Abstract:
A paper sheet processor includes a paper sheet setting portion for setting a plurality of paper sheets approximately uniformed in face-and-back orientation, a feeding section for sequentially introducing the paper sheets set on the paper sheet setting portion one after another, a discriminator for discriminating at least face-and-back orientation of each paper sheet introduced, a first stacker as a main stacker, a second stacker as a sub-stacker having a smaller capacity than that of the first stacker, and a controller for controlling such that the paper sheet first fed and discriminated in face-and-back orientation by the discriminator and any paper sheets subsequently fed and discriminated to have the same face-and-back orientation as that of the first fed paper sheet are stacked in the first stacker, and the other paper sheets discriminated to be different in face-and-back orientation from the first fed paper sheet are stacked in the second stacker. Even when a bundle of paper sheets to be re-checked, which are approximately uniform in face-and-back orientation, are set in the paper sheet processor in erroneous-face-and-back orientation, the processor can rationally carry out face-and-back re-orientation by stacking the front-faced or back-faced majority part of the paper sheets in the main stacker having a larger capacity and stacking the back-faced or front-faced minority of the paper sheets in the sub-stacker having a smaller capacity.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a paper sheet processor, and more particularly to a banknote processor having a plurality of stackers and capable of efficiently re-checking banknotes. 
     2. Description of the Background Art 
     U. S. Patent Publication No. 4,830,742 discloses a prior art concerning a banknote processor having a plurality of stackers and the function of discriminating face-and-back orientations of banknotes. 
     This prior-art banknote processor has three stackers, namely two sorting stackers and one rejection stacker. Based on judgment about face-and-back orientation by a discriminator, the processors stacks front-faced banknotes on the upper sorting stacker, and back-faced banknotes on the lower sorting stacker, so as to uniform the face-and-back orientation of banknotes. 
     Since the processor shown in the publication uses two sorting stackers equal in volume, it can efficiently uniform the face-and-back orientation of bank notes when it deals with a random mixture of front-faced banknotes and back-faced banknotes. However, when it is used for re-checking banknotes previously uniformed in face-and-back orientation to a certain extent, much more banknotes are stacked in one of the sorting stackers, and it is not rational from the viewpoint of stacking space. 
     For the purpose of use the processor shown in the publication in re-checking banknotes, it could be modified by omitting one of the sorting stackers so as to stack back-faced banknotes in the rejection stacker. 
     In this case, however, if an operator using the banknote processor erroneously puts approximately uniformly faced banknotes on a setting portion, facing majority&#39;s back faces upward, then the back-faced majority banknotes set on the machine are stacked in the rejection stacker with a smaller containing space, and the rejection stacker soon become full. 
     This kind of problem generally occurs not only with banknotes but also with any kinds of paper sheets such as securities. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a paper sheet processor capable of uniforming face-and-back orientation of paper sheets regardless of the way of setting the paper sheets, and suitable for re-checking paper sheets approximately uniformed in face-and-back orientation previously. 
     According to the invention, there is provided a paper sheet processor comprising: a paper sheet setting portion for setting a plurality of paper sheets approximately uniformed in face-and-back orientation; a feeding section to sequentially feed the paper sheets set on said paper sheet setting portion one after another; a discriminator for discriminating at least face-and-back orientation of each paper sheet introduced; a first stacker as a main stacker; a second stacker as a sub-stacker having a smaller capacity than that of the first stacker; and a controller for controlling such that the paper sheet first introduced and discriminated in face-and-back orientation by the discriminator is stacked on the first stacker, and regarding second and subsequent paper sheets, those having the same face-and-back orientation as that of the first introduced paper sheet are stacked on the first stacker and the others having the opposite face-and-back orientation from that of the first introduced paper sheet are stacked on the second stacker. 
     Also when the second paper sheet, et seq. do not coincide with the first paper sheet in orientation of a pattern, denomination of banknotes or genuineness, the discriminator can stack paper sheets in a second stacker. 
