Paper money handling device and cash transaction apparatus
The paper money handling device achieves a compact design by using a movable upper unit and rotatable guide units to align and connect conveyors, addressing the issue of height reduction and ensuring smooth conveyance despite misalignment.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HITACHI CHANNEL SOLUTIONS CORP
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-01
AI Technical Summary
Existing cash transaction apparatuses and paper money handling devices are not designed to reduce their height dimension effectively, even when the upper and lower units are misaligned.
A paper money handling device with a movable upper unit and a rotatable guide unit that connects the upper and lower conveyors, allowing for alignment adjustments and reducing the height dimension by inclining the guide units to facilitate smooth paper money conveyance.
The solution enables a compact design of the paper money handling device and cash transaction apparatus by reducing the height dimension while maintaining efficient paper money conveyance even with manufacturing tolerances and alignment errors.
Smart Images
Figure IMGAF001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a paper money handling device and a cash transaction apparatus.Background Art
[0002] A cash transaction apparatus that is used in financial institutions or the like includes a paper money handling device configured to take in and out paper money from a safe unit (Patent Literature 1).Citation ListPatent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: JP 2009-205252 ASummary of InventionTechnical Problem
[0004] Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique in which an upper unit that stores a money receiving / dispensing mechanism and a lower unit that stores a paper money storage are included, and the upper unit and the lower unit are connected by a paper money conveyance path. In Patent Literature 1, even in a case where the upper unit has been fixed to the lower unit in a misaligned state, it is possible to hold a paper money conveyance path that can convey paper money without paper money jammed.
[0005] However, Patent Literature 1 does not disclose at all a method that enables a reduction in the height dimension of the paper money handling device and a method that enables a reduction in the height dimension of the cash transaction apparatus.
[0006] Accordingly, the present disclosure describes a method for providing a paper money handling device and a cash transaction apparatus that are capable of reducing a height dimension.Solution to Problem
[0007] In order to solve the problem described above, a paper money handling device in one aspect of the present disclosure includes: an upper unit that includes a paper money identification unit and an upper paper money conveyor; a lower unit that includes a safe unit, a lower paper money conveyor, and a housing that houses the safe unit and the lower paper money conveyor; and a connection portion that is fixed to the housing, and is located between the upper unit and the safe unit, the upper unit or the safe unit is provided to be movable in a predetermined direction relative to the housing, the connection portion connects the upper paper money conveyor and the lower paper money conveyor in accordance with a movement of the upper unit or the safe unit, a first guide unit that communicates with the upper paper money conveyor or the lower paper money conveyor is provided in at least one of the upper unit and the lower unit to face the connection portion, a second guide unit that is connected to the first guide unit is rotatably provided in the connection portion, the second guide unit is disposed to be inclined toward the first guide unit by a predetermined angle in a state before the second guide unit is connected to the first guide unit, and when the first guide unit has moved in the predetermined direction and the second guide unit has come into contact with an abutting portion that is provided in the first guide unit, the second guide unit rotates until a first-guide-unit inner conveyance path in the first guide unit and a second-guide-unit inner conveyance path in the second guide unit are linearly connected.Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0008] According to the present disclosure, the height dimension of the paper money handling device can be reduced in comparison with a case where the second guide unit is disposed in a vertically standing state.Brief Description of Drawings
[0009] Fig. 1 is an outside perspective view of a cash transaction apparatus. Fig. 2 is a transparent side view of the cash transaction apparatus. Fig. 3 is a side view illustrating a state where an upper unit has been displaced in a predetermined direction. Fig. 4 is a side view illustrating a state where a safe unit of a lower unit has been displaced in a predetermined direction. Fig. 5 is an outside perspective view illustrating a connection portion in an enlarged manner. Fig. 6 is an outside perspective view illustrating the connection portion in a state where the upper unit has been removed. Fig. 7 is a side view illustrating a state where the upper unit has been pulled out in a predetermined direction, a first guide unit and a second guide unit are separated from each other, and the second guide unit stands by in a state where the second guide unit has fallen toward the first guide unit. Fig. 8 is a side view illustrating a state where the upper unit has moved closer to the lower unit and the first guide unit and the second guide unit have come into contact with each other. Fig. 9 is a side view illustrating an intermediate state where the upper unit has moved still closer to the lower unit, a paper money conveyance path in the upper unit and a paper money conveyance path in the lower unit are connected, and paper money can be conveyed. Fig. 10 is a side view illustrating a state where the upper unit has moved still closer to the lower unit and has reached a predetermined mounting position, and a first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 and a second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 are linearly connected. Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram collectively illustrating a change from Fig. 7 to Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram explaining a positional relationship between an abutting portion and the first guide unit and the second guide unit. Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram that follows Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram that follows Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a side view according to Example 2 illustrating a state where a first guide unit on a side of a lower unit and a guide unit on a side of an upper unit are separated from each other. Fig. 16 is a side view illustrating a state where the first guide unit and the second guide unit have come into contact with each other. Fig. 17 is a side view illustrating a state where a paper money conveyance path in the first guide unit and a paper money conveyance path in the second guide unit are connected and paper money can be conveyed. Fig. 18 is a side view illustrating a state where the first guide unit and the second guide unit are linearly connected. Fig. 19 is a side view according to Example 3 illustrating a first guide unit provided in both an upper unit and a lower unit, and a second guide unit that can individually correspond to the first guide units. Description of Embodiments
[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the height dimension of a paper money handling device is reduced by reducing the height dimension of a connection portion that connects an upper unit and a lower unit as much as possible, and the paper money handling device can be formed compactly.[Example 1]
[0011] Example 1 will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 14. Fig. 1 is a general schematic diagram illustrating a cash transaction apparatus 1 including a paper money handling device 2.
[0012] The cash transaction apparatus 1 includes, for example, a body 10, a body control unit 11 that is provided in the body 10, a user operation unit 12 that is provided on a front side of the body 10, a bankbook processing device 13 and a card / statement processing device 14 that are provided on an upper side of the user operation unit 12, and a paper money handling device 2 that is provided in the body 10.
[0013] The body control unit 11 controls the entirety of the cash transaction apparatus 1. The user operation unit 12 includes, for example, a touch panel, and provides information to a user or receives information from a user. The bankbook processing device 13 prints the content of transaction on a bankbook inserted by a user, and returns the bankbook. The card / statement processing device 14 receives, for example, a bank card of a user and reads information, or issues a transaction statement.
[0014] The paper money handling device 2 stores paper money. Paper money that a user has deposited from a paper money receiving / dispensing unit 31 is conveyed to a safe unit, and is stored. On the other hand, cash that a user has withdrawn from a bank account of the user is taken out from the safe unit of the paper money handling device 2, and is dispensed to the user from the paper money receiving / dispensing unit 31. Details of the paper money handling device 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 2 and the drawings that follow.
