Paper sheet handling device and cash processing device

Abstract

To provide a paper sheet handling device capable of maintaining reliability.SOLUTION: A bank bill pay-in / out device has: a stage 19c which is supported so as to be movable upward and downward, and on the upper surface of which bank bills BL are stacked; a compression coil spring 36 which is disposed so as to be pressed against the lower surface of the stage by a predetermined pressing force, and biases the stage so as to push the stage upward; a reel 44; a wire 40c which has one end locked to the stage, and has the other end locked to the reel in a state of being drawn around so as to pull the stage downward; and a change control part which executes an operation of lowering the position of the stage by taking up the wire on the reel and an operation of raising the position of the stage by feeding out the wire from the reel in a state in which a feed-out operation of feeding out bank bills from the upper surface of the stage to a conveyance part that is the outside and a stacking operation of stacking bank bills from the conveyance part that is the outside on the upper surface of the stage are not being performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper handling device and a cash processing device, and is suitable for application to a cash register change system used at checkout counters in retail stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, cash register change systems that combine a change machine that processes the deposit and withdrawal of banknotes and coins with a POS (Point Of Sales) register connected to a POS system or the like have become widespread. Among these change machines, paper sheet handling devices that process banknotes include a deposit and withdrawal unit that exchanges banknotes with a cashier, a transport unit that transports banknotes, a discrimination unit that discriminates the denomination and authenticity of inserted banknotes, a banknote storage vault that stores reusable banknotes by denomination, and a reject vault that stores banknotes that should not be reused.

[0003] One such paper handling device has one end connected to a reel, the other end of which is wound around the reel and connected to a stage in a banknote storage vault, and the reel is driven by a drive source to operate the stage in the storage vault (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-97708 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, a paper sheet handling device repeatedly receives banknotes from customers and dispenses banknotes as change. Therefore, the paper sheet handling device normally repeatedly raises and lowers the stage with a certain number of banknotes stacked on it. For this reason, it is rare for the banknote storage cabinet of the paper sheet handling device to become full and for the stage to lower to the bottom position, which is the lowest position designed for the device. In this case, the wire, particularly one end, remains wound around the reel almost all the time, which makes the wire prone to becoming twisted.

[0006] However, in rare cases, when banknotes are accumulated until the banknote storage cabinet is full during an accumulation operation, or when banknotes are dispensed from a full banknote storage cabinet during a dispensing operation, the wire may become twisted, causing the stage to malfunction, resulting in accumulation or dispensing problems and making the device unreliable.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a paper handling device and a cash handling device that can maintain reliability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve this problem, the paper sheet handling device of the present invention is provided with a stage that is supported so as to be movable upward and downward and that accumulates paper sheets on its upper surface, a biasing section that is positioned so as to be pressed against the underside of the stage with a predetermined pressing force and that biases the stage upward, a reel, a wire that is engaged at one end with the stage and pulled around so that it can pull the stage downward and has the other end engaged with the reel, and a control section that performs an operation to lower the position of the stage by winding the wire onto the reel and an operation to raise the position of the stage by unwinding the wire from the reel, when the pay-out operation that pays out paper sheets from the top surface of the stage to the outside and the accumulation operation that accumulates paper sheets from the outside onto the top surface of the stage are not being performed.

[0009] Furthermore, the cash processing device of the present invention is a cash processing device having a coin handling device that handles coins and a paper sheet handling device that handles paper sheets, wherein the paper sheet handling device is supported so as to be movable upward and downward and has a stage on its upper surface on which paper sheets are accumulated, a biasing unit that is positioned so as to be pressed against the underside of the stage with a predetermined pressing force and that biases the stage so as to push it upward, a reel, a wire that has one end engaged with the stage and the other end engaged with the reel while being pulled around so as to be able to pull the stage downward, and a control unit that performs an operation to lower the position of the stage by winding up the wire onto the reel and an operation to raise the position of the stage by unwinding the wire from the reel, when a pay-out operation that pays out paper sheets from the top surface of the stage to the outside and a collection operation that collects paper sheets from the outside onto the top surface of the stage are not being performed.

[0010] As a result, the present invention can prevent the wire from becoming curled due to the wire being continuously wound around the reel by winding the wire onto the reel and unwinding the wire from the reel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, by winding the wire onto a reel and unwinding the wire from the reel, it is possible to prevent the wire from becoming curled due to the wire continuing to be wound around the reel, thereby realizing a paper sheet handling device and cash processing device that can maintain reliability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a cash register change system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the internal configuration of the banknote deposit and withdrawal device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the configuration of the banknote storage vault and the stage drive mechanism, with the right wall of the banknote storage vault removed. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a right side view showing the bottom position of the stage. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is a right side view showing the up position of the stage. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a right side view showing the stacking operation. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for processing a complete collection of collection containers. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for a full recovery process of the depositing / withdrawing section. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a reconciliation process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] [1. Configuration of cash register change system] As shown externally in Figure 1, cash register change system 1 is composed of an upper POS register 2 and a lower change dispenser 3, which are independent devices. This cash register change system 1 is operated by a cashier at a checkout (a so-called cash register) in a retail store such as a supermarket or convenience store when a customer pays for the items they wish to purchase. In the following explanation, the side facing the cashier and the opposite side are referred to as the front and rear, respectively, and left, right, and top and bottom are further defined from the cashier's perspective.

