Money handling machine and method for inspecting and controlling money handling machine

Abstract

To provide a cash dispenser and a method for controlling inspection of the cash dispenser that when an inspection stop instruction is received during an inspection, enable a cooperative operation in which utilization of inspection content performed until the inspection stop instruction is received and reduction of a time period until processing having caused the inspection stop instruction is started are in balance.SOLUTION: When an inspection stop instruction is received during an inspection, the inspection is stopped after delivering processing is continued until bills in a storage during delivering are cleared out. For example, when the inspection stop instruction is received during the inspection, bill delivering processing is continued until bills in a mixed storage 74 during delivering are cleared out, and the inspection is stopped after all the delivered bills are stored in an inspection storage 72.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a money handling machine and a method for controlling the inspection of a money handling machine that, when an instruction to stop inspection is received during an inspection, is capable of cooperative operation in a balanced manner between utilizing the inspection content carried out up until the instruction to stop inspection is received and reducing the time until the start of the processing that caused the instruction to stop inspection. [Background technology]

[0002] Money handling machines are installed as automatic change dispensers in stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores. These money handling machines are usually connected to a higher-level device such as a POS register, and perform deposit and withdrawal processes for money such as coins and bills in response to commands from the higher-level device.

[0003] Specifically, when money is inserted into the insertion slot after a deposit permission command is given from the higher-level device, the money handling machine takes the money into the main body of the machine through a money transport passage and checks its authenticity and denomination. If the money is genuine, it is stored in a storage unit by denomination and information on the amount of the deposit is sent to the higher-level device.

[0004] On the other hand, when a withdrawal command is given from the higher-level device, the corresponding amount of coins is transported from the money stored in the storage vault through a money transport passage and paid out from a withdrawal port in the device body (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-132727 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Meanwhile, a money handling machine periodically checks the amount of money stored in a storage unit when an error such as a coin jam occurs, or when necessary. When an instruction for a deposit / withdrawal process or the like is received during the check, an instruction to stop the check is issued to stop the check in order to promptly start the process corresponding to the instruction. It takes time to complete the check, and when the check is stopped in response to an instruction to stop the check, when the check is resumed after the deposit / withdrawal process or the like is completed, the check contents in the middle of the check are canceled and the check is resumed from the beginning. This means that the check up until the check stop instruction is issued is wasted, and the time required for the check increases, resulting in a decrease in the utilization efficiency of the money handling machine. Therefore, when an instruction to stop the check is received during the check, it is possible to hold the check contents up until the check is stopped and resume the check from the middle of the check. However, since the amount of money changes during the check stop due to a deposit / withdrawal process or the like, the process at the time of resuming the check becomes complicated and the accuracy of the check may decrease.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a money handling machine and a method for controlling the inspection of a money handling machine that, when an instruction to stop inspection is received during an inspection, is capable of cooperative operation that balances the utilization of the inspection content performed up until the instruction to stop inspection is received and the reduction in the time until the start of the processing that caused the instruction to stop inspection. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the present invention provides a money handling machine that authenticates deposited coins and stores them in a storage cabinet corresponding to the denomination, identifies and dispenses coins to be dispensed from each storage cabinet when withdrawing money, and inspects the coins stored in the storage cabinets, and is characterized in that if an instruction to stop inspection is received during the inspection, the machine continues the coin dispensing process until the storage cabinet being dispensed is emptied of coins, and then stops the inspection.

[0009] In addition, in the above invention, the present invention is characterized in that the inspection is a process in which the identified currency is paid out from the storage facility to be inspected and temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit, which has the function of temporarily storing currency that has been authenticated after being deposited, and the temporarily stored currency is then counted and stored again in the storage facility, and if an instruction to stop inspection is received during the inspection, the currency payout process is continued until the currency in the storage facility being paid out is emptied, and the currency is stored in the temporary storage unit, and the inspection is then stopped after all the temporarily stored currency has been stored back in the storage facility.

[0010] In addition, in the above invention, the reconciliation is a process of temporarily storing the coins that have been dispensed from the storage cabinet to be inspected in an inspection cabinet, which is a storage cabinet that temporarily stores the coins that have been dispensed and identified, and then storing the temporarily stored coins back into the original storage cabinet, and if an instruction to stop reconciliation is received during the reconciliation, the coin dispensing process is continued until the coins in the storage cabinet being dispensed or the inspection cabinet are empty, and the reconciliation is stopped after the dispensed coins are stored in the inspection cabinet or the original storage cabinet.

[0011] In addition, in the above invention, the present invention is characterized in that the deposit and withdrawal process of currency after the inspection is stopped is performed in the inspection storehouse or the storage storehouse in which currency of the denomination to be deposited or withdrawn is stored.

