1
DESCRIPTION
Stacking Wheel, Paper-Sheet Stacking Apparatus and
Method of Manufacturing Stacking Wheel
5
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
The present invention relates to a stacking wheel that is
used when paper sheets such as banknotes are stacked, a
10 paper-sheet stacking apparatus including the stacking wheel,
and a method of manufacturing the stacking wheel. In
particular, the present invention pertains to: a stacking wheel,
which is capable of preventing that a paper sheet, which is held
and received between a pair of vanes with a suitable holding
15 force, jumps out erroneously from the pair of vanes, regardless
of an inherent elastic hardness of the paper sheet; a
paper-sheet stacking apparatus; and a method of manufacturing
the stacking wheel.
20 BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
In a paper-sheet stacking apparatus in which paper
sheets, such as banknotes, which have been taken into an
inside of an apparatus body from an outside thereof, are
25 stacked in the apparatus body, provision of a stacking wheel
near to a stacking unit, in which the paper sheets are stacked,
has been conventionally known. Such a stacking wheel
includes a cylindrical base body unit, and a plurality of vanes
disposed to extend outward from an outer circumferential
30 surface of the base body unit, at equal intervals therebetween
in a circumferential direction of the base body unit. A paper
sheet is received between a pair of vanes adjacent to each other
in the circumferential direction of the base body unit. When a
paper-sheet stacking operation is performed, the stacking wheel
35 is rotated all the time. A paper sheet having been sent from an
outside of a stacking unit to the stacking unit is firstly received
2
between a pair of adjacent vanes of the stacking wheel, and
then the paper sheet between the pair of vanes of the stacking
wheel is released from the stacking wheel so as to be stacked in
the stacking unit. Due to the provision of the stacking wheel,
5 paper sheets can be stacked in an aligned state in the stacking
unit.
[0003]
In a conventionally used stacking wheel, there is a
possibility that, in a time period from when a paper sheet has
10 been received between a pair of vanes of the stacking wheel to
when the paper sheet is released from the stacking wheel, the
paper sheet might erroneously jump out from the pair of vanes.
In order to prevent such a paper-sheet jumping-out
phenomenon, a mechanism for securely holding a paper sheet,
15 such as a flat spring, is disposed on an end portion of each vane
of the stacking wheel, so that when a paper sheet is received
between the pair of vanes of the stacking wheel, the paper
sheet is securely held by the flat springs on the respective
vanes (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
20 [0004]
However, in the method for securely holding a paper
sheet by a flat spring or the like of each vane when the paper
sheet is received between a pair of vanes of a stacking wheel,
there is a possibility that the paper sheet could not be securely
25 held depending on an elastic hardness of the paper sheet.
Namely, since a paper sheet having a too low elastic hardness is
easily curved, such a paper sheet may yield to an urging force
of the flat spring provided on the end portion of each vane, so
that the paper sheet cannot enter between the pair of vanes so
30 as to be securely held therebetween.
[0005]
Patent Document 1: JP2574769B
Patent Document 2: JP52-100792U
35 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006]
3
The present invention has been made in view of the
above circumstances. The object of the present invention is to
provide: a stacking wheel capable of preventing that a paper
sheet, which is held and received between a pair of vanes with a
5 suitable holding force, jumps out erroneously from the pair of
vanes, regardless of an inherent elastic hardness of the paper
sheet; a paper-sheet stacking apparatus including the stacking
wheel; and a method of manufacturing the stacking wheel.
[0007]
10 A stacking wheel of the present invention includes: a
cylindrical base body unit; and a plurality of vanes disposed
outward from an outer circumferential surface of the base body
unit, at equal intervals therebetween in a circumferential
direction of the base body unit, such that a paper sheet is
15 received between a pair of vanes adjacent to each other in the
circumferential direction; wherein a projection is provided on at
least one of an inner surface or an outer surface of each vane;
and wherein each pair of vanes adjacent to each other in the
circumferential direction of the base body unit is configured
20 such that, when viewed from an axial direction of the base body
unit, the projection of the one vane and the other vane are
overlapped with each other, and that the projection of the one
vane and the other vane are not in contact with each other.
[0008]
25 According to such a stacking wheel, a projection is
provided on at least one of the inner surface or the outer
surface of each vane, and each pair of vanes adjacent to each
other in the circumferential direction of the base body unit is
configured such that, when viewed from the axial direction of
30 the base body unit, the projection of the one vane and the other
vane are overlapped with each other, and that the projection of
the one vane and the other vane are not in contact with each
other. Thus, when a paper sheet having been sent to the
stacking wheel is received between a pair of adjacent vanes, the
35 paper sheet is curved by the projection provided on the inner
surface or the outer surface of each vane, so as to be
4
elasticized. In this manner, in either case where an inherent
elastic hardness of a paper sheet, which has been sent to the
stacking wheel, is high or low, the paper sheet can be securely
held between the pair of vanes. Therefore, it can be restrained
5 that a paper sheet, which is held and received between a pair of
vanes with a suitable holding force, jumps out erroneously from
the pair of vanes, regardless of an inherent elastic hardness of
the paper sheet.
[0009]
10 In the stacking wheel of the present invention, each pair
of vanes adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction
of the base body unit may be symmetrical in shape in a right
and left direction.
[0010]
15 Alternatively, the respective vanes may have the same
shape.
[0011]
In the stacking wheel of the present invention, each vane
may have an opening or a cutout; and a pair of vanes adjacent
20 to each other in the circumferential direction of the base body
unit may be configured such that the projection of the one vane
is opposed to the opening or the cutout of the other vane when
viewed from a normal direction of the base body unit.
[0012]
25 In the stacking wheel in which the respective vanes have
the same shape, a pair of vanes adjacent to each other in the
circumferential direction of the base body unit may be located
on positions displaced from each other in the axial direction of
the base body unit.
30 [0013]
In the stacking wheel of the present invention, each vane
may have a recess in a surface not provided with the projection,
such that the projection of the adjacent vane enters into the
recess.
35 [0014]
In this case, the projection may be provided on the inner
5
surface of each vane, and the recess may be provided in the
outer surface of each vane.
[0015]
In the stacking wheel of the present invention, the vanes
5 may be formed to be resiliency deformable.
[0016]
A stacking wheel of the present invention includes: a
cylindrical base body unit; and a plurality of vanes disposed
outward from an outer circumferential surface of the base body
10 unit, at equal intervals therebetween in a circumferential
direction of the base body unit, such that a paper sheet is
received between a pair of vanes adjacent to each other in the
circumferential direction; wherein each pair of vanes adjacent to
each other in the circumferential direction of the base body unit
15 is configured such that, when viewed from an axial direction of
the base body unit, a specific portion of the one vane and the
other vane are overlapped with each other, and that the specific
portion of the one vane and the other vane are not in contact
with each other.
20 [0017]
According to such a stacking wheel, each pair of vanes
adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the
base body unit is configured such that, when viewed from an
axial direction of the base body unit, a specific portion of the
25 one vane and the other vane are overlapped with each other,
and that the specific portion of the one vane and the other vane
are not in contact with each other. Thus, when a paper sheet
having been sent to the stacking wheel is received between a
pair of adjacent vanes, the paper sheet is curved by the specific
30 portion of the one vane so as to be elasticized. In this manner,
in either case where an inherent elastic hardness of a paper
sheet, which has been sent to the stacking wheel, is high or low,
the paper sheet can be securely held between the pair of vanes.
Therefore, it can be restrained that a paper sheet, which is held
35 and received between a pair of vanes with a suitable holding
force, jumps out erroneously from the pair of vanes, regardless
6
of an inherent elastic hardness of the paper sheet.
[0018]
In the stacking wheel of the present invention, each vane
may be integral with the base body unit.
5 [0019]
Alternatively, each vane may be detachably attached to
the outer circumferential surface of the base body unit.
[0020]
A paper-sheet stacking apparatus of the present
10 invention includes: a stacking unit in which paper sheets are
stacked; and the aforementioned stacking wheel disposed on
the stacking unit; wherein a paper sheet having been sent from
outside the stacking unit to the stacking unit is firstly received
between a pair of vanes adjacent to each other in the
15 circumferential direction of the base body unit of the stacking
wheel, and then the paper sheet between the pair of vanes of
the stacking wheel is released from the stacking wheel so as to
be stacked in the stacking unit.
[0021]
20 A method of manufacturing a stacking wheel of the
present invention is a method of manufacturing the stacking
wheel in which each vane is integral with the base body unit,
the method including: preparing a pair of dies each having a
cavity therein; die-matching the pair of dies and injecting a
25 molding material into the cavities in the pair of dies; and
decoupling the pair of dies to obtain a stacking wheel formed of
the molding material.
