Paper handling device and foreign object detection method

Abstract

To enhance the detection accuracy of presence or absence of foreign matter mixed in a bundle of paper sheets.SOLUTION: A paper sheet handling device according to the present invention comprises: a conveying mechanism that conveys a bundle of paper sheets; a payout mechanism that pays out paper sheets from the bundle of paper sheets conveyed by the conveying mechanism; and a detection unit that detects whether or not foreign matter has been mixed into the bundle of paper sheets. The detection unit has a vibrating body brought into contact with the fallen paper sheets delivered by the delivery mechanism, and a detector for detecting vibration generated in the vibrating body, and detects the presence or absence of foreign matter based on the detection result of the detector.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper handling device and a foreign object detection method. [Background technology]

[0002] Known examples of paper handling devices include banknote handling devices such as automated teller machines, etc. Foreign objects, such as bill clips used to bundle bills together or coins, may be mixed in with deposited bills. Some of these banknote handling devices are equipped with a detection unit that detects whether or not foreign objects have been mixed in with the bills. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 2-142741 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The above-mentioned detection unit includes a metal sensor that detects foreign matter based on the amount of metal mixed in the banknote. However, when handling banknotes that have a high metal content due to magnetic printing or the like, the metal sensor may erroneously detect the presence of foreign matter in banknotes that do not contain any foreign matter. Furthermore, in a banknote handling device, the metal sensor may erroneously detect a metal plate or the like that is present around the location where the metal sensor is located as a foreign matter.

[0005] The disclosed technology has been developed in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a paper handling device and a foreign object detection method that can improve the accuracy of detecting whether or not foreign objects have been mixed into a stack of paper sheets. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the paper sheet handling device disclosed in the present application comprises a conveying mechanism that conveys a stack of paper sheets, a payout mechanism that pays out paper sheets from the stack of paper sheets conveyed by the conveying mechanism, and a detection unit that detects the presence or absence of foreign matter mixed in the stack of paper sheets, wherein the detection unit has a vibrating body that comes into contact with paper sheets that are paid out by the payout mechanism and fall, and a detector that detects vibrations generated in the vibrating body, and detects the presence or absence of the foreign matter based on the detection result of the detector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the paper sheet handling device disclosed in the present application, it is possible to improve the accuracy of detecting whether or not a foreign object has been mixed into a stack of paper sheets. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing a bill handling machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the banknote handling machine of the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a change in acceleration detected by a detection unit in the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the natural vibration when there is no foreign object. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the natural vibration when a foreign object is present. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the bill handling machine of the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the bill handling machine of the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the bill handling machine of the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the bill handling machine of the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the bill handling machine of the embodiment. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the bill handling machine of the embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the bill handling machine of the embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the bill handling machine of the embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the bill handling machine of the embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the bill handling machine of the embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the bill handling apparatus of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the paper handling device and foreign object detection method disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the paper handling device and foreign object detection method disclosed herein are not limited to the following embodiments. [Example]

[0010] (Configuration of banknote handling device) Fig. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing a banknote handling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the banknote handling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] 1 and 2, the banknote handling device 1 comprises an insertion slot (deposit slot) 4 into which a banknote bundle 2A to be deposited is inserted, a transport mechanism 6 that transports the banknote bundle 2A deposited from the insertion slot 4, a feed mechanism 7 that feeds banknotes 2 from the banknote bundle 2A transported by the transport mechanism 6, and a detection unit 8 that detects the presence or absence of foreign matter 3 mixed in the banknote bundle 2A. The banknote handling device 1 also comprises a storage unit 9 that stores the banknotes 2 sent from the detection unit 8, a discrimination unit 10 that discriminates the authenticity of the banknotes 2 sent from the storage unit 9, and a control unit 11 that controls the respective units 6 to 10.

