Money processing device and money processing system

Abstract

This money processing device comprises: a plurality of recirculation units to which denominations of money to be accommodated are set; and a control unit that receives the selection as to whether or not a denomination having been set in a suspended recirculation unit that is among the plurality of recirculation units and is included in an error occurrence site, where an error has occurred, is set in a usable recirculation unit that is among the plurality of recirculation units other than the suspended recirculation unit and is included in a normally-operable site, where normal operation is possible. Upon receiving the selection as to set, to the usable recirculation unit, the denomination having been set in the suspended recirculation unit, the control unit stops the use of the error occurrence site and sets, to the usable recirculation unit, the denomination having been set in the suspended recirculation unit, so as to perform accommodation of banknotes of the denomination in the usable recirculation unit.

Description

Currency processing device and currency processing system

[0001] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-169535, filed on September 29, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] BACKGROUND ART A currency processing device capable of storing and processing transactions of multiple denominations of currency by denomination, etc., is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-027198

[0004] Some currency processing devices are capable of disabling the use of a component in which an error has occurred and allowing transaction processing to be carried out using the remaining components that are still in normal operation. It is desirable to further improve the usability of such currency processing devices.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to provide a currency processing device and a currency processing system that can improve usability.

[0006] A currency processing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a plurality of recycle sections in which the denominations of currency to be stored are set, and a control unit that accepts a selection of whether to set the denomination that was set to an out-of-use recycle section included in an error-occurring section among the plurality of recycle sections where an error has occurred to a usable recycle section included in a normally operable section among the plurality of recycle sections other than the out-of-use recycle section, and when the control unit accepts a selection to set the denomination that was set to the out-of-use recycle section to the usable recycle section, it stops the use of the error-occurring section and sets the denomination that was set to the out-of-use recycle section to the usable recycle section, and performs the storage of banknotes of that denomination in the usable recycle section.

[0007] A currency handling system according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a currency handling device having a plurality of recycle sections in which the denominations of currency to be stored are set, and a terminal device that accepts a selection of whether to set a denomination that was set to an unusable recycle section included in an error occurrence section among the plurality of recycle sections where an error has occurred to a usable recycle section included in a normally operable section among the plurality of recycle sections other than the unusable recycle section, and the currency handling device further comprises a control section that, when the terminal device accepts a selection to set the denomination that was set to the unusable recycle section to the usable recycle section, stops the use of the error occurrence section and sets the denomination that was set to the unusable recycle section to the usable recycle section, and performs storing of banknotes of that denomination in the usable recycle section.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a currency processing device and a currency processing system that can improve usability.

[0009] 1 is a side view schematically showing a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a control block diagram schematically showing a currency handling system including a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a deposit processing route is indicated by a thick line; FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a storage processing route is indicated by a thick line; FIG. 5 is a setting change transition diagram for an example of accepted denomination settings for a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the left side shows before the change and the right side shows after the change; FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a return processing route is indicated by a thick line; FIG. 7 is a side view schematically showing a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a withdrawal processing route is indicated by a thick line; FIG. 8 is a side view schematically showing a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a first stage route for a withdrawal evacuation process is indicated by a thick line; and FIG. 9 is a side view schematically showing a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a second stage route for a withdrawal evacuation process is indicated by a thick line. 1 is a side view schematically showing a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where the thick line indicates the early stage route of the cassette refilling process. FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where the thick line indicates the late stage route of the cassette refilling process. FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where the thick line indicates the early stage route of the recovery process. FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where the thick line indicates the late stage route of the recovery process. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an abnormality recovery guidance screen on the operation display unit of the currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a degeneracy setting handover setting screen on the operation display unit of the currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an automatic inheritance / user selection setting screen on the operation display unit of the currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an apparatus status display screen on the operation display unit of the currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a setting change transition diagram of another example of accepted denomination setting for a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, where the left side shows the state before the change and the right side shows the state after the change. 1 shows a selection transfer setting screen of an operation display unit of a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 2 is a setting change transition diagram of a modified example 1 of the accepted denomination setting of a currency processing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the left side shows the state before the change and the right side shows the state after the change.

[0010] A currency handling device and a currency handling system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] 1 processes banknotes as currency. Note that the technology of the present disclosure is also applicable to currency processing devices and currency handling systems that process coins as well as banknotes as currency.

[0012] The currency handling device 10 is a banknote depositing and dispensing device capable of a depositing process in which banknotes inserted from outside are sorted and stored internally, and a dispensing process in which banknotes stored internally are dispensed so that they can be removed to the outside. Specifically, the currency handling device 10 sorts and stores various types of foreign banknotes other than Japanese banknotes according to their denominations, etc., and deposits and dispenses them. In the following description, "front" refers to the side of the operator of the currency handling device 10, "rear" refers to the side opposite the operator of the currency handling device 10, "left" refers to the left as seen from the operator of the currency handling device 10, and "right" refers to the right as seen from the operator of the currency handling device 10.

[0013] An inlet 12 is provided at the top of the front side of the currency handling device 10, through which banknotes to be deposited are inserted from the outside, and a outlet 13 is provided above and behind this inlet 12, through which unacceptable rejected banknotes among the banknotes to be deposited are fed from the inside, and through which banknotes to be withdrawn are fed from the inside, allowing these to be removed to the outside. Behind the outlet 13 on the top surface of the currency handling device 10, a touch panel type operation and display unit (display) 14 is provided that accepts operation inputs from an operator and displays information to the operator. Note that the operation and display unit 14 may be configured as a separate operation unit and display unit.

[0014] A recognition unit 17 that recognizes banknotes is provided behind the deposit port unit 12. A temporary storage unit 18 that temporarily stores banknotes recognized by the recognition unit 17 is provided behind the recognition unit 17.

[0015] A loading plate 19 is provided in the deposit port 12 in a rear-downward position. This loading plate 19 rises in a rear-upward direction within the deposit port 12 and descends in a front-downward direction. Banknotes in a stacked state are placed from outside on the loading plate 19 in a descending state, stacked vertically with their long sides aligned in the left-right direction. Therefore, the banknotes placed on the loading plate 19 are stacked in a rear-upward direction. The deposit port 12 lifts the loading plate 19 to transport the stacked banknotes in a rear-upward direction, and feeds the stacked banknotes one by one into the interior of the currency handling device 10, starting from the top of the stacking direction.

[0016] A deposit transport path 21 that transports banknotes dispensed from the deposit port 12 is connected to the rear end of the deposit port 12. The deposit transport path 21 extends downward and rearward from the deposit port 12, and then extends horizontally rearward. The rear end of the deposit transport path 21 is connected to the recognition unit 17.

[0017] The recognition unit 17 has an internal transport path 17a extending horizontally rearward from the rear end of the deposit transport path 21. The internal transport path 17a continues to transport banknotes rearward from the deposit transport path 21. The recognition unit 17 recognizes the authenticity, fitness, denomination, double feeding, skew, etc. of banknotes being transported on the internal transport path 17a.

[0018] A linear conveyance path 25 extends horizontally rearward from the rear end of the internal conveyance path 17a of the recognition unit 17. The rear end of this linear conveyance path 25 is connected to the temporary storage unit 18. The linear conveyance path 25 continues to convey banknotes rearward from the internal conveyance path 17a. For example, banknotes inserted into the deposit port 12 are conveyed from the deposit port 12 toward the recognition unit 17 on the deposit conveyance path 21, recognized by the recognition unit 17, and then conveyed to the temporary storage unit 18 on the linear conveyance path 25.

[0019] The temporary storage unit 18 temporarily stores banknotes. The temporary storage unit 18 takes in the banknotes transported on the linear transport path 25 one by one and stores them in order, and then pays out the stored banknotes one by one to the linear transport path 25 in the reverse order of the take-in order. The temporary storage unit 18 is a winding storage type in which the banknotes are stored by being wound around a drum together with a tape, and then the banknotes are unwound from the drum together with the tape and paid out.

[0020] A dispensing conveyance path 26 branches upward from the intermediate position of the linear conveyance path 25. This dispensing conveyance path 26 is connected to the dispensing port 13. By branching the dispensing conveyance path 26, the linear conveyance path 25 is divided into a front feed path section 25a on the front side from the branching position of the dispensing conveyance path 26 and a rear feed path section 25b on the rear side from the branching position of the dispensing conveyance path 26. Banknotes can move back and forth between the front feed path section 25a and the rear feed path section 25b. Banknotes can be transported from the front feed path section 25a to the dispensing conveyance path 26 between the front feed path section 25a and the dispensing conveyance path 26. Banknotes can be transported from the rear feed path section 25b to the dispensing conveyance path 26 between the rear feed path section 25b and the dispensing conveyance path 26.

[0021] The withdrawal conveyance path 26 conveys the banknotes conveyed via the linear conveyance path 25 to the withdrawal port 13. The withdrawal port 13 accumulates the banknotes fed from the withdrawal conveyance path 26 diagonally from the front and lower side to the rear and upper side. The banknotes accumulated in the withdrawal port 13 are taken out from the withdrawal port 13. The withdrawal conveyance path 26, for example, conveys the banknotes fed from the temporary storage unit 18 to the linear conveyance path 25 upward from the rear feed path portion 25b of the linear conveyance path 25 and discharges them to the withdrawal port 13.

[0022] The deposit port section 12, the withdrawal port section 13, the operation display section 14, the identification section 17 including the internal conveying path 17a, the temporary storage section 18, the deposit conveying path 21, the straight conveying path 25 and the withdrawal conveying path 26 are provided in an upper unit 30 that forms the upper part of the currency handling device 10.

[0023] The lower unit 31, which is located below the upper unit 30 and constitutes the middle to lower part of the currency handling device 10 in the height direction, has one cassette 32 located at the front. A total of eight recycling units 33 are provided behind the cassettes 32, arranged in two upper and lower rows and four front and rear columns. The recycling units 33 store banknotes so that they can be deposited and withdrawn, mainly sorted by denomination, etc. The cassettes 32, like the recycling units 33, store banknotes so that they can be deposited and withdrawn. The cassettes 32 enable banknotes to be loaded into the currency handling device 10 or banknotes to be collected from the currency handling device 10, etc.

[0024] An upper and lower conveying path 35 branches downward from the middle position of the deposit conveying path 21. This upper and lower conveying path 35 extends vertically downward from the deposit conveying path 21 and is connected to the cassette 32. By branching the upper and lower conveying paths 35, the deposit conveying path 21 is divided into a front feed path section 21a on the front side from the branching position of the upper and lower conveying paths 35 and a rear feed path section 21b on the rear side from the branching position of the upper and lower conveying paths 35. Between the front feed path section 21a and the rear feed path section 21b, banknotes can be transported from the front feed path section 21a to the rear feed path section 21b. Banknotes can move back and forth between the upper and lower conveying paths 35 and the rear feed path section 21b. The upper and lower conveying paths 35, for example, branch and transport banknotes that have been fed from the temporary storage section 18 to the linear conveying path 25 and passed through the recognition section 17 downward from the rear feed path section 21b of the deposit conveying path 21 to store them in the cassette 32.

