Paper sheet conveyance device

Abstract

To provide a paper sheet conveyance device capable of properly collecting a plurality of paper sheets even when the paper sheets conveyed by being pushed from the rear by a conveyance assist body reach a collection device in a state of being longitudinally dispersed.SOLUTION: A temporary stop unit 80 for passing paper sheets and temporarily stopping a conveyance assist body 16 is provided a predetermined distance before a collection device 50 installed at the terminal end of a conveyance path. When the paper sheets enter the collection device within a predetermined time after the conveyance assist body is temporarily stopped, the temporary stop unit 80 releases the temporary stop after the paper sheets have been discharged from the collection device to the outside. Since a first group of paper sheets is completely discharged from the collection device during the temporary stop even when a plurality of bills are dispersed longitudinally, the second group of paper sheets is conveyed by the conveyance assist body after the temporary stop is released, and smoothly enters the collection device. On the other hand, when it is not detected that the paper sheets enter the collection device within a predetermined time, the temporary stop is released at that point, and the unreached paper sheets are immediately conveyed to the collection device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 23

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper sheet conveying device for conveying paper sheets such as banknotes in a gaming house or the like.

Background Art

[0002] Inside a gaming machine island that houses a plurality of sets of a combination of a gaming ball lending machine that receives banknotes and lends gaming balls (such as pachinko balls) to players and a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, there is a conveying device that conveys the banknotes inserted into each gaming ball lending machine to a safe provided at the end of the gaming machine island along the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island. In addition, there is also a conveying device that collects banknotes from the safes of a plurality of gaming machine islands provided in the gaming house and conveys them to the main safe in the office of the gaming house.

[0003] Conventionally, belt conveyance has been the mainstream as a conveyance method used in such a conveyance device. In recent years, however, it has been diversifying, such as a method that utilizes an air flow generated inside a conveyance pipe. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, a cylindrical conveyance auxiliary body 101 inserted into a conveyance pipe 100 as shown in FIG. 28 is moved by the action of an air flow generated inside the conveyance pipe, and the conveyance auxiliary body 101 that moves pushes and moves the paper sheets inside the pipe from behind to convey them. A conveyance device of this method is disclosed.

[0004] In a conveyance device that uses a conveyance auxiliary body, a recovery device for separating the conveyance auxiliary body and the paper sheets conveyed by the conveyance auxiliary body and recovering the paper sheets is provided at the end of the conveyance pipe. FIG. 29 shows a state in which paper sheets are recovered by the recovery device 110.

[0005] In this recovery device 110, the conveyance auxiliary body 101 that has pushed and moved the paper sheets from behind is received and recovered by a separation unit 112 having a slit (passage opening) (FIG. b of the same figure), and only the paper sheets are passed through the slit and advanced to the downstream passage unit 114 to separate the paper sheets from the conveyance auxiliary body.

[0006] The passage portion 114 is an area for temporarily stopping or decelerating (e.g., 10 cm / sec) and storing the paper sheets that have moved through the conveyance pipe at high speed (e.g., 2 m / sec). The paper sheets that enter the passage portion 114 are discharged to the outside from the end of the passage portion 114 by a conveyance mechanism 116 using conveyance rollers or a conveyance belt (Fig. c of the same figure).

[0007] The paper sheets discharged from the collection device 110 are sent to and stored in the main safe of the office or the like. The conveyance auxiliary body 101 is detached from the separation portion 112 and collected at a position where the separation portion 112 has rotated from the front to the side of the passage portion 114 (Fig. c of the same figure).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] When conveying paper sheets by a conveyance auxiliary body, usually, the paper sheets are pushed and moved by the conveyance auxiliary body with the rear end of the paper sheets in contact with the conveyance auxiliary body. Also, when the conveyance auxiliary body conveys a plurality of paper sheets at once, usually, the plurality of paper sheets are in a bundled state, and the rear end of the bundle is pushed and moved in contact with the conveyance auxiliary body. However, such a conveyance state is not always maintained, and due to some influence (e.g., the influence of gravity acting in the advancing direction on the paper sheets at a descending portion of the conveyance path, the influence of air resistance, the influence of joints in the conveyance pipe, etc.), the paper sheets may move in a state of being separated from the conveyance auxiliary body to a certain extent forward, or when the conveyance auxiliary body conveys a plurality of banknotes at once, the bundle may collapse, and the plurality of paper sheets may be conveyed in a state of being dispersed front and back (e.g., a first group and a second group behind it) (see Fig. 30).

[0010] When a plurality of sheets of paper reach the collecting device in a state of being dispersed front and back, as shown in Fig. 31(a), the first group of sheets of paper that arrive first are stored in the passage portion 114 of the collecting device 110 and stop and decelerate. Thereafter, the tip of the second group of sheets of paper may hit the rear end of the first group of sheets of paper that have arrived first and stopped and decelerated in the passage portion 114. In such a case, the second group of sheets of paper that are late will not enter the passage portion 114 and will be crushed by the conveying auxiliary body arriving from behind, resulting in clogging (Fig. 31(b)).

[0011] This problem can occur not only when the conveying auxiliary body moves under the action of an air flow, but also in any method of pushing and conveying the sheets of paper with the conveying auxiliary body. For example, it can occur even if the conveying auxiliary body is self-propelled. In addition, the phenomenon that the sheets of paper move in a state of being separated from the conveying auxiliary body to a certain extent in front can occur not only in the downward portion of the conveying path, but also in other places, for example, even in a horizontal portion of the conveying path.

[0012] The present invention aims to solve the above problems, and even when a plurality of sheets of paper pushed and conveyed from behind by a conveying auxiliary body reach the collecting device in a state of being dispersed front and back, it is possible to appropriately collect these sheets of paper, and an object thereof is to provide a sheet conveying device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0013] The gist of the present invention for achieving such an object is as follows.

[0014] [1] A sheet conveying device that pushes and conveys sheets of paper with a conveying auxiliary body moving along a conveying path, provided at the destination of conveyance, arrived a storage unit that does not accept the conveying auxiliary body but accepts and stores the sheets of paper and then discharges them to the outside, and in front of the storage unit at a predetermined distance, is provided and allows the sheet material to pass through a temporary stop unit that temporarily stops the conveying auxiliary body and then releases the temporary stop, and has, When it is detected that the sheet material has entered the storage unit within a predetermined time after the temporary stop unit temporarily stops the transport assist body, the temporary stop is released after the sheet material has been discharged from the storage unit to the outside. When it is not detected that the sheet material has entered the storage unit within a predetermined time after the transport assist body is temporarily stopped, the temporary stop is released at that time A sheet conveying device characterized by the above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0017] Figure 1 shows an example of the in-store layout of a pachinko parlor 2 where a paper sheet collection and conveyance system 1 to which a paper sheet conveyance device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied is installed. Figure 2 shows the schematic configuration of the paper sheet collection and conveyance system 1. In the pachinko parlor 2, a plurality of gaming machine islands 3 are arranged in a large number with passages therebetween. In each gaming machine island 3, a gaming ball lending machine 4 that accepts the insertion of bills and lends gaming balls (pachinko balls) to players and a gaming machine 5 such as a pachinko machine are combined in a set and a plurality of sets are accommodated back to back on the front and back surfaces.