[0012] The present invention also provides a method for controlling the inspection of a money handling machine which identifies deposited coins and stores them in a storage cabinet corresponding to their denomination, identifies and dispenses coins to be dispensed from each storage cabinet when dispensing, and inspects the coins stored in the storage cabinets, and is characterized in that if an instruction to stop inspection is received during inspection, the coin dispensing process continues until the storage cabinet being dispensed is emptied of coins, and then the inspection is stopped. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, when an instruction to stop inspection is received during inspection, cooperative operation can be performed that balances the utilization of the inspection content carried out up until the inspection stop instruction was received and the reduction in the time until the start of the processing that caused the inspection stop instruction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an automatic change machine as a money handling machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view conceptually illustrating a schematic internal configuration of the automatic change machine. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a schematic internal configuration of the coin storage unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view conceptually showing the internal configuration of the banknote storage unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the reconciliation process in the banknote storage unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process when an instruction to stop inspection is received during inspection of banknotes being transported from the mixed box to the inspection box. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process when an instruction to stop inspection is received during inspection of banknotes being transported from the inspection box to the mixed box. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the process when a 10,000 yen bill is deposited in the inspection stop state shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the process when a 10,000 yen note is dispensed in the inspection stopped state shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the process when a 10,000 yen bill is deposited in the inspection stop state shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process when a 10,000 yen note is dispensed in the inspection stop state shown in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a deposit / withdrawal processing procedure performed by the deposit / withdrawal control unit. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a reconciliation stop process for the coin storage unit performed by the reconciliation control unit. [Figure 14]FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a reconciliation stop process for a banknote storage unit performed by the reconciliation control unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] <Configuration of the cash handling machine> Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an automatic change machine 1 as a money handling machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view conceptually showing the general internal configuration of the automatic change machine 1. The automatic change machine 1 illustrated here is connected to a POS register device PR in a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 1, the automatic change machine 1 has a flat upper surface on which a POS register PR, which is a higher-level device, is disposed. The automatic change machine 1 has a coin storage unit 10 that deposits and dispenses coins, and a banknote storage unit 20 that deposits and dispenses banknotes. The coin storage unit 10 and the banknote storage unit 20 are covered by a rectangular parallelepiped device main body 1a, and are disposed adjacent to each other.

[0018] The automatic change machine 1 has a coin deposit port 11 on the right side of the upper surface at the left front end of the device body 1a. A coin withdrawal port 12 is formed on the left side of the left front surface of the device body 1a, and coins discharged from the coin withdrawal port 12 are received in a tray 17. A coin return port 39 is provided on the right side of the left front surface of the device body 1a. Meanwhile, a banknote deposit port 21 and a banknote withdrawal port 22 are provided in the upper part of the right front end of the device body 1a.

[0019] An operation and display unit 30 for the entire automatic change machine 1, including the coin storage unit 10 and the banknote storage unit 20, is provided on the upper surface at the left front end of the device main body 1a. The operation and display unit 30 includes a display unit 30a and an operation input unit 30b. The display unit 30a is for providing various displays to the operator and is configured, for example, by a liquid crystal display. The operation input unit 30b is for allowing the operator to input various commands and is configured, for example, by a plurality of push button switches. The control unit 50 and memory unit 60 are provided within the automatic change machine 1.

[0020] 2, the automatic change dispenser 1 is connected to a POS register PR, and includes a coin storage unit 10, a banknote storage unit 20, an operation display unit 30, a communication processing unit 40, a control unit 50, and a memory unit 60. The communication processing unit 40 performs communication control processing with the POS register PR.

[0021] The coin storage unit 10 has a coin transport mechanism 13, a coin validation unit 14, a sorting and counting unit S1, and a dispensing identification unit S2. The coin transport mechanism 13 is a mechanism that transports coins for depositing and withdrawing from each storage unit in the coin storage unit 10. The coin validation unit 14 functions as a coin validation sensor and identifies deposited coins. The sorting and counting unit S1 counts the number of sorted coins identified by the coin validation unit 14 at the entrance of each storage unit corresponding to the denomination. The dispensing identification unit S2 identifies coins dispensed when dispensing from each storage unit.

[0022] The banknote storage unit 20 has a banknote transport mechanism 23, a banknote validation sensor 24, a counting unit S3, and a recognition unit S4. The banknote transport mechanism 23 is a mechanism that transports banknotes for depositing and withdrawing them to and from each storage unit in the banknote storage unit 20. The banknote validation sensor 24 validates deposited banknotes. The counting unit S3 counts coins deposited or withdrawn at the entrance of each storage unit corresponding to the denomination. The recognition unit S4 has a function as a dispensing recognition unit that identifies banknotes paid out when withdrawn from each storage unit, similar to the dispensing recognition unit S2, and also has a function of identifying deposited banknotes.

