Paper sheet processing device

Abstract

This paper sheet processing device comprises: a conveyance part that conveys paper sheets; and an accumulation mechanism that accumulates the paper sheets conveyed by the conveyance part. The accumulation mechanism has a stage part that accumulates the paper sheets in an accumulation direction and that is movable in the accumulation direction. When starting the accumulation of the paper sheets, the accumulation mechanism determines the position of the stage part in the accumulation direction on the basis of the size, in a conveyance direction by the conveyance part, of the paper sheets to be accumulated.

Description

Paper sheet handling equipment

[0001] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-169503, filed on September 29, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a paper sheet processing apparatus that stores paper sheets sent from a transport unit into a storage unit in an accumulated state in the storage unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-12205

[0004] In a paper sheet processing apparatus, it is desired to stack paper sheets more efficiently.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a paper sheet processing apparatus that can stack paper sheets more efficiently.

[0006] A paper sheet processing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a conveying unit that conveys paper sheets and a stacking mechanism that stacks the paper sheets conveyed by the conveying unit, wherein the stacking mechanism stacks the paper sheets in a stacking direction and has a stage unit that is movable in the stacking direction, and when stacking of the paper sheets begins, the position of the stage unit in the stacking direction is determined based on the size of the paper sheets to be stacked in the transport direction by the conveying unit.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a paper sheet processing apparatus that is capable of stacking paper sheets more efficiently.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a terminal conveying unit and a stacking mechanism of the sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing the terminal conveying unit and the stacking mechanism of the sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing an initial stage unit and a stopper unit for stacking sheets having a large size in the terminal conveying direction; FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the terminal conveying unit and the stacking mechanism of the sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the stage unit and the stopper unit in the middle of stacking sheets having a large size in the terminal conveying direction; FIG. 5 is a side view schematically showing the terminal conveying unit and the stacking mechanism of the sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the initial stage unit and the stopper unit for stacking sheets having a small size in the terminal conveying direction; FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing the terminal conveying unit and the stacking mechanism of the sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing the stage unit and the stopper unit in the middle of stacking sheets having a small size in the terminal conveying direction. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a terminal conveying unit and a stacking mechanism of a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a retracted state of a long-side alignment member 113 when stacking sheets having a large size in the terminal conveying orthogonal direction; FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a terminal conveying unit and a stacking mechanism of a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing an aligned state of the long-side alignment member 113 when stacking sheets having a large size in the terminal conveying orthogonal direction; FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a terminal conveying unit and a stacking mechanism of a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing a retracted state of the long-side alignment member 113 when stacking sheets having a small size in the terminal conveying orthogonal direction; FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a terminal conveying unit and a stacking mechanism of a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing an aligned state of the long-side alignment member 113 when stacking sheets having a small size in the terminal conveying orthogonal direction; FIG. 5 is a side view showing a long-side alignment member of the stacking mechanism of a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a regulating member of the stacking mechanism of a sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 1A is a plan view showing a long-side alignment member of a stacking mechanism of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in which (a) shows an aligned state, (b) shows a state in the middle of retraction, and (c) shows a state in the middle of further retraction.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a stacking mechanism of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing long side alignment members in the process of becoming aligned;

[0024] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a stacking mechanism of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing long side alignment members in the aligned state;

[0025] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a stacking mechanism of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing long side alignment members in the process of being retracted;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a stacking mechanism of a paper sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing long side alignment members in the retracted state;

[0009] (Embodiment) A sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The sheet processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 performs a counting and sorting process in which banknotes, or sheets S, are counted and sorted, and a counting and bundling process in which the sheets S are counted and bundled. In the counting and sorting process, the sheet processing apparatus 1 sorts inserted sheets S into count-target sheets S and rejected sheets S, and further counts and sorts the count-target sheets S by type and stores them. In the counting and bundling process, the sheet processing apparatus 1 sorts inserted sheets S into bundling-target sheets S and rejected sheets S, and accumulates and bundles the bundling-target sheets S in groups of a predetermined number to form small bundles. In the following description, the front-rear direction of the apparatus refers to the direction connecting the operator side of the sheet processing apparatus 1 and the opposite side from the operator. The left-right direction of the device is the left-right direction as seen from the operator of the sheet processing apparatus 1. Furthermore, "front" is the side of the operator of the sheet processing apparatus 1, "rear" is the opposite side of the operator of the sheet processing apparatus 1, "right" is the right side as seen from the operator of the sheet processing apparatus 1, and "left" is the left side as seen from the operator of the sheet processing apparatus 1.

[0010] 1, the sheet processing apparatus 1 of the embodiment is configured by connecting, in this order from right to left, a sheet counting device 2, a sheet stacking device 3, and a sheet bundling device 4. The sheet processing apparatus 1 can also be provided with a retraction pocket section 5 at the left end of the sheet processing apparatus 1, i.e., on the left side of the sheet bundling device 4.

[0011] (Paper sheet counting device 2) The paper sheet counting device 2 has an inlet 11 and a reject unit 12. The inlet 11 is provided on the right side surface from the middle to the bottom in the vertical direction, and is always open to the outside of the paper sheet counting device 2 over the right side surface and front. The reject unit 12 is provided above the inlet 11 on the right side surface, and is always open to the outside of the paper sheet counting device 2 over the right side surface and front.

[0012] A plurality of paper sheets S are set in the input port 11 in a state where they are stacked vertically with their long sides aligned front to back and their short sides aligned left to right in the device. The input port 11 separates and feeds out the stacked paper sheets S set in this manner, one by one, starting from the bottom one, and takes them into the paper sheet counting device 2. The paper sheets S fed out from the input port 11 move in the direction in which their short sides extend.

[0013] The sheet counting device 2 is provided with an in-counting-device transport unit 21 that transports sheets S dispensed from the input port 11, and a recognition unit 22 that counts and recognizes the sheets S being transported by the in-counting-device transport unit 21. The sheets S transported by the in-counting-device transport unit 21 move along the extension direction of their short sides. The recognition unit 22 recognizes the transport state and type of the sheets S, such as their denomination.

[0014] The counting-device internal transport unit 21 has a left extension portion 21a, an upward extension portion 21b, a left extension portion 21c, and a branch extension portion 21d. The left extension portion 21a extends from the input port 11 toward the left side surface of the sheet counting device 2. The upward extension portion 21b extends upward from an end portion of the left extension portion 21a near the left side surface. The left extension portion 21c extends from the upper end portion of the upward extension portion 21b toward the left side surface of the sheet counting device 2 and opens on the left side surface. The branch extension portion 21d extends from the upper end portion of the upward extension portion 21b toward the right side surface of the sheet counting device 2 and connects to the reject unit 12. The counting-device internal transport unit 21 has a recognition unit 22 provided on the vertical upward extension portion 21b. The reject unit 12 receives the paper sheets S from the branched extension 21d of the counting device internal transport unit 21, and stacks the paper sheets S thus fed from bottom to top.

[0015] An operation display unit 25 that receives operation inputs and displays information is provided on the front surface of the sheet counting device 2. The sheet counting device 2 also includes a control unit 26 that controls the sheet counting device 2, the sheet stacking device 3 connected to the sheet counting device 2, and the sheet bundling device 4, i.e., the entire sheet processing device 1, and a storage unit 27 that stores master data that serves as a basis for recognition and data on the recognition and counting results.

[0016] (Paper sheet stacking device 3) Inside the paper sheet stacking device 3, there is provided an in-stacking device transport unit 31 that is connected to the left extension portion 21 c of the paper sheet counting device 2 and transports the paper sheets S fed out from the left extension portion 21 c. The paper sheets S transported by the in-stacking device transport unit 31 also move along the extension direction of their short sides.

[0017] The in-stacking device transport section 31 has a connecting transport section 31A that opens at the top of the right side of the paper sheet stacking device 3 and extends horizontally and linearly toward the left side of the paper sheet stacking device 3, opening at the top of the left side, and a branching transport section 31B that branches off downward from the left side of the connecting transport section 31A. The connecting transport section 31A and the branching transport section 31B each have their own drive motors and can be driven independently.

[0018] The branching conveying section 31B has a downward extension portion 31Ba and multiple, specifically three, branching extension portions 31Bb. The downward extension portion 31Ba branches off from the left side of the connecting conveying section 31A and extends vertically downward, with its end opposite the connecting conveying section 31A extending toward the right side of the paper sheet stacking device 3. The branching extension portion 31Bb branches off from a middle position of the downward extension portion 31Ba and extends toward the right side of the paper sheet stacking device 3. A stacking section 32 is connected to the end of the downward extension portion 31Ba and the end of each of the three branching extension portions 31Bb. Thus, the paper sheet stacking device 3 is provided with multiple, specifically four, stacking sections 32. All of the stacking sections 32 are always open to the outside of the paper sheet stacking device 3 from the front of the paper sheet stacking device 3.

[0019] Each of the stacking sections 32 has a similar configuration, including a bottom 35 that slopes downward to the right relative to the horizontal, and a support wall 36 that extends upward from the right end of the bottom 35, perpendicular to the bottom 35. At the end of the bottom 35 of each stacking section 32 opposite the support wall 36, there is provided a bladed wheel 37 that is provided at each end position of the branching conveying section 31B and feeds out paper sheets S into the stacking section 32. The bladed wheels 37 rotate together with the paper sheets S conveyed by the branching conveying section 31B, sandwiching them between their blades. When the paper sheets S come into contact with the bottom 35 and exit the bladed wheels, the bladed wheels 37 push the paper sheets S toward the support wall 36 with their blades. As a result, the paper sheets S are stacked sequentially on the support wall 36 with their short sides aligned vertically on the bottom 35.

[0020] The above-described counting and sorting process is possible in the sheet processing device 1 as a process using the sheet counting device 2 and the sheet stacking device 3. The counting and sorting process is a process in which the sheets S set in a stacked state in the inlet 11 of the sheet counting device 2 are identified and counted by the recognition unit 22 of the sheet counting device 2, and the sheets S to be counted and sorted are stacked in the multiple stacking units 32 of the sheet stacking device 3 while being sorted.

[0021] When an operation to select the counting and sorting process is input on the operation and display unit 25, the control unit 26 causes the operation and display unit 25 to set the types of paper sheets S to be subjected to the sorting and counting process and to be stored in each stacking unit 32. For example, the stacking units 32 are set so that a first stacking unit 32, one of the stacking units 32, stores 10,000 yen notes as paper sheets S after counting by the recognition unit 22, a second stacking unit 32 stores 5,000 yen notes as paper sheets S after counting by the recognition unit 22, a third stacking unit 32 stores 1,000 yen notes as paper sheets S after counting by the recognition unit 22, and a fourth stacking unit 32 stores 2,000 yen notes as paper sheets S after counting by the recognition unit 22.

[0022] When paper sheets S are set in a stacked state in the input port 11 and an operation to start the counting and sorting process is input to the operation display unit 25, the control unit 26 separates the stacked paper sheets S set in the input port 11 one by one and transports them by the left extension unit 21a and upper extension unit 21b of the counting device transport unit 21. Then, the control unit 26 causes the recognition unit 22 to recognize the paper sheets S while they are being transported by the upper extension unit 21b. If the recognition result of the recognition unit 22 identifies the paper sheets S as reject paper sheets S that are not subject to the counting and sorting process and include paper sheets S with identification errors such as counterfeit notes, damaged notes, and notes with tape attached, the control unit 26 does not count the paper sheets S and transports them from the upper extension unit 21b to the branch extension unit 21d to the reject unit 12 for storage.

