Banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism and banknote teller machine

Abstract

To provide a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism and a banknote teller machine that are capable of aligning banknotes in all directions in one direction while suppressing the increase in size.SOLUTION: A banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 according to the present invention aligns the direction of banknotes in an A direction, a B direction with the same front and back and opposite top and bottom with respect to the A direction, a C direction with the opposite front and back and the same top and bottom with respect to the A direction, and a D direction with the opposite front and back and opposite top and bottom with respect to the A direction. This banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism includes: a first reference direction conveyance section for conveyance of banknotes in the A direction to a first receiving section 21; a first reverse conveyance section for conveyance of banknotes in the D direction to the first receiving section 21 by reversing the front and back to the conveyance in the first reference direction conveyance section; a second reference direction conveyance section for conveyance of banknotes in the C direction to a second receiving section 22; a second reverse conveyance section for conveyance of banknotes in the B direction to the second receiving section 22 by reversing the front and back to the conveyance in the second reference direction conveyance section; and a third reverse conveyance section 121 for conveyance of banknotes in the second receiving section 22 to a third receiving section 23 by reversing the front and back.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism and a banknote depositing and dispensing machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a switchback type reversing mechanism has been used to align the front and back of a banknote. However, a switchback type reversing mechanism can align the front and back of a banknote, but cannot align the front and back and the top and bottom, that is, cannot align all-directional banknotes in one direction. In order to align the top and bottom in addition to the front and back, there is a mechanism that rotates the banknote by configuring and driving a conveying unit and a conveying belt to twist while the banknote is being conveyed (for example, see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4686005 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As described above, by configuring and driving the conveying unit and conveying belt in a twisting manner, the mechanism for rotating the banknotes becomes structurally large.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism and a banknote deposit and withdrawal machine that are capable of aligning banknotes in all directions in one direction while preventing the banknotes from becoming too large. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism that aligns the orientation of banknotes that have moved from an upstream side along a first direction, which is one of a long side direction and a short side direction, in four directions, namely, direction A, direction B in which the front and back are the same but upside down relative to direction A, direction C in which the front and back are upside down relative to direction A and direction D in which the front and back are upside down relative to direction A and upside down, and includes a first receiving unit, a second receiving unit and a third receiving unit that receive banknotes in a manner that allows them to be fed out, a first reference direction transport unit that moves banknotes in the A direction along the first direction and transports them to the first receiving unit, and a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism that transports banknotes in the D direction along the first direction. a first reversing conveying unit that moves the banknotes in the C direction along the first direction and conveys them to the first receiving unit by inverting them front to back with respect to the conveyance by the first reference direction conveying unit based on a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a second reference direction conveying unit that moves the banknotes in the C direction along the first direction and conveys them to the second receiving unit; a second reversing conveying unit that moves the banknotes in the B direction along the first direction and conveys them to the second receiving unit by inverting them front to back with respect to the conveyance by the second reference direction conveying unit based on the second direction; and a third reversing conveying unit that moves the banknotes in the C direction and the banknotes in the B direction in the second receiving unit along the second direction and conveys them to the third receiving unit by inverting them front to back with respect to the conveyance by the second reference direction conveying unit based on the first direction.

[0007] A banknote deposit and withdrawal machine according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism described above.

[0008] A banknote deposit and withdrawal machine according to a third aspect of the present invention has four directions, namely, direction A, direction B in which the front and back are the same but upside down relative to direction A, direction C in which the front and back are upside down relative to direction A and direction D in which the front and back are upside down relative to direction A, and a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism that aligns the orientation of banknotes moving from an upstream side along a first direction, which is one of a long side direction and a short side direction, and includes a first receiving unit, a second receiving unit and a third receiving unit that receive the banknotes in a manner that allows them to be fed out, a first reference direction transport unit that moves banknotes in direction A along the first direction and transports them to the first receiving unit, and a second reference direction transport unit that moves banknotes in direction D along the first direction while transporting them forward based on a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The banknotes are accumulated and temporarily stored in the first receiving section and the second receiving section of a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism having a first reversing conveying section which conveys the banknotes in the C direction to the first receiving section by inverting them front and back with respect to the conveying in the first reference direction conveying section, a second reference direction conveying section which moves the banknotes in the B direction along the first direction and conveys them to the second receiving section by inverting them front and back with respect to the conveying in the second reference direction conveying section based on the second direction, and a third reversing conveying section which moves the banknotes in the C direction and the banknotes in the B direction of the second receiving section along the second direction while inverting them front and back with respect to the conveying in the second reference direction conveying section based on the first direction and conveying them to the third receiving section. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism and a banknote deposit and withdrawal machine that are capable of aligning banknotes in all directions in one direction while preventing the size from increasing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a schematic diagram of a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 is a side view illustrating a schematic diagram of a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing combination patterns of the front and back and top and bottom orientations of banknotes. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic diagram of a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a route for receiving and feeding banknotes in direction A is indicated by a thick line. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic diagram of a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the route for receiving and feeding banknotes in the D direction is indicated by thick lines. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a schematic diagram of a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the route for receiving and feeding banknotes in the C direction is indicated by thick lines. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a side view showing, in outline, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism of the first embodiment according to the present invention, in which the route of movement of banknotes in the C direction is indicated by a thick line. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a front view showing, in outline, a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the route for receiving and feeding banknotes in direction B is indicated by thick lines. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a side view showing, in outline, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism of the first embodiment according to the present invention, in which the route of movement of banknotes in direction B is indicated by a thick line. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of a banknote omnidirectional aligning mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a side view showing, in outline, a banknote deposit and withdrawal machine including a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the route of the banknote deposit process is indicated by a thick line. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a side view showing, in outline, a banknote deposit and withdrawal machine including a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the route of the banknote storage process is indicated by a thick line. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a side view showing, in outline, a banknote deposit and withdrawal machine including a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the route of the banknote return process is indicated by a thick line. [Figure 15]FIG. 13 is a side view showing, in outline, a banknote deposit and withdrawal machine including a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the route of the banknote withdrawal process is indicated by a thick line. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating a modified example of a banknote deposit and withdrawal machine including a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] [First embodiment] A banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the first embodiment is provided at an intermediate position of a main transport section 12 that transports banknotes. The main transport section 12 is provided on one side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 with a recognition section 13 that recognizes banknotes.

[0013] The main transport unit 12 can transport banknotes in both one transport direction and the opposite transport direction. In the first embodiment, when processing banknotes in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the main transport unit 12 transports the banknotes in one transport direction, and after processing in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the main transport unit 12 transports the banknotes in this one transport direction. The upstream side of the main transport unit 12 in this one transport direction is defined as the upstream side, and the downstream side of this one transport direction is defined as the downstream side. The main transport unit 12 has a recognition unit 13 provided upstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11. The downstream side of the main transport unit 12 downstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 is in the opposite direction to the recognition unit 13.

[0014] When processing banknotes in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, it is also possible to transport the banknotes in one transport direction in the main transport unit 12, and transport the banknotes in the opposite transport direction to the one transport direction after processing in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11. In this case, it is also possible to provide the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 at an end position of the main transport unit 12. In other words, it is also possible to configure the main transport unit 12 so that there is no route to the opposite side of the recognition unit 13 from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11.

[0015] The recognition unit 13 counts the banknotes transported from the upstream side to the downstream side by the main transport unit 12 while recognizing not only the denomination but also the front / back and top / bottom orientation. The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, together with the main transport unit 12 and the recognition unit 13, etc., are controlled by a control unit (not shown).

[0016] The main transport unit 12 transports the banknotes so as to move them along a first direction, which is one of the long side direction and the short side direction, specifically, the short side direction. Note that the present invention is also applicable to the case where the main transport unit 12 transports the banknotes so as to move them along the long side direction. In this case, the long side direction is the first direction.

[0017] The main transport unit 12 transports banknotes in one direction, specifically in the horizontal direction, and the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 is provided on one side, specifically the lower side, in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the main transport unit 12. The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 has a first receiver 21, a second receiver 22, and a third receiver 23.

[0018] The second receiving section 22 is provided on the lower side of the first receiving section 21 opposite to the main transport section 12, and the third receiving section 23 is provided on the lower side of the second receiving section 22 opposite to the first receiving section 21. The first receiving section 21, the second receiving section 22, and the third receiving section 23 are arranged vertically with their front, back, left and right positions overlapping. The first receiving section 21, the second receiving section 22, and the third receiving section 23 all receive and support the banknotes in a position in which the thickness direction is up and down, in other words, in a state in which the banknotes are spread out horizontally. The first receiving section 21, the second receiving section 22, and the third receiving section 23 are arranged so that the positions of the short side direction and the long side direction of the received banknotes are overlapped in the front, back, left and right. The first receiving section 21, the second receiving section 22, and the third receiving section 23 are provided integrally.

[0019] The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 has a first transport section 31, a second transport section 32, a third transport section 33, a fourth transport section , a fifth transport section 35, and a sixth transport section .

[0020] The first conveying unit 31 branches downward from the main conveying unit 12, extends downstream in the conveying direction of the main conveying unit 12, and is connected to a position upstream of the first receiving unit 21 in the conveying direction of the main conveying unit 12. The first conveying unit 31 is connected to an upper part of the first receiving unit 21. The first conveying unit 31 receives banknotes from the main conveying unit 12 and conveys them to the first receiving unit 21 under the control of a control unit not shown.

[0021] The second conveying unit 32 branches downward from a midway position of the first conveying unit 31, then extends downstream in the conveying direction of the main conveying unit 12 and is connected to a position upstream of the second receiving unit 22 in the conveying direction of the main conveying unit 12. The second conveying unit 32 receives banknotes from the first conveying unit 31 and conveys them to the second receiving unit 22 under the control of a control unit not shown.

[0022] The third conveying section 33 branches downward from the downstream side of the branching position of the first conveying section 31 of the main conveying section 12, and then extends in the upstream direction in the conveying direction of the main conveying section 12 to be connected to the first receiver 21 at a downstream position in the conveying direction of the main conveying section 12. Thus, the third conveying section 33 extends in a folded manner from the main conveying section 12 and is connected to the opposite side of the first receiver 21 from the first conveying section 31. The third conveying section 33 is connected to the upper part of the first receiver 21. The third conveying section 33 receives banknotes from the main conveying section 12 and conveys them to the first receiver 21 from the opposite side to the first conveying section 31 under the control of a control section (not shown). The third conveying section 33 can also convey banknotes from the first receiver 21 to the main conveying section 12.

[0023] The fourth conveying unit 34 branches downward from the middle of the third conveying unit 33, extends in the upstream direction in the conveying direction of the main conveying unit 12, and is connected to a downstream position in the conveying direction of the main conveying unit 12 of the second receiver 22. Thus, the fourth conveying unit 34 extends in a folded-back manner from the main conveying unit 12 with a part of the third conveying unit 33, and is connected to the opposite side of the second receiver 22 from the second conveying unit 32. The fourth conveying unit 34 receives banknotes from the third conveying unit 33 and conveys them to the second receiver 22 from the opposite side from the second conveying unit 32 under the control of a control unit (not shown).

[0024] The fifth conveying unit 35 branches downward from the middle of the fourth conveying unit 34, extends in the upstream direction in the conveying direction of the main conveying unit 12, and is connected to a downstream position of the third receiver 23 in the conveying direction of the main conveying unit 12. The fifth conveying unit 35 is connected to the upper part of the third receiver 23. The fifth conveying unit 35 conveys banknotes from the third receiver 23 to the fourth conveying unit 34 under the control of a control unit not shown. The fourth conveying unit 34 conveys banknotes received from the fifth conveying unit 35 to the third conveying unit 33 under the control of a control unit not shown.

[0025] The sixth conveying section 36 connects an intermediate position of the third conveying section 33 and the main conveying section 12 downstream of the branching position of the third conveying section 33. The sixth conveying section 36 branches off the banknotes conveyed by the third conveying section 33 to the main conveying section 12 side, and merges them with the main conveying section 12 downstream of the branching position of the third conveying section 33. Note that when the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 is provided at the terminal position of the main conveying section 12, the sixth conveying section 36 is not required when the banknotes are processed by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 in one conveying direction in the main conveying section 12 and, after processing by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the banknotes are conveyed in a conveying direction opposite to the one conveying direction.

[0026] The first receiving unit 21 receives banknotes from both the first transport unit 31 and the third transport unit 33, while feeding banknotes only to the third transport unit 33. The third transport unit 33 and the sixth transport unit 36 ​​transport the banknotes fed from the first receiving unit 21 downstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport unit 12 to join the banknotes.

[0027] The third receiver 23 feeds banknotes only to the fifth transport unit 35. The fifth transport unit 35, the fourth transport unit 34, the third transport unit 33 and the sixth transport unit 36 ​​transport the banknotes fed from the third receiver 23 downstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport unit 12 to join the banknotes.

[0028] The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 has a first sorting section 41, a second sorting section 42, a third sorting section 43, a fourth sorting section 44, and a fifth sorting section 45.

[0029] The first sorting section 41 is controlled by a control section (not shown) and can be switched between a state in which the banknotes transported by the main transport section 12 from the upstream recognition section 13 side are directly sent downstream by the main transport section 12, and a state in which the banknotes are sent to the first transport section 31.

[0030] The second sorting section 42 is controlled by a control section (not shown) and can be switched between a state in which the banknotes transported from the main transport section 12 by the first transport section 31 are directly sent to the first receiving section 21 by the first transport section 31, and a state in which the banknotes are sent to the second transport section 32 and then to the second receiving section 22.

[0031] The third sorting unit 43 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) to switch between a state in which the main conveying unit 12 directly flows the banknotes conveyed from the upstream recognition unit 13 side to the downstream side, and a state in which the banknotes are fed to the third conveying unit 33. The third sorting unit 43 can feed the banknotes conveyed to the main conveying unit 12 side by the third conveying unit 33 from the third conveying unit 33 to the sixth conveying unit 36. When processing banknotes by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, if the main conveying unit 12 conveys the banknotes in one conveying direction, and after processing by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the third sorting unit 43 does not need a function of feeding the banknotes conveyed to the main conveying unit 12 side by the third conveying unit 33 from the third conveying unit 33 to the sixth conveying unit 36. Furthermore, when the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 is provided at the end position of the main transport unit 12, the third sorting unit 43 and the sixth transport unit 36 ​​become unnecessary.

[0032] The fourth sorting unit 44 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) to switch between a state in which the third transport unit 33 directly flows the banknotes transported from the main transport unit 12 to the first receiving unit 21, and a state in which the banknotes are flowed from the third transport unit 33 to the fourth transport unit 34. The fourth sorting unit 44 can also flow the banknotes from the fourth transport unit 34 to the third transport unit 33.

[0033] The fifth sorting section 45 is controlled by a control section (not shown) to switch between a state in which banknotes transported from the main transport section 12 by the third transport section 33 and the fourth transport section 34 are directly passed through the fourth transport section 34 and transported to the second receiving section 22, and a state in which banknotes transported from the third receiving section 23 by the fifth transport section 35 are passed through the fourth transport section 34.