[0023] The control unit 50 has a deposit / withdrawal control unit 51 and a reconciliation control unit 52. When money is inserted after a deposit permission command is given from the POS register PR, the deposit / withdrawal control unit 51 performs a deposit process of the money in accordance with the deposit permission command, and when a withdrawal command is given from the POS register PR, it performs a withdrawal process of the money in accordance with the withdrawal command. In addition, while executing these deposit and withdrawal processes, the deposit / withdrawal control unit 51 also performs a process of successively storing the contents of the executed deposit and withdrawal processes in the memory unit 60 as deposit / withdrawal information 61.

[0024] The reconciliation control unit 52 controls the reconciliation process of the currency stored in the coin storage unit 10 and the banknote storage unit 20. The reconciliation control unit 52 reconciles the inventory of currency stored in the storage unit periodically, when an error such as a currency jam occurs, or as necessary. The reconciliation involves feeding out the currency stored in the storage unit, identifying and counting the fed banknotes, transporting them, and counting the currency again while storing it in the storage unit. If the reconciliation control unit 52 receives an instruction to stop reconciliation during the reconciliation, it continues the currency feeding process until the currency in the storage unit being fed is empty, and stops the reconciliation after all the fed currency is stored in the storage unit. If the reconciliation control unit 52 stops the reconciliation during the reconciliation, it stores the reconciliation details of the storage unit where the reconciliation has been completed as reconciliation information 62.

[0025] <Internal structure of the coin storage unit> FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a schematic internal configuration of the coin storage unit 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the coin deposit port 11 is an opening for receiving inserted coins into the inside of the unit body. The coins inserted into the coin deposit port 11 receive a deposit permission command from the POS register PR side, are detected by a deposit detection sensor (not shown), and are then transported by the deposit transport section 32. The coin validation section 14 provided in the deposit transport section 32 judges the authenticity and denomination of the coins and counts the number of coins of each denomination. If the transported coin is a genuine coin, it is temporarily held in the temporary holding section 34. On the other hand, if the transported coin is not a genuine coin, it is returned to the tray 17 via the switching gate G and the coin withdrawal port 12. If a return command is given from the POS register PR or a return lever (not shown), the coin temporarily held in the temporary holding section 34 is returned to the coin return port 39 via the switching gate G1.

[0026] Thereafter, the temporary storage unit 34 functions as a transport path, and the coins stored in the temporary storage unit 34 are outputted to the coin sorting unit 35, which is a transport path, via a switching gate G1 and transported. The coins transported by the coin sorting unit 35 are stored in the coin storage vaults 36 according to their denominations. At this time, a sorting and counting unit S1 is provided between the coin sorting unit 35 and each coin storage vault 36.

[0027] Inside the unit body, six coin storages 36 are provided, namely, a 1 yen coin storage 36a, a 50 yen coin storage 36b, a 5 yen coin storage 36c, a 100 yen coin storage 36d, a 10 yen coin storage 36e, and a 500 yen coin storage 36f. Each coin storage 36 stores inserted coins separately for each denomination. The coin sorting unit 35 stores coins in ascending order according to the diameter of the coin corresponding to the denomination. Between the coin sorting unit 35 of the 1 yen coin storage 36a, the 50 yen coin storage 36b, the 5 yen coin storage 36c, the 100 yen coin storage 36d, the 10 yen coin storage 36e, and the 500 yen coin storage 36f, sorting and counting units S1a to S1f for counting the sorted coins are provided, respectively.

[0028] The coins stored in each coin storage 36 are fed to the dispensing transport section 37. At this time, each of the dispensing identification units S2a to S2f provided between the 1 yen coin storage 36a, the 50 yen coin storage 36b, the 5 yen coin storage 36c, the 100 yen coin storage 36d, the 10 yen coin storage 36e, and the 500 yen coin storage 36f and the dispensing transport section 37 identifies whether the fed coin is of its own denomination. The fed coin can be transported to the temporary storage section 34 via the switching gate G2. The temporary storage section 34 also has a function of temporarily storing the coins during a reconsideration process in which the coins stored in each coin storage 36 are temporarily emptied and the number of coins stored in each coin storage 36 is recounted. An identification sensor S13 for identifying the denomination of the coin may be provided downstream of the dispensing transport section 37 and before the switching gate G2.

[0029] Thereafter, coins of the denomination corresponding to the withdrawal command from the POS register device PR are transported in bulk from each coin storage vault 36 via the withdrawal identification unit S2, the withdrawal transport unit 37 and the switching gate G2, and are dispensed outside the unit body from the coin withdrawal port 38.

[0030] In addition, if the dispensing identification unit S2 determines that the coin is of a different denomination at the time of withdrawal, this different denomination coin, together with the other dispensed coins, is stored again in each coin storage unit 36 ​​via the switching gate G2, the temporary holding unit 34, the switching gate G1, the coin sorting unit 35, and the sorting and counting unit S1, and the withdrawal process is performed again.

