DESCRIPTION PAPER SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS
[OOOl]
5 This application claims the benefit of priority from the
prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-130132 filed on
June 7, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
10 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002]
The present invention relates to a paper sheet processing
apparatus equipped with a plurality of stacking units from which
stacked paper sheets may be removed.
15
BACKGROUND ART
[0003]
Hitherto, there is known a paper sheet processing apparatus
including a casing, a placing unit which is provided in the casing so
20 as to place paper sheets thereon, a transport unit which transports
the paper sheets taken from the placing unit into the casing, and a
plurality of stacking units which stack the paper sheets transported
by the transport unit according to each sort and from which
stacked paper sheets may be removed (for example, see WO
25 2008/096429 A).
[0004]
In a case where a large number of paper sheets are
continuously processed in such a paper sheet processing apparatus,
the stacking process is stopped once at a time point when each
30 stacking unit is fully filled with the paper sheets or a predetermined
number of paper sheets are stacked in the stacking units. Then,
the paper sheets are removed from the stacking units, and then
the process on the paper sheets is resumed. Furthermore, the
removed paper sheets are sent to the next process.
35 [0005]
In a case where the operation of removing the paper sheets
3. Jun. 2G13 17:25 KYOWA PATEN" & LAW OFFICE NO. 0078 P. 11/36
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is frequently performed, an operator may forget the sorts of the
^ paper sheets removed from the stacking units, For example, the
operator may forget whether the removed paper sheets are fit
notes or unfit notes, or new notes or old notes.
5
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006]
In view of the above-described circumstances, the invention
provides a paper sheet processing apparatus capable of helping an
10 operator to recognize sorts of paper sheets removed from stacking
units.
[0007]
A paper sheet processing apparatus in accordance with the
15 present invention comprises:
a taking-in unit configured to take therein paper sheets one
by one;
a transport unit configured to transport the paper sheets
taken in by the taking-ln unit;
i
20 a recognition unit configured to recognize the paper sheets
transported by the transport unit;
a plurality of stacking units configured to stack the paper
sheets transported by the transport unit, the paper sheets stacked
in the stacking units being able to be removed from the stacking
25 units 60a-60d;
a control unit configured to transport the paper sheets into
the stacking units based on a recognition result of the recognition
unit; and
a detection sensor configured to detect whether the paper
30 sheets have been removed from the stacking units,
wherein when the control unit judges that the paper sheets
have been removed from the stacking units based on information
from the detection sensor, the control unit outputs removal
information on the removed paper sheets or the stacking units
35 from which the paper sheets have been removed.
[0008]
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In the paper sheet processing apparatus in accordance with
41 the present Invention,
the removal information may include information on sorts of
the removed paper sheets.
5 [0009]
In the paper sheet processing apparatus in accordance with
the present invention,
the sorts of the removed paper sheets may be based on
fitness or version of the paper sheets.
10 [0010]
In the paper sheet processing apparatus in accordance with
the present invention,
the removal information may include information on the
stacking units from which the paper sheets have been removed.
15 [0011]
In the paper sheet processing apparatus in accordance with
the present invention,
the control unit may be configured to appropriately change
the sorts of the paper sheets to be stacked in the stacking units
20 and to transport the paper sheets into the respective stacking
units.
[0012]
In the paper sheet processing apparatus in accordance with
the present invention,
25 the control unit may be configured to change the sorts of
the paper sheets to be stacked in the stacking units based on, at
least, the information from the detection sensor.
[0013]
In the paper sheet processing apparatus in accordance with
30 the present invention,
the control unit may be configured to fix the sorts of the
paper sheets to be stacked in the stacking units and to transport
the paper sheets into the respective stacking units.
[0014]
35 In the paper sheet processing apparatus In accordance with
the present invention,
3. Jun. 2C13 17:26 KYOWA PATEN" S: LAW OF = ICE MO. 0078 P. 13/36
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the removal information may include information on a time •-• -
4ft at which the paper sheets were removed from the stacking units.
[0015]
In the paper sheet processing apparatus in accordance with
5 the present invention,
the removal information may include information on the
number of the paper sheets removed from the stacking units.
[0016]
The paper sheet processing apparatus in accordance with
10 the present invention may further comprise a main display unit
configured to display the removal information.
[0017]
The paper sheet processing apparatus in accordance with
the present invention may further comprise an individual display
15 unit corresponding to each of the stacking units, the individual
display unit being configured to display the removal information on
the corresponding stacking unit.
[0018]
In the paper sheet processing apparatus in accordance with
20 the present invention,
the plurality of stacking units may be divided into at least
two or more groups, and
the control unit may be configured to separately output the
removal information on each group,
25 [0019]
In the paper sheet processing apparatus in accordance with
the present invention,
the control unit may be configured to output information on
a person in charge allocated to each group.