     According to the invention, even when an operator erroneously puts approximately uniformly faced paper sheets on a setting portion, facing majority&#39;s back faces upward, the processor sorts the majority front-faced or back-faced paper sheets to the main stacker having a larger capacity and the minority back-faced or front-faced paper sheets to the sub-stacker having a smaller capacity, thereby to rationally uniform the face-and-back orientation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an external appearance of a banknote processor taken as an embodiment of the paper sheet processor according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the banknote processor shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the banknote processor shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a more specific configuration of that shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a typical example of a bundle of banknotes to be re-checked, which are approximately uniformed in face-and-back orientation previously; 
     FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the process of re-checking face-and-back orientation by a banknote processor according to an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the process of re-checking face-and-back orientation by a banknote processor according to another embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the process of re-checking denomination of bank notes and their face-and-back orientation by a banknote processor according to a further embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the process of re-checking denomination of bank notes and their face-and-back orientation by a banknote processor according to a still further embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 10 is a flowchart that shows steps of discriminating denomination of banknotes and discriminating face-and-back orientation. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Some embodiments of the invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view that shows an external appearance of a banknote processor taken as a typical embodiment of the paper sheet processor according to the invention. A setting portion (hopper)  1  for supporting a bundle of banknotes to be counted and processed is defined on the top surface, a first stacker (main stacker)  2  is located at the bottom, and a second stacker (sub-stacker)  3  is located at an intermediate position. The main stacker  2  is equipped with a vane wheel  4  for stacking banknotes in alignment. For example, the hopper  1  has the capacity of 300 banknotes, the main stacker  2  has the capacity of 200 banknotes, and the sub-stacker has the capacity of 20 banknotes. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the banknote processor shown in FIG. 1, and mainly illustrates a banknote passageway and various sensors. First regarding the passageway, it is divided into a path for banknotes fed from the hopper  1  by a feed roller  11  having a brake and a clutch then traveling through a discriminator, explained later, and directed toward the second stacker at branching point where a guide claw  13  by a solenoid  12 , and a path toward the first stacker  2  for guiding normal banknotes. 
     Next explained is a sensor system. This processor includes a hopper sensor (HP)  21  for detecting that banknotes are set on the hopper  1 , a first sensor (SPI)  22  for detecting that each banknote is normally fed immediately downstream the feed roller  11 , a magnetic sensor (MG)  24  for detecting magnetic ink on each banknote, reflection-type optical sensors (REF)  25 ,  26  for detecting patterns, or the like, on each banknote, a double check sensor (SP 2 )  27 , a stacker sensor (ST)  29  for detecting whether the first stacker  2  contains any banknote or not, a reject (RJ) sensor  28  for detecting whether the second stacker  3  contains any rejected banknote or not, and an encoder  30  for detecting rotation of a motor. The sensors SP 1 , SP 2 , REF and MG are provided in each of the right left sides. Among these sensors, the magnetic sensor  24  and the optical sensors (REF)  25  and  26  form the discriminator designated by the numeral  5  in FIG. 2, and this discriminator  5  functions to discriminate face-and-back orientations, orientation of a pattern, denomination of banknotes, genuineness of banknotes. 
     This banknote processor further includes a power source unit  16  having a fan  17  therein to supply an electric power to motors and light sources of sensors using light. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram that shows general configuration of the banknote processor according to the invention. A controller controls a mode selector  110  for selecting a process mode, a banknote data table  120  that stores data on denomination of banknotes, a discriminator  130  (designated by the numeral  5  in FIG. 2) for discriminating supplied banknotes, a branching claw driving solenoid  140  that drives the guide claw for switching destination of each banknote between the first stacker and the second stacker with reference to a result of discrimination, feeding mechanism  150 , and a conveying mechanism  160 , respectively. Outputs of the stacker sensor  29  and the reject sensor  28  are input to the controller. Let the banknote data table store reference data about front surfaces and back surfaces of different denomination of banknotes. 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram that shows how the configuration of FIG. 3 is realized as hardware. 
