Paper sheet processor

Abstract

To provide a paper sheet processor that enables paper sheets to be accumulated further favorably.SOLUTION: A paper sheet processor includes a conveying unit 61 for conveying a paper sheet S, and a collecting mechanism 42 for collecting the paper sheet S conveyed by the conveying unit 61. The collecting mechanism 42 has a stage 83 that can be moved in the direction of collecting the paper sheet S and collects the paper sheet S, and determines a position of the stage 83 in the accumulation direction based on the size of the paper sheet S to be accumulated in the conveying direction by the conveying unit 61 when starting to collect the paper sheet S.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper sheet processing apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a paper sheet processing apparatus that stores paper sheets sent from a conveying unit into a storage unit in an accumulated state in the storage unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-12205 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, in a paper sheet processing apparatus, it is desired to stack paper sheets more efficiently.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet processing apparatus that can stack paper sheets more efficiently. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention comprises a conveying unit that conveys paper sheets, and a stacking mechanism that stacks the paper sheets conveyed by the conveying unit, wherein the stacking mechanism has a stage unit that is movable in the stacking direction of the paper sheets and stacks the paper sheets, and is characterized in that when stacking of the paper sheets is started, the position of the stage unit in the stacking direction is determined based on the size of the paper sheets to be stacked in the conveying direction by the conveying unit. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a paper sheet processing apparatus capable of stacking paper sheets more satisfactorily. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a schematic diagram of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a terminal conveying unit and a stacking mechanism of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a side view showing, in outline, the terminal conveying section and stacking mechanism of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) shows the initial stage section and stopper section for stacking paper sheets that are large in size in the terminal conveying direction, and (b) shows the stage section and stopper section in the middle of stacking paper sheets that are large in size in the terminal conveying direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a side view showing, in outline, the terminal conveying section and stacking mechanism of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) shows the initial stage section and stopper section for stacking paper sheets having a small size in the terminal conveying direction, and (b) shows the stage section and stopper section in the middle of stacking paper sheets having a small size in the terminal conveying direction. [Diagram 5] 1A is a plan view showing the terminal conveying section and stacking mechanism of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows the retracted state of the long side alignment member 113 when stacking paper sheets having a large size in the direction perpendicular to the terminal conveying direction, and (b) shows the aligned state of the long side alignment member 113 when stacking paper sheets having a large size in the direction perpendicular to the terminal conveying direction. [Figure 6] 1A is a plan view showing the terminal conveying section and stacking mechanism of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows the retracted state of the long side alignment member 113 when stacking paper sheets whose size is small in the direction perpendicular to the terminal conveying direction, and (b) shows the aligned state of the long side alignment member 113 when stacking paper sheets whose size is small in the direction perpendicular to the terminal conveying direction. [Figure 7] 4 is a side view showing a long side alignment member of the stacking mechanism of the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a regulating member of a stacking mechanism of the paper sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1A is a plan view showing a long side alignment member of a stacking mechanism of a paper sheet processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows an aligned state, (b) shows a state in the middle of being retracted, and (c) shows a state in the middle of being retracted again. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an outline of a stacking mechanism of a paper sheet processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows a long side alignment member in a retracted state, (b) shows a long side alignment member in the process of becoming aligned, and (c) shows a long side alignment member in an aligned state. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an outline of a stacking mechanism of a paper sheet processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) shows a long side alignment member in the middle of being retracted, and (b) shows a long side alignment member in the retracted state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] <Embodiment> A paper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The paper sheet processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 performs a counting and sorting process in which banknotes as paper sheets S are counted and sorted, and a counting and bundling process in which the banknotes are counted and bundled. In the counting and sorting process, the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 classifies inserted paper sheets S into count target paper sheets S that are to be counted and rejected paper sheets S that are not to be counted, and further counts the count target paper sheets S by type, classifies them by type, and stores them. In the counting and bundling process, the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 classifies inserted paper sheets S into bundling target paper sheets S that are to be bundled and rejected paper sheets S that are not to be bundled, and accumulates and bundles the bundling target paper sheets S in groups of a predetermined number to form small bundles of paper sheets. In the following description, the front-rear direction of the device is the direction connecting the operator side of the paper-sheet processing device 1 and the side opposite the operator, and the left-right direction of the device is the left-right direction as seen from the operator side of the paper-sheet processing device 1. Additionally, "front" refers to the operator side of the paper-sheet processing device 1, "rear" refers to the side opposite the operator of the paper-sheet processing device 1, "right" refers to the right side as seen from the operator of the paper-sheet processing device 1, and "left" refers to the left side as seen from the operator of the paper-sheet processing device 1.

[0010] 1, the sheet processing apparatus 1 of the embodiment is configured by connecting a sheet counting device 2, a sheet stacking device 3, and a sheet bundling device 4 in this order from the right. The sheet processing apparatus 1 can also be provided with an evacuation pocket section 5 at the left end of the sheet processing apparatus 1, i.e., to the left of the sheet bundling device 4.

[0011] [Paper sheet counting device 2] The paper sheet counting device 2 has an input port 11 that is located from the middle to the bottom in the vertical direction on the right side of the device and is always open to the outside of the paper sheet counting device 2 over the right side and front, and a reject section 12 that is located above the input port 11 on the right side of the device and is always open to the outside of the paper sheet counting device 2 over the right side and front.

[0012] A plurality of sheets S are set in the input port 11 in a vertically stacked state with their long sides aligned along the front-to-back direction and their short sides aligned along the left-to-right direction of the device. The input port 11 separates and pays out the sheets S stacked in this manner one by one, starting from the bottom one, and takes them into the sheet counting device 2. The sheets S fed from the input port 11 move along the extension direction of their short sides.

[0013] Inside the paper sheet counting device 2, there are provided a counting device internal transport section 21 that transports the paper sheets S fed out from the input port 11, and a recognition section 22 that recognizes and counts the paper sheets S being transported by the counting device internal transport section 21. The paper sheets S transported by the counting device internal transport section 21 move along the extension direction of their short sides. The recognition section 22 recognizes the transport state and type of the paper sheets S, such as the denomination.

[0014] The counting device internal transport section 21 has a left extension section 21a extending from the input port 11 toward the left side surface of the paper sheet counting device 2, an upper extension section 21b extending upward from an end section near the left side surface of the left extension section 21a, a left extension section 21c extending from an upper end section of the upper extension section 21b toward the left side surface of the paper sheet counting device 2 and opening on the left side surface, and a branch extension section 21d extending from an upper end section of the upper extension section 21b toward the right side surface of the paper sheet counting device 2 and connected to the reject section 12. The counting device internal transport section 21 has a recognition section 22 provided on the upper extension section 21b along the vertical direction. The reject section 12 stacks the paper sheets S thus fed from the branch extension section 21d of the counting device internal transport section 21 from the bottom to the top.

[0015] An operation display unit 25 that receives operation input and displays information is provided on the front surface of the sheet counting device 2. Also provided inside the sheet counting device 2 are a control unit 26 that controls the sheet counting device 2, the sheet stacking device 3 and the sheet bundling device 4 connected to the sheet counting device 2, i.e., the entire sheet processing device 1, and a memory unit 27 that stores master data that is the basis for recognition, data on the recognition and counting results, etc.

[0016] [Paper sheet stacking device 3] Inside the paper sheet stacking device 3, there is provided a transport section 31 in the stacking device that is connected to the left extension section 21c of the paper sheet counting device 2 and transports the paper sheets S fed from the left extension section 21c. The paper sheets S transported by the transport section 31 in the stacking device also move along the extension direction of their short sides.

[0017] The in-stacking device transport section 31 has a connecting transport section 31A that opens at the top of the right side of the paper sheet stacking device 3 and extends horizontally and linearly toward the left side of the paper sheet stacking device 3, opening at the top of the left side, and a branching transport section 31B that branches off downward from the left side of the connecting transport section 31A. The connecting transport section 31A and the branching transport section 31B each have their own drive motor and can be driven independently.

[0018] The branching conveying section 31B branches off from the left side of the connecting conveying section 31A and extends vertically downward, and has a downward extending section 31Ba whose end portion opposite the connecting conveying section 31A extends toward the right side surface of the paper sheet stacking device 3, and a plurality of, specifically three, branching extending sections 31Bb which branch off from the middle position of the downward extending section 31Ba and extend toward the right side surface of the paper sheet stacking device 3. The stacking sections 32 are connected to the end portion of the downward extending section 31Ba and the end portions of the three branching extending sections 31Bb, respectively. Thus, the paper sheet stacking device 3 is provided with a plurality of, specifically four, stacking sections 32. All of the stacking sections 32 are always open to the outside of the paper sheet stacking device 3 from the front surface of the paper sheet stacking device 3.

[0019] The stacking sections 32 are all similar in configuration, and each has a bottom 35 that is inclined downward to the right with respect to the horizontal, and a support wall 36 that extends upward from the right end position of the bottom 35 perpendicular to the bottom 35. At the end of the bottom 35 of the stacking section 32 opposite to the support wall 36, there is provided a blade wheel 37 that is provided at each end position of the branching conveying section 31B and delivers the paper sheets S into the stacking section 32. The blade wheel 37 rotates together with the paper sheets S conveyed by the branching conveying section 31B, sandwiching the paper sheets S between its blades, and when the paper sheets S come into contact with the bottom 35 and come out from between the blades, the blades push the paper sheets S toward the support wall 36. As a result, the paper sheets S are stacked in order on the support wall 36 with their short sides aligned vertically and standing on the bottom 35.

[0020] Here, the above-mentioned counting and sorting process is possible in the paper sheet processing device 1 as a process using the paper sheet counting device 2 and the paper sheet stacking device 3. The counting and sorting process is a process in which the paper sheets S set in a stacked state in the input port 11 of the paper sheet counting device 2 are counted while being recognized in the recognition unit 22 of the paper sheet counting device 2, and the paper sheets S to be counted and sorted are stacked in the multiple stacking units 32 of the paper sheet stacking device 3 while being classified.

[0021] When an operation to select the counting and sorting process is input on the operation and display unit 25, the control unit 26 is configured to set, on the operation and display unit 25, the types of paper sheets S to be subjected to the sorting and counting process to be stored in each stacking unit 32. For example, the first stacking unit 32 among the plurality of stacking units 32 is configured to store 10,000 yen notes as paper sheets S after counting in the recognition unit 22, the second stacking unit 32 is configured to store 5,000 yen notes as paper sheets S after counting in the recognition unit 22, the third stacking unit 32 is configured to store 1,000 yen notes as paper sheets S after counting in the recognition unit 22, and the fourth stacking unit 32 is configured to store 2,000 yen notes as paper sheets S after counting in the recognition unit 22.

[0022] When the paper sheets S are set in a stacked state in the input port 11 and a start operation for the counting and sorting process is input to the operation display unit 25, the control unit 26 separates the stacked paper sheets S set in the input port 11 one by one and transports them by the left extension unit 21a and the upper extension unit 21b of the counting device transport unit 21. Then, the control unit 26 causes the recognition unit 22 to recognize the paper sheets S while they are being transported by the upper extension unit 21b. When the recognition result of the recognition unit 22 indicates that the paper sheets S are rejected paper sheets S that are not subject to the counting and sorting process and include paper sheets S with abnormal recognition such as counterfeit bills, damaged bills, and bills with tape attached thereto, the control unit 26 causes the paper sheets S to be transported from the upper extension unit 21b to the reject unit 12 by the branch extension unit 21d and stored therein without counting them.

