Paper separation and conveying device and paper handling device

Abstract

[Technical Problem to be Solved]; The objective of this invention is to provide a paper separation and conveying device and a paper handling device that solve various problems caused by miniaturization.; [Technical Means for Solving the Problem]; The means for solving the problem is that the device includes a repetitive feeding section (20), a separation section (100), a first motor (M1) that drives these components, a pull-out conveying section (250), and a receiving and conveying path (400) driven by a second motor (M2). The pull-out conveying section (250) includes at least two idle rollers (257), which are respectively supported on the feed roller shaft portions on both sides of the axial direction of the feed roller (110); and an endless pull-out belt (270), which forms a curved pull-out conveying path between the curved outer peripheral surfaces of each idle roller, and by moving in the pull-out direction, it works in conjunction with each idle roller to turn the first sheet of paper to a direction that is intersecting with the repetitive feeding direction of the repetitive feeding section and convey it. Pull out the belt to drive the second motor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a paper separation and conveying device and a paper handling device having a separation function for preventing overlapping feeds. Prior Technology

[0002] A banknote separation and conveying device, which individually removes bundles of banknotes from the deposit section and transports them to a vault inside the machine, is installed in banknote deposit machines, banknote counters, and various vending machines. If banknotes overlap in the banknote separation and conveying device, it will hinder accurate deposit and weighing processes, including identification. Therefore, an overlap prevention mechanism is installed. A banknote passing through the overlap prevention mechanism is identified by a recognition device to determine its authenticity and type. If deemed acceptable, it is stored in the vault. Patent Document 1 discloses an overlap feeding prevention mechanism comprising: a reciprocating feed roller that contacts the bottom of the banknote bundle and rotates; a separation roller pair that prevents the passage of a second and subsequent banknote when the banknotes repeatedly fed by the reciprocating feed roller are in an overlap feeding state; and a pull-out conveying roller pair that pulls out and conveys a portion of the first sheet of paper remaining in the separation section.

[0003] However, since the feed rollers, separating roller pairs, and pull-out conveying section are arranged almost in a straight line along a flat conveying surface, the overall conveying length of the device becomes longer, making miniaturization difficult. Specifically, to achieve miniaturization, the distance between the separating section and the pull-out section formed by the pull-out conveying roller pairs needs to be shortened as much as possible, but in a straight conveying path, there are limits to the close arrangement due to the diameter of each roller and the drive mechanism.

[0004] Patent document 2 discloses a structure in which banknotes repeatedly fed from a bundle of paper on a paper feed box by a feed pulley are flipped upwards along the outer circumference of a high-friction roller and separated individually. Then, they are pulled out and conveyed along the outer circumference of a reversing roller located directly above the high-friction roller, flipping in the opposite direction while being conveyed through an S-shaped path to a receiving module. The reversing roller has auxiliary rollers that clamp it to form a pull-out roller pair, and the banknotes are pulled out and conveyed by the strong frictional resistance of the clamping portion of the roller pair.

[0005] The separating section consists of a high-friction wheel and a fixed belt that is fixedly positioned with a portion of it in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the high-friction wheel. When banknotes repeatedly fed by the rotation of the feed pulley enter the interface between the high-friction wheel and the fixed belt, the banknotes are lifted upwards by the rotation of the high-friction wheel. When two banknotes enter the interface, the fixed belt stops the second banknote through friction, allowing only the first banknote to advance. The front end of the banknote passing through the separating section enters the clamping part of the aforementioned pull-out roller pair and is pulled out and conveyed. The fixing belt is merely stationary and under tension, and does not have the function of pulling out the separated banknote.

[0006] In other words, the fixed belt is clearly only for separation and does not have the function of pulling and conveying. Because the fixed belt forms a curved separation section with the high-friction wheel, it will become a huge resistance for pulling and conveying through the pull rollers, which can easily lead to paper jams. As evidence, in the practical application of the invention in Patent Document 2, by adding a plurality of rollers (bearings) with a diameter of about 2 to 3 mm along the fixed belt, the adverse effects caused by the frictional resistance of the fixed belt are reduced, thereby achieving smoother reverse conveying during separation. To elaborate further, because the fixed belt prevents overlapping banknotes from advancing due to its significant frictional resistance, even when a single banknote passes through, the fixed belt generates considerable resistance. To smoothly move the banknotes upwards, which are subject to this strong resistance, a powerful pulling force from the rollers is used to elevate them. This is because the fixed belt does not move in the direction of banknote transport, thus failing to effectively pull out and move the banknotes. In actual products, due to the excessive frictional resistance between the high-friction wheel and the fixed belt, the pulling force of the pull-out roller pair alone is insufficient to smoothly pull the product upwards. Therefore, in order to reduce the conveying resistance caused by the fixed belt, a plurality of miniature bearings are arranged along the fixed belt.

[0007] However, by feeding banknotes upwards to achieve miniaturization, sufficient space and arrangement for bearings cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, it becomes necessary to use ultra-small, low-diameter rollers with low resistance to reduce feeding resistance, which prevents them from stabilizing the separation process. As a result, overlapping banknotes cannot be separated, making paper jams more likely.

[0008] Ideally, when a banknote is pulled out immediately after separation, the reverse roller should rotate at a higher speed than the high-friction wheel, thereby pulling it out quickly with great force. It's not impossible to achieve this speed difference using a drive source through mechanical structures such as gears. However, in this case, for example, if the pull-out speed is to be about 30% faster than the high-friction wheel's conveying speed, it's impossible to achieve the speed difference without using a large number of complex gear combinations. This would lead to an increase in the number of parts, making miniaturization impossible.

[0009] Furthermore, since only one motor drives the high-friction wheel and the reverse roller used for pulling and conveying, it is impossible to independently control the drive of the separating section and the reverse roller. This causes the pulling action to interfere with the separating action, thus making it impossible to obtain the aforementioned conveying speed difference. Therefore, it becomes difficult to pull out quickly with great force, and the reliability of the separating action is reduced accordingly. In the pull-out roller pair, the banknote is pulled out by the dotted gripping parts of the roller pair. However, this requires applying very high pressure (gripping load) between the reverse roller and the auxiliary roller to generate a high conveying force. As a result, this leads to an increase in drive load, reduces the durability of parts, and reduces robustness to environmental changes.

