Paper sheet transport device

Abstract

To provide a paper sheet transport device capable of appropriately taking in and recovering paper sheets from each paper sheet take-in device into a transport tube. An air flow generating device (14) for generating an air flow and each paper sheet intake device 140 that sends out the paper sheets into the conveying tube 12. The generated air flow Using the In the paper sheet transport device 10 that transports paper sheets, the control unit 23 The control unit has a function of issuing an instruction to the paper sheet intake device to send out the paper sheets into the transport tube, and a function of controlling the operation of the air flow generating device.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper sheet transport device that includes an air flow generating device that generates an air flow and transports paper sheets in the direction of the air flow. [Background technology]

[0002] Inside an amusement machine island, which houses multiple sets of game ball dispensing machines that receive inserted banknotes and lend game balls (such as pachinko balls) to players and game machines such as pachinko machines, a transport device is provided along the length of the amusement machine island to transport the banknotes inserted into each game ball dispensing machine to a safe provided at the end of the amusement machine island.

[0003] In addition to belt-type conveying devices for paper sheets such as banknotes, there are also conveying devices that use a blower to generate an air flow inside a cylindrical conveying tube and convey the paper sheets by the action of the air flow (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] In the case of a conveying device using air flow, the entire conveying path needs to be cylindrical, so the paper sheet take-in device that takes in the paper sheets to be conveyed discharged from the game ball dispensing machine into a conveying tube has a cylindrical passage part with the same cross-sectional shape as the conveying path, and is configured to send out the paper sheets to be conveyed into this passage part. A game ball dispensing machine is provided for each game machine on the game machine island, and a paper sheet take-in device is attached to the back of each game ball dispensing machine. Then, using the passage part of the paper sheet take-in device attached to the back of the game ball dispensing machine as a reference, the passage part of each paper sheet take-in device and the passage part of the paper sheet take-in device next to it are connected by a conveying tube, respectively, to form a conveying path that extends along the longitudinal direction of the game machine island.

[0005] When paper sheets such as banknotes are transported by airflow, if the paper sheets are in a straight state, the airflow flows along the paper surface, making it difficult for them to receive wind pressure as a driving force, and the paper sheets are attracted to the inner wall surface, making transport difficult.Therefore, there is a transport device that transports paper sheets by sending a cylindrical transport auxiliary body, which moves due to an airflow generated in the transport pipe, into the transport pipe and using this transport auxiliary body to push the paper sheets from behind (for example, see Patent Document 2).

[0006] In this conveying device, when collecting paper sheets, the conveying auxiliary is sent into the conveying tube by the conveying auxiliary insertion device provided at the starting end of the conveying tube, and the paper sheets and the conveying auxiliary are separated and collected by the separation and collection device provided at the terminal end of the conveying tube. In order to repeatedly use the separated conveying auxiliary, the conveying tube is composed of an outward path, a U-shaped folded part, and a return path, and the starting end and terminal end of the conveying tube are brought close to each other, and the conveying auxiliary collected by the separation and collection device provided at the terminal end is automatically sent to the conveying auxiliary insertion device on the starting end side.

[0007] As shown in Figure 33, the above-mentioned separation and recovery device comprises a separation section 80 which allows paper sheets 6 pushed and transported by the transport auxiliary body 16 to pass downstream and stops them when the transport auxiliary body 16 comes into contact with it, a tubular passage section 96 which receives paper sheets 6 emerging from a passage opening 84 of the separation section 80, a ring-shaped conveying belt 98B which is stretched along one inner wall of the passage section 96 in the extension direction of the passage section 96, and a suction port for sucking air from within the passage section 96 from the outside from behind the conveying belt 98B, and the paper sheets 6 which have passed through the passage opening 84 of the separation section 80 are made to stick to the conveying belt 98B by sucking air from within the passage section 96 through the suction port behind the conveying belt 98B, and are transported by the conveying belt 98B and discharged from the end of the passage section 96. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4130697 [Patent Document 2] JP 2012-82062 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] In a conveying method using air flow, it is desirable that the conveying path be as straight as possible without any steps so that the paper sheets or conveying auxiliary body do not get caught. However, in the above-mentioned configuration in which the passage of the paper sheet take-in device attached to the back of the game ball dispensing machine holds the conveying tube of other parts, it is difficult to keep the conveying path straight without any steps along the longitudinal direction of the game machine island.

[0010] In other words, the space between the back of the game ball dispensing machine installed on the front side of the game machine island and the back of the game ball dispensing machine installed on the back side of the game machine island is narrow, and when transporting by air flow, the transport pipe is thick and the paper sheet take-up device is also large, so the paper sheet take-up device is pushed by the back of the game ball dispensing machine, making it difficult to keep the transport path straight.

[0011] In addition, in the case of a double-sided island, a paper sheet take-in device is provided for each of the game ball dispensing machines on the front side and the back side, but for convenience of construction, only the paper sheet take-in device corresponding to one side is fixed to the back of the game ball dispensing machine with metal fittings, and the paper sheet take-in device corresponding to the other side is only connected to the bill outlet on the back of the game ball dispensing machine at its paper sheet take-in port, and is not firmly attached to the back of the game ball dispensing machine with metal fittings. Therefore, there was a problem that the paper sheet take-in device that was not firmly attached to the back of the game ball dispensing machine with metal fittings was pushed against the back of the game ball dispensing machine, making it difficult to keep the transport path straight.

[0012] In the above-mentioned separation and recovery device, when the leading edge of the paper sheet 6 emerges from the passage opening 84 of the separation section 80 into the passage section 96, the transport auxiliary body 16 is still in a state of pushing the paper sheet 6 from the rear (FIG. 33(a)), and thereafter, when almost the entire paper sheet 6 emerges from the separation section 80 into the passage section 96, the transport auxiliary body 16 comes into contact with the separation section 80 and stops. For this reason, in the case of a paper sheet 6 with a weak stiffness or a curled or rolled paper sheet 6, when the leading edge of the paper sheet 6 emerges to a certain extent from the passage opening 84, the leading edge of the paper sheet 6 sticks to the conveyor belt 98B due to the air being sucked out from behind the conveyor belt 98B (FIGS. 33(a) and (b)), and in this stuck state, the rear end side of the paper sheet 6 is pushed by the transport auxiliary body 16. At this time, since the moving speed of the transport auxiliary body 16 is faster than that of the conveying belt 98B, the rear end of the paper sheet 6 is crushed by the transport auxiliary body 16 or gets caught in the transport auxiliary body 16, causing the paper sheet to become jammed (Figure 33 (c)).

[0013] In addition, in a paper sheet transport device that transports paper sheets by pushing them from behind with a transport auxiliary body, the transport auxiliary body moves alone within the transport pipe from the time it is sent out into the transport pipe until it reaches the paper sheets to be transported, and after it reaches the paper sheets, it moves while pushing the paper sheets from behind, so the optimal air flow strength differs before and after it reaches the paper sheets.

[0014] For example, if the air flow is fixed at a strength appropriate for pushing and moving paper sheets, the air flow will be too strong when the sheet is moving on its own, causing the position of the transport auxiliary body to become unstable or for the transport auxiliary body to collide with the transport path at the U-shaped folded part and become easily damaged.On the other hand, if the air flow is weakened, the sheet cannot be transported stably.

[0015] In addition, when the transport auxiliary body comes into contact with the separating section of the separating and collecting device and stops, it is desirable to weaken the air flow to cushion the impact of the collision. Furthermore, if the air flow is too strong when the paper sheets reach the separating and collecting device, the separated paper sheets may stick strongly to the transport belt of the separating and collecting device and may become clogged instead of being discharged from the separating and collecting device.

[0016] In addition, if a separation and recovery device is disposed above a transport auxiliary insertion device that inserts transport auxiliary bodies waiting in the waiting section into a transport pipe, and the transport auxiliary bodies recovered by the separation and recovery device are transported by allowing them to fall naturally through a guide path on the side of the transport pipe to the waiting section below, if there is an air flow during the transport, the air flow will flow back up the guide path and interfere with the natural fall of the transport auxiliary bodies.

[0017] Incidentally, in a paper sheet transport device that transports paper sheets in the direction of an air flow generated by an air flow generating device, it is desirable to operate the air flow generating device appropriately, such as only when necessary.

[0018] The present invention seeks to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a paper sheet transport device that can properly operate an air flow generating device and transport paper sheets in the direction of the air flow. [Means for solving the problem]

[0019] The gist of the present invention for achieving the above object resides in the following inventions.

[0020] [1] A paper sheet transport device that includes an air flow generating device that generates an air flow, and a plurality of paper sheet intake devices that are capable of waiting received paper sheets and send the paper sheets into a transport pipe, and that transports the paper sheets in the transport pipe by using the air flow, When the paper sheet is in a standby state in the paper sheet intake device, an instruction is given to the paper sheet intake device to send the paper sheet into a conveying pipe, and an operation of the air flow generating device is started based on the instruction. First Air volume Among the multiple stages typically used in transport Equipped with a control unit that performs the function of controlling to a minimum value A paper sheet transport device characterized by the above. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a paper sheet transport device including a separation and recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a paper sheet transport device including a separation and recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a transport auxiliary body pushes a banknote in a transport tube from the rear end side of the banknote. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing a conveying pipe in a straight portion (an outward and return portion). FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is a cross-sectional view of a conveying pipe in a straight section (the outward and return sections). FIG. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are plan and front views of a transport aid; [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view passing through the central axis of a conveying auxiliary body when the conveying auxiliary body is inserted into a conveying tube. [Figure 8] 4 is a front view showing a turn portion of the conveying pipe. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a turn portion of the conveying pipe. [Figure 10] This is a front view of the safe with the front cover removed. [Figure 11] A perspective view of a safe with the front cover removed [Figure 12] This is an oblique view showing the installation state of the banknote separation / transport auxiliary circulation device, air flow generation device, etc. inside the safe with some parts removed. [Figure 13] 13 is a perspective view showing the installation state of the banknote separation / transport auxiliary circulation device, the air flow generating device, etc. inside the safe with some parts removed, viewed from a different angle than in FIG. 12. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an overview of the banknote separation / transport auxiliary circulating device as seen from the transport pipe connection port side. [Figure 15] 15 is a perspective view showing an overview of the banknote separation / transport auxiliary circulating device as seen from the opposite direction to that shown in FIG. 14. FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. [Figure 17] 11 is a perspective view of the inner unit and the separation section in the recovery position, as viewed obliquely from the downstream side. FIG. [Figure 18] 11 is a perspective view of the inner unit and the separation section in the recovery position, as viewed obliquely from the upstream side. FIG. [Figure 19] 11 is a perspective view of the inner unit and the separation section in the discharge position, as viewed obliquely from the downstream side. FIG. [Figure 20] 11 is a perspective view of the inner unit and the separation section in the discharge position, as viewed obliquely from the upstream side. FIG. [Figure 21] 4 is a perspective view showing an inner unit main body and an inner unit cover of the inner unit, the inner unit being separated from each other; FIG. [Figure 22] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an inner unit main body portion. [Figure 23] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the inner unit main body. [Figure 24] FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the inner unit main body. [Diagram 25] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an inner unit cover portion. [Figure 26] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the inner unit cover portion. [Figure 27] 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the inside of the inner unit, with an inner unit main body and an inner unit cover facing each other; FIG. [Figure 28] FIG. 2 shows the inside of the base of the inner unit. [Figure 29] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing a structure for bringing a discharge roller and an opposing discharge roller into close contact with each other inside the base of the inner unit. [Diagram 30] 11A and 11B are explanatory views showing in comparison a state in which the separation unit is in a collection position and a state in which the separation unit is in a discharge position. [Diagram 31] 11A to 11C are diagrams showing the steps of the operation of the separation and recovery device for separating and recovering the banknotes and the transport auxiliary body. [Diagram 32] This is a figure showing the continuation of Figure 31. [Diagram 33] 1A to 1C are diagrams showing the steps of an operation in which a conventional separating and collecting device separates and collects weak banknotes and a transport auxiliary body. [Diagram 34] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which banknotes are transported from the separation and recovery device to a banknote transport section. FIG. [Diagram 35] FIG. [Diagram 36]11A and 11B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a state in which the holding portion of the movable storage portion is in a standby position and a state in which the holding portion is in a sending-out position, in comparison. [Figure 37] 13 is a perspective view showing the transport auxiliary body inserting device with the holding portion of the movable storage portion in a standby position and with the upper feed-out passage removed. FIG. [Figure 38] 13 is a perspective view showing the transport auxiliary body inserting device with the holding portion of the movable storage portion in the output position and the upper output passage removed. FIG. [Figure 39] 11 is an explanatory diagram showing how the attitude correction mechanism corrects the attitude of the transport auxiliary body. FIG. [Diagram 40] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a bill feeder. [Diagram 41] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the banknote feeder and a transport pipe connected thereto. [Diagram 42] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the banknote feeder. [Diagram 43] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the banknote feeder with the door open. [Diagram 44] FIG. 4 is an exploded assembly view of a transport path supported by an auxiliary frame. [Diagram 45] 45 is a perspective view showing a transport path formed by assembling the parts shown in FIG. 44. [Diagram 46] FIG. [Figure 47] FIG. [Figure 48] FIG. [Figure 49] 13 is a diagram showing a state in which a hook member is hooked onto an auxiliary frame and a conveying tube is held by the hook member. [Figure 50] 13 is a diagram showing a frame member whose end is fixed to a back panel by a mounting bracket. FIG. [Figure 51] A diagram showing the mounting bracket that is attached to the upper back surface of the game ball dispensing machine to hold the banknote feeder and auxiliary frame. [Figure 52] A diagram showing the mounting bracket fixed to the back of the game ball dispensing machine. [Figure 53]This is an oblique view showing the state in which a banknote feeder and an auxiliary frame, etc. are attached to a mounting bracket fixed to the back of the game ball dispensing machine. [Figure 54] 11 is a front view showing a state in which the banknote feeder is held by a base portion on a frame member. FIG. [Figure 55] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between each location on a transport path and air volume. [Figure 56] 13 is a graph showing the amount of airflow at each timing when the transport auxiliary body collects banknotes. FIG. [Figure 57] 13 is a graph showing the air volume at each timing of the operation of recovering banknotes by the transport auxiliary body and the operation timing of the separation and recovery device. FIG. [Figure 58] 13 is a diagram showing how wind flows back to a discharge position through a guide passage. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0023] Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a paper sheet transport device 10 including a separation and recovery device 70 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a front view of the paper sheet transport device 10. In this embodiment, the paper sheet transport device 10 is configured as a paper sheet transport device that is provided in a game machine island 2 in which a plurality of sets of game ball dispensing machines 3 as game medium dispensing machines that receive inserted banknotes and dispense game balls (pachinko balls) to players and game machines 4 such as pachinko machines are accommodated side by side on the front and back sides with each set facing each other, and that takes in banknotes 6 discharged from the back of each game ball dispensing machine 3 and transports them to a safe 5 provided at the end of the game machine island 2.

