Paper sheet separation conveyance device, and paper sheet handling device

Abstract

To provide a paper sheet separation conveyance device which has solved various types of failure occurring by performing downsizing, and to provide a paper sheet handling device.SOLUTION: A paper sheet separation conveyance device includes: a delivery part 20; a separation part 100; a first motor M1 for driving these; a drawing conveyance part 250; and a storage conveyance path 400 driven by a second motor M2. The drawing conveyance part 250 includes: at least two idling rollers 257 which are pivotally supported respectively at feed roller shaft portions on both sides in the axial direction of a feed roller 110; and an endless drawing belt 270 for forming a curve-shaped drawing conveyance path respectively between itself and a curve-shaped outer peripheral surface of each idling roller, and for allowing the first piece of paper sheets to turn in the direction crossing the delivery direction by the delivery part, by cooperation with each idling roller by travelling in the drawing direction, and for conveying the paper sheet. The drawing belt is driven by the second motor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper sheet separating and conveying device having a separating function for preventing double feeding, and a paper sheet handling device. [Background technology]

[0002] A banknote separating and transporting device that removes banknotes one by one from a stack of banknotes set in a deposit section, transports them, and stores them in a safe inside the device is installed in banknote handling devices such as banknote deposit machines, banknote counting machines, and various vending machines. If multiple banknotes are fed in a banknote separating and transporting device, it will hinder accurate deposit processing, counting, etc., including identification, so a multiple-feed prevention mechanism is installed. Each banknote that passes through the multiple-feed prevention mechanism is judged by an identification device for its authenticity, denomination, etc., and those that are judged to be acceptable are stored in the safe. Patent document 1 discloses a double-feed prevention mechanism that includes a feed roller that rotates in contact with the bottom of a stack of banknotes, a pair of separation rollers that prevent the passage of the second and subsequent banknotes when the banknotes fed by the feed roller are in a double-feed state, and a pair of drawer transport rollers that draw out and transport the first banknote, part of which remains in the separation section.

[0003] However, because the feed roller, separation roller pair, and drawer conveyance section are arranged in a substantially straight line along a flat conveyance surface, the length of the entire device in the conveyance direction becomes long, making it difficult to reduce the size. Specifically, to reduce the size, the distance between the separation section and the drawer section, which is controlled by the drawer conveyance roller pair, needs to be as close as possible, but with a linear conveyance path, there is a limit to how close they can be due to factors such as the diameter of each roller and the drive mechanism.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which banknotes fed by a feeder pulley from a stack of paper sheets on a paper supply bin are inverted upward along the outer circumferential surface of a high-friction wheel to separate them into sheets, and then further inverted in the opposite direction along the outer circumferential surface of a reversing roller located immediately above the high-friction wheel while being drawn out and conveyed along an S-shaped path formed by this, and conveyed to an acceptor module. An auxiliary roller that assists in drawing out is nipped with this reversing roller to form a drawing roller pair, and the banknotes are drawn out and conveyed due to the strong frictional resistance of the nip portion of this roller pair.

[0005] The separator is composed of a high-friction wheel and a fixed belt that is fixedly positioned with part of the wheel in sliding contact with the outer periphery. When a banknote fed by the rotation of the feeder pulley enters the interface between the high-friction wheel and the fixed belt, the banknote is transported upward by the rotation of the high-friction wheel. When two banknotes enter the interface, the frictional force of the fixed belt stops the second banknote, allowing only the first banknote to advance. The leading edge of the bill that has passed through the separation section enters the nip between the pair of draw-out rollers and is drawn out and conveyed. The fixed belt is stationary and only tensioned, and does not have the function of drawing out the separated bills.

[0006] In other words, the fixed belt is clearly dedicated to separation and does not play a role in drawing out conveyance. The fixed belt forms a curved separation section between itself and the high-friction wheel, which creates a large resistance to the pulling and conveyance by the drawing out roller pair, and is likely to cause jams. As evidence of this, in an actual machine that puts the invention described in Patent Document 2 into practical use, multiple extremely small diameter rollers (bearings) of approximately 2 to 3 mm in diameter are additionally placed along the fixed belt, thereby reducing the adverse effects of frictional resistance of the fixed belt and ensuring smooth reverse conveyance during separation. To elaborate further, the large frictional resistance of the fixed belt prevents multiple banknotes from moving forward, so the fixed belt also creates a large resistance when a single banknote passes through. To transport banknotes facing strong resistance from the fixed belt upward, a pair of pull-out rollers is used to pull out the banknotes with a strong force, ensuring smooth transport. This is because the fixed belt does not travel in the direction the banknotes are transported, so it does not fulfill the role of pulling out and transporting the banknotes. In actual products, the frictional resistance between the high-friction wheels and the fixed belt is so great that the drawer cannot be smoothly pulled upwards using only the drawer conveying force of the drawer roller pair. For this reason, multiple ultra-small bearings are placed along the fixed belt to reduce the conveying resistance caused by the fixed belt.

[0007] However, because the size was reduced by transporting the banknotes upward, it became impossible to secure sufficient space for the bearings. As a result, they had no choice but to use extremely small diameter rollers that did little to reduce transport resistance, and they were unable to stabilize the separation process. As a result, they were unable to separate multiple banknotes, making it easier for jams to occur.

[0008] When withdrawing bills immediately after separation, it would be ideal to quickly withdraw them with a strong force by rotating the reversing rollers at a higher speed than the high-friction wheels. To achieve this difference in transport speed, it is not impossible to create a speed difference using a single drive source with a mechanical structure such as gears. However, if the withdrawal speed were to be about 30 percent faster than the transport speed of the high-friction wheels, for example, a combination of many complex gears would be required to achieve this speed difference, which would increase the number of parts and make miniaturization impossible.

[0009] Furthermore, because a single motor drives the high-friction wheel and the reverse roller for drawer transport, the drive of the separation unit and the drive of the reverse roller cannot be controlled independently, and the drawer operation interferes with the separation operation, making it impossible to achieve the above-mentioned difference in transport speed. This makes it difficult to quickly draw with a strong force, and reduces the reliability of the separation operation. The draw-out roller pair draws out banknotes at the nip between the roller pair, but this requires applying very high pressure (grip load) between the reversing roller and the auxiliary roller to generate a high conveying force, which increases the drive load, reduces the durability of the parts, and reduces robustness against environmental changes.

