Currency handling equipment

Abstract

To provide a new and improved currency handling device that can further improve user convenience in handling currencies of different issuing generations.SOLUTION: A currency handling device includes: an input unit that accepts one or more currencies input by a user; a transport unit that transports the currencies; an identification unit that identifies issuing generations of the currencies input into the input unit; a first currency storage unit that stores withdrawable currencies for change, a second currency storage unit that stores currencies that can be withdrawn as sales proceeds; and a control unit that makes each currency identified by the identification unit as old currency whose issuing generation is more than a predetermined number of years before the latest generation stored in the second currency storage unit, and each currency identified as not being old currency stored in the first currency storage unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a currency handling machine. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, currency handling devices for cash withdrawal and deposit transactions have been installed in distribution facilities and commercial facilities such as retail stores and supermarkets, as well as financial facilities such as banks. In a withdrawal transaction, the currency handling device dispenses an amount of cash designated by an operator for each denomination from a cash storage unit for withdrawal. The cash dispensed in a withdrawal transaction is used as a change reserve at a cash register or a counter. In a deposit transaction, cash carried from a cash register or a counter is deposited into the currency handling device, and the cash is stored in the cash storage unit for withdrawal. In a sales processing transaction, the currency handling device moves sales proceeds, which are cash equivalent to the confirmed sales amount, from the cash storage unit for withdrawal to a cash storage unit for collection.

[0003] Furthermore, in recent years, with the reprinting of currency, development of currency handling devices that can handle currency of different generations (new currency, old currency) is underway. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that recognizes whether a banknote inserted into a currency handling device is a new banknote or an old banknote, transports the banknote that is recognized as a new banknote to a stacker, and transports the banknote that is recognized as an old banknote to a collection box. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-213289 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, with the technology described in Patent Document 1, when three or more generations of currency are circulated in the market, all currency except for the currency of the most recently issued generation is uniformly treated as old banknotes, making it difficult to respond to the differing needs of facilities and users regarding the handling of old banknotes.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved currency handling device that can further improve user convenience when handling currency of different issue generations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a machine includes an insertion unit that accepts insertion of coins from a user, a transport unit that transports the coins, a validation unit that identifies the issue generation of the coins inserted into the insertion unit, a first coin storage unit that stores coins that can be dispensed as change, a second coin storage unit that stores the coins as sales proceeds, and a control unit that causes coins that are identified by the validation unit as old coins, whose issue generation is a predetermined number or more before the latest generation, to be stored in the second coin storage unit, and causes coins that are identified as not old coins to be stored in the first coin storage unit. and a storage unit that stores the amount of the sales proceeds, wherein when a total amount of the currency stored in the second currency storage unit exceeds the amount of the sales proceeds stored in the storage unit during the collection process of the sales proceeds, the control unit dispenses currency in an amount corresponding to a difference between the total amount of the currency stored in the second currency storage unit and the amount of the sales proceeds stored in the storage unit from the second currency storage unit, and after the second currency storage unit is replaced by a user, causes the second currency storage unit to store the amount of the currency corresponding to the difference. A currency handling device is provided.

[0009] The control unit may, in the collection process, transport currency in an amount corresponding to the difference from the second currency storage unit to the insertion unit.

[0010] The machine may further include a currency holding section capable of temporarily holding a predetermined number of coins or less, and the control section may, during the collection process, when the number of coins equivalent to an amount corresponding to the difference is less than the predetermined number, transport coins in an amount corresponding to the difference from the second currency storage section to the currency holding section.

[0012] The validation unit may validate whether the coins inserted into the insertion unit are normal or not, and the control unit may store the coins validated as normal by the validation unit in the first coin storage unit or the second coin storage unit.

[0013] The predetermined number may be changeable by a user. Effect of the Invention

[0014] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a new and improved currency handling device that can further improve user convenience when handling currency of different issue generations. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a currency handling device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a banknote processing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a reference example of an operational process related to depositing money in a currency handling device. FIG. [Figure 4] 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a reference example of an operational process for collecting sales proceeds from a currency handling device. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of an operational process related to depositing money in the currency handling device 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a display screen for setting old banknotes to be preferentially transported to the collection cassette 113. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of an operational process for collecting sales proceeds from the currency handling device 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a modified example of the operational process for collecting sales proceeds from the currency handling apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0017] <<1. Overview of currency handling equipment>> The embodiment of the present invention is applied to a currency handling device installed in distribution facilities and commercial facilities such as retail stores and supermarkets, and in financial facilities such as banks. The currency handling device according to the present embodiment can execute, for example, a dispensing transaction for dispensing banknotes and coins as change reserves to be used in a cash register, and a deposit transaction for depositing banknotes and coins collected from a cash register. The configuration and operation of such a currency handling device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0018] Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a currency handling device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the currency handling device 1 according to this embodiment includes a banknote insertion slot 101, a banknote escrow section 103, a banknote discrimination section 105, a 10,000-yen note cassette 107, a 5,000-yen note cassette 109, a 1,000-yen note cassette 111, a collection cassette 113, a reject cassette 115, a coin insertion slot 117, a coin discrimination section 119, a coin escrow section 121, a coin return section 123, a dispensing hopper 125, a coin temporary collection storage 126, a coin collection storage 127, a coin dispensing box 129, a card reader section 131, an operation display section 133, a control section 150, and a memory section 160.