[0010] Furthermore, since the configuration of Patent Document 2 not only enables the deposit processing of banknotes but also the return processing of banknotes, the separation unit cannot be stopped during the return operation. Therefore, there are problems such as the separation rollers interfering with the return of banknotes, negatively impacting the durability of parts such as the separation rollers, and reducing reliability. Such problems not only occur in banknote processing devices, but also in devices that process other types of paper such as securities, vouchers, and voting papers. [Previous Technical Documents] [Patent Literature]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 6427246 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 8,662,490 Summary of the Invention

[0012] [The problem the invention aims to solve] The present invention was developed in view of the aforementioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a paper separation and conveying device and a paper processing device that solve various problems caused by miniaturization. [Technical means to solve the problem]

[0013] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the paper separating and conveying device of the present invention comprises: A tray used to hold bundles of paper; A repetitive feeder is used to repeatedly feed paper from a bundle of paper on the tray; The separating section, when the paper repeatedly fed from the repetitive feeding section is in an overlapping feeding state, only allows the first sheet of paper to pass through and be fed to the downstream side, and prevents the second and subsequent sheets of paper from advancing; The first motor drives the aforementioned reciprocating feeding section and the aforementioned separating section; The conveying section is pulled out, and it pulls out and conveys a portion of the first sheet of paper that remained in the aforementioned separating section; The receiving and conveying section, driven by a second motor, is used to receive the paper discharged from the aforementioned pulling-out conveying section and further convey it to the downstream side; and Control methods, which control various controlled objects. The aforementioned separation section includes: The feed roller rotates around the axis of the feed roller shaft and, during forward rotation, contacts the paper surface repeatedly fed by the aforementioned reciprocating feed section and conveys the paper; and The friction separation member forms a separation clamping portion with the feed roller, preventing the advance of the second and subsequent sheets of paper. The aforementioned pull-out and conveying unit has: At least two idler rollers, each rotatably (with a fixed axial position) supported on either side of the aforementioned feed roller shaft portion; and An endless pull-out belt forms curved pull-out conveyor paths between itself and (in contact with) the curved outer peripheral surfaces of the aforementioned idle rollers, and travels in the pull-out direction. Through its coordinated action with the aforementioned idle rollers, it causes the first sheet of paper to be turned and conveyed in a direction intersecting the repetitive feeding direction of the aforementioned repetitive feeding section. The aforementioned pull-out belt is driven by the aforementioned second motor. [Invention Effects]

[0014] According to the present invention, a paper separation and conveying device and a paper processing device can be provided to solve various problems caused by miniaturization. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0015] [Figure 1] is an external perspective view of an example of the paper separation and conveying device of the present invention. [Figure 2](a) is an internal configuration diagram of a paper separation and conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the state before each motor drive starts when the banknote bundle is set on the paper supply tray; (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state where the banknotes have started to be repeatedly fed out. [Figure 3](a) is an internal configuration diagram showing the state in which the feed rollers begin to separate as they rotate; (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the front end of the banknote has begun to be moved toward the collection and conveying path. [Figure 4](a) is an internal diagram showing the state of the banknote having been pulled out of the conveyor section; (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state of recognition and determination in progress. [Figure 5] is an illustration of the status of returned banknotes. [Figure 6] is a perspective view showing a specific structural example of the repetitive feeding section, the separation section, and the pull-out conveying section of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7](a) and (b) are front perspective views of the components constituting the drive transmission delay mechanism, and exploded perspective views thereof. [Figure 8](a) and (b) are rear perspective views of the components constituting the drive transmission delay mechanism, and exploded perspective views thereof. [Figure 9](a) and (b) are front views of the constituent parts of the margin forming mechanism and front views of the assembled state. [Figure 10](a) and (b) are rear views of the constituent parts of the margin forming mechanism and the rear view of the assembled state. [Figure 11] is a flowchart of the banknote processing steps in the first embodiment. [Figure 12] is a flowchart of the banknote processing steps in the second embodiment. Implementation

[0016] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures. [Explanation of Basic Structure] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of the paper separation and conveying device of the present invention. Figures 2 to 5 are front views showing the internal structure of the paper separation and conveying device, as well as the separation, conveying, storage, and return operations. Figure 2(a) is an internal configuration diagram showing the stopped state before the inlet sensor detects the banknotes and starts driving the motors, with the banknote bundle already placed on the paper supply tray; (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state where the banknotes have begun to be repeatedly fed out. Figure 3(a) shows the state where the feed rollers begin to separate by rotating; (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state where the front end of the banknote has begun to be conveyed towards the storage and conveying path (banknote storage section). Figure 4(a) shows the state where the rear end of the banknote has passed through the pull-out conveying section; (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state where the banknote has stopped at the storage position and is undergoing identification and judgment. Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the state where the banknote is returned. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a specific structural example of the repeated feeding section, separation section, and pull-out conveying section of an embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, while this specification focuses on banknotes as an example of paper, the device is also applicable to the separation and conveying of other types of paper. In addition to paper sheets, the term "paper" also includes sheets made of resin or other materials.

[0017] The banknote separation and conveying device 1 is a means of receiving banknotes and discharging rejected banknotes, which is installed or installed in conjunction with banknote processing devices such as banknote deposit machines, vending machines, and game media rental machines in game arcades. The following is a detailed description of the banknote separation and conveying device 1. The banknote separation and conveying device 1 generally includes a deposit processing unit U1, a first module Md1 including a storage unit U2, a second module (including a vault CB) Md2 detachably connected to the first module, and control means (CPU, MPU, ROM, RAM, etc.) 1000 for controlling various controlled objects.

[0018] The deposit processing unit U1 is a means of receiving and transferring deposited banknotes to the storage unit U2, or of discharging rejected banknotes returned in the storage unit U2 to the outside of the machine. The deposit processing unit U1 includes: a housing H; a paper supply tray (tray, deposit section) 10, which is detachably mounted on the front of the housing and holds banknotes in a stacked state before they are supplied into the housing; a repetitive feeding section (repetitive feeding roller 30 and collection pusher 70) 20, which picks up banknotes one by one from the top of the banknote bundle on the paper supply tray and supplies them into the housing; and a separating section (feed roller 110 and brake roller 130) 100, which separates the banknotes repeatedly fed by the repetitive feeding section 20 when they are in an overlapping feeding state. The first banknote B1 is passed through and sent downstream, while the second and subsequent banknotes are prevented from advancing; the pull-out conveying section 250 forms a pull-out conveying path 260 adjacent to the feed roller 110 constituting the separation section 100, and pulls out and conveys a portion of the banknote B1 remaining in the separation section 100 by forward rotation and sends it downstream (storage unit U2); and the first motor M1 drives each driven component constituting the repetitive feeding section 20 and the separation section 100 (repetitive feeding-separation mechanism (separation unit) 15).

[0019] As shown in Figure 6, the pull-out conveyor path 260 is a curved contact travel area formed by the contact between the idle roller 257 and the pull-out belt 270. However, the banknotes that are pulled out and conveyed to the top through the pull-out conveyor path 260 will be further pulled up by the pull-out belt 270 and conveyed upwards under the guidance of the conveyor guide member 300. The second reverse roller 267 causes the pull-out belt to reverse clockwise at the top, and the banknotes are guided to the storage and conveyor path 400 side in the storage unit U2 by rotating clockwise (forward rotation).

[0020] Furthermore, symbol 500 is a deflector for switching the direction of banknote transport. It is a means of distributing banknotes that have been transported to the position of the second reverse roller 267 by pulling out the belt 270 to the receiving transport path 400 side, and banknotes that are being returned from the receiving transport path 400 to the return transport path 510 side. The deflector 500 is supported by a pivot axis 500a, which allows it to rotate freely in the vertical direction. Normally, its right end (front end) is lowered by its own weight, thereby blocking the passage from the pulling-out transport path 260 to the receiving transport path 400 (initial posture). On the other hand, when banknotes that have risen by pulling out the belt 270 pass by, the banknotes push up the right end, thus allowing the banknotes to move to the right. If the rear end of the banknote passes the right end of the deflector, the deflector returns to the initial posture.