[0024] The paper sheet transport device 10 includes a transport tube 12 that serves as a transport path for banknotes (paper sheets), and an air flow generator (blower) 14 that generates an air flow that flows in the extension direction of the transport tube 12. In the paper sheet transport device 10, a transport auxiliary body 16 that can move within the transport tube 12 by receiving the air flow is inserted into the transport tube 12 upstream of the banknotes 6 to be transported, and the transport auxiliary body 16 pushes the banknotes 6 in the transport tube 12 from behind to transport them downstream.

[0025] In this example, as shown in Fig. 2, an airflow generating device 14 and a bill separation / transport auxiliary circulating device 11 are provided inside a safe 5 provided at one end of a gaming machine island 2. The bill separation / transport auxiliary circulating device 11 has the function of a transport auxiliary inserting device 40 that sends out a transport auxiliary 16 into the transport pipe 12, and the function of a separation / recovery device 70 that separates and recovers a bill 6 from the transport auxiliary 16 that has been transported by pushing it from behind, and also returns the recovered transport auxiliary 16 to the transport auxiliary inserting device 40 for circulation. The bills 6 recovered by the separation / recovery device 70 are stored in a bill storage section 21 (see Fig. 1) in the safe 5.

[0026] The air blowing side (air blowing passage 14a) of the air flow generating device 14 is connected to the air inlet side (blow passage connection port 46) of the transport auxiliary body inserting device 40, and the beginning end of the transport pipe 12 is connected to the air outlet side (transport pipe connection port 45) of the transport auxiliary body inserting device 40. The transport pipe 12 is composed of an outgoing path 12a extending from the air outlet side of the transport auxiliary body inserting device 40 to the other end of the game machine island 2, a turning portion 12b that turns back in a U-shape at the other end, and a returning path 12c that turns back at the turning portion 12b and then extends above the outgoing path 12a to return to the safe 5 along the outgoing path 12a. The end of the return path 12c is connected to the air inlet side (conveying pipe connection port 72) of the separation and recovery device 70, and the air suction side (air suction passage 14b) of the air flow generating device 14 is connected to the air outlet side (air suction passage connection part 76) of the separation and recovery device 70.

[0027] The airflow generating device 14 generates an airflow by rotating a fan with a motor. The airflow generated by the airflow generating device 14 flows from the air outlet passage 14a through the transport auxiliary body inserting device 40 into the starting end of the transport pipe 12, passes through the outward path 12a, the turning section 12b, and the return path 12c, and then flows to be drawn into the suction side of the airflow generating device 14 through the separation and recovery device 70 and the air suction passage 14b.

[0028] The outgoing path 12a and the return path 12c of the conveying pipe 12 are divided into units of a predetermined length, for example, a length corresponding to the width of one set of the gaming machines 4 and the gaming ball dispensing machine 3 housed together in the gaming machine island 2, and by connecting the required number of these with the connecting unit 18, the path length can be adjusted according to the longitudinal length of the gaming machine island 2. Also, at the construction site, the conveying pipe 12 is cut to the required length on the spot for use.

[0029] In the middle of the return path 12c of the transport tube 12, at a position corresponding to each game ball dispensing machine 3, a bill take-in device 140 is disposed as a paper sheet take-in device that takes in bills 6 discharged from the back side of the game ball dispensing machine 3 into the transport tube 12. The bill take-in devices 140 are provided in pairs, one for taking in bills 6 from the game ball dispensing machine 3 arranged on the front side of the game machine island 2, and the other for taking in bills 6 from the game ball dispensing machine 3 arranged on the back side of the game machine island 2. The bill take-in devices 140 are interposed between the transport tubes 12 constituting the return path 12c and play a role in connecting them.

[0030] An auxiliary frame (frame member) 160 for supporting the conveying path 12 is suspended within the gaming machine island 2 along the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 2. The auxiliary frame 160 is suspended below the return path 12c along the return path 12c (between the outward path 12a and the return path 12c arranged vertically), and the longitudinal end of the auxiliary frame 160 is fixed to the end plate of the gaming machine island 2 by a mounting bracket 66 (see FIG. 50). A base portion 170 that can slide freely along the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary frame 160 is attached to the upper surface side of the auxiliary frame 160, and the base portion 170 holds the lower part of the bill feeder 140 from the lower side (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 45). In addition, a hook member 180 is hooked and hung on the auxiliary frame 160, and the hook member 180 is adapted to hold and hold the outward path 12a of the conveying tube 12. The details of the support by the auxiliary frame 160 will be described later.

[0031] In the paper sheet transport device 10, the banknotes 6 taken in from the banknote take-in device 140 into the return path 12c of the transport tube 12 stay at a predetermined take-in completion position with the paper surface aligned along the extension direction of the transport tube 12. In order to transport the banknotes 6 taken in and staying in the transport tube 12 to the safe 5 and collect them, a transport auxiliary body 16 is sent into the transport tube 12 by the transport auxiliary body inserting device 40 of the banknote separation / transport auxiliary body circulating device 11. The transport auxiliary body 16 sent into the transport tube 12 moves in the outgoing path 12a toward the turn section 12b under the action of the air flow generated by the air flow generating device 14, makes a U-turn at the turn section 12b, and then moves further in the return path 12c toward the terminal end. At this time, as shown in Figure 3, the transport assistant 16 pushes the banknote 6 in the transport tube 12 from the rear end side of the banknote 6, thereby transporting the banknote 6 toward the terminal end of the transport tube 12 (in the transport direction F in the figure).

[0032] The banknote separation / transport auxiliary circulating device 11 and the banknote intake device 140 are controlled and operated by a control unit 23 (see FIG. 10) whose main components are a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). In this example, the airflow generating device 14 is always in operation, and when a sensor provided in the banknote intake device 140 detects a banknote 6 discharged from the back of the game ball dispensing machine 3, the control unit 23 operates the banknote intake device 140 to take in the banknote 6 into the conveying tube 12. Then, when this intake operation is completed, the conveying auxiliary 16 is sent into the conveying tube 12 from the conveying auxiliary insertion device 40 of the banknote separation / transport auxiliary circulating device 11. Then, the conveying auxiliary 16 moves in the conveying tube 12 under the action of the airflow, and pushes and conveys the banknote 6 from the rear. When the separation and recovery device 70 of the banknote separation and transport auxiliary body circulating device 11 detects the arrival of the transport auxiliary body 16, it separates the banknotes 6 and the transport auxiliary body 16 and recovers them separately, guides the recovered transport auxiliary body 16 to the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40 in preparation for the next sending out, and transports the recovered banknotes 6 to the banknote storage section 21 in the safe 5. This is how the separation and recovery device 70 controls the operation.

[0033] In addition, the air flow generating device 14 may be controlled to operate only when necessary (for example, from the time when the banknote intake device 140 detects a banknote from the game ball dispensing machine 3 to the time when the banknote is completely collected in the safe 5).

[0034] In this way, the transport auxiliary body 16 moves under the action of the air flow, and the banknotes 6 are pushed and transported from their rear ends by the transport auxiliary body 16, so the banknotes 6 themselves do not need to receive the air flow to obtain propulsive force. Therefore, the banknotes 6 can be transported by the air flow without taking measures such as folding the banknotes 6 to receive the air flow. In addition, the transport auxiliary body 16 can obtain propulsive force from the air flow more efficiently than the banknotes 6, so the banknotes 6 can be transported efficiently.

[0035] Next, the shapes of the conveying tube 12 and the conveying auxiliary body 16 will be described in detail.

[0036] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the conveying tube 12 in the straight portion (the outward path 12a and the return path 12c portion), and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the extension direction F (= the banknote conveying direction F = the air flow direction) of the conveying tube 12 in the same portion. The conveying tube 12 is made of a resin with a thickness of about 1.5 mm. The conveying tube 12 is formed, for example, by extrusion molding.

[0037] The cross-sectional shape of the straight section of the conveying tube 12 perpendicular to the extension direction F is a rectangular shape in which the central portions of the left and right side walls of a vertically long rectangle expand outward. In detail, the conveying tube 12 has upper and lower wall portions 31, left and right side wall portions 32, and an expansion portion 33 that protrudes outward in a rectangular shape at the central portions of the left and right side wall portions 32 in the vertical direction. The short side direction of the approximately rectangular cross section perpendicular to the extension direction (conveying direction F) of the conveying tube 12 is the X direction (or width direction, left and right direction), and the long side direction is the Y direction (or height direction, up and down direction). In the X direction and Y direction, the direction toward the center of the conveying tube 12 is called the inside, and the direction from the center toward the inner wall is called the outside.

[0038] The extension section 33 is divided into two sections, upper and lower, by a separation wall 34 erected toward the inside of the conveying pipe 12. The separation wall 34 is formed by attaching a T-shaped member to the inner wall of the extension section 33.

[0039] A plurality of ribs 35 protruding inwardly of the conveying pipe 12 are formed on the side wall portion 32 along the conveying direction. In this example, the ribs 35 protruding inwardly of the conveying pipe 12 are formed along the conveying direction at the boundary between the side wall portion 32 and the extension portion 33. The separation wall 34 is at the same height as the ribs 35, and the top of the separation wall 34 functions as a rib.

[0040] The side walls 32 are a pair of inner walls that face the paper surface of the transported banknote 6. The banknote 6 has a rectangular shape, and is transported inside the transport tube 12 with its long side oriented in the transport direction F. In other words, the banknote 6 is transported with its paper surface facing the side walls 32 of the transport tube 12, one short side of the banknote 6 being the leading end side in the transport direction, and the other short side being the trailing end side.

[0041] The distance Dy between the upper and lower wall portions 31 of the transport tube 12 is slightly longer than the short side of the banknote 6. The distance Dx between the left and right side wall portions 32 (portions (reference plane portions) where the ribs 35, the extension portions 33, and the separation wall 34 are not formed) is set to about 21 mm. The extension portions 33 provided on the left and right side wall portions 32 each extend about 6 mm outward from the side wall portion 32 (reference plane portion). The tops of the ribs 35 and the separation wall 34 are about 2 mm high inward from the side wall portion 32 (reference plane portion). The height of the ribs 35 may be set as appropriate.

[0042] FIG. 6 shows the plan view and front view of the transport auxiliary 16. The transport auxiliary 16 is a columnar shape with a circular cross section with different diameters at each part. The transport auxiliary 16 is inserted into the transport pipe 12 so that the central axis of the cylinder is in the Y direction (height direction) of the transport pipe 12. The transport auxiliary 16 is vertically symmetrical, and is configured, from the top, with a head 16a, a neck 16b with a slightly smaller diameter than the head, a large diameter part 16c with a larger diameter than the head 16a, a constricted part 16d with the same diameter as the neck 16b and located in the center from top to bottom, the large diameter part 16c, the neck 16b, and the head 16a. The transport auxiliary 16 is lightweight and strong, and is formed with a hollow interior using, for example, plastic. It may be formed from polystyrene foam or extruded polystyrene foam, etc., as long as it is lightweight and strong.

[0043] 7 shows a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction F and passing through the central axis of the conveying auxiliary body 16 in a state where the conveying auxiliary body 16 is inserted into the conveying pipe 12. The diameters of the various parts of the conveying auxiliary body 16 correspond to the inner edge shape of the conveying pipe 12. That is, the cross-sectional shape passing through the central axis of the conveying auxiliary body 16 corresponds to the inner edge shape of the conveying pipe 12 in a cross section perpendicular to the extension direction F, and is shaped to almost completely block the inside of the conveying pipe 12 with a predetermined clearance between it and the inner wall.

[0044] In this way, the conveying auxiliary body 16 has a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape of the conveying pipe 12 (almost the same shape with a small clearance) and blocks almost the entire cross section of the conveying pipe 12, so it can move efficiently under the action of the air flow. Furthermore, the conveying auxiliary body 16 prevents the air flow from the upstream from reaching the downstream side of the conveying auxiliary body 16, and plays a role in suppressing turbulence of the air flow on the downstream side.