[0022]
In the method of manufacturing a stacking wheel, in
30 obtaining the stacking wheel formed of the molding material,
each pair of vanes adjacent to each other in the circumferential
direction of the base body unit may be symmetrical in shape in
a right and left direction, a projection may be provided on at
least one of an inner surface or an outer surface of each vane, a
35 cutout may be provided in each vane, and each pair of vanes
adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the
7
base body unit may be configured such that, when viewed from
an axial direction of the base body unit, the projection of the
one vane and the other vane are overlapped with each other,
and that the projection of the one vane and the other vane are
5 not in contact with each other.
[0023]
According to the stacking wheel of the present invention
and the paper-sheet stacking apparatus including the stacking
wheel, it can be restrained that a paper sheet, which is held and
10 received between a pair of vanes with a suitable holding force,
jumps out erroneously from the pair of vanes, regardless of an
inherent elastic hardness of the paper sheet. In addition,
according to the method of manufacturing a stacking wheel of
the present invention, such a stacking wheel can be
15 manufactured.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024]
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a
20 banknote handling apparatus in one embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic structural view showing a schematic
structure of an inside of the banknote handling apparatus shown
in Fig. 1;
25 Fig. 3 is a control block diagram of the banknote handling
apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an overall structure
of a stacking-wheel type stacking mechanism in the banknote
handling apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and so on;
30 Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a structure of one of
stacking wheels of the stacking-wheel type stacking mechanism
shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6(a) is a view of a first vane disposed on the
stacking wheel shown in Fig. 5 and so on when viewed from a
35 normal direction of a base body unit, and Fig. 6(b) is a view of
the first vane when viewed from an axial direction of the base
8
body unit;
Fig. 7(a) is a view of a second vane disposed on the
stacking wheel shown in Fig. 5 and so on when viewed from the
normal direction of the base body unit, and Fig. 7(b) is a view
5 of the second vane when viewed from the axial direction of the
base body unit;
Fig. 8 is a view of the stacking wheel shown in Fig. 5 and
so on, when viewed from the axial direction of the base body
unit;
10 Fig. 9 is a view of the stacking wheel when viewed from
the front, showing a condition when a banknote is sent to a pair
of stacking wheels shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing another structure of
the stacking wheel disposed in the banknote handling apparatus
15 in this embodiment;
Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a structure of a
vane disposed on the stacking wheel shown in Fig. 10;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing still another
structure of the stacking wheel disposed in the banknote
20 handling apparatus in this embodiment;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a structure of a
vane disposed on the stacking wheel shown in Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 is a side view showing yet another structure of
the stacking wheel disposed in the banknote handling apparatus
25 in this embodiment;
Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a structure of a
vane disposed on the stacking wheel shown in Fig. 14;
Fig. 16 is a sectional view showing further another
structure of the stacking wheel disposed in the banknote
30 handling apparatus in this embodiment;
Fig. 17 is a sectional view showing a structure of a vane
disposed on the stacking wheel shown in Fig. 16; and
Fig. 18(a) is a perspective view showing a structure of
the vane disposed on the stacking wheel shown in Fig. 16 when
35 the vane is viewed from outside, and Fig. 18(b) is a perspective
view thereof when the vane is viewed from inside.
9
MOPE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0025]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described
5 herebelow with reference to the drawings. Figs. 1 to 9 are
views showing a stacking wheel in this embodiment and a
banknote handling apparatus including the stacking wheel. Fig.
1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the banknote
handling apparatus in this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic
10 structural view showing a schematic structure of an inside of the
banknote handling apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a
control block diagram of the banknote handling apparatus
shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 4 to 9 are views showing a
structure of a stacking wheel disposed in the banknote handling
15 apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and so on.
[0026]
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the banknote handling
apparatus 10 includes: a housing 12; a placement unit (hopper)
14 in which a plurality of banknotes to be counted are placed in
20 a stacked state; a feeding unit 16 configured to feed, one by
one, an undermost banknote in the plurality of banknotes
placed on the placement unit 14, into an inside of the housing
12; and a transport unit 18 disposed inside the housing 12 and
configured to transport, one by one, the banknote having been
25 fed by the feeding unit 16 into the inside of the housing 12.
The transport unit 18 is provided with a recognizing/counting
unit 20 configured to recognize and count the banknote having
been fed by the feeding unit 16 into the inside of the housing
12.
30 [0027]
The feeding unit 16 includes a kicker roller 16a and a
feed roller 16b. The kicker roller 16a is configured to be in
contact with a surface of an undermost banknote in a plurality
of banknotes placed in a stacked state in the placement unit 14.
35 The feed roller 16b is disposed on a downstream side of the
kicker roller 16a in a banknote feeding direction, and is
10
configured to feed a banknote having been kicked by the kicker
roller 16a into the inside of the housing 12. In addition, a
reversing roller 16c (gate roller) is disposed opposite to the feed
roller 16b. A gate unit G is formed between the feed roller 16b
5 and the reversing roller 16c. A banknote having been kicked
by the kicker roller 16a passes through the gate unit G so as to
be fed, one by one, to the transport unit 18 in the housing 12.
In addition, inside the housing 12, a feeding-unit drive
mechanism 17 (see Fig. 3) configured to drive the feeding unit
10 16 is provided.
[0028]
The transport unit 18 is composed of a transport belt
extended among a plurality of transport rollers and a plurality of
rollers combined therebetween. The transport belt is circulated,
15 with a banknote sandwiched between the transport belt and the
rollers, so that the banknote is transported along a transport
path. In addition, inside the housing 12, a transport-unit drive
mechanism 19 (see Fig. 3) configured to drive the transport unit
18 is provided.
20 [0029]
In addition, as described above, the transport unit 18 is
provided with the recognizing/counting unit 20 configured to
recognize and count a banknote having been fed by the feeding
unit 16 into the inside of the housing 12. In more detail, the
25 recognizing/counting unit 20 is configured to recognize an
authenticity, a fitness, a denomination and so on of the
banknote, configured to recognize whether a banknote abnormal
transport occurs or not, and configured to count a banknote(s).
[0030]
30 As shown in Fig. 2, the transport unit 18 is diverged to
two transport paths from a position on a downstream side of the
recognizing/counting unit 20. A stacking unit 30 is connected
to a downstream end of the one transport path, and a reject
unit 40 is connected to a downstream end of the other transport
35 path. A banknote, which has been recognized and counted by
the recognizing/counting unit 20, is selectively sent to the
11
stacking unit 30 or the reject unit 40. An opening is formed in
a front surface (a left surface in Fig. 2) of the stacking unit 30,
so that an operator can take out banknotes stacked in the
stacking unit 30 through the opening. In addition, an opening
5 is formed in a front surface of the reject unit 40, so that an
operator can take out banknotes stacked in the reject unit 40
through the opening.
[0031]
As shown in Fig. 2, a diverter 22 composed of a diverging
10 member and a drive unit (not shown) thereof, is disposed on a
position where the two transport paths of the transport unit 18
are diverged. Due to the diverter 22, a banknote having been
sent from an upstream side of the diverter 22 is selectively sent
to any one of the two diverged transport paths.
15 [0032]
In the stacking unit 30, a stacking-wheel type stacking
mechanism 50 is disposed on a position on a rear side of the
housing 12 (the right side position in the stacking unit 30 of Fig.
2). The stacking-wheel type stacking mechanism 50 is
20 composed of a stacking wheel 52 and a drive unit (not shown)
thereof. The stacking wheel 52 is configured to be rotated in a
counterclockwise direction in Fig. 2 (the arrow direction in Fig.
2) about a shaft 51 that is perpendicular to a sheet surface of
Fig. 2 and extends in substantially the horizontal direction. The
25 stacking wheel 52 includes a cylindrical base body unit 54, and
a plurality of vanes extending outward in a direction (the
clockwise direction in Fig. 2) opposite to the rotating direction
of the stacking wheel 52. As shown in Fig. 2, these vanes 56
are disposed at equal intervals therebetween on an outer
30 circumferential surface of the base body unit 54. A banknote
can be received between a pair of vanes 56 that are adjacent to
each other in a circumferential direction of the base body unit
54.
[0033]
35 The stacking wheel 52 of the stacking-wheel type
stacking mechanism 50 is configured to be rotated by the drive
12
unit in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 2 at all times
during an operation of the banknote handling apparatus 10.