[0015] The POS register 2 is controlled by a built-in register control unit 5. A barcode reader (not shown) is connected to the POS register 2, which recognizes products by reading barcodes attached to them. The display operation unit 6, which is configured, for example, with a touch panel, displays the recognized product's name, price, etc. on a liquid crystal display. The display operation unit 6 also displays input keys for numbers and other items on part of the display screen. When a location on the touch panel corresponding to an input key is pressed, the display operation unit 6 accepts the input corresponding to the input key and transmits it to the register control unit 5. In response, the register control unit 5 performs various processes, such as increasing or decreasing the product quantity or correcting the price. The POS register 2 also has a built-in receipt processing unit 7. The receipt processing unit 7 prints the recognized product's name, price, etc. on a receipt and discharges it from the receipt discharge port 7A.

[0016] On the other hand, the change machine 3 is broadly composed of a banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 on the right side, a coin deposit and withdrawal device 12 on the left side, and a display and operation unit 13 on the upper front side.

[0017] The banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 takes in banknotes deposited by a cashier through the banknote deposit and withdrawal port 14 and stores them in the banknote storage vault 15 (banknote storage vaults 15a, 15b, and 15c) (Figure 2), and also takes out banknotes instructed by the cash register control unit 5 from the banknote storage vault 15 (Figure 2) and dispenses them as change from the banknote deposit and withdrawal port 14.

[0018] A coin depositing / dispensing device 12 serving as a coin handling device has a coin depositing port 16 provided at the top on the front surface, and a rejecting port 17 and a coin dispensing port 18 provided below it. The coin depositing / dispensing device 12 takes in coins inserted into the coin depositing port 16 by a cashier and stores them in an internal storage, and also dispenses coins of a denomination and number according to the amount instructed by the cash register control unit 5 from the coin dispensing port 18 as change.

[0019] The display operation unit 13 is configured by a combination of a predetermined display panel and predetermined operation buttons. The display panel of the display operation unit 13 displays the operating status of the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 and the coin deposit and withdrawal device 12, and displays, for example, that there is a shortage of coins for change in the coin deposit and withdrawal device 12, that a predetermined sensor has detected an abnormality, and the location of the abnormality. The operation buttons of the display operation unit 13 are pressed by a cashier or the like to receive instructions regarding, for example, the transport of coins.

[0020] A change control unit 21 is also provided inside the change machine 3. The change control unit 21 is configured around a CPU (Central Processing Unit) not shown, and controls the change machine 3 overall by reading and executing various programs from a memory such as a flash memory, and performs various processes such as deposit transactions and withdrawal transactions.

[0021] [2. Configuration of the banknote deposit and withdrawal device] As shown in Figure 2, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 has multiple parts built into the housing that perform various processes related to banknotes, and the change control unit 21 (Figure 1) has overall control over each part (deposit and withdrawal unit 24, transport unit 26, discrimination unit 28, banknote storage vault 15 (banknote storage vaults 15a, 15b, and 15c), and reject collection vault 30).

[0022] The deposit / withdrawal unit 24 is located at the upper front part of the banknote deposit / withdrawal device 11. This deposit / withdrawal unit 24 takes in banknotes deposited through the banknote deposit / withdrawal port 14 (FIG. 1) by a user (cashier clerk), separates them one by one, and feeds them to the transport unit 26, and also stores banknotes to be dispensed to the user in a vertically aligned state, and dispenses them from the banknote deposit / withdrawal port 14 as change.

[0023] Conveyance unit 26 conveys rectangular banknotes in the direction of their short edges along a conveyance path using rollers, belts, etc. A blade is provided at the branching point of conveyance unit 26, and rotates under the control of change control unit 21 to switch the destination of the banknotes.

[0024] The validator 28 is located behind the deposit / withdrawal unit 24. While transporting deposited, dispensed, and collected banknotes inside, the validator 28 uses optical elements, magnetic detection elements, etc. to recognize the denomination, authenticity, fitness (whether damaged), and transport status of the banknotes, and notifies the change control unit 21 of the validation results. In response, the change control unit 21 determines the destination of the banknotes based on the obtained validation results.

[0025] The rejected collection box 30 is provided below the deposit / withdrawal unit 24 within the banknote deposit / withdrawal device 11, and has a banknote storage space therein for accumulating and storing banknotes. The rejected collection box 30 is a removable storage box that can be attached to and detached from the banknote deposit / withdrawal device 11. When the reject collection box 30 receives a banknote that has been determined by the transport unit 26 to be a damaged banknote (so-called undamaged note), a banknote that has been determined to be counterfeit, or a banknote of a denomination that is not recyclable, such as a 5,000 note or a 2,000 note, the rejected collection box 30 stores the banknote. When the reject collection box 30 receives a banknote that has been transported by the transport unit 26 during a collection process for collecting a portion of the proceeds from sales of banknotes stored in the banknote storage box 15, the rejected collection box 30 stores the banknote.

[0026] Behind the reject collection box 30, banknote storage boxes 15a, 15b, and 15c (hereinafter collectively referred to as banknote storage boxes 15) are provided in this order from front to rear. Each banknote storage box 15 (banknote storage boxes 15a, 15b, and 15c) is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and has a stage 19a, 19b, and 19c (hereinafter collectively referred to as stage 19) for accumulating banknotes therein. The banknote storage boxes 15a, 15b, and 15c are configured substantially identically to one another, and each is preset with a denomination of banknotes to be stored. When banknotes determined by the validator 28 and the change controller 21 to be minimally damaged and reusable are transported by the transport unit 26 according to their denominations, the banknote storage box 15 accumulates and stores the banknotes therein. Furthermore, when the banknote storage vault 15 receives an instruction to dispense banknotes from the change control unit 21, it separates the accumulated banknotes one by one, dispenses them, and hands them over to the transport unit 26.