[0021] If a banknote temporarily entering the collection and transport path 400 is determined by the recognition unit 450 to be unacceptable, the control means 1000 will use motors M2 and M3 to reverse the transport components 410 and 420 constituting the collection and transport path 400, thereby reversing them towards the deflector. At this stage, since the deflector is in its initial position, rejected banknotes will pass over the deflector from its rear end and enter the return transport path 510. In the return transport path, a pair of return rollers (transport components) 512 is installed, which is driven in the banknote discharge direction by the second motor M2. At the end of the return transport path 510, a return banknote collection tray 11 is installed, and the discharged rejected banknotes are collected sequentially.

[0022] The return conveying path 510 is arranged approximately parallel to the repetitive feed path from the repetitive feed section to the separation section, while the return banknote storage tray 11 is arranged approximately parallel to the tray 10 used for paper feeding. In this invention, the first motor M1 drives the repetitive feed-separation mechanism (separation unit) 15, while the conveying members 512 of the return conveying path are driven by the second motor M2. Therefore, they do not interfere with each other, and stable separation and return conveying operations can be achieved.

[0023] The storage unit U2 includes: a storage and conveying path (storage and conveying mechanism, storage and conveying section) 400, which receives banknotes B conveyed by the pull-out belt 270 constituting the pull-out conveying section 250 and conveys them into the interior; and an identification unit 450, which uses optical and magnetic sensors to determine the denomination, authenticity, etc. of the banknotes conveyed downstream along the storage and conveying path 400. As a result of identification, banknotes determined to be acceptable are conveyed downstream and stored in the vault CB of the second module Md2; while banknotes determined to be unacceptable (rejected banknotes) are returned in the opposite direction and discharged through the deposit processing unit U1 to the return banknote storage tray 11. In addition, the storage unit U2 also includes: a second motor M2 that drives the upstream conveying member (gear, roller, etc.) 410 and the returning roller pair 512 of the storage conveying path 400; and a third motor M3 that drives the downstream conveying member (gear, roller, etc.) 420 of the storage conveying path 400.

[0024] One of the characteristic structures of this invention is that the pull-out conveying unit 250 is driven by a second motor M2 provided in the banknote storage unit U2. That is, the second motor M2 drives not only the conveying roller 410 located upstream of the storage and conveying path 400, but also the pull-out conveying unit 250 and the return roller pair 512. A third motor M3 drives the conveying roller group 420 located in the middle to lower reaches of the storage and conveying path 400. The conveying roller pair 420a located at the very downstream end of the storage and conveying path 400 is the means of discharging banknotes into the vault CB.

[0025] Next, the structure and operation of the repeated delivery section 20, the separation section 100, and the pull-out conveying section 250 will be explained. As shown in Figure 6, the repetitive feed roller 30 constituting the repetitive feed section 20 is fixed on a shaft 32 that rotates under the drive of the first motor M1, and a downstream synchronous pulley 33 is coaxially fixed to one side of the roller. The downstream synchronous pulley 33 receives drive from the first motor M1 via a timing belt 35 that is endlessly stretched between it and the upstream synchronous pulley 60 located on the feed roller side. The separation section 100 includes: a feed roller shaft 101 driven by the first motor M1; a feed roller 110 that is rotatably supported around the shaft of the feed roller shaft and contacts the face of the first banknote repeatedly fed by the repetitive feed section 20 and transports the banknote when rotating forward; and a brake roller (friction separation member) 130 that forms a separation clamping section N1 with the feed roller and prevents the second and subsequent banknotes from advancing. Furthermore, the feed roller 110 can be made into a structure that allows the two to rotate as a whole by fixing its shaft core to the feed roller shaft 101. However, when using the drive transmission delay mechanism D described later, the feed roller may not necessarily be directly fixed to the feed roller shaft.

[0026] The pull-out conveying unit 250 includes: at least two rotatable rollers (free-rotating members) 257, 257, each rotatably supported by a shaft (rotation direction is not fixed, but axial position is fixed) on both sides of the feed roller shaft of the feed roller 110; and an endless pull-out belt 270, 270, which forms a curved pull-out conveying path (pull-out clamping part) 260 between the curved outer peripheral surface of each rotatable roller, and rotates in the pull-out direction (forward rotation), and through the cooperative action with each rotatable roller 257, 257, turns and conveys the first banknote in a direction (obliquely upward) that intersects with the repetitive feeding direction of the repetitive feeding unit (the direction through the separation clamping part N1).

[0027] Each pull-out belt 270 is stretched in an endless manner by a first reverse roller (driven roller) 265 and a second reverse roller (driving roller) 267 configured to form a pull-out conveying path 260 between the outer peripheral surfaces of each idle roller 257. The first reverse roller 265 forms a banknote guide section 260a of the pull-out conveying path between each pull-out belt and each idle roller. The second reverse roller 267 reverses each pull-out belt so that the banknotes guided from the banknote guide section 260a are conveyed toward the receiving conveying path 400 after passing the downstream end (paper discharge section) 260b of the pull-out conveying path. The first reverse roller 265 is driven by a first shaft 280, which is rotated by a first motor M1, and its shaft is supported in a free, non-fixed state, allowing free rotation. That is, the first reverse roller 265 is a driven roller that does not rotate with the rotation of the first shaft 280. The belt 270 is pulled out and driven by the rotation of the second reverse roller 267, which acts as the drive roller.

[0028] The feed roller 110 and the idle roller 257 are coaxially assembled with respect to the feed roller shaft 101. In order to ensure that their outer peripheral surfaces are in the same radial position, although the central part of the banknote is in slight contact with the feed roller, there is no active clamping and it will not become a large conveying resistance. The pull-out belt 270 lifts the banknote upwards through the separation clamp N1. The feed roller 110 only rotates at the minimum angle required for the drive during separation; therefore, it does not participate in the upward lifting action after separation and has no lifting function. Even though the feed roller rotates in conjunction with the pull-out belt through the banknote via the drive delay transmission mechanism D described later, it is ultimately the pull-out belt that lifts the banknote.

[0029] Ideally, the circumferential surfaces of each of the idler rollers 257 should have low friction to minimize slippage between them and the banknote. Additionally, the circumferential surface of the pull-out belt should have high friction to minimize slippage between it and the banknote. The idling roller 257 functions to bring the pull-out belt into contact with the banknote. By utilizing the tension of the pull-out belt, the banknote is pressed against the low-friction-resistance outer surface of the idling roller. Through the interaction of the frictional resistance of the pull-out belt and the idling roller, a conveying and clamping force is generated. The idling roller is made of a rigid material that will not flex or deform under the pressure from the pull-out belt. The width of the outer surface of the idling roller is preferably equal to or wider than the width of the narrow, strip-shaped pull-out belt. "The direction that intersects the repeated feeding direction of the repeated feeding unit" is in the drawing, at approximately 90 degrees upward, but broadly includes the direction in which the face of the banknotes repeatedly fed on the paper tray 10 is bent or curved upward (not parallel).