Banknotes are sent, one by one, to the stacking wheel 52 from
the transport unit 18. The stacking wheel 52 is configured to
5 receive a banknote having been sent from the transport unit 18
between the two vanes 56, and configured to send the banknote
received between the vanes 56 to the stacking unit 30. In this
manner, a plurality of banknotes are sent, one by one, to the
stacking unit 30 from the stacking wheel 52 in such a manner
10 that the banknotes are stacked in an aligned state in the
stacking unit 30.
[0034]
The structure of the stacking wheel 52 of the
stacking-wheel type stacking mechanism 50 will be described in
15 more detail below.
[0035]
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the banknote handling
apparatus 10 is provided with a shutter 34 for closing the
opening formed in the front surface of the stacking unit 30.
20 The opening in the front surface of the stacking unit 30 is
selectively closed by the shutter 34. In addition, inside the
housing 12, a shutter drive mechanism 35 (see Fig. 3)
configured to drive the shutter 34 is disposed. The shutter 34
is configured to be moved by the shutter drive mechanism 35
25 between an opened position (see the dotted lines in Fig. 2)
where the shutter 34 is withdrawn below the stacking unit 30 to
open the opening of the stacking unit 30, and a closed position
(see the solid line in Fig. 2) where the shutter 34 closes the
opening in the front surface of the stacking unit 30. Namely,
30 when the shutter 34 is located on the opened position as shown
by the dotted lines of Fig. 2, an operator can access banknotes
stacked in the stacking unit 30. On the other hand, when the
shutter 34 is located on the closed position as shown by the
solid line of Fig. 2, the opening in the front surface of the
35 stacking unit 30 is closed by the shutter 34, so that an operator
cannot access banknotes stacked in the stacking unit 30.
13
[0036]
Meanwhile, the reject unit 40 is not provided with a
shutter for closing the opening in the front surface of the reject
unit 40. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a pair of right and left
5 banknote aligning members 42 are disposed on the reject unit
40. Each banknote aligning member 42 can be turned over by
an operator from a position shown in Fig. 2 to a position in front
of the housing 12 (i.e., leftward in Fig. 2). Thus, banknotes
having been sent from the transport unit 18 to the reject unit
10 40 can be stacked in the reject unit 40 in such a manner that
the banknotes are aligned by the respective banknote aligning
members 42. By turning over the respective banknote aligning
members 42 in front of the housing 12, an operator can take
out the banknotes from the reject unit 40.
15 [0037]
In addition, as shown in Fig. 1, an operation display unit
62 is disposed on the front surface of the housing 12. The
operation display unit 62 includes a display unit 62a formed of,
e.g., a LCD, and a plurality of operation keys 62b. The display
20 unit 62a is configured to display a banknote handling condition
by the banknote handling apparatus 10, to be more specific, an
amount for each denomination of banknotes, which have been
counted by the recognizing/counting unit 20, and total sum
information thereof, for example. When an operator presses
25 down the operation keys 62b, various instructions can be given
to a control unit 60, which is described below.
[0038]
As shown in Fig. 2, inside the housing 12, the control unit
60 for controlling respective constituent elements of the
30 banknote handling apparatus 10 is provided. A structure of
such a control unit 60 is described in more detail with reference
to Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, connected to the control unit 60
are the feeding-unit drive mechanism 17 configured to drive the
feeding unit 16, the transport-unit drive mechanism 19
35 configured to drive the transport unit 18, the
recognizing/counting unit 20, the diverter 22, the
14
stacking-wheel type stacking mechanism 50, the shutter drive
mechanism 35 configured to drive the shutter 34, the operation
display unit 62 and so on. A banknote recognition result and
a banknote count result by the recognizing/counting unit 20 are
5 transmitted to the control unit 60, and the control unit 60
transmits instruction signals to the feeding-unit drive
mechanism 17, the transport-unit drive mechanism 19, the
diverter 22, the stacking-wheel type stacking mechanism 50,
the shutter drive mechanism 35, the operation display unit 62
10 and so on, so as to control these constituent elements.
[0039]
In addition, as shown in Fig. 3, a memory unit 64 is
connected to the control unit 60. The memory unit 64 is
configured to store a banknote handling condition by the
15 banknote handling apparatus 10, to be more specific, an
amount for each denomination of banknotes, which have been
counted by the recognizing/counting unit 20, and total sum
information thereof, for example.
[0040]
20 Next, a basic operation of the banknote handling
apparatus 10 as structured above is described. An operation of
the banknote handling apparatus 10 described herebelow is
performed by the control unit 60 that controls the respective
constituent elements of the banknote handling apparatus 10.
25 [0041]
At first, an operator places banknotes to be counted onto
the placement unit 14 in such a manner that the banknote are
in a stacked state. Thereafter, by pressing down the operation
key 62b (specifically, "START/STOP" key) of the operation
30 display unit 62, the operator gives an instruction for starting
counting of the banknotes, to the control unit 60. Then, the
stacked banknotes placed on the placement unit 14 are fed, one
by one, sequentially from the undermost banknote, by the
feeding unit 16 to the transport unit 18 in the housing 12. The
35 banknote, which has been fed by the feeding unit 16 to the
transport unit 18 in the housing 12, is transported by the
15
transport unit 18.
[0042]
The banknote being transported by the transport unit 18
is recognized and counted by the recognizing/counting unit 20,
5 and a banknote recognition result by the recognizing/counting
unit 20 is transmitted to the control unit 60. In the banknote
recognition result having been transmitted to the control unit 60,
when a banknote is a predetermined banknote, the banknote is
further transported by the transport unit 18 so as to be sent to
10 the stacking unit 30 by the diverter 22. At this time,
banknotes are sent, one by one, from the transport unit 18 to
the stacking wheel 52 of the stacking-wheel type stacking
mechanism 50. The stacking wheel 52 receives the banknote,
which has been sent from the transport unit 18, between two
15 vanes 56, and sends the banknote received between the vanes
56 to the stacking unit 30. In this manner, banknotes can be
stacked in an aligned state in the stacking unit 30 by the
stacking-wheel type stacking mechanism 50. On the other
hand, in the banknote recognition result having been
20 transmitted to the control unit 60, when a banknote is a
banknote that should not be stacked in the stacking unit 30, the
banknote is further transported by the transport unit 18 so as to
be sent to the reject unit 40 by the diverter 22.
[0043]
25 While the aforementioned banknote counting process is
being performed by the banknote handing apparatus 10, as
shown by the solid line of Fig. 2, the opening in the front
surface of the stacking unit 30 is closed by the shutter 34.
After all the banknotes placed on the placement unit 14 have
30 been sent to the stacking unit 30 or the reject unit 40 so that
the banknote counting process by the banknote handling
apparatus 10 has ended, as shown by the dotted lines of Fig. 2,
the shutter 34 is moved to the withdrawal position so as to open
the opening in the front surface of the stacking unit 30. Thus,
35 an operator can take out the banknotes from the stacking unit
30. Meanwhile, since the opening in the front surface of the
16
reject unit 40 is opened all the times, an operator can take out
the banknotes from the reject unit 40 by turning over the
respective banknote aligning members 40 in front of the
housing 12.
5 [0044]
Next, the detailed structure of the stacking wheel 52 of
the stacking-wheel type stacking mechanism 50 is described
with reference to Figs. 4 to 9. Fig. 4 is a perspective view
showing an overall structure of the stacking-wheel type stacking
10 mechanism 50 in the banknote handling apparatus 10 in this
embodiment. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a structure of one
of the stacking wheels 52 of the stacking-wheel type stacking
mechanism 50 shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6(a) is a view of a first
vane 56a disposed on the stacking wheel 52 shown in Fig. 5 and
15 so on, when viewed from a normal direction of the base body
unit 54. Fig. 6(b) is a view of the first vane 56a when viewed
from an axial direction of the base body unit 54. Fig. 7(a) is a
view of a second vane 56b disposed on the stacking wheel 52
shown in Fig. 5 and so on, when viewed from the normal
20 direction of the base body unit 54. Fig. 7(b) is a view of the
second vane 56b when viewed from the axial direction of the
base body unit 54. Fig. 8 is a view of the stacking wheel 52
shown in Fig. 5 and so on, when viewed from the axial direction
of the base body unit 54. Fig 9 is a view of the stacking wheel
25 52 when viewed from the front, showing a condition when a
banknote is sent to a pair of stacking wheels 52 shown in Fig. 4.
[0045]
As shown in Fig. 4, the stacking-wheel type stacking
mechanism 50 includes a pair of right and left stacking wheels
30 52. These stacking wheels 52 are supported by one shaft 51.
The pair of right and left stacking wheels 52 have the same
shape. When a drive unit (not shown) of the stacking-wheel
type stacking mechanism 50 rotates the shaft 51, the pair of
right and left stacking wheels 52 are synchronically rotated.