[0045] When acted upon by the air flow in the conveying tube 12, the banknote 6 tends to stick to the side wall 32. In other words, the distance between one side of the banknote 6 and the opposing side wall 32 and the distance between the other side of the banknote 6 and the opposing side wall 32 are rarely equal, and when either distance is narrower than the other, the air flow speed is faster on the narrower side than on the wider side, so that the air pressure on the narrower side is lower than that on the wider side, and this air pressure difference causes the banknote 6 to be attracted and pressed against the side wall 32 on the narrower side. When this happens, the narrower side becomes even narrower, causing the banknote 6 to stick and be attracted to the side wall 32.

[0046] If the banknotes 6 stick strongly to the side wall portions 32, it becomes difficult for the transport auxiliary body 16 to push and transport the banknotes 6; however, as described above, the transport auxiliary body 16 acts to block (reduce) the air flow downstream, so the force with which the banknotes 6 stick and adhere is reduced, and smooth transport is achieved.

[0047] The two large diameter parts 16c of the conveying auxiliary body 16 engage with two expansion parts 33 separated by a separation wall 34 of the conveying tube 12. In this example, the expansion part 33 is separated into two by the separation wall 34, and these expansion parts 33 are provided toward the center of the conveying tube 12 in the Y direction, so that the conveying auxiliary body 16 can be moved while being maintained in a stable posture. In addition, since the posture of the conveying auxiliary body 16 is stable, the large diameter part 16c of the conveying auxiliary body 16 can be appropriately abutted against the rear end of the banknote 6 to provide a stable conveying force. In addition, the banknote 6 is less likely to be caught between the conveying tube 12 and the conveying auxiliary body 16.

[0048] Furthermore, by providing the large diameter portion 16c, the area of ​​the portion of the conveying auxiliary body 16 that is subjected to the action of the air flow is enlarged, and the force for moving can be efficiently received. Also, since the large diameter portion 16c is provided to efficiently receive the action of the air flow, the diameter of the head portion 16a can be reduced accordingly. By reducing the diameter of the head portion, the interval (width (Dx)) between the pair of opposing side wall portions 32 in the conveying tube 12 can be narrowed, and the banknotes 6 can be prevented from falling over.

[0049] Furthermore, the presence of the multiple ribs 35 provided on the side wall 32 prevents the bill 6 from sticking tightly to the side wall 32. That is, the contact area between the bill 6 and the side wall 32 is reduced, reducing friction and suppressing the generation of static electricity. Even if the bill 6 sticks to the side wall 32, the bill 6 is supported by the tip of the rib 35, so that a gap is secured between the side wall 32 and the bill 6 around the rib 35, and the sticking force is suppressed to be small. The bill 6 is supported by the separation wall 34, so that the bill 6 is prevented from falling into the recess of the expansion part 33.

[0050] Furthermore, the multiple ribs 35 protruding inward from the side wall 32 and the tops of the separation walls 34 serve to make the effective passage width W of the banknotes 6 in the width direction (X direction) of the transport tube 12 narrower than the distance Dx between the reference flat portions. This makes it difficult for the banknotes 6 to fall sideways in the transport tube 12, and the posture of the banknotes 6 is maintained along the Y direction. In particular, by providing multiple ribs 35, the banknotes 6 are appropriately prevented from falling and are effectively prevented from sticking to the side wall 32. Note that Dx can be increased by the amount of the ribs 35 provided, which increases the cross-sectional area of ​​the transport tube 12 and makes the transport auxiliary body 16 more susceptible to the action of airflow.

[0051] In the case of the transport auxiliary body 16 according to this embodiment, the diameter of the large diameter portion 16c is the largest, so that this large diameter portion 16c comes into contact with the rear end of the banknote 6 and pushes it, as shown in FIG.

[0052] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the turn portion 12b, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the turn portion 12b. The turn portion 12b has a shape in which the conveying pipe 12 is extended to draw a 90-degree arc with the Y direction as the radial direction, a straight portion 13c, and the 90-degree arc portion 13b are connected, and the course of the conveying auxiliary body 16 is changed by 180 degrees. The turn portion 12b also has a rib 35 and an expansion portion 33, but the separation wall 34 is not provided so that the conveying auxiliary body 16 does not get caught when moving in an arc along the arc portion 13b, and the rib 35 and the expansion portion 33 are allowed to escape (the clearance is larger than that of the straight portion) in the portion overlapping with the trajectory of the conveying auxiliary body 16 when passing through the turn portion 12b. This makes it possible to reduce the turning radius of the turn portion 12b at the arc portion 13b. The length of the straight portion 13c may be appropriately determined according to the distance required between the outgoing path 12a and the return path 12c depending on the size of the banknote separation / transport auxiliary body circulating device 11 and the banknote intake device 140. Two ribs 13a are provided in the expansion portion 33 of the turning portion 12b in correspondence with the large diameter portion 16c of the transport auxiliary body 16, and the position of the transport auxiliary body 16 is restricted toward the center in the X direction.

[0053] Next, the banknote separation / transport auxiliary circulating device 11 will be described.

[0054] Figure 10 is a front view of safe 5 with the front cover removed (as viewed from the direction of arrow A in Figure 1), Figure 11 is an oblique view of safe 5 with the front cover removed, and Figures 12 and 13 are oblique views showing the installation state of banknote separation / transportation auxiliary circulating device 11, air flow generating device 14, etc. inside safe 5 with some parts removed.

[0055] The safe 5 has a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped shape, with the air flow generating device 14 and its motor 14c disposed at the bottom inside and the banknote separation / transport auxiliary body circulating device 11 attached to the top. The air blowing passage 14a of the air flow generating device 14 extends upward and is connected to the transport auxiliary body inserting device 40, and the air suction passage 14b extends further upward and is connected to the separation / collection device 70.

[0056] In addition, disposed inside the safe 5 are a banknote storage section 21 that stores banknotes 6, a banknote transport section 22 that transports the banknotes 6 separated and collected by the separating and collecting device 70 to the banknote storage section 21, a control section 23 that controls the operation of the paper sheet transport device 10 and various facilities in the gaming machine island 2, and a power supply section 24 that supplies power to each device in the gaming machine island 2. The banknotes 6 discharged from the banknote discharge port at the rear end of the separating and collecting device 70 proceed along the path indicated by arrow B in Fig. 10 and are delivered to the banknote transport section 22 provided therebetween.

[0057] 14 and 15 show an overview of the banknote separation / transport auxiliary body circulating device 11. The banknote separation / transport auxiliary body circulating device 11 is configured by integrating a transport auxiliary body inserting device 40 that sends out the transport auxiliary body 16 into the transport tube 12, and a separation and recovery device 70 that is stacked above the transport auxiliary body inserting device 40 and separates and recovers the transport auxiliary body 16 and the banknotes 6.

[0058] The transport auxiliary body 16 separated and recovered by the separation and recovery device 70 falls through a guide passage 61 connecting the expansion chamber 73 of the separation and recovery device 70 and the waiting section 42 of the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40, and is transferred from the separation and recovery device 70 to the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40.

[0059] First, the separation and recovery device 70 will be described in detail.

[0060] 16 is an exploded perspective view of the separation and recovery device 70. The separation and recovery device 70 includes an outer frame portion 71 formed into a hollow cylinder by combining a frame portion 71A forming one side wall and a bottom surface, an upper cover portion 71B, and a side wall duct portion 71C forming the other side wall and functioning as an air suction duct, a conveying tube connection portion 72 fitted into an opening at the front end of the outer frame portion 71 and connected to an end of the conveying tube 12, an inner unit 90 inserted into the outer frame portion 71 from an opening at the rear end of the outer frame portion 71 so as to be removable, and a separation portion 80 rotatably attached within the outer frame portion 71. The separation portion 80 passes the banknotes 6 pushed and conveyed by the conveying auxiliary body 16 downstream, and the conveying auxiliary body 16 captures and separates them. The inner unit 90 has a passage therein for receiving the banknotes 6 separated by the separation portion 80.

[0061] The separation section 80 and the inner unit 90 are set in the outer frame section 71 in the positional relationship shown in FIGS.

[0062] The separation section 80 includes a holding section 81 that passes the banknotes 6 pushed and transported by the transport auxiliary body 16 downstream and stops the banknotes 6 by contacting the transport auxiliary body 16, and a support section 82 extending from the holding section 81. As shown in Fig. 18, the holding section 81 has a shape like a hollow cylinder divided into two along its axis, and is structured to stop the transport auxiliary body 16 received through a rectangular opening corresponding to the divided end face by abutting it against the inside of a semi-cylindrical wall section.

[0063] A guide rail 83 (see FIG. 18) is provided on the inner surface of the semi-cylindrical wall of the holding part 81 to regulate the attitude of the held transport auxiliary body 16 so that it does not tilt. Also, a discharge port 86 is provided at the bottom of the holding part 81 to allow the transport auxiliary body 16 to fall into the guide passage 61. The guide rail 83 is designed not to prevent the transport auxiliary body 16 from falling from the discharge port 86.

[0064] Furthermore, a vertically long rectangular passage opening 84 for passing the banknotes 6 downstream is provided in the center of the semi-cylindrical wall of the holding part 81 (see FIG. 16). The passage opening 84 has an opening width large enough to allow a bundle of ten or so banknotes 6 to pass through.

[0065] The support part 82 forms an arm part of a predetermined length with a U-shaped cross section extending from the holding part 81 downstream in the conveying direction, and is rotatably attached to the outer frame part 71 by inserting a protruding shaft 85 provided on the base end side of the support part 82 into a shaft hole 78 (see FIG. 16) of the outer frame part 71 with the holding part 81 facing upstream (the conveying pipe connection port 72 side). When the inner unit 90 is inserted into the outer frame part 71, the support part 82 with a U-shaped cross section fits onto the outside of the upstream end part of the inner unit 90 as shown in FIG.

[0066] The outer frame 71 has, in a part of the middle of the tubular path having a rectangular cross section, a section (expansion chamber 73) that expands in a fan shape so that the arc faces the conveying pipe connection port 72. The expansion chamber 73 is a space formed in order to rotate the separation part 80 within a predetermined angle range around the protruding shaft 85 inserted into the shaft hole 78.

[0067] A circular drop port 74 is provided at the bottom of the extension chamber 73. The separation unit 80 rotates around a protruding shaft 85 between a recovery position (see Figs. 17, 18, and 30(a)) where the holding unit 81 faces the end of the transport pipe 12 and a discharge position (see Figs. 19, 20, and 30(b)) where the holding unit 81 is in the extension chamber 73. At the discharge position, the transport auxiliary body 16 is discharged from a discharge port 86 at the bottom of the holding unit 81 through the drop port 74 and the guide passage 61 (see Fig. 14) to the transport auxiliary body inserting device 40 below. The separation unit 80 is driven by a first drive unit 62 (see Fig. 15) arranged on the outer frame unit 71 to rotate between the recovery position and the discharge position. Here, the first drive unit 62 is a solenoid.

[0068] An intake port 75 opens in the sidewall duct portion 71C (see FIG. 16) so as to face the sidewall of the frame portion 71A. The sidewall duct portion 71C forms a tubular passage extending from the intake port 75 to the outside in an L-shape downward. The air intake passage 14b is connected to the lower end of the sidewall duct portion 71C. The intake port 75 is divided into a plurality of small openings (three in this example) by bill intake prevention walls 77 provided in the sidewall duct portion 71C (see FIG. 30). The small openings are made small enough that bills 6 are not sucked in through the intake port 75 when the inner unit 90 is removed.

[0069] In addition, a transport auxiliary detection sensor 63 is provided on the upper portion of the upstream end of the outer frame 71 for detecting arrival of the transport auxiliary 16 at the holding portion 81 of the separation section 80 (see FIG. 14).

[0070] The inner unit 90 has a cylindrical shape with a rectangular cross section, and is configured with an inner unit main body 91 equipped with a conveyor belt 98 and the like, and an inner unit cover 92 having a substantially U-shaped cross section and three side walls in the longitudinal direction (top surface 92b, bottom surface 92c, and facing wall 92a) as shown in Fig. 21. Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the inner unit main body 91, Fig. 23 is a front view of the inner unit main body 91, Fig. 24 is a rear view of the inner unit main body 91, Fig. 25 is a perspective view of the inner unit cover 92, Fig. 26 is a front view of the inner unit cover 92, and Fig. 27 shows the inside of the inner unit 90 in which the inner unit main body 91 and the inner unit cover 92 face each other.

[0071] As shown in Figures 21 and 22, the inner unit main body 91 comprises a base 93 forming the downstream end portion, a first side wall 94 extending from the base 93 to form one of the longitudinal side walls of the inner unit 90, with its tip bent inward and terminating at approximately two-fifths of the width of the inner unit 90, and a partition wall 95 that takes the part of the tip of the first side wall 94 that bends inward and terminates as a base point, and gradually slopes away from the longitudinal side wall of the first side wall 94 to reach the base 93.

[0072] 16, 21, 24, etc., a large opening 94a is provided in the first side wall 94 as an air inlet. When the inner unit 90 is inserted and set in the outer frame portion 71, this opening 94a faces the air inlet 75 of the side wall duct portion 71C of the outer frame portion 71.