[0018] The paper sheet collection and conveyance system 1 includes an in-island bill conveyance device 7 provided inside the gaming machine island 3 that takes in bills discharged from the back of each gaming ball lending machine 4 and conveys them to a safe in a relay box 6 at the end of the gaming machine island 3, a main conveyance device 10 that travels above each gaming machine island 3 (for example, in the ceiling space or near the ceiling), collects the bills stored in the safes of each gaming machine island 3, and conveys them to a collection safe 9 installed in an office or the like of the pachinko parlor 2, and a relay conveyance device 8 that feeds out bills from the safes of each gaming machine island 3 and relays and conveys the bills to a conveyance path 11 of the main conveyance device 10 passing above the safes.

[0019] In the relay box 6 provided at the end of each gaming machine island 3, a safe, drive units, control units, etc. of the in-island bill conveyance device 7 and the relay conveyance device 8 are accommodated. In the collection safe 9, in addition to the safe, drive units and control units of the main conveyance device 10 are accommodated.

[0020] The transport path 11 of the main transport device 10 is arranged to go out from the central coin bank 9 of the office, pass above the installation locations of the relay boxes 6 of each gaming machine island 3, and then return to the central coin bank 9 again. In the example of FIG. 2, after leaving the central coin bank 9, the transport path 11 of the main transport device 10 extends upward and enters the ceiling space. Then, its direction changes horizontally, and it goes around above the installation location of the relay box 6 of each gaming machine island 3 along the ceiling space. After that, it descends and extends back to the central coin bank 9. In the middle of the transport path 11 a little before returning to the central coin bank 9, a stop unit 80 is installed which allows the banknote P to pass through but temporarily stops the transport auxiliary body 16 for a predetermined time and then opens towards the central coin bank 9. In the embodiment, the main transport device 10 provided with the stop unit 80 corresponds to the document transport device according to the present invention.

[0021] The transport path 11 of the main transport device 10 of the document collection and transport system 1 is a cylindrical transport pipe 12. The main transport device 10 generates an air flow in the transport pipe 12, and the banknote P in the transport pipe 12 is pushed from behind by a transport auxiliary body 16 (see FIGS. 3 to 7) that moves in the transport pipe 12 under the action of the air flow and is transported downstream (transport direction FW). In the document collection and transport system 1, the banknote P is transported in the transport pipe 12 in a horizontally long posture with the paper surface vertical.

[0022] The transport path 11 of the main transport device 10 is constituted by connecting a plurality of transport pipes 12. The transport pipe and the adjacent transport pipe are connected via a connecting part 15, a taking-in device 14, etc. The transport pipe 12 includes a straight transport pipe 12a in a straight line, a horizontal curved pipe 12b for changing the path by 90 degrees to the left or right, and a vertical curved pipe 12c for changing the path from horizontal to vertical or from vertical to horizontal (see FIGS. 2 and 8). By connecting these, the transport path can be freely set.

[0023] The taking-in device 14 functions to take in the banknotes transported by the relay transport device 8 into the transport path 11 of the main transport device 10 and also functions to connect the front and rear transport pipes 12.

[0024] FIG. 8 shows the aggregation safe 9 with the front cover removed and the transport pipe 12 that enters and exits it. Inside the aggregation safe 9, an air flow generating device 21 and a bill separation / transport auxiliary body circulation device 22 are provided. The bill separation / transport auxiliary body circulation device 22 has the function of a transport auxiliary body insertion device 23 that sends the transport auxiliary body 16 into the transport pipe 12, and a recovery device 50 (corresponding to the storage part of the present invention) that separates the bill and the transport auxiliary body 16 that has been pushed and transported from behind (the transport auxiliary body 16 that has returned after making a full circle along the transport path 11 of the main transport device 10) and recovers each of them, and also functions to deliver the transport auxiliary body 16 recovered by the recovery device 50 to the transport auxiliary body insertion device 23 for cyclic use. The bill P recovered by the recovery device 50 is transported to the bill storage part 25 in the aggregation safe 9 and accumulated and stored therein.

[0025] The air flow generating device 21 generates an air flow by rotating the blades with a motor. The air blowing side of the air flow generating device 21 is connected to the air flow inlet of the transport auxiliary body insertion device 23, and the start end of the transport pipe 12 is connected to the air flow outlet of the transport auxiliary body insertion device 23. The air flow generated by the air flow generating device 21 passes through the transport auxiliary body insertion device 23 and is sent into the start end of the transport pipe 12. The end of the transport pipe 12 that has returned after making a full circle in the game hall is connected to the inlet of the recovery device 50, and the air flow discharge port of the recovery device 50 is connected to the air suction port of the air flow generating device 21. The air flow that has flowed into the recovery device 50 from the end of the transport pipe 12 is sucked through the recovery device 50 to the air suction port of the air flow generating device 21.

[0026] A temporary stop unit 80 is provided in the middle of the transport path at a predetermined distance before reaching the aggregation safe 9. Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the temporary stop unit 80 connects the straight transport pipe 12a that has descended from the ceiling and the vertical curved pipe 12c immediately before reaching the aggregation safe 9, and functions as a connecting part.

[0027] Note that an auxiliary blower (not shown) for enhancing the air flow is provided at an appropriate position in the middle of the conveyance path 11 of the main conveyance device 10. For example, the auxiliary blower is provided at a location where the conveyance path curves. Also, the auxiliary blower is provided at a connection location of the conveyance path. The auxiliary blower serves to enhance the downstream air flow to ensure that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 reaches the collection safe 9. The auxiliary blower may have a function of sucking air on the upstream side.

[0028] The control unit 27 of the paper sheet collection and conveyance system 1 installed inside the collection safe 9 is composed mainly of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The control unit 27 controls the operations of the air flow generation device 21, the banknote separation and conveyance auxiliary body circulation device 22, etc. Also, inside the relay box 6, a control unit for controlling the operations of the in-island banknote conveyance device 7, the relay conveyance device 8, and the intake device 14 is provided. The control unit inside the collection safe 9 and the control units inside each relay box 6 are connected by a communication line and operate in cooperation. For example, when the control unit of the relay box 6 receives a discharge instruction from the control unit 27 inside the collection safe 9, it controls the relay conveyance device 8 and the intake device 14 to execute the operation of sending the banknotes held inside the relay box into the upper conveyance path 11. The auxiliary blower is provided with a control unit, is connected to the control unit 27 inside the collection safe 9 by a communication line, and operates in cooperation.

[0029] The collection of banknotes by the paper sheet collection and conveyance system 1 is performed as follows.

[0030] The banknotes inserted from each game ball lending machine 4 of the gaming machine island 3 are conveyed by the in-island banknote conveyance device 7 to the relay box 6 at the end of the gaming machine island 3 and temporarily stored in the internal safe. When collecting the banknotes stored in the safes inside the relay boxes 6 of each gaming machine island 3 into the collection safe 9, the banknotes are fed out from the safes of one or two or more relay boxes 6, conveyed by the relay conveyance device 8 to the upper intake device 14, and the intake device 14 takes in the banknotes into the conveyance path 11 of the main conveyance device 10 and waits.