[0030] The banknote guide section 260a, which extends the conveyor path, is formed at the point where the pull-out belt, which is rotated clockwise and reversed upwards, first contacts the outer peripheral surface of the idling roller. A banknote separated from the clamping section N1 is smoothly lifted upwards and immediately pulled into the banknote guide section 260a by the pull-out belt surface directly in front of the banknote guide section (the part that is inclined to the upper right in Figure 2, etc.). The banknotes passing through the paper discharge section 260b are conveyed upwards along the pull-out belt and the conveying guide member 300, and then guided to the entrance of the receiving conveying path 400 along the reverse path between the outer periphery of the second reverse roller 267 and the conveying guide member 301.

[0031] The idle roller 257 is pressed down by the tension of the pull-out belt and idles relative to the feed roller shaft, thus completely independent of the drive or rotational speed of the feed roller shaft. Although the feed roller and the idle roller are arranged on the same feed roller shaft, by making the axial positions of the two rollers different, the separation clamping part N1, which is the separation point, and the pull-out conveying path 260 (banknote guide part 260a), which is the pull-out point, can be distinguished. Furthermore, since the pull-out conveying path 260 is formed by a walking pull-out belt, the distance between the separation clamping part N1 and the banknote guide part 260a from the side view can be arbitrarily set to the necessary minimum value. Specifically, the aforementioned distance can be significantly shortened, for example, by making it shorter than the diameter or radius of the feed roller.

[0032] The take-up pusher 70 is fixedly supported by a first shaft 280 at its base end. When the first shaft rotates clockwise, its front end rises, repeatedly feeding the banknote bundle on the paper feed tray 10 to the feed roller 30 and bringing it into contact with the feed roller 30. If the first shaft 280 reverses direction, it descends. Furthermore, a torque limiter (not shown) is disposed between the take-up pusher 70 and the first shaft 280 and slides to prevent excessive force from pushing the banknote bundle upward. Each of the second reverse rollers (drive rollers) 267 has its shaft core fixedly supported by a second shaft 290 arranged parallel above the first shaft 280, and a transmission gear 292 is fixed on the second shaft at the middle position of the two second reverse rollers. The transmission gear 292 meshes with a gear group 294 that transmits the rotational driving force from the second motor M2. Therefore, the pull-out conveying unit 250 is driven by the second motor M2 that drives the upstream conveying member of the receiving conveying path 400. Thus, in this invention, the repetitive feeding unit 20 and the separation unit 100 are driven by the first motor M1, while the pull-out conveying unit 250 is driven by the second motor M2 through the gear groups 294 and 292. Therefore, the repetitive feeding, separation and pull-out conveying actions can be driven and controlled independently.

[0033] Since the banknotes are pulled out via the pull-out conveyor section 250 using an endlessly moving pull-out belt 270, the non-linear conveying path formed by the repeated feeding and separating sections, causing the pull-out conveyor section to bend upwards, can be miniaturized. Even with this miniaturized structure, the flexibility in component arrangement is increased, enabling reliable banknote separation and pull-out conveying. Thus, even if the banknote conveying path is a slightly L-shaped bend or a non-linear miniaturized device structure, the second motor M2 drives the pull-out conveying unit 250, which in turn drives other drive mechanisms adjacent to the upstream conveying member 410 of the receiving conveying path 400. This allows the repeated feeding-separation mechanism 15 and the pull-out conveying unit 250 to independently control their speed and motion, thereby achieving reliable separation and pull-out conveying actions.

[0034] To reliably pull out banknotes separated by the separating section 100, the conveying speed (driving force) during pulling out needs to be faster (stronger) than the conveying speed (driving force) during separation. This speed difference can be achieved using a single drive source with a mechanical structure such as gears, even without individual drive sources. However, in this case, for example, if the pulling speed of the pulling-out conveying section 250 is to be 30% faster than the conveying speed of the separating section 100, a speed difference cannot be achieved unless a large number of complex gear combinations are used. In contrast, in this invention, since the separating section and the pulling-out conveying section are driven by separate motors M1 and M2, the speed difference can be controlled very easily and freely without complicating the mechanical structure or increasing the number of parts. Furthermore, since the second motor M2 is not located in the deposit processing unit U1 but in an adjacent banknote storage unit U2, it prevents the deposit processing unit U1 from becoming too large.

[0035] To further explain, as shown in Patent Document 2, if the pull-out conveying section is composed of roller pairs, and the banknote is pulled out by the clamping part of the roller pairs as a point, very high pressure (clamping weight) needs to be applied between the rollers to generate a high conveying force. On the other hand, as in this invention, by using a movable walking belt for pull-out conveying drive, the shape of the pull-out clamping part can be configured as a surface rather than a point. Therefore, a lower clamping weight can be set, thereby reducing the drive load, improving durability, and giving it robustness to environmental changes. In particular, in this invention, the separation clamping part N1 is designed to resist small point-like clamping. Therefore, by using it in conjunction with the strong pull-out force of the surface-shaped pull-out clamping part, the drive load can be reduced.

[0036] As described above, the pull-out belt 270 is non-fixed, meaning it is a movable belt that is endlessly stretched and can move in both directions. In this respect, its structure and function differ significantly from the fixed belt in Patent Document 2. Furthermore, the fixed belt in Patent Document 2 is not a means of pulling up the banknote, but rather a means of separating the banknote from the high-friction rollers. In this invention, the fixed belt functions as a braking roller, which is inconsistent with the pull-out belt 270. Ultimately, the pull-out belt is a means of pulling out the banknote after separation.

[0037] [Drive the communication delay mechanism D] Next, the drive transmission delay mechanism D is explained, which is used to delay the start of the rotation of the feed roller relative to the time point when the repetitive feeding part begins to repeatedly feed. Even without employing the drive transmission delay mechanism D, the banknote separation and conveying device of the present invention can achieve smooth separation and pull-out operations while being miniaturized. However, the following will describe a structural example of assembling the drive transmission delay mechanism D into the separation section 100 (first embodiment).

[0038] Figures 7(a) and (b) are front perspective views and exploded perspective views of each component of the drive transmission delay mechanism D; Figures 8(a) and (b) are rear perspective views and exploded perspective views of each component of the drive transmission delay mechanism. Figures 9(a) and (b) are front views and front views of the constituent parts of the margin forming mechanism A in the assembled state; Figures 10(a) and (b) are rear views and rear views of the constituent parts of the margin forming mechanism A in the assembled state.

[0039] The drive transmission delay mechanism D includes: a feed roller shaft 101; an upstream synchronous pulley (upstream transmission member) 60, a synchronous clutch (clutch member) 50, and a feed roller 110 arranged sequentially and axially around the axis of the feed roller shaft 101; a first relative rotation interval 40 is provided between the upstream synchronous pulley 60 and the synchronous clutch 50, and a second relative rotation interval 45 is provided between the synchronous clutch 50 and the feed roller 110, thereby delaying (disconnecting) the transmission of the drive force by a margin forming mechanism A. In the separation section 100 equipped with the drive transmission delay mechanism D, the feed roller 110 is not fixed on the feed roller shaft 101, but can rotate relative to the feed roller shaft.

