Small bundle processing device

Abstract

To provide a small bundle processing device that can prevent processing efficiency from decreasing.SOLUTION: A small bundle processing device 1 includes: a small bundle conveyance part 120 that conveys small bundles W; small bundle storage sheds 85, 105 disposed below the small bundle conveyance part 120 and configured to store small bundles W in an accumulated state; vertically-movable small bundle mounting tables 87, 107 on which small bundles W are mounted in the accumulated state in the small bundle storage sheds 85, 105; small bundle height determination means 88, 89, 108, and 109 for determining the entire height of the small bundles W mounted on the small bundle mounting tables 87, 107; and a control unit. The control unit controls operation of the small bundle processing device 1 based on the entire height of the small bundles W determined by the small bundle height determination means 88, 89, 108, and 109.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a small bundle processing device.

Background Art

[0002] A banknote processing machine is disclosed as an example of a small bundle processing device that stores a so-called small bundle, which is a bundle of banknotes formed by accumulating a predetermined number (for example, 100 sheets) of banknotes and binding them with a binding tape (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It is desired to suppress a decrease in processing efficiency in a small bundle processing device.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a small bundle processing device capable of suppressing a decrease in processing efficiency.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the small bundle processing device according to the present invention is a small bundle processing device including a small bundle conveyance unit that conveys a small bundle, a small bundle storage that is disposed below the small bundle conveyance unit and stores the small bundle in an accumulated state, a small bundle placement table that is movable up and down and on which the small bundle is placed in an accumulated state within the small bundle storage, small bundle height determination means for determining the height of the entire small bundle placed on the small bundle placement table, and a control unit, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the small bundle processing device based on the height of the entire small bundle determined by the small bundle height determination means.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a small bundle processing device that can suppress a decrease in processing efficiency.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 11

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0009] A banknote processing apparatus which is an embodiment of a bundled note processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The banknote processing apparatus 1 (bundled note processing apparatus) of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 performs deposit and withdrawal processing and the like for banknotes. In the following description, the side where the operator stands during the main operation of the banknote processing apparatus 1 is defined as "front", the opposite side as "rear", the left side as "left", and the right side as "right" when viewed from the operator at this time.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the banknote processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that a first unit 11 and a second unit 12 are arranged side by side on the left and right. The first unit 11 on the right side is a unit that performs deposit and withdrawal processing for loose banknotes. The second unit 12 on the left side is a unit that performs deposit and withdrawal processing for the bundled note W shown in FIG. 2 formed by accumulating loose banknotes of a single denomination in a predetermined bundling unit number (for example, 100 sheets) and bundling them with a binding tape, and withdrawal of loose banknotes of new banknotes. The first unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 can create the bundled note W shown in FIG. 2 from loose banknotes and deliver the created bundled note W to the second unit 12.

[0011] [First Unit 11] As shown in FIG. 1, in the first unit 11, a loose deposit section 20, a loose withdrawal return section 21, and a loose withdrawal reject bin 22 are provided at the upper part on the front side of its housing 15. The loose withdrawal return section 21 is provided above the loose deposit section 20, and the loose withdrawal reject bin 22 is provided above the loose withdrawal return section 21.

[0012] The loose bill depositing section 20 has a shutter 23 that can be opened and closed. In the loose bill depositing section 20, when the shutter 23 is open, loose bills are inserted from outside the machine, and then, when the shutter 23 is closed, the loose bills are fed into the first unit 11. In the loose bill depositing section 20, the loose bills will be stacked and placed from bottom to top in a posture with their longitudinal direction along the left - right direction. The first unit 11 separates the loose bills stacked in the loose bill depositing section 20 one by one from the bottom one and feeds them into the first unit 11 at a predetermined interval. Note that the loose bills are basically conveyed in the first unit 11 in a posture with their short - hand direction along the conveying direction.

[0013] The loose bill paying - out and returning section 21 has a shutter 25 that can be opened and closed. In the loose bill paying - out and returning section 21, when the shutter 25 is closed, the loose bills for paying out are fed out from the first unit 11, and then, when the shutter 25 is opened, the loose bills are taken out of the machine. In the loose bill paying - out and returning section 21, the loose bills rejected during the loose bill depositing process are also fed out. In the loose bill paying - out and returning section 21, the loose bills fed out from the first unit 11 will be stacked and placed from bottom to top in a posture with their longitudinal direction along the left - right direction.

[0014] The loose bill paying - out reject bin 22 is detachable from the housing 15 of the first unit 11. Inside the loose bill paying - out reject bin 22, the loose bills fed out from the first unit 11 are stacked and stored from bottom to top in a posture with their longitudinal direction along the left - right direction. The loose bill paying - out reject bin 22 is removed from the housing 15 while storing the loose bills inside, and then the loose bills are taken out from the inside.

[0015] On the upper surface of the front side of the first unit 11, to the left of the loose bill paying - out and returning section 21 and the loose bill paying - out reject bin 22, there is an operation display section 28 where an operator makes operation inputs and where displays are made toward the operator. Also, in the banknote processing apparatus 1, a control section 30 (small - bundle height determination means) that controls the whole apparatus is provided inside the first unit 11. Note that the operation display section 28 and the control section 30 can also be provided in the second unit 12.

[0016] When loose banknotes are inserted into the loose bill depositing unit 20 of the first unit 11, the loose bill depositing unit 20 will feed out the inserted loose banknotes into the first unit 11. The first unit 11 identifies the authenticity of the loose banknotes fed out by the loose bill depositing unit 20, the denominations of genuine banknotes, and the presence or absence of conveyance abnormalities such as double feeding, skewing, or near-feeding, etc., and temporarily stores the loose banknotes that are determined to be acceptable for acceptance based on the identification results, classifying them by denomination while counting. On the other hand, the first unit 11 can return the loose banknotes identified as unacceptable for acceptance from the identification results to the loose bill payout return unit 21.

[0017] Then, when all the loose banknotes inserted into the loose bill depositing unit 20 are temporarily stored respectively or returned to the loose bill payout return unit 21, the first unit 11 displays the identification and counting results of the temporarily stored loose banknotes on the operation display unit 28. When an approval operation is input to the operation display unit 28 by the operator after seeing this display, the first unit 11 stores the loose banknotes that were temporarily stored and are acceptable for acceptance, in other words, the loose banknotes that can be paid out, classifying them by denomination. On the other hand, when a cancellation operation is input to the operation display unit 28 by the operator, the first unit 11 can return the temporarily stored loose banknotes to the loose bill payout return unit 21.

[0018] Based on the loose banknote payout operation input to the operation display unit 28, the first unit 11 identifies the stored loose banknotes and pays out the loose banknotes with normal conveyance to the loose bill payout return unit 21 in a retrievable manner, while storing the loose banknotes with conveyance abnormalities in the loose bill payout reject bin 22. In this way, the first unit 11 pays out the stored loose banknotes that can be paid out, in the denominations and quantities based on the loose banknote payout operation, to the loose bill payout return unit 21 in a retrievable manner.

[0019] Based on the small-denomination withdrawal operation input to the operation display unit 28, the first unit 11 creates a small bundle W from the loose banknotes stored for withdrawal and delivers it to the second unit 12. That is, the first unit 11 creates small bundles W of the denominations and quantities input to the operation display unit 28 one by one from the loose banknotes stored for withdrawal and sends them out to the second unit 12 one by one.

[0020] [Second Unit 12] The second unit 12 has a small-denomination deposit / withdrawal section 41 at the upper part of the front side of its housing 40, and has a new banknote withdrawal section 42 above the small-denomination deposit / withdrawal section 41 on the front side of the housing 40.

[0021] The second unit 12 has a new banknote storage / withdrawal section 45 at the rear part of the new banknote withdrawal section 42 at the upper part of the housing 40, which stores new banknotes of loose banknotes and withdraws the new banknotes of the stored loose banknotes from the new banknote withdrawal section 42. The new banknote withdrawal section 42 has an openable and closable shutter 46. When the shutter 46 is in the closed state, new banknotes of the loose banknotes for withdrawal are fed out from the new banknote storage / withdrawal section 45, and then, when the shutter 46 is opened, the new banknotes of the loose banknotes are taken out of the machine.

[0022] The small-denomination deposit / withdrawal section 41 has an openable and closable shutter 51. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the small-denomination deposit / withdrawal section 41 has a pair of openable and closable flappers 52 that constitute its bottom. The pair of flappers 52 are horizontally arranged and arranged in the same plane in the closed state by the biasing force of a spring (not shown), and can be rotated upward against the biasing force of the spring (not shown) to be in the open state. Also, the pair of flappers 52 can be rotated downward synchronously by the drive of a flapper motor (not shown) to be in the open state.

[0023] The second unit 12 has a small bundle lifting section 61. The small bundle lifting section 61 is disposed directly below the small bundle deposit / withdrawal section 41, and has a small bundle placement table 62 that extends horizontally and is vertically movable, i.e., can be raised and lowered. The small bundle placement table 62 is driven by a placement table motor (not shown) to rise and lower. The small bundle placement table 62 can rise and lower over the pair of flappers 52 in the closed state, and is shaped to avoid interfering with the pair of flappers 52 when doing so.

[0024] The small bundle lifting section 61 has a bill press 63 that is arranged directly above the small bundle placement table 62, extends horizontally, and is movable in the vertical direction, i.e., can be raised and lowered. The bill press 63 is driven by a bill press motor (not shown) to lift and lower. The bill press 63 can clamp the small bundle W between itself and the small bundle placement table 62 in the thickness direction, in other words, in the direction of the printing surfaces of the loose banknotes that make up the small bundle W. The bill press 63 can be raised and lowered over a pair of flappers 52 that are in a closed state.

[0025] In the small bundle deposit / withdrawal unit 41, when the shutter 51 shown in Fig. 1 is opened by driving a shutter motor (not shown), a small bundle W is placed from outside the banknote processing device 1 on the pair of flappers 52 shown in Fig. 2 which are in a closed state at this time, and on the small bundle placement table 62 which is in a loading position and has its upper surface flush with the pair of flappers 52 which are in the closed state at this time. At this time, the small bundle W is placed on the pair of flappers 52 and the small bundle placement table 62 with its longitudinal direction aligned in the left-right direction. Thereafter, when the shutter 51 is closed, the pair of flappers 52 are synchronously rotated downward by driving a flapper motor (not shown) to open, and the small bundle placement table 62 is lowered by driving a placement table motor (not shown) to convey the small bundle W downward.

[0026] In the small bundle input / output section 41, the upper side of the pair of flappers 52 in the closed state is a small bundle accumulation space 65 in which the small bundle W shown in Fig. 2 can be inserted and removed when the shutter 51 shown in Fig. 1 is in the open state. In other words, the pair of flappers 52 are provided at the lower end of the small bundle accumulation space 65 so as to be able to open and close.

[0027] When the small bundle placement table 62 is located at a predetermined withdrawal position, it will be provided within this small bundle accumulation space 65. The small bundle placement table 62 places the small bundles W loaded in the small bundle accumulation space 65. The number of small bundles W held at one time in the small bundle accumulation space 65 is limited, for example, it is 10 bundles.

[0028] The building press 63 clamps the small bundles W stacked on the small bundle placement table 62 in the vertical direction together with the small bundle placement table 62.

[0029] When the shutter 51 shown in FIG. 1 is in the closed state in the small bundle loading / unloading section 41, the small bundles W for withdrawal are conveyed from within the second unit 12 to the small bundle placement table 62 of the small bundle lifting section 61 shown in FIG. 2 from below. At that time, with the small bundles W placed on it, the small bundle placement table 62 rises from below the pair of flaps 52 beyond the pair of flaps 52 to a predetermined upper position by driving a placement table motor (not shown). Then, the small bundles W placed on the small bundle placement table 62 pass through the pair of flaps 52 while rotating the pair of flaps 52 upward against the biasing force of a flap spring (not shown). After this passage, the pair of flaps 52 rotate downward by the biasing force of the flap spring and return to the closed state. Then, when the small bundle placement table 62 descends, although the small bundle placement table 62 passes through the pair of closed flaps 52, the small bundles W are placed on the pair of closed flaps 52 and remain in the small bundle accumulation space 65. In this way, the small bundle placement table 62 feeds the placed small bundles W into the small bundle loading / unloading section 41 at a predetermined upper position.