[0023] Furthermore, when the recognition result of the recognition unit 22 identifies a paper sheet S as being subject to counting and sorting processing, the control unit 26 adds the count value of the type of paper sheet S, i.e., its denomination, and transports the paper sheet S to the stacking unit 32 corresponding to its type and stores it therein, via the upward extension unit 21b, the left extension unit 21c, and the connecting conveying unit 31A and branching conveying unit 31B of the conveying unit 31 within the stacking device of the paper sheet stacking device 3.

[0024] In this manner, the sheet processing device 1 classifies and stores the sheets S to be counted and sorted among the sheets S set in a stacked state at the input port 11 of the sheet counting device 2 into the multiple stacking sections 32 of the sheet stacking device 3. Note that a sensor may be provided to detect that a sheet S has been set at the input port 11, and the counting and sorting process may be started automatically when the sensor detects the sheet S.

[0025] [Paper sheet binding device 4] Inside the paper sheet bundling device 4, there is provided a bundling device internal transport section 41 that is connected to the connecting transport section 31A of the paper sheet stacking device 3 and transports the paper sheets S fed from the connecting transport section 31A. The paper sheets S transported by the bundling device internal transport section 41 also move along the extension direction of their short sides.

[0026] The in-bundling-device conveying section 41 has a connected conveying section 41A that opens at the top of the right side of the paper sheet bundling device 4 and is connected to the connected conveying section 31A, extends horizontally and linearly toward the left side of the paper sheet bundling device 4, opens at the top of the left side and is connected to the inside of the evacuation pocket section 5 when the evacuation pocket section 5 is provided, and a branched conveying section 41B that branches off downward from the left side of the connected conveying section 41A. The connected conveying section 41A and the branched conveying section 41B each have their own drive motor and can be driven independently.

[0027] The branching conveying section 41B branches off from the left side of the connecting conveying section 41A and extends vertically downward, and has an end portion opposite to the connecting conveying section 41A, which has a downward extending portion 41Ba extending toward the right side surface of the paper sheet bundling device 4, and a branching extending portion 41Bb branching off from a middle position of the downward extending portion 41Ba and extending toward the right side surface of the paper sheet bundling device 4. A stacking mechanism 42 is connected to each of the end portions of the downward extending portion 41Ba and the branching extending portion 41Bb. Thus, the paper sheet bundling device 4 is provided with a plurality of stacking mechanisms 42, specifically, two stacking mechanisms 42.

[0028] Here, the above-mentioned counting and bundling process is a process that uses the paper sheet counting device 2, the paper sheet stacking device 3, and the paper sheet bundling device 4 in the paper sheet processing device 1. The counting and bundling process is a process of bundling the paper sheets S to be bundled from among the paper sheets S set in a stacked state in the input port 11 of the paper sheet counting device 2.

[0029] When an operation to select the counting and bundling process is input on the operation display unit 25, the control unit 26 is configured to set the paper sheets S to be bundled on the operation display unit 25. For example, a 10,000 yen note, which is the Japanese currency, is set as the paper sheets S to be bundled.

[0030] Then, when the sheets S are set in a stacked state in the input port 11 and a start operation for counting and bundling processing is input to the operation display unit 25, the control unit 26 separates the stacked sheets S set in the input port 11 one by one and transports them by the left extension unit 21a and the upper extension unit 21b of the counting device transport unit 21. Then, the control unit 26 causes the recognition unit 22 to recognize the sheets S while they are being transported by the upper extension unit 21b. If the recognition result of the recognition unit 22 indicates that the sheets S are sheets with recognition abnormalities such as counterfeit sheets, damaged sheets, sheets with tape attached, etc., the control unit 26 does not count the sheets S, but transports them from the upper extension unit 21b to the reject unit 12 via the branch extension unit 21d and stores them therein.

[0031] Furthermore, when the recognition result of the recognition unit 22 indicates that the paper sheet S is a normally recognized paper sheet S of a different denomination that is not to be bundled, the control unit 26 also conveys the paper sheet S from the upward extension unit 21b to the reject unit 12 via the branch extension unit 21d and stores it therein. Here, the paper sheet S that has been identified as a normally recognized paper sheet S of a different denomination that is not to be bundled can also be conveyed to a predetermined stacking unit 32 and stored therein via the upward extension unit 21b, the left extension unit 21c, the connecting conveying unit 31A and the branching conveying unit 31B of the stacking device internal conveying unit 31 of the paper sheet stacking device 3. In other words, the destination of the normally recognized paper sheet S of a different denomination that is not to be bundled can be selected from the reject unit 12 and multiple stacking units 32.

[0032] Furthermore, when the recognition result of the recognition unit 22 identifies the paper sheet S as the paper sheet S to be bundled, the control unit 26 causes the upward extension unit 21b, the left extension unit 21c, the connecting conveying unit 31A of the paper sheet stacking device 3, the connecting conveying unit 41A and the branching conveying unit 41B of the paper sheet bundling device 4 to transport the paper sheet S to the stacking mechanism 42 and store it in units of the number of sheets to be bundled (for example, 100 sheets). Here, in the counting and bundling process, the control unit 26 first stacks the bundled number of sheets S in the upper stacking mechanism 42 of the two stacking mechanisms 42 at the downward extension portion 41Ba and branch extension portion 41Bb of the connecting conveying unit 41A and the branching conveying unit 41B, then stacks the bundled number of sheets S in the lower stacking mechanism 42 at the downward extension portion 41Ba of the connecting conveying unit 41A and the branching conveying unit 41B, and then stacks the bundled number of sheets S in the upper stacking mechanism 42 at the downward extension portion 41Ba and branch extension portion 41Bb of the connecting conveying unit 41A and the branching conveying unit 41B, so that the sheets S are stacked alternately in the two stacking mechanisms 42 by the bundled number. Note that a sensor that detects that the sheets S are set in the insertion port 11 may be provided, and the counting and bundling process may be started automatically when the sensor detects the sheets S.

[0033] The stacking mechanism 42 stacks the sheets S conveyed by the connected one of the end conveying section 61 (conveying section) of the downward extension section 41Ba of the branching conveying section 41B and the end conveying section 61 (conveying section) of the branching extension section 41Bb, which convey the sheets S. At that time, the end conveying section 61 of the downward extension section 41Ba and the end conveying section 61 of the branching extension section 41Bb convey the sheets S from left to right with their short sides aligned in the left-right direction of the device and their long sides aligned in the front-rear direction of the device. At that time, the stacking mechanism 42 stacks the sheets S sequentially discharged to the right from the connected end conveying section 61 from bottom to top while aligning the positions in the short side direction and the long side direction.

[0034] The paper sheet bundling device 4 has a transfer mechanism 45 that transports the stacked paper sheets SS when the paper sheets S are stacked in one of the stacking mechanisms 42 to form the stacked paper sheets SS, and transports the stacked paper sheets SS when the paper sheets S are stacked in the other of the stacking mechanisms 42 to form the stacked paper sheets SS. The transfer mechanism 45 has a gripping portion 46 that grips the stacked paper sheets SS, which are stacked vertically with their short sides and long sides aligned in the stacking mechanism 42, from both the top and bottom. Here, the long sides of the paper sheets S that constitute the stacked paper sheets SS are also the long sides in the stacked paper sheets SS, and the short sides of the paper sheets S that constitute the stacked paper sheets SS are also the short sides in the stacked paper sheets SS.

[0035] 1, the transfer mechanism 45 has a gripper 46 that grips the stacked paper sheets SS that have been stacked in the stacking mechanism 42 according to the number of bundled sheets, pulls them out to the right from the stacking mechanism 42, moves vertically downward, and then moves to the left to transport them. At this time, the gripper 46 grips the stacked paper sheets SS at a position a predetermined distance in the short side direction from the long side at the right end, regardless of the length of the short side. The gripper 46 also transports the stacked paper sheets SS while maintaining the center position in the long side direction at a reference position in the front-rear direction of the device.

[0036] The paper sheet bundling device 4 is provided to the left of the lower portion of the delivery mechanism 45, and has a bundling mechanism 51 that receives and bundles the stacked paper sheets SS from the gripping unit 46 that has moved leftward after descending as described above. In other words, the bundling mechanism 51 bundles the stacked paper sheets SS transported by the delivery mechanism 45.

[0037] The configuration of the end conveying section 61 of the downward extension 41Ba of the branching conveying section 41B and the configuration of the end conveying section 61 of the branching extension 41Bb of the branching conveying section 41B are similar, and the configuration of the accumulation mechanism 42 connected to the end conveying section 61 of the downward extension 41Ba of the branching conveying section 41B and the configuration of the accumulation mechanism 42 connected to the end conveying section 61 of the branching extension 41Bb of the branching conveying section 41B are similar. For this reason, here, one end conveying section 61 and the accumulation mechanism 42 connected to this end conveying section 61 will be described.

[0038] <Terminal conveying section 61> As described above, the end conveying section 61 conveys the paper sheets S from left to right with their short sides aligned along the left-right direction of the device and their long sides aligned along the front-rear direction of the device, and discharges them into the stacking mechanism 42 on the right. As shown in FIG. 2, the end conveying section 61 has a lower support member 62. The lower support member 62 has an upper surface that spreads horizontally overall, and supports the paper sheets S from below in a horizontally spread state. The end conveying section 61 also has an upper guide member (not shown) that is located above the lower support member 62 in the vertical direction Z and spreads parallel to the lower support member 62. The end conveying section 61 moves the paper sheets S horizontally between the lower support member 62 and the upper guide member.

[0039] The terminal conveying section 61 has a pair of first conveying rollers 71, a pair of second conveying rollers 72, a pair of pay-out rollers 73, multiple, specifically five, impellers 74, and two pairs of paper sheet detection sensors 75.

[0040] The pair of first transport rollers 71 have the same shape, and each protrudes partially upward from the upper surface of the upper side of the lower support member 62. The pair of first transport rollers 71 are aligned with each other in the transport direction of the paper sheets S in the end transport section 61 (hereinafter referred to as the end transport direction X), i.e., in the left-right direction of the device, and are provided at a predetermined distance from each other in a transport orthogonal direction (hereinafter referred to as the end transport orthogonal direction Y) perpendicular to the paper sheet transport direction of the end transport section 61, i.e., in the front-rear direction of the device. When transporting the paper sheets S, the pair of first transport rollers 71 rotate such that their upper ends move from the upstream side to the downstream side in the end transport direction X, i.e., from left to right in the left-right direction of the device.

[0041] The pair of second transport rollers 72 have the same shape, and each protrudes partially upward from the upper surface of the lower support member 62. The pair of second transport rollers 72 are aligned with each other in the end transport direction X, i.e., the left-right direction of the device, and are provided at a predetermined distance from each other in the end transport orthogonal direction Y, i.e., the front-rear direction of the device. The pair of second transport rollers 72 are provided downstream of the pair of first transport rollers 71 in the end transport direction X, i.e., on the right side in the left-right direction of the device. When transporting the paper sheet S, the pair of second transport rollers 72 rotate so that their upper ends move from the upstream side to the downstream side in the end transport direction X, i.e., from the left to the right in the left-right direction of the device.

[0042] The pair of pay-out rollers 73 have the same shape, and each of them partially protrudes upward from the upper surface of the lower support member 62. The pair of pay-out rollers 73 are aligned with each other in the end conveying direction X, i.e., the left-right direction of the device, and are provided at a predetermined distance from each other in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y, i.e., the front-rear direction of the device. The pair of pay-out rollers 73 are provided downstream of the pair of second conveying rollers 72 in the end conveying direction X, i.e., on the right side in the left-right direction of the device. The pair of pay-out rollers 73 are provided at the end position of the end conveying section 61. When conveying the paper sheet S, the pair of pay-out rollers 73 rotate so that their upper ends move from the upstream side to the downstream side in the end conveying direction X, i.e., from the left to the right in the left-right direction of the device.