[0031] <Inspection process of coin storage unit> In the reconciliation process of the coin storage unit 10, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 3, coins (1-yen coins) stored in the storage to be reconciled, i.e., the 1-yen coin storage 36a in FIG. 3, are fed out one by one from the 1-yen coin storage 36a to the dispensing transport section 37. At this time, the fed coins are identified and counted by the dispensing identification section S2a (S2). The coins fed out to the dispensing transport section 37 are transported to the temporary storage section 34 and temporarily stored. The temporary storage section 34 stores all coins in the 1-yen coin storage 36a. Therefore, the 1-yen coin storage 36a becomes empty. When the dispensing identification section S2a detects a coin of a different denomination that is not stored in the coin storage unit 10, the coin of the different denomination is discharged through the switching gate G2 to the coin withdrawal port 38 or the unknown storage 18 provided separately.

[0032] The coins temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 34 are transported to the coin sorting unit 35 via the switching gate G1. The coins transported to the coin sorting unit 35 are stored in a storage unit of the corresponding denomination, in this case, the 1 yen coin storage unit 36a. During this storage, the stored coins are counted by the sorting and counting unit S1a (S1).

[0033] That is, the inspection process is performed by circulating the coins via the inspection path L10 in Fig. 3. Note that inspection of multiple storage boxes may be performed collectively as long as the number of coins is within the range that can be stored in the temporary storage unit 34. For example, since the number of stored coins of denominations such as 50 yen coins, 5 yen coins, and 500 yen coins is small, the coins in storage boxes with a small number of coins may be stored collectively in the temporary storage unit 34 and inspected.

[0034] Here, if an inspection stop command is received during inspection, for example, when an inspection stop command is received during inspection of the 1-yen coin storage 36a, the coin payout process is continued until the coins being paid out in the 1-yen coin storage 36a are emptied, and the coins are stored in the temporary storage unit 34, and then, when the 1-yen coin storage 36a is emptied, all the temporarily stored coins are stored in the storage again, and then inspection is stopped. For example, when 50 1-yen coins are stored in the 1-yen coin storage 36a, and up to 20 1-yen coins are stored in the temporary storage unit 34, if an inspection stop command is received, the 30 1-yen coins remaining in the 1-yen coin storage 36a are transported to the temporary storage unit 34, and then the 50 1-yen coins stored in the temporary storage unit 34 are stored in the 1-yen coin storage 36a, and the inspection is stopped. When the inspection is resumed upon receipt of a cancellation of the inspection stop instruction or an instruction to resume inspection, the inspection will continue from the inspection stopped state for other storage units where inspection has not been completed.

[0035] In other words, if an instruction to stop inspection is received in the middle of an inspection, the inspection of the storage unit in the middle of inspection is completed and inspection of the next storage unit is not performed. This prevents the inspection process up until the inspection stop instruction is received from going to waste, and it is only necessary to wait for the time to complete the inspection in the middle of the inspection on a storage unit basis, so that the process that caused the inspection stop instruction can be started sooner. As a result, when an instruction to stop inspection is received in the middle of an inspection, a cooperative operation is performed that balances the utilization of the inspection content performed up until the inspection stop instruction was received and the reduction in the time to start the process that caused the inspection stop instruction.

[0036] <Internal structure of the bill storage unit> FIG. 4 is a side view conceptually showing the internal configuration of the bill storage unit 20. As shown in FIG. 4, in the bill storage unit 20, bills transported from the bill deposit port 21 are discriminated and counted by the bill discrimination sensor 24, and then stored in the 1,000-yen bill storage 73 and the mixed storage 74 in the bill storage 71 according to the denomination. The 1,000-yen bill storage 73 stores 1,000-yen bills that are frequently used. The mixed storage 74 stores a mixture of 5,000-yen bills and 10,000-yen bills. The reconciliation storage 72 is used as a temporary holding section during reconciliation processing, and also functions as a storage when reconciliation is stopped. The bill withdrawal port 22 is an opening for dispensing bills transported from the 1,000-yen bill storage 73 and the mixed storage 74 to the outside of the unit body, and is provided at the lower front of the unit body. When the number of bills remaining in the 1,000-yen bill storage 73 or the mixed storage 74 exceeds the number of bills remaining in the 1,000-yen bill storage 73 or the mixed storage 74, the excess bills are stored in the collection box 75.

