DESCRIPTION
Money Handling Machine, Money Handling System, Money
Handling Method and Valuable-Medium Handling Machine
5
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
The present invention relates to a money handling
machine configured to handle money such as banknotes, coins
10 and so on, a money handling system including the money
handling machine, and a money handling method for handling
money by means of the money handling machine. In addition,
the present invention relates to a valuable-medium handling
machine configured to handle valuable media such as gift tickets,
15 checks and so on.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
In a store such as a supermarket, a convenience store
20 and so on, there has been conventionally installed a deposit
machine that performs a deposit process by depositing sales
proceeds of the store and recognizing/counting the sales
proceeds (see, for example, JP3542051B and JP3711068B).
The conventional deposit machine is configured to store only
25 money that could be recognized by a recognition unit of the
deposit machine, and is configured to transmit
money-deposit-data to an external apparatus. On the other
hand, an unfit note/an unfit coin that cannot be recognized by
the recognition unit of the deposit machine, and a valuable
30 medium other than cash, such as a gift ticket, a check and so
on, are not put into the deposit machine but separately
managed by issuing a handwritten voucher.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
35 [0003]
In addition, as disclosed in JP3542051B or the like, in the
#
conventional cash management system, when an armoured car
company takes charge of security of a store by contract, a staff
of the armoured car company regularly collects money and
valuable medium stored in the deposit machine. When the
5 money and the valuable media stored in the deposit machine
have been collected by the staff of the armoured car company, a
cash center under the management authority of the armoured
car company transfers cash, which corresponds to a total
amount of the collected money and the collected valuable media,
10 to a bank account under the management authority of the store.
Namely, the cash corresponding to the total amount of the
money and the valuable media having been collected from the
deposit machine by the staff of the armoured car company is
transferred to the bank account under the management
15 authority of the store.
[0004]
In such a cash management system, a money recognition
result by the recognition unit of the deposit machine is
transmitted from the deposit machine to the cash center under
20 the management authority of the armoured car company. On
the other hand, an unfit note/an unfit coin that cannot be
recognized by the recognition unit of the deposit machine, and a
valuable medium other than cash, such as a gift ticket, a check
and so on, are managed based on a handwritten voucher,
25 separately from the deposit machine. Such a valuable medium
is handed to the staff of the armoured car company who collects
money in the deposit machine, and is then brought to the cash
center. However, since the valuable medium is separately
managed outside the deposit machine, another labor is needed
30 therefor.
[0005]
In the aforementioned cash management system, the
contents described in the voucher brought back to the cash
center and the actual valuable medium are compared to each
35 other. When the fact that the contents described in the
voucher and the actual valuable medium conform to each other
#
has been confirmed, cash is transferred to the bank account
under the management authority of the store. Thus, since the
cash transfer operation to the bank account under the
management authority of the store cannot be promptly
5 performed, there is a problem for the store because it takes
long time for cash corresponding to the total amount of the
money and the valuable medium, which have been collected
from the deposit machine, to be transferred to the bank account
under the management authority of the store. In addition,
10 when money cannot be deposited into the deposit machine, a
manager of the store sometimes deposits another money in
hand, which is not desirable in terms of cash management.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the
15 above circumstances. The object of the present invention is to
provide a money handling machine, a money handling system
and a money handling method, which are capable of promptly
transferring cash to a bank account under the management
authority of a store, and are capable of comparing information
20 related to a valuable medium, which has been transmitted from
the money handling machine to an external apparatus, and the
valuable medium, which has been actually collected from the
money handling machine and brought to the external apparatus,
with each other.
25 [0007]
In addition, another object of the present invention is to
provide a valuable-medium handling machine which is capable
of promptly transferring cash to a bank account under the
management authority of a store, and is capable of comparing
30 information related to a second valuable medium, which has
been transmitted from the valuable-medium handling machine
to an external apparatus, and the second valuable medium,
which has been actually collected from the valuable-medium
handling machine and brought to the external apparatus, with
35 each other.
[0008]
The money handling machine of the present invention is
a money handling machine including: a recognition unit
configured to recognize money; a storing unit configured to
store money having been recognized by the recognition unit,
5 and a valuable medium having not been recognized by the
recognition unit; an input unit for inputting information related
to the valuable medium to be stored into the storing unit; and a
control unit configured to transmit a money recognition result
by the recognition unit and information related to the valuable
10 medium having been inputted through the input unit,
distinguishably from each other, to an external apparatus.
[0009]
According to such a money handling machine, since the
money recognition result by the recognition unit and the
15 information related to the valuable medium, which has been
inputted through the input unit, are transmitted to the external
apparatus, a cash transfer operation to a bank account under
the management authority of the store can be promptly
performed by the external apparatus. In addition, in the
20 external apparatus, the information related to the valuable
medium, which has been transmitted from the money handling
machine, and the valuable medium, which has been actually
collected from the money handling machine and brought to the
external apparatus, can be compared to each other.
25 [0010]
Another money handling machine of the present
invention is a money handling machine including: a recognition
unit configured to recognize money; a storing unit configured to
store money having been recognized by the recognition unit,
30 and a valuable medium having not been recognized by the
recognition unit; an input unit for inputting information related
to the valuable medium to be stored into the storing unit by a
manager having a first management authority; and a control
unit configured to transmit a money recognition result by the
35 recognition unit and information related to the valuable medium
having been inputted through the input unit, to an external
m
apparatus that is under a second management authority
different from the first management authority.
[0011]
According to such a money handling machine, since the
5 money recognition result by the recognition unit and the
information related to the valuable medium, which has been
inputted through the input unit, are transmitted to the external
apparatus that is under the second management authority
different from the first management authority, a cash transfer
10 operation to a bank account under the management authority of
the store can be promptly performed by the external apparatus.
In addition, in the external apparatus, the information related to
the valuable medium, which has been transmitted from the
money handling machine, and the valuable medium, which has
15 been actually collected from the money handling machine and
brought to the external apparatus, can be compared to each
other.
[0012]
In the money handling machine of the present invention,
20 the money and the valuable medium stored in the storing unit
may be under the second management authority.
[0013]
In the money handling machine of the present invention,
the control unit may be configured to transmit the money
25 recognition result by the recognition unit and the information
related to the valuable medium having been inputted through
the input unit, distinguishably from each other, to the external
apparatus.
[0014]
30 In addition, the control unit may be configured to
transmit the money recognition result by the recognition unit
and information related to a total amount of the money and the
valuable medium stored in the storing unit, distinguishably from
each other, to the external apparatus.
35 [0015]
In addition, the control unit may be configured to
6
transmit the information related to the valuable medium having
been inputted through the input unit, and information related to
a total amount of the money and the valuable medium stored in
the storing unit, distinguishably from each other, to the external
5 apparatus.
[0016]
In the money handling machine of the present invention,
the money having been recognized by the recognition unit and
the valuable medium having not been recognized by the
10 recognition unit may be stored in the storing unit in a mixed
state.
[0017]
Alternatively, the storing unit may be composed of a
plurality of storing portions, and the money having been
15 recognized by the recognition unit and the valuable medium
having not been recognized by the recognition unit may be
stored in different storing portions.
[0018]
In the money handling machine of the present invention,
20 a medium other than the valuable medium that is not
equivalated to an amount of money may be capable of being
stored into the storing unit; in storing a medium other than the
money having been recognized by the recognition unit into the
storing unit, whether or not the medium is a medium
25 equivalated to an amount of money is elected, and only when
the medium to be stored into the storing unit is a medium
equivalated to an amount of money, information related to an
amount of the medium may be inputted through the input unit.