[0010] Furthermore, since Patent Document 2 is configured to perform not only the deposit process but also the return process of banknotes, the separator cannot be stopped during the return operation, which causes problems such as adverse effects due to interference of the separator roller with the returned banknotes and adverse effects on the durability of parts such as the separator roller, resulting in reduced reliability. Such problems occur not only in machines that process banknotes, but also in machines that process other paper documents such as securities, certificates, ballot papers, and the like. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6427246 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 8,662,490 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has as its object to provide a paper sheet separating and conveying device and a paper sheet handling device which eliminate various problems that arise due to miniaturization. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the paper sheet separating and conveying device of the present invention comprises a tray on which a stack of paper sheets is set, a feed-out section which feeds out paper sheets from the stack of paper sheets on the tray, a separation section which, when the paper sheets fed out from the feed-out section are in a double-fed state, passes only the first paper sheet and sends it downstream and prevents the second and subsequent paper sheets from advancing, a first motor which drives the feed-out section and the separation section, a drawer conveying section which draws out and conveys the first paper sheet, part of which remains in the separation section, a storage conveying section which is driven by a second motor to receive the paper sheet discharged from the drawer conveying section and convey it further downstream, and control means which controls various control objects, and the separation section rotates around the axis of a feed roller shaft and, when rotated forward, The pull-out conveying unit comprises a feed roller that contacts the surface of the paper sheet being fed out and conveys it, and a frictional separating member that forms a separation nip between itself and the feed roller and prevents the advancement of the second and subsequent paper sheets; the pull-out conveying unit comprises at least two idling rollers that are rotatably supported (fixed axial position) on the feed roller shaft portion on both axial sides of the feed roller; and an endless pull-out belt that forms a curved pull-out conveying path between itself (in contact with) the curved outer peripheral surface of each idling roller and travels in the pull-out direction to change the direction of the first paper sheet in cooperation with each idling roller and convey it, and the pull-out belt is driven by the second motor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a paper sheet separating and conveying device and a paper sheet handling device that eliminate various problems that arise due to miniaturization. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an example of a paper sheet separating and conveying device according to the present invention; [Figure 2]1(a) is an internal configuration diagram showing the state immediately before each motor starts to drive in a paper sheet separating and conveying device according to one embodiment of the present invention with a stack of banknotes set in a paper feed tray, and FIG. 1(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state when the feeding of banknotes has begun. [Figure 3] (a) is an internal configuration diagram showing the state in which separation has begun as the feed roller rotates, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the leading edge of the banknote has begun to be transported toward the storage and transport path. [Figure 4] 10A is an internal configuration diagram showing a state in which the trailing end of a banknote has passed through the drawer transport unit, and FIG. 10B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which recognition determination is being performed. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which banknotes are returned. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view showing a specific example of the configuration of a feeding section, a separating section, and a drawer transport section according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B are a front perspective view and an exploded perspective view of each member constituting the drive transmission delay mechanism. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are a rear perspective view and an exploded perspective view of each member constituting the drive transmission delay mechanism. [Figure 9] 1(a) and 1(b) are front views of components of the play forming mechanism and a front view of the assembled state; [Figure 10] 1(a) and 1(b) are rear views of the components of the play forming mechanism and the assembled state. [Figure 11] 4 is a flowchart showing a banknote processing procedure in the first embodiment. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing a banknote processing procedure in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. [Basic configuration] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an example of a paper sheet separating and conveying device according to the present invention. 2 to 5 are front views showing the internal configuration of the paper sheet separating and conveying device, and the separation and conveying, storing, and returning operations. FIG. 2(a) is an internal configuration diagram showing the state immediately before the entrance sensor detects banknotes and starts driving each motor when a stack of banknotes is set in the paper feed tray, and FIG. 2(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state when feeding of banknotes has started. FIG. 3(a) shows the state when separation has started as the feed rollers rotate, and FIG. 3(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state when the leading edge of the banknote has started to be conveyed toward the storing and conveying path (banknote storage section). FIG. 4(a) shows the state when the trailing edge of the banknote has passed the drawer conveying section, and FIG. 4(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state when the banknote is stopped at the escrow position and is being identified and determined. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the state when the banknote is being returned. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a specific example of the configuration of the feeder section, separator section, and drawer conveying section according to one embodiment of the present invention. Although this specification mainly describes banknotes as an example of paper sheets, this device can also be applied to separating and transporting paper sheets other than banknotes. Furthermore, paper sheets include not only paper sheets but also sheets made of resin or other materials.

[0017] The banknote separating and transporting device 1 is a means for receiving banknotes and discharging rejected banknotes, and is installed in or alongside a banknote handling device such as a banknote deposit machine, a vending machine, or a gaming media lending machine in an amusement facility. The banknote separating and transporting device 1 will be described in detail below. The banknote separation and transport device 1 generally comprises a first module Md1 including a deposit processing unit U1 and a storage unit U2, a second module (including a safe CB) Md2 detachably connected to the first module, and a control means (CPU, MPU, ROM, RAM, etc.) 1000 for controlling various control objects.

[0018] The deposit processing unit U1 is a means for receiving deposited banknotes and transporting them to the storage unit U2, and for discharging rejected banknotes returned within the storage unit U2 to the outside of the machine. The deposit processing unit U1 comprises a housing H, a paper feed tray (tray, deposit section) 10 that is detachably attached to the front of the housing and that holds banknotes in a stacked state before being fed into the housing, a feed section (feed roller 30 and pick pusher 70) 20 that takes out banknotes one by one from the top of the banknote stack on the feed tray and feeds them into the housing, and a feed section (feed roller 30 and pick pusher 70) that, when the banknotes fed by the feed section 20 are in a double-feed state, passes only the first banknote B1 and sends it downstream, while the second and subsequent banknotes are fed downstream. the feed roller 110 constituting the separation section 100 and a brake roller 130) 100 that prevents the advance of the banknotes, a drawer conveying section 250 that is adjacent to the feed roller 110 that constitutes the separation section 100 to form a drawer conveying path 260 and that rotates forward to draw out one banknote B1 that remains partially in the separation section 100 and send it downstream (storage unit U2); and a first motor M1 that drives the pay-out section 20 and each driven member that constitutes the separation section 100 (pay-out / separation mechanism (separation unit) 15).

[0019] The drawer conveying path 260 is a curved contact running area formed by the contact between the idling roller 257 and the drawer belt 270 shown in Fig. 6, and banknotes conveyed upward through the drawer conveying path 260 are further pulled up by the drawer belt 270 and conveyed upward while being guided by the conveying guide member 300. The second reversing roller 267, which reverses the drawer belt clockwise at the top, rotates clockwise (forward), thereby guiding the banknotes to the storage conveying path 400 side within the storage unit U2.

[0020] Reference numeral 500 denotes a flapper that switches the conveying direction of banknotes, and is a sorting means that guides banknotes conveyed by the draw-out belt 270 to the position of the second reversing roller 267 toward the storage conveying path 400, and guides banknotes conveyed in reverse from the storage conveying path 400 toward the return conveying path 510. The flapper 500, which is pivotally supported in the vertical direction by a swing shaft 500a, normally lowers its right end (tip) due to the balance of its own weight, thereby blocking the passage from the draw-out conveying path 260 to the storage conveying path 400 (initial position). On the other hand, when a banknote that has been raised by the draw-out belt 270 passes through, the right end is pushed up by the banknote, allowing the banknote to move to the right. When the trailing end of the banknote passes the right end of the flapper, the flapper returns to its initial position.