[0037] Here, the banknote transport mechanism 23 is disposed between the 1,000 yen banknote storage 73 and the reconciliation storage 72, and between the mixed storage 74 and the reconciliation storage 72. In addition, on the banknote transport mechanism 23, a switching gate G31 is disposed at the entrance to the reconciliation storage 72, a switching gate G32 is disposed at the entrance to the 1,000 yen banknote storage 73, and a switching gate G33 is disposed at the entrance to the mixed storage 74. In addition, a counting unit S3 (S31, S32, S33) which is an image sensor that detects the passage of banknotes is disposed near the switching gates G31, G32, and G33. In addition, motors M31, M32, and M33 are provided to feed the banknotes from the reconciliation storage 72, the 1,000 yen banknote storage 73, and the mixed storage 74 to the banknote transport mechanism 23. In addition, a motor M50 is provided to transport and drive the banknote transport mechanism 23. Furthermore, on the banknote transport mechanism 23, there is disposed a recognition unit S4 serving as an image sensor for detecting the denomination and passage of the transported banknotes.

[0038] The recognition unit S4 is capable of identifying and counting the denominations of banknotes. Whether or not to identify and count the denominations of banknotes depends on the state at the time of deposit / withdrawal and inspection.

[0039] When the recognition unit S4 determines that a banknote is of a different denomination at the time of dispensing, the different denomination banknote is temporarily stored in the reconciliation box 72 as a temporary storage box, and then stored again in each banknote storage box 71, and the dispensing process is performed again. In this case, while the different denomination banknote is stored in the reconciliation box 72, the banknote of the corresponding denomination may be dispensed again from the banknote storage box 71, and then the different denomination banknote may be stored in the banknote storage box 71.

[0040] <Scrutiny process of banknote storage unit> 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the reconciliation process in the banknote storage unit 20. The reconciliation process begins with emptying the reconciliation storehouse 72. This is because the reconciliation storehouse 72 usually contains 10,000 yen banknotes and unknown banknotes. Banknotes from the reconciliation storehouse 72 are sorted and transported based only on the denomination recognition by the recognition unit S4, and the 10,000 yen banknotes and unknown banknotes are stored in the mixed storehouse 74, and the 1,000 yen banknotes are stored in the 1,000 yen banknote storage storehouse 73. This pre-processing is also included in the reconciliation process. After this pre-processing, the mixed storehouse 74 and the 1,000 yen banknote storage storehouse 73 are sequentially reconciled.

[0041] 5, in the reconciliation of the mixed vault 74, first, the banknotes stored in the mixed vault 74 are fed to the banknote transport mechanism 23, where they are subjected to denomination recognition and counting by the recognition unit S4. Then, as a result of the denomination recognition, the relevant denomination (for example, 10,000 yen banknotes, 5,000 yen banknotes, and 2,000 yen banknotes) is stored in the reconciliation vault 72, and unknown banknotes other than the relevant denomination and 1,000 yen banknotes are discharged from the banknote withdrawal port 22.

[0042] 5, the reconciliation box 72 is emptied. That is, the banknotes in the reconciliation box 72 are transported to and stored in the mixed box 74. At this time, the denominations of the banknotes fed from the reconciliation box 72 are not identified and the banknotes are not counted.

[0043] Thereafter, the 1,000 yen banknote storage 73 is inspected. In the inspection of the 1,000 yen banknote storage 73, similar to the inspection of the mixed storage 74, first, banknotes are fed from the 1,000 yen banknote storage 73 and transported to the inspection storage 72 for storage. At this time, the recognition unit S4 performs denomination recognition and counting. Then, as a result of the denomination recognition, the 1,000 yen banknotes are stored in the inspection storage 72, and banknotes other than the 1,000 yen banknotes, for example, unknown banknotes and other banknotes, are discharged from the banknote withdrawal port 22. Thereafter, the banknotes in the inspection storage 72 are transported to the 1,000 yen banknote storage 73 for storage. At this time, the denomination recognition and counting of the banknotes fed from the inspection storage 72 are not performed. This completes the inspection process of the banknote storage unit 20.

[0044] Here, a case where a reconciliation stop instruction is received during reconciliation will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a process when a reconciliation stop instruction is received during reconciliation when banknotes are transported from the mixed box 74 to the reconciliation box 72. As shown in FIG. 6, when the reconciliation control unit 52 receives a reconciliation stop instruction during reconciliation when banknotes are transported from the mixed box 74 to the reconciliation box 72 via the reconciliation path L20, the reconciliation control unit 52 continues to feed banknotes until the mixed box 74 is empty, and stops the reconciliation after the mixed box 74 is empty. For example, when 50 banknotes are stored in the mixed box 74 and 30 banknotes have been moved to the reconciliation box 72, the reconciliation operation is performed to move 20 banknotes remaining in the mixed box 74 to the reconciliation box 72, and then the reconciliation is stopped. When resuming inspection in response to the lifting of the inspection stop instruction or the instruction to resume inspection, the banknotes stored in the inspection box 72, which functions as a storage box, are first transported to the mixed box 74, and inspection of the mixed box 74 is completed. After that, inspection of other storage boxes that have not been inspected since the inspection stop state, specifically the 1,000 yen banknote storage box 73, is continued.