[0025] The cassette 32 can take in and store banknotes one by one in order, and can dispense the stored banknotes one by one in the reverse order of the take-in order. The cassette 32 is of an accumulation storage type that receives banknotes from above, accumulates them horizontally from bottom to top, and dispenses the stored banknotes starting from the top. The accumulation storage type cassette 32 has significantly higher banknote storage efficiency and a larger banknote storage capacity than winding storage types such as the temporary storage unit 18 and the recycling unit 33 described below.

[0026] A storage conveying path 37 branches off rearward from the middle position of the vertical conveying path 35. This storage conveying path 37 extends horizontally rearward from the vertical conveying path 35. As a result of the branching of the storage conveying path 37, the vertical conveying path 35 is divided into an upper conveying path portion 35a above the branching position of the storage conveying path 37 and a lower conveying path portion 35b below the branching position of the storage conveying path 37.

[0027] From the middle of the storage conveying path 37, multiple branch conveying paths, specifically three branch conveying paths 39, 40, and 41, branch downward. A terminal conveying path 42 extends downward from the terminal position of the storage conveying path 37. The branch conveying path 39 is connected to the return section 33 at the front upper level and, via this return section 33, is connected to the return section 33 at the front lower level. The branch conveying path 40 is connected to the return section 33 at the second upper level from the front and, via this return section 33, is connected to the return section 33 at the second lower level from the front. The branch conveying path 41 is connected to the return section 33 at the third upper level from the front and, via this return section 33, is connected to the return section 33 at the third lower level from the front. The terminal conveying path 42 is connected to the return section 33 at the fourth upper level from the front and, via this return section 33, is connected to the return section 33 at the fourth lower level from the front.

[0028] All eight recycling units 33 are of a winding storage type in which banknotes are stored by being wound around a drum together with a tape, and then the banknotes are unwound from the drum together with the tape and fed out, and the banknotes are counted while being fed out. The winding storage type recycling units 33 take in banknotes one by one and store them in order, and then feed the stored banknotes one by one in the reverse order of when they were taken in.

[0029] The storage conveying path 37, branch conveying paths 39 to 41 and terminal conveying path 42, for example, convey banknotes that are fed from the temporary storage section 18 to the straight conveying path 25, pass through the recognition section 17, and then conveyed from the rear conveying path section 21b of the deposit conveying path 21 via the upper conveying path section 35a of the vertical conveying path 35 rearward from the upper conveying path section 35a, and selectively store them in eight recycling sections 33.

[0030] For example, all eight of the eight recycle units 33 can be set as single-denomination recycle units that store only banknotes of a single designated denomination. Some of the eight recycle units 33 can be set as single-denomination recycle units that store only banknotes of a single designated denomination, and the remaining can be set as mixed-denomination recycle units that store banknotes of multiple denominations in a mixed denomination. Some of the eight recycle units 33 can be set as single-denomination recycle units that store only banknotes of a single designated denomination. Some of the eight recycle units 33 can be set as mixed-denomination recycle units that store banknotes of multiple denominations in a mixed denomination. Some of the eight recycle units 33 can be set as soiled recycle units that store soiled banknotes of multiple denominations in a mixed denomination.

[0031] The lower unit 31 is provided with a cassette 32, eight return sections 33, a lower portion of the upper feed path section 35a of the vertical conveying path 35, a lower feed path section 35b, a storage conveying path 37, branch conveying paths 39 to 41, and a terminal conveying path 42. The upper portion of the upper feed path section 35a of the vertical conveying path 35 is provided in the upper unit 30.

[0032] The lower unit 31 has a rectangular box-shaped housing 45 that opens to the front, a unit main body 46 that is provided with the cassette 32 and eight reflux units 33 and is placed inside the housing 45, and a lid 47 that opens and closes the front opening of the housing 45. The cassette 32 is detachably attached to the unit main body 46. The eight reflux units 33 are basically not detachable from the unit main body 46.

[0033] The cover 47 is connected to one left-right end of the housing 45, specifically the front edge of the left end, so as to be rotatable around a vertically extending support shaft (not shown). In other words, the cover 47 is connected to the housing 45 by a hinge and can rotate horizontally around the vertical shaft. The cover 47 opens to the left.

[0034] When the cover 47 is in the closed state, it completely blocks the front opening of the housing 45. When the cover 47 changes from the closed state to the open state, it rotates forward and leftward about a support shaft (not shown) and retreats from the front area of ​​the front opening of the housing 45.

[0035] The unit body 46 is supported on the left and right inner surfaces of the housing 45 via slide rails (not shown). The unit body 46 is connected to the housing 45 so as to be slidable horizontally. When the unit body 46 is in a closed state, that is, pushed all the way into the housing 45, the entire unit body 46 is disposed within the housing 45. Furthermore, when the cover 47 is in an open state, the unit body 46 protrudes forward from the front opening when pulled out from the housing 45. When the unit body 46 is pulled out all the way from the housing 45, the entire unit body 46 protrudes outside the housing 45.

[0036] In the currency handling apparatus 10, the deposit transport path 21, the internal transport path 17a, the linear transport path 25, the withdrawal transport path 26, the upper and lower transport paths 35, the storage transport path 37, the branch transport paths 39-41, and the terminal transport path 42 constitute a transport section 51 that transports banknotes within the currency handling apparatus 10. The currency handling apparatus 10 has a sorting section 52 (shown in FIG. 2) that sorts banknotes at each branch point of the transport section 51. The currency handling apparatus 10 also has a memory section 54 that stores the denomination, storage order, and number of banknotes stored in each recycling section 33, and a control section 55 that controls each section, such as the deposit port section 12, the withdrawal port section 13, the operation and display section 14, the recognition section 17, the temporary storage section 18, the cassette 32, all recycling sections 33, the transport section 51, the sorting section 52, and the memory section 54. The memory section 54 and the control section 55 are provided in the upper unit 30 shown in FIG. 1. The currency handling device 10 may include a CPU and a memory. The functions of the control unit 55 may be realized by the CPU executing a program (instructions) stored in the memory.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 2, the control unit 55 of the currency handling device 10 is connected to an external terminal device 58, such as a personal computer or a portable mobile terminal, via a communication unit 57. The terminal device 58 is also provided with a display unit and operation unit, or an operation display unit, similar to the operation and display unit 14. The control unit 55 can also control the currency handling device 10 based on control signals from the terminal device 58. The currency handling device 10, together with the communication unit 57 and the terminal device 58, constitute a currency handling system 60.

[0038] Here, an example will be described in which a display is made on the operation display unit 14 of the currency processing device 10 and operation input is accepted by the operation display unit 14, but the present disclosure is not limited to such an example. In the currency processing system 60, it is also possible to display a display similar to that of the operation display unit 14 on the display unit or operation display unit of the terminal device 58, and to input operation input similar to that of the operation display unit 14 into the operation unit or operation display unit of the terminal device 58. The terminal device 58 may include a CPU and memory. The functions of the terminal device 58 may be realized by the CPU executing a program (instructions) stored in the memory.

[0039] Next, the main operations of the currency handling apparatus 10 according to the embodiment will be explained for each process.

[0040] "Deposit Processing" When banknotes are inserted into the deposit port 12 from the outside and an operation to start the deposit processing is input to the operation display unit 14, the control unit 55 controls each unit of the currency handling apparatus 10 to transport the banknotes along the deposit processing route shown by the thick line in Fig. 3A. That is, the control unit 55 separates and dispenses the banknotes one by one at the deposit port 12, and transports the dispensed banknotes along the deposit transport path 21, the internal transport path 17a of the recognition unit 17, and the front transport path unit 25a of the linear transport path 25. The control unit 55 recognizes the banknotes while they are being transported along the internal transport path 17a, and transports banknotes that the recognition unit 17 recognizes as acceptable to the temporary storage unit 18 along the linear transport path 25, where they are temporarily stored (see the thick solid line in Fig. 3A). On the other hand, the control unit 55 transports banknotes that the recognition unit 17 has identified as unacceptable from the front transport path section 25a of the straight transport path 25 to the dispensing port 13 via the dispensing transport path 26 (see the thick solid line to the thick dashed line in Figure 3A).

[0041] Here, the deposit port 12 separates and dispenses banknotes that are stacked in the thickness direction, which may result in transport problems such as double feeding or skewing during dispensing. The recognition unit 17 also identifies such transport-problematic banknotes as unacceptable and transports them to the withdrawal port 13. When all banknotes inserted into the deposit port 12 have been transported to either the temporary storage unit 18 or the withdrawal port 13, the control unit 55 displays monetary information such as the number of banknotes by denomination and the total amount of the banknotes temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 18 based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 17 on the operation and display unit 14. The banknotes transported to the withdrawal port 13 can then be taken out.

[0042] "Storage Processing" After the operation display unit 14 displays the amount information after the deposit processing, when the operator inputs an approval operation on the operation display unit 14, the control unit 55 controls each unit of the currency handling device 10 to transport banknotes along the storage processing route shown by the thick line in FIG. 3B. That is, the control unit 55 feeds out the banknotes temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 18 and transports them along the linear transport path 25, the internal transport path 17a of the recognition unit 17, the rear transport path section 21b of the deposit transport path 21, the upper transport path section 35a of the vertical transport path 35, and the storage transport path 37. During transport along the internal transport path 17a, the recognition unit 17 recognizes the banknotes, and based on the results, the control unit 55 distributes the banknotes to the corresponding one of the eight recycling units 33 via the appropriate one of the storage transport path 37, the branch transport paths 39 to 41, and the terminal transport path 42. The distributed banknotes are stored in the corresponding one of the eight recycling units 33. Since the temporary storage section 18 is a wrap-around storage type, there is little risk of transport problems such as double feeding or skew when the paper is fed out.

[0043] A specific example of the distribution of banknotes to the eight recycling units 33 will be described below. Here, the eight recycling units 33 will be described by distinguishing between recycling unit 33(1) (the upper unit in the first row from the front), recycling unit 33(2) (the upper unit in the second row from the front), recycling unit 33(3) (the upper unit in the third row from the front), recycling unit 33(4) (the upper unit in the fourth row from the front), recycling unit 33(5) (the lower unit in the first row from the front), recycling unit 33(6) (the lower unit in the second row from the front), recycling unit 33(7) (the lower unit in the third row from the front), and recycling unit 33(8).