[0019] The banknote insertion slot 101, the banknote escrow section 103, the banknote validation section 105, the 10,000 note cassette 107, the 5,000 note cassette 109, the 1,000 note cassette 111, the collection cassette 113 and the reject cassette 115 are connected by a banknote transport section (not shown) that transports banknotes. Similarly, the coin insertion slot 117, the coin validation section 119, the coin escrow section 121, the coin return section 123, the dispensing hopper 125, the coin collection escrow section 126, the coin collection box 127 and the coin dispensing box 129 are connected by a coin transport section (not shown) that transports coins. Hereinafter, the banknote transport section and the coin transport section may be collectively referred to simply as transport sections.

[0020] Here, with reference to Fig. 2, we will explain the banknote processing unit in the currency handling device 1. The banknote processing unit is a unit that processes banknotes in the currency handling device 1, and includes, among the components equipped in the currency handling device 1, the banknote insertion slot 101, the banknote escrow section 103, the banknote validator 105, the 10,000-yen note cassette 107, the 5,000-yen note cassette 109, the 1,000-yen note cassette 111, the collection cassette 113, and the reject cassette 115.

[0021] 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a banknote handling unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. The banknote insertion slot 101 is an example of an insertion section, and is an insertion slot through which banknotes are inserted to be deposited into the currency handling device 1. The banknote insertion slot 101 also serves as an ejection port for banknotes, and banknotes that are returned due to the cancellation of a deposit transaction, banknotes that are withdrawn, and banknotes that are rejected by the banknote validator 105 as being abnormal during banknote counting in a deposit transaction are taken out from the banknote insertion slot 101.

[0022] The banknote escrow unit 103 is a currency reserve unit that temporarily accumulates banknotes that are determined to be normal by the banknote validator 105 during banknote counting in a deposit transaction.

[0023] The banknote validator 105 uses various sensors to validate the issue generation of a banknote inserted into the banknote insertion slot 101. The banknote validator 105 also uses various sensors to validate whether or not the banknote inserted into the banknote insertion slot 101 is a normal banknote.

[0024] The 10,000 note cassette 107, the 5,000 note cassette 109, and the 1,000 note cassette 111 are first currency storage units that store 10,000 note, 5,000 note, and 1,000 note bills by denomination, respectively. Specifically, the 10,000 note cassette 107, the 5,000 note cassette 109, and the 1,000 note cassette 111 (each bill cassette) stores various types of loose bills.

[0025] In addition, in a deposit transaction, each banknote cassette stores normal banknotes that have been identified by the banknote validator 105 as not being old currency whose issue generation is a predetermined number of years earlier than the latest generation. Furthermore, in a withdrawal transaction, banknotes of the denomination used as change reserves are dispensed from each banknote cassette.

[0026] The collection cassette 113 is a second currency storage unit for storing currency as sales proceeds. The collection cassette 113 stores normal banknotes that have been identified as old currency whose issue generation is a predetermined number of years earlier than the latest generation by the banknote validator 105 during a deposit transaction. In addition, when a sales amount shortfall (sales amount - amount stored in collection cassette) occurs during a closing transaction or a sales collection transaction, an amount corresponding to the sales amount shortfall is transported from each banknote cassette to the collection cassette 113.

[0027] The reject cassette 115 accumulates banknotes that have been identified as abnormal by the banknote validator 105, i.e., rejected banknotes. Specifically, the reject cassette 115 accumulates banknotes that have been rejected by the banknote validator 105 in the process of transporting banknotes from the banknote escrow unit 103 to each banknote cassette during a deposit transaction, banknotes that have been rejected by the banknote validator 105 in the process of dispensing from each banknote cassette, banknotes that have been rejected by the banknote validator 105 in the process of transporting banknotes from each banknote cassette to the collection cassette 113 during a closing transaction or a sales collection transaction, etc.

[0028] The configuration of the banknote handling unit according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. Referring again to FIG.

[0029] The coin slot 117 is an opening through which coins are inserted.

[0030] The coin validator 119 validates the issue generation of coins inserted into the coin slot 117. The coin validator 119 also uses various sensors to validate whether the coin inserted into the coin slot 117 is a normal coin. The coin escrow unit 121 is a currency storage unit that temporarily accumulates coins that are determined to be normal by the coin validator 119 when counting coins in a deposit transaction.

[0031] The coin return unit 123 is a coin discharge port, and after the coins inserted into the coin insertion port 117 are counted, coins for which a deposit transaction has been cancelled are returned from the coin return unit 123. The dispensing hopper 125 is a first currency storage unit that stores coins to be dispensed. In a dispensing transaction, various coins are dispensed from the dispensing hopper 125 as change reserve, and in a deposit transaction, the inserted coins of each denomination are stored in the dispensing hopper 125.

[0032] The temporary coin collection vault 126 is a currency reserve section that temporarily accumulates coins when sales proceeds are transported from the dispensing hopper 125 to the coin collection vault 127 during a sales collection transaction.