[0031] When the intake of banknotes into the conveyance path 11 is completed, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is sent out from the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 23 in the aggregation safe 9 into the conveyance path (conveyance pipe) 11 in order to convey and collect those banknotes to the aggregation safe 9. The sent-out conveyance auxiliary body 16 is moved downstream in the conveyance path 11 of the main conveyance device 10 under the action of an air current, and returns to the aggregation safe 9 while collecting banknotes. At that time, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 pushes and moves the banknote P from behind it for conveyance (conveyance direction FW in the figure). The conveyance auxiliary body 16 that has received the air current moves in the conveyance pipe 12 at a high speed of about 2 m / s.

[0032] The temporary stop unit 80 installed in front of the aggregation safe 9 at a predetermined distance allows the banknotes heading for the aggregation safe 9 to pass through as they are, and temporarily stops the conveyance auxiliary body 16. Here, the temporary stop unit 80 temporarily stops the conveyance auxiliary body 16 for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds), and then releases the temporary stop. The banknotes that have passed through the temporary stop unit 80 during the temporary stop and reached the collection device 50 are collected by the collection device 50, and the banknotes that have passed through the temporary stop unit 80 but have not reached the collection device 50 are pushed by the conveyance auxiliary body 16 after the release and reach the collection device 50 to be collected.

[0033] Thus, in the main conveyance device 10, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 moves under the action of an air current, and the banknotes are pushed and moved from behind by this conveyance auxiliary body 16 for conveyance, so the banknotes themselves do not need to obtain a propulsive force from the air current. Therefore, measures such as bending the banknotes to receive the air current are not taken. Also, since the conveyance auxiliary body 16 can obtain a propulsive force from the air current more efficiently than bent banknotes or the like, the banknotes can be conveyed efficiently and a plurality of banknotes can be conveyed at once.

[0034] In the paper sheet collection and conveyance system 1, for the in-island banknote conveyance device 7 and the relay conveyance device 8, banknotes are conveyed in the same manner as the main conveyance device 10 (a method of pushing the banknotes from the rear with a conveyance auxiliary body 16 that moves by an air current). As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the in-island banknote conveyance device 7 includes a relay box 6 having the same configuration as the collecting safe 9 provided at one end of the gaming machine island 3, and a conveyance pipe 12 installed in the island so as to extend from the relay box 6 to the other end of the gaming machine island 3 and then make a U-turn and return to the relay box 6, and an in-island intake device 14b provided corresponding to each gaming ball lending machine 4 and taking in the banknotes discharged from the gaming ball lending machine 4 into the conveyance pipe 12. The in-island intake device 14b also functions to connect the conveyance pipes 12.

[0035] The relay box 6 is provided with a banknote separation / conveyance auxiliary body circulation device 22 (a conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 23 and a recovery device 50), an air current generation device 21, a banknote storage section 25, a control section, etc. Note that, also in the in-island banknote conveyance device 7, a temporary stop unit 80 may be provided in the middle of the conveyance pipe at a predetermined distance in front of the recovery device 50.

[0036] The relay conveyance device 8 also conveys in the same manner as the main conveyance device 10 (a method of pushing up the banknotes from below with a conveyance auxiliary body 16 that moves by an air current). The relay conveyance device 8 includes a conveyance pipe extending from the relay box 6 to the upper intake device 14 and an air current generation device that generates an upward air current in this conveyance pipe. In the relay conveyance device 8, the banknotes fed out from the banknote storage section 25 are pushed up from below by the conveyance auxiliary body 16 that moves upward in the conveyance pipe by the action of the air current and conveyed to the upper intake device 14. After the banknotes are taken in by the intake device 14, the air current is stopped or generated in the reverse direction, so that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 returns to the standby position at the lower end of the conveyance pipe to prepare for the next relay conveyance.

[0037] Note that the in-island banknote conveyance device 7 and the relay conveyance device 8 are not limited to the above-described conveyance method, and other conveyance methods such as belt conveyance may be adopted.

[0038] Next, the shapes of the conveyance pipe 12 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 will be described in detail.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the transport pipe 12 in the straight portion, and FIG. 5 is a view showing a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the extending direction FW (= the transport direction FW of the banknote P = the flowing direction of the air flow) of the transport pipe 12 in the same portion. The transport pipe 12 is formed of a resin having a thickness of about 1.5 mm. The transport pipe 12 is formed, for example, by extrusion molding.

[0040] The shape of the cross section perpendicular to the extending direction FW of the straight portion of the transport pipe 12 forms a shape in which the central portion of the long side of the rectangle extends outward in a rectangular shape. Specifically, the transport pipe 12 includes a wall portion 31 that forms the short side of the rectangle in cross section, a side wall portion 32 that forms the long side of the rectangle in cross section, and an extension portion 33 that projects outward in a rectangular shape at the central portion of the side wall portion 32. In addition, in the substantially rectangular cross section perpendicular to the extending direction (transport direction FW) of the transport pipe 12, the short side direction is defined as the X direction and the long side direction is defined as the Y direction. The direction toward the center of the transport pipe 12 in each of the X direction and the Y direction is referred to as the inner side, and the direction from the center to the inner wall is referred to as the outer side.

[0041] The extension portion 33 is divided into two by a separation wall 34 erected in the inner direction of the transport pipe 12. The separation wall 34 is formed by attaching a T-shaped member to the inner wall of the extension portion 33.

[0042] A plurality of ribs 35 protruding in the inner direction of the transport pipe 12 are formed along the transport direction on the side wall portion 32. In this example, ribs 35 protruding inward of the transport pipe 12 are formed along the transport direction FW at the boundary between the side wall portion 32 and the extension portion 33. The separation wall 34 has the same height as the rib 35, and the top of the separation wall 34 functions as a rib. Hereinafter, the separation wall 34 is also referred to as a rib 34.

[0043] The side wall portion 32 serves as a pair of inner walls facing the paper surface of the banknote P to be transported. The banknote P has a rectangular shape and is transported in the transport pipe 12 in a direction in which the long side is in the transport direction FW. In other words, the paper surface P faces the side wall portion 32 of the transport pipe 12, and one short side of the banknote P is on the front end side in the transport direction FW and the other short side is on the rear end side.

[0044] The distance Dy between a pair of opposing wall portions 31 of the conveying pipe 12 is slightly longer than the short side of the banknote P. Also, the distance Dx between a pair of opposing side wall portions 32 (portions where the ribs 35, the extended portions 33, and the partition walls 34 are not formed (referred to as the reference plane portions)) is set to about 21 mm. The extended portions 33 provided on each side wall portion 32 extend about 6 mm outward from the side wall portion 32 (reference plane portion). The tops of the ribs 35 and the partition walls 34 are at a height of about 2 mm inward from the side wall portion 32 (reference plane portion). The height of the ribs 35 may be set appropriately.

[0045] Note that the conveying pipe 12 can be installed and used with its longitudinal direction inclined at an arbitrary angle in addition to vertical and horizontal, and the conveying auxiliary body 16 can smoothly move inside the conveying pipe 12 at any angle. FIG. 5 shows the conveying pipe 12 in a vertical posture installed such that the long side of the rectangular cross-section is vertical.

