Paper handling equipment

Abstract

To enable a paper sheet storage device to clean a plurality of prisms arranged to detect the passage of paper sheets with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A paper sheet storage device (banknote storage device 1) has a light emitting sensor 10, a light receiving sensor 20, and a storage compartment 30. The storage compartment 30 has shutters 31 and 32 that open and close an opening 33, a first prism 34 including a first surface 34a facing the light emitting sensor 10, and a second prism 35 including a first surface 35a facing the light receiving sensor 20 to store a paper sheet (banknote B). The shutters 31 and 32 open the opening 33 when the storage compartment 30 is attached to the paper sheet storage device and close the opening 33 when the storage compartment 30 is removed from the paper sheet storage device. The shutters 31 and 32 include a first cleaning member 31a that cleans the first surface 34a of the first prism 34 when opened and closed and a second cleaning member 32a that cleans the first surface 35a of the second prism 35 when opened and closed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper sheet storage device including a storage cabinet for storing paper sheets. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, methods have been proposed for cleaning the surfaces of sensors and prisms with a brush or the like (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-125871 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-168022 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-184803 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, a detachable storage is provided in a banknote handling device such as an ATM (Automated Teller Machine). When this storage is attached to the banknote handling device, an opening for inserting and removing banknotes is opened by a shutter. On the other hand, when the storage is removed from the banknote handling device, the opening is closed by a shutter so that the storage stores banknotes and banknotes cannot be easily removed.

[0005] In the above-mentioned storage cabinet, when the passage of banknotes through the opening is detected using sensors (light-emitting sensor and light-receiving sensor) placed outside the storage cabinet, prisms are placed on both the left and right sides of the opening of the storage cabinet.

[0006] However, as mentioned above, when the storage cabinet is removed from the banknote handling device, the opening of the storage cabinet is closed by a shutter, making it difficult for maintenance personnel to clean the prism. Even if the configuration allows maintenance personnel to clean the prism, cleaning by the maintenance personnel requires time and labor costs.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet storage device that can clean a plurality of prisms arranged to detect the passage of paper sheets with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In one aspect, the paper sheet storage device has a light-emitting sensor, a light-receiving sensor, a shutter for opening and closing an opening, a first prism including a first surface facing the light-emitting sensor, and a second prism including a first surface facing the light-receiving sensor, and is equipped with a storage cabinet for storing paper sheets, wherein the shutter opens the opening when the storage cabinet is attached to the paper sheet storage device and closes the opening when the storage cabinet is removed from the paper sheet storage device, and the shutter includes a first cleaning member that cleans the first surface of the first prism when opening and closing, and a second cleaning member that cleans the first surface of the second prism when opening and closing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to this aspect, cleaning of the plurality of prisms arranged to detect the passage of paper sheets can be performed with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the internal structure of the banknote storage device. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the storage cabinet with the shutter closed. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the storage cabinet with the shutter open. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first prism. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a rear view showing the storage cabinet with the shutter omitted. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion VI in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the rear surface of the shutter. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of part VIII in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a perspective view (part 1) showing a storage case and a pusher. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view (part 2) showing the storage case and the pusher. [Figure 11A] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) for explaining the flow of storing banknotes. [Figure 11B] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) for explaining the flow of storing banknotes. [Figure 11C] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram (part 3) for explaining the flow of storing banknotes. [Figure 11D] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram (part 4) for explaining the flow of storing banknotes. [Figure 11E] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram (part 5) for explaining the flow of storing banknotes. [Figure 11F] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram (part 6) for explaining the flow of storing banknotes. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a plan view for explaining detection of passing of a banknote. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating cleaning of the first surface of the second prism. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating cleaning of the second surfaces of the first and second prisms. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, a paper sheet storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking a banknote storage device 1 as an example.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a right side view showing the internal structure of the banknote handling apparatus 100. As shown in FIG.

[0013] Note that the front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-to-down directions shown in Figure 1 and Figures 2 to 14 described below are merely examples when the customer side of the banknote handling device 100 is considered to be the front, but for example, the front-to-back and left-to-right directions are horizontal directions, and the up-to-down direction is vertical.