[0023] Furthermore, when the recognition result of the recognition unit 22 identifies a paper sheet S as being subject to counting and classification processing, the control unit 26 adds up the count value of the type of paper sheet S, i.e., its denomination, and transports the paper sheet S to the collection unit 32 corresponding to its type and stores it therein using the upward extension unit 21b, the left extension unit 21c, the connecting conveying unit 31A and the branching conveying unit 31B of the conveying unit 31 within the paper sheet collection device 3.

[0024] In this way, the sheet processing apparatus 1 sorts and stores the sheets S to be counted and sorted among the sheets S set in a stacked state in the input port 11 of the sheet counting device 2 into the plurality of stacking sections 32 of the sheet stacking device 3. Note that a sensor may be provided in the input port 11 to detect that a sheet S has been set, and the counting and sorting process may be started automatically when this sensor detects the sheet S.

[0025] [Paper sheet bundling device 4] Inside the paper sheet bundling device 4, there is provided an in-bundling-device conveying section 41 that is connected to the connecting conveying section 31A of the paper sheet stacking device 3 and conveys the paper sheets S fed from the connecting conveying section 31A. The paper sheets S conveyed by the in-bundling-device conveying section 41 also move along the extension direction of their short sides.

[0026] The in-bundling-device conveying section 41 has a connecting conveying section 41A and a branching conveying section 41B. The connecting conveying section 41A opens at the top of the right side of the paper sheet bundling device 4 and is connected to the connecting conveying section 31A, extends horizontally and linearly toward the left side of the paper sheet bundling device 4, opens at the top of the left side and is connected to the inside of the evacuation pocket section 5 if one is provided. The branching conveying section 41B branches off downward from the left side of the connecting conveying section 41A. The connecting conveying section 41A and the branching conveying section 41B each have their own drive motors and can be driven independently.

[0027] The branching conveying section 41B has a downward extension section 41Ba and a branching extension section 41Bb. The downward extension section 41Ba branches off from the left side of the connecting conveying section 41A and extends vertically downward, with its end opposite the connecting conveying section 41A extending toward the right side of the paper sheet bundling device 4. The branching extension section 41Bb branches off from a middle position of the downward extension section 41Ba and extends toward the right side of the paper sheet bundling device 4. A stacking mechanism 42 is connected to the end of the downward extension section 41Ba and the end of the branching extension section 41Bb, respectively. Thus, the paper sheet bundling device 4 is provided with multiple stacking mechanisms 42, specifically, two stacking mechanisms 42.

[0028] Here, the counting and bundling process described above is a process that uses the sheet counting device 2, the sheet stacking device 3, and the sheet bundling device 4 in the sheet processing device 1. The counting and bundling process is a process of bundling sheets S to be bundled from among the sheets S set in a stacked state in the inlet 11 of the sheet counting device 2.

[0029] When an operation to select the counting and bundling process is input on the operation display unit 25, the control unit 26 causes the paper sheets S to be bundled to be set on the operation display unit 25. For example, 10,000 yen banknotes, which are Japanese currency, are set as the paper sheets S to be bundled.

[0030] When paper sheets S are set in a stacked state in the input port 11 and a start operation for the counting and bundling process is input to the operation display unit 25, the control unit 26 separates the stacked paper sheets S set in the input port 11 one by one and transports them by the left extension unit 21a and the upper extension unit 21b of the counting device transport unit 21. Then, the control unit 26 causes the recognition unit 22 to recognize the paper sheets S while they are being transported by the upper extension unit 21b. If the recognition result of the recognition unit 22 identifies the paper sheets S as being counterfeit, damaged, taped, or other paper sheets with an identification error, the control unit 26 does not count the paper sheets S and transports them from the upper extension unit 21b to the branch extension unit 21d to the reject unit 12 for storage.

[0031] Furthermore, when the recognition result of the recognition unit 22 indicates that the paper sheet S is a normally recognized paper sheet S of a different denomination that is not to be bundled, the control unit 26 also transports this paper sheet S from the upward extension unit 21b to the branch extension unit 21d and stores it in the reject unit 12. Here, the paper sheet S identified as a normally recognized paper sheet S of a different denomination that is not to be bundled can also be transported to a predetermined stacking unit 32 and stored therein by the upward extension unit 21b, the left extension unit 21c, and the connecting conveying unit 31A and branching conveying unit 31B of the in-stacking-device conveying unit 31 of the paper sheet stacking device 3. In other words, the destination for storing the normally recognized paper sheet S of a different denomination that is not to be bundled can be selected from the reject unit 12 and multiple stacking units 32.

[0032] Furthermore, when the recognition result of the recognition unit 22 identifies the paper sheets S as paper sheets S to be bundled, the control unit 26 causes the upward extension unit 21b, the left extension unit 21c, the connecting conveyance unit 31A of the paper sheet stacking device 3, and the connecting conveyance unit 41A and branching conveyance unit 41B of the paper sheet bundling device 4 to transport the paper sheets S to the stacking mechanism 42 to store the number of sheets to be bundled (e.g., 100 sheets). Here, in the counting and bundling process, the control unit 26 first causes the downward extension unit 41Ba and branching extension unit 41Bb of the connecting conveyance unit 41A and branching conveyance unit 41B to stack the number of sheets S to be bundled in the upper of the two stacking mechanisms 42. Next, the control unit 26 causes the downward extension unit 41Ba of the connecting conveyance unit 41A and branching conveyance unit 41B to stack the number of sheets S to be bundled in the lower stacking mechanism 42. Next, the control unit 26 causes the sheets S to be stacked alternately by the number of sheets to be bundled in the two stacking mechanisms 42, such as by stacking the sheets S in the stacking mechanisms 42 above the downward extension 41Ba and branch extension 41Bb of the connecting conveying unit 41A and the branching conveying unit 41B. Note that a sensor may be provided in the input port 11 to detect that sheets S have been set, and the counting and bundling process may be started automatically when this sensor detects sheets S.

[0033] The stacking mechanism 42 stacks the sheets S conveyed by the connected terminal conveying section 61 (conveying section) of the downward extension section 41Ba of the branching conveying section 41B or the terminal conveying section 61 (conveying section) of the branching extension section 41Bb, which conveys the sheets S. At this time, the terminal conveying section 61 of the downward extension section 41Ba and the terminal conveying section 61 of the branching extension section 41Bb convey the sheets S from left to right with their short sides aligned in the left-right direction of the device and their long sides aligned in the front-to-rear direction of the device. At this time, the stacking mechanism 42 stacks the sheets S sequentially discharged to the right from the connected terminal conveying section 61 from bottom to top while aligning the positions of the short sides and the long sides.

[0034] The paper sheet bundling device 4 has a delivery mechanism 45 that transports the stacked paper sheets SS when 100 sheets, the number of sheets bundled, of paper sheets S are stacked in one of the plurality of stacking mechanisms 42 to form a stacked paper sheets SS, and that transports the stacked paper sheets SS when 100 sheets, the number of sheets bundled, of paper sheets S are stacked in the other of the plurality of stacking mechanisms 42 to form a stacked paper sheets SS. The delivery mechanism 45 has gripping units 46 that grip the stacked paper sheets SS, which have been stacked vertically with their short sides and long sides aligned in the stacking mechanism 42, from both the top and bottom. Here, the long sides of the paper sheets S that make up the stacked paper sheets SS are also referred to as the long sides of the stacked paper sheets SS, and the short sides of the paper sheets S that make up the stacked paper sheets SS are also referred to as the short sides of the stacked paper sheets SS.

[0035] 1, the transfer mechanism 45 has a gripper 46 that grips a bundle of stacked paper sheets SS stored in the stacking mechanism 42, pulls it out to the right, moves vertically downward, and then moves leftward to transport it. At this time, the gripper 46 grips the stacked paper sheets SS at a predetermined distance in the short-side direction from the long side at the right end, regardless of the length of the short side. The gripper 46 also transports the stacked paper sheets SS while maintaining the center position in the long-side direction at a reference position in the front-to-rear direction of the device.

[0036] The paper sheet bundling device 4 is provided to the left of the lower portion of the delivery mechanism 45 and has a bundling mechanism 51 that receives and bundles the stacked paper sheets SS from the gripping unit 46 that has moved leftward after descending as described above. In other words, the bundling mechanism 51 bundles the stacked paper sheets SS that have been transported by the delivery mechanism 45.

[0037] The configuration of the end conveying section 61 of the downward extension 41Ba of the branch conveying section 41B is the same as the configuration of the end conveying section 61 of the branch extension 41Bb of the branch conveying section 41B. The configuration of the accumulation mechanism 42 connected to the end conveying section 61 of the downward extension 41Ba of the branch conveying section 41B is the same as the configuration of the accumulation mechanism 42 connected to the end conveying section 61 of the branch extension 41Bb of the branch conveying section 41B. For this reason, here, one end conveying section 61 and the accumulation mechanism 42 connected to this end conveying section 61 will be described.

[0038] (Terminal Conveying Unit 61) As described above, the terminal conveying unit 61 conveys the paper sheets S from left to right with their short sides aligned with the left-right direction of the device and their long sides aligned with the front-rear direction of the device, and discharges them into the stacking mechanism 42 on the right. As shown in FIG. 2 , the terminal conveying unit 61 has a lower support member 62. The upper surface of the lower support member 62 extends horizontally overall, and supports the paper sheets S from below while they are horizontally extended. The terminal conveying unit 61 also has an upper guide member (not shown) that is located above the lower support member 62 in the vertical direction Z and extends parallel to the lower support member 62. The terminal conveying unit 61 moves the paper sheets S horizontally between the lower support member 62 and the upper guide member.

[0039] The terminal conveying section 61 has a pair of first conveying rollers 71, a pair of second conveying rollers 72, a pair of pay-out rollers 73, multiple impellers 74, specifically five impellers 74, and two pairs of paper sheet detection sensors 75.

[0040] The pair of first conveying rollers 71 have the same shape, and each protrudes partially upward from the upper surface of the upper side of the lower support member 62. The pair of first conveying rollers 71 are aligned with each other in the conveying direction of the paper sheets S in the end conveying section 61 (hereinafter referred to as the end conveying direction X), i.e., in the left-right direction of the device, and are provided at a predetermined distance from each other in a conveying orthogonal direction (hereinafter referred to as the end conveying orthogonal direction Y), which is orthogonal to the paper sheet conveying direction of the end conveying section 61, i.e., in the front-rear direction of the device. When conveying the paper sheets S, the pair of first conveying rollers 71 rotate so that their upper ends move from upstream to downstream in the end conveying direction X, i.e., from left to right in the left-right direction of the device.

[0041] The pair of second conveyance rollers 72 have the same shape and each partially protrudes upward from the upper surface of the lower support member 62. The pair of second conveyance rollers 72 are aligned with each other in the end conveyance direction X, i.e., the left-right direction of the device, and are spaced a predetermined distance apart in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y, i.e., the front-rear direction of the device. The pair of second conveyance rollers 72 are located downstream of the pair of first conveyance rollers 71 in the end conveyance direction X, i.e., on the right side in the left-right direction of the device. When conveying sheets S, the pair of second conveyance rollers 72 rotate so that their upper ends move from upstream to downstream in the end conveyance direction X, i.e., from left to right in the left-right direction of the device.

[0042] The pair of feed rollers 73 have the same shape, and each partially protrudes upward from the upper surface of the lower support member 62. The pair of feed rollers 73 are aligned with each other in the end conveying direction X, i.e., the left-right direction of the device, and are spaced a predetermined distance apart in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y, i.e., the front-rear direction of the device. The pair of feed rollers 73 are located downstream of the pair of second conveying rollers 72 in the end conveying direction X, i.e., on the right side in the left-right direction of the device. The pair of feed rollers 73 are located at the very end of the end conveying section 61. When conveying the paper sheets S, the pair of feed rollers 73 rotate so that their upper ends move from upstream to downstream in the end conveying direction X, i.e., from left to right in the left-right direction of the device.