[0034] Here, when the first sorting unit 41, the second sorting unit 42, the third sorting unit 43, the fourth sorting unit 44, and the fifth sorting unit 45 sort the banknotes downward, the banknotes in the main transport unit 12 are sorted to the first receiving unit 21 and the second receiving unit 22 arranged below, so that the banknotes are aligned in all directions by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11. On the other hand, when the first sorting unit 41, the second sorting unit 42, the third sorting unit 43, the fourth sorting unit 44, and the fifth sorting unit 45 do not sort the banknotes downward, the banknotes are not targets for aligning in all directions. Banknotes that are not targets for aligning in all directions are usually reject banknotes that could not be identified as banknotes when all denominations of banknotes are targets for front / back alignment. When banknotes of a specific denomination and state are the subject of front / back sorting, non-target banknotes that are identified as other than the specific denomination or other than a specific state (for example, when a fit note is set as the condition) (unfit note) may be fed horizontally by the first sorting unit 41 and the third sorting unit 43, but depending on the transport path configuration, they may be rejected to a different transport path by another sorting unit provided between the recognition unit 13 and the first sorting unit 41. In such a case, there may be no transport path from near the third sorting unit 43 to the horizontal right, and the third sorting unit 43 itself may not be necessary.

[0035] Furthermore, as long as the banknotes are transported by the main transport section 12 and guided to the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the guide directions of the third sorting section 43 and the fifth sorting section 45 are fixed, and the first sorting section 41, the second sorting section 42 and the fourth sorting section 44 perform sorting operations each time depending on the orientation of the banknote being transported.

[0036] The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 has a first sensor 61, a second sensor 62, a third sensor 63, a fourth sensor 64, a fifth sensor 65, a sixth sensor 66, a seventh sensor 67 and an eighth sensor 68, all of which are used to detect and count passing banknotes.

[0037] The first sensor 61 is provided on the recognition unit 13 side, i.e., upstream side, of the branching position of the first conveying unit 31 of the main conveying unit 12. A control unit (not shown) determines the timing to operate the first sorting unit 41 based on, for example, the detection result of the first sensor 61.

[0038] The second sensor 62 is provided between the branching position of the first transport section 31 of the main transport section 12 and the branching position of the third transport section 33. A control section (not shown) determines the timing to operate the third sorting section 43 based on, for example, the detection result of the second sensor 62.

[0039] The third sensor 63 is provided downstream of the joining position of the main transport section 12 and the sixth transport section .

[0040] The fourth sensor 64 is provided between the branching position of the second transport unit 32 in the first transport unit 31 and the main transport unit 12. A control unit (not shown) determines the timing to operate the second sorting unit 42, for example, based on the detection result of the fourth sensor 64. The control unit (not shown) counts the banknotes transported to the first receiving unit 21 or the second receiving unit 22, based on the detection result of the fourth sensor 64.

[0041] The fifth sensor 65 is provided between the branching position of the second transport unit 32 in the first transport unit 31 and the first receiving unit 21. A control unit (not shown) counts the banknotes fed to the first receiving unit 21 based on the detection result of the fifth sensor 65.

[0042] The sixth sensor 66 is provided between the branching position of the fourth transport unit 34 in the third transport unit 33 and the main transport unit 12. A control unit (not shown) determines the timing to operate the fourth sorting unit 44 based on, for example, the detection result of the sixth sensor 66. The control unit (not shown) counts the banknotes sent to the first receiving unit 21 or the second receiving unit 22 based on the detection result of the sixth sensor 66.

[0043] The seventh sensor 67 is provided between the branching position of the fourth transport unit 34 in the third transport unit 33 and the first receiving unit 21. A control unit (not shown) counts the banknotes fed to the first receiving unit 21 based on the detection result of the seventh sensor 67.

[0044] The eighth sensor 68 is provided in the fifth transport unit 35. A control unit (not shown) counts the banknotes fed from the third receiving unit 23 based on the detection result of the eighth sensor 68.

[0045] The first sensor 61, the first sorting unit 41, the first transport unit 31, the fourth sensor 64, and the second sorting unit 42 constitute a first reference direction transport unit 71 that moves the banknote transported from the upstream recognition unit 13 side by the main transport unit 12 along the short side direction, which is the first direction, and transports the banknote to the first receiving unit 21 without inverting the front-to-back direction. In other words, the first reference direction transport unit 71 delivers the same banknote to the first receiving unit 21 without inverting the front-to-back direction with respect to the front-to-back direction in the upstream portion of the first reference direction transport unit 71 of the main transport unit 12. The first reference direction transport unit 71 also delivers the same banknote to the first receiving unit 21 without inverting the top-to-bottom direction with respect to the top-to-bottom direction in the upstream portion of the first reference direction transport unit 71 of the main transport unit 12.

[0046] The banknotes received by the first receiving unit 21 via the first reference direction transport unit 71 from the upstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport unit 12 are transported from the first receiving unit 21 to the downstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport unit 12 via the third transport unit 33 and the sixth transport unit 36. Therefore, the front and back and the top and bottom of the banknotes received by the first receiving unit 21 via the first reference direction transport unit 71 do not change between the upstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport unit 12 and the downstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport unit 12.

[0047] The second sensor 62, the third sorting unit 43, the third transport unit 33, the sixth sensor 66, and the fourth sorting unit 44 constitute a first reversing transport unit 72 that moves the banknote transported from the upstream recognition unit 13 side by the main transport unit 12 along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while rotating the banknote about an axis along the long side direction, which is the second direction, to invert the banknote in the front-to-back direction and deliver it to the first receiving unit 21. In other words, the first reversing transport unit 72 moves the banknote along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while inverting the banknote in the front-to-back direction with respect to the transport by the first reference direction transport unit 71 based on the long side direction, which is the second direction, and delivers the banknote to the first receiving unit 21. That is, the first reversing transport unit 72 delivers the same banknote to the first receiving unit 21 by inverting the front-to-back direction with respect to the front-to-back direction of the same banknote in the upstream portion of the first reversing transport unit 72 and the first reference direction transport unit 71 of the main transport unit 12. In addition, the first reversing conveying section 72 reverses the top-bottom orientation of the same banknote compared to the top-bottom orientation in the upstream portion of the first reversing conveying section 72 and the first reference direction conveying section 71 of the main conveying section 12, and delivers it to the first receiving section 21.

[0048] The banknotes received by the first receiving unit 21 via the first reversing conveying unit 72 from the upstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main conveying unit 12 are conveyed from the first receiving unit 21 to the downstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main conveying unit 12 via the third conveying unit 33 and the sixth conveying unit 36. Therefore, the banknotes are reversed in both sides and top to bottom between the upstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main conveying unit 12 and the downstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main conveying unit 12.

[0049] The first sensor 61, the first sorting unit 41, the first transport unit 31, the fourth sensor 64, the second sorting unit 42, and the second transport unit 32 constitute a second reference direction transport unit 73 that moves the banknote transported from the upstream recognition unit 13 side by the main transport unit 12 along the short side direction, which is the first direction, and transports the banknote to the second receiving unit 22 without inverting the front-to-back direction. In other words, the second reference direction transport unit 73 delivers the same banknote to the second receiving unit 22 without inverting the front-to-back direction with respect to the front-to-back direction in the upstream portion of the second reference direction transport unit 73 of the main transport unit 12. The second reference direction transport unit 73 also delivers the same banknote to the second receiving unit 22 without inverting the top-to-bottom direction with respect to the top-to-bottom direction in the upstream portion of the second reference direction transport unit 73 of the main transport unit 12.

[0050] The second sensor 62, the third sorting unit 43, the third transport unit 33, the sixth sensor 66, the fourth sorting unit 44, the fourth transport unit 34, and the fifth sorting unit 45 constitute a second reversing transport unit 74 that moves the banknote transported from the upstream recognition unit 13 side by the main transport unit 12 along the short side direction which is the first direction, while rotating the banknote about an axis along the long side direction which is the second direction, thereby inverting the banknote in the front-to-back direction, and delivers the banknote to the second receiving unit 22. In other words, the second reversing transport unit 74 moves the banknote along the short side direction which is the first direction, while inverting the banknote with respect to the transport by the second reference direction transport unit 73 based on the long side direction which is the second direction, and transports the banknote to the second receiving unit 22. That is, the second reversing conveying unit 74 reverses the front-to-back direction of the same banknote relative to the front-to-back direction in the upstream portion of the second reversing conveying unit 74 and the second reference direction conveying unit 73 of the main conveying unit 12, and passes it to the second receiving unit 22. The second reversing conveying unit 74 also reverses the top-to-bottom direction of the same banknote relative to the top-to-bottom direction in the upstream portion of the second reversing conveying unit 74 and the second reference direction conveying unit 73 of the main conveying unit 12, and passes it to the second receiving unit 22.

[0051] The first receiving section 21 has a first storage box section 81 , a first elevator 82 , a first take-in mechanism 83 , a first take-in / feed-out mechanism 84 , and a ninth sensor 85 .

[0052] The first storage box section 81 is box-shaped, and stores the banknotes transported by the first transport section 31 and the banknotes transported by the third transport section 33 by aligning them horizontally and stacking them vertically.

[0053] The first elevator 82 extends horizontally inside the first storage box unit 81, and moves up and down under the control of a control unit (not shown). The first elevator 82 stacks the banknotes transported by the first transport unit 31 and the banknotes transported by the third transport unit 33 in the vertical direction.

[0054] The first take-in mechanism 83 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) and takes in the banknotes transported by the first transport unit 31 onto the first elevator 82 in the first storage box unit 81. The first take-in mechanism 83 has a vane wheel to shift the preceding banknote from the entry area of ​​the next banknote to be taken in so as not to collide with the preceding banknote when taking in the preceding banknote transported by the first transport unit 31 onto the first elevator 82 in the first storage box unit 81, or to make it less likely to collide. That is, the first receiving unit 21 has a vane wheel so that the banknotes already stored are on the lower side and the banknotes to be sent are on the upper side. In addition, because the first receiving section 21 has a blade wheel, when banknotes are stored in the first receiving section 21 by the first intake / dispensing mechanism 84 described below, the leading end of the banknote entering from the third conveying section 33 proceeds to the first conveying section 31, but the first receiving section 21 has a leading end stopping function that stops the position of the leading end so that the leading end does not enter the first conveying section 31.

[0055] The first take-in / feed-out mechanism 84 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) to take in the banknotes transported by the third transport unit 33 onto the first elevator 82 in the first storage box unit 81, and to kick out the banknotes stacked on the first elevator 82 in the first storage box unit 81 one by one from the top one toward the third transport unit 33 and feed them to the third transport unit 33. That is, the first take-in / feed-out mechanism 84 is composed of a feed-out roller mechanism that abuts against the middle position in the short side direction of the topmost banknote stacked on the first elevator 82 and kicks the banknote toward the third transport unit 33, and a feed-out mechanism (a combination mechanism of a feed roller and a separation roller) that separates and feeds out the banknotes kicked out by the feed-out roller mechanism one by one. The first take-in / feed-out mechanism 84 also has a vane wheel similar to that of the first take-in mechanism 83, and this vane wheel has a leading edge stopping function for banknotes entering from the first transport unit 31.

[0056] The first receiving unit 21 is capable of stacking banknotes. A control unit, not shown, raises and lowers the first elevator 82 in accordance with the amount of banknotes stacked on the first elevator 82. The control unit, not shown, positions the first elevator 82 at an upper limit position when there are no banknotes in the first storage box unit 81, and lowers the first elevator 82 in accordance with the amount of banknotes taken in, i.e., the amount of banknotes accumulated, when the first take-in mechanism 83 and the first take-in / feed-out mechanism 84 feed banknotes from the first storage box unit 81. The control unit, not shown, raises the first elevator 82 in accordance with the amount of banknotes fed out, when the first take-in / feed-out mechanism 84 feeds banknotes from the first storage box unit 81.

[0057] In the first receiving unit 21, the feed roller mechanism and feed mechanism of the first take-in / feed-out mechanism 84 are linked to the first elevator 82. In the first receiving unit 21, when the first elevator 82 moves toward an upward position and the top banknote of the first elevator 82 abuts against the feed roller mechanism, the feed roller mechanism kicks out the top banknote towards the third transport unit 33, and the feed mechanism separates the fed banknotes one by one and sends them to the third transport unit 33.

[0058] The ninth sensor 85 detects the presence or absence of banknotes on the first elevator 82, that is, the presence or absence of banknotes in the first receiving unit 21.

[0059] The second receiving section 22 has a receiving main body section 91, a second take-in mechanism 92, a third take-in mechanism 93, a first pay-out mechanism 94, a tenth sensor 95, an eleventh sensor 96, and a twelfth sensor 97.

[0060] The receiving main body 91 is a horizontally expanding cylinder, and receives the banknotes transported by the second transport section 32 and the banknotes transported by the fourth transport section 34 in a state of being expanded in the horizontal direction. To explain in more detail, the receiving main body 91 is configured by two almost flat plate-shaped bodies that extend horizontally and are arranged with a predetermined gap therebetween, and is arranged to receive the banknotes transported by the second transport section 32 and the banknotes transported by the fourth transport section 34 from the left and right directions, respectively. The receiving main body 91 has one end on the second transport section 32 side that opens to form a first receiving opening 101, and receives the banknotes from the second transport section 32 from this first receiving opening 101. The receiving main body 91 has the other end on the fourth transport section 34 side that opens to form a second receiving opening 102, and receives the banknotes from the fourth transport section 34 from this second receiving opening 102. As shown in FIG. 2, the receiving main body 91 has an opening 103 at one end in the long side direction, which is the second direction, of the received banknotes.

[0061] The second take-in mechanism 92 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) and takes in the banknotes transported by the second transport unit 32 shown in Fig. 1 from a first take-in opening 101 at one end of the take-in body 91 into the take-in body 91. The second take-in mechanism 92 also has a blade wheel similar to the first take-in mechanism 83, and this blade wheel has a leading edge stopping function for the banknotes from the third take-in mechanism 93.

[0062] The third take-in mechanism 93 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) and takes in the banknotes transported by the fourth transport unit 34 into the receiving main body unit 91 from a second receiving opening 102 at the other end of the receiving main body unit 91. The third take-in mechanism 93 also has a blade wheel similar to the first take-in mechanism 83, and this blade wheel has a leading edge stopping function for the banknotes from the second take-in mechanism 92.

[0063] 2, the first pay-out mechanism 94 has a pair of pay-out rollers 111 that sandwich and transport banknotes above and below the receiving main body 91. The pair of pay-out rollers 111 are disposed so that the direction in which the banknotes are transported by the pair of pay-out rollers 111 is perpendicular to the direction in which the banknotes are received into the receiving main body 91 (see, for example, the structure in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-007635).

[0064] The pair of pay-out rollers 111 can move toward and away from each other, and each has a roller body 112 and a swing arm 113. The pair of pay-out rollers 111 have a common rotation drive unit (not shown) and a swing drive unit (not shown). The swing arms 113 of the pair of pay-out rollers 111 have the same shape, and the roller bodies 112 of the pair of pay-out rollers 111 also have the same shape.

