DESCRIPTION
PAPER SHEET PROCESSING DEVICE
5 TECI-INICAL FIELD
[000 1) The present disclosure relates to a paper sheet processing device.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Paper sheet processing devices that perform various types of processing on paper
10 sheets have heretofore been known in the art. For example, a paper sheet processing device
as disclosed in Patent Document I performs deposit processing and dispense processing on
paper sheets. This paper sheet processing device reads the serial numbers of given paper
sheets. If any transport enor has occurred, the device identifies, by its serial number, the
paper sheet that has caused the transport enor, and accepts, when some paper sheets are taken
15 into the device again, only the paper sheet identified by that serial number.
CITATION LIST
PATENT DOCUMENT
[0003] PATENT DOCUMENT 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-27556
20
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
[0004] If a paper sheet processing device has performed duplicate processes on the same
paper sheet, that might lead to a miscalculation. For example, if the operator has allowed by
25 mistake a paper sheet that has already been counted once during deposit processing to be counted
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again, then the deposit processing ends up with a 'wong deposit amount. If any miscalculation
has occurred, the miscalculation is nonnally detected at some time after its occurrence.
However, when the miscalculation is detected, it is already troublesome or difficult to detennine
when, where and why the miscalculation occurred and how to deal with the miscalculation.
5 [0005] In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present
disclosure to detect such duplicate processes on the same paper sheet, if any, accurately and in an
early stage.
SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM
10 [0006] The present disclosure is directed to a paper sheet processing device. This paper
sheet processing device includes: an intake unit configured to take in paper sheets; a recognition
unit configured to read serial numbers of the paper sheets taken in through the intake unit; a
memmy configured to store the serial numbers read by the recognition unit; and a processing
unit configured to process the paper sheets. The processing unit searches the serial numbers
15 stored in the memmy for any duplicated seria1number, and detects, when finding any duplicated
serial number, that duplicate processes have been performed on a paper sheet identified by the
duplicated serial number.
[0007] According to this configuration, the paper sheets taken in through the intake unit
have their serial numbers read by the recognition unit, and the serial numbers are stored in the
20 memmy. Then, the processing unit performs a predetermined type of processing on the paper
sheets. In this case, the serial number is an identification number unique to each paper sheet.
Tims, if any serial number is stored twice or more in the memmy, it means that the same paper
sheet has been taken in, recognized, and then processed more than once duplicately. Therefore,
the processing unit detects, by the presence of such a duplicated serial number in the memory,
25 that the same paper sheet has been processed more than once duplicately. Since this processing
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is carried out based on the serial number that is a unique identification number, the duplicate
processes may be detected accurately. In addition, this paper sheet processing device also
detects duplicate processes, and therefore, the duplicate processes may be detected in an early
stage.
5 [0008] In one embodiment, when the processing unit detects any duplicate processes, the
processing unit may notify a user of the duplicate processes detected.
[0009] According to such an embodiment, the user is notified of duplicate processes, and
therefore, is allowed to deal with the duplicate processes quickly.
[001 0] In another embodiment, the paper sheet processing device may futiher include a
1 0 display unit configured to display information thereon. The processing unit may notify the user
of the duplicate processes detected by displaying the duplicated serial number on the display
unit.
[00 11] According to this embodiment, the user may learn on what serial number the duplicate
processes have been performed. Thus, the user is allowed to detect the cause of the duplicate
15 processes and determine, by actually checking the paper sheet identified by the serial number in
his or her hands, whether or not the duplicate processes have actually been performed.
[00 12] In still another embodiment, the processing unit may prompt the user to choose an
option to be exercised with respect to the dnplicate processes.
[0013] According to such an embodiment, if any duplicate processes have been detected, the
20 nser is allowed to choose his or her desired option.
[00 14] In this patiicular embodin1ent, the option to be exercised with respect to the duplicate
processes may be either to allow one of the duplicate processes performed on the duplicated
serial number and cancel the other of the duplicate processes or to allow all of the duplicate
processes.
25 [00 15] According to this embodiment, if any duplicate processes have been detected, the
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user may choose either to allow one of the duplicate processes and cancel the other or to
ignore the detection of the duplicate processes. If the user picks up the fonner option, the
duplication is removed such that only one of the duplicate processes remains. On the other
hand, if the user picks up the latter option, the processes are allowed as they are even if there is a
5 duplicated serial number. For example, if the recognition unit has read the serial number
erroneously, then the same serial number may have been detected more than once, even though
actually no duplicate processes have been perfonned. Alternatively, in a ce1tain situation, the
user may want to advance the processing with his or her decision on the action to take on the
duplicate processes postponed. In that case, the latter option may be exercised.
I 0 [00 16] In another embodiment, when the processing unit detects any duplicate processes, the
processing unit may allow one of the duplicate processes perfonned on the duplicated serial
number and cancel the other of the duplicate processes.
[0017] That is to say, according to this embodiment, if any duplicate processes have been
detected, the action to take is not determined by the user but is selected automatically by the
15 processing unit. Specifically, the processing unit allows one of the duplicate processes on the
duplicated serial number and cancels the other. As a result, the duplication is removed such
that only one of the duplicate processes remains.
[00 18] In this pruticular embodiment, the paper sheet processing device may fmther include a
display unit configured to display information thereon. If the processing unit has detected any
20 duplicate processes, the processing unit may notify a user, via the display unit, of the duplicate
processes detected.
[0019] Even if the processing unit automatically selects the action to take on the duplicate
processes as described above, the user is still notified of the duplicate processes. l11e user does
not have to take any pruticular action on the duplicate processes, but is informed of the duplicate
25 processes anyway.
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[0020] In yet another embodiment, the processing unit may search for any duplicated serial
number when a predetermined operation has been performed.
[0021] That is to say, the processing unit searches for any duplicated serial number if the
user has performed any operation.
5 [0022] In a specific embodiment, the predetermined operation may be allowing the process
performed by the processing unit.
[0023] According to this embodiment, when the process performed is allowed, each and
every serial number is checked at a time for any duplication. For example, evety time a serial
number is read by the recognition unit, the serial number could be checked for any duplication
1 0 by searching the serial numbers stored in the memory for any matching serial number. In that
case, however, the serial number matching needs to be performed every time a paper sheet is
taken in, thus resulting in a long overall processing time. In contrast, if each and every serial
number is checked for any duplication at a time after the process performed has been allowed,
the overall processing time may be shortened.
15 [0024] In yet another embodiment, the process selected by the processing unit may be
counting the number of paper sheets.
[0025] According to this embodiment, the duplicate processes mean counting the paper
sheets more than once duplicately, which directly leads to a miscalculation. Thus, if the
duplicate processes are detected, the miscalculation may be avoided tlu·ough the correction to the
20 number of paper sheets counted.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0026] This paper sheet processing device may detect duplicate processes on the same paper
sheet accurately and in an early stage.
25
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027) [FIG. I] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the appearance of a banknote handling
apparatus according to a first embodiment.
[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 illustrates a general configuration for the banknote handling
5 apparatus.
[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 illustrates a general configuration for bundling stackers and a
bundling unit.
[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a principal section of the bundling
stackers.
10 [FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4 and illustrating a state
where the stage and guide of the bundling stacker have moved.
[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating generally the bundling stacker with a
portion thereof omitted.
[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a general configuration for the
15 banknote handling apparatus.
[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchrut showing the procedure of duplication check
processing.
[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the appearance of a banknote handling
apparatus according to a second embodiment.
20 [FIG. 1 0) FIG. 10 illustrates a general configuration for the bank:note handling
apparatus.
[FIG. 11] FIG. 11 illustrates a general configuration for bundling stackers and a
bundling unit.
[FIG. 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a tape loop forming unit.
25 [FIG. 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an upper portion of the tape
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loop forming unit as viewed obliquely from below.
[FIG. 14] FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a general configuration for the
banknote handling apparatus.
[FIG. 15] FIG. 15 illustrates a state where a second transport unit has removed the
5 banknotes from the bundling stacker.
[FIG. 16] FIG. 16 illustrates a state where the second transpmt unit has transpmted
the banknotes to beside a tape loop.
[FIG. 17] FIG. 17 illustrates a state where a tape gripping pmt has gripped an end
pmtion of the tape.
10 [FIG. 18] FIG. 18 illustrates a state where the tape gripping part has formed a
small tape loop and a large tape loop.
[FIG. 19] FIGS. 19A-19C illustrate how the respective members operate while the
banknotes are transported into the large tape loop and the tape is wound around the banknotes
as viewed in a thickness direction of the banknotes, wherein FIG. 19A illustrates a state where
15 the banknotes transpmted are aboutto reach the large tape loop, FIG. 198 illustrates a state
where the banknotes are transported into the large tape loop, and FIG. 19C illustrates a state
where the tape is wound around the banknotes.
[FIG. 20] FIG. 20 illustrates a state of a guide when the clamp presses the
banknotes.
20 [FIG. 21] FIG. 21 illustrates how the tape is bonded and cut, and a seal is stmnped
on the tape.
[FIG. 22] FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the procedure ofrecovety processing to be
performed when the fall of a banknote is detected.
[FIG. 23] FIG. 23 illustrates an exemplary dialog box to be displayed during the
25 recovery processmg.
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[FIG. 24] FIG. 24 illustrates another exemplaty dialog box to be displayed during the
recovery processing.
[FIG. 25] FIG. 25 illustrates still another exemplaty dialog box to be displayed
during the recovery processing.
5 [FIG. 26] FIG. 26 illustrates yet another exemplaty dialog box to be displayed during
the recovery processing.
[FIG. 27] FIG. 27 illustrates an exemplmy situation where some banknotes are
rejected repeatedly.
[FIG. 28] FIG. 28 illustrates how the data stored in a rejection manager that stores
I 0 rejection factors changes.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Exemplmy embodiments will now be described m detail with reference to the
drawings.