[0044] The control unit 55 sets a received denomination setting, including information on the denomination to be stored, for each of the eight recycling units 33(1) to 33(8) in advance based on an operation input to the operation display unit 14, and stores the setting in the memory unit 54. Banknotes having denomination information matching the denomination information of the received denomination setting are stored in the recycling unit 33 for which the received denomination setting is set. Note that such a received denomination setting may also be set in the terminal device 58 by an operation input to the terminal device 58 and transmitted to the control unit 55 of the currency processing device 10 via the communication unit 57. In this case, the control unit 55 stores the received denomination setting, including the denomination information for each of the eight recycling units 33(1) to 33(8), set in the terminal device 58, in the memory unit 54.

[0045] Here, as a specific example, as shown on the left side of Figure 4, the accepted denomination setting of the recycling unit 33 (1) is set to all denominations of soiled banknotes. The denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the recycling unit 33 (2) is set to 5 EUR. The denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the recycling unit 33 (3) is set to 50 EUR. The denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the recycling unit 33 (4) is set to 50 EUR. The denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the recycling unit 33 (5) is set to 20 EUR. The denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the recycling unit 33 (6) is set to 10 EUR. The denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the recycling unit 33 (7) is set to 100 EUR. The denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the recycling unit 33 (8) is set to 200 EUR and 500 EUR. The accepted denomination settings are stored in the memory unit 54. Here, "EUR" stands for "Euro."

[0046] Therefore, the control unit 55 controls each part of the currency handling device 10 to store soiled banknotes of all denominations in the recycling unit 33(1). The control unit 55 controls each part of the currency handling device 10 to store normal banknotes that can be used for withdrawal other than soiled 5 EUR notes in the recycling unit 33(2). The control unit 55 controls each part of the currency handling device 10 to store similar normal 50 EUR banknotes in the recycling unit 33(3) and similar normal 50 EUR banknotes in the recycling unit 33(4). The control unit 55 controls each part of the currency handling device 10 to store similar normal 20 EUR banknotes in the recycling unit 33(5). The control unit 55 controls each part of the currency handling device 10 to store similar normal 10 EUR banknotes in the recycling unit 33(6). The control unit 55 controls each part of the currency handling device 10 so that the recycling unit 33(7) stores similar normal 100 EUR banknotes. The control unit 55 controls each part of the currency handling device 10 so that the recycling unit 33(8) stores similar normal 200 EUR and 500 EUR banknotes.

[0047] As a result, in the storage process, banknotes are stored as follows: That is, soiled banknotes of all denominations are stored in the recycling section 33(1). 5 EUR normal banknotes are stored in the recycling section 33(2). 50 EUR normal banknotes are stored in the recycling section 33(3). 50 EUR normal banknotes are stored in the recycling section 33(4). 20 EUR normal banknotes are stored in the recycling section 33(5). 10 EUR normal banknotes are stored in the recycling section 33(6). 100 EUR normal banknotes are stored in the recycling section 33(7). 200 EUR and 500 EUR normal banknotes are stored in the recycling section 33(8). At that time, the control unit 55 stores the storage order, denomination, and number of banknotes stored for each of the recycling units 33(1) to 33(8) in the memory unit 54. As a result, the memory unit 54 stores the denominations of all banknotes stored in the storage order for each of the recycling units 33(1) to 33(8), as well as the total number of banknotes stored by denomination and the total number of banknotes stored.

[0048] "Return process" After the operation display unit 14 displays the amount information after the deposit process, when the operator inputs a return operation on the operation display unit 14, the control unit 55 controls each unit of the currency handling device 10 to transport the banknotes along the return process route shown by the thick line in Fig. 5. In other words, the control unit 55 causes the banknotes that have been temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 18 to be fed out of the temporary storage unit 18 and transported to the dispensing port unit 13 via the rear transport path unit 25b of the linear transport path 25 and the dispensing transport path 26. The banknotes transported to the dispensing port unit 13 can be taken out to the outside.

[0049] "Withdrawal process" When a selection operation for the withdrawal process is input into the operation display unit 14 along with information on the amount of the banknotes to be withdrawn, if the banknotes are to be withdrawn from the recycling unit 33 set in the single denomination recycling unit (in the case of the settings in the above specific example, recycling units 33(2) to 33(7)), the control unit 55 controls each unit of the currency processing device 10 to transport the banknotes from the recycling unit 33 in which the banknotes of the denomination to be withdrawn are stored along the withdrawal process route shown by the thick line in Figure 6. That is, the control unit 55 counts and feeds out banknotes of the corresponding denomination stored in the recycling unit 33, and transports the fed-out banknotes to the dispensing port 13 via an appropriate one of the branch conveying paths 39 to 41 and the terminal conveying path 42, the storage conveying path 37, the upper conveying path section 35a of the vertical conveying path 35, the rear conveying path section 21b of the deposit conveying path 21, the internal conveying path 17a of the recognition unit 17, the front conveying path section 25a of the straight conveying path 25, and the dispensing conveying path 26. Here, since all of the recycling units 33 are of the wrap-type storage type, transport problems such as double feeding and skewing rarely occur when the banknotes are fed out. The banknotes transported to the dispensing port 13 can be taken out.

[0050] "Withdrawal Evacuation Process" When banknotes are to be withdrawn from the recycle unit 33 set in the denomination mixed recycle unit (in the case of the setting of the specific example above, the recycle unit 33(8)), the control unit 55 controls each unit of the currency handling apparatus 10 to transport banknotes of the denomination to be withdrawn along the withdrawal process route and to transport banknotes other than the denomination to be withdrawn along the upstream route of the withdrawal evacuation process shown by the thick line in Figure 7A. In other words, the control unit 55 transports banknotes other than the denomination to be withdrawn that have been fed out from the recycle unit 33 set in the denomination mixed recycle unit via the corresponding one of the branch conveyance paths 39 to 41 and the terminal conveyance path 42, the storage conveyance path 37, the upper conveyance path section 35a of the vertical conveyance path 35, the rear conveyance path section 21b of the deposit conveyance path 21, the internal conveyance path 17a of the recognition unit 17, and the straight conveyance path 25 to the temporary storage unit 18, where they are temporarily stored.

[0051] Once all of the banknotes to be withdrawn have been transported to the withdrawal port 13, the control unit 55 then controls each unit of the currency handling apparatus 10 to transport the banknotes along the subsequent route of the withdrawal evacuation process shown by the bold line in Fig. 7B. That is, the control unit 55 causes the temporary storage unit 18 to feed out the banknotes other than those to be withdrawn that have been temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 18, and transport them along the linear transport path 25, the internal transport path 17a of the recognition unit 17, the rear transport path section 21b of the deposit transport path 21, the upper transport path section 35a of the vertical transport path 35, and the storage transport path 37. During transport along the internal transport path 17a, the recognition unit 17 recognizes the banknotes, and based on the results, the control unit 55 distributes the banknotes to the corresponding one of the eight recycling units 33 via the storage transport path 37, the branch transport paths 39 to 41, and the terminal transport path 42 as appropriate. The control unit 55 causes the sorted banknotes to be stored in the corresponding one of the eight recycling units 33 .

[0052] "Cassette Replenishment Process" When carrying out the cassette replenishment process, banknotes are stored outside the device in the cassette 32. Then, the lid 47 is opened, the unit body 46 is pulled out from the housing 45, and the cassette 32 is attached to the unit body 46 in place of the cassette 32 that was previously attached.

[0053] When a selection operation for the cassette replenishment process is input to the operation display unit 14, the control unit 55 controls each unit of the currency handling apparatus 10 to transport banknotes along the upstream route of the cassette replenishment process shown by the thick line in Fig. 8A . That is, the control unit 55 causes the cassette 32 to feed banknotes, and then causes the fed banknotes to be transported along the upper and lower transport paths 35, the rear feed path section 21b of the deposit transport path 21, the internal transport path 17a of the recognition unit 17, and the front feed path section 25a of the linear transport path 25. During transport along the internal transport path 17a, the recognition unit 17 recognizes the banknotes, and based on the results, the control unit 55 transports banknotes that have been identified as acceptable to the temporary storage unit 18 along the rear feed path section 25b of the linear transport path 25, and temporarily stores them in the temporary storage unit 18 (see the thick solid line in Fig. 8A ). Based on the result of the recognition unit 17, the control unit 55 transports the banknotes that have been identified as unacceptable from the front transport path section 25a of the linear transport path 25 to the dispensing port 13 via the dispensing transport path 26 (see the thick solid line to the thick dashed line in FIG. 8A ). The banknotes transported to the dispensing port 13 can be taken out.

[0054] Here, the storage capacity of cassette 32 is larger than the storage capacity of temporary storage unit 18. For this reason, temporary storage unit 18 may become full before cassette 32 becomes empty. When cassette 32 becomes empty or temporary storage unit 18 becomes full, control unit 55 transports banknotes through the subsequent route of the cassette replenishment process shown by the thick line in FIG. 8B . That is, control unit 55 causes banknotes temporarily stored in temporary storage unit 18 to be fed out from temporary storage unit 18 and transported through linear transport path 25, internal transport path 17a of recognition unit 17, rear transport path portion 21b of deposit transport path 21, upper transport path portion 35a of vertical transport path 35, and storage transport path 37. While the banknotes are being transported on the internal transport path 17a, the recognition unit 17 recognizes the banknotes, and based on the recognition result, the control unit 55 distributes the banknotes from the storage transport path 37 to the corresponding eight recycling units 33 on appropriate ones of the branch transport paths 39 to 41 and the terminal transport path 42. The corresponding eight recycling units 33 store the distributed banknotes.

[0055] The above process is repeated as appropriate until the cassette 32 is empty. In this manner, the banknotes stored in the cassette 32 are sorted and stored in the corresponding eight recycling units 33.

[0056] "Collection Process" When a selection operation for the collection process is input to the operation display unit 14, the control unit 55 controls each unit of the currency handling device 10 to transport banknotes along the upstream route of the collection process shown by the bold line in FIG. 9A. That is, the control unit 55 causes banknotes to be fed from one of the eight recycling units 33 to be collected, and transports the fed banknotes to the temporary storage unit 18 via appropriate one of the branch conveyance paths 39-41 and the terminal conveyance path 42, the storage conveyance path 37, the upper conveyance path section 35a of the vertical conveyance path 35, the rear conveyance path section 21b of the deposit conveyance path 21, the internal conveyance path 17a of the recognition unit 17, and the linear conveyance path 25, where they are temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 18. In this way, the control unit 55 stores all banknotes from the one recycling unit 33 to be collected in the temporary storage unit 18.

[0057] Next, the banknotes are transported along the subsequent route of the collection process indicated by the thick line in Fig. 9B. That is, the control unit 55 causes the temporary storage unit 18 to feed out the banknotes that have been temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit 18, and transports the banknotes along the linear transport path 25, the internal transport path 17a of the recognition unit 17, the rear transport path portion 21b of the deposit transport path 21, and the upper and lower transport paths 35 to the cassette 32, where they are stored.