[0021] If the recognition unit 450 determines that a banknote that has entered the storage and conveyance path 400 is unacceptable, the control means 1000 causes the motors M2 and M3 to reverse the conveyance members 410 and 420 that make up the storage and conveyance path 400, thereby conveying the banknote back toward the flapper. At this stage, the flapper is in its initial position, so the rejected banknote passes over the flapper from its rear end and enters the return conveyance path 510. A return roller pair (conveyance member) 512 is arranged on the return conveyance path, and is driven by the second motor M2 in the direction to discharge the banknote. A return banknote storage tray 11 is arranged at the end of the return conveyance path 510, and discharged return banknotes are stored in order.

[0022] The return conveying path 510 is arranged above and approximately parallel to the feeding path that runs from the feeding section toward the separation section, and the return banknote storage tray 11 is arranged above and approximately parallel to the paper feed tray 10. In the present invention, the first motor M1 drives the feeding / separation mechanism (separation unit) 15, and the conveying members 512 and the like of the return conveying path are driven by the second motor M2, so there is no mutual interference, and stable separation and return conveying operations can be achieved.

[0023] The storage unit U2 includes a storage and conveyance path (storage and conveyance mechanism, storage and conveyance section) 400 that receives and conveys banknotes B conveyed by the drawer belt 270 constituting the drawer conveyance section 250, and a recognition section 450 that uses a combination of optical and magnetic sensors to determine the denomination, authenticity, etc. of banknotes conveyed downstream along the storage and conveyance path 400. Banknotes determined to be acceptable as a result of the recognition are conveyed downstream and stored in a safe CB provided in the second module Md2, while banknotes determined to be unacceptable (rejected banknotes) are sent backward and discharged via the deposit processing unit U1 to the returned banknote storage tray 11. The storage unit U2 also includes a second motor M2 that drives conveyance members (gears, rollers, etc.) 410 and a pair of return rollers 512 on the upstream side of the storage and conveyance path 400, and a third motor M3 that drives conveyance members (gears, rollers, etc.) 420 on the downstream side of the storage and conveyance path 400.

[0024] One of the characteristic features of the present invention is that the drawer transport section 250 is driven by a second motor M2 provided in the banknote storage unit U2. That is, the second motor M2 drives not only the transport roller 410 located upstream of the storage transport path 400, but also the drawer transport section 250 and the return roller pair 512. The third motor M3 drives a group of conveyance rollers 420 located from the midstream to the downstream of the storage and conveyance path 400. The pair of conveyance rollers 420a located at the most downstream part of the storage and conveyance path 400 is a means for discharging banknotes into the safe CB.

[0025] Next, the configurations and operations of the feeding section 20, the separating section 100, and the drawing and conveying section 250 will be described. 6, the feed roller 30 constituting the feed section 20 is fixed to a shaft 32 that rotates when driven by a first motor M1, and a downstream timing pulley 33 is coaxially fixed to one side of the shaft 32. The downstream timing pulley 33 receives drive from the first motor M1 via a timing belt 35 that is endlessly stretched between the downstream timing pulley 33 and an upstream timing pulley 60 provided on the feed roller side. The separating unit 100 comprises a feed roller shaft 101 driven by a first motor M1, a feed roller 110 supported rotatably about the axis of the feed roller shaft and which, when rotated forward, comes into contact with the face of the first banknote dispensed by the dispensing unit 20 and conveys it, and a brake roller (friction separating member) 130 which forms a separation nip N1 between itself and the feed roller and prevents the second and subsequent banknotes from advancing. Note that the feed roller 110 can be configured so that the shaft core is fixed to the feed roller shaft 101 so that the two rotate integrally, but if a drive transmission delay mechanism D, described below, is employed, the feed roller is not necessarily fixed directly to the feed roller shaft.

[0026] The drawer conveying section 250 comprises at least two idling rollers (freely rotating members) 257, 257 each rotatably supported (unfixed in the rotational direction but fixed in the axial position) on the feed roller shaft portion on both axial sides of the feed roller 110, and endless drawer belts 270, 270 which come into contact with the curved outer surface of each idling roller to form curved drawer conveying paths (drawer nip sections) 260, and which rotate (forward) in the drawer direction, thereby cooperating with each idling roller 257, 257 to change the direction of the first banknote to a direction (diagonally upward) that intersects with the payout direction by the payout section (the direction passing through the separation nip section N1) and convey it.

[0027] Each pull-out belt 270 is endlessly stretched by a first reversing roller (driven roller) 265 and a second reversing roller (drive roller) 267, which are arranged to form a pull-out conveyance path 260 between themselves and the outer circumferential surfaces of the respective idling rollers 257. The first reversing rollers 265 form a banknote introduction section 260a of the pull-out conveyance path between each pull-out belt and each idling roller. The second reversing rollers 267 reverse each pull-out belt so that banknotes introduced from the banknote introduction section 260a are conveyed toward the storage conveyance path 400 after passing through the downstream end (paper sheet discharge section) 260b of the pull-out conveyance path. The first reversing rollers 265 are rotatably supported by a first shaft 280, which is rotationally driven by a first motor M1, with its axis being free and unfixed. In other words, the first reversing rollers 265 are driven rollers that do not rotate with the rotation of the first shaft 280. The pull-out belt 270 is driven to run by the rotation of the second reverse roller 267 serving as a drive roller.

[0028] The feed roller 110 and the idling roller 257 are mounted coaxially on the feed roller shaft 101, and their outer peripheral surfaces are at approximately the same radial position, so the feed roller and the center of the banknote come into light contact, but there is no active gripping, and there is no significant resistance to conveyance. It is the pull-out belt 270 that pulls up the banknotes that have passed through the separation nip N1, and the feed roller 110 is driven to rotate by the minimum necessary angle only during separation, so it is not involved in the upward pulling operation after separation and does not have a pulling function. Even if the feed roller rotates along with the pull-out belt via the banknotes due to the action of the drive delay transmission mechanism D described below, it is ultimately the pull-out belt that pulls up the banknotes.

[0029] It is preferable that the peripheral surface of each of the idle rollers 257, 257 has low friction so that slippage occurs between the rollers and the banknotes, and the peripheral surface of the pull-out belt has high friction so that slippage does not occur easily between the rollers and the banknotes. The idling roller 257 serves to bring the withdrawal belt into contact with the banknotes, and the tension applied to the withdrawal belt presses the banknotes against the low-friction resistance outer surface of the idling roller, which works in conjunction with the friction resistance of the withdrawal belt to create a transport gripping force. The idle rollers are made of a hard material so that they do not bend or deform under pressure from the pull-out belt. The width of the outer circumferential surface of the idle rollers is preferably equal to or wider than the width of the narrow strip-shaped pull-out belt. The "direction intersecting the payout direction by the payout unit" is approximately 90 degrees upward in the drawing, but broadly includes a direction that is bent or curved upward (non-parallel direction) relative to the face direction of the banknotes being paid out on the paper feed tray 10.