     The discriminator  130  of FIG. 3 exchanges data with CPU through a sensor AMP circuit and a D/A converter corresponding to the controller, and the branching claw driving solenoid  140  exchanges data with CPU via an actuator drive circuit. The mode selector  110  is realized as a display portion that includes an LED display and membrane keys. The banknote data table  120  is provided in internal ROM of CPU. Furthermore, numerical keys are also provided. 
     Next explained are processing modes that can be selected through the mode selector. 
     In the broadest classification, the banknote processor has the following three processing modes. 
     (1) MIX Mode 
     This is a mode for processing a bundle of banknotes including various kinds of denomination. Once this mode is selected, all banknotes specified to be certain denomination of banknotes by the discriminator  5  are guided to the first stacker, and the others that cannot be discriminated or are determined not to be genuine are guided to the second stacker. The banknotes specified in denomination are summed in amount every time of processing. The invention is applicable to this mode. 
     (2) DD Mode 
     This is a mode for detecting different kinds of denomination. Once this mode is selected, the discriminator  5  identifies denomination of the first introduced banknote and this banknote is guided to the first stacker. Subsequent banknotes of the same denomination are also guided to the first stacker, and those of different denomination, those impossible to specify and counterfeit notes are guided to the second stacker. 
     It is recommended to re-check banknotes by using the invention to this mode because banknotes to be re-checked are normally uniformed in face-and-back orientation to a certain extent, and the second stacker as the sub-stacker will seldom become full. 
     (3) COUNT Mode 
     Once this mode is selected, the functions of the discriminator  5  to discriminate face-and-back orientation, pattern, denomination and genuineness do not work at all, and the processor exclusively counts the number of paper sheets. This mode is used to count the number of paper sheets other than banknotes, or to count banknotes of foreign countries, for example, data of which are not input in the storage table of the banknote processor. 
     Since this mode does not use the discriminating function, there is no room for application of the present invention. 
     Next explained are behaviors of the banknote processor according to the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a typical example of a bundle of banknotes to be re-checked, which are approximately uniformed in face-and-back orientation previously. In. this example, the bundle of banknotes does not include different kinds of denomination or counterfeit notes. In FIG. 5, F denotes front faces of banknotes to be re-checked, and B denotes their back faces. In this example, most of the banknotes are oriented with their front faces upward and with a uniform orientation of the pattern, but they are not completely uniformed in face-and-back orientation. Specifically, the third banknote is oriented with its back face upward, and the 97th banknote is oriented with its pattern upside down, although it is oriented with its front face upward. 
     FIGS. 6 through 9 are flowcharts that illustrate an example of behaviors of the banknote processor according to the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a flowchart that shows a process of re-checking banknotes under the status of FIG.  5 . This process is the DD mode. 
     A plurality of banknotes (normally of a bundle of 100 sheets) set on the hopper  1  shown in FIG. 1 are sequentially fed one after another from the bottom one by a feeding mechanism labeled with  11  in FIG. 2, and discriminated about their face-and-back orientation by the discriminator  5  shown in FIG. 2 (step S 101 ). The first fed banknote (i.e. the lower-most banknote), after being discriminated about its face-and-back orientation, is guided to the first stacker  2  (main stacker) shown in FIG. 1 (step S 102 ). The face-and-back orientation of the first banknote is stored in a storage means. 
     Next judged is whether any subsequent banknote exists or not (step S 103 ). If not, the process terminates there. If any subsequent banknote exists, it is fed, and discriminated about its face-and-back orientation by the discriminator  5 . If it is determined to have the same face-and-back orientation as the first fed banknote (step S 104 ), it undergoes confirmation about genuineness (step S 105 ) and it is guided to the first stacker  2  shown in FIG. 1 (step S 106 ). On the other hand, if the subsequent banknote is different in face-and-back orientation from the first banknote, or it is not a genuine banknote, the guide claw  13  shown in FIG. 2 is changed to guide it to the second stacker  3  of FIG. 1 (step S 107 ). 
