Sheet separating and conveying device and sheet handling device

Abstract

Provided are a sheet separating and conveying device and a sheet handling device that solve various problems caused by miniaturization. The present invention comprises: a delivery portion 20; a separating portion 100; a first motor M1 for driving the delivery portion 20 and the separating portion 100; a drawing-out conveyance portion 250; and a storing conveyance path 400 driven by a second motor M2. The drawing-out conveyance portion 250 comprises: at least two idling rollers 257, each rotatably supported on feed roller shaft portions on both axial sides of a feed roller 110; and an endless drawing-out belt 270 that forms drawing-out conveyance paths each having a curved shape between the endless drawing-out belt 270 and a curved outer peripheral surface of each idling roller, and that travels in a drawing-out direction to redirect and convey, in cooperation with each idling roller, the first sheet in a direction crossing a delivery direction of the delivery portion. The drawing-out belt is driven by the second motor.

Description

Paper sheet separating and conveying device, and paper sheet handling device

[0001] The present invention relates to a paper sheet separating and conveying device having a separating function for preventing double feeding, and a paper sheet handling device.

[0002] A banknote separating and conveying device that removes and conveys banknotes one by one from a stack of banknotes set in a deposit section and stores them in a safe inside the device is installed in banknote handling devices such as banknote deposit machines, banknote counters, and various automatic vending machines. A double-feed prevention mechanism is installed in a banknote separating and conveying device because the occurrence of double-feeding of banknotes in the banknote separating and conveying device hinders accurate deposit processing, counting processing, and other processes, including recognition. A banknote that passes through the double-feed prevention mechanism is judged by a recognition device for its authenticity, denomination, etc., and only those that are determined to be acceptable are stored in the safe. Patent Document 1 discloses a double-feed prevention mechanism that includes a feed roller that rotates in contact with the bottom of the stack of banknotes, a separation roller pair that prevents the passage of the second and subsequent banknotes when the banknotes fed by the feed roller are in a double-feed state, and a drawer conveying roller pair that draws and conveys the first banknote, part of which remains in the separation section.

[0003] However, because the feed roller, separation roller pair, and drawer conveyance section are arranged in a substantially straight line along a flat conveyance surface, the length of the entire device in the conveyance direction becomes long, making it difficult to reduce the size. Specifically, to reduce the size, the distance between the separation section and the drawer section, which is controlled by the drawer conveyance roller pair, needs to be as close as possible, but with a linear conveyance path, there is a limit to how close they can be due to factors such as the diameter of each roller and the drive mechanism.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a configuration in which banknotes fed by a feeder pulley from a stack of paper sheets on a paper supply bin are inverted upward along the outer circumferential surface of a high-friction wheel to separate them into sheets, and then further inverted in the opposite direction along the outer circumferential surface of a reversing roller located immediately above the high-friction wheel, thereby forming an S-shaped path and transporting the banknotes to an acceptor module. An auxiliary roller that assists in the withdrawal is nipped with this reversing roller to form a pair of rollers, and the banknotes are withdrawn and transported due to the strong frictional resistance of the nip portion of this roller pair.

[0005] The separation unit is composed of a high-friction wheel and a fixed belt that is fixedly positioned with a portion of the wheel in sliding contact with the outer circumferential surface of the high-friction wheel. When a banknote fed by the rotation of the feeder pulley enters the interface between the high-friction wheel and the fixed belt, the banknote is transported upward by the rotation of the high-friction wheel. If two banknotes enter the interface, the frictional force of the fixed belt stops the second banknote and allows only the first banknote to advance. The leading edge of the banknote that has passed the separation unit enters the nip between the pair of withdrawal rollers and is withdrawn and transported. The fixed belt is merely stationary and tensioned, and does not have the function of withdrawing the separated banknotes.

[0006] In other words, the fixed belt is clearly dedicated to separation and does not play a role in drawing and conveying. Because the fixed belt forms a curved separation section between itself and the high-friction wheel, it creates significant resistance to the pulling and conveying force of the pair of drawing rollers, easily causing jams. As evidence, in an actual machine that implements the invention described in Patent Document 2, multiple extremely small-diameter rollers (bearings) with a diameter of approximately 2 to 3 mm are additionally arranged along the fixed belt to reduce the adverse effects of the frictional resistance of the fixed belt and facilitate smooth reverse conveyance during separation. More specifically, the large frictional resistance of the fixed belt prevents the forward movement of multiple-fed banknotes, so the fixed belt also creates significant resistance when a single banknote passes through. To convey banknotes that experience strong resistance from the fixed belt upward, the pair of drawing rollers draws them out with a strong force, thereby smoothing conveyance. This is because the fixed belt does not travel in the direction of banknote conveyance and therefore does not fulfill the role of drawing and conveying banknotes. In actual products, the frictional resistance between the high-friction wheels and the fixed belt is so great that the drawer cannot be smoothly pulled upwards using only the drawer conveying force of the drawer roller pair. For this reason, multiple ultra-small bearings are placed along the fixed belt to reduce the conveying resistance caused by the fixed belt.

[0007] However, because the size was reduced by transporting the banknotes upward, it became impossible to secure sufficient space for the bearings. As a result, they had no choice but to use extremely small diameter rollers that did little to reduce transport resistance, and they were unable to stabilize the separation process. As a result, they were unable to separate multiple banknotes, making it easier for jams to occur.

[0008] When withdrawing bills immediately after separation, it is ideal to quickly withdraw them with a strong force by rotating the reversing rollers at a higher speed than the high-friction wheels. To achieve such a difference in conveying speed, it is not impossible to create a speed difference using a single drive source with a mechanical structure such as gears. However, in this case, if the withdrawal speed is to be about 30 percent faster than the conveying speed of the high-friction wheels, for example, a combination of many complex gears would be required to achieve this speed difference, which would increase the number of parts and make miniaturization impossible.

[0009] Furthermore, because a single motor drives the high-friction wheel and the reversing roller for withdrawal transport, the separation unit and the reversing roller cannot be controlled independently, resulting in interference between the separation operation and the withdrawal operation, making it impossible to achieve the aforementioned difference in transport speed. This makes it difficult to achieve rapid withdrawal with a strong force and reduces the reliability of the separation operation. The withdrawal roller pair withdraws banknotes using the nip between the roller pair, which acts as a point, but this requires applying very high pressure (grip load) between the reversing roller and the auxiliary roller to create a high transport force. This increases the drive load, reduces the durability of the components, and reduces robustness to environmental changes.

[0010] Furthermore, because the device disclosed in Patent Document 2 is configured to process not only banknote deposits but also banknote returns, the separator cannot be stopped during the return operation. This poses problems such as interference between the separator roller and the returned banknotes, adverse effects on the durability of components such as the separator roller, and reduced reliability. These problems occur not only in devices that process banknotes, but also in devices that process other paper documents such as securities, certificates, and ballots.