30 [0020]
According to the invention, when a control unit judges that
paper sheets have been removed from a stacking unit based on
Information from the detection sensor, the control unit outputs
removal information on the removed paper sheets or the stacking
35 unit In which the paper sheets are stacked. For this reason, an
operator may recognize the sorts of the paper sheets removed
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from the stacking unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021]
5 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paper sheet processing
apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating an inner
configuration of the paper sheet processing apparatus according to
the first embodiment of the invention;
10 FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the paper sheet
processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 4 is a diagram Illustrating an example of a display
configuration of a first main display unit or a second main display
15 unit of the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the first
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of the
display configuration of the first main display unit or the second
main display unit of the paper sheet processing apparatus
20 according to the first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a paper sheet processing
apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of display
configurations of a first main display unit and a second main
25 display unit of the paper sheet processing apparatus according to
the third embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another example of the
display configurations of the first main display unit and the second
main display unit of the paper sheet processing apparatus
30 according to the third embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022]
First embodiment
35 <>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a paper sheet processing
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* apparatus according to the-invention will be described by referring
% to the drawings. Here, FIGs. 1 to 5 are diagrams for illustrating
the first embodiment of the invention. Incidentally, the wpaper
sheet'' in the present application indicates a banknote, a check, a
5 coupon, and the like, but typically indicates the banknote.
[0023]
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a paper sheet processing apparatus
100 of the embodiment includes a casing l , a placing unit 11 which
is provided in the casing 1 so as to place a plurality of paper sheets
10 thereon, a taking-in unit 10 which takes therein the paper sheets
placed on the placing unit 11 one by one, a transport unit 70 (see
FIG. 2) which transports the respective paper sheets taken in by
the taking-in unit 10 into the casing 1, a recognition unit 20 (see
FIG. 2) which recognizes the paper sheets transported by the
15 transport unit 70, a plurality of stacking units 60a to 60d which
stack the paper sheets transported by the transport unit 70 and the
paper sheets stacked in the stacking units 60a to 60d being able to
be removed from the stacking units 60a to 60d via openings
thereof to outside, and rejecting units 61a and 61b which reject the
20 paper sheets that are not stacked in the stacking units 60a to 60d,
[0024]
Furthermore, in the embodiment, a configuration is
described in which the stacking units 60a to 60d include the first
stacking unit 60a, the second stacking unit 60b provided adjacent
25 to the first stacking unit 60a, the third stacking unit 60c provided
adjacent to the second stacking unit 60b, and the fourth stacking
unit 60d provided adjacent to the third stacking unit 60c. However,
the invention is not limited thereto as long as a configuration is
employed which includes the plurality of stacking units 60a to 60d.
30 Further, in FIG. 1, a configuration is illustrated in which the front
surface sides of the stacking units 60a to 60d are opened, but a
configuration may be employed In which the paper sheets may be
removed from the stacking units 60a to 60d. For example, the
front surfaces of the stacking units 60a to 60d may be provided
35 with doors or covers that may be opened or closed so as to cover
the openings thereof. Incidentally, the respective stacking units
3. Jun. 2C13 17:27 KYOWA PATEN" & LAW OFFICE MO. 0078 P. 16/36
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- 60a to 60d may stack,-foF example, five hundred paper sheets.
• [0025]
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the paper sheet processing
apparatus also includes a control unit 50 which causes the stacking
5 units 60a to 60d to stack the paper sheets thereon based on the
recognition result of the recognition unit 20 and detection sensors
25a to 25d which detect the paper sheets removed from the
stacking units 60a to 60d. Furthermore, the detection sensors 25a
to 25d are provided so as to respectively correspond to the
10 stacking units 60a to 60d.
[0026]
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the taking-in unit 10 includes kicker
rollers 16 and 18 which are provided in the placing unit 11 so as to
apply a driving force to the paper sheet positioned at the
15 lowermost side and gate mechanisms 12 and 14 which nip the
paper sheet applied with the driving force by the kicker rollers 16
and 18 so as to feed the paper sheet Into the casing 1. The gate
mechanisms 12 and 14 include a feed roller 12 and a gate roller 14
which is provided so as to face the feed roller 12.
20 [0027]
Further, the placing unit 11 is provided with a
presence/absence sensor 85 which detects the placement of the
paper sheet. The transport unit 70 is provided with a plurality of
tracking sensors 80a to 801 which detect the track of the paper
25 sheet.
[0028]
Further, the transport unit 70 is provided with a plurality of
dividing members 71a to 71e which appropriately divide the paper
sheets transported by the transport unit 70.
30 [0029]
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the casing 1 is provided with
an operation unit 40 to which an operator may input predetermined
information.