[0046] FIG. 6 shows the plan view and the front view of the conveying auxiliary body 16. The conveying auxiliary body 16 has a columnar shape with a circular cross-section having different diameters in each part. The conveying auxiliary body 16 is inserted into the conveying pipe 12 and used such that the central axis of the cylinder is in the Y direction of the conveying pipe 12. The conveying auxiliary body 16 has a symmetrical shape with respect to its center in the length direction, and in order from one end, it has a head portion 16a, a neck portion 16b with a slightly smaller diameter than the head portion, a large-diameter portion 16c with a larger diameter than the head portion 16a, a constricted portion 16d having the same diameter as the neck portion 16b and located at the center in the length direction, the large-diameter portion 16c, the neck portion 16b, and the head portion 16a. The conveying auxiliary body 16 is lightweight and strong, and for example, its interior is formed as a cavity by plastic or the like. Note that if it is lightweight and strong, it may be formed by expanded polystyrene or extruded polystyrene foam.

[0047] FIG. 7 shows a cross section of the conveyance tube 12 with the conveyance auxiliary member 16 inserted therein. This figure is a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction FW and passing through the central axis of the conveyance auxiliary member 16. The diameter of each part of the conveyance auxiliary member 16 corresponds to the inner edge shape of the conveyance tube 12. That is, the cross-sectional shape passing through the central axis of the conveyance auxiliary member 16 is a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape of the conveyance tube 12 in a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction FW, and the inside of the conveyance tube 12 is shaped to substantially close with a predetermined clearance from the inner wall.

[0048] Thus, since the conveyance auxiliary member 16 has a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape of the conveyance tube 12 (substantially the same shape with a slight clearance) and closes substantially the entire cross section of the conveyance tube 12, it can efficiently receive the action of the air flow and move. Further, the conveyance auxiliary member 16 serves to prevent the air flow from the upstream from reaching the downstream side of the conveyance auxiliary member 16 and suppress the turbulence of the air flow on the downstream side.

[0049] When the banknote P receives the action from the air flow in the conveyance tube 12, it tends to stick to the side wall portion 32. That is, it is almost impossible for the distance between one paper surface of the banknote P and the side wall portion 32 facing it and the distance between the other paper surface and the side wall portion 32 facing it to be equal, and one of the distances becomes narrower than the other. Since the flow velocity of the air flow is faster on the narrow interval side than on the wide interval side, the air pressure on the narrow interval side becomes lower than the air pressure on the wide interval side, and due to this pressure difference, the banknote P is adsorbed and pressed against the side wall portion 32 on the narrow interval side. Then, the interval on the narrow interval side becomes even narrower, and a phenomenon occurs in which the banknote P sticks and adheres to the side wall portion 32.

[0050] When the banknote P strongly adheres to the side wall portion 32, it becomes difficult to push and convey the banknote P with the conveyance auxiliary member 16. However, as described above, the conveyance auxiliary member 16 serves to block (reduce) the flow of air to the downstream side, so the force with which the banknote P sticks and adheres becomes smaller, and smooth conveyance is realized.

[0051] The two large-diameter portions 16c of the conveying auxiliary body 16 engage with respective ones of the two expansion portions 33 partitioned by the partition wall 34 of the conveying pipe 12. In this example, since the expansion portions 33 are partitioned into two by the partition wall 34 and these expansion portions 33 are provided closer to the center in the Y direction of the conveying pipe 12, the conveying auxiliary body 16 can be maintained in a stable posture and moved. Further, since the posture of the conveying auxiliary body 16 is stabilized, the large-diameter portion 16c of the conveying auxiliary body 16 can appropriately abut against the rear end of the banknote P to apply a stable conveying force. Also, it becomes difficult for the banknote P to be caught between the conveying pipe 12 and the conveying auxiliary body 16.

[0052] Further, by providing the large-diameter portion 16c, the area of the portion of the conveying auxiliary body 16 that is affected by the air flow is enlarged, and the force for moving can be efficiently received. Also, since the large-diameter portion 16c is provided to efficiently receive the action of the air flow, the diameter of the head portion 16a can be reduced accordingly. By reducing the diameter of the head portion, the interval (width (Dx)) between the pair of opposing side wall portions 32 in the conveying pipe 12 can be narrowed, and the banknote P can be prevented from falling over.

[0053] Furthermore, due to the presence of the plurality of ribs 35 provided on the side wall portion 32, the banknote P is prevented from sticking tightly to the side wall portion 32. That is, the contact area between the banknote P and the side wall portion 32 is reduced, the friction is reduced, and the generation of static electricity and the like can be suppressed. Also, even when the banknote P sticks to the side wall portion 32, since the banknote P is supported by the tip portion of the rib 35, a gap is ensured between the side wall portion 32 and the banknote P around the rib 35, and the sticking force is kept small. Also, since the banknote P is supported by the partition wall 34, the banknote P is prevented from falling into the depression of the expansion portion 33.

[0054] In addition, the tops of a plurality of ribs 35 protruding inward from the side wall portion 32 and the separation wall 34 serve to make the substantial passage width W of the banknote P in the width direction (X direction) of the conveyance pipe 12 narrower than the reference plane portion interval Dx. As a result, it becomes difficult for the banknote P to fall to one side wall portion 32 side within the conveyance pipe 12, and the posture of the banknote P is held along the Y direction. In particular, by providing a plurality of ribs 35, the above-mentioned falling of the banknote P is appropriately prevented, and the sticking of the banknote P to the side wall portion 32 is also effectively prevented. Note that Dx can be increased by the amount of the ribs 35 provided, thereby increasing the cross-sectional area of the conveyance pipe 12 and making it easier for the conveyance auxiliary body 16 to receive the action of the air flow.

[0055] In the case of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 according to the present embodiment, since the diameter of the large-diameter portion 16c is the largest, as shown in FIG. 3, this large-diameter portion 16c comes into contact with the rear end of the banknote P and pushes it.

[0056] Note that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is not limited to the illustrated shape. For example, it may have a shape in which two large-diameter portions 16c are integrated without providing the constricted portion 16d, or it may have a shape without providing the head portion 16a, or the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axis may be rectangular. It may be an appropriate shape capable of pushing the banknote from the rear in a stable posture.

[0057] Next, the recovery device 50 will be described.

[0058] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the recovery device 50, FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the inner unit 52 of the recovery device 50, FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the passage portion 54 of the inner unit 52 on the main body portion side and the opposing wall portion side, FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the main body portion of the passage portion 54 as viewed from the inner wall side, and FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing the cross section and operation of the recovery device 50.

[0059] The recovery device 50 includes a hollow outer case 51 and an inner unit 52 that is inserted into the outer case 51 through an opening at the rear end of the outer case 51 so as to be insertable and removable (see FIG. 11). The terminal end of the conveyance pipe 12 is closely inserted and connected into the front opening 51a of the outer case 51.

[0060] The inner unit 52 allows the banknote P pushed and conveyed by the conveyance auxiliary member 16 to pass downstream from the slit 53a (see FIG. 15), and separates them by capturing the conveyance auxiliary member 16, and includes a separation unit 53 and a passage unit 54 that receives and stores the banknotes that have passed through the slit 53a of the separation unit 53 from the inlet 54a (see FIGS. 12 and 15(a)).

[0061] The separation unit 53 has a shape formed by splitting a hollow cylinder along its axis, and has a structure in which the conveyance auxiliary member 16 received from a rectangular opening corresponding to the split end face is brought into contact with the inside of a semi-cylindrical wall portion and stopped. The slit 53a formed in the semi-cylindrical wall portion of the separation unit 53 has a width that allows banknotes P bundled in a dozen or so to pass through.