[0030] The banknote introduction section 260a of the withdrawal transport path is formed at the portion where the withdrawal belt, which has been reversed upward by the first reversing roller 265 rotating clockwise, first comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the feed roller. A banknote that has passed through the separation nip N1 comes into contact with the surface of the withdrawal belt just before the banknote introduction section (the portion that slopes diagonally upward to the right in Figure 2, etc.), and is then smoothly pulled up diagonally upward and immediately drawn into the banknote introduction section 260a. Banknotes that pass through the paper sheet discharge section 260b are transported upward between the pull-out belt and the transport guide member 300, and then led to the entrance of the storage transport path 400 along the reversal path between the outer periphery of the second reversal roller 267 and the transport guide member 301.

[0031] The idling roller 257, pressed down by the tension of the pull-out belt, rotates idly relative to the feed roller shaft, and is therefore completely independent of the drive or rotation speed of the feed roller shaft. The feed roller and idling roller are arranged on the same feed roller shaft, but by varying the axial positions of the two rollers, the separation nip N1, which serves as the separation point, and the pull-out conveyance path 260 (banknote introduction section 260a), which serves as the pull-out point, can be separated. Furthermore, as a result of configuring the pull-out conveyance path 260 using a traveling pull-out belt, the distance between the separation nip N1 and the banknote introduction section 260a in a side view can be freely set to the minimum required value. Specifically, this distance can be significantly reduced, for example, to a value shorter than the diameter or radius of the feed roller.

[0032] The pick pressure 70 has its base end fixedly supported by the first shaft 280, so that when the first shaft rotates clockwise, the tip thereof rises, pushing the bill bundle on the paper feed tray 10 towards the feed roller 30 and bringing it into contact with the feed roller 30. When the first shaft 280 rotates in the reverse direction, the tip thereof descends. Note that a torque limiter (not shown) is disposed between the pick pressure 70 and the first shaft 280 to allow sliding, preventing the bill bundle from being pushed up with excessive force. Each second reversing roller (drive roller) 267 has its axis fixedly supported by a second shaft 290 arranged parallel to and above the first shaft 280, and a transmission gear 292 is fixed to the second shaft at an intermediate position between the two second reversing rollers. The transmission gear 292 is meshed with a group of gears 294 that transmits rotational driving force from the second motor M2. Therefore, the drawer transport section 250 is driven by the second motor M2 that drives the upstream transport member of the storage transport path 400. In this way, in the present invention, the feeding section 20 and the separation section 100 are driven by the first motor M1, while the drawer transport section 250 is driven by the second motor M2 via gear groups 294 and 292, so that the feeding and separation operations and the drawer transport operation can each be driven and controlled independently.

[0033] When the drawer conveying unit 250 pulls out banknotes, it uses the endlessly running drawer belt 270 for conveyance, which allows for a non-linear conveyance path to be formed by bending (curving) the drawer conveying unit upward relative to the conveyance direction of the pay-out unit and separation unit, making it possible to reduce the size. Even with such a compact configuration, the degree of freedom in component placement is increased, allowing for reliable banknote separation and drawer conveyance. Even in this type of compact device configuration in which the banknote transport path is bent or curved in a non-linear manner in an approximately L-shape, by driving the drawer transport section 250 by another adjacent drive mechanism, i.e., the second motor M2 which drives the upstream transport member 410 of the storage transport path 400, it becomes possible to independently control the speed and operation of the pay-out / separation mechanism 15 and the drawer transport section 250, thereby enabling reliable separation and drawer transport operations.

[0034] To reliably withdraw banknotes separated by the separator 100, the conveying speed (driving force) during withdrawal must be faster (stronger) than the conveying speed (driving force) during separation. Such a conveying speed difference can be achieved without requiring separate drive sources, even with a single drive source and a mechanical structure such as gears. However, in this case, if the withdrawal speed of the withdrawing conveying unit 250 is to be 30 percent faster than the conveying speed of the separator 100, a speed difference cannot be achieved without employing a complex combination of multiple gears. In contrast, in the present invention, the separator and withdrawing conveying units are driven by separate and independent motors M1 and M2. This makes it possible to easily and freely control the speed difference without complicating the mechanical configuration or increasing the number of parts. Furthermore, since the second motor M2 is not located in the deposit processing unit U1 but in the adjacent banknote storage unit U2, the deposit processing unit U1 does not need to be large.

[0035] To explain this further, if the withdrawal conveyance section is configured with a pair of rollers as in Patent Document 2 and banknotes are withdrawn using the nip portion of the roller pair as a point, it is necessary to apply very high pressure (grip load) between the rollers to generate a high conveying force. On the other hand, if a withdrawal conveyance drive using a movable running belt is adopted as in the present invention, the withdrawal grip portion can be configured as a surface rather than a point, so the grip load can be set low, reducing the drive load and improving durability and robustness against environmental changes. In particular, in the present invention, the separation nip portion N1 is a point-like grip with low resistance, so that the drive load can be reduced by combining this with the strong withdrawal force of the surface-shaped withdrawal grip portion.

[0036] As described above, the pull-out belt 270 is a non-fixed type, i.e., a movable belt that is stretched endlessly and runs in both forward and reverse directions. In this respect, it is significantly different in structure and function from the fixed belt of Patent Document 2. Furthermore, the fixed belt in Patent Document 2 is not a means for lifting up banknotes but a separation means for separating banknotes between itself and a high-friction roller. In the present invention, the fixed belt corresponds to the brake roller, and does not correspond to the pull-out belt 270. The pull-out belt is merely a means for pulling out the banknotes after they have been separated.

[0037] [Drive transmission delay mechanism D] Next, a drive transmission delay mechanism D that delays the start of rotation of the feed roller by a predetermined timing relative to the timing of feeding by the feeding section will be described. The banknote separation and transport device of the present invention can achieve smooth separation and withdrawal operations while being compact without adopting the drive transmission delay mechanism D, but an example configuration (first embodiment) in which the drive transmission delay mechanism D is incorporated into the separation unit 100 will be described below.

[0038] Figures 7(a) and (b) are a front perspective view and an exploded perspective view of each member that constitutes the drive transmission delay mechanism D, Figures 8(a) and (b) are a rear perspective view and an exploded perspective view of each member that constitutes the drive transmission delay mechanism D. Figures 9(a) and (b) are a front view of the components of the play forming mechanism A and a front view of the assembled state, and Figures 10(a) and (b) are a rear view of the components of the play forming mechanism A and a rear view of the assembled state.