[0011] Japanese Patent No. 6,427,246 U.S. Patent No. 8,662,490

[0012] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has as its object to provide a paper sheet separating and conveying device and a paper sheet handling device which eliminate various problems that arise due to miniaturization.

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the paper sheet separating and conveying device of the present invention comprises a tray on which a stack of paper sheets is set, a feed-out section which feeds out paper sheets from the stack of paper sheets on the tray, a separation section which, when the paper sheets fed out from the feed-out section are in a double-fed state, passes only the first paper sheet and sends it downstream while preventing the second and subsequent paper sheets from advancing, a first motor which drives the feed-out section and the separation section, a drawer conveying section which draws out and conveys the first paper sheet, part of which remains in the separation section, a storage conveying section which is driven by a second motor to receive the paper sheet discharged from the drawer conveying section and convey it further downstream, and control means which controls various control objects, and the separation section rotates around the axis of a feed roller shaft and, when rotated forward, conveys the paper sheets fed out by the feed-out section. The pull-out conveying unit comprises a feed roller that contacts the surface of the paper sheet and conveys it, and a frictional separating member that forms a separation nip between the feed roller and the frictional separating member that prevents the advancement of the second and subsequent paper sheets; the pull-out conveying unit comprises at least two idling rollers that are rotatably supported (fixed axial position) on the feed roller shaft portion on both axial sides of the feed roller; and an endless pull-out belt that forms a curved pull-out conveying path between (and in contact with) the curved outer peripheral surface of each idling roller, and that travels in the pull-out direction, cooperating with each idling roller, to change the direction of the first paper sheet to a direction intersecting the pay-out direction of the pay-out unit and convey it; and the pull-out belt is driven by the second motor.

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a paper sheet separating and conveying device and a paper sheet handling device that eliminate various problems that arise due to miniaturization.

[0015] 1 is an external perspective view of an example of a paper sheet separating and conveying device according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is an internal configuration diagram showing a state immediately before the motors start to be driven in a state in which a bundle of banknotes is set in a paper feed tray in a paper sheet separating and conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which feeding of banknotes has started. FIG. 1A is an internal configuration diagram showing a state in which separation has started by the rotation of a feed roller, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the leading edge of a banknote has started to be conveyed toward a storage and conveying path. FIG. 1A is an internal configuration diagram showing a state in which the trailing edge of a banknote has passed a drawer conveying section, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which recognition judgment is being performed. FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which banknotes are being returned. FIG. 1C is an oblique view showing a specific example of the configuration of a feeder section, a separator section, and a drawer conveying section according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1C is an exploded perspective view of each member constituting a drive transmission delay mechanism. FIG. 1D is a rear perspective view of each member constituting a drive transmission delay mechanism, and FIG. 1D is an exploded perspective view of each member. 1A and 1B are front views of components of the play forming mechanism and a front view of the assembled state; FIG. 1A and 1B are rear views of components of the play forming mechanism and a rear view of the assembled state; FIG. 1B is a flowchart showing a banknote processing procedure in a first embodiment; FIG. 1C is a flowchart showing a banknote processing procedure in a second embodiment;

[0016] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Explanation of Basic Configuration] Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of an example of a paper sheet separating and conveying device according to the present invention. Figs. 2 to 5 are front views showing the internal configuration of the paper sheet separating and conveying device, and the separation, conveying, storing, and returning operations. Fig. 2(a) is an internal configuration diagram showing the state immediately before an entrance sensor detects a banknote and starts driving each motor when a stack of banknotes is set in a paper feed tray, and Fig. 2(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state when feeding of banknotes has begun. Fig. 3(a) shows the state when separation has begun as the feed rollers rotate, and Fig. 3(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state when the leading edge of the banknote has begun to be conveyed toward the storage and conveying path (banknote storage section). Fig. 4(a) shows the state when the trailing edge of the banknote has passed the drawer conveying section, and Fig. 4(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the state when the banknote has stopped at the escrow position and is being identified and judged. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the state when the banknote is being returned. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a specific configuration example of the feeder unit, separator, and drawer conveying section according to one embodiment of the present invention. Although this specification mainly describes banknotes as an example of paper sheets, this device can also be applied to separating and transporting paper sheets other than banknotes. Furthermore, paper sheets include not only paper sheets but also sheets made of resin or other materials.

[0017] The banknote separating and conveying device 1 is a means for receiving banknotes and discharging rejected banknotes, which is installed in or attached to a banknote handling device such as a banknote deposit machine, a vending machine, or a gaming media lending machine in an amusement facility. The banknote separating and conveying device 1 will be described in detail below. The banknote separating and conveying device 1 generally includes a first module Md1 including a deposit processing unit U1 and a storage unit U2, a second module Md2 (including a safe CB) detachably connected to the first module, and control means (CPU, MPU, ROM, RAM, etc.) 1000 for controlling various control objects.

[0018] The deposit processing unit U1 is a means for receiving deposited banknotes and transporting them to the storage unit U2, and for discharging rejected banknotes returned in the storage unit U2 to the outside of the machine. The deposit processing unit U1 includes a housing H, a paper feed tray (tray, deposit section) 10 that is detachably attached to the front of the housing and on which banknotes are stacked before being supplied into the housing, a feed section (feed roller 30 and pick pusher 70) 20 that takes out banknotes one by one from the top of the banknote stack on the paper feed tray and supplies them into the housing, and a feed section (feed roller 30 and pick pusher 70) that, when the banknotes fed by the feed section 20 are in a double-feed state, passes only the first banknote B1 and sends it downstream, and sends the second and subsequent banknotes downstream. the feed roller 110 constituting the separation unit 100 and a brake roller 130) 100 that prevents the advance of the banknotes; a drawer conveying section 250 that is adjacent to the feed roller 110 that constitutes the separation unit 100 to form a drawer conveying path 260 and that rotates forward to draw out one banknote B1 that remains partially in the separation unit 100 and send it downstream (storage unit U2); and a first motor M1 that drives the pay-out section 20 and each of the driven members that constitute the separation unit 100 (pay-out / separation mechanism (separation unit) 15).

[0019] The drawer conveying path 260 is a curved contact running area formed by contact between the idling roller 257 and the drawer belt 270 shown in Fig. 6, and banknotes conveyed upward through the drawer conveying path 260 are further pulled up by the drawer belt 270 and conveyed upward while being guided by the conveying guide member 300. A second reversing roller 267, which reverses the drawer belt clockwise at the top, rotates clockwise (forward), thereby guiding the banknotes to the storage conveying path 400 side within the storage unit U2.