[0012] For ease of explanation, in Fig. 1, when viewed from the front side of the banknote handling apparatus 1 where the insertion slot 4 is located, the width direction of the banknote handling apparatus 1 will be referred to as the X direction, the front-to-rear direction of the banknote handling apparatus 1 as the Y direction, and the up-to-down direction of the banknote handling apparatus 1 as the Z direction. In the drawings subsequent to Fig. 1, the X, Y, and Z directions will be indicated as in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, banknotes 2 are used as an example of paper sheets, but the paper sheets are not limited to banknotes 2. Paper sheets also include, for example, negotiable instruments such as bills, checks, gift certificates, various securities, and stock certificates.

[0013] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the banknote bundle 2A refers to a bundle of, for example, 100 to 200 banknotes 2 stacked on top of each other, but the number of banknotes 2 in the banknote bundle 2A is not limited to this. The banknote bundle 2A in this embodiment includes, for example, a bundle of two banknotes 2 stacked on top of each other. The foreign objects 3 that the detection unit 8 detects are not limited to coins, paper clips, etc. present inside the banknote bundle 2A, but also include coins placed on the paper surface 2s of the banknote bundle 2A and paper clips, etc. located on the paper surface 2s of the banknote bundle 2A. Here, the paper surface 2s of the banknote bundle 2A refers to the printed surface of the banknote 2 arranged on the topmost position in the banknote bundle 2A.

[0014] (Transport mechanism) The transport mechanism 6 has a transport path 12 along which the banknote bundle 2A is transported from the insertion slot 4 to the storage unit 9, a shuttle tray 13 that moves back and forth along the transport path 12, a transfer belt 14 that moves the banknote bundle 2A in the Y direction relative to the shuttle tray 13, and a transport belt 15 that transports the shuttle tray 13 in the Y direction along the transport path 5. The transport mechanism 6 also has a shuttle lifting mechanism (not shown) that lifts and lowers an upper shuttle member 13B (described later) that the shuttle tray 13 has, and a stopper opening / closing mechanism (not shown) that opens and closes a stopper member 13C (described later) that the shuttle tray 13 has.

[0015] The banknote bundle 2A is inserted by a user into the insertion slot 4 along the short sides of the rectangular banknotes 2. The transport path 12 is provided along the insertion direction (Y direction) of the banknote bundle 2A into the insertion slot 4. Therefore, the banknote bundle 2A is transported through the transport path 12 along the short sides of the banknotes 2.

[0016] The shuttle tray 13 has a pair of lower shuttle members 13A and upper shuttle members 13B that sandwich and transport the banknote bundle 2A in the thickness direction (Z direction) of the banknote bundle 2A, and a stopper member 13C that regulates the position of the banknote bundle 2A placed on the lower shuttle member 13A.

[0017] The lower shuttle member 13A has a placement surface 16 on which the banknote bundle 2A inserted through the insertion slot 4 is placed. The upper shuttle member 13B is provided so as to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction (Z direction) so as to sandwich the banknote bundle 2A between itself and the placement surface 16 of the lower shuttle member 13A. The shuttle tray 13 is provided with an insertion sensor (not shown) that detects the insertion of the banknote bundle 2A into the shuttle tray 13, and when the insertion of the banknote bundle 2A through the insertion slot 4 is detected, the upper shuttle member 13B is lowered towards the lower shuttle member 13A by a shuttle lifting mechanism (not shown). As a result, the transport mechanism 6 transports the banknote bundle 2A sandwiched between the upper shuttle member 13B and the lower shuttle member 13A in the thickness direction (Z direction) of the banknote bundle 2A.

[0018] The stopper member 13C is provided at the end of the shuttle tray 13 on the storage unit 9 side so as to be slidable in the vertical direction (Z direction) relative to the shuttle tray 13. When the shuttle tray 13 moves towards the storage unit 9, the stopper member 13C opens an opening at the end of the shuttle tray 13 on the storage unit 9 side, thereby making it possible to feed the banknote bundle 2A from inside the shuttle tray 13 into the storage unit 9 through this opening.

