Paper sheet processing equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides a paper sheet processing device that can suppress the curling of paper sheets dispensed from a retractable storage unit. [Solution] The banknote processing device 1 includes a winding type denomination storage section 160 in which banknotes are stored so as to be wound around a drum, and a control unit that performs a movement process to move the first banknote to a position further away from the drum than before it was evacuated by evacuating the first banknote stored in the denomination storage section 160, storing a second banknote different from the first banknote in the denomination storage section 160, and then returning the first banknote to the denomination storage section 160. The control unit performs a first loading process as a movement process, in which the first banknote is evacuated from the denomination storage section 160 to a temporary holding section 170, the second banknote in the deposit / withdrawal section 110 is loaded into the denomination storage section 160, and then the first banknote in the temporary holding section 170 is returned to the denomination storage section 160.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a paper sheet processing apparatus that processes paper sheets such as banknotes.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a banknote processing apparatus including a winding type storage unit in which banknotes are stored so as to be wound around a drum (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The banknotes are wound around the drum while being sandwiched between two tapes.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above banknote processing apparatus, inside the storage unit, the banknotes are held in a curled state. For this reason, the banknotes get a curling habit, and the banknotes taken out from the storage unit may not return to a straight state while remaining curled. At this time, the banknotes closer to the drum are more bent and are more likely to be stored for a long period of time, so they are more likely to develop a strong curling habit.

[0005] Curled banknotes are difficult to handle manually and are likely to cause conveyance errors when inserted into another banknote processing apparatus.

[0006] In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet processing apparatus that can suppress the curling habit of paper sheets taken out from a winding type storage unit.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The main aspect of the present invention relates to a paper sheet processing device. The paper sheet processing device according to this aspect includes a winding type storage unit in which paper sheets are stored so as to be wound around a drum, and a control unit that performs a movement process to move the first paper sheets to a position further away from the drum than before they were evacuated, by retracting the first paper sheets stored in the storage unit, storing a second paper sheet different from the first paper sheets in the storage unit, and then returning the first paper sheets to the storage unit.

[0008] According to the paper sheet processing apparatus of this embodiment, the first paper sheets move to a position further away from the drum than before they were retracted, thereby reducing their curvature and making them easier to discharge from the storage section in a shorter period of time. This makes it possible to suppress the curling of the paper sheets discharged from the storage section.

[0009] In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to this embodiment, a configuration may be adopted that further includes a retraction section into which the first paper sheets are retracted, and a loading section into which the second paper sheets are loaded. In this case, the control unit may be configured to perform a first loading process as the movement process, in which the first paper sheets are retracted from the storage section to the retraction section, the second paper sheets in the loading section are loaded into the storage section, and then the first paper sheets in the retraction section are returned to the storage section.

[0010] According to the above configuration, when the second batch of paper sheets is loaded into the storage compartment, the first batch of paper sheets remaining in the compartment moves further away from the drum than before loading. As a result, the bending of the paper sheets is reduced, and they are more easily ejected from the storage compartment in a shorter period of time. This makes it possible to suppress the curling of the paper sheets ejected from the storage compartment.

[0011] In the configuration described above, the control unit may be configured to selectively perform the first loading process and the second loading process, in which the second sheets of paper in the input section are loaded into the storage section without retracting the first sheets of paper.

[0012] With this configuration, when loading a second sheet of paper into the storage compartment, either the first loading process or the second loading process can be performed as needed.

[0013] In the configuration described above, in which the first loading process and the second loading process are selectively executed, the control unit may be configured to execute the first loading process when it determines that there are first sheets of paper in the storage unit whose retention period exceeds a predetermined period.

[0014] With this configuration, if there are first sheets of paper in the storage compartment that are prone to curling due to prolonged storage, the first loading process is performed. If there are no long-staying sheets of paper in the storage compartment, the second loading process is performed without retraction or return operations. This suppresses curling of the paper removed from the storage compartment while also reducing the time required for the loading process.

[0015] In the configuration described above, where the first loading process and the second loading process are selectively executed, the system may further include an operating unit that receives an operation to instruct which of the first loading process and the second loading process to execute. In this case, the control unit may be configured to execute either the first loading process or the second loading process according to the operation.

[0016] With this configuration, the operator can select and execute the appropriate loading process from the first loading process and the second loading process, depending on the situation.

[0017] In the configuration described above, in which the first loading process and the second loading process are selectively executed, a configuration may be adopted that further includes an operation unit that receives an operation to instruct the execution of the first loading process. In this case, the control unit may be configured to execute the first loading process when it determines that there are first sheets of paper whose retention period in the storage unit exceeds a predetermined period, and when it receives the operation from the operation unit.

[0018] With this configuration, the operator can decide whether or not to perform the first loading process depending on the situation, when there is a storage compartment where paper sheets remain for a long time.

[0019] In the configuration described above, in which the first loading process and the second loading process are selectively executed, a configuration further comprising multiple storage units may be adopted. In this case, the control unit may be configured to execute either the first loading process or the second loading process for each storage unit.

[0020] With this configuration, the first loading process and the second loading process, specifically the loading process desired for that particular storage compartment, can be performed on each individual storage compartment.

[0021] In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to this embodiment, the second paper sheets may be configured to be stored in the storage section together with the first paper sheets, but at a distance from the drum than the first paper sheets. Furthermore, the apparatus may further include a first retraction section where the first paper sheets are retracted, and a second retraction section where the second paper sheets are retracted. In this case, the control unit may be configured to perform a storage position swapping process as the movement process, which involves retracting the second paper sheets from the storage section to the second retraction section, then retracting the first paper sheets from the storage section to the first retraction section, returning the second paper sheets in the second retraction section to the storage section, and then returning the first paper sheets in the first retraction section to the storage section.

[0022] According to the above configuration, when the storage position swapping process is executed, the first sheets of paper, which were located closer to the drum than the second sheets of paper, move to a position further away from the drum than before they were retracted. As a result, the first sheets of paper become less bent and are more easily discharged from the storage section in a shorter period of time. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the curling of the paper sheets after they are discharged from the storage section.

[0023] When configured as described above, the control unit may be further configured to execute the storage position replacement process in a verification process for verifying whether the number of sheets of paper in the storage unit matches the managed number of sheets.

[0024] With such a configuration, since the storage position replacement process is performed during the verification process, it is efficient.

[0025] In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to this aspect, a configuration may be adopted in which a storage unit for storing the first paper sheet and a transport unit for transporting the first paper sheet between the storage unit and the storage unit are further provided. In this case, in the movement process, the transport unit transports the first paper sheet so that the front and back directions of the first paper sheet change when it exits the storage unit and when it enters the storage unit.

[0026] According to the above configuration, the first paper sheet returned to the storage unit is bent to the opposite side of the storage unit and held by the drum. As a result, the curling tendency of the first paper sheet before storage is reduced. Therefore, the curling tendency of the paper sheet discharged from the storage unit can be further suppressed.

Effect of the Invention

[0027] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a paper sheet processing apparatus capable of suppressing the curling tendency of paper sheets discharged from a roll-up type storage unit.