[0027] In this configuration, the cash register change system 1 has the change control unit 21 controlling each unit based on the results of bill validation by the validator 28, and performs processes such as depositing, dispensing, and collecting bills.

[0028] [3. Configuration of the banknote storage cabinet] Since the banknote storage vault 15c has almost the same configuration as the banknote storage vaults 15a and 15b, the following mainly describes the banknote storage vault 15c, and the description of the banknote storage vaults 15a and 15b is omitted.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 3, the banknote storage vault 15c has a banknote storage space 31 formed inside a rectangular parallelepiped storage vault housing 32 for storing and accumulating banknotes BL. A pay-out stacking port 33 that connects the banknote storage space 31 to the outside is formed at the upper front side of the storage vault housing 32. A transport unit 26 (Fig. 2) is provided in front of the pay-out stacking port 33.

[0030] A stage 19c for accumulating multiple banknotes BL is provided within the banknote storage vault 15c. The stage 19c is a rectangular flat plate with a size approximately equal to that of the banknotes BL. The banknote storage vault 15c supports the stage 19c by a storage vault housing 32 so that the stage 19c can move up and down.

[0031] A feed roller 34 is rotatably supported at a position facing the stage 19c above the banknote storage space 31. A feed roller 48 is rotatably supported in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction in Fig. 3 in front of the feed roller 34 and above the feed-out stacking port 33. A reverse roller 50 is rotatably supported at a position facing the feed roller 48 below the feed-out stacking port 33 in a clockwise direction in Fig. 3.

[0032] Within the banknote storage vault 15c, a compression coil spring 36 is disposed between the bottom plate 35D of the storage vault casing 32 and the underside of the stage 19c. The compression coil spring 36 is formed so as to have a predetermined elastic force by appropriately selecting a natural length, spring constant, etc. The upper end of the compression coil spring 36 is engaged with the underside of the stage 19c, and the lower end is engaged with the bottom plate 35D, and is pressed against the underside of the stage 19c with a predetermined pressing force. Therefore, when no external force is applied, the compression coil spring 36 stretches in an attempt to restore its original shape, thereby raising the stage 19c within the banknote storage vault 15c while maintaining it in a substantially horizontal position.

[0033] Furthermore, even if the compression coil spring 36 stretches to restore its original shape, before it returns to its natural length, the upper surface of the stage 19c abuts against the lower part of the peripheral side surface of the feed roller 34 (i.e., presses with a predetermined pressing force). In other words, the compression coil spring 36 constantly urges the stage 19c to rise within the banknote storage vault 15c. Hereinafter, as simply shown in FIG. 5, the position of the stage 19c when no banknotes BL are stacked and the upper surface of the stage 19c abuts against the lower part of the peripheral side surface of the feed roller 34 (FIG. 3) is also referred to as the "up position." This up position is the uppermost position of the stage 19c in terms of design. The same applies to the stages 19a and 19b.

[0034] Furthermore, when the compression coil spring 36 is fully compressed by an external force, it lowers the stage 19c within the banknote storage vault 15c, bringing the lower surface of the stage 19c closer to the bottom plate 35D. Hereinafter, as simply shown in FIG. 4, the position of the stage 19c when the lower surface of the stage 19c is closest to the bottom plate 35D will also be referred to as the bottom position. This bottom position is the lowest position of the stage 19c in terms of design. The same applies to the stages 19a and 19b.

[0035] In this way, the compression coil spring 36 can move the stage 19c up and down within the banknote storage vault 15c within a relatively long range of movement from a bottom position, which is the lowest position where the lower surface of the stage 19c is close to the bottom plate 35D, to an up position, which is the highest position where the upper surface of the stage 19c abuts against the lower part of the peripheral side of the pay-out roller 34.

[0036] Furthermore, in the banknote storage vault 15c (FIG. 3), a support part 38 shaped like the letter "U" is disposed in the center of the bottom plate 35D, with a pair of arms, each having a through-hole, facing each other in the left-right direction. A support shaft protrudes from the center of the left and right sides of the pulley 39, respectively, via bearings (not shown), and is aligned with an extension of the pulley central axis of the pulley 39. The support part 38 is fixed such that the support shaft of the pulley 39 passes through the through-holes of the pair of arms in the left-right direction, with the pulley 39 interposed between the pair of arms. Thus, the support part 38 supports the pulley 39 so that it can rotate clockwise and counterclockwise in FIG. 3 around the pulley central axis extending in the left-right direction.

[0037] Furthermore, the banknote storage vault 15c is provided with a wire 40c that raises and lowers the stage 19c within the banknote storage vault 15c. Here, the stage 19c is biased upward by the compression coil spring 36 as described above. Therefore, one end of the wire 40c is anchored at a predetermined position in the center of the underside of the stage 19c so as to balance the pressing force of the compression coil spring 36 acting on the stage 19c so as to keep the stage 19c horizontal. The wire 40c extends downward from the underside of the stage 19c, is hung around a pulley 39, and is pulled forward from the pulley 39 and anchored to a reel 44.

[0038] [4. Structure of the stage driving mechanism] A stage drive mechanism 42 is provided in front of the banknote storage vault 15c. The stage drive mechanism 42 is made up of a reel 44, a reel shaft 46, a gear (not shown), and a motor (not shown). Stage drive mechanisms 42 having a similar configuration to this stage drive mechanism 42 are also provided near each of the banknote storage vaults 15a and 15b.