[0019] The transfer belt 14 is provided on the lower shuttle member 13A so as to move in the conveying direction (Y direction) along the placement surface 16 of the lower shuttle member 13A. The transfer belt 14 moves the banknote bundle 2A placed on the placement surface 16 so as to pull it toward the back side of the shuttle tray 13 (towards the storage unit 9).

[0020] Conveyor belts 15 are arranged along the conveying direction (Y direction) on both sides of the width direction (X direction) of the conveying path 5. The conveying mechanism 6 transports the bill bundle 2A inserted from the insertion slot 4 along the conveying path 5 to the storage unit 9 by sending the shuttle tray 13 on which the bill bundle 2A is placed using the conveyor belts 15. After the shuttle tray 13 has been transported to the storage unit 9, the conveying mechanism 6 moves the bill bundle 2A toward the storage unit 9 relative to the shuttle tray 13 using the transfer belts 14, thereby sending out the end of the bill bundle 2A on the storage unit 9 side (hereinafter also referred to as the front end of the bill bundle 2A) from the opening of the shuttle tray 13.

[0021] (feeding mechanism) The payout mechanism 7 has a pick roller 17 that pays out banknotes 2 one by one from the banknote bundle 2A on the shuttle tray 13, a blade wheel 18 as a knocking member that knocks banknotes 2 one by one from the banknote bundle 2A and drops them onto a vibration plate 21 described later, a roller drive mechanism (not shown) that rotates the pick roller 17, and a knocking mechanism (not shown) that rotates the blade wheel 18.

[0022] The pick roller 17 is disposed above the front end of the banknote bundle 2A fed from the shuttle tray 13 so as to contact the paper surface 2s of the banknote bundle 2A. The impeller 18 is rotatably supported on a rotation shaft 18a and has a plurality of plate-shaped blades 18b that rotate along the YZ plane. Each blade 18b of the impeller 18 is disposed so as to contact the front end of the banknotes 2 fed from the banknote bundle 2A by the pick roller 17.

[0023] The payout mechanism 7 knocks down the banknotes 2 with the blades 18b of the impeller 18, thereby enabling the banknotes 2 paid out from the banknote bundle 2A to drop quickly and to a predetermined position. The knocking down member is not limited to the impeller 18, and may be of any other shape as long as it is capable of knocking down the banknotes 2. The payout mechanism 7 is not limited to a configuration including a knocking down member, and may be configured to pay out the banknotes 2 from the shuttle tray 13 to the vicinity of the vibration plate 21 without using a knocking down member.

[0024] The dispensing mechanism 7 is not limited to dispensing banknotes 2 one by one from the banknote bundle 2A, but may simultaneously dispense two or more banknotes 2. For example, even when dispensing banknotes 2 one by one from the banknote bundle 2A, dispensing multiple banknotes 2 bound together with a clip is also included in the case of dispensing banknotes 2 one by one.

[0025] (Detection unit) The detection unit 8 has a vibration plate 21 as a vibrating body that comes into contact with the banknotes 2 that are dispensed by the dispensing mechanism 7 and dropped, and a detector 22 that detects the vibrations generated in the vibration plate 21, and detects the presence or absence of foreign matter 3 based on the detection results of the detector 22.

[0026] The vibration plate 21 has a contact surface 21a with which the banknotes 2 come into contact, and the contact surface 21a is inclined with respect to the vertical direction (Z direction) so that the banknotes 2 and foreign objects 3 that have fallen from the shuttle tray 13 onto the contact surface 21a slide down the contact surface 21a and are sent to the storage unit 9. In this way, the banknotes 2 and foreign objects 3 are sent from the vibration plate 21 to the storage unit 9 by their own weight, which eliminates the need for a mechanism for sending the banknotes 2 and foreign objects 3 from the vibration plate 21 to the storage unit 9, thereby simplifying the structure of the banknote handling device 1.