[0058] This process is performed on the designated items (or all items) of the reflux section 33. Thereafter, the lid 47 is opened, the unit body 46 is pulled out from the housing 45, and the cassette 32 is removed from the unit body 46.

[0059] The currency handling device 10 performs the above-described banknote processing operations. However, during each operation, errors such as banknote jamming (so-called jamming) may occur during the dispensing, taking-in, or transporting of banknotes. In such cases, the control unit 55 determines the type of error and the location of the error from signals from sensors (not shown) provided in the deposit port 12, the withdrawal port 13, the recognition unit 17, the temporary storage unit 18, the cassette 32, all of the recycling units 33, and the transport unit 51. The control unit 55 then displays an error recovery guidance screen on the operation display unit 14, which provides operational guidance for resolving the error based on the type of error and the location of the error. Looking at this error recovery guidance screen, the operator operates the currency handling device 10 to resolve the error.

[0060] Such errors include errors that cause one of the return sections 33 to become unusable, for example, errors that occur in one of the return sections 33, and errors that occur in the routes of the branch conveying paths 39 to 41 and the terminal conveying path 42 that are closer to the return section 33 than the storage conveying path 37.

[0061] Even if an error occurs in any of the recycling units 33, or in any of the branch conveying paths 39 to 41 and terminal conveying path 42, along a route closer to the recycling unit 33 than the storage conveying path 37, the control unit 55 causes the operation and display unit 14 to display an abnormality recovery guidance screen that displays recovery guidance for guiding recovery to resolve the error. Looking at this abnormality recovery guidance screen, the operator performs processing operations to resolve the error on the currency handling device 10. The abnormality recovery guidance screen on the operation and display unit 14 when an error occurs in any of the recycling units 33, or in any of the branch conveying paths 39 to 41 and terminal conveying path 42, along a route closer to the recycling unit 33 than the storage conveying path 37, includes, for example, an abnormality recovery guidance screen 70 for opening the lid 47 and pulling out the unit main body 46 from the housing 45, as shown in FIG. 10 .

[0062] The operator then performs processing operations to resolve the error, and when a sensor (not shown) detects that the unit body 46 has been pushed into the pulled-out housing 45 and the lid 47 has been closed, the control unit 55 causes each part of the currency processing device 10 to perform an initial operation to prepare for resuming processing. If the error has been resolved after the initial operation has been performed, the control unit 55 resumes processing based on an operation input to the operation display unit 14.

[0063] On the other hand, if the error is not resolved after the initial operation is performed, the control unit 55 again displays an abnormality recovery guidance screen 70 as shown in Fig. 10 on the operation display unit 14 in order to resolve the error. Looking at this abnormality recovery guidance screen 70 or the like, the operator performs processing operations on the currency processing device 10 to resolve the error.

[0064] As described above, even after the combination of error detection in the same occurrence location and the initial operation is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, four times), an error may still be detected in the same error occurrence location.

[0065] In such a case, depending on the policy of the user of the currency processing device 10, they may choose to prioritize repairs and temporarily not use the currency processing device 10 at all, or they may choose to continue processing transactions using parts that are in normal operation and can be used without problems, other than the part where the error occurred, which has become unusable due to the error.

[0066] Here, for example, if an error is detected in one of the return sections 33, or if an error is detected in a transport route on the return section 33 side of the storage transport path 37, the use of the one of the return sections 33 becomes impossible. Therefore, if an error is detected in at least one of the return section 33 and the transport route on the return section 33 side of the storage transport path 37, the control section 55 determines that the area where the error occurred is the combination of the return section 33 and the transport route on the return section 33 side of the storage transport path 37.

[0067] Furthermore, for example, when no error is detected in one return section 33 and no error is detected in the transport route on the side of the storage transport path 37 closer to this return section 33, this return section 33 can be used. When no error is detected in one return section 33 and no error is detected in the transport route on the side of the storage transport path 37 closer to this return section 33, the control section 55 determines that the area including this return section 33 and the transport route on the side of the storage transport path 37 closer to this return section 33 is a normally operable area.

[0068] In this way, when an error has occurred in a part including the recycling unit 33, the user of the currency handling device 10 may choose to prioritize repair and temporarily not use the currency handling device 10 at all, depending on their policy, or, if all of the multiple recycling units 33 except for one disabled recycling unit that has become unusable due to the error are usable recycling units included in the normally operable part that can be used without problems, they may choose to stop using only this one disabled recycling unit among the multiple recycling units 33 and continue transaction processing (deposit / withdrawal processing) using the remaining usable recycling units. Stopping use of some disabled recycling units among the multiple recycling units 33 and continuing processing using the remaining usable recycling units is called a degeneration function (or degeneration).

[0069] The currency handling device 10 has a basic setting function that performs basic settings such as basic specifications for the currency handling device 10, such as the denomination of banknotes to be stored in the total of eight recycling units 33, based on operation input by the user to the operation display unit 14. As one of the basic setting functions, the currency handling device 10 allows the user to arbitrarily enable or disable the degeneracy function described above.

[0070] In the currency handling device 10, enabling the degeneration function means enabling the degeneration induction function that induces degeneration, and thus enabling the degeneration induction setting. In the currency handling device 10, disabling the degeneration function means disabling the degeneration induction function that induces degeneration, and thus disabling the degeneration induction setting. In the currency handling device 10, the degeneration induction function is set to enabled by default, i.e., the degeneration induction setting is set to enabled.

[0071] When enabling / disabling the degeneration induction setting in the basic setting function, the control unit 55 causes the operation display unit 14 to display a degeneration induction function setting screen 80 as shown in FIG. 11 , which is a setting screen for the degeneration induction setting. The degeneration induction function is a function that allows switching between enabling and disabling the function that induces degeneration during guidance for recovery from an error. When this degeneration induction function is enabled, the degeneration induction setting is enabled, and when this degeneration induction function is disabled, the degeneration induction setting is disabled. By default, the degeneration induction function is set so that the function that induces degeneration is enabled, i.e., the degeneration induction setting is enabled.

[0072] When the degeneration induction setting is enabled in the degeneration induction function in this way, the control unit 55 changes the display form on the degeneration induction function setting screen 80 of the operation display unit 14 by, for example, displaying the "enabled" indicator 81 with a double border to indicate that the degeneration induction setting is enabled, and displaying the "disabled" indicator 82 with a single border to indicate that the degeneration induction setting is not disabled. That is, on the degeneration induction function setting screen 80, the "enabled" indicator 81, which is set, is made to stand out by being characterized or highlighted compared to the "disabled" indicator 82, which is not set.

[0073] When the "OK" display 83 is selected by touch operation on the degeneration induction function setting screen 80 of the operation display unit 14 in a state where the degeneration induction setting is enabled, the control unit 55 maintains the degeneration induction function that induces degeneration, i.e., the state where the degeneration induction setting is enabled.

[0074] On the other hand, when the "Disable" indicator 82 is selected by a touch operation on the degeneration induction function setting screen 80 of the operation display unit 14 in a state where the degeneration induction setting is enabled, the control unit 55 reverses the display form by displaying the "Disable" indicator 82 with a double border and the "Enabled" indicator 81 with a single border, etc. In this state, when the "Enter" indicator 83 is selected by a touch operation, the control unit 55 disables the degeneration induction function that induces degeneration, i.e., sets the degeneration induction setting to disabled.

[0075] When the "OK" display 83 is selected by touch operation on the degeneration induction function setting screen 80 of the operation display unit 14 in a state where the degeneration induction setting is set to disabled, the control unit 55 maintains the state where the degeneration induction function that induces degeneration, i.e., the degeneration induction setting, is set to disabled.

[0076] When an "enable" indicator 81 is selected by a touch operation on the degeneration induction function setting screen 80 in a state in which the degeneration induction setting is set to disabled, the control unit 55 reverses the display form by displaying the "enable" indicator 81 with a double border and the "disable" indicator 82 with a single border, etc. In this state, when an "enter" indicator 83 is selected by a touch operation, the control unit 55 enables the degeneration induction function that induces degeneration, i.e., sets the degeneration induction setting to enabled.

[0077] Here, whether the degeneration induction setting is set to enabled or disabled on the degeneration induction function setting screen 80, the "enabled" display 81 or the "disabled" display 82 immediately after setting is further characterized or highlighted so that the setting status can be seen immediately after setting.

[0078] In addition, in the currency processing device 10, even when the degeneration induction setting is enabled, when an error occurs and the first recovery induction is performed, instead of immediately inquiring whether or not to enable the degeneration induction function, the recovery induction is required to be performed a predetermined number of times (for example, four times as described above). Here, this predetermined number of times is set to a default value (for example, four times as described above) by default, but can be changed by the user when setting up the degeneration induction function.

[0079] On the degeneration induction function setting screen 80 of the operation display unit 14, instead of displaying the "degeneration induction setting" as "enabled" and "disabled", it may be displayed as "enabled" and "disabled" for the "degeneration induction function", or as "sets whether transactions other than those via the error return unit are enabled / disabled", or as "sets whether to prioritize transaction continuation (no error response) / prioritize error response (transaction interruption)".

[0080] On the other hand, if the degeneration induction function is disabled, i.e., if the degeneration induction setting is disabled, when an error occurs, the control unit 55 will not be able to perform various counting operations, etc. until the error is resolved.

[0081] When the degeneration induction setting is enabled on the degeneration induction function setting screen 80, the control unit 55 causes the operation display unit 14 to display a denomination setting handover setting screen 90, as shown in FIG. 12 , as a setting screen for the degeneration induction function setting screen 80. The denomination setting handover setting screen 90 is used to set whether to inherit or not inherit the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the degenerated recycling unit 33. By default, the currency processing device 10 has the "handover" setting enabled, i.e., denomination setting handover enabled. In other words, the control unit 55 accepts a selection of whether to inherit or not inherit the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the degenerated recycling unit 33 (whether to set the denomination that was set to a disabled recycling unit included in the error-occurred portion of the multiple recycling units 20 where an error occurred to an available recycling unit included in a normally operable portion of the multiple recycling units 30 other than the disabled recycling unit). When the control unit 55 receives a selection to take over the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the degenerated recycling unit 33, it stops using the area where the error occurred, sets the denomination that was set in the disabled recycling unit to the usable recycling unit, and stores banknotes of that denomination in the usable recycling unit.

[0082] When denomination setting transfer is enabled in this way, the control unit 55 changes the display format on the denomination setting transfer setting screen 90 of the operation display unit 14 by using a double border for the "Transfer" indicator 91 to indicate that the denomination setting transfer is enabled, and by using a single border for the "Do not transfer" indicator 92 to indicate that the denomination setting transfer is not disabled. In other words, on the denomination setting transfer setting screen 90, the "Transfer" indicator 91, which is set, is made to stand out by being distinctively displayed or highlighted, compared to the "Do not transfer" indicator 92, which is not set.