15 [0029] <>

FIG. I illustrates the appearance of a banknote handling apparatus I 00, and FIG. 2
illustrates a general configuration for the banknote handling apparatus 100.
[0030] The banknote handling apparatus 100 is placed on a teller counter of a bank, for
20 example, and is used by an operator. The banknote handling apparatus 100 takes loose
banknotes therein, stacks the banknotes of a predetermined kind, bundles the banknotes in a
predetermined bundling number, and dispenses the bundled banknotes. The banknote
handling apparatus 100 is an exemplary paper sheet processing device, and banknotes are an
example of paper sheets.
25 [0031] The banknote handling apparatus I 00 includes a hopper unit 2 which takes the
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banknotes placed thereon into the apparatus, a recognition unit 3 which recognizes the
banknotes, bundling stackers 4 which stack the banknotes to be bundled, non-bundling
stackers 5 which stack the banknotes not to be bundled, a reject stacker 6 which stacks
rejected banknotes, a first transport unit 7 which transports the banknotes taken in through the
5 hopper unit 2 to the recognition unit 3, the bundling stackers 4, the non-bundling stackers 5,
and the reject stacker 6, a second transport unit 8 which transports the banknotes stacked in
the bundling stackers 4 to the predetermined position, a bundling unit 9 which bundles the
banknotes transported by the second transpmt unit 8, a third transport unit 10 which transports
the banknotes that have been bundled (hereinafter referred to as "bundled banknotes"), a
10 dispense unit 11 through which the bundled banknotes are dispensed, and a box -shaped
housing 12 which houses the recognition unit 3, the bundling stackers 4, the non-bundling
stackers 5, the reject stacker 6, the first transport unit 7, the second transport unit 8, the
bundling unit 9, and the third transpmt unit 10.
[0032] The housing 12 has a top smface 121, a bottom surface 122, and four side surfaces.
15 The housing 12 is a desktop type housing. That is to say, the bottom surface 122 of the
housing 12 is not provided with casters or any other similar parts, and thus the housing 12 is
configured to be placed on the desk.
[0033] The hopper unit 2 and the dispense unit II are provided through a first side surface
123, which is one of the four side surfaces of the housing 12. First outlets 49 of the bundling
20 stackers 4 ai1d second outlets 53 of the non-bundling stackers 5, which will be described in
detail later, are provided through a second side surface 124, which is another one of the four
side surfaces. The first and second side surfaces 123 and 124 are adjacent to each other.
[0034] The space inside the housing 12 is divided into a first handling section 126
configured to perform various kinds of handling processing for recognizing and sorting the
25 banknotes and a second handling section 127 configured to perform various kinds of handling
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processing for bundling the banknotes to be bundled. The second handling section 127 is
provided above the first handling section 126. The first handling section 126 includes the
hopper unit 2, the recognition unit 3, the non-bundling stackers 5, and the reject stacker 6.
The second handling section 127 includes the bundling stackers 4, the second transport unit 8,
5 the bundling unit 9, and the third transport unit 10. Most of the first transp01t unit 7 is
included in the first handling section 126.
[0035] The bundling stackers 4 include two stackers, namely, a first bundling stacker 4A
and a second bundling stacker 4B. Both of the first and second bundling stackers 4A and 4B
stack the banknotes to be bundled. The banknotes stacked as those to be bundled are
I 0 determined as appropriate. The banknotes to be bundled are banknotes of a predetermined
kind. The predetermined kind is identified by denomination or the orientation of the
banknotes, or by determining whether the banknotes are fit or unfit, whether the banknotes are
facing up or down, or whether the banknotes are new or not, for example. In this example,
the banknotes to be bundled are fit banknotes of a predetermined denomination (e.g., 100
15 Chinese Yuan). In the following description, the banknotes which are recognized as normal
by the recognition unit 3 will be hereinafter referred to as "nmmal banknotes," the banknotes
which are not recognized as normal by the recognition unit 3 will be hereinafter referred to as
"abnormal banknotes," and the banknotes which are transported in an abnormal state, e.g.,
skewed or multi-fed, will be hereinafter referred to as "abnormally transp01ted banknotes."
20 For example, one of the conditions for determining whether the banknotes are normal or not is
whether the serial numbers of the banknotes are distinguishable or not. However, the
normality of the banknotes may be checked based on a different condition, or an additional
condition may be applied to determine whether the banknotes are normal or not. The
banknotes which are determined as the normal banknotes but the destination of which (the
25 bundling stacker, the non-bundling stacker, or other stackers) is not designated will be
10 GJS-043
hereinafter referred to as "undesignated banknotes." Among the normal banknotes, those
which are not stained or torn significantly will be hereinafter referred to as "fit banknotes,"
and those which are stained or torn significantly will be hereinafter referred to as "unfit
banknotes." The bundling stacker 4 is an exemplary stacking unit.
S [0036] The first and second bundling stackers 4A and 4B are arranged substantially
vertically, i.e., one on top of the other, in the second handling section 127. The first
bundling stacker 4A is positioned over the second bundling stacker 4B. The first and second
bundling stackers 4A and 4B have identical configurations. When it is not necessary to
distinguish the two stackers from each other, they will be hereinafter referred to as "bundling
10 stackers 4." A detailed configuration of the bundling stackers 4 will be described later.
[0037] The non-bundling stackers S include two stackers, namely, a first non-bundling
stacker SA and a second non-bundling stacker SB. The first and second non-bundling
stackers SA and SB are arranged substantially horizontally, i.e., side by side, in the first
handling section 126. The second non-bundling stacker SB is arranged closer to the hopper
IS unit 2 than the first non-bundling stacker SA is. When it is not necessary to distinguish the
two stackers fi·om each other, they will be hereinafter referred to as "non-bundling stackers
S." A detailed configuration of the non-bundling stackers S will be described later. The
banknotes to be stacked in the non-bundling stackers S may be determined as appropriate.
Here, the first non-bundling stacker SA stacks unfit banknotes of the predetermined
20 denomination. The second non-bundling stacker SB stacks banknotes of every denomination
but the predetermined denomination.
[0038] The reject stacker 6 stacks the rejected banknotes. The reject stacker 6 is
positioned closer to the hopper unit 2 than the first and second non-bundling stackers SA and
SB are. The reject stacker 6 is positioned at a level slightly higher than the first and second
2S non-bundling stackers SA and SB. A detailed configuration of the reject stacker 6 will be
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described later. The banknotes to be stacked in the reject stacker 6 may be determined as
appropriate. Here, the reject stacker 6 stacks "undesignated banknotes," "abnormal
banknotes," and "abnormally transported banknotes" as the rejected banknotes.
[003 9] The hopper unit 2 is provided for a p01iion of the first side surface 123
5 corresponding to the first handling section 126, and the dispense unit 11 is provided in a
portion of the first side surface 123 corresponding to the second handling section 127.
[0040] The hopper unit 2 includes a mount 21 on which banknotes are placed, two guides
22 which guide the banknotes placed on the mount 21, intake rollers 23, an inlet 24 through
which the banknotes are taken in, and a banknote sensor 25 which detects the banknotes on
10 the mount 21. In the present embodiment, the banknotes are placed on the hopper unit 2
such that the banknotes are taken in in a direction parallel to their shorter edges.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, the inlet 24 is arranged at a corner where the mount 21 and the
first side surface 123 intersect with each other. The mount 21 is tilted such that the closer to
the inlet 24, the lower the level of the mount 21. Thus, the banknotes on the mount 21 go
15 toward the inlet 24 by themselves. The banknotes placed on the mount 21 are taken into the
housing 12 tluough the inlet 24.
[0042] The banknote sensor 25 is provided near the inlet 24. The banknote sensor 25
includes a transmitter which emits light and a receiver which receives the light, and detects
the banknotes when the light emitted Ji'om the transmitter toward the receiver is blocked.
20 First and second banknote sensors 47 and 48, stacking sensors 52 and 62, tracking sensors 74,
and first and second tape sensors 9210 and 9211 to be described later are also configured in
the same manner. The banknote sensor 25 is arranged such that the light is blocked by the
banknotes placed on the mount 2 I. That is to say, the banknote sensor 25 can detect that the
banknotes are placed on the mount 21 when the light is blocked.
25 [0043] The guides 22 are configured such that the interval between them is adjustable.
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Specifically, the interval between the guides 22 is adjusted according to the banknotes placed
on the mount 21.
[0044] The intake rollers 23 include kicker rollers 23a, feed rollers 23b, and gate rollers
23c. The kicker rollers 23a are partially exposed from the mount 21, and are in contact with
5 the lowermost one of the banknotes placed on the mount 21. The kicker rollers 23a feed the
lowermost one of the banknotes on the mount 21 to the inlet 24. Thus, the banknotes are
taken in through the inlet 24 one by one. The banknotes taken in through the inlet 24 are
distributed one by one by the feed rollers 23b and the gate rollers 23c into the housing 12.
The banknotes thus taken in are passed to the first transpmt unit 7.
I 0 [0045] The dispense unit II includes a dispense pmt Ill through which the bundled
banknotes are dispensed. In the dispense unit 11, the bundled banknotes are dispensed
through the dispense port Ill in the direction parallel to their shorter edges.
[0046] The first transport unit 7 may be configured as a transpmt belt or any other suitable
member. The first transport unit 7 includes a main transport path 71, first to fourth diverged
15 paths 72a to 72d diverged from the main transport path 71, sorting mechanisms 73 provided at
junctions between the main transpmt path 71 and the diverged paths, and a plurality of
tracking sensors 74 which detect the passage of the banknotes. The first transport unit 7
transports the banknotes in the direction parallel to their shmter edges. The first transpmt
unit 7 is an exemplary transpmt unit.
