensed to a customer in a bank counter.
[0071]
As a modification example of the banknote handling
apparatus 101 shown in Fig. 4, the control unit 170 may be
configured to control the transport unit 118 such that the
banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
recognition unit 140 is stored into one the storing units 152,
162a and 162b, and that the banknote whose serial number has
not been recognized by the recognition unit 140 is returned
outside of the machine body 102. More specifically, when the
depositing process or the like is performed, the control unit 170
controls the transport unit 118 such that the banknote whose
serial number has not been recognized by the recognition unit
140 is sent to the dispensing unit 114. Thus, an operator can
take out the banknote having been stored into the dispensing
unit 114, from the dispensing unit 114. Also in this case, since
the banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
recognition unit 140 and the banknote whose serial number has
not been read out by the recognition unit 140 are managed in a
physically separated manner, the banknote having been stored
into one of the storing units 152, 162a and 162b by the
depositing process or the like can be directly used as the
banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as the banknote to be
dispensed to a customer in a bank counter.
[0072]
The banknote handling apparatus 201 shown in Fig. 5
includes a depositing and dispensing unit 210 having a
5 depositing unit 212 and a dispensing unit 214. The depositing
unit 212 is configured to feed one by one the banknote(s)
having been put into the depositing unit 212 to an inside of a
machine body (housing) 202. A transport unit 218 is disposed
inside the machine body 202, so that the banknotes having
10 been fed one by one to the inside of the machine body 202 are
transported one by one, by the transport unit 218. In addition,
the transport unit 218 is connected to the dispensing unit 214,
so that the banknotes are sent one by one from the transport
unit 218 to the dispensing unit 214.
15 [0073]
A recognition unit 240 is provided at the transport unit
218, so that the banknote transported by the transport unit 218
is recognized by the recognition unit 240 as to its denomination,
authenticity, fitness and so on. In addition, the recognition unit
20 240 is provided with an imaging unit configured to capture the
image of the banknote so as to obtain the image data of the
banknote. Based on the image data of the banknote captured
by the imaging unit, the recognition unit 240 is configured to
read out a serial number of the banknote. The imaging unit
25 may also use the image sensor used for recognizing the
denomination of the banknote and/or the fitness of the
banknote of the banknote. Alternatively, an imaging camera
242 may be installed separately from the image sensor.
[0074]
30 In addition, as shown in Fig. 5, the banknote handling
apparatus 201 has, inside the machine body 102, a plurality of
(specifically eight) storing units 252 which are configured to
store the banknote(s). Each storing unit 252 is of a
tape-reeling type. To be more specific, each storing unit 252
35 has a drum 254 that is rotatable in forward and rearward
directions. A pair of tapes is reeled up by the drum 254. The
banknotes having been sent from the transport unit 218 to each
storing unit 252 are sequentially reeled up one by one by the
drum 254 so as to be stored in the storing unit 252, while the
banknotes are sandwiched between the pair of tapes. When
5 the drum 254 is rotated in the rearward direction, the reeled-up
banknotes are fed out one by one to be sent to the transport
unit 218. In the banknote handling apparatus 201 in this
embodiment, each storing unit 252 is formed of a cassette that
is detachable by an operator from inside the machine body 202.
10 Thus, by detaching each storing unit 252 from the machine
body 202, an operator can collect the banknote(s) stored in the
storing unit 252.
[0075]
In addition, as shown in Fig. 5, a control unit 270 is
15 disposed inside the machine body 202 of the banknote handling
apparatus 201. The respective constituent elements of the
banknote handling apparatus 201 are controlled by the control
unit 270.
[0076]
20 More specifically, the control unit 270 controls the
transport unit 218 such that the banknote whose serial number
has been read out by the recognition unit 240 and the banknote
whose serial number has not been read out by the recognition
unit 240 are stored into the different storing units 252. Thus,
25 even when only the banknote whose serial number is managed
is used as the banknote to be loaded into an ATM or as the
banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a bank counter, since
the banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
recognition unit 240 and the banknote whose serial number has
30 not been read out by the recognition unit 240 are managed in a
physically separated manner, the banknote having been stored
into one of the storing units 252 by the depositing process or
the like can be directly used as the banknote to be loaded into
an ATM or as the banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a
35 bank counter.