[0020] Reference numeral 500 denotes a flapper that switches the conveying direction of banknotes. This flapper is a sorting means that guides banknotes conveyed by the draw-out belt 270 to the position of the second reversing roller 267 toward the storage conveying path 400 and guides banknotes conveyed in reverse from the storage conveying path 400 toward the return conveying path 510. The flapper 500 is pivotally supported in the vertical direction by a swing shaft 500a. The flapper 500 normally lowers its right end (tip) due to its own weight balance, thereby blocking the passage from the draw-out conveying path 260 to the storage conveying path 400 (initial position). On the other hand, when a banknote that has been raised by the draw-out belt 270 passes through, the right end is pushed up by the banknote, allowing the banknote to move to the right. When the trailing end of the banknote passes the right end of the flapper, the flapper returns to its initial position.

[0021] If the recognition unit 450 determines that a banknote that has entered the storage and conveyance path 400 is unacceptable, the control means 1000 causes the motors M2 and M3 to reverse the conveyance members 410 and 420 that make up the storage and conveyance path 400, thereby conveying the banknote back toward the flapper. At this stage, the flapper is in its initial position, so the rejected banknote passes over the flapper from its rear end and enters the return conveyance path 510. A return roller pair (conveyance member) 512 is arranged on the return conveyance path, and is driven by the second motor M2 in the direction to discharge the banknote. A return banknote storage tray 11 is arranged at the end of the return conveyance path 510, and discharged return banknotes are sequentially stored therein.

[0022] The return transport path 510 is disposed above and substantially parallel to the feed path that runs from the feed section toward the separation section, and the return banknote storage tray 11 is disposed above and substantially parallel to the paper feed tray 10. In the present invention, the first motor M1 drives the feed / separation mechanism (separation unit) 15, and the transport members 512 and the like of the return transport path are driven by the second motor M2, so there is no mutual interference, and stable separation and return transport operations can be achieved.

[0023] The storage unit U2 includes a storage and conveyance path (storage and conveyance mechanism, storage and conveyance portion) 400 that receives and conveys banknotes B conveyed by the drawer belt 270 constituting the drawer conveyance portion 250, and a recognition portion 450 that determines the denomination, authenticity, etc. of banknotes conveyed downstream along the storage and conveyance path 400 using a combination of optical and magnetic sensors. Banknotes determined to be acceptable as a result of the recognition are conveyed downstream and stored in a safe CB provided in the second module Md2, while banknotes determined to be unacceptable (rejected banknotes) are sent backward and discharged via the deposit processing unit U1 to the return banknote storage tray 11. The storage unit U2 also includes a second motor M2 that drives conveyance members (gears, rollers, etc.) 410 and a pair of return rollers 512 on the upstream side of the storage and conveyance path 400, and a third motor M3 that drives conveyance members (gears, rollers, etc.) 420 on the downstream side of the storage and conveyance path 400.

[0024] One of the characteristic features of the present invention is that the drawer transport section 250 is driven by a second motor M2 provided in the banknote storage unit U2. That is, the second motor M2 drives not only the transport roller 410 located upstream of the storage transport path 400, but also the drawer transport section 250 and the return roller pair 512. The third motor M3 drives the transport roller group 420 located from the midstream to downstream of the storage transport path 400. The transport roller pair 420a located at the most downstream part of the storage transport path 400 is a means for discharging banknotes to the safe CB.

[0025] Next, the configurations and operations of the feeding unit 20, the separation unit 100, and the drawer transport unit 250 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6 , the feed roller 30 constituting the feeding unit 20 is fixed to a shaft 32 that rotates when driven by a first motor M1, and a downstream timing pulley 33 is coaxially fixed to one side of the shaft 32. The downstream timing pulley 33 receives drive from the first motor M1 via a timing belt 35 that is endlessly stretched between the shaft 32 and an upstream timing pulley 60 provided on the feed roller side. The separation unit 100 includes a feed roller shaft 101 driven by the first motor M1, a feed roller 110 that is rotatably supported about the axis of the feed roller shaft and that contacts the surface of the first banknote fed by the feeding unit 20 and transports it when rotated forward, and a brake roller (frictional separating member) 130 that forms a separation nip N1 with the feed roller and prevents the second and subsequent banknotes from advancing forward. The feed roller 110 can be configured so that the two rotate together by fixing its axis to the feed roller shaft 101, but if a drive transmission delay mechanism D (described later) is used, the feed roller is not necessarily fixed directly to the feed roller shaft.

[0026] The drawer conveying section 250 comprises at least two idling rollers (freely rotating members) 257, 257 each rotatably supported (unfixed in the rotational direction but fixed in the axial position) on the feed roller shaft portion on both axial sides of the feed roller 110, and endless drawer belts 270, 270 which come into contact with the curved outer surface of each idling roller to form curved drawer conveying paths (drawer nip sections) 260, and which rotate (forward) in the drawer direction, thereby cooperating with each idling roller 257, 257 to change the direction of the first banknote to a direction (diagonally upward) that intersects the payout direction by the payout section (the direction passing through the separation nip section N1) and convey it.

[0027] Each pull-out belt 270 is endlessly tensioned by a first reversing roller (driven roller) 265 and a second reversing roller (drive roller) 267, which are arranged to form a pull-out conveyance path 260 between themselves and the outer circumferential surfaces of the respective idling rollers 257. The first reversing rollers 265 form a banknote introduction section 260a of the pull-out conveyance path between each pull-out belt and each idling roller. The second reversing roller 267 reverses each pull-out belt so that banknotes introduced from the banknote introduction section 260a pass through the downstream end (paper sheet discharge section) 260b of the pull-out conveyance path and are then conveyed toward the storage conveyance path 400. The first reversing roller 265 is rotatably supported by a first shaft 280, which is driven by a first motor M1, with its axis being free and unfixed. In other words, the first reversing roller 265 is a driven roller that does not rotate with the rotation of the first shaft 280. The pull-out belt 270 is driven to run by the rotation of the second reversing roller 267 serving as a drive roller.

[0028] The feed roller 110 and the idling roller 257 are mounted coaxially on the feed roller shaft 101, and because their outer circumferential surfaces are at approximately the same radial position, the feed roller and the center of the banknote lightly come into contact, but there is no active grip, and no significant transport resistance occurs. It is the pull-out belt 270 that pulls up the banknote that has passed through the separation nip N1, and the feed roller 110 rotates only by the minimum necessary angle during separation, so after separation it is not involved in the upward pulling operation and does not have a pulling function. Even if the feed roller were to rotate along with the pull-out belt through the banknote due to the action of the drive delay transmission mechanism D, which will be described later, it is ultimately the pull-out belt that pulls up the banknote.

[0029] The circumferential surface of each idle roller 257, 257 is preferably designed to have low friction enough to allow slippage between the rollers and banknotes. The circumferential surface of the pull-out belt is also designed to have high friction enough to prevent slippage between the rollers and banknotes. The idle rollers 257 bring the pull-out belt and banknotes into contact with each other. The tension applied to the pull-out belt presses the banknotes against the low-friction outer surface of the idle rollers, which cooperates with the frictional resistance of the pull-out belt to create a conveying gripping force. The idle rollers are made of a hard material that is not easily deformed by the pressure from the pull-out belt. The width of the outer surface of the idle rollers is preferably equal to or wider than the width of the narrow, strip-shaped pull-out belt. While the "direction intersecting the payout direction of the pay-out unit" is approximately 90 degrees upward in the drawing, it broadly includes a direction that is bent upward or curved (non-parallel) relative to the surface direction of the banknotes being paid out on the paper feed tray 10.