[0030] In the small bundle depositing and withdrawing unit 41, when a plurality of small bundles W are retained in the small bundle depositing and withdrawing unit 41 for withdrawal, the small bundle placing table 62 will rise from below with respect to the previously retained small bundle W placed on the pair of flappers 52 in the state where the subsequent small bundle W is placed. Then, the small bundle placing table 62 places the previous small bundle W placed on the pair of flappers 52 on the subsequent small bundle W, and while opening the pair of flappers 52 with the subsequent small bundle W, it rises to a predetermined upper position beyond the pair of flappers 52. After the pair of flappers 52 return to the closed state by the biasing force of the flapper springs, the small bundle placing table 62 descends, so that the subsequent small bundle W is placed on the pair of flappers 52 and the previous small bundle W is placed on the subsequent small bundle W. By appropriately repeating such an operation, in the small bundle depositing and withdrawing unit 41, the small bundles W conveyed from within the second unit 12 are placed in a stacked state where they are stacked from bottom to top in a posture with the thickness direction, in other words, the stacking direction of the loose banknotes, as the vertical direction and the longitudinal direction along the horizontal direction. The small bundle depositing and withdrawing unit 41 can support a predetermined maximum number (for example, 10 bundles) of small bundles W that can be retained in the small bundle accumulation space 65 by at least a pair of flappers 52. The small bundle lifting and lowering unit 61 is located below the small bundle depositing and withdrawing unit 41, and the small bundles W for withdrawal will be placed one by one on the small bundle placing table 62. However, each time a small bundle W is placed, the small bundle placing table 62 is moved to a predetermined upper position to merge a plurality of small bundles W in the small bundle depositing and withdrawing unit 41.

[0031] When the small bundle placement table 62 rises from below the pair of closed flappers 52 to a predetermined payout position above the pair of flappers 52 in a state where the small bundle W is not placed, it will lift the small bundle W on the pair of closed flappers 52 above the pair of flappers 52. After that, when the shutter 51 is opened, the small bundle W is taken out from the small bundle input / output section 41 to the outside of the second unit 12. In other words, the small bundle input / output section 41 holds the small bundle W in a state where it can be taken out to the outside of the second unit 12. As described above, by setting the payout position of the small bundle placement table 62 to a position slightly above the pair of closed flappers 52, while stably holding the bottom surface of the small bundle W with the small bundle placement table 62, a gap is generated between the bottom surface of the lowermost small bundle W and the pair of closed flappers 52 in the closed state. For this reason, it becomes easier for the operator to take out the small bundle W from the small bundle input / output section 41. Note that the payout position of the small bundle placement table 62 may be a position below the pair of flappers 52. Thereby, it becomes easy for the operator to grasp and extract the middle part in the front-rear direction of the small bundle W placed on the pair of flappers 52.

[0032] The second unit 12 has a small bundle receiving section 71 behind the small bundle lifting section 61, which receives the small bundle W shown in FIG. 2 that has been bundled and sent out by the first unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 at a predetermined upper receiving position, sandwiches it from above and below, and conveys it downward. The small bundle receiving section 71 receives a bundle of small bundles W from the first unit 11, sandwiches only the received bundle of small bundles W, conveys it to a predetermined lower delivery position on the lower limit side, and further conveys it forward and delivers it to the small bundle placement table 62 of the small bundle lifting section 61. Let the height position of the small bundle placement table 62 at this time be the first position. Therefore, the small bundle receiving section 71 delivers the small bundle W to the small bundle placement table 62 at the predetermined first position. The first position is different from the above-described predetermined upper position within the small bundle input / output section 41 and is below the predetermined upper position. In other words, the small bundle placement table 62 receives the small bundle W from the small bundle receiving section 71 at the first position below the predetermined upper position.

[0033] The small bundle receiving part 71 receives a bundle of small bundles W sent out longitudinally from the first unit 11 in a posture with the stacking direction of the loose banknotes being vertical and the longitudinal direction along the left - right direction, conveys it downward while maintaining that posture, and also conveys it forward while maintaining that posture and delivers it onto the small bundle placement table 62 at the first position. Therefore, the small bundle W delivered from the small bundle receiving part 71 onto the small bundle placement table 62 also has a posture with the stacking direction of the loose banknotes being vertical and the longitudinal direction along the left - right direction.

[0034] At the lower part of the second unit 12, a plurality of, specifically four, small bundle storage parts 81 with the same structure are arranged in a row front - to - back with their vertical and horizontal positions aligned. These small bundle storage parts 81 can store the small bundle W and can feed out the stored small bundle W.

[0035] In the second unit 12, among the plurality of small bundle storage parts 81, the small bundle storage part 81(A) arranged at the rearmost side, the small bundle storage part 81(B) arranged second from the rear, the small bundle storage part 81(C) arranged third from the rear, and the small bundle storage part 81(D) arranged at the foremost side all store the small bundle W by stacking it from bottom to top in a posture with the stacking direction of the loose banknotes being vertical and the longitudinal direction along the left - right direction.

[0036] The small bundle storage part 81(A) stores the small bundle W so that it can be fed out in a mixed denomination manner. In contrast, the small bundle storage part 81(B) stores a small bundle W of a predetermined single denomination (specifically, a small bundle W of thousand - yen notes), the small bundle storage part 81(C) stores a small bundle W of a predetermined single denomination (specifically, a small bundle W of ten - thousand - yen notes), and the small bundle storage part 81(D) stores a small bundle W of a predetermined single denomination (specifically, a small bundle W of ten - thousand - yen notes), each in a manner that can be fed out. Specifically, the small bundle storage part 81(A) stores the small bundle W of five - thousand - yen notes, the overflow part that cannot be fully stored in the small bundle storage part 81(B) of the small bundle W of thousand - yen notes, and the overflow part that cannot be fully stored in the small bundle storage parts 81(C) and 81(D) of the small bundle W of ten - thousand - yen notes.

[0037] In this way, the second unit 12 has a plurality of, specifically three, small bundle storage parts 81 for single denominations (the small bundle W of ten thousand yen bills and the small bundle W of one thousand yen bills), classified by denomination. Note that the storage pattern of the small bundle storage part 81 is not limited to the above and can be arbitrarily set.

[0038] A plurality of small bundle storage parts 81 with the same structure each have a rectangular tube-shaped small bundle storage bin 85 that forms an internal space for storing the small bundles W in an aggregated state, a pair of flaps 86 provided above the small bundle storage bin 85 to open and close the opening at the upper part of the small bundle storage bin 85, and a small bundle placement table 87 that places the small bundles W in an aggregated state within the small bundle storage bin 85 and can move up and down within the internal space of the small bundle storage bin 85. Also, each of the plurality of small bundle storage parts 81 has a lower position sensor 88 (small bundle height determination means) and an upper position sensor 89 (small bundle height determination means) provided above the lower position sensor 88.

[0039] The pair of flaps 86 are horizontally arranged and arranged in the same plane. They rotate downward synchronously by the drive of a flap motor (not shown in detail) from the closed state to the open state.

[0040] The small bundle placement table 87 spreads horizontally and is driven to move up and down by a placement table motor (not shown in detail) in this state. In the small bundle storage part 81, the small bundles W are placed on the small bundle placement table 87 in a stacked state where they are stacked from bottom to top with the stacking direction of the loose bills being vertical and the longitudinal direction along the left-right direction.

[0041] The lower position sensor 88 detects the small bundle placement table 87 when the small bundle placement table 87 is located at a predetermined lower limit position on the lower limit side.

[0042] The upper position sensor 89 detects that when there is no small bundle W on the small bundle placement table 87, the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 87 is located at a predetermined upper standby position where it does not interfere with the opening operation of the pair of flaps 86, and when there is a small bundle W on the small bundle placement table 87, it detects that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is located at a predetermined upper standby position where it does not interfere with the opening operation of the pair of flaps 86.

[0043] Further, each of the small bundle storage units 81 has a small bundle counting unit 90 shown in FIG. 3. In the small bundle storage bin 85, a slit 91 that exposes the vicinity of the tape T made of the binding tape of the small bundle W being stored extends in the vertical direction. The small bundle counting unit 90 includes a guide shaft 92 extending in the vertical direction, a sliding member 93 that slides along the guide shaft 92, and an imaging unit 94 attached to the sliding member 93 and facing the slit 91. The small bundle counting unit 90 drives a counting motor (not shown) to move the sliding member 93 up and down along the guide shaft 92, so that the imaging unit 94 moves up and down along the slit 91 to image the image of the small bundles W stacked in the small bundle storage bin 85 through the slit 91, analyzes the image to determine the number of tapes T, and counts the number of small bundles W from the number of tapes T. The imaging unit 94 scans up and down to image the image of the small bundles W in the small bundle storage bin 85.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 2, at the lower part of the second unit 12, in front of the small bundle storage unit 81(D), there is provided a small bundle recovery cassette unit 100 that is detachable from the housing 40 and stores the small bundles W conveyed from the small bundle storage unit 81 when recovering the small bundles W, and also loads the replenishment small bundles W outside the banknote processing apparatus 1 when replenishing the small bundles W.

[0045] The small bundle recovery cassette unit 100 includes a rectangular tube-shaped small bundle storage bin 105 that forms an internal space for storing the small bundles W, a pair of flaps 106 provided at the upper part of the small bundle storage bin 105 to open and close the opening at the upper part of the small bundle storage bin 105, and a small bundle placement table 107 on which the stacked small bundles W are placed and that moves up and down within the internal space of the small bundle storage bin 105. Further, the small bundle recovery cassette unit 100 includes a lower position sensor 108 (small bundle height determination means) and an upper position sensor 109 (small bundle height determination means) provided above the lower position sensor 108.

[0046] The pair of flaps 106 are horizontally arranged and arranged in the same plane. From the closed state, they are synchronously rotated downward by the drive of a flap motor (not shown) to be in the open state.

[0047] The small bundle placement table 107 extends horizontally and is driven up and down in this state by a placement table motor (not shown). In the small bundle collection cassette section 100, small bundles W are placed in a stacked state on the small bundle placement table 107, with the stacking direction of the individual bills being vertical and the longitudinal direction along the left - right direction, stacked from bottom to top.

[0048] The lower position sensor 108 detects the small bundle placement table 107 when the small bundle placement table 107 is located at a predetermined lower limit position on the lower side.

[0049] The upper position sensor 109 detects that when there is no small bundle W on the small bundle placement table 107, the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 107 is located at a predetermined upper standby position where it does not interfere with the opening operation of the pair of flaps 106. Also, when there is a small bundle W on the small bundle placement table 107, it detects that the upper surface of the top - most small bundle W is located at a predetermined upper standby position where it does not interfere with the opening operation of the pair of flaps 106.

[0050] The second unit 12 is provided with a small bundle conveyance unit 120 that receives the small bundle W sent out from the small bundle lifting unit 61 between the small bundle collection cassette section 100 and the small bundle storage sections 81(A) - 81(D) and the small bundle receiving unit 71 in the vertical direction, and conveys it to the small bundle collection cassette section 100 and the small bundle storage sections 81(A) - 81(D). It also receives the small bundle W from the small bundle storage sections 81(A) - 81(D) and conveys it to the small bundle lifting unit 61, and further conveys the small bundle W between the small bundle collection cassette section 100 and the small bundle storage sections 81(A) - 81(D). The small bundle storage 105 of the small bundle collection cassette section 100 and the respective small bundle storages 85 of the small bundle storage sections 81(A) - 81(D) are arranged below the small bundle conveyance unit 120.

[0051] The small bundle conveyance unit 120 has at least a plurality of rollers (not shown) provided front - to - back and a conveyance belt 122 that extends in the front - to - back direction and is wound around the plurality of rollers. The conveyance belt 122 has an endless belt portion 123 and a plurality of cross - bars 124 provided at predetermined equal intervals on the outer peripheral portion of the endless belt portion 123.

[0052] Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the small bundle conveying unit 120 has an upper plate portion 125 that horizontally extends slightly below the horizontally extending lower side portion of the endless belt portion 123. A pair of slits 126 extending in the front-rear direction are formed side by side on the upper plate portion 125, and the endless belt portion 123 is provided at a position directly above each of these slits 126. Therefore, the small bundle conveying unit 120 has a pair of conveying belts 122. The conveying belt 122 has a crosspiece portion 124 that protrudes downward from the lower side portion of the endless belt portion 123, passing through the slit 126 and protruding below the lower surface of the upper plate portion 125.

[0053] For the pair of conveying belts 122, each of the plurality of crosspiece portions 124 provided on one conveying belt 122 and each of the plurality of crosspiece portions 124 provided on the other conveying belt 122 rotate synchronously with their phases aligned one by one. The small bundle conveying unit 120 receives a bundle of small bundles W between a pair of crosspiece portions 124 whose rotational directions are aligned and a pair of crosspiece portions 124 adjacent to the former on the upstream side in the rotational direction, and presses and conveys this small bundle W with the crosspiece portions 124 on the upstream side in the rotational direction when the pair of conveying belts 122 are driven by a conveying motor (not shown).