[0033] The coin collection vault 127 is a second currency storage unit for storing the proceeds of sales. The coin collection vault 127 stores the proceeds of sales transported from the dispensing hopper 125 in a sales collection transaction. The coin dispensing box 129 is a coin dispensing port for dispensing coins in a dispensing transaction.

[0034] Card reader unit 131 reads information written on a cash register card, an ID card, etc. Examples of information written on a cash register card, an ID card, etc. include information for identifying the user who uses the card and information indicating the type of permitted transaction. If the information read from card reader unit 131 matches information registered in advance in storage unit 160, control unit 150 permits the user to use currency handling device 1. In addition to or instead of card reader unit 131, currency handling device 1 may have a fingerprint recognition unit that performs fingerprint recognition, or a PIN input unit that accepts input of a PIN.

[0035] The operation display unit 133 includes a function as an operation unit that accepts operations by a user, and a function as a display unit that displays various screens. The function as the display unit is realized, for example, by a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display device, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, or an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) device. The function as the operation unit is realized, for example, by a touch panel. The functions of the display unit and the operation unit may be configured separately.

[0036] The control unit 150 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which is an arithmetic processing device, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and arithmetic parameters used by the CPU, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores programs used in the execution of the CPU and parameters that change appropriately during the execution of the programs.

[0037] The control unit 150 controls the overall operation of the currency handling device 1. For example, the control unit 150 includes a function as a management unit that stores the number of coins and the amount of sales stored in each banknote cassette, collection cassette 113, dispensing hopper 125, coin collection box 127, etc. in the memory unit 160. The control unit 150 also controls the transport of cash by the transport unit in each transaction. After authentication using a register card or ID card is completed, the control unit 150 also displays a menu screen on the operation display unit 133 that functions as a transaction selection screen for the user to select a desired transaction, and controls the execution of the transaction selected by the user on the menu screen.

[0038] <<2.Background>> Conventionally, currency handling machines have been designed to handle two generations of banknotes, old and new. The operational policy for handling such two generations of banknotes may differ depending on the facility, market, or user that uses the currency handling machine. Note that the following explanation will mainly be given using an example in which the currency is banknotes, but the present invention is also applicable to cases in which the currency is coins.

[0039] (Financial facilities) For example, financial facilities such as banks have an operational policy of accepting old banknotes as deposits, but when handing over banknotes to customers for withdrawals, etc., handing over new banknotes instead of old banknotes. Therefore, currency handling devices used in financial facilities have a mechanism for accepting old banknotes as deposits but not dispensing old banknotes. More specifically, when old banknotes are deposited, currency handling devices used in financial facilities store the old banknotes in a rejection repository or a recovery repository for recovering old banknotes.

[0040] (Distribution facilities / Commercial facilities) On the other hand, in distribution facilities or commercial facilities such as supermarkets, the operating policy was to handle paper money regardless of the generation of issue. Therefore, the currency handling devices used in distribution facilities and commercial facilities carried out deposit and withdrawal processes without distinguishing between old and new paper money.

[0041] <2.1. Identifying issues> With the reprinting of Bank of Japan notes in fiscal 2024, three generations of banknotes will be circulating in the market. In this case, the newest generation of banknotes is expected to be subject to the same management policy as before, regardless of facility, market, or user. On the other hand, it is expected that two generations of old banknotes will be circulating in the market, and each facility, market, or user may wish to change the management policy from the previous one. In the following, the newest generation of banknotes will be referred to as "new notes," the generation before the new notes as "E notes," and the generation before the new notes as "D notes."

[0042] For example, when handling old banknotes, in addition to the previous management policy, users may wish to have a management policy such as accepting deposits of both D and E notes, allowing E notes to be withdrawn but not D notes.

[0043] Here, a reference example of the operation process of a currency handling device assuming the above-mentioned operation policy will be described with reference to Figs.

[0044] <2.2. Reference example of operation processing of currency handling equipment>> (Deposit processing) 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a reference example of an operational process related to depositing money into the money handling device. First, a user inserts a bill into the money handling device (S101).

[0045] Next, the bill validator counts the bills and validates them to see if they are valid bills (S105).

[0046] The control unit then transports the banknotes that have been identified as normal by the banknote validation unit to the temporary storage unit (S109). At this time, the control unit transports the banknotes that have been identified as abnormal by the banknote validation unit to the banknote insertion slot and returns them to the user.

[0047] When the user confirms the deposit, the control unit feeds out the banknotes from the temporary storage unit and controls the transport unit to transport them to the banknote validation unit (S113).

[0048] The control unit then determines whether the banknote dispensed from the temporary holding unit is a D note based on the issuance generation of the banknote validated by the banknote validator (S117). If the dispensed banknote is a D note, the process proceeds to S121 (S117 / Yes), and if it is not a D note, the process proceeds to S133 (S117 / No).

[0049] If the banknote fed from the temporary holding unit is not a D note (S117 / No), the control unit controls the transport unit to transport the banknote to each banknote cassette by denomination (S133).