[0019]
30 The money handling system of the present invention is a
money handling system including a money handling machine
configured to handle money, and an external apparatus located
distinguishably from the money handling machine and
communicably connected to the money handling machine,
35 wherein: the money handling machine including: a
recognition unit configured to recognize money; a storing unit
1^
configured to store money having been recognized by the
recognition unit, and a valuable medium having not been
recognized by the recognition unit; an input unit for inputting
information related to the valuable medium to be stored into the
5 storing unit; and a control unit configured to transmit a money
recognition result by the recognition unit and information
related to the valuable medium having been inputted through
the input unit, distinguishably from each other, to an external
apparatus; and the external apparatus is configured to process
10 the money recognition result by the recognition unit and the
information related to the valuable medium having been
inputted through the input unit, distinguishably from each other,
based on the information obtained from the money handling
machine.
15 [0020]
Another money handling system of the present invention
is a money handling system including a money handling
machine configured to handle money, and an external apparatus
located distinguishably from the money handling machine and
20 communicably connected to the money handling machine,
wherein: the money handling machine including: a recognition
unit configured to recognize money; a storing unit configured to
store money having been recognized by the recognition unit,
and a valuable medium having not been recognized by the
25 recognition unit; an input unit for inputting information related
to the valuable medium to be stored into the storing unit by a
manager having a first management authority; and a control
unit configured to transmit a money recognition result by the
recognition unit and information related to the valuable medium
30 having been inputted through the input unit, to an external
apparatus that is under a second management authority
different from the first management authority; and the external
apparatus is under a second management authority different
from the first management authority.
35 [0021]
The money handling method of the present invention is a
i^ 8
money handling method including: recognizing money by a
recognition unit; storing, into a storing unit, the money having
been recognized by the recognition unit and a valuable medium
having not been recognized by the recognition unit; inputting,
5 through an input unit, information related to the valuable
medium to be stored in the storing unit; and transmitting the
money recognition result by the recognition unit, and the
information related to the valuable medium having been
inputted through the input unit, distinguishably from each other,
10 to an external apparatus.
[0022]
Another money handling method of the present invention
is a money handling method including: recognizing money by a
recognition unit; storing, into a storing unit, the money having
15 been recognized by the recognition unit and a valuable medium
having not been recognized by the recognition unit; inputting,
through an input unit, information related to the valuable
medium to be stored in the storing unit by a manager having a
first management authority; and transmitting the money
20 recognition result by the recognition unit, and the information
related to the valuable medium having been inputted through
the input unit, to an external apparatus that is under a second
management authority different from the first management
authority.
25 [0023]
The valuable-medium handling machine of the present
invention is a valuable-medium handling machine including: a
recognition unit configured to recognize a valuable medium; a
storing unit configured to store a first valuable medium having
30 been recognized by the recognition unit and a second valuable
medium having not been recognized by the recognition unit; an
input unit for inputting information related to the second
valuable medium not recognized by the recognition unit but
stored in the storing unit, by a manager having a first
35 management authority; and a control unit configured to
transmit a recognition result of the first valuable medium by the
9
recognition unit and information related to the second valuable
medium having been inputted through the input unit, to an
external apparatus that is under a second management
authority different from the first management authority.
5 [0024]
According to such a valuable-medium handling machine,
since the recognition result of the first valuable medium by the
recognition unit, and the information related to the second
valuable medium, which has been inputted through the input
10 unit, are transmitted to the external apparatus that is under the
second management authority different from the first
management authority, a cash transfer operation to a bank
account under the management authority of the store can be
promptly performed by the external apparatus. In addition, in
15 the external apparatus, the information related to the second
valuable medium, which has been transmitted from the
valuable-medium handling machine, and the second valuable
medium, which has been actually collected from the
valuable-medium handling machine and brought to the external
20 apparatus, can be compared to each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025]
Fig. 1 is a view showing a structure of a money handling
25 system including a banknote deposit machine in one
embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure of the
banknote deposit machine in the money handling system shown
in Fig. 1;
30 Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the banknote deposit
machine shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a structural view showing a concrete structure of
a display and input unit of the banknote deposit machine shown
in Fig. 2 and so on;
35 Fig. 5 is a functional block view of the banknote deposit
machine shown in Fig. 2 and so on;
10
Fig. 6A is a flowchart showing a general flow of a deposit
process in the banknote deposit machine shown in Fig. 2 and so
on;
Fig. 6B is a flowchart showing an operation in which a
5 banknote is deposited into the banknote deposit machine shown
in Fig. 2 and so on, and the deposited banknote is
recognized/counted and stored into a storing cassette;
Fig. 7A is a flowchart showing an operation in which a
valuable medium is stored into the storing cassette of the
10 banknote deposit machine shown in Fig. 2 and so on;
Fig. 7B is a flowchart showing an operation in which a
valuable medium equivalated to an amount of money and/or a
medium not equivalated to an amount of money are selectively
stored into the storing cassette of the banknote deposit machine
15 shown in Figs. 2 and so on;
Fig. 7C is a view showing a display screen of a monitor of
the display and input unit, when a valuable medium equivalated
to an amount of money and/or a medium not equivalated to an
amount of money are selectively stored into the storing cassette
20 of the banknote deposit machine shown in Figs. 2 and so on;
and
Fig. 8 is a view showing contents of information
transmitted from a control unit of the banknote deposit machine
to a store sever and to a cash center.
25
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0026]
One embodiment of the present invention will be
explained herebelow with reference to the drawings. Figs. 1 to
30 8 are views showing a banknote deposit machine (money
handling machine) in this embodiment, and a money handling
system including the banknote deposit machine.
[0027]
Firstly, the money handling system provided with the
35 banknote deposit machine according to this embodiment is
explained with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the
11
money handling system includes the banknote deposit machine
1 configured to perform a banknote deposit process, a store
server 100 located separately from the banknote deposit
machine 1 and communicably connected with the banknote
5 deposit machine 1, a head office server 110 communicably
connected to the store server 100, and a cash center 200
located separately from the banknote deposit machine 1 and
communicably connected to the banknote deposit machine 1.
The banknote deposit machine 1 is installed in a store such as a
10 supermarket, a convenience store and so on. The banknote
deposit machine 1 is configured to perform a deposit process in
which sales proceeds of the store are deposited thereinto and
the sales proceeds are recognized/counted. In the banknote
deposit machine 1, when an unfit note/an unfit coin that cannot
15 be recognized by the banknote deposit machine 1 and/or a
valuable medium other than cash, such as a gift ticket, a check
and so on are stored into a storing cassette 70 (explained
below), such valuable medium is manually counted by a clerk
(operator) and an amount thereof is manually inputted to the
20 banknote deposit machine 1.
[0028]
The store server 100 is installed in a store where the
banknote deposit machine 1 is installed. The store server 100
corresponds to a higher-level apparatus of the banknote deposit
25 machine 1. On the other hand, the head office server 110 is
installed on a location (e.g., head office) different from the
respective stores, and is configured to put together information
from the respective stores.
[0029]
30 In addition, in the money handling system in this
embodiment, an armoured car company takes charge of security
of the store by agreement. The cash center 200 is under the
management authority of the armoured car company. The cash
center 200 is installed on a location different from the store
35 where the banknote deposit machine 1 is installed. A staff of
the armoured car company regularly collects a banknote(s) and
12
a valuable medium(media) stored in the banknote deposit
machine 1. After the banknote and the valuable medium
stored in the banknote deposit machine 1 have been collected
by a staff of the armoured car company, the collected banknote
5 and the collected valuable medium are delivered to the cash
center 200 by the staff of the armoured car company. The cash
center 200 under the management authority of the armoured
car company transmits, to a bank 300, information related to
cash corresponding to a total amount of the collected banknote
10 and the collected valuable media, as cash transfer information,
and transfers cash corresponding to the total amount to a bank
account under the management authority of the store. In this
manner, the cash corresponding to the total amount of the
banknote and the valuable medium, which have been collected
15 from the banknote deposit machine 1 by the staff of the
armoured car company, is transferred to the bank account under
the management authority of the store.