[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, the small bundle conveying unit 120 is provided with a feeding position sensor 128 at a predetermined position directly above each of the plurality of small bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D) and the small bundle collection cassette unit 100.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 4, the feeding position sensor 128 is provided at the position of a slit 201 provided between the pair of slits 126 of the upper plate portion 125 of the small bundle conveying unit 120, and has a lifting member 202, a biasing spring 203, a stopper 205, and an interrupter 206.

[0056] The lifting member 202 can move up and down. The lifting member 202 has a contact plate 211 that extends horizontally at the lower end and an interrupting plate 212 that protrudes laterally at an intermediate position. Further, the lifting member 202 has a pair of contact portions 213 that protrude on both sides at an intermediate position above the interrupting plate 212, and has a long hole 214 that is vertically long at an intermediate position above the pair of contact portions 213.

[0057] The stopper 205 is inserted into the long hole 214 of the lifting member 202 and contacts the upper end of the long hole 214 when the lifting member 202 descends, restricting the downward movement of the lifting member 202 below that position.

[0058] The biasing spring 203 biases the lifting member 202 downward so that the upper end of the long hole 214 contacts the stopper 205.

[0059] The interrupter 206 detects the interrupting plate 212 of the lifting member 202 when the small bundle W contacts the contact plate 211 from below, pushes up the contact plate 211 against the biasing force of the biasing spring 203, and the contact plate 211 is positioned at a predetermined height.

[0060] The small bundle storage unit 81 has a pair of flaps 86 that rotate downward to an open state by the drive of a flap motor (not shown), and the small bundle placement table 87 rises by the drive of a placement table motor (not shown), protruding the uppermost small bundle W among the small bundles W on the small bundle placement table 87 above the small bundle storage bin 85. When the upper surface of this small bundle W reaches a predetermined height, it abuts against the contact plate 211 of the feed position sensor 128 provided directly above the small bundle storage unit 81 and pushes up the contact plate 211. Then, the interrupter 206 detects the interrupt plate 212. Then, the control unit 30 stops the placement table motor (not shown). In this state, the small bundle conveyance unit 120 moves the crossbar 124 protruding downward from the endless belt unit 123 forward, and conveys this bundle of small bundles W by pushing it with the crossbar 124 toward the small bundle lifting unit 61. At this time, the small bundle storage unit 81 in front of this small bundle storage unit 81 has the pair of flaps 86 in a closed state. Therefore, this bundle of small bundles W moves forward on the pair of flaps 86. Also, at this time, the small bundle recovery cassette unit 100 has the pair of flaps 106 in a closed state, and this bundle of small bundles W moves forward on the pair of flaps 106. The feed position sensor 128 detects that the small bundle W in the small bundle storage unit 81 has reached the feed position where it is delivered to the small bundle conveyance unit 120. The small bundle W at the feed position has its upper surface a predetermined distance below the lower surface of the upper plate portion 125 and its lower surface slightly above the small bundle storage bin 85.

[0061] When the pair of flaps 86 in the closed state on which a bundle of small bundles W is placed rotate downward to an open state by the drive of a flap motor (not shown), the small bundle storage unit 81 drops the placed small bundle W onto the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W in the upper standby position if there is a small bundle W on the small bundle placement table 87, or onto the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 87 in the upper standby position if there is no small bundle W on the small bundle placement table 87. In this way, the small bundle storage unit 81 stores the small bundle W conveyed by the small bundle conveyance unit 120 from the small bundle lifting unit 61 or the small bundle recovery cassette unit 100.

[0062] The small bundle collection cassette unit 100 has a pair of flaps 106 that rotate downward to an open state by the drive of a flap motor (not shown), and a small bundle placement table 107 that rises by the drive of a placement table motor (not shown), protruding the uppermost small bundle W among the small bundles W on the small bundle placement table 107 above the small bundle storage 105. When this small bundle W reaches a predetermined height, it abuts against a contact plate 211 provided directly above the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 and pushes up the contact plate. Then, the interrupter 206 detects the interrupt plate 212. Then, the control unit 30 stops the placement table motor (not shown). In this state, the small bundle conveyance unit 120 moves the crosspiece 124 protruding downward from the endless belt unit 123 forward, and conveys this small bundle W by pushing it with the crosspiece 124 toward the small bundle lifting and lowering unit 61. Also, in this state, the small bundle conveyance unit 120 moves the crosspiece 124 protruding downward from the endless belt unit 123 backward, and conveys this small bundle W by pushing it with the crosspiece 124 toward the small bundle storage unit 81. The feeding position sensor 128 detects that the small bundle W in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 has reached the feeding position where it is delivered to the small bundle conveyance unit 120. The small bundle W at the feeding position has its upper surface a predetermined distance below the lower surface of the upper plate portion 125 and its lower surface slightly above the small bundle collection cassette unit 100.

[0063] When the pair of flaps 106 in the closed state on which a small bundle W is placed rotate downward to an open state by the drive of a flap motor (not shown), the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 drops the placed small bundle W onto the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W in the upper standby position if there is a small bundle W on the small bundle placement table 107, or onto the small bundle placement table 107 in the upper standby position if there is no small bundle W on the small bundle placement table 107. In this way, the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 stores the small bundle W conveyed by the small bundle conveyance unit 120 from the small bundle storage unit 81 side.

[0064] Below the second unit 12, between the small bundle storage section 81(D) and the small bundle collection cassette section 100 in the front-rear direction, there is provided a small bundle identification section 130 that identifies the denomination and the like from the image data of the small bundle W conveyed by the small bundle conveyance section 120. The small bundle identification section 130 counts while identifying the small bundle W conveyed from the small bundle collection cassette section 100 side to the small bundle storage section 81(D) side by the small bundle conveyance section 120, and counts while identifying the small bundle W conveyed from the small bundle storage section 81(D) side to the small bundle collection cassette section 100 side by the small bundle conveyance section 120.

[0065] The second unit 12 has a delivery mechanism 131 that pushes out the small bundle W received and conveyed by the small bundle conveyance section 120 from the small bundle storage sections 81(A) to 81(D) onto the small bundle placement table 62 of the small bundle lifting section 61. The delivery mechanism 131 descends and enters and ascends and retracts with respect to the conveyance path of the small bundle W by the small bundle conveyance section 120. The delivery mechanism 131 pushes out the small bundle W conveyed by the small bundle conveyance section 120 onto the small bundle placement table 62 by descending behind it and moving forward. The height position of the small bundle placement table 62 when receiving the small bundle W conveyed by the small bundle conveyance section 120 and pushed out by the delivery mechanism 131 is taken as the second position. The delivery mechanism 131 delivers the small bundle W to the small bundle placement table 62 at the second position. The second position is different from the above-described first position and is below the first position. In other words, the small bundle placement table 62 receives the small bundle W from the small bundle conveyance section 120 at a second position below a predetermined upper position.

[0066] The second unit 12 has an extrusion mechanism 135 that extrudes the small bundle W on the small bundle placement table 62 toward the small bundle conveyance section 120. The extrusion mechanism 135 extrudes the small bundle W on the small bundle placement table 62 toward the small bundle conveyance section 120 by moving backward from a state where it is located at the front end. The extrusion mechanism 135 extrudes the small bundle W from the small bundle placement table 62 at the second position toward the small bundle conveyance section 120. The extrusion mechanism 135 extrudes the small bundle W from the small bundle placement table 62 toward the small bundle collection cassette section 100 and the small bundle storage sections 81(A) to 81(D).

[0067] The extruding mechanism 135, the small bundle conveying section 120, the sending-out mechanism 131, the small bundle collecting cassette section 100, and the small bundle storage sections 81(A) to 81(D) are provided below the small bundle placing table 62 located within the small bundle deposit / withdrawal section 41, and constitute a deposit / withdrawal mechanism 141 for depositing and withdrawing the small bundle W. When the small bundle W is withdrawn, the small bundle placing table 62 places the small bundle W received from the deposit / withdrawal mechanism 141 thereon and conveys it to the upper small bundle accumulation space 65. Also, when the small bundle W is deposited, the small bundle placing table 62 places the small bundle W loaded in the small bundle accumulation space 65 thereon and conveys it toward the lower deposit / withdrawal mechanism 141. The deposit / withdrawal mechanism 141 is provided with a small bundle collecting cassette section 100 and small bundle storage sections 81(A) to 81(D) that can receive and store the small bundle W from above the small bundle placing table 62 and send out the stored small bundle W toward the small bundle placing table 62. The small bundle collecting cassette section 100 and the small bundle storage sections 81(A) to 81(D) are provided on the rear side of the small bundle placing table 62.

[0068] The control unit 30 controls the banknote processing apparatus 1, and for the second unit 12, for example, controls the small bundle deposit / withdrawal section 41, the new note withdrawal section 42, the new note storage / withdrawal section 45, the small bundle lifting section 61, the small bundle receiving section 71, the small bundle storage sections 81(A) to 81(D), the small bundle collecting cassette section 100, the small bundle conveying section 120, the small bundle identification section 130, the sending-out mechanism 131, the extruding mechanism 135, etc.

[0069] Next, the main processing by the second unit 12 of the banknote processing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment will be described.

[0070] When the banknote processing apparatus 1 is in the standby state, the small bundle deposit / withdrawal unit 41 has the shutter 51 in the closed state and the pair of flaps 52 in the closed state. Also, when in this standby state, the small bundle lifting unit 61 has the small bundle placement table 62 at a predetermined withdrawal position above the pair of closed flaps 52. Further, when in this standby state, the small bundle receiving unit 71 is at a predetermined upper receiving position. Also, when in this standby state, the small bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D) are in a state of storing or not storing the small bundle W, and all have the pair of flaps 86 in the closed state. Also, when in this standby state, the small bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D) each position the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 87 at the upper standby position if there is no small bundle W stored, and position the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W at the upper standby position if there is a small bundle W stored. Also, when in this standby state, the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 is basically in an empty state and has the pair of flaps 106 in the closed state. Also, when in this standby state, the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 basically positions the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 107 at the upper standby position. Also, when in this standby state, the bill press 63 is at the upper limit position.

[0071] [Small bundle withdrawal process from small bundle storage units 81(B) to 81(D)] The thick line in Fig. 5 indicates the small bundle conveyance route of the storage small bundle withdrawal process for withdrawing the small bundle W from the specified denomination among the small bundle storage units 81(B) storing the small bundle W of 1,000-yen bills, and the small bundle storage units 81(C) and 81(D) storing the small bundle W of 10,000-yen bills, based on the small bundle withdrawal operation input to the operation display unit 28. Among the small bundle W, the small bundle W stored in the small bundle storage units 81(B) to 81(D) and withdrawn to the small bundle deposit / withdrawal unit 41 in the storage small bundle withdrawal process is defined as the storage small bundle W.

[0072] Here, when starting a single transaction of the stored bundle withdrawal process, for example, taking as an example the case where the breakdown of the stored bundle W of the denomination for which withdrawal is requested is two bundles of ¥1,000 notes and two bundles of ¥10,000 notes. In this case, first, in order to hold the stored bundle W of ¥1,000 notes at the small bundle input / output unit 41, in the small bundle storage unit 81(B), after operating the pair of flaps 86 to open downward, the small bundle placement table 87 is raised, and the topmost first bundle of the stored bundle W of ¥1,000 notes placed on the small bundle placement table 87 is projected into the small bundle conveyance unit 120 until the upper surface abuts against the contact plate 211 and the interrupt plate 212 is detected by the interrupter 206 at the payout position. In parallel with this, the control unit 30 lowers the small bundle placement table 62 of the small bundle lifting / lowering unit 61 to the second position.

[0073] When the topmost first bundle of the stored bundle W in the small bundle storage unit 81(B) is projected into the small bundle conveyance unit 120 until it reaches the payout position, the control unit 30 rotates the conveyance belt unit 121 so that the crossbar 124 protruding downward from the endless belt unit 123 moves forward. Then, the first bundle of the stored bundle W of ¥1,000 notes is pressed by the crossbar 124 of the small bundle conveyance unit 120 and conveyed forward, and during this process, the denomination and the like are identified and counted by the small bundle identification unit 130. As a result, if there is no abnormality, the control unit 30 causes the small bundle conveyance unit 120 to convey the first bundle of the stored bundle W of ¥1,000 notes to a predetermined position at the front end of the small bundle conveyance unit 120, and then the ejection mechanism 131 pushes out the first bundle of the stored bundle W of ¥1,000 notes forward. Then, the first bundle of the stored bundle W of ¥1,000 notes is placed on the small bundle placement table 62 at the second position of the small bundle lifting / lowering unit 61.