[0043] The multiple impellers 74 are of the same shape and have multiple blades 76 extending radially outward from the center of rotation at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. All of the multiple impellers 74 are aligned in the end conveying direction X, i.e., in the left-right direction of the device, and are arranged at a predetermined interval in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y, i.e., in the front-rear direction of the device. The multiple impellers 74 are provided downstream of the pair of second conveying rollers 72 in the end conveying direction X, i.e., on the right side in the left-right direction of the device. The multiple impellers 74 are provided at the most end position of the end conveying section 61. The multiple impellers 74 are arranged in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y, with the middle one impeller 74 between the pair of pay-out rollers 73, the two impellers 74 on the opposite side of one pay-out roller 73 from the other pay-out roller 73, and the two impellers 74 on the opposite side of the other pay-out roller 73 from the one pay-out roller 73.

[0044] The multiple impellers 74 are disposed coaxially with the pair of pay-out rollers 73, and are driven together with the pair of pay-out rollers 73 to rotate in synchronization with the pair of pay-out rollers 73. The multiple impellers 74 each rotate with its blade portion 76 protruding partially upward from the upper surface of the lower support member 62 and partially protruding partially to the right from the right end of the lower support member 62. When conveying paper sheets S, the multiple impellers 74 rotate such that their upper ends move from upstream to downstream in the terminal conveying direction X, i.e., from left to right in the left-right direction of the device, and their right ends move from top to bottom in the up-down direction Z.

[0045] In the end conveying section 61, a pair of first conveying rollers 71, a pair of second conveying rollers 72, a pair of pay-out rollers 73, and a plurality of impellers 74 are driven by a conveying drive section (not shown). The conveying drive section (not shown) has, for example, a belt that is wound around the rotation shaft of the pair of first conveying rollers 71, the rotation shaft of the pair of second conveying rollers 72, and the rotation shaft of the pair of pay-out rollers 73 and the plurality of impellers 74, and one conveying drive motor that drives this belt. As a result, the pair of first conveying rollers 71, the pair of second conveying rollers 72, the pair of pay-out rollers 73, and the plurality of impellers 74 are driven by one conveying drive motor (not shown). A pair of first conveying rollers 71, a pair of second conveying rollers 72, and a pair of pay-out rollers 73 are driven by a conveying drive motor (not shown) to convey the paper sheets S between them and an upper guide member (not shown) arranged above them from the upstream side to the downstream side in the end conveying direction X, i.e., from the left side to the right side in the left-right direction of the device. At that time, the multiple impellers 74 strike downward the upstream side in the pay-out direction of the paper sheets S paid out by the pair of pay-out rollers 73 from the end conveying section 61 to the stacking mechanism 42 side, i.e., the left end in the left-right direction of the device.

[0046] The two pairs of paper sheet detection sensors 75 detect paper sheets S moving on the upper surface of the lower support member 62. The two pairs of paper sheet detection sensors 75 are aligned with each other in the end conveying direction X, i.e., the left-right direction of the device, and are provided at a predetermined distance from each other in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y, i.e., the front-rear direction of the device. The two pairs of paper sheet detection sensors 75 are provided between the pair of second conveying rollers 72 and the pair of pay-out rollers 73 in the end conveying direction X.

[0047] <Accumulation mechanism 42> As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the stacking mechanism 42 has an upper guide portion 81, a standing wall portion 82, a stage portion 83, a stopper portion 84, and a paper sheet alignment portion 85.

[0048] {Upper guide part 81} The upper guide section 81 is provided downstream of the pair of pay-out rollers 73 and the multiple impellers 74 in the terminal conveying direction X, i.e., to the right in the left-right direction of the device. The lower surface of the upper guide section 81 guides the paper sheets S paid out from the terminal conveying section 61. The lower surface of the upper guide section 81 is inclined so that it is positioned lower the further downstream in the terminal conveying direction X. The area between the lower surface of the upper guide section 81 and a virtual surface that extends along the lower surface and is a predetermined distance below the lower surface forms a paper sheet entry area A1 into which the paper sheets S paid out from the terminal conveying section 61 basically enter.

[0049] {Vertical wall section 82} 2, the standing wall portion 82 is disposed below the pair of pay-out rollers 73 and the plurality of impellers 74 of the end conveying section 61. The standing wall portion 82 generally extends perpendicular to the end conveying direction X, i.e., the left-right direction of the device.

[0050] {Stage section 83} The stage section 83 is for stacking the paper sheets S, and is provided downstream of the vertical wall section 82 in the end conveying direction X, i.e., on the right side in the left-right direction of the device. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the stage section 83 is provided below the upper guide section 81, and is provided so as to overlap the upper guide section 81 in the end conveying direction X and the end conveying orthogonal direction Y. As shown in Fig. 2, the stage section 83 has an upper surface that spreads horizontally, and supports the paper sheets S conveyed by the end conveying section 61 from below in a state in which the paper sheets S are spread horizontally after being fed from the end conveying section 61. The stage section 83 is located below the pair of feed rollers 73 and the multiple impellers 74, and stacks the paper sheets S fed from the end conveying section 61 in order from bottom to top in the vertical direction Z.

[0051] The stage section 83 is supported by a stage guide (not shown) so as to be movable in the stacking direction of the paper sheets S, i.e., in the vertical direction Z. When the stage section 83 is driven by a stage drive section (not shown), it moves up and down while being guided by the stage guide (not shown). At that time, the stage section 83 moves up and down while maintaining its position in the end conveying direction X and the end conveying orthogonal direction Y, i.e., the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of the device. Also, at that time, the stage section 83 moves up and down while its upper surface remains horizontally spread out.

[0052] The stage drive unit (not shown) has, for example, a stage drive motor, a pinion gear that is rotated by the stage drive motor, and a rack gear that is fixed along the top and bottom of the stage portion 83 and meshes with the pinion gear, and the stage drive motor rotates the pinion gear to move the rack gear and the stage portion 83 up and down.

[0053] The position of the stage portion 83 in the vertical direction Z is detected by a stage position detection sensor (not shown).

[0054] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the area between the stage portion 83 and the upper guide portion 81 in the vertical direction Z is the accumulation area A where the paper sheets S are accumulated. The paper sheet entry area A1 is the area at the upper end of this accumulation area A. The stage portion 83 minimizes the accumulation area A when positioned at the uppermost position. The stage portion 83 maximizes the accumulation area A when positioned at the lowermost position. The uppermost position of the stage portion 83 varies depending on the type of paper sheet S, and the lowermost position of the stage portion 83 is constant regardless of the type of paper sheet S.

[0055] {Stopper part 84} As shown in FIG. 2, the stopper portion 84 is plate-shaped and is provided downstream of the standing wall portion 82 in the end conveying direction X, that is, on the right side in the left-right direction of the device. The stopper portion 84 generally extends perpendicular to the end conveying direction X, and therefore extends parallel to the standing wall portion 82. At least one insertion portion 84b, into which the gripper portion 46 of the delivery mechanism 45 is inserted, is provided on the flat surface portion 84a of the stopper portion 84, and three insertion portions 84b are provided in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the above-mentioned accumulation area A is provided between the standing wall portion 82 and the stopper portion 84. In other words, the stopper portion 84 faces the standing wall portion 82 with the accumulation area A sandwiched therebetween.

[0056] The stage portion 83 extends between the standing wall portion 82 and the stopper portion 84 in the terminal conveying direction X, i.e., in the left-right direction of the device. The stopper portion 84 comes into contact with the downstream end portion in the terminal conveying direction X, i.e., the right end portion in the left-right direction of the device, of the paper sheet S conveyed by the terminal conveying portion 61 and fed from the terminal conveying portion 61 to the paper sheet entry area A1, and drops the paper sheet S onto the stage portion 83 while restricting the movement of the paper sheet S in this direction.

[0057] The stopper portion 84 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction Z. The stopper portion 84 is driven by a stopper lifting drive portion (not shown). The stopper portion 84 is driven by the stopper drive portion to move in the vertical direction Z. When the stopper portion 84 is located at the lowest position, it blocks the downstream side in the terminal conveying direction X of the stacking area A, i.e., the right side in the horizontal direction of the device. When the stopper portion 84 is driven by the stopper drive portion to be located at the highest position, it opens the downstream side in the terminal conveying direction X of the stacking area A, i.e., the right side in the horizontal direction of the device. On the downstream side in the terminal conveying direction X of the stacking area A, a gripping portion 46 of the transfer mechanism 45 shown in FIG. 1 is provided, which grips the paper sheets S stacked in the stacking area A by the stacking mechanism 42 from both sides in the stacking direction, i.e., the vertical direction Z, and pulls them out to the downstream side in the terminal conveying direction X, i.e., the right side in the horizontal direction of the device, when the stopper portion 84 is located at the highest position.

[0058] The stopper drive unit (not shown) has, for example, a stopper drive motor, a pinion gear that is rotated by the stopper drive motor, and a rack gear that is fixed to the stopper portion 84 in a state that is aligned vertically and meshes with the pinion gear, and the stopper drive motor rotates the pinion gear, thereby moving the rack gear and the stopper portion 84 up and down.

[0059] The stopper portion 84 is adapted to be detected by a bottom position sensor (not shown) when it is in the bottom position, and by a top position sensor (not shown) when it is in the top position.

[0060] The stopper portion 84 and a stopper drive portion (not shown) are disposed on a stopper base (not shown) to form one stopper unit, and this stopper unit is provided so as to be movable along the terminal conveying direction X. The stopper unit including the stopper portion 84 and the stopper drive portion is driven by a stopper unit drive portion (not shown).

[0061] The stopper unit is driven by the stopper unit drive unit to move in the end conveying direction X, and the stopper unit 84 is disposed at a position corresponding to the size (short side size in this embodiment) of the end conveying direction X of the paper sheet S to be accumulated on the stage unit 83. Specifically, in the case of a paper sheet S of size L1 having a short size (short side size in this embodiment) in the end conveying direction X as shown in Figs. 5(a) and (b), the stopper unit 84 is disposed upstream in the end conveying direction X, and in the case of a paper sheet S of size L2 having a long size in the end conveying direction X as shown in Figs. 6(a) and (b), the stopper unit 84 is disposed downstream in the end conveying direction X. In this manner, the stopper unit 84 is disposed so that the distance between the stopper unit 84 and the standing wall unit 82 is approximately the same as the size in the end conveying direction X of the paper sheet S accumulated on the stage unit 83, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In this manner, the stopper unit 84 is provided movably in the end conveying direction X, and moves according to the size of the paper sheet S to be accumulated on the stage unit 83.

[0062] The unit base (not shown), which supports the stopper portion 84 and the stopper drive portion (not shown), is supported by a unit guide (not shown) so as to be movable in the end conveying direction X, i.e., in the left-right direction of the device. When this unit base is driven by the stopper unit drive portion (not shown), it moves in the end conveying direction X while being guided by the unit guide (not shown). At that time, the stopper portion 84 moves while remaining in a state in which it is spread perpendicularly to the end conveying direction X. At that time, the stopper portion 84 can also move in the end conveying direction X while maintaining its position in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y, i.e., the front-rear direction and the up-down direction Z of the device.

[0063] The stopper unit drive section (not shown) has, for example, a unit drive motor, a screw shaft that is rotated by the unit drive motor, and a nut member that is screwed onto the screw shaft and fixed to the unit base of the stopper unit, and the unit drive motor rotates the screw shaft to move the nut member and the stopper unit in the terminal conveying direction X.

[0064] The position of the stopper portion 84 and the unit base (not shown) supporting the stopper drive portion (not shown) in the end conveying direction X is detected by a stopper position detection sensor (not shown). Therefore, the stopper position detection sensor can detect the position of the stopper portion 84 in the end conveying direction X.