[0015] Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the paper money handling device 2 seen through from a side. The paper money handling device 2 includes, for example, an upper unit 3, a lower unit 4 that includes a safe unit 41 and a housing 40 that houses the safe unit 41, and a connection portion 5 that is located between the upper unit 3 and the lower unit 4, and is fixed to the housing 40. The upper unit 3 or the safe unit 41 is provided to be movable in a predetermined direction relative to the housing 40. Stated another way, the upper unit 3 is provided to be movable in a horizontal direction above the housing 40 of the lower unit 4. Alternatively, the safe unit 41 is provided to be drawable in the horizontal direction from the housing 40 of the lower unit 4. The connection portion 5 connects an upper paper money conveyor 34 and a lower paper money conveyor 44 that will be described later in accordance with a movement of the upper unit 3 or the safe unit 41.
[0016] The upper unit 3 includes, for example, the paper money receiving / dispensing unit 31, a paper money identification unit 32, a temporary storage 33, a paper money conveyance path 34 serving as an "upper conveyor", a branch path 35 that connects the paper money conveyance path 34 and the connection portion 5, a control unit 36, and a first guide unit 6 that will be described later.
[0017] The paper money receiving / dispensing unit 31 is a device that receives paper money deposited by a user, or dispenses paper money to the user. Pieces of paper money that have been input to the paper money receiving / dispensing unit 31 are separated one by one, and are conveyed in a shorter side direction of paper money or a longer side direction of paper money.
[0018] The paper money identification unit 32 determines the type, authenticity, and state of paper money that has been input from the paper money receiving / dispensing unit 31, and transmits a result to the control unit 36. The temporary storage 33 temporarily stores the paper money until a transaction is established. The temporary storage 33 temporarily stores, for example, paper money deposited by a user. In a case where the user has confirmed the transaction, the paper money is stored in a recycling storage 43. In a case where the user has not confirmed the transaction, the paper money is conveyed to the paper money receiving / dispensing unit 31, and original paper money is returned to the user. Paper money for which the type of paper money has been determined by the paper money identification unit 32 is conveyed to and is stored in a recycling storage 43 for each type of paper money.
[0019] The control unit 36 controls an operation of the paper money handling device 2.
[0020] The lower unit 4 includes, for example, the safe unit 41, a reject box 42 in the safe unit 41, the recycling storage 43 for each type of paper money in the safe unit 41, a paper money conveyance path 44 that connects the connection portion 5 to the reject box 42 and each of the recycling storages 43 in the safe unit 41, and the housing 40 that houses the above. The paper money conveyance path 44 is an example of a "lower conveyor".
[0021] The reject box 42 is a safe that stores paper money for which a transaction at the time of depositing has been established. The reject box 42 can be attached to one or a plurality of safe units 41. The reject box 42 stores paper money that only has been deposited and paper money that is not suitable for handling by the paper money handling device 2. Examples of the paper money that is not suitable for handling by the paper money handling device 2 include torn paper money, paper money having a fold, and paper money conveyed in a skewed manner.
[0022] The recycling storage 43 is prepared, for example, for each type of paper money. In the recycling storage 43, paper money for which a user has confirmed a transaction is stored for each type of paper money. In the recycling storage 43, plural types of paper money can be stored in a mixed manner. The recycling storage 43 includes an accumulation / separation device for both receiving and dispensing paper money (not illustrated). The accumulation / separation device stores paper money that has been input by a user, and delivers the stored paper money to the paper money conveyance path 44 and dispenses the paper money to the user in response to a transaction.
[0023] The paper money conveyance path 44 that is connected to each of the reject box 42 and the recycling storages 43 is connected from the connection portion 5 via the branch path 35 to the paper money conveyance path 34 in the upper unit 3.
[0024] Fig. 3 is a side view illustrating a state where the upper unit 3 has been displaced in a Y-Y' direction serving as the predetermined direction. For example, a maintenance person can pull out the upper unit 3 to a front side for a maintenance task or the like. At this time, the paper money conveyance path 34 in the upper unit 3 and the paper money conveyance path 44 in the lower unit 4 are disconnected from each other.
[0025] Fig. 4 illustrates a state where the safe unit 41 of the lower unit 4 has been displaced in the Y-Y' direction serving as the predetermined direction. The maintenance person can pull out the safe unit 41 from the housing 40 of the lower unit 4 for a maintenance task or the like. At this time, the paper money conveyance path 34 in the upper unit 3 and the paper money conveyance path 44 in the lower unit 4 are disconnected from each other.
[0026] Fig. 5 is an outside perspective view illustrating the connection portion 5 in an enlarged manner. The connection portion 5 is a mechanism that connects the paper money conveyance path 34 in the upper unit 3 and the paper money conveyance path 44 in the lower unit 4.
[0027] The connection portion 5 includes a second guide unit 7 that is connected to the first guide unit 6. The first guide unit 6 is provided in a position that corresponds to the connection portion 5 of a lower side of the upper unit 3. A function of connecting or disconnecting the paper money conveyance paths is achieved by using the first guide unit 6 and the second guide unit 7, and therefore in the drawing, a reference sign is illustrated as if the entirety serves as the connection portion 5.
[0028] The first guide unit 6 provided in the upper unit 3 includes a pair of a first guide 61 and a second guide 62 that face each other with a first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 interposed therebetween. The first guide unit 6 further includes abutting portions 63 at both ends in a longer side direction of the connection portion 5. When the upper unit 3 moves closer to the lower unit 4, the abutting portions 63 come into contact with a side of a distal end 711 of a third guide 71 of the second guide unit 7 that will be described later, and push up and rotate the third guide 71. Note that it can be said that the first guide 61 and the second guide 62 are provided to face each other with a predetermined clearance therebetween such that the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 is formed.
[0029] The second guide unit 7 is formed in a connection portion that is separate from the upper unit 3, and is provided in the connection portion 5 that is movable in a predetermined direction relative to the upper unit 3. The second guide unit 7 includes the third guide 71 and a fourth guide 72 that face each other with a second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 interposed therebetween. In other words, the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 are disposed to face each other with a predetermined clearance therebetween, and therefore the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 is formed.
[0030] On a lower side of the third guide 71, a fixing portion 73 is mounted to be relatively rotatable by using a shaft 75. Similarly, on a lower side of the fourth guide 72, another fixing portion 74 is mounted to be relatively rotatable by using another shaft 76. A conveyance path 78 that is connected to the paper money conveyance path 44 in the lower unit 4 is formed between the fixing portions 73 and 74 described above. The conveyance path 78 is part of the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77.
[0031] The third guide 71 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise by a predetermined angle with the shaft 75 as a rotation center. The fourth guide 72 rotates following the third guide 71 while maintaining a parallel relationship with the third guide 71. In other words, the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 rotate within a predetermined angular range in conjunction with each other while maintaining the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77.
[0032] The third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 of the second guide unit 7 are biased counterclockwise in the drawing by a not-illustrated spring member. In other words, the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 that are rotatable in conjunction with each other in the second guide unit 7 are constantly biased toward the abutting portions 63 of the first guide unit 6.