[0074] Here, when there is a storage bundle W of 10,000 yen bills in which an abnormality in denomination difference is detected by the bundle identification unit 130, the control unit 30 places this storage bundle W on a pair of flappers 106 of the bundle collection cassette unit 100, rotates the pair of flappers 106 downward to an open state, places this storage bundle W of 10,000 yen bills on the bundle placement table 107, lowers the bundle placement table 107 until the upper surface of the topmost bundle W is detected by the upper position sensor 109, and then rotates the pair of flappers 106 upward to a closed state. Then, in this transaction, the control unit 30 will additionally dispense the corresponding bundle W. Note that for the storage bundle W with a denomination difference temporarily stored in the bundle collection cassette unit 100 in this way, the control unit 30 will, at the end of this transaction, collectively transfer it from the bundle collection cassette unit 100 to the appropriate denomination in the bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D) by the bundle conveyance unit 120. The denomination difference occurs due to the operator's misloading of the bundle W into the bundle storage units 81(B) to 81(D). When an abnormality in the bundle W is detected by the bundle identification unit 130, the bundle conveyance unit 120 may be stopped at that time, and the operation display unit 28 may be made to give an error notification including the location of the abnormal bundle W. Especially when the abnormality is a binding failure, it is controlled in this way.

[0075] When the delivery mechanism 131 pushes out the first bundle W of 1,000 yen bills forward and places it on the bundle placement table 62 at the second position, the control unit 30 raises the bundle placement table 62 to a predetermined upper position. Then, on the way, the first bundle W of 1,000 yen bills on the bundle placement table 62 causes the pair of flappers 52 to open upward and pass through, and by passing through, the pair of flappers 52 closes and returns to the closed position. When the control unit 30 raises the bundle placement table 62 to a predetermined upper position, it then lowers it directly to the second position. On the way, the bundle placement table 62 places the first bundle W of 1,000 yen bills on the closed pair of flappers 52 and then positions itself at the second position. As a result, the first bundle W of 1,000 yen bills is accommodated in the bundle accumulation space 65.

[0076] In order to dispense the second bundle of ¥1,000 banknotes from the bundle W, when the stack portion 124 that conveys the first bundle of ¥1,000 banknotes in the bundle W forward passes over the small bundle storage section 81(B), the control unit 30 projects the second bundle, which is at the uppermost position at this time, of the storage bundle W of ¥1,000 banknotes placed on the small bundle placement table 87 of the small bundle storage section 81(B) into the small bundle conveyance section 120 until it reaches the payout position where the upper surface pushes up the contact plate 211 and the interrupt plate 212 is detected by the interrupter 206. Then, the second bundle of the storage bundle W of ¥1,000 banknotes is conveyed forward by the next stack portion 124 in the same manner as the first bundle and reaches the predetermined position at the front end of the small bundle conveyance section 120. Note that the control unit 30 controls the rotation and stop of the endless belt portion 123 so that there is no interference between the plurality of storage bundles W at the predetermined position at the front end.

[0077] Next, the control unit 30 causes the second bundle of the storage bundle W of ¥1,000 banknotes to be pushed forward by the delivery mechanism 131. Then, the second bundle of the storage bundle W of ¥1,000 banknotes is placed on the small bundle placement table 62 at the second position. Subsequently, the control unit 30 raises the small bundle placement table 62 to a predetermined upper position. Then, on the way, the second bundle of the storage bundle W of ¥1,000 banknotes on the small bundle placement table 62 passes through the pair of flaps 52 while causing the pair of flaps 52 to open upward and placing the first bundle of the storage bundle W of ¥1,000 banknotes. Then, the pair of flaps 52 closes and returns to the closed position. When the control unit 30 raises the small bundle placement table 62 to the predetermined upper position, it then lowers it directly to the second position. On the way, after placing the first and second bundles of the storage bundle W of ¥1,000 banknotes on the pair of flaps 52, the small bundle placement table 62 is positioned at the second position. As a result, the second bundle of the storage bundle W of ¥1,000 banknotes is accommodated in the small bundle accumulation space 65 with the first bundle of the storage bundle W of ¥1,000 banknotes placed on top.

[0078] In order to dispense the first bundle of ten - thousand - yen bills from the bundle W, when the stack portion 124 that conveys the second - bundle storage stack W of one - thousand - yen bills forward passes over one of the predetermined payout sources among the small - bundle storage units 81(C) and 81(D), after the pair of flaps 86 of one of the predetermined payout sources among the small - bundle storage units 81(C) and 81(D) are opened downward, the first bundle at the uppermost position of the storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills placed on the small - bundle placement table 87 of one of the predetermined payout sources among the small - bundle storage units 81(C) and 81(D) is projected into the small - bundle conveyance unit 120 until it reaches the payout position where the upper surface pushes up the contact plate 211 and the interrupt plate 212 is detected by the interrupter 206. Then, the first - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills is conveyed forward by the next stack portion 124 in the same manner as the storage stack W of one - thousand - yen bills and reaches a predetermined position at the front end of the small - bundle conveyance unit 120.

[0079] Next, the control unit 30 pushes out the first - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills forward by the delivery mechanism 131. Then, the first - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills is placed on the small - bundle placement table 62 at the second position. Subsequently, the control unit 30 raises the small - bundle placement table 62 to a predetermined upper position. Then, on the way, the first - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills on the small - bundle placement table 62 passes through while the pair of flaps 52 are opened upward and the first - and second - bundle storage stacks W of one - thousand - yen bills are placed. Then, the pair of flaps 52 are closed and return to the closed position. When the control unit 30 raises the small - bundle placement table 62 to the predetermined upper position, it then descends to the second position as it is. On the way, after the first - and second - bundle storage stacks W of one - thousand - yen bills and the first - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills are placed on the pair of flaps 52, the small - bundle placement table 62 is located at the second position. As a result, the first - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills is accommodated in the small - bundle accumulation space 65 with the first - and second - bundle storage stacks W of one - thousand - yen bills placed on top.

[0080] In order to dispense the second bundle of ten - thousand - yen bills from the control unit 30, when the stack portion 124 that conveys the first - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills forward passes over one of the predetermined payout sources among the small - bundle storage units 81(C) and 81(D), the control unit 30 projects the second bundle, which is at the uppermost position at this time, of the storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills placed on the small - bundle placement table 87 of one of the predetermined payout sources among the small - bundle storage units 81(C) and 81(D) into the small - bundle conveyance unit 120 until it reaches the payout position where the upper surface pushes up the contact plate 211 and the interrupt plate 212 is detected by the interrupter 206. Then, the second - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills is conveyed forward by the next stack portion 124 in the same manner as the first - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills and reaches a predetermined position at the front end of the small - bundle conveyance unit 120.

[0081] Next, the control unit 30 pushes out the second - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills forward by the delivery mechanism 131. Then, the second - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills is placed on the small - bundle placement table 62 at the second position. Subsequently, the control unit 30 raises the small - bundle placement table 62 to a predetermined upper position. Then, on the way, the second - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills on the small - bundle placement table 62 passes through the pair of flappers 52 while opening the pair of flappers 52 upward and placing the first - bundle storage stack W of one - thousand - yen bills, the second - bundle storage stack W of one - thousand - yen bills, and the first - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills. Then, the pair of flappers 52 closes and returns to the closed position. After raising the small - bundle placement table 62 to the predetermined upper position, the control unit 30 lowers it to a predetermined payout position. As a result, the second - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills is accommodated in the small - bundle accumulation space 65 with the first - bundle and second - bundle storage stacks W of one - thousand - yen bills and the first - bundle storage stack W of ten - thousand - yen bills placed on top. Moreover, the first - bundle and second - bundle storage stacks W of one - thousand - yen bills and the first - bundle and second - bundle storage stacks W of ten - thousand - yen bills are placed and stopped on the small - bundle placement table 62 at the payout position above the pair of closed flappers 52. After that, the control unit 30 opens the shutter 51. As a result, these four stacks of small - bundles W in the small - bundle deposit / withdrawal unit 41 are taken out of the banknote processing apparatus 1.

[0082] [Binding small - bundle payout process performed by creating a small - bundle W in the first unit 11] The thick line in Fig. 6 indicates the small bundle conveyance route of the bundled small bundle withdrawal process in which, based on the small bundle withdrawal operation input to the operation display unit 28, a small bundle W is created from the specified denomination of loose banknotes among the 1,000-yen loose banknotes, 10,000-yen loose banknotes, and 5,000-yen loose banknotes stored in the first unit 11 so as to be withdrawable, and is withdrawn to the small bundle deposit / withdrawal unit 41 of the second unit 12. In one transaction of this bundled small bundle withdrawal process, a small bundle W created by bundling a predetermined number of loose banknotes stored in the first unit 11 so as to be withdrawable with a binding tape and withdrawing it to the small bundle deposit / withdrawal unit 41 or the like is defined as the bundled small bundle W.

[0083] Here, when starting one transaction of the bundled small bundle withdrawal process, for example, taking as an example the case where the breakdown of the bundled small bundle W of the denomination for which withdrawal is requested is two bundles of the 1,000-yen small bundle W. In this case, first, in order to hold the 1,000-yen bundled small bundle W at the small bundle deposit / withdrawal unit 41, the control unit 30 starts the operation of creating the 1,000-yen bundled small bundle W from the 1,000-yen loose banknotes that can be withdrawn in the first unit 11. In parallel with this, the control unit 30 lowers the small bundle mounting table 62 of the small bundle lifting unit 61 to the first position. The control unit 30 causes the first unit 11 to create the first bundle of the 1,000-yen bundled small bundle W from the 1,000-yen loose banknotes and send it out to the small bundle receiving unit 71 at the upper receiving position. The control unit 30 lowers the small bundle receiving unit 71 that has received this first bundle of the 1,000-yen bundled small bundle W to the lower limit position. When the control unit 30 causes the first unit 11 to create the first bundle of the 1,000-yen bundled small bundle W, the control unit 30 then causes the first unit 11 to create the second bundle of the 1,000-yen bundled small bundle W from the 1,000-yen loose banknotes within a range that does not interfere with the processing of the first bundle of the 1,000-yen bundled small bundle W.

[0084] When the small bundle receiving part 71 that has received the first bound small bundle W of the 1000-yen banknotes is lowered to the lower limit position, the control unit 30 moves the small bundle receiving part 71 forward and sends out the first bound small bundle W of the 1000-yen banknotes onto the small bundle placing table 62 at the first position. Then, the control unit 30 returns the small bundle receiving part 71 to the upper receiving position along the reverse route and raises the small bundle placing table 62 to a predetermined upper position. Then, on the way, the first bound small bundle W of the 1000-yen banknotes on the small bundle placing table 62 causes the pair of flappers 52 to open upward and pass through the pair of flappers 52. As a result, the pair of flappers 52 closes and returns to the closed position. When the control unit 30 raises the small bundle placing table 62 to a predetermined upper position, it then lowers it to the first position. On the way, after the small bundle placing table 62 places the first bound small bundle W on the pair of flappers 52, it is located at the first position.

[0085] Next, the control unit 30 causes the first unit 11 to create the second bound small bundle W from the loose 1000-yen banknotes and sends it out to the small bundle receiving part 71 at the upper receiving position. The control unit 30 lowers the small bundle receiving part 71 that has received the second bound small bundle W to the lower limit position.

[0086] When the small bundle receiving unit 71 that has received the two bound small bundles W is lowered to the lower limit position, the control unit 30 moves the small bundle receiving unit 71 forward and sends out the second bound small bundle W onto the small bundle placement table 62 at the first position. Then, the control unit 30 returns the small bundle receiving unit 71 to the upper receiving position along the reverse route and raises the small bundle placement table 62 to a predetermined upper position. Then, on the way, the second bound banknote W of the thousand-yen banknotes on the small bundle placement table 62 causes the pair of flappers 52 to open upward, and while placing the first small bundle W of the thousand-yen banknotes, it will pass through the pair of flappers 52. As a result, the pair of flappers 52 closes and returns to the closed position. After the control unit 30 raises the small bundle placement table 62 to a predetermined upper position, it lowers it to a predetermined payout position above the pair of flappers 52. As a result, the first and second bound small bundles W of the thousand-yen banknotes are in a state of being accommodated in the small bundle accumulation space 65. Moreover, the first and second bound small bundles W of the thousand-yen banknotes are placed and stopped on the small bundle placement table 62 at the payout position above the pair of closed flappers 52. After that, the control unit 30 opens the shutter 51. As a result, these two bound small bundles W in the small bundle payout and deposit unit 41 are taken out of the banknote processing apparatus 1.

[0087] Note that in one small bundle payout transaction, when the stored small bundle W is insufficient, the control unit 30 controls to perform both the stored small bundle payout process and the bound small bundle payout process.