[0030]
Herebelow, a detailed structure of the banknote deposit
20 machine 1 is explained with reference to Figs. 2 to 5.
[0031]
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure of the
banknote deposit machine 1 in the money handling system
shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the banknote
25 deposit machine 1 shown in Fig 2. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3,
the banknote deposit machine 1 includes: a housing la, a
placement unit 20 disposed on the housing la, on which a
plurality of banknotes P are placed; a reception unit 25
configured to take the plurality of banknotes P placed on the
30 placement unit 20, one by one, into the housing l a ; a transport
unit 30 configured to transport the banknotes P having been
taken in by the reception unit 25; a stacking unit 60 configured
to stack the banknotes P having been transported by the
transport unit 30; a recognition unit 40 disposed on the
35 transport unit 30, the recognition unit 40 configured to
recognize a denomination and authenticity of the banknotes P
€ 13
transported by the transport unit 30 and to count the banknotes
P; and a storing cassette 70 configured to receive the banknotes
P having been staked in the stacking unit 60 so as to be stored
therein.
5 [0032]
As shown in Fig. 3, the reception unit 25 includes: a
kicker roller 26 configured to give a driving force to a banknote
P located undermost of the plurality of banknotes P placed on
the placement unit 20; and a feed roller 27a located on a
10 downstream side of the kicker roller 26 in a feeding direction of
the banknote P, the feed roller 27a configured to feed the
banknote P having been kicked out by the kicker roller 26 into
an inside of the housing la. A gate roller (reverse roller) 27b
is disposed oppositely to the feed roller 27a. A gate unit is
15 formed between the feed roller 27a and the gate roller 27b.
[0033]
In addition, as shown in Fig. 3, the transport unit 30 is
composed of a transport belt 31 configured to transport the
banknotes P, a transport roller 32 and so on. At a most
20 downstream position of the transport unit 30 and near to the
stacking unit 60, there is disposed a stacking wheel 35
configured to receive the banknotes P having been transported
by the transport unit 30, one by one, between vanes 35a so as
to align and stack the banknotes P in the stacking unit 60.
25 [0034]
In addition, as shown in Fig. 3, the stacking unit 60 has
such a shape that the stacked banknotes P are inclined toward a
front surface side. In the stacking unit 60, the banknotes P
having been sent from the transport unit 30 are supported by a
30 support unit 64, such that the banknotes P are stacked so as to
be inclined toward the front surface side in a standing condition.
In this patent application, the front surface side means a side
on which an operator places a banknote P on the placement unit
20 and takes a banknote P from the stacking unit 60. In Fig. 3,
35 the front surface side is the right side. On the other hand, in
this patent application, a rear surface side means a side
14
opposed to the front surface side, which is the left side in Fig. 3.
[0035]
In addition, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, disposed on the
front surface side of the stacking unit 60 is a front shutter unit
5 62 for opening and closing a front opening from which stacked
banknotes P are taken out from outside. The front shutter unit
62 is controlled by a below-described control unit 50, such that
the front shutter unit 62 cannot be opened at least while a
banknote P is transported to the storing cassette 70 by a
10 clamping transport mechanism 10 (explained below).
[0036]
In addition, as shown in Fig. 3, the stacking unit 60 is
provided with a clamping transport mechanism 10 configured to
clamp surfaces of banknotes P stacked in the stacking unit 60
15 and to transport the banknotes P in a direction parallel with the
surfaces, such that the banknotes P are stored into the storing
cassette 70. To be more specific, the clamping transport
mechanism 10 is configured to clamp a surface of a banknote P
that is located forefront of the banknotes P stacked in the
20 stacking unit 60 and a surface of a banknote P that is located
rearmost thereof, and is configured to simultaneously transport
the plurality of banknotes P to the storing cassette 70 (see
arrow Ai in Fig. 3).
[0037]
25 In addition, as shown in Fig. 3, the storing cassette 70 is
provided with a slit opening 71 for taking in the banknotes P
having been transported by the clamping transport mechanism
10, and a slit shutter unit 72 for opening and closing the slit
opening 71. The storing cassette 70 is stored in a storing
30 housing 75 shown in Fig. 2 such that the storing cassette 70 can
be drawn out therefrom. In addition, as shown in Fig. 2, by
opening a door 77, the storing cassette 70 can be loaded into
the banknote deposit machine 1 and removed therefrom. In
more detail, the door 77 is provided with a handle 76 and an
35 electromagnetic key (not shown). By controlling to unlock the
electromagnetic key, the handle 76 can be rotated to open the
15
door 77. The removal of the storing cassette 70 is carried out
by a staff of an armoured car company. An operation for
controlling to unlock the electromagnetic key and rotating the
handle 76 to open the door 77 may be set to be performed not
5 only by a staff of an armored car company but also by a clerk of
the store. The storing cassette 70 having been removed from
the storing housing 75 by a staff of the armoured car company
is brought to the cash center 200.
[0038]
10 A banknote flow when a banknote(s) is put into the
banknote deposit machine 1 and a flow of a valuable
medium(media) put thereinto from outside are briefly explained.
When a plurality of banknotes are placed on the placement unit
20 in order to put the banknotes into the banknote deposit
15 machine 1, the banknotes are taken, one by one, into an
apparatus body by the reception unit 25. The banknotes are
recognized by the recognition unit 40 and are then sent to the
stacking unit 60 or a reject unit 65. Thereafter, the banknotes
stacked in the stacking unit 60 are stored into the storing
20 cassette 70. When a valuable medium(media) is put into the
banknote deposit machine 1, the front shutter unit 62 of the
stacking unit 60 is opened. Then, an envelop containing the
valuable medium is set in the stacking unit 60, and the
envelope containing the valuable medium is stored into the
25 storing cassette 70.
[0039]
In this manner, in the banknote deposit machine 1 in this
embodiment, a banknote P and a valuable medium are stored in
a mixed state in the storing cassette 70. The banknote P and
30 the valuable medium stored in the storing cassette 70 are not
under the management authority of the store, but are under the
management authority of the armoured car company.
[0040]
In addition, as shown in Fig. 2, the housing la of the
35 banknote deposit machine 1 is provided with a display and input
unit 5 having a function of displaying predetermined information
^ 16
and a function for enabling data input. A concrete structure of
the display and input unit 5 is shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig.
4, the display and input unit 5 is composed of a monitor 5a
which displays a count result of a banknote(s) P and so on, and
5 a plurality of input keys 5b through which an operator inputs
various instructions. The monitor 5a is configured to display,
for example, the number of banknotes P stored in the storing
cassette 70 for each denomination. As shown in Fig. 4, the
plurality of input keys 5b are composed of a menu key, an
10 exchange key, a clear key, a return key, an upward arrow key, a
downward arrow key, a rightward arrow key, a leftward allow
key, a shift key, a mode key, a close key, a collection key, a
start/stop key and so on.
[0041]
15 In addition, as shown in Fig. 2, the housing la of the
banknote deposit machine 1 is provided with a printer 6
configured to print a count result of a banknote(s) P and so on,
numeric keys 7 through which an operator inputs various
numeric information to the below-described control unit 50, and
20 a card reading unit 8 configured to read an ID card held by an
operator for obtaining identification information of the operator.