[0073] The inside of the inner unit 90 is divided into two spaces by a partition wall 95. A passage section 96 that receives and serves as a passage for banknotes 6 emerging from the passing opening 84 of the separation section 80 is formed between the partition wall 95 and a wall surface (facing wall 92a) of the inner unit cover section 92 that faces the partition wall 95 (see FIG. 20). That is, the partition wall 95 that divides the inside of the inner unit 90 into two forms a wall surface that faces one side of the banknotes 6 emerging from the passing opening 84 of the separation section 80, and the facing wall 92a forms a wall surface that faces the other side of the banknotes 6 emerging from the passing opening 84 of the separation section 80, and the passage section 96 is formed between them.

[0074] On the other hand, the space between the partition wall 95 and the first side wall 94 serves as an air passage 109 for sucking out air (see FIGS. 20 and 30).

[0075] The partition wall 95 has three elongated openings 95a arranged along the longitudinal direction of the partition wall 95 at a predetermined interval in the height direction of the partition wall 95, in a range downstream of a position approximately halfway between its upstream end and just before the downstream base 93 (see Figures 22 and 23).

[0076] Further, downstream pulleys 97a are provided inside the base 93 in the vicinity of the downstream side of the downstream end of the partition wall 95 at positions corresponding to the openings 95a (see Figs. 22, 28, and 30). Upstream pulleys 97b are provided between the partition wall 95 and the first side wall 94 in the vicinity of the upstream end of each opening 95a such that a portion of the pulley is exposed from the opening 95a into the passage portion 96 (see Figs. 21, 22, 30, etc.).

[0077] Between each upstream pulley 97b and a downstream pulley 97a at a corresponding position, a circular conveyor belt 98 is stretched around the upstream pulley 97b and the downstream pulley 97a at the corresponding position, with the two pulleys at both ends. Three conveyor belts 98 are stretched in parallel with each other at intervals above and below, and the interval between the two conveyor belts 98 at both ends is slightly shorter than the length of the short side (side perpendicular to the conveying direction) of the banknote 6. The outward path of each conveyor belt 98 passes through the passage section 96 side of the partition wall 95, and the return path passes through the first side wall 94 side of the partition wall 95, and the outward path side is driven to move from upstream to downstream of the passage section 96.

[0078] As shown in Fig. 21, the upstream pulley 97b is provided on an upstream rotating shaft 100b, and the downstream pulley 97a is provided on a downstream rotating shaft 100a (see Fig. 28), with the upstream rotating shaft 100b and the downstream rotating shaft 100a being supported at both ends of a movable frame 99 that connects them together. Both upper and lower ends of the partition wall 95 are bent toward the first side wall 94, and both ends of the upstream rotating shaft 100b are journaled together with the movable frame 99 at these portions. The movable frame 99 is capable of swinging about the upstream rotating shaft 100b.

[0079] As shown in Figures 28 and 29, the downstream rotating shaft 100a is provided with discharge rollers 101, each of which has approximately the same diameter as the downstream pulleys 97a, and is arranged next to each downstream pulley 97a. The base 93 is provided with opposed discharge rollers 102 arranged opposite the discharge rollers 101. The discharge rollers 101 and opposed discharge rollers 102 form a pair of rollers for sandwiching and discharging banknotes 6 conveyed by the conveyor belt 98 between them. The opposed discharge rollers 102 are provided on a rotating shaft 103, both ends of which are supported by the base 93.

[0080] The downstream end of the movable frame 99 is biased by a spring 108 so as to press the discharge roller 101 toward the opposing discharge roller 102. By swinging the movable frame 99, the inter-axial distance between a rotation shaft 103 supporting the opposing discharge roller 102 and a downstream side rotation shaft 100a supporting the discharge roller 101 can be changed.

[0081] The rotating shaft 103 on which the opposing discharge roller 102 is provided protrudes downward from the base 93 and is provided with a transmission gear 104 at its lower end. In addition, the downstream side rotating shaft 100a also protrudes downward and is provided with a transmission gear 105 at its lower end, which is meshed with the transmission gear 104. The power of the separation conveyance drive unit 64 (see FIG. 14) constituted by a motor or the like is transmitted to the transmission gear 104, and further to the transmission gear 105. As a result, the opposing discharge roller 102 and the discharge roller 101 rotate, and the conveyor belt 98 is driven to rotate.

[0082] The rotating shaft 103 also protrudes above the base 93 of the inner unit 90, and a handle 106 for manual operation is attached to its upper end. If banknotes 6 become jammed inside the inner unit 90, the handle 106 can be turned by hand to eject the jammed banknotes 6 from the rear end of the inner unit 90. A banknote ejection passage 107 (see Figures 21 and 22) for curving the path of ejected banknotes 6 to the side is provided at the rear end of the inner unit 90.

[0083] The partition wall 95 has a rib 110 on the side of the passage section 96, which protrudes toward the inside of the passage section 96 (see FIG. 22, etc.). The rib 110 extends from the upstream end of the partition wall 95 (near the passage opening 84 of the separation section 80) to just before the opening 95a (i.e., the location where the conveyor belt 98 is stretched). The rib 110 has a mountain shape that is raised near the upstream end. The rib 110 is provided at a position corresponding to each conveyor belt 98 (so that the conveyor belt 98 is located on an extension line of the rib 110). Seven ribs 110 are also formed at the middle of the conveyor belt 98, at equal intervals in a range that covers the entire width of the banknote 6.

[0084] Further, a rib (facing rib 112) is provided on the facing wall 92a of the inner unit cover portion 92, facing the rib 110 on the partition wall 95 side and extending in the extension direction of the passage portion 96 (see FIG. 21, etc.). The facing rib 112 is provided facing five of the seven ribs 110. The facing rib 112 extends from the vicinity of the upstream end of the inner unit 90 (near the passage opening 84 of the separation portion 80) to the vicinity of the facing discharge roller 102 in the base portion 93, and is gradually made higher toward the downstream. The banknote 6 that has passed through the passage opening 84 of the separation portion 80 passes between the rib 110 and the facing rib 112 and proceeds downstream in the passage portion 96 of the inner unit 90.

[0085] As shown in Fig. 23, the length L1 of the passage 96 of the inner unit 90 is slightly longer than the length of the banknotes 6 in the transport direction, and the distance L2 from the upstream end of the passage 96 (near the passage opening 84 of the separation section 80) to the transport belt 98 is approximately half the length of the banknotes 6 in the transport direction. The distance L2 may be increased or decreased, and is preferably set to a range of approximately one-third to four-fifths of the length of the banknotes 6 in the transport direction. Furthermore, the length L1 of the passage 96 of the inner unit 90 may be configured to be even longer than that shown in Fig. 23.

[0086] Next, the operation of the separation and recovery device 70 will be described.

[0087] When the air flow generating device 14 generates an air flow, the air flow flows through the transport pipe 12, into the separation and recovery device 70 from the transport pipe connection port 72, and further passes through the passage port 84 of the separation section 80 and into the passage section 96 of the inner unit 90. The air flow generating device 14 sucks air through the air suction passage 14b from the suction port 75 of the side wall duct section 71C of the outer frame section 71. By this suction, the air in the passage section 96 is discharged to the outside through the opening 95a of the partition wall 95, the air path 109, the opening 94a provided in the first side wall 94, the suction port 75 (side wall duct section 71C), and the air suction passage 14b.

[0088] 31 shows the separation and recovery operation of the banknotes 6 and the transport auxiliary body 16 in the separation and recovery device 70. When separating and recovering the banknotes 6 and the transport auxiliary body 16, an air flow is generated by the air flow generating device 14, the separation section 80 is set to the recovery position, and the transport belt 98 is driven so that its outward path moves in the downstream direction.

[0089] In this state, when the transport auxiliary body 16, which has been pushing the banknote 6 from behind, reaches the vicinity of the end of the transport pipe 12, the leading edge of the banknote 6 enters the separation section 80 and enters the downstream passage section 96 through the passage opening 84 (FIG. 31(a)). The figure shows the state in which a weak banknote 6 is being transported.

[0090] The banknote 6 entering the passage 96 comes into contact with the rib 110 and moves along the rib 110. Therefore, even if the air in the passage 96 is sucked through the suction port 75, the leading edge of the banknote 6 does not stick to the partition wall 95.

[0091] The banknote 6 that has entered the passage 96 advances along the mountain-shaped shape of the rib 110 toward the facing rib 112 (FIG. 31(b)). The banknote 6 is guided by the facing rib 112 and the rib 110 and advances further downstream between them.

[0092] When the leading edge of the banknote 6 eventually reaches the area where the conveyor belt 98 is present, the leading edge of the banknote 6 sticks to the conveyor belt 98 due to the suction of air from the opening 95a (FIG. 31(c)). At this time, since the rib 110 is provided at a position corresponding to the conveyor belt 98 (on an extension line), the banknote 6 smoothly moves from the end of the rib 110 to the conveyor belt 98 and sticks to the conveyor belt 98. In addition, since the facing rib 112 is provided and its height is made higher the further downstream, the banknote 6 bounces back more strongly, so that the banknote 6 is directed toward the conveyor belt 98 and can be reliably stuck to the conveyor belt 98.

[0093] Thereafter, the banknote 6 is conveyed by the conveyor belt 98 while adhering to the conveyor belt 98 (FIG. 32(a)). When the leading edge of the banknote 6 reaches the downstream end of the conveyor belt 98, the leading edge is sandwiched between the discharge roller 101 and the opposing discharge roller 102, and is discharged to the outside from the banknote discharge passage 107 (FIG. 32(b)).

[0094] On the other hand, in the past, as shown in Fig. 33, the conveyor belt 98B was extended to the vicinity of the passage opening 84 of the separation section 80, so that, in the case of a weak banknote 6, as shown in Fig. 33(a), the leading end of the banknote 6 would stick to the conveyor belt 98B immediately after it leaves the passage opening 84. Since the moving speed of the conveyor belt 98B is slower than the moving speed of the conveyor auxiliary body 16 caused by the air flow, the trailing end of the banknote 6 is pushed by the conveyor auxiliary body 16 before it reaches the separation section 80 and is captured, and the part that has not yet stuck to the conveyor belt 98B is gradually bent, etc. (see Fig. 33(b)).

[0095] Then, when the transport auxiliary body 16 reaches the holder 81 of the separator 80, the banknotes 6 are crushed, causing a banknote jam (FIG. 33(c)).

[0096] In the separation and recovery device 70 of this embodiment, ribs 110 and opposing ribs 112 are provided on the inner wall of the upstream part of the passage section 96, so that the banknotes 6 are prevented from sticking to the wall surface and the banknotes 6 move smoothly downstream, thereby preventing the occurrence of banknote jams as described above.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 34, the banknotes 6 discharged from the rear end of the inner unit 90 through the banknote discharge passage 107 then reach the banknote transport section 22 inside the safe 5, are clamped by the transport belt 120 of the banknote transport section 22, and are transported to the banknote storage section 21 and stored therein.

[0098] The conveying speed of the conveyor belt 120 on the banknote conveying section 22 side is set faster than the discharge speed of the banknotes 6 by the discharge rollers 101 and the opposing discharge rollers 102 of the inner unit 90 of the separation and collection device 70. Therefore, when the leading end side of the banknote 6 is sandwiched between the pair of conveyor belts 120 and the trailing end side is sandwiched between the discharge roller 101 and the opposing discharge roller 102, the banknote 6 is forcibly pulled out from between the discharge roller 101 and the opposing discharge roller 102. At this time, if the discharge roller 101 and the opposing discharge roller 102 sandwich the banknote 6 with too great a force, the banknote 6 may get jammed.

[0099] Therefore, when a certain level of pressure or more is applied, the discharge roller 101 and the counter discharge roller 102 are configured to separate. That is, as shown in Fig. 29, the discharge roller 101 is supported on the downstream part of a movable frame 99 whose upstream side is supported by an upstream rotating shaft 100b and whose downstream side is swingable, and a spring 108 is configured to press the downstream end of the movable frame 99 toward the counter discharge roller 102. As a result, when pressure is applied that forcibly pulls out the banknote 6 from between the discharge roller 101 and the counter discharge roller 102, the discharge roller 101 and the counter discharge roller 102 are displaced slightly in a direction away from each other, and the pressure is released, preventing the banknote from clogging.

[0100] In the separation and collection device 70, after the banknotes 6 are discharged from the rear end of the inner unit 90, the separation section 80 is driven by the first drive section 62 to rotate to the discharge position. When it reaches the discharge position, the transport auxiliary body 16 that it has been holding falls from the discharge port 86 on the bottom surface of the holding section 81 through the drop port 74 of the outer frame section 71 and the guide passage 61, and is received by the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40 and collected.

[0101] Since the inner unit 90 is removable from the outer frame portion 71, if the separation and recovery device 70 becomes clogged with banknotes 6, the inner unit 90 can be removed from the outer frame portion 71 and work can be performed. Even when the inner unit 90 is removed from the outer frame portion 71, banknotes 6 may be transported through the transport pipe 12 if the business is in operation. However, because a banknote suction prevention wall 77 is provided at the suction port 75 of the outer frame portion 71 to divide the opening into a small area, even if a banknote 6 arrives, the banknote 6 will not be sucked out from the suction port 75.

[0102] Next, the delivery aid inserting device 40 will be described.