[0028] The effects or significance of the present invention will be further clarified by the description of the embodiments shown below. However, the embodiments shown below are merely examples when implementing the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to those described in the following embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bill processing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2]Figure 2(a) is a diagram showing the configuration of the storage mechanism of the denomination-specific storage section and the temporary holding section according to the embodiment. Figure 2(b) is a schematic diagram showing the state in which banknotes are wrapped around the drum according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of a banknote processing device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4(a) is a flowchart showing the loading process performed by the control unit according to the embodiment. Figure 4(b) is a diagram showing the configuration in which the serial number is associated with the deposit date according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5(a) is a diagram illustrating the retraction operation according to the embodiment, and Figure 5(b) is a diagram illustrating the loading operation according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the return operation according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the inspection process performed by the control unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8(a) is a diagram illustrating the retraction of the outer banknotes to the deposit / withdrawal section according to the embodiment, and Figure 8(b) is a diagram illustrating the retraction of the central banknotes to the temporary holding section according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] Figure 9(a) is a diagram illustrating the return of banknotes in the deposit / withdrawal section according to the embodiment, and Figure 9(b) is a diagram illustrating the return of banknotes in the temporary holding section according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] Figure 10(a) is a flowchart showing the loading process executed by the control unit according to Modification Example 1. Figure 10(b) is a diagram showing an example of the selection screen according to Modification Example 1. [Figure 11] Figure 11(a) is a flowchart showing the loading process executed by the control unit according to Modification Example 2. Figure 11(b) is a diagram showing an example of the selection screen according to Modification Example 2. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the banknote processing device according to modification example 3. [Figure 13]Figure 13(a) is a diagram illustrating the retraction operation related to Modification Example 3, and Figure 13(b) is a diagram illustrating the loading operation related to Modification Example 3. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a diagram illustrating the revert operation related to change example 3. [Figure 15] Figure 15(a) is a diagram illustrating the retraction of the outer banknote to the other temporary holding section in Modification Example 3, and Figure 15(b) is a diagram illustrating the retraction of the central banknote to one of the temporary holding sections in Modification Example 3. [Figure 16] Figure 16(a) is a diagram illustrating the return of banknotes from the other temporary holding section in the case of modification example 3, and Figure 16(b) is a diagram illustrating the return of banknotes from one of the temporary holding sections in the case of modification example 3. [Figure 17] Figures 17(a) and (b) illustrate other examples of the operation of returning banknotes from one of the temporary holding sections, relating to Modification Example 3. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0031] In this embodiment, a banknote processing device 1 is shown as an example of the paper sheet processing device of the present invention. However, this is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited in any way by this configuration.

[0032] Figure 1 shows the schematic configuration of the banknote processing device 1. Figure 1 is a side view of the banknote processing device 1.

[0033] The banknote processing device 1 is installed, for example, in stores such as banks and retail shops, and processes the deposit and withdrawal of banknotes. The banknote processing device 1 is often combined with a coin processing device that handles the deposit and withdrawal of coins, in which case a cash handling system is formed.

[0034] The banknote processing device 1 comprises a deposit / discharge section 110, a deposit reject section 120, a withdrawal reject section 130, a transport section 140, an identification section 150, multiple (three) denomination storage sections 160, a temporary holding section 170, and a storage cassette 180, all housed in a casing 100 that forms the outer shell of the device. The banknote processing device 1 also has an operation display section 190 on the top surface of the casing 100. When the banknote processing device 1 is part of a cash handling system, the operation display section 190 also serves as the operation display section for the coin processing device.

[0035] The housing 100 is provided with an opening 101 at the front upper part, which serves as a deposit / withdrawal slot and a reject slot. The opening 101 is provided with an openable / closable shutter 102. Below the opening 101, the deposit / withdrawal section 110 and the deposit / reject section 120 are arranged adjacent to each other.

[0036] Banknotes are inserted into the deposit / withdrawal section 110 through the opening 101. The deposit / withdrawal section 110 is equipped with a dispensing mechanism 111 that dispenses the inserted banknotes one by one to the transport section 140.

[0037] Furthermore, the deposit / withdrawal section 110 receives banknotes that have been dispensed from the denomination-specific storage section 160 and transported by the transport section 140. The banknotes dispensed into the deposit / withdrawal section 110 are removed through the opening 101.

[0038] Furthermore, the deposit / withdrawal section 110 functions as an input section where banknotes to be loaded (replenished) into the denomination storage section 160 are inserted during the loading process, and as a second withdrawal section where banknotes are withdrawn from the denomination storage section 160 during the verification process.

[0039] The deposit rejection section 120 ejects banknotes that, during deposit, cannot be identified by the identification section 150 and are therefore not considered valid. The banknotes ejected to the deposit rejection section 120 are removed through the opening 101.

[0040] The withdrawal rejection section 130 is where banknotes that cannot be identified by the identification section 150 during withdrawal and are therefore not considered valid are ejected and stored.

[0041] The transport unit 140 is located between the deposit / withdrawal unit 110, the deposit reject unit 120, the withdrawal reject unit 130, the multiple denomination storage units 160, the temporary holding unit 170, and the storage cassette 180, and transports banknotes between these units. The transport unit 140 is composed of multiple transport belts, a drive mechanism that drives these transport belts, and the like.

[0042] The identification unit 150 identifies the attributes of the banknotes flowing through the transport unit 140. The attributes identified include the denomination of the banknote, its authenticity, and whether it is genuine or damaged. The identification unit 150 also counts the number of banknotes.

[0043] Each denomination storage section 160 has a storage mechanism 10 that holds banknotes by winding them around a drum. That is, each denomination storage section 160 is a winding type storage section in which banknotes are stored so that they are wound around the drum. Banknotes sent from the deposit / withdrawal section 110 and identified by the denomination by the identification section 150 are sorted and stored in each denomination storage section 160. For example, 10,000 yen, 1,000 yen, and 5,000 yen denominations are assigned to each of the three denomination storage sections 160.

[0044] The temporary holding section 170, like the denomination-specific storage section 160, has a storage mechanism 10 that holds banknotes by wrapping them around a drum. The temporary holding section 170 temporarily stores banknotes that are not assigned to the denomination-specific storage section 160 (such as 2,000 yen bills) and overflow banknotes that could not be stored in the corresponding denomination-specific storage section 160. The banknotes stored in the temporary holding section 170 are transferred to the storage cassette 180.

[0045] The temporary holding section 170 functions as a temporary holding section and a first temporary holding section, respectively, during the loading process and the verification process, where banknotes are temporarily held away from the denomination storage section 160.

[0046] The storage cassette 180 has a vertically movable stage 181 and a dispensing mechanism 182 for dispensing banknotes. Banknotes collected from each denomination storage section 160 are stored in the storage cassette 180 so as to be loaded onto the stage 181. The storage cassette 180 can be removed from inside the housing 100 to the outside. The storage cassette 180 is provided with a banknote opening (not shown), and banknotes can be inserted into and removed from the storage cassette 180 when it is removed to the outside.

[0047] The operation display unit 190 is composed of a touch panel or the like, and functions as a display unit to display various screens and as an operation unit to receive various operations on the screens.

[0048] Figure 2(a) shows the configuration of the storage mechanism 10, which comprises the denomination-specific storage section 160 and the temporary holding section 170. Figure 2(b) schematically shows the state in which banknotes are wrapped around the drum 11. Note that in Figure 2(b), the tape 17 interposed between two banknotes in the radial direction is not shown.