[0030]
35 When the control unit 50 of the embodiment judges that the
paper sheets have been removed from the stacking units 60a to
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60d based on information from-the detection sensor 25a to-~-25d>-
W removal information on the removed paper sheets or the stacking
units 60a to 60d in which the removed paper sheets were stacked
is output to an output unit. The removal information on the
5 removed paper sheets indicates, for example, information on the
sorts of the paper sheets such as fitness and version of the paper
sheets, information on the number of the paper sheets removed
from the stacking units 60a to 60d, or the like. The removal
information on the stacking units 60a to 60d in which the removed
10 paper sheets were stacked indicates, for example, information
representing the stacking unit from which the paper sheets have
been removed among the stacking units 60a to 60d, information on
the time at which the paper sheets were removed from the
stacking units 60a to 60d, or the like. In a case where the
15 removal information is output as an image display, the output unit
may be configured as a main display unit 30 or individual display
units 31a to 3Id to be described later.
[0031]
Furthermore, the above-described removal information is
20 stored in a storage unit 55 (see FIG. 3) which is connected to the
control unit 50.
[0032]
As illustrated in FIG. l , the casing 1 Is provided with the
main display unit 30 which is configured by, for example, an LCD
25 (Liquid Crystal Display) as the output unit that displays the removal
information thereon. The main display unit 30 of the embodiment
includes a first main display unit 30a and a second main display
unit 30b which is provided adjacent to the first main display unit
30a. Both the first main display unit 30a and the second main
30 display unit 30b are configured by LCDs.
[0033]
The main display unit 30 of the embodiment displays both
the removal information on the removed paper sheets and the
removal information on the stacking units 60a to 60d in which the
35 paper sheets were stacked. As an example, the main display unit
30 displays a removal time, a removal place, fitness information,
3- Jun. 2C13 17:28 KYOWA PATEN" & LAW OF:ICE MO. 0078 P. 13/36
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the number of sheets, and the like in time series (see FIG. 4).
W Furthermore, the information may be displayed only on the first
main display unit 30a, may be displayed only on the second main
display unit 30b, or may be displayed on both the first main display
5 unit 30a and the second main display unit 30b.
[0034]
FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration in which the removal time,
the removal place, the fitness information, and the number of
sheets are sequentially displayed on the first main display unit 30a
10 or the second main display unit 30b in time series from the left
[ side.
[0035]
Incidentally, in FIG. 4, "STK" indicates the stacking units
(stackers) 60a to 60d, "STK1" indicates the first stacking unit 60a,
15 "STK2" indicates the second stacking unit 60b, "STK3" indicates the
third stacking unit 60c, and "STK4" indicates the fourth stacking
unit 60d. Furthermore, in a configuration Illustrated in FIG, 4, it is
assumed that the paper sheet is a banknote. In FIG. 4, *ATM"
indicates a banknote which may be used as a banknote to be
20 dispensed by an ATM provided in a financial organization such as a
bank, "TLR" indicates a banknote which may not be used in the
ATM, but may be used as a banknote to be dispensed by a clerk of
the financial organization such as a bank, and "UNFIT" indicates a
banknote which may not be used as a banknote to be dispensed by
25 not only the ATM but also the clerk of the financial organization
such as a bank.
[0036]
Furthermore, the banknote which may be used as a
banknote to be dispensed by the ATM and the banknote which may
30 not be used in the ATM, but may be used as a banknote to be
dispensed by the clerk of the financial organization such as a bank
are so-called "fit notes", and the banknote which may not be used
a banknote to be dispensed by not only the ATM but also the clerk
of the financial organization such as a bank is a so-called "unfit
35 note". That is, in the embodiment, the fitness information is
judged and displayed as three levels.
3. Jun. 2C13 17:29 KYOWA PATEN" & LAW OFFICE >JO. 0078 P. 19/36
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[0037]
w Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the casing 1 is provided with
the individual display units 31a to 31d, which are configured by, for
example, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), at the positions
5 respectively corresponding to the stacking units 60a to 60d. Then,
the Individual display units 3la to 31d display the removal
information corresponding to the stacking units 60a to 60d. That
is, the first individual display unit 31a corresponds to the first
stacking unit 60a, and the first individual display unit 31a displays
10 the removal information on the first stacking unit 60a. Similarly,
the second individual display unit 31b corresponds to the second
stacking unit 60b, the second individual display unit 31b displays
the removal information on the second stacking unit 60b, the third
individual display unit 31c corresponds to the third stacking unit
15 60c, the third individual display unit 31c displays the removal
information on the third stacking unit 60c, the fourth individual
display unit 3Id corresponds to the fourth stacking unit 60d, and
the fourth individual display unit 3Id displays the removal
information on the fourth stacking unit 60d.
20 [0038]
When the paper sheets have been removed from the
corresponding stacking units 60a to 60d, the individual display
units 31a to 31d notify the stacking units 60a to 60d from which
the paper sheets have been removed to an operator in a manner
25 such that the display units display "..." (dot) for a predetermined
time or the display units are turned on with a color different from
the color in a normal state. Furthermore, when the paper sheets
are counted, the individual display units 31a to 31d display the
counted number of the paper sheets. Then, during the period in
30 which the counting of the paper sheets ends and the removal of the
paper sheets is awaited, the individual display units may display
the counted number of sheets in a flickering state.