[0040] The upstream synchronous pulley 60, synchronous clutch 50, and feed roller 110 rotate around a common feed roller shaft 101 and are configured to rotate relative to each other within a predetermined circumferential margin. While the upstream synchronous pulley 60 is fixed to the feed roller shaft 101 and rotates integrally with it, the synchronous clutch 50 and feed roller 110 are each independently rotatable relative to the feed roller shaft 101. The upstream synchronous pulley 60 has an engaging portion 62 protruding from the rear of the donut-shaped body 61 (the opposing surface opposite to the synchronous clutch).

[0041] The synchronous clutch 50 includes a first engaging portion 52 protruding on the front side of the donut-shaped body 51 (opposite to the upstream synchronous pulley) and a second engaging portion 53 protruding on the rear side of the body 51 (opposite to the feed roller). The feed roller 110 has a protruding engaging portion 113 provided inside a cylindrical recess 112 provided on the front side of the donut-shaped body 111. In the assembled state shown in FIG7(a), most of the synchronous clutch 50 and a portion of the upstream synchronous pulley 60 are inserted into the recess 112.

[0042] The margin forming mechanism A is composed of an engaging part 62 provided on the upstream synchronous pulley 60; first and second engaging parts 52 and 53 provided on the synchronous clutch 50; and a engaged part 113 provided on the feed roller 110.

[0043] The first relative rotation interval 40 is a margin space (idling interval) extending in the circumferential direction formed between the engaging part 62 and the first engaging part 52, and the margin reaches its maximum when the upstream synchronous pulley 60 and the synchronous clutch 50 are in the initial circumferential positional relationship shown in FIG. 9(b). The margin formed in the first relative rotation interval 40 will expand or shrink as the synchronous clutch 50 rotates relative to the upstream synchronous pulley 60.

[0044] The second relative rotation interval 45 is a margin space (idling interval) extending in the circumferential direction formed between the second engaging part 53 and the engaged part 113, and the margin reaches its maximum when the synchronizing clutch 50 and the feed roller are in the initial circumferential positional relationship shown in FIG10(b). The margin formed in the second relative rotation interval 45 will expand or shrink as the feed roller rotates relative to the synchronizing clutch. The driving force from the feed roller shaft 101 is transmitted sequentially to the upstream synchronous pulley 60, the synchronous clutch 50, and the feed roller 110. However, due to the mediation of the margin forming mechanism A, the drive of the upstream synchronous pulley 60 is not immediately transmitted to the feed roller 110, but is transmitted after a predetermined time delay.

[0045] The margin forming mechanism A sets the circumferential positional relationship between the upstream synchronous pulley 60 and the synchronous clutch 50 so that they can rotate relative to each other between the initial positional relationship and the final positional relationship. The upstream synchronous pulley 60 has the following structure: during the period from the initial positional relationship to the final positional relationship between itself and the synchronous clutch 50, no driving force is transmitted to the synchronous clutch 50; driving force is transmitted only after the final positional relationship is reached. Furthermore, the margin forming mechanism A sets the circumferential positional relationship between the synchronizing clutch 50 and the feed roller 110 to be able to rotate relative to each other between the initial positional relationship and the final positional relationship. The synchronizing clutch 50 has the following structure: during the period from the initial positional relationship to the final positional relationship between itself and the feed roller, no driving force is transmitted to the feed roller; driving force is transmitted only after the final positional relationship is reached.

[0046] Due to the existence of the first relative rotation interval 40 and the second relative rotation interval 45, the driving force transmitted from the first motor M1 to the upstream synchronous pulley 60 is not directly connected and transmitted to the synchronous clutch 50 and the feed roller 110 without any delay. That is, the driving force is transmitted intermittently and with a delay through the idle interval (margin interval in which no driving force is transmitted) set by each relative rotation interval 40, 45. Therefore, after the upstream synchronous pulley 60 rotates forward and causes the reciprocating feed roller 30 to rotate forward, the feed roller will start rotating only after a predetermined time. When setting up banknote bundles with uneven front ends, or when separating banknotes fed from bundles of varying lengths from around the world, the second and subsequent banknotes are prone to intruding into the separating clamp before the first one, resulting in overlapping feed. However, it is essential to ensure that the first banknote is fed first and repeatedly to the separating section. To prevent this overlapping feed, it is effective to not drive the feed rollers until the repeated feed rollers have completed the repeated feeding of banknotes by rotating a predetermined amount.

[0047] The drive transmission delay mechanism D solves the aforementioned problems through a mechanical structure and can appropriately switch the drive timing of the repeatedly feeding roller and the delivery roller using only one motor.

[0048] Other advantages of the drive-to-delay mechanism D are described below. That is, as shown in Figure 3(a), when a portion of the banknote is held by the separating clamping part N1, if the first motor M1 is stopped and the second motor M2 continues to pull out the conveying part 250, the feed roller 110 will rotate along with the banknote. By rotating along with it, the conveying load generated by the separating clamping part N1 will be eliminated. In addition, the circumferential margins of the relative rotation ranges 40 and 45 lost due to the previous operation will be restored. When the rear end of the banknote is disengaged from the separating clamping part N1, the drive force transmission from the banknote to the feed roller and the like, generated by the rotation, will end simultaneously. That is, the feed roller 110 starts to rotate forward by the force of the banknote and continues to rotate (idle) the synchronous clutch 50, which is in a stopped state, within the second relative rotation interval 45, thereby restoring the feed roller and the synchronous clutch 50 to the initial positional relationship shown in FIG10(b). Then, the driving force from the synchronous clutch 50 is transmitted to the upstream synchronous pulley 60, which is in a stopped state, within the first relative rotation interval 40, thereby causing the upstream synchronous pulley to start rotating forward again and restoring the synchronous clutch 50 and the upstream synchronous pulley to the initial positional relationship shown in FIG9(b). During this period, since the feed rollers rotate in the forward direction, even if a portion of the banknote is held by the separation clamping part N1, it will not become a load when it is pulled out by the pull-out conveying part 250.

[0049] [Action Sequence] The following will describe the banknote handling operation of the banknote separation and conveying device 1. <Sequence of Actions of Equipment-Driven Communication Delay Mechanism (First Embodiment)> The following explanation will be based on Figures 2 to 10 and Figure 11, which shows the banknote processing steps, taking the case of the intermediate drive transmission delay mechanism D between the feed roller and the feed roller shaft as an example.

[0050] First, Figure 2(a) shows the stop state before the control means 1000 starts driving each motor M1, M2, and M3 to rotate forward after the inlet sensor S1 detects the banknotes when the banknotes are set on the paper supply tray (deposit section) 10. In the flowchart of Figure 11, since the first sensor S1 is in the open state, the process moves to the state of Figure 2(b) (steps S1 and S2). In Figure 2(b), the first motor M1 causes the first shaft 280 to rotate clockwise as shown in Figure 6, causing the take-up feeder 70 to rise at its front end and push the bottom of the banknote bundle toward the reciprocating feed roller 30. Simultaneously, the reciprocating feed roller 30 rotates counter-clockwise, repeatedly feeding the first banknote B1 toward the separation section. The driving force transmitted to the reciprocating feed roller 30 is through the timing belt (relay transmission member) 35 wound around the upstream synchronous pulley 60, but due to the circumferential margin forming effect of the margin forming mechanism A, the feed roller 110 does not rotate immediately. Therefore, at the contact point with the brake roller 130, i.e., at the separation clamping section N1, the front end of the banknote is aligned. At this time, the other motors M2 and M3 also begin to rotate forward. Driven by the second motor M2, the movable parts that make up the pull-out conveying section 250 also rotate forward (step S3).