[0049] In the coin denomination storage section 160 and the temporary holding section 170, the storage mechanism 10 includes a drum 11, a reel 12, two first guide rollers 13 and 14, two second guide rollers 15 and 16, and a strip-shaped tape 17.

[0050] Two first guide rollers 13 and 14 are positioned above the drum 11, close together, with the space between these rollers serving as the banknote entry / exit gate 18. A reel 12 is positioned below the drum 11. One end of the tape 17 is attached to the outer surface of the drum 11. The tape 17, emerging from the outer surface of the drum 11, passes through one first guide roller 13, one second guide roller 15, the drum 11, the other first guide roller 14, and the other second guide roller 16 to reach the reel 12. The other end of the tape 17 is attached to the outer surface of the reel 12. As shown in Figure 2(a), when the drum 11 is not holding any banknotes, almost the entire tape 17 is wound onto the reel 12. The two tapes 17 are close together between the two first guide rollers 13 and 14 and the drum 11.

[0051] The drum 11 and reel 12 are driven by a drive mechanism including pulleys and a motor, and rotate synchronously in the winding direction and unwinding direction. The winding direction is the direction in which the drum 11 winds up the tape 17, and the unwinding direction is the direction in which the drum 11 unwinds the tape 17.

[0052] When the drum 11 rotates in the winding direction while the banknote is in the opening / closing 18, the banknote is fed between the two tapes 17 and is wound onto the drum 11, sandwiched between the two tapes 17. On the other hand, when the drum 11 rotates in the unwinding direction, the banknote is released from between the two unwinded tapes 17 and discharged from the opening / closing 18.

[0053] As shown in Figure 2(b), multiple banknotes are held around the drum 11, overlapping radially and curled in an arc shape. The closer the banknote is to the drum 11, the greater the curve.

[0054] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the main components of the banknote processing device 1.

[0055] In addition to the above configuration, the banknote processing device 1 includes a control unit 210 and a storage unit 220.

[0056] The memory unit 220 is equipped with a storage medium such as ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), or a hard disk, and stores the operation program of the control unit 210. The memory unit 220 also stores the number of banknotes stored in each denomination storage unit 160 as the balance. Each time banknotes are deposited into or withdrawn from each denomination storage unit 160, the number of banknotes (balance) in the memory unit 220 is updated (increased or decreased).

[0057] The control unit 210 is equipped with arithmetic circuits such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). Based on signals from the identification unit 150, the operation display unit 190, etc., the control unit 210 controls the deposit / withdrawal unit 110, deposit reject unit 120, withdrawal reject unit 130, transport unit 140, denomination-specific storage unit 160, temporary hold unit 170, storage cassette 180, etc., according to the operation program stored in the storage unit 220.

[0058] In the banknote processing device 1, banknote deposit and withdrawal processes are performed under the control of the control unit 210.

[0059] In the deposit process, banknotes inserted into the deposit / withdrawal section 110 are transported by the transport section 140 and identified and counted by the identification section 150. Banknotes identified as abnormal are returned to the deposit reject section 120, while banknotes identified as normal are sorted and stored in the respective denomination storage sections 160 according to the denomination identified by the identification section 150.

[0060] During the withdrawal process, banknotes are dispensed from each denomination storage section 160, transported by the transport section 140, and identified and counted by the identification section 150. Banknotes identified as abnormal are stored in the withdrawal reject section 130. Banknotes identified as normal are dispensed to the deposit / withdrawal section 110.

[0061] In the banknote processing device 1, a loading process is performed to load (replenish) banknotes into each denomination storage section 160. In this embodiment, the loading process is performed when the number of banknotes stored in any of the denomination storage sections 160 becomes low. In this embodiment, during the loading process, banknotes are loaded not only into the denomination storage section 160 with a low number of banknotes, but into all of the denomination storage sections 160.

[0062] In the banknote processing device 1, banknotes are held in a curled state in the drum 11 within each denomination storage section 160 (see Figure 2(b)). As a result, banknotes may develop a curl, and banknotes removed from the denomination storage section 160 may remain curled and not return to a straight state. In this case, banknotes closer to the drum 11 tend to bend more and remain stored for longer periods, making them more prone to developing a strong curl.

[0063] Therefore, in this embodiment, the control unit 210 performs a loading process that includes removing banknotes (first type of paper) that remain in the denomination-specific storage section 160 (winding-type storage section) from the denomination-specific storage section 160 to the temporary holding section 170 (retraction section), loading the banknotes (second type of paper) for loading from the deposit / withdrawal section 110 (input section) into the denomination-specific storage section 160, and then returning the banknotes in the temporary holding section 170 to the denomination-specific storage section 160 (first loading process). As a result, the banknotes that remained in the denomination-specific storage section 160 move to a position further radially away from the drum 11 than before removal, resulting in less bending and easier discharge from the denomination-specific storage section 160 in a shorter period of time compared to before removal. Thus, it is possible to suppress the curling of banknotes that are discharged from the denomination-specific storage section 160.

[0064] Furthermore, the control unit 210 selectively performs two loading processes for each denomination storage unit 160: a loading process with the removal of stagnant banknotes and a normal loading process (second loading process) in which banknotes for loading from the deposit / withdrawal unit 110 are loaded into the denomination storage unit 160 without removing any banknotes remaining in the denomination storage unit 160. Specifically, the control unit 210 performs the loading process with the removal of stagnant banknotes when it determines that banknotes that have been stagnant for more than a predetermined period (for example, one week) exist in each denomination storage unit 160 as long-term stagnant banknotes.

[0065] Banknotes that remain in the denomination storage section 160 for a long time are prone to curling, while banknotes that remain for a short time are less prone to curling. On the other hand, the time required to perform the normal loading process is shorter than the time required to perform the loading process with the removal of retained banknotes, because it does not involve the retraction and return operations. Therefore, by performing the loading process with the removal of retained banknotes for denomination storage sections 160 that contain long-term retained banknotes, and the normal loading process for denomination storage sections 160 that do not contain long-term retained banknotes, it is possible to suppress the curling of banknotes removed from the denomination storage section 160 while also suppressing the time required for the loading process.

[0066] Figure 4(a) is a flowchart showing the loading process performed by the control unit 210. Figure 4(b) shows a configuration in which the serial number is associated with the deposit date. Figure 5(a) is a diagram illustrating the retraction operation, and Figure 5(b) is a diagram illustrating the loading operation. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the return operation. Figures 5(a) to 6 show an example in which there are long-term retained banknotes in one denomination storage section 160.

[0067] Once the banknotes to be loaded into all denomination storage compartments 160 are inserted into the deposit / withdrawal compartment 110 and the prescribed operation is performed, the loading process begins.

[0068] Referring to Figure 4(a), the control unit 210 determines whether or not there are long-term retained banknotes in at least one of the denomination storage units 160 (S101).

[0069] As shown in Figure 4(b), the memory unit 220 stores, for each denomination, that is, for each denomination storage unit 160, the serial number of the stored banknotes and the date the banknotes were deposited (or loaded) in association with that banknote. When a banknote is ejected from the denomination storage unit 160 for withdrawal, the serial number of that banknote is erased from the memory unit 220. The control unit 210 determines that there are long-term retained banknotes in the denomination storage unit 160 if the memory unit 220 contains serial numbers for deposit dates that are more than a predetermined period (for example, one week) prior to the current date.