20 [0047] The main transport path 71 extends from the intake rollers 23 through the first
bundling stacker 4A. The first diverged path 72a is the most upstream path in the main
transpmt path 71, and the second, third, and fourth diverged paths 72b, 72c and 72d are
arranged in this order downstream of the first diverged path 72a. When it is not necessary to
distinguish the first to fourth diverged paths 72a to 72d from each other, they will be
25 hereinafter referred to as "diverged paths 72." The first diverged path 72a extends to reach
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the reject stacker 6. The second diverged path 72b extends to reach the second non-bundling
stacker 5B. The third diverged path 72c extends to reach the first non-bundling stacker 5A.
The fourth diverged path 72d extends to reach the second bundling stacker 4B.
[0048] The sotting mechanisms 73 are driven by a solenoid (not shown). Each of the
5 sotting mechanisms 73 smts the banknotes transported through the main transpott path 71
depending on whether they need to be diverged to an associated one of the diverged paths 72
or not. A tracking sensor 74 is provided upstream of each of the smting mechanisms 73.
The tracking sensors 74 are configured in the same manner as the banknote sensor 25. That
is, the tracking sensors 74 can detect the passage of the banknotes if the reception of light by
10 the receiver of the tracking sensor 74 is temporarily interrupted and then resumed. In
guiding the banknotes to the diverged path 72, each sorting mechanism 73 is turned ON as
soon as the tracking sensor 74 innnediately upstream thereof detects the passage of the
banknotes.
[0049] The recognition unit 3 is provided on the main transpmt path 71 upstream of the
15 first diverged path 72a. The recognition unit 3 is configured to recognize each of the
banknotes being transported in terms of their denomination, authenticity, and fitness.
Specifically, the recognition unit 3 includes a line sensor 31 and a magnetic sensor 32, and
detects the feature of each banknote. The recognition unit 3 determines whether the feature
of the banknote thus detected corresponds with any of the features of the banknotes stored,
20 thereby making a determination about their denomination, authenticity, and fitness.
[0050] The recognition unit 3 does not always include the line sensor and the magnetic
sensor, but may include any other suitable sensor such as an infi-ared sensor or an ultraviolet
sensor as long as they can detect the features of the banknotes. The line sensor 31 also has
the function of optically reading the serial numbers printed on the banknotes. Note that a
25 control unit 120 to be described later may have all of the functions of the recognition unit 3
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but the detecting function.
[0051] The bundling unit 9 bundles the stacked banknotes. As will be described in detail
later, the bundling unit 9 forms a tape loop L from a tape, and rewinds the tape after the
banknotes have been transpmied into the tape loop L so that the banknotes are bundled with
5 the tape.
[0052] The second transpo1i unit 8 grips the banknotes stacked in the bundling stacker 4 to
transport the banknotes into the tape loop L. The second transport unit 8 includes a gripper
81 which grips the banknotes, a first horizontal displacement mechanism which displaces the
gripper 81 in the horizontal direction parallel to the shorter edges of the banknotes (this
10 direction will be hereinafter referred to as a "first horizontal direction"), a second horizontal
displacement mechanism which displaces the gripper 81 in the horizontal direction parallel to
the longer edges of the banknotes (hereinafter refened to as a "second horizontal direction"),
and a vertical displacement mechanism which displaces the gripper 81 in the ve1iical
direction. The second transpmi unit 8 is an exemplmy paper sheet transport unit.
15 [0053] The gripper 81 includes an upper arm 81a, a lower arm 81b facing the upper arm
81 a, and a gripping mechanism which displaces the upper ann 81 a in the vertical direction.
TI1e upper arm 81a includes three fingers extending parallel to each other and a coupling
portion which couples the three fingers together. Likewise, the lower arm 8lb also has three
fingers extending parallel to each other and a coupling pmiion which couples the three fingers
20 together. The gripping mechanism supports the upper arm 81 a so that the upper arm 81 a is
movable in the vertical direction, and moves the upper arm 81 a in the vertical direction using
a motor and a drive belt. This configuration allows the upper and lower arms 8la and Sib to
grip the banknotes.
[0054) The first horizontal displacement mechanism supports the gripper 81 so that the
25 gripper 81 is movable in the first horizontal direction, and displaces the gripper 81 in the first
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horizontal direction using the motor and the drive belt.
[0055] The vertical displacement mechanism supports the first horizontal displacement
mechanism so that the first horizontal displacement mechanism is movable in the vertical
direction, and displaces the first horizontal displacement mechanism in the vetiical direction
5 using the motor and the drive belt.
[0056] The second horizontal displacement mechanism supports the vertical displacement
mechanism so that the vertical displacement mechanism is movable in the second horizontal
direction, and displaces the vetiical displacement mechanism in the second horizontal
direction using the motor and the drive belt.
I 0 [0057] Thus, the gripper 81 is configured to be readily moved along three mthogonal axes
by the first and second horizontal displacement mechanisms and the vertical displacement
mechanism.
[0058] The third transpmi unit 10 transpmis the bundled banknotes to the dispense unit 11.
The third transport unit 10 includes an upper gripping part 101, a lower gripping pmi 102, and
15 a horizontal displacement mechanism which displaces the upper and lower gripping parts 101
and 102 in the first horizontal direction. In displacing the upper gripping part I 01 in the first
horizontal direction, the horizontal displacement mechanism displaces the upper gripping pmi
101 in the vertical direction, too. That is, the third transport unit 10 is configured to pass
beside the bundling unit 9 in the first horizontal direction. When the third transport unit 1 0
20 is positioned opposite to the dispense unit 11 relative to the bundling unit 9, the upper
gripping part 101 is positioned over, and sufficiently distant from, the lower gripping part I 02.
The upper gripping pmi I 0 I moves downward from tllis position as it approaches the bundled
banknotes in the bundling unit 9. Then, when the upper gripping part 101 reaches the
bundled banknotes, the bundled banknotes are gripped by the upper and lower gripping parts
25 10 I and 1 02. The upper and lower gripping parts 101 and 1 02 transport the bundled
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banknotes to the vicinity of the dispense unit 11 while gripping them. In the vicinity of the
dispense unit 11, the upper gripping part 101 moves upward as it approaches the dispense unit
11. As a result, the bundled banknotes gripped by the upper and lower gripping parts 101
and 102 are released from the upper and lower gripping parts 101 and 102 at the dispense unit
5 11, and are dispensed to the dispense unit 11.
[0059] On the second side surface 124 of the housing 12, as shown in FIG. 1, a touch panel
17 is provided to serve as an operating unit through which information is entered into the
banknote handling apparatus 100 and as a display unit which displays information about the
banknote handling apparatus 100. The touch panel 17 is a human interface for the operator
10 who operates this banknote handling apparatus 100.
[0060]
FIG. 3 illustrates a general configuration for the bundling stackers 4 and the
bundling unit 9.
[0061] The bundling stackers 4 pile and stack the banknotes B that have been transpmied
15 through the first transport unit 7. The banknotes B are transpmied in the direction parallel to
their shorter edges with one of their longer sides facing fi'ont before entering the bundling
stackers 4. As shmm in FIG. 3, each of the bundling stackers 4 includes a stage 41 which
carries the banknotes B thereon, a guide 42 which aligns the respective longer sides of the
banknotes B at the frontend in their transpmi direction, a top plate 43 which defines a ceiling
20 of the bundling stacker 4, a door 44 (see FIG. 1) which opens/closes the first outlet 49 to be
described later, an alignment mechanism 45 (see FIG. 6) which aligns the respective edges of
the banknotes stacked, a stacking wheel 46 which brings the transported banknotes B into the
bundling stacker 4, a first banknote sensor 47 which detects the banknotes B in the bundling
stacker 4, and a second banknote sensor 48 which detects the banknotes B of a predetermined
25 height in the bundling stacker 4. Detailed configurations of the stage 41, guide 42, door 44,
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and alignment mechanism 45 will be described later.
[0062] The stacking wheel 46 includes a plurality of flexible blades, and has the function
of tapping the banknotes B transpmted into the bundling stacker 4 on their rear edges in the
transport direction so as to help the banknotes B fall. Even when the banknotes B are
5 brought into the bundling stacker 4 successively, each of the banknotes B is prevented from
being inserted below the rear edge of the preceding banknote B, and thus the banknotes B can
be sequentially stacked one by one on top of the previously stacked ones.
[0063] Two or more first banknote sensors 47 are provided for each of the bundling
stackers 4. In the present embodiment, two first banknote sensors 47 are provided in the
I 0 bundling stacker 4 at different positions in the transpmt direction of the banknotes B. The
first banknote sensor 47 is configured in the same mam1er as the banknote sensor 25. Each
of the first banknote sensors 47 is arranged to project light in the stacking direction of the
banknotes B in the bundling stacker 4. That is to say, the first banknote sensor 47 can detect
the presence of the banknotes B in the bundling stacker 4 when the light is blocked. The
15 provision of the two first banknote sensors 4 7 at the different positions in the transport
direction enables any one of the first banknote sensors 47 to detect the presence of the
banknotes B even when the positions of the banknotes B vary in the transpmt direction in the
bundling stacker 4. Note that two or more first banknote sensors 47 may be provided at
different positions in the direction orthogonal to both of the transpmt and thickness directions
20 of the banknotes B (the direction coming out of the paper of FIG. 2).
[0064] The second banknote sensor 48 is configured to detect the banknotes B located at a
predetermined height in the bundling stacker 4. The second banknote sensor 48 is
configured in the same manner as the banknote sensor 25. The second banknote sensor 48 is
arranged such that light emitted from the transmitter to the receiver is blocked by the
25 banknotes B when the banknotes B are present at a level higher than the predetermined
18 GIS-043
height, and that the light emitted from the transmitter reaches the receiver when the banknotes
B are not present at the level higher than the predetermined height.
[0065] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a principal section of the bundling stacker 4.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4 and illustrating a state where the stage 41
5 and guide 42 of the bundling stacker 4 have moved. FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating generally
the bundling stacker 4 with a pmtion thereof omitted. In FIG. 5, the door 44 and the fiame 44a
are indicated by phantom lines.