[0030] The banknote introduction section 260a of the withdrawal transport path is formed at the portion where the withdrawal belt, which has been reversed upward by the first reversing roller 265 rotating clockwise, first comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the idling roller. A banknote that has passed through the separation nip N1 comes into contact with the surface of the withdrawal belt just before the banknote introduction section (the portion that slopes diagonally upward to the right in Figure 2, etc.), and is smoothly pulled up diagonally upward and immediately drawn into the banknote introduction section 260a. A banknote that has passed through the paper sheet discharge section 260b is transported upward between the withdrawal belt and the transport guide member 300, and then led to the entrance of the storage transport path 400 along the reversal path between the outer circumferential surface of the second reversing roller 267 and the transport guide member 301.

[0031] The idling roller 257, pressed down by the tension of the pull-out belt, rotates idly relative to the feed roller shaft, and is therefore completely independent of the drive or rotation speed of the feed roller shaft. Although the feed roller and the idling roller are arranged on the same feed roller shaft, by varying the axial positions of the two rollers, it is possible to separate the separation nip N1, which serves as the separation point, from the pull-out conveyance path 260 (banknote introduction section 260a), which serves as the pull-out point. Furthermore, as a result of configuring the pull-out conveyance path 260 using a traveling pull-out belt, the distance between the separation nip N1 and the banknote introduction section 260a in a side view can be freely set to the minimum required value. Specifically, this distance can be significantly reduced, for example, to a value shorter than the diameter or radius of the feed roller.

[0032] The pick pusher 70 has its base end fixedly supported by the first shaft 280. When the first shaft rotates clockwise, the tip of the pick pusher 70 rises, pushing the bill bundle on the paper feed tray 10 toward the payout roller 30 and bringing it into contact with the payout roller 30. When the first shaft 280 rotates in the reverse direction, the pick pusher 70 descends. A torque limiter (not shown) is disposed between the pick pusher 70 and the first shaft 280 to prevent excessive force from being applied to the bill bundle. Each second reversing roller (drive roller) 267 has its axis fixedly supported by a second shaft 290 disposed parallel to and above the first shaft 280. A transmission gear 292 is fixed to the second shaft at a position intermediate the two second reversing rollers. The transmission gear 292 is meshed with a gear group 294 that transmits rotational drive force from the second motor M2. Therefore, the drawer transport section 250 is driven by the second motor M2 that drives the upstream transport members of the storage transport path 400. In this way, in the present invention, the feeding section 20 and the separating section 100 are driven by the first motor M1, while the drawer transport section 250 is driven by the second motor M2 via the gear groups 294 and 292, so that the feeding and separating operations and the drawer transport operation can be driven and controlled independently.

[0033] Because the drawer conveyance unit 250 uses the endlessly running drawer belt 270 for conveyance when drawing out banknotes, a non-linear conveyance path is formed by bending (curving) the drawer conveyance unit upward relative to the conveyance direction of the pay-out unit and the separation unit, enabling a compact device. Even in such a compact configuration, the flexibility in component placement is increased, enabling reliable banknote separation and draw-out conveyance. Even in this non-linear, substantially L-shaped, curved banknote conveyance path, the drawer conveyance unit 250 can be driven by another adjacent drive mechanism, i.e., the second motor M2 that drives the upstream conveyance member 410 of the storage conveyance path 400. This allows for independent speed and operation control of the pay-out / separation mechanism 15 and the drawer conveyance unit 250, enabling reliable separation and draw-out conveyance operations.

[0034] To reliably withdraw banknotes separated by the separator 100, it is necessary to make the withdrawal conveyance speed (driving force) faster (stronger) than the separation conveyance speed (driving force). Such a conveyance speed difference can be achieved without requiring separate drive sources, using a single drive source and a mechanical structure such as gears. However, in this case, if the withdrawal speed of the withdrawal conveyance unit 250 is to be 30 percent faster than the separation speed of the separator 100, a complex combination of multiple gears is required to achieve this speed difference. In contrast, in the present invention, the separator and withdrawal conveyance units are driven by separate, independent motors M1 and M2. This makes it possible to easily and freely control the speed difference without complicating the mechanical configuration or increasing the number of parts. Moreover, because the second motor M2 is not located in the deposit processing unit U1 but in the adjacent banknote storage unit U2, the deposit processing unit U1 does not need to be large.

[0035] To further explain this, if the drawer conveying section is configured with a pair of rollers and banknotes are drawn out using the nip portion of the roller pair as a point, as in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to apply very high pressure (grip load) between the rollers to generate a high conveying force. On the other hand, if a drawer conveying drive using a movable running belt is adopted as in the present invention, the shape of the drawer grip portion can be configured as a surface rather than a point, so the grip load can be set low, reducing the drive load and improving durability and robustness against environmental changes. In particular, in the present invention, the separation nip portion N1 is a point-like grip with low resistance, so that the drive load can be reduced by combining this with the strong drawer force of the surface-shaped drawer grip portion.

[0036] As described above, the withdrawal belt 270 is a non-fixed type, i.e., a movable belt that is stretched endlessly and runs in both forward and reverse directions. In this respect, its structure and function are significantly different from the fixed belt of Patent Document 2. Furthermore, the fixed belt of Patent Document 2 is not a means for lifting up banknotes but a separation means for separating banknotes between itself and a high-friction roller. In the present invention, the fixed belt corresponds to a brake roller, and does not correspond to the withdrawal belt 270. The withdrawal belt is merely a means for withdrawing banknotes after they have been separated.

[0037] [Drive Transmission Delay Mechanism D] Next, a description will be given of the drive transmission delay mechanism D, which delays the start of rotation of the feed roller by a predetermined timing relative to the timing of the payout by the payout unit. The banknote separating and conveying device of the present invention can achieve smooth separation and withdrawal operations while being compact even without employing the drive transmission delay mechanism D, but a configuration example (first embodiment) in which the drive transmission delay mechanism D is incorporated into the separator 100 will be described below.

[0038] Figures 7(a) and (b) are a front perspective view and an exploded perspective view of each member constituting the drive transmission delay mechanism D, Figures 8(a) and (b) are a rear perspective view and an exploded perspective view of each member constituting the drive transmission delay mechanism D. Figures 9(a) and (b) are a front view of the components of the play forming mechanism A and a front view of the assembled state, and Figures 10(a) and (b) are a rear view of the components of the play forming mechanism A and a rear view of the assembled state.