[0050] If the bills fed from the temporary holding unit are D bills (S117 / Yes), the control unit judges whether the amount of the D bills exceeds the collection cassette unstored sales amount, which is the difference between the sales amount stored in the memory unit and the amount of the bills stored in the collection cassette (S121). If it is judged that the amount of the D bills fed from the temporary holding unit exceeds the collection cassette unstored sales amount, the process proceeds to S129 (S121 / Yes), and if it is judged that the amount is equal to or less than the collection cassette unstored sales amount, the process proceeds to S125 (S121 / No).

[0051] If it is determined that the amount of the D ticket dispensed from the temporary holding section exceeds the sales amount not yet stored in the collection cassette (S121 / Yes), the control section controls the transport section to transport the D ticket to the reject cassette and store it there (S129).

[0052] If it is determined that the amount of the D ticket paid out from the temporary holding section is less than or equal to the sales amount not yet stored in the collection cassette (S121 / No), the control section controls the transport section to transport the D ticket to the collection cassette and store it there (S125).

[0053] Then, the control unit judges whether or not there are any bills remaining in the bill escrow unit (S137). If there are any bills remaining, the process proceeds to S113 (S137 / Yes), and if there are no bills remaining (S137 / No), the control unit ends the process.

[0054] A reference example of the operation process related to the deposit process of the currency handling device has been described above. Next, a reference example of the operation process related to the collection process of the currency handling device will be described with reference to FIG.

[0055] (Collection processing) 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a reference example of an operation process related to the collection of sales proceeds from a money handling device. First, in response to an operation related to the collection process of sales proceeds from a user, the money handling device transports banknotes from each banknote cassette to a collection cassette in an amount corresponding to the difference between the sales amount stored in the memory unit and the amount of banknotes stored in the collection cassette (S201).

[0056] When the control unit conveys the banknotes from each banknote cassette to the collection cassette, the control unit displays a guide screen on the operation display unit to guide the user to remove the collection cassette. The user who has checked the guide screen then removes the collection cassette, and then an empty collection cassette is installed (S205).

[0057] Next, the control unit causes the operation display unit to display a guidance screen that guides the user to remove the banknotes stored in the reject cassette. The user, upon checking the guidance screen, removes the banknotes stored in the reject cassette, and then re-installs the reject cassette (S209).

[0058] The banknotes (D notes) removed from the reject cassette are then counted by the user and exchanged (changed) for E notes or new notes of the same amount. When the exchanged (changed) banknotes are then inserted into the banknote insertion slot by the user, the control unit performs a replenishment process to store the inserted banknotes in each banknote cassette (S213). When the replenishment process is completed, the control unit ends the collection process.

[0059] (Issues with collection processing) In the above-described example of the operational process for collecting sales proceeds from a currency handling device, a manual work burden may be imposed on the user in charge of collecting the sales proceeds.

[0060] For example, in S209, the user needs to remove the reject cassette and count the bills stored in the reject cassette.

[0061] Furthermore, in S213, the user must manually exchange the D bills stored in the reject cassette for new bills or E bills. Furthermore, the user must re-stock the exchanged bills in the currency handling device.

[0062] Furthermore, when old banknotes, such as D-notes, are deposited during deposit processing, if the amount of the D-notes exceeds the sales amount not yet stored in the collection cassette, they will not be stored in the collection cassette and will instead be stored in the reject cassette, resulting in cash that cannot be collected as sales or used as change, which may reduce the efficiency of cash management in the currency handling device.

[0063] Therefore, the present invention can reduce the burden of manual operations on the user as described above, improve user convenience, and improve cash management efficiency. A specific example of operation processing based on the above management policy by the currency handling device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 7.

[0064] <<3. Example of Operation Processing of Money Handling Device 1 According to the Present Embodiment>> (Deposit processing) The control unit 150 in this embodiment stores old banknotes (e.g., D notes) whose issue generation is a predetermined number or more before the latest generation and normal banknotes identified by the banknote validation unit 105 in the collection cassette 113, and stores normal banknotes (e.g., new notes and E notes) that are not old banknotes whose issue generation is a predetermined number or more before the latest generation in each banknote cassette.

[0065] Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of an operational process related to depositing money in the currency handling device 1 according to this embodiment. The processes in S101 to S117 are the same as those explained with reference to Fig. 3, and therefore explanations thereof will be omitted in Fig. 5.

[0066] If the banknote fed from the banknote escrow unit 103 is a D note (S117 / Yes), the control unit 150 does not make a determination by comparison with the sales amount not yet stored in the collection cassette as in the above-mentioned reference example, but if the banknote (D note) can be stored in the collection cassette 113, it transports the banknote to the collection cassette 113 and stores it therein (S301). Here, the control unit 150 may determine whether or not the banknote can be stored based on the difference between the maximum number of banknotes that can be stored in the collection cassette 113 and the current number of banknotes stored in the storage unit 160, or may determine whether or not the banknote can be stored by other methods.

[0067] If the banknote fed from the banknote escrow unit 103 is other than a D note (S117 / No), the control unit 150 transports the banknote (new note or E note) to each banknote cassette and stores it by denomination (S305). Note that if the banknote fed from the banknote escrow unit 103 is a banknote that has been determined to be rejected by the banknote validation unit 105, the control unit 150 stores the banknote in the reject cassette 115.