[0039] The reel 44 is supported by a reel shaft 46 so as to be rotatable in a downward rotation direction Ddr, which is the clockwise direction in Fig. 3, and in an upward rotation direction Dur, which is the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 3. The reel 44 and the stage 19c of the banknote storage vault 15c are connected by a wire 40c.

[0040] A long gear (not shown) that is rotatably supported meshes with the reel 44. This gear is connected to the output shaft of a motor (not shown) via a drive transmission gear. The motor is provided with a torque that is greater than the elastic force of the compression coil spring 36.

[0041] The banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 drives the motor to rotate the output shaft, thereby rotating the reel 44 in the downward rotation direction Ddr or the upward rotation direction Dur.

[0042] In this configuration, when the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 drives the motor to rotate the reel 44 together with the output shaft in the downward rotation direction Ddr, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 winds the wire 40c onto the reel 44. As a result, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 pulls (pulls down) the stage 19c downward within the banknote storage vault 15c using the wire 40c, thereby compressing the compression coil spring 36 against the upward bias, thereby lowering the stage 19c.

[0043] Furthermore, when the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 drives the motor to rotate the reel 44 together with the output shaft in the upward rotation direction Dur, it unwinds the wound wire 40c from the reel 44. As a result, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 relaxes the downward tension on the stage 19c by the wire 40c within the banknote storage vault 15c, stretching the compression coil spring 36 in accordance with its elastic force, thereby pushing up the stage 19c with the compression coil spring 36 and raising it.

[0044] [5. Accumulation Operation] When the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 performs, for example, a deposit transaction with a user or a reconciliation operation (described later), the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 performs a stacking operation in which banknotes are transported by the transport unit 26 and stacked in the banknote storage vault 15a, 15b, or 15c according to the denomination under the control of the change control unit 21. The case in which banknotes are stacked in the banknote storage vault 15c will be described below.

[0045] 3, the feed roller 48 rotates counterclockwise in Fig. 3, and the reverse roller 50 rotates clockwise in Fig. 3, thereby clamping the banknotes BL in the transport unit 26 and discharging them into the banknote storage space 31 via the feed-out stacking port 33, and stacking them on the stage 19c. At this time, as shown in Fig. 6, the stage 19c gradually descends as the banknotes BL are stacked, thereby keeping the upper surface of the topmost banknote BL stacked on the stage 19c at a constant vertical position.

[0046] [6. Feeding operation] On the other hand, when the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 performs, for example, a withdrawal transaction with a user, when performing a full collection operation (described later), or when performing a reconciliation operation (described later), the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 performs a feeding operation to feed banknotes from the banknote storage vault 15a, 15b, or 15c to the transport unit 26 according to the denomination under the control of the change control unit 21. The case where banknotes are fed from the banknote storage vault 15c will be described below.

[0047] During the payout operation, the stage 19c rises, causing the upper surface of the uppermost banknote BL stacked on the stage 19c to abut against the lower portion of the circumferential side of the payout roller 34 (FIG. 3), as shown in FIG. 7. Subsequently, the payout roller 34 and the feed roller 48 each rotate clockwise in FIG. 3, while the reverse roller 50 does not rotate, thereby separating the uppermost banknote BL one by one and paying it out from the banknote storage space 31 to the transport unit 26 via the payout stacking port 33. At this time, the stage 19c gradually rises as the banknote BL is paid out, causing the upper surface of the uppermost banknote BL stacked on the stage 19c to abut against the lower portion of the circumferential side of the payout roller 34 (FIG. 3). When all the banknotes BL on the stage 19c have been paid out to the transport unit 26, the stage 19c reaches the up position (FIG. 5). Furthermore, even when the banknote deposit / withdrawal device 11 is in a standby state in which neither the pay-out operation nor the accumulation operation is being performed, the stage 19c is positioned so that the top surface of the top banknote BL accumulated on the stage 19c abuts against the lower part of the peripheral side of the pay-out roller 34 (Figure 3), as shown in Figure 7.

[0048] [7. Full recovery operation] The banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 performs a full collection operation, which is an operation for collecting all banknotes from the banknote storage vaults 15a, 15b, and 15c. This full collection operation includes two operations: a collection vault full collection operation, in which the banknotes are transported to the reject collection vault 30, and a deposit and withdrawal unit full collection operation, in which the banknotes are transported to the deposit and withdrawal unit 24. When the full collection operation is completed normally, all of the banknote storage vaults 15a, 15b, and 15c are empty, with no banknotes stored therein. Therefore, the stages 19 of all of the banknote storage vaults 15 are positioned in the up position.

[0049] [8. Lifting operation after full recovery operation] After the completion of the full collection operation, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 executes a lifting and lowering operation of moving the stage 19a of the banknote storage vault 15a, the stage 19b of the banknote storage vault 15b, and the stage 19c of the banknote storage vault 15c from the up position to the bottom position and then moving them back to the up position (i.e., returning them to the up position) a specified number of times (for example, once or twice). Hereinafter, the operation of the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 of moving the stage 19 from the up position to the bottom position and then moving it back to the up position will be referred to as the lifting and lowering operation.

[0050] [9. Inspection Operation] The banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 performs a reconciliation operation in which all banknotes in each of the banknote storage vaults 15, banknote storage vaults 15a, 15b, and 15c, are transported to the deposit and withdrawal unit 24 as a temporary storage destination, and then returned to each banknote storage vault 15 from which they were transported, while the banknotes are re-validated by the validator 28, and the balance of the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 is confirmed. During the reconciliation operation, each banknote storage vault 15 from which all banknotes have been transported to the deposit and withdrawal unit 24 is empty. Therefore, the stage 19 of each banknote storage vault 15 from which all banknotes have been transported to the deposit and withdrawal unit 24 is located in the up position.