[0065] Here, the stage unit 83, which is provided to stack the sheets S and is movable in the stacking direction of the sheets S, moves to a position according to the size of the sheets S to be stacked when stacking the sheets S, as shown in Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 4(a). Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 4(a), the stage unit 83 immediately before stacking the sheets S moves to a position where it is assumed that an edge at the downstream end of the end conveying direction X of the sheets S fed from the end conveying unit 61 to the sheet entry area A1 will abut against a corner formed by the stopper unit 84, which is arranged at a position according to the size (short side size in this embodiment) of the end conveying direction X of the sheets S to be stacked on the stage unit 83. In other words, when starting stacking of the sheets S, the stacking mechanism 42 determines the position of the stacking direction of the stage unit 83 based on the size (short side size in this embodiment) of the sheets S to be stacked. In addition, the stacking mechanism 42 has a stopper portion 84 on the downstream side of the stage portion 83 in the conveying direction of the paper sheets S by the terminal conveying portion 61, and the stopper portion 84 is arranged to be movable in the terminal conveying direction X and moves according to the size (short side size in this embodiment) of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83 in the terminal conveying direction X.

[0066] For example, in the case of a paper sheet S having a long size in the terminal conveying direction X (short side size in this embodiment) as shown in Figure 3(a), the stage portion 83 is moved away from the upper guide portion 81 in the vertical direction Z, and in the case of a paper sheet S having a short size in the terminal conveying direction X as shown in Figure 4(a), the stage portion 83 is moved closer to the upper guide portion 81 in the vertical direction Z, thereby moving the corner formed by the stage portion 83 and the stopper portion 84 to a position where it is expected to come into contact with the edge at the downstream end in the terminal conveying direction X of the paper sheet S fed from the terminal conveying portion 61 to the paper sheet entry area A1.

[0067] {Paper Sheet Alignment Section 85} The paper sheet alignment section 85 aligns the paper sheets S stacked on the stage section 83, and has a long side alignment section 101 (alignment section) and a short side alignment section 102, as shown in FIG.

[0068] "Long side alignment section 101" The paper sheet alignment section 85 has a pair of long side alignment sections 101. The pair of long side alignment sections 101 align the paper sheets S stacked on the stage section 83 so that the positions in the long side direction are the same.

[0069] The pair of long side alignment sections 101 are provided on the downstream side of the end conveying direction X with respect to the standing wall section 82, i.e., on the right side in the left-right direction of the device. One of the pair of long side alignment sections 101 is provided on one side (e.g., the front side) of the end conveying orthogonal direction Y with respect to the stage section 83, i.e., in the front-rear direction of the device, with respect to the stage section 83, and the other long side alignment section 101 is provided on the other side (e.g., the rear side) of the end conveying orthogonal direction Y with respect to the stage section 83, i.e., in the front-rear direction of the device. In other words, the accumulation mechanism 42 is provided with one long side alignment section 101 on each side of the end conveying orthogonal direction Y with respect to the stage section 83, i.e., in the front-rear direction of the device. The pair of long side alignment sections 101 are arranged in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y so as to sandwich the lifting range of the stage section 83, i.e., the accumulation area A, between them.

[0070] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the pair of long side alignment units 101 are both provided to be movable in the end conveyance perpendicular direction Y. The pair of long side alignment units 101 are provided to be capable of moving toward and away from each other in synchronization. The pair of long side alignment units 101 move at equal speeds and equal distances in opposite directions along the end conveyance perpendicular direction Y.

[0071] The pair of long side alignment sections 101 are mirror symmetrical in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y, i.e., in the front-rear direction of the device. In other words, the pair of long side alignment sections 101 are mirror symmetrical with the lifting range of the stage section 83 in between. The pair of long side alignment sections 101 are aligned in the terminal conveyance direction X and the up-down direction Z. Since the pair of long side alignment sections 101 are mirror symmetrical, the long side alignment section 101 at the rear side in the front-rear direction of the device will be described as an example here.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 2, the long side alignment section 101 has a base section 111, a support shaft 112, a long side alignment member 113 (alignment member), and a restriction member 114.

[0073] The long side alignment unit 101 has a base portion 111 that is movable in the end conveyance perpendicular direction Y. The base portion 111 is movable in the end conveyance perpendicular direction Y while maintaining its position in the up-down direction Z and the conveyance perpendicular direction X.

[0074] The support shaft 112 extends upward from the base portion 111 along the vertical direction Z.

[0075] The long side alignment member 113 aligns the paper sheets S accumulated on the stage portion 83 in the long side direction, and is supported by the support shaft 112 so as to be rotatable around the support shaft 112. Thus, the long side alignment member 113 is provided rotatably with respect to the base portion 111.

[0076] 7, the long side alignment member 113 has a shaft insertion portion 121, an extending arm portion 122, a first alignment portion 123, a second alignment portion 124, and a sensor detection piece portion 125. The long side alignment member 113 is an integrally molded product. Therefore, the shaft insertion portion 121, the extending arm portion 122, the first alignment portion 123, the second alignment portion 124, and the sensor detection piece portion 125 are provided integrally.

[0077] The shaft insertion portion 121 is cylindrical, and as shown in FIG. 2, the support shaft 112 is inserted into the radially inner side.

[0078] The extending arm portion 122 extends from the shaft insertion portion 121 in the radial direction of the shaft insertion portion 121 , that is, outward in the radial direction of the support shaft 112 .

[0079] 7, the first alignment portion 123 is provided at the end of the extending arm portion 122 opposite the shaft insertion portion 121 in the extending direction. The first alignment portion 123 overlaps with the extending arm portion 122 in the vertical direction Z, and extends further downward than the extending arm portion 122. The first alignment portion 123 has an elongated shape in the vertical direction Z.

[0080] In the first alignment section 123, a plurality of first convex portions 131 protruding in the opposite direction to the extending arm portion 122 are formed at predetermined equal intervals in the vertical direction Z on the opposite side of the extending arm portion 122. In the first alignment section 123, the first convex portions 131 are provided at predetermined equal intervals over the entire range of the vertical direction Z. The first alignment section 123 can prevent the beaten paper sheets S from catching on the first convex portions 131 and escaping in the vertical direction Z when beating the end faces of the paper sheets S to align them. This allows the first alignment section 123 to reliably push the paper sheets S in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y. As described later, the long side alignment member 113 is rotatable between the retracted position shown in FIG. 5(a) and FIG. 6(a) and the aligned position shown in FIG. 5(b) and FIG. 6(b). A return portion that protrudes toward the stage portion 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y may be provided at an upper end of a portion of the first alignment section 123 that faces the stage portion 83 side most in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y when the long side alignment member 113 is located at the alignment position. Also, a flat portion may be provided on the end conveyance section 61 side in the end conveyance direction X of at least a lower portion of the surface of the first alignment section 123 that faces the stage portion 83 side most in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y when the long side alignment member 113 is located at the alignment position, to align the end surface of the first convex portion 131 that is located the most side of the stage portion 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y with the position of the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y, thereby aligning the end surface in the long side direction of the paper sheet S flat.

[0081] The second alignment portion 124 is provided at the end of the extending arm portion 122 opposite to the shaft insertion portion 121 in the extending direction. The second alignment portion 124 extends upward from the extending arm portion 122 along the vertical direction Z. The second alignment portion 124 has a long shape in the vertical direction Z. The second alignment portion 124 is provided displaced, i.e., offset, from the first alignment portion 123. In other words, the first alignment portion 123 and the second alignment portion 124 are provided so as to have a step. The second alignment portion 124 is displaced toward the shaft insertion portion 121 side with respect to the first alignment portion 123 in the extending direction of the extending arm portion 122.

[0082] As a result of second alignment portion 124 being offset relative to first alignment portion 123, first alignment portion 123 is provided with a surface portion 132 on its upper portion. This surface portion 132 is inclined in the extension direction of extending arm portion 122 so that the further away from second alignment portion 124 it is, the lower it is positioned.

[0083] In the second alignment section 124, a plurality of second convex portions 135 protruding in the opposite direction to the extending arm portion 122 are formed at predetermined equal intervals in the vertical direction Z on the opposite side of the extending arm portion 122. In the second alignment section 124, the second convex portions 135 are provided at predetermined equal intervals over the entire range of the vertical direction Z. The second alignment section 124 can prevent the beaten paper sheets S from catching on the second convex portions 135 and escaping in the vertical direction Z when beating the end faces of the paper sheets S to align them. This allows the second alignment section 124 to reliably push the paper sheets S in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y. As described later, the long side alignment member 113 is rotatable between the retracted position shown in FIG. 5(a) and FIG. 6(a) and the aligned position shown in FIG. 5(b) and FIG. 6(b). When the long side alignment member 113 is located at the retracted position, a second convex portion 135 is provided on the entire surface of the surface of the second alignment section 124 that faces closest to the stage section 83 in the end transport orthogonal direction Y.

[0084] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, in the vertical direction Z, the first alignment section 123 on the lower tier is positioned lower than the above-mentioned paper sheet entry area A1, and the second alignment section 124 on the upper tier is positioned to overlap the above-mentioned paper sheet entry area A1.

[0085] 7, the sensor detection piece 125 extends from the middle position in the vertical direction Z of the shaft insertion portion 121 on the opposite side to the extending arm portion 122. The sensor detection piece 125 is in the form of a plate that extends perpendicular to the vertical direction Z.

[0086] As shown in Figures 5(a) and 6(a), the long side alignment member 113 is rotatable between a retracted position in which the extension arm 122 extends from the support shaft 112 upstream in the terminal conveying direction X and the first alignment section 123 is located at the end upstream of the terminal conveying direction X, and an alignment position in which the extension arm 122 extends from the support shaft 112 toward the stage section 83 along the terminal conveying orthogonal direction Y and the first alignment section 123 is located at the end on the stage section 83 side in the terminal conveying orthogonal direction Y, as shown in Figures 5(b) and 6(b).

[0087] As shown in Figures 5(a) and 6(a), when the long side alignment member 113 is in the retracted position, a portion of the first alignment section 123 overlaps with the second alignment section 124 in the terminal conveying perpendicular direction Y, and the remaining portion protrudes further than the second alignment section 124 on the opposite side of the stage section 83 in the terminal conveying perpendicular direction Y.

[0088] As shown in Figures 5(b) and 6(b), when the long side alignment member 113 is in the alignment position, the first alignment section 123 is located closer to the stage section 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y than the second alignment section 124. In other words, when the long side alignment member 113 is in the alignment position, the second alignment section 124 is offset from the first alignment section 123 to the opposite side of the stage section 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. In other words, when the long side alignment member 113 is in the alignment position, the second alignment section 124 is offset outward in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y than the first alignment section 123.

[0089] When the long side alignment member 113 is in the alignment position, the first alignment section 123 partially overlaps with the second alignment section 124 in the end conveying direction X, and the remaining part protrudes upstream of the second alignment section 124 in the end conveying direction X. When the long side alignment member 113 is in the alignment position, the surface portion 132 at the upper end of the first alignment section 123 shown in FIG. 7 is inclined so that it is located lower toward the stage section 83 in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y shown in FIGS. 5(b) and 6(b). When the long side alignment member 113 is in the alignment position, the multiple first convex portions 131 shown in FIG. 7 of the first alignment section 123 and the multiple second convex portions 135 shown in FIG. 7 of the second alignment section 124 protrude toward the stage section 83 in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y shown in FIGS. 5(b) and 6(b).