[0088] [Binding Small Bundle Replenishment Process for Creating Small Bundle W in the First Unit 11] The thick line in Fig. 7 indicates the small bundle conveyance route of the binding small bundle replenishment process in which the small bundle W is created from the loose banknotes of thousand-yen banknotes, ten-thousand-yen banknotes, and five-thousand-yen banknotes that are stored for payout in the first unit 11 based on the binding small bundle replenishment operation input to the operation display unit 28 or the control of the control unit 30 based on the height of each part in the banknote processing apparatus 1, and is replenished to the corresponding ones of the small bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D) of the second unit 12.

[0089] When replenishing the bundle W of 1,000-yen bills into the bundle storage unit 81(B), the control unit 30 causes the first unit 11 to start the operation of creating the bundled bundle W of 1,000-yen bills from the loose bills of 1,000-yen bills that can be withdrawn. When replenishing the bundle W of 10,000-yen bills into either of the bundle storage units 81(C) and 81(D), the control unit 30 causes the first unit 11 to start the operation of creating the bundled bundle W of 10,000-yen bills from the loose bills of 10,000-yen bills that can be withdrawn. When replenishing the bundle W of 5,000-yen bills into the bundle storage unit 81(A), the control unit 30 causes the first unit 11 to start the operation of creating the bundled bundle W of 5,000-yen bills from the loose bills of 5,000-yen bills that can be withdrawn.

[0090] In parallel with the operation of creating the bundled bundle W, the control unit 30 lowers the bundle placement table 62 of the bundle lifting unit 61 to the first position. The control unit 30 causes the first unit 11 to create the first bundled bundle W and send it out to the bundle receiving unit 71 at the upper receiving position. The control unit 30 lowers the bundle receiving unit 71 that has received the first bundled bundle W to the lower limit position. When the control unit 30 causes the first unit 11 to create the first bundled bundle W from the loose bills, if there are subsequent bundled bundles W, the control unit 30 continues to cause the first unit 11 to create the second bundled bundle W from the loose bills within a range that does not interfere with the processing of the first bundled bundle W.

[0091] When the control unit 30 lowers the bundle receiving unit 71 that has received the first bundled bundle W to the lower limit position, the control unit 30 moves the bundle receiving unit 71 forward and sends out the first bundled bundle W onto the bundle placement table 62 at the first position. Then, the control unit 30 returns the bundle receiving unit 71 to the upper receiving position along the reverse route and lowers the bundle placement table 62 to the second position.

[0092] Next, the control unit 30 rotates the conveyor belt 122 of the small bundle conveyor unit 120 so that the crossbar portion 124 protruding downward from the endless belt portion 123 moves rearward, and causes the first bundled small bundle W to be replenished on the small bundle placement table 62 to be pushed out toward the small bundle conveyor unit 120 by the pushing mechanism 135. Then, the crossbar portion 124 of the conveyor belt 122 conveys the first bundled small bundle W to be replenished rearward. During this conveyance, the small bundle identification unit 130 counts while identifying the denomination and the like, and based on the result, stores it in the storage destination among the small bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D).

[0093] For example, when the small bundle W to be stored is a small bundle W of 1000-yen bills and is to be stored in the small bundle storage unit 81(B), when the control unit 30 determines that this small bundle W is located directly above the pair of flaps 86 of the small bundle storage unit 81(B), the control unit 30 causes the pair of flaps 86 of the small bundle storage unit 81(B) to open downward. Then, the small bundle W to be stored drops and is placed on the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 87 at the upper standby position of the small bundle storage unit 81(B) if there is no small bundle W stored in the small bundle storage unit 81(B), or on the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W at the upper standby position of the small bundle storage unit 81(B) if there is a small bundle W stored in the small bundle storage unit 81(B). Thereafter, in the small bundle storage unit 81(B), the control unit 30 lowers the small bundle placement table 87 until the upper position sensor 89 detects that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is located at the upper standby position, and then causes the pair of flaps 86 to close.

[0094] Also, for example, when the small bundle W to be stored is a 10,000-yen bill and is the small bundle W to be stored in the small bundle storage section 81(C), when this small bundle W is positioned directly above the pair of flaps 86 of the small bundle storage section 81(C), the control unit 30 causes the pair of flaps 86 of the small bundle storage section 81(C) to open downward. Then, the small bundle W to be stored drops and is placed on the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 87 at the upper standby position of the small bundle storage section 81(C) if there is no small bundle W stored in the small bundle storage section 81(C), or on the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W at the upper standby position of the small bundle storage section 81(C) if there is a small bundle W stored in the small bundle storage section 81(C). After that, in the small bundle storage section 81(C), the control unit 30 lowers the small bundle placement table 87 until the upper position sensor 89 detects that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, and then causes the pair of flaps 86 to close.

[0095] Also, for example, when the small bundle W to be stored is a 10,000-yen bill and is the small bundle W to be stored in the small bundle storage section 81(D), when this small bundle W is positioned directly above the pair of flaps 86 of the small bundle storage section 81(D), the control unit 30 causes the pair of flaps 86 of the small bundle storage section 81(D) to open downward. Then, the small bundle W to be stored drops and is placed on the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 87 at the upper standby position of the small bundle storage section 81(D) if there is no small bundle W stored in the small bundle storage section 81(D), or on the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W at the upper standby position of the small bundle storage section 81(D) if there is a small bundle W stored in the small bundle storage section 81(D). After that, in the small bundle storage section 81(D), the control unit 30 lowers the small bundle placement table 87 until the upper position sensor 89 detects that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, and then causes the pair of flaps 86 to close.

[0096] Also, for example, when the bundle W to be stored is a bundle W stored in the small bundle storage section 81(A) for banknotes such as 5,000 yen bills, when this bundle W is positioned directly above the pair of flaps 86 of the small bundle storage section 81(A), the control unit 30 causes the pair of flaps 86 of the small bundle storage section 81(A) to open downward. Then, if there is no bundle W stored in the small bundle storage section 81(A), the bundle W to be stored drops and is placed on the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 87 at the upper standby position of the small bundle storage section 81(A). If there is a bundle W stored in the small bundle storage section 81(A), it drops and is placed on the upper surface of the uppermost bundle W at the upper standby position of the small bundle storage section 81(A). Thereafter, in the small bundle storage section 81(A), the control unit 30 lowers the small bundle placement table 87 until the upper position sensor 89 detects that the upper surface of the uppermost bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, and then causes the pair of flaps 86 to close.

[0097] When the first bundled small bundle W to be replenished on the small bundle placement table 62 is pushed out by the pushing mechanism 135 toward the small bundle conveyance section 120, if there are bundled small bundles W from the second bundle onward, the control unit 30 raises the small bundle placement table 62 to the first position. Then, the control unit 30 receives the second bundled small bundle W to be replenished, moves the small bundle receiving section 71 located at the lower limit position forward, and sends out the second bundled small bundle W to be replenished onto the small bundle placement table 62 at the first position. Then, the control unit 30 returns the small bundle receiving section 71 to the upper receiving position and lowers the small bundle placement table 62 to the second position, and causes the pushing mechanism 135 to push out the second bundled small bundle W to be replenished on the small bundle placement table 62 toward the small bundle conveyance section 120. Then, the bar portion 124 of the conveyor belt 122 conveys this second bundled small bundle W to be replenished backward and stores it in the storage destination among the small bundle storage sections 81(A) to 81(D) in the same manner as the first bundle.

[0098] If there are bundles from the third bundle onward, the above operations are appropriately repeated.

[0099] [Input replenishment process for replenishing the small bundle W via the small bundle deposit / withdrawal section 41 from the outside] The thick line in Fig. 8 indicates the bundle conveyance route of the input replenishment process for replenishing the bundles W loaded into the bundle deposit / withdrawal unit 41 of the second unit 12 from the outside to the corresponding ones in the bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D) based on the small bundle input replenishment operation input to the operation display unit 28.

[0100] When a small bundle input replenishment operation is input to the operation display unit 28, the control unit 30 lowers the small bundle placement table 62 of the small bundle lifting unit 61 in the standby state to a loading position where it aligns with the pair of flaps 52 in height, and then opens the shutter 51 of the bundle deposit / withdrawal unit 41. Then, the operator places the replenishment bundles W in a stacked state on the pair of flaps 52 and the small bundle placement table 62 that are at the same height in the small bundle accumulation space 65. After that, when a start operation is input to the operation display unit 28, the control unit 30 lowers the bill press 63 by driving a bill press motor (not shown in detail) to clamp the replenishment bundles W between the small bundle placement table 62. In this state, after opening the pair of flaps 52 downward by a flap motor (not shown in detail), the small bundle placement table 62 and the bill press 63 are lowered and stopped until the small bundle placement table 62 reaches the second position.

[0101] Next, after the control unit 30 closes the pair of flaps 52, it returns the bill press 63 to the upper limit position, rotates the conveyor belt 122 of the small bundle conveyance unit 120 so that the crosspiece 124 protruding downward from the endless belt portion 123 moves backward, and pushes out the lowermost bundle W on the small bundle placement table 62 toward the small bundle conveyance unit 120 by the pushing mechanism 135. As a result, this first bundle W is conveyed backward by the crosspiece 124 of the small bundle conveyance unit 120. During this conveyance, the small bundle identification unit 130 identifies the denomination and the like of this first bundle W while counting, and based on the result, the control unit 30 stores it in the storage destination among the bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D) in the same manner as the bound bundle replenishment process.

[0102] When there are bound small bundles W from the second bundle onward, the control unit 30 causes the second bundle of small bundles W, which is at the lowermost position among the small bundles W on the small bundle placement table 62 at this time, to be pushed out toward the small bundle conveyance unit 120 by the pusher mechanism 135. As a result, the second bundle of small bundles W is conveyed rearward by the rail section 124 of the small bundle conveyance unit 120. During this conveyance, the small bundle identification unit 130 counts the second bundle of small bundles W while identifying the denomination and the like, and based on the result, the control unit 30 stores it in the storage destination among the small bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D) in the same manner as the bound small bundle replenishment process.

[0103] For the third bundle onward, the above operations are appropriately repeated.

[0104] [Cassette replenishment process for replenishing small bundle W via the small bundle collection cassette unit 100] The thick line in FIG. 9 shows the small bundle conveyance route of the cassette replenishment process for replenishing the small bundle W from the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 in which the small bundle W is loaded outside the banknote processing apparatus 1 to the corresponding one of the small bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D) based on the cassette replenishment operation input to the operation display unit 28.

[0105] When the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 in which the small bundle W is loaded outside the banknote processing apparatus 1 is set in the housing 40 and a start operation is input to the operation display unit 28, the control unit 30 opens the pair of flaps 106 of the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 downward, then raises the small bundle placement table 107, and moves the uppermost first bundle of stored small bundles W on the small bundle placement table 107 into the small bundle conveyance unit 120 until it reaches the feeding position where the upper surface presses up the contact plate 211 and the interrupt plate 212 is detected by the interrupter 206. After that, the control unit 30 rotates the conveyance belt 122 of the small bundle conveyance unit 120 so that the rail section 124 protruding downward from the endless belt section 123 moves rearward. As a result, the rail section 124 conveys the uppermost first bundle of small bundles W in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 rearward. During this process, the small bundle identification unit 130 counts the first bundle of small bundles W while identifying it, and based on the result, the control unit 30 stores it in the storage destination among the small bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D) in the same manner as the bound small bundle replenishment process.

[0106] When there are bound small bundles W from the second bundle onwards, the control unit 30 raises the small bundle placement table 107, and projects the second stored small bundle W at the uppermost position on the small bundle placement table 107 into the small bundle conveyance unit 120 until it reaches the feeding position where the upper surface presses up the contact plate 211 and the interrupt plate 212 is detected by the interrupter 206. As a result, this second small bundle W is conveyed rearward by the rail portion 124 of the small bundle conveyance unit 120. During this conveyance, the small bundle identification unit 130 counts the second small bundle W while identifying the denomination and the like, and based on the result, the control unit 30 stores it in the storage destination among the small bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D) in the same manner as the bound small bundle replenishment process.

[0107] For the third bundle onwards, the above operations are repeated as appropriate.

[0108] [Cassette Recovery Process] The thick line in FIG. 10 indicates the small bundle conveyance route in the cassette recovery process of storing the small bundles W in the small bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D) in the small bundle recovery cassette unit 100 based on the cassette recovery operation input to the operation display unit 28.

[0109] When a cassette recovery operation is input to the operation display unit 28, the control unit 30, as shown by the thick line in FIG. 10, in the first small bundle storage unit 81 among the small bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D), after operating the pair of flaps 86 to open downward, raises the small bundle placement table 87, and projects the small bundle W at the uppermost position placed on the small bundle placement table 87 into the small bundle conveyance unit 120 until it reaches the feeding position where the upper surface presses up the contact plate 211 and the interrupt plate 212 is detected by the interrupter 206.