[0051] [10. Lifting operation during inspection] During the inspection operation, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 transports all banknotes in each banknote storage 15 to the deposit and withdrawal section 24, and then performs the lifting operation a regulated number of times (for example, one or two times) before returning the banknotes from the deposit and withdrawal section 24 to each banknote storage 15.

[0052] [11. Processing of all collections from collection warehouses] Next, a collection box full collection processing procedure RT1, which is a specific processing procedure for the collection box full collection processing, which is processing for performing the collection box full collection operation by the change control unit 21, will be described using the flowchart shown in Fig. 8. The change control unit 21 starts the collection box full collection processing procedure RT1 by reading and executing a collection box full collection processing program from memory, and proceeds to step SP1.

[0053] In step SP1, the change control unit 21 transports all banknotes in banknote storage 15a to the rejected banknote collection box 30, and then proceeds to step SP2. In step SP2, the change control unit 21 transports all banknotes in banknote storage 15b to the rejected banknote collection box 30, and then proceeds to step SP3. In step SP3, the change control unit 21 transports all banknotes in banknote storage 15c to the rejected banknote collection box 30, and then proceeds to step SP4.

[0054] In step SP4, the change control unit 21 waits until the operator removes the reject collection box 30 from the change machine 3, and proceeds to step SP5 once the reject collection box 30 has been removed from the change machine 3. In step SP5, the change control unit 21 waits until an empty reject collection box 30 is attached to the change machine 3, and once the reject collection box 30 has been attached to the change machine 3, proceeds to steps SP6, SP8, and SP10. Note that the operations of steps SP6 and SP7, steps SP8 and SP9, and steps SP10 and SP11 are performed in parallel.

[0055] In step SP6, the change control unit 21 performs a lifting operation to move the stage 19a of the banknote storage vault 15a from the up position to the bottom position and then back to the up position, and then proceeds to step SP7. In step SP7, the change control unit 21 determines whether the lifting operation of the stage 19a has been performed a specified number of times. If a negative result is obtained here, the change control unit 21 proceeds to step SP6 and performs the lifting operation again. Once the lifting operation has been performed the specified number of times, the change control unit 21 obtains a positive result in step SP7 and proceeds to step SP12.

[0056] Meanwhile, in step SP8, the change control unit 21 performs the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19b of the banknote storage vault 15b, and proceeds to step SP9. In step SP9, the change control unit 21 determines whether the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19b has been performed a specified number of times. If a negative result is obtained here, the change control unit 21 proceeds to step SP8 and performs the lifting and lowering operation again. Once the lifting and lowering operation has been performed the specified number of times, the change control unit 21 obtains a positive result in step SP9 and proceeds to step SP12.

[0057] Meanwhile, in step SP10, the change control unit 21 performs the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19c of the banknote storage vault 15c, and proceeds to step SP11. In step SP11, the change control unit 21 determines whether the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19c has been performed a specified number of times. If a negative result is obtained here, the change control unit 21 proceeds to step SP10 and performs the lifting and lowering operation again. Once the lifting and lowering operation has been performed the specified number of times, the change control unit 21 obtains a positive result in step SP11 and proceeds to step SP12.

[0058] If the results of steps SP7, SP9, and SP11 are all positive, the change control unit 21 proceeds to step SP12 and ends the collection box full collection processing procedure RT1.

[0059] [12. Full recovery process for deposits and withdrawals] Next, a deposit / withdrawal section full recovery processing procedure RT2, which is a specific processing procedure of the deposit / withdrawal section full recovery processing, which is processing for performing the deposit / withdrawal section full recovery operation by the change control unit 21, will be described using the flowchart shown in Fig. 9. The change control unit 21 starts the deposit / withdrawal section full recovery processing procedure RT2 by reading out a deposit / withdrawal section full recovery processing program from memory and executing it, and then proceeds to step SP21.

[0060] In step SP21, the change control unit 21 transports all of the banknotes in the banknote storage 15a to the deposit / withdrawal unit 24, and then proceeds to step SP22. In step SP22, the change control unit 21 waits until all of the banknotes in the deposit / withdrawal unit 24 have been received (i.e., collected) by an operator, and once collected, proceeds to step SP23.

[0061] In step SP23, the change control unit 21 transports all of the banknotes in the banknote storage 15b to the deposit / withdrawal unit 24, and proceeds to step SP24. In step SP24, the change control unit 21 waits until all of the banknotes in the deposit / withdrawal unit 24 have been collected by an operator, and once collected, proceeds to step SP25.

[0062] In step SP25, the change control unit 21 transports all of the banknotes in the banknote storage vault 15c to the deposit / withdrawal unit 24, and then proceeds to step SP26. In step SP26, the change control unit 21 waits until all of the banknotes in the deposit / withdrawal unit 24 have been collected by an operator, and once collected, proceeds to steps SP27, SP29, and SP31. Note that the operations of steps SP27 and SP28, steps SP29 and SP30, and steps SP31 and SP32 are performed in parallel.