[0090] The long side alignment member 113 is driven by a long side alignment member driving unit (not shown) to rotate back and forth between the retracted position and the aligned position. The long side alignment member driving unit (not shown) has, for example, a spring member that biases the long side alignment member 113 to the retracted position, and a stepping motor that rotates the long side alignment member 113 against the biasing force of the spring member to position it at the aligned position. The long side alignment member driving unit positions the long side alignment member 113 at the aligned position against the biasing force of the spring member by the stepping motor, and positions the long side alignment member 113 at the retracted position while receiving the biasing force of the spring member. The long side alignment member driving unit reduces the load of moving the long side alignment member 113 by the biasing force of the spring member when positioning the long side alignment member 113 from the aligned position to the retracted position, so that the long side alignment member 113 can be positioned from the aligned position to the retracted position more quickly than when positioning the long side alignment member 113 from the retracted position to the aligned position. Furthermore, when long side alignment member 113 is in the retracted position, sensor detection piece 125 is detected by a retracted position detection sensor (not shown), and when long side alignment member 113 is in the aligned position, sensor detection piece 125 is detected by an aligned position detection sensor (not shown). Since first alignment portion 123 and second alignment portion 124 are integrally provided, first alignment portion 123 and second alignment portion 124 can be rotated back and forth integrally by one stepping motor.

[0091] As described above, the long side alignment member 113 has a first alignment portion 123 and a second alignment portion 124 that is offset from the first alignment portion 123 and is integral with the first alignment portion 123. The second alignment portion 124 is provided above the first alignment portion 123. The long side alignment member 113 has the second alignment portion 124 offset from the first alignment portion 123 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. The long side alignment member 113 has the second alignment portion 124 offset outward from the first alignment portion 123 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y.

[0092] The regulating member 114 regulates the movement of the sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83, and is fixed to the base portion 111. As shown in Fig. 2, the regulating member 114 has a fixing portion 140 at an end portion opposite the stage portion 83 in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y. The regulating member 114 is fixed to the base portion 111 at the fixing portion 140.

[0093] The regulating member 114 is provided so as to protrude from the fixed portion 140 toward the stage portion 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. The regulating member 114 has a wall-like portion 141 on the stage portion 83 side in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. As shown in FIG. 8 , the wall-like portion 141 has an upper surface 142, a main regulating surface 143, an inclined surface 144, an upper regulating surface 145, and a return portion 146.

[0094] The upper surface 142 is provided at the upper end of the wall-like portion 141, and has a flat surface that extends horizontally upward.

[0095] The main regulating surface 143 extends from the lower end of the wall portion 141 to a central position in the up-down direction Z. As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the main regulating surface 143 is provided at an end position of the regulating member 114 on the stage portion 83 side in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. The main regulating surface 143 extends perpendicular to the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 5(b) and FIG. 6(b), the regulating member 114 is located slightly on the opposite side of the stage portion 83 from the end position of the first alignment portion 123 on the stage portion 83 side when the main regulating surface 143 is in the alignment position of the long side alignment member 113 constituting the same long side alignment portion 101 in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y. The regulating member 114 is located slightly on the stage portion 83 side from the end position of the second alignment portion 124 on the stage portion 83 side when the main regulating surface 143 is in the alignment position of the long side alignment member 113 constituting the same long side alignment portion 101 in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y. Therefore, the regulating member 114 is located between the first alignment portion 123 and the second alignment portion 124 when the main regulating surface 143 is in the alignment position of the long side alignment member 113 constituting the same long side alignment portion 101 in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y.

[0097] The inclined surface 144 extends upward from the upper edge of the main regulating surface 143, and is inclined so that the upper side is positioned on the opposite side to the stage portion 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y.

[0098] The upper regulating surface 145 extends upward from the upper edge of the inclined surface 144, and extends perpendicular to the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. In other words, the upper regulating surface 145 extends parallel to the main regulating surface 143. In the wall-shaped portion 141, the upper regulating surface 145 is provided on the opposite side of the main regulating surface 143 to the stage portion 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y.

[0099] The return portion 146 protrudes from the upper edge of the upper regulating surface 145 toward the stage portion 83 in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y. The upper surface of the return portion 146 forms part of the above-mentioned upper surface 142. The height position of the upper surface 142 is at the same height position as the upper surface of the uppermost first convex portion 131 of the first alignment portion 123 of the long side alignment member 113 shown in FIG.

[0100] The regulating member 114 shown in Figure 8 is located at a position equivalent to the end position of the second alignment section 124 on the stage section 83 side when the return portion 146 is in the alignment position of the long side alignment member 113 that constitutes the same long side alignment section 101 in the terminal conveying perpendicular direction Y.

[0101] The regulating member 114 is provided closer to the standing wall portion 82 than the long side alignment member 113 in the end conveying direction X, i.e., on the upstream side in the end conveying direction X. Therefore, the long side alignment member 113 rotates on the opposite side to the standing wall portion 82 than the regulating member 114 in the end conveying direction X, i.e., on the downstream side.

[0102] The regulating member 114 is aligned with the first alignment portion 123 of the long side alignment member 113 in the up-down direction. The second alignment portion 124 of the long side alignment member 113 extends upward beyond the regulating member 114.

[0103] The paper sheet alignment section 85 has a pair of long side alignment sections 101 provided on both sides of the stacking area A in an end conveyance orthogonal direction Y that is perpendicular to the end conveyance direction X of the paper sheets S by the end conveyance section 61. In the paper sheet alignment section 85, the pair of long side alignment sections 101 are arranged in mirror symmetry with each other in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. The pair of long side alignment sections 101 are driven synchronously so that their respective long side alignment members 113 are both positioned at the alignment position and both positioned at the retracted position.

[0104] The pair of long side alignment units 101 are provided so as to be movable in the end conveyance perpendicular direction Y while remaining in a mirror symmetric state in which the positions in the end conveyance direction X and the up-down direction Z are aligned with each other. The pair of long side alignment sections 101 are provided so as to be able to approach and move away from each other. The pair of long side alignment sections 101 move symmetrically with respect to each other, with a fixed position in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y as the center. The accumulating area A is defined between the regulating member 114 of one long side alignment section 101 and the regulating member 114 of the other long side alignment section 101. In other words, the pair of long side alignment sections 101 approach and move away from each other in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y, with the center of the accumulating area A in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y as the center.

[0105] The pair of long side alignment units 101 have a pair of base units 111 driven by a long side direction movement drive unit (not shown) as described above. When the paper sheets S are stacked on the stage unit 83, the pair of long side alignment units 101 are disposed at positions according to the size (long side size in this embodiment) of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. Specifically, in the case of a paper sheet S having a size W1 in which the size in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y is long as shown in Figs. 5(a) and (b), the pair of long side alignment members 113 are separated from each other, and in the case of a paper sheet S having a size W2 in which the size in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y is short as shown in Figs. 6(a) and (b), the pair of long side alignment members 113 are brought closer to each other.

[0106] In this manner, as shown in Fig. 5(b) and Fig. 6(b), the positions of the pair of long side alignment units 101 are adjusted so that when the pair of long side alignment members 113 are located at the alignment position, the distance between one long side alignment member 113 and the other long side alignment member 113 is the same as the size of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y. In other words, the pair of long side alignment units 101, together with the pair of regulating members 114, are positioned in accordance with the size of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y. In further other words, the paper sheet alignment unit 85 is provided such that the pair of long side alignment units 101 are movable in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y, and move in accordance with the size of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83.

[0107] The long side direction movement drive unit (not shown) has, for example, a nut member fixed to one of a pair of base portions 111, a nut member fixed to the other of the pair of base portions 111, a shaft on which male threads are formed in a reverse thread relationship to the female threads of the nut member and which screws into the female threads of the nut members, and a shaft drive motor that drives the shaft to rotate forward and backward.

[0108] The long side direction movement drive unit moves the pair of base portions 111 to which nut members are fixed, i.e., the pair of long side alignment portions 101, closer to each other by rotating the shaft in the forward direction, and moves the pair of base portions 111, i.e., the pair of long side alignment portions 101, away from each other by rotating the shaft in the reverse direction. The long side direction movement drive unit has a long side direction position detection sensor that detects the distance between the pair of long side alignment portions 101, i.e., the positions of each of the pair of long side alignment portions 101, by detecting, for example, the rotational position of the shaft.

[0109] When the pair of long side alignment members 113 are rotated in synchronization to be positioned from the retracted position to the alignment position, each strikes an edge of the paper sheets S on the same side in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83, thereby aligning the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83. The pair of long side alignment members 113 move the paper sheets S to the center of the stacking area A at the upper second alignment section 124 in the paper sheet entry area A1 described above. Thereafter, the pair of long side alignment members 113 align the paper sheets S in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y at the lower first alignment section 123. That is, the pair of long side alignment members 113 align the paper sheets S in two stages.

[0110] In the pair of long side alignment members 113, the upper second alignment section 124 is offset toward the opposite side of the stacking area A than the first alignment section 123 in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y. For this reason, when the pair of long side alignment members 113 align the preceding paper sheets S and move from the alignment position to the retreat position, the second alignment section 124 retreats from the stacking area A faster than the first alignment section 123, and the succeeding paper sheets S delivered from the terminal conveyance section 61 to the paper sheet entry area A1 are less likely to collide with the preceding paper sheets S.

[0111] Specifically, when retreating from the alignment position as shown in Fig. 9(a) to the retreat position, if a conventional long side alignment member is entirely flat and not displaced in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y, it may collide with the succeeding paper sheets S fed from the end conveyance section 61 to the paper sheet entrance area A1 unless it rotates to the position as shown in Fig. 9(c) and retreats entirely from the paper sheet entrance area A1. In contrast, the pair of long side alignment members 113 has a second alignment section 124 that is displaced from the first alignment section 123 to the opposite side to the accumulation area A in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y and is provided lower than the paper sheet entrance area A1, so that it is possible to avoid a collision with the succeeding paper sheets S by rotating to the position as shown in Fig. 9(b) and retreating the second alignment section 124 from the paper sheet entrance area A1.

[0112] As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the pair of regulating members 114 regulates the movement of the paper sheets S already accumulated on the stage unit 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the pair of regulating members 114 are provided lower than the pair of long side alignment members 113 so as not to block the path of the paper sheets S entering the paper sheet entrance area A1 of the accumulation area A. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the pair of regulating members 114 have the return portion 146 of the wall portion 141 shown in Fig. 8 protruding toward the accumulation area A side in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y from the upper regulating surface 145. Therefore, even if the paper sheets S accumulated on the stage unit 83 are pushed by the long side alignment member 113 on the opposite side of the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y and move to abut against the upper regulating surface 145, the return portion 146 of the wall portion 141 prevents the paper sheets S from riding up onto the upper surface 142. In this manner, the regulating member 114 has the return portion 146 that restricts the upward movement of the paper sheet S.

[0113] "Short side alignment section 102" As shown in Fig. 2, the short side alignment section 102 has a pair of short side alignment members 151. The pair of short side alignment members 151 align the sheets S stacked on the stage section 83 in the short side direction, and are provided upstream of the stage section 83 in the end conveying direction X of the sheets S, i.e., on the end conveying section 61 side. The pair of short side alignment members 151 rotate about their lower parts between a retracted state in which they are flush with the standing wall section 82, and an aligned state in which their upper parts slightly protrude from the standing wall section 82 toward the stacking area A. The pair of short side alignment members 151 rotate synchronously so as to be in the aligned state together and to be in the retracted state together.