[0027] Detector 22 is, for example, an acceleration sensor (vibration sensor), and is fixed to the back surface of contact surface 21a of vibration plate 21. Detector 22 is electrically connected to control unit 11, and transmits to control unit 11 a detected value of acceleration generated in vibration plate 21 due to contact with banknote 2 or foreign object 3.

[0028] (Storage section) The storage unit 9 has a stage 25 as a platform on which the banknotes 2 sent from the detection unit 8 are placed, a pusher 26 that presses the banknotes 2 placed on the stage 25 in their thickness direction (Z direction), a lifting mechanism 27 that raises and lowers the stage 25 together with the pusher 26, and a sending mechanism 28 that sends the banknotes 2 from the stage 25 to the validation unit 10.

[0029] The stage 25 has a placement surface 25a on which banknotes 2 that have come into contact with the contact surface 21a of the vibration plate 21 are placed, and the banknotes 2 are accumulated and placed on the placement surface 25a. A restriction wall (not shown) that restricts the position of the banknotes 2 sent from the vibration plate 21 onto the stage 25 is formed on the outer periphery of the stage 25, except for the side adjacent to the vibration plate 21, and the restriction wall (not shown) prevents the position of the banknotes 2 sent onto the stage 25 from being disturbed. Although not shown, instead of forming a restriction wall on the stage 25, the peripheral wall of the storage unit 9 may also serve as the restriction wall.

[0030] The stage 25 also has a discharge unit 31 that discharges the foreign objects 3 sent from the vibration plate 21 onto the stage 25 from the storage unit 9 to the outside of the banknote handling apparatus 1. The discharge unit 31 has a discharge opening 31a formed on the stage 25, a discharge path 31b that sends the foreign objects 3 from the discharge opening 31a to the outside of the banknote handling apparatus 1, and a return opening (not shown) that is connected to the discharge path 31b and is arranged on the outside of the banknote handling apparatus 1. This makes it possible to easily recover the foreign objects 3 that have become mixed in the banknote bundle 2A from the storage unit 9, and to easily recover the foreign objects 3 from the return opening (not shown) on the outside of the banknote handling apparatus 1.

[0031] Incidentally, although the storage unit 9 in the embodiment includes a discharge unit 31 for the foreign object 3, the configuration is not limited to this. When the detection unit 8 detects a foreign object 3, the banknote handling apparatus 1 may be configured to, for example, stop the banknote handling apparatus 1 and notify a maintenance worker of the detection of the foreign object 3 using a notification unit such as a display panel (not shown), so that the maintenance worker can remove the foreign object 3 from inside the banknote handling apparatus 1.

[0032] The delivery mechanism 28 has a delivery roller 28a that delivers the banknotes 2 one by one from the stage 25. After the stage 25 is lowered to a position adjacent to the delivery mechanism 28, the delivery mechanism 28 delivers the banknotes 2 from the stage 25 one by one.

[0033] The discriminator 10 has a conveyance path 10a along which the banknotes 2 sent by the sending mechanism 28 of the storage unit 9 are conveyed, and an image sensor 10b that discriminates the banknotes 2 conveyed along the conveyance path 10a.

[0034] The control unit 11 may be a control circuit on a control board provided inside the banknote handling apparatus 1, but is not limited to this and may be an external computer connected to the banknote handling apparatus 1.

[0035] (Detection principle of foreign objects in a stack of banknotes) Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a change in acceleration detected by the detection unit 8 in the example. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the natural vibration when there is no foreign object. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the natural vibration when there is a foreign object.