[0077]
As a modification example of the banknote handling
apparatus 201 shown in Fig. 5, the control unit 270 may be
configured to control the transport unit 218 such that the
5 banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
recognition unit 240 is stored into one of the storing units 252,
and that the banknote whose serial number has not been
recognized by the recognition unit 240 is returned outside of the
machine body 202. More specifically, when the depositing
10 process or the like is performed, the control unit 270 controls
the transport unit 218 such that the banknote whose serial
number has not been recognized by the recognition unit 240 is
sent to the dispensing unit 214. Thus, an operator can take
out the banknote having been stored into the dispensing unit
15 214, from the dispensing unit 214. Also in this case, since the
banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
recognition unit 240 and the banknote whose serial number has
not been read out by the recognition unit 240 are managed in a
physically separated manner, the banknote having been stored
20 into the storing units 252 by the depositing process or the like
can be directly used as the banknote to be loaded into an ATM
or as the banknote to be dispensed to a customer in a bank
counter
[0078]
25 1 Banknote handling apparatus
18 Transport unit
40 Recognition unit
Imaging camera
Storing unit
Control unit
Memory unit
Banknote handling apparatus
Transport unit
Recognition unit
Imaging camera
Storing unit
162b Storing unit
Control unit
Banknote handling apparatus
Transport unit
Recognition unit
Imaging camera
Storing unit
Control unit

CLAIMS
1. A banknote handling apparatus comprising:
a plurality of storing units configured to store a
banknote;
a transport unit configured to transport the banknote
having been put into a machine body to each of the storing
units;
a recognition unit disposed at the transport unit and
configured to read out a serial number of the banknote having
been put into the machine body; and
a control unit configured to control the transport unit
such that the banknote whose serial number has been read out
by the recognition unit and the banknote whose serial number
has not been read out by the recognition unit are stored into
different storing units.
2. The banknote handling apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein:
the recognition unit is configured to recognize a
denomination of the banknote; and
the control unit controls the transport unit such that the
banknotes of different denominations having been recognized by
the recognition unit are stored into the different storing units.
3. The banknote handling apparatus according to claim 1 or
2, wherein:
the recognition unit is configured to recognize the fitness
of the banknote; and
the control unit controls the transport unit such that the
banknote having been recognized as a fit note by the
recognition unit and the banknote having been recognized as an
unfit note are stored into the different storing units.
4. A banknote handling apparatus comprising:
a plurality of storing units configured to store a
banknote;
a transport unit configured to transport the banknote
having been put into a machine body to each of the storing
units;
a recognition unit disposed at the transport unit and
configured to read out a serial number of the banknote having
been put into the machine body; and
a control unit configured to control the transport unit;
wherein:
the recognition unit is configured to recognize the fitness
of the banknote; and
when the banknote is recognized as a fit note by the
recognition unit, the control unit controls the transport unit such
that the banknote whose serial number has been read out by
the recognition unit and the banknote whose serial number has
not been read out by the recognition unit are stored into
different storing units; and
when the banknote is recognized as an unfit note by the
recognition unit, the control unit controls the transport unit such
that the banknote whose serial number has been read out by
the recognition unit and the banknote whose serial number has
not been read out by the recognition unit are stored into the
same storing unit.
5. The banknote handling apparatus according to claim 3 or
4, wherein:
when the fitness of the banknote is recognized, the
recognition unit determines the fitness of the banknote into
three or more grades; and
the control unit controls the transport unit such that the
banknotes of different grades of the banknote fitness
determination are stored into the different storing units.