[0051] In Figure 3(a), since all motors are rotating in the forward direction, the feed roller 110 and the pull-out belt 270 rotate, thereby starting the separation operation and the pull-out operation in parallel. In the stage shown in Figure 2(b), the driving force is transmitted from the first motor M1 to the feed roller shaft 101, but the feed roller 110 does not rotate immediately due to the circumferential margin forming action of the drive transmission delay mechanism D (margin forming mechanism A). In the stage shown in Figure 3(a), the feed roller will start to rotate as the circumferential margin between the parts constituting the margin forming mechanism A disappears (steps S4, S5). The brake roller 130 is stopped relative to the introduction direction. The banknote, which has been separated into one sheet in the separation clamping part N1, is pulled out by a strong force through the pull-out conveying path 260 and reaches the paper sensor S2 located directly in front of the dial plate 500.

[0052] Figure 3(b) shows the state where the front end of the banknote begins to be conveyed towards the storage and conveying path 400 (storage unit U2). Based on the detection information from the paper feed sensor S2, when it is determined that the front end of the banknote being conveyed has exceeded a predetermined distance from the turntable 500, the first motor M1 will be stopped. That is, the control means 1000 will stop the first motor M1 at the time point when the pulse count of the first motor M1 reaches a predetermined value after detection by the paper feed sensor S2. Therefore, the driving force will no longer be transmitted to the feed rollers. On the other hand, the pull-out operation of the belt will continue (steps S6 and S7). However, in order to avoid increased resistance during the pull-out process due to some banknotes remaining in the separation clamping part N1 at the time when the first motor M1 stops, the margin forming mechanism A will cause the feed roller to idle during the pull-out operation of the pull-out belt (step S8).

[0053] That is, as shown in Figure 3(b), after the first motor M1 stops, the banknote remains in the separation clamping part N1 while the banknote is being pulled out between the circumferential surface of the idling roller 257 (low frictional resistance) and the circumferential surface of each pull-out belt 270 (high frictional resistance). Therefore, the feed roller rotates with the banknote only in terms of the remaining length of the banknote before the separation clamping part. That is, by the action of the drive transmission delay mechanism D, the feed roller will idle at a predetermined angle in the conveying direction, and therefore will not become an obstacle when the banknote is reversed and conveyed upwards. By idling the feed roller, the margin of the margin forming mechanism A lost in step S5 will begin to recover (steps S9, S10). After the front end of banknote B1 exceeds the reversal position of the second reversing roller 267, it enters the storage and conveying path 400 and is then sequentially guided into the interior by each conveying roller 410 and 420.

[0054] According to this structure, the drive source for the separated banknotes pulling and conveying section 250, namely the second motor M2, and the drive source for the separation section, namely the first motor M1, are independent, thus improving the reliability of the separation operation. In other words, with this structure, the separation operation can be stopped in a timely manner after the separation operation, thereby reducing the rotation of the feed rollers when there are no banknotes on the paper tray. This is because, in order to reduce wear on the feed rollers, the rotation of the separation rollers when there are no banknotes must be avoided as much as possible.

[0055] Figure 4(a) shows the state where the rear end of the banknote has passed through the separation section 100 and pulled out of the conveying path 260. At this point, the first motor M1 has stopped, and the banknote B1 is further conveyed into the interior by the conveying rollers 410 and 420 driven by the second motor M2 and the third motor M3. As described above, at this stage, the feed rollers have recovered their margin through the linkage of the banknote and are in a state that can cope with the subsequent banknote separation operation (steps S11 and S10).

[0056] Figure 4(b) shows the state where the banknotes have completely entered the entire length of the collection and transport path 400. After the banknotes are transported to the temporary storage position, motors M2 and M3 are stopped and identification is performed. Acceptable banknotes are driven by the third motor M3 to each transport roller 420 and transported to the vault CB in the second module Md2. Unacceptable banknotes are returned through the return action shown in Figure 5 (steps S11, S12, S13).

[0057] Furthermore, as banknotes are continuously fed into the deposit processing unit U1, as shown in the diagram, the second motor M2 and the third motor M3 guide the first banknote into the receiving and conveying path 400, and then the second motor stops. This prevents the second banknote from continuously entering the receiving unit U2. In other words, by using the second motor M2 as a stop, paper jams or other issues can be prevented from occurring within the receiving and conveying path.

[0058] Figure 5 shows the status of the returned banknotes. In the stage shown in Figure 4(b), if the identification unit 450 determines that the rejected banknotes are unacceptable and discharges (returns) them to the return banknote storage tray 11, the control means 1000 will check the paper feed sensor S2 located near the branch of the storage transport path 400 and the return transport path 510. If there are no subsequent banknotes that would obstruct the return, the control means 1000 will reverse the transport rollers 410 and 420 via motors M2 and M3, and the pull-out belt 270 and the return roller 512 will rotate in the return direction via the second motor M2 (step S13). The reason for reversing the pull-out belt during the return is that the pull-out belt is driven by the second motor M2. Since the upper part of the pull-out belt is located in the passage of the return banknotes, reversing the pull-out belt can make the movement of the return banknotes smoother. Furthermore, the feed roller 110 and the pull-out belt 270 are in different axial positions and do not interfere with each other. Therefore, even if the belt is pulled out in reverse for return, the stopped feed roller will not hinder the pull-out belt.

[0059] Furthermore, during the return operation, since the separation unit driven by the first motor M1 is stopped, the separation unit will not interfere with the return operation, and a reliable return process can be performed. When the return sensor S3 turns OFF, all motors M2 and M3 stop and the return action ceases.

[0060] When comparing this action of the present invention with the action of the device in Patent Document 2, in Patent Document 2, all actions of picking up, separating, pulling out, and returning are performed by a single motor. When returning rejected banknotes, the separation roller (high-friction roller) should ideally not be activated to avoid interference with the rejected banknotes. However, in the device of Patent Document 2, the separation roller also activates during return. Therefore, it is anticipated that the separation roller will interfere with the return of banknotes, leading to an undesirable situation where the return action cannot be performed smoothly.

[0061] <Sequence of Actions When No Drive-Transmission Delay Mechanism is Equipped (Second Embodiment)> Figure 12 is a flowchart of the sequence of operations in the case without the drive transmission delay mechanism. If we refer to Figures 2 to 6 together, the separation and pull-out operations are the same, except for the delay in the start time of the feed roller rotation caused by the drive transmission delay mechanism D and the reduction in the conveying load caused by the idling of the feed roller.