[0033] Accordingly, when the upper unit 3 has been pulled out in a Y' direction, the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 rotate counterclockwise while sliding in contact with the abutting portions 63. Eventually, when the upper unit 3 has been completely separated from the connection portion 5, the third guide 71 fails to continue to come into contact with the abutting portions 63, and rotates to a position where the third guide 71 is stopped by a not-illustrated stopper, and stands still. This relationship will be further described later.
[0034] Although not illustrated in detail, the first guide unit 6 includes the first guide 61 in which a distal end side is formed in a comb shape, and the second guide 62 in which a distal end side is formed in a comb shape. The first guide 61 and the second guide 62 are provided to face each other with the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 interposed therebetween.
[0035] Similarly, the second guide unit includes the third guide 71 in which a distal end side is formed in a comb shape, and the fourth guide 72 in which a distal end side is formed in a comb shape. The third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 are provided to face each other with the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 interposed therebetween.
[0036] The distal end side of the first guide 61 and the distal end side of the third guide 71 mesh with each other, and the distal end side of the second guide 62 and the distal end side of the fourth guide 72 mesh with each other, and therefore the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 are connected to enable paper money to be conveyed. A comb and a comb mesh with each other, and therefore a gap generated between the conveyance paths can be reduced, and a portion of paper money can be prevented from jumping out of the conveyance paths.
[0037] Fig. 6 is an outside perspective view illustrating the connection portion 5 in a state where the upper unit 3 has been removed. For ease of understanding, only the first guide unit 6 is illustrated from among elements constituting the upper unit 3. As the lower unit 4, the connection portion 5 is mainly illustrated.
[0038] With reference to Figs. 7 to 11, a state will be described where the paper money conveyance path 34 of the upper unit 3 and the paper money conveyance path 44 of the lower unit 4 are connected by the first guide unit 6 and the second guide unit 7.
[0039] Fig. 7 illustrates a state where the upper unit 3 has been pulled out in the predetermined direction, the first guide unit 6 and the second guide unit 7 are separated from each other, and the second guide unit 7 stands by in a state where the second guide unit 7 has fallen toward the first guide unit.
[0040] The distal end 711 of the third guide 71 is a portion that comes into contact with the abutting portions 63 earliest, in a case where the upper unit 3 moves closer to the connection portion 5. The distal end 711 is a portion that continues to be in contact with the abutting portions 63 for the longest time, in a case where the upper unit 3 moves away from the connection portion 5. The shape of the distal end 711 will be further described later.
[0041] The third guide 71 is constantly biased counterclockwise by a not-illustrated spring member provided on the shaft 75. Accordingly, in a case where the first guide unit 6 and the second guide unit 7 are completely separated from each other, the third guide 71 rotates counterclockwise until the third guide 71 abuts onto the not-illustrated stopper. The fourth guide 72 rotates in conjunction with the third guide 71, and stands still at the same time that the third guide 71 stands still. The fourth guide 72 rotates in conjunction with the third guide 71, and maintains the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77. However, in this state, the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 are not connected, and therefore the control unit 36 does not cause paper money to be conveyed.
[0042] The state illustrated in Fig. 7 is referred to as, for example, an open state. In the open state, the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 stop in a position where the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 have rotated counterclockwise by a predetermined angle θ1 from a contact final position that will be described later with reference to Fig. 10.
[0043] Fig. 8 illustrates a contact start state where the upper unit 3 has moved closer to the connection portion 5 and the first guide unit 6 and the second guide unit 7 have come into contact with each other. This state is a state immediately after the distal end 711 of the third guide 71 has come into contact with the abutting portions 63, and the third guide 71 is located in a contact start position. When the distal end 711 of the third guide 71 has come into contact with the abutting portions 63 that are displaced in a Y direction, the distal end 711 receives clockwise rotating force. The third guide 71 rotates clockwise against spring force. The fourth guide 72 rotates in conjunction with the third guide 71, and maintains the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77. In the state illustrated in Fig. 8, similarly to the state illustrated in Fig. 7, the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 are not completely connected, and therefore the control unit 36 prohibits the conveyance of paper money.
[0044] Fig. 9 illustrates a state where the upper unit 3 has moved still closer to the connection portion 5, the paper money conveyance path 34 in the upper unit 3 and the paper money conveyance path 44 in the lower unit 4 are connected, and paper money can be conveyed. This state is referred to as an intermediate state. In the intermediate state, the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 are connected. A coupling portion between the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 is slightly bent, but this does not cause chipping, bending, tearing, or the like of paper money. Accordingly, when it has entered into the intermediate state, the control unit 36 permits the conveyance of paper money. In the intermediate state, slight misalignment has occurred between the upper unit 3 and the connection portion 5, but there is no hindrance in conveying paper money. Therefore, the operation of the cash transaction apparatus 1 can be started without eliminating the misalignment.
[0045] Fig. 10 illustrates a contact completion state where the upper unit 3 has moved still closer to the connection portion 5 and has reached a predetermined contact final position, and the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 are linearly connected. In this contact final position, the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 are connected in a straight line, and therefore paper money is more smoothly conveyed in this state than in the intermediate state.
[0046] Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram in which a change from the state illustrated in Fig. 7 to the state illustrated in Fig. 10 can be collectively viewed. In Fig. 11, some reference signs are omitted. Fig. 11 illustrates in order from a left-hand side to a right-hand side that the upper unit 3 moves closer to the connection portion 5, and it changes to the open state, the contact start state, the intermediate state, and the contact completion state.
[0047] When the distal end 711 having an arc shape has come into contact with the abutting portions 63 of the first guide unit 6, the third guide 71 of the second guide unit 7 receives force against spring force constantly biasing the third guide 71 toward the first guide unit 6. The third guide 71 rotates clockwise against the spring force due to force in a direction opposite to force at the time of coming into contact with the abutting portions 63. The distal end 711 having an arc shape on a side facing the abutting portions 63 is displaced upward while being in contact with abutting surfaces of the abutting portions 63.
[0048] When the upper unit 3 has moved to the contact final position, a further movement is prohibited. The upper unit 3 reaches a correct position (the contact final position) relative to the connection portion 5. In this contact completion state, paper money is conveyed from the upper unit 3 via the connection portion 5 to the lower unit 4 or from the lower unit 4 via the connection portion 5 to the upper unit 3.
[0049] In the intermediate state before the contact completion state, similarly, paper money is conveyed from the upper unit 3 via the connection portion 5 to the lower unit 4 or from the lower unit 4 via the connection portion 5 to the upper unit 3. This is because the coupling portion between the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 is slightly bent, but both the conveyance paths 64 and 77 are correctly connected, and no hindrance occurs in the conveyance of paper money.
[0050] A positional relationship between the abutting portions 63 and the first guide unit 6 and the second guide unit 7 will be described with reference to Figs. 12 to 14.
[0051] The abutting portion 63 is provided to be separated from a predetermined center P1 in a thickness direction of the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 formed between the first guide 61 and the second guide 62 by a predetermined distance dL in a direction parallel to the predetermined direction Y-Y'.