[0045] 7, when the inspection control unit 52 receives an instruction to stop inspection midway through inspection of banknotes being transported from the inspection storehouse 72, which functions as a storage storehouse, to the mixed storehouse 74 via the inspection path L21, the inspection control unit 52 continues to feed out banknotes until the inspection storehouse 72 is empty of banknotes, and then stops the inspection after the inspection storehouse 72 is empty of banknotes. When the inspection stop instruction is lifted or an instruction to resume inspection is received, the inspection control unit 52 continues to inspect other storage stores for which inspection has not been completed from the inspection stopped state, specifically the 1,000-yen banknote storage storehouse 73.

[0046] In the reconciliation stop state shown in FIG. 6, that is, in a state in which the mixed box 74 is empty and the bills in the mixed box 74 are stored in the reconciliation box 72, when a 10,000 yen bill is deposited, as shown in FIG. 8, the 10,000 yen bill is stored in the reconciliation box 72, which functions as a storage box, via the deposit path L22, rather than in the mixed box 74. The deposited 10,000 yen bill is normally stored in the mixed box 74, but in this reconciliation stop state, the reconciliation box 72 functions as the mixed box 74. Also, as shown in FIG. 9, when a 10,000 yen bill is dispensed, the 10,000 yen bill stored in the reconciliation box 72 is dispensed via the withdrawal path L23, rather than in the mixed box 74. In this case, too, the reconciliation box 72 functions as a storage box (mixed box 74).

[0047] The reason why the reconciliation is stopped when the banknotes in the mixed box 74 are stored in the reconciliation box 72 is that it takes time to feed, transport, identify, and store banknotes, and it is desirable to start the process that triggers the reconciliation stop instruction as early as possible without returning the banknotes stored in the reconciliation box 72 to the mixed box 74.

[0048] In the inspection stopped state shown in Fig. 7, inspection of the banknotes in the mixed box 74 has been completed, and even if a deposit or withdrawal process is performed, the same deposit or withdrawal process as before the inspection can be performed. For example, as shown in Fig. 10, when a 10,000 yen banknote is deposited in the inspection stopped state shown in Fig. 7, the 10,000 yen banknote is stored in the mixed box 74 via a deposit path L24. Also, for example, as shown in Fig. 11, when a 10,000 yen banknote is withdrawn in the inspection stopped state shown in Fig. 7, the 10,000 yen banknote is withdrawn from the mixed box 74 via a withdrawal path L25.

[0049] In this way, when an inspection stop instruction is received during inspection in the banknote storage unit 20, the banknote feeding process is continued until the storage box being fed (the mixed storage box 74 or the 1,000 yen banknote storage box 73) is emptied or until the banknotes in the inspection box 72 are emptied, and then the inspection is stopped, and the next storage box (the mixed storage box 74 or the 1,000 yen banknote storage box 73) is not inspected. This prevents the inspection process before the inspection stop instruction is received from being wasted, and it is only necessary to wait for the time to perform the inspection during the inspection at the banknote movement completion unit (banknote movement completion unit between the storage boxes) between the storage box (the mixed storage box 74 or the 1,000 yen banknote storage box 73) and the inspection box 72, so that the process that caused the inspection stop instruction can be started quickly. As a result, when an inspection stop instruction is received during inspection, a coordinated operation is performed in which the utilization of the inspection contents performed before the inspection stop instruction is received and the time reduction until the start of the process that caused the inspection stop instruction are balanced.

[0050] Here, for example, when a 10,000 yen banknote is deposited while the reconciliation box 72 is functioning as the mixed box 74 as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 50 may once transport the 10,000 yen banknote to the mixed box 74 or after passing through the recognition unit S4, as in the deposit path L22', and then return the 10,000 yen banknote to the reconciliation box 72 side and store it there. As a result, the deposited 10,000 yen banknote undergoes denomination recognition by the recognition unit S4 when it is transported to the reconciliation box 72 side, and the deposited 10,000 yen banknote can be handled as a banknote in a reconciliation-stopped state similar to the banknotes stored in the reconciliation box 72. Note that the deposited 10,000 yen banknote undergoes denomination recognition and counting by the banknote discrimination sensor 24, and therefore, when the 10,000 yen banknote is directly stored in the reconciliation box 72 via the deposit path L22, the identification information of the banknote discrimination sensor 24 may be used as reconciliation information of the deposited 10,000 yen banknote.