[0062] The separation unit 53 is configured to be rotatable between a standby position (see FIGS. 11 and 15(a)) for receiving the conveyance auxiliary member 16 coming from the end of the conveyance pipe 12 in front of the inlet 54a of the passage unit 54 and a discharge position (see FIGS. 12 and 15(b)) shifted to the side from the front of the inlet 54a. Here, the separation unit 53 rotates by obtaining the power of a solenoid (not shown).

[0063] A discharge port 53b for dropping the conveyance auxiliary member 16 downward is formed in the bottom surface of the separation unit 53. Further, in the outer case 51, a drop port 51b is formed in the bottom surface at a position corresponding to the discharge port 53b of the separation unit 53 moved to the discharge position. When the separation unit 53 holding the conveyance auxiliary member 16 rotates from the standby position to the discharge position, the held conveyance auxiliary member 16 drops downward through the discharge port 53b on the bottom surface of the separation unit 53 and the drop port 51b on the bottom surface of the outer case 51, and is delivered to the conveyance auxiliary member insertion device 23 and reused for the next delivery.

[0064] The passage portion 54 of the inner unit 52 is an area where the banknotes received from the inlet 54a are stopped, decelerated, and temporarily stored. The stopped and decelerated banknotes are conveyed to the delivery port 54b at the end of the passage portion 54 by a conveying mechanism provided in the passage portion 54 and then sent out to the outside. The banknotes that exit the delivery port 54b of the collection device 50 are sent to the banknote storage portion 25 and stored therein.

[0065] On the upstream portion of one inner wall of the passage portion 54, a rib 55 protruding into the passage is provided along the extending direction of the passage. Downstream of this rib 55, a conveying belt 56 for conveying the banknotes toward the end of the passage portion 54 is stretched. A rib 55 is also provided on the other inner wall of the passage portion 54, and the space between the opposing ribs 55 forms the actual passage for the banknotes.

[0066] Near the end of the passage portion 54, a conveying roller 57 for clamping and discharging the banknotes is provided. In the collection device 50, an air suction port 54c is provided behind the conveying belt 56, and a duct communicating with the suction side of the air flow generating device 21 is connected to the outer case 51 at the portion corresponding to this suction port 54c. By sucking air from the suction port 54c behind the conveying belt 56 to the outside, the banknotes are attached to the conveying belt 56 and conveyed.

[0067] Three conveying belts 56 are stretched in parallel with a space therebetween (see FIG. 14). A partition wall 54d for preventing the banknotes from being sucked between the conveying belts 56 is provided in the portion between the conveying belts 56.

[0068] In addition, an auxiliary conveyance mechanism 58 is provided in the passage portion 54 in case the conveyance of banknotes by the conveyance belt 56 fails. The auxiliary conveyance mechanism 58 includes a roller 58a provided on one inner wall side of the passage portion 54, and an annular sandwiching belt 58b provided on the other inner wall side of the passage portion 54 at a position corresponding to the roller 58a and bridged so as to circulate along the longitudinal direction of the passage portion 54. The sandwiching belt 58b is displaceably supported at a storage position (see Fig. 15(a)) where it does not enter the substantial passage of the banknote (inside the top of the rib 55) and a sandwiching position (see Fig. 15(b)) where it enters the passage and abuts against the roller 58a. The sandwiching belt 58b is driven by a drive portion (not shown) to circulate in the direction of conveying the banknote downstream. Further, it is driven by a solenoid (not shown) to be displaced between the storage position and the sandwiching position.

[0069] The collection device 50 includes a sensor for detecting whether the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has arrived at the separation portion 53 in the standby position, a sensor for detecting whether there is a banknote in the passage portion 54 or whether the banknote has been discharged from the passage portion 54, and the like.

[0070] Next, the operation of the collection device 50 will be described.

[0071] When the air flow generating device 21 generates an air flow, the air flow circulates through the conveyance path 11 and flows into the collection device 50 from the front opening 51a of the outer case 51 of the collection device 50, and further enters the passage portion 54 from the inlet 54a of the inner unit 52. The air in the passage portion 54 is sucked by the air flow generating device 21 through the duct from the suction port 54c.

[0072] In the state where the air flow is flowing as described above, when the banknote reaches the recovery device 50 from the end of the conveyance pipe 12, the banknote passes through the slit 53a of the separation unit 53 and enters the passage unit 54. The banknote that has entered the passage unit 54 stops or decelerates its movement by sticking to the conveyance belt 56 by the aforementioned suction. Then, it is conveyed at a low speed (for example, 10 cm / second) to the downstream side of the passage unit 54 by the conveyance belt 56, and further clamped by the conveyance roller 57 and discharged to the outside from the delivery port 54b. Here, when the recovery device 50 detects that a banknote has entered the passage unit 54, it starts driving the conveyance belt 56 and the conveyance roller 57, and stops driving them when the banknote is discharged. Note that regardless of whether a banknote has reached the passage unit 54 of the recovery device 50, the recovery device 50 may be constantly driven during the conveyance operation of the main conveyance device 10 (from the start to the end of the conveyance operation by the conveyance auxiliary body).

[0073] The conveyance auxiliary body 16 that has reached the recovery device 50 from the end of the conveyance pipe 12 is received by the separation unit 53. When it is detected that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has reached the separation unit 53, the separation unit 53 is moved to the discharge position shown in FIG. 15(b), and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is discharged downward through the discharge port 53b of the separation unit 53 and the drop port 51b of the outer case 51. The discharged conveyance auxiliary body 16 is taken into the standby unit of the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 23 and used for the next delivery. When an abnormality occurs in the discharge of the banknote by the conveyance belt 56, the auxiliary conveyance mechanism 58 operates and the banknote is discharged.

[0074] Note that the recovery device may have other configurations. For example, in the recovery device 50, the stored banknotes are discharged from the rear end of the passage unit 54, but a configuration in which they are discharged to the side or downward may also be used. The recovery device only needs to have a function of temporarily storing the banknotes that have moved at high speed, decelerating or stopping them, and then discharging them to the outside.

[0075] In addition, the transport auxiliary body 16 captured by the separation unit 53 is configured to fall downward and be delivered to the transport auxiliary body insertion device 23. However, for example, after the separation unit 53 captures the transport auxiliary body 16, the transport auxiliary body 16 may be sent back from the separation unit 53 toward the starting end of the transport pipe 12 by reversing the flow of the air current or the like and reused for the next transport.

[0076] Next, the pause unit 80 will be described.

[0077] FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the pause unit 80. The pause unit 80 includes a connecting pipe portion 81 that connects the front and rear transport pipes, a stopper drive portion 82 that is attached to the outer side of the side surface of the connecting pipe portion 81 and moves a contact member 83 that contacts the transport auxiliary body 16 in and out of the connecting pipe portion 81 to temporarily stop the transport auxiliary body 16, and a control portion 89 that controls the operation of the pause unit 80. In addition, the pause unit 80 is provided with an error display and a reset switch (not shown).