[0070] If the control unit 210 determines that there are long-term stagnant banknotes in at least one of the denomination storage units 160 (S101: YES), it performs a retraction operation on the denomination storage unit 160 containing the long-term stagnant banknotes (S102). As shown in Figure 5(a), all banknotes are discharged from the target denomination storage unit 160, transported by the transport unit 140, and stored in the temporary holding unit 170. In this way, all banknotes in the denomination storage unit 160 containing the long-term stagnant banknotes are retracted into the temporary holding unit 170.

[0071] In this embodiment, the orientation of the temporary holding section 170 within the housing 100 is set such that when the banknotes are stored in the denomination-specific storage section 160, the side of the banknotes facing the drum 11 faces away from the drum 11, but when they are stored in the temporary holding section 170, the side of the banknotes facing away from the drum 11 faces away from the drum 11. As a result, when the banknotes are stored in the temporary holding section 170, they are bent in the opposite direction to when they are stored in the denomination-specific storage section 160, thus reducing the curl that the banknotes had when they were ejected from the denomination-specific storage section 160.

[0072] Next, the control unit 210 performs the loading operation (S103). As shown in Figure 5(b), banknotes for loading are dispensed from the deposit / discharge unit 110 and transported by the transport unit 140. The banknotes are then identified by denomination by the identification unit 150 during transport and stored in the corresponding denomination storage units 160. In this way, all the banknotes for loading in the deposit / discharge unit 110 are loaded into the denomination storage units 160.

[0073] Next, the control unit 210 performs a return operation on the denomination-specific storage section 160 where long-term retained banknotes are located (S104). As shown in Figure 6, all banknotes are discharged from the temporary holding section 170, transported by the transport section 140, and returned to the original denomination-specific storage section 160. Within the denomination-specific storage section 160, the returned banknotes, i.e., the banknotes that remained before the retraction, are positioned on the outer periphery relative to the drum 11 than the banknotes loaded from the deposit / withdrawal section 110. In other words, the banknotes that remained in the denomination-specific storage section 160 move to a position further from the drum 11 than before the retraction, so their curvature is reduced, and they are more easily discharged from the denomination-specific storage section 160 in a shorter period of time.

[0074] Thus, for the denomination-specific storage section 160 in which long-term retained banknotes exist, a loading process with retained banknote retraction, consisting of a retraction operation, a loading operation, and a return operation, is performed, while for the denomination-specific storage section 160 in which long-term retained banknotes do not exist, a normal loading process consisting only of a loading operation is performed.

[0075] On the other hand, in S101, if the control unit 210 determines that there are no long-term stagnant banknotes in any of the denomination storage compartments 160 (S101: NO), it executes the loading operation (S105). As shown in Figure 5(b), the banknotes for loading from the deposit / withdrawal section 110 are loaded into all of the denomination storage compartments 160.

[0076] In this way, a normal loading process consisting only of loading operations is performed on all of the coin compartments 160 for each denomination.

[0077] In addition, during the loading process, if the number of banknotes withdrawn from multiple denomination storage sections 160 increases and exceeds the storage capacity of the temporary holding section 170, the operation to withdraw banknotes to the temporary holding section 170 may be performed preferentially, starting with the denomination storage sections 160 containing banknotes with longer retention periods, i.e., a loading process with withdrawal of retained banknotes may be performed.

[0078] The banknote processing device 1 performs a verification process to check whether the number of banknotes in the denomination storage section 160 matches the number of banknotes managed as being in stock. The verification process can be performed on all or some of the denomination storage sections 160.

[0079] In the denomination-specific storage section 160, when comparing the central banknotes closer to the drum 11 with the outer banknotes located further from the drum 11, the central banknotes are more prone to developing a strong curl.

[0080] Therefore, in this embodiment, during the inspection process, the control unit 210 moves the outer banknotes (second banknotes) from the denomination-specific storage unit 160 to the deposit / discharge unit 110 (second retraction unit), then moves the central banknotes (first sheets of paper) from the denomination-specific storage unit 160 to the temporary holding unit 170 (first retraction unit), returns the banknotes in the deposit / discharge unit 110 to the denomination-specific storage unit 160, and then performs a storage position swapping process to return the banknotes in the temporary holding unit 170 to the denomination-specific storage unit 160. Within the denomination-specific storage unit 160, the banknotes returned from the temporary holding unit 170, i.e., the banknotes that were on the central side before being moved, move to a position further away from the drum 11 than before being moved, so the bending is reduced and they are more easily discharged from the denomination-specific storage unit 160 in a shorter period of time. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the curling of banknotes discharged from the denomination-specific storage unit 160.

[0081] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the scrutiny process performed by the control unit 210. Figure 8(a) is a diagram illustrating the retraction of outer banknotes to the deposit / withdrawal section 110, and Figure 8(b) is a diagram illustrating the retraction of central banknotes to the temporary holding section 170. Figure 9(a) is a diagram illustrating the return of banknotes from the deposit / withdrawal section 110, and Figure 9(b) is a diagram illustrating the return of banknotes from the temporary holding section 170.

[0082] A verification process is performed sequentially on all or some of the denomination storage compartments 160. Specifically, the denominations of banknotes dispensed from each denomination storage compartment 160 and banknotes returned to each denomination storage compartment 160 are identified by the identification unit 150, thereby confirming the denominations and number of banknotes stored in each denomination storage compartment 160.

[0083] Referring to Figure 7, the control unit 210 determines whether or not there are long-term retained banknotes in the denomination-specific storage section 160 (S201). If the control unit 210 determines that there are long-term retained banknotes in the denomination-specific storage section 160 (S201: YES), first, as shown in Figure 8(a), the control unit 210 discharges the banknotes on the outer perimeter from the denomination-specific storage section 160, and transports them to the deposit / withdrawal section 110 via the transport unit 140 (S202). For example, the control unit 210 designates half of the banknotes on the central side of the total number of banknotes stored in the denomination-specific storage section 160 as central banknotes, and the other half of the banknotes on the outer perimeter as outer banknotes.

[0084] Next, as shown in Figure 8(b), the control unit 210 discharges the central banknotes from the denomination-specific storage section 160, transports them via the transport unit 140, and stores them in the temporary holding section 170 (S203). Inside the temporary holding section 170, the banknotes are bent in the opposite direction compared to when they were in the denomination-specific storage section 160, thus weakening any curl that the banknotes had when they were discharged from the denomination-specific storage section 160.

[0085] Next, as shown in Figure 9(a), the control unit 210 discharges banknotes from the deposit / withdrawal unit 110 and transports them back to the denomination-specific storage unit 160 via the transport unit 140 (S204). Finally, as shown in Figure 9(b), the control unit 210 discharges banknotes from the temporary holding unit 170 and transports them back to the denomination-specific storage unit 160 via the transport unit 140 (S205).

[0086] In this way, if there are banknotes that have been stored for a long time in the denomination storage section 160, a storage position swapping process is performed.