[0036] 3, when a banknote 2 or a foreign object 3 that has fallen from the shuttle tray 13 of the transport mechanism 6 comes into contact with the vibration plate 21 of the detection unit 8, the detection unit 8 detects a change in acceleration that occurs in the vibration plate 21. For example, the detection unit 8 transmits a detected value of acceleration to the control unit 11, which then calculates the natural frequency of the vibration plate 21 based on the detected value of acceleration and determines whether the banknote 2 or the foreign object 3 has come into contact with the vibration plate 21 based on the natural frequency. Note that the configuration is not limited to one in which the control unit 11 calculates and determines the natural frequency, and the detection unit 8 may be configured to include a processing circuit that performs at least one of calculating and determining the natural frequency.

[0037] As shown in Figure 4, when the amplitude of the natural vibration generated in the vibration plate 21 becomes below the threshold value T and the amplitude gradually decays, the control unit 11 determines that a banknote 2 has come into contact with the vibration plate 21, and no foreign object 3 mixed in the bundle of banknotes 2A is detected, and it is determined that no foreign object is present.

[0038] As shown in Figure 5, when the amplitude of the natural vibration generated in the vibration plate 21 exceeds the threshold value T and the amplitude rapidly attenuates, the control unit 11 determines that a foreign object 3 has come into contact with the vibration plate 21, detects the foreign object 3 mixed in the banknote bundle 2A, and determines that a foreign object is present.

[0039] (Operation of banknote handling equipment) The operation of the banknote handling apparatus 1 of the embodiment configured as above will now be described. Figures 6 to 15 are schematic vertical cross-sectional views for explaining the operation of the banknote handling apparatus 1 of the embodiment. Figure 16 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the banknote handling apparatus 1 of the embodiment.

[0040] As shown in Figures 6 and 16, in the banknote handling device 1, a user inserts a banknote bundle 2A into the insertion slot 4 (step S1). As shown in Figures 7 and 16, the banknote handling device 1 pulls the banknote bundle 2A inserted into the insertion slot 4 into the shuttle tray 13, and clamps the banknote bundle 2A in the shuttle tray 13 by lowering the upper shuttle member 13B towards the lower shuttle member 13A (step S2).

[0041] Next, the banknote handling apparatus 1 moves the shuttle tray 13 into the banknote handling apparatus 1 using the transport mechanism 6 (step S3), and sends the banknote bundle 2A to the storage unit 9 side. After sending the banknote bundle 2A to the storage unit 9 side, the banknote handling apparatus 1 lowers the stopper member 13C to open the opening of the shuttle tray 13 on the storage unit 9 side, as shown in Figures 8 and 16 (step S4). Next, the banknote handling apparatus 1 uses the transfer belt 14 to feed the front end of the banknote bundle 2A from inside the shuttle tray 13, and moves the banknote bundle 2A to a position where it comes into contact with the pick roller 17 (step S5).

[0042] Next, the banknote handling device 1 separates the banknotes 2 in the banknote bundle 2A one by one using the pick roller 17 of the feeding mechanism 7, and feeds the banknotes 2 one by one from the shuttle tray 13 (step S6). As shown in Figures 9, 10 and 16, the banknote handling device 1 knocks down the banknotes 2 fed from the shuttle tray 13 with the blades 18b of the impeller 18, causing them to fall onto the vibration plate 21 so as to come into contact with the contact surface 21a of the vibration plate 21 (step S7).

[0043] When the banknotes 2 fall onto the vibrating plate 21, the banknote handling device 1 measures the vibration of the falling banknotes 2 by detecting the acceleration occurring on the vibrating plate 21 using the detector 22 of the detection unit 8 (step S8). Similarly, when a foreign object 3 mixed in the banknote stack 2A falls onto the vibrating plate 21 as the banknotes 2 are fed out from the shuttle tray 13, the banknote handling device 1 measures the vibration of the falling foreign object 3 by detecting the acceleration occurring on the vibrating plate 21 using the detector 22 of the detection unit 8.