[0065] The roller body 112 is rotatably supported at one end in the longitudinal direction of the swing arm 113. The roller body 112 is driven to rotate by a rotation drive unit (not shown). The roller body 112 can enter the receiving body 91 through an opening (not shown) formed in the receiving body 91 in a size that does not affect the guiding of banknotes.

[0066] The swing arm 113 can swing around the opposite side to the roller body 112. The swing center axis of the swing arm 113 is along the short side direction, which is the first direction of the banknote received in the receiving main body 91. The pair of pay-out rollers 111 are spaced apart vertically with their swing center axes aligned with each other in the long side direction and short side direction of the banknote received in the receiving main body 91. The swing arm 113 extends from its swing center axis toward the pay-out opening 103 along the long side direction, which is the second direction of the banknote received in the receiving main body 91. Therefore, the roller body 112 is provided on the swing arm 113 at the end on the pay-out opening 103 side in the long side direction, which is the second direction of the banknote received in the receiving main body 91.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 1, the tenth sensor 95 is provided at the first receiving opening 101 of the receiving main body 91, and detects and counts the banknotes received into the receiving main body 91 through the first receiving opening 101.

[0068] The eleventh sensor 96 is provided at the second receiving opening 102 of the receiving main body 91, and detects and counts the banknotes received into the receiving main body 91 through the second receiving opening 102.

[0069] The twelfth sensor 97 is provided at an intermediate position between the first receiving opening 101 and the second receiving opening 102 in the receiving main body 91, and detects the presence or absence of banknotes in the receiving main body 91.

[0070] The first pay-out mechanism 94 is controlled by a control unit (not shown), and a swing drive unit (not shown) swings the pair of pay-out rollers 111 in conjunction with each other, thereby causing the roller bodies 112 of the pair of pay-out rollers 111 (shown in Fig. 2) to be separated from each other. In this state, the second receiving unit 22 receives banknotes into the receiving main body unit 91 from the first receiving opening 101 and the second receiving opening 102 (shown in Fig. 1).

[0071] The first pay-out mechanism 94 is controlled by a control unit (not shown), and the swing drive unit (not shown) swings the pair of pay-out rollers 111, bringing the roller bodies 112 of the pair of pay-out rollers 111 (shown in FIG. 2) into a state in which they are close to each other. In this way, the first pay-out mechanism 94 is controlled by a control unit (not shown), and the rotation drive unit (not shown) rotates the roller bodies 112 with the pair of pay-out rollers 111 holding the banknote between the roller bodies 112 from both sides in the thickness direction, thereby moving the banknote received in the receiving main body 91 along the long side direction, which is the second direction, and paying it out from the pay-out opening 103.

[0072] That is, when the second receiving unit 22 stores the transported banknotes, the pair of pay-out rollers 111 are spaced apart from each other and are in a standby state outside the receiving main body 91. At the timing when the two impellers stop the banknotes along the lower placement surface of the receiving main body 91, the second receiving unit 22 moves the pair of pay-out rollers 111 in a direction approaching each other to clamp the banknotes stopped within the receiving main body 91, and at the same time, imparts a unidirectional rotational drive to the roller bodies 112 of the pair of pay-out rollers 111 (they may be rotating from the beginning), thereby discharging and transporting the stopped and clamped banknotes to the side outward perpendicular to the transport direction during storage.

[0073] 1 passes the same banknote to the second receiving unit 22 without inverting it relative to the front / back and top / bottom of the same banknote in the upstream portion of the main transport unit 12 from the second reference direction transport unit 73, as described above. The second inverting transport unit 74 passes the same banknote to the second receiving unit 22 after inverting it relative to the front / back and top / bottom of the same banknote in the upstream portion of the main transport unit 12 from the second reference direction transport unit 73.

[0074] 2, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 has a third reversing transport unit 121 that moves the banknotes in the second receiving unit 22 along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while rotating them about an axis along the short side direction, which is the first direction, to transport them to the third receiving unit 23 in an inverted orientation. In other words, the third reversing transport unit 121 moves the banknotes in the second receiving unit 22 along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while inverting them with respect to the short side direction, which is the first direction, to transport them to the third receiving unit 23.

[0075] The third reverse conveying section 121 has a guide member 122, a first driving roller 123, a first pinching roller 124, a second driving roller 125, a second pinching roller 126, and a conveying driving section (not shown).

[0076] The guide member 122 guides the banknotes fed out from the feed opening 103 of the second receiving unit 22 by the first feed mechanism 94. The guide member 122 extends forward in the opening direction from the feed opening 103 of the second receiving unit 22, curves around a line along the short side direction, which is the first direction, of the banknotes fed out from the feed opening 103, extends downward, and then curves around a line along the short side direction, which is the first direction, of the banknotes fed out from the feed opening 103, and extends toward the third receiving unit 23. In other words, the guide member 122 extends forward in the opening direction from the feed opening 103 of the second receiving unit 22, and then folds back on the downward side.

[0077] The first driving roller 123, the first clamping roller 124, the second driving roller 125 and the second clamping roller 126 are all capable of rotating about a line along the short side direction, which is the first direction, of the banknote paid out from the pay-out opening 103.

[0078] The first driving roller 123 is provided on the inside of the curved portion of the guide member 122 on the second receiving section 22 side. The first pinching roller 124 is provided on the outside of the curved portion of the guide member 122 on the second receiving section 22 side. The first pinching roller 124 can enter the inside of the guide member 122 from an opening (not shown) formed in the guide member 122 with a size that does not affect the guiding of the banknote. The first driving roller 123 and the first pinching roller 124 pinch the banknote from both sides in the thickness direction, the banknote being fed from the feed opening 103 of the second receiving section 22 and being guided by the inner surface of the guide member 122. The first driving roller 123 and the first pinching roller 124 move the pinched banknote along the guide member 122 by driving of a conveyance drive unit (not shown).

[0079] The second driving roller 125 is provided on the inside of the curved portion of the guide member 122 on the third receiving section 23 side. The second pinching roller 126 is provided on the outside of the curved portion of the guide member 122 on the third receiving section 23 side. The second pinching roller 126 can enter the inside of the guide member 122 from an opening (not shown) formed in the guide member 122 with a size that does not affect the guiding of the banknote. The second driving roller 125 and the second pinching roller 126 pinch the banknote from both sides in the thickness direction, the banknote being fed out from the feed opening 103 of the second receiving section 22 and being guided by the inner surface of the guide member 122. The second driving roller 125 and the second pinching roller 126 move the pinched banknote along the guide member 122 by driving of a conveyance drive unit (not shown).

[0080] Therefore, the banknote fed from the feed opening 103 of the second receiving unit 22 is driven by the first driving roller 123, the first clamping roller 124, the second driving roller 125, and the second clamping roller 126 to move along the inner surface of the guide member 122, and as a result, the banknote moves along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while rotating around an axis along the short side direction, which is the first direction, and is delivered to the third receiving unit 23 in an inverted orientation. In other words, the banknote fed from the feed opening 103 of the second receiving unit 22 moves along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while being delivered to the third receiving unit 23 with the banknote inverted with respect to the short side direction, which is the first direction. At that time, the banknote fed from the feed opening 103 of the second receiving unit 22 is delivered to the third receiving unit 23 without being turned upside down.

[0081] Here, the second receiving unit 22 feeds out the banknotes to the third reversing transport unit 121 one by one or in a group of multiple banknotes (for example, two or three) that is set in advance. As a result, the third reversing transport unit 121 moves the banknotes in the second receiving unit 22 along the long side direction that is the second direction, while inverting them front to back based on the short side direction that is the first direction, and delivers them to the third receiving unit 23. Note that the third reversing transport unit 121 may be operated depending on conditions such as the presence or absence of subsequent banknotes guided to the second receiving unit 22, instead of one by one or in a group of multiple banknotes that is set in advance.

[0082] The third receiving section 23 has a second storage box section 131 , a second elevator 132 , a second payout mechanism 134 , a thirteenth sensor 135 , and a fourteenth sensor 136 .

[0083] The second storage box section 131 is box-shaped, and stores the banknotes transported by the third reversing transport section 121 by aligning them in the horizontal direction and stacking them in the vertical direction.

[0084] The second elevator 132 extends horizontally within the second storage box unit 131, and moves up and down under the control of a control unit (not shown). The second elevator 132 accumulates the banknotes sent from the third reversing transport unit 121 into the second storage box unit 131.

[0085] The second feeding mechanism 134 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) and kicks out the banknotes accumulated on the second elevator 132 in the second storage box unit 131 one by one from the top toward the fifth transport unit 35, and feeds them out to the fifth transport unit 35 shown in Fig. 1. That is, the second feeding mechanism 134 is composed of a feed roller mechanism that contacts the middle position in the short side direction of the topmost banknote accumulated on the second elevator 132 and kicks this banknote out toward the fifth transport unit 35, and a feeding mechanism (a combination mechanism of a feed roller and a separation roller) that separates the banknotes kicked out by the feed roller mechanism and feeds them out one by one.

[0086] The third receiving unit 23 is capable of stacking banknotes. A control unit (not shown) raises and lowers the second elevator 132 in accordance with the amount of banknotes stacked on the second elevator 132. The control unit (not shown) positions the second elevator 132 at an upper limit position when there are no banknotes in the second storage box unit 131, and when banknotes from the third reverse transport unit 121 are received in the second storage box unit 131, the control unit (not shown) lowers the second elevator 132 in accordance with the amount of banknotes taken in, i.e., the amount of banknotes stacked. When the second feed mechanism 134 feeds banknotes from the second storage box unit 131, the control unit (not shown) raises the second elevator 132 in accordance with the amount of banknotes fed out.

[0087] In the third receiving unit 23, the feed roller mechanism and the feed mechanism of the second feed mechanism 134 are linked to the second elevator 132. When the second elevator 132 moves toward the upper position and the top banknote of the second elevator 132 abuts against the feed roller mechanism, the feed roller mechanism kicks out the top banknote towards the fifth transport unit 35, and the feed mechanism separates the fed banknotes one by one and sends them to the fifth transport unit 35.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 2, the thirteenth sensor 135 is provided at the end of the third receiving section 23 on the third reversing conveying section 121 side, and detects and counts the banknotes sent from the third reversing conveying section 121 to the third receiving section 23.

[0089] The fourteenth sensor 136 is located on the opposite side of the third reverse transport section 121 from the thirteenth sensor 135 of the third receiving section 23, and detects the presence or absence of banknotes on the second elevator 132, i.e., the presence or absence of banknotes in the third receiving section 23.

[0090] 1, via the second reference direction transport unit 73, the second receiver 22, and the third reversing transport unit 121, the banknote received by the third receiver 23 is transported from the third receiver 23 to the downstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport unit 12 via the fifth transport unit 35, the fourth transport unit 34, the third transport unit 33, and the sixth transport unit 36. Here, the third reversing transport unit 121 reverses the front and back directions of the banknotes in the second receiver 22, but does not reverse them, and delivers them to the third receiver 23. For this reason, banknotes transported from upstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport section 12 via the second reference direction transport section 73, the second receiving section 22, the third reversing transport section 121, the third receiving section 23, the fifth transport section 35, the fourth transport section 34, the third transport section 33 and the sixth transport section 36 will have their front and back directions reversed between the upstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport section 12 and the downstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport section 12, but their top and bottom directions will not be reversed.

[0091] A banknote received by the third receiver 23 from the upstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main conveying unit 12 via the second reversing conveying unit 74, the second receiver 22 and the third reversing conveying unit 121 is conveyed from the third receiver 23 to the downstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main conveying unit 12 via the fifth conveying unit 35, the fourth conveying unit 34, the third conveying unit 33 and the sixth conveying unit 36. Here, the third reversing conveying unit 121 reverses the banknote in the second receiver 22 from front to back, but does not reverse the top to bottom, and delivers it to the third receiver 23. For this reason, banknotes transported from upstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport section 12 via the second reversing transport section 74, the second receiving section 22, the third reversing transport section 121, the third receiving section 23, the fifth transport section 35, the fourth transport section 34, the third transport section 33 and the sixth transport section 36 will not be reversed in the front-to-back direction between the upstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport section 12 and the downstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport section 12, but will be reversed in the top-to-bottom direction.

[0092] Next, the operation of the bill omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 will be described.

[0093] When a banknote is located upstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport section 12, there are four combinations of different orientations of the upstream side (first direction, i.e., one side in the short side direction) in the transport direction, the downstream side (opposite side in the short side direction), one side in the banknote orthogonal direction (second direction, i.e., one side in the long side direction), and the opposite side in the banknote orthogonal direction (opposite side in the long side direction). That is, assuming that a given banknote is taken as a reference and its top-bottom, front-back direction is designated as direction A, the directions of the banknote include direction A, direction B in which the front-back is the same as the front-back with respect to direction A but is upside-down, direction C in which the front-back is upside-down with respect to direction A but is the same as the front-back, and direction D in which the front-back is upside-down with respect to direction A and is upside-down. The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 performs a process of aligning the banknotes in these four directions in one direction A before and after passing through the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport section 12.

[0094] When a banknote is located upstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport unit 12, the banknote is spread out horizontally, so the banknote orthogonal direction is the up-down direction. Therefore, one side in the banknote orthogonal direction on the upper side of the banknote is the upper surface, and the opposite side in the banknote orthogonal direction on the lower side is the lower surface.

[0095] 3(1), a case will be described in which the downstream side in the conveying direction is set to "top", the upstream side in the conveying direction is set to "bottom", the upper surface is set to "head", and the lower surface is set to "back" when the banknote is located upstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main conveying unit 12. Then, the direction in which the downstream side in the conveying direction is "bottom", the upstream side in the conveying direction is set to "top", the upper surface is set to "head", and the lower surface is set to "back" is the B direction, the direction in which the downstream side in the conveying direction is set to "top", the upstream side in the conveying direction is set to "bottom", the upper surface is set to "back", and the lower surface is set to "head" is the C direction, and the direction in which the downstream side in the conveying direction is set to "bottom", the upstream side in the conveying direction is set to "top", the upper surface is set to "back", and the lower surface is set to "head" is the D direction.

[0096] This is just one example, and it is also possible to set the A direction such that the downstream side in the conveying direction is "bottom", the upstream side in the conveying direction is "top", the upper surface is "front", and the lower surface is "back" as shown in Fig. 3(2), or the A direction is such that the downstream side in the conveying direction is "top", the upstream side in the conveying direction is "bottom", the upper surface is "back", and the lower surface is "front" as shown in Fig. 3(3), or the A direction is such that the downstream side in the conveying direction is "bottom", the upstream side in the conveying direction is "top", the upper surface is "back", and the lower surface is "front" as shown in Fig. 3(4). Fig. 3(1) to (4) show the patterns of the A direction, B direction, C direction, and D direction when the A direction is set as described above.

[0097] The control unit (not shown) causes the first reference direction conveying unit 71 to convey the banknote that is identified as the A-direction banknote by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveying unit 12 to the first receiving unit 21 as shown in FIG. 4. Specifically, when the recognition unit 13 identifies the banknote as the A-direction banknote during conveyance by the main conveying unit 12, the control unit (not shown) operates the first sorting unit 41 and the second sorting unit 42 based on the timing at which the banknote is detected by the first sensor 61, and causes the main conveying unit 12 and the first conveying unit 31 to convey the banknote to the first receiving unit 21. The first receiving unit 21 causes the first take-in mechanism 83 to take the banknote into the first storage box unit 81. The first receiving unit 21 thus accepts the A-direction banknote so that it can be fed out. The timing at which the second sorting unit 42 is operated may be based on the timing at which the banknote is detected by the fourth sensor 64.