[0062] First, in Figure 2(a), which shows the stop state before the display control means 1000 starts driving each motor M1, M2, and M3 in forward rotation, when the first sensor S1 is turned on, the process will move to Figure 2(b) (steps S21 and S22). In Figure 2(b), when the first motor M1, the second motor M2, and the third motor M3 start rotating simultaneously, the reciprocating feed roller 30 rotates, repeatedly feeding the first banknote B1 to the separation section. Then, the feed roller 110 performs the separation operation (step S23). Furthermore, the movable parts constituting the pull-out conveying section 250 and the receiving conveying path 400 also rotate clockwise.

[0063] In Figure 3(a), the separation operation performed by the feed roller 110 and the pull-out operation performed by the pull-out belt 270 have begun. The banknotes separated into one sheet in the separation clamping part N1 are pulled out with great force by the pull-out conveyor path 260 and simultaneously reach the paper feed sensor S2 located directly in front of the turntable 500. In Figure 3(b), since the front end of the banknote has been detected to have reached the paper sensor S2, the first motor M1 is stopped and the feed roller is stopped, while the pulling out of the belt continues (steps S24 and S25). After the front end of banknote B1 passes the reverse position caused by the second reverse roller 267 and enters the storage and conveying path 400, it will be sequentially introduced into the interior by each conveying roller 410, 420. Even in this structure, since the second motor M2 and the first motor M1 are independent, the reliability of the separation action is improved.

[0064] In Figure 4(a), the rear end of the banknote has passed through the separation section 100 and the pull-out conveyor path 260. The banknote will be further conveyed into the interior by the conveyor rollers 410 and 420 driven by the second motor M2 and the third motor M3. In Figure 4(b), the banknotes enter the entire length of the receiving and conveying path 400, stopping motors M2 and M3 and performing identification. Acceptable banknotes are driven by the third motor M3 to each conveying roller 420 and conveyed to the vault CB in the second module Md2 (steps S26 YES, S27). Unacceptable banknotes are returned through the return action shown in Figure 5 (steps S26 NO, S28).

[0065] Furthermore, when banknotes are continuously fed into the deposit processing unit U1, the second motor M2 and the third motor M3 stop after the first banknote is taken into the storage and conveying path 400, thus preventing the second banknote from continuously entering the storage unit U2. In other words, the second motor M2 can be used as a stop to prevent paper jams or other issues from occurring in the storage and conveying path.

[0066] Figure 5 shows the state of the returned banknotes. The processing action during banknote return is the same as in the case of the structure with the drive transmission delay mechanism D. That is, during the return action, since the separation part driven by the first motor M1 is stopped, the separation part does not interfere with the return action, and a reliable return process can be performed. Therefore, the aforementioned defects of the device in Patent Document 2 can be solved, as this device performs all actions of picking up, separating, pulling out, and returning with a single motor.

[0067] <Common Functions and Effects of All Implementation Forms> In the first and second embodiments, since the pull-out belt is driven separately by a drive source different from the drive source of the feed roller, the aforementioned advantages are obtained. Furthermore, the structure employs a configuration where two endless pull-out belts 270 are symmetrically arranged at non-interference positions different from the axial position of the feed rollers to pull out the banknote. Therefore, the banknote guide section 260a, serving as the pull-out point, can be positioned infinitely close to the separation point (separation clamping section N1). Moreover, since the layout of the banknote guide section 260a is flexible, the pull-out point can be positioned arbitrarily, thus increasing design flexibility.

[0068] When the method of pulling out banknotes is a pair of rollers as in Patent Document 2, the clamping part holding the banknote becomes a point. To pull out the banknote clamped in the separation section, a strong force is required, but in the case of Patent Document 2, a strong pulling force is obtained by increasing the clamping pressure of the roller pair. Therefore, the actuator and rollers bear a load, leading to reduced durability. To eliminate this problem, a bearing needs to be installed within the separation path, but it is difficult to ensure sufficient space for a bearing with the appropriate dimensions to function effectively.

[0069] In this invention, since the pull-out conveying path is made planar, the clamping force for pulling out can be increased even without increasing (or decreasing) the pressure from the pull-out belt, so there is no need to worry about a decrease in the durability of the motor or belt. Furthermore, unlike the separation part in Patent Document 2, in this invention, the separation clamping part N1 is a point clamping part, so the force required to pull out the clamped banknote is smaller.

[0070] Summary of the structure, function, and effects of this invention The first paper separation and conveying device of the present invention comprises: a tray 10 for holding a paper bundle B; a repetitive feeding section 20 for repeatedly feeding paper from the paper bundle on the tray; a separation section 100 that, when the paper is repeatedly fed from the repetitive feeding section and is in an overlapping feeding state, only allows the first sheet of paper to pass through and be conveyed to the downstream side, and prevents the second and subsequent sheets of paper from advancing; a first motor M1 that drives the repetitive feeding section and the separation section; a pull-out conveying section 250 that pulls out and conveys a portion of the first sheet of paper remaining in the separation section; a receiving conveying path 400 driven by a second motor M2 for receiving the paper discharged from the pull-out conveying section and further conveying it to the downstream side; and a control means 1000 for controlling various controlled objects. Furthermore, the separation section 100 includes: a feed roller 110, which is rotatably supported around the axis of the feed roller shaft 101 and contacts and transports the paper repeatedly fed by the repetitive feed section when rotating forward; and a friction separation member 130, which forms a separation clamping section N1 with the feed roller and prevents the second and subsequent sheets of paper from advancing. The pull-out conveying unit 250 includes: at least two idle rollers 257, each of which is rotatably (axially fixed) supported on the feed roller shaft on both sides of the feed roller shaft; and an endless pull-out belt 270, which forms a curved pull-out conveying path between (in contact with) the curved outer peripheral surface of each idle roller, and travels in the pull-out direction. It works in conjunction with each idle roller to turn the first sheet of paper in a direction that intersects with the repeated feeding direction of the repeated feeding unit (the repeated feeding path, the direction through the separation clamping unit) and is conveyed. The pull-out belt is driven by a second motor.

[0071] In banknote separation and conveying devices that include a separation section and a pull-out section from which banknotes are pulled out, when the banknote conveying path is slightly L-shaped or curved in order to achieve miniaturization, if the separation section and the pull-out section are driven by a single motor, they must be driven at the same speed, making it difficult to ensure sufficient pull-out force. Therefore, it is difficult to properly maintain the separation performance and the banknote pulling performance to ensure the reliability of banknote conveying. Even as in Patent Document 2, where a bearing for guiding banknotes is configured to improve the conveying force of the separation section and the pull-out section and prevent malfunction and paper jams, the bearing, which can be configured in a confined space, must be extremely small, and its placement is also limited, thus failing to effectively prevent malfunction and paper jams. If the motors for the separation section and the pull-out section are simply arranged in parallel and controlled individually, it will obviously increase the number of motors and make the device structure larger.

[0072] In this invention, the pull-out section is driven by a second motor M2, which is part of another unit (second unit U2) equipped with a recognition section. This separates the drive sources for the separation section and the pull-out section without increasing the number of motors, allowing for individual control. Therefore, the feed rollers only aid in separation and do not interfere with the pull-out. That is, during the pull-out action, the separation action can be stopped, thus preventing secondary damage such as banknote jams that are easily caused by a single drive. Furthermore, the load on the motor used for the separation section is naturally reduced, and durability is improved. Thus, although this invention is a small separation and conveying device with a slightly L-shaped conveying path that is bent or curved, it improves operational reliability and reduces malfunctions and paper jams even in its small size. It also achieves compactness by making the separation and pull-out actions independent of each other.