[0068] Then, the control unit 150 judges whether or not there are any bills remaining in the bill escrow unit 103 (S131). If there are any bills remaining, the process proceeds to S113 (S131 / Yes), and if there are no bills remaining (S131 / No), the control unit 150 updates the sales amount stored in the memory unit 160 based on the result of this deposit process, and ends the deposit process.

[0069] An example of the operation process relating to depositing money in the currency handling device 1 according to this embodiment has been described above.

[0070] In the above example, the banknotes transported to the collection cassette 113 in the deposit process are only D notes, but the present embodiment is not limited to this example. For example, banknotes of denominations not used as change (e.g. 10,000 yen notes) may also be stored in the collection cassette 113, and the settings of banknotes to be preferentially transported to the collection cassette 113 may be changeable by the user.

[0071] Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a display screen for setting information on old banknotes to be preferentially transported to the collection cassette 113. The control unit 150 according to this embodiment may cause the operation display unit 133 to display a display screen D for setting information on old banknotes to be preferentially transported to the collection cassette 113 as shown in Fig. 6. Note that in Fig. 6, "sales cassette" is the collection cassette 113, "D-type note" is D-type note, and "E-type note" is E-type note. In this way, various display information may be displayed by replacing it with words that are easily recognizable to the user.

[0072] For example, when the user selects "1. D bills" via the operation display unit 133, the banknotes to be preferentially transported to the collection cassette 113 are set to be D bills only.

[0073] Furthermore, when the user selects "2. D-notes, E-notes" on the operation display unit 133, the banknotes to be preferentially transported to the collection cassette 113 are set as D-notes and E-notes.

[0074] Furthermore, if the user selects "3. None" on the operation display unit 133, it is set that no banknotes are preferentially transported to the collection cassette 113. In this case, regardless of whether the banknotes are new or old, normal banknotes inserted in the deposit process are transported to each banknote cassette.

[0075] This makes it possible for the currency handling device 1 according to this embodiment to reflect the needs regarding the management policy for new and old banknotes, which may differ depending on the facility, market, or user.

[0076] 6, an example of a display screen for setting old banknotes to be preferentially transported may be described, but it may also be possible to set the denomination of banknotes as the banknotes to be preferentially transported. For example, if the user selects "1. D bills" on the operation display unit 133 and then selects "1,000 yen bills", the currency to be preferentially transported to the collection cassette 113 is set to be only D bills and 1,000 yen bills. Note that the denomination setting may be such that multiple denominations can be set.

[0077] Next, an example of an operational process for collecting sales proceeds from the currency handling device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0078] (Collection processing) 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of an operation process related to the collection of sales proceeds from the currency handling device 1 according to this embodiment. First, when a user performs an operation related to the collection process of sales proceeds, the control unit 150 reads the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 and the sales amount from the memory unit 160, and compares both amounts to determine whether the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 exceeds the sales amount (S401). If the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 exceeds the sales amount, the process proceeds to S405 (S401 / Yes), and if the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 is equal to or less than the sales amount, the process proceeds to S407.

[0079] If the amount stored in the collection cassette 113 exceeds the sales amount (S401 / Yes), the control unit 150 feeds out bills corresponding to the excess sales amount (amount stored in the collection cassette-sales amount) from the collection cassette 113 and transports them to the bill insertion port 101 (S405). At this time, the bills fed out from the collection cassette 113 are validated and counted by the bill validator 105, and the result is stored in the memory unit 160.

[0080] If the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 is equal to or less than the sales amount (S401 / No), the control unit 150 judges whether the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 matches the sales amount (S407). If the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 matches the sales amount (S407 / Yes), the process proceeds to S413, and if the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 is less than the sales amount (S407 / No), the process proceeds to S409.

[0081] If the amount stored in the collection cassette 113 is less than the sales amount (S407 / No), the control unit 150 feeds banknotes corresponding to the shortfall in the sales amount (sales amount - amount stored in the collection cassette) from each banknote cassette and transports them to the collection cassette 113 (S409).

[0082] Then, the control unit 150 causes the collection cassette 113 to transport bills corresponding to the shortfall in the sales amount, and causes the operation display unit 133 to display a guide screen that guides the user to remove the collection cassette 113. Then, the user who has checked the guide screen removes the collection cassette 113, and then an empty collection cassette 113 is attached (S413).

[0083] Then, the control unit 150 determines whether or not the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 in S401 exceeded the sales amount, i.e., whether or not the amount of banknotes exceeding the sales amount have been transported from the collection cassette 113 to the banknote insertion slot 101 (S417). If the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 exceeded the sales amount, the process proceeds to S421 (S417 / Yes), and if the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 was equal to or less than the sales amount, the currency handling device 1 according to this embodiment ends the collection process (S417 / No).

[0084] If the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 exceeds the sales amount (S417 / Yes), the banknotes transported to the banknote slot 101 in S405 as the amount in excess of the sales amount are removed by the user and re-inserted into the banknote slot 101. The banknotes in excess of the sales amount that have been inserted into the banknote slot 101 are validated and counted by the banknote validator 105, and normal banknotes are stored in the collection cassette 113. Then, when the control unit 150 confirms in S405 that the denomination and number of the banknotes transported from the collection cassette 113 to the banknote slot 101 match those of the banknotes re-inserted from the banknote slot 101, the control unit 150 completes returning the banknotes to the collection cassette 113 (S421), and the currency handling device 1 according to this embodiment ends the collection process.