[0083] When changing the setting of whether to enable or disable the denomination setting transfer or when keeping it as is, the "Take over" display 91, "Do not take over" display 92, and "Decide" display 93 are operated in the same manner as the "Enable" display 81, "Disable" display 82, and "Decide" display 83 are operated to set the degeneracy induction function to "enable" or "disable" on the degeneracy induction function setting screen 80 described above.

[0084] Here, whether the denomination setting takeover is set to valid or invalid on the denomination setting takeover setting screen 90, the setting immediately after setting is further characterized or highlighted so that the setting status can be understood immediately after setting.

[0085] In addition, on the denomination setting transfer setting screen 90, instead of the setting words "transfer" display 91 and "do not transfer" display 92, which are "transfer" and "do not transfer", it is also possible to simply display the expressions "valid" and "invalid" for the denomination setting transfer in a selectable manner.

[0086] When the setting to "inherit" the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the degenerated recycling unit 33 is enabled, i.e., when the denomination setting handover is enabled, and the recovery guidance has reached a predetermined number of times (for example, the above-mentioned four times) and the degeneration guidance is initiated, the control unit 55 starts a control operation to hand over the denomination setting for the recycling unit 33 that has become unusable due to the error. That is, the control unit 55 sets which of the remaining recycling units 33 that are operating normally other than the recycling unit 33 that has become unusable due to the error will inherit the accepted denomination information that was set in the recycling unit 33 that has become unusable due to the error. In this case, the accepted denomination setting denomination information to be passed on may be information about a single denomination, information about two or more denominations, or a group of information determined to be in a certain state, such as soiled banknotes of all denominations that are unsuitable for reuse.

[0087] Here, if the denomination information set for a disabled recycle unit that is disabled due to an error among the multiple recycle units 33 is set for one of the multiple recycle units 33 that are usable recycle units in normal operation, when a banknote corresponding to the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting assigned to the disabled recycle unit is identified by the recognition unit 17, the control unit 55 will naturally not guide the banknote of that denomination to the disabled recycle unit, but will guide it to and store it in another usable recycle unit 33 that is in normal operation and has that denomination information set.

[0088] On the other hand, if the setting to "not take over" the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the degenerate recycle unit is enabled, i.e., denomination setting takeover is disabled, and the recovery guidance reaches a predetermined number of times (for example, the above-mentioned four times), the control unit 55 will not cause the accepted denomination information assigned to the recycle unit 33 that has become unusable due to the error to be taken over by the remaining recycle units 33 that are operating normally other than the recycle unit 33 that has become unusable due to the error. In this case, when a banknote corresponding to the accepted denomination information assigned to the recycle unit 33 that has become unusable due to the error is identified by the recognition unit 17, the control unit 55 generally determines that there is no recycle unit 33 that can store the banknote, and therefore causes the banknote to be rejected and conveyed to the withdrawal port 13. Alternatively, if some of the recycling units 33 in normal operation are set to accept normal banknotes without specifying the denomination, the control unit 55 causes that recycling unit 33 to store banknotes corresponding to the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting that was assigned to the recycling unit 33 that became unusable due to the error.

[0089] As described above, this currency handling device 10 is equipped with multiple recycling units 33 that can deposit and withdraw banknotes, and is capable of disabling the error-causing unit where an error has occurred and executing transaction processing using the remaining normally operable units. When disabling the error-causing unit and executing transaction processing using a usable recycling unit that is usable by the normally operable units instead of a disabled recycling unit that is disabled due to the shutdown of the error-causing unit, the currency handling device 10 can select whether or not to pass on the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycling unit to the usable recycling unit.

[0090] When denomination setting takeover is enabled on the denomination setting takeover setting screen 90, the control unit 55 displays an automatic takeover / user selection setting screen 100 as shown in Fig. 13 on the operation display unit 14, which determines whether the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting is to be taken over by either a user arbitrarily selecting and setting a denomination or by the control unit 55 automatically setting the accepted denomination based on predetermined conditions, i.e., so-called automatic takeover. By default, the denomination setting takeover operation is set to "automatic takeover," in which the control unit 55 automatically sets the accepted denomination based on predetermined conditions.

[0091] When the denomination setting takeover operation is set to "automatic inheritance" in this way, the control unit 55 changes the display form on the automatic inheritance / user selection setting screen 100 of the operation display unit 14 by, for example, displaying the "automatic inheritance" display 101 with a double border to indicate that the denomination setting takeover operation is set to "automatic inheritance," and displaying the "user selection" display 102 with a single border to indicate that the denomination setting takeover operation is not set to "user selection," in which the user arbitrarily selects and sets a denomination. That is, on the automatic inheritance / user selection setting screen 100, the "automatic inheritance" display 101 is made to stand out compared to the "user selection" display 102 by being displayed with a distinctive feature or highlighted.

[0092] When the "Automatic Inheritance" setting and the "User Selection" setting are changed or left as they are, the "Automatic Inheritance" display 101, the "User Selection" display 102, and the "Decision" display 103 are operated in the same manner as the "Enable" display 81, the "Disable" display 82, and the "Decide" display 83 are operated to indicate whether the degeneration function is "enabled" or "disabled" on the degeneration induction function setting screen 80 described above.

[0093] Here, in the automatic inheritance / user selection setting screen 100, whether it is set to "automatic inheritance" or "user selection," the setting immediately after setting is further characterized or highlighted so that the setting state can be seen immediately after setting.

[0094] When an error occurs in which the recycle unit 33 is included in the error occurrence location, if the degeneracy induction setting is enabled, the denomination setting handover is enabled, and the denomination setting handover operation is set to "automatic inheritance," the control unit 55 automatically sets the accepted denomination for an available recycle unit in normal operation among the multiple recycle units 33 other than a disabled recycle unit, based on predetermined conditions.

[0095] On the other hand, when an error occurs in which the recycle unit 33 is included in the error occurrence location, if the degeneracy induction setting is enabled, the denomination setting handover is enabled, and the denomination setting handover operation is set to ``user selection,'' the control unit 55 allows the user to set the accepted denomination for any of the multiple recycle units 33, for any available recycle unit that is operating normally, other than a disabled recycle unit.

[0096] As a result, when the currency processing device 10 transfers the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycling unit to the usable recycling unit among the multiple recycling units 33, it is possible to select whether to set a usable recycling unit that the currency processing device 10 will automatically take over, or to set a usable recycling unit that will take over based on a user-selected setting.

[0097] Next, as a specific example of the operation of the currency processing device 10, we will explain the case where the degeneracy induction setting is set to "enabled", the denomination setting handover is set to "enabled", and the handover operation is set to "automatic inheritance", the type of error is a banknote jam, and the error occurrence location is the area where the one recycling section 33 and the transport route closer to this one recycling section 33 than the storage transport path 37 are combined.

[0098] In this case, the control unit 55 determines, from the detection results of the sensor (not shown), that the type of error is a banknote jam and that the location of the error is the combined location of the first recycling unit 33 and the transport route closer to the first recycling unit 33 than the storage transport path 37. Then, based on the determined type of error and the location of the error, the control unit 55 causes the operation display unit 14 to display guidance, which is an operation guide for error recovery to resolve the error. Looking at this guidance, the operator performs processing operations for error recovery on the currency handling device 10. The guidance displayed on the operation display unit 14 in this case includes, for example, an abnormality recovery guidance screen 70 for the operation of opening the lid 47 and pulling out the unit main body 46 from the housing 45, as shown in FIG. 10 .

[0099] Here, an error recovery guidance screen 70 shown in FIG. 10 and displayed on the operation display unit 14 displays an error code 71 of "12-34-56" indicating the type / details of the error that occurred on the upper right side. Also, selectable procedure numbers 72 for guidance are displayed on the lower part of the error recovery guidance screen 70. This error recovery guidance screen 70 displays a screen in which "5" among the procedure numbers 72 is selected. To indicate that this is "5" among the procedure numbers 72, the "5" among the procedure numbers 72 is highlighted relative to the other procedure numbers 72, "1" to "4." The control unit 55 first displays the error recovery guidance screen for the procedure number 72 "1" as guidance on the operation display unit 14. The operator touches the procedure numbers 72 in ascending order as the recovery process progresses, and the control unit 55 displays the error recovery guidance screen corresponding to the procedure number 72 on the operation display unit 14 with each touch operation. In other words, the control unit 55 switches the procedure number and the screen displayed on the operation display unit 14 each time the recovery process progresses.

[0100] When the recovery process is complete, depending on the type of error, an icon may be displayed on part of the screen to prompt the user to perform an initial operation. Icon 73 at the bottom right of abnormality recovery guidance screen 70 prompts the user to perform an initial operation. When icon 73 is touched, control unit 55 causes currency handling device 10 to perform a predetermined initial operation.

[0101] Once the recovery process is complete, the control unit 55 causes each unit of the currency handling device 10 to perform an initial operation to make the device ready to resume processing. If the error is resolved after the initial operation, the control unit 55 resumes processing based on an operation input to the operation display unit 14. In other words, when the currency handling device 10 returns to normal, it returns to the state it was in before the error occurred, and various counting operations can be resumed.

[0102] On the other hand, if the error is not resolved after the initial operation is performed, the control unit 55 again displays an abnormality recovery guidance screen for resolving the error on the operation display unit 14. Looking at this abnormality recovery guidance screen, the operator performs processing operations on the currency processing device 10 to resolve the error.

[0103] In the case where the same error is detected even after the combination of the detection of the same error and the initial operation is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, four times), the control unit 55 activates the degeneration guidance function and causes the operation display unit 14 to display the device status display screen 110 as shown in FIG.

[0104] The device status display screen 110 displays information about the multiple recycle units 33 and cassettes 32 arranged in the lower unit 31 of the currency handling device 10, in particular. The device status display screen 110 displays the relative positions of the multiple recycle units 33 and cassettes 32 as viewed from the right side of the currency handling device 10 in an illustration 111 that schematically shows each of the multiple recycle units 33 and cassettes 32 as a box. The device status display screen 110 also displays summary information 112 indicating the type of banknotes stored in the multiple recycle units 33 and cassettes 32 below the corresponding illustration 111. The device status display screen 110 also displays a numerical value 113 indicating the amount of banknotes stored in the multiple recycle units 33 and cassettes 32 at the time of display above the corresponding illustration 111 for each of the multiple recycle units 33 and cassettes 32. In addition, this device status display screen 110 displays a quantity display 114, which represents the amount of banknotes stored in each of the multiple recycling sections 33 and cassettes 32, using the number of horizontal lines within each illustrated display 111.