[0043] The multiple impellers 74 are identical in shape and have multiple blade portions 76 extending radially outward from the center of rotation, spaced equally apart in the circumferential direction. The multiple impellers 74 are all aligned in the end conveying direction X, i.e., the left-right direction of the device, and are arranged at predetermined intervals in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y, i.e., the front-rear direction of the device. The multiple impellers 74 are located downstream of the pair of second conveying rollers 72 in the end conveying direction X, i.e., on the right side in the left-right direction of the device. The multiple impellers 74 are located at the very end of the end conveying section 61. Among the multiple impellers 74, in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y, one middle impeller 74 is located between the pair of payout rollers 73, two impellers 74 are located on the opposite side of one payout roller 73 from the other payout roller 73, and two impellers 74 are located on the opposite side of the other payout roller 73 from the one payout roller 73.

[0044] The plurality of impellers 74 are arranged coaxially with the pair of pay-out rollers 73, and are driven together with the pair of pay-out rollers 73 to rotate in synchronization with the pair of pay-out rollers 73. The plurality of impellers 74 each rotate with its blade portion 76 partially protruding upward from the upper surface of the lower support member 62 and partially protruding rightward from the right end of the lower support member 62. When conveying sheets S, the plurality of impellers 74 rotate such that their upper ends move from upstream to downstream in the terminal conveying direction X, i.e., from left to right in the left-right direction of the device, and their right ends move from top to bottom in the up-down direction Z.

[0045] In the terminal conveying section 61, a pair of first conveying rollers 71, a pair of second conveying rollers 72, a pair of pay-out rollers 73, and a plurality of impellers 74 are driven by a conveying drive unit (not shown). The conveying drive unit (not shown) has, for example, a belt that is wound around the rotation shafts of the pair of first conveying rollers 71, the rotation shafts of the pair of second conveying rollers 72, and the rotation shafts of the pair of pay-out rollers 73 and the plurality of impellers 74, and a single conveying drive motor that drives this belt. As a result, the pair of first conveying rollers 71, the pair of second conveying rollers 72, the pair of pay-out rollers 73, and the plurality of impellers 74 are driven by a single conveying drive motor (not shown). A pair of first conveying rollers 71, a pair of second conveying rollers 72, and a pair of pay-out rollers 73 are driven by a conveying drive motor (not shown), thereby conveying the paper sheets S between them and an upper guide member (not shown) arranged above them from upstream to downstream in the end conveying direction X, i.e., from left to right in the left-right direction of the device. At that time, the multiple bladed wheels 74 strike downward the upstream side in the pay-out direction of the paper sheets S paid out by the pair of pay-out rollers 73 from the end conveying section 61 to the accumulation mechanism 42, i.e., the left end in the left-right direction of the device.

[0046] The two pairs of sheet detection sensors 75 detect sheets S moving on the upper surface of the lower support member 62. The two pairs of sheet detection sensors 75 are aligned with each other in the end transport direction X, i.e., the left-right direction of the device, and are spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other in the end transport orthogonal direction Y, i.e., the front-rear direction of the device. The two pairs of sheet detection sensors 75 are located between a pair of second transport rollers 72 and a pair of pay-out rollers 73 in the end transport direction X.

[0047] (Stacking Mechanism 42) As shown in FIGS. 3A to 4B, the stacking mechanism 42 has an upper guide portion 81, a standing wall portion 82, a stage portion 83, a stopper portion 84, and a paper sheet alignment portion 85.

[0048] (Upper guide section 81) The upper guide section 81 is provided downstream of the pair of feed rollers 73 and the multiple impellers 74 in the terminal conveying direction X, i.e., to the right in the left-right direction of the device. The lower surface of the upper guide section 81 guides the paper sheets S fed from the terminal conveying section 61. The lower surface of the upper guide section 81 is inclined so that it is positioned lower the more downstream in the terminal conveying direction X. The area between the lower surface of the upper guide section 81 and an imaginary surface that extends along this lower surface and is a predetermined distance below this lower surface forms a paper sheet entry area A1 into which the paper sheets S fed from the terminal conveying section 61 basically enter.

[0049] 2, the standing wall portion 82 is disposed below the pair of feed rollers 73 and the plurality of impellers 74 of the end conveying section 61. The standing wall portion 82 extends generally perpendicular to the end conveying direction X, i.e., the left-right direction of the device.

[0050] (Stage 83) The stage 83 stacks the paper sheets S and is located downstream of the upright wall 82 in the end conveying direction X, i.e., on the right side in the left-right direction of the device. As shown in FIGS. 3A to 4B , the stage 83 is located below the upper guide 81 and is positioned to overlap the upper guide 81 in the end conveying direction X and the orthogonal end conveying direction Y. As shown in FIG. 2 , the stage 83 has an upper surface that extends horizontally, and supports the paper sheets S conveyed by the end conveying unit 61 from below in a horizontally extended state after being fed from the end conveying unit 61. The stage 83 is located below the pair of feed rollers 73 and the multiple impellers 74, and stacks the paper sheets S fed from the end conveying unit 61 in order from bottom to top in the vertical direction Z.

[0051] The stage unit 83 is supported by a stage guide (not shown) so as to be movable in the stacking direction of the paper sheets S, i.e., in the vertical direction Z. When driven by a stage drive unit (not shown), the stage unit 83 moves up and down while being guided by the stage guide (not shown). At this time, the stage unit 83 moves up and down while maintaining its position in the end transport direction X and the end transport orthogonal direction Y, i.e., the front-to-back direction and the left-to-right direction of the device. At this time, the stage unit 83 moves up and down while its upper surface remains horizontally extended.

[0052] The stage drive unit (not shown) has, for example, a stage drive motor, a pinion gear that is rotationally driven by the stage drive motor, and a rack gear that is fixed along the top and bottom of the stage unit 83 and meshes with the pinion gear. The stage drive unit moves the rack gear and the stage unit 83 up and down by the stage drive motor rotating the pinion gear.

[0053] The position of the stage part 83 in the vertical direction Z is detected by a stage position detection sensor (not shown).

[0054] As shown in Figures 3A to 4B, the area between the stage portion 83 and the upper guide portion 81 in the vertical direction Z is the accumulation area A where paper sheets S are accumulated. The paper sheet entry area A1 is the area at the upper end of this accumulation area A. The stage portion 83 minimizes the accumulation area A when positioned at its uppermost position. The stage portion 83 maximizes the accumulation area A when positioned at its lowermost position. The uppermost position of the stage portion 83 differs depending on the type of paper sheet S, and the lowermost position of the stage portion 83 is constant regardless of the type of paper sheet S.

[0055] (Stopper Portion 84) As shown in FIG. 2, the stopper portion 84 is plate-shaped and is located downstream of the standing wall portion 82 in the end conveying direction X, i.e., on the right side in the left-right direction of the device. The stopper portion 84 extends generally perpendicular to the end conveying direction X and therefore extends parallel to the standing wall portion 82. The flat surface 84a of the stopper portion 84 is provided with at least one insertion portion 84b (three in this embodiment) through which the gripper 46 of the delivery mechanism 45 is inserted. As shown in FIGS. 3A to 4B, the accumulation area A is defined between the standing wall portion 82 and the stopper portion 84. In other words, the stopper portion 84 faces the standing wall portion 82 with the accumulation area A sandwiched therebetween.

[0056] The stage portion 83 extends between the standing wall portion 82 and the stopper portion 84 in the terminal conveying direction X, i.e., the left-right direction of the device. The stopper portion 84 comes into contact with the downstream end, in the terminal conveying direction X, of the paper sheet S conveyed by the terminal conveying portion 61 and fed out from the terminal conveying portion 61 to the paper sheet entry area A1, i.e., the right end, in the left-right direction of the device, and restricts the movement of the paper sheet S in this direction while causing the paper sheet S to fall onto the stage portion 83.

[0057] The stopper portion 84 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction Z. The stopper portion 84 is driven by a stopper lifting / lowering drive unit (not shown). The stopper portion 84 moves in the vertical direction Z when driven by the stopper drive unit. When the stopper portion 84 is positioned at the lowest position, it blocks the downstream side of the accumulation area A in the terminal conveying direction X, i.e., the right side in the left-right direction of the device. When the stopper portion 84 is driven by the stopper drive unit and positioned at the highest position, it opens the downstream side of the accumulation area A in the terminal conveying direction X, i.e., the right side in the left-right direction of the device. The gripping portion 46 of the delivery mechanism 45 shown in FIG. 1 is provided downstream in the terminal conveying direction X of the accumulation area A. The gripping portion 46 grips the paper sheets S accumulated in the accumulation area A by the accumulation mechanism 42 from both sides in the accumulation direction, i.e., the vertical direction Z, and pulls them out downstream in the terminal conveying direction X, i.e., to the right side in the left-right direction of the device, when the stopper portion 84 is positioned at the highest position.

[0058] The stopper drive unit (not shown) has, for example, a stopper drive motor, a pinion gear that is rotationally driven by the stopper drive motor, and a rack gear that is fixed along the top and bottom of the stopper unit 84 and meshes with the pinion gear. The stopper drive unit moves the rack gear and stopper unit 84 up and down by the stopper drive motor rotating the pinion gear.

[0059] The stopper portion 84 is adapted to be detected by a lowest position sensor (not shown) when it is at the lowest position, and by a highest position sensor (not shown) when it is at the highest position.

[0060] The stopper portion 84 and the stopper drive portion (not shown) are arranged on a stopper base (not shown) to form a single stopper unit. This stopper unit is provided so as to be movable along the end conveying direction X. The stopper unit including the stopper portion 84 and the stopper drive portion is driven by a stopper unit drive portion (not shown).

[0061] The stopper unit is driven by a stopper unit drive unit to move in the terminal conveyance direction X and position the stopper portion 84 at a position corresponding to the size (short side size in this embodiment) of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83 in the terminal conveyance direction X. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B , for paper sheets S of size L1, which have a short size (short side size) in the terminal conveyance direction X, the stopper portion 84 is positioned upstream in the terminal conveyance direction X. For paper sheets S of size L2, which have a long size in the terminal conveyance direction X, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B , the stopper portion 84 is positioned downstream in the terminal conveyance direction X. In this manner, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 4B , the stopper portion 84 is positioned so that the distance between the stopper portion 84 and the upright wall portion 82 is approximately the same as the size (short side size) of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83 in the terminal conveyance direction X. In this manner, the stopper portion 84 is provided movably in the terminal conveyance direction X and moves according to the size of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83.

[0062] A unit base (not shown) that supports the stopper portion 84 and the stopper drive portion (not shown) is supported by a unit guide (not shown) so as to be movable in the end conveying direction X, i.e., the left-right direction of the device. When this unit base is driven by the stopper unit drive portion (not shown), it is guided by the unit guide (not shown) and moves in the end conveying direction X. At that time, the stopper portion 84 moves while remaining spread out perpendicular to the end conveying direction X. At that time, the stopper portion 84 is also movable in the end conveying direction X while maintaining its position in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y, i.e., the front-rear direction and the up-down direction Z of the device.

[0063] The stopper unit drive section (not shown) has, for example, a unit drive motor, a screw shaft that is rotationally driven by the unit drive motor, and a nut member that is threaded onto the screw shaft and fixed to the unit base of the stopper unit. The stopper unit drive section moves the nut member and the stopper unit in the terminal conveying direction X by the unit drive motor rotating the screw shaft.

[0064] The position of the unit base (not shown) that supports the stopper portion 84 and the stopper drive portion (not shown) in the end conveying direction X is detected by a stopper position detection sensor (not shown). Therefore, the stopper position detection sensor can detect the position of the stopper portion 84 in the end conveying direction X.