[0085] The above describes an example of the operation process related to the collection of the currency handling apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. However, the operation process related to the collection of the currency handling apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is not limited to this example.

[0086] 7, if the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 exceeds the sales amount, the banknotes in excess of the sales amount are dispensed to the banknote insertion slot 101 (S405) and the user manages them temporarily. After the collection cassette 113 is collected and an empty collection cassette 113 is installed, the user must put back the banknotes in excess of the sales amount that were dispensed to the banknote insertion slot 101 (S421).

[0087] Here, we will explain a modified operational process for collecting sales proceeds from the currency handling device 1 of this embodiment as an example of a method that can reduce the burden on the user when the amount stored in the collection cassette 113 exceeds the sales amount.

[0088] <<4. Modifications>> Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a modified example of the operation process for collecting sales proceeds from the currency handling apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The processes of S401, S407 and S409 are the same as those described with reference to Fig. 7, and therefore will not be described in Fig. 8.

[0089] When the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 exceeds the sales amount (S401 / Yes), the control unit 150 judges whether or not the number of banknotes equivalent to the excess sales amount stored in the memory unit 160 exceeds the capacity of the banknote escrow unit 103 (S501). When the number of banknotes equivalent to the excess sales amount exceeds the capacity of the banknote escrow unit 103, the process proceeds to S505 (S501 / Yes), and when the number of banknotes equivalent to the excess sales amount is equal to or less than the capacity of the banknote escrow unit 103, the process proceeds to S509 (S501 / No).

[0090] If the number of banknotes equivalent to the excess sales amount exceeds the capacity of the banknote temporary storage unit 103 (S501 / Yes), the control unit 150 feeds the banknotes equivalent to the excess sales amount from the collection cassette 113 and transports them to the banknote insertion slot 101 (S505).

[0091] If the number of banknotes is equal to or less than the capacity of the banknote escrow unit 103 (S501 / No), the control unit 150 feeds out banknotes equivalent to the excess sales amount from the collection cassette 113 and transports them to the banknote escrow unit 103 (S509).

[0092] When the control unit 150 conveys the banknotes to the banknote insertion slot 101 or the banknote escrow unit 103, it causes the operation display unit 133 to display a guidance screen that guides the user to remove the collection cassette 113. Then, the user who has checked the guidance screen removes the collection cassette 113 and installs an empty collection cassette 113 (S513).

[0093] Next, the control unit 150 determines whether or not the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 exceeded the sales amount in S401, i.e., whether or not banknotes in an amount exceeding the sales amount were transported from the collection cassette 113 to the banknote insertion slot 101 or the banknote escrow unit 103 (S517). If the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 exceeded the sales amount, the process proceeds to S521 (S517 / Yes), and if the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 was equal to or less than the sales amount, the currency handling device 1 according to this embodiment ends the process (S517 / No).

[0094] When the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 exceeds the sales amount (S517 / Yes), the control unit 150 judges whether or not the banknotes equivalent to the excess sales amount have been transported to the banknote escrow unit 103 in the process of S509 (S521). When the banknotes equivalent to the excess sales amount have been transported to the banknote escrow unit 103, the process proceeds to S525 (S521 / Yes), and when the banknotes equivalent to the excess sales amount have not been transported to the banknote escrow unit 103 (i.e., the banknotes have been dispensed to the banknote insertion slot 101), the process proceeds to S529 (S521 / No).

[0095] When the banknotes equivalent to the excess sales amount are transported to the banknote escrow unit 103 (S521 / Yes), the control unit 150 transports and returns the banknotes equivalent to the excess sales amount transported from the collection cassette 113 in S509 from the banknote escrow unit 103 to the collection cassette 113 (S525). When the return is completed, the control unit 150 ends the collection process.

[0096] If the banknotes have not been transported to the banknote escrow unit 103 (S521 / No), the banknotes transported to the banknote slot 101 in S505 as the excess of the sales amount are removed by the user and re-inserted into the banknote slot 101. The excess of the sales amount banknotes inserted into the banknote slot 101 are validated and counted by the banknote validator 105, and normal banknotes are stored in the collection cassette 113. Then, when the control unit 150 confirms that the denomination and number of the banknotes transported from the collection cassette 113 to the banknote slot 101 in S505 match those of the banknotes re-inserted from the banknote slot 101, the control unit 150 completes returning the banknotes to the collection cassette 113 (S525), and the currency handling device 1 ends the collection process.

[0097] An example of the operation process of the currency handling device 1 according to this embodiment has been described above. Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0098] <<5. Effects of this embodiment>> According to the present embodiment described above, various operational effects can be obtained. For example, the currency handling device 1 according to the present embodiment stores old currency (e.g., D bills) whose generation is older than the latest generation by a predetermined number of times or more in the collection cassette 113, which eliminates the need for the user to separate the old currency from other currency (e.g., E bills and new bills), thereby improving operational efficiency in handling currency.