[0103] 35 is an exploded perspective view of the conveying auxiliary inserting device 40. The conveying auxiliary inserting device 40 is configured to include a delivery passage 41 which is a passage for the conveying auxiliary 16 to be delivered to the conveying tube 12, a hollow waiting section 42 which is provided in communication with an opening in the side wall of the delivery passage 41 and in which the conveying auxiliary 16 to be delivered next from this opening into the delivery passage 41 is kept waiting, a movable storage section 43 which holds the conveying auxiliary 16 and is supported so as to be movable back and forth between the waiting section 42 and the delivery passage 41 through the opening in the side wall of the delivery passage 41, a second drive section 44 which gives the movable storage section 43 power for reciprocating movement, and a conveying tube connection port 45 to which the starting end of the conveying tube 12 is connected. The delivery passage 41 is configured by combining an upper delivery passage 41A and a lower delivery passage 41B.

[0104] The delivery passage 41 is a linear passage with a generally rectangular cross section, with one end connected to the conveying pipe 12 via a conveying pipe connection port 45 and the other end serving as a blowing passage connection port 46 to which the air blowing passage 14a of the air flow generating device 14 is connected. The delivery passage 41 is divided into an upper delivery passage 41A forming the upper surface of the passage and a lower delivery passage 41B forming the side wall and bottom surface of the passage. In the conveying auxiliary body insertion device 40, the conveying pipe connection port 45 side is the downstream side and the blowing passage connection port 46 side is the upstream side.

[0105] The movable storage section 43 has a holding section 43a having a bottom and a semi-cylindrical shape with a U-shaped cross section that extends vertically and is open at the top, and a support plate 43b (see Figs. 37 and 38) whose horizontal cross section is bent into a U-shape, and is attached by joining the side wall of the holding section 43a to the short side of the U-shape. At the base end of the support plate 43b (the terminal end of the long side of the U-shape), there is provided an axis protrusion 43d that protrudes upward and serves as the rotation center of the movable storage section 43, and an axis arm section 43e that is arranged coaxially with the axis protrusion 43d and protrudes downward.

[0106] The shaft projection 43d is inserted into a shaft hole 47 formed in the upper delivery passage 41A. The shaft arm portion 43e is inserted into a hole formed in the bottom surface of the lower delivery passage 41B and is connected to a second driving unit 44 provided below the delivery passage 41. The second driving unit 44 is composed of a solenoid, and by moving the actuator forward and backward, the movable storage unit 43 rotates around the shaft projection 43d and the shaft arm portion 43e. The movable storage unit 43 rotates between a waiting position (position in FIG. 36(a)) where the holding portion 43a is accommodated in the waiting portion 42 and a delivery position (position in FIG. 36(b)) where the holding portion 43a moves into the delivery passage 41 and faces the conveying pipe connection port 45.

[0107] The U-shaped arc portion of the holding portion 43a is curved with a diameter slightly larger than the large diameter portion 16c of the transport auxiliary body 16. The inner wall of the holding portion 43a is provided with a guide piece 43f that protrudes inward to hold the transport auxiliary body 16 in an upright position.

[0108] Also, a ventilation hole 43g is provided near the center of the U-shaped curved portion of the holding portion 43a. Furthermore, a ventilation hole 43h is provided on the long side of the U-shaped portion of the support plate 43b.

[0109] The lower end of the guide passage 61 is connected to the ceiling surface of the waiting section 42. When the movable storage section 43 is in the waiting position shown in Fig. 36(a), the holding section 43a receives and holds the transport auxiliary body 16 that has dropped through the guide passage 61 from the drop port 74 of the separation and recovery device 70.

[0110] The standby section 42 is provided with a transport auxiliary body sensor 48 that detects whether or not the transport auxiliary body 16 is waiting at the standby position. In this embodiment, a transmission type optical sensor is used as the transport auxiliary body sensor 48, which is arranged so that light is blocked by the transport auxiliary body 16 waiting at the standby position, but is not blocked when the transport auxiliary body 16 is not at the standby position.

[0111] An opening for connecting the duct 50 is provided in the wall surface of the waiting section 42. The duct 50 connects the waiting section 42 to the expansion chamber 73 of the separation and recovery device 70. Air flows from the waiting section 42 to the expansion chamber 73 of the separation and recovery device 70 through the duct 50.

[0112] As shown in Figures 36(a) and 37, when the holding part 43a of the movable storage part 43 is in the standby position, the long side part (Figure 37: 43b(1)) of the support plate 43b bent in a "V" shape is in contact with the side wall of the delivery passage 41, and the short side part (Figure 37: 43b(2)) closes the opening that connects the delivery passage 41 to the standby part 42. This prevents the airflow from the blow-out passage connection port 46 from being wasted through the duct 50 from the standby part 42, and allows the airflow to be efficiently sent to the conveying pipe 12. In addition, since the support plate 43b is in contact with the side wall of the delivery passage 41 in this state, the airflow from the blow-out passage connection port 46 flows sufficiently toward the conveying pipe connection port 45.

[0113] As shown in Figures 36(b) and 38, when the holding part 43a of the movable storage part 43 moves to the delivery position, the transport auxiliary body 16 held by the holding part 43a of the movable storage part 43 is moved so as to be positioned just inside the passage of the delivery passage 41. At this time, the air flow from the blow-out passage connection port 46 flows toward the transport pipe connection port 45 (downstream side) through the air blowing hole 43h provided in the support plate 43b and the air blowing hole 43g provided in the holding part 43a. The transport auxiliary body 16 is separated from the holding part 43a by this air flow and proceeds through the delivery passage 41, and is sent out from the transport pipe connection port 45 into the transport pipe 12.

[0114] In this way, in the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40, the transport auxiliary body 16 is moved from the standby position to the sending position by rotating the movable storage section 43 while being held in the holding section 43a of the movable storage section 43, so that the transport auxiliary body 16 can be sent out into the sending passage 41 while maintaining a stable posture.

[0115] Guide rails 49 protruding inward are provided on the left and right inner walls of the portion of the delivery passage 41 upstream of the retaining portion 43a at the delivery position, at positions that are extensions of the ribs 35 on the edge of the expansion portion 33 of the conveying pipe 12 connected to the conveying pipe connection port 45. The guide rails 49 are provided with an upper guide rail 49A, a middle guide rail 49B, and a lower guide rail 49C at positions corresponding to the neck portion 16b and the constricted portion 16d so as to sandwich each large diameter portion 16c of the conveying auxiliary body 16 from above and below (see Figures 35 and 37).

[0116] Among these, the middle guide rail 49B and the lower guide rail 49C are extended from the downstream end of the delivery passage 41 to just before the movable storage section 43 (holding section 43a) at the delivery position, and the upper guide rail 49A terminates shorter on the upstream side than the middle guide rail 49B and the lower guide rail 49C (see Figs. 35 and 37). An attitude correction mechanism 51 is provided on the upstream side of the shorter upper guide rail 49A at a position facing the middle guide rail 49B. Here, the attitude correction mechanism 51 is a circular rotating body that rotates along the delivery direction of the transport auxiliary body 16, and is rotatably supported by inserting a rotating shaft into a bearing hole 52 (see Fig. 35) provided in the side wall of the delivery passage 41. The attitude correction mechanism 51 is disposed so that its lowest point is slightly below the lower surface of the upper guide rail 49A.

[0117] The transport auxiliary body 16 sent out from the holding part 43a of the movable storage part 43 that has moved to the sending position may be sent out with a slightly out of position (tilted backward in this example) as shown in FIG. 39(a). The middle guide rail 49B and the lower guide rail 49C abut against the lower surface of the large diameter part 16c of the transport auxiliary body 16 to regulate the lower limit position of the transport auxiliary body 16. The upper surface of the large diameter part 16c on the upper side of the transport auxiliary body 16 abuts against the freely rotating posture correction mechanism 51, and proceeds while being guided by the rotation. As a result, as shown in FIG. 39(b), the posture of the transport auxiliary body 16 is gradually corrected to an upright state. The transport auxiliary body 16 that has attained the correct posture continues to proceed and is sent out toward the beginning of the transport tube 12 while the position of the large diameter part 16c is regulated between the upper guide rail 49A and the middle guide rail 49B, and between the middle guide rail 49B and the lower guide rail 49C, respectively.

[0118] Since the posture correction mechanism 51 is a freely rotating circular rotor, even if it comes into contact with the out-of-position transport auxiliary body 16, the transport auxiliary body 16 does not get caught and can smoothly correct its posture. In addition, since the lowest point of the posture correction mechanism 51 is located slightly below the lower surface of the upper guide rail 49A, after passing through the posture correction mechanism 51, the transport auxiliary body 16 can smoothly enter between the guide rails 49A to 49C and proceed while being positionally regulated without getting caught on the upstream end of the upper guide rail 49A.

[0119] Next, the operation of the banknote separation / transport auxiliary circulating device 11 will be described.

[0120] The banknote separation / transport auxiliary circulating device 11 operates under the control of a control unit 23 whose main components include a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. When the control unit 23 recognizes that a banknote 6 has been taken into the transport tube 12 by any of the banknote take-in devices 140 provided corresponding to each game ball dispensing machine 3 based on a detection signal from a sensor provided in the banknote take-in device 140, the control unit 23 checks whether the transport auxiliary 16 is waiting in the waiting section 42 of the transport auxiliary insertion device 40 based on a detection signal from the transport auxiliary sensor 48. In addition, the control unit 23 drives the separation / transport drive unit 64 to operate the transport belt 98 of the separation / recovery device 70.

[0121] Once it is confirmed that the transport auxiliary body 16 is waiting, the second drive unit 44 is operated to move the holding part 43a of the movable storage part 43 to the delivery position. Then, the transport auxiliary body 16 held by the holding part 43a of the movable storage part 43 is sent out into the transport pipe 12 via the delivery passage 41 by riding on the air flow from the air flow generating device 14.

[0122] After a predetermined time has elapsed, the control unit 23 controls the second drive unit 44 to move the holding unit 43a of the movable storage unit 43 to a standby position in the standby unit 42. The transport auxiliary body 16 sent out from the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40 moves inside the transport tube 12 by the air flow, and eventually comes into contact with the rear end of the banknote 6 taken into the transport tube 12 by the banknote take-in device 140, and pushes the banknote 6 from behind to transport it.

[0123] The control unit 23 monitors whether the transport auxiliary body 16 has reached and stopped at the holding portion 81 of the separation section 80 of the separation and recovery device 70 based on the detection signal from the transport auxiliary body detection sensor 63, and when it is confirmed that the transport auxiliary body 16 has reached and stopped, it activates the first drive unit 62 to move the holding portion 81 of the separation section 80 to the discharge position.

[0124] The transport auxiliary body 16 falls downward from the discharge port 86 of the holding part 81 moved to the discharge position, through the drop port 74 of the outer frame part 71 and the guide passage 61, into the waiting part 42, and is received and held by the holding part 43a of the movable storage part 43. When the control part 23 confirms from the output signal of the transport auxiliary body sensor 48 that the transport auxiliary body 16 is waiting at the waiting position of the waiting part 42, it operates the first drive part 62 to move the holding part 81 of the separation part 80 to the collection position. This completes one operation sequence related to the circulatory use of the transport auxiliary body 16 by the banknote separation / transport auxiliary body circulating device 11.

[0125] The banknotes 6 separated by the separation / recovery device 70 are stored in the banknote storage unit 21 in the safe 5 as described above.

[0126] In this way, in the banknote separation / transport auxiliary body circulating device 11, one transport auxiliary body 16 can be cyclically used in the paper sheet transport device 10. Also, since the cyclical use of the transport auxiliary body 16 and the operation of separating and collecting the banknotes 6 are automatically controlled as described above, the workload is reduced.

[0127] Next, the bill feeder 140 will be described.

[0128] Fig. 40 is a perspective view of the banknote feeder 140, Fig. 41 is a front view showing the banknote feeder 140 and the transport tube 12 connected thereto, and Fig. 42 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the banknote feeder 140. The banknote feeder 140 has a cylindrical passage section 141 to which the transport tubes 12 are connected at both ends and which forms part of the transport path (return path 12c), and a main body section 143 equipped with a mechanism for sending out banknotes 6 into the passage section 141. Arrow F in the figure indicates the transport direction (direction of air flow) of banknotes 6 in the transport tube 12 and the passage section 141.

[0129] 41, 44, and 45, the conveying pipe 12 (12c) is connected to both ends of a passage portion 141 of the banknote feeder 140, and the passage portion 141 forms a part of the conveying path (return path 12c). The passage portion 141 has an inner shape corresponding to the inner shape of the conveying pipe 12.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 42, the main body 143 of the bill take-in device 140 includes a waiting passage 145 for waiting the bills 6 received from the game ball dispenser 3, and a transport roller 146 for sending the bills 6 received from the game ball dispenser 3 into the passage 141 through the waiting passage 145. The bill take-in device 140 includes a bill receiving port 151 for receiving the bills 6 discharged from the rear side of the game ball dispenser 3. The bill receiving port 151 is an entrance to the waiting passage 145. The bill take-in device 140 can wait one bill 6 in the waiting passage 145. The transport roller 146 is driven by a motor (not shown).

[0131] An insertion port 144 for taking in banknotes 6 into the passage section 141 is provided on the wall surface of the passage section 141 as an outlet of the standby passage 145. A passage frame 147 forming the wall surface of the passage section 141 facing the wall surface on which the insertion port 144 is provided is detachable by a nylon latch 148 or the like. The passage frame 147 is detachable to deal with cases in which banknotes 6 become clogged in the passage section 141 of the banknote take-in device 140.