[0042]
In addition, as shown in Fig. 3, the transport unit 30 is
provided with the reject unit 65 to which a banknote P is
25 transported, when some error occurs so that the banknote P is
not transported to the stacking unit 60.
[0043]
The error herein means a recognition error and a
transport error. The recognition error means that information
30 recognized by the recognition unit 40 does not confirm to
information stored in the control unit 50 in advance. For
example, the recognition error includes an error in which a
recognized banknote P is a banknote P whose kind is different
from a preset kind, an error in which a kind of a banknote P
35 could not be recognized, and so on.
[0044]
The transport error means an error generated while a
banknote(s) P is transported by the transport unit 30. For
example, the transport error includes an error in which a
banknote P is transported askew (skewed state), an error in
5 which a plurality of banknotes P are transported without a
predetermined interval therebetween (chain state), an error in
which a plurality of banknotes P are transported in a overlapped
manner (overlapped state) and so on.
[0045]
10 The banknote deposit machine 1 in this embodiment is
provided with the control unit 50 as shown in Fig. 5. The
control unit 50 is configured to control the respective
constituent elements of the banknote deposit machine 1. As
shown in Fig. 5, connected to the control unit 50 are the
15 reception unit 25, the transport unit 30, the recognition unit 40,
the front shutter unit 62, the clamping transport mechanism 10,
the slit shutter unit 72, the display and input unit 5, the printer
6, the numeric keys 7, the card reading unit 8 and so on.
Recognition/count information of a banknote(s) P having been
20 recognized/counted by the recognition unit 40 is transmitted to
the control unit 50. In addition, various instructions from an
operator inputted through the respective input keys 5b of the
display and input unit 5 and the numeric keys 7 are transmitted
to the control unit 50. In addition, ID information of an
25 operator having been read by the card reading unit 8 and so on
are also transmitted to the control unit 50. In addition, the
control unit 50 is configured to send control signals to the
respective constituent elements, such as the reception unit 25,
the transport unit 30, the front shutter unit 62, the clamping
30 transport mechanism 10, the slit shutter unit 72, the display
and input unit 5, the printer 6 and so on, so as to control these
constituent elements.
[0046]
In addition, as shown in Fig. 5, a memory unit 54 is
35 connected to the control unit 50. The memory unit 54 is
configured to store an apparatus ID for specifying the banknote
4$ 18
deposit machine 1, preset information such as an ID of an
operator who has a right to use the apparatus, a count result of
a banknote(s) P and so on.
[0047]
5 In addition, as shown in Fig. 5, an interface unit 56 is
connected to the control unit 50. Through the interface unit 56,
the control unit 50 can transmit a signal to an external
apparatus, such as the store server 100, the cash center 200
and so on, and can receive a signal therefrom.
10 [0048]
Next, an operation of the banknote deposit machine 1 as
structured above is explained.
[0049]
Firstly, a general flow of the deposit process in the
15 banknote deposit machine 1 is described with reference to the
flowchart shown in Fig. 6A. At the beginning, in the control
unit 50, it is confirmed whether a count/deposit process is
performed or not (STEP 101). To be specific, when an operator
inputs an instruction for performing a deposit process of a
20 banknote(s) P to the control unit 50 through the display and
input unit 5, the below-described count/deposit process is
performed (STEP 102). In addition, in the control unit 50, it is
confirmed whether a valuable-medium deposit process is
performed or not (STEP 103). To be specific, when an operator
25 inputs an instruction for performing a deposit process of a
valuable medium(media) other than a banknote P, to the control
unit 50 through the display and input unit 5, the
below-described valuable-medium deposit process is performed
(STEP 104). Then, the count/deposit process and/or the
30 valuable-medium deposit process are performed, so that the
transaction is finished ("YES" in STEP 105). Then, a journal
(file copy) is printed by the printer 6 (STEP 106). Thereafter,
deposit data are transmitted from the control unit 50 to the
store server 100 and/or the cash center 200 through the
35 interface unit 56 (STEP 107).
[0050]
19
Next, there is explained an operation for depositing a
banknote(s) P to the banknote deposit machine 1,
recognizing/counting the deposited banknote P, and storing the
banknote P into the storing cassette 70, with reference to the
5 flowchart shown in Fig. 6B. The operation shown below is
performed based on signals transmitted from the control unit 50
to the respective units, unless otherwise noted.
[0051]
At the beginning, an operator inputs an instruction for
10 performing a deposit process of a banknote(s) P, to the control
unit 50 through the display and input unit 5. To be more
specific, the operator selects the command of "count and
deposit" through the display and input unit 5 (STEP 1). At this
time, ID information of the operator is inputted to the control
15 unit 50 through the display and input unit 5 or the card reading
unit 8. When such a signal is received by the control unit 50,
the control unit 50 controls the front shutter unit 62 so as to be
unopenable.
[0052]
20 Then, when the operator places a plurality of banknotes P
on the placement unit 20 ("YES" in STEP 2), the plurality of
banknotes P placed on the placement unit 20 are taken, one by
one, into the machine by the reception unit 25 (STEP 3). At
this time, the undermost banknote P among the plurality of
25 banknotes P placed on the placement unit 20 is kicked out by
the kicker roller 26, and the banknote P is fed out by the feed
roller 27a. The banknotes P are fed out, one by one, by the
action of the gate roller 27b.
[0053]
30 Following thereto, the banknotes P having been taken in
by the reception unit 25 are transported by the transport unit
30. At this time, the banknotes P transported by the transport
unit 30 are recognized/counted by the recognition unit 40
disposed on the transport unit 30 (STEP 4).
35 [0054]
During the transport of the banknotes P by the transport
#
20
unit 30, when the recognition error and/or the transport error
occur ("YES" in STEP 5), the banknote(s) P is transported to the
reject unit 65 (STEP 6). On the other hand, when the
recognition error and/or the transport error do not occur ("NO"
5 in STEP 5), the banknotes P being transported are transported
to the stacking unit 60 (STEP 7).
[0055]
When the banknotes P are transported to the stacking
unit 60, the banknotes P are received between the vanes 35a of
10 the stacking wheel 35 so as to be aligned and stacked in the
stacking unit 60. Then, the banknotes P having been
transported by the stacking wheel 35 are stacked in the
stacking unit 60 such that the banknotes P are inclined toward
the front surface side in a standing condition. The display and
15 input unit 5 displays a total amount of the banknotes P stacked
in the stacking unit 60. In addition, the recognition result (the
number of banknotes for each denomination, the total amount
and so on) together with the ID of the operator is stored in the
memory unit 54.
20 [0056]
In the above manner, when all the plurality of banknotes
P placed on the placement unit 20 have been transported to the
stacking unit 60 so that no banknote P remains on the
placement unit 20 ("YES" in STEP 8), an indication for requiring
25 an acceptance instruction for the total amount of the banknotes
P stacked in the stacking unit 60 is displayed on the display and
input unit 5 (STEP 9).
[0057]
Then, as shown in "YES" in STEP 10, when the
30 acceptance instruction is inputted by the operator through the
display and input unit 5 (specifically, when the operator presses
down the return key of the display and input unit 5), the
plurality of banknotes P stacked in the stacking unit 60 are
stored into the storing cassette 70 through the slit opening 71
35 by the clamping transport mechanism 10 (STEP 11) (see arrow
Ai of Fig. 3). At this time, the slit shutter unit 72 is moved on
4- 21
the front surface side so that the slit-like slit opening 71 is
opened. On the other hand, except when a banknote(s) P is
stored in the storing cassette 70, the slit shutter unit 72 is
moved on the rear surface side so that the slit opening 71 is
5 closed. After the banknotes P have been stored into the storing
cassette 70, the banknotes P in the storing cassette 70 are not
under the management authority of the store but under the
management authority of the armored car company.