[0051] In the banknote storage unit 20, the reconciliation stop state is set at the banknote movement completion unit between storage vaults (between the storage vault and the reconciliation storage), but as in the coin storage unit 10, a configuration equivalent to the temporary storage section 34 may be provided to perform a reconciliation process in which the banknotes are circulated and returned to the original storage vault. Also, while the above-mentioned coin storage unit 10 performs a reconciliation process in which the banknotes are circulated via the temporary storage section 34 and returned to the original storage vault, as in the banknote storage unit 20, a reconciliation vault corresponding to the reconciliation vault 72 may be provided, and the reconciliation stop state may be set at the banknote movement completion unit between storage vaults (between the storage vault and the reconciliation storage).

[0052] <Deposit and withdrawal processing> Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the deposit / withdrawal processing procedure by the deposit / withdrawal control unit 51. As shown in Fig. 12, first, the deposit / withdrawal control unit 51 monitors a deposit permission command from the POS register PR through the communication processing unit 40 (step S101). If no deposit permission command is received from the POS register PR (step S101: No), the process proceeds to step S109.

[0053] On the other hand, if a deposit permission command is given from the POS register device PR (step S101: Yes), the deposit / withdrawal control unit 51 sets the automatic change machine 1 to a deposit permission state (step S102), and then monitors the deposit into the coin deposit port 11 and the banknote deposit port 21 via an insertion detection sensor not shown (step S103).

[0054] When a deposit from the coin deposit port 11 or the banknote deposit port 21 is confirmed (step S103: Yes), the deposit / withdrawal control unit 51 validates the inserted money via the coin validation unit 14 or the banknote validation sensor 24, and performs a process of transporting the money to the corresponding coin storage vault 36 or banknote storage vault 71 in accordance with the validation result (step S104). Meanwhile, when a deposit is not detected (step S103: No), the deposit / withdrawal control unit 51 proceeds with the procedure without going through the process of step S104.

[0055] Next, the deposit / withdrawal control unit 51 monitors whether or not there is a deposit amount request from the POS register PR through the communication processing unit 40 (step S105), and if there is a deposit amount request (step S105: Yes), it performs a process of sending information about the current deposit amount through the communication processing unit 40 to the POS register PR (step S106). However, if there is no deposit amount request (step S105: No), the deposit / withdrawal control unit 51 proceeds with the procedure without going through step S106.

[0056] Thereafter, the deposit / withdrawal control unit 51 determines whether or not a deposit end command has been received from the POS register device PR (step S107), and if no deposit end command has been received (step S107: No), returns the procedure to step S103 and repeatedly executes the processes of steps S103 to S107 described above.

[0057] On the other hand, if a deposit end command is received from the POS register device PR (step S107: Yes), the deposit / withdrawal control unit 51 sets the automatic change machine 1 to a deposit prohibited state (step S108), and then monitors whether a withdrawal command is received from the POS register device PR (step S109).

[0058] If a withdrawal command is given from the POS register PR (step S109: Yes), the deposit / withdrawal control unit 51 executes a process to pay out the currency stored in the coin storage 36 or the banknote storage 71 as change from the coin withdrawal port 12 or the banknote withdrawal port 22 (step S110), and ends this process. If a withdrawal command is not given from the POS register PR (step S109: No), the deposit / withdrawal control unit 51 ends this process without going through the process of step S110. The above process is repeated at predetermined time intervals.

[0059] <Stopping inspection of coin storage unit> Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the reconciliation stop process performed by the reconciliation control unit 52 on the coin storage unit 10. As shown in Fig. 11, the reconciliation control unit 52 first determines whether or not a reconciliation stop command has been received (Step S201). If a reconciliation stop command has not been received (Step S201: No), the reconciliation control unit 52 continues the reconciliation (Step S202) and ends this process.

[0060] On the other hand, if an instruction to stop inspection is received (step S201: Yes), it is determined whether the storage unit during coin dispensing is empty (step S203). If the storage unit during coin dispensing is not empty of coins (step S203: No), inspection continues (step S204) and the process proceeds to step S203.

[0061] If the storage unit is empty of coins during coin dispensing (step S203: Yes), the coins stored in the temporary storage unit 34 are stored in the storage unit again (step S205). After that, the inspection is stopped (step S206), and inspection information of the inspection stop state is stored in the memory unit 60 (step S207). Then, an inspection stop completion notification is sent to the POS register device PR (step S208), and this process ends. The above process is repeated at predetermined time intervals.

[0062] <Processing to stop scanning of bill storage unit> Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the reconciliation stop process performed by the reconciliation control unit 52 on the banknote storage unit 20. As shown in Fig. 12, the reconciliation control unit 52 first determines whether or not an instruction to stop reconciliation has been received (step S301). If an instruction to stop reconciliation has not been received (step S301: No), the reconciliation control unit 52 continues the reconciliation (step S302) and ends this process.

[0063] On the other hand, if an instruction to stop reconciliation is received (step S301: Yes), it is determined whether the storage box from which banknotes are being fed or the reconciliation box functioning as a storage box is empty of banknotes (step S303). If the storage box from which banknotes are being fed or the reconciliation box functioning as a storage box is not empty of banknotes (step S303: No), reconciliation continues (step S204) and proceeds to step S303.