[0132] In order to deal with a case where a banknote 6 becomes jammed in the waiting passage 145 of the banknote feeder 140, a side wall of the main body 143 is formed as an openable / closable door 149 as shown in Fig. 43. The openable door 149 constitutes one of the passage walls of the waiting passage 145.

[0133] A part of the bottom of the bill feeder 140 protrudes downward, and this part forms a seat 150 that fits into a recess 174 of a base 170 described later.

[0134] Next, support of the transfer pipe 12 by the auxiliary frame 160 will be described.

[0135] Fig. 44 is an exploded view of the transport path supported by auxiliary frame 160, and Fig. 45 shows the assembled state of the parts in Fig. 44. Auxiliary frame 160 has a shape in which grooves 162 with an upward U-shaped cross section extending along the longitudinal direction of flat portion 161 are provided at both ends in the width direction of elongated plate-like flat portion 161, and is highly rigid.

[0136] The auxiliary frame 160 is made to the required length by connecting pieces of an appropriate length with connecting members 164. The connecting member 164 is an elongated, highly rigid flat plate that is slightly narrower than the flat portion 161 of the auxiliary frame 160, and the central portion in the longitudinal direction forms a slightly wider locking portion 164a. The auxiliary frame 160 is provided with protrusions 163 that protrude from grooves 162 at both ends in the width direction of the auxiliary frame 160 toward the center in the width direction of the auxiliary frame 160 so that gaps 163a into which the connecting members 164 are inserted are formed along the back side of the flat portion 161.

[0137] One end of the connecting member 164 is pushed into the gap 163a at the end of one of the auxiliary frames 160 to be joined until approximately half of the locking portion 164a enters the gap 163a, and then the other end of the connecting member 164 is pushed into the gap 163a at the end of the other auxiliary frame 160 to be joined until the remaining half of the locking portion 164a enters and the two auxiliary frames 160 are connected without any gaps, thereby connecting the two auxiliary frames 160. By pushing in the slightly wider locking portion 164a, the connecting member 164 does not easily come out of the gap 163a of the auxiliary frames 160, so the connection is strong.

[0138] The auxiliary frame 160 connected in this manner is spanned along the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 2 within the gaming machine island 2, and as shown in Figure 50, the ends of the auxiliary frame 160 are fixed to the inside of the end panel of the gaming machine island 2 with mounting brackets 166.

[0139] A base portion 170 is attached to the upper surface side of the auxiliary frame 160, which is capable of sliding freely along the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary frame 160. The lower part of the banknote feeding device 140 is placed on the base portion 170 to hold the banknote feeding device 140 from below.

[0140] Fig. 46 is a perspective view of pedestal portion 170, and Fig. 47 is a six-view diagram of pedestal portion 170. The lower part of pedestal portion 170 is an outer fitting portion 171 formed in a downward U-shape so as to straddle auxiliary frame 160 from the upper surface side of said auxiliary frame 160. In addition, the lower part of pedestal portion 170 is provided with claw portions 172 which extend downward along the outsides of groove portions 162 at both ends in the width direction of auxiliary frame 160 and are hooked onto the lower ends of said groove portions 162.

[0141] A recess 174 is provided on the upper surface side of the base 170, into which the lower part (seat 150) of the banknote feeder 140 is fitted to support the banknote feeder 140 from below. The recess 174 is composed of a wall 174a erected from the upper surface of the base 170 so as to surround the seat 150 of the banknote feeder 140. A connector 153 (see FIG. 41) is provided on the lower surface of the banknote feeder 140 for connecting wiring to the motor and sensor of the banknote feeder 140, and a cutout 175 is provided on the upper surface of the base 170 to allow the connector 153 and the wiring to the connector 153 to escape.

[0142] The base portion 170 straddles the upper surface of the auxiliary frame 160 and is attached by hooking the claw portion 172 onto the lower end of the groove portion 162 of the auxiliary frame 160, so that it can freely slide in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary frame 160 but will not easily come off the auxiliary frame 160.

[0143] Figure 48 shows the hook member 180. Figure 48(a) is a perspective view of the hook member 180, and Figure 48(b) is a side view. Figure 49 shows the hook member 180 hooked onto the auxiliary frame 160 and holding the conveying tube 12 with the hook member 180.

[0144] The hook member 180 has a hook portion 181 that is hooked into the groove portion 162 of the auxiliary frame 160, and an arm portion 182 that extends downward from the hook portion 181. The lower portion of the arm portion 182 is bent to form an upward U-shaped holding portion 182a. As shown in Figure 49, the hook member 180 is hung from the auxiliary frame 160 with the hook portion 181 hooked into the groove portion 162 of the auxiliary frame 160, and the conveying pipe 12 is held below the auxiliary frame 160 by being embraced by the arm portion 182 of the hung hook member 180.

[0145] 51 shows a mounting bracket 190 as a holding member attached to the upper back surface of the game ball dispensing machine 3 to hold the bill take-in device 140 and the auxiliary frame 160. FIG. 51(a) shows a side view of the mounting bracket 190. FIG. 51(b) is a perspective view of the mounting bracket 190. The mounting bracket 190 includes a base portion 191 having a vertically elongated channel structure attached to the back surface of the game ball dispensing machine 3, an upper arm portion 192 extending horizontally from the upper end portion of the base portion 191, and a lower arm portion 193 extending horizontally from the lower end portion of the base portion 191 in the same direction as the upper arm portion 192 and longer than the upper arm portion 192.

[0146] A bill feeder holding metal fitting 194 for holding an upper part of the bill feeder 140 is attached to the upper arm portion 192 so as to be horizontally slidable along the upper arm portion 192 for position adjustment. Also, an auxiliary frame holding metal fitting 195 for holding the auxiliary frame 160 is attached to the lower arm portion 193 so as to be horizontally slidable along the lower arm portion 193 for position adjustment.

[0147] Fig. 52(a) shows the mounting bracket 190 fixed to the back of the game ball dispensing machine 3. Fig. 52(b) shows the state in which the bill feeder 140 and the auxiliary frame 160 are attached to the mounting bracket 190 in comparison with Fig. 52(a). Fig. 53 is a perspective view showing the state in which the bill feeder 140 and the auxiliary frame 160 are attached to the mounting bracket 190 fixed to the back of the game ball dispensing machine 3.

[0148] The mounting bracket 190 is attached to the upper part of the back surface of the game ball dispensing machine 3 so that the base portion 191 is vertical along the back surface of the game ball dispensing machine 3 and the upper arm portion 192 and the lower arm portion 193 protrude from the back surface of the game ball dispensing machine 3 in the direction in which the back surface faces (which is also the width direction of the game machine island 2 and the width direction of the auxiliary frame 160). The auxiliary frame 160 is held by the auxiliary frame holding bracket 195 at the bottom of the mounting bracket 190. Even if the installation positions of the game ball dispensing machines 3 in the width direction of the game machine island 2 are not uniform, the auxiliary frame 160 can be extended straight in the longitudinal direction of the game machine island 2 by adjusting the attachment position of the auxiliary frame holding bracket 195 relative to the lower arm portion 193.

[0149] In this way, the base 170 is attached to the upper surface side of the auxiliary frame 160 that is extended straight in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 2, and the bill feeder 140 is placed on the base 170. In detail, the bill feeder 140 is placed on the base 170 by fitting the seat 150 of the bill feeder 140 into the recess 174 of the base 170. Next, the bill feeder 140 is slid together with the base 170 to align the bill input port of the bill feeder 140 and the bill output port on the back of the gaming ball dispenser 3 so that they are connected, and in this aligned state, the bill feeder 140 is fixed by the bill feeder holding bracket 194 on the upper arm 192 side of the mounting bracket 190. At this time, the bill feeder holding metal fittings 194 are slid relative to the upper arm portion 192 to adjust the position of the bill feeder holding metal fittings 194 relative to the bill feeder 140 and then fixed.

[0150] Since the base portion 170 slides along the auxiliary frame 160 in this manner, the position of the bill feeder 140 can be easily adjusted so that the bill insertion port of the bill feeder 140 is connected to the bill ejection port on the back of the game ball dispensing machine 3. Also, since the bill feeder 140 can be attached to the bill feeder holding bracket 194 of the upper arm portion 192 of the mounting bracket 190 while placed on the base portion 170, the bill feeder 140, which is relatively heavy, can be easily attached.

[0151] Furthermore, the bill feeder 140 is firmly fixed, with its upper portion held by the bill feeder holding bracket 194 on the upper arm portion 192 side of the mounting bracket 190 and its lower portion held by the base portion 170. In particular, since the lower portion of the bill feeder 140 is held by the base portion 170 attached to the highly rigid auxiliary frame 160 extending straight within the gaming machine island 2, the mounting position of the bill feeder 140 is prevented from shifting in the width direction of the auxiliary frame 60. As a result, the return path 12c of the conveying tube 12 can be installed and maintained straight in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 2.

[0152] More specifically, in the case of a double-sided island, a bill taking device 140 is provided corresponding to each of the game ball dispensing machine 3 on the front side and the game ball dispensing machine 3 on the back side, but for convenience of construction, as shown in Figure 53, only the bill taking device 140A corresponding to one side is fixed to the back of the game ball dispensing machine 3 with mounting bracket 190, and the bill taking device 140B corresponding to the other side is not held by the mounting bracket 190, but is supported by the front and rear conveying tubes 12 and the lower seat portion 150 of the bill taking device 140 being held by the base portion 170.

[0153] Here, if the base 170 did not support the banknote feeder 140B from below, the banknote feeder 140B would be pushed in the direction of the arrow K in the figure (the width direction of the game machine island 2) from the back of the game ball dispensing machine 3, making it difficult to maintain the conveyance path straight in the conveyance direction F. However, in this embodiment, the base 170 supported by the highly rigid auxiliary frame 160 holds the lower part of the banknote feeder 140B, preventing the banknote feeder 140B from displacing in the direction of the arrow K and allowing the conveyance path to be maintained so as to extend straight along the auxiliary frame 160.

[0154] The auxiliary frame 160 attached to the auxiliary frame holding bracket 195 on the lower arm 193 side of the mounting bracket 190 has the above-mentioned hook member 180 attached thereto, and the outgoing path 12a of the conveying tube 12 is held below the auxiliary frame 160 by the hook member 180. In this way, the auxiliary frame 160 has both the role of holding the banknote feeder 140 on its upper surface side and the role of holding the outgoing path 12a of the conveying tube 12 below, so that the conveying path can be supported efficiently. In addition, the hook member 180 can also slide along the auxiliary frame 160, so that the attachment position can be freely selected and can be provided at a position that is easy to attach.

[0155] 54, the base 170 is configured to hold only the seat 150 at the bottom of the banknote feeder 140, and not to come into contact with the passage frame 147 or the opening / closing door 149. This allows the passage frame 147 to be attached and detached and the opening / closing door 149 to be opened and closed while the banknote feeder 140 is in the installed state, facilitating the work of removing jammed banknotes 6 inside the banknote feeder 140. Also, since the wiring and connector 53 to the banknote feeder 140 are allowed to escape through the cutout 175 of the seat 170, the banknote feeder 140 can be placed on the recess 174 of the base 170 without the connector 153 or wiring getting in the way.

[0156] Next, the adjustment of the air volume of the airflow generating device 14 will be described.

[0157] The control unit 23 of the paper sheet transport device 10 adjusts the strength of the air flow generated by the air flow generating device 14 (hereinafter referred to as the air volume of the air flow generating device 14) according to the position of the transport auxiliary body 16 moving inside the transport tube 12. This prevents damage to the transport auxiliary body 16 and provides more stable movement of the transport auxiliary body 16 and more stable transport of the banknotes 6.

[0158] Fig. 55 is a diagram showing the relationship between each location on the transport path and the amount of airflow, and Fig. 56 is a graph showing the amount of airflow at each timing when the transport auxiliary body 16 collects the banknotes 6.

[0159] Here, the air volume of the airflow generating device 14 is controlled to five levels: OFF, level 1, level 2, level 3, and level 4. The air volumes have the following relationship: OFF<level 1<level 2<level 3<level 4, and OFF is a state in which the airflow generating device 14 is stopped.

[0160] As shown in Figures 55 and 56, section A, where the air volume is controlled to level 1, is the portion between the outbound path 12a and the turn section 12b. Section B, where the air volume is controlled to level 4, is the portion from leaving the turn section 12b to a predetermined point midway along the return path 12c (about halfway along the return path 12c in this example). Section C, where the air volume is controlled to level 3, is the portion of the return path 12c downstream of section B. Section D, where the air volume is controlled to level 2, is the portion where the transport auxiliary body 16 reaches the separation and recovery device 70 and is separated from the banknotes 6.

[0161] The control unit 23 controls the air volume of the airflow generating device 14 in the following sequence.

[0162] (1) When no bills 6 are waiting in the bill feeder 140, the air flow generating device 14 is stopped (during the idle period in FIG. 56).

[0163] (2) When a banknote 6 is waiting in any of the banknote feeding devices 140, the control unit 23 instructs the banknote feeding device 140 to send the banknote 6 into the conveying tube 12, and starts the operation of the airflow generating device 14, controlling the air volume to level 1 (the Carry1 period in Figure 56).