[0099] In addition, in the process of collecting proceeds of sales, if the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 exceeds the amount of sales, and if the number of banknotes equivalent to the amount of excess sales is equal to or less than the capacity of the banknote escrow unit 103, the control unit 150 feeds out the banknotes equivalent to the amount of excess sales from the collection cassette 113 and transports them to the banknote escrow unit 103, and after the collection cassette 113 is replaced by the user, the banknotes fed out from the banknote escrow unit 103 are returned to the collection cassette 113. This makes it possible to return the banknotes equivalent to the amount of excess sales to the collection cassette 113 without the user's intervention, which can further reduce the burden on the user. In addition, it can prevent, for example, miscalculation or fraud that may occur due to the user's intervention.

[0100] <<6. Supplementary Information>> Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such an example. It is clear that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can conceive of various modified or altered examples within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0101] For example, the steps in the processing of the operation of the currency handling device 1 according to this embodiment do not necessarily have to be processed in chronological order according to the order depicted in the explanatory diagram. For example, the steps in the processing of the operation of the currency handling device 1 may be processed in an order different from the order depicted in the explanatory diagram, or may be processed in parallel.

[0102] In addition, the control unit 150 according to this embodiment may store other banknotes (e.g., new banknotes and E-notes) that have not been identified as old banknotes and whose issued generation is more than a predetermined number of years before the latest generation, in the collection cassette 113.

[0103] In addition, for example, if any of the banknote cassettes becomes full or near-full, it will be impossible to store any more banknotes in that banknote cassette, and in such a case, it is anticipated that an operational policy will be applied in which the remaining banknotes are stored in the collection cassette 113.

[0104] When such an operating policy is applied, it is assumed that new and old banknotes are stored in a mixed state in the collection cassette 113. The process of collecting sales proceeds under such an operating policy will be described.

[0105] When the amount of money stored in the collection cassette 113 exceeds the amount of sales, the control unit 150 transports banknotes corresponding to the excess amount of sales (amount of money stored-amount of sales) from the collection cassette 113 to the banknote discrimination unit 105. The banknote discrimination unit 105 discriminates whether the banknote fed out from the collection cassette 113 is an old banknote whose issue generation is a predetermined number or more before the latest generation, and transports the banknote to the banknote insertion slot 101 if it is an old banknote whose issue generation is a predetermined number or more before the latest generation, or to the banknote escrow unit 103 if it is another banknote whose issue generation is not a predetermined number or more before the latest generation.

[0106] Then, after the collection cassette 113 is replaced by the user, the control unit 150 stores the old banknotes transported to the banknote insertion slot 101 in the collection cassette 113. Thereafter, the control unit 150 stores the other banknotes stored in the banknote escrow unit 103 in each banknote cassette if they can be stored in each banknote cassette, and stores them in the collection cassette 113 if the banknote cassette is full (full) or near-full and cannot store them.

[0107] By doing this, even in a situation where the storage capacity of each banknote cassette is running low due to a large amount of other banknotes (new banknotes, E banknotes, etc.) being inserted and a small amount of old banknotes (D banknotes) being inserted, by using the collection cassette 113, the possibility of operation of the currency handling device 1 being stopped due to each banknote cassette becoming full can be reduced.

[0108] Also, for example, there is a possibility that a large number of old banknotes (e.g., D notes) whose generation is a predetermined number or more before the latest generation are inserted. If the collection cassette 113 becomes full or near-full due to the insertion of a large number of old banknotes, the collection cassette 113 will not be able to store any more old banknotes. In such a case, it is also assumed that an operating policy of storing old banknotes in each banknote cassette will be applied.

[0109] When this operation policy is applied, it is assumed that each banknote cassette will store a mixture of new and old banknotes. The process of depositing and withdrawing money under this operation policy will be described below.

[0110] In the deposit process, when the banknote fed out from the banknote escrow unit 103 is a D note, if the banknote (D note) can be stored in the collection cassette 113, the control unit 150 transports the banknote to the collection cassette 113 and stores it there. On the other hand, if the banknote cannot be stored in the collection cassette 113 (for example, the collection cassette 113 is full), the control unit 150 judges whether the banknote can be stored in a banknote cassette corresponding to the denomination of the banknote. Then, if the banknote can be stored in a banknote cassette corresponding to the denomination of the banknote, the control unit 150 stores the banknote in the banknote cassette corresponding to the denomination of the banknote. As a result, the banknote cassette that stored the banknote contains a mixture of new and old banknotes.

[0111] Next, a dispensing process will be described in which banknotes as change reserve are dispensed from each banknote cassette to the banknote insertion slot 101 when new and old banknotes are stored mixed in the banknote cassettes.

[0112] In the withdrawal process, when the control unit 150 receives a withdrawal instruction from a user, it feeds out a banknote to be withdrawn from each banknote cassette and transports it to the banknote insertion slot 101. At that time, the banknote validation unit 105 validates whether or not the banknote fed out from each banknote cassette is an old banknote whose issue generation is a predetermined number or more before the latest generation. If the banknote fed out from each banknote cassette is an old banknote whose issue generation is a predetermined number or more before the latest generation, the control unit 150 transports the banknote to the banknote escrow unit 103, and if the banknote is a other banknote whose issue generation is not the predetermined number or more before the latest generation, the control unit 150 transports the other banknote to the banknote insertion slot 101.