[0064] If the storage box being fed or the inspection box functioning as a storage box is empty of banknotes (step S303: Yes), the inspection is stopped (step S305) and inspection information of the inspection stop state is stored in the memory unit 60 (step S306). Then, a notification of inspection stop completion is sent to the POS register PR (step S307), and this process ends. The above process is repeated at predetermined time intervals.

[0065] In addition, each configuration illustrated in the above-mentioned embodiment is a functional schematic, and does not necessarily have to be physically configured as illustrated. In other words, the form of distribution and integration of each device and component is not limited to that illustrated, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit according to various usage conditions, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1 Automatic change machine 1a Device body 10 Coin Storage Unit 11 Coin deposit slot 12 Coin withdrawal slot 13 Coin transport mechanism 14 Coin Validation Department 17 Saucer 18 Unknown store 20 Bill storage unit 21 Bill deposit slot 22 Bill withdrawal slot 23 Banknote transport mechanism 24 Bill Validation Sensor 30 Operation display section 30a Display section 30b Operation input section 32 Deposit and transportation section 34 Temporary Holding Department 35 Coin sorting section 36 Coin Storage 37 Cash dispensing section 39 Coin return slot 40 Communication processing unit 50 Control section 51 Deposit and Withdrawal Control Unit 52 Inspection Control Section 60 Storage section 61 Deposit and Withdrawal Information 62 Review Information 71 Banknote Storage 72 Inspection Warehouse 73 1000 yen bill storage 74 Mixed storage 75 Collection Depot G, G1, G2, G31, G32, G33 Switching gate L10, L20, L21 inspection route L22, L22´, L24 deposit route L23, L25 Withdrawal Route M31, M32, M33, M50 motors PR POS register device S1 Distribution and counting section S13 Identification sensor S2 Dispatch identification section S3 Counting Unit S4 Identification unit

Claims

1. A money handling machine that identifies deposited currency and stores the deposited currency in a storage unit corresponding to the denomination, identifies and dispenses dispensed currency from each storage unit when dispensing, and scrutinizes the currency stored in each storage unit when examining the currency, The inspection includes temporarily storing the identified currency from any of the storage vaults to be inspected outside the storage vault, and then storing the temporarily stored currency back into the storage vault, in order for each storage vault to be inspected. This money handling machine is characterized in that, when an instruction to stop examination is received during examination, the money dispensing process is continued until the relevant storage unit from which the money is being dispensed is emptied, and examination is stopped when the relevant storage unit is emptied or when the dispensed money is stored back in the relevant storage unit.

2. The inspection involves a process of temporarily storing the identified currency that has been received from the relevant storage vault through a temporary storage unit having a function of temporarily storing the validated currency, and then storing the temporarily stored currency again in the relevant storage vault while counting the currency, in order for each storage vault to be inspected; A money handling machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that if an instruction to stop examination is received during examination, the currency dispensing process is continued until the currency in the corresponding storage unit being dispensed is emptied, and the currency is then stored in the temporary storage unit, and examination is then stopped when all of the temporarily stored currency has been stored back in the corresponding storage unit.

3. The reconciliation involves temporarily storing the identified currency that has been withdrawn from the relevant storage vault in a reconciliation vault, which is a storage vault that temporarily stores the currency, and then storing the temporarily stored currency back into the original storage vault, in order for each storage vault to be reconciled. A money handling machine as described in claim 1, characterized in that if an instruction to stop inspection is received during inspection, the money dispensing process is continued until the coins in the storage cabinet being dispensed or the inspection cabinet are empty, and inspection is stopped at the point when the dispensed coins are stored in the inspection cabinet or the original storage cabinet.

4. 4. The money handling machine according to claim 3, wherein the deposit and withdrawal processing of currency after the inspection is stopped is performed in the inspection box or the corresponding storage box in which currency of the denomination to be deposited or withdrawn is stored.

5. A method for controlling the inspection of a money handling machine, which identifies deposited currency and stores the deposited currency in a storage unit corresponding to the denomination, identifies and dispenses dispensed currency from each storage unit when dispensing, and inspects the currency stored in each storage unit when inspecting, The inspection includes temporarily storing the identified currency from any of the storage vaults to be inspected outside the storage vault, and then storing the temporarily stored currency back into the storage vault, in order for each storage vault to be inspected. This method for controlling the inspection of a money handling machine is characterized in that, when an instruction to stop inspection is received during inspection, the process of dispensing money is continued until the relevant storage unit from which money is being dispensed is emptied, and inspection is stopped when the relevant storage unit is emptied of money or when the dispensed money is stored back in the relevant storage unit.

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