[0014] The banknote handling machine 100 shown in Fig. 1 is an example of a paper sheet handling machine, and includes, from top to bottom, a deposit / withdrawal unit 101, a discrimination unit 102, a recycling unit 103, a temporary storage unit 104, a dispensed banknote storage unit 105, and a banknote storage device 1. These units are stacked vertically, and are capable of transporting banknote B (an example of a paper sheet) shown in Fig. 11A (described later) so as to be handed over to the other units.

[0015] The banknote handling apparatus 100 is, for example, an ATM that deposits and dispenses banknotes B. Therefore, the banknote handling apparatus 100 can also be called a banknote depositing and dispensing machine. Note that the paper sheets, of which banknotes B are an example, may also be other paper sheets (sheet-like media) such as slips and vouchers. Furthermore, the paper sheets may also be ones having the thickness of multiple sheets, such as bankbooks.

[0016] The deposit / withdrawal unit 101 is located at the front of the top shelf of the banknote handling device 100. The deposit / withdrawal unit 101 has a deposit unit 101a into which banknotes B are deposited by customers, and a withdrawal unit 101b located below the deposit unit 101a and which dispenses banknotes B to customers.

[0017] The validator 102 is disposed behind the deposit / withdrawal unit 101 and validates the banknotes B deposited from the deposit unit 101a.

[0018] The recycling unit 103 recycles the banknotes B temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 104, which will be described later.

[0019] The temporary storage unit 104 temporarily stores the banknotes B conveyed from the discriminator 102.

[0020] The dispensed banknote storage unit 105 stores the banknotes B to be dispensed.

[0021] Next, we will explain the banknote storage device 1. The banknote storage device 1 is not limited to being installed in a banknote handling device 100 shown in Fig. 1 such as an ATM, but may also be installed in other banknote handling devices such as a BRU (Bill Recycle Unit), a CD (Cash Dispenser), or a TCR (Teller Cash Recycler), and there are no restrictions on where it can be installed as long as it stores paper sheets.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the storage cabinet 30 with the shutters 31 and 32 closed.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the storage cabinet 30 with the shutters 31 and 32 open.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the first prism 34. As shown in FIG.

[0025] 5 is a rear view showing the storage cabinet 30 without the shutters 31 and 32. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion VI in FIG.

[0026] Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the rear surfaces of the shutters 31 and 32. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of part VIII in Fig. 7.

[0027] 9 and 10 are perspective views showing the storage case 30 and the pusher 40. FIG.

[0028] The banknote storage device 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a light emitting sensor 10, a light receiving sensor 20 (see FIG. 12), a storage 30, and a pusher 40.

[0029] The storage 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has shutters 31, 32, a first prism 34 and a second prism 35 (see FIG. 3), and a pressing plate 36 (see FIG. 11A), and stores banknotes B therein.

[0030] 3, the shutters 31 and 32 open and close an opening 33 for inserting and removing banknotes B. The opening 33 is, for example, rectangular in shape and is longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction. The opening 33 also has a predetermined length in the front-to-rear direction, and functions as an entrance path for banknotes B.

[0031] The shutters 31, 32 open the opening 33 as shown in Fig. 3 when the storage container 30 is attached to the banknote storage device 1 (banknote handling device 100), and close the opening 33 as shown in Fig. 2 when the storage container 30 is removed from the banknote storage device 1 (banknote handling device 100). For example, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the left shutter 31 moves to the left when opening, and the right shutter 32 moves to the right when opening. The mechanism for opening and closing the shutters 31, 32 can be, for example, a rack and pinion mechanism that engages with the storage container 30 to move the opening 33 when the storage container 30 is inserted or removed.

[0032] 3, windows 31b and 32b are provided in the shutters 31 and 32. The window 31b of one shutter 31 faces the first prism 34 when the opening 33 is open, exposing the first prism 34 to the outside (rear) of the storage cabinet 30. The window 32b of the other shutter 32 faces the second prism 35 when the opening 33 is open, exposing the second prism 35 to the outside (rear) of the storage cabinet 30.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 7, a first cleaning member 31a is disposed on the back surface of one shutter 31 (the front surface facing the interior of the storage cabinet 30) to the left of a window 31b. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a second cleaning member 32a is disposed on the back surface of the other shutter 32 to the right of a window 32b. The first cleaning member 31a and the second cleaning member 32a are, for example, nonwoven fabrics or cleaning sheets, and are disposed in a planar shape. Note that the first cleaning member 31a and the second cleaning member 32a are not limited to planar members and may be other members such as brushes. As will be described in detail later, the first cleaning member 31a cleans the first surface 34a of the first prism 34 shown in FIG. 3 when the shutter 31 is opened or closed, and the second cleaning member 32a cleans the first surface 35a of the second prism 35 when the shutter 32 is opened or closed.