[0039]
Incidentally, in the embodiment, a configuration is described
35 in which the removal information is displayed on both the main
display unit 30 and the individual display units 31a to 31d, but the
3. Jun. 2C13 17:25 KVOWA PATEN" *i LAW OF-ICE NO. 0078 P. 20/36
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Invention is not limited thereto- For example, the removal
V information may be displayed only on the main display unit 30 or
the removal information may be displayed only on the individual
display units 31a to 3Id. Further, the removal information may be
5 displayed on an external device such as a PC connected to the
paper sheet processing apparatus 100, and the removal
information may not be displayed In the paper sheet processing
apparatus 100.
[0040]
10 Incidentally, the control unit 50 of the embodiment
appropriately changes the sorts of the paper sheets to be stacked
in the stacking units 60a to 60d, and causes the respective
stacking units 60a to 60d to stack the paper sheets thereon.
Further, the control unit 50 changes the sorts of the paper sheets
15 to be stacked in the stacking units 60a to 60d based on the
information from the detection sensors 25a to 25d. For example,
when the control unit 50 judges that the paper sheets have been
removed from the stacking units 60a to 60d based on the
information from the detection sensor 25a to 25d, the sorts of the
20 paper sheets to be stacked in the stacking units 60a to 60d are
changed to the sorts of the paper sheets which are read first at the
next time (Furthermore, when the sorts of the paper sheets to be
stacked in the stacking units 60a to 60d are the same as the sorts
of the paper sheets read first at the next time, the sorts of the
25 paper sheets to be stacked in the stacking units 60a to 60d are not
changed).
[0041]
<>
Next, an operation and an effect according to the
30 embodiment with the above-described configuration will be
described.
[0042]
According to the embodiment, when the control unit 50
judges that the paper sheets have been removed from the stacking
35 units 60a to 60d based on the information from the detection
sensor 25a to 25d, the control unit 50 outputs the removal
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Information on the removed paper sheets or the stacking units 60a
W to 60d in which the paper sheets were stacked. Then, the removal
information is displayed on the main display unit 30 and the
individual display units 31a to 31d. For this reason, the operator
5 may reliably recognize the sorts of the paper sheets removed from
the stacking units 60a to 60d.
[0043]
That is, in a case where a large number of paper sheets are
continuously processed in the paper sheet processing apparatus of
10 the related art, the stacking process Is stopped once at a time point
when the respective stacking units 60a to 60d are fully filled with
the paper sheets or a predetermined number of sheets are stacked
in the stacking units. Then, the paper sheets are removed from
the stacking units 60a to 60dr and the process on the paper sheets
15 is resumed (Furthermore, the removed paper sheets are wound by
a rubber band or the like so as to be stored according to the sorts
of the paper sheets). In a case where the operation of removing
the paper sheets is frequently performed, the operator may forget
the sorts of the paper sheets removed from the stacking units 60a
20 to 60d. For example, the operator may forget whether the
| removed paper sheets are fit notes or unfit notes, or new notes or
old notes. As a result, the paper sheets may be stored at wrong
places.
[0044]
25 On the contrary, according to the embodiment, the removal
information is output and the operator may check the removal
information. Accordingly, even when an operation of removing the
paper sheets is frequently performed, the operator may recognize
the sorts of the paper sheets removed from the stacking units 60a
30 to 60d. For this reason, the paper sheets may be accurately
stored according to each sort.
[0045]
Furthermore, in a configuration in which the fitness of the
paper sheet is output as the removal information, the operator may
35 sort the paper sheets according to the fitness based on the output
information. Furthermore, in a case where the paper sheet is a
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banknote, the "fitness sorting" Indicates the sorting of the
™ banknote which may be used in the ATM, the banknote which may
not be used in the ATM, but may be used in the clerk of the
financial organization such as a bank, and the banknote which may
5 not be used in not only in the ATM but also the clerk of the financial
organization such as a bank.
[0046]
Further, in a configuration in which the version of the paper
sheet is output as the removal information, the operator may sort
10 the paper sheets according to the version based on the output
information. Furthermore, in a case where the paper sheet is a
banknote, the 'Version sorting" indicates the sorting of the
banknote as a new note and the banknote as an old note.
[0047]
15 Incidentally, in a configuration in which the removal
information includes information on the sorts of the removed paper
sheets, the operator may check the sorts of the removed paper
sheets through, for example, the main display unit 30, and hence
the operator may reliably recognize the sorts of the paper sheets In
20 his or her hand. For this reason, the operator may reliably and
accurately store the paper sheets according to each sort.