[0039] The drive transmission delay mechanism D comprises a feed roller shaft 101, an upstream timing pulley (upstream transmission member) 60 which rotates around the axis of the feed roller shaft 101 and is arranged adjacent to one another along the axial direction, a timing clutch (clutch member) 50, and a feed roller 110, and a play forming mechanism A which provides a first relative rotation section 40 between the upstream timing pulley 60 and the timing clutch 50 and a second relative rotation section 45 between the timing clutch 50 and the feed roller 110 to delay (disconnect) the transmission of the drive force. In the separating unit 100 equipped with the drive transmission delay mechanism D, the feed roller 110 is not fixed to the feed roller shaft 101, but is rotatable relative to the feed roller shaft.

[0040] The upstream timing pulley 60, timing clutch 50, and feed roller 110 rotate around a common feed roller shaft 101 and are configured to be rotatable relative to one another within a predetermined circumferential play range. The upstream timing pulley 60 is fixed to the feed roller shaft 101 and rotates integrally with it, whereas the timing clutch 50 and feed roller 110 are journaled to the feed roller shaft 101 so as to be rotatable relative to each other independently. The upstream timing pulley 60 has an engaging portion 62 that protrudes from the rear surface (the surface facing the timing clutch) of a doughnut-shaped main body 61.

[0041] The timing clutch 50 has a first engagement portion 52 protruding from the front surface (opposing the upstream timing pulley) of the donut-shaped main body 51, and a second engagement portion 53 protruding from the rear surface (opposing the feed roller) of the main body 51. Feed roller 110 has a protruding engaged portion 113 provided inside a cylindrical recessed portion 112 provided on the front side of donut-shaped main body 111. In the assembled state shown in FIG. 7(a), most of timing clutch 50 and part of upstream timing pulley 60 fit inside recessed portion 112.

[0042] The play generating mechanism A is composed of an engaging portion 62 provided on the upstream timing pulley 60, first and second engaging portions 52, 53 provided on the timing clutch 50, an engaged portion 113 provided on the feed roller 110, and the like.

[0043] The first relative rotation section 40 is a play space (idle section) that extends in the circumferential direction and is formed between the engagement portion 62 and the first engagement portion 52, and the play is maximum when the upstream timing pulley 60 and the timing clutch 50 are in the initial circumferential positional relationship shown in Figure 9(b). The play formed in the first relative rotation section 40 expands and contracts as the timing clutch 50 rotates relative to the upstream timing pulley 60.

[0044] The second relative rotation section 45 is a play space (idle section) that extends in the circumferential direction and is formed between the second engaging portion 53 and the engaged portion 113, and the play is maximum when the timing clutch 50 and the feed roller are in the initial circumferential positional relationship shown in Figure 10(b). The play formed in the second relative rotation section 45 expands and contracts as the feed roller rotates relative to the timing clutch. The driving force from the feed roller shaft 101 is transmitted sequentially to the upstream timing pulley 60, timing clutch 50, and feed roller 110. However, because the play-forming mechanism A is interposed, the driving force of the upstream timing pulley 60 is not immediately transmitted to the feed roller 110, but is transmitted after a predetermined timing delay.

[0045] The play forming mechanism A allows the upstream timing pulley 60 and the timing clutch 50 to rotate relative to each other in the circumferential direction between an initial position and a final position, and the upstream timing pulley 60 does not transmit a driving force to the timing clutch 50 until the position of the timing clutch 50 relative to itself changes from the initial position to the final position, but transmits the driving force after the final position is reached. Furthermore, the play forming mechanism A allows the circumferential positional relationship between the timing clutch 50 and the feed roller 110 to rotate relative to each other between an initial positional relationship and a final positional relationship, and the timing clutch 50 is configured not to transmit a driving force to the feed roller until the positional relationship of the feed roller relative to itself reaches the final positional relationship from the initial positional relationship, but to transmit a driving force after the final positional relationship is reached.

[0046] Due to the presence of the first relative rotation section 40 and the second relative rotation section 45, the driving force from the first motor M1 to the upstream timing pulley 60 is not directly connected to the timing clutch 50 and the feed roller 110 and transmitted without delay. In other words, the driving force is transmitted intermittently and with a delay via an idling section (a play section in which driving force is not transmitted) defined by each of the relative rotation sections 40, 45. For this reason, the feed roller starts to rotate a predetermined time after the feed roller 30 rotates forward due to the forward rotation of the upstream timing pulley 60. When a stack of banknotes with uneven leading edges is set, or when separating banknotes fed from stacks of banknotes of different lengths from around the world, the second and subsequent banknotes tend to enter the separation nip before the first, causing double feeding, but it is necessary to ensure that the first banknote is fed to the separation section first. To prevent such double feeding, it is effective to not drive the feed roller until the feeding roller has rotated a predetermined amount and finished feeding the banknotes.

[0047] The drive transmission delay mechanism D solves the above-mentioned problem by using a mechanical structure, and makes it possible to appropriately switch the drive timing of the delivery roller and the feed roller using only one motor.

[0048] Other advantages of the drive transmission delay mechanism D are as follows: That is, as shown in FIG. 3(a), when a portion of a banknote is nipped in the separation nip portion N1, if the first motor M1 is stopped and the second motor M2 continues to pull out the banknote using the pull-out conveyance unit 250, the feed roller 110 rotates along with the banknote. This rotation eliminates the conveyance load generated in the separation nip portion N1. In addition, the circumferential play of each relative rotation section 40, 45 that had been lost due to the operation up to that point is restored. As soon as the trailing end of the banknote leaves the separation nip portion N1, the transmission of driving force to the feed rollers, etc. due to the rotation of the banknote stops. That is, the feed roller 110, which has started rotating forward due to the conveying force of the banknotes, continues to rotate (idle) within the second relative rotation interval 45 relative to the stopped timing clutch 50, thereby returning the feed roller and timing clutch 50 to the initial positional relationship shown in Fig. 10(b). Next, the driving force from the timing clutch 50 is transmitted to the stopped upstream timing pulley 60 within the first relative rotation interval 40, causing the upstream timing pulley to resume normal rotation, and the timing clutch 50 and the upstream timing pulley return to the initial positional relationship shown in Fig. 9(b). During this time, the feed roller rotates in the forward direction, so that even if a part of the banknote is nipped in the separation nip portion N1, it does not become a load when the drawer transport unit 250 draws it out.

[0049] [Operation procedure] Hereinafter, the banknote processing operation by the banknote separating and transporting device 1 will be described. <Operation Procedure When a Drive Transmission Delay Mechanism is Equipped (First Embodiment)> 2 to 10 and FIG. 11, which is a flowchart showing the banknote processing procedure, an example in which a drive transmission delay mechanism D is interposed between the feed roller and the feed roller shaft will be described below.