35 [0046]
As shown in Fig. 4 and 5, each stacking wheel 52
17
includes the cylindrical base body unit 54, and the plurality of
vanes 56 extending from an outer circumferential surface of the
base body unit 54 in a direction opposite to a rotating direction
of the stacking wheel 52. As shown in Fig. 2, these vanes 56
5 are disposed at equal intervals therebetween on the outer
circumferential surface of the base body unit 54. A banknote
can be received between each pair of vanes 56 adjacent to each
other in the circumferential direction of the base body unit 54.
In addition, a bearing unit 53 is disposed on a center of the
10 base body unit 54, so that the shaft 51 is borne by the bearing
unit 53.
[0047]
The vanes 56 disposed on the stacking wheel 52 include
a first vane 56a as shown in Fig. 6 and a second vane 56b as
15 shown in Fig. 7, which are alternately disposed in the
circumferential direction of the base body unit 54. Namely, the
first vanes 56a and the second vanes 56b are invariably
adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the
base body unit 54. Thus, a banknote, which has been sent
20 from the transport unit 18 to the stacking wheel 52, is received
between the first vane 56a and the second vane 56b, and the
received banknote is sent to the stacking unit 30. The first
vane 56a and the second vane 56b may be integral with the
base body unit 54, or the first vane 56a and the second vane
25 56b may be detachably attached to the outer circumferential
surface of the base body unit 54. In addition, as shown in Figs.
6(a) and 7(a), the first vane 56a and the second vane 56b are
symmetrical in shape in the right and left direction, when
viewed from the normal direction of the base body unit 54.
30 [0048]
In the pair of right and left stacking wheels 52 shown in
Fig. 4, an angular position at which the first vane 56a is
disposed and an angular position at which the second vane 56b
is disposed are completely identical to each other. Namely, as
35 shown in Fig. 9, a first vane 56a disposed on the one stacking
wheel 52 of the pair of right and left stacking wheels 52 is
18
opposed to a first vane 56a disposed on the other stacking
wheel 52, and a second vane 56b disposed on the one stacking
wheel 52 is opposed to a second wheel 56b disposed on the
other stacking wheel 52.
5 [0049]
The pair of right and left stacking wheels 52 in this
embodiment are not limited to the above. For example, in the
pair of right and left stacking wheels 52, an angular position at
which the first vane 56a is disposed on the one stacking wheel
10 52 may be identical to an angular position at which the second
vane 56b is disposed on the other stacking wheel 52, and an
angular position at which the second vane 56b is disposed on
the one stacking wheel 52 may be identical to an angular
position at which the first vane 56a is disposed on the other
15 stacking wheel 52. In this case, the first vanes 56a disposed
on the one stacking wheel 52 of the pair of right and left
stacking wheels 52 are opposed to the second vanes 56b
disposed on the other stacking wheel 52, and the second vanes
56b disposed on the one stacking wheel 52 are opposed to the
20 first vanes 56a disposed on the other stacking wheel 52.
[0050]
In addition, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, projections 57 are
respectively provided on an inner surface of the first vane 56a
and an inner surface of the second vane 56b. Further, cutouts
25 58 are respectively provided in the first vane 56a and the
second vane 56b. As shown in Figs. 5 and 8, each pair of
vanes 56 (i.e., the first vane 56a and the second vane 56b)
adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the
base body unit 54 is configured such that, when viewed from
30 the normal direction of the base body unit 54, the projection 57
of the one vane is opposed to the cutout 58 of the other vane.
To be specific, the first vane 56a and the second vane 56b
adjacent to each other are configured such that the projection
57 of the first vane 56a extends up to the cutout 58 of the
35 second vane 56b or extends through the cutout 58, and that the
projection 57 of the second vane 56b extends up to the cutout
19
58 of the first vane 56a or extends through the cutout 58.
Thus, the projection 57 of the first vane 56a is not in contact
with the second vane 56b, and the projection 57 of the second
vane 56b is not in contact with the first vane 56a.
5 [0051]
In this manner, as shown in Fig. 8, the first vane 56a and
the second vane 56b adjacent to each other are configured such
that, when viewed from the axial direction of the base body unit
54, the projection 57 of the first vane 56a overlaps with the
10 second vane 56b, and that the projection 57 of the second vane
56b overlaps with the first vane 56a. In addition, the first vane
56a and the second vane 56b adjacent to each other are
configured such that, when viewed from the normal direction of
the base body unit 54, the projection 57 of the first vane 56a is
15 positioned within a range of the cutout 58 of the second vane
56b, and that the projection 57 of the second vane 56b is
positioned within a range of the cutout 58 of the first vane 56a.
Thus, the projection 57 of the first vane 56a is not in contact
with the second vane 56b and the projection 57 of the second
20 vane 56b is not in contact with the first vane 56a.
[0052]
In the stacking wheel 52 in this embodiment, instead of
the structure in which the projections 57 are respectively
provided on the inner surfaces of the first vane 56a and the
25 second vane 56b, the projections 57 may be respectively
provided on outer surfaces of the first vane 56a and the second
vane 56b. When the projections 57 are disposed on the outer
surfaces of the first vane 56a and the second vane 56b, the
positions of the projection 57 and the cutout 58 are reversed.
30 Namely, the projection 57 and the cutout 58 are formed in this
order from the side of the base body unit 54 to a distal end of
the vane. Also in this case, each pair of vanes 56 adjacent to
each other in the circumferential direction of the base body unit
54 is configured such that, when viewed from the normal
35 direction of the base body unit 54, the projection 57 of the one
vane is opposed to the cutout 58 of the other vane.
20
[0053]
In addition, in the stacking wheel 52 in this embodiment,
instead of the structure in which the cutouts 58 are respectively
provided in the first vane 56a and the second vane 56b,
5 openings may be respectively provided in the first vane 56a and
the second vane 56b. Also in this case, the first vane 56a and
the second vane 56b adjacent to each other are configured such
that, the projection 57 of the first vane 56a extends up to the
opening formed in the second vane 56b or extends through the
10 opening, and that the projection 57 of the second vane 56b
extends up to the opening formed in the first vane 56a or
extends through the opening.
[0054]
In addition, in the stacking wheel 52 in this embodiment,
15 the first vane 56a and the second vane 56b are formed to be
resiliency deformable. Specifically, the first vane 56a and the
second vane 56b are formed of a resiliency deformable material
such as resin rubber, or the first vane 56a and the second vane
56b are attached to the base body unit 54 so as to be resiliency
20 deformable.
[0055]
Next, there is described an operation when a banknote is
sent from the transport unit 18 to the stacking-wheel type
stacking mechanism 50 as structured above.
25 [0056]
As described above, during the operation of the banknote
handling apparatus 10, the stacking wheels 52 of the
stacking-wheel type stacking mechanism 50 are rotated all the
time by the drive unit in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 2.
30 When a banknote is sent from the transport unit 18, a right end
portion and a left end portion of the banknote are respectively
received between the first vanes 56a and the second vanes 56b
provided respectively on the pair of right and left stacking
wheels 52. At this time, the first vane 56a and the second
35 vane 56b adjacent to each other are configured such that the
projection 57 of the first vane 56a extends up to the cutout 58
21
of the second vane 56b or extends through the cutout 58, and
that the projection 57 of the second vane 56b extends up to the
cutout 58 of the first vane 56a or extends through the cutout 58.
Thus, as shown in Fig. 9, the banknote P received between the
5 first vane 56a and the second vane 56b is curved by the
projection 57 so as to be elasticized.
[0057]
To be more specific, in a case where a banknote, which
has been transported from the transport unit 18 to the stacking
10 wheel 52, has a high elastic hardness, when the banknote is
received between the first vane 56a and the second vane 56b of
the stacking wheel 52, the first vane 56a or the second vane
56b is resiliency deformed, so that the banknote is firmly held
between the first vane 56a and the second vane 56b. At this
15 time, the banknote is slightly curved by the projection 57 so as
to be elasticized.
[0058]
On the other hand, in a case where a banknote, which
has been transported from the transport unit 18 to the stacking
20 wheel 52, has a low elastic hardness, when the banknote is
received between the first vane 56a and the second vane 56b of
the stacking wheel 52, the banknote is inserted deeply
between the first vane 56a and the second vane 56b. At this
time, the banknote is lightly held between the first vane 56a
25 and the second vane 56b. In addition, at this time, the
banknote is widely curved by the projection 57 so as to be
elasticized.