[0048]
Further, in a configuration in which the removal information
includes information on the stacking units 60a to 60d from which
25 the paper sheets have been removed, the operator may check the
stacking unit from which the paper sheets have been removed
among the stacking units 60a to 60d by, for example, the main
display unit 30 or the individual display units 31a to 31d. For this
reason, the operator may reliably recognize the stacking unit from
30 which the paper sheets in his or her hand have been removed
among the stacking units 60a to 60d. Even when the operator
forgets the sorts of the paper sheets, the operator may easily
remember the sorts of the paper sheets. Incidentally, according to
a configuration In which the stacking units 60a to 60d and the sorts
35 of the paper sheets are correlated with one another and the sorts
of the paper sheets stacked in the stacking units 60a to 60d are
3. Jun. 2C13 17:31 KYOWA PATEN" & LAW OF = ICE NO. 0078 P. 23/36
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displayed, the operator may reliably recognize the sorts of the
^ paper sheets in his or her hand. For this reason, it is preferable in
that the operator may reliably and accurately store the paper
sheets according to each sort.
5 [0049]
Further, in a configuration in which the removal Information
includes information on the time at which the paper sheets were
removed from the stacking units 60a to 60d, the operator may
check the time at which the paper sheets were removed from the
10 stacking units 60a to 60d by, for example, the main display unit 30.
For this reason, the operator may reliably recognize the time at
which the paper sheets in his or her hand were removed from the
stacking units 60a to 60d. Even when the operator forgets the
sorts of the paper sheets, the operator may easily remember the
15 sorts of the paper sheets. Incidentally, according to a
configuration in which the time at which the paper sheets were
removed from the stacking units 60a to 60d and the sorts of the
paper sheets are correlated with one another and the sorts of the
paper sheets are displayed in addition to the time at which the
20 paper sheets were removed from the stacking units 60a to 60d, the
operator may reliably recognize the sorts of the paper sheets in his
or her hand, For this reason, it is preferable in that the operator
may further reliably and accurately store the paper sheets
according to each sort.
25 [0050]
Further, in a configuration in which the removal information
includes information on the number of the paper sheets removed
from the stacking units 60a to 60d, the operator may check the
number of the paper sheets removed from the stacking units 60a
30 to 60d by, for example, the main display unit 30.
[0051]
Incidentally, according to a configuration illustrated in FIG. 4,
the removal time (the first row from the left side), the removal
place (the second row from the left side), the fitness information
35 (the third row from the left side), and the number of sheets (the
fourth row from the left side) are respectively displayed on the first
3. Jun. 2C13 17:31 KYOWA PATEN" & LAW OF-ICE \0. 0078 P. 24/36
15
main display unit 30a o r t h e second main display unit 30b.
• [0052]
For this reason, the operator may check the removal time
and how many paper sheets have been removed from which unit
5 among the stacking units 60a to 60d and further may check the
result of the fitness sorting of the paper sheets by the first main
display unit 30a or the second main display unit 30b. For this
reason, the operator may reliably and accurately store the paper
sheets in his or her hand according to each sort.
10 [0053]
Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the first main display
unit 30a or the second main display unit 30b may display the
version information of the paper sheets (at the fourth row from the
left side) in addition to the removal time, the removal place, the
15 fitness information, and the number of sheets. In such a case, the
operator may also reliably sort the paper sheets according to the
version information. Further, in a case where the paper sheets are
sorted according to only the version information, a configuration
may be employed in which the version Information of the paper
20 sheets is displayed instead of the fitness information of FIG. 4.
[0054]
Further, in the embodiment, in addition to the display on the
main display unit 30, the individual display units 31a to 31d notify
the stacking units 60a to 60d from which the paper sheets have
25 been removed to the operator in a manner such that the display
units display "..." for a predetermined time or the display units are
turned on with a color different from the color in a normal state in
a case where the paper sheets have been removed from the
corresponding stacking units 60a to 60d. For this reason, the
30 operator may check the stacking unit from which the paper sheets
have been removed among the stacking units 60a to 60d In one
glance, and hence the working efficiency may be improved,
Incidentally, according to a configuration in which the stacking
units 60a to 60d and the sorts of the paper sheets are correlated
35 with one another and the sorts of the paper sheets stacked in the
stacking units 60a to 60d are displayed on the main display unit 30,
3. Jun. 2C13 17:32 KYOWA PATEN- & LAW OFrICE NO. 0078 P. 25/36
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. • it is preferable in that the operator may reliably recognize the sorts
* of the paper sheets in his or her hand.
[0055]
Further, in the embodiment, the sorts of the paper sheets to
5 be stacked in the stacking units 60a to 60d may be appropriately
changed and the paper sheets may be stacked in the respective
stacking units 60a to 60d. For this reason, the sorts of the paper
sheets to be stacked in the stacking units 60a to 60d may be
flexibly changed in accordance with the situation.
10 [0056]
Further, in the embodiment, information is received from the
detection sensors 25a to 25d for detecting the removal of the
paper sheets from the stacking units 60a to 60d, and the sorts of
the paper sheets to be stacked in the stacking units 60a to 60d are
15 changed. For this reason, when the paper sheets have been
removed from the stacking units 60a to 60d, the sorts of the paper
sheets may be automatically and appropriately changed, and hence
the usage efficiency of the stacking units 60a to 60d may be
Improved.