[0098] A banknote that is identified as being in direction A by the recognition unit 13 during transport in the main transport unit 12 and transported to the first receiving unit 21 via the first reference direction transport unit 71 remains in the direction A detected by the recognition unit 13 in the main transport unit 12 when it is transported from the first receiving unit 21 downstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport unit 12 via the third transport unit 33 and the sixth transport unit 36.

[0099] Furthermore, the control unit (not shown) causes the first reversing and conveying unit 72 to convey the banknote that is identified as having the D direction by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveyance unit 12 to the first receiving unit 21 as shown in FIG. 5. Specifically, when the recognition unit 13 identifies a banknote as having the D direction during conveyance by the main conveyance unit 12, the control unit (not shown) operates the third sorting unit 43 and the fourth sorting unit 44 based on the timing at which the banknote is detected by the second sensor 62, and causes the main conveyance unit 12 and the third conveyance unit 33 to convey the banknote to the first receiving unit 21. In the first receiving unit 21, the first take-in / feed-out mechanism 84 takes in the banknote into the first storage box unit 81. The first receiving unit 21 thus accepts the banknote in the D direction so that it can be fed out. The timing at which the fourth sorting unit 44 is operated may be based on the timing at which the banknote is detected by the sixth sensor 66.

[0100] Therefore, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the first inversion transport section 72 moves the banknote in direction D along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while transporting it to the first receiving section 21 in an orientation that is inverted from the orientation transported by the first reference direction transport section 71, based on the long side direction, which is the second direction.

[0101] As a result, in the first receiving portion 21, the banknotes in the A direction are stored without being turned over or upside down, and the banknotes in the D direction are stored both upside down and upside down.

[0102] As a result, when a banknote is identified as being in direction D by the recognition unit 13 during transport in the main transport unit 12 and transported to the first receiving unit 21 via the first reversing transport unit 72, and is transported from the first receiving unit 21 downstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport unit 12 via the third transport unit 33 and the sixth transport unit 36, it becomes in direction A, which is inverted both front and back and top and bottom from the direction D detected by the recognition unit 13 in the main transport unit 12.

[0103] Further, the control unit (not shown) causes the second reference direction conveying unit 73 to convey the banknote that is identified as a C-direction banknote by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveying unit 12 to the second receiving unit 22 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Specifically, when the recognition unit 13 identifies a banknote as a C-direction banknote during conveyance by the main conveying unit 12, the control unit (not shown) operates the first sorting unit 41 based on the timing at which the banknote is detected by the first sensor 61, and causes the main conveying unit 12, the first conveying unit 31, and the second conveying unit to convey the banknote to the second receiving unit 22. At that time, the control unit (not shown) opens the pair of feed rollers 111 of the second receiving unit 22, and causes the banknote to be received from the first receiving opening 101 into the receiving main body unit 91. The second receiving unit 22 thus receives the C-direction banknote so that it can be fed out. In addition, when the second sorting unit 42 is operating to guide a preceding banknote to the first receiving unit 21, the second sorting unit 42 is controlled to return to its non-operating state as shown in Figure 6 based on the timing at which this banknote is detected by the fourth sensor 64.

[0104] Further, the control unit (not shown) causes the second reverse conveying unit 74 to convey the banknote that is identified as the B direction by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveying unit 12 to the second receiving unit 22 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Specifically, when the recognition unit 13 identifies the banknote as the B direction banknote during conveyance by the main conveying unit 12, the control unit (not shown) operates the third sorting unit 43 and the fifth sorting unit 45 based on the timing at which the banknote is detected by the second sensor 62, and conveys the banknote to the second receiving unit 22 by the main conveying unit 12, the third conveying unit 33, and the fourth conveying unit 34. At that time, the control unit (not shown) opens the pair of feed rollers 111 of the second receiving unit 22, and causes the banknote to be received from the second receiving opening 102 into the receiving main body unit 91. The second receiving unit 22 thus receives the banknote in the B direction so that it can be fed out. In addition, when the fourth sorting unit 44 is operating to guide a preceding banknote to the first receiving unit 21, the fourth sorting unit 44 is controlled to return to its non-operating state as shown in Figure 8 based on the timing at which this banknote is detected by the sixth sensor 66.

[0105] Therefore, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the second inversion transport section 74 moves the banknote in direction B along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while delivering it to the second receiving section 22 in an orientation that is inverted from the front to back relative to the transport by the second reference direction transport section 73, based on the long side direction, which is the second direction.

[0106] As a result, in the second receiving unit 22, banknotes in the C direction are stored without being turned over or upside down, and banknotes in the B direction are stored with being turned over and upside down. Therefore, in the second receiving unit 22, the "top" side of both the banknotes that were in the C direction and the banknotes that were in the B direction when recognized by the recognition unit 13 are positioned on the second receiving opening 102 side and the "bottom" side of both the banknotes are positioned on the first receiving opening 101 side, with the lower side being the "head" side and the upper side being the "tail" side.

[0107] Furthermore, the control unit (not shown) causes the third reverse transport unit 121 to transport the banknotes that have been identified as C direction by the recognition unit 13 during transport by the main transport unit 12 and transported to the second receiver 22 by the second reference direction transport unit 73 to the third receiver 23. Specifically, the control unit (not shown) causes the banknotes that are sandwiched between a pair of feed rollers 111 in the second receiver 22 and held in the receiver main body 91 to be fed from the feed opening 103 by rotating the roller main body 112 by the rotation drive unit (not shown). At the same time, the control unit (not shown) rotates the first drive roller 123 and the second drive roller 125 by the transport drive unit (not shown). As a result, the banknotes dispensed from the dispensing opening 103 are clamped by the first driving roller 123 and the first clamping roller 124, and then clamped by the second driving roller 125 and the second clamping roller 126, while being moved along the guide member 122 and sent into the second storage box section 131 of the third receiving section 23.

[0108] Thus, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the third reversing conveying unit 121 moves banknotes that have been identified as having the C direction by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveying unit 12 and conveyed to the second receiving unit 22 by the second reference direction conveying unit 73 along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while inverting the banknotes with respect to the short side direction, which is the first direction. Also, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the third receiving unit 23 receives banknotes that have been identified as having the C direction by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveying unit 12 and conveyed from the second receiving unit 22 via the third reversing conveying unit 121 in a manner that allows them to be fed.

[0109] As a result, when a banknote is identified as being in the C direction by the recognition unit 13 during transport in the main transport unit 12 and is transported to the third receiving unit 23 via the second reference direction transport unit 73, the second receiving unit 22 and the third reversing transport unit 121, when it is transported from the third receiving unit 23 downstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport unit 12 via the fifth transport unit 35, the fourth transport unit 34, the third transport unit 33 and the sixth transport unit 36, its front and back are reversed relative to the C direction detected by the recognition unit 13 in the main transport unit 12, and its top and bottom remain in the A direction.

[0110] Furthermore, the control unit (not shown) causes the third reversing and conveying unit 121 to convey the banknotes that have been identified as B direction by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveyance unit 12 and conveyed to the second receiver 22 by the second reversing and conveying unit 74 to the third receiver 23. Specifically, the control unit (not shown) causes the banknotes that are sandwiched between a pair of pay-out rollers 111 in the second receiver 22 and held in the receiver main body 91 to be fed from the pay-out opening 103 by rotating the roller main body 112 by the rotation drive unit (not shown). At the same time, the control unit (not shown) rotates the first drive roller 123 and the second drive roller 125 by the conveyance drive unit (not shown). As a result, the banknotes dispensed from the dispensing opening 103 are clamped by the first driving roller 123 and the first clamping roller 124, and then clamped by the second driving roller 125 and the second clamping roller 126, while being moved along the guide member 122 and sent into the second storage box section 131 of the third receiving section 23.

[0111] Thus, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the third reversing conveying unit 121 moves banknotes that have been identified as direction B by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveying unit 12 and conveyed to the second receiving unit 22 by the second reversing conveying unit 74 along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while inverting the banknotes front to back based on the short side direction, which is the first direction. Also, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the third receiving unit 23 accepts banknotes that have been identified as direction B by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveying unit 12 and conveyed from the second receiving unit 22 via the third reversing conveying unit 121 in a manner that allows them to be fed.

[0112] As a result, a banknote that is identified as direction B by the recognition unit 13 during transport in the main transport unit 12 and is transported to the third receiving unit 23 via the second reversing transport unit 74, the second receiving unit 22 and the third reversing transport unit 121, when it is transported from the third receiving unit 23 downstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport unit 12 via the fifth transport unit 35, the fourth transport unit 34, the third transport unit 33 and the sixth transport unit 36, is inverted from the B direction detected by the recognition unit 13 in the main transport unit 12 and retains its front and back as direction A.

[0113] Here, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 aligns the front and back and top and bottom of a plurality of banknotes transported from the recognition unit 13 side by the main transport unit 12 so that they are in the A direction downstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport unit 12 after being fed out, and temporarily stores them in the first receiving unit 21. In this way, the first receiving unit 21 accumulates and stores banknotes that have been identified as the A direction by the recognition unit 13 during transport by the main transport unit 12.

[0114] Furthermore, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 aligns the front and back and top and bottom of a plurality of banknotes transported from the recognition unit 13 side by the main transport unit 12 so that they are in the A direction downstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main transport unit 12 after being fed out, and temporarily stores them in the third receiving unit 23. In this way, the third receiving unit 23 accumulates and stores banknotes that have been identified as the C direction by the recognition unit 13 and banknotes that have been identified as the B direction during transport by the main transport unit 12.

[0115] Note that the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 is set so that the second receiving unit 22 moves the banknotes one by one along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while flipping them over based on the short side direction, which is the first direction, and passes them to the third receiving unit 23. Alternatively, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 is set so that the second receiving unit 22 moves the banknotes in groups of a predetermined number (for example, two or three) along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while flipping them over based on the short side direction, which is the first direction, and passes them to the third receiving unit 23, thereby passing a predetermined number of banknotes at a time to the third receiving unit 23.

[0116] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 conveys the banknotes temporarily stored in the first receiving unit 21 one by one from the first receiving unit 21 to the main conveyance unit 12 via the third conveyance unit 33 and the sixth conveyance unit 36. As shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 conveys the banknotes temporarily stored in the third receiving unit 23 one by one from the third receiving unit 23 to the main conveyance unit 12 via the fifth conveyance unit 35, the fourth conveyance unit 34, the third conveyance unit 33 and the sixth conveyance unit 36. The main conveyance unit 12 conveys the banknotes in the A direction, which have been fed out from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 and have been aligned in the top and bottom and the front and back, further downstream.

[0117] In the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the first embodiment described above, the first reference direction transport unit 71 transports banknotes in the A direction to the first receiving unit 21. In addition, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the first reversing transport unit 72 inverts banknotes in the D direction relative to transport in the first reference direction transport unit 71, and delivers them to the first receiving unit 21 in the same orientation as banknotes in the A direction. In addition, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the second reference direction transport unit 73 transports banknotes in the C direction to the second receiving unit 22. In addition, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the second reversing transport unit 74 inverts banknotes in the B direction relative to transport in the second reference direction transport unit 73, and delivers them to the second receiving unit 22 in the same orientation as banknotes in the C direction. Then, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the third reversing and transporting unit 121 moves the banknotes in the C direction of the second receiving unit 22 and the banknotes that have been identified as banknotes in the B direction during identification and have been inverted to the C direction by the second reversing and transporting unit 74 along the long side direction, which is the second direction, and transports them to the third receiving unit 23 in an inverted orientation based on the short side direction, which is the first direction. Then, when the banknotes are fed from the first receiving unit 21 and the third receiving unit 23, it is possible to align all the fed banknotes in the A direction. Therefore, since the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 does not need to be configured and driven to twist the transport unit and the transport belt, it is possible to align the front and back and the top and bottom of the banknotes and to prevent them from becoming large.

[0118] In addition, since the first receiving section 21, the second receiving section 22, and the third receiving section 23 are arranged side by side in the height direction, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 can reduce its horizontal length, i.e., its front-to-back and left-to-right length. Therefore, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 can prevent its horizontal size from increasing.

[0119] Furthermore, since the first receiving unit 21 of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 accumulates and stores banknotes in the A direction and banknotes in the D direction, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 can function as a banknote storage unit.

[0120] Furthermore, since the third receiving unit 23 of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 accumulates and stores banknotes in the C direction and banknotes in the B direction, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 can function as a banknote storage unit.

[0121] In addition, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the third inversion transport section 121 moves the banknotes from the second receiving section 22 one by one, or multiple banknotes at a time, along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while inverting them front to back based on the short side direction, which is the first direction, and transports them to the third receiving section 23, so that the number of banknotes to be transferred from the second receiving section 22 to the third receiving section 23 at one time can be set depending on conditions such as the slipperiness of the banknotes.

[0122] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to the present invention will be described with a focus on differences from the first embodiment, mainly with reference to Fig. 10. Note that parts similar to those in the first embodiment are designated by the same names and symbols as those in the first embodiment.

[0123] As shown in FIG. 10, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the second embodiment is also provided at an intermediate position of the main transport section 12 that transports banknotes, and the main transport section 12 is provided with a recognition unit 13 for identifying banknotes on one side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A. In the second embodiment, when processing banknotes by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, as in the first embodiment, the banknotes are transported in one transport direction in the main transport section 12, and after processing by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the banknotes are transported in this one transport direction in the main transport section 12. The upstream side of the main transport section 12 in this one transport direction is the upstream side, and the downstream side of this one transport direction is the downstream side. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the recognition unit 13 is also provided upstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main transport section 12.

[0124] In the second embodiment, when banknotes are processed by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the banknotes can also be transported in one transport direction in the main transport unit 12, and after processing by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, the banknotes can be transported in the transport direction opposite to the one transport direction. In this case, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A can be provided at an end position of the main transport unit 12. In other words, a configuration in which there is no route to the opposite side of the recognition unit 13 from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main transport unit 12 can be used.

[0125] The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A is provided on one side, specifically the lower side, in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the main conveying unit 12. The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A has a first receiver 21, a second receiver 22, and a third receiver 23, all of which have the same configuration as the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, but differs from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 in that the first receiver 21, the second receiver 22, and the third receiver 23 are separate entities.

[0126] The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A has a first receiving section 21 provided upstream of the main transport section 12, and a second receiving section 22 and a third receiving section 23 provided downstream of the first receiving section 21 of the main transport section 12.