[0039] The drive transmission delay mechanism D includes a feed roller shaft 101, an upstream timing pulley (upstream transmission member) 60, a timing clutch (clutch member) 50, and a feed roller 110 that rotate around the feed roller shaft 101 and are arranged adjacent to each other along the axial direction, and a play forming mechanism A that provides a first relative rotation section 40 between the upstream timing pulley 60 and the timing clutch 50 and a second relative rotation section 45 between the timing clutch 50 and the feed roller 110, thereby delaying (disconnecting) the transmission of the drive force. In the separation section 100 equipped with the drive transmission delay mechanism D, the feed roller 110 is not fixed to the feed roller shaft 101, but is rotatable relative to the feed roller shaft.

[0040] The upstream timing pulley 60, timing clutch 50, and feed roller 110 rotate about a common feed roller shaft 101 and are configured to be rotatable relative to one another within a predetermined circumferential play. The upstream timing pulley 60 is fixed to the feed roller shaft 101 and rotates integrally therewith, while the timing clutch 50 and feed roller 110 are journaled to the feed roller shaft 101 so as to be rotatable relative to one another independently. The upstream timing pulley 60 has an engaging portion 62 protruding from the rear surface (the surface facing the timing clutch) of a donut-shaped main body 61.

[0041] The timing clutch 50 has a first engaging portion 52 protruding from the front surface (opposing the upstream timing pulley) of a donut-shaped main body 51, and a second engaging portion 53 protruding from the rear surface (opposing the feed roller) of the main body 51. The feed roller 110 has a protruding engaged portion 113 provided inside a cylindrical recessed portion 112 provided on the front side of the donut-shaped main body 111. In the assembled state shown in Figure 7(a), most of the timing clutch 50 and a portion of the upstream timing pulley 60 fit into the recessed portion 112.

[0042] The play generating mechanism A is composed of an engaging portion 62 provided on the upstream timing pulley 60, first and second engaging portions 52, 53 provided on the timing clutch 50, and an engaged portion 113 provided on the feed roller 110, etc.

[0043] The first relative rotation section 40 is a play space (idling section) extending in the circumferential direction formed between the engaging portion 62 and the first engaging portion 52, and the play is maximum when the upstream timing pulley 60 and the timing clutch 50 are in the initial circumferential positional relationship shown in Figure 9(b). The play formed in the first relative rotation section 40 expands and contracts as the timing clutch 50 rotates relative to the upstream timing pulley 60.

[0044] The second relative rotation section 45 is a circumferentially extending play space (idling section) formed between the second engaging portion 53 and the engaged portion 113, and the play is greatest when the timing clutch 50 and the feed roller are in the initial circumferential positional relationship shown in Figure 10(b). The play formed in the second relative rotation section 45 expands and contracts as the feed roller rotates relative to the timing clutch. The driving force from the feed roller shaft 101 is transmitted sequentially to the upstream timing pulley 60, the timing clutch 50, and the feed roller 110. However, because the play-forming mechanism A is present, the drive force of the upstream timing pulley 60 is not immediately transmitted to the feed roller 110, but is transmitted after a predetermined delay.

[0045] The play forming mechanism A allows the upstream timing pulley 60 and the timing clutch 50 to rotate relative to each other in the circumferential direction between an initial position and a final position, and the upstream timing pulley 60 does not transmit a driving force to the timing clutch 50 until the positional relationship of the timing clutch 50 relative to the upstream timing pulley 60 reaches from the initial position to the final position, and transmits the driving force after the final position is reached. Furthermore, the play forming mechanism A allows the timing clutch 50 and the feed roller 110 to rotate relative to each other in the circumferential direction between the initial position and the final position, and the timing clutch 50 does not transmit a driving force to the feed roller until the positional relationship of the feed roller relative to the upstream timing pulley 60 reaches from the initial position to the final position, and transmits the driving force after the final position is reached.

[0046] Due to the presence of the first relative rotation section 40 and the second relative rotation section 45, the driving force from the first motor M1 to the upstream timing pulley 60 is not directly connected to the timing clutch 50 and the feed roller 110 and transmitted without delay. In other words, the driving force is transmitted intermittently and with a delay through the idle sections (play sections where driving force is not transmitted) defined by the relative rotation sections 40 and 45. Therefore, the feed roller begins to rotate a predetermined time after the feed roller 30 rotates forward due to the forward rotation of the upstream timing pulley 60. When a stack of banknotes with uneven leading edges is set or when separating banknotes fed from a stack of banknotes of different lengths from around the world, the second and subsequent banknotes tend to enter the separation nip before the first, resulting in double feeding. However, it is necessary to ensure that the first banknote is fed to the separation section first. To prevent such double feeding, it is effective to not drive the feed roller until the feed roller has rotated a predetermined amount and finished feeding the banknotes.

[0047] The drive transmission delay mechanism D solves the above-mentioned problem by using a mechanical structure, and makes it possible to appropriately switch the drive timing of the delivery roller and the feed roller using only one motor.

[0048] Other advantages of the drive transmission delay mechanism D are as follows. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3A, if the first motor M1 is stopped while a portion of a banknote is nipped in the separation nip N1 and the second motor M2 continues to draw the banknote using the drawer transport unit 250, the feed roller 110 rotates along with the banknote. This rotation eliminates the transport load generated in the separation nip N1. Furthermore, the circumferential play in each of the relative rotation sections 40 and 45 that had been lost due to the previous operation is restored. As soon as the trailing end of the banknote leaves the separation nip N1, the transmission of drive force from the banknote to the feed rollers and other components due to the rotation of the banknote ceases. Specifically, the feed roller 110, which has begun forward rotation due to the transport force of the banknote, continues to rotate (idle) within the second relative rotation section 45 relative to the timing clutch 50, which is stopped, and the feed roller and timing clutch 50 return to the initial positional relationship shown in FIG. 10B. Next, the driving force from the timing clutch 50 is transmitted to the stopped upstream timing pulley 60 within the first relative rotation section 40, causing the upstream timing pulley to resume normal rotation, and the timing clutch 50 and the upstream timing pulley return to the initial positional relationship shown in Figure 9(b). During this time, the feed roller rotates in the normal direction, so even if a banknote is partially nipped in the separation nip N1, it does not become a load when the banknote is drawn by the drawer conveying unit 250.

[0049] [Operation Procedure] The following describes the banknote processing operation by the banknote separating and transporting device 1. <Operation Procedure When a Drive Transmission Delay Mechanism is Equipped (First Embodiment)> Below, an example of a case where a drive transmission delay mechanism D is interposed between the feed roller and the feed roller shaft will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 10 and Figure 11, which is a flowchart showing the banknote processing procedure.