[0078] FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the stopper drive portion 82, FIG. 18 is a side view of the connecting pipe portion 81, and FIGS. 19 and 20 are cross-sectional views taken along line A-A shown in FIG. 18 of the pause unit 80. FIG. 19 shows a state where the contact member 83 is in the contact position advanced into the connecting pipe portion 81, and FIG. 20 shows a state where the contact member 83 is in the release position retracted from the connecting pipe portion 81. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the contact member 83 in the contact position and the transport auxiliary body 16 that is temporarily stopped by contacting the contact member 83. FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the continuous state between the head of the contact member 83 in the contact position and the inner wall surface of the connecting pipe portion 81.

[0079] The connecting pipe portion 81 is composed of an upstream end portion 81a, a downstream end portion 81b, and an intermediate pipe portion 81c therebetween. At the upstream end portion 81a and the downstream end portion 81b, upstream and downstream conveying pipes 12 are connected via connection adapters (not shown). By connecting the conveying pipes 12 to the upstream and downstream sides of the connecting pipe portion 81 via connection adapters, the shape inside the pipe from the upstream conveying pipe to the downstream conveying pipe becomes the same as that of the conveying pipe 12 shown in FIG. 5 and the like, and the inner wall and ribs are arranged in a stepped relationship such that banknotes and conveying auxiliary members can smoothly pass through without getting caught.

[0080] An opening 84 for the abutting member 83 to enter and exit is provided in one side wall of the intermediate pipe portion 81c of the connecting pipe portion 81. Further, a sensor 85 for detecting the conveying auxiliary member 16 that has abutted against the abutting member 83 and temporarily stopped is provided in the intermediate pipe portion 81c. For this sensor 85, for example, a reflective or transmissive optical sensor can be used.

[0081] The stopper driving portion 82 includes an abutting member 83 provided with a head portion 83b that abuts against the conveying auxiliary member 16 at the tip of a bar-shaped arm portion 83a having a rectangular cross-section, a solenoid 86 connected to the base end side of the arm portion 83a of the abutting member 83 for advancing and retracting the abutting member 83, and a mounting frame 87 that is screwed to the side surface of the connecting pipe portion 81 and holds the solenoid 86 and the like. Further, the stopper driving portion 82 includes a sensor 88 for detecting whether the abutting member 83 is in the abutting position or the release position.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 21, the head portion 83b of the abutting member 83 is divided into two and abuts against the two large-diameter portions 16c of the conveying auxiliary member 16 respectively. In FIG. 21, for the purpose of showing the inner edge shape of the intermediate pipe portion 81c of the temporary stop unit 80, the cross-section of the conveying pipe 12 having the same inner edge shape is superimposed and shown for reference. As shown in FIG. 21, at the abutting position, the head portion 83b of the abutting member 83 firmly abuts against the conveying auxiliary member 16, but is set not to protrude into the substantial banknote passage (inside the top of the rib 35 and the partition wall 34).

[0083] In addition, since the head 83b of the contact member 83 abuts on each of the two large-diameter portions 16c of the conveyance assisting member 16, when they abut, it is possible to prevent the conveyance assisting member 16 from tilting and collapsing, and the conveyance assisting member 16 can be temporarily stopped in a stable posture. As a result, it is also possible to prevent the conveyance assisting member 16 from deviating from the detection range of the sensor 85 due to a loss of posture and causing false detection.

[0084] Also, as shown in Fig. 22(a), at the contact position, the inner wall and ribs of the intermediate pipe portion 81c are set to be connected to the head 83b of the contact member 83 in a stepped manner (a connection method that allows the banknote moving downstream to pass through without being caught). Thus, even when a banknote is bent and enters the expansion portion 33 of the conveyance pipe 12 and passes through the intermediate pipe portion 81c while abutting on the inner wall, it is possible to prevent the banknote from being caught by the head 83b of the contact member 83. If the head of the contact member has a shape as shown in Fig. 22(b), a step is formed at the joint between the inner wall surface and the head, making it easier for the banknote to be caught.

[0085] Next, the movement of the conveyance assisting member 16 and the banknotes being conveyed from the temporary stop unit 80 to the collection device 50 will be described.

[0086] Each of Figs. 23 to 27 shows a conveyance path of a portion from a midway point of the straight conveyance pipe 12a that descends from the ceiling space after passing through the most downstream intake device 14 to the collection device 50 in the collection vault 9 via the temporary stop unit 80 and the vertical bending pipe 12c.

[0087] In the sheet-like material collection and conveyance system 1, with the contact member 83 of the temporary stop unit 80 set at the contact position, the conveyance assisting member 16 is released from the banknote separation / conveyance assisting member circulation device 22, and the conveyance operation of the banknotes is started.

[0088] First, as shown in Fig. 23(a), a case where a plurality of banknotes are being conveyed in a state of being divided into two groups, a first group and a second group that is later than this, will be described. Such a conveying state is likely to occur in the portion of the direct conveying pipe 12a that descends from the ceiling. Each banknote in the first group and the second group passes through the temporary stop unit 80 without being obstructed by the contact member 83 (Fig. 23(a)), and the conveying auxiliary body 16 comes into contact with the contact member 83 and temporarily stops inside the temporary stop unit 80 (Fig. 23(b)).

[0089] The banknotes in the first group that first reach the collection device 50 are stored in the collection device 50 and stop and decelerate (move at a low speed) inside the collection device 50. The banknotes in the second group that later reach the collection device 50 at a high speed of about 2 m / s stop in a state where the leading end hits the trailing end of the banknotes in the first group that are stopping and decelerating inside the collection device 50 (Fig. 23(b)).

[0090] While the conveying auxiliary body 16 is temporarily stopped in the temporary stop unit 80, the banknotes in the first group inside the collection device 50 are conveyed to the conveying belt 56 or the like and discharged to the outside (Fig. 23(c)).

[0091] The sensor 85 is used to monitor whether the conveying auxiliary body 16 is in contact with the contact member 83 and temporarily stopped. After a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed from the time when the sensor 85 detects the conveying auxiliary body 16 (the time when the conveying auxiliary body 16 comes into contact with the contact member 83 and starts to temporarily stop), the contact member 83 is displaced to the release position to release the conveying auxiliary body 16 downstream.

[0092] The predetermined time until the temporary stop is released is set to be equal to or longer than the longest time required for the banknotes that have entered the collection device 50 to be completely discharged from the collection device 50 since the start of the temporary stop. The predetermined time may be appropriately set according to the time required for the collection device 50 to discharge the banknotes, the path length from the temporary stop unit 80 to the collection device 50, and the like.

[0093] Note that the control unit 89 returns the contact member 83 to the contact position before the next conveyance assist body 16 is sent out from the conveyance assist body insertion device 23. Here, after being displaced to the release position, it returns to the contact position after the elapse of a certain period of time (for example, from 1 second to more than ten seconds). In addition, for example, after setting it to the release position, if it is confirmed that the conveyance assist body 16 is not detected by the sensor 85, it returns to the contact position, or when the conveyance assist body insertion device 23 sends out the next conveyance assist body 16, the contact member 83 is set to the contact position at the same time.