[0114] The pair of short side alignment members 151 are rotated so as to alternate between the retracted state and the aligned state by the rotation of a cam driven by a single conveyance drive motor (not shown) that rotates the above-mentioned pair of first conveyance rollers 71, the pair of second conveyance rollers 72, the pair of feed rollers 73, and the multiple impellers 74. In other words, the pair of short side alignment members 151 rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the pair of first conveyance rollers 71, the pair of second conveyance rollers 72, the pair of feed rollers 73, and the multiple impellers 74. When the conveyance drive motor rotates the pair of first conveyance rollers 71, the pair of second conveyance rollers 72, the pair of feed rollers 73, and the multiple impellers 74 in the end conveyance section 61 so as to move the paper sheets S toward the stacking area A, the conveyance drive motor rotates the cam (not shown) in one direction. Then, the pair of short side alignment members 151 alternate between being in the retracted position and being in the aligned position. Therefore, in the short side alignment unit 102, the pair of short side alignment members 151 are driven by a conveyance drive unit (not shown) of the end conveyance unit 61.

[0115] In the short side alignment unit 102, a pair of short side alignment members 151 press the paper sheets S accumulated on the stage unit 83 in the accumulation area A toward the stopper unit 84, aligning the paper sheets S by abutting them against the stopper unit 84. When moving from the retracted position to the alignment position, the pair of short side alignment members 151 tap the upstream edge of the paper sheets S accumulated on the stage unit 83 in the terminal conveying direction X, thereby abutting the paper sheets S accumulated on the stage unit 83 against the stopper unit 84 and aligning them.

[0116] Next, the operation of the sheet processing apparatus 1 when the sheet bundling device 4 produces small bundles of sheets will be described, focusing on the operation of the stacking mechanism .

[0117] (Step S1) First, the denomination, which is the type of the small bundle of paper sheets to be produced, is set.

[0118] (S1-1) The operator sets the denomination of the small bundle of paper sheets to be produced (e.g., 50 euros) by inputting information into the operation display unit 25 of the paper sheet counting device 2. In the stacking mechanism 42, this corresponds to an operation of setting the length of the long side and the length of the short side of the paper sheets S to be stacked.

[0119] (S1-2) When the denomination of the small bundle of paper sheets (e.g., 50 Euro) is set on the operation display unit 25, the control unit 26 moves the stage unit 83, the stopper unit 84, and the long side alignment unit 101 to positions corresponding to the size of the paper sheets S of the set denomination (e.g., 50 Euro) based on the information stored in the memory unit 27. At this point, the pair of long side alignment members 113 are located at the retracted position, and the pair of long side alignment members 113 are in an open state. Also, at this point, the stopper unit 84 is located at the lowest position.

[0120] (S1-2-1) In (S1-2), the control unit 26 first controls a stage driving unit (not shown) to lower the stage unit 83 to the lowest position.

[0121] (S1-2-2) Next, the control unit 26, based on the information stored in the memory unit 27, causes the long side direction movement drive unit (not shown) to position the pair of long side alignment units 101 at positions corresponding to the long side size of the paper sheet S of the set denomination (e.g., 50 euros). As a result, the distance between the pair of long side alignment units 101 in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y when the pair of long side alignment members 113 are both positioned at the alignment positions becomes the long side size of the paper sheet S of the set denomination (e.g., 50 euros).

[0122] (S1-2-3) Next, the control unit 26, based on the information stored in the memory unit 27, causes a stopper unit drive unit (not shown) to position the stopper portion 84 at a position corresponding to the short side size of the paper sheet S of the set denomination (e.g., 50 euros). As a result, the distance between the stopper portion 84 and the standing wall portion 82 in the terminal conveying direction Z becomes the short side size of the paper sheet S of the set denomination (e.g., 50 euros).

[0123] (S1-2-4) Next, based on the information stored in the memory unit 27, the control unit 26 causes the stage unit 83 to be positioned at an initial stacking position based on the short side size of the paper sheet S of the set denomination (e.g., 50 euros) by a stage driving unit (not shown). This initial stacking position is calculated and set from the short side size of the paper sheet S of the set denomination (e.g., 50 euros) and stored in the memory unit 27. Specifically, as shown in Figs. 3(a) and 4(a), the control unit 26 moves the stage unit 83 so that the upper surface of the stage unit 83 is positioned at a position (height) where the paper sheet S fed into the paper sheet entry area A1 while being guided by the upper guide unit 81 hits the stopper unit 84. As a result, the paper sheet S fed into the stacking area A moves along a stable trajectory within the stacking area A, and can be stacked on the stage unit 83 satisfactorily.

[0124] (Step S2) Next, counting and accumulation processes are carried out.

[0125] (S2-1) When sheets S are set in the input port 11 of the sheet counting device 2 and the "start counting" button on the operation display unit 25 is operated, the control unit 26 starts the input process. Then, the sheet counting device 2 inputs the sheets S from the input port 11 and recognizes and counts the input sheets S using the recognition unit 22. On the other hand, when the "stop" button on the operation display unit 25 is operated, the control unit 26 stops the input of the sheets S from the input port 11. The sheets S may be automatically input into the sheet counting device 2 when a set detection unit (not shown) detects that the sheets S have been set in the input port 11.

[0126] (S2-2) The control unit 26 transports the paper sheets S of the set denomination to be bundled (e.g., 50 euro) among the paper sheets S determined to be acceptable by the recognition unit 22 to the stacking mechanism 42 of the paper sheet bundling device 4, transports the paper sheets S of denominations other than the set denomination to be bundled to the reject unit 12 or the stacking unit 32 of the paper sheet stacking device 3, and transports the paper sheets S determined to be unacceptable by the recognition unit 22 to the reject unit 12. The control unit 26 stacks the paper sheets S of the set denomination to be bundled (e.g., 50 euro) in one stacking mechanism 42 of the pair of stacking mechanisms 42 by the bundled number, and then stacks the same in the other stacking mechanism 42, so that the bundled number of paper sheets S are stacked alternately in the pair of stacking mechanisms 42.

[0127] (S2-3) The paper sheets S to be conveyed to the stacking mechanism 42 are fed from the end conveying section 61 to the stacking mechanism 42. Then, the stacking mechanism 42 stacks the paper sheets S while aligning them.

[0128] That is, the control unit 26 drives a pair of long side alignment members 113 at a predetermined timing calculated based on the detection timing of the paper sheet S by two pairs of paper sheet detection sensors 75 provided in the terminal conveying unit 61 and the conveying speed of the paper sheet S by the terminal conveying unit 61, and taps both edges of the long side of the paper sheet S conveyed to the accumulation area A and both edges of the long side of the paper sheet S that has already been conveyed to the accumulation area A from both sides, as shown in Figures 5(b) and 6(b), to align the paper sheets S by moving them toward the center.

[0129] In addition, the pair of long side alignment members 113 are driven once to strike once every time a paper sheet S is transported to the stacking area A, or the pair of long side alignment members 113 are driven once to strike once every time a predetermined number of paper sheets S are transported to the stacking area A. Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 6(a), the main regulating surfaces 143 of the wall-like portions 141 of the pair of regulating members 114 regulate the movement of the paper sheets S already accumulated on the stage portion 83, thereby preventing the alignment of the paper sheets S already accumulated on the stage portion 83 from being disturbed.

[0130] Here, a case will be described in which the pair of long side aligning members 113 are driven once every time two sheets S are transported to the stacking area A.

[0131] (S2-3-1) The control unit 26 rotates the pair of long side alignment members 113 from the retracted position to the aligned position by a long side alignment member drive unit (not shown) so that both of the pair of long side alignment members 113 abut against the first sheet S in the sheet entry area A1 at the second alignment unit 124 immediately after the first sheet S detected by the two pairs of sheet detection sensors 75 is fed from the end conveying unit 61 to the sheet entry area A1. When either one of the pair of long side alignment members 113 abuts against the first sheet S in the sheet entry area A1 at the second alignment unit 124, the long side alignment member 113 pushes the first sheet S toward the center of the accumulation area A in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y, and moves it closer to the center than the return portion 146 of the regulating member 114. At that time, the long side alignment member 113 taps the edge along the short side direction at the end of the long side direction of the first paper sheet S in the second alignment section 124, thereby moving the first paper sheet S to the center in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y of the accumulation area A. The first paper sheet S moved to the center in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y of the accumulation area A by the return portion 146 of the regulating member 114 is guided by each of the inclined surfaces 144 of the pair of regulating members 114, and falls between each of the main regulating surfaces 143 of the pair of regulating members 114.

[0132] At this time, the lower first alignment unit 123 is offset inward in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y from the upper second alignment unit 124, but is outside the paper sheet entry area A1, so it basically does not contact the first paper sheet S. Therefore, the first alignment unit 123 may overlap the first paper sheet S in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. Therefore, compared to the conventional case where a long side alignment member whose entire surface on the side that contacts the paper sheet S is flat is brought into contact with the first paper sheet S, the pair of long side alignment members 113 can be driven at an earlier timing, that is, forward. As a result, the conveying speed of the paper sheet S by the end conveying unit 61, and therefore the conveying speed of the paper sheet S of the entire paper sheet processing device 1 can be increased.

[0133] For example, as shown in FIG. 10(a), when the first paper sheet S(1) fed from the end conveying section 61 to the accumulation area A deviates to one side in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y, specifically to the rear side in the front-to-rear direction of the device, as shown in FIG. 10(b), the long side alignment member 113 on the rear side of the device in the front-to-rear direction is rotated early in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y until the first alignment section 123 overlaps with the first paper sheet S(1), within a range in which the second alignment section 124 does not overlap with the first paper sheet S(1), and as shown in FIG. 10(c), the second alignment section 124 of the long side alignment member 113 on the rear side of the device in the front-to-rear direction can move the first paper sheet S(1) to the center of the accumulation area A in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y.

[0134] Here, as described above, the stage portion 83 and the stopper portion 84 are located at positions corresponding to the denomination of the first paper sheet S (e.g., 50 euro), and therefore, as shown in Fig. 3(a) or 4(a), the edge portion along the long side direction at the downstream end of the first paper sheet S in the end conveying direction X abuts against the vicinity of the corner formed by the stopper portion 84 and the stage portion 83, and further movement downstream in the end conveying direction X is restricted. Also, the upstream portion of the first paper sheet S in the end conveying direction X is struck downward by the multiple impellers 74, and moved toward the stage portion 83. At that time, the short side alignment section 102 abuts against the edge along the long side direction at the upstream end of the first sheet S in the terminal conveying direction X with a pair of short side alignment members 151, and pushes the first sheet S downstream in the terminal conveying direction X so that it abuts against the stopper section 84.

[0135] (S2-3-2) Next, the control unit 26 uses a stage drive unit (not shown) to lower the stage unit 83 by the thickness of one sheet S, and uses a long side alignment member drive unit (not shown) to position the pair of long side alignment members 113 to the retracted position. At that time, the control unit 26 uses the long side alignment member drive unit (not shown) to rotate the pair of long side alignment members 113 from the alignment position to the retracted position so as not to come into contact with the second sheet S at the timing when the second sheet S following the first sheet S detected by the two pairs of sheet detection sensors 75 is fed from the terminal conveyance unit 61 to the sheet entry area A1.

[0136] At this time, the first alignment section 123 in the lower stage is offset inward in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y from the second alignment section 124 in the upper stage, but is outside the paper sheet entry area A1 and does not basically come into contact with the second paper sheet S, so the first alignment section 123 may overlap the second paper sheet S in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. That is, it is sufficient that only the second alignment section 124 of the first alignment section 123 and the second alignment section 124 is retracted so as not to overlap the second paper sheet S in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. Therefore, compared to a case where a long side alignment member whose entire surface on the side that comes into contact with the paper sheet S is retracted in the conventional manner, the long side alignment member 113 can be retracted from the paper sheet entry area A1 earlier, and a collision with the second paper sheet S can be avoided earlier.