[0044] Next, the control unit 11 of the banknote handling machine 1 converts the measurement data sent from the detection unit 8 (step S9) and calculates the natural frequency. Next, the banknote handling machine 1 determines whether the amplitude of the natural vibration obtained from the measurement data is equal to or less than the threshold value T (step S10). If the amplitude of the natural vibration is equal to or less than the threshold value T (Yes) in step S10, the control unit 11 determines that a banknote 2 has fallen onto the vibration plate 21, that is, that no foreign object is present.

[0045] 10 and 11, the banknotes 2 that have fallen onto the vibration plate 21 slide down the contact surface 21a of the vibration plate 21 and are sent onto the stage 25. Next, the banknote handling apparatus 1 drives the lifting mechanism 27 to shake the stage 25, for example, to arrange the banknotes 2 on the stage 25 so that they are in a predetermined position (step S11). The storage unit 9 of the banknote handling apparatus 1 may be provided with a swinging mechanism (not shown) for shaking the banknotes 2 placed on the stage 25 to arrange the positions of the banknotes 2.

[0046] Then, when all of the banknote bundles 2A on the shuttle tray 13 have been stacked on the stage 25 as shown in Fig. 12, the banknote handling apparatus 1 lowers the pusher 26 as shown in Fig. 13, and sandwiches the banknote bundle 2A on the stage 25 between itself and the pusher 26. Next, as shown in Figs. 14 and 16, the banknote handling apparatus 1 lowers the pusher 26 and the stage 25 to the position of the delivery mechanism 28 (step S12), and the delivery mechanism 28 delivers the banknotes 2 one by one from the banknote bundle 2A on the stage 25 to the validation unit 10. After delivering all of the banknote bundles 2A on the stage 25 to the validation unit 10, the banknote handling apparatus 1 starts the next handling process (step S13).

[0047] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned step S10, if the amplitude of the natural vibration exceeds the threshold value T (No), the control unit 11 determines that a foreign object 3 has fallen onto the vibration plate 21, that is, that a foreign object is present. If the banknote handling device 1 determines that a foreign object is present, it ends the handling process of the banknote bundle 2A with an error (step S14), stops the handling process, and waits for an inspection by a maintenance worker, etc. In this embodiment, the foreign object 3 that has fallen onto the vibration plate 21 slides down the contact surface 21a of the vibration plate 21 and is sent onto the stage 25, and is discharged, for example, from the discharge unit 31 of the stage 25 to a return opening (not shown).

[0048] (Foreign object detection method) A foreign object detection method for detecting foreign object 3 mixed in banknote bundle 2A in banknote handling device 1 of the embodiment configured as above will be described. In the foreign object detection method of the embodiment, banknote bundle 2A is transported by transport mechanism 6, banknotes 2 are fed by feed mechanism 7 from banknote bundle 2A transported by transport mechanism 6 so as to fall onto vibration plate 21, and the presence or absence of foreign object 3 mixed in banknote bundle 2A is detected based on the detection result of vibration generated in vibration plate 21.

[0049] (Effects of the Example) As described above, the banknote handling device 1 of the embodiment includes a transport mechanism 6 that transports a banknote bundle 2A, a payout mechanism 7 that pays out banknotes 2 from the banknote bundle 2A transported by the transport mechanism 6, and a detection unit 8 that detects the presence or absence of foreign matter 3 mixed in the banknote bundle 2A. The detection unit 8 includes a vibration plate 21 that comes into contact with banknotes 2 that are paid out by the payout mechanism 7 and dropped, and a detector 22 that detects vibrations generated in the vibration plate 21, and detects the presence or absence of foreign matter 3 based on the detection result of the detector 22. This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of detecting the presence or absence of foreign matter 3 mixed in the banknote bundle 2A compared to when a metal sensor is used to detect foreign matter 3.

[0050] The payout mechanism 7 of the banknote handling apparatus 1 of the embodiment also has an impeller 18 that strikes the banknotes 2 one by one from the banknote bundle 2A and causes them to fall onto the vibration plate 21. This makes it possible for the banknotes 2 paid out from the banknote bundle 2A to fall quickly and to fall to a predetermined position. As a result, the efficiency of the handling process of the banknote handling apparatus 1 can be improved, and the detection accuracy of the detection unit 8 can be improved.