[0050] First, Fig. 2(a) shows a stopped state immediately before the control means 1000 starts driving the motors M1, M2, and M3 in the forward direction as a result of the entrance sensor S1 detecting a banknote bundle set in the paper feed tray (deposit section) 10. In the flowchart of Fig. 11, the first sensor S1 is turned on, so the process proceeds to Fig. 2(b) (steps S1 and S2). In Figure 2(b), the first motor M1 starts to rotate the first shaft 280 in the clockwise direction in Figure 6, causing the pick pusher 70 to raise its tip and push the bottom of the stack of banknotes towards the feed roller 30. At the same time, the feed roller 30 rotates counterclockwise and feeds the first banknote B1 towards the separation section. The driving force is transmitted to the feed roller 30 via a timing belt (intermediate transmission member) 35 wound around the upstream timing pulley 60, but the feed roller 110 does not immediately rotate due to the circumferential play created by the play creating mechanism A. As a result, the leading edges of the banknotes are aligned at the separation nip N1, which is the point of contact with the brake roller 130. At this time, the other motors M2 and M3 also start rotating in the forward direction. As the second motor M2 is driven, the movable parts constituting the drawer transport section 250 also rotate in the forward direction (step S3).

[0051] In Figure 3(a), all motors are rotating in the forward direction, causing the feed roller 110 and the pull-out belt 270 to rotate, thereby starting the separation and pull-out operations in parallel. At the stage in Figure 2(b), the drive force is transmitted from the first motor M1 to the feed roller shaft 101, but the feed roller 110 does not immediately rotate due to the circumferential play forming action of the drive transmission delay mechanism D (play forming mechanism A). At the stage in Figure 3(a), the circumferential play between the components that make up the play forming mechanism A disappears, so the feed roller starts to rotate (steps S4 and S5). The brake roller 130 is stopped in the take-in direction, and the banknote separated into one sheet at the nip portion N1 is pulled out with a strong force by the drawer conveyance path 260 and reaches the passage sensor S2 located immediately before the flapper 500.

[0052] 3(b) shows the state in which the leading edge of a banknote has started to be transported toward the storage and transport path 400 (storage unit U2). When it is determined based on the detection information of the paper passage sensor S2 that the leading edge of the transported banknote has passed the flapper 500 by a predetermined distance, the first motor M1 is stopped. That is, after detection by the paper passage sensor S2, the control means 1000 stops the first motor M1 when the pulses of the first motor M1 are counted up to a predetermined value. This stops the transmission of driving force to the feed roller. Meanwhile, the withdrawal by the withdrawal belt continues (steps S6 and S7). However, to avoid increased resistance when withdrawing the bill due to some of the bill remaining in the nip portion N1 when the first motor M1 stops, the slack forming mechanism A causes the feed roller to rotate freely while the bill is being withdrawn by the withdrawal belt (step S8).

[0053] That is, as shown in FIG. 3(b), after the first motor M1 stops, the banknote remains in the separation nip N1 while it is being drawn between the circumferential surface of the idling roller 257 (low friction resistance) and the circumferential surface of each draw-out belt 270 (high friction resistance). Therefore, the feed rollers are rotated by the banknote by the length of the excess length of the banknote located before the separation nip. In other words, the drive transmission delay mechanism D causes the feed rollers to rotate idly in the conveying direction by a predetermined angle, so they do not provide resistance when the banknote is reversed and conveyed upward. The idling of the feed rollers causes the slack forming mechanism A, which was lost in step S5, to begin to recover (steps S9 and S10). After the leading edge of the bill B1 passes the reversal position of the second reversal roller 267 and enters the storage and transport path 400, the bill B1 is taken in by the transport rollers 410 and 420 in sequence.

[0054] With this configuration, the second motor M2, which drives the drawer transport unit 250 for drawing out the separated banknotes, is separate from the first motor M1, which drives the separator, increasing the reliability of the separation operation. In other words, with this configuration, the separation operation can be stopped at the appropriate time after completion, reducing the rotation of the feed roller when no banknotes are present on the paper feed tray. To reduce wear on the feed roller, it is necessary to avoid, as much as possible, the rotation of the separation roller when no banknotes are present.

[0055] 4(a) shows the state where the trailing end of the banknote has passed through the separator 100 and the drawer transport path 260. At this point, the first motor M1 is stopped, and the banknote B1 is transported further inward by transport rollers 410 and 420 driven by the second motor M2 and the third motor M3. As described above, at this stage, the feed rollers have recovered their play due to the accompanying rotation of the banknote, and are ready to handle the separation of subsequent banknotes (steps S11 and S10).

[0056] 4(b) shows a state in which the entire length of the banknote has entered the storage and transport path 400, and the banknote is transported to the escrow position, after which motors M2 and M3 are stopped and identification judgment is performed. Acceptable banknotes are transported to the safe CB in the second module Md2 by driving each transport roller 420 with the third motor M3. Unacceptable banknotes are returned by the return operation of FIG. 5 (steps S11, S12, S13).

[0057] Furthermore, when banknotes are continuously fed from the deposit processing unit U1, the second motor M2 and the third motor M3 take in the first banknote into the storage and conveyance path 400 as shown in the figure, and then the second motor is stopped, thereby preventing the second banknote from continuously entering the storage unit U2. In other words, the second motor M2 is used as a shutter, making it possible to prevent jams and the like from occurring in the storage and conveyance path.

[0058] FIG. 5 shows the state in which the banknotes are being returned. When a rejected banknote determined to be unacceptable by the recognition unit 450 at the stage of FIG. 4(b) is to be discharged (returned) to the return banknote storage tray 11, the control unit 1000 checks the passage sensor S2 located near the branch point of the storage conveyance path 400 and the return conveyance path 510. If there are no subsequent banknotes that would obstruct the return, the control unit 1000 causes the motors M2 and M3 to reverse the conveyance rollers 410 and 420, and causes the second motor M2 to rotate the pull-out belt 270 and return roller 512 in the return direction (step S13). The pull-out belt is reversed during return because it is driven by the second motor M2. However, because the upper part of the pull-out belt is located in the path of the return banknotes, reversing the pull-out belt ensures smooth movement of the return banknotes. Furthermore, because the feed roller 110 and the pull-out belt 270 are at different axial positions and do not interfere with each other, the stopped feed roller does not interfere with the pull-out belt even when it is reversed for return.

[0059] Furthermore, since the first motor M1 stops driving the separator during the return operation, the separator does not interfere with the return operation, ensuring reliable return processing. When the return port sensor S3 turns OFF, the motors M2 and M3 are stopped to stop the return operation.

[0060] Comparing this operation of the present invention with the operation of the device in Patent Document 2, in Patent Document 2 all operations of pickup, separation, withdrawal, and return are performed by a single motor. When returning rejected banknotes, it is desirable not to operate the separation roller (high friction roller) to avoid interference with the rejected banknotes, but in the device in Patent Document 2, the separation roller also operates when returning. For this reason, it is anticipated that the separation roller will interfere with the returned banknotes, causing a problem in which the return operation will not be carried out smoothly.