[0059]
In this manner, in either case where an elastic hardness
30 of a banknote, which has been transported from the transport
unit 18 to the stacking wheel 52, is high or low, the banknote
can be securely held between the first vane 56a and the second
vane 56b.
[0060]
35 Thereafter, the banknote, which has been received
between the first vane 56a and the second vane 56b in each of
22
the pair of right and left stacking wheels 52, is brought into
contact with a bottom surface of the stacking unit 30, and is
released from between the vanes 56a and 56b so as to be sent
to the stacking unit 30. In this manner, a plurality of
5 banknotes are sent, one by one, from the stacking wheel 52 to
the stacking unit 30 in such a manner that the banknotes are
stacked in an aligned state in the stacking unit 30.
[0061]
As described above, according to the stacking wheel 52 in
10 this embodiment, the projection 57 is provided on at least one
of the inner surface and the outer surface of each vane 56.
Each pair of vanes 56 (first vane 56a and second vane 56b)
adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the
base body unit 54 is configured such that, when viewed from
15 the axial direction of the base body unit 54, the projection 57 of
one vane 56 (e.g., the first vane 56a) and the other vane 56
(e.g., the second vane 56b) are overlapped with each other (see
Fig. 8), and that the projection 57 of the one vane 56 (e.g., the
first vane 56a) and the other vane 56 (e.g., the second vane
20 56b) are not in contact with each other (see Fig. 5). Thus,
when a banknote having been sent to the stacking wheel 52 is
received between a pair of adjacent vanes 56 (the first vane
56a and the second vane 56b), the banknote is curved by the
projection 57 provided on the inner surface or the outer surface
25 of each vane 56 so as to be elasticized (see banknote P in Fig.
9). In this manner, in either case where an elastic hardness of
a banknote, which has been sent from the transport unit 18 to
the stacking wheel 52, is higher or low, the banknote can be
securely held between the first vane 56a and the second vane
30 56b. Accordingly, it can be restrained that a banknote received
between the pair of vanes 56 jumps out erroneously from the
pair of vanes 56 (the first vane 56 and the second vane 56b),
regardless of an inherent elastic hardness of the banknote.
[0062]
35 In addition, in the stacking wheel 52 in this embodiment,
as shown in Figs. 6(a) and 7(a), a pair of vanes 56, i.e., the
23
first vane 56a and the second vane 56b, which are adjacent to
each other in the circumferential direction of the base body unit
54 are symmetrical in shape in the right and left direction, when
viewed from the normal direction of the vase body unit 54. In
5 addition, at this time, the first vane 56a and the second vane
56b are respectively provided with the cutouts 58 or the
openings (not shown). When viewed from the normal direction
of the base body unit 54, the projection 57 of the one vane 56
is opposed to the cutout 58 or the opening of the other vane 56.
10 Thus, a banknote having been sent to the stacking wheel 52 can
be securely curved by the projection 57, which extends up to
the cutout 58 or the opening, or extends through the cutout 58
or the opening, so as to be elasticized.
[0063]
15 In addition, in the stacking wheel 52 in this embodiment,
the first vane 56a and the second vane 56b are formed to be
resiliency deformable. Thus, even when a banknote sent to the
stacking wheel 52 has a high elastic hardness, since the first
vane 56a and the second vane 56b are resiliency deformed, the
20 banknote can be securely held between the first vane 56a and
the second vane 56b.
[0064]
The structure of the stacking wheel disposed in the
banknote handling apparatus 10 is not limited to the
25 embodiment shown in Figs. 4 to 9. Herebelow, another
embodiment of the stacking wheel disposed in the banknote
handling apparatus 10 is described with reference to Figs. 10
and 11. Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing another
structure of the stacking wheel disposed in the banknote
30 handling apparatus in this embodiment, and Fig. 11 is a
perspective view showing a structure of a vane disposed on the
stacking wheel shown in Fig. 10.
[0065]
As shown in Fig. 10, a stacking wheel 72 in this
35 alternative example includes a cylindrical base body unit 74,
and a plurality of vanes 76 extending outward from an outer
24
circumferential surface of the base body unit 74 in a direction
opposite to a rotating direction of the stacking wheel 72. A
banknote can be received between a pair of vanes 76 adjacent
to each other in a circumferential direction of the base body unit
5 74. All the vanes 76 disposed on the stacking wheel 72 have
the same shape, and a pair of vanes 76 adjacent to each other
in the circumferential direction of the base body unit 74 are
located on positions displaced from each other in an axial
direction of the base body unit 74. That is to say, when viewed
10 from a normal direction of the base body unit 74, a pair of
adjacent vanes 76 are not overlapped with each other. In other
words, when viewed from the normal direction of the base body
unit 74, one vane 76 of the pair of adjacent vanes 76 is
disposed on a right half area of the base body unit 74, and the
15 other vane 76 is disposed on a left half area of the base body
unit 74. In addition, a bearing unit 73 is disposed on a center
of the base body unit 74, so that a shaft (not shown) is borne
by the bearing unit 73. When a drive unit (not shown) rotates
the shaft, the stacking wheel 72 is rotated.
20 [0066]
Each vane 76 on the stacking wheel 72 in the alternative
example may be integral with the base body unit 74, or each
vane 76 may be detachably attached to the outer
circumferential surface of the base body unit 74.
25 [0067]
In addition, as shown in Fig. 10 and 11, a projection 77 is
provided on an inner surface of each vane 76. Each pair of
vanes 76 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction
of the base body unit 74 are configured such that, when viewed
30 from the axial direction of the base body unit 74, the projection
77 of the one vane 76 is overlapped with the other vane 76.
Since the pair of adjacent vanes 76 are located on positions
displaced from each other in the axial direction of the base body
unit 74, the projection 77 of the one vane 76 is not in contact
35 with the other vane 76.
[0068]
25
Instead of the structure in which the projection 77 is
provided on the inner surface of each vane 76, the projection 77
may be provided on an outer surface of each vane 76. Also in
this case, each pair of vanes 76 adjacent to each other in the
5 circumferential direction of the base body unit 74 is configured
such that, when viewed from the axial direction of the base
body unit 74, the projection 77 of the one vane 76 is overlapped
with the other vane 76.
[0069]
10 In addition, in the stacking wheel 72 in the alternative
example, each vane 76 is formed to be resiliency deformable.
Specifically, each vane 76 is formed of a resiliency deformable
material such as resin rubber, or each vane 76 is attached to
the base body unit 74 so as to be resiliency deformable.
15 [0070]
When a banknote is sent from the transport unit 18 to
the stacking wheel 72 shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the banknote is
received between a pair of adjacent vanes 76. At this time, the
pair of adjacent vanes 76 are configured such that, when
20 viewed from the axial direction of the base body unit 74, the
projection 77 of the one vane 76 is overlapped with the other
vane 76. Thus, the banknote received between the pair of
vanes 76 is curved by the projection 77 so as to be elasticized.
[0071]
25 To be more specific, in a case where a banknote, which
has been sent from the transport unit 18 to the stacking wheel
72, has a high elastic hardness, when the banknote is received
between a pair of vanes 76 of the stacking wheel 72, the vanes
76 are resiliency deformed, so that the banknote is firmly held
30 between the pair of vanes 76. At this time, the banknote is
slightly curved by the projection 77 so as to be elasticized.
[0072]
On the other hand, in a case where a banknote, which
has been transported from the transport unit 18 to the stacking
35 wheel 72, has a low elastic hardness, when the banknote is
received between a pair of vanes 76 of the stacking wheel 72,
26
the banknote is inserted deeply between the vanes 76. At this
time, the banknote is lightly held between the vanes 76. In
addition, at this time, the banknote is widely curved by the
projection 77 so as to be elasticized.
5 [0073]
Thereafter, the banknote having been received between
the pair of vanes 76 of the stacking wheel 72 is released from
between the vanes 76 and is sent to the stacking unit 30. In
this manner, a plurality of banknotes are sent, one by one, from
10 the stacking wheel 72 to the stacking unit 30 in such a manner
that the banknotes are stacked in an aligned state in the
stacking unit 30.
[0074]
As described above, similarly to the stacking wheel 52
15 shown in Figs. 4 to 9, in the stacking wheel 72 shown in Figs.