[0105] For example, if the corresponding recycling unit 33 is for storing normal banknotes of a single denomination, the device status display screen 110 displays, as the summary information 112, a numerical value and unit indicating the denomination. If the corresponding recycling unit 33 is for storing normal banknotes of multiple denominations, the device status display screen 110 displays, as the summary information 112, the display "Multi" indicating this. If the corresponding recycling unit 33 is for storing soiled banknotes regardless of denomination, the device status display screen 110 displays, as the summary information 112, the display "Unfit" indicating this. Here, when the "Multi" display portion on the device status display screen 110 is touched, the control unit 55 replaces the display of "Multi" with a display of details, i.e., specific information about the multiple denominations that have been set. In addition, when the currency processing device 10 is capable of processing banknotes from multiple countries, the device status display screen 110 displays the summary information 112 together with Roman abbreviation information indicating the country information of the banknotes stored in each recycling section 33.

[0106] In addition, the device status display screen 110 displays an "x" mark 115 within the illustration 111 for a disabled return unit that has been degraded due to the same error occurring a predetermined number of times in succession (e.g., four times). The device status display screen 110 of the operation and display unit 14 also displays a check mark icon 116 at the bottom right, which can be touched to execute degrading. The device status display screen 110 of the operation and display unit 14 also displays an "x" icon 117 at the bottom left, which can be touched to return to the abnormality recovery guidance screen 70 as shown in FIG. 10 without executing degrading, i.e., to cancel degrading and perform error processing again. If the icon 117 is touched to perform error recovery without executing degrading, and the same error is not recovered even after the initial operation is performed again, the control unit 55 immediately displays the device status display screen 110 as shown in FIG. 14 on the operation and display unit 14.

[0107] The device status display screen 110 shown in Figure 14 illustrates the specific example shown on the left side of Figure 4. In the device status display screen 110 shown in Figure 14, the recycle unit 33(1) in the top row in the first column from the front has the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting set to accommodate soiled banknotes regardless of the denomination, and therefore displays "Unfit" indicating this as summary information 112 below the illustration 111 showing the recycle unit 33(1) in the top row in the first column from the front. Furthermore, the device status display screen 110 illustrates the recycle unit 33(2) in the top row in the second column from the front has the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting set to accommodate normal 5-EUR banknotes, and therefore displays "5-EUR" indicating this as summary information 112 below the illustration 111 showing the recycle unit 33(2) in the top row in the second column from the front. Furthermore, the device status display screen 110 displays "50 EUR" as summary information 112 below the illustration 111 showing the recycle unit 33(3) in the top row in the third row from the front, because the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting for the recycle unit 33(3) is for storing normal 50 EUR banknotes. Also, the device status display screen 110 displays "50 EUR" as summary information 112 below the illustration 111 showing the recycle unit 33(4) in the top row in the fourth row from the front, because the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting for the recycle unit 33(4) is for storing normal 50 EUR banknotes.

[0108] Furthermore, the device status display screen 110 displays "20 EUR" as summary information 112 below the illustration 111 showing the recycle unit 33(5) in the lower row in the first row from the front, because the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting is for storing normal 20 EUR banknotes. Also, the device status display screen 110 displays "10 EUR" as summary information 112 below the illustration 111 showing the recycle unit 33(6) in the lower row in the second row from the front, because the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting is for storing normal 10 EUR banknotes. Furthermore, the device status display screen 110 displays "100 EUR" as summary information 112 below the illustration 111 showing the recycle unit 33(7) in the lower row in the third row from the front, because the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting for the recycle unit 33(7) is for storing normal banknotes of 100 EUR. Also, the device status display screen 110 displays "Multi" as summary information 112 below the illustration 111 showing the recycle unit 33(8) in the lower row in the fourth row from the front, because the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting for the recycle unit 33(8) is for storing normal banknotes of multiple denominations of 200 EUR and 500 EUR. When the summary information 112 displaying "Multi" is touched, the control unit 55 displays "200 EUR / 500 EUR" as the summary information 112 instead of "Multi".

[0109] 14 displays the storage amount of "300" sheets in the upper circulation section 33(1) in the first row from the front as a numerical value 113 above the illustration 111 showing the upper circulation section 33(1) in the first row from the front. Also, the device status display screen 110 displays the storage amount of "500" sheets in the upper circulation section 33(2) in the second row from the front as a numerical value 113 above the illustration 111 showing the upper circulation section 33(2) in the second row from the front. Also, the device status display screen 110 displays the storage amount of "300" sheets in the upper circulation section 33(3) in the third row from the front as a numerical value 113 above the illustration 111 showing the upper circulation section 33(3) in the third row from the front. In addition, the device status display screen 110 displays the storage capacity of "400" sheets in the upper circulation section 33(4) in the fourth row from the front as a number 113 above an illustration display 111 showing the upper circulation section 33(4) in the fourth row from the front.

[0110] The device status display screen 110 also displays the storage amount of "300" sheets in the lower recirculation section 33(5) in the first row from the front as a numerical value 113 above the illustration 111 showing the lower recirculation section 33(5) in the first row from the front. The device status display screen 110 also displays the storage amount of "300" sheets in the lower recirculation section 33(6) in the second row from the front as a numerical value 113 above the illustration 111 showing the lower recirculation section 33(5) in the second row from the front. The device status display screen 110 also displays the storage amount of "200" sheets in the lower recirculation section 33(7) in the third row from the front as a numerical value 113 above the illustration 111 showing the lower recirculation section 33(7) in the third row from the front. In addition, the device status display screen 110 displays the storage capacity of "200" sheets in the lower circulation section 33(8) in the fourth row from the front as a number 113 above an illustration display 111 showing the lower circulation section 33(8) in the fourth row from the front.

[0111] In addition, the device status display screen 110 shows that the disabled return unit that has been degraded is the return unit 33(5) in the bottom row of the first row from the front, and an "X" mark 115 is displayed within the illustration display 111.

[0112] When the check mark icon 116 on the device status display screen 110 is touched, in this operation example, the denomination setting transfer is set to "transfer" and the denomination setting transfer operation is set to "automatic transfer," so the control unit 55 performs an automatic transfer operation to determine, from among the usable recycle units, which usable recycle unit will take over the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycle unit, for example, based on the following conditions. Here, the recycle unit that can store the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycle unit does not include the recycle unit 33 that stores soiled banknotes. In other words, the usable recycle unit is a recycle unit that stores normal banknotes of one denomination or normal banknotes of multiple denominations. Here, a recycle unit that stores soiled banknotes is a recycle unit that cannot be transferred. It is also possible to include a recycle unit that stores soiled banknotes in the usable recycle units.

[0113] "The denomination information of the accepted denomination setting set for the disabled recycling unit to be degraded is not set as the accepted denomination information of another available recycling unit."

[0114] In the specific example shown on the left side of Fig. 4, for example, when the recycle unit 33(5) with the denomination information "20 EUR" in the received denomination setting becomes a disabled recycle unit to be degraded as shown in Fig. 14, the denomination information "20 EUR" in the received denomination setting set for the recycle unit 33(5) that has become a disabled recycle unit is set only in the recycle unit 33(5). This is the case where "the denomination information in the received denomination setting set for the disabled recycle unit to be degraded is not set as the denomination information in the received denomination setting of another enabled recycle unit."

[0115] In this case, if the control unit 55 can set the successor of the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting based on the condition of priority 1, the control unit 55 sets the successor of the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting based on the condition of priority 1. If the control unit 55 cannot set the successor of the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting based on the condition of priority 1, the control unit 55 sets the successor of the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting based on the condition of priority 2.

[0116] Priority 1: Among the storage recycle units with multiple denominations in the accepted denomination setting information, the storage recycle unit with the largest number of accepted denominations in the accepted denomination setting will inherit the accepted denomination information of the disabled recycle unit.

[0117] Priority 2: If there is no recycle unit that can store multiple denominations in the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting, the recycle unit with the smallest recycle unit number among the recycle units that can store multiple denominations will inherit the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycle unit. Here, recycle unit 33(1) has the smallest recycle unit number, followed by recycle unit 33(2), recycle unit 33(3), recycle unit 33(4), recycle unit 33(5), recycle unit 33(6), recycle unit 33(7), and recycle unit 33(8) in that order.

[0118] Therefore, when the currency processing device 10 automatically takes over the setting of the accepted denomination of the disabled recycling unit to the enabled recycling unit, it sets the enabled recycling unit to take over based on predetermined conditions.

[0119] The control unit 55 will add the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the disabled return unit to the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting that was previously set for the storable return unit that has inherited the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the disabled return unit, and set it accordingly.

[0120] The control unit 55 then causes each unit of the currency handling device 10 to perform an initial operation to put the device into a state in which processing can be resumed. If the error is resolved after the initial operation, the control unit 55 resumes processing based on an operation input to the operation display unit 14. Thereafter, for banknotes that had denomination information in the accepted denomination setting of the unusable recycle unit described above, the accepted denomination information becomes that of the storable recycle unit, which has inherited the denomination information in the accepted denomination setting of the unusable recycle unit, and the control unit 55 causes the banknotes to be deposited or withdrawn at the storable recycle unit.

[0121] 4, for example, when the recycle unit 33(5) for which the denomination information "20 EUR" in the accepted denomination setting becomes a disabled recycle unit to be degenerated, the accepted denomination information "20 EUR" of the recycle unit 33(5) that has become a disabled recycle unit is set only in the recycle unit 33(5). In this case, the control unit 55 first searches for a successor to the accepted denomination information in the accepted denomination setting based on the condition of priority 1. In this specific example, the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting set for the recycle unit 33(8), which is an available recycle unit, is multiple types, including "200 EUR" and "500 EUR," while the other available recycle units 33(2) to 33(4), 33(6), and 33(7), which are all available recycle units, are all set to a single denomination. Therefore, based on the priority 1 condition, the control unit 55 causes the recycle unit 33(8), which is an available recycle unit, to inherit the accepted denomination setting information of "20 EUR" from the recycle unit 33(5), which has become a disabled recycle unit, as shown by the arrow from left to right in Figure 4. In other words, the control unit 55 sets the accepted denomination setting information of the recycle unit 33(8) to three denominations: "20 EUR," "200 EUR," and "500 EUR." Thereafter, for 20 EUR banknotes with the denomination information "20 EUR" in the accepted denomination setting, the denomination information of the return unit 33 (8) that has inherited the accepted denomination information "20 EUR" will become the accepted denomination setting denomination information, and the control unit 55 will deposit or withdraw the banknote at this return unit 33 (8).