[0065] 3A and 4A, the stage unit 83, which stacks the sheets S and is movable in the stacking direction of the sheets S, moves to a position corresponding to the size of the sheets S to be stacked. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A, the stage unit 83 immediately before stacking the sheets S moves to a position where it is expected that an edge at the downstream end in the terminal conveying direction X of the sheet S fed from the terminal conveying unit 61 to the sheet entry area A1 will abut against a corner formed by the stopper unit 84, which is positioned according to the size in the terminal conveying direction X of the sheet S to be stacked on the stage unit 83 (the short side size in this embodiment). In other words, when starting to stack the sheets S, the stacking mechanism 42 determines the position in the stacking direction of the stage unit 83 based on the size in the terminal conveying direction X of the sheet S to be stacked (the short side size in this embodiment). The stacking mechanism 42 also has a stopper portion 84 on the downstream side of the stage portion 83 in the conveying direction of the paper sheets S by the end conveying portion 61. The stopper portion 84 is provided movably in the end conveying direction X, and moves in accordance with the size of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83 in the end conveying direction X (the short side size in this embodiment).

[0066] For example, in the case of a paper sheet S having a long size in the terminal conveying direction X (short side size in this embodiment) as shown in Figure 3A, the stage portion 83 is moved away from the upper guide portion 81 in the vertical direction Z, and in the case of a paper sheet S having a short size in the terminal conveying direction X as shown in Figure 4A, the stage portion 83 is moved closer to the upper guide portion 81 in the vertical direction Z, thereby moving the corner formed by the stage portion 83 and the stopper portion 84 to a position where it is expected to come into contact with the edge at the downstream end in the terminal conveying direction X of the paper sheet S that has been fed from the terminal conveying portion 61 to the paper sheet entry area A1.

[0067] (Paper sheet alignment section 85) The paper sheet alignment section 85 aligns the paper sheets S stacked on the stage section 83, and as shown in Figure 2, has a long side alignment section 101 (alignment section) and a short side alignment section 102.

[0068] (Long Side Alignment Unit 101) The paper sheet alignment unit 85 has a pair of long side alignment units 101. The pair of long side alignment units 101 align the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 so that the positions in the long side direction are the same.

[0069] The pair of long side alignment sections 101 are provided downstream of the upright wall section 82 in the end conveyance direction X, i.e., on the right side in the left-right direction of the device. One of the pair of long side alignment sections 101 is provided on one side (e.g., the front side) of the stage section 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y, i.e., in the front-rear direction of the device. The other long side alignment section 101 is provided on the other side (e.g., the rear side) of the stage section 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y, i.e., in the front-rear direction of the device. In other words, the accumulation mechanism 42 is provided with one long side alignment section 101 on each side of the stage section 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y, i.e., in the front-rear direction of the device. The pair of long side alignment sections 101 are arranged in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y so as to sandwich the lifting range of the stage section 83, i.e., the accumulation area A, between them.

[0070] 5A to 6B, the pair of long side alignment units 101 are both provided so as to be movable in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. The pair of long side alignment units 101 are provided so as to be able to move toward and away from each other in synchronization. The pair of long side alignment units 101 move at equal speeds and equal distances in opposite directions along the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y.

[0071] The pair of long side alignment units 101 are mirror-symmetric in the direction Y perpendicular to the end transport direction, i.e., in the front-to-rear direction of the device. In other words, the pair of long side alignment units 101 are mirror-symmetric with the lifting range of the stage unit 83 sandwiched between them. The pair of long side alignment units 101 are aligned in the end transport direction X and the up-down direction Z. Because the pair of long side alignment units 101 are mirror-symmetric, the following description will be given taking the long side alignment unit 101 at the rear side in the front-to-rear direction of the device as an example.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 2 , the long side alignment unit 101 includes a base portion 111 , a support shaft 112 , a long side alignment member 113 (alignment member), and a regulating member 114 .

[0073] The long side alignment unit 101 has a base portion 111 that is movable in the end conveyance perpendicular direction Y. The base portion 111 is movable in the end conveyance perpendicular direction Y while maintaining its position in the up-down direction Z and the conveyance perpendicular direction X.

[0074] The support shaft 112 extends upward from the base portion 111 along the vertical direction Z.

[0075] The long side alignment member 113 aligns the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83 in the long side direction, and is supported by the support shaft 112 so as to be rotatable around the support shaft 112. As a result, the long side alignment member 113 is rotatable with respect to the base portion 111.

[0076] 7, the long side alignment member 113 has a shaft insertion portion 121, an extending arm portion 122, a first alignment portion 123, a second alignment portion 124, and a sensor detection piece portion 125. The long side alignment member 113 is an integrally molded product. Therefore, the shaft insertion portion 121, the extending arm portion 122, the first alignment portion 123, the second alignment portion 124, and the sensor detection piece portion 125 are integrally formed.

[0077] The shaft insertion portion 121 is cylindrical, and as shown in FIG. 2, the support shaft 112 is inserted into the radially inner side thereof.

[0078] The extending arm portion 122 extends from the shaft insertion portion 121 in the radial direction of the shaft insertion portion 121 , that is, outward in the radial direction of the support shaft 112 .

[0079] 7, the first alignment portion 123 is provided at the end of the extending arm portion 122 opposite the shaft insertion portion 121 in the extension direction. The first alignment portion 123 overlaps with the extending arm portion 122 in the vertical direction Z and extends further downward than the extending arm portion 122. The first alignment portion 123 has a long shape in the vertical direction Z.

[0080] The first alignment unit 123 has a portion opposite the extending arm 122 on which a plurality of first protrusions 131 protruding in the opposite direction from the extending arm 122 are formed at predetermined equal intervals in the vertical direction Z. The first alignment unit 123 has the first protrusions 131 provided at predetermined equal intervals throughout the entire range in the vertical direction Z. When the first alignment unit 123 strikes the end faces of the sheets S to align them, the struck sheets S are caught by the first protrusions 131 and can prevent them from escaping in the vertical direction Z. This allows the first alignment unit 123 to reliably push the sheets S in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. As will be described later, the long side alignment member 113 is rotatable between a retracted position shown in FIGS. 5A and 6A and an aligned position shown in FIGS. 5B and 6B. When the long side alignment member 113 is located at the alignment position, a return portion that protrudes toward the stage portion 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y may be provided at the upper end of the part of the first alignment section 123 that faces closest to the stage portion 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. Furthermore, when the long side alignment member 113 is located at the alignment position, a flat portion may be provided on the end conveyance section 61 side in the end conveyance direction X of at least a lower part of the surface of the first alignment section 123 that faces closest to the stage portion 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y, to align the end face of the first convex portion 131 that is closest to the stage portion 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y with the end face in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y, thereby aligning the end faces in the long side direction of the paper sheets S flat.

[0081] The second alignment portion 124 is provided at the end of the extending arm portion 122 opposite the shaft insertion portion 121 in the extension direction. The second alignment portion 124 extends upward from the extending arm portion 122 along the vertical direction Z. The second alignment portion 124 has a shape that is long in the vertical direction Z. The second alignment portion 124 is provided displaced, i.e., offset, from the first alignment portion 123. In other words, the first alignment portion 123 and the second alignment portion 124 are provided so as to have a step. The second alignment portion 124 is displaced toward the shaft insertion portion 121 relative to the first alignment portion 123 in the extension direction of the extending arm portion 122.

[0082] The second alignment portion 124 is offset relative to the first alignment portion 123, so that a surface portion 132 is provided on the upper portion of the first alignment portion 123. This surface portion 132 is inclined in the extension direction of the extending arm portion 122 so that the further away from the second alignment portion 124 it is, the lower the surface portion 132 is positioned.

[0083] The second alignment unit 124 has a portion opposite the extending arm 122 on which a plurality of second convex portions 135 are formed at predetermined equal intervals in the vertical direction Z. The second alignment unit 124 has the second convex portions 135 formed at predetermined equal intervals across the entire range of the vertical direction Z. When the second alignment unit 124 strikes the end faces of the sheets S to align them, the struck sheets S are caught by the second convex portions 135 and can prevent them from escaping in the vertical direction Z. This allows the second alignment unit 124 to reliably push the sheets S in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. As will be described later, the long side alignment member 113 is rotatable between a retracted position shown in FIGS. 5A and 6A and an aligned position shown in FIGS. 5B and 6B. When the long side alignment member 113 is located at the retracted position, a second convex portion 135 is provided on the entire surface of the second alignment section 124 that faces closest to the stage section 83 in the end transport orthogonal direction Y.

[0084] As shown in Figures 3A to 4B, in the vertical direction Z, the first alignment section 123 on the lower level is positioned lower than the above-mentioned paper sheet entry area A1, and the second alignment section 124 on the upper level is positioned overlapping the above-mentioned paper sheet entry area A1.

[0085] 7, the sensor detection piece 125 extends from the middle position in the up-down direction Z of the shaft insertion portion 121 to the opposite side from the extending arm portion 122. The sensor detection piece 125 is in the shape of a plate that extends perpendicular to the up-down direction Z.

[0086] The long side alignment member 113 is rotatable between a retracted position and an aligned position. As shown in Figures 5A and 6A, the retracted position is a position where the extension arm 122 extends from the support shaft 112 to the upstream side in the end feed direction X, and the first alignment part 123 is located at the end on the upstream side in the end feed direction X. As shown in Figures 5B and 6B, the alignment position is a position where the extension arm 122 extends from the support shaft 112 to the stage part 83 side in the end feed orthogonal direction Y, and the first alignment part 123 is located at the end on the stage part 83 side in the end feed orthogonal direction Y.

[0087] As shown in Figures 5A and 6A, when the long side alignment member 113 is in the retracted position, the first alignment section 123 partially overlaps with the second alignment section 124 in the end conveyance perpendicular direction Y, and the remaining portion protrudes beyond the second alignment section 124 on the side opposite the stage section 83 in the end conveyance perpendicular direction Y.

[0088] 5B and 6B , when the long side alignment member 113 is in the alignment position, the first alignment section 123 is located closer to the stage section 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y than the second alignment section 124. In other words, when the long side alignment member 113 is in the alignment position, the second alignment section 124 is offset from the first alignment section 123 to the side opposite the stage section 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. In other words, when the long side alignment member 113 is in the alignment position, the second alignment section 124 is offset outward in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y than the first alignment section 123.

[0089] When the long side alignment member 113 is in the alignment position, the first alignment section 123 partially overlaps with the second alignment section 124 in the end feed direction X, and the remaining portion protrudes upstream of the second alignment section 124 in the end feed direction X. When the long side alignment member 113 is in the alignment position, the surface portion 132 at the upper end of the first alignment section 123 shown in FIG. 7 is inclined so that it is positioned lower as it approaches the stage section 83 in the end feed orthogonal direction Y shown in FIGS. 5B and 6B. When the long side alignment member 113 is in the alignment position, the multiple first protrusions 131 shown in FIG. 7 of the first alignment section 123 and the multiple second protrusions 135 shown in FIG. 7 of the second alignment section 124 protrude toward the stage section 83 in the end feed orthogonal direction Y shown in FIGS. 5B and 6B.

[0090] The long side alignment members 113 are driven by a long side alignment member drive unit (not shown) to rotate back and forth between a retracted position and an aligned position. The long side alignment member drive unit (not shown) includes, for example, a spring member that biases the long side alignment members 113 toward the retracted position, and a stepping motor that rotates the long side alignment members 113 against the biasing force of the spring member to position them in the aligned position. The long side alignment member drive unit uses the stepping motor to position the long side alignment members 113 in the aligned position against the biasing force of the spring member, and also positions the long side alignment members 113 in the retracted position while receiving the biasing force of the spring member. When moving the long side alignment members 113 from the aligned position to the retracted position, the load required to move the long side alignment members 113 is reduced by the biasing force of the spring member, so that the long side alignment members 113 can be moved from the aligned position to the retracted position more quickly than when moving the long side alignment members 113 from the retracted position to the aligned position. Furthermore, when the long side alignment member 113 is in the retracted position, the sensor detection piece 125 is detected by a retracted position detection sensor (not shown), and when the long side alignment member 113 is in the aligned position, the sensor detection piece 125 is detected by an aligned position detection sensor (not shown). Because the first alignment part 123 and the second alignment part 124 are integrally provided, the first alignment part 123 and the second alignment part 124 can be rotated back and forth integrally by a single stepping motor.