[0052] The predetermined center P1 can also be referred to as a conveyance center between the pair of guides 61 and 62. Alternatively, the predetermined center P1 is a point where a perpendicular line L2 drawn from a center P2 of an abutting surface 631 of the abutting portion 63 and a plane including a center line L1 parallel to a conveyance direction Z-Z' in the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 intersect. The length of the perpendicular line L2 is the predetermined distance dL. In addition, the predetermined center P1 is present in a region where the comb-shaped distal end side of the first guide unit 6 and the comb-shaped distal end side of the second guide unit 7 alternately mesh with each other.
[0053] The abutting portions 63 come into contact with the distal end 711 of the third guide 71 located closer to the abutting portions 63 from among the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72, and displace the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 while rotating the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 toward a proximal end side (an upper side and a Z direction side in Fig. 12) of the first guide unit 6.
[0054] As illustrated in Fig. 13, the distal end 711 of the third guide 71 includes a curved surface including an arc A1, which is part of a circumference C1 having a radius of the predetermined distance dL from the predetermined center P1. The circumference C1 is present on a plane (a YZ plane in Fig. 13) that is orthogonal to both the plane including the center line L1 and the abutting surface 631. Moreover, the predetermined center P1 can also be said to be located at the center in the conveyance direction in a region where the comb-shaped distal end side of the first guide unit 6 and the comb-shaped distal end side of the second guide unit 7 mesh with each other.
[0055] In the present example, the position of the abutting portion 63 is set by using the predetermined center P1 described above as a reference. Therefore, as illustrated in Fig. 14, even in the intermediate state before the second guide unit 7 and the first guide unit 6 are connected in a straight line, the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 can be connected to each other such that paper money can be conveyed.
[0056] In the present example configured as described above, the second guide unit 7 provided in the connection portion 5 is disposed to be inclined by the predetermined angle θ1 toward the first guide unit 6 in a state before the second guide unit 7 is connected to the first guide unit 6, and therefore the height dimension H1 (see Fig. 7) of the second guide unit 7 can be reduced. Accordingly, in the present example, the height of the paper money handling device 2 and the height of the cash transaction apparatus 1 can be reduced to make the entirety compact.
[0057] In contrast, if the second guide unit 7 is configured to stand upright and wait for the first guide unit 6 to approach, the height dimension H2 of the second guide unit 7 is longer than the height dimension H1. Accordingly, the mounting position of the first guide unit 6 that is to mesh with the second guide unit 7 and form the conveyance path needs to be higher than the position illustrated in Fig. 7, and this results in an increase in the height dimension of the paper money handling device 2. If the height dimension of the paper money handling device 2 increases, the size of the cash transaction apparatus 1 also increases.
[0058] In the present example, when the first guide unit 6 has moved in the predetermined direction Y and the second guide unit 7 has come into contact with the abutting portions 63 provided in the first guide unit 6, the second guide unit 7 rotates until the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 in the first guide unit 6 and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 in the second guide unit 7 are linearly connected.
[0059] Specifically, in the present example, the intermediate state where the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 are obliquely connected to enable paper money to be conveyed is included in the middle of a change from the contact start position where the second guide unit 7 comes into contact with the abutting portions 63 to the contact final position where the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 are linearly connected. Accordingly, even in a case where the upper unit 3 and the lower unit 4 have not been accurately aligned, paper money can be conveyed. In other words, even in a case where the tolerance of manufacturing the upper unit 3, the tolerance of manufacturing the lower unit 4, and an error at the time of adjusting the mounting of the upper unit 3 and the lower unit 4 are accumulated, and the upper unit 3 and the lower unit 4 fail to be strictly positioned, paper money can be smoothly conveyed. Stated another way, according to the present example, even in a case where variations, such as manufacturing tolerance, have occurred, it is possible to maintain the performance of smoothly conveying paper money. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve the paper money handling device 2 and the cash transaction apparatus 1 that are excellent in what is called robustness.
[0060] In the present example, the abutting portion 63 is provided to be separated from the predetermined center P1 in a thickness direction of the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64 formed between the first guide 61 and the second guide 62 by the predetermined distance dL in a direction parallel to the predetermined direction Y-Y', and comes into contact with a side of the distal end 711 of the third guide 71 located closer to the abutting portion 63 from among the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 to displace the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 while rotating the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 toward a proximal end side (a Z direction side) of the first guide unit 6, the predetermined center P1 is present in a region where the distal end side of the first guide unit 6 and the distal end side of the second guide unit 7 mesh with each other, and on a side of the distal end 711 of the third guide 71, a curved surface including the arc A1 serving as part of the circumference C1 having a radius of the predetermined distance dL from the predetermined center P1 is formed.
[0061] Accordingly, even if the upper unit 3 and the lower unit 4 have been slightly displaced in the predetermined direction, the distal end 711 of the third guide 71 can be caused to abut onto the abutting portions 63 to connect the conveyance path 64 and the conveyance path 77. As a result, even in a case where there are the tolerance of manufacturing the upper unit 3 and the lower unit 4 and an error at the time of adjusting the mounting of the upper unit 3 and the lower unit 4, paper money can be smoothly conveyed.
[0062] In the present example, the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 constituting the second guide unit 7 rotate in conjunction with each other in an identical direction. Specifically, the fourth guide 72 rotates following the third guide 71. Accordingly, the second guide unit 7 can be rotated while the shape (thickness dimension in the predetermined direction Y-Y') of the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77 is kept constant. Stated another way, paper money can be smoothly conveyed while the shape of the conveyance path is kept substantially constant.
[0063] In the present example, the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 are biased in a predetermined direction toward the abutting portions 63 in a state before the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 come into contact with the abutting portions 63. Therefore, the lower unit 4 can wait for the upper unit 3 to be returned to an original position in a state where the third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 are tilted toward the first guide unit 6. The third guide 71 and the fourth guide 72 are biased toward the first guide unit 6 and stand by in a fallen state, and this can reduce the height dimension of the paper money handling device 2 and the height dimension of the cash transaction apparatus 1.[Example 2]
[0064] Example 2 will be described with reference to Figs. 15 to 18. In the following examples including the present example, differences from the example described above will be mainly described. In the present example, a first guide unit 6A is provided in the safe unit 41, and a second guide unit 7A is disposed in a connection portion 5A to face the lower unit 4.
[0065] The connection portion 5A includes the second guide unit 7A that is connected to the first guide unit 6A. The first guide unit 6A is provided in a position that corresponds to the connection portion 5A of an upper side of the housing 40.
[0066] The first guide unit 6A provided in the safe unit 41 includes a pair of a first guide 61A and a second guide 62A that face each other with a first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64A interposed therebetween. Moreover, the first guide unit 6A includes abutting portions 63A at both ends in a longer side direction. When the safe unit 41 moves closer to the housing, the abutting portions 63A come into contact with a side of a distal end 711A of a third guide 71A of the second guide unit 7A, and push up and rotate the third guide 71A.