[0058]
10 When there is a banknote(s) P in the reject unit 65, the
operator places the banknote P again on the placement unit 20.
Thus, the steps as described above are repeated so that all the
banknotes P are transported to the stacking unit 60. However,
a banknote P, which is transported to the reject unit 65 no
15 matter how many times the operator tries, is judged as an
unreceivable banknote P, and such a banknote P is excluded
from the banknotes to be stored. In addition, when the
operator does not accept the total amount ("NO" in STEP 10),
by inputting a return instruction through the display and input
20 unit 5, the front shutter unit 62 is opened, whereby the stacked
banknotes P can be taken out (STEP 12) (see arrow A2 of Fig. 3).
When the banknotes P stacked in the stacking unit 60 have
been collected by the operator ("YES" in STEP 13), the process
is finished.
25 [0059]
Next, there is explained an operation in which an unfit
note/an unfit coin that cannot be recognized by the recognition
unit 40 of the banknote deposit machine 1 and a valuable
medium other than cash, such as a gift ticket, a check and so
30 on, are stored into the storing cassette 70 of the banknote
deposit machine 1, with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig.
7A. The operation shown below is performed based on signals
transmitted from the control unit 50 to the respective units,
unless otherwise noted.
35 [0060]
At the beginning, an operator inputs an instruction for
22
performing a deposit process of a valuable medium other than a
banknote P, to the control unit 50 through the display and input
unit 5. To be more specific, the operator selects the command
of "valuable-medium deposit (other than cash)" through the
5 display and input unit 5 (STEP 21). At this time, ID information
of the operator is inputted to the control unit 50 through the
display and input unit 5. The inputted data are stored as
manually input data in the memory unit 54.
[0061]
10 Then, the operator inputs information related to the
valuable medium, specifically, an amount (of money) of the
valuable medium and so on, to the control unit 50 through the
display and input unit 5, and presses down the return key (STEP
22). Then, the information related to the valuable medium,
15 which has been inputted by the operator to the control unit 50,
is printed on a journal by the printer 6 (STEP 23). In addition,
at this time, the front shutter unit 62 is opened by the control
unit 50 (STEP 24), whereby an envelope containing the valuable
medium can be put into the stacking unit 60.
20 [0062]
After that, when the operator sets on the stacking unit 60
the envelope containing the valuable medium and the journal on
which the information of the valuable medium is printed, and
presses down the return key (STEP 25), the front shutter unit
25 62 is closed (STEP 26). Then, the envelope containing the
valuable medium and the journal, which have been set in the
stacking unit 60, are stored into the storing cassette 70 through
the slit opening 71 by the clamping transport mechanism 10
(STEP 27) (see arrow Ai of Fig. 3). After the envelope
30 containing the valuable medium has been stored into the storing
cassette 70, the valuable medium in the storing cassette 70 is
not under the management authority of the store but under the
management authority of the armoured car company. In this
manner, the operation for storing the valuable medium into the
35 storing cassette 70 is finished.
[0063]
23
In this embodiment, in addition to a valuable medium
equivalated (correlated) to an amount of money, a medium not
equivalated to an amount of money may be also stored into the
storing cassette 70 of the banknote deposit machine 1. To be
5 specific, a sales slip of the store, a discount ticket or service
ticket issued by the store, a journal on which sales proceeds
other than those of the current day are printed, a letter
exchanged between the store and the armoured car company
and so on, for example, may be stored as a medium not
10 equivalated to an amount of money into the storing cassette 70.
In this case, these medium together with the storing cassette
70 are sent from the store to the armoured car company and
sent from the armoured car company to the store. There is
explained an operation in which, in a case where a medium not
15 equivalated to an amount of money can be stored into the
storing cassette 70 of the banknote deposit machine 1, a
valuable medium equivalated to an amount of money and a
medium not equivalated to an amount of money are selectively
stored into the storing cassette 70 of the banknote deposit
20 machine 1, with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 7B and
the display screen of the monitor 5a of the display and input
unit 5 shown in Fig. 7C.
[0064]
At the beginning, an operator inputs an instruction for
25 performing a deposit process of a medium other than a
banknote P, to the control unit 50 through the display and input
unit 5. To be more specific, the operator selects the command
of "Put in Medium" through the display and input unit 5 (STEP
31). At this time, ID information of the operator is inputted to
30 the control unit 50 through the display and input unit 5. The
input data are stored as manually input data to the memory unit
54.
[0065]
When the command "medium put-in" is selected through
35 the display and input unit 5, the display screen shown in Fig.
7C(a) is displayed on the monitor 5a of the display and input
^
24
unit 5. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 7C(a), a list of plural
types of media is displayed. In Fig. 7C(a), "UNFIT NOTE"
means an unfit note, "COIN" means a coin and "CHECK" means
a check. In addition, "COUPON" means a coupon ticket,
5 "TICKET" means a gift ticket and "OTHERS" means a medium
other than them. In more detail, an unfit note, a coin, a check,
a coupon ticket and a gift ticket are valuable media equivalated
to an amount of money. Meanwhile, a medium other than them
(corresponding to "OTHERS") is a medium not equivalated to an
10 amount of money. The operator selects a type of the medium
by pressing down the input key 5b (specifically, right and left
numeric keys) of the display and input unit 5 from the list
displayed on the display screen shown in Fig. 7C(a). As to the
list of the plural types of media in the display screen shown in
15 Fig. 7C(a), the titles of these items and their order can be
changed by an operator through the display and input unit 5.
[0066]
When the selected medium is a medium that is
equivalated to an amount of money, specifically, an unfit note, a
20 coin, a check, a coupon ticket or a gift ticket ("YES" in STEP 33),
the operator inputs information related to an amount of money
of the valuable medium, to the control unit 50 through the
display and input unit 5, and presses down the return key (STEP
34). In more detail, when a medium equivalated to an amount
25 of money, e.g., an unfit not, is selected in the display screen
shown in Fig. 7C(a), a display screen shown in Fig. 7C(b) is
displayed on the monitor 5a of the display and input unit 5,
whereby the number of unfit note(s) can be inputted. Then,
the number of unfit note(s) is inputted and the return key is
30 pressed down, and the information related to the amount of
money of the valuable medium, which has been inputted to the
control unit 50 by the operator, is printed on a journal (STEP
35). Thereafter, the front shutter unit 62 is opened (STEP 36),
whereby an envelop containing the valuable medium and the
35 journal on which the information related to the amount of
money of the valuable medium is printed, can be put into the
^
25
stacking unit 60.
[0067]
On the other hand, when the selected medium is a
medium that is not equivalated to an amount of money
5 (specifically, when "MANUAL 006: OTHERS" in Fig. 7C(a) is
selected) ("NO" in STEP 33), a display screen shown in Fig 7C(c)
is displayed on the monitor 5a of the display and input unit 5.
In this case, the number of medium(media) is not inputted to
the control unit 50. While the display screen shown in Fig.
10 7C(c) is displayed on the monitor 5a of the display and input
unit 5, when the operator presses down the return key, the
front shutter unit 62 is opened (STEP 36) whereby the medium
itself can be put into the stacking unit 60. At this time, a
message "OTHER" may be printed on the journal or the number
15 of medium(media) not equivalated to an amount of money may
be printed thereon.