[0127] The second receiving section 22 and the third receiving section 23 are provided on the lower side of the second receiving section 22 opposite to the main transport section 12. The second receiving section 22 and the third receiving section 23 are arranged vertically with their front, rear, left and right positions overlapping. The first receiving section 21, the second receiving section 22 and the third receiving section 23 are spaced apart in the transport direction of the main transport section 12 with their vertical positions overlapping. The first receiving section 21, the second receiving section 22 and the third receiving section 23 all support banknotes in a position in which the thickness direction is up and down, in other words, in a state in which the banknotes are spread out horizontally. The second receiving section 22 and the third receiving section 23 are arranged so that the positions of the short side direction and the long side direction of the received banknotes are overlapped with each other in the horizontal direction. The second receiving section 22 and the third receiving section 23 are provided integrally.

[0128] The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A has a first conveying section 31, a first sorting section 41, a third conveying section 33, a third sorting section 43, a sixth conveying section 36, a first sensor 61, a second sensor 62, a third sensor 63, a fourth sensor 64, a fifth sensor 65, a sixth sensor 66 and a seventh sensor 67, all of which are similar to the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11.

[0129] The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A has a second conveying section 32A branching off downstream of the branching position of the third conveying section 33 of the main conveying section 12, a fourth conveying section 34A branching off downstream of the branching position of the second conveying section 32A of the main conveying section 12, and a seventh conveying section 37A branching off from a midway position of the fourth conveying section 34A and joining downstream of the branching position of the fourth conveying section 34A of the main conveying section 12.

[0130] The second conveying unit 32A branches downward from downstream of the joining position of the sixth conveying unit 36 ​​of the main conveying unit 12, and then extends downstream in the conveying direction of the main conveying unit 12 to be connected to a position upstream of the second receiver 22 in the conveying direction of the main conveying unit 12. The second conveying unit 32A receives banknotes from the main conveying unit 12 and conveys them to the second receiver 22 under the control of a control unit not shown.

[0131] The fourth conveying unit 34A branches downward from the downstream side of the branching position of the second conveying unit 32A of the main conveying unit 12, and then extends in the upstream direction in the conveying direction of the main conveying unit 12 to be connected to a downstream position in the conveying direction of the main conveying unit 12 of the second receiver 22. Thus, the fourth conveying unit 34A extends in a folded manner from the main conveying unit 12 and is connected to the opposite side of the second receiver 22 from the second conveying unit 32A. Under the control of a controller not shown, the fourth conveying unit 34A receives banknotes from the main conveying unit 12 and conveys them to the second receiver 22 from the opposite side from the second conveying unit 32A.

[0132] Fifth conveying unit 35 branches downward from the middle of fourth conveying unit 34A, extends in the upstream direction in the conveying direction of main conveying unit 12, and is connected to a position downstream of third receiver 23 in the conveying direction of main conveying unit 12. Fifth conveying unit 35 is capable of conveying banknotes from third receiver 23 to fourth conveying unit 34A.

[0133] The seventh conveying section 37A branches off from the fourth conveying section 34A and conveys the banknotes conveyed to the main conveying section 12 side by the fourth conveying section 34A to the main conveying section 12 side, and merges with the main conveying section 12 downstream of the branching position of the fourth conveying section 34A. Including the case where the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A is provided at the end position of the main conveying section 12, when processing the banknotes by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the seventh conveying section 37A is not required when the banknotes are conveyed in one conveying direction in the main conveying section 12 and, after processing by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, are conveyed in a conveying direction opposite to the one conveying direction. The fourth conveying section 34A can convey the banknotes of the fifth conveying section 35 to the seventh conveying section 37A.

[0134] First receiver 21 receives banknotes from both first transport unit 31 and third transport unit 33, while feeding banknotes only to third transport unit 33. Third transport unit 33 and sixth transport unit 36 ​​transport the banknotes fed from first receiver 21 toward the downstream side of first receiver 21 of main transport unit 12, where they are merged.

[0135] The third receiver 23 feeds banknotes only to the fifth transport unit 35. The fifth transport unit 35, the fourth transport unit 34A and the seventh transport unit 37A transport the banknotes fed from the third receiver 23 downstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main transport unit 12 to join the banknotes.

[0136] The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A has a first sorting section 41, a third sorting section 43 and a fifth sorting section 45 similar to the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, and has a second sorting section 42A and a fourth sorting section 44A different from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11.

[0137] The second sorting section 42A is controlled by a control section (not shown) to switch between a state in which the banknotes transported by the main transport section 12 from the upstream recognition section 13 side are directly sent downstream by the main transport section 12, and a state in which the banknotes are sent to the second transport section 32A and then to the second receiving section 22.

[0138] The fourth sorting unit 44A is controlled by a control unit (not shown) to switch between a state in which the main transport unit 12 flows the banknotes transported from the upstream recognition unit 13 side to the downstream side as is, and a state in which the banknotes flow to the fourth transport unit 34A. The fourth sorting unit 44A can flow the banknotes transported to the main transport unit 12 side by the fourth transport unit 34A from the fourth transport unit 34A to the seventh transport unit 37A. When processing the banknotes by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, if the main transport unit 12 transports the banknotes in one transport direction, and after processing by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the banknotes are transported in a transport direction opposite to the one transport direction, the fourth sorting unit 44A does not need a function to flow the banknotes transported to the main transport unit 12 side by the fourth transport unit 34A from the fourth transport unit 34A to the seventh transport unit 37A. Furthermore, when the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A is provided at the end position of the main transport section 12, the fourth sorting section 44A and the seventh transport section 37A become unnecessary.

[0139] The fifth sorting section 45 is controlled by a control section (not shown) and can be switched between a state in which banknotes transported by the fourth transport section 34A from the main transport section 12 side are directly fed through the fourth transport section 34A and transported to the second receiving section 22, and a state in which banknotes transported by the fifth transport section 35 from the third receiving section 23 are fed through the fourth transport section 34A.

[0140] In addition, the cases in which banknotes are sorted downward by the first sorting unit 41, the second sorting unit 42A, the third sorting unit 43, and the fourth sorting unit 44A and those in which they are not sorted are the same as in the first embodiment, and in the case in which they are not sorted, it is also possible to provide another sorting unit between the recognition unit 13 and the first sorting unit 41, as in the first embodiment.

[0141] Furthermore, as long as the banknotes are transported by the main transport section 12 and guided to the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the guide directions of the fourth sorting section 44A and the fifth sorting section 45 are fixed, and the first sorting section 41, the second sorting section 42A and the third sorting section 43 perform sorting operations each time depending on the orientation of the banknote being transported.

[0142] In the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, a 15th sensor 151 is provided between the branching position of the third transport section 33 in the main transport section 12 and the branching position of the second transport section 32A, and a 16th sensor 152 is provided between the branching position of the second transport section 32A in the main transport section 12 and the branching position of the fourth transport section 34A. The 15th sensor 151 and the 16th sensor 152 are both for detecting and counting banknotes passing through. The control unit (not shown) determines the timing to operate the second sorting unit 42A based on the detection result of the 15th sensor 151, for example. The control unit (not shown) also determines the timing to operate the fourth sorting unit 44A based on the detection result of the 16th sensor 152, for example.

[0143] The first sensor 61, the first sorting unit 41, and the first transport unit 31 constitute a first reference direction transport unit 71A that moves banknotes transported by the main transport unit 12 from the upstream recognition unit 13 side along the short side direction, which is a first direction, while transporting the banknotes to the first receiving unit 21 without flipping them in the front-to-back direction. The first reference direction transport unit 71A delivers banknotes upstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main transport unit 12 to the first receiving unit 21 in the same orientation as the first reference direction transport unit 71 of the first embodiment.

[0144] A banknote received by the first receiver 21 via the first reference direction conveying section 71A from the upstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main conveying section 12 is conveyed from the first receiver 21 via the third conveying section 33 and the sixth conveying section 36 to the main conveying section 12, and is conveyed by the main conveying section 12 to the downstream side of the first receiver 21 and the downstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A. Therefore, the front / back and top / bottom of the banknote received by the first receiver 21 via the first reference direction conveying section 71A will not change between the upstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main conveying section 12 and the downstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A.

[0145] The second sensor 62, the third sorting unit 43, the third transport unit 33, and the sixth sensor 66 constitute a first reversing transport unit 72A that moves the banknote transported from the upstream recognition unit 13 side by the main transport unit 12 along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while rotating the banknote about an axis along the long side direction, which is the second direction, to invert the banknote in the front-to-back direction and deliver it to the first receiving unit 21. In other words, the first reversing transport unit 72A moves the banknote along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while inverting the banknote with respect to the transport by the first reference direction transport unit 71A based on the long side direction, which is the second direction, and delivers it to the first receiving unit 21. The first reversing transport unit 72A delivers the banknote upstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main transport unit 12 to the first receiving unit 21 in the same orientation as the first reversing transport unit 72 of the first embodiment.

[0146] A banknote received by the first receiver 21 via the first reversing conveying section 72A from the upstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main conveying section 12 is conveyed from the first receiver 21 via the third conveying section 33 and the sixth conveying section 36 to the main conveying section 12, and is conveyed by the main conveying section 12 to the downstream side of the first receiver 21 and the downstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A. Therefore, the front and back of the banknote is reversed and the top and bottom are also inverted between the upstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main conveying section 12 and the downstream side of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main conveying section 12.

[0147] The fifteenth sensor 151, the second sorting unit 42A, and the second transport unit 32A constitute a second reference direction transport unit 73A that moves banknotes transported by the main transport unit 12 from the upstream recognition unit 13 side along the short side direction, which is the first direction, and transports the banknotes to the second receiving unit 22 without flipping them in the front-to-back direction. The second reference direction transport unit 73A delivers banknotes upstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main transport unit 12 to the second receiving unit 22 in the same orientation as the second reference direction transport unit 73 of the first embodiment.

[0148] The 16th sensor 152, the fourth sorting unit 44A, the fourth transport unit 34A, and the fifth sorting unit 45 constitute a second reversing transport unit 74A that moves the banknote transported from the upstream recognition unit 13 side by the main transport unit 12 along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while rotating the banknote about an axis along the long side direction, which is the second direction, to invert the banknote in the front-to-back direction and deliver it to the second receiving unit 22. In other words, the second reversing transport unit 74A moves the banknote along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while inverting the banknote with respect to the transport by the second reference direction transport unit 73 based on the long side direction, which is the second direction, and delivers it to the second receiving unit 22. The second reversing transport unit 74A delivers the banknote upstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main transport unit 12 to the second receiving unit 22 in the same orientation as the second reversing transport unit 74 of the first embodiment. In addition, the configuration and operational control of the third receiving section 23, which is integral with the second receiving section 22, and the third inversion transport section 121, which transfers the banknotes stored in the second receiving section 22 to the third receiving section 23, are the same as in the first embodiment, so description thereof will be omitted.

[0149] Next, the operation of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A will be described. Here, as in the first embodiment, the downstream side in the conveying direction of the banknote when it is located upstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11 of the main conveying section 12 is set as the "top" direction, the upstream side in the conveying direction is set as the "bottom" direction, the upper surface is set as the "face" direction, and the lower surface is set as the "back" direction, as shown in (1) of Fig. 3. The B, C, and D directions are also set as shown in (1) of Fig. 3.

[0150] A control unit (not shown) causes banknotes that are identified as direction A by the recognition unit 13 during transport by the main transport unit 12 to be transported to the first receiving unit 21 by the first reference direction transport unit 71A in the same manner as the first reference direction transport unit 71.

[0151] In this way, a banknote that is identified as direction A by the recognition unit 13 during transport in the main transport unit 12 and transported to the first receiving unit 21 via the first reference direction transport unit 71A remains in the direction A detected by the recognition unit 13 when it is transported from the first receiving unit 21 downstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main transport unit 12 via the third transport unit 33 and the sixth transport unit 36.

[0152] In addition, the control unit (not shown) causes banknotes that are identified as being in the D direction by the recognition unit 13 while being transported by the main transport unit 12 to be transported to the first receiving unit 21 by the first reversing transport unit 72A in the same manner as the first reversing transport unit 72.

[0153] Therefore, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the first inversion transport unit 72A moves the banknote in direction D along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while transporting it to the first receiving unit 21 in an orientation that is inverted from the orientation transported by the first reference direction transport unit 71A, based on the long side direction, which is the second direction.

[0154] As a result, in the first receiving portion 21, the banknotes in the A direction are stored without being turned over, and the banknotes in the D direction are stored turned over and upside down.

[0155] As a result, when a banknote is identified as being in direction D by the recognition unit 13 during transport in the main transport unit 12 and transported to the first receiving unit 21 via the first reversing transport unit 72A, when it is transported from the first receiving unit 21 downstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main transport unit 12 via the third transport unit 33 and the sixth transport unit 36, it becomes in direction A, which is inverted both front and back and top and bottom relative to the direction D detected by the recognition unit 13.

[0156] Further, the control unit (not shown) causes the second reference direction conveying unit 73A to convey the banknote that is identified as a C-direction banknote by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveyance unit 12 to the second receiver 22. Specifically, when the recognition unit 13 identifies a banknote as a C-direction banknote during conveyance by the main conveyance unit 12, the control unit (not shown) operates the second sorting unit 42A based on the timing at which the banknote is detected by the fifteenth sensor 151, and causes the main conveyance unit 12 and the second conveyance unit 32A to convey the banknote to the second receiver 22. At that time, the control unit (not shown) opens the pair of feed rollers 111 of the second receiver 22, and causes the banknote to be received from the first receiver opening 101 into the receiver main body 91. The second receiver 22 receives the C-direction banknote so that it can be fed out.

[0157] Further, the control unit (not shown) causes the second reversing and conveying unit 74A to convey the banknote that is identified as the B direction by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveyance unit 12 to the second receiving unit 22. Specifically, when the recognition unit 13 identifies the banknote as the B direction banknote during conveyance by the main conveyance unit 12, the control unit (not shown) operates the fourth sorting unit 44A based on the timing at which the banknote is detected by the 16th sensor 152, and conveys the banknote to the second receiving unit 22 by the main conveyance unit 12 and the fourth conveyance unit 34A. At this time, the fifth sorting unit 45 is kept in an actuated state so as to guide the banknote conveyed by the second reversing and conveying unit 74A to the second receiving unit 22. At this time, the control unit (not shown) opens the pair of feed rollers 111 of the second receiving unit 22, and causes the banknote to be received from the second receiving opening 102 into the receiving main body unit 91. The second receiving section 22 receives banknotes in the B direction so as to be able to be fed out.

[0158] Therefore, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the second inversion transport section 74A moves the banknote in direction B along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while using the long side direction, which is the second direction, as a reference, and passes it to the second receiving section 22 in an orientation that is inverted from the orientation transported by the second reference direction transport section 73A.

[0159] As a result, in the second receiving unit 22, banknotes in the C direction are stored without being turned over, and banknotes in the B direction are stored turned over and upside down. Therefore, in the second receiving unit 22, the "top" side of both the banknotes that were in the C direction and the banknotes that were in the B direction when recognized by the recognition unit 13 are positioned on the second receiving opening 102 side and the "bottom" side of both the banknotes are positioned on the first receiving opening 101 side, with the lower side being the "head" side and the upper side being the "tail" side.

[0160] Then, the control unit (not shown) controls the banknotes that are identified as direction C by the recognition unit 13 during transport by the main transport unit 12 and transported to the second receiving unit 22 by the second reference direction transport unit 73A to be transported to the third receiving unit 23 by the third inversion transport unit 121, as in the first embodiment.