[0094] When the pause unit 80 releases the conveyance assist body 16, as shown in FIGS. 24(a) and (b), the conveyance assist body 16 pushes and moves the second group of banknotes from the rear and conveys them into the recovery device 50. The conveyance assist body 16 is captured by the separation unit 53 of the recovery device 50, and the second group of banknotes passes through the separation unit 53 and is stored in the passage unit 54. Then, as shown in FIG. 24(c), the conveyance assist body 16 is discharged downward from the separation unit 53 and moves to the conveyance assist body insertion device 23, and the second group of banknotes is conveyed to the conveyance belt 56 or the like and discharged to the outside.

[0095] In this way, by pausing the conveyance assist body 16 with the pause unit 80 and then releasing it after a predetermined time, even when a plurality of banknotes reach the recovery device in a state of being dispersed back and forth, as shown in FIG. 31(b), there will be no phenomenon of banknotes being crushed, and the banknotes can be appropriately recovered.

[0096] FIGS. 25 and 26 show a case where a plurality of banknotes are conveyed in a bundle. The banknotes that have descended from the ceiling in a bundle (see FIG. 25(a)) pass through the pause unit 80 without being obstructed by the contact member 83, proceed as they are, reach the recovery device 50, and are stored in the recovery device 50 and stop and decelerate. The conveyance assist body 16 abuts against the contact member 83 and pauses in the pause unit 80 (FIG. 25(b)).

[0097] While the conveyance assist body 16 is paused in the pause unit 80, the banknotes in the recovery device 50 are conveyed to the conveyance belt 56 or the like and discharged to the outside (FIG. 25(c)).

[0098] When the conveyance assisting body 16 is temporarily stopped and then released by the temporary stop unit 80 after a lapse of a predetermined time, as shown in FIGS. 26(a) and (b), the conveyance assisting body 16 advances toward the recovery device 50 and is captured by the separation unit 53 when it reaches the recovery device 50. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 26(c), the conveyance assisting body 16 is discharged downward from the separation unit 53 and returns to the conveyance assisting body insertion device 23.

[0099] Note that, as shown in FIG. 27(a), even when the banknote that has passed through the temporary stop unit 80 stops midway without reaching the recovery device 50, the banknote is pushed backward by the conveyance assisting body 16 that is released after a predetermined time and is conveyed to the recovery device 50 for recovery (FIGS. (b) and (c) of the same figure).

[0100] In this way, in both the case where a plurality of banknotes are conveyed separately forward and backward and the case where a plurality of banknotes are conveyed in a single bundle, it is possible to cope with the same control of temporarily stopping the conveyance assisting body 16 by the temporary stop unit 80 for a predetermined time and then releasing it. Therefore, it is not necessary to detect whether a plurality of banknotes are conveyed in a single bundle or separately forward and backward, and simplification of detection and control can be achieved.

[0101] In the above example, the conveyance assisting body 16 is temporarily stopped by the temporary stop unit 80 and then the temporary stop is released to release the conveyance assisting body 16 downstream after a lapse of a predetermined fixed time (5 seconds in this example). However, the arrival status and discharge status of the banknote at the recovery device 50 may be detected, and the release of the temporary stop may be controlled based on the detection result.

[0102] For example, control is performed as follows. · When it is detected that the banknote has reached and entered the banknote collection device 50 within a predetermined time after the temporary stop unit 80 detects the transport assist body 16, the temporary stop is released after it is detected that the banknote has been completely discharged from the banknote collection device 50. The above-mentioned predetermined time shall be the maximum time that would be required for the banknote to reach the banknote collection device 50 after the temporary stop unit 80 detects the transport assist body 16. The predetermined time may be obtained from the distance from the temporary stop unit 80 to the banknote collection device 50 and the moving speed of the banknote. · When it is not detected that the banknote has reached and entered the banknote collection device 50 within a predetermined time after the temporary stop unit 80 detects the transport assist body 16, the temporary stop is released at that point. This is control corresponding to the case where the banknote does not reach the banknote collection device 50 and stops midway, as shown in Fig. 27(a).

[0103] Note that in the in-island banknote transport device 7 of the gaming machine island 3, there is no downward transport path or vertical curved pipe 12c in front of the banknote collection device 50 like the main transport device 10. However, even in a transport path like the in-island banknote transport device 7, the banknotes may be transported dispersedly back and forth. Therefore, by providing the temporary stop unit 80 at a predetermined distance in front of the banknote collection device 50 in the in-island banknote transport device 7 as well, the banknotes can be smoothly collected without causing the problem shown in Fig. 31(b).

[0104] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiments, and modifications and additions within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention.

[0105] In the embodiment, the control unit 89 of the temporary stop unit 80 is used to control the temporary stop unit 80. However, the control unit 27 in the aggregate cash box 9 may be configured to control the operation of the temporary stop unit 80. Alternatively, the control unit 27 in the aggregate cash box 9 and the control unit 89 of the temporary stop unit 80 may be configured to cooperate to control the operation of the temporary stop unit 80.

[0106] The mounting position of the pause unit 80 is not limited to the position shown in the embodiment. When there is a descending conveyance pipe and a vertical bending pipe 12c immediately before the recovery device 50 as shown in the embodiment, it is preferable to provide the pause unit 80 between the descending conveyance pipe and the vertical bending pipe 12c. Note that the mounting position of the pause unit 80 is downstream of the most downstream intake device 14 in the conveyance path and upstream of the recovery device 50 by at least one banknote (the paper sheets to be conveyed), i.e., it suffices to be upstream. Ensuring that it is upstream of the recovery device 50 by at least one banknote (the paper sheets to be conveyed) is to secure a distance such that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 stopped by the pause unit 80 does not crush the second group of banknotes (see Fig. 23(b)).

[0107] Also, within the above range, it is preferable to install the pause unit 80 closer to the recovery device 50 so that the first group of paper sheets surely reaches the recovery device 50. For example, if there is sufficient distance from the outlet of the aforementioned vertical bending pipe 12c to the recovery device 50, the pause unit 80 may be installed at the outlet of the vertical bending pipe 12c or downstream of the outlet.

[0108] Alternatively, within the above range, the pause unit 80 may be installed at a sufficient distance from the recovery device 50 so that the first group of banknotes does not reach the recovery device 50 when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is paused by the pause unit 80. In this case, when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is paused by the pause unit 80, both the first group and the second group of banknotes stay in front of the recovery device 50 as shown in Fig. 27. Then, when the pause is released, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 conveys them while bundling them, and the paper sheets arrive at the recovery device 50 as one bundle. Note that it is a condition that the banknotes do not disperse back and forth again while the conveyance auxiliary body 16 conveys the banknotes after the pause is released. For example, it is desirable that there is no descending conveyance pipe further downstream than the position where the first group and the second group of banknotes stop in front of the recovery device 50 when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is paused by the pause unit 80.

[0109] Also, when there is a conveyance path that descends vertically or obliquely from above the ceiling or the like in front of the recovery device 50, the paper money is likely to be dispersed back and forth at the descending portion of the conveyance path. Therefore, it is preferable to install the temporary stop unit 80 at the end of the descending portion or at a location downstream of the end.

[0110] In the embodiment, the temporary stop unit 80 having the function of the connecting portion 15 is installed at the connecting portion of the conveyance pipes. However, a mechanism for temporarily stopping the conveyance auxiliary body 16 may be added to the end or in the middle of a linear or curved conveyance pipe.