[0091] As described above, the long side alignment member 113 has a first alignment portion 123 and a second alignment portion 124 that is offset from the first alignment portion 123 and is integral with the first alignment portion 123. The second alignment portion 124 is provided above the first alignment portion 123. The long side alignment member 113 has the second alignment portion 124 offset from the first alignment portion 123 in the end feed orthogonal direction Y. The long side alignment member 113 has the second alignment portion 124 offset outward from the first alignment portion 123 in the end feed orthogonal direction Y.

[0092] The regulating member 114 regulates the movement of the sheets S stacked on the stage 83, and is fixed to the base 111. As shown in Fig. 2, the regulating member 114 has a fixed portion 140 at the end opposite the stage 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. The regulating member 114 is fixed to the base 111 at the fixed portion 140.

[0093] The regulating member 114 is provided so as to protrude from the fixed portion 140 toward the stage portion 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. The regulating member 114 has a wall-like portion 141 on the stage portion 83 side in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. As shown in Figure 8, the wall-like portion 141 has an upper surface 142, a main regulating surface 143, an inclined surface 144, an upper regulating surface 145, and a return portion 146.

[0094] The upper surface 142 is provided at the upper end of the wall-like portion 141 and has a flat surface that extends horizontally upward.

[0095] The main regulating surface 143 extends from the lower end of the wall portion 141 to a central position in the up-down direction Z. As shown in Figures 5A to 6B, the main regulating surface 143 is provided at an end position of the regulating member 114 on the stage portion 83 side in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. The main regulating surface 143 extends perpendicular to the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y.

[0096] 5B and 6B , the main regulating surface 143 of the regulating member 114 is located slightly on the opposite side of the stage portion 83 from the end position of the first alignment portion 123 on the stage portion 83 side when the first alignment portion 123 is in the alignment position of the long side alignment member 113 constituting the same long side alignment portion 101 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. The main regulating surface 143 of the regulating member 114 is located slightly closer to the stage portion 83 than the end position of the second alignment portion 124 on the stage portion 83 side when the second alignment portion 124 is in the alignment position of the long side alignment member 113 constituting the same long side alignment portion 101 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. Therefore, the main regulating surface 143 of the regulating member 114 is located between the first alignment portion 123 and the second alignment portion 124 when the first alignment portion 123 is in the alignment position of the long side alignment member 113 constituting the same long side alignment portion 101 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y.

[0097] The inclined surface 144 extends upward from the upper edge of the main regulating surface 143 and is inclined so that the upper side is positioned on the opposite side to the stage portion 83 in the direction Y perpendicular to the end conveyance.

[0098] The upper regulating surface 145 extends upward from the upper edge of the inclined surface 144 and extends perpendicular to the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y. In other words, the upper regulating surface 145 extends parallel to the main regulating surface 143. In the wall-like portion 141, the upper regulating surface 145 is provided on the opposite side of the main regulating surface 143 from the stage portion 83 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y.

[0099] The return portion 146 protrudes from the upper edge of the upper regulating surface 145 toward the stage portion 83 in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y. The upper surface of the return portion 146 forms part of the above-mentioned upper surface 142. The height position of the upper surface 142 is the same height position as the upper surface of the uppermost first protrusion 131 of the first alignment portion 123 of the long side alignment member 113 shown in Figure 7.

[0100] The regulating member 114 shown in Figure 8 is located at a position equivalent to the end position of the second alignment section 124 on the stage section 83 side when the return portion 146 is in the alignment position of the long side alignment member 113 that constitutes the same long side alignment section 101 in the end conveying perpendicular direction Y.

[0101] The regulating member 114 is provided closer to the standing wall portion 82 than the long side alignment member 113 in the end conveying direction X, i.e., on the upstream side in the end conveying direction X. Therefore, the long side alignment member 113 rotates on the opposite side of the standing wall portion 82 than the regulating member 114, i.e., on the downstream side in the end conveying direction X.

[0102] The regulating member 114 is aligned with the first alignment portion 123 of the long side alignment member 113 in the vertical direction. The second alignment portion 124 of the long side alignment member 113 extends upward beyond the regulating member 114.

[0103] The paper sheet alignment unit 85 has a pair of long side alignment units 101 provided on both sides of the accumulation area A in the end transport orthogonal direction Y, which is perpendicular to the end transport direction X of the paper sheets S by the end transport unit 61. In the paper sheet alignment unit 85, the pair of long side alignment units 101 are arranged in mirror symmetry with each other in the end transport orthogonal direction Y. The pair of long side alignment units 101 are driven synchronously so that their respective long side alignment members 113 are both positioned in the aligned position and both positioned in the retracted position.

[0104] The pair of long side alignment sections 101 are arranged to be movable in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y while remaining in a mirror-symmetrical state with their positions aligned in the end conveyance direction X and the up-down direction Z. The pair of long side alignment sections 101 are arranged to be able to move toward and away from each other. The pair of long side alignment sections 101 move symmetrically with respect to each other, with a fixed position in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y as the center. The pair of long side alignment sections 101 form the above-mentioned accumulation area A between the regulating member 114 of one long side alignment section 101 and the regulating member 114 of the other long side alignment section 101. In other words, the pair of long side alignment sections 101 move toward and away from each other in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y, with the center of the accumulation area A in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y as the center.

[0105] The pair of long side alignment units 101 have a pair of base units 111 driven by a long side direction movement drive unit (not shown) as described above. When sheets S are stacked on the stage unit 83, the pair of long side alignment units 101 are disposed at positions according to the size (long side size in this embodiment) of the sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y. Specifically, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, in the case of sheets S of size W1, which are long in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y, the pair of long side alignment members 113 are separated from each other, whereas as shown in Figures 6A and 6B, in the case of sheets S of size W2, which are short in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y, the pair of long side alignment members 113 are brought closer to each other.

[0106] 5B and 6B , the positions of the pair of long side alignment units 101 are adjusted so that when the pair of long side alignment members 113 are positioned at the alignment position, the distance between one long side alignment member 113 and the other long side alignment member 113 is the same as the size of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 in the orthogonal direction Y to the end feed. In other words, the pair of long side alignment units 101, together with the pair of regulating members 114 and the pair of long side alignment members 113, are positioned in accordance with the size of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 in the orthogonal direction Y to the end feed. In further other words, the paper sheet alignment unit 85 is provided so that the pair of long side alignment units 101 is movable in the orthogonal direction Y to the end feed, and moves in accordance with the size of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83.

[0107] The long side direction movement drive unit (not shown) has, for example, a nut member fixed to one of the pair of base portions 111, a nut member having an internal thread that is reverse-threaded to the internal thread of the nut member and fixed to the other of the pair of base portions 111, a shaft having an external thread that is reverse-threaded to engage with the internal threads of the nut members, and a shaft drive motor that drives the shaft to rotate forward and backward.

[0108] The long side direction movement drive unit rotates the shaft in the forward direction to bring the pair of base portions 111, to which the nut members are respectively fixed, closer to each other, i.e., the pair of long side alignment portions 101. The long side direction movement drive unit rotates the shaft in the reverse direction to move the pair of base portions 111, i.e., the pair of long side alignment portions 101, apart from each other. The long side direction movement drive unit has a long side direction position detection sensor that detects the distance between the pair of long side alignment portions 101, i.e., the respective positions of the pair of long side alignment portions 101, by detecting, for example, the rotational position of the shaft.

[0109] When the pair of long side alignment members 113 are rotated in synchronization to move from the retracted position to the alignment position, each strikes the edge of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 on the same side in the trailing edge conveyance orthogonal direction Y, thereby aligning the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83. The pair of long side alignment members 113 move the paper sheets S to the center of the stacking area A at the upper second alignment unit 124 in the paper sheet entry area A1 described above. Thereafter, the pair of long side alignment members 113 align the paper sheets S in the trailing edge conveyance orthogonal direction Y at the lower first alignment unit 123. In other words, the pair of long side alignment members 113 align the paper sheets S in two stages.

[0110] In the pair of long side alignment members 113, the upper second alignment section 124 is offset toward the opposite side of the accumulation area A than the first alignment section 123 in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y. Therefore, when the pair of long side alignment members 113 align the preceding paper sheets S and move from the alignment position to the retracted position, the second alignment section 124 retracts from the accumulation area A faster than the first alignment section 123, making it less likely that the succeeding paper sheets S being fed from the terminal conveyance section 61 to the paper sheet entry area A1 will collide with the preceding paper sheets S.

[0111] 9(a) to the retracted position, if the long side alignment member is entirely flat and not displaced in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y as in the prior art, it may collide with the succeeding paper sheets S being fed into the paper sheet entry area A1 from the end conveyance section 61 unless it rotates to the position shown in part (c) of Fig. 9 to retract the entirety from the paper sheet entry area A1. In contrast, in the pair of long side alignment members 113, the second alignment section 124 is displaced relative to the first alignment section 123 in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y to the opposite side from the accumulation area A, and the first alignment section 123 is located lower than the paper sheet entry area A1. Therefore, if the pair of long side alignment members 113 is rotated to the position shown in part (b) of Fig. 9 to retract the second alignment section 124 from the paper sheet entry area A1, it is possible to avoid collision with the succeeding paper sheets S.

[0112] 5A to 6B, the pair of regulating members 114 regulate the movement of sheets S already stacked on the stage portion 83 in the trailing edge conveyance orthogonal direction Y. As shown in FIGS. 3A to 4B, the pair of regulating members 114 are provided lower than the pair of long side alignment members 113 so as not to block the path of sheets S entering the sheet entry area A1 of the stacking area A. As shown in FIGS. 5A to 6B, the pair of regulating members 114 have return portions 146 of the wall-like portions 141 shown in FIG. 8 that protrude toward the stacking area A in the trailing edge conveyance orthogonal direction Y beyond the upper regulating surface 145. Therefore, even if the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83 are pushed by the long side alignment member 113 on the opposite side in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y and move to come into contact with the upper regulating surface 145, the return portion 146 of the wall-like portion 141 locks the paper sheets S, thereby preventing the paper sheets S from riding up onto the upper surface 142. In this way, the regulating member 114 has the return portion 146 that prevents the paper sheets S from moving upward.

[0113] (Short Side Alignment Section 102) As shown in Figure 2, the short side alignment section 102 has a pair of short side alignment members 151. The pair of short side alignment members 151 align the paper sheets S stacked on the stage section 83 in the short side direction. The pair of short side alignment members 151 are provided upstream of the stage section 83 in the end conveying direction X of the paper sheets S, i.e., on the end conveying section 61 side. The pair of short side alignment members 151 rotate around their lower parts between a retracted state in which they are flush with the standing wall section 82 and an aligned state in which their upper parts slightly protrude from the standing wall section 82 toward the stacking area A. The pair of short side alignment members 151 rotate synchronously so as to both be in the aligned state and to both be in the retracted state.