[0068]
When the operator sets the envelope containing the
valuable medium or the medium not equivalated to an amount
20 of money in the stacking unit 60 and presses down the return
key (STEP 37), the front shutter unit 62 is closed (STEP 38).
Then, the medium set in the stacking unit 60 is stored into the
storing cassette 70 through the slit opening 71 by the clamping
transport mechanism 10 (STEP 39). In this manner, a medium
25 other than a valuable medium can be stored into the storing
cassette 70.
[0069]
As described above, according to the operation along the
flowchart shown in Fig. 7B, a medium not equivalated to an
30 amount of money can be stored into the storing cassette 70, in
addition to a valuable medium. When a medium, which is other
than a banknote having been recognized by the recognition unit
40, is stored into the storing cassette 70, whether or not the
medium is a medium equivalated to an amount of money is
35 selected. Only when the medium to be stored into the storing
cassette 70 is a medium that is equivalated to an amount of
4^ 26
money, information related to an amount of money of the
medium is inputted through the display and input unit 5. Thus,
when a medium not equivalated to an amount of money, such
as a sales slit of the store and a letter or a liaison note
5 exchanged between the store and the armoured car company, is
stored into the storing cassette 70, it is not necessary to input
information related to an amount of money of the medium.
That is to say, in an operation for storing a medium(media),
which is other than a banknote having been recognized by the
10 recognition unit 40, into the storing cassette 70, suppose that
information related to an amount of money of each of all the
media should be necessarily inputted. In this case, when a
medium not equivalated to an amount of money is stored into
the storing cassette 70, a dummy amount of money should be
15 temporarily inputted. At this time, there is a possibility that a
total amount of money and a valuable medium(media) in the
storing cassette 70 managed by the control unit 50 does not
conform to the actual condition of the money and the valuable
medium(media) stored in the storing cassette 70. However,
20 according to the operation along the flowchart shown in Fig. 7B,
such a trouble can be prevented.
[0070]
In the money handling system in this embodiment, the
recognition result of a banknote(s) P by the recognition unit 40
25 of the banknote deposit machine 1 is transmitted from the
banknote deposit machine 1 to the store server 100, and is also
transmitted to the cash center 200 under the management
authority of the armoured car company. In addition, the
information related to a valuable medium, which has been
30 manually inputted through the display and input unit 5, is
transmitted to the store server 100, and is also transmitted to
the cash center 200 under the management authority of the
armoured car company.
[0071]
35 To be specific, after the count/deposit process of a
banknote(s) P as shown in the flowchart of Fig. 6B or the
^
27
valuable-medium deposit process as shown in the flowchart of
Fig. 7A has been finished, the recognition result of the
banknote(s) P by the recognition unit 40 and the information
related to the valuable medium(media), which has been
5 manually inputted through the display and input unit 5, are
transmitted from the control unit 50 of the banknote deposit
machine 1 to the store server 100 and to the cash center 200
through the interface unit 56. In more detail, the ID
information of the operator which has been inputted to the
10 control unit 50 through the display and input unit 5, the count
data of the banknote(s) P by the recognition unit 40, and the
manually Input data, such as an amount of money of the
valuable medium(media) and so on which have been manually
inputted to the control unit 50 through the display and input
15 unit 5 or the card reading unit 8, are transmitted, together with
an apparatus ID and a process date and time information, from
the control unit 50 of the banknote deposit machine 1 to the
store server 100 and to the cash center 200 through the
interface unit 56. In addition, at this time, a serial number,
20 which connects the actual valuable medium and the manually
Input data, such as an amount of money of the valuable medium
and so on which has been manually inputted to the control unit
50 through the display and input unit 5, to each other, is
transmitted from the control unit 50 of the banknote deposit
25 machine 1 to the store server 100 and the cash center 200
through the interface unit 56.
[0072]
Fig. 8 shows contents of the Information transmitted from
the control unit 50 of the banknote deposit machine 1 to the
30 store server 100 and to the cash center 200 through the
interface unit 56. As shown in Fig. 8, the apparatus ID
information, the process date and time (in Fig. 8, the process
date and time is expressed as YYYY(year) IMM(month) DD(date)
/ HH(hour) : MM(minutes)), the operator's ID Information, the
35 count data of a banknote(s) P by the recognition unit 40, the
manually input data such as an amount of money of the
i 28
1i
valuable medium and so on which has been manually inputted
to the control unit 50 through the display and input unit 5, the
serial number, and the information related to a total amount of
the banknote(s) P and the valuable medium(media) stored in
5 the storing cassette 70, are transmitted from the control unit 50
of the banknote deposit machine 1 to the store server 100 and
to the cash center 200 through the interface unit 56.
[0073]
In addition, in this embodiment, the control unit 50 of the
10 banknote deposit machine 1 is configured to transmit the count
data of a banknote(s) P by the recognition unit 40 and the
manually input data such as an amount of money of the
valuable medium and so on which has been manually inputted
to the control unit 50 through the display and input unit 5,
15 distinguishably from each other, to the store server 100 and to
the cash center 200. Namely, the count data of a banknote(s)
P and the manually input data such as the amount of money of
the valuable medium(media) and so on are transmitted not as
integral information to the store server 100 and to the cash
20 center 200, but the count data of a banknote(s) P and the
manually input data such as the amount of money of the
valuable medium(media) and so on are transmitted as separate
information to the store server 100 and to the cash center 200,
[0074]
25 In addition, the control unit 50 of the banknote deposit
machine 1 may transmit the count data of a banknote(s) P and
the information related to a total amount of the banknote(s) P
and the valuable medium(media) stored in the storing cassette
70, distinguishably from each other, to the store server 100 and
30 to the cash center 200. In addition, the control unit 50 of the
banknote deposit machine 1 may transmit the manually input
data such as an amount of money of a valuable medium(media)
and so on, which have been manually inputted to the control
unit 50 through the display and input unit 5, and the
35 information related to a total amount of the banknote(s) P and
the valuable medium(media) stored in the storing cassette 70,
4 29
distinguishably from each other, to the store server 100 and to
the cash center 200.
[0075]
In this manner, when the information having the contents
5 shown in Fig, 8 has been transmitted to the cash center 200
under the control and the authority of the armoured car
company, the cash center 200 transmits, to the bank 300, the
information related to the total amount of the banknote(s) P
and the valuable medium(media) stored in the storing cassette
10 70, which has been transmitted from the control unit 50 of the
banknote deposit machine 1, as cash transfer information, and
transfers cash corresponding to the amount to a bank account
under the management authority of the store. In this manner,
the cash corresponding to the total amount of the banknote(s) P
15 and the valuable medium(media) having been collected from the
banknote deposit machine 1 by the staff of the armoured car
company is rapidly transferred to the bank account under the
management authority of the store.
[0076]
20 In addition, in the cash center 200, the information
related to the valuable medium(media), which has been
transmitted from the control unit 50 of the banknote deposit
machine 1, and the valuable medium(media), which has been
actually collected from the banknote deposit machine 1 by the
25 staff of the armoured car company and brought to the cash
center 200, are compared to each other. When the former
information and the latter information do not conform to each
other, the cash center 200 transmits to the bank 300
information related to an excessive or deficit amount, and
30 deposits or dispenses cash corresponding to the excess or the
deficit to or from the bank account under the management
authority of the store.
[0077]
According to the banknote deposit machine 1 (money
35 handling machine) in this embodiment and the money handling
system including this banknote deposit machine 1, information
4 30
related to a valuable medium(media) to be stored into the
storing cassette 70 is inputted to the banknote deposit machine
1 through the display and input unit 5 by a manager having a
first management authority (specifically a clerk of a store).