[0051] Furthermore, the vibration plate 21 of the detection unit 8 of the banknote handling device 1 of the embodiment has a contact surface 21a with which the banknote 2 comes into contact, and the contact surface 21a is inclined with respect to the vertical direction (Z direction) so that the banknote 2 that has fallen onto the contact surface 21a slides down the contact surface 21a and is sent to the storage unit 9. In this way, the banknotes 2 and foreign objects 3 are sent from the vibration plate 21 to the storage unit 9 by their own weight, which eliminates the need for a mechanism for sending the banknotes 2 and foreign objects 3 from the vibration plate 21 to the storage unit 9, thereby simplifying the structure of the banknote handling device 1.

[0052] Furthermore, the storage unit 9 of the banknote handling device 1 of the embodiment has a stage 25 on which banknotes 2 sent from the contact surface 21a of the vibration plate 21 are placed, and the stage 25 has a discharge unit 31 that discharges foreign matter 3 sent from the vibration plate 21 to the stage 25 from the storage unit 9. This makes it possible to easily recover foreign matter 3 mixed in with the banknote bundle 2A from the storage unit 9.

[0053] Furthermore, the discharge section 31 of the stage 25 in the storage unit 9 of the banknote handling apparatus 1 of the embodiment has a discharge outlet 31a formed in the stage 25 and a discharge path 31b that sends the foreign object 3 from the discharge outlet 31a to the outside of the banknote handling apparatus 1. This makes it possible to easily collect the foreign object 3 from the outside of the banknote handling apparatus 1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1. Banknote handling equipment (paper sheet handling equipment) 2. Banknotes (paper sheets) 2A Banknote bundle (bundle of paper sheets) 3 Foreign matter 6. Conveyor mechanism 7. Feeding mechanism 8. Detection unit 9 Storage section 18 Impeller 21 Vibration plate (vibrator) 21a Contact surface 22 Detector 25 Stage (mounting table) 31 Discharge section 31a Outlet 31b Exhaust channel

Claims

1. a conveying mechanism for conveying a bundle of paper sheets; a feeding mechanism that feeds out paper sheets from the bundle of paper sheets transported by the transport mechanism; a detection unit that detects whether or not a foreign object has been mixed into the bundle of paper sheets, The detection unit has a vibrator that comes into contact with paper sheets that are fed out by the feeding mechanism and dropped, and a detector that detects vibrations generated in the vibrator, and detects the presence or absence of the foreign object based on the detection results of the detector.

2. The feeding mechanism has a knocking member that knocks down the paper sheets one by one from the bundle of paper sheets and drops them onto the vibrator.

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

3. The paper feeder further includes a storage unit for storing the paper sheets sent from the detection unit, the vibrator has a contact surface with which the paper sheet comes into contact, and the contact surface is inclined with respect to the vertical direction so that the paper sheet that has fallen onto the contact surface slides down the contact surface and is sent to the storage section.

3. The paper sheet handling device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the storage unit has a placement table on which the paper sheets fed from the contact surface of the vibrator are placed, the mounting table has a discharge section that discharges the foreign matter sent from the vibrator to the mounting table from the accommodation section.

4. The paper sheet handling device according to claim 3.

5. The discharge unit has a discharge port formed in the placement table and a discharge path that sends the foreign object from the discharge port to the outside of the paper sheet handling device.

5. The paper sheet handling device according to claim 4.

6. A bundle of paper sheets is transported by a transport mechanism, a feeding mechanism is used to feed paper sheets from the bundle of paper sheets conveyed by the conveying mechanism so that the paper sheets fall onto a vibrator; A foreign matter detection method for detecting whether or not a foreign matter has entered the stack of paper sheets based on the detection result of vibrations generated in the vibrator.

Images