[0050] First, Figure 2(a) shows the stopped state immediately before the control means 1000 starts driving the motors M1, M2, and M3 in the forward direction when the inlet sensor S1 detects a banknote with a banknote set in the paper feed tray (deposit section) 10. In the flowchart of Figure 11, the first sensor S1 is turned on, which causes the process to proceed to Figure 2(b) (steps S1 and S2). In Figure 2(b), the first motor M1 starts rotating the first shaft 280 in the clockwise direction in Figure 6, causing the pick pusher 70 to lift its tip and push the bottom of the banknote bundle toward the feed roller 30. At the same time, the feed roller 30 rotates counterclockwise, feeding the first banknote B1 toward the separator. Driving force is transmitted to the feed roller 30 via a timing belt (intermediate transmission member) 35 wound around the upstream timing pulley 60, but the feed roller 110 does not immediately rotate due to the circumferential slack created by the slack creating mechanism A. As a result, the leading edges of the banknotes are aligned at the separation nip N1, which is the point of contact with the brake roller 130. At this time, the other motors M2 and M3 also start rotating forward. As the second motor M2 is driven, the movable parts that make up the drawer transport unit 250 also rotate forward (step S3).

[0051] In Fig. 3(a), all motors are rotating in the forward direction, causing the feed roller 110 and the draw-out belt 270 to rotate, thereby starting the separation and draw-out operations in parallel. At the stage in Fig. 2(b), driving force is transmitted from the first motor M1 to the feed roller shaft 101, but the feed roller 110 does not immediately rotate due to the circumferential play created by the drive transmission delay mechanism D (play-out forming mechanism A). At the stage in Fig. 3(a), the circumferential play between the components that make up the play-out forming mechanism A disappears, causing the feed roller to start rotating (steps S4 and S5). The brake roller 130 is stopped in the take-in direction, and the banknote separated into one sheet at the nip portion N1 is pulled out with great force by the draw-out conveyance path 260 and reaches the passage sensor S2 located immediately before the flapper 500.

[0052] 3(b) shows the state in which the leading edge of a banknote has begun to be conveyed toward the storage and conveyance path 400 (storage unit U2). When it is determined based on the detection information from the paper-passing sensor S2 that the leading edge of the conveyed banknote has passed the flapper 500 a predetermined distance, the first motor M1 is stopped. That is, the control means 1000 stops the first motor M1 when the pulse count of the first motor M1 reaches a predetermined value after detection by the paper-passing sensor S2. This stops the transmission of driving force to the feed roller. Meanwhile, the drawing by the drawing belt continues (steps S6 and S7). However, to avoid increased resistance during drawing due to a portion of the banknote remaining in the nip portion N1 when the first motor M1 stops, the slack forming mechanism A idles the feed roller while the drawing belt is drawing the banknote (step S8).

[0053] That is, as shown in FIG. 3B, after the first motor M1 stops, the banknote remains in the separation nip N1 while it is being withdrawn between the circumferential surface of the idling roller 257 (low friction resistance) and the circumferential surface of each withdrawal belt 270 (high friction resistance). Therefore, the feed rollers are rotated by the banknote by the length of the excess banknote located before the separation nip. In other words, the drive transmission delay mechanism D causes the feed rollers to rotate idly in the conveyance direction by a predetermined angle, so they do not provide resistance when the banknote is reversed and conveyed upward. The idling of the feed rollers causes the slack forming mechanism A, which was lost in step S5, to begin to recover (steps S9 and S10). After the leading edge of banknote B1 passes the reversal position of the second reversing roller 267 and enters the storage and conveyance path 400, it is sequentially drawn into the interior by the conveyance rollers 410 and 420.

[0054] With this configuration, the second motor M2, which drives the drawer transport unit 250 for drawing out the separated banknotes, is separate from the first motor M1, which drives the separator, increasing the reliability of the separation operation. In other words, with this configuration, the separation operation can be stopped at the appropriate time after completion, reducing the rotation of the feed roller when no banknotes are present on the paper feed tray. To reduce wear on the feed roller, it is necessary to avoid rotation of the separation roller when no banknotes are present as much as possible.

[0055] 4(a) shows the state where the trailing end of the banknote has passed through the separator 100 and the drawer transport path 260. At this point, the first motor M1 is stopped, and the banknote B1 is transported further inward by transport rollers 410 and 420 driven by the second motor M2 and the third motor M3. As described above, at this stage, the feed rollers have recovered their play due to the accompanying rotation of the banknote, and are ready to handle the separation of subsequent banknotes (steps S11 and S10).

[0056] 4(b) shows a state in which the entire length of the banknote has entered the storage and transport path 400, and the banknote is transported to the escrow position, after which motors M2 and M3 are stopped to perform recognition and determination. Acceptable banknotes are transported to the safe CB in the second module Md2 by driving each transport roller 420 with the third motor M3. Unacceptable banknotes are returned by the return operation of FIG. 5 (steps S11, S12, S13).

[0057] Furthermore, when banknotes are continuously fed from the deposit processing unit U1, the second motor M2 and the third motor M3 take in the first banknote into the storage and conveyance path 400 as shown in the figure, and then the second motor M2 is stopped, thereby preventing the second banknote from continuously entering the storage unit U2. In other words, the second motor M2 is used as a shutter, making it possible to prevent jams and the like from occurring in the storage and conveyance path.

[0058] 5 shows the state in which banknotes are returned. When a rejected banknote determined to be unacceptable by the recognition unit 450 at the stage shown in FIG. 4(b) is to be discharged (returned) to the return banknote storage tray 11, the control means 1000 checks the passage sensor S2 located near the branch point of the storage conveyance path 400 and the return conveyance path 510, and if there are no subsequent banknotes that would obstruct the return, the control means 1000 causes the motors M2 and M3 to rotate the conveyance rollers 410 and 420 in the reverse direction, and causes the second motor M2 to rotate the pull-out belt 270 and the return roller 512 in the return direction (step S13). The pull-out belt is reversed during return because it is driven by the second motor M2. However, because the upper part of the pull-out belt is located in the path of the return banknotes, reversing the pull-out belt allows the return banknotes to move more smoothly. Furthermore, the feed roller 110 and the pull-out belt 270 are at different axial positions and do not interfere with each other, so even if the pull-out belt is reversed for return, the stopped feed roller does not get in the way of the pull-out belt.

[0059] Furthermore, since the first motor M1 stops driving the separator during the return operation, the separator does not interfere with the return operation, ensuring reliable return processing. When the return port sensor S3 turns OFF, the motors M2 and M3 are stopped to stop the return operation.

[0060] Comparing this operation of the present invention with the operation of the device in Patent Document 2, in Patent Document 2, all operations of pickup, separation, withdrawal, and return are performed by a single motor. When returning rejected banknotes, it is desirable not to operate the separation roller (high friction roller) to avoid interference with the rejected banknotes, but in the device in Patent Document 2, the separation roller also operates during return. For this reason, it is anticipated that the separation roller will interfere with the returned banknotes, preventing the return operation from being carried out smoothly.