     After that, steps from S 103  to S 107  are repeated as far as the next banknote exists. 
     In this embodiment, it is not determined previously whichever stacker is used to stack the banknote having the face-and-back orientation used as the basis of discrimination of face-and-back orientation. Instead, it is configured to direct the first fed banknote (the banknote located at the bottom among banknotes put on the setting portion (hopper)  1  to be re-checked) and other banknotes having the same face-and-back orientation as the first one to the main stacker, and direct other banknotes different in face-and-back orientation from the first one to the sub-stacker. In this way, regardless of how the banknotes to be re-checked are put on the setting portion, the processor can always direct the majority part or all (when manual alignment of their face-and-back orientation is complete) of the banknotes to the main stacker. 
     In the embodiment shown here, capacity of the setting portion  1  (hopper) is 300 sheets, capacity of the first stacker  2  (main stacker) is 200 sheets, and capacity of the second stacker  3  (sub-stacker) is 20 sheets, as proposed above. If a bundle of banknotes to be re-checked contains 100 sheets, and those erroneously oriented manually are within 20 sheets, overflow of banknotes from one of stackers does not occur even if the bundle is set to orient the majority part of banknotes reversely. 
     In this way, by making a difference in capacity between the first stacker and the second stacker (proportion of 10:1 in this embodiment), it is possible to effectively use the physical space within the limited vertical dimension of the processor and to make it compact accordingly. 
     In the processor shown in FIG. 6, explanation has been made merely about face-and-back orientation of banknotes. However, similar control is possible when the pattern orientation is involved as an additional subject of the control. Since banknotes to be re-checked are normally bundled in the unit of 100 sheets, and roughly aligned in face-and-back orientation and pattern orientation manually beforehand. However, as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible that such a bundle contains some banknotes different in face-and-back orientation or pattern orientation. Therefore, the processor is useful when such a bundle is required to be in complete alignment. FIG. 7 shows a process usable for this purpose. 
     Banknotes put on the setting portion (hopper)  1  of FIG.  1  are sequentially fed one after another, and their face-and-back orientations are discriminated by the discriminator  5  shown in FIG. 2 (step S 201 ). The first fed banknote (i.e. the lower-most banknote), after being discriminated about its face-and-back orientation and pattern orientation, is guided to the first stacker  2  (main stacker) (step S 202 ). The face-and-back orientation and top-and-bottom orientation of the first banknote are stored in a storage means. 
     Next judged is whether any subsequent banknote exists or not (step S 203 ). If not, the process terminates there. If any subsequent banknote exists, it is fed, and discriminated about its face-and-back orientation (step S 204 ) and top-and-bottom orientation by the discriminator  5  (step S 205 ). If it is determined to have the same face-and-back orientation and top-and-bottom orientation as the first fed banknote, it undergoes confirmation about genuineness (step S 206 ) and it is guided to the first stacker  2  shown in FIG. 1 (step S 207 ). On the other hand, if the subsequent banknote is different in face-and-back orientation and top-and-bottom orientation from the first banknote, or it is not a genuine banknote, the guide claw  13  shown in FIG. 2 is changed to guide it to the second stacker  3  of FIG. 1 (step S 208 ). 
     After that, steps from S 203  to S 208  are repeated as far as the next banknote exists. 
     FIG. 8 shows a process of re-checking, taking kinds of denomination into consideration in addition to face-and-back orientation, based on the same concept. This process is effective when a bundle of banknotes to be re-checked contains banknotes of a different kind of denomination or counterfeit notes, and also applicable in case of the MIX mode. 
     Banknotes put on the setting portion (hopper)  1  of FIG. 1 are sequentially fed one after another, and their denomination and face-and-back orientation are discriminated by the discriminator  5  shown in FIG. 2 (step S 301 ). The first fed banknote (i.e. the lower-most banknote), after being discriminated about its denomination and face-and-back orientation, is guided to the first stacker  2  (main stacker) (step S 302 ). The denomination and face-and-back orientation of the first banknote are stored in a storage means. 