[0122] 4 may be displayed on the operation display unit 14. In this case, the transition information of the accepted denomination setting shown on the left and right sides of Fig. 4 may be displayed in a manner such as highlighting the changed parts so that they are easily visible.

[0123] In the specific example shown on the left side of Figure 4, for example, when the recycle unit 33(5) with the accepted denomination setting of "20 EUR" becomes a disabled recycle unit, if the recycle units 33(8) with the accepted denomination setting of "200 EUR" and "500 EUR" are already disabled recycle units, the control unit 55 cannot determine the successor to the accepted denomination setting under the condition of priority 1. In this case, the control unit 55 searches for the successor to the accepted denomination setting under the condition of priority 2. As described above, the usable recycle units that take over the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycle unit do not include the recycle unit 33(1), which is the non-transferable recycle unit that stores soiled banknotes in this specific example. Therefore, the control unit 55 transfers the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycling unit to the recycling unit 33(2) with the smallest recycling unit number among the recycling units 33(2) to 33(4), 33(6), and 33(7), which are available recycling units that can take over the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycling unit. That is, the control unit 55 sets the accepted denomination information of the recycling unit 33(2) to two denominations: "5 EUR" and "20 EUR." Once the accepted denomination information of the recycling unit 33(2) is set in this way, the control unit 55 thereafter displays "Multi" in the summary information 112 in the top row, second from the front, representing the recycling unit 33(2) on the device status display screen 110 of FIG. 14 . Thereafter, for a 20 EUR banknote with the accepted denomination setting denomination information "20 EUR," this becomes the accepted denomination setting denomination information of the recycling unit 33(2) that has inherited the accepted denomination setting denomination information "20 EUR," and the control unit 55 will deposit or withdraw the note through this recycling unit 33(2). Here, the control unit 55 causes the accepted denomination setting denomination information of the disabled recycling unit to be inherited by the usable recycling unit with the smallest recycling unit number among the usable recycling units, in the following way: if recycling unit 33(2) is already an unusable recycling unit and is not an available recycling unit, the control unit 55 causes recycling unit 33(3) to be inherited; if recycling unit 33(3) is not an available recycling unit, the control unit 55 causes recycling unit 33(4) to be inherited.

[0124] "When the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting set for the disabled recycling unit to be degraded is set as the accepted denomination information of another available recycling unit."

[0125] In the specific example shown on the left side of Figure 15, for example, if the recycle unit 33(3) with the denomination information "50 EUR" in the received denomination setting becomes a disabled recycle unit to be degraded, the denomination information "50 EUR" in the received denomination setting set for this recycle unit 33(3) is the same as the denomination information "50 EUR" in the received denomination setting set for another recycle unit 33(4). This is the case where "the denomination information in the received denomination setting set for the disabled recycle unit to be degraded is set as the denomination information in the received denomination setting of another enabled recycle unit."

[0126] In such a case, the control unit 55 transfers the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycling unit to the available recycling unit whose accepted denomination setting is the same as the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycling unit. This reduces the number of recycling units 33 with the same accepted denomination setting by one.

[0127] To explain this using the specific example shown on the left side of Figure 15, for example, if the recycle unit 33(3) with the accepted denomination setting denomination information "50 EUR" becomes a disabled recycle unit to be degraded, the accepted denomination setting denomination information "50 EUR" set for this recycle unit 33(3) is the same as the accepted denomination setting denomination information "50 EUR" set for the other recycle unit 33(4). Therefore, the control unit 55 transfers the accepted denomination setting denomination information "50 EUR" of the recycle unit 33(3) that has become a disabled recycle unit to the recycle unit 33(4), which is an available recycle unit with the same accepted denomination setting denomination information "50 EUR," as shown by the arrow from left to right in Figure 15. In this case, the control unit 55 leaves the accepted denomination setting denomination information "50 EUR" of the recycle unit 33(4), which is an available recycle unit, unchanged. Then, for 50 EUR banknotes with the denomination information "50 EUR" in the accepted denomination setting, the accepted denomination setting will be the denomination information of only the recycle unit 33 (4) which has inherited the accepted denomination setting information "50 EUR", and the control unit 55 will then cause all deposits and withdrawals to be made through this recycle unit 33 (4).

[0128] 15, the denomination information "50 EUR" in the accepted denomination setting is set in both the recycling unit 33(3) and the recycling unit 33(4), so even if the recycling unit 33(3) becomes a target for degeneration, processing can continue in the recycling unit 33(4), or even if the recycling unit 33(4) becomes a target for degeneration, processing can continue in the recycling unit 33(3). For this reason, the control unit 55 does not intentionally change the denomination setting of the recycling units 33(2), 33(5) to 33(8) whose accepted denomination setting information is other than "50 EUR."

[0129] In this case, the device status display screen 110 of the operation display unit 14 after the degeneration may be displayed in a manner that makes it clear that banknotes of the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the disabled return unit have been handled by another return unit of the same accepted denomination information.

[0130] Next, as another specific example of operation of the currency processing device 10, we will explain the case where the degeneracy induction setting is set to "enabled", the denomination setting handover is set to "enabled", and the denomination setting handover operation is set to "user selection" rather than "automatic inheritance", the type of error is a jam, and the error occurrence location is the area where the one return section 33 and the conveying route closer to this one return section 33 than the storage conveying path 37 are combined.

[0131] In this case, as in the case where the denomination setting handover operation is "automatic inheritance," if the same error is detected after the combination of the same error detection and initial operation is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, four times), the control unit 55 will activate the degeneracy induction function and cause the operation display unit 14 to display the device status display screen 110 as shown in Figure 14.

[0132] When the check mark icon 116 is touched on the device status display screen 110, in this operation example, the denomination setting transfer is set to "transfer" and the transfer operation is set to "user selection," so the control unit 55 causes the operation display unit 14 to display a selection transfer setting screen 120 as shown in Fig. 16. This selection transfer setting screen 120 is a screen that prompts the user to input instructions as to which denomination setting of a given recycle unit the denomination information that was set as the accepted denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of that recycle unit should be transferred.

[0133] The selection transfer setting screen 120 displays a disabled return unit display section 121 on the upper left side, which indicates the return unit 33 that has become the disabled return unit this time, and below that, a return unit status display section 122, which displays whether each of all return units 33 is a usable return unit or not, and allows the user to input a selection operation from among the usable return units. The selection transfer setting screen 120 also displays a check mark icon display 123 on the lower right side, which allows a touch operation to be input to execute a selection.

[0134] The return unit status display unit 122 displays a disabled return unit differently from other enabled return units. The return unit status display unit 122 also displays a non-transferable return unit that will not become a enabled return unit differently from the enabled return units. If there is a return unit 33 that has already been degenerated and is a disabled return unit, the return unit status display unit 122 also displays this disabled return unit 33 differently from the enabled return units.

[0135] Figure 16 shows the specific example shown on the left side of Figure 4. Explaining this specific example, for example, if the recycling unit 33(5) for the denomination information "20 EUR" in the accepted denomination setting becomes a disabled recycling unit, the control unit 55 causes the disabled recycling unit display unit 121 on the selection transfer setting screen 120 to display "Storage 5," which is the identification of this recycling unit 33(5). At the same time, the control unit 55 changes the recycling unit status display section 122 of the selection transfer setting screen 120 to display "Storage5 20EUR," which indicates the identification of this recycling unit 33(5) and the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting set in the recycling unit 33(5), as well as "Storage2 5EUR," which indicates the identification of recycling unit 33(2) and the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting set in the recycling unit 33(2), "Storage3 50EUR," which indicates the identification of recycling unit 33(3) and the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting set in the recycling unit 33(3), and "Storage4 40EUR," which indicates the identification of recycling unit 33(4) and the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting set in the recycling unit 33(4), all of which are other available recycling units. The display is different for "Storage6 10EUR" which indicates the identification of the recycling unit 33(6) and the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting set in the recycling unit 33(6), "Storage7 100EUR" which indicates the identification of the recycling unit 33(7) and the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting set in the recycling unit 33(7), and "Storage8 Multi" which indicates the identification of the recycling unit 33(8) and the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting set in the recycling unit 33(8). In this case, the recycle unit 33(1) for dirty banknotes, which is a non-transferable recycle unit that does not become a usable recycle unit, is also unselectable, and therefore the control unit 55 displays it differently from the displays related to the recycle units 33(2) to 33(4) and 33(6) to 33(8), which are usable recycle units, in the recycle unit status display unit 122 of the selection transfer setting screen 120. Note that if there is a recycle unit 33 that has already been degenerated and become a disabled recycle unit, the control unit 55 displays this already disabled recycle unit 33 differently from the usable recycle units in the recycle unit status display unit 122 of the selection transfer setting screen 120, because it is also unselectable.

[0136] Here, the method of differentiating the display of usable return units from return units other than usable return units on the selection transfer setting screen 120 can be, for example, by using an appropriate combination of different colors, different brightnesses, and different lighting states (lit / flashing). For example, the currently out-of-use return unit can be displayed in flashing red, the usable return unit can be displayed in a lit blue, and the non-transferable return unit can be displayed in a gray that is darker than the currently out-of-use return unit and the usable return unit.

[0137] In the recycle unit status display section 122 of the selection transfer setting screen 120, among the displays related to the recycle units 33(1) to 33(8), only the displays related to the recycle units 33(2) to 33(4) and 33(6) to 33(8), which are usable recycle units, are selectable. When one of the usable recycle units selectable from the recycle unit status display section 122 is touched and selected on the selection transfer setting screen 120, the control unit 55 changes the display state of the usable recycle unit selected by the touch operation from its previous state by, for example, changing the color of the column, row, or text to indicate that the usable recycle unit has been selected. In this state, when the check mark icon display 123 is touched, the control unit 55 sets the usable recycle unit selected by the touch operation from the recycle unit status display section 122 as the one to which the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycle unit is to be inherited. On the selection transfer setting screen 120, before the change setting is confirmed, i.e., before the check mark icon display is touched, if the denomination information for the accepted setting denomination is for multiple denominations, the multiple denomination information may be displayed alternately so that all of them are displayed.

[0138] To explain this using the specific example shown on the left side of Figure 4 above, for example, if the recycling section 33(5) of the accepted denomination setting of "20 EUR" becomes a disabled recycling section, the recycling section status display section 122 of the selection inheritance setting screen 120 will select, as the successor to the accepted denomination setting of "20 EUR" of this recycling section 33(5), for example, from among the displays related to the available recycling sections 33(2) to 33(4) and 33(6) to 33(8), the display related to the recycling section 33(7) of the accepted denomination setting of "100 EUR" is "Storage 7". When the user selects "100 EUR" by touch operation and then touches the check mark icon display 123, the control unit 55 causes the selected usable recycle unit, recycle unit 33(7), to inherit the denomination information "20 EUR" in the accepted denomination setting of recycle unit 33(5), which has become the disabled recycle unit. In other words, the control unit 55 sets the accepted denomination information of recycle unit 33(7) to two denominations, "20 EUR" and "100 EUR." When set in this way, the control unit 55 subsequently displays "Multi" as the summary information in the bottom row of the third column from the front, which indicates recycle unit 33(7), on the device status display screen 110 as shown in FIG. 14. Furthermore, for 20 EUR banknotes with the denomination information "20 EUR" in the accepted denomination setting, the denomination information of the recycling unit 33 (7) that has inherited the accepted denomination setting denomination information "20 EUR" becomes the accepted denomination setting denomination information, and the control unit 55 will deposit and withdraw the money through this recycling unit 33 (7).