[0061] <Operation Procedure When No Drive Transmission Delay Mechanism is Included (Second Embodiment)> Fig. 12 is a flowchart of the operation procedure when no drive transmission delay mechanism is included. Explaining this with reference to Figs. 2 to 6, the separation and pull-out operations are the same except for the delay in the timing at which the feed rollers start rotating due to the drive transmission delay mechanism D and the effect of reducing the transport load due to the idle rotation of the feed rollers.

[0062] First, in Fig. 2(a), which shows the stopped state immediately before the control means 1000 starts driving the motors M1, M2, and M3 in the forward direction, when the first sensor S1 turns on, the process proceeds to Fig. 2(b) (steps S21 and S22). When the first motor M1, second motor M2, and third motor M3 start rotating simultaneously in Fig. 2(b), the feed roller 30 rotates to feed the first banknote B1 toward the separator, and then the feed roller 110 performs the separation operation (step S23). Furthermore, the drawer transport section 250 and the movable parts constituting the storage transport path 400 also rotate in the forward direction.

[0063] In FIG. 3A, the separation operation by the feed roller 110 and the withdrawal operation by the withdrawal belt 270 are initiated. The banknote separated into a single sheet at the separation nip N1 is pulled with great force by the withdrawal conveyance path 260 and reaches the passage sensor S2 located immediately before the flapper 500. In FIG. 3B, upon detection that the leading edge of the banknote has reached the paper passage sensor S2, the first motor M1 is stopped, the feed roller is stopped, and withdrawal by the withdrawal belt continues (steps S24 and S25). After the leading edge of banknote B1 passes the reversal position of the second reversal roller 267 and enters the storage conveyance path 400, it is sequentially taken in by each conveyance roller 410, 420. In this configuration, the second motor M2 is separate from the first motor M1, thereby increasing the reliability of the separation operation.

[0064] In Fig. 4(a), the trailing end of the banknote passes through the separator 100 and the drawer transport path 260, and the banknote is transported further inward by transport rollers 410 and 420 driven by the second motor M2 and the third motor M3. In Fig. 4(b), the entire length of the banknote has entered the storage transport path 400 completely, and motors M2 and M3 are stopped to perform recognition determination. Acceptable banknotes are transported to the safe CB in the second module Md2 by driving the transport rollers 420 by the third motor M3 (steps S26: YES, S27). Unacceptable banknotes are returned by the return operation of Fig. 5 (steps S26: NO, S28).

[0065] Furthermore, when banknotes are continuously fed from the deposit processing unit U1, the second motor M2 and the third motor M3 take in the first banknote into the storage and conveyance path 400, and then the second motor M2 is stopped, thereby preventing the second banknote from continuously entering the storage unit U2. In other words, the second motor M2 is used as a shutter, making it possible to prevent jams and the like from occurring in the storage and conveyance path.

[0066] Figure 5 shows the state in which banknotes are being returned. The processing operation when returning banknotes is the same as in the configuration example equipped with the drive transmission delay mechanism D. In other words, since the first motor M1 stops driving the separator during the return operation, the separator does not interfere with the return operation, ensuring reliable return processing. This eliminates the above-mentioned problems with the device of Patent Document 2, in which pickup, separation, withdrawal, and return are all performed by a single motor.

[0067] <Functions and Effects Common to All Embodiments> In the first and second embodiments, the above-mentioned advantages are achieved by driving the pull-out belts separately from the drive source of the feed rollers. Furthermore, the two endless pull-out belts 270 are symmetrically arranged in non-interfering positions in the axial direction different from the feed rollers to pull out banknotes. This makes it possible to position the banknote introduction section 260a, which serves as the withdrawal point, as close as possible to the separation point (separation nip N1). Furthermore, the layout of the banknote introduction section 260a is flexible, and the withdrawal point can be positioned at any position, thereby increasing design freedom.

[0068] When the means for withdrawing banknotes is a pair of rollers as in Patent Document 2, the gripping portion that grips the banknotes is the point. A strong force is required to pull out banknotes nipped in the separation section, and in Patent Document 2, a strong withdrawal force is obtained by increasing the nip pressure of the pair of rollers. This places a load on the actuator and rollers, reducing their durability. To resolve this problem, it is necessary to install a bearing in the separation path, but it has been difficult to secure space to install a bearing large enough to provide sufficient effectiveness.

[0069] In the present invention, by making the withdrawal conveyance path flat, it is possible to increase the gripping force for withdrawal without increasing (even if the pressure from the withdrawal belt is low), and there is no need to worry about a decrease in the durability of the motor or belt. Moreover, unlike the separation section of Patent Document 2, in the present invention, the separation nip section N1 is a point grip section, so only a small force is required to withdraw the nipped banknotes.

[0070] <Summary of configuration, action and effect of the present invention> The paper sheet separating and conveying device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a tray 10 for setting a stack of paper sheets B, a feed-out section 20 for feeding out paper sheets from the stack of paper sheets on the tray, a separation section 100 for passing only the first paper sheet and sending it downstream when the paper sheets fed out from the feed-out section are in a double feed state, and for preventing the second and subsequent paper sheets from moving forward, a first motor M1 for driving the feed-out section and the separation section, a drawer conveying section 250 for drawing out and conveying the first paper sheet, part of which remains in the separation section, a storage conveying path 400 driven by a second motor M2 for receiving the paper sheet discharged from the drawer conveying section and conveying it further downstream, and control means 1000 for controlling various control objects. The separation unit 20 further includes a feed roller 110 that is rotatably supported around the feed roller shaft 101 and that, when rotating forward, contacts the surface of the paper sheet fed by the feed-out unit and conveys it, and a frictional separating member 130 that forms a separation nip N1 between itself and the feed roller and prevents the second and subsequent sheets from advancing. The draw-out conveying unit 250 includes at least two idling rollers 257 that are rotatably supported (fixed in the axial direction) on the feed roller shaft portions on both axial sides of the feed roller, and an endless draw-out belt 270 that forms a curved draw-out conveying path between itself (in contact with) the curved outer peripheral surface of each idling roller and that travels in the draw-out direction to change the direction of the first paper sheet in cooperation with each idling roller and convey it, the draw-out belt being driven by a second motor.

[0071] In a banknote separating and conveying device having a separator and a drawer for drawing banknotes from the separator, if the banknote conveying path is bent or curved into an approximately L-shape to achieve compactness, driving the separator and drawer with a single motor would force the separator and drawer to be driven at the same speed, making it difficult to ensure sufficient drawing force. Therefore, it is difficult to properly maintain separation performance and banknote drawing performance and ensure reliable banknote conveyance. Even if bearings are provided to guide banknotes to increase the conveying force in the separator and drawer to prevent malfunctions and jams, as in Patent Document 2, the bearings that can be placed in a small space are necessarily very small, and there are limitations on where they can be placed, making it impossible to prevent malfunctions and jams. If the motors for the separator and drawer were simply placed side by side and controlled separately, the number of motors would increase, clearly resulting in a larger device configuration.