     Next judged is whether any subsequent banknote exists or not (step S 303 ). If not, the process terminates there. If any subsequent banknote exists, it is fed, and discriminated about its denomination by the discriminator  5  (step S 304 ). If it is determined to be of the same denomination as the first fed banknote, it undergoes confirmation about coincidence of face-and-back orientation (step S 305 ) and genuineness (step S 306 ) and it is guided to the first stacker  2  shown in FIG. 1 (step S 307 ). On the other hand, if the subsequent banknote is different in denomination and face-and-back orientation from the first banknote, or it is not a genuine banknote, the guide claw  13  shown in FIG. 2 is changed to guide it to the second stacker  3  of FIG. 1 (step S 308 ). 
     After that, steps from S 303  to S 308  are repeated as far as the next banknote exists. 
     FIG. 9 shows a process of re-checking face-and-back orientation and top-and-bottom orientation in addition to the denomination. 
     Banknotes put on the setting portion (hopper)  1  of FIG. 1 are sequentially fed one after another, and their denomination, face-and-back orientation and top-and-bottom orientation are discriminated by the discriminator  5  shown in FIG. 2 (step S 401 ). The first fed banknote (i.e. the lower-most banknote), after being discriminated about those items, is guided to the first stacker  2  (main stacker) (step S 402 ). The denomination, face-and-back orientation and top-and-bottom orientation of the first banknote are stored in a storage means. 
     Next judged is whether any subsequent banknote exists or not (step S 403 ). If not, the process terminates there. If any subsequent banknote exists, it is fed, and discriminated about its denomination (step S 404 ), face-and-back orientation (step S 405 ) and top-and-bottom orientation (S 406 ) by the discriminator  5 . If it is determined to coincide with the first fed banknote in those respects, it undergoes confirmation about genuineness (step S 407 ) and it is guided to the first stacker  2  shown in FIG.  1  (step S 408 ). On the other hand, if the subsequent banknote is different in denomination (step S 404 ), face-and-back orientation (step S 405 ) and top-and-bottom orientation (step S 406 ) from the first banknote, or it is not a genuine banknote (step S 407 ), the guide claw  13  shown in FIG. 2 is changed to guide it to the second stacker  3  of FIG. 1 (step S 409 ). 
     After that, steps from S 403  to S 408  are repeated as far as the next banknote exists. 
     Next explained is a process of judging face-and-back orientation. 
     In the banknote process according to this embodiment, dollar bank notes are mainly handled. Regarding dollar banknotes, there is such a special condition that different kinds of denomination have only a small difference among their front-face patterns but they are respectively characterized in back-face patterns. Taking it into consideration, the instant embodiment discriminates denomination by detecting back-face patterns with a reflection sensor and using front-face patterns as a supplemental means of discrimination. 
     FIG. 10 is a flowchart that shows a process of discriminating denomination and face-and-back orientation. Assume here that the face-and-back orientation discrimination shown here is carried out, based on outputs from reflection-type optical sensors  25  and  26  that placed in confrontation in different levels along the passage from the hopper  1  to the guide claw  13 , as already explained with reference to FIG.  1 . Let the optical sensor  26  have channel CH 0  and CH 1 , and the optical sensor  25  have channels CH 2  and CH 3 , respectively. 
     When a banknote to be judged in denomination passes through, the following operation takes place in each channel. Namely, data obtained by analog to digital conversion of an output of each channel of the optical sensors  25 ,  26  is stored into SRAM in response to each pulse by a pulse which is an encoder output with reference to shading by the bank note. Then, an equation for discriminating denomination from the back face about the data stored in SRAM is computed, and a flag is on for a possible candidate denomination. In this case, since the back-face discrimination equation is used, the flag is not on with the optical sensor for the front face, and it is judged there is no corresponding banknote. The flowchart shown here starts from this point. 