[0034] The first prism 34 shown in FIG. 4 includes a first surface 34a facing the light-emitting sensor 10 (see FIG. 12), a second surface 34b perpendicular to the first surface 34a, an upward protruding portion 34c, and a downward protruding portion 34d.

[0035] The second prism 35 has a shape symmetrical to the first prism 34, and includes a first surface 35a facing the light receiving sensor 20 (see Figure 12), a second surface 35b perpendicular to the first surface 35a, an upper protruding portion 35c, and a lower protruding portion 35d (see Figure 6).

[0036] 3 and 5, the second surfaces 34b, 35b of the first prism 34 and the second prism 35 face each other across the opening 33. Although only the second prism 35 is shown enlarged in FIG. 6, both the first prism 34 and the second prism 35 are arranged so that the second surfaces 34b, 35b protrude into the opening 33. The amount by which the second surfaces 34b, 35b protrude into the opening 33 is, by way of example, 1 mm or less.

[0037] 9 and 10 pushes banknotes B into the storage 30 through the opening 33. The pusher 40 has a rectangular plate shape such that the side (front side) that comes into contact with the banknotes B is longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, similar to the opening 33.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 10, the pusher 40 has a third cleaning member 41 that cleans the second surface 34b of the first prism 34 and a fourth cleaning member 42 that cleans the second surface 35b of the second prism 35.

[0039] The third cleaning member 41 and the fourth cleaning member 42 are, for example, brushes arranged to protrude from both the left and right sides of the pusher 40. However, the third cleaning member 41 and the fourth cleaning member 42 may be members other than brushes.

[0040] Next, the flow of storing banknotes B in the storage box 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11A to 11F.

[0041] 11A to 11F are explanatory diagrams for explaining the flow of storing banknotes B. FIG.

[0042] The banknote storage unit 1 stores banknotes B (for example, banknotes B that cannot be used for dispensing) that are conveyed from above in the banknote handling apparatus 100 shown in FIG.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 11A, immediately before the banknote B is transported to the banknote storage device 1, the pusher 40 is waiting behind the storage 30.

[0044] Then, as shown in FIG. 11B, the banknotes B are transported between the pusher 40 and the storage 30.

[0045] Next, as shown in FIG. 11C, the pusher 40 pushes the banknotes B forward toward the storage 30 side.

[0046] 11D, the banknotes B are pushed by the pusher 40 through the opening 33 into the storage 30. At this time, the pressure plate 36 inside the storage 30 is also pushed inward (forward) by the banknotes B. The pressure plate 36 moves forward as the number of stored banknotes B increases, and is biased rearward by an elastic body such as a spring (not shown), for example.

[0047] 11E, the pusher 40 returns to the initial position (standby position) shown in Fig. 11A. Meanwhile, the banknotes B pushed in by the pusher 40 do not return to the outside of the storage 30 because, for example, the banknotes B are wider in the left-right direction than the opening 33.

[0048] Then, by repeating the operation of the pusher 40 shown in Figures 11A to 11E described above, banknotes B are stored one by one inside the storage cabinet 30, and as shown in Figure 11F, the number of banknotes B stored in the storage cabinet 30 increases.

[0049] Next, the detection of the passage of banknote B will be described with reference to FIG.