[0113] Then, when the control unit 150 has finished dispensing banknotes as change reserves from each banknote cassette to the banknote insertion slot 101, it pays out the old banknotes transported to the banknote temporary storage unit 103, and stores them in the collection cassette 113 if they can be stored in the collection cassette 113, or returns them to the banknote cassette from which they were paid out if they cannot be stored in the collection cassette 113.

[0114] By doing this, for example, even in a situation where old banknotes are often inserted during deposit processing and the collection cassette 113 becomes full, by utilizing each banknote cassette, the possibility of the operation of the currency handling device 1 being stopped due to the collection cassette becoming full can be reduced.

[0115] Furthermore, if the user replaces the collection cassette 113 after storing a mixture of old and new banknotes in each banknote cassette, the old banknotes dispensed from each banknote cassette during the withdrawal process can be stored in the collection cassette 113, thereby reducing the manual burden on the user, such as removing old banknotes from a banknote cassette containing a mixture of new and old banknotes.

[0116] Furthermore, when a shutter is provided at the banknote insertion slot 101, the control unit 150 may keep the shutter closed rather than open at the time when the banknotes corresponding to the amount of banknotes in excess of the sales amount (storage amount-sales amount) are transported from the collection cassette 113 to the banknote insertion slot 101, and may cause the operation display unit 133 to display a guide screen that prompts the user to replace the collection cassette 113. In this case, when it is detected that the collection cassette 113 has been replaced by the user, the control unit 150 may open the shutter of the banknote insertion slot 101 and cause the operation display unit 133 to display a guide screen that prompts the user to re-insert the amount of banknotes in excess of the sales amount.

[0117] The exchange of the collection cassette 113 may be detected, for example, by pulling out the unit to remove the collection cassette and installing an empty collection cassette 113 using a switch or a sensor. Alternatively, the control unit 150 may display a button for confirming the exchange of the collection cassette 113 on the display screen of the operation display unit 133, and determine that the collection cassette 113 has been exchanged when the user presses the button. The guide screen for encouraging the user to re-insert the difference in banknotes may be a display screen including a warning such as "Please manage the amount of dispensed currency carefully so that the total amount does not increase or decrease."

[0118] In addition, although three generations of currency (new notes, E notes, and D notes) have been mainly described as currency with different issue generations in this specification, the present invention is not limited to such an example. For example, the number of issue generations according to the present invention may be two generations, or four or more generations.

[0119] It is also possible to create a computer program for causing hardware such as the CPU, ROM, and RAM built into the currency handling device 1 to perform functions equivalent to those of the components of the currency handling device 1 described above. Also provided is a storage medium having the computer program stored therein. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 1. Currency handling equipment 101 Bill slot 103 Banknote temporary storage section 105 Banknote Validation Department 107,000 ticket cassette 109 5,000 Ticket Cassette 111 1000 Ticket Cassette 113 Recovery Cassette 115 Reject Cassette 117 Coin slot 119 Coin Identification Department 121 Coin Temporary Storage Section 123 Coin Return Department 125 Withdrawal Hopper 126 Coin Collection Temporary Storage 127 Coin Collection Vault 129 Coin withdrawal box 131 Card reader section 133 Operation display section 150 Control section 160 Storage section

Claims

1. an insertion unit that accepts insertion of currency from a user; A conveying unit that conveys the currency; a validator for validating the generation of the currency inserted into the insertion unit; a first currency storage unit that stores currency that can be dispensed as change; a second currency storage unit that stores the currency as the sales proceeds; a control unit that causes the second currency storage unit to store currency that is identified by the discrimination unit as old currency, the generation of which is a predetermined number of times older than the latest generation, and causes the first currency storage unit to store currency that is identified as not old currency; A storage unit that stores the amount of the sales proceeds; Equipped with The control unit is in the process of collecting the proceeds, when the total amount of the money stored in the second money storage unit exceeds the amount of the proceeds stored in the memory unit, paying out from the second money storage unit an amount of money corresponding to the difference between the total amount of the money stored in the second money storage unit and the amount of the proceeds stored in the memory unit; After the second currency storage unit is exchanged by the user, currency in an amount corresponding to the difference is stored in the second currency storage unit. Currency handling equipment.

2. The control unit is In the collection process, currency in an amount corresponding to the difference is transported from the second currency storage unit to the insertion unit.

2. A currency handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

3. a currency storage unit capable of temporarily storing a predetermined number of currency or less; Further comprising: The control unit is In the collection process, when the number of coins corresponding to the amount according to the difference is equal to or less than the predetermined number, the amount of coins according to the difference is transported from the second coin storage unit to the coin reserve unit.

2. A currency handling apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

4. The discrimination unit includes: Identifying whether the coin inserted into the insertion section is normal or not; The control unit is storing the currency identified as normal by the validating unit in the first currency storage unit or the second currency storage unit; A currency handling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The predetermined number can be changed by the user. A currency handling apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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