[0087] On the other hand, in S201, if the control unit 210 determines that there are no banknotes that have been stored for a long time in the denomination-specific storage unit 160 (S201: NO), it does not perform the storage position swapping process, but instead moves all the banknotes in the denomination-specific storage unit 160 to the temporary holding unit 170 (S206), and then returns all the banknotes in the temporary holding unit to the denomination-specific storage unit 160 (S207). Alternatively, the banknotes in the denomination-specific storage unit 160 may be moved to the deposit / withdrawal unit 110 instead of the temporary holding unit 170.

[0088] In this way, if there are no long-term retained banknotes in the denomination-specific storage section 160, a storage position non-replacement process is performed so that the storage positions of the banknotes in the denomination-specific storage section 160 do not change.

[0089] Thus, in this embodiment, during the inspection process, the control unit 210 selectively executes either a storage position swapping process or a storage position de-entry process. When the inspection process is performed on multiple denomination storage units 160, either the storage position swapping process or the storage position de-entry process is executed for each denomination storage unit 160.

[0090] When banknotes are removed from the denomination-specific storage section 160, or when banknotes are returned to the denomination-specific storage section 160, the identification unit 150 counts the banknotes, and as a result, the control unit 210 obtains the actual number of banknotes stored in the denomination-specific storage section 160.

[0091] When banknotes are returned to the denomination storage section 160, the control unit 210 displays the verification result on the operation display unit 190 (S208). Specifically, the control unit 210 compares the number of banknotes obtained by counting in the identification unit 150 with the number of banknotes managed by the storage unit 220. If they match, it displays that there is no mistake in the number of banknotes; if they do not match, it displays that there is a mistake in the number of banknotes.

[0092] <Effects of the Embodiment> According to this embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

[0093] The banknote processing device 1 includes a denomination-specific storage section 160, which is a winding-type storage section in which banknotes are stored so as to be wound around the drum 11. The control unit 210 performs a loading process with the removal of stagnant banknotes in the denomination-specific storage section 160. This process involves removing any remaining banknotes from the denomination-specific storage section 160 to a temporary holding section 170, loading banknotes for loading from the deposit / withdrawal section 110 into the denomination-specific storage section 160, and then returning the banknotes from the temporary holding section 170 to the denomination-specific storage section 160.

[0094] With this configuration, when banknotes are loaded into the denomination-specific storage section 160, any banknotes remaining in the denomination-specific storage section 160 move to a position further away from the drum 11 than before loading. As a result, their curvature is reduced, and they are more easily ejected from the denomination-specific storage section 160 in a shorter period of time. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the curling of banknotes ejected from the denomination-specific storage section 160.

[0095] Furthermore, the control unit 210 selectively performs a loading process with the removal of stagnant banknotes, and a normal loading process in which banknotes for loading from the deposit / withdrawal unit 110 are loaded into the denomination-specific storage unit 160 without removing any banknotes remaining in the denomination-specific storage unit 160.

[0096] With this configuration, during the loading process, either a loading process with retained banknotes removal or a normal loading process can be performed as needed.

[0097] Furthermore, if the control unit 210 determines that there are banknotes that have been left in the denomination storage section 160 for a long period of time, it executes a banknote loading process with banknote removal.

[0098] With this configuration, if there are banknotes that are prone to curling and remain in the denomination storage section 160 for a long period of time, a loading process with banknote retraction is performed. If there are no banknotes that remain in the denomination storage section 160 for a long period of time, a normal loading process is performed without retraction or return operations. This suppresses curling of banknotes removed from the denomination storage section 160 while also suppressing the time required for the loading process.

[0099] Furthermore, the control unit 210 performs either a loading process with the removal of stagnant banknotes or a normal loading process for each denomination storage section 160.

[0100] With this configuration, for each denomination storage section 160, a loading process with retained banknotes removal and a normal loading process, among those that are desirable for the denomination storage section 160, can be performed.

[0101] Furthermore, in the scrutiny process, the control unit 210 performs a storage position swapping process in which it moves the banknotes on the outer edge from the denomination-specific storage section 160 to the deposit / withdrawal section 110, then moves the banknotes on the central side from the denomination-specific storage section 160 to the temporary holding section 170, returns the banknotes in the deposit / withdrawal section 110 to the denomination-specific storage section 160, and then returns the banknotes in the temporary holding section 170 to the denomination-specific storage section 160.

[0102] With this configuration, when the storage position swapping process is performed, the banknotes that were on the central side before retraction move to a position further away from the drum 11 than before retraction. As a result, the banknotes that were on the central side before retraction become less bent and are more easily ejected from the denomination-specific storage section 160 in a shorter period of time. Thus, it is possible to suppress the curling of banknotes ejected from the denomination-specific storage section 160.

[0103] Furthermore, the process of rearranging storage locations is not performed as a separate process, but rather as part of the detailed inspection process, making it more efficient.

[0104] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited in any way by the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible to the embodiments of the present invention other than those described above.

[0105] <Example of change 1> In this modified example, the user can select either the loading process with retained banknotes removal or the normal loading process by operating the operation display unit 190.

[0106] Figure 10(a) is a flowchart showing the loading process executed by the control unit 210 according to modification example 1. Figure 10(b) is a diagram showing an example of the selection screen D1 according to modification example 1.

[0107] Referring to Figure 10(a), when the loading process begins, the control unit 210 displays a selection screen D1 on the operation display unit 190 and receives an operation from the operation display unit 190 to instruct whether to perform the loading process with retained banknotes removal or the normal loading process (S301). For example, as shown in Figure 10(b), the selection screen D1 includes a message M1 prompting a selection, a first button B1 for selecting the loading process with retained banknotes removal, a second button B2 for selecting the normal loading process, and a confirmation button B3 for confirming the selection.

[0108] If the operator wants to execute the loading process with retained banknotes removal, they should operate the first button B1 followed by the confirmation button B3. If the operator wants to execute the normal loading process, they should operate the second button B2 followed by the confirmation button B3.

[0109] When the control unit 210 determines that it has been instructed to perform the loading process with the retention of banknotes (S302: Retention), it performs the retraction operation shown in Figure 5(a) for all denomination storage units 160 (S303). Then, after performing the loading operation shown in Figure 5(b) (S304), the control unit 210 performs the return operation shown in Figure 6 for all denomination storage units 160 (S305). In this way, the loading process with the retention of banknotes is performed for all denomination storage units 160.

[0110] On the other hand, in S302, if the control unit 210 determines that it has been instructed to perform the normal loading process (S302: normal), it performs only the loading operation shown in Figure 5(b) (S306). In this way, the normal loading process is performed for all denomination storage units 160.

[0111] According to this modification example, the operator can select and execute the appropriate loading process from among loading with stagnant banknote retraction and normal loading, depending on the situation. For example, loading with stagnant banknote retraction can be executed when there is likely to be banknotes remaining in any of the denomination storage compartments 160 for a long period of time, or when there is ample time and it is not a time when deposit or withdrawal transactions are frequently performed. Normal loading can be executed when there is likely to be no banknotes remaining in any of the denomination storage compartments 160 for a long period of time, or when there is no time to spare as it is a time when deposit or withdrawal transactions are frequently performed.

[0112] In addition, the same changes as in this example may be made in the review process in Figure 7. In this case, in Figure 7, the processes S301 and S302 in Figure 10(a) will be executed instead of the process S201. However, in S302, it is determined whether the storage position swap process or the storage position non-entry process was instructed. Furthermore, the selection screen D1 includes a message M1 prompting the user to select between the storage position swap process and the storage position non-entry process, a first button B1 for selecting the storage position swap process, and a second button B2 for selecting the storage position non-swap process.