[0164] (3) The transport aid insertion device 40 moves the transport aid 16 waiting in the waiting section 42 to the delivery passage 41, and performs a transport aid discharging process in which the transport aid 16 is sent into the transport pipe 12 by wind. While this transport aid discharging process is being performed, the control section 23 controls the air volume to the same level 1 as above (the period of Carry2 in FIG. 56). The transport aid discharging process is completed at time T1 in FIG. 56.

[0165] (4) From the time the transport auxiliary body 16 is sent out into the transport pipe 12 until it passes through the outward path 12a and the turn section 12b of the transport pipe 12, the control unit 23 controls the air volume to the same level 1 as above (the period from T1 to T2 in Figure 56, section A in Figure 55).

[0166] In addition, since the length of the period from T1 to T2 (referred to as the post-release suppression time) differs depending on the length of the gaming machine island 2, i.e., the length of the outward path 12a of the conveying pipe 12, the post-release suppression time is set for each gaming machine island 2. The control unit 23 maintains the air volume at level 1 from when the conveying auxiliary body 16 is sent into the conveying pipe 12 by the conveying auxiliary body inserting device 40 until the above-mentioned set post-release suppression time has elapsed.

[0167] If the conveying auxiliary body 16 hits the inner wall of the turn section 12b or the like and receives an impact when the air volume is strong (for example, level 4), the conveying auxiliary body 16 may be damaged. Therefore, by controlling the air volume to level 1 (weak) at least until it passes through the turn section 12b, the impact at the turn section 12b is softened and damage to the conveying auxiliary body 16 is prevented. Furthermore, until it passes through the turn section 12b, the conveying auxiliary body 16 moves independently and does not push the banknotes 6, so that even with a weak air volume of level 1, the conveying auxiliary body 16 moves smoothly inside the conveying pipe 12 and does not get clogged along the way.

[0168] (5) After the transport auxiliary body 16 passes through the turning section 12b, the control section 23 controls the airflow to level 4 until the transport auxiliary body 16 reaches a predetermined distance before the separation and recovery device 70 at the end of the return path 12c (T2 to T3 in FIG. 56, section B in FIG. 55). Since the transport auxiliary body 16 pushes and moves the banknotes 6 while moving along the return path 12c, the airflow is increased during this period.

[0169] (6) When the transport auxiliary body 16 reaches a predetermined distance before the separation and recovery device 70 (T3 in FIG. 56), the control unit 23 controls the air volume to be reduced to level 3. By reducing the air volume from level 4 to level 3 a predetermined distance before the separation and recovery device 70, the transport auxiliary body 16 is decelerated, and the speed of the transport auxiliary body 16 when it reaches the holding section 81 of the separation section 80 of the separation and recovery device 70 is reduced.

[0170] If the speed of the transport auxiliary body 16 is not reduced, the impact of the transport auxiliary body 16 colliding with the holding section 81 will be large, and the transport auxiliary body 16 may be damaged. In addition, the banknotes 6 may be pushed by the transport auxiliary body 16 and folded, causing a jam inside the separation and recovery device 70. To prevent these, the speed at which the transport auxiliary body 16 reaches the holding section 81 of the separation and recovery device 70 is reduced. Note that even if the airflow generating device 14 is adjusted, the air volume and the speed of the transport auxiliary body 16 do not change suddenly, so the air volume is reduced a predetermined distance before the transport auxiliary body 16 reaches the holding section 81 of the separation and recovery device 70.

[0171] The time from when the air volume is reduced from level 4 to level 3 until the transport auxiliary body 16 reaches the holding section 81 of the separation and recovery device 70 is defined as the pre-storage suppression time. The pre-storage suppression time is constant regardless of the length of the gaming machine island 2 (the length of the return path 12c).

[0172] The time required for the transport auxiliary body 16 to reach a predetermined distance before the holding section 81 of the separation and recovery device 70 (the time from T1 to T3 in FIG. 56) after it is sent into the transport pipe 12 by the transport auxiliary body inserting device 40 varies depending on the length of the gaming machine island 2 (the length of the transport pipe 12, i.e., the length of section A + section B), so this time is measured and stored in advance. Then, the control section 23 switches the air volume to level 3 when the above-mentioned required time has elapsed after the transport auxiliary body 16 was sent into the transport pipe 12 by the transport auxiliary body inserting device 40 (T3 in FIG. 56).

[0173] (7) After that, when the transport auxiliary body 16 reaches and is held in the holding section 81 of the separation and recovery device 70, the control section 23 reduces the air volume to level 2 (T4 in FIG. 56). Here, the transport auxiliary body detection mask time is set to a value obtained by adding a predetermined margin of time to the time required for the transport auxiliary body 16 to reach the holding section 81 of the separation and recovery device 70 after being pushed out into the transport auxiliary body 12 by the transport auxiliary body inserting device 40. The transport auxiliary body detection mask time differs depending on the length of the game machine island 2 (the length of the transport pipe 12, i.e., the length of section A + section B + section C), and is therefore set for each game machine island 2.

[0174] After the transport auxiliary 16 is sent into the transport tube 12 by the transport auxiliary insertion device 40, the control unit 23 does not perform an operation corresponding to the detection result of the transport auxiliary 16 by the transport auxiliary detection sensor 63 until the transport auxiliary detection mask time has elapsed, and performs an operation corresponding to the detection result of the transport auxiliary 16 by the transport auxiliary detection sensor 63 from the point in time when the transport auxiliary detection mask time has elapsed. The reason why the control unit 23 does not perform an operation corresponding to the detection result of the transport auxiliary 16 by the transport auxiliary detection sensor 63 until the transport auxiliary detection mask time has elapsed is that the banknote 6 alone may move in the transport tube 12 due to the air flow before the transport auxiliary 16, and if the transport auxiliary detection sensor 63 erroneously detects the banknote 6 as the transport auxiliary 16, it will cause a problem in the subsequent operation.

[0175] If the transport auxiliary 16 reaches the separation and recovery device 70 and is held in the holding section 81 before the transport auxiliary detection mask time has elapsed, the control section 23 maintains the air volume at level 3 until the transport auxiliary detection mask time has elapsed, and when the transport auxiliary detection mask time has elapsed, switches the air volume to level 2 in response to the detection of the transport auxiliary 16 by the transport auxiliary detection sensor 63. On the other hand, if the transport auxiliary 16 is not held in the holding section 81 of the separation and recovery device 70 before the transport auxiliary detection mask time has elapsed (if the transport auxiliary detection sensor 63 does not detect the transport auxiliary 16), it monitors whether the transport auxiliary 16 reaches the holding section 81 of the separation and recovery device 70 within a predetermined period (monitoring period, for example, 5 seconds) after the transport auxiliary detection mask time has elapsed.

[0176] If the transport auxiliary body 16 is not held in the holding section 81 of the separation and recovery device 70 during the monitoring period (the transport auxiliary body detection sensor 63 does not detect the transport auxiliary body 16), it is determined that the transport auxiliary body 16 is clogged in the transport pipe 12, and the air flow generating device 14 is temporarily stopped (to remove the air flow load and release the clog if the transport auxiliary body 16 or banknotes 6 have been pushed by the air flow and are clogged), and the air volume is then increased to level 4 (for the same period as section B) and the air flow generating device 14 is driven. If the transport auxiliary body detection sensor 63 does not detect the transport auxiliary body 16, a transport auxiliary body clog error is reported and the air flow generating device 14 is stopped.

[0177] If the transport auxiliary body 16 is held in the holding section 81 of the separation and recovery device 70 during the monitoring period (if the transport auxiliary body detection sensor 63 detects the transport auxiliary body 16), the control section 23 switches the air volume to level 2 without waiting for the end of the monitoring period.

[0178] The period (T1 to T4) from when the transport auxiliary body 16 is sent into the transport pipe 12 until the transport auxiliary body 16 reaches the holding section 81 of the separation and recovery device 70 and the air volume is switched to level 2 is defined as Carry3.

[0179] (8) When the banknotes 6 separated and collected by the separation and collection device 70 exit from the rear end of the inner unit 90 and are delivered to the banknote storage unit 22, the control unit 23 turns off the air flow generating device 14. The period from when the air volume is reduced to level 2 to when the air flow generating device 14 is stopped is designated as Carry4. Note that the fact that the banknotes 6 have exited from the rear end of the inner unit 90 and been delivered to the banknote storage unit 22 is detected by a separation and collection unit outlet sensor 122 provided at the entrance of the banknote transport unit 22 (see FIG. 34).

[0180] Next, the relationship between the separation and recovery operation by the separation and recovery device 70 and the air flow will be described.

[0181] 57 is a graph showing the air volume at each timing of the operation of recovering the banknotes 6 by the transport auxiliary body 16 and the operation timing of the separation and recovery device 70. The operation follows the sequence of [a] to [d] below.

[0182] [a] In Fig. 57, the operation from Idle to the end of Carry3 is the same as in Fig. 56, and the description thereof will be omitted. During the period from Idle to the end of Carry3, the operation of the separation and recovery device 70 is stopped. Note that in Fig. 57, it is assumed that the transport auxiliary body 16 reaches the holding portion 81 of the separation and recovery device 70 before the transport auxiliary body detection mask time has elapsed.

[0183] [b] As explained in (7) above, when the transport auxiliary body 16 is held in the holding portion 81 of the separation and recovery device 70 and the transport auxiliary body detection sensor 63 of the separation and recovery device 70 detects the transport auxiliary body 16 (T4 in Figure 57), the control unit 23 switches the airflow of the air flow generating device 14 to level 2.

[0184] Furthermore, after a predetermined time (e.g., 3 seconds) has elapsed since control to reduce the air volume to level 2 was started (T5 in FIG. 57), the separation / conveyance drive unit 64 of the inner unit 90 of the separation / recovery device 70 drives the conveyor belt 98. The banknotes 6 in the inner unit 90 stick to the conveyor belt 98 due to the action of the airflow sucked in from the suction port 75, and are conveyed by the conveyor belt 98 towards the rear end of the inner unit 90 (see FIG. 31, etc.). The strength of the airflow sucked in from the suction port 75 depends on the air volume of the airflow generating device 14.

[0185] Even if the airflow generating device 14 is controlled to lower the airflow to level 2, there is a time lag before the airflow actually decreases, so if the separation and conveyance drive unit 64 drives the conveyor belt 98 immediately after the conveyor auxiliary body 16 is detected by the conveyor auxiliary detection sensor 63, the banknotes 6 will stick to the conveyor belt 98 without the airflow being reduced. If the airflow is strong, the banknotes 6 will stick too tightly to the conveyor belt 98, and if the banknotes 6 are conveyed by the conveyor belt 98 in this state, a banknote jam may occur in the inner unit 90, as in the case described in FIG. 33.

[0186] Therefore, the conveyor belt 98 starts to be driven after a predetermined time (here, 3 seconds) has elapsed (T5 in FIG. 57) (T4: after the air volume is controlled to level 2) after the conveyor auxiliary detection sensor 63 of the separation / recovery device 70 detects the conveyor auxiliary 16. By waiting for the predetermined time, the air volume is sufficiently decelerated, so that the banknotes 6 stuck to the conveyor belt 98 with an appropriate strength are conveyed. This prevents the banknotes 6 from sticking too strongly to the conveyor belt 98, and prevents banknote jamming in the inner unit 90.

[0187] [c] As explained in (8) above, when the banknotes 6 separated and collected by the separation and collection device 70 exit the rear end of the inner unit 90 and are delivered to the banknote storage unit 22, the control unit 23 turns off the air flow generating device 14 (T6 in FIG. 57). The period from T4 to T6 is referred to as Carry4.

[0188] More specifically, when the separation / collection unit outlet sensor 122 (see FIG. 34) provided at the entrance of the banknote transport unit 22 detects a banknote 6, the airflow generating device 14 is stopped. Furthermore, after a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) has elapsed (T7 in FIG. 57) since the separation / collection unit outlet sensor 122 detected the banknote 6, the operation of transporting the transport auxiliary body 16 held in the holding unit 81 of the separation / collection unit 70 to the standby unit 42 of the transport auxiliary body inserting device 40 is started. In FIG. 57, at T8, the transport auxiliary body 16 reaches the standby unit 42 of the transport auxiliary body inserting device 40 and the transport is completed. The period from T6 to T8 is designated as Carry5.

[0189] When the separation / collection unit outlet sensor 122 detects a banknote 6, the airflow generating device 14 is stopped, but the air volume does not suddenly disappear even when the airflow generating device 14 is stopped. Therefore, if the separation unit 80 of the separation / collection device 70 is rotated from the collection position where the holding unit 81 faces the end of the transport tube 12 to the discharge position inside the extension chamber 73 immediately after the airflow generating device 14 is stopped, as shown in Fig. 58, wind will rise from the waiting unit 42 of the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40 through the guide passage 61 to the discharge position inside the extension chamber 73, causing the transport auxiliary body 16 to float up instead of falling into the waiting unit 42, resulting in a blockage of the transport auxiliary body 16.

[0190] Therefore, the transport auxiliary body 16 starts moving after a predetermined time (here, 2 seconds) has elapsed since the time when the separation / collection unit outlet sensor 122 detects the banknotes 6 (the time when the airflow generating device 14 is stopped, T6 in FIG. 57). As a result, the holding part 81 of the separation unit 80 of the separation / collection device 70 rotates from the collection position to the discharge position while the wind is stopped, so that the transport auxiliary body 16 reliably returns to the standby part 42, and clogging of the transport auxiliary body 16 can be prevented.