5 The control unit 50 of the banknote deposit machine 1 is
configured to transmit a recognition result of a banknote(s) P by
the recognition unit 40 and the information related to the
valuable medium(media), which has been inputted through the
display and input unit 5, to the cash center 200 under a second
10 management authority (specifically, under the management
authority of the armored car company) that is different from the
first management authority. Thus, a cash transfer operation to
a bank account under the management authority of the store
can be promptly performed by the cash center 200. In addition,
15 in the cash center 200, the information related to the valuable
medium(media), which has been transmitted from the banknote
deposit machine 1, and the valuable medlum(media), which has
been actually collected from the banknote deposit machine 1
and brought to the cash center 200, can be compared to each
20 other.
[0078]
In addition, in the banknote deposit machine 1 in this
embodiment, the banknote(s) P and the valuable
medium(media) stored in the storing cassette 70 are under the
25 second management authority (specifically, under the
management authority of the armored car company).
[0079]
In addition, as described above, in the banknote deposit
machine 1 in this embodiment, the control unit 50 is configured
30 to transmit the recognition result of the banknote(s) P by the
recognition unit 40 and the information related to the valuable
medium(media), which has been inputted through the display
and input unit 5, distinguishably from each other, to the the
cash center 200. Thus, when the cash center 200 transfers
35 cash to the bank account under the management authority of
the store, the following operation is possible. Namely, cash
^
31
corresponding to the recognition result of the banknote(s) P by
the recognition unit 40 is immediately transferred to the bank
account under the management authority of the store.
I^eanwhile, as to the information related to the valuable
5 medium(media), which has been inputted through the display
and input unit 5, after the information and the valuable
medium(media), which has been actually collected from the
banknote deposit machine 1 and brought to the cash center 200,
have been compared to each other, cash is transferred to the
10 bank account under the management authority of the store.
Further, the recognized banknote data and the manually
inputted data can be reckoned distinguishably from each other.
[0080]
In addition, in the banknote deposit machine 1 in this
15 embodiment, the recognition result of the banknote(s) P by the
recognition unit 40 and the information related to a total
amount of the banknote(s) P and the valuable medium(media)
stored in the storing cassette 70 may be transmitted
distinguishably from each other to the cash center 200. In
20 addition, the control unit 50 may be configured to transmit the
information related to the valuable medium(medla), which has
been inputted trough the display and input unit 5, and the
information related to a total amount of the banknote(s) P and
the valuable medium(media) stored in the storing cassette 70,
25 distinguishably from each other, to the cash center 200.
[0081]
In addition, in the banknote deposit machine 1 in this
embodiment, the banknote(s) P recognized by the recognition
unit 40 and the valuable medium(media) not recognized by the
30 recognition unit 40 are stored in the storing cassette 70 in a
mixed state. However, in this embodiment, the storing cassette
70 is not limited thereto. As an alternative example, the
storing cassette is composed of a plurality of storing portions,
so that the banknote(s) P recognized by the recognition unit 40
35 and the valuable medium(media) not recognized by the
recognition unit 40 may be stored into storing portions different
#
32
from each other.
[0082]
The banknote deposit machine 1 in this embodiment and
the money handling system including the banknote deposit
5 machine 1 are not limited to the aforementioned embodiment,
but can be variously modified.
[0083]
In the banknote deposit machine 1 in an alternative
example, the control unit 50 is capable of selecting and
10 performing any one of a normal deposit mode in which a
banknote P having been recognized by the recognition unit 40 is
stored into the storing cassette 70, and a forced deposit mode
in which money such as a banknote, a coin and so on is forcibly
stored into the storing cassette 70. In the forced deposit mode,
15 a banknote(s) placed on the placement unit 20 of the banknote
deposit machine 1 is/are fed into the machine, and the
banknotes are merely counted without being recognized by the
recognition unit 40 and are then stacked in the stacking unit 60.
After that, the banknotes are sent into the storing cassette 70
20 based on an acceptance operation. Loose banknotes are
collected in such a forced deposit mode. At this time, an
operator manually inputs an amount to be deposited and so on
through the display and input unit 5. The control unit 50 adds
the number of counted banknotes to the manually inputted data,
25 and transmits these data to an external apparatus, such as a
higher-level apparatus, through the interface unit 56.
[0084]
In the banknote deposit machine 1 in the alternative
example, the control unit 50 is configured to transmit a
30 recognition result of a banknote(s) P by the recognition unit 40
in the normal deposit mode, and information related to a
banknote(s) to be forcibly deposited in the forced deposit mode,
which has been inputted through the display and input unit 5, to
the store server 100 and to the cash center 200. Thus, a cash
35 transfer operation to the bank account under the management
authority of the store can be promptly performed by the cash
#
33
center 200. In addition, in the cash center 200, the
information related to the banknote(s) to be forcibly deposited,
which has been transmitted from the banknote deposit machine
1, and the banknote(s), which has been actually collected from
5 the banknote deposit machine 1 and brought to the cash center
200, can be compared to each other.
[0085]
In addition, the external apparatus such as the store
server 100, the cash center 200 and so on, may be configured
10 to process the recognition result of the banknote(s) by the
recognition unit 40, and the information related to the valuable
medium(media), which has been inputted through the display
and input unit 5, distinguishably from each other, based on the
information obtained from the banknote deposit machine 1.
15 [0086]
In addition, in the banknote deposit machine in another
alternative example, a banknote having been recognized by the
recognition unit 40 so as to be deposited, and a valuable
medium deposited by a manual input may be stored into storing
20 units separated from each other.
[0087]
In addition, the money handling machine in the present
invention is not limited to the banknote deposit machine 1
shown in Fig. 2 and so on. A coin deposit machine may be
25 used as the money handling machine in this invention, and a
machine other than a deposit machine may be used. At this
time, in addition to a banknote that could not be recognized by
the recognition unit 40 and a valuable medium such as a check
and so on, coins (loose coins, rolled coins) may be deposited by
30 a manual input. In addition, the timing at which the deposit
data are transmitted to the external apparatus, such as the
store server 100, the cash center 200 and so on, is not limited
to a timing when the transaction is finished. Another timing is
possible. For example, the deposit data are accumulated and
35 stored in the memory unit 54, and when the number of
transactions reaches a predetermined number (e.g., thirty
34
transactions), the deposit data are transmitted to the external
apparatus. Alternatively, it is possible that the deposit data are
accumulated and stored in the memory unit 54, and that the
deposit data are transmitted to the external apparatus every
5 predetermined hours. Alternatively, it is possible that the
deposit data are accumulated and stored in the memory unit 54,
and that the deposit data are transmitted to the external
apparatus based on an instruction from an external apparatus
such as a higher-level apparatus. In this manner, by
10 transmitting the deposit data in a mass, communication load
can be reduced. In addition, a timing at which the deposit data
are transmitted to the store server 100 and a timing at which
the deposit data are transmitted to the cash center 200 may be
differed from each other.
15 [0088]
In addition, to transmit the deposit data based on
recognition by the recognition unit 40 and the deposit data
based on the manual input distinguishably from each other to
the external apparatus such as a higher-level apparatus does
20 not necessarily mean that separated data structures are
transmitted at different timings. Even when the timing and/or
the data structure are the same, an operation is included in a
concept of "distinguishably transmitting data to the external
apparatus" as long as the data contents can be separated and
25 reckoned by an apparatus receiving the data in the operation.