[0066] The stage 41 is configured to be movable up and down. Specifically, the stage 41
is coupled to a vertical mover 41a, which is secured to a vertically extending shaft (not shown)
10 so as to be movable up and down, and which is driven vertically by a motor (not shown). The
stage 41 has a comb-tooth shape.
[0067] The guide 42 is configmed to be movable in the transport direction of the banknotes
B. Specifically, the guide 42 is comprised of an upper guide 42a and a lower guide 42b. The
upper guide 42a is mounted to a rotatable shaft 42a provided for a pair of frames 42c which
15 moves in the transpott direction of the banknotes B. The pair of frames 42c is movably
mounted to a horizontal shaft (not shown) extending in the transport direction, and is driven by a
motor (not shown) along the horizontal shaft. TI1e rotatable shaft 42d is supported rotatably by
the pair of frames 42c. The rotatable shaft 42d is driven in rotation by the motor (not shown).
The upper guide 42a rotates along with the rotatable shaft 42d. On the other hand, the lower
20 guide 42b is fixed on the pair of fi·ames 42c. The lower guide 42b is provided under the upper
guide 42a. The upper guide 42a is formed to have a shape with four comb teeth. Likewise,
the lower guide 42b is also formed to have such a shape with four comb teeth.
[0068] With the upper guide 42a hanging down from the rotatable shaft 42d, the upper
guide 42a and the lower guide 42b form a wall at the frontend of the transport direction for the
25 bundling stacker 4. In this case, the respective comb teeth of the upper and lower guides 42a
19 G15-043
and 42b define three slits extending ve1tically. Two outer ones of these three slits are arranged
at such positions as to allow two comb teeth of the stage 41 to enter the slits. As described
above, as the frames 42c move, the upper and lower guides 42a and 42b move back and forth in
the transport direction of the banknotes B. In the meantime, the comb teeth of the stage 4 I
5 enter the slits formed by the respective comb teeth of the upper and lower guides 42a and 42b,
thereby substantially preventing the stage 4 I Ji'mn interfering with the upper and lower guides
42a and 42b. In addition, since the slits extend ve1tically, the interference between the comb
teeth of the stage 41 and the upper and lower guides 42a and 42b is also avoidable even if the
stage 4lmoves vertically.
I 0 [0069] Meanwhile, as the rotatable shaft 42d rotates, the upper guide 42a turns so as to
open forward in the transpmt direction, thereby opening the bundling stacker 4 forward in the
transpmt direction.
[0070] At one end of the bundling stacker 4 in the direction perpendicular to both the
transport direction and stacking direction of the banknotes B (such a direction will be
I 5 hereinafter refened to as a "width direction"), provided is a generally square frame 44a, which
has a first outlet 49 in a generally square shape.
[0071] The door 44 is attached so as to be pivotable freely on a shaft provided on one side
of the frame 44a. The door 44 rotates to change between an open state where the first outlet
49 is open and a closed state where the first outlet 49 is closed. The door 44 is biased to
20 such a direction as to have the open state by a coil spring (not shown) provided for the shaft.
The door 44 is made of a material which allows visual check of the inside of the bundling
stacker from outside. For example, the door 44 may be made of a transparent or translucent
material (e.g., glass or a resin). The first outlet 49 is an exemplary outlet.
[0072] The door 44 is also provided with a locking mechanism 44c as shown in FIG. 6.
25 The locking mechanism 44c is configured to be switchable between a locked state in which the
20 GIS-043
door 44 is locked to the closed state and an unlocked state in which the door 44 is allowed to
open and close freely. Specifically, the locking mechanism 44c includes a pin 44d provided for
the fi·ame 44a, a drive mechanism 44e including a solenoid for driving the pin 44d, and an
engaging pm1ion 44f provided for the door 44 and engaging with the pin 44d. The locking
5 mechanism 44c is controlled by the control unit 120 individually on a bundling stacker 4 basis.
That is to say, its door 44 is openable and closable individually.
[0073] The locking mechanism44c switches to such a state of unlocking the door 44 at least
while the transportation of the banknotes by the first, second and third transport units 7, 8, and
10, stacking the banknotes in the bundling stackers 4, or bundling of the banknotes by the
10 bundling unit 9 is not affected. In other words, the locking mechanism 44c is in the locked
state at least wlnle the transpottation, stacking or bundling of the banknotes is affected.
Unless the transportation, stacking, or bundling of the banknotes is affected, the locking
mechatnsm 44c may be switched from the locked state to the unlocked state. It should be
noted, however, that the locking mechanism 44c is not automatically unlocked whenever the
15 transportation, stacking, or bundling of the banknotes is not affected. Depending on the
control performed by the control unit 120, the locking mechanism 44c may be in the locked
state, even while the transpmiation, stacking, or bundling of the banknotes is not affected.
[0074] Inside the door 44, provided is a stopper 44g (not shown in FIG. 1) with which one of
the shorter edges of the banknotes B contacts. The stopper 44g is made of a material which
20 allows visual check of the inside of the bundling stacker from outside. For example, the
stopper 44g may be made of a transparent or translucent material (e.g., glass or a resin).
[0075) An alignment mechanism 45 is provided at the other end of the bundling stacker 4
opposite from the door 44. That is to say, the alignment mechanism 45 is provided so as to face
the other shmier edge of the banknotes B in the bundling stacker 4 opposite fi-om the door 44.
25 The alignment mechanism 45 aligns the respective edges of the banknotes in the width direction
21 G 15-043
with each other. In tins embodiment, as the banknotes are transpmted in the direction parallel
to the shmter edges of the banknotes, the width direction corresponds to the direction parallel to
the longer edges of the banknotes. In other words, the alignment mechanism 45 aligns the
respective shmter edges of the banknotes. The alignment mechanism 45 includes an ann 45a
5 which is provided to be rotatable on a shaft extending in the stacking direction of the banknotes
B and a stepping motor 45b which rotates the arm 45a. By pressing one shmter edge of the
banknotes B toward the door 44 with the arm 45a, the alignment mechanism 45 brings the other
shmter edge of the banknotes into contact with the stopper 44g. That is to say, the alignment
mechanism 45 aligns the respective shmter edges of the banknotes B in cooperation with the
I 0 door 44. In this manner, the banknotes in the bundling stacker 4 are aligned with each other in
contact with the stopper 44g.
[0076]
The non-bundling stackers 5 pile and stack the banknotes. As shown in FIG. 2,
each of the non-bundling stackers 5 includes a container 50 in which the banknotes are
15 stacked, a stacking wheel 51 which brings the transported banknotes into the container 50,
and a stacking sensor 52 which detects the presence of the banknotes.
[0077] The container 50 of each of the non-bundling stackers 5 has a tilted bottom. Thus,
the banknotes brought into the container 50 are collected to the lower end of the bottom.
[0078] The stacking sensor 52 is provided at the lower end of the bottom of the container
20 50. The stacking sensor 52 is configured in the same matmer as the banknote sensor 25, and
detects the banknotes in the container 50 when the light is blocked. The stacking sensor 52
is arranged such that the light is blocked by the banknotes in the container 50.
[0079] The stacking wheel 51 includes a plurality of blades, and catches the transpmted
banknotes between the blades to bring them into the container 50. The banknotes are
25 released from the blades of the stacking wheel 51 near the bottom of the container 50, and are
22 015-043
stacked in the container 50.
[0080] The container 50 has openings tlu·ough the second side surface 124 of the housing
12 as shown in FIG. 1. That is to say, the second side surface 124 is provided with second
outlets 53 through which the banknotes stacked in the non-bundling stackers 5 are removed
5 out of the housing 12. The second outlets 53 have no door, and are kept opened. The
second outlets 53 of the first and second non-bundling stackers SA and 5B are cut open
through the second side surface 124 and are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction.
[0081] Each of the non-bundling stackers 5 is provided with a pushing mechanism 54
which pushes the stacked banknotes toward the second outlet 53. The pushing mechanism
10 54 is provided farthest from the second outlet 53, and is configured to push the banknotes
fi·om the farthest point toward the front (toward the second outlet 53).
[0082]
The reject stacker 6 piles and stacks the banknotes. The reject stacker 6 includes,
as shown in FIG. 2, a container 60 in which the banknotes are stacked, a stacking wheel 61
15 which brings the transported banknotes into the container 60, a stacking sensor 62 which
detects the presence of the banknotes, and stoppers 64 which prevent the banknotes in the
container 60 from being ejected outside.
[0083] Specifically, the container 60 of the reject stacker 6 has an opening through the first
side surface 123 of the housing 12 as shown in FIG. 1. That is, a reject outlet 63 through
20 which the banknotes stacked in the reject stacker 6 are removed out of the housing 12 is
provided tlU"ough the first side surface 123. The reject outlet 63 is cut open tlu·ough the first
side surface 123 to be positioned above the inlet 24. The reject outlet 63 has no door and is
kept opened.
[0084] The bottom of the container 60 is tilted such that the greater the distance from the
25 first side surface 123, the lower the bottom is. Thus, the banknotes in the container 60 are
23 015-043
stacked deep inside the first side surface 123. In this manner, the banknotes are prevented
from being ejected outside through the reject outlet 63 of the first side surface 123 when they
are brought into the container 60.
[0085] The two stoppers 64 are provided at one edge of the bottom of the container 60
5 closer to the first side surface 123. The stoppers 64 are supported to be rotatable around an
axis extending parallel to the edge of the bottom closer to the first side surface 123, and are
biased by bias springs (not shown) to stand up on the bottom of the container 60. These
stoppers 64 can also prevent the banknotes in the container 60 from being ejected outside
through the reject outlet 63 of the first side surface 123. Note that the banknotes stacked in
10 the reject stacker 6 may be removed through the reject outlet 63 with the stoppers 64 pressed
down against the elastic force of the bias springs.