[0063] In step SP27, the change control unit 21 performs the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19a of the banknote storage vault 15a, and then proceeds to step SP28. In step SP28, the change control unit 21 determines whether the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19a has been performed a specified number of times. If a negative result is obtained here, the change control unit 21 proceeds to step SP27 and performs the lifting and lowering operation again. Once the lifting and lowering operation has been performed the specified number of times, the change control unit 21 obtains a positive result in step SP28 and proceeds to step SP33.

[0064] Meanwhile, in step SP29, the change control unit 21 performs the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19b of the banknote storage vault 15b, and proceeds to step SP30. In step SP30, the change control unit 21 determines whether the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19b has been performed a specified number of times. If a negative result is obtained here, the change control unit 21 proceeds to step SP29 and performs the lifting and lowering operation again. Once the lifting and lowering operation has been performed the specified number of times, the change control unit 21 obtains a positive result in step SP30, and proceeds to step SP33.

[0065] Meanwhile, in step SP31, the change control unit 21 performs the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19c of the banknote storage vault 15c, and proceeds to step SP32. In step SP32, the change control unit 21 determines whether the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19c has been performed a specified number of times. If a negative result is obtained here, the change control unit 21 proceeds to step SP31 and performs the lifting and lowering operation again. Once the lifting and lowering operation has been performed the specified number of times, the change control unit 21 obtains a positive result in step SP32 and proceeds to step SP33.

[0066] If the results of steps SP28, SP30 and SP32 are all positive, the change control unit 21 proceeds to step SP33 and ends the deposit / withdrawal unit full recovery processing procedure RT2.

[0067] [13. Inspection Processing] Next, a reconciliation processing procedure RT3, which is a specific processing procedure of the reconciliation processing, which is processing for performing the reconciliation operation by the change control unit 21, will be described using the flowchart shown in Fig. 10. The change control unit 21 starts the reconciliation processing procedure RT3 by reading out from memory and executing the cash deposit / withdrawal unit full recovery processing program, and proceeds to step SP41.

[0068] In step SP41, the change control unit 21 transports all of the banknotes in the banknote storage vault 15a to the deposit / withdrawal unit 24, and then proceeds to step SP42. In step SP42, the change control unit 21 performs the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19a of the banknote storage vault 15a, and then proceeds to step SP43. In step SP43, the change control unit 21 determines whether the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19a has been performed a specified number of times. If a negative result is obtained here, the change control unit 21 proceeds to step SP42 and performs the lifting and lowering operation again. After the lifting and lowering operation has been performed the specified number of times, the change control unit 21 obtains a positive result in step SP43, and proceeds to step SP44. In step SP44, the change control unit 21 transports all of the banknotes in the deposit / withdrawal unit 24 to the banknote storage vault 15a, and then proceeds to step SP45.

[0069] In step SP45, the change control unit 21 transports all of the banknotes in the banknote storage vault 15b to the deposit / withdrawal unit 24, and proceeds to step SP46. In step SP46, the change control unit 21 performs a lifting operation on the stage 19b of the banknote storage vault 15b, and proceeds to step SP47. In step SP47, the change control unit 21 determines whether the lifting operation of the stage 19b has been performed a specified number of times. If a negative result is obtained here, the change control unit 21 proceeds to step SP46 and performs the lifting operation again. After performing the lifting operation a specified number of times, the change control unit 21 obtains a positive result in step SP47, and proceeds to step SP48. In step SP48, the change control unit 21 transports all of the banknotes in the deposit / withdrawal unit 24 to the banknote storage vault 15b, and proceeds to step SP49.

[0070] In step SP49, the change control unit 21 transports all of the banknotes in the banknote storage vault 15c to the deposit / withdrawal unit 24, and then proceeds to step SP50. In step SP50, the change control unit 21 performs a lifting / lowering operation on the stage 19c of the banknote storage vault 15c, and then proceeds to step SP51. In step SP51, the change control unit 21 determines whether the lifting / lowering operation of the stage 19c has been performed a specified number of times. If a negative result is obtained here, the change control unit 21 proceeds to step SP50 and performs the lifting / lowering operation again. After performing the lifting / lowering operation the specified number of times, the change control unit 21 obtains a positive result in step SP51 and proceeds to step SP52. In step SP52, the change control unit 21 transports all of the banknotes in the deposit / withdrawal unit 24 to the banknote storage vault 15c, and then proceeds to step SP53, where the reconciliation process procedure RT3 ends.

[0071] [14. Effects, etc.] In the above configuration, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 is configured to perform a specified number of lifting and lowering operations to move the stage 19 to the bottom position and then to the up position when the banknote storage vault 15 becomes empty and the stage 19 is in the up position after the full collection operation or during the reconciliation operation.

[0072] Therefore, in the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11, for the banknote storage vault 15c, the wire 40c, particularly the area near the end connected to the reel 44, is prevented from remaining wound around the reel 44, and the wire 40c can be prevented from developing a curling habit.

[0073] Furthermore, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 performs the operation of unwinding the wire 40c to the end on the reel 44 and then winding it up to the end (i.e., rewinding it), thereby preventing the wire 40c from being wound in a state that makes it difficult to unwind it from the reel 44.

[0074] This makes it possible for the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 to prevent accumulation and dispensing failures caused by malfunctions in which the stage 19 at the bottom position cannot rise due to the wire 40c having a tendency to wind or being wound around the reel 44 in an abnormal state. The above has been described for the banknote storage vault 15c, but the same applies to the banknote storage vaults 15a and 15b.