[0067] As described above, the second guide unit 7A is provided in the connection portion 5A. The connection portion 5A is formed in the housing 40 that is separate from the safe unit 41 in the lower unit, and is provided in the connection portion 5A that is movable relative to the safe unit 41 in a predetermined direction.
[0068] The second guide unit 7A includes the third guide 71A and a fourth guide 72A that face each other with a second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77A interposed therebetween. On an upper side of the third guide 71A, a fixing portion 73A is mounted in a relatively rotatable manner by using a shaft 75A. Similarly, on an upper side of the fourth guide 72A, another fixing portion 74A is mounted in a relatively rotatable manner by using another shaft 76A. Between the fixing portions 73A and 74A, a conveyance path 78A that is connected to the paper money conveyance path 44 in the lower unit 4 is formed. The conveyance path 78A is part of the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77A.
[0069] The third guide 71A rotates clockwise or counterclockwise by a predetermined angle with the shaft 75A as a rotation center. The fourth guide 72A rotates following the third guide 71A while maintaining a parallel relationship with the third guide 71A.
[0070] The third guide 71A and the fourth guide 72A of the second guide unit 7A are biased clockwise in the drawing by a not-illustrated spring member. In other words, the third guide 71A and the fourth guide 72A that are rotatable in conjunction with each other in the second guide unit 7A are constantly biased toward the abutting portions 63A of the first guide unit 6A.
[0071] Accordingly, when the safe unit 41 has been pulled out in the Y' direction, the third guide 71A and the fourth guide 72A rotate clockwise while sliding in contact with the abutting portions 63A. Eventually, when the safe unit 41 has been completely separated from the housing 40, the third guide 71A fails to continue to come into contact with the abutting portions 63A, and rotates to a position where the third guide 71A is stopped by a not-illustrated stopper, and stands still.
[0072] Similarly to the description of Example 1, the first guide unit 6A includes the first guide 61A in which a distal end side is formed in a comb shape, and the second guide 62A in which a distal end side is formed in a comb shape, and the first guide 61A and the second guide 62A are provided to face each other with the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64A interposed therebetween. The second guide unit 7A includes the third guide 71A in which a distal end side is formed in a comb shape, and the fourth guide 72A in which a distal end side is formed in a comb shape, and the third guide 71A and the fourth guide 72A are provided to face each other with the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77A interposed therebetween.
[0073] The distal end side of the first guide 61A and the distal end side of the third guide 71A mesh with each other, and the distal end side of the second guide 62A and the distal end side of the fourth guide 72A mesh with each other, and therefore the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64A and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77A are connected to enable paper money to be conveyed.
[0074] Fig. 15 illustrates a state where the safe unit 41 has been pulled out in a predetermined direction, the first guide unit 6A and the second guide unit 7A are separated from each other, and the second guide unit 7A stands by in a state where the second guide unit 7A has fallen toward the first guide unit 6A. This state is referred to as an open state.
[0075] The distal end 711A of the third guide 71A is a portion that comes into contact with the abutting portions 63A earliest, in a case where the safe unit 41 moves closer to the connection portion 5 (the housing 40 of the lower unit 4). The distal end 711A is a portion that continues to be in contact with the abutting portions 63A for the longest time, in a case where the safe unit 41 moves away from the connection portion 5 (the housing 40 of the lower unit 4).
[0076] The third guide 71A is constantly biased clockwise by a not-illustrated spring member provided on the shaft 75A. In a case where the first guide unit 6A and the second guide unit 7A have been completely separated from each other, the third guide 71A rotates clockwise until the third guide 71A abuts onto the not-illustrated stopper. The third guide 71A that has been completely separated from the abutting portions 63A stands by in a state where the third guide 71A is inclined toward the abutting portions 63A (the first guide unit 6A) by a predetermined angle θ1 relative to a perpendicular line. The fourth guide 72A rotates in conjunction with the third guide 71A, and stands still at the same time that the third guide 71A stands still. The fourth guide 72A rotates in conjunction with the third guide 71A, and maintains the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77A.
[0077] Fig. 16 illustrates a contact start state where the first guide unit 6A and the second guide unit 7A have come into contact with each other.
[0078] Fig. 17 illustrates an intermediate state where a paper money conveyance path 64A in the first guide unit 6A and a paper money conveyance path 77A in the second guide unit 7A are connected and paper money can be conveyed.
[0079] Fig. 18 illustrates a contact completion state where the first guide unit 6A and the second guide unit 7A are linearly connected.
[0080] The present example configured as described above also exhibits functional effects that are similar to those of Example 1. Stated another way, according to the present example, the height dimension of the paper money handling device 2 using the connection portion 5A can be reduced, and the cash transaction apparatus 1 can be formed compactly.
[0081] According to the present example, even in a case where the safe unit 41 and the housing 40 that houses the safe unit 41 have not been accurately aligned, paper money can be conveyed. Stated another way, according to the present example, even in a case where variations, such as manufacturing tolerance, have occurred, it is possible to maintain the performance of smoothly conveying paper money. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve the paper money handling device 2 and the cash transaction apparatus 1 that are excellent in what is called robustness.[Example 3]
[0082] Example 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 19. In the present example, an upper first guide unit 6B1 is provided in the upper unit 3, and a lower first guide unit 6B2 is provided in the safe unit 41. Moreover, in a connection portion 5B, an upper second guide unit 7B1 that is connected to the upper first guide unit 6B1 and a lower second guide unit 7B2 that is connected to the lower first guide unit 6B2 are rotatably provided. Fig. 19 illustrates the upper first guide unit 6B1, the lower first guide unit 6B2, the upper second guide unit 7B1, and the lower second guide unit 7B2.
[0083] Each of the second guide units 7B1 and 7B2 can independently change to the open state, the contact start state, the intermediate state, and the contact completion state. Accordingly, only the upper unit 3 can be separated from the lower unit 4 so that a maintenance task is performed, or only the lower unit 4 can be separated from the upper unit 3 so that a maintenance task is performed.
[0084] The paper money handling device 2 according to the present example includes the upper unit 3, the safe unit 41, and the connection portion 5B. The upper unit 3 is provided with the upper first guide unit 6B1 that communicates with the upper paper money conveyor 34 in such a way that the upper first guide unit 6B1 faces the connection portion 5B. The safe unit 41 is provided with the lower first guide unit 6B2 that communicates with the lower paper money conveyor 44 in such a way that the lower first guide unit 6B2 faces the connection portion 5B.
[0085] Moreover, in the connection portion 5B, the upper second guide unit 7B1 that is connected to the upper first guide unit 6B1 and the lower second guide unit 7B2 that is connected to the lower first guide unit 6B2 are rotatably provided. The upper second guide unit 7B1 is disposed to be inclined toward the upper first guide unit 6B1 by a predetermined angle in a state before the upper second guide unit 7B1 is connected to the upper first guide unit 6B1. The lower second guide unit 7B2 is disposed to be inclined toward the lower first guide unit 6B2 by a predetermined angle in a state before the lower second guide unit 7B2 is connected to the lower first guide unit 6B2.