[0089]
In addition, in the present invention, a valuable-medium
handling machine configured to handle a valuable medium may
be used instead of the money handling machine. Such a
30 valuable-medium handling machine has a structure similar to
that of the banknote deposit machine 1 shown in Fig. 2 and so
on. However, differently from the banknote deposit machine 1
shown in Fig. 2 and so on, a valuable medium of a
predetermined type (e.g., check or the like) can be recognized
35 by the recognition unit 40, and a first valuable medium having
been recognized by the recognition unit 40 and a second
35
valuable medium not recognized by the recognition unit 40 are
respectively stored into the storing cassette(s) 70. In addition,
in such a valuable-medium handling machine, information
related to the second valuable medium stored in the storing
5 cassette 70 is inputted by a manager having a first
management authority (e.g., a clerk of a store) through the
display and input unit 5. Further, in the valuable-medium
handling machine according to the present invention, the
control unit 50 is configured to transmit a recognition result of
10 the first valuable medium by the recognition unit 40, and the
information related to the second valuable medium, which has
been inputted through the display and input unit 5, to the cash
center 200 under a second management authority (e.g., under
the management authority of the armored car company) that is
15 different from the first management authority.
[0090]
According to such a valuable-medium handling machine,
since the recognition result of the first valuable medium by the
recognition unit 40 and the information related to the second
20 valuable medium, which has been inputted through the display
and input unit 5, are transmitted to the cash center 200 under
the second management authority (e.g., under the management
authority of the armored car company) that is different from the
first management authority, a cash transfer operation to a bank
25 account under the management authority of the store can be
promptly performed by the cash center 200. In addition, in the
cash center 200, the information related to the second valuable
medium, which has been transmitted from the valuable-medium
handling machine, and the second valuable medium, which has
30 been actually collected from the valuable-medium handling
machine and brought to the cash center 200, can be compared
to each other.

CLAIMS ^ 1 H 3'^^
1. A money handling machine comprising: no^^^
a recognition unit configured to recognize money;
a storing unit configured to store money having been
recognized by the recognition unit, and a valuable medium
having not been recognized by the recognition unit;
an input unit for inputting information related to the
valuable medium to be stored into the storing unit; and
a control unit configured to transmit a money recognition
result by the recognition unit and information related to the
valuable medium having been inputted through the input unit,
distinguishably from each other, to an external apparatus.
2. A money handling machine comprising:
a recognition unit configured to recognize money;
a storing unit configured to store money having been
recognized by the recognition unit, and a valuable medium
having not been recognized by the recognition unit;
an input unit for inputting information related to the
valuable medium to be stored into the storing unit by a
manager having a first management authority; and
a control unit configured to transmit a money recognition
result by the recognition unit and information related to the
valuable medium having been inputted through the input unit,
to an external apparatus that is under a second management
authority different from the first management authority.
3. The money handling machine according to claim 2,
wherein
the money and the valuable medium stored in the storing
unit are under the second management authority.
4. The money handling machine according to claim 2 or 3,
wherein
the control unit is configured to transmit the money
19\'
w 37
recognition result by the recognition unit and the information
related to the valuable medium having been inputted through
the input unit, distinguishably from each other, to the external
apparatus.
5. The money handling machine according to claim 2 or 3,
wherein
the control unit is configured to transmit the money
recognition result by the recognition unit and information
related to a total amount of the money and the valuable
medium stored in the storing unit, distinguishably from each
other, to the external apparatus.
6. The money handling machine according to claim 2 or 3,
wherein
the control unit is configured to transmit the information
related to the valuable medium having been inputted through
the input unit, and information related to a total amount of the
money and the valuable medium stored in the storing unit,
distinguishably from each other, to the external apparatus.
7. The money handling machine according to any one of
claim 1 to 6, wherein
the money having been recognized by the recognition
unit and the valuable medium having not been recognized by
the recognition unit are stored in the storing unit in a mixed
state.
8. The money handling machine according to any one of
claims 1 to 6, wherein
the storing unit is composed of a plurality of storing
portions, and the money having been recognized by the
recognition unit and the valuable medium having not been
recognized by the recognition unit are stored in different storing
portions.
9. The money handling machine according to any one of
claims 1 to 8, wherein:
a medium other than the valuable medium that is not
equivalated to an amount of money Is capable of being stored
into the storing unit;
in storing a medium other than the money having been
recognized by the recognition unit into the storing unit, whether
or not the medium is a medium equivalated to an amount of
money Is elected, and only when the medium to be stored Into
the storing unit is a medium equivalated to an amount of money,
information related to an amount of the medium is Inputted
through the input unit.
10. A money handling system comprising a money handling
machine configured to handle money, and an external apparatus
located distinguishably from the money handling machine and
communicably connected to the money handling machine,
wherein:
the money handling machine including: a recognition unit
configured to recognize money; a storing unit configured to
store money having been recognized by the recognition unit,
and a valuable medium having not been recognized by the
recognition unit; an input unit for inputting information related
to the valuable medium to be stored into the storing unit; and a
control unit configured to transmit a money recognition result
by the recognition unit and information related to the valuable
medium having been inputted through the input unit,
distinguishably from each other, to an external apparatus; and
the external apparatus is configured to process the
money recognition result by the recognition unit and the
information related to the valuable medium having been
inputted through the input unit, distinguishably from each other,
based on the information obtained from the money handling
machine.
11. A money handling system comprising a money handling
-r f^
39
\ % • • " • • ^ ^ (^155B®^1^
machine configured to handle money, and an external apparatus
located distinguishably from the money handling machine and
communicably connected to the money handling machine,
wherein:
the money handling machine including: a recognition unit
configured to recognize money; a storing unit configured to
store money having been recognized by the recognition unit,
and a valuable medium having not been recognized by the
recognition unit; an input unit for inputting information related
to the valuable medium to be stored into the storing unit by a
manager having a first management authority; and a control
unit configured to transmit a money recognition result by the
recognition unit and information related to the valuable medium
having been inputted through the input unit, to an external
apparatus that is under a second management authority
different from the first management authority; and
the external apparatus is under a second management
authority different from the first management authority.
12. A money handling method comprising:
recognizing money by a recognition unit;
storing, into a storing unit, the money having been
recognized by the recognition unit and a valuable medium
having not been recognized by the recognition unit;
inputting, through an input unit, information related to
the valuable medium to be stored in the storing unit; and
transmitting the money recognition result by the
recognition unit, and the information related to the valuable
medium having been inputted through the input unit,
distinguishably from each other, to an external apparatus.
13. A money handling method comprising:
recognizing money by a recognition unit;
storing, into a storing unit, the money having been
recognized by the recognition unit and a valuable medium
having not been recognized by the recognition unit;
^ 0 1'^-^'^ •-'•'" 3 F£B 2014
inputting, through an input unit, information related to
the valuable medium to be stored in the storing unit by a
manager having a first management authority; and
transmitting the money recognition result by the
recognition unit, and the information related to the valuable
medium having been inputted through the input unit, to an
external apparatus that is under a second management
authority different from the first management authority.
14. A valuable-medium handling machine comprising:
a recognition unit configured to recognize a valuable
medium;
a storing unit configured to store a first valuable medium
having been recognized by the recognition unit and a second
valuable medium having not been recognized by the recognition
unit;
an input unit for inputting information related to the
second valuable medium not recognized by the recognition unit
but stored in the storing unit, by a manager having a first
management authority; and
a control unit configured to transmit a recognition result
of the first valuable medium by the recognition unit and
information related to the second valuable medium having been
inputted through the input unit, to an external apparatus that is
under a second management authority different from the first
management authority.