[0075] Furthermore, when the full collection process or the reconciliation process is performed in the change machine 3, it generally takes longer for the coin depositing and dispensing device 12 than for the banknote depositing and dispensing device 11. In this case, even after the banknote depositing and dispensing device 11 has completed its own full collection process or reconciliation process, it will wait until the full collection process or the reconciliation process in the coin depositing and dispensing device 12 has completed. In contrast, the banknote depositing and dispensing device 11 is configured to perform the lifting and lowering operation after the full collection process or during the reconciliation process. Therefore, the banknote depositing and dispensing device 11 can perform the lifting and lowering operation effectively by utilizing the standby time while it waits for the full collection process or the reconciliation process in the coin depositing and dispensing device 12 to complete.

[0076] According to the above-mentioned configuration, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 comprises a stage 19c that is supported so as to be movable upward and downward and that accumulates banknotes BL as paper sheets on its upper surface, a compression coil spring 36 that is arranged to be pressed against the lower surface of the stage 19c with a predetermined pressing force and that urges the stage 19c upward, a reel 44, and a wire that is engaged at one end with the stage 19c and is pulled around so as to be able to pull the stage 19c downward, and the other end of the wire is engaged with the reel 44. 40c, and a change control unit 21 that executes the operation of lowering the position of the stage 19c by winding the wire 40c onto a reel 44 and the operation of raising the position of the stage 19c by unwinding the wire 40c from the reel 44, while the pay-out operation of paying out the banknotes BL from the top surface of the stage 19c to the external conveying unit 26 and the accumulation operation of accumulating the banknotes BL from the external conveying unit 26 onto the top surface of the stage 19c are not being performed.

[0077] As a result, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 winds the wire 40c onto the reel 44 and unwinds the wire 40c from the reel 44, thereby preventing the wire 40c from becoming curled due to the wire 40c being continuously wound around the reel 44.

[0078] 15. Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 has been described as raising and lowering the stage 19 between the bottom position and the up position during the lifting operation. The present invention is not limited to this, and the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 may raise and lower the stage 19 between various positions above the bottom position and various positions below the up position during the lifting operation. In this case, it is preferable to lower the stage 19 to a position above the bottom position but as close to the bottom position as possible, and to raise the stage 19 to a position below the up position but as close to the up position as possible, because this allows a larger amount of wire 40c to be wound up and then unwound.

[0079] Furthermore, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 may raise and lower the stage 19 between the bottom position and various positions above the bottom position during the raising and lowering operation. In this case, it is preferable to raise and lower the stage 19 between the bottom position and a position as high as possible above the bottom position, since this allows a larger amount of wire 40c to be paid out.

[0080] In the above-described embodiment, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 has been described as lifting and lowering the stage 19 after the full collection operation and during the reconciliation operation. The present invention is not limited to this, and the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 may lift and lower the stage 19 at least either after the full collection operation or during the reconciliation operation. Furthermore, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 may lift and lower the stage 19 at various times when the banknote storage vault 15 is empty other than after the full collection operation or during the reconciliation operation. In this case, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 may lift and lower the stage 19 at times other than the separation operation and the stacking operation. The separation operation here includes a direct preparatory operation for the separation operation, and the stacking operation here includes a direct preparatory operation for the stacking operation.

[0081] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 has been described as carrying out the operation of lifting and lowering the stages 19a, 19b, and 19c a prescribed number of times in steps SP6, SP8, and SP10 after transporting all of the banknotes in all of the banknote storage containers 15 to the reject collection container 30 in steps SP1, SP2, and SP3 in the collection container full collection processing procedure RT1 (FIG. 8) and replacing the reject collection container 30 in steps SP4 and SP5. The present invention is not limited to this, and the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 may perform the operation of lifting and lowering the stage 19a a prescribed number of times as in step SP6 at least from step SP1 onwards, perform the operation of lifting and lowering the stage 19b a prescribed number of times as in step SP8 at least from step SP2 onwards, and perform the operation of lifting and lowering the stage 19c a prescribed number of times as in step SP10 at least from step SP3 onwards in the collection container full collection processing procedure RT1.

[0082] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 has been described as carrying out the lifting and lowering operation of the stages 19a, 19b, and 19c a prescribed number of times in steps SP27, SP29, and SP31 after transporting all of the banknotes in all of the banknote storage vaults 15 to the deposit and withdrawal unit 24 in steps SP21 to SP26 in the deposit and withdrawal unit full recovery processing procedure RT2 (FIG. 9) and recovering all of the banknotes in the deposit and withdrawal unit 24. The present invention is not limited to this, and the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 may carry out the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19a as in step SP27 a prescribed number of times at least from step SP21 onwards, carry out the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19b as in step SP29 a prescribed number of times at least from step SP23 onwards, and carry out the lifting and lowering operation of the stage 19c as in step SP31 a prescribed number of times at least from step SP25 onwards in the deposit and withdrawal unit full recovery processing procedure RT2.

[0083] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 has been described as performing the lifting and lowering operation when no banknotes are stacked on the stage 19. The present invention is not limited to this, and the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 may perform the lifting and lowering operation when banknotes are stacked on the stage 19. In this case, the fewer the number of banknotes stacked on the stage 19, the higher the position to which the stage 19 can be lifted and the more wire 40c can be paid out from the reel 44, so it is preferable that the number of banknotes stacked on the stage 19 is as small as possible.

[0084] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 has been described as setting the specified number of lifting and lowering operations to the same value for all banknote storage vaults 15. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 may set the specified number of lifting and lowering operations for at least one banknote storage vault 15 to a different value from the specified number of lifting and lowering operations for the other banknote storage vaults 15, for example, by increasing the specified number of lifting and lowering operations for a banknote storage vault 15 in which a feeding failure has occurred a predetermined number of times or more compared to the other banknote storage vaults 15.