20 [0057]
Second embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be
described.
[0058]
25 In the first embodiment, a configuration is described in
which the control unit 50 appropriately changes the sorts of the
paper sheets to be stacked in the stacking units 60a to 60d and
causes the respective stacking units 60a to 60d to stack the paper
sheets thereon. However, in the second embodiment, the control
30 unit 50 fixes the sorts of the paper sheets to be stacked in the
stacking units 60a to 60d, and causes the respective stacking units
60a to 60d to stack the paper sheets thereon.
[0059]
In the second embodiment, the other configurations are
35 substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, in the
second embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the
3. Jun. 2C13 17:32 KYOWA PATEN- & LAW OFrICE MO- 0078 P. 26/36
«
17
; - - same, components, -as -those- of the first embodiment, and the
w detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.
[0060]
In the embodiment, the same effect as that of the first
5 embodiment may also be obtained. Since the effect is specifically
described in the first embodiment, particularly Important points will
be described in the description of the effect of the embodiment.
[0061]
In the embodiment, when the control unit 50 judges that
10 the paper sheets have been removed from the stacking units 60a
to 60d based on the information from the detection sensor 25a to
25d, the control unit 50 outputs the removal information on the
removed paper sheets or the stacking units 60a to 60d in which the
paper sheets were stacked, and the removal information is
15 displayed on the main display unit 30 and the individual display
units 31a to 31d. For this reason, the operator may reliably
recognize the sorts (for example, the fitness sorts or the version)
of the paper sheets removed from the stacking units 60a to 60d.
[0062]
20 Particularly, in a configuration in which the removal
information includes information on the sorts of the removed paper
sheets, the operator may check the sorts of the removed paper
sheets by, for example, the main display unit 30, and hence the
operator may reliably recognize the sorts of the paper sheets in his
25 or her hand. For this reason, the paper sheets may be accurately
and reliably stored according to each sort,
[0063]
Further, in a configuration in which the removal information
includes information on the stacking units 60a to 60d from which
30 the paper sheets have been removed, the operator may check the
stacking unit from which the paper sheets have been removed
among the stacking units 60a to 60d by, for example, the main
display unit 30 or the individual display units 31a to 31d. In the
embodiment, since the sorts of the paper sheets to be stacked in
35 the stacking units 60a to 60d are fixed, if the operator may
recognize the stacking unit from which the paper sheets have been
3-Jun. 2C13 17:33 KYOWA PATEN" i LAW OFrICE MO. 0078 P. 27/36
18
- removed among the stacking units 60a to 60d, the operator may
^ reliably recognize the sorts of the paper sheets in his or her hand,
and hence may accurately and reliably store the paper sheets
according to each sort. Incidentally, according to a configuration
5 in which the sorts of the paper sheets stacked in the stacking units
60a to 60d are displayed, it is preferable in that the operator may
further reliably recognize the sorts of the paper sheets in his or her
hand.
[0064]
10 Further, in a configuration in which the removal information
Includes information on the time at which the paper sheets were
removed from the stacking units 60a to 60d, the operator may
check the time at which the paper sheets were removed from the
stacking units 60a to 60d by, for example, the main display unit 30.
15 For this reason, the operator may reliably recognize the time at
which the paper sheets in his or her hand were removed from the
stacking units 60a to 60d. Even when the operator forgets the
sorts of the paper sheets, the operator may easily remember the
sorts of the paper sheets. Incidentally, according to a
20 configuration in which the time at which the paper sheets were
removed from the stacking units 60a to 60d and the sorts of the
paper sheets are correlated with one another and the sorts of the
paper sheets are displayed in addition to the time at which the
paper sheets were removed from the stacking units 60a to 60d, it
25 is preferable in that the operator may reliably recognize the sorts of
the paper sheets in his or her hand.
[0065]
Further, in a configuration in which the removal information
includes information on the number of the paper sheets removed
30 from the stacking units 60a to 60d, the operator may check the
number of the paper sheets removed from the stacking units 60a
to 60d by, for example, the main display unit 30.
[0066]
Further, in the embodiment, the individual display units 31a
35 to 31d notify the stacking units 60a to 60d from which the paper
sheets have been removed to the operator in a manner such that
3. Jun. 2C13 17:34 KYOWA PATEN" & LAW OFrICE MO. 0078 P. 23/36
19
the individual display units display ,x„,-''for a predetermined time or
^ turned on with a color different from the color in a normal state in
3 case where the paper sheets have been removed from the
corresponding stacking units 60a to 60d. In the embodiment,
5 since the sorts of the paper sheets to be stacked in the stacking
units 60a to 60d are fixed, if the operator may recognize the
stacking unit from which the paper sheets have been removed
among the stacking units 60a to 60d in this way, the operator may
reliably recognize the sorts of the paper sheets in his or her hand.