6. The banknote handling apparatus according to claim 3 or
4, wherein
when the fitness of the banknote is recognized, the
recognition unit determines the fit note into two grades; and
the control unit controls the transport unit such that the
fit notes whose serial numbers have not been read out by the
recognition unit are stored into the same storing unit,
regardless of the grade of the determination for the fit note.
7. The banknote handling apparatus according to any one of
claims 1 to 6, wherein
the storing unit configured to store the banknote whose
serial number has been read out by the recognition unit is a
cassette that is detachable from inside the machine body of the
banknote handling apparatus.
8. The banknote handling apparatus according to any one of
claims 1 to 7, further comprising:
an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a
banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit; and
a memory unit configured to store an image data of the
banknote having been captured by the imaging unit.
9. The banknote handling apparatus according to claim 8,
wherein
the image data of the banknote having been captured by
the imaging unit is stored in the memory unit in such a manner
that the image data is associated with a transaction data.
10. A banknote handling apparatus comprising:
a storing unit configured to store a banknote;
a transport unit configured to transport the banknote
having been put into a machine body to the storing unit, or to
return it outside of the machine body;
a recognition unit disposed at the transport unit and
configured to read out a serial number of the banknote having
been put into the machine body; and
a control unit configured to control the transport unit
such that the banknote whose serial number has been read out
by the recognition unit is stored into the storing unit, and that
the banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit is returned outside of the machine body.
11. The banknote handling apparatus according to claim 10,
wherein
the recognition unit is configured to recognize a
denomination of the banknote.
12. The banknote handling apparatus according to claim 10
or 11, wherein
the recognition unit is configured to recognize the fitness
of the banknote.
13. The banknote handling apparatus according to claim 12,
wherein
when the fitness of the banknote is recognized, the
recognition unit determines the fitness of the banknote into
three or more grades.
14. The banknote handling apparatus according to any one of
claims 10 to 13, wherein
the storing unit configured to store a banknote whose
serial number has been read out by the recognition unit is a
cassette that is detachable from inside the machine body of the
banknote handling apparatus.
15. A banknote handling apparatus comprising:
a plurality of storing units configured to store a
ban knote;
a transport unit configured to transport the banknote
having been put into a machine body to each of the storing
units;
a recognition unit disposed at the transport unit and
configured to read out a serial number of the banknote having
been put into the machine body; and
a control unit configured to selectively perform any one
of two operation modes including a first operation mode wherein
the control unit controls the transport unit such that the
banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
recognition unit and the banknote whose serial number has not
been read out by the recognition unit are stored into different
storing units, and a second operation mode wherein the control
un~tL ontrors tile transport unit such that the banknote whose
serial number has been read out by the recognition unit and the
banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit are stored into the same storing unit.
16. A banknote handling apparatus comprising:
a storing unit configured to store a banknote;
a transport unit configured to transport the banknote
having been put into a machine body to the storing unit, or to
return it outside of the machine body;
a recognition unit disposed at the transport unit and
configured to read out a serial number of the banknote having
been put into the machine body; and
a control unit configured to selectively perform any one
of two operation modes including a third operation mode
wherein the control unit controls the transport unit such that
the banknote whose serial number has been read out by the
recognition unit is stored into the storing unit, and that the
banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit is returned outside of the machine body, and a
fourth operation mode wherein the banknote whose serial
number has been read out by the recognition unit and the
banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit are stored into the storing unit.
17. A banknote handling method to be performed in a
banknote handling apparatus, comprising:
reading out a serial number of a banknote having been
put into a machine body of the banknote handling apparatus by
a recognition unit; and
storing the banknote whose serial number has been read
out by the recognition unit and the banknote whose serial
number has not been read out by the recognition unit into
different storing units.
18. - A banknote handlina methnd tcr he perforn~c! in 5
banknote handling apparatus, comprising:
reading out a serial number of a banknote having been
put into a machine body of the banknote handling apparatus by
a recognition unit; and
storing the banknote whose serial number has been read
out by the recognition unit into a storing unit, and returning the
banknote whose serial number has not been read out by the
recognition unit outside of the machine body.