[0072] In this invention, the drawer section is driven by the second motor M2 of a separate unit (second unit U2) equipped with the recognition unit, enabling the separation section and the drawer section to be driven by separate, independently controlled motors without increasing the number of motors. This allows the feed rollers to contribute only to separation and not interfere with the drawer. In other words, the separation operation can be stopped during the drawer operation, preventing secondary problems such as banknote jams that are prone to occur with a single drive. Naturally, this also reduces the load on the separation section motor, improving durability. This compact separation and conveyance device, with its bent or curved, approximately L-shaped conveyance path, enhances operational reliability and reduces operational malfunctions and jams despite its small size. Separating and drawing operations can be driven independently, allowing for a compact design.

[0073] In the second paper sheet separating and conveying device according to the present invention, each pull-out belt 270 is tensioned by a first reversing roller 265 and a second reversing roller 267, which are arranged to form a pull-out conveying path between each of the idling rollers 257. The first reversing rollers form a paper sheet inlet 260a of the pull-out conveying path between each of the pull-out belts and each of the idling rollers, and the second reversing rollers reverse each pull-out belt so that paper sheets introduced from the paper sheet inlet 260b pass through the downstream end (paper sheet discharge section) 260b of the pull-out conveying path and are conveyed toward the storage conveying path. The pull-out conveying section employs an endless, thin pull-out belt, and the axial positions of the feed roller and the pull-out belt are different, so that they are always in a non-contact state. This allows the pull-out section's paper sheet inlet 260a to be as close as possible to the separation point N1. This is a unique structure of the present invention that cannot be achieved by a configuration using a pair of rollers as the pull-out means, as in Patent Document 2. In the drawings of the publication, the distance between the separation portion consisting of the high friction pulley and fixed belt and the nip portion of the pair of rollers for drawing out is greater than in the present invention, which clearly shows the difference between the two.

[0074] Furthermore, the drawer conveyance path 260 is formed in a curved contact running area between the flexible drawer belt and the outer circumferential surface of the idling roller 257, so it forms a planar grip rather than a point grip. Therefore, even if the drawer conveyance path is bent or curved in an L-shape with respect to the paper feed path extending from the payout section, the drawer can be conveyed stably with a strong force.

[0075] The third paper sheet separating and conveying device according to the present invention includes a recognition unit 450 positioned along a reversible storage and conveying path to determine whether or not paper sheets are acceptable, and a return conveying path 510 positioned adjacent to and parallel to the feed path from the feed unit to discharge return paper sheets that are determined unacceptable by the recognition unit and sent back along the storage and conveying path, and the conveying member 512 constituting the return conveying path is driven by a second motor M2. During the return operation, the first motor M1 stops driving the separating unit, so the separating unit does not interfere with the return operation driven by the second motor, ensuring reliable return processing. This eliminates the problems of the device described in Patent Document 2, in which pickup, separation, withdrawal, and return are all performed by a single motor.

[0076] A fourth paper handling device according to the present invention is characterized by including the paper separating and transporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. By applying this paper handling device to paper handling devices such as banknote deposit machines, banknote counters, and various automatic vending machines, it is possible to realize a separation drive that is compact yet highly reliable in operation, and to reduce the incidence of jams.

[0077] 1...banknote separation and transport device, Md1...first module, Md2...second module, U1...deposit processing unit, U2...storage unit U, S1...entrance sensor, S2...paper passage sensor, S3...return port sensor, N1...separation nip portion, 10...paper feed tray, 11...returned banknote storage tray, 15...feeding and separation mechanism, 20...separation portion, 30...feeding roller, 32...shaft portion, 33...downstream timing pulley, 35...timing belt, 40...relative rotation section, 45...relative rotation section, 50...timing clutch, 52...first engagement portion, 53...second engagement portion, 60...upstream timing pulley, 61...main body, 62...engagement portion, 70...pick pusher, 100...separation portion, 101...feed roller shaft, 110...feed roller, 110...feed roller shaft, 111...main body, 112...recessed portion, 113...engaged portion, 130...brake roller (friction separating member), 250...drawer conveying section, 257...idling roller, 260...drawer conveying path, 260a...banknote introduction section, 260b...paper sheet discharge section, 265...first reversing roller, 267...second reversing roller, 270...drawer belt, 280...shaft, 290...shaft, 292...transmission gear, 294...gear group, 300...conveying guide member, 400...storage conveying path, 410...upstream conveying member (conveying roller), 420...downstream conveying member (conveying roller), 420a...conveying roller pair, 450...recognition section, 500...flapper, 510...return conveying path, 512...conveying member (return roller), 1000...control means.

Claims

1. A paper sheet separating and conveying device comprising: a feed section that feeds out paper sheets from a stack of paper sheets on a tray; a separation section that, when the paper sheets fed out from the feed section are in a double-fed state, passes only the first paper sheet and sends it downstream, while preventing the second and subsequent paper sheets from advancing; a first motor that drives the feed section and the separation section; a drawer conveying section that draws out and conveys the first paper sheet that remains partially in the separation section; a storage conveying section that is driven by a second motor to receive the paper sheet discharged from the drawer conveying section and convey it further downstream; and control means that controls various control objects; wherein the separation section comprises a feed roller that rotates around the axis of a feed roller shaft and, when rotating forward, comes into contact with and conveys the paper sheet fed out by the feed section, and a frictional separating member that forms a separation nip between itself and the feed roller, and prevents the second and subsequent paper sheets from advancing; The drawer conveying unit comprises at least two idling rollers each rotatably supported on the feed roller shaft portion on both axial sides of the feed roller, and an endless drawer belt which forms a curved drawer conveying path between the curved outer peripheral surface of each idling roller and travels in the drawer direction to change the direction of the first paper sheet so as to convey it in a direction intersecting the payout direction of the payout unit, and the drawer belt is driven by the second motor.

2. The paper sheet separating and conveying device described in claim 1, characterized in that each of the pull-out belts is tensioned by a first reversing roller and a second reversing roller arranged to form the pull-out conveying path between each of the idling rollers, the first reversing roller forms a paper sheet introduction section of the pull-out conveying path between each of the pull-out belts and each of the idling rollers, and the second reversing roller reverses each of the pull-out belts so that the paper sheets introduced from the paper sheet introduction section are conveyed toward the storage conveying section after passing the downstream end of the pull-out conveying path.

3. A paper sheet separating and conveying device as described in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an identification unit that is positioned along the storage and conveying unit, which is capable of conveying paper sheets in both forward and reverse directions, and that determines whether paper sheets can be accepted, and a return conveying path that is positioned parallel to the payout path from the payout unit and that ejects returned paper sheets that have been determined by the identification unit to be unacceptable and are sent back down the storage and conveying unit, and the conveying members that make up the return conveying path are driven by the second motor.

4. A paper handling device comprising the paper separating and conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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