10 Furthermore, the operator may check the stacking unit from which
the paper sheets have been removed among the stacking units 60a
to 60d in one glance by such a display on the individual display
units 31a to 31d, and hence the working efficiency may be
improved.
15 [0067]
Third embodiment
Next, a third embodiment of the invention will be described
by referring to FIGs. 6, 7, and 8.
[0068]
20 In the first embodiment, a configuration is illustrated in
which four stacking units 60a to 60d are provided. However, in
the embodiment, a configuration is illustrated in which eight
stacking units 60a to 60h are provided. Furthermore, a number of
stacking units 60a to 60d are optional as described above.
25 However, for convenience of description, a configuration with four
stacking units 60a to 60d is used in the first embodiment, and a
configuration with eight stacking units 60a to 60h is used in the
third embodiment.
[0069]
30 In the embodiment, eight stacking units 60a to 60h are
divided into two groups, and the control unit 50 separately outputs
the removal information on each group and outputs information on
a person in charge allocated to each group, More specifically,
eight stacking units 60a to 60h of the embodiment are divided into
35 two groups as the group of four stacking units 60a to 60d from the
left side of FIG. 6 and the group of four stacking units 60e to 60h
3. Jun. 2C13 17:34 KYOWA PATEN" & LAW OF-ICE W. 0078 P. 29/36
20
-from the right side of FIG, 6. Then, the control unit 50 separately
^ outputs the removal information on four stacking units 60a to 60d
from the left side and the removal information on four stacking
units 60e to 60h from the right side, and outputs information on a
5 person A in charge of four stacking units 60a to 60d from the left
side and a person B in charge of four stacking units 60e to 60h
from the right side. Furthermore, eight stacking units 60a to 60h
are respectively provided with the corresponding individual display
units 31a to 31h.
10 [0070]
Furthermore, in the embodiment, a configuration is
illustrated in which the stacking units are divided into two groups,
but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, a
configuration may be employed in which three or more stacking
15 units are divided into three or more groups.
[0071]
Further, in a configuration illustrated in FIG. 4 of the first
embodiment, the first main display unit 30a or the second main
display unit 30b displays each of the removal time, the removal
20 place, the fitness information, and the number of sheets. Further,
in a configuration illustrated in FIG. 5 of the first embodiment, the
first main display unit 30a or the second main display unit 30b
displays each of the removal time, the removal place, the fitness
information, the version information, and the number of sheets.
25 [0072]
On the contrary, in a configuration illustrated in FIG. 7 of the
third embodiment, the first main display unit 30a displays the
notice for the person A in charge ("person A in charge" of FIG. 7)
and each of the removal time, the removal place, the fitness
30 information, and the number of sheets with respect to the person A
In charge. Further, the second main display unit 30b displays the
notice for the person B in charge ("person B in charge" of FIG. 7)
and each of the removal time, the removal place, the fitness
information, and the number of sheets with respect to the person B
35 in charge.
[0073]
3. Jun. 2C13 17:35 KYOWA PATEN" & LAW OFFICE MO. 0078 P. 30/36
21
m Further, in a configuration illustrated in FIG. 8 of the third
- embodiment, the first main display unit 30a displays the notice for
the person A in charge ("person A in charge" of FIG. 8) and each of
the removal time, the removal place, the fitness information, the
5 version information, and the number of sheets with respect to the
person A in charge. Further, the second main display unit 30b
displays the notice for the person B in charge ("person B In charge"
of FIG. 8) and each of the removal time, the removal place, the
fitness information, the version information, and the number of
10 sheets with respect to the person B in charge.
[0074]
Incidentally, in the description above, a configuration is
described in which the first main display unit 30a displays the
removal information with respect to the person A In charge and the
15 second main display unit 30b displays the removal information with
respect to the person B in charge, but the invention is not limited
thereto. For example, a configuration may be employed in which
the removal information with respect to the person A In charge and
the person B in charge is displayed only on the first main display
20 unit 30a or the removal information with respect to the person A in
charge and the person B in charge is displayed only on the second
main display unit 30b. Further, a configuration may be employed
In which the removal information is displayed on an external device
such as PC connected to the paper sheet processing apparatus 100
25 and the removal information is not displayed on the paper sheet
processing apparatus 100.
[0075]
In the third embodiment, the other configurations are
substantially the same as those of the first embodiment. In the
30 third embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the
same components as those of the first embodiment, and the
detailed description thereof is not be repeated here.