[0050] FIG. 12 is a plan view for explaining the detection of the passage of the banknote B. In FIG.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 12 , the light-emitting sensor 10 emits detection light L forward toward the first prism 34. The detection light L is bent vertically inside the first prism 34, passes through the opening 33, and enters the second prism 35. The detection light L (shown by the dashed line) is bent vertically inside the second prism 35 and received by the light-receiving sensor 20. When the detection light L is blocked by a banknote B and is not received by the light-receiving sensor 20, it is possible to determine that the banknote B has passed. Because the thickness of the banknote B in the front-to-rear direction is thin, even if the blocking of the detection light L by the banknote B is not detected, the blocking of the detection light L by the pusher 40 allows the passage of the banknote B to be detected. The light-emitting sensor 10 and the light-receiving sensor 20 are located, for example, behind the pusher 40. Therefore, the pusher 40 may be provided with a hole that allows the detection light L to pass through. Furthermore, the debris D adhering to the first surface 35a and the second surface 35b of the second prism 35 is, for example, dust, dirt, paper powder, etc. Although not shown, debris D also adheres to the first surface 34a and the second surface 34b of the first prism 34 in a similar manner.

[0052] 13 is a plan view for explaining cleaning of the first surface 35a of the second prism 35. Note that the first surface 34a of the first prism 34 can be cleaned in a similar manner, symmetrically, with the first surface 35a of the second prism 35, using the first cleaning member 31a of the shutter 31, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 13(a), when the shutter 32 is open, the second cleaning member 32a is positioned away from the second prism .

[0054] As shown in FIG. 13(b), while the shutter 32 is closing, the second cleaning member 32a comes into contact with the first surface 35a of the second prism 35, and dust D adhering to the first surface 35a is removed.

[0055] 13(c), when the shutter 32 is closed, the second cleaning member 32a remains in contact with the first surface 35a of the second prism 35. In the example of FIGS. 13(a) to 13(c), the first surface 35a of the second prism 35 is cleaned while the shutter 32 is closing, but a configuration may be adopted in which the first surface 35a of the second prism 35 is cleaned while the shutter 32 is opening.

[0056] FIG. 14 is a plan view for explaining cleaning of the second surfaces 34b and 35b of the first prism 34 and the second prism 35. As shown in FIG.

[0057] As shown in Figures 11C and 11D above, while the pusher 40 is pushing the banknote B forward into the storage 30, the banknote B comes into contact with the second surfaces 34b, 35b of the first prism 34 and the second prism 35, as shown in Figure 14(a), and debris D adhering to these second surfaces 34b, 35b is removed.

[0058] 14(b), while the pusher 40 is pushing the banknote B forward into the storage 30 and while it is returning backward, the third cleaning member 41 of the pusher 40 cleans the second surface 34b of the first prism 34, and the fourth cleaning member 42 cleans the second surface 35b of the second prism 35. Note that the third cleaning member 41 and the fourth cleaning member 42 are arranged on the rear side of the pusher 40, but if they are arranged on the front side of the pusher 40, as shown in FIG. 14(a), while the pusher 40 is pushing the banknote B forward into the storage 30, the third cleaning member 41 and the fourth cleaning member 42 may come into contact with the second surfaces 34b, 35b of the first prism 34 and the second prism 35 via the banknote B, so that the third cleaning member 41 and the fourth cleaning member 42 do not directly come into contact with the second surfaces 34b, 35b. However, even in such a case, the third cleaning member 41 and the fourth cleaning member 42 come into contact with the second surfaces 34b, 35b of the first prism 34 and the second prism 35 via the banknote B, thereby more reliably cleaning the second surfaces 34b, 35b with the banknote B. Furthermore, by the third cleaning member 41 and the fourth cleaning member 42 cleaning the second surfaces 34b, 35b of the first prism 34 and the second prism 35, it is possible to prevent the banknote B from slipping out of the storage cabinet 30 through the gap between the pusher 40 and the opening 33.

[0059] In the present embodiment described above, banknote storage device 1, which is an example of a paper sheet storage device, includes light-emitting sensor 10, light-receiving sensor 20, and storage container 30. Storage container 30 has shutters 31 and 32 that open and close an opening 33, a first prism 34 including a first surface 34a facing light-emitting sensor 10, and a second prism 35 including a first surface 35a facing light-receiving sensor 20, and stores banknotes B, which are an example of paper sheets. Shutters 31 and 32 open opening 33 when storage container 30 is attached to banknote storage device 1, and close opening 33 when storage container 30 is removed from banknote storage device 1. Shutters 31 and 32 include a first cleaning member 31a that cleans first surface 34a of first prism 34 when opening and closing, and a second cleaning member 32a that cleans first surface 35a of second prism 35 when opening and closing.