[0161] Thus, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the third reversing and conveying unit 121 moves banknotes that have been identified as having the C direction by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveyance unit 12 and conveyed to the second receiving unit 22 along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while inverting the banknotes with respect to the short side direction, which is the first direction. Then, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the third receiving unit 23 receives banknotes that have been identified as having the C direction by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveyance unit 12 and conveyed from the second receiving unit 22 via the third reversing and conveying unit 121 in a manner that allows them to be fed.

[0162] As a result, when a banknote is identified as being in the C direction by the recognition unit 13 during transport in the main transport unit 12 and is transported to the third receiving unit 23 via the second reference direction transport unit 73A, the second receiving unit 22 and the third reversing transport unit 121, when it is transported from the third receiving unit 23 downstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main transport unit 12 via the fifth transport unit 35, the fourth transport unit 34A and the seventh transport unit 37A, the front and back of the banknote is reversed in the main transport unit 12 relative to the C direction detected by the recognition unit 13, and the top and bottom remain in the A direction.

[0163] In addition, the control unit (not shown) controls the banknotes that are identified as direction B by the recognition unit 13 during transport by the main transport unit 12 and transported to the second receiving unit 22 by the second reversing transport unit 74A to be transported to the third receiving unit 23 by the third reversing transport unit 121, as in the first embodiment.

[0164] Thus, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the third reversing and conveying unit 121 moves banknotes that have been identified as having the B direction by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveyance unit 12 and conveyed to the second receiving unit 22 along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while inverting the banknotes with respect to the short side direction, which is the first direction. Then, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the third receiving unit 23 receives banknotes that have been identified as having the B direction by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveyance unit 12 and conveyed from the second receiving unit 22 via the third reversing and conveying unit 121 in a manner that allows them to be fed.

[0165] As a result, a banknote that is identified as direction B by the recognition unit 13 during transport in the main transport unit 12 and is transported to the third receiving unit 23 via the second reversing transport unit 74A, the second receiving unit 22 and the third reversing transport unit 121, when it is transported from the third receiving unit 23 downstream of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the main transport unit 12 via the fifth transport unit 35, the fourth transport unit 34A and the seventh transport unit 37A, is inverted upside down in the main transport unit 12 relative to the direction B detected by the recognition unit 13, and the front and back remain in direction A.

[0166] As in the first embodiment, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A is set so that the third inversion transport section 121 moves the banknotes in the second receiving section 22, one by one, or in batches of a predetermined number of banknotes, along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while inverting them front to back based on the short side direction, which is the first direction, and delivers them to the third receiving section 23.

[0167] The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A conveys the banknotes that have been accumulated and temporarily stored in the first receiver 21 and the third receiver 23 from the first receiver 21 one by one in sequence via the third conveyance section 33 and the sixth conveyance section 36 to the main conveyance section 12, and conveys the banknotes one by one from the third receiver 23 in sequence via the fifth conveyance section 35, the fourth conveyance section 34A and the seventh conveyance section 37A to the main conveyance section 12. The main conveyance section 12 conveys the banknotes in the A direction, whose tops and bottoms and fronts and backs have been aligned in this manner, fed out from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, further downstream.

[0168] In the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A of the second embodiment described above, the first reference direction transport unit 71A transports banknotes in the A direction to the first receiving unit 21. In addition, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the first reversing transport unit 72A inverts banknotes in the D direction relative to transport in the first reference direction transport unit 71, and delivers them to the first receiving unit 21 in the same orientation as banknotes in the A direction. In addition, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the second reference direction transport unit 73A transports banknotes in the C direction to the second receiving unit 22. In addition, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the second reversing transport unit 74A inverts banknotes in the B direction relative to transport in the second reference direction transport unit 73A, and delivers them to the second receiving unit 22 in the same orientation as banknotes in the C direction. Then, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A, the third reversing and transporting unit 121 moves the banknotes in the C direction of the second receiving unit 22 and the banknotes that have been identified as banknotes in the B direction during identification and have been inverted to the C direction by the second reversing and transporting unit 74A along the long side direction, which is the second direction, and transports them to the third receiving unit 23 in an inverted orientation based on the short side direction, which is the first direction. Then, when the banknotes are fed from the first receiving unit 21 and the third receiving unit, it is possible to align all the fed banknotes in the A direction. Therefore, since the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A does not need to configure and drive the transport unit and the transport belt so as to twist, it is possible to align the front and back and the top and bottom of the banknotes and to prevent them from becoming large.

[0169] In addition, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A can reduce its height because the first receiving unit 21, the second receiving unit 22, and the third receiving unit 23 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction with their height positions overlapping each other. Therefore, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11A can prevent its size from increasing in the height direction.

[0170] [Third embodiment] Next, a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with a focus on differences from the first embodiment, mainly with reference to Fig. 11. Note that parts similar to those in the first embodiment are designated by the same names and symbols as those in the first embodiment.

[0171] 11, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B of the third embodiment is provided at the end of a main transport unit 12B that transports banknotes. A recognition unit 13 that recognizes banknotes is provided in front of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B in the main transport unit 12B.

[0172] The main transport unit 12B can transport banknotes in both one transport direction and the opposite transport direction. In the third embodiment, the main transport unit 12B transports banknotes in one transport direction toward the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, and after processing by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, transports the banknotes in the opposite transport direction to the one transport direction.

[0173] Like the main transport unit 12 in the first embodiment, the main transport unit 12B also transports banknotes so as to move them along a first direction which is one of the long side direction and the short side direction, specifically, the short side direction.

[0174] The main transport unit 12B transports banknotes in the vertical direction immediately before the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B. The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B is provided on the lower side, which is the extension direction, of the main transport unit 12B. The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B has a first receiver 21 having a configuration substantially similar to that of the first receiver 21 of the first embodiment and having a larger storage capacity than the first receiver 21, a second receiver 22 similar to the first embodiment, and a third receiver 23 similar to the first embodiment.

[0175] Of the first receiving section 21, the second receiving section 22, and the third receiving section 23, the second receiving section 22 is provided closest to the main transport section 12B, and the third receiving section 23 is provided on the opposite lower side of the second receiving section 22 to the main transport section 12B. The first receiving section 21 is provided on the opposite lower side of the third receiving section 23 to the second receiving section 22. Therefore, the first receiving section 21 is provided on the opposite side of the connection position to the main transport section 12B from the second receiving section 22 and the third receiving section 23. The second receiving section 22, the third receiving section 23, and the first receiving section 21 are arranged vertically with their front, rear, left and right positions overlapping, as in the first embodiment. The second receiving section 22, the third receiving section 23, and the first receiving section 21 are provided integrally.

[0176] The banknote omnidirectional aligning mechanism 11B has a first transport section 161, a second transport section 162, a third transport section 163, a fourth transport section 164, and a fifth transport section 165.

[0177] First transport unit 161 extends downward from main transport unit 12B and is connected to one horizontal side of second receiver 22. First transport unit 161 receives banknotes from main transport unit 12B and transports them to second receiver 22 under the control of a control unit (not shown).

[0178] Second transport unit 162 branches downward from a midway position of first transport unit 161, and is then connected to an upper position on the same side as first transport unit 161 in the horizontal direction of first receiving unit 21. Second transport unit 162 receives banknotes from first transport unit 161 and transports them to first receiving unit 21 under the control of a control unit not shown.

[0179] The third transport unit 163 extends downward from the main transport unit 12B in a direction different from that of the first transport unit 161, and is connected to the opposite side of the second receiver 22 from the first transport unit 161 in the horizontal direction. The third transport unit 163 receives banknotes from the main transport unit 12B and transports them to the second receiver 22 under the control of a control unit (not shown).

[0180] Fourth transport unit 164 branches downward from the middle of third transport unit 163, and is then connected to an upper position on the same side as third transport unit 163 in the horizontal direction of third receiver 23. Under the control of a control unit not shown, fourth transport unit 164 receives banknotes from third receiver 23 and transports them to third transport unit 163. Third transport unit 163 receives banknotes from fourth transport unit 164 and transports them to main transport unit 12B.

[0181] The fifth transport unit 165 branches downward from the middle of the fourth transport unit 164, and is then connected to an upper position on the opposite side of the first receiver 21 from the second transport unit 162 in the horizontal direction. Under the control of a control unit not shown, the fifth transport unit 165 receives banknotes from the fourth transport unit 164 and transports them to the first receiver 21. The fifth transport unit 165 receives banknotes from the first receiver 21 and transports them to the fourth transport unit 164. The fourth transport unit 164 receives banknotes from the fifth transport unit 165 and transports them to the third transport unit 163.

[0182] The second receiving unit 22 receives banknotes from the first transport unit 161 and the third transport unit 163.

[0183] The third receiver 23 feeds banknotes only to the fourth transport unit 164. The fourth transport unit 164 and the third transport unit 163 feed the banknotes fed from the third receiver 23 from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B to the main transport unit 12B.

[0184] First receiver 21 receives banknotes via first transport section 161 and second transport section 162. First receiver 21 receives banknotes via third transport section 163, fourth transport section 164 and fifth transport section 165. First receiver 21 feeds banknotes only to fifth transport section 165. Fifth transport section 165, fourth transport section 164 and third transport section 163 feed the banknotes fed from first receiver 21 to main transport section 12B.

[0185] The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B has a first sorting unit 171, a second sorting unit 172, and a third sorting unit 173.

[0186] The first sorting unit 171 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) and switched between a state in which it directs banknotes transported by the main transport unit 12B to the first transport unit 161 and a state in which it directs banknotes to the third transport unit 163.

[0187] The second sorting section 172 is controlled by a control section (not shown) to switch between a state in which the banknotes transported by the first transport section 161 from the main transport section 12B are directly fed to the second receiving section 22 by the first transport section 161, and a state in which the banknotes are fed to the second transport section 162 and then to the first receiving section 21.

[0188] Third sorting unit 173 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) to switch between a state in which banknotes transported from main transport unit 12B via third transport unit 163 are directly fed to second receiving unit 22 by third transport unit 163, and a state in which banknotes are fed from third transport unit 163 to fourth transport unit 164. Note that third sorting unit 173 is capable of feeding banknotes from fourth transport unit 164 to third transport unit 163.

[0189] The first sorting section 171, the first conveying section 161, the second sorting section 172, and the second conveying section 162 constitute a first reference direction conveying section 71B that moves the banknotes conveyed by the main conveying section 12B along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while conveying them to the first receiving section 21.

[0190] The banknote received by the first receiver 21 from the main transport unit 12B via the first reference direction transport unit 71B is transported from the first receiver 21 to the main transport unit 12B via the fifth transport unit 165, the fourth transport unit 164 and the third transport unit 163. The front and back and top and bottom of this banknote are inverted and the transport direction is reversed between the state immediately before it enters the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B from the main transport unit 12B and the state immediately after it leaves the main transport unit 12B from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B.

[0191] The first sorting unit 171, the third transport unit 163, the third sorting unit 173, the fourth transport unit 164, and the fifth transport unit 165 constitute a first reversing transport unit 72B that moves the banknotes transported by the main transport unit 12B from the upstream recognition unit 13 side along the short side direction which is the first direction, while inverting the banknotes with respect to the transport by the first reference direction transport unit 71B based on the long side direction which is the second direction, and transports them to the first receiving unit 21. Therefore, the first reversing transport unit 72B delivers the banknotes to the first receiving unit 21 by inverting the top-bottom direction of the banknotes with respect to the transport by the first reference direction transport unit 71B.

[0192] The banknote received by the first receiver 21 from the main conveying unit 12B via the first reversing conveying unit 72B is conveyed from the first receiver 21 to the main conveying unit 12B via the fifth conveying unit 165, the fourth conveying unit 164 and the third conveying unit 163. The conveying direction of this banknote is reversed between the state immediately before it enters the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B from the main conveying unit 12B and the state immediately after it leaves the main conveying unit 12B from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, while the front and back and top and bottom remain the same.

[0193] The first sorting section 171, the first conveying section 161, and the second sorting section 172 constitute a second reference direction conveying section 73B that moves the banknotes conveyed by the main conveying section 12B along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while conveying them to the second receiving section 22.

[0194] The first sorting section 171, the third transport section 163, and the third sorting section 173 constitute a second reversing transport section 74B that moves the banknotes transported by the main transport section 12B along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while inverting the banknotes with respect to the transport by the second reference direction transport section 73B based on the long side direction, which is the second direction, and transports them to the second receiving section 22. Therefore, the second reversing transport section 74B delivers the banknotes to the second receiving section 22 by inverting the top-bottom direction of the banknotes with respect to the transport by the second reference direction transport section 73B.

[0195] Then, similarly to the first embodiment, the third inverting transport unit 121 moves the banknotes transported to the second receiving unit 22 along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while inverting the banknotes with respect to the short side direction, which is the first direction, and transports them to the third receiving unit 23. The banknotes in the third receiving unit 23 are then transported to the main transport unit 12B via the fourth transport unit 164 and the third transport unit 163.

[0196] Banknotes transported from the main transport section 12B to the third receiving section 23 via the second reference direction transport section 73B, the second receiving section 22, and the third reversing transport section 121 are inverted upside down and the transport direction is reversed between the state immediately before they enter the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B from the main transport section 12B and the state immediately after they exit the main transport section 12B from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, while the front and back remain the same.

[0197] Banknotes transported from the main transport section 12B via the second reversing transport section 74B, the second receiving section 22 and the third reversing transport section 121 to the third receiving section 23 are inverted front to back and the transport direction is reversed while the top and bottom remain the same between the state immediately before entering the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B from the main transport section 12B and the state immediately after exiting the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B to the main transport section 12B.

[0198] Next, the operation of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B will be described. Here, an example will be described in which the direction of the banknote when it is in a position immediately before the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B of the main transport unit 12B during transport from the main transport unit 12B to the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B is set to A direction, with the downstream side in the transport direction being the "top", the upstream side in the transport direction being the "bottom", the right side in Fig. 11 being the "front", and the left side in Fig. 11 being the "back", and the directions having the relationship shown in Fig. 3(1) with respect to this A direction are set to B direction, C direction, and D direction.

[0199] A control unit (not shown) causes the first reference direction transport unit 71B to transport the banknote that has been identified as having the A direction by the recognition unit 13 during transport by the main transport unit 12B to the first receiving unit 21. The first receiving unit 21 takes in the banknote by the first take-up mechanism 83. The first receiving unit 21 accepts the banknote in the A direction so that it can be fed out.

[0200] A banknote that is identified as A direction by the recognition unit 13 during transport in the main transport unit 12B and transported to the first receiver 21 via the first reference direction transport unit 71B is fed from the first receiver 21 by the first take-in / feed-out mechanism 84 and transported to the main transport unit 12B via the fifth transport unit 165, the fourth transport unit 164 and the third transport unit 163. Then, for this banknote, the downstream side in the transport direction is the "top", the upstream side in the transport direction is the "bottom", the right side in Fig. 11 is the "back" and the left side in Fig. 11 is the "head" at a position immediately behind the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B of the main transport unit 12B.