[0086] The stacking wheel 61 includes a plurality of flexible blades, and has the function
of tapping the banknotes falling into the container 60 on their rear edges in the transport
direction so as to help the banknotes fall. Even when the banknotes are brought into the
15 container 60 successively, each of the banknotes is prevented fi"om being inse1ted below the
rear edge of the preceding banknote, and thus the banknotes can be sequentially stacked one
by one on top of the previously stacked ones.
[0087] The stacking sensor 62 is configured in the same manner as the banknote sensor 25,
and detects the banknotes in the container 60 when the light is blocked. The stacking sensor
20 62 is arranged such that the light is blocked by the banknotes in the container 60.
[0088]
As shown in FIG. 3, the bundling unit 9 includes a tape feeding unit 91 which feeds
a tape T, a tape loop forming unit 92 which forms a tape loop L fi·om the tape T, a clamp 94
which presses the banknotes B in the stacking direction when the banknotes B are bundled
25 together with the tape T, a heater 95 which heat-seals portions of the tape T wound around the
24 GIS-043
banknotes B, a cutter 96 which cuts the tape T at a pmtion not wound around the banknotes B,
a printer 97 which prints characters on the tape T, and a stamper 98 which stamps a seal on
the tape T.
[0089] The tape feeding unit 91 includes a tape reel 911 around which the tape T is wound,
5 and a tape transport unit 912 which transports the tape T drawn from the tape reel 911. The
tape transport unit 912 transports the tape T along a predetermined transport path. The tape
transport unit 912 has a guide (not shown) and multiple pairs of rollers.
[0090] The tape loop forming unit 92 forms a tape loop L from the tape T, and rewinds the
tape T after the stacked banknotes B have been arranged in the tape loop L to wind the tape T
10 around the banknotes B. The tape loop forming unit 92 includes a pair of feed rollers 920
which feeds and rewinds the tape T, a tape gripping part 921 which grips an end portion of the
tape T, a guide 925 which defines the shape of the tape loop L being formed from the tape T,
a first tape sensor 9210 which detects the end portion of the tape T, and a second tape sensor
9211 which detects that a large tape loop L2 has been formed. Although not illustrated in
15 detail, the tape loop forming unit 92 has a small tape loop fmmed fi:om the tape T by the tape
gripping pmt 921, and then has the tape T fed by the pair of feed rollers 920 to enlarge the
small tape loop into a large tape loop L2. In the meantime, the guide 925 guides the tape T
to defme the shape of the large tape loop L2, and the second tape sensor 9211 detects that the
large tape loop L2 has been formed.
20 [0091] The pair of feed rollers 920 is driven by a tape feed motor 9212 (see FIG. 7), and
feeds the tape T in forming the tape loop L. The pair of feed rollers 920 is located at the
downstream end of the tape transpmt unit 912, and forms patt of the tape transpmt unit 912.
The pair of feed rollers 920 is an exemplary feeder. A pair of rollers of the tape transport
unit 912 is also driven by the tape feed motor 9212 tlu·ough a belt, a gear, or any other
25 suitable mechanism.
25 G!S-043
[0092] The tape reel 911 is fi.uiher provided with a tape reel motor 9111 (sec FIG. 7) which
rotates the tape reel 911 in the direction in which the tape T is rewound. When the tape T is
going to be wound around the banknotes B that have been arranged into the tape loop L, this tape
reel motor 9111 and the tape feed motor 9212 rotate in such a direction as to rewind the tape T.
5 The tape feed motor 9212 and the tape reel motor 9111 are each implemented as a stepping
motor.
[0093] The first tape sensor 9210 is provided on the transport path of the tape T between
the pair of feed rollers 920 and the tape gripping pmi 921. The first tape sensor 9210 is
configured in the same mam1er as the banknote sensor 25. The first tape sensor 921 0 detects
10 the tape T when the light is blocked. For example, the first tape sensor 9210 may detect the
end portion of the tape T when the light that has been blocked starts being received again by
the first tape sensor 9210 as the pair of feed rollers 920 rewinds the tape T.
[0094] The tape gripping part 921 is arranged at a position where the tape gripping part 921
can receive the tape T fed li"01n the pair of feed rollers 920. Although not shown in detail,
15 the tape gripping part 921 rotates while gripping, at the end p01iion thereof, the tape T fed
from the pair of feed rollers 920, thereby forming the tape loop L.
[0095] While the large tape loop L2 is being formed, the guide 925 comes into contact with
an outer peripheral surface of the large tape loop L2 to define the shape of the large tape loop
L2. The guide 925 defines the shape of the large tape loop L2 to be a generally rectangular
20 shape, more specifically, a rectangular shape having rounded corners.
[0096] The guide 925 includes a lower guide 926 which comes into contact with the outer
peripheral surface of the large tape loop L2 from under the large tape loop L2, first and
second lateral guides 927 and 928 which come into contact with the outer peripheral surface
of the large tape loop L2 horizontally, and four corner guides, namely, first to fourth corner
25 guides 929a to 929d, which respectively correspond to the four corners of the rectangle.
26 G !5-043
[0097] The lower guide 926 is provided with a displacement mechanism, and is configured
to be readily moved in the vertical direction by the displacement mechanism. The
displacement mechanism also functions as a displacement mechanism for lower clamps which
will be described later.
5 [0098] The first lateral guide 927 extends in the vertical direction at one of longitudinal
ends of the lower guide 926 closer to the bundling stacker 4, and regulates the position of the
tape T in the tape width direction.
[0099) The second lateral guide 928 extends in the ve11ical direction at the other
longitudinal end of the lower guide 926 closer to the dispense unit 11. The second lateral
1 0 guide 928 is suppmied to be movable up and down by the suppmi, and is coupled to the lower
guide 926 through the link. Thus, the second lateral guide 928 moves upward or downward
as the lower guide 926 moves upward or downward. Note that the magnitude of movement
of the second lateral guide 928 is amplified by the link. The second lateral guide 928 is
configured to retreat upward during the transportation of the bundled banknotes B so as not to
15 interfere with the transportation of the bundled banknotes B.
[0 1 00] The second tape sensor 9211 is configured in the same manner as the banknote
sensor 25, and detects the tape T when the light is blocked. The receiver of the second tape
sensor 9211 is attached to the fourth corner guide 929d as shown schematically in FIG. 3.
The transmitter of the second tape sensor 9211 is arranged such that the light emitted from the
20 transmitter is blocked by the tape T guided along the fourth corner guide 929d. That is, the
second tape sensor 9211 detects that the fourth corner guide 929d is guiding the tape T, i.e.,
the tape loop L has reached a predetermined size, when the light emitted fi'om the transmitter
is not received by the receiver.
[0101) The clamp 94 presses the banknotes Bin the stacking direction when the banknotes
25 B are bundled together with the tape T. The clamp 94 presses the banknotes B around their
27 G 15-043
pmtion to be bundled with the tape T. The clamp 94 includes a pair of upper clamps
provided above the banknotes B transpmted into the tape loop L, a pair of lower clamps
provided below the banknotes B, and a displacement mechanism which allows the lower
clamps to move up and down.
5 [0 102] The lower clamps are configured to be movable up and down. In this embodiment,
the lower clamps are attached to the lower guide 926 of the guide 925, and move up and down
together with the lower guide 926. In other words, the displacement mechanism which
displaces the lower clamps in the vertical direction also functions as the displacement
mechanism for the lower guide 926.
10 [0103] The heater 95 bonds together pmtions of the tape Twound around the banknotes B.
The heater 95 heat-seals such pmtions of the tape T. The heater 95 is an exemplary bonding
unit.
[0 I 04] The cutter 96 cuts a pmtion of the tape T not wound around the banknotes B, that is,
an excessive pmtion of the tape T that has not been used to bundle the banknotes B together
15 with the tape T. The cutter 96 has a saw-toothed cutting edge at its end. The cutter 96 is an
exemplary cutting unit.
[0 1 05] The heater 95 and the cutter 96 are configured as a unit, and is arranged opposite to
the stamper 98 relative to the banknotes B brought into the tape loop L, that is, opposite to the
stamper 98 in the stacking direction of the banknotes B. More specifically, the heater 95 and
20 the cutter 96 are arranged above the tape gripping part 921. The heater 95 bonds those
portions of the tape T on the tape gripping pmt 921. The cutter 96 cuts the tape T on the tape
gripping pmt 921.
[0106] The printer 97 is arranged in the tape transport unit 912 as shown in FIG. 3. The
printer 97 includes a print head which prints characters on the tape T transpmted by the tape
25 transport unit 912. The printer 97 prints, for example, information about the banknotes B to
28 GIS-043
be bundled (e.g., denomination, date, and/or serial number) on the tape T. The print made
by the printer 97 is shifted in the tape width direction from a portion on which a seal will be
stamped by the stamper 98 so that the print does not overlap with the seal stamped by the
stamper 98.
5 [01 07] The stamper 98 stamps a seal on the tape T wound around the banknotes B
compressed by the clamp 94. The stamper 98 stamps a seal related to the banknotes B to be
bundled (e.g., a seal of a financial institution, a seal indicating the kind of the banknotes such
as fit or unfit notes) on the tape T. The stamper 98 is arranged opposite to the heater 95 and
the cutter 96 relative to the banknotes B brought into the tape loop L, in particular, opposite to
I 0 the heater 95 and the cutter 96 in the stacking direction of the banknotes B. The stamper 98
includes a stamp 981 and a displacement mechanism (not shown) which displaces the stamp
981 in the vertical direction. When the displacement mechanism displaces the stamp 981
upward, the stamp 981 stamps a seal on the tape T wound around the banknotes B in the
stacking direction of the banknotes B. The stamper 98 forms an integral part of the lower
15 guide 926, and moves up and down along with the lower guide 926 that is moving up and
down.