     First judged is whichever set of (CH 0 , CH 1 ) and (CH 2 , CH 3 ) a flag stands in (step S 500 ). If a flag stand in the set of (CH 0 , CH 1 ), it means that banknotes have been set in the hopper  1  with their back face down, i.e. with their front face upward. When a flag stands in the set of (CH 2 , CH 3 ), it means that banknotes have been set in the hopper  1  with their front face down, i.e. with their back face upward. 
     First explained is the case where banknotes are set to orient their front face upward, that is, denomination flags are set in CH 0  and CH 1 . 
     By passing a logical product of the denomination flag of each channel through an AND gate, a candidate denomination can be obtained (step S 501 ). Denomination obtained here is not always a single kind of denomination, but some kinds of denomination may be obtained. Therefore, it is reviewed whether a plurality of denomination flags are standing (step S 502 ). If there is only a single kind of denomination, the denomination is confirmed (step S 503 ). This confirmation is to confirm uses outputs of CH 2  and CH 3  about the denomination and thereby judges whether it fits the discrimination equation about the front-face pattern. When it meets the discrimination equation, the denomination is definitely determined (step S 504 ). When it does not meet the discrimination formula, determination of denomination is impossible (step S 505 ). 
     On the other hand, when some kinds of denomination are obtained, these kinds of denomination are confirmed by means of their surface patterns. This confirmation is carried out by conducting calculation using a first discrimination equation about the first kind of denomination (step S 506 ), and if it meets this discrimination equation, it is definitely determined as the first kind of denomination (step S 507 ). If confirmation with the first discrimination equation is impossible, calculation is conducted by using a second discrimination equation for the second kind of denomination (step S 508 ). If it meets this equation, it is definitely determined as the second kind of denomination (step S 509 ). If three or more kinds of denomination candidates are obtained, additional judgment is conducted, using front-face patterns of further kinds of denomination. If no other candidate is found, it is concluded that determination is impossible (step S 510 ). 
     Through those steps, the banknote is finally determined in denomination and face-and-back orientation. 
     Similarly, when banknotes are set to orient their front-faces downward, since the back faces make upper surfaces, denomination flags are set in CH 2  and CH 3  (step S 511 ), and similarly to the foregoing explanation, depending upon a plurality of denomination flags or a single flag (step S 512 ), confirmation is carried out by using front-face patterns with signals obtained at CH 0  and CH 1 , and the banknote is finally determined in denomination and face-and-back orientation (steps S 513  to S 520 ). The process is absolutely identical to steps S 501  to S 510 . 
     As a specific example, here is explained is the case where 100-dollar banknotes are set in the hopper  1  to orient their front faces upward. 
     When one of the banknote passes through the passage way, operation of a discrimination equation based on a back-face pattern is carried out by signals obtained by the upper-located reflection sensor  25  and the lower-located reflection sensor  26 . In this case, however, a denomination flag stands with the output of the lower-located reflection sensor  26 . Assume here that flags of 1 dollar, 2 dollars and 100 dollars are raised in CH 0 , and flags of one dollar and 100 dollars are raised in CH 1 . As a result, since two flags of 1 dollar and 100 dollars are obtained in step S 503 , confirmation using the discrimination equation for a one-dollar banknote in step S 504  cannot confirm it to be a one-dollar banknote, and it is finally confirmed by the next discrimination equation for a 100-dollar banknote that it is a genuine 100-dollar banknote and its upper surface is the front face. 
     As explained above, face-and-back orientation can be specified, depending upon whichever of two reflection sensors  25 ,  26  provides denomination candidates. 
     Although the embodiments explained above are configured to guide an introduced banknote to the second stacker  2  (sub-stacker) of FIG. 2 regardless of its denomination, face-and-back orientation and top-and-bottom orientation when it is judged by the discriminator  5  not to be a genuine banknote, it is also possible to omit the judgment about genuineness. 
     The foregoing explanation has been made about a banknote processor. However, the invention is also applicable to any paper sheet processor for re-checking any kinds of paper sheets, such as securities (checks and others), merchandise coupons, and so on, other than banknotes.