[0113] <Example of change 2> In this modified example, if there is a denomination-specific storage section 160 containing banknotes that have been held for a long time, the operation display section 190 can be used to give a final instruction on whether or not to perform the banknote loading process with banknote evacuation.

[0114] Figure 11(a) is a flowchart showing the loading process executed by the control unit 210 according to modification example 2. Figure 11(b) is a diagram showing an example of the selection screen D2 according to modification example 2.

[0115] Referring to Figure 11(a), if the control unit 210 determines that there are long-stagnant banknotes in at least one denomination storage unit 160 (S401: YES), it displays a selection screen D2 on the operation display unit 190 and accepts an operation from the operation display unit 190 to instruct the execution of the banknote retraction loading process (S402). For example, as shown in Figure 11(b), the selection screen D2 includes a message M2 that notifies the user that there are long-stagnant banknotes and prompts them to make a selection, a first button B1 for selecting the banknote retraction loading process, a second button B2 for selecting the normal loading process, and a confirmation button B3 for confirming the selection.

[0116] If the operator wants to instruct the machine to perform the loading process with retained banknotes removal, they should operate the first button B1 followed by the confirmation button B3. If the operator wants to instruct the machine to perform the normal loading process instead of the loading process with retained banknotes removal, they should operate the second button B2 followed by the confirmation button B3.

[0117] Alternatively, instead of selection screen D2, the operation display unit 190 may display a selection screen that includes a message asking whether to perform the banknote retraction and loading process, along with a "Yes" button and a "No" button. In this case, pressing the "Yes" button instructs the machine to perform the banknote retraction and loading process.

[0118] When the control unit 210 determines that it has been instructed to perform a loading process with the removal of stagnant banknotes (S403: removal), it performs the removal operation shown in Figure 5(a) for the denomination storage section 160 where long-stagnant banknotes are present (S404). Then, after performing the loading operation shown in Figure 5(b) (S405), the control unit 210 performs the return operation shown in Figure 6 for the denomination storage section 160 where long-stagnant banknotes are present (S406). In this way, the loading process with the removal of stagnant banknotes is performed for the denomination storage section 160 where long-stagnant banknotes are present, and the normal loading process is performed for the denomination storage section 160 where no long-stagnant banknotes are present.

[0119] On the other hand, in S403, if the control unit 210 determines that it has been instructed to perform the normal loading process (S403: normal), it performs only the loading operation shown in Figure 5(b) (S407). Also, if the control unit 210 determines in S401 that there are no long-term retained banknotes in any of the denomination storage compartments 160 (S401: NO), it performs only the loading operation (S407). In this way, the normal loading process is performed for all denomination storage compartments 160.

[0120] According to this example of modification, the operator can decide whether or not to perform a loading process with the retention of retained banknotes, depending on the situation, when there is a denomination storage compartment 160 containing banknotes that have been held for a long period of time. For example, if there are banknotes that have been held for a long period of time in any of the denomination storage compartments 160, the loading process with the retention of retained banknotes can be performed when there is ample time, such as when deposit or withdrawal transactions are performed frequently, and when there is no ample time, the normal loading process can be performed.

[0121] In addition, the same changes as in this example may be made in the scrutiny process in Figure 7. In this case, in Figure 7, the processes S401 to S403 in Figure 11(a) will be executed instead of the process S201. However, in S403, it is determined whether the storage position swap process or the storage position non-entry process was instructed. Furthermore, the selection screen D2 includes a message M2 prompting the user to choose between the storage position swap process and the storage position non-entry process, a first button B1 for selecting the storage position swap process, and a second button B2 for selecting the storage position non-swap process.

[0122] <Example of change 3> Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the banknote processing device 2 according to modification example 3.

[0123] The banknote processing device 2 is installed, for example, behind the counter of a financial institution such as a bank, next to two tellers (operators) performing counter services.

[0124] The banknote processing device 2 comprises, within a housing 300 that forms the outer casing of the device, a deposit section 310, a dispensing section 320, a reject section 330, a transport section 340, an identification section 350, a first banknote alignment section 360, a second banknote alignment section 370, three denomination-specific storage sections 380, two temporary holding sections 390, and a control unit 400. The banknote processing device 2 also has an operation display section 410 on its top surface.

[0125] The deposit section 310, the withdrawal section 320, and the reject section 330 are located near the front of the upper part of the housing 300. The front of the housing 300 is provided with a deposit slot (not shown) and a withdrawal slot (not shown) that are opened and closed by shutters. The deposit section 310 is connected to the deposit slot, and banknotes are inserted into the deposit section 310 through the deposit slot. The withdrawal section 320 and the reject section 330 are connected to the withdrawal slots, and banknotes are removed from the withdrawal section 320 and the reject section 330 through the withdrawal slots.

[0126] The deposit section 310 is equipped with a deposit dispensing mechanism 311. The deposit dispensing mechanism 311 dispenses the banknotes inserted into the deposit section 310 one by one to the transport section 340. The dispensing section 320 mainly receives banknotes discharged from the denomination sorting section 380. The reject section 330 mainly receives banknotes that cannot be identified by the identification section 350 in terms of attributes (authenticity, denomination, orientation, etc.) and are not considered to be normal banknotes.

[0127] The transport unit 340 is composed of multiple transport belts, a drive mechanism that drives these transport belts, and the like. The transport unit 340 is routed between the deposit unit 310, the withdrawal unit 320, the reject unit 330, the three denomination-specific storage units 380, and the two temporary holding units 390, and transports banknotes between them. In Figure 12, the transport unit 340 includes a main transport path 341 that has an inverted L-shaped loop and is capable of transporting banknotes in a clockwise direction (solid arrow) and a counterclockwise direction (dashed arrow).

[0128] The identification unit 350 is installed in the main transport path 341 and identifies the attributes (denomination, authenticity, condition, etc.) of banknotes flowing through the transport unit 340. The identification unit 350 also has the function of counting the number of banknotes.

[0129] The first banknote alignment unit 360 and the second banknote alignment unit 370 are provided to align the front-to-back, left-to-right, and front-to-back orientations of the banknotes being dispensed, and constitute part of the transport unit 340.

[0130] The first banknote alignment unit 360 includes a first reversal unit 361 and a first non-reversal unit 362, which constitute part of the main transport path 341. The first reversal unit 361 includes a transport path that reverses the front and back sides of banknotes by folding them back in a switchback manner. Banknotes that have passed through the first reversal unit 361 are reversed in the direction of their flow, with their front and back sides and top and bottom reversed. The first non-reversal unit 362 has approximately the same path length as the first reversal unit 361 and allows banknotes to pass through without reversing their front and back sides.

[0131] The second banknote alignment section 370 includes a second reversal section 371 and a second non-reversal section 372, which constitute part of the main transport path 341. The second reversal section 371 is spirally formed and includes a transport path that twists the banknotes left and right to reverse their front and back sides. Banknotes that have passed through the second reversal section 371 are reversed in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which they are flowing, and their front and back sides and left and right sides are swapped. The second non-reversal section 372 has approximately the same path length as the second reversal section 371 and allows banknotes to pass through without reversing their front and back sides.