[0201] Furthermore, the control unit (not shown) controls the first reversing and conveying unit 72B to convey the banknote that has been identified as having the D direction by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveyance unit 12B to the first receiving unit 21. In the first receiving unit 21, the first intake / feeding mechanism 84 takes in this banknote.

[0202] Thus, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, the first reversing conveying unit 72B moves the banknote in the D direction along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while conveying it to the first receiving unit 21 in an orientation inverted from the direction of the long side, which is the second direction, relative to the direction of conveyance by the first reference direction conveying unit 71B. In the first receiving unit 21, the banknote in the D direction conveyed by the first reversing conveying unit 72B is aligned in terms of front and back and top and bottom with the banknote in the A direction conveyed by the first reference direction conveying unit 71B.

[0203] A banknote that is identified as a D direction by the recognition unit 13 during transport in the main transport unit 12B and transported to the first receiver 21 via the first reversing transport unit 72B is fed from the first receiver 21 by the first take-in / feed-out mechanism 84 and transported to the main transport unit 12B via the fifth transport unit 165, the fourth transport unit 164 and the third transport unit 163. Then, the downstream side in the transport direction of this banknote is the "top", the upstream side in the transport direction is the "bottom", the right side in Fig. 11 is the "back", and the left side in Fig. 11 is the "head" at a position immediately behind the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B of the main transport unit 12B.

[0204] Furthermore, the control unit (not shown) causes the second reference direction transport unit 73B to transport banknotes that have been identified as having the C direction by the recognition unit 13 during transport by the main transport unit 12B to the second receiving unit 22. The second receiving unit 22 receives the banknotes in the C direction in a manner that allows them to be fed out.

[0205] Furthermore, the control unit (not shown) causes the second reversing transport unit 74B to transport the banknotes that are recognized as having the B direction by the recognition unit 13 during transport by the main transport unit 12B to the second receiving unit 22. The second receiving unit 22 receives the banknotes in the B direction so that they can be fed out.

[0206] Thus, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, the second reversing conveying unit 74B moves the banknote in the B direction along the short side direction, which is the first direction, while conveying it to the second receiving unit 22 in an orientation inverted from the conveyance by the second reference direction conveying unit 73B based on the long side direction, which is the second direction. In the second receiving unit 22, the banknote in the B direction conveyed by the second reversing conveying unit 74B is aligned in front and back and top and bottom with the banknote in the C direction conveyed by the second reference direction conveying unit 73B.

[0207] Then, the control unit (not shown) causes the banknotes that are identified as direction C by the recognition unit 13 during transport by the main transport unit 12B and transported to the second receiving unit 22 by the second reference direction transport unit 73B to be transported to the third receiving unit 23 by the third inversion transport unit 121, as in the first embodiment.

[0208] Thus, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, the third reversing conveying unit 121 moves banknotes that have been identified as having the C direction by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveying unit 12B and conveyed to the second receiving unit 22 by the second reference direction conveying unit 73B along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while conveying the banknotes to the third receiving unit 23 in an orientation inverted from front to back based on the short side direction, which is the first direction. Also, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B allows the third receiving unit 23 to receive banknotes that have been identified as having the C direction by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveying unit 12B and conveyed from the second receiving unit 22 via the third reversing conveying unit 121 in a manner that allows them to be fed.

[0209] Then, a banknote that is identified as a C direction by the recognition unit 13 during transport in main transport unit 12B and transported to the third receiver 23 via the second reference direction transport unit 73B, the second receiver 22 and the third reverse transport unit 121 is fed from the third receiver 23 by the second feed mechanism 134 and transported to main transport unit 12B via the fourth transport unit 164 and the third transport unit 163. Then, the downstream side in the transport direction of this banknote is oriented as the "top", the upstream side in the transport direction is oriented as the "bottom", the right side in FIG. 11 is oriented as the "back", and the left side in FIG. 11 is oriented as the "head" at a position immediately behind the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B of main transport unit 12B.

[0210] In addition, the control unit (not shown) causes banknotes that are identified as direction B by the recognition unit 13 during transport by the main transport unit 12B and transported to the second receiving unit 22 by the second reversing transport unit 74B to be transported to the third receiving unit 23 by the third reversing transport unit 121, as in the first embodiment.

[0211] Thus, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, the third inverting and conveying unit 121 moves banknotes that have been identified as direction B by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveyance unit 12B and conveyed to the second receiving unit 22 by the second inverting and conveying unit 74B along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while conveying the banknotes to the third receiving unit 23 in an inverted orientation based on the short side direction, which is the first direction. Also, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B accepts banknotes that have been identified as direction B by the recognition unit 13 during conveyance by the main conveyance unit 12B and conveyed from the second receiving unit 22 via the third inverting and conveying unit 121 in a manner that allows the third receiving unit 23 to feed them out.

[0212] Then, a banknote that is identified as B direction by the recognition unit 13 during transport in main transport unit 12B and transported to third receiver 23 via second reversing transport unit 74B, second receiver 22 and third reversing transport unit 121 is fed from third receiver 23 by second feed mechanism 134 and transported to main transport unit 12B via fifth transport unit 165, fourth transport unit 164 and third transport unit 163. Then, the downstream side of this banknote in the transport direction is the "top", the upstream side in the transport direction is the "bottom", the right side in Fig. 11 is the "back" and the left side in Fig. 11 is the "head".

[0213] The banknotes processed by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B as described above are fed from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B to the main transport section 12B with their front and back and top and bottom aligned.

[0214] As in the first embodiment, the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B is set so that, depending on the settings, the third inversion transport section 121 moves the banknotes in the second receiving section 22, one by one, or in batches of a predetermined number of banknotes, along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while inverting them front to back based on the short side direction, which is the first direction, and delivers them to the third receiving section 23.

[0215] The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B sequentially feeds out the banknotes that have been accumulated and temporarily stored in the first receiver 21 and the third receiver 23 from the first receiver 21 one by one by the first take-in / feed-out mechanism 84, transports them to the main transport unit 12B via the fifth transport unit 165, the fourth transport unit 164 and the third transport unit 163, and feeds them sequentially from the third receiver 23 one by one by the second feed-out mechanism 134, and transports them to the main transport unit 12B via the fourth transport unit 164 and the third transport unit 163. The main transport unit 12B transports the banknotes, whose tops and bottoms and fronts and backs have been aligned, fed from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B further downstream.

[0216] In the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B of the third embodiment described above, the first reference direction transport unit 71B transports banknotes in the A direction to the first receiver 21. In addition, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, the first reversing transport unit 72B inverts banknotes in the D direction relative to transport in the first reference direction transport unit 71B, and delivers them to the first receiver 21 in the same orientation as banknotes in the A direction. In addition, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, the second reference direction transport unit 73B transports banknotes in the C direction to the second receiver 22. In addition, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, the second reversing transport unit 74B inverts banknotes in the B direction relative to transport in the second reference direction transport unit 73B, and delivers them to the second receiver 22 in the same orientation as banknotes in the C direction. Then, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, the third inverting transport unit 121 moves the banknotes in the C direction and the banknotes in the B direction of the second receiving unit 22 along the long side direction, which is the second direction, while transporting them to the third receiving unit 23 in an orientation inverted with respect to the short side direction, which is the first direction. Then, when the banknotes are fed from the first receiving unit 21 and the third receiving unit 23, it becomes possible to align the front and back and the top and bottom of all of the fed banknotes. Therefore, since the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B does not need to configure and drive the transport unit and the transport belt so as to twist, it is possible to align the front and back and the top and bottom of the banknotes and to prevent them from becoming large.

[0217] In addition, in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, the first receiving section 21 is provided on the opposite side of the connection position to the main transport section 12B than the second receiving section 22 and the third receiving section 23, making it easy to change the capacity of the first receiving section 21.

[0218] The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, 11B is not limited to a configuration in which the first receiving unit 21, the second receiving unit 22, and the third receiving unit 23 are aligned vertically, and it is also possible to arrange the first receiving unit 21, the second receiving unit 22, and the third receiving unit 23 horizontally by tilting the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, 11B 90 degrees. That is, there are mechanisms and devices that store banknotes in an upright state in a manner that allows them to be fed out, or that guide the banknotes into an upright state and accumulate and store them (see, for example, JP 2000-011237 A). By arranging the first receiving unit 21, the second receiving unit 22, and the third receiving unit 23 horizontally in this manner, the height may be reduced and the degree of freedom in arrangement may be increased.

[0219] The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanisms 11, 11A, 11B of the first to third embodiments are provided in, for example, a banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201 as shown in Fig. 12. The banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201 shown in Fig. 12 has the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B as an example. Below, a description will be given taking the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201 having the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B as an example. In the following description, front, back, left and right refer to the side of the operator relative to the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201 as the front, the side opposite the operator relative to the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201 as the rear, and the left and right as viewed from the operator as viewed from the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201 as the left and right.

[0220] The banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201 is provided with an operation and display unit (not shown) and a control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201 based on operation inputs to the operation and display unit (not shown). The banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201 is also provided with a deposit and withdrawal unit 211 in the middle of the top-bottom direction on the front side thereof, into which banknotes are inserted from outside the machine and into which banknotes are dispensed from inside the machine.

[0221] The deposit / withdrawal unit 211 is a section where banknotes are set from outside the machine and where the banknotes are discharged so that they can be taken out directly to the outside of the machine. The deposit / withdrawal unit 211 receives banknotes from outside the machine and takes the inserted banknotes into the machine. The deposit / withdrawal unit 211 also feeds banknotes from the machine and allows them to be taken out to the outside of the machine.

[0222] In the deposit / withdrawal unit 211, stacked banknotes are placed with their long sides aligned in the left-right direction and with the front downwards. The deposit / withdrawal unit 211 separates the stacked banknotes one by one from the top one and feeds them into the machine at specified intervals. The deposit / withdrawal unit 211 feeds banknotes from inside the machine.

[0223] Below the deposit / withdrawal unit 211, at the front position of the banknote deposit / withdrawal machine 201, there is provided a deposit rejection unit 216 for feeding deposit-rejected banknotes that have been determined to be unacceptable out of the machine. The deposit rejection unit 216 is also a unit that discharges banknotes so that they can be directly removed outside the machine. Behind the deposit / withdrawal unit 211 and the deposit rejection unit 216, there is provided a withdrawal rejection unit 217 for storing withdrawal-rejected banknotes that have been determined to be unacceptable, and a recognition unit 13 for identifying banknotes is provided at the bottom behind the withdrawal rejection unit 217.

[0224] In addition, at the upper rear of the withdrawal rejection section 217, there are provided two upper and lower alignment sections 219, 220, each of which aligns banknotes and stacks them vertically in a horizontal position in a specified bundling unit number (specified number (for example, 100 banknotes)). Behind these alignment sections 219, 220, there is provided an upward transport section 221, which transports the stacked banknotes sent rearward from the alignment sections 219, 220 in a horizontal position upward in a vertical direction.

[0225] Above the alignment units 219 and 220, there is provided a bundling unit 222 which bundles the stacked banknotes, which have been stacked in the alignment units 219 and 220 in a designated bundling unit number, transported upward by the upward transport unit 221, and sent forward while remaining horizontal, with a bundling tape to form small bundles of banknotes (hereinafter, referred to as small bundles). The bundling unit 222 creates small bundles one by one.

[0226] A bundle transport unit 226 is provided in front of the bundling unit 222, which transports the small bundles sent forward after being bundled by the bundling unit 222 as described above. The bundle transport unit 226 transports the small bundles toward a bundle dispensing unit 227 provided at the upper front surface of the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201, or transports the small bundles to a plurality of, specifically four, bundle storage units 228-231 arranged in the front-rear direction behind the bundle dispensing unit 227. The bundle dispensing unit 227 allows small bundles to be loaded from the outside and small bundles to be removed to the outside.

[0227] Also, at the bottom of the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201, from the rear, there are arranged in the front-to-back direction with top, bottom, left and right positions overlapping, a denomination cassette 235 which stores banknotes of a specific single denomination in a vertically stacked state after the deposit has been confirmed, a similar denomination cassette 236, a similar denomination cassette 237, a mixed cassette 238 which stores banknotes in a vertically stacked state after the deposit has been confirmed, and a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B which serves as a temporary storage section for storing, for example, deposited banknotes in a vertically stacked state before the deposit has been confirmed.

[0228] Each of the denomination cassettes 235 to 237 and the mixed cassette 238 takes in banknotes from the top and stacks them vertically in a horizontally spread state, and separates and feeds the internal banknotes one by one starting from the top.

[0229] The deposit / withdrawal unit 211 described above discharges banknotes stored in the denomination cassettes 235-237 and the mixed cassette 238 and banknotes stored in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B so that they can be removed outside the machine. The alignment units 219, 220 each align banknotes, for example, fed one by one from a selected one of the denomination cassettes 235-237, in a horizontally spread state and stack them vertically by a specified number of bundling units (for example, 100 banknotes).

[0230] Inside the banknote deposit / withdrawal machine 201, a banknote transport path 241 for transporting banknotes is provided so as to appropriately connect each section. The banknote transport path 241 moves the banknotes along the short side direction, which is the first direction. The banknote transport path 241 has a main transport section 12B. As shown by a thick solid line in FIG. 12, the main transport section 12B extends from the deposit / withdrawal section 211 in an upward direction toward the rear, then in a downward direction toward the rear, further extends vertically downward, then extends once to the front, then turns back to the rear at the bottom, extends to the rear, passes through the recognition section 13, extends downward, further extends forward, and extends downward from the front end to be connected to the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B.

[0231] In addition, the banknote conveying path 241 has a conveying section 241B that branches off from a midway position on the lower part of the main conveying section 12B and extends downward to connect to the denomination cassette 235, a conveying section 241C that branches off from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B side closer to the conveying section 241B of the main conveying section 12B and extends downward to connect to the denomination cassette 236, a conveying section 241D that branches off from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B side closer to the conveying section 241C of the main conveying section 12B and extends downward to connect to the denomination cassette 237, and a conveying section 241E that branches off from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B side closer to the conveying section 241D of the main conveying section 12B and extends downward to connect to the mixed cassette 238.

[0232] In addition, the banknote transport path 241 has a transport section 241F that branches upward from a portion along the vertical direction between the transport section 241E of the main transport section 12B and the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B and extends rearward to connect between the deposit / withdrawal section 211 and the recognition section 13 of the main transport section 12B, and a transport section 241G that branches off from a position between the branching position of the transport section 241E of the main transport section 12B and the branching position of the transport section 241F, extends upward, and is connected to an intermediate position of the transport section 241F.

[0233] In addition, the banknote transport path 241 has a transport section 241H that branches off from a position between the connection position of transport section 241G in transport section 241F and the connection position of main transport section 12B, extends upward, and then extends forward to connect to the deposit rejection section 216, a transport section 241I that branches off from a position between the connection position of transport section 241F in main transport section 12B and the deposit / withdrawal section 211, extends forward to connect to an intermediate position of transport section 241H, and a transport section 241J that branches off upward from a position between the connection position of transport section 241I in transport section 241H and the deposit rejection section 216, extends upward at the rear, and connects to the withdrawal rejection section 217.