[0110] Then, the control unit 30 rotates the conveyor belt unit 121 so that the crossbar portion 124 protruding downward from the endless belt portion 123 moves forward. Then, the first small bundle W is pressed by the crossbar portion 124 of the small bundle conveyor unit 120 and conveyed forward. During this process, the small bundle identification unit 130 identifies and counts the denomination and the like. Then, when the first small bundle W is positioned directly above the small bundle storage 105 of the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 due to the conveyance by the small bundle conveyor unit 120, the control unit 30 causes the pair of flaps 106 to open downward. Then, the first small bundle W falls and is placed on the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 107 in the upper standby position. After that, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, the control unit 30 lowers the small bundle placement table 107 until the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W is positioned in the upper standby position, and causes the pair of flaps 106 to close.

[0111] In order to dispense the second small bundle W in the first small bundle storage unit 81, the control unit 30 causes the crossbar portion 124 that conveys the first small bundle W forward to protrude into the small bundle conveyor unit 120 until the second small bundle W, which is at the uppermost position at this time and is placed on the small bundle placement table 87 of this small bundle storage unit 81, reaches the payout position where the upper surface pushes up the contact plate 211 and the interrupt plate 212 is detected by the interrupter 206 when passing over the small bundle storage unit 81. Then, the second small bundle W is conveyed forward by the next crossbar portion 124 in the same manner as the first small bundle W and reaches the position of the small bundle collection cassette unit 100. Similar to the first small bundle W, it is stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 and falls and is placed on the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W in the upper standby position that has already been stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100. After that, the control unit 30 lowers the small bundle placement table 107 of the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 until the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W is positioned in the upper standby position, and causes the pair of flaps 106 to close.

[0112] In the above manner, the small bundles W stored in the small bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D) that are the collection targets are sequentially stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100.

[0113] Here, the control unit 30 grasps the number of stored bundles of each denomination of the small bundle W for each of the small bundle storage units 81(A) to 81(D) from the identification count result of the small bundle identification unit 130 when the small bundle W is moved. Then, in any of the above-described bundled small bundle replenishment process, input replenishment process, and cassette replenishment process, when the number of stored bundles in each of the single-denomination small bundle storage units 81(B) to 81(D) reaches the set upper limit value (for example, 40 bundles), for the small bundle W of the overflow portion exceeding that, it is stored in the mixed-denomination small bundle storage unit 81(A). Further, in the bundled small bundle replenishment process and the input replenishment process, when the number of stored bundles in the mixed-denomination small bundle storage unit 81(A) reaches the set upper limit value, the control unit 30 uses the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 for storing the overflow portion. In the subsequent bundled small bundle replenishment process and input replenishment process, for the small bundle W for which the small bundle storage unit 81(A) is the storage destination, for the small bundle W of the overflow portion exceeding the upper limit value, it is stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100. The control unit 30 grasps the number of stored bundles of the small bundle W for the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 from the identification count result of the small bundle identification unit 130.

[0114] In any of the subsequent bundled small bundle replenishment processes and input replenishment processes when the small bundle collection cassette section 100 is used for storing overflow, if the storage destination of the small bundle W is the full small bundle storage section 81(A) according to the identification count result of the small bundle identification section 130, the control section 30 rotates the conveyance belt 122 of the small bundle conveyance section 120 so that the crosspiece 124 protruding downward from the endless belt section 123 moves forward. As a result, the crosspiece 124 conveys this small bundle W forward. When this small bundle W is positioned directly above the small bundle storage 105 of the small bundle collection cassette section 100, the control section 30 causes the pair of flaps 106 of the small bundle collection cassette section 100 to open downward. Then, if there is no small bundle W stored in the small bundle collection cassette section 100, this small bundle W drops and is placed on the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 107 at the upper standby position of the small bundle collection cassette section 100, and if there is a small bundle W stored in the small bundle collection cassette section 100, it drops and is placed on the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W at the upper standby position of the small bundle collection cassette section 100. Thereafter, the control section 30 lowers the small bundle placement table 107 of the small bundle collection cassette section 100 until the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, and then causes the pair of flaps 106 to close.

[0115] In any of the above-described bundled small bundle replenishment process, input replenishment process, and cassette replenishment process, based on the identification count result of the small bundle identification section 130, each time a small bundle W is stored, the control section 30 determines whether the number of stored small bundles W in the storage destination among the small bundle storage sections 81(A) to 81(D) has reached the set upper limit value. When the number of stored small bundles W in the storage destination among the small bundle storage sections 81(A) to 81(D) has reached the upper limit value, the control section 30 determines that this storage destination is in a full state and controls so as not to store a number of small bundles W exceeding the upper limit value in this storage destination. Also, in any of the above-described bundled small bundle replenishment process, input replenishment process, and cassette collection process, each time a small bundle W is stored in the small bundle collection cassette section 100, the control section 30 determines whether the number of stored small bundles W in the small bundle collection cassette section 100 has reached the set upper limit value. When the number of stored bundles has reached the upper limit value, the control section 30 determines that the small bundle collection cassette section 100 is in a full state and controls so as not to store a number of small bundles W exceeding the upper limit value in the small bundle collection cassette section 100.

[0116] In addition to the above, in any of the above-described bundled note replenishment process, input replenishment process, and cassette replenishment process, each time a bundled note W is stored in a storage destination among the bundled note storage units 81(A) to 81(D), the control unit 30 determines the overall height of the bundled notes W placed on the bundled note placement table 87 of this storage destination, that is, the distance between the upper surface of the uppermost bundled note W and the lower surface of the lowermost bundled note W, from the detection results of the lower position sensor 88 and the upper position sensor 89. Specifically, each time a bundled note W is stored in a storage destination among the bundled note storage units 81(A) to 81(D), it is determined whether the overall height of the bundled notes W at this storage destination is within a predetermined height range. Further, in any of the above-described bundled note replenishment process, input replenishment process, and cassette collection process, each time a bundled note W is stored in the bundled note collection cassette unit 100, the control unit 30 determines the overall height of the bundled notes W placed on the bundled note placement table 107 of the bundled note collection cassette unit 100 from the detection results of the lower position sensor 108 and the upper position sensor 109. Specifically, each time a bundled note W is stored in the bundled note collection cassette unit 100, it is determined whether the overall height of the bundled note W is within a predetermined height range. Then, the control unit 30 controls the banknote processing apparatus 1 based on the overall height of the bundled notes W placed on the bundled note placement table 87 of the bundled note storage units 81(A) to 81(D), and controls the banknote processing apparatus 1 based on the overall height of the bundled notes W placed on the bundled note placement table 107 of the bundled note collection cassette unit 100.

[0117] That is, when the control unit 30 stores the small bundle W in the small bundle storage unit 81(A), for example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, the small bundle W is conveyed by the small bundle conveyor 120 up to the small bundle storage bin 85 of the small bundle storage unit 81(A) (step S1). In the small bundle storage unit 81(A), a pair of flaps 86 are opened downward by driving a flap motor (not shown) (step S2), and the small bundle W located directly above these flaps 86 is dropped. Then, in the small bundle storage unit 81(A), if there is no stored small bundle W, this small bundle W falls and is placed on the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 87 at the upper standby position, and if there is a stored small bundle W, it falls and is placed on the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W at the upper standby position. As a result, this small bundle W comes to be detected by the upper position sensor 89 of the small bundle storage unit 81(A). That is, this small bundle W turns the upper position sensor 89, which was in the OFF state of the small bundle storage unit 81(A), to the ON state.

[0118] Next, in the small bundle storage unit 81(A), the control unit 30 drives the placement table motor (not shown) to lower the small bundle placement table 87 until the upper position sensor 89 detects that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, that is, until the upper position sensor 89 changes from the ON state to the OFF state (step S3). Then, when the control unit 30 detects in the small bundle storage unit 81(A) that the upper position sensor 89 has detected that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, the control unit 30 stops the small bundle placement table 87. Then, in the small bundle storage unit 81(A), in this state, the control unit 30 causes the lower position sensor 88 to detect whether or not the small bundle placement table 87 is positioned at the lower limit position (step S4). That is, in the small bundle storage unit 81(A), the control unit 30 determines whether or not the lower position sensor 88, which was in the OFF state, has become ON due to the small bundle placement table 87 being positioned at the lower limit position.

[0119] Here, in the small bundle storage section 81(A), the distance between the lower position sensor 88 and the upper position sensor 89 is such that even when small bundles W of the set upper limit number of bundles or less are stacked on the small bundle placement table 87, in a normal state where it is detected by the upper position sensor 89 that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, the small bundle placement table 87 is not detected by the lower position sensor 88, which is a distance where this would not occur.

[0120] That is, in the small bundle storage section 81(A), when in a state where small bundles W of the set upper limit number of bundles or less are stacked on the small bundle placement table 87, if the overall height of all the stored small bundles W is within a predetermined height range, in a state where it is detected by the upper position sensor 89 that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, the small bundle placement table 87 that contacts the lower surface of the lowermost small bundle W is above the lower position sensor 88 and is not detected by the lower position sensor 88.

[0121] On the other hand, in the small bundle storage section 81(A), when in a state where small bundles W of the set upper limit number of bundles or less are stacked on the small bundle placement table 87, if the overall height of all the stored small bundles W is not within the predetermined height range and exceeds the predetermined height range, in a state where it is detected by the upper position sensor 89 that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, the small bundle placement table 87 will be detected by the lower position sensor 88.

[0122] In the small bundle storage section 81(A), when the control unit 30 detects that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is located at the upper standby position by the upper position sensor 89, and the small bundle placement table 87 is not at the lower limit position and the lower position sensor 88 does not detect that the small bundle placement table 87 is at the lower limit position, the control unit 30 closes the pair of flaps 86 (step S5). At the same time, since the total height of all the small bundles W being stored is within a predetermined height range, if the number of small bundles W being stored has not reached the upper limit value, the control unit 30 determines that it is in a state where the next small bundle W can be stored, determines the presence or absence of the next small bundle W to be stored in the small bundle storage section 81(A) (step S6). If there is a next small bundle W to be stored in the small bundle storage section 81(A), it returns to step S1. If there is no next small bundle W to be stored in the small bundle storage section 81(A), the process regarding the small bundle storage section 81(A) is terminated.

[0123] On the other hand, in the small bundle storage section 81(A), when the control unit 30 detects that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is located at the upper standby position by the upper position sensor 89, and in step S4, the small bundle placement table 87 is at the lower limit position and the lower position sensor 88 detects that the small bundle placement table 87 is at the lower limit position, since the total height of all the small bundles W being stored is not within a predetermined height range and exceeds the predetermined height, the control unit 30 determines that it is not in a state where the next small bundle W can be stored even if the number of small bundles W being stored has not reached the upper limit value, and raises the small bundle placement table 87 by driving a placement table motor (not shown) (step S7).

[0124] Then, in the small bundle storage unit 81(A), after the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W among the small bundles W on the small bundle placement table 87 pushes up the contact plate 211 provided above the small bundle storage unit 81(A) and the interrupt plate 212 is detected by the interrupter 206, when a predetermined time required to sandwich and compress all the small bundles W stacked on the small bundle placement table 87 between the small bundle placement table 87 and the upper plate portion 125 of the small bundle conveyance unit 120 has elapsed, the placement table motor (not shown) is stopped and the small bundle placement table 87 is stopped (step S8). As a result, in the small bundle storage unit 81(A), all the small bundles W stacked on the small bundle placement table 87 are compressed in the thickness direction of the small bundles W, in other words, in the direction of the printing surface of the individual banknotes constituting the small bundles W, between the small bundle placement table 87 and the upper plate portion 125 of the small bundle conveyance unit 120. That is, in the small bundle storage unit 81(A), after storing the small bundles W, if the overall height of the small bundles W is not within a predetermined height range, the control unit 30 performs a recovery operation of compressing the stored small bundles W between the small bundle placement table 87 and the upper plate portion 125 of the small bundle conveyance unit 120. Here, in the small bundle storage unit 81(A), the placement table motor (not shown) is provided with a torque limiter to avoid out-of-step. As a result, in the small bundle storage unit 81(A), for example, even when the number of stored small bundles W is not in a full state at the upper limit, if it is not possible to store the next small bundle W, the small bundles W can be compressed by the recovery operation to reduce the thickness and make it possible to store the next small bundle W.