[0114] The pair of short side alignment members 151 are rotated so as to alternate between a retracted state and an aligned state by the rotation of a cam driven by a single conveyance drive motor (not shown) that rotates the pair of first conveyance rollers 71, the pair of second conveyance rollers 72, the pair of feed rollers 73, and the plurality of impellers 74. In other words, the pair of short side alignment members 151 rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the pair of first conveyance rollers 71, the pair of second conveyance rollers 72, the pair of feed rollers 73, and the plurality of impellers 74. When the conveyance drive motor rotates the pair of first conveyance rollers 71, the pair of second conveyance rollers 72, the pair of feed rollers 73, and the plurality of impellers 74 in the terminal conveyance section 61 so as to move the paper sheets S toward the accumulation area A, the cam (not shown) rotates in one direction. This causes the pair of short side alignment members 151 to alternate between a retracted position and an aligned position. Therefore, in the short side alignment section 102 , the pair of short side alignment members 151 are driven by a conveyance drive section (not shown) of the end conveyance section 61 .

[0115] In the short side alignment unit 102, a pair of short side alignment members 151 press the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 in the stacking area A toward the stopper unit 84, aligning the paper sheets S by bringing them into contact with the stopper unit 84. When moving from the retracted position to the alignment position, the pair of short side alignment members 151 tap the upstream edge of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 in the terminal conveying direction X, thereby bringing the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 into contact with the stopper unit 84 and aligning them.

[0116] Next, the operation of the sheet processing apparatus 1 when the sheet bundling device 4 creates small bundles of sheets will be described, focusing on the operation of the stacking mechanism 42.

[0117] (Step S1) First, the denomination of the small bundle of paper sheets to be produced is set.

[0118] (Step S1-1) The operator sets the denomination of the small bundle of paper sheets to be produced (for example, 50 euros) by inputting data into the operation display unit 25 of the paper sheet counting device 2. In the stacking mechanism 42, this is an operation for setting the lengths of the long sides and short sides of the paper sheets S to be stacked.

[0119] (Step S1-2) When the denomination of the small bundle of paper sheets (e.g., 50 euro) is set on the operation display unit 25, the control unit 26 moves the stage unit 83, the stopper unit 84, and the long side alignment unit 101 to positions corresponding to the size of the paper sheets S of the set denomination (e.g., 50 euro) based on the information stored in the memory unit 27. At this point, the pair of long side alignment members 113 are located in the retracted position, and the pair of long side alignment members 113 are in an open state. Also, at this point, the stopper unit 84 is located in the lowest position.

[0120] (Step S1-2-1) In (Step S1-2), the control unit 26 first causes the stage driving unit (not shown) to lower the stage unit 83 to the lowest position.

[0121] (Step S1-2-2) Next, the control unit 26 causes the long side direction movement drive unit (not shown) to position the pair of long side alignment units 101 at positions corresponding to the long side size of the paper sheet S of the set denomination (for example, 50 euro) based on the information stored in the memory unit 27. As a result, the distance between the pair of long side alignment units 101 in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y when the pair of long side alignment members 113 are both positioned at the alignment positions becomes the long side size of the paper sheet S of the set denomination (for example, 50 euro).

[0122] (Step S1-2-3) Next, the control unit 26 causes the stopper unit drive unit (not shown) to position the stopper portion 84 at a position corresponding to the short side size of the paper sheet S of the set denomination (for example, 50 euros) based on the information stored in the memory unit 27. As a result, the distance between the stopper portion 84 and the standing wall portion 82 in the terminal conveying direction Z becomes the short side size of the paper sheet S of the set denomination (for example, 50 euros).

[0123] (Step S1-2-4) Next, based on the information stored in the memory unit 27, the control unit 26 causes the stage driving unit (not shown) to position the stage unit 83 at an initial stacking position based on the short side size of the paper sheets S of the set denomination (e.g., 50 euro). This initial stacking position is calculated and set from the short side size of the paper sheets S of the set denomination (e.g., 50 euro) and stored in the memory unit 27. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A , the control unit 26 moves the stage unit 83 so that the upper surface of the stage unit 83 is positioned at a position (height) where the paper sheets S fed into the paper sheet entry area A1 while being guided by the upper guide unit 81 hit the stopper unit 84. As a result, the paper sheets S fed into the stacking area A move along a stable trajectory within the stacking area A, and can be stacked well on the stage unit 83.

[0124] (Step S2) Next, counting and accumulation processes are performed.

[0125] (Step S2-1) When sheets S are set in the input port 11 of the sheet counting device 2 and the "start counting" button on the operation display unit 25 is operated, the control unit 26 starts the input process. Then, the sheet counting device 2 inputs the sheets S from the input port 11 and recognizes and counts the input sheets S using the recognition unit 22. On the other hand, when the "stop" button on the operation display unit 25 is operated, the control unit 26 suspends the input of the sheets S from the input port 11. Note that the sheets S may be automatically input into the sheet counting device 2 when a set detection unit (not shown) detects that the sheets S have been set in the input port 11.

[0126] (Step S2-2) The control unit 26 transports the paper sheets S of the set denomination to be bundled (e.g., 50 euro) among the paper sheets S determined to be acceptable by the recognition unit 22 to the stacking mechanism 42 of the paper sheet bundling device 4, transports the paper sheets S of a denomination other than the set denomination to be bundled to the reject unit 12 or the stacking unit 32 of the paper sheet stacking device 3, and transports the paper sheets S determined to be unacceptable by the recognition unit 22 to the reject unit 12. The control unit 26 stacks the bundled number of paper sheets S of the set denomination to be bundled (e.g., 50 euro) in one of the pair of stacking mechanisms 42, and then stacks the bundled number in the other stacking mechanism 42, and so on, alternately stacking the bundled number of paper sheets S in the pair of stacking mechanisms 42.

[0127] (Step S2-3) The paper sheets S to be transported to the stacking mechanism 42 are fed from the terminal transport section 61 to the stacking mechanism 42. Then, the stacking mechanism 42 stacks the paper sheets S while aligning them.

[0128] That is, the control unit 26 drives a pair of long side alignment members 113 at a predetermined timing calculated based on the detection timing of the paper sheet S by the two pairs of paper sheet detection sensors 75 provided in the terminal conveying unit 61 and the conveying speed of the paper sheet S by the terminal conveying unit 61, and taps the edges on both sides of the long side of the paper sheet S conveyed to the accumulation area A and the edges on both sides of the long side of the paper sheet S that has already been conveyed to the accumulation area A from both sides, thereby aligning the paper sheets S by moving them toward the center, as shown in Figures 5B and 6B.

[0129] Note that the pair of long side alignment members 113 are driven once to strike once each time a paper sheet S is transported to the accumulation area A, or the pair of long side alignment members 113 are driven once to strike once each time a predetermined number of paper sheets S are transported to the accumulation area A. Thereafter, as shown in Figures 5A and 6A, the main regulating surfaces 143 of the wall-like portions 141 of the pair of regulating members 114 regulate the movement of the paper sheets S already accumulated on the stage portion 83, thereby preventing the alignment of the paper sheets S already accumulated on the stage portion 83 from being disrupted.

[0130] Here, a case will be described in which the pair of long side aligning members 113 are driven once every time two sheets S are conveyed to the stacking area A.

[0131] (Step S2-3-1) Immediately after the first sheet S detected by the two pairs of sheet detection sensors 75 is fed from the end conveying unit 61 to the sheet entry area A1, the control unit 26 causes the long side alignment member drive unit (not shown) to rotate the pair of long side alignment members 113 from the retracted position to the aligned position so that both of the pair of long side alignment members 113 abut against the first sheet S in the second alignment unit 124. When either of the pair of long side alignment members 113 abuts against the first sheet S in the sheet entry area A1 in the second alignment unit 124, the long side alignment member 113 pushes the first sheet S toward the center of the accumulation area A in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y, and moves it closer to the center than the return portion 146 of the regulating member 114. At that time, the long side alignment member 113 strikes the edge along the short side at the end of the long side of the first paper sheet S in the second alignment section 124, thereby moving the first paper sheet S toward the center in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y of the accumulation area A. The first paper sheet S, which has been moved toward the center in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y of the accumulation area A by the return portion 146 of the regulating member 114, is guided by the respective inclined surfaces 144 of the pair of regulating members 114, and falls between the respective main regulating surfaces 143 of the pair of regulating members 114.

[0132] At this time, although the lower first alignment unit 123 is shifted inward in the trailing edge conveyance orthogonal direction Y relative to the upper second alignment unit 124, it is outside the sheet entry area A1 and therefore does not generally contact the first sheet S. Therefore, the first alignment unit 123 may overlap the first sheet S in the trailing edge conveyance orthogonal direction Y. Therefore, compared to a conventional case in which a long edge alignment member having a flat entire surface on the side that contacts the sheet S is brought into contact with the first sheet S, the pair of long edge alignment members 113 can be driven at an earlier timing, i.e., tilted forward. As a result, the conveying speed of the sheet S by the trailing edge conveyance unit 61, and therefore the conveying speed of the sheet S of the entire sheet processing apparatus 1, can be increased.

[0133] For example, as shown in Figure 10A, if the first paper sheet S(1) fed from the end conveying section 61 to the accumulation area A deviates to one side in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y, specifically to the rear of the device in the front-to-rear direction, as shown in Figure 10B, the long side alignment member 113 on the rear side of the device in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y can be rotated early in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y until the first alignment section 123 overlaps with the first paper sheet S(1), within the range where the second alignment section 124 does not overlap with the first paper sheet S(1), and as shown in Figure 10C, the second alignment section 124 of the long side alignment member 113 on the rear side of the device in the front-to-rear direction can move the first paper sheet S(1) to the center of the accumulation area A in the end conveying orthogonal direction Y.

[0134] As described above, the stage portion 83 and the stopper portion 84 are located at positions corresponding to the denomination (e.g., 50 euro) of the first paper sheet S. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 3A or 4A , the edge along the long side at the downstream end in the end conveying direction X of the first paper sheet S fed from the end conveying portion 61 to the paper sheet entrance area A1 abuts against the vicinity of the corner formed by the stopper portion 84 and the stage portion 83 of the stopper portion 84, thereby restricting further movement downstream in the end conveying direction X. Furthermore, the upstream portion of the first paper sheet S fed from the end conveying portion 61 to the paper sheet entrance area A1 in the end conveying direction X is struck downward by the multiple bladed wheels 74, and is moved toward the stage portion 83. At that time, the short side alignment section 102 abuts the edge along the long side direction at the upstream end of the first paper sheet S in the terminal conveying direction X with a pair of short side alignment members 151, and pushes the first paper sheet S downstream in the terminal conveying direction X so that it abuts against the stopper section 84.

[0135] (Step S2-3-2) Next, the control unit 26 causes the stage drive unit (not shown) to lower the stage unit 83 by the thickness of one sheet S, and also causes the long side alignment member drive unit (not shown) to position the pair of long side alignment members 113 at the retracted position. At that time, the control unit 26 causes the long side alignment member drive unit (not shown) to rotate the pair of long side alignment members 113 from the alignment position to the retracted position so as not to come into contact with the second sheet S, at the timing when the second sheet S following the first sheet S, which is detected by the two pairs of sheet detection sensors 75, is fed from the end conveyance unit 61 to the sheet entry area A1.

[0136] At this time, although the first alignment unit 123 on the lower tier is shifted more inward in the trailing edge conveyance orthogonal direction Y than the second alignment unit 124 on the upper tier, it is outside the sheet entry area A1 and does not generally come into contact with the second sheet S. Therefore, the first alignment unit 123 may overlap the second sheet S in the trailing edge conveyance orthogonal direction Y. In other words, it is sufficient that only the second alignment unit 124 of the first alignment unit 123 and the second alignment unit 124 is retracted so as not to overlap the second sheet S in the trailing edge conveyance orthogonal direction Y. Therefore, compared to a conventional case in which a long side alignment member whose entire surface on the side that contacts the sheet S is retracted is flat, the long side alignment member 113 can be retracted from the sheet entry area A1 earlier, thereby making it possible to avoid a collision with the second sheet S earlier.