[0086] Moreover, when the upper first guide unit 6B1 has moved in a predetermined direction and the upper second guide unit 7B1 has come into contact with upper abutting portions 63B1 provided in the upper first guide unit 6B1, the upper second guide unit 7B1 rotates until an upper-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64B1 in the upper first guide unit 6B1 and an upper-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77B1 in the upper second guide unit 7B1 are linearly connected. When the lower first guide unit 6B2 has moved in the predetermined direction and the lower second guide unit 7B2 has come into contact with lower abutting portions 63B2 provided in the lower first guide unit 6B2, the lower second guide unit 7B2 rotates until a lower-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64B2 in the lower first guide unit 6B2 and a lower-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path 77B2 in the lower second guide unit 7B2 are linearly connected.
[0087] In the present example, the reference sign B1 is added to elements on an upper side, and the reference sign B2 is added to elements on a lower side. Fig. 19 illustrates an upper first guide 61B1, an upper second guide 62B1, an upper third guide 71B1, an upper fourth guide 72B1, another upper shaft 76B1, a common shaft 75B, a lower first guide 61B2, a lower second guide 62B2, a lower third guide 71B2, a lower fourth guide 72B2, and another lower shaft 76B2.
[0088] The present example configured as described above also exhibits functional effects that are similar to those of Example 1 and Example 2 described above. Moreover, in the present example, the second guide units 7B1 and 7B2 are provided on upper and lower sides in the connection portion 5B, and therefore the height dimension of the paper money handling device 2 can be made shorter than the height dimension in the case of Example 1 or Example 2.
[0089] Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Those skilled in the art can make various additions, modifications, or the like within the scope of the present invention. Features described in the embodiment can be appropriately combined.
[0090] The embodiment described above discloses the following configurations in an executable manner.
[0091] (Appendix 1) A paper money handling device including: an upper unit that includes a paper money identification unit and an upper paper money conveyor; a lower unit that includes a safe unit, a lower paper money conveyor, and a housing that houses the safe unit and the lower paper money conveyor; and a connection portion that is fixed to the housing, and is located between the upper unit and the safe unit, in which the upper unit or the safe unit is provided to be movable in a predetermined direction relative to the housing, the connection portion connects the upper paper money conveyor and the lower paper money conveyor in accordance with a movement of the upper unit or the safe unit, a first guide unit that communicates with the upper paper money conveyor or the lower paper money conveyor is provided in at least one of the upper unit and the lower unit to face the connection portion, a second guide unit that is connected to the first guide unit is rotatably provided in the connection portion, the second guide unit is disposed to be inclined toward the first guide unit by a predetermined angle in a state before the second guide unit is connected to the first guide unit, and when the first guide unit has moved in the predetermined direction and the second guide unit has come into contact with an abutting portion that is provided in the first guide unit, the second guide unit rotates until a first-guide-unit inner conveyance path in the first guide unit and a second-guide-unit inner conveyance path in the second guide unit are linearly connected.
[0092] (Appendix 2) The paper money handling device according to appendix 1, in which an intermediate state is included in a middle of a change from a contact start position in which the second guide unit comes into contact with the abutting portion to a contact final position in which the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path are linearly connected, in the intermediate state, the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path being obliquely connected to enable paper money to be conveyed.
[0093] (Appendix 3) The paper money handling device according to appendix 1 or 2, in which in the first guide unit, a first guide and a second guide are provided to face each other with the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path interposed between the first guide and the second guide, the first guide including a distal end side formed in a comb shape, the second guide including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, in the second guide unit, a third guide and a fourth guide are provided to face each other with the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path interposed between the third guide and the fourth guide, the third guide including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, the fourth guide including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, and the distal end side of the first guide and the distal end side of the third guide mesh with each other, the distal end side of the second guide and the distal end side of the fourth guide mesh with each other, and the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path are connected to enable paper money to be conveyed.
[0094] (Appendix 4) The paper money handling device according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, in which the abutting portion is provided to be separated from a predetermined center in a thickness direction of the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path formed between a first guide and a second guide by a predetermined distance in a direction parallel to the predetermined direction, and comes into contact with a distal end side of a third guide located closer to the abutting portion from among the third guide and a fourth guide, and displaces the third guide and the fourth guide while rotating the third guide and the fourth guide toward a proximal end side of the first guide unit, the predetermined center is present in a region where a distal end side of the first guide unit and a distal end side of the second guide unit mesh with each other, and on the distal end side of the third guide, a curved surface is formed, the curved surface including an arc serving as part of a circumference having a radius of the predetermined distance from the predetermined center.
[0095] (Appendix 5) The paper money handling device according to any one of appendices 1 to 4, in which a third guide and a fourth guide constituting the second guide unit rotate in conjunction with each other in an identical direction.
[0096] (Appendix 6) The paper money handling device according to any one of appendices 1 to 5, in which a fourth guide follows a third guide, and rotates in conjunction with the third guide in an identical direction.
[0097] (Appendix 7) The paper money handling device according to any one of appendices 1 to 6, in which a third guide and a fourth guide are biased in a predetermined direction toward the abutting portion in a state before the third guide comes into contact with the abutting portion.
[0098] (Appendix 8) A paper money handling device including: an upper unit that includes a paper money identification unit and an upper paper money conveyor; a lower unit that includes a safe unit, a lower paper money conveyor, and a housing that houses the safe unit and the lower paper money conveyor; and a connection portion that is fixed to the housing, and is located between the upper unit and the safe unit, in which the upper unit or the safe unit is provided to be movable in a predetermined direction relative to the housing, the connection portion connects the upper paper money conveyor and the lower paper money conveyor in accordance with a movement of the upper unit or the safe unit, an upper first guide unit that communicates with the upper paper money conveyor is provided in the upper unit to face the connection portion, a lower first guide unit that communicates with the lower paper money conveyor is provided in the lower unit to face the connection portion, an upper second guide unit and a lower second guide unit are rotatably provided in the connection portion, the upper second guide unit being connected to the upper first guide unit, the lower second guide unit being connected to the lower first guide unit, the upper second guide unit is disposed to be inclined toward the upper first guide unit by a predetermined angle in a state before the upper second guide unit is connected to the upper first guide unit, the lower second guide unit is disposed to be inclined toward the lower first guide unit by a predetermined angle in a state before the lower second guide unit is connected to the lower first guide unit, when the upper first guide unit has moved in the predetermined direction and the upper second guide unit has come into contact with an upper abutting portion that is provided in the upper first guide unit, the upper second guide unit rotates until an upper-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path in the upper first guide unit and an upper-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path in the upper second guide unit are linearly connected, and when the lower first guide unit has moved in the predetermined direction and the lower second guide unit has come into contact with a lower abutting portion that is provided in the lower first guide unit, the lower second guide unit rotates until a lower-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path in the lower first guide unit and a lower-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path in the lower second guide unit are linearly connected.