[0061] <Operation Procedure When a Drive Transmission Delay Mechanism is Not Included (Second Embodiment)> FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure when no drive transmission delay mechanism is provided. 2 to 6, the separation and pull-out operations are the same except for the delay in the timing at which the feed roller starts to rotate by the drive transmission delay mechanism D and the effect of reducing the transport load by the idling of the feed roller.

[0062] First, in FIG. 2(a), which shows a stopped state immediately before the control means 1000 starts driving the motors M1, M2, and M3 in the forward direction, when the first sensor S1 turns on, the process moves to FIG. 2(b) (steps S21 and S22). 2(b), when the first motor M1, the second motor M2, and the third motor M3 start rotating simultaneously, the feed roller 30 rotates to feed the first banknote B1 toward the separation section, and then the feed roller 110 performs the separation work (step S23). Furthermore, the drawer transport section 250 and the movable parts constituting the storage transport path 400 also rotate forward.

[0063] In FIG. 3(a), the separation operation by the feed roller 110 and the drawing operation by the drawing belt 270 have started. The bill separated into one sheet at the separation nip portion N1 is pulled out by a strong force along the drawer conveyance path 260 and reaches the passage sensor S2 located immediately before the flapper 500. In FIG. 3(b), as a result of detecting that the leading edge of the bill has reached the paper passing sensor S2, the first motor M1 is stopped, the feed roller is stopped, and the withdrawal by the withdrawal belt continues (steps S24, S25). After the leading edge of the bill B1 passes the reversal position of the second reversal roller 267 and enters the storage and transport path 400, the bill B1 is taken in by the transport rollers 410 and 420 in sequence. In this configuration as well, the second motor M2 is separate from the first motor M1, so the separation operation is more reliable.

[0064] In FIG. 4(a), the rear end of the banknote passes through the separator 100 and the drawer transport path 260, and the banknote is transported further inward by transport rollers 410 and 420 driven by the second motor M2 and the third motor M3. In Fig. 4(b), the entire length of the banknote has entered the storage and transport path 400 completely, and motors M2 and M3 are stopped to perform recognition and determination. Acceptable banknotes are transported to the safe CB in the second module Md2 by driving each transport roller 420 by the third motor M3 (steps S26 YES, S27). Unacceptable banknotes are returned by the return operation of Fig. 5 (steps S26 NO, S28).

[0065] Furthermore, when banknotes are continuously fed from the deposit processing unit U1, the second motor M2 and the third motor M3 take in one banknote into the storage and conveyance path 400, and then the second motor is stopped, thereby preventing a second banknote from continuously entering the storage unit U2. In other words, the second motor M2 is used as a shutter, making it possible to prevent jams and the like from occurring in the storage and conveyance path.

[0066] Figure 5 shows the state in which banknotes are being returned. The processing operation when returning banknotes is the same as in the configuration example equipped with the drive transmission delay mechanism D. In other words, since the first motor M1 stops driving the separator during the return operation, the separator does not interfere with the return operation, ensuring reliable return processing. This eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks of the device in Patent Document 2, in which pickup, separation, withdrawal, and return are all performed by a single motor.

[0067] <Actions and Effects Common to Each Embodiment> In the first and second embodiments, the above-mentioned advantages are obtained by driving the pull-out belt separately by a drive source different from the drive source of the feed roller. Furthermore, two endless withdrawal belts 270 are arranged symmetrically on the left and right sides in non-interfering positions in the axial direction different from the feed rollers to withdraw banknotes. This makes it possible to position the banknote introduction section 260a, which serves as the withdrawal point, as close as possible to the separation point (separation nip section N1). Moreover, the layout of the banknote introduction section 260a is free, and the withdrawal point can be positioned at any position, increasing design freedom.

[0068] When the means for withdrawing banknotes is a pair of rollers as in Patent Document 2, the gripping portion that grips the banknotes is the point. A strong force is required to pull out the banknotes nipped in the separation section, and in Patent Document 2, a strong withdrawal force is obtained by increasing the nip pressure of the pair of rollers. This places a load on the actuator and rollers, reducing their durability. To resolve this problem, it is necessary to place a bearing in the separation path, but it has been difficult to secure space to place a bearing of a size that is sufficiently effective.

[0069] In the present invention, by making the withdrawal conveyance path flat, it is possible to increase the gripping force for withdrawal without increasing (even if the pressure from the withdrawal belt is low), and there is no need to worry about a decrease in the durability of the motor or belt. Moreover, unlike the separation section in Patent Document 2, in the present invention, the separation nip section N1 is a point grip section, so only a small force is required to withdraw the nipped banknotes.

[0070] <Summary of the configuration, action, and effects of the present invention> The first paper sheet separating and conveying device of the present invention comprises a tray 10 for setting a stack of paper sheets B, a feed-out section 20 for feeding paper sheets from the stack of paper sheets on the tray, a separation section 100 for passing only the first paper sheet and sending it downstream when the paper sheets fed from the feed-out section are in a double feed state, and for preventing the second and subsequent paper sheets from moving forward, a first motor M1 for driving the feed-out section and the separation section, a drawer conveying section 250 for drawing and conveying the first paper sheet, part of which remains in the separation section, a storage conveying path 400 driven by a second motor M2 for receiving the paper sheet discharged from the drawer conveying section and conveying it further downstream, and a control means 1000 for controlling various control objects. The separating unit 20 further comprises a feed roller 110 that is rotatably supported around the feed roller shaft 101 and that, when rotating forward, comes into contact with the surface of the paper sheet fed out by the feeding unit and conveys it, and a frictional separating member 130 that forms a separation nip N1 between itself and the feed roller and prevents the second and subsequent sheets from advancing. The drawer conveying unit 250 comprises at least two idling rollers 257 that are rotatably supported (axially fixed) on the feed roller shaft portions on both axial sides of the feed roller, and an endless drawer belt 270 that forms curved drawer conveying paths between itself (in contact with) the curved outer peripheral surfaces of each idling roller and travels in the drawer direction to change the direction of the first paper sheet in cooperation with each idling roller and convey it, the drawer belt being driven by a second motor.

[0071] In a banknote separating and conveying device having a separator and a drawer that draws banknotes from the separator, if the banknote conveying path is bent or curved in an approximately L-shape to achieve compactness, driving the separator and drawer with a single motor would force the separator and drawer to be driven at the same speed, making it difficult to ensure sufficient drawing force. Therefore, it is difficult to properly maintain separation performance and banknote drawing performance and ensure reliable banknote conveyance. Even if bearings are provided to guide banknotes in order to increase the conveying force in the separator and drawer to prevent malfunctions and jams, as in Patent Document 2, the bearings that can be placed in a small space are necessarily very small, and there are also limitations on where they can be placed, making it difficult to fully function as a mechanism for preventing malfunctions and jams. If the motor for the separating section and the motor for the drawing section were simply arranged side by side and controlled separately, it would obviously increase the number of motors and make the device configuration larger.