[0132] Each denomination storage section 380 has a storage mechanism 10 that holds banknotes by winding them around a drum, similar to the denomination storage section 160 in the above embodiment (see Figure 2(a)). That is, each denomination storage section 380 is a winding-type storage section in which banknotes are stored so as to be wound around the drum 11. Banknotes sent from the deposit section 310 and identified by denomination by the identification section 350 are sorted and stored in each denomination storage section 380.

[0133] Each temporary holding section 390, like the denomination-specific storage section 380, has a storage mechanism 10 that holds banknotes by winding them around a drum. During the verification process, banknotes from the denomination-specific storage section 380 are temporarily stored in each temporary holding section 390. Any of the temporary holding sections 390 may be used to store banknotes that are not assigned to a denomination-specific storage section 380 (such as 2,000 yen bills) or overflow banknotes that could not be stored in the corresponding denomination-specific storage section 380.

[0134] The operation display unit 410 is composed of a touch panel or the like, and functions as a display unit to display various screens and as an operation unit to receive various operations on the screens.

[0135] The control unit 400 includes a control unit 401 and a storage unit 402. The control unit 401 and the storage unit 402 have the same configuration as the control unit 210 and the storage unit 220 in the above embodiment.

[0136] In this modified example of the banknote processing device 2, banknote deposit processing, withdrawal processing, loading processing, and verification processing are performed under the control of the control unit 401.

[0137] The control unit 401 executes the loading process shown in Figure 4(a). Specifically, in the loading process, the control unit 401 executes a loading process with retained banknotes, consisting of a retraction operation, a loading operation, and a return operation, for denomination storage units 380 where long-term retained banknotes are present, and executes a normal loading process consisting only of a loading operation for denomination storage units 380 where no long-term retained banknotes are present.

[0138] During the retraction operation, as shown in Figure 13(a), all banknotes are discharged from the denomination-specific storage section 380 where long-term retained banknotes are located, transported by the transport section 340, and stored in one of the temporary holding sections 390 (located closer to the denomination-specific storage section 380). At this time, the banknotes pass through the second non-reversing section 372 and the first non-reversing section 362 in the transport section 340.

[0139] In this modified example, the orientation of the temporary holding section 390 within the housing 300 is set such that when banknotes are stored in the denomination storage section 380, the side of the banknotes facing the drum 11 faces away from the drum 11 when they are stored in the temporary holding section 390.

[0140] During the loading operation, as shown in Figure 13(b), banknotes for loading are dispensed from the deposit section 310 and transported by the transport section 340. The banknotes are then identified by denomination by the identification section 350 while being transported and stored in the corresponding denomination storage section 380.

[0141] In the return operation, as shown in Figure 14, all banknotes are ejected from one of the temporary holding sections 390, transported by the transport section 340, and returned to the original denomination-specific storage section 380. At this time, the banknotes pass through the first reversal section 361 and the second non-reversal section 372 in the transport section 340. When passing through the first reversal section 361, the front and back sides of the banknotes are reversed.

[0142] In this manner, the transport unit 340 transports the banknotes such that the front and back orientation of the banknotes remaining in the denomination storage unit 380 changes when they exit the unit and when they enter the unit, due to the front-to-back inversion at the first reversal unit 361.

[0143] Within the denomination-specific storage section 380, the returned banknotes, i.e., the banknotes that remained before being evacuated, are positioned on the outer periphery relative to the drum 11 than the banknotes loaded from the deposit section 310. Furthermore, the side that was facing the drum 11 before being evacuated is now facing away from the drum 11. As a result, the remaining banknotes are bent in the opposite direction to before being evacuated, but in a smaller manner than before, and are more easily ejected from the denomination-specific storage section 380 in a shorter period of time.

[0144] In addition, the banknote processing device 2 may perform the loading process shown in Figure 10(a) or Figure 11(a).

[0145] Furthermore, during the loading process with the retention of stagnant banknotes, the banknotes in the denomination storage section 380 may be moved to the deposit section 310. Also, if a dispensing mechanism is provided in the reject section 330, the banknotes in the denomination storage section 380 may be moved to the reject section 330.

[0146] The control unit 401 performs the inspection process shown in Figure 7. Specifically, in the inspection process, if there are long-term stagnant banknotes in the denomination storage section 380, the control unit 401 performs a storage position swapping process, and if there are no long-term stagnant banknotes in the denomination storage section 380, it performs a storage position non-swapping process.

[0147] In the storage position swapping process, first, as shown in Figure 15(a), the banknotes on the outer edge are discharged from the denomination-specific storage section 380 and stored in the other temporary holding section 390 (located on the side furthest from the denomination-specific storage section 380). Next, as shown in Figure 15(b), the banknotes on the central side are discharged from the denomination-specific storage section 380 and stored in the other temporary holding section 390. At this time, in the transport section 340, the banknotes pass through the second non-reversing section 372 and the first non-reversing section 362. Also, within the two temporary holding sections 390, the banknotes are bent in the opposite direction to when they were in the denomination-specific storage section 380, thus weakening the curl that the banknotes had when discharged from the denomination-specific storage section 380.

[0148] Next, as shown in Figure 16(a), the banknotes are discharged from the other temporary holding section 390 and returned to the denomination-specific storage section 380. Finally, as shown in Figure 16(b), the banknotes are discharged from one of the temporary holding sections 390 and returned to the denomination-specific storage section 380. At this time, the banknotes are reversed in the transport section 340 as they pass through the first reversal section 361. Therefore, the orientation of the banknotes changes between when they leave the denomination-specific storage section 380 and when they enter the denomination-specific storage section 380.

[0149] Within the denomination-specific storage section 380, the banknotes returned from the temporary holding section 390, i.e., the banknotes that were on the central side before being evacuated, are now located further away from the drum 11 than before they were evacuated. Furthermore, the side that was facing the drum 11 before being evacuated is now facing away from the drum 11. As a result, the banknotes that were on the central side are bent in the opposite direction to before they were evacuated, but in a smaller manner than before, and are more easily ejected from the denomination-specific storage section 380 in a shorter period of time.

[0150] In the banknote processing device 2 of this modified example, the same modifications as those in modified examples 1 and 2 above may be made to the scrutiny process.

[0151] As described above, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be achieved in this modified example as well.

[0152] Furthermore, in this modified example, during the loading process with retained banknote retraction and the storage position replacement process, banknotes returned to the denomination-specific storage section 380 are bent in the opposite direction from before retraction and held in the drum 11. This weakens the curl that the banknotes had before retraction. Therefore, the curl of banknotes discharged from the denomination-specific storage section 380 can be further suppressed.

[0153] In addition, during the loading process with retained banknotes and the storage position change process, as shown in Figure 17(a), banknotes returned from one of the temporary holding sections 390 to the denomination-specific storage section 380 may pass through the first non-reversal section 362 and the second reversal section 371, and be reversed in the second reversal section 371. In this case as well, the transport section 340 will change the orientation of the banknotes when they leave the denomination-specific storage section 380 and when they enter the denomination-specific storage section 380.