[0108]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a general configuration for the banknote
handling apparatus 100.
20 [0109] The banknote handling apparatus 100 includes a control unit 120 based on a wellknm\~
1 processor, for example. The control unit 120 includes a memmy 1201 which stores
various kinds of infonnation. The control unit 120 is connected to the above-described units,
namely, the hopper unit 2, the recognition unit 3, the bnndling stackers 4, the non-bundling
stackers 5, the reject stacker 6, the first and second transport units 7 and 8, the bundling unit
25 9, the third transpmt unit 10, and the touch panel 17 so as to transmit and receive signals
29 G!S-043
to/from these units. The control unit 120 is also connected to the banknote sensor 25, the
first and second banknote sensors 47 and 48, the stacking sensors 52 and 62, the tracking
sensors 74, and the first and second tape sensors 9210 and 9211 to receive detection signals
from these sensors. The control unit 120 generates a control signal based on the signal
5 supplied from the touch panel 17, the detection signals from the sensors and other suitable
signals, and outputs the generated control signal to the hopper unit 2 and other units. The
hopper unit 2 and other units operate in accordance with the control signal. Taking the
bundling stacker 4 as an example, the control unit 120 controls the stage 41, the guide 42, the
locking mechanism 44c, the alignment mechanism 45, and the stacking wheel 46. The
I 0 control unit 120 is an exemplary processing unit.
[0110] A database 1202 is connected to the control unit 120. The database 1202 is
provided for this banknote handling apparatus 100 and stores at least results of counting related
to deposit processing (i.e., transactions) and infmmation about the serial numbers read fiom the
respective banknotes. The serial number information is stored in association with infmmation
15 to identify a bundle including the banknote. The information to identizy the bundle is
information to be printed on a tape that bundles the banknotes together. The database 1202 is
also configured to store information about the processing that was catTied out in the past by this
banknote handling apparatus 100. The database 1202 is an exemplmy memmy. Note that the
range of the data stored in the database 1202 (e.g., data of the transactions for the past half year
20 period) is determined depending on the storage capacity of the database 1202. Furthermore, the
banknote handling apparatus 100 is connected to a teller terminal I 000 via a communications
unit 1203. The teller terminal 1000 also stores the results of counting related to deposit
processmg, information about the serial numbers read fiom the respective banknotes, and
information about bundles. The teller terminal 1000 has a larger storage capacity (i.e., may
25 store a greater deal of information (or infonnation about older transactions)) than the database
30 GIS-043
1202 of the banknote handling apparatus 100. The teller terminal 1000 corresponds to a
database provided outside of the housing 12 of the banknote handling apparatus I 00.
[0111]
It will be described how to perform deposit processing as an example of a process to
5 be performed by this banknote handling apparatus 100. In the deposit processing, loose
banknotes are sorted and stacked in the predetermined stackers, and predetermined ones of the
banknotes are bundled. In the following description, single-kind banknote bundling
processing will be described, in which a predetermined number of banknotes of a prescribed
kind to be bundled are stacked alternately in the first and second bundling stackers 4A, 4B,
I 0 and the predetermined number of banknotes stacked are bundled sequentially by the bundling
unit 9.
[0112] First, the operator receives loose banknotes to be deposited from the customer, and
places the banknotes on the hopper unit 2. At this time, even if the loose banknotes include
banknotes of multiple different kinds, all the banknotes are just placed on the hopper unit 2
15 without being s01ted. The operator adjusts the guides 22 according to the dimensions of the
banknotes. Then, the operator operates the touch panel 17 to start the intake of the
banknotes. The banknote handling apparatus I 00 may automatically start the intake of the
banknotes when the banknote sensor 25 detects the banknotes placed on the hopper unit 2.
[0113] The banknotes placed on the hopper unit 2 are brought into the housing 12 one by
20 one through the inlet 24 as the intake rollers 23 are activated. The banknotes thus taken in
are transported by the first-stage transpott unit 7, and pass through the recognition unit 3.
The recognition unit 3 detects the kind of the banknotes passed, and informs the control unit
120 of the kind of the banknotes. The recognition unit 3 also reads and recognizes the serial
numbers of those banknotes. Inf01mation about the serial numbers thus recognized is stored in
25 the database 1202.
31 GIS-043
[0114] The control unit 120 designates the banknotcs' destination according to the kind of
the banknotes. In particular, if the banknotes are fit banknotes of a predetermined
denomination to be bundled, the control unit 120 designates the bundling stacker 4 (any one
of the bundling stackers 4A and 4B) as their destination. If the banknotes are unfit
5 banknotes of the predetermined denomination to be bundled, the control unit 120 designates
the first non-bundling stacker 5A as their destination. If the banknotes are of any
denomination other than the predetermined denomination, the control unit 120 designates the
second non-bundling stacker 5B as their destination. If the banknotes are rejected
banknotes, the control unit 120 designates the reject stacker 6 as their destination.
10 [0115] The control unit 120 controls the first-stage transpmt unit 7 such that the banknotes
are transpmted to the stacker designated as their destination. In patticular, the control unit
120 controls the sorting mechanism 73 corresponding to the diverged path 72 leading to the
destination stacker such that the banknotes are guided from the main transpmt path 71 to the
diverged path 72. The control nnit 120 switches the sorting mechanism 73 when the
15 tracking sensor 74 just before the diverged path 72 detects the banknotes. Further, the
control unit 120 controls the stacking wheel 46 or 51 of the destination stacker to bring the
banknotes into that stacker.
[0 116] The banknotes to be transpmted to the bundling stacker 4 are transpmted to one of
the two bundling stackers 4. When the number ofbanknotes stacked in one of the bundling
20 stackers 4 reaches a predetermined bundling number (e.g., I 00), the remaining banknotes are
then transported to the other bundling stacker 4. In this example, the banknotes are intended
to be transported to the first bundling stacker 4A first.
[OJ I 7] When the banknotes are transported one after another to the first bundling stacker
4A, the stacking wheel 46 rotates to stack the banknotes one by one. The banknotes
25 transpmted into the first bundling stacker 4A have their longer sides aligned with each other
32 G 15-043
by coming into contact with the guide 42.
[0 118] Meanwhile, the ann 45a of the alignment mechanism 45 presses one of the shorter
sides of each banknote B transported into the bundling stacker 4, thereby making the other
shmter side of the banknote B come into contact with the stopper 44g of the door 44. In this
5 matmer, the respective shmter sides of the banknotes B stacked are aligned with each other.
[0 119] When the number of banknotes stacked in the first bundling stacker 4A reaches the
bundling number, the control unit 120 rotates the upper guide 42a of the guide 42 toward the
frontend in the transpmt direction, thereby opening the bundling stacker 4. The control unit
120 also controls the second transport unit 8 so that the banknotes B are gripped by making
10 the gripper 81 enter the first bundling stacker 4A through the opening. Since the gripper 81
has such a shape as to be insettable tlu·ough the comb teeth of the stage 41, the banknotes B on
the stage 41 may be gripped without intetfering with the stage 41. 1ben, the second transpmt
unit 8 transports the banknotes B fi·om the bundling stacker 4 to the bundling unit 9. Thereafter,
the bundling processing will be perfmmed.
15 [0120] When the number ofbanknotes stacked in the first bundling stacker 4A reaches the
bundling number, the remaining banknotes are stacked in the second bundling stacker 4B.
Then, when the number of banknotes stacked in the second bundling stacker 4B reaches the
bundling number, the remaining banknotes are stacked again in the first bundling stacker 4A.
By this time, the banknotes in the first bundling stacker 4A have been all bundled together,
20 and thus the first bundling stacker 4A is now empty. Thus, the provision of the two
bundling stackers 4 makes it possible to perform the bundling processing while stacking the
banknotes continuously.
[0121] When the banknotes are all bundled together, the control unit 120 controls the third
transpmt unit 10 so that the bundled banknotes are dispensed through the dispense unit Ill.
25 [0122] The unfit banknotes of the predetermined denomination are transported to the first
33 GlS-043
non-bundling stacker SA. When the banknotes are transported to the first non-bundling
stacker SA, the stacking wheel 51 rotates to stack the transported banknotes in the container
50. Thus, the unfit banknotes of the predetermined denomination are stacked in the first
non-bundling stacker SA. Likewise, the banknotes of any denominations other than the
5 predetermined denomination are transported to, and stacked in, the second non-bundling
stacker 5B. The rejected banknotes are also transported to, and stacked in, the reject stacker
6.
[0123] This series of processing steps will be performed over and over again until there are
no banknotes placed on the hopper unit 2. The banknote sensor 25 determines whether
I 0 banknotes are still present on the hopper unit 2 or not.
[0124] When the handling of the banknotes placed on the hopper unit 2 is finished, the
rejected banknotes are taken in and recognized again. Specifically, the operator extracts the
rejected banknotes from the reject stacker 6, and places them on the hopper unit 2 to take
them into the apparatus again. The rejected banknotes are those which were not recognized
15 as normal banknotes for any reason, and thus another attempt is made to take in and recognize
them. Banknotes still recognized as rejected banknotes, if any, are restacked in the reject
stacker 6. Then, the operator returns those restacked banknotes to the customer.
[0125] Note that the banknotes stacked in the first and second non-bundling stackers SA,
SB are not taken in again.