[0111] The shape of the contact member 83 that contacts the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is not limited to that shown in the embodiment. As long as it can contact the conveyance auxiliary body 16 to cause a temporary stop, for example, it may contact only one large-diameter portion 16c of the conveyance auxiliary body 16.

[0112] Also, the shape of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is not limited to that shown in the embodiment. For example, it may have a column shape such as a rectangular or polygonal cross-section. Also, although the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a symmetric shape with respect to the central portion in the Y direction, it may have an asymmetric shape in the Y direction. The shape of the contact member 83 may be changed according to the shape of the conveyance auxiliary body.

[0113] The in-island paper money conveyance device 7 and the relay conveyance device 8 may be conveyance devices that convey paper money by a method such as belt conveyance.

[0114] The present invention is not limited to the method of pushing and conveying paper money by the conveyance auxiliary body 16 that moves by the action of an air flow. Any method in which a moving body pushes and conveys paper money may be used. For example, a method in which a self-propelled moving body moves inside the conveyance pipe 12 to convey paper money may be used. In the case of a self-propelled type, the moving body may be configured to temporarily stop self-propelling at a location corresponding to the installation position of the temporary stop unit 80, or a combination of stopping self-propelling and contacting the contact member 83 may be used to cause a temporary stop.

[0115] In addition, in the embodiment, the case where the collection device 50 is provided at the end of the conveyance path 11 is shown, but the destination of the conveyance is not limited to the end of the conveyance path. The pause unit 80 may be provided at a position a predetermined distance before the collection device installed at the destination of the conveyance. For example, the destination of the conveyance may be a branch from the middle of the conveyance path.

[0116] In the embodiment, the case where the conveyance path 11 conveys the banknote with its paper surface standing is shown, but it may be installed in the conveyance direction with the banknote lying down.

[0117] In addition, each connecting portion 15 (FIG. 2) is provided with a passage sensor for detecting that either the conveyance auxiliary body 16 or the banknote P (hereinafter referred to as the conveyance auxiliary body or the like) has passed therethrough and a sensor substrate. The sensor substrate includes a control unit. The control unit of the sensor substrate is connected to the control unit 27 of the collection safe 9 by a communication line, and the detection state of the conveyance auxiliary body or the like by the passage sensor is transmitted from the sensor substrate to the control unit 27 together with information (for example, an identification number individually given to each connecting portion) capable of identifying the position of the corresponding connecting portion. Note that the pause unit 80 is also included in the connecting portion 15.

[0118] The control unit 27 of the collection safe 9 has a function of a monitoring unit that monitors the retention of the conveyance auxiliary body or the like in the conveyance pipe including the connecting portion 15, and a function of an error notification unit that notifies the monitoring result by the monitoring unit to the notification device for notification.

[0119] The monitoring unit (1) that a conveyance auxiliary body or the like has stagnated between the connecting portion 15 corresponding to the passage sensor that has detected the conveyance auxiliary body or the like and the connecting portion 15 corresponding to the passage sensor that has not detected the conveyance auxiliary body or the like, (2) that a conveyance auxiliary body or the like has stagnated among the connecting portions 15 corresponding to the passage sensors, is monitored.

[0120] The error notification unit causes the notification device to notify information indicating where (between which connecting parts and within which connecting part) the conveyance assist body or the like has stopped. The notification device may be a monitor device provided in an office or the like, or a portable terminal (such as a smartphone or a wearable watch) carried by an employee. The monitor device and the portable terminal are controlled by the control unit 27, or perform a notification operation based on the information notified from the control unit 27.

[0121] In addition, the pause unit 80 detects an operation error of the contact member 83. Specifically, the sensor 88 detects whether the contact member 83 is in the contact position or the release position, and when the contact member 83 does not displace as instructed by the control unit 89, it error-notifies the operation failure of the contact member 83. Further, when it is detected that the conveyance assist body 16 that has been paused stays within the pause unit 80 even if the contact member 83 is displaced to the release position, an error is notified.

[0122] The gaming machine island 3 is not limited to the configuration that houses the pachinko machine and the game ball lending machine exemplified in the embodiment, and may be a gaming machine island that houses a medal lending machine, a slot machine, or the like.

[0123] In the embodiment, paper money is described as an example of paper materials, but other types of paper materials such as tickets and cards may be used. Further, the shape of the paper materials is not limited to a rectangle. In addition, the installation location of the paper material conveyance device according to the present invention is not limited to a game parlor, and other facilities may be used.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0124] 1... Paper material collection and conveyance system 2... Game parlor 3... Gaming machine island 4... Game ball lending machine 5... Gaming machine 6... Relay box 7... In-island paper money conveyance device 8... Relay conveyance device 9... Cash collection vault 10... Main conveyance device 11... Cash collection vault 11... Conveyance path 12…Conveyor pipe 12a…Straight conveyor pipe 12b…Horizontal curved pipe 12c…Vertical curved pipe 14…Intake device 14b…Intake device within the island 15…Connection part 16…Conveyor auxiliary body 16a…Head 16b…First part 16c…Large-diameter part 16d…Constricted part 21…Airflow generation device 22…Paper currency separation / conveyor auxiliary body circulation device 23…Conveyor auxiliary body insertion device 24…Recovery device 25…Paper currency storage part 27…Control unit 31…Wall part 32…Side wall part 33…Expansion part 34…Separation wall 35…Rib 50…Recovery device 51…Outer case 51a…Front opening 51b…Drop opening 52…Inner unit 53…Separation part 53a…Slit 53b…Outlet 54…Passage part 54a…Inlet 54b…Pay-out opening 54c…Suction port 54d…Partition wall 55…Storage main body part 55…Rib 56…Conveyor belt 57…Conveyor roller 58…Auxiliary conveying mechanism 58a…Roller 58b…Clamping belt 80…Temporary stop unit 81…Connecting pipe part 81a…Upstream end part 81b…Downstream end part 81c…Intermediate pipeline part 82… Stopper drive unit 82a… Solenoid 89… Control unit 83… Contact member 83a… Arm part 83b… Head part 84… Opening 85… Sensor 86… Solenoid 87… Mounting frame 88… Sensor Dx… Distance between reference plane parts of the conveyance pipe Dy… Inner dimension in the Y direction of the conveyance pipe FW… Extension direction of the conveyance pipe P… Banknote W… Passage width X… Passage width direction of the conveyance pipe Y… Height direction of the conveyance pipe

Claims

【Claim 1】 A paper sheet conveying device that pushes and conveys paper sheets with a conveying assist body moving along a conveying path, comprising: a storage unit provided at the destination of conveyance, which does not accept the arriving conveying assist body but accepts and stores the paper sheets and then discharges them to the outside; a temporary stop unit provided a predetermined distance in front of the storage unit, which allows the paper sheets to pass through, temporarily stops the conveying assist body, and then releases the temporary stop; and having when it is detected that the paper sheets have entered the storage unit within a predetermined time after the temporary stop unit temporarily stops the conveying assist body, the temporary stop unit releases the temporary stop after the paper sheets have been completely discharged from the storage unit to the outside, and when it is not detected that the paper sheets have entered the storage unit within a predetermined time after the temporary stop unit temporarily stops the conveying assist body, the temporary stop unit releases the temporary stop at that time A paper sheet conveying device characterized by the above.

Images