[0154] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 17(b), when banknotes are returned from one of the temporary holding sections 390 to the denomination-specific storage section 380, the main transport path 341 of the transport section 340 may be configured to move in the same direction as when the banknotes were moved to the temporary holding section 390, so that the banknotes are returned to the denomination-specific storage section 380 via a transport path that changes the orientation of the banknotes. In this case as well, the transport section 340 will change the orientation of the banknotes when they leave the denomination-specific storage section 380 and when they enter the denomination-specific storage section 380.

[0155] In the storage position swapping process, the transport path when the banknotes in the other temporary holding section 390 are returned to the denomination storage section 380 may also be changed in the same manner as in Figures 17(a) and (b).

[0156] <Other examples of changes> In the above embodiment, the loading process is performed when the number of banknotes stored in any of the denomination storage sections 160 becomes low. However, the loading process may be performed periodically, i.e., at predetermined intervals.

[0157] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when the loading process is performed when the number of banknotes stored in any of the denomination storage compartments 160 becomes small, banknotes are loaded into all of the denomination storage compartments 160. However, in the loading process, banknotes may be loaded only into the denomination storage compartment 160 that has a small number of banknotes.

[0158] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the deposit date is associated with the serial number of the banknote and stored in the storage unit 220, and if a serial number for a deposit date prior to a predetermined period from the current date exists in the storage unit 220, the control unit 210 determines that there are banknotes that have been left in the denomination storage unit 160 for a long period of time. However, the method for determining the presence of banknotes that have been left in a long period of time is not limited to the above method. For example, the presence or absence of banknotes that have been left in the denomination storage unit 160 and the period of time they have been left in the denomination storage unit 160 may be determined by managing the number of banknotes in the denomination storage unit 160 and the number of banknotes that are taken in and out of the denomination storage unit 160 without reading the serial numbers. Alternatively, when a loading process is performed when the number of banknotes stored in any of the denomination storage units 160 becomes small, the control unit 210 may determine that there are banknotes that have been left in the denomination storage unit 160 for a long period of time if the period from the previous loading date to the current loading date exceeds a predetermined period.

[0159] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, during the loading process, the banknotes to be loaded are inserted into the deposit / withdrawal section 110 and transported from the deposit / withdrawal section 110 to the denomination-specific storage section 160. However, the banknotes to be loaded may be inserted into the storage cassette 180 (input section) and transported from the storage cassette 180 to the denomination-specific storage section 160. In this case, the banknotes remaining in the denomination-specific storage section 160 may be moved to the deposit / withdrawal section 110 (storage section).

[0160] Furthermore, when banknotes for loading are inserted into the storage cassette 180 and the banknotes remaining in the denomination-specific storage section 160 are moved to the temporary holding section 170, if the number of banknotes moved exceeds the storage capacity of the temporary holding section 170, the excess banknotes may be moved to the deposit / withdrawal section 110.

[0161] Furthermore, during the loading process, if there are banknotes that have been stored for a long time in any of the denomination storage compartments 160, the time required for the loading process may be estimated based on the number of banknotes to be removed from the denomination storage compartments 160 and displayed on the operation display unit 190. Alternatively, the displayed time may be counted down.

[0162] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the loading process is selectively performed between a loading process with the removal of stagnant banknotes and a normal loading process. Also, in the scrutiny process, the storage position swapping process and the storage position non-swapping process are selectively performed. However, the loading process may always be performed with the removal of stagnant banknotes. Also, the storage position swapping process may always be performed in the scrutiny process.

[0163] Furthermore, the paper processing device of the present invention is not limited to those that handle banknotes, but may also be a device that processes deposits, withdrawals, counting, and other types of paper, such as securities.

[0164] In addition, embodiments of the present invention can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0165] 1. Banknote processing equipment (paper sheet processing equipment) 2. Banknote processing equipment (paper sheet processing equipment) 110 Deposit and Withdrawal Section (Input Section, Second Withdrawal Section) 140 Conveyor Unit 160 compartments for different denominations (retractable compartments) 170 Temporary holding section (evacuation section, first evacuation section) 190 Operation display section (operation section) 210 Control Unit 310 Deposit / Withdrawal Section (Input Section) 340 Conveyor Unit 380 Denomination-specific storage compartments (retractable storage compartments) 390 Temporary holding section (evacuation section, 1st evacuation section, 2nd evacuation section) 401 Control Unit 410 Operation display section (operation section)

Claims

1. A retractable storage section in which paper sheets are stored by being wound around the drum, A control unit that performs a movement process to move the first sheets of paper, which are stored in the storage section, to a position further away from the drum than before they were evacuated, by removing the first sheets of paper stored in the storage section, storing a second set of paper, which are different from the first sheets of paper, in the storage section, and then returning the first sheets of paper to the storage section. A paper sheet processing apparatus characterized by comprising:

2. In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, The first section into which the paper sheets are retracted, The apparatus further comprises a feeding section into which the second set of paper sheets is fed, The control unit performs a first loading process as the movement process, which involves moving the first sheets of paper from the storage unit to the retraction unit, loading the second sheets of paper in the input unit into the storage unit, and then returning the first sheets of paper in the retraction unit to the storage unit. A paper sheet processing apparatus characterized by the following:

3. In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 2, The control unit selectively performs the first loading process and the second loading process, which loads the second sheets of paper from the input section into the storage section without retracting the first sheets of paper. A paper sheet processing apparatus characterized by the following:

4. In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, The control unit executes the first loading process when it determines that there are first sheets of paper in the storage unit whose retention period exceeds a predetermined period. A paper sheet processing apparatus characterized by the following:

5. In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, The system further includes an operating unit that receives an operation to instruct which of the first loading process and the second loading process to perform, The control unit executes the first loading process or the second loading process in accordance with the operation. A paper sheet processing apparatus characterized by the following:

6. In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 3, The device further includes an operating unit that receives an operation to instruct the execution of the first loading process, The control unit determines that there are first sheets of paper whose retention period in the storage unit exceeds a predetermined period, and when it receives the operation from the operation unit, it executes the first loading process. A paper sheet processing apparatus characterized by the following:

7. In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6, The storage compartments are provided in multiple locations. The control unit performs the first loading process or the second loading process for each of the storage units. A paper sheet processing apparatus characterized by the following:

8. In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, The second sheets of paper are stored in the storage section together with the first sheets of paper, and are located further away from the drum than the first sheets of paper. The first evacuation section where the first sheets of paper are evacuated, The device further comprises a second evacuation section into which the second set of paper sheets is evacuated, The control unit performs a storage position swapping process as the movement process, which involves moving the second sheets of paper from the storage unit to the second retraction unit, then moving the first sheets of paper from the storage unit to the first retraction unit, returning the second sheets of paper in the second retraction unit to the storage unit, and then returning the first sheets of paper in the first retraction unit to the storage unit. A paper sheet processing apparatus characterized by the following:

9. In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 8, The control unit performs the storage position swapping process in a verification process that checks whether the number of paper sheets in the storage section matches the managed number. A paper sheet processing apparatus characterized by the following:

10. In the paper sheet processing apparatus according to claim 1, The first section into which the paper sheets are retracted, The system further comprises a transport unit for transporting the first paper sheets between the storage unit and the retraction unit, The transport unit transports the first paper sheets in the moving process such that the orientation of the front and back sides of the first paper sheets changes when they come out of the storage unit and when they enter the storage unit. A paper sheet processing apparatus characterized by the following:

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