[0060] However, when the storage 30 is removed from the banknote storage device 1, the opening 33 is closed by the shutters 31 and 32, and the first prism 34 and the second prism 35 are no longer exposed to the outside. In this regard, in the present embodiment, when the shutters 31 and 32 are opened and closed, the first cleaning member 31a cleans the first surface 34a of the first prism 34, and the second cleaning member 32a cleans the first surface 35a of the second prism 35. This eliminates the need for manual cleaning by a maintenance person, and also provides power for cleaning the first surfaces 34a and 35a of the first prism 34 and the second prism 35 from the opening and closing of the shutters 31 and 32. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the first prism 34 and the second prism 35 (multiple prisms) arranged to detect the passage of banknote B (paper sheets) can be cleaned with a simple configuration.

[0061] In this embodiment, the banknote storage device 1 further includes a pusher 40 that pushes banknotes B into the storage 30 through the opening 33, and the first prism 34 and the second prism 35 each include second surfaces 34b, 35b that are perpendicular to the first surfaces 34a, 35a and face each other across the opening 33. The pusher 40 includes a third cleaning member 41 that cleans the second surface 34b of the first prism 34 and a fourth cleaning member 42 that cleans the second surface 35b of the second prism 35.

[0062] This allows the second surfaces 34b, 35b of the first prism 34 and the second prism 35, which have complex shapes with vertical incident surfaces (first surfaces 34a, 35a and second surfaces 34b, 35b), to be cleaned when the pusher 40 pushes the banknote B into the storage cabinet 30 through the opening 33 or when the pusher 40 returns to its initial position.

[0063] In this embodiment, the first prism 34 and the second prism 35 are arranged so that the second surfaces 34b and 35b protrude into the opening 33.

[0064] This makes it easier to clean the second surfaces 34b, 35b of the first prism 34 and the second prism 35 by the banknotes B pushed into the storage cabinet 30 through the opening 33 (see Figure 14(a)), and also makes it easier to clean the second surfaces 34b, 35b of the first prism 34 and the second prism 35 by the pusher 40 (see Figure 14(b)).

[0065] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the components can be modified and embodied without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the embodiments. For example, all of the components shown in the embodiments may be appropriately combined. In this way, various modifications and applications of the invention are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1. Banknote storage device 10. Luminescence sensor 20 Light receiving sensor 30 Storage 31,32 Shutter 31a First cleaning member 31b Window 32a second cleaning member 32b Window 33 Opening 34 First Prism 34a 1st page 34b 2nd side 34c Upper protruding part 34d Lower protruding part 35 Second Prism 35a 1st page 35b 2nd side 35c Upper protruding part 35d lower protruding part 36 Retaining plate 40 Pusher 41 Third cleaning member 42 Fourth cleaning member 100 Banknote handling device 101 Deposit and Withdrawal Department 101a Deposit Section 101b Withdrawal Department 102 Identification Department 103 Reflux section 104 Temporary Storage Section 105 Dispensing banknote storage section B banknote D. Garbage L detection light

Claims

1. a light emitting sensor; A light receiving sensor; a storage container for storing paper sheets, the storage container having a shutter for opening and closing an opening, a first prism including a first surface facing the light-emitting sensor, and a second prism including a first surface facing the light-receiving sensor; A paper sheet storage device comprising: the shutter opens the opening when the storage container is attached to the paper sheet storage device, and closes the opening when the storage container is removed from the paper sheet storage device; The shutter includes a first cleaning member that cleans the first surface of the first prism when opened and closed, and a second cleaning member that cleans the first surface of the second prism when opened and closed. A paper sheet storage device characterized by:

2. The storage device further includes a pusher that pushes the paper sheets into the storage container through the opening, each of the first prism and the second prism includes a second surface that is perpendicular to the first surface and faces each other across the opening, The pusher includes a third cleaning member that cleans the second surface of the first prism and a fourth cleaning member that cleans the second surface of the second prism.

2. The paper sheet storage device according to claim 1.

3. each of the first prism and the second prism includes a second surface that is perpendicular to the first surface and faces each other across the opening, The first prism and the second prism are disposed so that the second surfaces protrude into the opening.

2. The paper sheet storage device according to claim 1.

Images