20 [0126] Thus, when the handling of the banknotes placed on the hopper unit 2 and therehandling
of the rejected banknotes is finished, the single-kind banknote bundling processing
is finished, i.e., the counting and sorting of the banknotes passed as those to be deposited by
the customer are finished. The touch panel 17 displays the counted amount of the
banknotes. The operator asks for a customer's approval of the amount, or checks whether
25 the displayed amount corresponds with the amount written down on a deposit slip by the
34 GIS-043
customer, and, if the answer is YES, the operator operates the touch panel 17 to confirm the
deposit amount. When the confirmation is done, the teller terminal 1000 is informed of the
confirmed deposit amount, thereby finishing the deposit processing. The teller terminal! 000
stores not only the deposit amount but also information about the serial numbers of the
5 banknotes that have been subjected to the bundling processing and other types of processing
as described above by this banknote handling apparatus 100 in association with information
about the bundles including those banknotes. In the same way, the database 1202 of the
bank:note handling apparatus 100 also stores information about the serial numbers of the
bank:notes that have been subjected to the bundling processing and other types of processing
I 0 in association with information about the bundles including those banknote. In tlris case, the
infonnation stored in the database 1202 during the processing is in a provisionally confirmed
state. When the transaction has been completed, the stored information will be changed from
the provisionally confnmed state into a confirmed state.
[0 127] After the deposit processing has been finished, the operator removes the bundled
15 banknotes stacked in the dispense unit 11, the banknotes stacked in the bundling stackers 4,
and the bank:notes stacked in the non-bundling stackers 5, and stores them in a predetermined
storage place.
[0128] Through this series of processing steps, loose banknotes of different kinds are sorted
into fit banknotes of a predetermined denomination, unfit bank:notes of the predetermined
20 denomination, banknotes of every denomination but the predetermined denomination, and
rejected banknotes. The fit banknotes of the predetermined denomination are bundled on a
bundling number basis.
[0129] In the example described above, after the deposit processing has been finished, the
banknotes stacked in the bundling stackers 4 and non-bundling stackers 5 are intended to be
25 removed by the operator. That is to say, the banknote handling operation is intended to be
35 G 15-043
performed such that bundles of banknotes processed on a single transaction completed are
treated as a different set from bundles of banknotes processed on the next transaction.
However, the banknote handling operation may also be pmfonncd differently such that
banknotes are continuously stacked and bundled over multiple transactions until the number of
5 banknotes bundled reaches a predetermined number, for example.
[0130] Thus, this banknote handling apparatus 100 is configured to be switchable between
the former mode of operation in which the banknotes stacked in the bundling stackers 4 and
non-bundling stackers 5 are removed when a single transaction has been completed and the
latter mode of operation in which the banknotes stacked in the bundling stackers 4 and non-
I 0 bundling stackers 5 are not removed when a single transaction has been completed but
continue to be stacked there from the next transaction and on (i.e., a leftover mode of
operation). This banknote handling apparatus 1 00 is configured such that the leftover mode
of operation is pe1formed by the bundling stackers 4 only, or by the non-bundling stackers 5
only, or by both of the bundling and non-bundling stackers 4 and 5. Any of these modes of
15 operation may be selected through a tap on the touch panel 17.
[0 131] Also, this banknote handling apparatus 100 is configured to allow the user to enter a
batch setting such that the number of banknotes stacked in the bundling stackers 4 and/or the
non-bundling stackers 5 is limited to a preset number (of, e.g., 100). The batch setting may
be entered into the bundling stackers 4 only, or the non-bundling stackers 5 only, or both the
20 bundling and non-bundling stackers 4 and 5. If the batch setting is entered into the bundling
stackers 4, the preset number of banknotes stacked in the bundling stackers 4 may be either
bundled together in the bundling unit 9 or removed by the operator through the first outlet 49
with the operation of the banknote handling apparatus 100 temporarily suspended. On the
other hand, if the batch setting is entered into the non-bundling stackers 5, the preset number
25 of banknotes stacked in the non-bundling stackers 5 may be removed by the operator tlu-ough
36 G 15-043
the second outlet 53 with the operation of the banknote handling apparatus I 00 temporarily
suspended. If no batch setting is entered, the banknotes continue to be stacked in the
bundling stackers 4 and/or non-bundling stackers 5 until their full capacity (i.e., maximum
capacity) is reached. When their fbll capacity is reached, the operation of the banknote
5 handling apparatus I 00 is temporarily suspended or the banknotes me bundled together by the
bundling unit 9. The batch setting may also be entered tlu·ough a tap on the touch panel 17.
[0132] The leftover mode of operation and batch setting described above may be
selectively adopted and selectively entered independently of each other. There are four
options as for the leftover mode of operation. Specifically, the leftover mode of operation
10 may be applied to only the bundling stackers 4, only the non-bundling stackers 5, both the
bundling stackers 4 and non-bundling stackers 5, or neither the bundling stackers 4 nor nonbundling
stackers 5. There are four options as for the batch setting. The batch setting may
be entered into only the bundling stackers 4, only the non-bundling stackers 5, both the
bundling stackers 4 and non-bundling stackers 5, or neither the bundling stackers 4 nor non-
IS bundling stackers 5. Thus, as far as the combination of the leftover mode of operation and
batch setting is concerned, the apparatus may operate in any of 4 x 4 (= sixteen) different
modes. For example, if the leftover mode of operation is applied to only the bundling
stackers 4 and if the batch setting is entered into both the bundling stackers 4 and nonbundling
stackers 5, the operation of the banknote handling apparatus I 00 is suspended or the
20 banknotes are bundled when the number of banknotes stacked in the bundling stackers 4
during a single transaction reaches a predetermined number or when the number ofbanknotes
continuously stacked in the bundling stackers 4 over multiple transactions reaches a
predetermined number. As for the non-bundling stackers 5, on the other hand, the operation
of the banknote handling apparatus I 00 is suspended only when the number of banknotes
25 stacked in the non-bundling stackers 5 reaches a predetermined number during a single
37 GIS-043
transaction.
[0133] Also, if the leftover mode of operation is applied to both the bundling stackers 4 and
non-bundling stackers 5 and if the batch setting is entered into only the bundling stackers 4,
for example, the operation of the banknote handling apparatus 100 is suspended or the
5 banknotes are bundled when the number of banknotes stacked in the bundling stackers 4
during a single transaction reaches a predetermined number or when the number of banknotes
continuously stacked in the bundling stackers 4 over multiple transactions reaches a
predetermined number. As for the non-bundling stackers 5, on the other hand, the operation
of the banknote handling apparatus 100 is suspended when the number of banknotes stacked
10 in the non-bundling stackers 5 during a single transaction reaches their full capacity or when
the number of banknotes stacked in the non-bundling stackers 5 over multiple transactions
reaches their full capacity.
[0134] By allowing the user to select any of these various combinations of leftover mode of
operation and batch setting, this banknote handling apparatus 100 may be used even more
15 conveniently.
[0135]
The banknote handling apparatus 100 with such a configuration petfonns a
duplication check before confirming a transaction to see if any duplicate processes have been
performed on the same banknote.
20 [0 136] For example, if any error such as a banknote jam has occurred during the processing,
then the operator may suspend the processing once, remove the banknote that has caused that
error from the banknote handling apparatus I 00, and then insert that banknote along with
unprocessed banknotes into the banknote handling apparatus 100 again such that the banknote
will be processed again. On the other hand, even when every banknote to be deposited is
25 counted and smted, the operator may remove the banknotes left in the bundling stackers 4 or the
38 GIS-043
banknotes stacked in the non-bundling stackers 5 or reject stacker 6 without having the
banknotes bundled together. In addition, since neither the second outlets 53 of the nonbundling
stackers 5 nor the reject outlet 63 of the reject stacker 6 has a door such as the door 44
provided for the first outlets 49 of the bundling stackers 4, the operator may remove the
5 banknotes during the processing. As can be seen, the operator may remove the banknotes fi'Om
the banknote handling apparatns 100 in various situations. If such a banknote handling
apparatus 100 is used, the operator could take a processed banknote that has been removed from
the banknote handling apparatns I 00 for some reason for a banknote to be processed again and
insert it into the banknote handling apparatns 100 again by mistake. In that case, duplicate
10 processes would be performed on the same banknote (e.g., in the case of counting processing, the
same banknote would be counted tvlice or more).
[0137] If such duplicate processes were performed, the result of processing including the
duplicate processes (such as the deposit amount and the number of deposited banknotes of
each denomination in the case of deposit processing) would be transferred to the teller
15 tenninal 1000. In the meantime, the processed banknotes including the duplicately
processed one would be transpmted to a predetermined place and then circulated. After that,
the dnplicate processes (such as miscalculation) would be detected some time somewhere. In
that case, by reference to the serial number information stored in the teller terminal 1000 and
information printed on the tape bundling the banknotes, the banknote handling apparatus 100 and
20 transaction associated with the duplicate processes would be identified. Then, some measure to
remove the duplication would be taken. However, if the duplicate processes were detected after
the banknotes have been processed by the banknote handling apparatus 100, then it could be
troublesome or difficult to deal with the duplicate processes.
[0 13 8] Thus, the banknote handling apparatus 100 makes a duplication check when a
25 transaction is going to be confirmed to see if any duplicate processes have been performed on
39 GIS-043
the same banknote. Now it will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8 how to
make the duplication check during the deposit processing.
[0139] First, in Step S1, the deposit processing described above is started in response to the
operator's operation.
5 [0140] Next, in Step S2, the control unit 120 has the deposit processmg performed.
Specifically, the control unit 120 makes the hopper unit 2 take in banknotes, makes the
recognition unit 3 read their serial numbers, and then has the banknotes transported to their target
stackers. Subsequently, in Step S3, the control unit 120 determines whether or not the operator
has performed the operation of confirming a transaction. This operation of confirming a
10 transaction may be the operation of confirming the deposit amount described above, for example.
If no such confnming operation has been performed, the control unit 120 goes back to the
processing step S2 to have the banknotes taken in, have their serial numbers read, and then have
the banknotes transpmted again. On the other hand, if any confrrming operation has been
performed, then the control unit 120 proceeds to the processing step S4.
15 [0141] In Step S4, the control unit 120 makes a duplication check on the serial numbers.
More specifically, the control unit 120 searches the provisionally confirmed serial numbers
stored in the database 1202 for any pair serial numbers in duplicate (hereinafter referred to as
"duplicated serial munbers"). In this example, the "provisionally confrrmed serial munbers"
refer herein to the serial numbers of all banknotes that have been taken into the banknote
20 handling apparatus 100 during this single transaction.