10 and 11, the projection 77 is provided on at least one of the
inner surface and the outer surface of each vane 76. Each pair
of vanes 76 adjacent to each other in the circumferential
direction of the base body unit 74 is configured such that, when
20 viewed from the axial direction of the base body unit 74, the
projection 77 of the one vane 76 is overlapped with the other
vane 76, and that the projection 77 of the one vane 76 and the
other vane 76 are not in contact with each other. Thus, when a
banknote having been sent to the stacking wheel 72 is received
25 between a pair of adjacent vanes 76, the banknote is curved by
the projection 77 provided on the inner surface or the outer
surface of each vane 76 so as to be elasticized. In this manner,
in either case where an elastic hardness of a banknote, which
has been transported from the transport unit 18 to the stacking
30 wheel 72, is high or low, the banknote can be securely held
between the pair of vanes 76. Accordingly, it can be restrained
that a banknote received between the pair of vanes 76 jumps
out erroneously from the pair of vanes 76, regardless of an
inherent elastic hardness of the banknote.
35 [0075]
In addition, still another embodiment of the stacking
27
wheel disposed in the banknote handling apparatus 10 is
described with reference to Figs. 12 and 13. Fig. 12 is a
perspective view showing still another structure of the stacking
wheel disposed in the banknote handling apparatus in this
5 embodiment, and Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a
structure of a vane disposed in the stacking wheel shown in Fig.
12.
[0076]
As shown in Fig. 12, a stacking wheel 82 in another
10 alternative example includes a cylindrical base body unit 84,
and a plurality of vanes 86 extending outward from an outer
circumferential surface of the base body unit 84 in a direction
opposite to a rotating direction of the stacking wheel 82. A
banknote is received between a pair of vanes 86 adjacent to
15 each other in a circumferential direction of the base body unit
84. All the vanes 86 disposed on the stacking wheel 82 have
the same shape. A bearing unit 83 is disposed on a center of
the base body unit 84 so that a shaft (not shown) is borne by
the bearing unit 83. When a drive unit (not shown) rotates the
20 shaft, the stacking wheel 82 is rotated.
[0077]
Each vane 86 on the stacking wheel 82 in the alternative
example may be integral with the base body unit 84, or each
vane 86 may be detachably attached to the outer
25 circumferential surface of the base body unit 84.
[0078]
In addition, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, a projection 87
is provided on an inner surface of each vane 86. In addition,
each vane 86 is provided with an opening 88. As shown in Fig.
30 12, each pair of vanes 86 adjacent to each other in the
circumferential direction of the base body unit 84 is configured
such that, when viewed from a normal direction of the base
body unit 84, the projection 87 of the one vane 86 is opposed to
the opening 88 of the other vane 86. To be specific, the pair of
35 adjacent vanes 86 are configured such that the projection 87 of
the one vane 86 extends up to the opening 88 of the other vane
28
86 or extends through the opening 88. Thus, the projection 87
of the one vane 86 is not in contact with the other vane 86.
[0079]
In this manner, each pair of adjacent vanes 86 is
5 configured such that, when viewed from an axial direction of the
base body unit 84, the projection 87 of the one vane 86 is
overlapped with the other vane 86. In addition, each pair of
adjacent vanes 86 is configured such that, when viewed from
the normal direction of the base body unit 84, the projection 87
10 of the one vane 86 is positioned within a range of the opening
88 of the other vane 86. Thus, the projection 87 of the one
vane 86 is not in contact with the other vane 86.
[0080]
In the stacking wheel 82 in the alternative example,
15 instead of the structure in which the projection 87 is provided
on the inner surface of the vane 86, the projection 87 may be
provided on an outer surface of the vane 86. When the
projection 87 is provided on the outer surface of the vane 86,
the positions of the projection 87 and the opening 88 are
20 reversed. Namely, the projection 87 and the opening 88 are
formed in this order from the side of the base body unit 84 to a
distal end of the vane. Also in this case, each pair of vanes 86
adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the
base body unit 84 is configured such that, when viewed from
25 the normal direction of the base body unit 84, the projection 87
of the one vane 86 is opposed to the opening 88 of the the
other vane 86.
[0081]
In addition, in the stacking wheel 82 in the alternative
30 example, instead of the structure in which the opening 88 is
provided in each vane 86, a cutout may be provided in each
vane 86. Also in this case, each pair of adjacent vanes 86 is
configured such that the projection 87 of the one vane 86
extends up to the cutout formed in the other vane 86 or extends
35 through the cutout.
[0082]
29
In addition, in the stacking wheel 82 in the alternative
example, each vane 86 is formed to be resiliently deformable.
Specifically, each vane 86 is formed of a resiliently deformable
material such as resin rubber, or each vane 86 is attached to
5 the base body unit 84 so as to be resiliently deformable.
[0083]
When a banknote is sent from the transport unit 18 to
the stacking wheel 82 shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the banknote is
received between a pair of adjacent vanes 86. At this time, the
10 pair of adjacent vanes 86 are configured such that, when
viewed from the axial direction of the base body unit 84, the
projection 87 of the one vane 86 is overlapped with the other
vane 86. Thus, the banknote received between the pair of
vanes 86 is curved by the projection 87 so as to be elasticized.
15 [0084]
To be more specific, in a case where a banknote, which
has been sent from the transport unit 18 to the stacking wheel
82, has a high elastic hardness, when the banknote is received
between the pair of vanes 86 of the stacking wheel 82, the
20 vanes 86 are resiliently deformed, so that the banknote is firmly
held between the pair of vanes 86. At this time, the banknote
is slightly curved by the projection 87 so as to be elasticized.
[0085]
25 On the other hand, in a case where a banknote, which
has been transported from the transport unit 18 to the stacking
wheel 82, has a low elastic hardness, when the banknote is
received between a pair of vanes 86 of the stacking wheel 82,
the banknote is inserted deeply between the vanes 86. At this
30 time, the banknote is lightly held between the vanes 86. In
addition, at this time, the banknote is widely curved by the
projection 87 so as to be elasticized.
[0086]
Thereafter, the banknote having been received between
35 the pair of vanes 86 of the stacking wheel 82 is released from
between the vanes 86 and is sent to the stacking unit 30. In
30
this manner, a plurality of banknotes are sent, one by one, from
the stacking wheel 82 to the stacking unit 30 in such a manner
that the banknotes are stacked in an aligned state in the
stacking unit 30.
5 [0087]
As described above, similarly to the stacking wheel 52
shown in Figs. 4 to 9, in the stacking wheel 82 shown in Figs.
12 and 13, the projection 87 is provided on at least one of the
inner surface and the outer surface of each vane 86. Each pair
10 of vanes 86 adjacent to each other in the circumferential
direction of the base body unit 84 is configured such that, when
viewed from the axial direction of the base body unit 84, the
projection 87 of the one vane 86 is overlapped with the other
vane 86, and that the projection 87 of the one vane 86 and the
15 other vane 86 are not in contact with each other. Thus, when a
banknote having been sent to the stacking wheel 82 is received
between a pair of adjacent vanes 86, the banknote is curved by
the projection 87 provided on the inner surface or the outer
surface of each vane 86 so as to be elasticized. In this manner,
20 in either case where an elastic hardness of a banknote, which
has been transported from the transport unit 18 to the stacking
wheel 82, is high or low, the banknote can be securely held
between the pair of vanes 86. Accordingly, it can be restrained
that a banknote received between the pair of vanes 86 jumps
25 out erroneously from the pair of vanes 86, regardless of an
inherent elastic hardness of the banknote.
[0088]
Next, yet another alternative example in which all the
vanes disposed on the stacking wheel have the same shape is
30 described with reference to Figs. 14 and 15. Fig. 14 is a side
view showing yet another structure of the stacking wheel
disposed in the banknote handling apparatus in this
embodiment, and Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a
structure of a vane disposed on the stacking wheel shown in Fig.
35 14.
[0089]
31
As shown in Fig. 14, a stacking wheel 92 in yet another
alternative example includes a cylindrical base body unit 94,
and a plurality of vanes 96 extending outward from an outer
circumferential surface of the base body unit 94 in a direction
5 opposite to a rotating direction of the stacking wheel 92. A
banknote is received between a pair of vanes 96 adjacent to
each other in a circumferential direction of the base body unit
94. As described above, all the vanes 96 disposed on the
stacking wheel 92 have the same shape. In addition, a bearing
10 unit 93 is disposed on a center of the base body unit 94 so that
a shaft (not shown) is borne by the bearing unit 93. When a
drive unit (not shown) rotates the shaft, the stacking wheel 92
is rotated.
[0090]
15 Each vane 96 on the stacking wheel 92 in the further
alternative example may be integral with the base body unit 94,
or each vane 96 may be detachably attached to the outer
circumferential surface of the base body unit 94.