[0137] For example, when the long side alignment member 113 is rotated from the alignment position shown in Figure 10(c) to the retracted position shown in Figure 11(b), even if the first alignment section 123 overlaps with the second sheet S(2) in the terminal conveying perpendicular direction Y, as shown in Figure 11(a), the long side alignment member 113 can avoid collision with the second sheet S(2) by rotating to a position where the second alignment section 124 no longer overlaps with the second sheet S(2).

[0138] Here, since the stage section 83 is lowered by the thickness of the first paper sheet S as described above, the edge of the second paper sheet S fed from the end conveying section 61 to the paper sheet entry area A1 along the long side direction at the downstream end of the end conveying direction X abuts against the vicinity of the corner formed by the stopper section 84 and the first paper sheet S on the stage section 83, and further movement downstream in the end conveying direction X is restricted. Also, the upstream part of the second paper sheet S fed from the end conveying section 61 to the paper sheet entry area A1 in the end conveying direction X is struck downward by the multiple impellers 74 and moved toward the stage section 83. At that time, the short side alignment section 102 abuts against the edge of the second paper sheet S along the long side direction at the upstream end of the end conveying direction X with the pair of short side alignment members 151, and pushes the second paper sheet S downstream in the end conveying direction X so as to abut against the stopper section 84. At that time, the pair of short side alignment members 151 also come into contact with an edge along the long side direction at the upstream end of the end conveying direction X of the first sheet S, and push the first sheet S downstream in the end conveying direction X so that it also comes into contact with the stopper portion 84. In this way, the first and second sheets S are aligned in the short side direction.

[0139] (S2-3-3) Next, the control unit 26 uses a stage drive unit not shown to lower the stage unit 83 by the thickness of one piece of paper sheet S, and also uses a long side alignment member drive unit not shown to rotate the pair of long side alignment members 113 from the retracted position to the alignment position so that both long side alignment members 113 abut against the third paper sheet S in the second alignment unit 124 immediately after the third paper sheet S, which is detected by the two pairs of paper sheet detection sensors 75, is fed from the terminal conveying unit 61 to the paper sheet entry area A1. When either of the pair of long side alignment members 113 abuts against a third paper sheet S in the paper sheet entry area A1 at the second alignment portion 124, the second alignment portion 124 of that long side alignment member 113 pushes the third paper sheet S toward the center of the accumulation area A in the terminal conveying perpendicular direction Y, moving it closer to the center than the return portion 146 of the regulating member 114, just as when it operates on the first paper sheet S.

[0140] At this time, the first alignment unit 123 in the lower stage is offset inward in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y from the second alignment unit 124 in the upper stage, but is outside the paper sheet entry area A1, so it basically does not contact the third paper sheet S. Therefore, the first alignment unit 123 may overlap the third paper sheet S in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. Therefore, compared to the conventional case where a long side alignment member whose entire surface on the side that contacts the paper sheet S is flat is brought into contact with the third paper sheet S, the pair of long side alignment members 113 can be driven at an earlier timing, that is, forward. As a result, the conveying speed of the paper sheets S by the end conveying unit 61, and therefore the conveying speed of the paper sheets S of the entire paper sheet processing device 1 can be increased.

[0141] Here, since the stage section 83 is lowered by the thickness of the second paper sheet S as described above, the third paper sheet S fed from the end conveying section 61 to the paper sheet entry area A1 has an edge along the long side direction at the downstream end of the end conveying direction X abutting against the vicinity of the corner formed by the stopper section 84 and the second paper sheet S on the stage section 83, and further movement downstream in the end conveying direction X is restricted. Also, the upstream part of the third paper sheet S fed from the end conveying section 61 to the paper sheet entry area A1 in the end conveying direction X is struck downward by the multiple impellers 74 and moved toward the stage section 83. At that time, the short side alignment section 102 abuts against the edge along the long side direction at the upstream end of the third paper sheet S in the end conveying direction X with the pair of short side alignment members 151, and pushes the third paper sheet S downstream in the end conveying direction X so as to abut against the stopper section 84. At this time, the pair of short side alignment members 151 also come into contact with an edge portion along the long side direction at the upstream end of the first sheet S in the end conveying direction X, and push the first sheet S downstream in the end conveying direction X so that it also comes into contact with the stopper portion 84. At this time, the pair of short side alignment members 151 also come into contact with an edge portion along the long side direction at the upstream end of the second sheet S in the end conveying direction X, and push the second sheet S downstream in the end conveying direction X so that it also comes into contact with the stopper portion 84. In this way, the first to third sheets S are aligned in the short side direction.

[0142] When the pair of long side alignment members 113 are rotated from the retracted position to the alignment position so that the second alignment section 124 abuts against the third paper sheet S fed into the paper sheet entrance area A1 as described above, the first paper sheet S conveyed ahead of the third paper sheet S is in an area of ​​the stacking area A below the paper sheet entrance area A1 and below the return section 146 at that time. Therefore, when either one of the pair of long side alignment members 113 abuts against the first paper sheet S in the stacking area A at the first alignment section 123, the first alignment section 123 pushes the first paper sheet S toward the center of the stacking area A in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y, and moves it to the center. In this way, the pair of long side alignment members 113 appropriately move the first paper sheet S in the long side direction so that it is properly accommodated between the main regulating surfaces 143 of the pair of regulating members 114. Furthermore, if the first paper sheet S is already properly stored between the main regulating surfaces 143 of a pair of regulating members 114, the movement of the first paper sheet S in the terminal conveying perpendicular direction Y is basically regulated by the main regulating surfaces 143 on both sides, thereby maintaining the alignment state in the long side direction.

[0143] In addition, when the pair of long side alignment members 113 are rotated from the retracted position to the alignment position so that the second alignment section 124 abuts against the third paper sheet S fed into the paper sheet entrance area A1, the second paper sheet S conveyed ahead of the third paper sheet S is in an area below the paper sheet entrance area A1 in the stacking area A at that time. If the second paper sheet S is below the return section 146, it is moved to the center in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y by the respective first alignment sections 123 of the pair of long side alignment members 113, similar to the first paper sheet S. On the other hand, if the second paper sheet S is above the return section 146, it is moved to the center in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y of the stacking area A, similar to the third paper sheet S, by the respective second alignment sections 124 of the pair of long side alignment members 113. The second and third paper sheets S, which are moved toward the center of the accumulation area A in the terminal conveying perpendicular direction Y by the return portions 146 of each of the pair of regulating members 114, are guided by the inclined surfaces 144 of each of the pair of regulating members 114 and fall between the main regulating surfaces 143 of each of the pair of regulating members 114.

[0144] As explained in (2-3-2), since there is now more room for the retraction movement of the pair of long side alignment members 113, the time that the pair of long side alignment members 113 are held in the closed state in the alignment position can be longer than that of conventional long side alignment members in which the entire surface of the side that contacts the paper sheet S is flat, thereby improving the quality of the alignment.

[0145] Thereafter, the fourth sheet S following the third sheet S is fed from the end conveying section 61 to the sheet entrance area A1 while the pair of long side alignment members 113 is moved to the retreat position as described above in (2-3-2), and then the pair of long side alignment members 113 is moved to the alignment position as described above in (2-3-3) for the fifth sheet S following the fourth sheet S. In this manner, the retreat operation as described above in (2-3-2) and the alignment operation as described above in (2-3-3) are alternately performed for the sheets S that are sequentially fed out. That is, the retreat operation as described above in (2-3-2) is performed for the sheets S that are fed out in the even-numbered order such as the second, fourth, sixth, etc., and the alignment operation as described above in (2-3-3) is performed for the sheets S that are fed out in the odd-numbered order such as the third, fifth, etc., to the sheet entrance area A1.

[0146] Here, while the paper sheets S are being transported by the terminal transport section 61, i.e., while the paper sheets S are being accumulated by the accumulation mechanism 42, a pair of short side alignment members 151 of the short side alignment section 102 constantly taps the edge along the long side direction on the upright wall section 82 side of the paper sheets S transported to the stage section 83 toward the stopper section 84 at predetermined time intervals, thereby moving the paper sheets S toward the stopper section 84 and aligning them.

[0147] As described above, the stage section 83 is lowered by the thickness of one sheet S each time the end conveying section 61 delivers a sheet S to the stacking mechanism 42, and therefore, when the sheets S are counted and conveyed and stacked, the stage section 83 is lowered according to the number of sheets S stacked on the stage section 83. As a result, the stage section 83 moves so that the top surface of the uppermost sheet S already stacked on the stage section 83 is located at the height position where the sheet S conveyed to the stacking area A hits the stopper section 84. Therefore, the sheet S conveyed to the stacking area A moves on a stable trajectory within the stacking area A, and the sheet S conveyed to the stacking area A can be stacked well on the uppermost sheet S on the stage section 83.

[0148] (Step S3) Next, a bundling process is carried out.

[0149] (S3-1) That is, first, when the stacked number of sheets S (e.g., 100 sheets) are stacked on the stage section 83, the control section 26 determines that any of the sheets S may be caught in the long side alignment section 101, the short side alignment section 102, the stopper section 84, or the like, and therefore, after stacking, the control section 26 causes the long side alignment section 101 to strike the stacked sheets S once more. That is, the control section 26 causes the long side alignment section 101 to strike the stacked sheets S, which is the stacked number of sheets S stacked on the stage section 83, a total of 51 times. After striking the stacked sheets S, the pair of long side alignment members 113 both return to the retracted positions.

[0150] (S3-2) Next, the control unit 26 causes a stage driving unit (not shown) to lower the stage unit 83 from the stacking position to the lowest position. At that time, the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 abut against the stopper unit 84 and are lowered while being positioned in the short side direction.

[0151] (S3-3) Next, the control unit 26 causes the long-side aligning unit 101 to perform an operation of tapping twice on the stacked paper sheets S on the stage unit 83 that has been lowered to the lowest position, thereby aligning them.

[0152] In the first of these two times, the first long side alignment member 113, one of the pair of long side alignment members 113, is first positioned at the alignment position and stopped, and the other, the second long side alignment member 113, which was in the retracted position, is later moved from the retracted position to the alignment position, and then the second long side alignment member 113 is returned to the retracted position. At that time, the control unit 26 keeps the first long side alignment member 113 positioned at the alignment position and stopped. As a result, the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 are brought into contact with the first long side alignment member 113 and positioned in the long side direction.

[0153] In the second operation, the first long side alignment member 113 is positioned at the alignment position and left stopped, and the second long side alignment member 113 that was in the retracted position is moved from the retracted position to the alignment position and stopped. After these two operations are completed, the paper sheets S accumulated on the stage portion 83 are pressed from both sides in the long side direction by the pair of long side alignment members 113 that are both in an aligned state.

[0154] (S3-4) While the sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83 are held down from both sides by the pair of long side alignment members 113, the control portion 26 then causes the gripping portion 46 of the delivery mechanism 45 to enter the stacking area A from the downstream side in the terminal conveying direction X, i.e., from the right side in the left-right direction of the device, via the insertion portion 84b of the stopper portion 84. Then, the control portion 26 causes the gripping portion 46 to grip the sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83 and held down from both sides in the long side direction by the pair of long side alignment members 113 and positioned in the short side direction by abutting against the stopper portion 84, on both sides in the stacking direction, i.e., from above and below.

[0155] (S3-5) Next, the control unit 26 positions both of the pair of first and second long side alignment members 113 to the retracted position while the paper sheet S is still being gripped by the gripper 46. This results in an open state in which both of the pair of first and second long side alignment members 113 are positioned at the retracted position.