[0142] If the answer to the processing step S5 of asking if there are any duplicated serial
numbers is YES, the control unit 120 proceeds to the processing step S6. On the other hand,
if the answer to the processing step S5 is NO, the control unit 120 proceeds to the processing
step S9.
25 [0143] In Step S6, the control unit 120 has an alert to the presence of duplicated serial
40 015-043
numbers and the duplicated serial numbers themselves displayed on the touch panel 17. Note
that the alet1 to the presence of duplicated serial numbers means that duplicate processes have
been detected. Alternatively, instead of having such an alert to the presence of duplicated serial
numbers displayed, the control unit 120 may also have an alet1 to the detection of duplicate
5 processes displayed on the touch panel 17.
[0 144] In addition, the control unit 120 also has options to be exercised by the operator to
deal with the duplicated serial numbers displayed on the touch panel 17 and prompts the
operator to take one of those options. In this case, the option to be exercised may be either to
allow only one of the processes performed on the duplicated serial numbers and cancel the other
I 0 of the processes or to confirm the transaction as it is.
[0145] In Step S7, the control unit 120 detetmines whether or not the operator has selected the
option of canceling the duplicated serial numbers. If the answer is YES, the control unit 120
proceeds to the processing step S8. On the other hand, if the operator has selected the option of
confirming the transaction, then the control unit 120 proceeds to the processing step S9.
15 [0 146] In Step S8, the control unit 120 may enter only the temporally newest one of the
duplicated serial numbers stored in the database 1202, delete the other older one(s), and cancel
the banknote processing (more specifically, counting) associated with the serial number(s)
deleted. That is to say, the count of the banknotes is reduced by the number of the serial
number(s) deleted, and the total deposit an10unt is reduced by the amount corresponding to the
20 number ofbanknotes deleted.
[0147] After that, in Step S9, the control unit 120 confinns the transaction.
[0 148] Meanwhile, if the operator wants to postpone deciding what to do with the
duplicated serial numbers when such an alert to the presence of duplicated serial numbers is
displayed on the touch panel 17, then he or she may select the option of confirming the
25 transaction. Altematively, even if it turns out, when the operator actually checks the banknotes
41 G!S-043
identified by the duplicated serial numbers in response to the alert displayed, that the serial
numbers have just been detected erroneously, then he or she may also select the option of
confirming the transaction. A read error of a serial number may occur, for example, when not
full digits, but only some digits, of the serial number are read. In addition, a read enor of a
5 serial number may also occur if the scanner has only low ability to read the serial numbers or if
the fitness level of a given banknote is very low.
[0 149] In any case, if the operator has selected the option of confirming the transaction,
then the control unit 120 has the transaction confirmed in Step S9. By providing such an
option of confirming the transaction in this manner, the banknote handling apparatns 100 may
10 save the tronble of performing unnecessary processing on the duplicated serial numbers detected,
thus increasing the degree of handiness for users.
[0 150] As can be seen, this banknote handling apparatns 1 00 makes such a duplication
check every tin1e a single transaction is going to be completed. If proper countermeasures
against duplicate processes are provided in this manner during the processing by the banknote
15 handling apparatns 100, the user is allowed to deal with the duplicate processes appropriately
and timely.
[0 151] >
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
[0163] For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-141863 discloses a
1 0 banknote teller machine. According to tllis document, if a banknote jam has occmTed on a
banknote transport path inside its housing, the location of that banknote left on the transpmt path
and its serial number are displayed on a display unit when the machine is stopped. In tills
manner, the machine prevents tl1e operator from forgetting to remove that banknote fi·om the
transport path when recovery fi·om the jam has been completed.
15 [0164] On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-114378
discloses a banknote teller machine configured to read the serial numbers of banknotes taken in
through an inlet/outlet and then smt the banknotes into multiple groups of banknotes to be stored
separately in respective containers such that the serial numbers of the banknotes stacked in the
respective containers may be managed. If any banknote jam has occurred, tllis banknote teller
20 maclline also reads again the serial number of the banknote left on the transport path, and
compares the serial number thus read to the serial numbers managed as those of the banknotes
stacked in the containers such that the banknote management information matches the real
banknotes actually stacked in those containers.
[0 165] Each of these patent documents teaches how to process such an eJTOr that has
25 occurred as a banknote jam during its transportation. The occurrence of the jam may be
45 G 15-043
detected by a sensor, and there is substantially no time lag between the time of occurrence of
the jam and the timing for the sensor to detect the jam. Thus, even if the machine is
performing processing when the jam occurs, it is easy to locate the banknote in question.
[0166] On the other hand, the fall or any other unexpected move of a banknote from the
5 banknote transpmt path in the housing (note that the "path" herein refers to not only a
transport path on which banknotes are transpotted via rollers, guides, belts and other members
but also a configuration for gripping and moving stacked banknotes) may be detected by a
sensor of a light blocking type, for example. If any banknote has actually fallen, however,
the banknote could fail to be detected by the sensor when the banknote is located in a blind
10 spot for the sensor, but the fallen banknote could happen to be detected by a fall detecting
sensor in some cases. If any banknote has fallen, then the operator opens the housing and
removes the fallen banknote. However, since the time of detection by the sensor does not
always agree with the time when the banknote actually fell as described above, the exact date
and time of the fall of the banknote cannot be determined, which is a problem. Thus, when the
15 fall of any banknote is detected, the entire processing that has been perfmmed on the day of
detecting the fall may be canceled and performed all over again. Alternatively, not only the
processing performed on the same day but also processing petformed earlier may be canceled
and performed all over again. In any case, this will cause a significant decrease in processing
efficiency.
20 [0167] In a more specific example, in a processing device configured to stack a
predetermined number of banknotes taken into a housing through an inlet, bundle those
banknotes, and then dispense the bundles out of the housing, while the stacked banknotes are
being transpmted, for example, some of those banknotes could fall accidentally. In that case,
if the fall detecting sensor fails to detect the fall of the banknote, then the processing will be
25 continued. Thus, there will be a bundle consisting of less than a predetermined number of
46 G 15-043
banknotes. In addition, as described above, even if the fall detecting sensor outputs a detection
signal to abmt the processing, the determination catmot be made whether the banknote has
actually fallen when or before the fall of the banknote is detected by the sensor. It is vittually
impossible to determine what bundle should include the banknote fallen in the housing when the
5 fall detecting sensor outputs the detection signal.
[0168] As can be seen, if there can be a time lag between a time when an error actually
occurred and a time when the error is detected, some measure for determining exactly when
the banknote causing that error fell needs to be provided. Such a problem arises not only in a
banknote handling apparatus for handling only banknotes but also in a paper sheet processing
I 0 device for processing paper sheets including checks and gift cettificates as well.
[0 169] In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present
disclosure to provide a measure for determitling exactly when a paper sheet removed from a
housing at the time of occ\UTence of an enor was subjected to its associated processing.
[0 170] The present disclosure relates to a paper sheet processing device. This paper sheet
15 processing device includes: a housing with an inlet tln·ough which paper sheets are taken in
one by one; a recognition unit configured to read serial numbers of the paper sheets; a memory
configured to store the serial n\Ullbers read by the recognition unit; a processing unit configured
to make the recognition unit sequentially read the serial numbers of the paper sheets taken in
through the inlet and to perform a predetermined type of processing on the paper sheets; a
20 sensing unit configured to detect such an error that causes the processing unit to abmt its
processing; and a recovery unit configured to compare the serial number of the paper sheet
removed by a user fi·om the housing after the sensing unit has detected the enor and abmted its
processing to the serial numbers stored in the memory and determine exactly when the removed
paper sheet was subjected to its associated processing.

CLAIMS
1. A paper sheet processing device comprising:
an intake unit configured to take in paper sheets;
a recognition unit configured to read serial numbers of the paper sheets taken in
tln-ough the intake unit;
a memmy configured to store the serial numbers read by the recognition unit; and
a processing unit configured to process the paper sheets, wherein
the processing unit searches the serial numbers stored in the memmy for any
duplicated serial number, and detects, when finding any duplicated serial number in the memory,
that duplicate processes have been performed on a paper sheet identified by the duplicated serial
number.
2. The paper sheet processing device of claim 1, wherein
when the processing unit detects any duplicate processes, the processing nnit notifies a
user of the duplicate processes detected.
3. The paper sheet processing device of claim 2, fi.11ther comprising a display
unit configured to display information thereon, wherein
the processing unit notifies the user of the duplicate processes detected by displaying
the duplicated serial number on the display unit.
4. The paper sheet processing device of claim 2 or 3, wherein
the processing nnit prompts the user to choose an option to be exercised with respect
25 to the duplicate processes.
122 015-043
5. The paper sheet processing device of claim 4, wherein
the option to be exercised with respect to the duplicate processes is either to allow one
of the duplicate processes performed on the duplicated serial number and cancel the other of the
duplicate processes or to allow all of the duplicate processes.
6. The paper sheet processing device of claim 1, wherein
when the processing unit detects any duplicate processes, the processing unit allows
one of the duplicate processes petformed on the duplicated serial number and cancels the other
of the d.uplicate processes.
7. The paper sheet processing device of claim 6, further comprising a display
unit configured to display information thereon, wherein
when the processing unit detects any duplicate processes, the processing unit notifies a
user, via the display unit, of the duplicate processes detected.
8. The paper sheet processing device of any one of claims 1-7, wherein
the processing unit searches for any duplicated serial munber when a predetermined
operation has been performed.
9. The paper sheet processing device of claiin 8, wherein
10. the predetennined operation is allowing the process performed by the processing unit.
10. The paper sheet processing device of any one of claims 1-9, wherein
the process petfmmed by the processing unit is counting the number of paper sheets.