[0076}
According to the embodiment, the control unit 50 outputs
35 the removal information with respect to four stacking units 60a to
60d from the left side so that the removal information is displayed
3. Jun. 2C13 17:35 KYOWA PATEN" & LAW OF-ICE MO. 0078 P. 31/36
22
• on the first main display unit 30a, and the control unit 50 outputs
* the removal information with respect to four stacking units 60e to
60h from the right side so that the removal information is displayed
on the second main display unit 30b. For this reason, even when
5 two operators sort the paper sheets by using one paper sheet
processing apparatus 100, the respective operators may accurately
recognize the removal information with respect to the paper sheets
removed from the stacking units 60a to 60h by himself or herself,
[0077]
10 Particularly, in the embodiment, since the first main display
j unit 30a displays the notice for the person A in charge ("person A
[ in charge" of FIG. 6) and the second main display unit 30b displays
the notice for the person B in charge ("person B in charge" of FIG.
6), the respective persons in charge may reliably recognize the
15 removal information with respect to the paper sheets removed
from the stacking units 60a to 60h by himself or herself.
[0078]
Incidentally, a configuration of the third embodiment may be
used in the second embodiment. That is, the control unit 50 of the
20 third embodiment may cause the respective stacking units 60a to
60d to stack the paper sheets thereon by appropriately changing
the sorts of the paper sheets to be stacked in the stacking units
60a to 60d as in the first embodiment, and may also cause the
respective stacking units 60a to 60d to stack the paper sheets
25 thereon by fixing the sorts of the paper sheets to be stacked in the
stacking units 60a to 60d as in the second embodiment.
[0079]
Furthermore, in the embodiment, the same effects as those
of the first embodiment and the second embodiment may be
30 obtained in addition to the above-described effect. However, in
the embodiment, the description of these effects will not be made
so as to avoid the repetitive description thereof.
[0080]
Incidentally, the description of the embodiments above and
35 the disclosure of the drawings are merely examples for describing
the invention disclosed in claims, and the invention disclosed in
3. Jun. 2C13 17:36 KYOWA PATEN" & LAW OF = ICE MO. 0078 P. 32/36
23
claims is not limited to the description of the embodiment above or
^ the disclosure of the drawings,
[0081]
1 casing
5 10 taking-in unit
20 recognition unit
25a to 25d detection sensor
30 main display unit
30a first main display unit
10 30b second main display unit
31a to 31h individual display unit
50 control unit
60a to 60h stacking unit
70 transport unit
15 100 paper sheet processing apparatus
i

3. Jun. 2C13 17:36 KYOWA PATEN" & LAW OF-ICE MO. 0078 P. 33/36
24
*
% What is claimed is:
1. A paper sheet processing apparatus comprising:
a taking-in unit configured to take therein paper sheets one
by one;
a transport unit configured to transport the paper sheets
taken in by the taking-in unit;
a recognition unit configured to recognize the paper sheets
transported by the transport unit;
a plurality of stacking units configured to stack the paper
sheets transported by the transport unit, the paper sheets stacked
in the stacking units being able to be removed from the stacking
units;
a control unit configured to transport the paper sheets into
the stacking units based on a recognition result of the recognition
| unit; and
a detection sensor configured to detect whether the paper
sheets have been removed from the stacking units,
wherein when the control unit judges that the paper sheets
have been removed from the stacking units based on information
from the detection sensor, the control unit outputs removal
information on the removed paper sheets or the stacking units
from which the paper sheets have been removed.
2. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the removal information Includes information on sorts of
the removed paper sheets.
3. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the sorts of the removed paper sheets are based on
fitness or version of the paper sheets.
3, Jun. 2C13 17:37 KYOWA PATEN" & LAW OFrIC£ MO. 0078 P. 34/36
2 5
4. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2
or 3, wherein the removal information includes information on the
stacking units from which the paper sheets have been removed,
5. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to any one
of claims 1 to 4y wherein the control unit is configured to
appropriately change the sorts of the paper sheets to be stacked
In the stacking units and to transport the paper sheets into the
respective stacking units.
6. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 5,
wherein the control unit is configured to change the sorts of the
paper sheets to be stacked in the stacking units based on, at least,
I the information from the detection sensor,
I
7. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to any one
of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit is configured to fix the
sorts of the paper sheets to be stacked in the stacking units and to
transport the paper sheets into the respective stacking units.
8. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to any one
of claims 1 to 7, wherein the removal information includes
information on a time at which the paper sheets were removed
from the stacking units.
9. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to any one
of claims 1 to 8, wherein the removal information includes
information on the number of the paper sheets removed from the
stacking units.
3. Jun. 2C13 17:37 KYOWA PATEN" & LAW OF-ICE W. 0078 P. 35/36
2 6
%
10. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to any one
of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a main display unit configured
to display the removal information.
11. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to any one
of claims 1 to 10, further comprising an individual display, unit
corresponding to each of the stacking units, the individual display
unit being configured to display the removal information on the
corresponding stacking unit.
12. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to any one
of claims 1 to 11,
wherein the plurality of stacking units are divided into at
least two or more groups, and
wherein the control unit is configured to separately output
the removal information on each group.
13. The paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 12,
wherein the control unit is configured to output information on a
person in charge allocated to each group.