[0156] (S3-6) Next, while the paper sheet S is still being gripped by the gripper 46, the control unit 26 moves the stopper 84 from the lowermost position to the uppermost position using a stopper drive unit (not shown), thereby opening the stacking mechanism 42 on the transfer mechanism 45 side.

[0157] (S3-7) Next, the control unit 26 causes the gripping units 46, which have been gripped and are now maintaining the gripped state, to pull out the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 from the open portion of the stacking mechanism 42 that has been opened by the stopper unit 84.

[0158] (S3-8) Next, the control unit 26 moves the gripping unit 46 to transport the stacked paper sheets S pulled out by the gripping unit 46 to the bundling mechanism 51.

[0159] (S3-9) Next, the control unit 26 causes the bundling mechanism 51 to create a small bundle of paper sheets from the accumulated paper sheets S transported to the bundling mechanism 51.

[0160] (S3-10) Next, the control unit 26 causes the prepared small bundle of paper sheets to be discharged from a discharge unit (not shown) of the paper sheet bundling device 4 to the outside of the paper sheet bundling device 4 .

[0161] In this manner, the paper sheet bundling device 4 produces small bundles of paper sheets.

[0162] In the above-described paper sheet processing apparatus 1, the long side alignment member 113 that aligns the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 has a first alignment unit 123 and a second alignment unit 124 that is offset from the first alignment unit 123. Therefore, for example, the first alignment unit 123 can be made to enter the stacking area A before the second alignment unit 124, or the second alignment unit 124 can be made to retreat from the stacking area A before the first alignment unit 123. This makes it possible to increase the conveying speed of the paper sheets S to the stacking mechanism 42 by the terminal conveying unit 61, and therefore the conveying speed of the paper sheets S of the entire paper sheet processing apparatus 1, thereby improving the processing speed. In addition, if the conveying speed of the paper sheets S is kept the same, the stop time in the state in which the long side alignment member 113 is pushing the paper sheets S can be secured, so that the paper sheets S can be aligned more orderly.

[0163] In addition, since the first alignment unit 123 and the second alignment unit 124 are integrally provided in the paper sheet processing apparatus 1, the first alignment unit 123 and the second alignment unit 124 can be driven by a single driving source. Therefore, the paper sheet processing apparatus 1 can reduce costs.

[0164] Moreover, in the paper sheet processing apparatus 1, the second alignment unit 124 is provided above the first alignment unit 123. Therefore, it is suitable for use when stacking the paper sheets S vertically in the stacking mechanism 42.

[0165] In addition, in the paper sheet processing apparatus 1, the long side alignment section 101 of the paper sheet alignment section 85 is provided in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y that is perpendicular to the end conveyance direction X of the paper sheets S by the end conveyance section 61. Therefore, the paper sheets S can be aligned in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y.

[0166] In addition, in the paper sheet processing device 1, the second alignment section 124 is offset in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y with respect to the first alignment section 123 in the long side alignment member 113. This makes it possible, for example, to smoothly enter the first alignment section 123 into the stacking area A before the second alignment section 124, or to smoothly retreat from the stacking area A before the first alignment section 123. This makes it possible to further increase the conveying speed of the paper sheets S to the stacking mechanism 42 by the terminal conveying section 61, and thus the conveying speed of the paper sheets S of the entire paper sheet processing device 1, and thus to further improve the processing speed.

[0167] Furthermore, in the paper sheet processing apparatus 1, the paper sheet alignment section 85 has a regulating member 114 that regulates the movement of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage section 83. As a result, the regulating member 114 can regulate the movement of the paper sheets S, making it possible to maintain the paper sheets S stacked on the stage section 83 in an aligned state.

[0168] In addition, in the paper sheet processing device 1, the regulating member 114 is provided closer to the standing wall portion 82 than the long side alignment member 113 in the end conveying direction X, i.e., upstream of the end conveying direction X. This makes it possible to maintain the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83 in an aligned state while arranging the long side alignment member 113 at a position effective for alignment.

[0169] In addition, in the paper sheet processing device 1, the pair of regulating members 114 are provided lower than the pair of long side alignment members 113. Therefore, when the paper sheets S are fed from above from the terminal conveying unit 61 to the stacking mechanism 42, the paper sheets S can be aligned by the long side alignment members 113 while avoiding interference with the pair of regulating members 114.

[0170] Moreover, in the paper sheet processing device 1, the regulating member 114 has a return portion 146 that suppresses upward movement of the paper sheets S. In this way, since the return portion 146 suppresses upward movement of the paper sheets S, it becomes even more possible to maintain the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83 in an aligned state.

[0171] In addition, in the paper sheet processing device 1, the long side alignment section 101 of the paper sheet alignment unit 85 is provided to be movable in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y, and moves according to the size of the paper sheets S accumulated on the stage unit 83. This makes it possible to satisfactorily align multiple types of paper sheets S having different lengths in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y.

[0172] In addition, in the paper sheet processing device 1, the stopper unit 84 is provided movably in the conveying direction of the paper sheets S in the terminal conveying unit 61, and moves according to the size of the paper sheets S accumulated on the stage unit 83. This makes it possible to maintain a good alignment state of multiple types of paper sheets S having different lengths in the terminal conveying direction X.

[0173] Furthermore, in the paper sheet processing device 1, the stage unit 83 is provided so as to be movable in the stacking direction of the paper sheets S, and moves to a position according to the size of the paper sheets S to be stacked when stacking the paper sheets S. This makes it possible to move the paper sheets S on a stable trajectory, and to stack the paper sheets S well.

[0174] Furthermore, in the paper sheet processing device 1, when the stacking mechanism 42 starts stacking the paper sheets S, the position of the stage unit 83 in the stacking direction is determined based on the size of the paper sheets S to be stacked in the terminal conveying direction X. This makes it possible to move the paper sheets S on a stable trajectory, and to stack the paper sheets S well.

[0175] Furthermore, in the paper sheet processing device 1, the stacking mechanism 42 has a stopper section 84 on the downstream side of the stage section 83 in the conveying direction of the paper sheets S by the end conveying section 61, and the stopper section 84 is provided movably in the end conveying direction X and moves according to the size of the paper sheets S in the end conveying direction X stacked on the stage section 83. This makes it possible to move the paper sheets S on a more stable trajectory, and to stack the paper sheets S more effectively.

[0176] Here, when banknotes are stacked as paper sheets S in two stacking mechanisms 42, for example, the same type, i.e., the same currency, same denomination and same edition (for example, 50 euro banknotes of the same edition), are stacked in one stacking mechanism 42 by the bundled number, then stacked in the other stacking mechanism 42 by the bundled number, and then stacked in one stacking mechanism 42 by the bundled number, so that they are stacked alternately by the bundled number.

[0177] Alternatively, for example, it is possible to separate the two stacking mechanisms 42 based on the version number, and have one stacking mechanism 42 stack banknotes of the same currency and denomination with a first version number (e.g., 50 euro banknotes with a first version number), and the other stacking mechanism 42 stack banknotes of the same currency and denomination with a second version number (e.g., 50 euro banknotes with a second version number).

[0178] It is also possible, for example, to separate the two stacking mechanisms 42 based on denomination, with one stacking mechanism 42 stacking banknotes of a first denomination of the same currency (e.g., 50 euro notes) and the other stacking mechanism 42 stacking banknotes of a second denomination of the same currency (e.g., 100 euro notes).

[0179] It is also possible, for example, to separate the two stacking mechanisms 42 based on currency, with one stacking mechanism 42 stacking banknotes of a first currency (e.g., 50 euro banknotes) and the other stacking mechanism 42 stacking banknotes of a second currency (e.g., 100 dollar banknotes).

[0180] In either of these cases, the control unit 26 determines the positions of the pair of long side alignment units 101 and the stopper unit 84 when stacking the paper sheets S, and the position of the stage unit 83 just before the paper sheets S are stacked, depending on the size of the paper sheets S to be stacked in the stacking mechanism 42.

[0181] The driving of the pair of long side alignment members 113 in the long side alignment unit 101 from the retracted position to the alignment position is not limited to being performed once for each odd-numbered sheet S including the first sheet fed to the stacking mechanism 42 at a preset timing as described above. For example, it is possible to set on the operation display unit 25 that the driving is performed once for each even-numbered sheet S fed to the stacking mechanism 42, once for each sheet S fed to the stacking mechanism 42, or once for a predetermined number of three or more sheets (for example, four, six, eight, ten, etc.) fed to the stacking mechanism 42. In this case, it is possible to set according to whether the sheets S to be stacked are circulating bills that have already been circulated in the market or new bills (official bills in the case of banknotes). For example, in the case of new bills, it is possible to reduce the number of driving times in order to suppress the dents of the pair of long side alignment members 113 on the sheets S. The operation display unit 25 is provided with a selection button for "new notes" and a selection button for "circulating notes", and when the "new notes" selection button is selected by the control unit 26, it is set so that, for example, a pair of long side alignment members 113 is driven once for ten sheets S fed from the terminal conveying unit 61 to the accumulation mechanism 42, and when the "circulating notes" selection button is selected, it is set so that, for example, one drive is performed for each odd-numbered sheet S as in the above embodiment.

[0182] [Variations] (Variation 1) When the interval between the sheets S fed by the end conveying unit 61 to the stacking mechanism 42 is narrower than a predetermined allowable interval, the pair of long side alignment members 113 cannot open and close in time, and the pair of long side alignment members 113 and the sheets S may collide with each other, resulting in malfunction or jamming of the sheets. For this reason, in the past, when the interval between the sheets S fed by the end conveying unit 61 to the stacking mechanism 42 detected by the two pairs of sheet detection sensors 75 is equal to or less than a predetermined interval, the sheets S taken into the stacking mechanism 42 were returned and recounted. In order to make such recounting unnecessary, in the first modification, the control unit 26 determines whether to drive the pair of long side alignment members 113 according to the interval between the sheets S fed by the end conveying unit 61 to the stacking mechanism 42 detected by the two pairs of sheet detection sensors 75, and does not drive the pair of long side alignment members 113 when the feed interval between the sheets S is equal to or less than the predetermined interval. In other words, the driving of the pair of long side alignment members 113 is skipped once. Instead, if the pair of long side alignment members 113 is not driven, the pair of long side alignment members 113 is driven to align the next or subsequent sheets S when they are fed from the end conveying section 61.

[0183] (Variation 2) Instead of providing a paper sheet detection sensor 75 at the terminal conveying section 61, for example, a paper sheet detection sensor may be provided near the entrance of the connecting conveying section 31A side of the connecting conveying section 41A of the paper sheet bundling device 4, and a pair of long side alignment members 113 may be driven based on the timing of detection of the paper sheet S by this paper sheet detection sensor. [Explanation of symbols]

[0184] 1...paper sheet processing device, 42...stacking mechanism, 61...terminal conveying section (conveying section), 83...stage section, 84...stopper section, 85...paper sheet alignment section, 113...long side alignment member (alignment member), 114...regulating member, 123...first alignment section, 124...second alignment section, 146...return section, S...paper sheets.

Claims

1. A conveying unit that conveys paper sheets; a stacking mechanism that stacks the paper sheets transported by the transport unit, The accumulation mechanism includes: a stage section that is movable in a stacking direction of the paper sheets and stacks the paper sheets; When stacking of paper sheets is started, a position of the stage section in the stacking direction is determined based on a size of the paper sheets to be stacked in the conveying direction by the conveying section. A paper sheet processing apparatus comprising:

2. The accumulation mechanism includes: a stopper portion on a downstream side of the stage portion in a conveying direction of the paper sheets by the conveying portion, The stopper portion is provided to be movable in the transport direction and moves in accordance with the size of the paper sheets stacked on the stage portion in the transport direction.

2. The paper processing apparatus according to claim 1,

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