[0125] Subsequently, in the small bundle storage section 81(A), the control unit 30 lowers the small bundle mounting table 87 by driving a mounting table motor (not shown) until the upper position sensor 89 detects that the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, that is, until the upper position sensor 89 changes from the ON state to the OFF state (step S9). Then, when the upper position sensor 89 in the small bundle storage section 81(A) detects that the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, the control unit 30 stops the small bundle mounting table 87. Then, in the small bundle storage section 81(A), in this state, the control unit 30 causes the lower position sensor 88 to detect whether the small bundle mounting table 87 is positioned at the lower limit position (step S10). That is, in the small bundle storage section 81(A), the control unit 30 determines whether the lower position sensor 88, which was in the OFF state, has become ON due to the small bundle mounting table 87 being positioned at the lower limit position.

[0126] If, in the determination in step S10 in the small bundle storage section 81(A), the small bundle mounting table 87 is not positioned at the lower limit position and the lower position sensor 88 does not detect that the small bundle mounting table 87 is positioned at the lower limit position, the control unit 30 determines that the overall height of all the small bundles W being stored is within a predetermined height range, and closes the pair of flaps 86 (step S5). In this state, for the small bundle storage section 81(A), if the number of small bundles W being stored is not at the upper limit full state, the control unit 30 determines that it is in a state where the next small bundle W can be stored, determines the presence or absence of the next small bundle W to be stored in the small bundle storage section 81(A) (step S6). If there is a next small bundle W to be stored in the small bundle storage section 81(A), it returns to step S1. If there is no next small bundle W to be stored in the small bundle storage section 81(A), the processing regarding the small bundle storage section 81(A) is terminated.

[0127] On the other hand, in the determination of step S10 in the small bundle storage unit 81(A), when it is detected by the upper position sensor 89 that the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W is located at the upper standby position, and the small bundle placement table 87 is located at the lower limit position, and the lower position sensor 88 detects that the small bundle placement table 87 in the small bundle storage unit 81(A) is located at the lower limit position, in the small bundle storage unit 81(A), it is determined that the total height of all the small bundles W being stored exceeds a predetermined height and is not within the range of the predetermined height. Even if the number of stored small bundles W is not in the full state at the upper limit, it is determined that the next small bundle W cannot be stored, and an error notification is sent to the operation display unit 28 (step S11).

[0128] As described above, the control unit 30 controls the operation of the banknote processing apparatus 1 based on the total height of the small bundles W stored, which is determined by the upper position sensor 89 and the lower position sensor 88 in the small bundle storage unit 81(A). Specifically, in the small bundle storage unit 81(A), when the control unit 30 determines, based on the upper position sensor 89 and the lower position sensor 88, that the total height of the small bundles W being stored exceeds a predetermined height, the control unit 30 compresses the entire small bundles W being stored by sandwiching them between the small bundle conveyance unit 120 and the small bundle placement table 87. In this way, in the small bundle storage unit 81(A), the control unit 30, the upper position sensor 89, and the lower position sensor 88 determine the total height of the small bundles W based on the position of the small bundle placement table 87 detected by the lower position sensor 88.

[0129] In each of the small bundle storage parts 81(B), 81(C), and 81(D) having the same configuration as the small bundle storage part 81(A), control similar to that of the small bundle storage part 81(A) is performed based on the overall height of the small bundles W being stored. That is, when, after storing the small bundle W in the small bundle storage part 81(B), the upper position sensor 89 and the lower position sensor 88 determine that the overall height of the stored small bundle W exceeds a predetermined height, the control unit 30 compresses the stored small bundle W between the small bundle placement table 87 and the upper plate part 125 of the small bundle conveyance part 120. Also, when, after storing the small bundle W in the small bundle storage part 81(C), the upper position sensor 89 and the lower position sensor 88 determine that the overall height of the stored small bundle W exceeds a predetermined height, the control unit 30 compresses the stored small bundle W between the small bundle placement table 87 and the upper plate part 125 of the small bundle conveyance part 120. Further, when, after storing the small bundle W in the small bundle storage part 81(D), the upper position sensor 89 and the lower position sensor 88 determine that the overall height of the stored small bundle W exceeds a predetermined height, the control unit 30 compresses the stored small bundle W between the small bundle placement table 87 and the upper plate part 125 of the small bundle conveyance part 120.

[0130] Also, in any of the above-mentioned bundled small bundle replenishment process, input replenishment process, and cassette recovery process, when the control unit 30 stores the small bundle W in the small bundle recovery cassette part 100, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, the small bundle W is conveyed by the small bundle conveyance part 120 up to the small bundle storage bin 105 of the small bundle recovery cassette part 100 (step S1). In the small bundle recovery cassette part 100, a pair of flaps 106 are opened downward by driving a flap motor (not shown) (step S2), and the small bundle W located directly above these flaps 106 is dropped. Then, this small bundle W is placed on the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 107 that is in the upper standby position if there is no stored small bundle W in the small bundle recovery cassette part 100, or on the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W in the upper standby position if there is a stored small bundle W. As a result, this small bundle W comes to be in a state where it is detected by the upper position sensor 109 of the small bundle recovery cassette part 100. That is, this small bundle W turns the upper position sensor 89, which was in the OFF state of the small bundle recovery cassette part 100, to the ON state.

[0131] Next, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, the control unit 30 lowers the small bundle placement table 107 by driving a placement table motor (not shown) until the upper position sensor 109 detects that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, that is, until the upper position sensor 109 changes from the ON state to the OFF state (step S3). Then, when the control unit 30 detects in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 that the upper position sensor 109 has detected that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, the control unit 30 stops the small bundle placement table 107. Then, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, the control unit 30 causes the lower position sensor 108 to detect whether or not the small bundle placement table 107 is positioned at the lower limit position in this state (step S4). That is, the control unit 30 determines in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 whether or not the lower position sensor 108, which was in the OFF state, has changed to the ON state when the small bundle placement table 107 is positioned at the lower limit position.

[0132] Here, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, the distance between the lower position sensor 108 and the upper position sensor 109 is such that even when the small bundles W of the set upper limit number of bundles are stacked on the small bundle placement table 107 and the upper position sensor 109 has detected that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, normally, the small bundle placement table 107 is not detected by the lower position sensor 108.

[0133] That is, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, when the small bundles W of the set upper limit number or less than the upper limit number of bundles are stacked on the small bundle placement table 107, if the overall height of all the stored small bundles W is within a predetermined height range, in the state where the upper position sensor 109 has detected that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, the small bundle placement table 107 that contacts the lower surface of the lowermost small bundle W is above the lower position sensor 108 and is not detected by the lower position sensor 108.

[0134] On the other hand, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, when the small bundles W in a number equal to or less than the set upper limit value are stacked on the small bundle placement table 107 and the overall height of all the stored small bundles W is not within the range of a predetermined height and exceeds the range of the predetermined height, in a state where the upper position sensor 109 has detected that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is located at the upper standby position, the small bundle placement table 107 will be detected by the lower position sensor 108.

[0135] In the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, when the control unit 30 has detected that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is located at the upper standby position by the upper position sensor 109 and the small bundle placement table 107 is not located at the lower limit position and the lower position sensor 108 does not detect that the small bundle placement table 107 is located at the lower limit position, the control unit 30 closes the pair of flappers 106 (step S5). At the same time, since the overall height of all the stored small bundles W is within the range of a predetermined height, if the number of the stored small bundles W has not reached the upper limit value, the control unit 30 determines that it is in a state where the next small bundle W can be stored, determines the presence or absence of the next small bundle W to be stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 (step S6), and if there is a next small bundle W to be stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, returns to step S1, and if there is no next small bundle W to be stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, ends the process regarding the small bundle collection cassette unit 100.

[0136] On the other hand, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, when the control unit 30 has detected that the upper surface of the topmost small bundle W is located at the upper standby position by the upper position sensor 109 and in step S4, the small bundle placement table 107 is located at the lower limit position and the lower position sensor 108 detects that the small bundle placement table 107 is located at the lower limit position, since the overall height of all the stored small bundles W is not within the range of a predetermined height and exceeds the predetermined height, the control unit 30 determines that it is not in a state where the next small bundle W can be stored even if the number of the stored small bundles W has not reached the upper limit value, and raises the small bundle placement table 107 by driving a placement table motor (not shown) (step S7).

[0137] Then, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, when the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W among the small bundles W on the small bundle placement table 107 pushes up the contact plate 211 provided above the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 and positions the contact plate 211 at the feeding position where the interrupter 206 detects the interrupt plate 212 of the elevating member 202, and after a predetermined time required to sandwich and compress all the small bundles W stacked on the small bundle placement table 107 between the small bundle placement table 107 and the upper plate portion 125 of the small bundle conveyance unit 120 has elapsed, the placement table motor (not shown) is stopped and the small bundle placement table 107 is stopped (step S8). As a result, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, all the small bundles W stacked on the small bundle placement table 107 are compressed in the thickness direction of the small bundle W, that is, in the direction of the printing surface of the individual banknotes constituting the small bundle W, between the small bundle placement table 107 and the upper plate portion 125 of the small bundle conveyance unit 120. That is, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, after storing the small bundle W, if the overall height of the small bundle W is not within a predetermined height range, the control unit 30 performs a recovery operation of compressing the stored small bundle W between the small bundle placement table 107 and the upper plate portion 125 of the small bundle conveyance unit 120. Here, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, the placement table motor (not shown) is provided with a torque limiter to avoid out-of-step. As a result, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, for example, even if the number of stored small bundles W is not in the full state of the upper limit, if it is not possible to store the next small bundle W, the recovery operation can make it possible to store the next small bundle W.

[0138] Subsequently, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, the control unit 30 lowers the small bundle placement table 107 by driving a placement table motor (not shown) until the upper position sensor 109 detects that the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, that is, until the upper position sensor 109 changes from the ON state to the OFF state (step S9). Then, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, when the upper position sensor 109 detects that the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W is positioned at the upper standby position, the control unit 30 stops the small bundle placement table 107. Then, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, in this state, the control unit 30 causes the lower position sensor 108 to detect whether the small bundle placement table 107 is positioned at the lower limit position (step S10). That is, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, the control unit 30 determines whether the lower position sensor 108, which was in the OFF state, has changed to the ON state when the small bundle placement table 107 reaches the lower limit position.

[0139] In the determination of step S10 in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, if the small bundle placement table 107 is not positioned at the lower limit position and the lower position sensor 108 does not detect that the small bundle placement table 107 is positioned at the lower limit position, the control unit 30 determines that the total height of all the small bundles W stored is within a predetermined height range, and closes the pair of flaps 106 (step S5). In this state, for the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, if the number of small bundles W stored is not at the upper limit full state, the control unit 30 determines that the next small bundle W can be stored, determines the presence or absence of the next small bundle W to be stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 (step S6). If there is a next small bundle W to be stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, the process returns to step S1. If there is no next small bundle W to be stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, the process regarding the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 ends.

[0140] On the other hand, in the determination of step S10 in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, when the control unit 30 detects that the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W is located at the upper standby position by the upper position sensor 109 and the small bundle placement table 107 is located at the lower limit position, and the lower position sensor 108 detects that the small bundle placement table 107 of the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 is located at the lower limit position, the control unit 30 determines that the total height of all the small bundles W stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 is not within the range of a predetermined height and exceeds the predetermined height. Even if the number of stored small bundles W is not in the full state at the upper limit, it is determined that the next small bundle W cannot be stored, and an error notification is sent to the operation display unit 28 (step S11).

[0141] As described above, the control unit 30 controls the operation of the banknote processing apparatus 1 based on the total height of the stored small bundles W determined by the upper position sensor 109 and the lower position sensor 108 in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100. Specifically, when the control unit 30 determines in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 that the total height of the stored small bundles W exceeds a predetermined height by the upper position sensor 109 and the lower position sensor 108, the control unit 30 compresses the entire stored small bundles W by sandwiching them between the small bundle conveyance unit 120 and the small bundle placement table 107. In this way, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, the control unit 30, the upper position sensor 109, and the lower position sensor 108 determine the total height of the small bundles W based on the position of the small bundle placement table 107 detected by the lower position sensor 108.

[0142] In the banknote processing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment described above, the control unit 30 controls the operation of the banknote processing apparatus 1 based on the overall height of the small bundle W stored in the small bundle storage unit 81 as determined by the upper position sensor 89 and the lower position sensor 88. Therefore, the banknote processing apparatus 1 can perform control according to the actual overall height of the small bundle W stored in the small bundle storage unit 81, which is not the theoretical value. Further, in the banknote processing apparatus 1, the control unit 30 controls the operation of the banknote processing apparatus 1 based on the overall height of the small bundle W stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 as determined by the upper position sensor 109 and the lower position sensor 108. Therefore, the banknote processing apparatus 1 can perform control according to the actual overall height of the small bundle W stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, which is not the theoretical value. Accordingly, the banknote processing apparatus 1 can suppress a decrease in processing efficiency as compared with the case where the overall height of the small bundle W stored in the small bundle storage unit 81 and the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 is estimated as a theoretical value based on the number of small bundles of the small bundle W.