[0234] In addition, the banknote transport path 241 has a transport section 241L that branches off rearward between the connection position of the transport section 241I in the main transport section 12B and the deposit / withdrawal section 211 and is connected to the alignment section 219, and a transport section 241M that branches off rearward between the connection position of the transport section 241I in the main transport section 12B and the branch position of the transport section 241L and is connected to the alignment section 220.

[0235] Here, the above-mentioned main transport section 12B and transport sections 241B to 241F are capable of transporting banknotes in both forward and reverse directions, while the transport sections 241G to 241J, 241L, and 241M are capable of transporting banknotes in only one direction.

[0236] Next, the main processing of the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201 will be described.

[0237] "Banknote deposit processing" The thick lines in Fig. 12 indicate the route of the banknote deposit process in which banknotes inserted into the deposit / withdrawal unit 211 from outside the machine are identified, counted, and temporarily stored while being transported. The route of the banknote deposit process is basically a route for transporting banknotes by the main transport unit 12B. When banknotes are placed in the deposit / withdrawal unit 211 and an input operation is performed on the operation display unit (not shown) to perform the banknote deposit process, the control unit (not shown) starts the banknote deposit process, and the deposit / withdrawal unit 211 separates the banknotes one by one from the top and feeds them at predetermined intervals, and the fed banknotes are transported by the main transport unit 12B. A control unit (not shown) causes the recognition unit 13 to recognize and count the banknotes while they are being transported by the main transport unit 12B, and causes the main transport unit 12B to transport banknotes determined to be acceptable by the recognition unit 13 to the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, as shown by the thick solid line in Fig. 12, while causes the main transport unit 12B and transport units 241G, 241F, 241H to transport banknotes determined to be unacceptable by the recognition unit 13 to the deposit rejection unit 216, as shown by the thick solid line and thick dashed line in Fig. 12. As a result, acceptable banknotes are stored in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, and unacceptable banknotes are released to the deposit rejection unit 216.

[0238] Here, when storing banknotes in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, the control unit (not shown) moves the banknotes identified by the recognition unit 13 as the predetermined A direction along the short side direction, which is the first direction, by the first reference direction transport unit 71B shown in FIG. 11 to transport them to the first receiving unit 21, as described above. In addition, the control unit (not shown) moves the banknotes identified by the recognition unit 13 as the D direction, which is the direction in which the front and back are reversed and upside down with respect to the A direction, along the short side direction by the first reversing transport unit 72B, while inverting the front and back with respect to the transport by the first reference direction transport unit 71B based on the long side direction, which is the second direction perpendicular to the short side direction, which is the first direction, and transports them to the first receiving unit 21. In this way, the banknotes identified by the recognition unit 13 as the A direction and the banknotes identified as the D direction are accumulated and stored in the first receiving unit 21.

[0239] The control unit (not shown) moves the banknotes identified by the recognition unit 13 as C-direction, which is the same as the A-direction but has the same top and bottom, along the short side direction by the second reference direction conveying unit 73B and conveys them to the second receiving unit 22. The control unit (not shown) moves the banknotes identified by the recognition unit 13 as B-direction, which is the same as the A-direction but has the same top and bottom, along the short side direction by the second reversing conveying unit 74B, while inverting the banknotes with respect to the conveyance by the second reference direction conveying unit 73B based on the long side direction, and conveys them to the second receiving unit 22. The control unit (not shown) moves the banknotes in the second receiving unit 22 along the long side direction by the third reversing conveying unit 121, while inverting the banknotes with respect to the short side direction, and conveys them to the third receiving unit 23. In this way, the banknotes identified by the recognition unit 13 as C-direction and the banknotes identified as B-direction are accumulated and stored in the third receiving unit 23.

[0240] "Banknote storage processing" 13 indicates a route of a banknote storage process in which, on the condition that an approval operation is input to an operation display unit (not shown), banknotes temporarily stored in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B in the banknote deposit process are confirmed and stored in the corresponding denomination cassettes 235-237 and the mixed cassette 238. In the banknote storage process, a control unit (not shown) causes the banknotes in the first receiving unit 21 of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B to be fed one by one from the top end, and the banknotes in the third receiving unit 23 to be fed one by one from the top end, and causes the fed banknotes to be transported to the recognition unit 13 by the transport unit 241F and the main transport unit 12B as shown by a thick solid line in FIG. 13, and causes the main transport unit 12B and the corresponding transport units 241B-241E to transport the fed banknotes to the corresponding denomination cassettes 235-237 and the mixed cassette 238 based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 13. In this manner, the banknotes are stored in the corresponding denomination cassettes 235-237 and the mixed cassette 238. As a result, the banknotes are stored with their front and back and top and bottom aligned in the denomination cassettes 235-237 and the mixed cassette 238. Note that the control unit (not shown) controls the main transport unit 12B and transport units 241G, 241F, 241H, 241J to transport banknotes identified as having been fed multiple times or the like by the recognition unit 13 during the banknote storage process, as shown by the thick solid lines and thick dashed lines in Fig. 13, to the withdrawal rejection unit 217, and causes the banknotes to be stored in the withdrawal rejection unit 217.

[0241] "Banknote return processing" The thick lines in Fig. 14 indicate the route of the banknote return process in which the banknotes temporarily stored in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B in the banknote deposit process are fed to the deposit / withdrawal unit 211 on the condition that a cancel operation is input to the operation display unit (not shown). In the banknote return process, the control unit (not shown) feeds the banknotes from the first receiving unit 21 of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B one by one from the top, feeds the banknotes from the third receiving unit 23 one by one from the top, and conveys the fed banknotes to the deposit / withdrawal unit 211 by the main conveyance unit 12B. As a result, the banknotes are returned to the deposit / withdrawal unit 211. Since the banknotes are fed from the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, all the banknotes are returned to the deposit / withdrawal unit 211 with their front and back sides and top and bottom aligned.

[0242] "Banknote withdrawal processing" 15 indicates a route of a banknote dispensing process in which banknotes are dispensed from the designated denominations of the denomination cassettes 235, 236, and 237 based on a banknote dispensing operation input to an operation display unit (not shown). In the banknote dispensing process, a control unit (not shown) causes the designated denominations of banknotes stored in the denomination cassettes 235 to 237 to be fed one by one starting from the top, as indicated by a thick solid line in FIG. 15, and causes the fed banknotes to be conveyed to the recognition unit 13 by the corresponding ones of the conveyance units 241B to 241D and the main conveyance unit 12B, and after being recognized by the recognition unit 13, causes them to be conveyed to the depositing / dispensing unit 211. In this way, the banknotes based on the banknote dispensing operation are fed to the depositing / dispensing unit 211. Thus, the banknotes are dispensed to the depositing / dispensing unit 211. Here, since the denomination cassettes 235-237 store banknotes with their front and back sides and top and bottom aligned by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, all banknotes are dispensed with their front and back sides and top and bottom aligned to the deposit / withdrawal unit 211. Note that, for banknotes identified as duplicated or the like by the recognition unit 13 in the dispensing process, a control unit (not shown) causes the main transport unit 12B and transport units 241I, 241H, 241J to transport the banknotes to the dispensing reject unit 217 and store them in the dispensing reject unit 217, as shown by the thick solid lines and thick dashed lines in FIG. Here, since the denomination cassettes 235-237 store banknotes with their front and back sides and top and bottom aligned by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, all banknotes are also stored in the dispensing reject unit 217 with their front and back sides and top and bottom aligned. Here, the orientation of the banknotes stored in the withdrawal reject unit 217 is opposite to the orientation of the rejected banknotes during the banknote storage process shown in Fig. 13 and the orientation of the rejected banknotes during the banknote withdrawal process shown in Fig. 15. For this reason, by checking the orientation of the banknotes stored in the withdrawal reject unit 217 when collecting the rejected banknotes, it is possible to check when the rejected banknotes were stored, and some kind of response, i.e., response to multiple feeding, etc., can be made possible.

[0243] The banknotes are stored in the denomination cassettes 235 to 237 with the front and back and the top and bottom aligned by the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B. Therefore, even when banknotes of a specified denomination are fed from the denomination cassettes 235, 236 and 237, accumulated in the alignment unit 219 or the alignment unit 220, and bundled in the bundling unit 222, the banknotes are bundled with the front and back and the top and bottom aligned.

[0244] The banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201 described above has the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, and therefore can align the front and back and the top and bottom of banknotes, and can also prevent the machine from becoming large.

[0245] In addition, the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201 temporarily stores banknotes in the first receiving section 21 of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B, and temporarily stores banknotes in the third receiving section 23, so that the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B also serves as the temporary storage section, making it possible to further prevent the size from increasing.

[0246] It is also possible to remove one of the denomination cassettes 235-237 and the mixed cassette 238 from the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201, and move the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B backward accordingly. With this configuration, it is also possible to make the lower front surface of the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201 flush.

[0247] Furthermore, application of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanisms 11, 11A, 11B to a banknote deposit and withdrawal machine is not limited to the above examples, and various configurations can be adopted.

[0248] 16, a loading and recovery cassette 251 may be provided on the same line as the denomination cassettes 235-237, the mixed cassette 238 and the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B at the lower front part of the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201. The loading and recovery cassette 251 is used when refilling the denomination cassettes 235-237, etc. in the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201 with banknotes loaded outside the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201, and is used when recovering the banknotes in the denomination cassettes 235-237, etc. outside the banknote deposit and withdrawal machine 201. When the loading and recovery cassette 251 is provided, a transport section 252 connected to a midway position of the transport section 241F is provided so that the flow direction (orientation) of banknotes from the deposit / withdrawal section 211 shown in Figure 12 to the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B is the same as the flow direction (orientation) of banknotes from the loading and recovery cassette 251 to the denomination cassettes 235 to 237, etc.

[0249] 16, the set portion of the loading / recovery cassette 251 protrudes from the lower front side of the banknote deposit / withdrawal machine 201, but this is not limiting, and it is also possible to remove one of the denomination cassettes 235-237 and the mixed cassette 238 and move the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B and the loading / recovery cassette 251 backward by that amount. With this configuration, it is also possible to make the lower front side of the banknote deposit / withdrawal machine 201 flush.

[0250] The banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanisms 11, 11A, and 11B in the above-described embodiments have been described as being controlled on the premise that all directions (orientations) of banknotes are aligned in one direction according to the recognition result of the recognition unit 13, but the present invention is not limited to this, and in order to reduce the risk of controlling the top / bottom, front / back alignment operation, a mode may be selectable that does not control the alignment of all directions (orientations) of banknotes into one. In this case, for example, in the banknote deposit / withdrawal machine 201, when this mode is selected, the banknotes in the deposit / withdrawal unit 211 are controlled to be temporarily stored in the first receiving unit 21 and the third receiving unit 23 of the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B via two routes. That is, when this mode is selected, when it is confirmed that the banknotes are to be temporarily stored after being identified as deposited banknotes, these banknotes are first all stored in the first receiving unit 21 from one transport route, and when the first receiving unit 21 is about to become full, the remaining banknotes are stored in the third receiving unit 23 from another transport route, and the banknotes are temporarily stored in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11, 11A, 11B. The banknotes temporarily stored in the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism 11B are stored in the denomination cassettes 235-237 or returned to the deposit / withdrawal unit 211, as necessary, in the same manner as described above.

[0251] The condition is that the number of banknotes X that can be loaded into the deposit / withdrawal unit 211 must be equal to or less than the total number P1+P2 obtained by adding the limit number P1 that can be stored in the first receiving unit 21 and the limit number P2 that can be stored in the third receiving unit 23 (X≦P1+P2). However, if X>P1+P2, then a split deposit process (depositing in multiple installments) will be executed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0252] 11, 11A, 11B...banknote all-direction alignment mechanism, 21...first receiving section, 22...second receiving section, 23...third receiving section, 71, 71A, 71B...first reference direction conveying section, 72, 72A, 72B...first reversing conveying section, 73, 73A, 73B...second reference direction conveying section, 74, 74A, 74B...second reversing conveying section, 121...third reversing conveying section, 201...banknote deposit and withdrawal machine.

Claims

1. A direction, A direction B, which is the same on both sides but upside down compared to the direction A; A direction C, which is the opposite of the A direction but has the same top and bottom. A direction D in which the front and back are reversed and upside down with respect to the direction A; a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism that aligns the orientation of banknotes moving from an upstream side along a first direction, which is one of the long side direction and the short side direction, a first receiving section, a second receiving section, and a third receiving section that receive banknotes in a manner that allows them to be fed out; a first reference direction transport unit that moves the banknote in the A direction along the first direction and transports it to the first receiving unit; a first inversion transport unit that moves the banknote in the D direction along the first direction while inverting the banknote with respect to the transport by the first reference direction transport unit based on a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and transports the banknote to the first receiving unit; a second reference direction transport unit that moves the banknote in the C direction along the first direction and transports it to the second receiving unit; a second reversing conveying unit that conveys the banknote in the B direction to the second receiving unit while moving the banknote in the B direction along the first direction and inverting the banknote with respect to the conveyance by the second reference direction conveying unit based on the second direction; a third inversion transport unit that moves the banknotes in the C direction and the banknotes in the B direction in the second receiving unit along the second direction while inverting the banknotes with respect to the first direction and transporting them to the third receiving unit; A banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism having the above structure.

2. The first receiving unit accumulates and stores the banknotes in the A direction and the banknotes in the D direction. The bill omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to claim 1.

3. The third receiving unit accumulates and stores the banknotes in the C direction and the banknotes in the B direction. The bill omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to claim 1.

4. The third reversing transport unit transports the banknotes in the second receiving unit one by one or multiple by one along the second direction while reversing the banknotes with respect to the first direction to the third receiving unit. The bill omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to claim 3.

5. A banknote deposit and withdrawal machine comprising the banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism according to claim 1.

6. A direction, A direction B, which is the same on both sides but upside down compared to the direction A; A direction C, which is the opposite of the A direction but has the same top and bottom. A direction D in which the front and back are reversed and upside down with respect to the direction A; a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism that aligns the orientation of banknotes moving from an upstream side along a first direction, which is one of the long side direction and the short side direction, a first receiving section, a second receiving section, and a third receiving section that receive banknotes in a manner that allows them to be fed out; a first reference direction transport unit that moves the banknote in the A direction along the first direction and transports it to the first receiving unit; a first inversion transport unit that moves the banknote in the D direction along the first direction while inverting the banknote with respect to the transport by the first reference direction transport unit based on a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and transports the banknote to the first receiving unit; a second reference direction transport unit that moves the banknote in the C direction along the first direction and transports it to the second receiving unit; a second reversing conveying unit that conveys the banknote in the B direction to the second receiving unit while moving the banknote in the B direction along the first direction and inverting the banknote with respect to the conveyance by the second reference direction conveying unit based on the second direction; a third inversion transport unit that moves the banknotes in the C direction and the banknotes in the B direction in the second receiving unit along the second direction while inverting the banknotes with respect to the first direction and transporting them to the third receiving unit; A banknote depositing and dispensing machine that accumulates and temporarily stores banknotes in the first receiving section and the second receiving section of a banknote omnidirectional alignment mechanism having the banknote depositing and dispensing mechanism.

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