[0139] The above operations of the currency handling device 10 can be summarized as follows: {1} If an abnormality occurs in the same recycling unit 33 a predetermined number of times (four times) in succession during abnormality recovery, and the degeneration induction setting is enabled, the device status display screen 110 is displayed to induce the degeneration of the corresponding recycling unit 33. {2} If degeneration is to be executed, the process proceeds to {3}; if degeneration is not to be executed, the process proceeds to {5}. {3} If the takeover of denomination information in the accepted denomination setting is enabled, and the user selects a recycling unit 33 that will take over the denomination setting of the degenerated recycling unit 33, the process proceeds to {4}. If the takeover of denomination information in the accepted denomination setting is enabled, and the currency handling device 10 selects a recycling unit 33 that will take over the denomination setting of the degenerated recycling unit 33, the process proceeds to {5}. Furthermore, if the handover of the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting is disabled, or if the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the degenerated recycling unit 33 is not to be passed on to another recycling unit 33, the process proceeds to {6}. {4} The user selects the recycling unit that will take over the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting. {5} In accordance with predetermined conditions, the control unit 55 sets the recycling unit 33 that will take over the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting. {6} The display on the operation display unit 14 is returned to the abnormality recovery guidance screen as shown in Figure 10.

[0140] The currency handling device described in Patent Document 1 above is equipped with multiple storage units and is capable of various transactions. It is difficult to completely eliminate errors in this type of device; some errors will occur. Furthermore, as this type of device becomes increasingly compact, once an error occurs, it often takes time to resolve the error. If the error resolution process requires time, transaction processing will be delayed. Therefore, some currency handling devices have a degeneration function that, rather than immediately shutting down the entire device when an error occurs in one recycling unit, stops handling only in the recycling unit where the error occurred and allows transactions to continue using the remaining recycling units. It is desirable to further improve the usability of such currency handling devices.

[0141] The currency handling device 10 of this embodiment is equipped with multiple recycling units 33 capable of depositing and dispensing banknotes, and can disable the error-causing unit when an error occurs and execute transaction processing using the remaining normally operable units. When the error-causing unit is disabled and transaction processing is executed using the available recycling units that are available in the normally operable units instead of the disabled recycling unit that is disabled due to the shutdown of the error-causing unit, the currency handling device 10 can select whether or not to transfer the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycling unit to the available recycling unit. This allows the currency handling device 10 to be more user-friendly.

[0142] Furthermore, when transferring the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycling unit to the usable recycling unit, the currency handling device 10 can select whether to set the usable recycling unit to be automatically taken over by the currency handling device 10 or to set the usable recycling unit to be taken over by a user's selection setting. This makes it possible to further improve the usability of the currency handling device 10.

[0143] Furthermore, when the currency handling device 10 automatically transfers the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycling unit to the enabled recycling unit, the enabled recycling unit to take over is set based on predetermined conditions. This makes it possible to further improve the usability of the currency handling device 10.

[0144] The control unit 55 of the currency handling device 10 can also control the currency handling device 10 based on control signals from the terminal device 58. In this case, the currency handling device 10, the communication unit 57, and the terminal device 58 constitute a currency handling system 60. The currency handling system 60 includes a currency handling device 10 equipped with multiple recycling units 33 capable of depositing and dispensing banknotes, capable of disabling the use of an error-causing unit and executing transaction processing using the remaining normally operable units, and a terminal device 58 capable of configuring the currency handling device 10. When the currency handling system 60 disables the use of an error-causing unit and executes transaction processing using an available recycling unit that is available in the normally operable units instead of the disabled recycling unit that is disabled due to the shutdown of the error-causing unit, the terminal device 58 can select whether or not to transfer the accepted denomination setting of the disabled recycling unit to the available recycling unit. This allows the currency handling system 60 to be easy to use.

[0145] In this case, when the control unit 55 communicates to the terminal device 58 that the recycling unit 33 of the currency processing device 10 has become a disabled recycling unit, the terminal device 58 issues instructions using a higher-level application software in accordance with pre-set conditions, and the control unit 55 of the currency processing device 10 receives these instructions, i.e., the above-mentioned control is carried out using the settings of the higher-level terminal device 58.

[0146] In this case, the terminal device 58 instructs whether to degenerate or not, as described above, and if degeneration is to be performed, instructs whether to transfer the accepted denomination setting of the unused recycling unit to the available recycling unit. If the accepted denomination setting of the unused recycling unit is to be transferred to the available recycling unit, the currency handling system 60 controls the instruction to transfer the setting automatically or to a recycling unit designated by the user.

[0147] The currency handling device 10 of the above embodiment can be modified as follows.

[0148] <Variation 1> The selection transfer setting screen 120 for user selection as shown in Figure 16 illustrates an example of a configuration in which the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting set in the disabled recycling unit that has been degraded can be added to the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting in another normally operable, usable recycling unit. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 55 can automatically or based on an input operation on the operation display unit 14 set the accepted denomination information of the accepted denomination setting set in the disabled recycling unit to the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting in another normally operable, usable recycling unit, and then set the accepted denomination information of this other usable recycling unit to the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting in yet another usable recycling unit.

[0149] For example, in the specific example shown in Figure 17, the control unit 55 can set the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting, "20 EUR," which was set in the recycled unit 33 (5), which is the disabled recycled unit to be degraded, as the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of another available recycled unit that is able to operate normally, recycled unit 33 (7), as shown by the arrow from left to right in Figure 17, and can also control the accepted denomination setting, "100 EUR," which is the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of this other available recycled unit, recycled unit 33 (7), to "200 EUR" and "500 EUR," which are the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of yet another available recycled unit, recycled unit 33 (8), as shown by the arrow from left to right in Figure 17. In other words, if the accepted denomination of the recycle section that needs to be reduced has previously only been set in that recycle section, and if that accepted denomination is added to another recycle section, banknotes of the accepted denomination that were set in the other recycle sections will have to be stored in a so-called mixed storage recycle section, but if it is desired to store banknotes of the accepted denomination that were set in the recycle section that needs to be reduced in a single denomination, the control is such that the other recycle sections can be specified so that a single accepted denomination can be set.

[0150] In addition, in terms of order, it is also possible to control the system so that the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the recycle unit 33 (7), which is a usable recycle unit, ``100 EUR'' is added to the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the recycle unit 33 (8), which is a usable recycle unit, ``20 EUR'', which is the accepted denomination setting set in the recycle unit 33 (5), which is a disabled recycle unit, is set as the accepted denomination setting denomination information of the recycle unit 33 (7), which is a usable recycle unit that can operate normally.

[0151] In the case of the first modification, the usable recycle section, in which the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the unusable recycle section is reset, stores banknotes of the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting that was set immediately before. Therefore, the control section 55 may display on the operation display section 14 a message to execute a transfer process to move the banknotes in the usable recycle section to the usable recycle section in which the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the usable recycle section has been reset, and may execute the transfer process before the currency handling device 10 is restarted.

[0152] For example, in the specific example shown in Figure 17 above, if the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the recycled section 33(5), which is the disabled recycled section, "20 EUR" is set as the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the recycled section 33(7), which is the usable recycled section, and the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of this recycled section 33(7) "100 EUR" is added to the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the recycled section 33(8), which is the usable recycled section, then the recycled section 33(7), which is the usable recycled section to which the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of "20 EUR" is reset, will contain banknotes of "100 EUR", the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting that was set immediately before. Therefore, before the currency processing device 10 is restarted, the control unit 55 executes a transfer process to move the 100 EUR banknotes in the recycling unit 33 (7) to the recycling unit (8) where the denomination information of the accepted denomination setting of the recycling unit 33 (7) has been reset, thereby emptying the recycling unit 33 (7).

[0153] In addition, when such a setting is made, the execution of the above-mentioned movement process after the setting is scheduled, but the control unit 55 grasps and predicts the storage capacity of the return section after the movement process is carried out, and if an overflow of this return section (return section 33 (8) in the specific example shown in Figure 17) is predicted, it may display a warning of the predicted information and guide the user to make a different reset, or it may cancel the setting itself.

[0154] 10... Currency processing device 14... Operation display unit 33... Recycling unit 55... Control unit 57... Communication unit 58... Terminal device 60... Currency processing system

Claims

1. A currency processing device comprising: a plurality of recycling sections in which the denominations of currency to be stored are set; and a control section that accepts a selection of whether to set a denomination that was set to an out-of-use recycling section included in an error occurrence section among the plurality of recycling sections where an error has occurred to a usable recycling section included in a normally operable section among the plurality of recycling sections that is capable of normal operation other than the out-of-use recycling section; when the control section accepts a selection of setting the denomination that was set to the out-of-use recycling section to the usable recycling section, the control section stops use of the error occurrence section and sets the denomination that was set to the out-of-use recycling section to the usable recycling section, and performs the storage of banknotes of that denomination in the usable recycling section.

2. A currency processing device as described in claim 1, wherein the control unit accepts a selection of whether to automatically set the denomination that was set in the disabled recycling unit to the usable recycling unit, or to set the denomination that was set in the disabled recycling unit to the usable recycling unit in accordance with a user's selection.

3. A currency processing device as described in claim 2, wherein when it is selected to automatically set the denomination that was set in the unused recycling section to the usable recycling section, the control section sets the denomination that was set in the unused recycling section to the usable recycling section based on predetermined conditions.

4. A currency handling system having a currency handling device equipped with a plurality of recycling sections in which the denomination of currency to be stored is set, and a terminal device that accepts a selection of whether or not to set a denomination that was set to an out-of-use recycling section included in an error occurrence section among the plurality of recycling sections where an error has occurred to a usable recycling section included in a normally operable section among the plurality of recycling sections other than the out-of-use recycling section, wherein the currency handling system further comprises a control section that, when the terminal device accepts the selection of setting the denomination that was set to the out-of-use recycling section to the usable recycling section, stops the use of the error occurrence section and sets the denomination that was set to the out-of-use recycling section to the usable recycling section, and executes the storage of banknotes of that denomination in the usable recycling section.

Images