[0137] For example, when the long side alignment member 113 is rotated from the alignment position shown in Figure 10C to the retracted position shown in Figure 11B, even if the first alignment section 123 overlaps with the second sheet S(2) in the terminal conveying orthogonal direction Y, as shown in Figure 11A, the long side alignment member 113 can avoid collision with the second sheet S(2) by rotating to a position where the second alignment section 124 no longer overlaps with the second sheet S(2).

[0138] Here, the stage 83 is lowered by the thickness of the first sheet S, as described above. Therefore, the second sheet S fed from the end conveying unit 61 to the sheet entry area A1 has its edge along the long side at the downstream end in the end conveying direction X abut against the vicinity of the corner formed by the stopper 84 and the first sheet S on the stage 83, restricting further downstream movement in the end conveying direction X. The upstream portion of the second sheet S fed from the end conveying unit 61 to the sheet entry area A1 in the end conveying direction X is struck downward by the multiple impellers 74, causing it to move toward the stage 83. At this time, the pair of short side alignment members 151 of the short side alignment unit 102 abut against the edge along the long side at the upstream end of the second sheet S in the end conveying direction X, pushing the second sheet S downstream in the end conveying direction X so as to abut against the stopper 84. At this time, the pair of short side alignment members 151 also come into contact with the edge along the long side direction at the upstream end of the first sheet S in the end conveying direction X, and push the first sheet S downstream in the end conveying direction X so that it also comes into contact with the stopper portion 84. In this way, the first and second sheets S are aligned in the short side direction.

[0139] (Step S2-3-3) Next, the control unit 26 causes the stage driving unit (not shown) to lower the stage unit 83 by the thickness of one sheet of paper S, and also causes the long side alignment member driving unit (not shown) to rotate the pair of long side alignment members 113 from the retracted position to the alignment position so that both long side alignment members 113 abut against the third sheet of paper S in the second alignment unit 124 immediately after the third sheet of paper S, which is detected by the two pairs of sheet detection sensors 75, is fed from the terminal conveying unit 61 to the sheet entry area A1. When one of the pair of long side alignment members 113 abuts against a third paper sheet S in the paper sheet entry area A1 at the second alignment section 124, the second alignment section 124 of that long side alignment member 113 pushes the third paper sheet S toward the center of the accumulation area A in the direction perpendicular to the end transport direction Y, bringing it closer to the center than the return section 146 of the regulating member 114, just as when it operates on the first paper sheet S.

[0140] At this time, although the lower first alignment unit 123 is shifted inward in the trailing edge conveyance orthogonal direction Y relative to the upper second alignment unit 124, it is outside the sheet entry area A1 and therefore does not generally come into contact with the third sheet S. Therefore, the first alignment unit 123 may overlap the third sheet S in the trailing edge conveyance orthogonal direction Y. Therefore, compared to a conventional case in which a long edge alignment member having a flat entire surface on the side that comes into contact with the third sheet S is brought into contact with the third sheet S, the pair of long edge alignment members 113 can be driven at an earlier timing, i.e., tilted forward. As a result, the conveying speed of the sheets S by the trailing edge conveyance unit 61, and therefore the conveying speed of the sheets S of the entire sheet processing apparatus 1, can be increased.

[0141] Here, because the stage 83 is lowered by the thickness of the second sheet S as described above, the third sheet S fed from the end conveying section 61 to the sheet entry area A1 has its edge along the long side at the downstream end in the end conveying direction X abut against the vicinity of the corner formed by the stopper 84 and the second sheet S on the stage 83, restricting further movement downstream in the end conveying direction X. Also, the upstream portion of the third sheet S fed from the end conveying section 61 to the sheet entry area A1 in the end conveying direction X is struck downward by the multiple impellers 74, causing it to move toward the stage 83. At this time, the pair of short side alignment members 151 of the short side alignment section 102 abut against the edge along the long side at the upstream end of the third sheet S in the end conveying direction X, pushing the third sheet S downstream in the end conveying direction X so as to abut against the stopper 84. At this time, the pair of short side alignment members 151 also come into contact with an edge along the long side direction at the upstream end of the first sheet S in the end conveying direction X, and push the first sheet S downstream in the end conveying direction X so that it also comes into contact with the stopper portion 84. At this time, the pair of short side alignment members 151 also come into contact with an edge along the long side direction at the upstream end of the second sheet S in the end conveying direction X, and push the second sheet S downstream in the end conveying direction X so that it also comes into contact with the stopper portion 84. In this way, the first to third sheets S are aligned in the short side direction.

[0142] As described above, when the pair of long side alignment members 113 are rotated from the retracted position to the alignment position so that the second alignment section 124 abuts against the third sheet S fed into the sheet entrance area A1, the first sheet S, which has been transported ahead of the third sheet S, is then located in an area of ​​the stacking area A below the sheet entrance area A1 and below the return section 146. Therefore, when either one of the pair of long side alignment members 113 abuts against the first sheet S in the stacking area A at the first alignment section 123, the first alignment section 123 pushes the first sheet S toward the center of the stacking area A in the direction orthogonal to the end transport direction Y, thereby centering the first sheet S. In this way, the pair of long side alignment members 113 appropriately move the first sheet S in the long side direction so that the first sheet S is properly accommodated between the main regulating surfaces 143 of the pair of regulating members 114. Furthermore, if the first paper sheet S is already properly stored between the main regulating surfaces 143 of a pair of regulating members 114, the movement in the terminal conveying orthogonal direction Y is basically regulated by the main regulating surfaces 143 on both sides, and the alignment in the long side direction is maintained.

[0143] Furthermore, when the pair of long side alignment members 113 are rotated from the retracted position to the alignment position so that the second alignment section 124 abuts against the third sheet S fed into the sheet entrance area A1, the second sheet S, which has been transported ahead of the third sheet S, is then in an area below the sheet entrance area A1 in the accumulation area A. If the second sheet S is below the return section 146, it is moved toward the center in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y by the first alignment section 123 of each of the pair of long side alignment members 113, just like the first sheet S. On the other hand, if the second sheet S is above the return section 146, it is moved toward the center in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y of the accumulation area A, just like the third sheet S, by the second alignment section 124 of each of the pair of long side alignment members 113, just like the third sheet S. The second and third paper sheets S, which are moved toward the center of the accumulation area A in the direction perpendicular to the end conveyance direction Y, rather than the return portions 146 of each of the pair of regulating members 114, are guided by the inclined surfaces 144 of each of the pair of regulating members 114 and fall between the main regulating surfaces 143 of each of the pair of regulating members 114.

[0144] As explained in (step S2-3-2), since there is now more room for the retraction operation of the pair of long side alignment members 113, the time for which the pair of long side alignment members 113 are held in the closed state in the aligned position can be longer than that of conventional long side alignment members in which the entire surface of the side that contacts the paper sheets S is flat, thereby improving the quality of the alignment state.

[0145] Thereafter, while the above-mentioned (step S2-3-2) pair of long side alignment members 113 is retracted to the retracted position, the fourth paper sheet S following the third paper sheet S is fed from the terminal conveying section 61 to the paper sheet entry area A1, and then the above-mentioned (step S2-3-3) pair of long side alignment members 113 is positioned to the alignment position for the fifth paper sheet S following the fourth paper sheet S, and in this manner, the retraction operation (step S2-3-2) and the alignment operation (step S2-3-3) are alternately repeated for the paper sheets S that are fed out sequentially. That is, the retraction operation (step S2-3-2) is performed for the paper sheets S that are fed into the paper sheet entry area A1 in even numbers such as the second, fourth, sixth, etc., and the alignment operation (step S2-3-3) is performed for the paper sheets S that are fed into the paper sheet entry area A1 in odd numbers such as the third, fifth, etc.

[0146] Here, while the paper sheets S are being transported by the terminal transport section 61, i.e., while the paper sheets S are being accumulated by the accumulation mechanism 42, a pair of short side alignment members 151 of the short side alignment section 102 constantly taps the edge along the long side direction on the upright wall section 82 side of the paper sheets S transported to the stage section 83 toward the stopper section 84 at predetermined time intervals, thereby bringing the paper sheets S closer to the stopper section 84 and aligning them.

[0147] Furthermore, as described above, the stage unit 83 is lowered by the thickness of one sheet S each time the terminal conveying unit 61 feeds out a sheet S to the stacking mechanism 42. Therefore, after the counting process is performed and the sheets S are transported and stacked, the stage unit 83 is lowered according to the number of sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83. As a result, the stage unit 83 moves so that the upper surface of the uppermost sheet S already stacked on the stage unit 83 is at the height position where the sheet S transported to the stacking area A hits the stopper unit 84. Therefore, the sheets S transported to the stacking area A move on a stable trajectory within the stacking area A, and the sheets S transported to the stacking area A can be stacked well on the uppermost sheet S on the stage unit 83.

[0148] (Step S3) Next, a bundling process is carried out.

[0149] (Step S3-1) That is, first, when the stacked number of paper sheets S (for example, 100 sheets) are stacked on the stage unit 83, there is a possibility that any of the paper sheets S may be caught on the long side alignment unit 101, the short side alignment unit 102, the stopper unit 84, etc. Therefore, after stacking, the control unit 26 causes the long side alignment unit 101 to strike the stacked paper sheets S once more. That is, the control unit 26 causes the long side alignment unit 101 to strike the 100 paper sheets S, which is the number of sheets stacked on the stage unit 83, a total of 51 times. After striking the stacked paper sheets S, the pair of long side alignment members 113 both return to the retracted positions.

[0150] (Step S3-2) Next, the control unit 26 causes the stage driving unit (not shown) to lower the stage unit 83 from the stacking position to the lowest position. At this time, the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 abut against the stopper unit 84 and are lowered while being positioned in the short side direction.

[0151] (Step S3-3) Next, the control unit 26 causes the long-side aligning unit 101 to perform a tapping operation twice on the stacked paper sheets S on the stage unit 83 that has been lowered to the lowest position, thereby aligning the sheets.

[0152] In the first of these two operations, the first long side alignment member 113, one of the pair of long side alignment members 113, is first positioned and stopped at the alignment position, and the other long side alignment member 113, the second long side alignment member 113, which was in the retracted position, is later moved from the retracted position to the alignment position, and then this second long side alignment member 113 is returned to the retracted position. At this time, the control unit 26 leaves the first long side alignment member 113 positioned and stopped at the alignment position. As a result, the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 are brought into contact with the first long side alignment member 113 and positioned in the long side direction.

[0153] In the second operation, the first long side alignment member 113 is positioned at the alignment position and left stopped, and the second long side alignment member 113 that was in the retracted position is moved from the retracted position to the alignment position and stopped. After these two operations are completed, the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 are pressed from both sides in the long side direction by the pair of long side alignment members 113 that are both in an aligned state.

[0154] (Step S3-4) While the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83 are being pressed from both sides by the pair of long side alignment members 113, the control portion 26 then causes the gripping portion 46 of the delivery mechanism 45 to enter the stacking area A from the downstream side in the terminal conveying direction X, i.e., from the right side in the left-right direction of the device, via the insertion portion 84b of the stopper portion 84. Then, the control portion 26 causes the gripping portion 46 to grip the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83 and pressed from both sides in the long side direction by the pair of long side alignment members 113 and positioned in the short side direction by abutting against the stopper portion 84, on both sides in the stacking direction, i.e., from above and below.

[0155] (Step S3-5) Next, the control unit 26 positions both of the pair of first and second long side alignment members 113 at the retracted position while the paper sheets S are still being gripped by the gripping unit 46. This causes the pair of first and second long side alignment members 113 to enter an open state in which they are both positioned at the retracted position.