[0143] In the banknote processing apparatus 1, when the control unit 30 determines in the small bundle storage unit 81, based on the upper position sensor 89 and the lower position sensor 88, that the overall height of the stored small bundle W exceeds a predetermined height, the control unit 30 sandwiches and compresses the entire stored small bundle W between the small bundle conveyance unit 120 and the small bundle placement table 87. Further, in the banknote processing apparatus 1, when the control unit 30 determines in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, based on the upper position sensor 109 and the lower position sensor 108, that the overall height of the stored small bundle W exceeds a predetermined height, the control unit 30 sandwiches and compresses the entire stored small bundle W between the small bundle conveyance unit 120 and the small bundle placement table 107. Therefore, the banknote processing apparatus 1 can suppress a decrease in the storage efficiency of the small bundle W in the small bundle storage unit 81 and the small bundle collection cassette unit 100. For example, in the case of a small bundle W of loose banknotes being a crisp circulated note, the thickness of the small bundle W becomes larger than normal. Also, if the winding strength of the band T when creating the small bundle W is large, the small bundle W becomes curved in an arch shape in the thickness direction, and a gap is generated between the band T and the banknotes, resulting in an increase in the height of the small bundle W. When such small bundles W are accumulated, an error occurs even when storing a number of small bundles W less than the upper limit number, and the storage efficiency decreases. The banknote processing apparatus 1 can suppress a decrease in the storage efficiency by compressing and correcting such small bundles W.

[0144] In the banknote processing apparatus 1, the control unit 30 determines the overall height of the stored small bundle W based on the height position of the small bundle placement table 87 detected by the lower position sensor 88 in the small bundle storage unit 81. Thus, the banknote processing apparatus 1 can easily determine the overall height of the small bundle W stored in the small bundle storage unit 81. Also, in the banknote processing apparatus 1, the control unit 30 determines the overall height of the stored small bundle W based on the height position of the small bundle placement table 107 detected by the lower position sensor 108 in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100. Thus, the banknote processing apparatus 1 can easily determine the overall height of the small bundle W stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100.

[0145] It is also possible to modify the banknote processing apparatus 1 of the embodiment described above as in the following modification examples.

[0146] In the banknote processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the control unit 30 determines whether the overall height of the small bundle W stored in the small bundle storage unit 81 exceeds a predetermined height based on the height position of the small bundle placement table 87 detected by the lower position sensor 88. In the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, the case where it is determined whether the overall height of the small bundle W stored based on the height position of the small bundle placement table 107 detected by the lower position sensor 108 exceeds a predetermined height has been described as an example. However, it is possible to determine the overall height of the small bundle W stored as in the following <Modification Example 1> to <Modification Example 3>.

[0147] <Modification Example 1> When the upper position sensor 89 detects that the stack W at the uppermost position on the stack placement table 87 is in the upper standby position in the small bundle storage unit 81, the control unit 30 drives the placement table motor until the stack placement table 87 is detected by the lower position sensor 88. Then, based on the driving time, i.e., the moving time of the stack placement table 87, and the predetermined moving speed of the stack placement table 87, the control unit 30 calculates the moving distance of the stack placement table 87. Next, the control unit 30 subtracts this moving distance from the moving distance of the stack placement table 87 from the state where the upper position sensor 89 detects that the upper surface of the stack placement table 87 is in the upper standby position until the stack placement table 87 is detected by the lower position sensor 88, so as to determine the total height of the stored stack W. Alternatively, in the small bundle storage unit 81, the control unit 30 first makes the stack placement table 87 be in a state where it is detected by the lower position sensor 88. Then, from this state, the control unit 30 drives the placement table motor until the upper position sensor 89 detects that the upper surface of the stack W at the uppermost position on the stack placement table 87 is in the upper standby position. Based on the driving time, i.e., the moving time of the stack placement table 87, and the predetermined moving speed of the stack placement table 87, the control unit 30 calculates the moving distance of the stack placement table 87. Then, the control unit 30 subtracts this moving distance from the moving distance from the state where the lower position sensor 88 detects that the stack placement table 87 corresponding to the physical height in the small bundle storage bin 85 is at the lower limit position until the upper surface of the stack placement table 87 is detected by the upper position sensor 89, so as to determine the total height of the stored stack W. In this way, the control unit 30 determines the total height of the stack W based on the moving time of the stack placement table 87. Therefore, the banknote processing apparatus 1 can easily determine the total height of the stack W stored in the small bundle storage unit 81. When the control unit 30 determines that the total height of this stack W exceeds a predetermined height set for the number of stored stacks at that time, similar to the above-described embodiment, the control unit 30 controls the stack placement table 87 and the upper plate portion 125 of the small bundle conveyance unit 120 to compress the stored stack W. By controlling in this way, in the small bundle storage unit 81, even if the number of stored stacks does not increase, the standby time of the banknote processing apparatus 1 and the like can be appropriately used to compress the stored stack W.

[0148] When the upper position sensor 109 detects that the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W on the small bundle placement table 107 is at the upper standby position in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, the control unit 30 drives the placement table motor until the small bundle placement table 107 is detected by the lower position sensor 108, and calculates the moving distance of the small bundle placement table 107 from the driving time, that is, the moving time of the small bundle placement table 107, and the preset moving speed of the small bundle placement table 107. Then, this moving distance is subtracted from the moving distance from the state where the upper position sensor 109 detects that the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 107 corresponding to the physical height in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 is at the upper standby position until the small bundle placement table 107 is detected by the lower position sensor 108, so as to determine the total height of the stored small bundle W. Alternatively, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, the control unit 30 once makes the small bundle placement table 107 be in the state detected by the lower position sensor 108, and from this state, drives the placement table motor until the upper position sensor 109 detects that the upper surface of the uppermost small bundle W on the small bundle placement table 107 is at the upper standby position, and calculates the moving distance of the small bundle placement table 107 from the driving time, that is, the moving time of the small bundle placement table 107, and the preset moving speed of the small bundle placement table 107. Then, this moving distance is subtracted from the moving distance from the state where the lower position sensor 108 detects that the small bundle placement table 107 corresponding to the physical height in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100 is at the lower limit position until the upper surface of the small bundle placement table 107 is detected by the upper position sensor 109, so as to determine the total height of the stored small bundle W. In this way, the control unit 30 determines the total height of the small bundle W based on the moving time of the small bundle placement table 107. Therefore, the banknote processing apparatus 1 can easily determine the total height of the small bundle W stored in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100. When the control unit 30 determines that the total height of this small bundle W exceeds the predetermined height set for the number of stored bundles at that time, in the same manner as in the above embodiment, the control is performed so as to compress the stored small bundle W with the small bundle placement table 107 and the upper plate portion 125 of the small bundle conveyance unit 120. By controlling in this way, in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, even if the number of stored bundles does not increase, the stored small bundle W can be compressed by appropriately using the standby time etc. of the banknote processing apparatus 1.

[0149] <Modification Example 2> In the small bundle storage unit 81, when the mounting table motor of the small bundle mounting table 87 is a stepping motor, and in the small bundle collection cassette unit 100, when the mounting table motor of the small bundle mounting table 107 is a stepping motor, in Modification Example 1, the moving distance of the small bundle mounting tables 87 and 107 is calculated from the number of drive pulses of the mounting table motor instead of the drive time of the mounting table motor. Also by this, the bill processing apparatus 1 can easily determine the overall height of the small bundles W stored in the small bundle storage unit 81 and the small bundle collection cassette unit 100.

[0150] <Modification Example 3> In the small bundle storage unit 81, the control unit 30 determines the overall height of the stored small bundle W based on the image data which is the imaging result of the small bundle counting unit 90 that images and counts the stored small bundle W. In this case, for example, the small bundle counting unit 90 is provided with a slit plate in which a plurality of slits are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction in the drive system by a counting motor (not shown), the moving position of the imaging unit 94 is determined from the number of ON-OFF operations of the interrupter by these slits, and by collating with the image data, the overall height of the stored small bundle W is determined. Also by this, the bill processing apparatus 1 can easily determine the overall height of the small bundle W stored in the small bundle storage unit 81.

[0151] <Modification Example 3-1> In Modification Example 3, the imaging unit 94 is moved from the lower limit position to the upper limit position, and the overall height of the stored small bundle W is determined from the image data during that time.

[0152] <Modification Example 3-2> In Modification Example 3, the imaging unit 94 is moved from the lower limit position to the position where the small bundle mounting table 87 is imaged, and the overall height of the small bundle W stored in the remaining part is determined from the moving distance of the imaging unit 94 during that time.

[0153] <Modification Example 3-3> In Modification 3, the imaging unit 94 is moved to the position of the theoretical height of the small bundle placement table 87 determined from the number of small bundles W being stored, and the moving distance of the imaging unit 94 from this position to the position where the small bundle placement table 87 is imaged is added to the theoretical height to determine the overall height of the small bundles W being stored.

[0154] <Modification 4> In the above-described bundled small bundle replenishment process, the control unit 30 transfers the bundled small bundle W created in the first unit 11 from the small bundle receiving unit 71 to the small bundle placement table 62 at the first position of the small bundle lifting unit 61, and then lowers the bill press 63 below the pair of flappers 52. The control unit 30 controls so that the bundled small bundle W is sandwiched and compressed in the thickness direction between the bill press 63 and the small bundle placement table 62 at the first position, and then this bundled small bundle W is transferred to the small bundle conveyance unit 120. Alternatively, in the above-described bundled small bundle replenishment process, the control unit 30 transfers the bundled small bundle W created in the first unit 11 from the small bundle receiving unit 71 to the small bundle placement table 62 at the first position of the small bundle lifting unit 61, then lowers the small bundle placement table 62 to the second position, and then lowers the bill press 63 below the pair of flappers 52. The control unit 30 controls so that the bundled small bundle W is sandwiched and compressed in the thickness direction between the bill press 63 and the small bundle placement table 62 at the second position, and then this bundled small bundle W is transferred to the small bundle conveyance unit 120. Thereby, the bundled small bundle W created in the first unit 11 can be temporarily compressed and stored in the small bundle storage unit 81. In this case, if there is a standby time before transferring the bundled small bundle W to the small bundle conveyance unit 120 in the small bundle lifting unit 61, this standby time can be utilized to temporarily compress the bundled small bundle W.

[0155] In the above embodiments, the bill processing apparatus 1 capable of handling the deposit and withdrawal of loose bills and the deposit and withdrawal of small bundles W is taken as an example for the small bundle processing apparatus, but any apparatus capable of storing at least small bundles W may be used.

[0156] Also, in the above embodiments, the case of storing small bundles W which are small bundles of bills is taken as an example for explanation, but the present invention is also applicable to an apparatus for storing small bundles of paper sheets such as securities and vouchers, etc., which are formed by accumulating and bundling a predetermined number of paper sheets other than bills.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0157] 1… Banknote processing device (small bundle processing device), 30… Control unit (small bundle height determination means), 85, 105… Small bundle storage, 87, 107… Small bundle placement table, 88, 108… Lower position sensor (small bundle height determination means), 89, 109… Upper position sensor (small bundle height determination means), 94… Imaging unit, 120… Small bundle conveyance unit, W… Small bundle.

Claims

1. A small bundle conveying unit that conveys small bundles, A small bundle storage located below the small bundle conveying unit for storing small bundles in an aggregated state, A vertically movable small bundle mounting table for mounting small bundles in an aggregated state within the small bundle storage, Small bundle height determination means for determining the height of the entire small bundle placed on the small bundle mounting table, A control unit, A small bundle processing device comprising: The control unit, Controls the operation of the small bundle processing device based on the height of the entire small bundle determined by the small bundle height determination means A small bundle processing device characterized by this.

2. When the small bundle height determination means determines that the height of the entire small bundle exceeds a predetermined height, the control unit compresses the entire small bundle by sandwiching it between the small bundle conveying unit and the small bundle mounting table A small bundle processing device according to Claim 1, characterized by this.

3. The small bundle height determination means determines the height of the entire small bundle based on the position of the small bundle mounting table A small bundle processing device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized by this.

4. The small bundle height determination means determines the height of the entire small bundle based on the movement time of the small bundle mounting table A small bundle processing device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized by this.

5. It has an imaging unit that scans vertically to capture an image of the small bundles in the small bundle storage, The small bundle height determination means determines the height of the entire small bundle based on the imaging result of the imaging unit A small bundle processing device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized by this.

Images