[0099] (Appendix 9) The paper money handling device according to appendix 8, in which the upper second guide unit and the lower second guide unit independently rotate.
[0100] (Appendix 10) The paper money handling device according to appendix 8 or 9, in which in a middle of a change from a contact start position in which the upper second guide unit comes into contact with the upper abutting portion to a contact final position in which the upper-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path and the upper-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path are linearly connected, the upper-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path and the upper-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path are obliquely connected to enable paper money to be conveyed, and in a middle of a change from a contact start position in which the lower second guide unit comes into contact with the lower abutting portion to a contact final position in which the lower-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path and the lower-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path are linearly connected, the lower-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path and the lower-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path are obliquely connected to enable the paper money to be conveyed.
[0101] (Appendix 11) The paper money handling device according to any one of appendices 8 to 10, in which in the upper first guide unit, an upper first guide and an upper second guide are provided to face each other with the upper-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path interposed between the upper first guide and the upper second guide, the upper first guide including a distal end side formed in a comb shape, the upper second guide including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, in the upper second guide unit, an upper third guide and an upper fourth guide are provided to face each other with the upper-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path interposed between the upper third guide and the upper fourth guide, the upper third guide including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, the upper fourth guide including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, the distal end side of the upper first guide and the distal end side of the upper third guide mesh with each other, the distal end side of the upper second guide and the distal end side of the upper fourth guide mesh with each other, and the upper-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path and the upper-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path are connected to enable paper money to be conveyed, in the lower first guide unit, a lower first guide and a lower second guide are provided to face each other with the lower-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path interposed between the lower first guide and the lower second guide, the lower first guide including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, the lower second guide including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, in the lower second guide unit, a lower third guide and a lower fourth guide are provided to face each other with the lower-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path interposed between the lower third guide and the lower fourth guide, the lower third guide including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, the lower fourth guide including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, and the distal end side of the lower first guide and the distal end side of the lower third guide mesh with each other, the distal end side of the lower second guide and the distal end side of the lower fourth guide mesh with each other, and the lower-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path and the lower-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path are connected to enable the paper money to be conveyed.
[0102] (Appendix 12) A cash transaction apparatus including the paper money handling device according to any one of appendices 1 to 11.Reference Signs List
[0103] 1 Cash transaction apparatus 2 Paper money handling device 3 Upper unit 4 Lower unit 5, 5A, 5B Connection portion 34, 44 Paper money conveyance path 41 Safe unit 6, 6A, 6B1, 6B2 First guide unit 7, 7A, 7B1, 7B2 Second guide unit
Examples
example 1
[Example 1]
[0011]Example 1 will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 14. Fig. 1 is a general schematic diagram illustrating a cash transaction apparatus 1 including a paper money handling device 2.
[0012]The cash transaction apparatus 1 includes, for example, a body 10, a body control unit 11 that is provided in the body 10, a user operation unit 12 that is provided on a front side of the body 10, a bankbook processing device 13 and a card / statement processing device 14 that are provided on an upper side of the user operation unit 12, and a paper money handling device 2 that is provided in the body 10.
[0013]The body control unit 11 controls the entirety of the cash transaction apparatus 1. The user operation unit 12 includes, for example, a touch panel, and provides information to a user or receives information from a user. The bankbook processing device 13 prints the content of transaction on a bankbook inserted by a user, and returns the bankbook. The card / statement processing...
example 2
[Example 2]
[0064]Example 2 will be described with reference to Figs. 15 to 18. In the following examples including the present example, differences from the example described above will be mainly described. In the present example, a first guide unit 6A is provided in the safe unit 41, and a second guide unit 7A is disposed in a connection portion 5A to face the lower unit 4.
[0065]The connection portion 5A includes the second guide unit 7A that is connected to the first guide unit 6A. The first guide unit 6A is provided in a position that corresponds to the connection portion 5A of an upper side of the housing 40.
[0066]The first guide unit 6A provided in the safe unit 41 includes a pair of a first guide 61A and a second guide 62A that face each other with a first-guide-unit inner conveyance path 64A interposed therebetween. Moreover, the first guide unit 6A includes abutting portions 63A at both ends in a longer side direction. When the safe unit 41 moves closer to the housing, the a...
example 3
[Example 3]
[0082]Example 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 19. In the present example, an upper first guide unit 6B1 is provided in the upper unit 3, and a lower first guide unit 6B2 is provided in the safe unit 41. Moreover, in a connection portion 5B, an upper second guide unit 7B1 that is connected to the upper first guide unit 6B1 and a lower second guide unit 7B2 that is connected to the lower first guide unit 6B2 are rotatably provided. Fig. 19 illustrates the upper first guide unit 6B1, the lower first guide unit 6B2, the upper second guide unit 7B1, and the lower second guide unit 7B2.
[0083]Each of the second guide units 7B1 and 7B2 can independently change to the open state, the contact start state, the intermediate state, and the contact completion state. Accordingly, only the upper unit 3 can be separated from the lower unit 4 so that a maintenance task is performed, or only the lower unit 4 can be separated from the upper unit 3 so that a maintenance task is per...
Claims
1. A paper money handling device (2) comprising: an upper unit (3) that includes a paper money identification unit (32) and an upper paper money conveyor (34); a lower unit (4) that includes a safe unit (41), a lower paper money conveyor (44), and a housing (40) that houses the safe unit (41) and the lower paper money conveyor (44); and a connection portion (5) that is fixed to the housing (40), and is located between the upper unit (3) and the safe unit (41), characterized in that the upper unit (3) or the safe unit (41) is provided to be movable in a predetermined direction relative to the housing (40), the connection portion (5) connects the upper paper money conveyor (34) and the lower paper money conveyor (44) in accordance with a movement of the upper unit (3) or the safe unit (41), a first guide unit (6) that communicates with the upper paper money conveyor (34) or the lower paper money conveyor (44) is provided in at least one of the upper unit (3) and the lower unit (4) to face the connection portion (5), a second guide unit (7) that is connected to the first guide unit (6) is rotatably provided in the connection portion (5), the second guide unit (7) is disposed to be inclined toward the first guide unit (6) by a predetermined angle in a state before the second guide unit (7) is connected to the first guide unit (6), and when the first guide unit (6) has moved in the predetermined direction and the second guide unit (7) has come into contact with an abutting portion (63) that is provided in the first guide unit (6), the second guide unit (7) rotates until a first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64) in the first guide unit (6) and a second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77) in the second guide unit (7) are linearly connected.
2. The paper money handling device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that an intermediate state is included in a middle of a change from a contact start position in which the second guide unit (7) comes into contact with the abutting portion (63) to a contact final position in which the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64) and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77) are linearly connected, in the intermediate state, the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64) and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77) being obliquely connected to enable paper money to be conveyed.