[0156] (Step S3-6) Next, while the paper sheet S is still being gripped by the gripper 46, the control unit 26 moves the stopper 84 from the lowest position to the highest position using the stopper drive unit (not shown), thereby opening the transfer mechanism 45 side of the accumulation mechanism 42.

[0157] (Step S3-7) Next, the control unit 26 causes the gripping unit 46, which has been gripped and is maintaining the gripped state, to pull out the paper sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 from the open portion of the stacking mechanism 42 that has been opened by the stopper unit 84.

[0158] (Step S3-8) Next, the control unit 26 moves the gripping unit 46 to transport the stacked paper sheets S pulled out by the gripping unit 46 to the bundling mechanism 51.

[0159] (Step S3-9) Next, the control unit 26 causes the bundling mechanism 51 to create a small bundle of paper sheets from the stacked paper sheets S transported to the bundling mechanism 51.

[0160] (Step S3-10) Next, the control unit 26 causes the prepared small bundle of paper sheets to be discharged from a discharge unit (not shown) of the paper sheet bundling device 4 to the outside of the paper sheet bundling device 4.

[0161] In this manner, the paper sheet bundling device 4 produces small bundles of paper sheets.

[0162] In the sheet processing apparatus 1 described above, the long side alignment member 113 that aligns the sheets S stacked on the stage unit 83 includes a first alignment unit 123 and a second alignment unit 124 that is offset from the first alignment unit 123. Therefore, for example, the first alignment unit 123 can enter the stacking area A before the second alignment unit 124, or the second alignment unit 124 can retreat from the stacking area A before the first alignment unit 123. This increases the speed at which the end conveying unit 61 conveys the sheets S to the stacking mechanism 42, and therefore the overall conveyance speed of the sheet processing apparatus 1, thereby improving the processing speed. Furthermore, even if the conveyance speed of the sheets S remains the same, the long side alignment member 113 can be stopped for a sufficient amount of time while pushing the sheets S, thereby aligning the sheets S more neatly.

[0163] Furthermore, since the first alignment unit 123 and the second alignment unit 124 are integrally provided in the sheet processing apparatus 1, a single drive source can drive the first alignment unit 123 and the second alignment unit 124. This allows the sheet processing apparatus 1 to reduce costs.

[0164] Furthermore, in the sheet processing apparatus 1, the second alignment unit 124 is provided above the first alignment unit 123. This makes it suitable for use when stacking sheets S vertically in the stacking mechanism 42.

[0165] In addition, in the sheet processing apparatus 1, the long side alignment section 101 of the sheet alignment unit 85 is provided in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y that is perpendicular to the end conveyance direction X of the sheets S by the end conveyance unit 61. Therefore, the sheets S can be aligned in the end conveyance orthogonal direction Y.

[0166] Furthermore, in the paper sheet processing apparatus 1, the second alignment section 124 of the long side alignment member 113 is offset in the terminal conveyance orthogonal direction Y relative to the first alignment section 123. This makes it possible, for example, to make the first alignment section 123 enter the accumulation area A before the second alignment section 124, or to make the second alignment section 124 retreat from the accumulation area A before the first alignment section 123. This makes it possible to further increase the conveyance speed of the paper sheets S to the accumulation mechanism 42 by the terminal conveyance section 61, and ultimately the conveyance speed of the paper sheets S of the entire paper sheet processing apparatus 1, thereby enabling further improvement in processing speed.

[0167] Furthermore, in the paper sheet processing apparatus 1, the paper sheet alignment section 85 has a regulating member 114 that regulates the movement of the paper sheets S stacked on the stage section 83. This allows the regulating member 114 to regulate the movement of the paper sheets S, making it possible to maintain the paper sheets S stacked on the stage section 83 in an aligned state.

[0168] Furthermore, in the paper sheet processing apparatus 1, the regulating member 114 is provided closer to the standing wall portion 82 than the long side alignment member 113 in the end conveying direction X, i.e., upstream of the end conveying direction X. This makes it possible to position the long side alignment member 113 at a position effective for alignment, while maintaining the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83 in an aligned state.

[0169] Furthermore, in the sheet processing apparatus 1, the pair of regulating members 114 are provided lower than the pair of long side alignment members 113. Therefore, when sheets S are fed from above from the terminal conveying section 61 to the stacking mechanism 42, the sheets S can be aligned by the long side alignment members 113 while avoiding interference with the pair of regulating members 114.

[0170] Furthermore, in the paper sheet processing apparatus 1, the regulating member 114 has a return portion 146 that suppresses upward movement of the paper sheets S. In this way, the return portion 146 suppresses upward movement of the paper sheets S, so that it becomes even more possible to maintain the paper sheets S stacked on the stage portion 83 in an aligned state.

[0171] Furthermore, in the sheet processing apparatus 1, the long side alignment section 101 of the sheet alignment unit 85 is provided so as to be movable in the direction orthogonal to the end transport direction Y, and moves according to the size of the sheets S accumulated on the stage unit 83. This makes it possible to properly align multiple types of sheets S having different lengths in the direction orthogonal to the end transport direction Y.

[0172] Furthermore, in the sheet processing apparatus 1, the stopper unit 84 is provided so as to be movable in the conveying direction of the sheets S in the terminal conveying unit 61, and moves according to the size of the sheets S accumulated on the stage unit 83. This makes it possible to maintain a good alignment of multiple types of sheets S having different lengths in the terminal conveying direction X.

[0173] Furthermore, in the sheet processing apparatus 1, the stage unit 83 is provided so as to be movable in the stacking direction of the sheets S, and moves to a position according to the size of the sheets S to be stacked when stacking the sheets S. This makes it possible to move the sheets S on a stable trajectory, and to stack the sheets S well.

[0174] Furthermore, when the stacking mechanism 42 of the sheet processing apparatus 1 starts stacking sheets S, the position of the stage unit 83 in the stacking direction is determined based on the size of the sheets S to be stacked in the end transport direction X. This makes it possible to move the sheets S on a stable trajectory, and to stack the sheets S well.

[0175] Furthermore, in the paper sheet processing device 1, the stacking mechanism 42 has a stopper section 84 on the downstream side of the stage section 83 in the conveying direction of the paper sheets S by the end conveying section 61, and the stopper section 84 is provided so as to be movable in the end conveying direction X, and moves according to the size of the paper sheets S in the end conveying direction X to be stacked on the stage section 83. This makes it possible to move the paper sheets S on a more stable trajectory, and to stack the paper sheets S more efficiently.

[0176] Here, when banknotes are stacked as paper sheets S in two stacking mechanisms 42, for example, the same type, i.e., the same currency, denomination, and edition (for example, 50 euro banknotes of the same edition), are stacked in one stacking mechanism 42 in a bundled number, then in the other stacking mechanism 42 in a bundled number, and then in one stacking mechanism 42 in a bundled number, and so on, with the stacking being set up alternately.

[0177] Alternatively, for example, two stacking mechanisms 42 may be divided into different versions, with one stacking mechanism 42 stacking banknotes of the same currency and denomination with a first version (for example, 50 euro banknotes with a first version), and the other stacking mechanism 42 stacking banknotes of the same currency and denomination with a second version (for example, 50 euro banknotes with a second version).

[0178] It is also possible, for example, to separate the two stacking mechanisms 42 by denomination, with one stacking mechanism 42 stacking banknotes of a first denomination of the same currency (e.g., 50 euro banknotes), and the other stacking mechanism 42 stacking banknotes of a second denomination of the same currency (e.g., 100 euro banknotes).

[0179] It is also possible, for example, to separate the two stacking mechanisms 42 based on currency, with one stacking mechanism 42 stacking banknotes of a first currency (e.g., 50 euro banknotes) and the other stacking mechanism 42 stacking banknotes of a second currency (e.g., 100 dollar banknotes).

[0180] In either of these cases, the control unit 26 determines the positions of the pair of long side alignment units 101 and the stopper unit 84 when stacking the paper sheets S, and the position of the stage unit 83 just before the paper sheets S are stacked, depending on the size of the paper sheets S to be stacked in the stacking mechanism 42.

[0181] The driving of the pair of long-side alignment members 113 in the long-side alignment unit 101 from the retracted position to the alignment position is not limited to being performed at a predetermined timing, i.e., once for each odd-numbered sheet S, including the first sheet, fed to the stacking mechanism 42. For example, the operation and display unit 25 can be configured to perform the driving once for each even-numbered sheet S fed to the stacking mechanism 42, once for each sheet S fed to the stacking mechanism 42, or once for a predetermined number of three or more sheets (e.g., four, six, eight, ten, etc.) fed to the stacking mechanism 42. In this case, the driving timing can be set depending on whether the sheets S to be stacked are circulating notes already in circulation or new notes (e.g., official sealed notes in the case of banknotes). For example, if the sheets S are new notes, the number of driving times can be reduced to prevent dents by the pair of long-side alignment members 113 on the sheets S. The operation and display unit 25 may be provided with a "new note" selection button and a "circulating note" selection button. When the control unit 26 selects the "new notes" selection button, it sets the pair of long side alignment members 113 to be driven once for ten sheets S fed from the terminal conveying unit 61 to the accumulation mechanism 42, for example, and when the "circulating notes" selection button is selected, it sets the pair of long side alignment members 113 to be driven once for each odd-numbered sheet S, as in the above embodiment.

[0182] [Modifications] (Modification 1) When the interval between the sheets S fed by the end conveying unit 61 to the stacking mechanism 42 is narrower than a predetermined allowable interval, the pair of long side aligning members 113 cannot open or close in time, which may cause the pair of long side aligning members 113 to collide with the sheets S, resulting in malfunction or a sheet jam. For this reason, in the past, when the interval between the sheets S fed by the end conveying unit 61 to the stacking mechanism 42, detected by the two pairs of sheet detection sensors 75, is less than a predetermined interval, the sheets S taken into the stacking mechanism 42 were returned and recounted. To eliminate the need for such recounting, in Modification 1, the control unit 26 determines whether to drive the pair of long side aligning members 113 depending on the interval between the sheets S fed by the end conveying unit 61 to the stacking mechanism 42, detected by the two pairs of sheet detection sensors 75, and does not drive the pair of long side aligning members 113 when the feed interval between the sheets S is less than the predetermined interval. In other words, the driving of the pair of long side alignment members 113 is skipped once. Instead, if the pair of long side alignment members 113 is not driven, the pair of long side alignment members 113 is driven to align the next or subsequent paper sheets S when they are fed from the end conveying section 61.

[0183] (Variant 2) Instead of providing a paper sheet detection sensor 75 in the terminal conveying section 61, for example, a paper sheet detection sensor may be provided near the entrance of the connecting conveying section 31A side of the connecting conveying section 41A of the paper sheet bundling device 4, and a pair of long side alignment members 113 may be driven based on the timing of detection of the paper sheet S by this paper sheet detection sensor.

[0184] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1... Sheet processing apparatus 42... Stacking mechanism 61... Terminal conveying section (conveying section) 83... Stage section 84... Stopper section 85... Sheet aligning section 113... Long side aligning member (aligning member) 114... Regulating member 123... First aligning section 124... Second aligning section 146... Returning section S... Sheet

Claims

1. A paper sheet processing device comprising: a conveying unit that conveys paper sheets; and a stacking mechanism that stacks the paper sheets conveyed by the conveying unit, wherein the stacking mechanism stacks the paper sheets in a stacking direction and has a stage unit that is movable in the stacking direction, and when stacking of the paper sheets begins, a position of the stage unit in the stacking direction is determined based on the size of the paper sheets to be stacked in the transport direction by the conveying unit.

2. The paper sheet processing device according to claim 1, wherein the stacking mechanism has a stopper portion on the downstream side of the stage portion in the direction in which the paper sheets are transported by the transport portion, the stopper portion being arranged to be movable in the transport direction and moving according to the size in the transport direction of the paper sheets to be stacked on the stage portion.

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