[0091]
20 In the stacking wheel 92 in the further alternative
example shown in Figs. 14 and 15, a projection is not provided
on each vane 96. However, a portion of each vane 96 near to a
distal end of each vane 96 is curved in a V-shape or U-shape
toward an inside of the vane 96. In Figs. 14 and 15, the
25 portion of the vane 96, which is near to the distal end and is
curved inward in a V-shape or U-shape, is indicated by the
reference number 97. In addition, each vane is provided with
an opening 98. The curved portion 97, which is a specific
portion in one vane 96, is opposed to the opening 98 of the
30 other vane 96. Specifically, each pair of adjacent vanes 96 is
configured such that the curved portion 97 of the one vane 96
extends up to the opening 98 of the other vane 96 or extends
through the opening 98. Thus, the curved portion 97 of the
one vane 96 is not in contact with the other vane 96.
35 [0092]
In this manner, each pair of adjacent vanes 96 is
32
configured such that, when viewed from an axial direction of the
base body unit 94, the curved portion 97 of the one vane 96 is
overlapped with the other vane 96. In addition, each pair of
adjacent vanes 96 is configured such that, when viewed from a
5 normal direction of the base body unit 94, the curved portion 97
of the one vane 96 is positioned within a range of the opening
98 of the other vane 96. Thus, the curved portion 97 is not in
contact with the other vane 96.
[0093]
10 In the stacking wheel 92 in the further alternative
example, instead of the structure in which the opening 98 is
provided in each vane 96, a cutout may be provided in each
vane 96. Also in this case, each pair of adjacent vanes 96 may
be configured such that the curved portion 97 of the one vane
15 96 extends up to the opening formed in the other vane 96 or
extends through the opening.
[0094]
In addition, in the stacking wheel 92 in the alternative
example, each vane 96 is formed to be resiliently deformable.
20 Specifically, each vane 96 is formed of a resiliently deformable
material such as resin rubber, or each vane 96 is attached to
the base body unit 94 so as to be resiliently deformable.
[0095]
When a banknote is sent from the transport unit 18 to
25 the stacking wheel 92 shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the banknote is
received between a pair of adjacent vanes 96. At this time, the
pair of adjacent vanes 96 are configured such that, when
viewed from the axial direction of the base body unit 94, the
curved portion 97 of the one vane 96 is overlapped with the
30 other vane 96. Thus, the banknote received between the pair
of vanes 96 is curved by the curved portion 97 of the one vane
96 so as to be elasticized.
[0096]
To be more specific, in a case where a banknote, which
35 has been sent from the transport unit 18 to the stacking wheel
92, has a high elastic hardness, when the banknote is received
33
between the pair of vanes 96 of the stacking wheel 92, the
vanes 96 are resiliency deformed, so that the banknote is firmly
held between the pair of vanes 96. At this time, the banknote
is slightly curved by the curved portion 97 of the one vane 96 so
5 as to be elasticized.
[0097]
On the other hand, in a case where a banknote, which
has been transported from the transport unit 18 to the stacking
wheel 92, has a low elastic hardness, when the banknote is
10 received between a pair of vanes 96 of the stacking wheel 92,
the banknote is inserted deeply between the vanes 96. At this
time, the banknote is lightly held between the vanes 96. In
addition, at this time, the banknote is widely curved by the
curved portion 97 of the one vane 96 so as to be elasticized.
15 [0098]
Thereafter, the banknote having been received between
the pair of vanes 96 of the stacking wheel 92 is released from
between the vanes 96 and is sent to the stacking unit 30. In
this manner, a plurality of banknotes are sent, one by one, from
20 the stacking wheel 92 to the stacking unit 30 in such a manner
that the banknotes are stacked in an aligned state in the
stacking unit 30.
[0099]
As described above, in the stacking wheel 92 shown in
25 Figs. 14 and 15, each pair of vanes 96 adjacent to each other in
the circumferential direction of the base body unit 94 is
configured such that, when viewed from the axial direction of
the base body unit 94, the curved portion 97 which is a specific
portion of the one vane 96 is overlapped with the other vane 96,
30 and that the aforementioned curved portion 97 of the one vane
96 and the other vane 96 are not in contact with each other.
Thus, when a banknote having been sent to the stacking wheel
92 is received between a pair of adjacent vanes 96, the
banknote is curved by the curved portion 97 of each vane 96 so
35 as to be elasticized. In this manner, in either case where an
elastic hardness of a banknote, which has been transported
34
from the transport unit 18 to the stacking wheel 92, is high or
low, the banknote can be securely held between the pair of
vanes 96. Accordingly, it can be restrained that a banknote
received between the pair of vanes 96 jumps out erroneously
5 from the pair of vanes 96, regardless of an inherent elastic
hardness of the banknote.
[0100]
Next, further another structure of the stacking wheel
disposed in the banknote handling apparatus 10 is described
10 with reference to Figs. 16 to 18. Fig. 16 is a sectional view
showing further another structure of the stacking wheel
disposed in the banknote handling apparatus in this
embodiment. Fig. 17 is a sectional view showing a structure of
a vane disposed on the stacking wheel shown in Fig. 16. Fig.
15 18(a) is a perspective view showing a structure of the vane
disposed on the stacking wheel shown in Fig. 16 when the vane
is viewed from outside, and Fig. 18(b) is a perspective view
thereof when the vane is viewed from inside.
[0101]
20 As shown in Fig. 16, a stacking wheel 102 in further
another alternative example includes a cylindrical base body
unit 104, and a plurality of vanes 106 extending outward from
an outer circumferential surface of the base body unit 104 in a
direction opposite to a rotating direction of the stacking wheel
25 102. A banknote is received between a pair of vanes 106
adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction of the base
body unit 104. All the vanes 106 disposed on the stacking
wheel 102 have the same shape. A bearing unit 103 is
disposed on a center of the base body unit 104 so that a shaft
30 (not shown) is borne by the bearing unit 103. When a drive
unit (not shown) drives the shaft, the stacking wheel 102 is
rotated.
[0102]
Each vane 106 on the stacking wheel 102 in the further
35 alternative example may be integral with the base body unit
104, or each vane 106 may be detachably attached to the outer
35
circumferential surface of the base body unit 104.
[0103]
In addition, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18(b), in the
stacking wheel in the further alternative example, a projection
5 107 is provided on an inner surface of each vane 106. In
addition, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18(a), each vane 106 is
provided with a recess 108 in a surface not provided with the
projection 107, i.e., in an outer surface of the vane 106, into
which the projection 107 of the adjacent vane 106 can enter.
10 To be more specific, as shown in Fig. 16, each pair of vanes 106
adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the
base body unit 104 is configured such that, when viewed from a
normal direction of the base body unit 104, the projection 107
of the one vane 106 is opposed to the recess 108 of the other
15 vane 106. Each pair of adjacent vanes 106 is configured such
that the projection 107 of the one vane 106 enters into the
recess 108 of the other vane 106. Thus, the projection 107 of
the one vane 106 is not in contact with the other vane 106.
[0104]
20 In this manner, each pair of adjacent vanes 106 is
configured such that, since the projection 107 of the one vane
106 enters into the recess 108 of the other vane 106, when
viewed from an axial direction of the base body unit 104, the
projection 107 of the one vane 106 is overlapped with the other
25 vane 106. In addition, the projection 107 of the one vane 106
is not in contact with the other vane 106.
[0105]
In the stacking wheel 102 in the alternative example,
instead of the structure in which the projection 107 is provided
30 on the inner surface of the vane 106, the projection 107 may be
provided on an outer surface of the vane 106. When the
projection 107 is provided on the outer surface of the vane 106,
the positions of the projection 107 and the recess 108 are
reversed. Namely, the projection 107 and the recess 108 are
35 formed in this order from the side of the base body unit 104 to
a distal end of the vane. Also in this case, each pair of vanes
36
106 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of
the base body unit 104 is configured such that the projection
107 of the one vane 160 enters into the recess 108 of the other
vane 106.
5 [0106]
In addition, in the stacking wheel 102 in the alternative
example, each vane 106 is formed to be resiliency deformable.
Specifically, each vane 106 is formed of a resiliency deformable
material such as resin rubber, or each vane 106 is attached to
10 the base body unit 104 so as to be resiliency deformable.
[0107]
When a banknote is sent from the transport unit 18 to
the stacking wheel 102 shown in Figs. 16 to 18, the banknote is
received between a pair of adjacent vanes 106. At this time,
15 the pair of adjacent vanes 106 are configured such that, when
viewed from the axial direction of the base body unit 104, the
projection 107 of the one vane 106 is overlapped with the other
vane 106. Thus, the banknote received between the pair of
vanes 106 is curved by the projection 107 so as to be
20 elasticized.