[0073] In the second paper separation and conveying device of the present invention, each pull-out belt 270 is stretched by a first reverse roller 265 and a second reverse roller 267 configured to form a pull-out conveying path between each idle roller 257; the first reverse roller forms a banknote guide portion 260a of the pull-out conveying path between each pull-out belt and each idle roller; the second reverse roller causes the paper introduced from the paper guide portion to be conveyed towards the receiving conveying path after passing the downstream end (paper discharge portion) 260b of the pull-out conveying path, thereby reversing the pull-out belts. The pull-out conveyor section employs a thin, endless pull-out belt, and by differentiating the axial positions of the feed rollers and the pull-out belt, they remain in a non-contact state. Therefore, the banknote guide section 260a of the pull-out section can be brought extremely close to the separation point (separation clamping section N1). This is a characteristic structure of the present invention, which cannot be achieved through a structure using a pair of rollers as the pull-out means, as shown in Patent Document 2. Compared to the present invention, as can be seen from the figures in that publication, the distance between the separation section, composed of a high-friction pulley and a fixed belt, and the clamping section of the pull-out roller pair is significantly separated, clearly demonstrating the difference between the two.

[0074] Furthermore, since the pull-out conveying path 260 is formed in a curved contact travel area between the flexible pull-out belt and the outer peripheral surface of the idler roller 257, it provides planar clamping rather than point clamping. Therefore, even if the pull-out conveying path is L-shaped or curved relative to the feed path extending from the repetitive feed section, it can perform pull-out conveying with strong force and stability.

[0075] The third paper separation and conveying device of the present invention includes: an identification unit 450, which is disposed along a receiving and conveying path that can be conveyed in both forward and reverse directions, and determines whether the paper can be received; and a return conveying path 510, which is disposed adjacent to and parallel to a recurrent delivery path originating from a recurrent delivery unit, and discharges returned paper that is determined by the identification unit to be unacceptable and returned from the receiving and conveying path, and the conveying member 512 constituting the return conveying path is driven by a second motor M2. During the return operation, since the separation unit is stopped being driven by the first motor M1, the separation unit does not interfere with the return operation driven by the second motor, enabling reliable return processing. Therefore, the shortcomings of the device in Patent Document 2, where all picking, separating, pulling out, and returning are performed by a single motor, can be resolved.

[0076] The fourth paper processing apparatus of the present invention is characterized by having a paper separation and conveying device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3. This paper handling device, when applied to paper handling devices such as banknote deposit machines, banknote counters, and various vending machines, can achieve highly reliable separation drive even in small-sized applications, and can reduce the occurrence of paper jams.

[0077] 1: Banknote separation and conveying device 10: Paper supply tray 11: Banknote return storage tray 15: Repeated feed-separation mechanism 20: Repeatedly sent out department 30: Repeatedly send out the rollers 32: Shaft 33: Downstream synchronous pulley 35: Timing belt 40: Relative rotation interval 45: Relative Rotation Range 50: Synchronous Clutch 52: First Card Section 53: Part 2 60: Upstream side synchronous pulley 61:Ontology 62: Card-connecting section 70: Collect the propulsion device 100: Separation section 101: Feed roller shaft 110: Feed roller 111:Ontology 112: Depression 113: Stuck in the middle 130: Brake roller (friction separation component) 250: Pull out the transport department 257: Idle Roller 260: Draw the transport path 260a: Banknote Import Section 260b: Paper ejection section 265: First Reverse Roller 267: Second Reverse Roller 270: Pull out the belt 280: Axis 290: Axis 292: Transmission Gear 294: Gear Group 300: Transport and guiding components 400: Storage and transport route 410: Upstream side conveying components (conveyor rollers) 420: Downstream side conveying component (conveyor roller) 420a: Conveying roller pair 450: Identification Department 500: Dial Plate 510: Return transport route 512: Transporting components (returning rollers) 1000: Control methods Md1: Module 1 Md2: Module 2 U1: Deposit Processing Unit U2: Storage Unit S1: Inlet sensor S2: Paper feed sensor S3: Return sensor N1: Separation clamping part M1: First Motor M2: Second Motor M3: The 3rd Motor

Claims

1. A paper separation and conveying device comprising: a repetitive feeding section for repeatedly feeding paper from a bundle of paper on a tray; a separation section that, when the paper repeatedly fed from the repetitive feeding section is in an overlapping feeding state, allows only the first sheet of paper to pass through and be conveyed to a downstream side, and prevents the second and subsequent sheets of paper from advancing; a first motor that drives the repetitive feeding section and the separation section; a pull-out conveying section that pulls out and conveys a portion of the first sheet of paper remaining in the separation section; a receiving conveying section driven by the second motor for receiving the paper discharged from the pull-out conveying section and further conveying it to a downstream side; and a control means for controlling various controlled objects, characterized in that: the separation section comprises: a feed roller that rotates around an axis of a feed roller shaft and contacts and conveys the paper repeatedly fed from the repetitive feeding section during forward rotation; and a friction separation member that forms a separation clamping portion with the feed roller and prevents the second and subsequent sheets of paper from advancing. The aforementioned pull-out conveying unit includes: at least two idle rollers, each rotatably supported on the axial sides of the aforementioned feed roller shaft; and an endless pull-out belt that forms curved pull-out conveying paths between the curved outer peripheral surfaces of the aforementioned idle rollers and travels in the pull-out direction, causing the aforementioned first sheet of paper to be turned and conveyed in a direction intersecting the repeated feeding direction of the aforementioned repeated feeding unit. The aforementioned pull-out belt is driven by the aforementioned second motor.

2. The paper separating and conveying device as described in claim 1, wherein, Each of the aforementioned pull-out belts is tensioned by a first reverse roller and a second reverse roller arranged in such a way as to form the aforementioned pull-out conveying path between each of the aforementioned pull-out belts and the aforementioned idle rollers. The first reverse roller forms a paper inlet portion of the aforementioned pull-out conveying path between each of the aforementioned pull-out belts and the aforementioned idle rollers. The second reverse roller reverses each of the aforementioned pull-out belts so that the aforementioned paper inlet is conveyed towards the aforementioned receiving and conveying section after passing the downstream end of the aforementioned pull-out conveying path.

3. The paper separating and conveying device as described in claim 1, wherein, It also includes: an identification unit, which is disposed along the aforementioned storage and conveying unit where forward and reverse conveying is possible, and determines whether the paper can be accepted; and a return conveying path, which is disposed parallel to the reciprocating delivery path originating from the aforementioned reciprocating delivery unit, and discharges the returned paper that is determined by the aforementioned identification unit to be unacceptable and returned from the aforementioned storage and conveying unit, and the conveying member constituting the aforementioned return conveying path is driven by the aforementioned second motor.

4. A paper handling apparatus comprising a paper separating and conveying device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

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