[0072] In this invention, the drawer is driven by a second motor M2 of a separate unit (second unit U2) equipped with a recognition unit, allowing the separation unit and drawer to be driven by separate, independently controlled motors without increasing the number of motors. This means that the feed rollers only contribute to separation and do not interfere with the drawer. This means that the separation operation can be stopped during the drawer operation, preventing secondary problems such as banknote jams that tend to occur with a single drive. Naturally, this also reduces the load on the separation unit motor, improving its durability. In this way, even though the separating and conveying device is small and has a roughly L-shaped bent or curved conveying path, it is possible to improve operational reliability and reduce malfunctions and jams even though it is small. It is possible to make the device compact by using separate drives for the separating operation and the drawing operation.

[0073] In the second paper sheet separating and conveying device according to the present invention, each pull-out belt 270 is tensioned by a first reversing roller 265 and a second reversing roller 267 arranged to form a pull-out conveying path between each idling roller 257, and the first reversing roller forms a paper sheet introduction section 260a of the pull-out conveying path between each pull-out belt and each idling roller, and the second reversing roller reverses each pull-out belt so that the paper sheets introduced from the paper sheet introduction section are conveyed toward the storage conveying path after passing through the downstream end (paper sheet discharge section) 260b of the pull-out conveying path. The drawer conveyor employs an endless, thin-walled drawer belt, and by positioning the feed roller and the drawer belt at different axial positions, they are always in a non-contact state. This allows the banknote introduction section 260a of the drawer section to be as close as possible to the separation point N1. This is a distinctive feature of the present invention that cannot be achieved with a configuration that uses a pair of rollers as the drawer means, as in Patent Document 2. The difference between the two is clear from the drawing in the same publication, as the distance between the separation section, consisting of a high-friction pulley and fixed belt, and the nip of the pair of rollers for drawer is significantly greater than in the present invention.

[0074] Furthermore, the drawer conveyance path 260 is formed in a curved contact running area between the flexible drawer belt and the outer circumferential surface of the idling roller 257, resulting in a planar grip rather than a point grip. Therefore, even if the drawer conveyance path is bent or curved in an L-shape with respect to the paper feed path extending from the payout section, the drawer can be conveyed stably with a strong force.

[0075] The third paper sheet separating and conveying device of the present invention comprises an identification unit 450 that is arranged along a storage conveying path that can be conveyed forward and backward and that determines whether or not paper sheets can be accepted, and a return conveying path 510 that is arranged close to and parallel to the payout path from the payout unit and that discharges returned paper sheets that have been determined by the identification unit to be unacceptable and have been sent back along the storage conveying path, and the conveying member 512 that constitutes the return conveying path is driven by a second motor M2. During the return operation, the drive of the separation unit by the first motor M1 is stopped, so the separation unit does not interfere with the return operation driven by the second motor, ensuring reliable return processing. This eliminates the problem with the device in Patent Document 2, which performs pick-up, separation, withdrawal, and return all with a single motor.

[0076] A fourth paper sheet separating and transporting device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising the paper sheet separating and transporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. This paper sheet separating and transporting device can be applied to paper sheet handling devices such as banknote deposit machines, banknote counting machines, and various vending machines to achieve a separation drive that is compact yet highly reliable in operation, thereby reducing the incidence of jams. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1...banknote separation and transport device, Md1...first module, Md2...second module, U1...deposit processing unit, U2...storage unit U, S1...entrance sensor, S2...paper passing sensor, S3...return slot sensor, N1...separation nip section, 10...paper feed tray, 11...returned banknote storage tray, 15...feeding / separating mechanism, 20...separating section, 30...feeding roller, 32...shaft section, 33...downstream timing pulley, 35...timing belt, 40...relative rotation section, 45...relative rotation section, 50...timing clutch, 52...first engagement section, 53...second engagement section, 60...upstream timing pulley, 61...main body, 62...engagement section, 70...pick pusher, 100...separating section, 101...feed roller shaft, 110...feed roller, 110...feed roller shaft, 111...main body, 112...recessed portion, 113...engaged portion, 130...brake roller (friction separating member), 250...drawer conveying section, 257...idling roller, 260...drawer conveying path, 260a...banknote introduction section, 260b...paper sheet discharge section, 265...first reversing roller, 267...second reversing roller, 270...drawer belt, 280...shaft, 290...shaft, 292...transmission gear, 294...gear group, 300...conveying guide member, 400...storage conveying path, 410...upstream conveying member (conveying roller), 420...downstream conveying member (conveying roller), 420a...conveying roller pair, 450...recognition section, 500...flapper, 510...return conveying path, 512...conveying member (return roller), 1000...control means.

Claims

1. a separation unit that, when the sheets fed from the feed unit are in a double-fed state, passes only the first sheet and sends it downstream, while preventing the second and subsequent sheets from advancing; a first motor that drives the feed unit and the separation unit; a drawer transport unit that draws and transports the first sheet, part of which remains in the separation unit; a storage transport unit that is driven by a second motor to receive the sheet discharged from the drawer transport unit and transport it further downstream; and control means that controls various control objects, the separating unit comprises a feed roller that rotates around the axis of the feed roller shaft and contacts and conveys the paper sheets fed by the feeding unit when the feed roller rotates forward, and a friction separating member that forms a separating nip portion between the feed roller and the separating member and prevents the second and subsequent paper sheets from advancing, the drawer conveying unit comprises at least two idling rollers rotatably supported on the feed roller shaft portions on both axial sides of the feed roller, and an endless drawer belt that forms a curved drawer conveying path between the curved outer peripheral surfaces of the idling rollers and travels in a drawer direction to change the direction of the first paper sheet so as to convey the first paper sheet in a direction intersecting the payout direction of the payout unit, The paper sheet separating and conveying device is characterized in that the pull-out belt is driven by the second motor.

2. Each of the pull-out belts is tensioned by a first reversing roller and a second reversing roller that are arranged to form the pull-out conveying path between each of the idle rollers, The first reversing roller forms a paper sheet introduction portion of the pull-out conveyance path between each of the pull-out belts and each of the idling rollers, The paper sheet separating and conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second reversing roller reverses each of the pull-out belts so that the paper sheets introduced from the paper sheet introduction section pass through the downstream end of the pull-out conveying path and are then conveyed toward the storage conveying section.

3. a recognition unit that is arranged along the storage and conveyance unit that can convey paper sheets forward and backward and that determines whether paper sheets can be accepted; and a return conveyance path that is arranged parallel to the feed path from the feed unit and that discharges returned paper sheets that have been determined by the recognition unit to be unacceptable and have been sent back through the storage and conveyance unit, 2. The paper sheet separating and conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying members constituting the return conveying path are driven by the second motor.

4. A paper handling device comprising the paper separating and conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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