[0085] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to a change dispenser 3 that is connected to a POS register or the like used in checkout counters at supermarkets, convenience stores, etc., and that processes the depositing and dispensing of banknotes. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to various devices such as automated teller machines (counter terminals) used in banks, which are terminals used by bank staff. The present invention may also be applied to various devices that have a stage drive mechanism that includes a wire, a reel, and a spring.

[0086] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and other embodiments. That is, the scope of application of the present invention extends to embodiments in which the above-described embodiment and the other embodiments are combined in part or in whole. The scope of application of the present invention also extends to embodiments in which part of the configuration described in any of the above-described embodiment and other embodiments is extracted and used as part of the configuration of any of the above-described embodiment and other embodiments, or in which part of the extracted configuration is added to any of the above-described embodiment.

[0087] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the banknote deposit and withdrawal device 11 as a paper sheet handling device is configured by the stage 19c as a stage, the compression coil spring 36 as a biasing unit, the reel 44 as a reel, the wire 40c as a wire, and the change control unit 21 as a control unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the paper sheet handling device may be configured by a stage, a biasing unit, a reel, a wire, and a control unit having various other configurations. [Industrial Applicability]

[0088] The present invention can be used in various devices that have a bill storage that accumulates bills on a stage. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 1...Cash register change system, 2...POS register, 3...Change machine, 5...Cash register control unit, 6...Display operation unit, 7...Receipt processing unit, 7A...Receipt discharge port, 11...Banknote deposit and withdrawal device, 12...Coin deposit and withdrawal device, 13...Display operation unit, 14...Banknote deposit and withdrawal port, 15...Banknote storage cabinet, 16...Coin deposit port, 17...Reject port, 18...Coin withdrawal port, 19...Stage, 21...Change control unit, 24...Deposit and withdrawal unit, 26...Conveyor Feed section, 28...discrimination section, 30...reject collection box, 31...banknote storage space, 32...storage box housing, 33...feed-out stacking port, 34...feed-out roller, 35D...bottom plate, 36...compression coil spring, 38...support section, 39...pulley, 40c...wire, 42...stage drive mechanism, 44...reel, 46...reel shaft, 48...feed roller, 50...reverse roller, Ddr...downward rotation direction, Dur...upward rotation direction.

Claims

1. a stage that is supported so as to be movable upward and downward and that accumulates paper sheets on its upper surface; a biasing unit that is disposed so as to be pressed against the lower surface of the stage with a predetermined pressing force and biases the stage so as to push it upward; Reel and a wire having one end engaged with the stage and the other end engaged with the reel while being drawn around so as to be able to pull the stage in the downward direction; a control unit that executes an operation of lowering the position of the stage by winding the wire onto the reel and an operation of raising the position of the stage by unwinding the wire from the reel, while a payout operation of unwinding the paper sheets from the top surface of the stage to the outside and a stacking operation of stacking the paper sheets from the outside onto the top surface of the stage are not being performed; A paper handling device having the same.

2. The control unit An operation of lowering the position of the stage to the lowest position and an operation of raising the position of the stage above the lowest position are performed in a state in which the feeding operation and the accumulation operation are not being performed.

2. The paper sheet handling device according to claim 1.

3. The control unit The operation of lowering the stage to the lowest position and the operation of raising the stage to the highest position are performed in a state where the feeding operation and the accumulation operation are not being performed.

3. The paper sheet handling device according to claim 2.

4. The control unit The operation of setting the stage to the lowest position and the operation of setting the stage to the highest position are performed in a state where no paper sheets are piled on the top surface of the stage.

4. The paper sheet handling device according to claim 3.

5. The control unit The operation of setting the stage to the lowest position and the operation of setting the stage to the highest position are performed after all of the paper sheets on the top surface of the stage have been transported to a collection destination by a collection operation, and in a state where the paper sheets are not piled on the top surface of the stage.

5. The paper sheet handling device according to claim 4.

6. The control unit The operation of setting the stage to the lowest position and the operation of setting the stage to the highest position are performed after all of the paper sheets on the top surface of the stage have been transported to a temporary holding destination by a reconnaissance operation, and in a state where the paper sheets are not piled on the top surface of the stage.

5. The paper sheet handling device according to claim 4.

7. The control unit The operation of changing the position of the stage from the highest to the lowest and then changing the position of the stage from the lowest to the highest is performed in a state where the paper sheets are not piled on the upper surface of the stage.

7. The paper sheet handling device according to claim 5 or 6.

8. The control unit The operation of lowering the position of the stage and the operation of raising the position of the stage are repeated a predetermined number of times.

2. The paper sheet handling device according to claim 1.

9. A cash processing device having a coin handling device that handles coins and a paper sheet handling device that handles paper sheets, The paper sheet handling device a stage that is supported so as to be movable upward and downward and that accumulates the paper sheets on its upper surface; a biasing unit that is disposed so as to be pressed against the lower surface of the stage with a predetermined pressing force and biases the stage so as to push it upward; Reel and a wire having one end engaged with the stage and the other end engaged with the reel while being drawn around so as to be able to pull the stage in the downward direction; a control unit that executes an operation of lowering the position of the stage by winding the wire onto the reel and an operation of raising the position of the stage by unwinding the wire from the reel, while a payout operation of unwinding the paper sheets from the top surface of the stage to the outside and a stacking operation of stacking the paper sheets from the outside onto the top surface of the stage are not being performed; A cash processing device having:

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