[0191] [d] The driving of the conveyor belt 98 by the separation and conveyance drive unit 64 of the inner unit 90 is stopped when the banknote 6 has been discharged from the banknote conveyance unit 22 to the banknote storage unit 21 without being jammed on the way (T9 in FIG. 57). Specifically, in addition to the separation and collection unit outlet sensor 122 of the banknote conveyance unit 22, a banknote conveyance path sensor that detects a jam of the banknote on the way of the banknote conveyance path of the banknote conveyance unit 22, a banknote conveyance outlet sensor that is located near the banknote outlet of the banknote conveyance unit 22 and detects that the banknote has been discharged from the banknote conveyance unit 22, and the like are provided. Based on the detection of the banknote 6 by these sensors, when it is confirmed that the banknote 6 has been discharged from the banknote conveyance unit 22 to the banknote storage unit 21 without being jammed on the way, the control unit 23 stops the driving of the conveyor belt 98 by the separation and conveyance drive unit 64 of the inner unit 90.

[0192] When the transport auxiliary body 16 has been transferred to the standby section 42 of the transport auxiliary body inserting device 40, the next banknote 6 may already be waiting in the banknote take-in device 140, in which case the control section 23 continuously starts the sending process of the next transport auxiliary body 16. Therefore, when the operation (Carry1) related to the next transport auxiliary body 16 is started, the banknote 6 may not yet be discharged from the banknote transport section 22 to the banknote storage section 21, in which case the drive of the transport belt 98 by the separation transport drive section 64 of the inner unit 90 continues until the first period of Carr1 related to the next transport auxiliary body 16.

[0193] After that, the process returns to [a] and the above operations are repeated.

[0194] Next, the relationship between the materials of the conveying auxiliary body 16 and the turn portion 12b of the conveying pipe 12 will be described.

[0195] The turn portion 12b is made of a material that is not easily scraped (for example, PC: polycarbonate), and the conveying auxiliary body 16 is made of a material that is easily scraped (for example, ABS: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).

[0196] When the transport auxiliary 16 passes through the turn portion 12b, the transport auxiliary 16 and the turn portion 12b are scraped by the impact of the transport auxiliary 16 hitting the turn portion 12b. In this case, by making the turn portion 12b out of a material that is less likely to be scraped than the transport auxiliary 16, the turn portion 12b becomes less likely to be scraped, and the frequency of replacement of the turn portion 12b, which is a difficult task, can be reduced. In addition, if the turn portion 12b becomes less likely to be scraped, the state in which the transport auxiliary 16 is appropriately guided by the turn portion 12b can be maintained for a long time, so clogging of the transport auxiliary 16 can be prevented. Since the transport auxiliary 16 is easy to replace, there is no problem if the transport auxiliary 16 is made of a material that is more easily scraped than the turn portion 12b. The material may be any material that is more easily scraped than the transport auxiliary 16.

[0197] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and the present invention also includes modifications and additions that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0198] In the embodiment, three conveyor belts 98 are used, but any other number of belts may be used. Also, if a belt that can ensure breathability, such as a conveyor belt with many air holes or a mesh-like conveyor belt, is used, a single wide belt may be used.

[0199] In the embodiment, in the inner unit 90 of the separation and recovery device 70, a rib 110 is provided in approximately the upstream half of the passage section 96, and the conveying belt 98 is stretched downstream of this rib 110. However, it is sufficient that the rib 110 prevents the banknotes 6 from sticking in the upstream area of ​​the passage section 96, and the banknotes 6 stick to the conveying belt in the downstream area of ​​this rib 110. For example, the conveying belt 98 may also be provided in the upstream portion, and the rib 110 may be configured to protrude above the conveying belt in this upstream portion or to cover the conveying belt.

[0200] Furthermore, although the inner unit 90 is configured to be insertable into and detachable from the outer frame portion 71, the outer frame portion 71 and the inner unit 90 may be configured as one unit.

[0201] In the embodiment, the passage 96 is configured to be the shortest, being slightly longer than the length of the banknotes 6 in the transport direction, but the passage 96 may be longer. Even in this case, the distance L2 from the upstream end of the passage 96 (near the passage opening 84 of the separation unit 80) to the transport belt 98 may be the length exemplified in Fig. 23 or in the range of about one-third to four-fifths of the length of the banknotes 6 in the transport direction.

[0202] The number of ribs 110 and facing ribs 112 provided on the inner unit 90 is merely an example, and may be increased or decreased.

[0203] In the embodiment, the separation and recovery device 70 is stacked above the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40 to form an integrated banknote separation and transport auxiliary body circulating device 11, but the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40 and the separation and recovery device 70 may be configured as separate entities. For example, the transport auxiliary bodies 16 recovered by the separation and recovery device 70 may be collected in a recovery box or the like, and the recovery box may be carried to an installation location of the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40, and the transport auxiliary bodies 16 may be sequentially sent from the recovery box to a standby position of the transport auxiliary body insertion device 40.

[0204] Furthermore, the gaming machine island 2 is not limited to a configuration accommodating the pachinko machines 4 and gaming ball dispensing machines 3 as exemplified in the embodiment, but may be a gaming machine island accommodating medal dispensing machines and slot machines, etc.

[0205] In the embodiment, the separation and recovery device 70 is displaced between the recovery position and the discharge position by rotating the separation unit 80, but the displacement method is not limited to rotation, and it is sufficient if the transport auxiliary body 16 stopped in contact can be discharged from the transport path by the air flow to the outside. For example, the separation unit 80 holding the transport auxiliary body 16 stopped at the recovery position may be moved linearly to the side. Similarly, the method of moving the transport auxiliary body 16 waiting in the standby unit 42 to the delivery passage 41 is not limited to rotating the holding unit 43a of the movable storage unit 43, and it may be configured to move the transport auxiliary body 16 back and forth linearly between the standby unit 42 and the delivery passage 41.

[0206] The shapes of the auxiliary frame 160, the base portion 170, and the hook member 180 are not limited to those exemplified in the embodiment, and may be other shapes as long as they fulfill their respective functions.

[0207] The hook members 180 may be hung by being hooked on both the grooves 162 on one side and the grooves 162 on the other side of the auxiliary frame 160, thereby holding the conveying tube 12 (the outward path 12a) from both the front and back sides.

[0208] The shape of the transport auxiliary body 16 is not limited to that shown in the embodiment. For example, it may be a columnar shape with a rectangular or polygonal cross section. Although the transport auxiliary body 16 is symmetrical with respect to the center in the Y direction, it may be asymmetrical in the Y direction.

[0209] In the embodiment, an example has been shown in which the timing for changing the air volume at the boundaries between Section A and Section B, and Section B and Section C, etc. is managed by the elapsed time from the completion of the release process of the transport auxiliary body 16. However, a sensor such as an optical sensor that detects the passage of the transport auxiliary body 16 may be provided at an appropriate position on the transport pipe 12, and the position of the transport auxiliary body 16 may be recognized based on the detection of the transport auxiliary body 16 by the sensor, and the air volume may be controlled at the desired timing.

[0210] In the embodiment, the paper sheets are described by taking the banknotes 6 as an example, but other types of paper sheets such as tickets and cards may be used. The shape of the paper sheets is not limited to a rectangle. The paper sheet transport device 10 is not limited to being installed in the gaming machine island 2, and may be configured to travel around a plurality of gaming machine islands 2 and a management room in the gaming facility. The management room is separated from the gaming facility where the gaming machines are installed, and is a room in which a management device for managing the gaming machines, a monitoring monitor for displaying information from a surveillance camera monitoring the gaming facility, a safe for storing coins from balls loaned from the ball loan machine in the gaming facility, etc. are installed, and the entire gaming facility is managed by the gaming facility manager, employees, etc.

[0211] In the embodiment, an example of conveying only one paper sheet is shown in FIG. 3 and the like, but when the conveying auxiliary body 16 is inserted when there are multiple bills 6 in the middle of the conveying tube 12, it is also possible to convey the multiple bills 6 at once. For example, when the conveying auxiliary body 16 is sent from the conveying auxiliary body insertion device 40 in a state where bills 6 are stopped at the take-in completion positions of each bill take-in device 140 in the middle of the return path 12c of the conveying tube 12, the number of bills 6 pushed by the conveying auxiliary body 16 increases in sequence as it proceeds along the outward path 12a, and all of the bills 6 can be conveyed. Such a large conveying force is ensured by the fact that the conveying auxiliary body 16 has a shape that almost completely blocks the cross section of the conveying tube 12, which reduces the sticking and adsorption of the bills 6, and the presence of the expansion part 33 provides a large area that is subjected to the action of the air flow. In addition, since the conveying auxiliary body 16 has a columnar shape that does not deform, it is possible to convey a large number of bills at once, which is not possible with a feather or the like.

[0212] In the embodiment, the cross section of the conveying tube 12 is approximately rectangular, but it may be other shapes such as circular or elliptical. However, it is preferable that the conveying auxiliary body has a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape and covers almost the entire cross section. In addition, it is preferable to provide multiple ribs to narrow the effective passage width of the paper sheets. [Explanation of symbols]

[0213] 2. Gaming Machine Island 3. Gaming ball rental machine 4. Gaming machines (pachinko machines) 5. Safe 6. Banknotes 10...Paper sheet transport device 11...Banknote separation and transport auxiliary circulation device 12...Transport pipe 12a…Outbound 12b…Turn section 12c…Return 13a…Rib 13b...Arc section 13c…Straight section 14...Air flow generator 14a…Air outlet passage 14b...Air intake passage 14c…Motor 16...Transportation auxiliary body 16a...Head 16b...Neck 16c…Large diameter section 16d…Constricted part 18…Connecting unit 21...Banknote storage section 22...Banknote transport section 23...Control section 24...Power supply section 31...Wall part 32…Side wall 33…Extension 34…Separation wall 40...Transportation auxiliary body insertion device 41...Delivery passage 41A…Upper delivery passage 41B…Lower delivery passage 42...Waiting section 43…Movable storage section 43a...Holding part 43b…Support plate 43d…Axis protrusion 43e...Shaft arm 43f...Guide piece 43g…Ventilation hole 43h…ventilation hole 44…Second drive section 45...Transport pipe connection port 46…Outlet passage connection port 47...Axle hole 48...Transport auxiliary sensor 49…Guide rail 49A…Upper guide rail 49B...Middle guide rail 49C…Lower guide rail 50…Duct 51…Posture correction mechanism 52...Bearing hole 61...Guide passage 62…First drive unit 63...Transport auxiliary body detection sensor 64…Separation and conveyance drive unit 70…Separation and recovery device 71…Outer frame 71A…Frame section 71B…Top lid part 71C…Side wall duct section 72...Transport pipe connection port 73…Extension room 74...Dropout 75…Intake port 77...Block to prevent bills from being sucked in 78...Axle hole 80…Separation part 81...Holding part 82...Support part 83…Guide rail 84... Passage gate 85…Protrusion axis 86…Discharge port 90…Inner unit 91…Inner unit body 92…Inner unit cover 92a…Facing wall 92b…Top surface 92c…Bottom surface 93...Base 94…First side wall 94a…Opening 95…Partition wall 95a…Aperture 96...Aisle section 97a…Downstream pulley 97b…Upstream pulley 98, 98B...Conveyor belt 99…Movable frame 100a...downstream rotating shaft 100b...Upstream rotating shaft 101...Discharge roller 102...opposing discharge roller 103... Rotating shaft 104...Transmission gear 105...Transmission gear 106…Handle 107...Banknote discharge passage 108…Spring 109…Air passage 110…Rib 112…Face rib 120...Conveyor belt 122…Separation and recovery section outlet sensor 140, 140A, 140B...Banknote take-in device 141...Aisle section 143…Main body 144…insertion slot 145…Waiting passage 146...Transport roller 147…Aisle frame 148…Nairatch 149...Opening and closing door 150...Seat part 151…Banknote acceptance slot 153…Connector 160…Auxiliary frame 161...Flat area 162…Groove 163...Protrusion 163a…Gap 164...Connecting member 164a...Locking part 166…Mounting bracket 170…Pedestal 171...Outer fitting part 172…Claw part 174…Recess 174a…Wall 175…Notch 180…Hook member 181…Hook 182...Arm 182a...Holding part 190…Mounting bracket 191…Base 192…Upper arm 193...lower arm 194...Banknote take-in device holding bracket 195...Auxiliary frame holding bracket Dx: Distance between reference flat surfaces of transfer pipes Dy…Inner dimension of conveying pipe in Y direction F: Extension direction of conveying pipe K: The direction in which the bill take-in device is pressed on the back of the ball dispenser W…Aisle width X: Width direction of conveying pipe passage Y: Height direction of the transport pipe

Claims

1. A paper sheet transport device that includes an air flow generating device that generates an air flow, and a plurality of paper sheet intake devices that are capable of waiting received paper sheets and sending the paper sheets into a transport pipe, and that transports the paper sheets in the transport pipe by using the air flow, and a control unit that, when the paper sheet intake device is in a standby state, instructs the paper sheet intake device to send the paper sheet into a conveying pipe, starts the operation of the air flow generating device based on the instruction, and controls the initial air volume to a minimum value among a plurality of stages used in normal conveying. A paper sheet transport device characterized by the above.

2. When the paper sheet is pushed by the air flow and becomes jammed, the control unit temporarily stops the air flow generating device and then controls the air volume to a maximum value.

2. The paper sheet transport device according to claim 1,

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