[0108]
To be more specific, in a case where a banknote, which
has been sent from the transport unit 18 to the stacking wheel
102, has a high elastic hardness, when the banknote is received
25 between the pair of vanes 106 of the stacking wheel 102, the
vanes 106 are resiliency deformed, so that the banknote is
firmly held between the pair of vanes 106. At this time, the
banknote is slightly curved by the projection 107 so as to be
elasticized.
30 [0109]
On the other hand, in a case where a banknote, which
has been transported from the transport unit 18 to the stacking
wheel 102, has a low elastic hardness, when the banknote is
received between a pair of vanes 106 of the stacking wheel 102,
35 the banknote is inserted deeply between the vanes 106. At this
time, the banknote is lightly held between the vanes 106. In
37
addition, at this time, the banknote is widely curved by the
projection 107 so as to be elasticized.
[0110]
Thereafter, the banknote having been received between
5 the pair of vanes 106 of the stacking wheel 102 is released from
between the vanes 106 and is sent to the stacking unit 30. In
this manner, a plurality of banknotes are sent, one by one, from
the stacking wheel 102 to the stacking unit 30 in such a manner
that the banknotes are stacked in an aligned state in the
10 stacking unit 30.
[0111]
As described above, similarly to the stacking wheel 52
shown in Figs. 4 to 9, in the stacking wheel 102 shown in Figs.
16 to 18, the projection 107 is provided on at least one of the
15 inner surface and the outer surface of each vane 106. Each
pair of vanes 106 adjacent to each other in the circumferential
direction of the base body unit 104 is configured such that,
when viewed from the axial direction of the base body unit 104,
the projection 107 of the one vane 106 is overlapped with the
20 other vane 106, and that the projection 107 of the one vane
106 and the other vane 106 are not in contact with each other.
In addition, each vane 106 is provided with the recess 108 in a
surface not provided with the projection 107, into which the
projection 107 of the adjacent vane 106 enters. Thus, when a
25 banknote having been sent to the stacking wheel 102 is
received between a pair of adjacent vanes 106, the banknote is
curved by the projection 107 provided on the inner surface or
the outer surface of each vane 106 so as to be elasticized. In
this manner, in either case where an elastic hardness of a
30 banknote, which has been transported from the transport unit
18 to the stacking wheel 102, is high or low, the banknote can
be securely held between the pair of vanes 106. Accordingly, it
can be restrained that a banknote received between the pair of
vanes 106 jumps out erroneously from the pair of vanes 106,
35 regardless of an inherent elastic hardness of the banknote.
[0112]
38
Next, a method of manufacturing the stacking wheel in
this embodiment is described. As an example of the method of
manufacturing the stacking wheel in this embodiment, a method
of manufacturing the stacking wheel 52 shown in Fig. 5, which
5 is of a type where the first vane 56a and the second vane 56b
are integral with the base body unit 54, is described herebelow.
[0113]
A pair of dies each having a cavity therein are firstly
prepared. A shape defined by the cavities formed in the pair of
10 dies corresponds to the stacking wheel 52 shown in Fig. 5.
[0114]
Then, the pair of dies are die-matched, and a molding
material is injected into the cavities of the pair of dies. A
resiliency deformable material, such as resin rubber, is used as
15 the molding material.
[0115]
After the molding material has been injected into the
cavities in the pair of dies, the molding material is solidified by
cooling these dies. Thereafter, the pair of dies are decoupled,
20 so that the stacking wheel 52 made of the molding material,
such as a resiliency deformable material, can be obtained.
Specifically, in the thus obtained stacking wheel 52, a pair of
vanes 56a and 56b, which are adjacent to each other in the
circumferential direction of the base body unit 54, are
25 symmetrical in shape in the right and left direction. The
projection 57 is provided on at least one of the inner surface or
the outer surface of each of the vanes 56a and 56b. Each of
the vanes 56a and 56 is provided with a cutout. Each pair of
vanes 56a and 56b adjacent to each other in the circumferential
30 direction of the base body unit 54 is configured such that, when
viewed from the axial direction of the base body unit 54, the
projection 57 of the one vane (e.g., the first vane 56a) and the
other vane (e.g., the second vane 56b) are overlapped with
each other, and that the projection 57 of the one vane (e.g., the
35 first vane 56a) and the other vane (e.g., the second vane 56b)
are not in contact with each other.
39
[0116]
In the method of manufacturing the stacking wheel
including: preparing a pair of dies each having a cavity therein;
die-matching the pair of dies and injecting a molding material
5 into the cavities in the pair of dies; and decoupling the pair of
dies to obtain a stacking wheel formed of the molding material,
in addition to the stacking wheel 52 shown in Fig. 5, various
stacking wheels as described above, for example, the stacking
wheel 72 shown in Fig. 10 can be manufactured.
10 [0117]
In the stacking wheel and the paper-sheet stacking apparatus
according to the present invention, an object to be handled is
not limited to a banknote. Another type of paper sheet, such
as a check, may be used as an object to be handled.

40
CLAIMS
1. A stacking wheel comprising:
a cylindrical base body unit; and
a plurality of vanes disposed outward from an outer
circumferential surface of the base body unit, at equal intervals
therebetween in a circumferential direction of the base body
unit, such that a paper sheet is received between a pair of
vanes adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction;
wherein:
a projection is provided on at least one of an inner
surface or an outer surface of each vane; and
each pair of vanes adjacent to each other in the
circumferential direction of the base body unit is configured
such that, when viewed from an axial direction of the base body
unit, the projection of the one vane and the other vane are
overlapped with each other, and that the projection of the one
vane and the other vane are not in contact with each other.
2. The stacking wheel according to claim 1, wherein
a pair of vanes adjacent to each other in the
circumferential direction of the base body unit are symmetrical
in shape in a right and left direction.
3. The stacking wheel according to claim 1, wherein
the respective vanes have the same shape.
4. The stacking wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
wherein:
each vane has an opening or a cutout; and
a pair of vanes adjacent to each other in the
circumferential direction of the base body unit are configured
such that the projection of the one vane is opposed to the
opening or the cutout of the other vane when viewed from a
normal direction of the base body unit.
41
5. The stacking wheel according to claim 3, wherein
a pair of vanes adjacent to each other in the
circumferential direction of the base body unit are located on
positions displaced from each other in the axial direction of the
base body unit.
6. The stacking wheel according to claim 1, wherein
each vane has a recess in a surface not provided with the
projection, such that the projection of the adjacent vane enters
into the recess.
7. The stacking wheel according to claim 6, wherein
the projection is provided on the inner surface of each
vane, and the recess is provided in the outer surface of each
vane.
8. The stacking wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
wherein
the vanes are formed to be resiliency deformable.
9. A stacking wheel comprising:
a cylindrical base body unit; and
a plurality of vanes disposed outward from an outer
circumferential surface of the base body unit, at equal intervals
therebetween in a circumferential direction of the base body
unit, such that a paper sheet is received between a pair of
vanes adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction;
wherein each pair of vanes adjacent to each other in the
circumferential direction of the base body unit is configured
such that, when viewed from an axial direction of the base body
unit, a specific portion of the one vane and the other vane are
overlapped with each other, and that the specific portion of the
one vane and the other vane are not in contact with each other.
10. The stacking wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
wherein
42
each vane is integral with the base body unit.
11. The stacking wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
wherein
each vane is detachably attached to the outer
circumferential surface of the base body unit.
12. A paper-sheet stacking apparatus comprising:
a stacking unit in which paper sheets are stacked; and
the stacking wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 11
disposed on the stacking unit;
wherein a paper sheet having been sent from outside the
stacking unit to the stacking unit is firstly received between a
pair of vanes adjacent to each other in the circumferential
direction of the base body unit of the stacking wheel, and then
the paper sheet between the pair of vanes of the stacking wheel
is released from the stacking wheel so as to be stacked in the
stacking unit.
13. A method of manufacturing the stacking wheel according
to claim 10, the method comprising;
preparing a pair of dies each having a cavity therein;
die-matching the pair of dies and injecting a molding
material into the cavities in the pair of dies; and
decoupling the pair of dies to obtain a stacking wheel
formed of the molding material.
14. The method of manufacturing the stacking wheel
according to claim 13, wherein
in obtaining the stacking wheel formed of the molding
material, each pair of vanes adjacent to each other in the
circumferential direction of the base body unit are symmetrical
in shape in a right and left direction, a projection is provided on
at least one of an inner surface or an outer surface of each vane,
a cutout is provided in each vane, and each pair of vanes
adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the
43
base body unit is configured such that, when viewed from an
axial direction of the base body unit, the projection of the one
vane and the other vane are overlapped with each other, and
that the projection of the one vane and the other vane are not
in contact with each other.