3. The paper money handling device (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that in the first guide unit (6), a first guide (61) and a second guide (62) are provided to face each other with the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64) interposed between the first guide (61) and the second guide (62), the first guide (61) including a distal end side formed in a comb shape, the second guide (62) including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, in the second guide unit (7), a third guide (71) and a fourth guide (72) are provided to face each other with the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77) interposed between the third guide (71) and the fourth guide (72), the third guide (71) including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, the fourth guide (72) including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, and the distal end side of the first guide (61) and the distal end side of the third guide (71) mesh with each other, the distal end side of the second guide (62) and the distal end side of the fourth guide (72) mesh with each other, and the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64) and the second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77) are connected to enable the paper money to be conveyed.
4. The paper money handling device (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the abutting portion (63) is provided to be separated from a predetermined center in a thickness direction of the first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64) formed between the first guide (61) and the second guide (62) by a predetermined distance in a direction parallel to the predetermined direction, and comes into contact with the distal end side of the third guide (71) located closer to the abutting portion (63) from among the third guide (71) and the fourth guide (72), and displaces the third guide (71) and the fourth guide (72) while rotating the third guide (71) and the fourth guide (72) toward a proximal end side of the first guide unit (61), the predetermined center is present in a region where the distal end side of the first guide unit (6) and the distal end side of the second guide unit (7) mesh with each other, and on the distal end side of the third guide (71), a curved surface is formed, the curved surface including an arc serving as part of a circumference having a radius of the predetermined distance from the predetermined center.
5. The paper money handling device (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the third guide (71) and the fourth guide (72) constituting the second guide unit (7) rotate in conjunction with each other in an identical direction.
6. The paper money handling device (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the fourth guide (72) follows the third guide (71), and rotates in conjunction with the third guide (71) in the identical direction.
7. The paper money handling device (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the third guide (71) and the fourth guide (72) are biased in a predetermined direction toward the abutting portion (63) in a state before the third guide (71) comes into contact with the abutting portion (63).
8. A paper money handling device (2) comprising: an upper unit (3) that includes a paper money identification unit (32) and an upper paper money conveyor (34); a lower unit (4) that includes a safe unit (41), a lower paper money conveyor (44), and a housing (40) that houses the safe unit (41) and the lower paper money conveyor (44); and a connection portion (5) that is fixed to the housing (40), and is located between the upper unit (3) and the safe unit (41), characterized in that the upper unit (3) or the safe unit (41) is provided to be movable in a predetermined direction relative to the housing (40), the connection portion (5) connects the upper paper money conveyor (34) and the lower paper money conveyor (44) in accordance with a movement of the upper unit (3) or the safe unit (41), an upper first guide unit (6B1) that communicates with the upper paper money conveyor (34) is provided in the upper unit (3) to face the connection portion (5), a lower first guide unit (6B2) that communicates with the lower paper money conveyor (44) is provided in the lower unit (4) to face the connection portion (5), an upper second guide unit (7B1) and a lower second guide unit (7B2) are rotatably provided in the connection portion (5), the upper second guide unit (7B1) being connected to the upper first guide unit (6B1), the lower second guide unit (7B2) being connected to the lower first guide unit (6B2), the upper second guide unit (7B1) is disposed to be inclined toward the upper first guide unit (6B1) by a predetermined angle in a state before the upper second guide unit (7B1) is connected to the upper first guide unit (6B1), the lower second guide unit (7B2) is disposed to be inclined toward the lower first guide unit (6B2) by a predetermined angle in a state before the lower second guide unit (7B2) is connected to the lower first guide unit (6B2), when the upper first guide unit (6B1) has moved in the predetermined direction and the upper second guide unit (7B1) has come into contact with an upper abutting portion (63B1) that is provided in the upper first guide unit (6B1), the upper second guide unit (7B1) rotates until an upper-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64B1) in the upper first guide unit (6B1) and an upper-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77B1) in the upper second guide unit (7B1) are linearly connected, and when the lower first guide unit (6B2) has moved in the predetermined direction and the lower second guide unit (7B2) has come into contact with a lower abutting portion (63B2) that is provided in the lower first guide unit (6B2), the lower second guide unit (7B2) rotates until a lower-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64B2) in the lower first guide unit (6B2) and a lower-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77B2) in the lower second guide unit (7B2) are linearly connected.
9. The paper money handling device (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the upper second guide unit (7B1) and the lower second guide unit (7B2) independently rotate.
10. The paper money handling device (2) according to claim 9, characterized in that in a middle of a change from a contact start position in which the upper second guide unit (7B1) comes into contact with the upper abutting portion (63B1) to a contact final position in which the upper-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64B1) and the upper-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77B1) are linearly connected, the upper-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64B1) and the upper-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77B1) are obliquely connected to enable paper money to be conveyed, and in a middle of a change from a contact start position in which the lower second guide unit (7B2) comes into contact with the lower abutting portion (63B2) to a contact final position in which the lower-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64B2) and the lower-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77B2) are linearly connected, the lower-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64B2) and the lower-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77B2) are obliquely connected to enable the paper money to be conveyed.
11. The paper money handling device (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that in the upper first guide unit (6B1), an upper first guide (61B1) and an upper second guide (62B1) are provided to face each other with the upper-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64B1) interposed between the upper first guide (61B1) and the upper second guide (62B1), the upper first guide (61B1) including a distal end side formed in a comb shape, the upper second guide (62B1) including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, in the upper second guide unit (7B1), an upper third guide (71B1) and an upper fourth guide (72B1) are provided to face each other with the upper-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77B1) interposed between the upper third guide (71B1) and the upper fourth guide (72B1), the upper third guide (71B1) including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, the upper fourth guide (72B1) including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, the distal end side of the upper first guide (61B1) and the distal end side of the upper third guide (71B1) mesh with each other, the distal end side of the upper second guide (62B1) and the distal end side of the upper fourth guide (72B1) mesh with each other, and the upper-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64B1) and the upper-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77B1) are connected to enable the paper money to be conveyed, in the lower first guide unit (6B2), a lower first guide (61B2) and a lower second guide (62B2) are provided to face each other with the lower-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64B2) interposed between the lower first guide (61B2) and the lower second guide (62B2), the lower first guide (61B2) including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, the lower second guide (62B2) including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, in the lower second guide unit (7B2), a lower third guide (71B2) and a lower fourth guide (72B2) are provided to face each other with the lower-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77B2) interposed between the lower third guide (71B2) and the lower fourth guide (72B2), the lower third guide (71B2) including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, the lower fourth guide (72B2) including a distal end side formed in the comb shape, and the distal end side of the lower first guide (61B2) and the distal end side of the lower third guide (71B2) mesh with each other, the distal end side of the lower second guide (62B2) and the distal end side of the lower fourth guide (72B2) mesh with each other, and the lower-first-guide-unit inner conveyance path (64B2) and the lower-second-guide-unit inner conveyance path (77B2) are connected to enable the paper money to be conveyed.
12. A cash transaction apparatus comprising the paper money handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.