Money handling machine

A money handling machine including a denomination-specific storing portion, money transport unit that transports money to a dispending portion and transport starting unit that causes the money transport unit to transport money stored in the denomination-specific storing portion. The money handling machine is instructed to dispense an amount of money, performs dispensing processing to bring the amount of money from the denomination-specific storing portion to the dispensing portion and performs dispensing limitation processing to prevent money determined not to be allowed to be dispensed from being dispensed. The dispensing processing includes starting the transport of the amount of money, and transporting money from the denomination-specific storing portion to the dispensing portion to replenish a shortage of money produced by the dispensing limitation processing. Thus, money that is not allowed to be dispensed is not dispensed, an accurate amount of money is dispensed and the dispensing processing occurs more quickly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a money handling machine that performs processing such as for dispensing money such as banknotes.

BACKGROUND ART

In the window of a financial institution or the like, a money handling machine is used that is disclosed in, for example, patent document 1 and that performs depositing processing, dispensing processing and other types of processing. In the money handling machine, for example, when dispensing processing is performed, the amount of money corresponding to an instruction to dispense money is selected from money stored in a storing portion and is sequentially placed on a transport line. Such money is transported along the transport line to a predetermined dispensing outlet, with the result that the dispensing processing is achieved.

On the other hand, in the dispensing processing, in consideration of the possibility that money (for example, severely damaged money) which is unsuitable for being dispensed is stored in the storing portion, the money handling machine is designed such that such money is prevented from being erroneously dispensed. Specifically, a determination is made as to whether money that is being transported from the storing portion to the dispensing outlet is allowed to be dispensed, and the money that is determined not to be dispensed is subjected to, for example, processing (dispensing limitation processing) for transporting the money to a location other than the dispensing outlet.

When the dispensing limitation processing described above is performed, the amount of money that reaches the dispensing outlet is reduced by the amount of money that undergoes such processing, and thus, if the reduced amount of money is left without being treated, the amount of money dispensed is insufficient. For that reason, money is additionally transported so as to replenish such shortage, and thus the amount of money corresponding to the instruction to dispense money is successfully dispensed. When money of a plurality of denominations is dispensed, it is common to successively transport money of each denomination. Hence, in a case where, when the money of a certain denomination is being transported, a shortage occurs, money is additionally transported to replenish such shortage, and thereafter the transportation of the money of the succeeding denomination is started.Patent document 1: JP-A-2004-145600Patent document 2: JP-A-2003-30717

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

With the money handling machine described above, it is possible not only to prevent the money unsuitable for being dispensed from being dispensed but also to accurately dispense the amount of money corresponding to the instruction to dispense money. However, with the money handling machine, which does not start to transport, until a shortage in the money of a certain denomination is replenished, the money of the succeeding denomination, it is difficult to determine whether the transportation of the succeeding denomination is started until a determination is made as to whether a shortage is produced. Specifically, if a shortage is produced, it is necessary to additionally transport the money of the current denomination, whereas, if a shortage is not produced, it is possible to transport the money of the succeeding denomination; however, whether a shortage is produced is unclear until a determination is made as to whether the last dispensed money of the current denomination is allowed to be dispensed.

Hence, there has been a period of time (a blank period) during which no money is transported on the transport line, since the transportation of the last dispensed money of the current denomination is started until a determination is made as to whether it is allowed to be dispensed (during a period of time during which the last dispensed money is transported from a transport start position to a position where the determination processing is performed). Consequently, as compared with a case where there is no blank period, the dispensing processing delays and takes longer. This can cause a serious problem under current conditions where a rapid dispensing transaction is required.

In view of the above problem, the present invention has an object to provide a money handling machine with which it is possible not only to prevent money unsuitable for being dispensed from being dispensed but also to accurately dispense the amount of money corresponding to an instruction to dispense money, and with which it is also possible to rapidly perform dispensing processing.

Means for Solving the Problem

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a money handling machine for handling money that includes: a denomination-specific storing portion that has a plurality of storing units and that stores money by denomination in the storing units; a money transport unit that transports money to a predetermined dispensing portion; a transport starting unit that causes the money transport unit to start transport of the money stored in the denomination-specific storing portion; and a dispensing limitation portion that performs dispensing limitation processing on the money being transported, in which at least dispensing processing is performed in which, an amount of money to be dispensed out of the money stored in the denomination-specific storing portion is brought to the dispensing portion through the transport; the dispensing limitation processing is processing in which whether or not the money is allowed to be dispensed is determined based on predetermined conditions, and in which the transport of money determined not to be allowed to be dispensed is prevented from being completed such that the money is not dispensed; and the dispensing processing includes a first step of causing the transport starting unit to start the transport of the amount of money to be dispensed and a second step of transporting, after completion of the first step, money from the denomination-specific storing portion to the dispensing portion such that a shortage of dispensed money produced by performing the dispensing limitation processing is replenished (first configuration).

With this configuration, it is possible to transport the money to the dispensing portion through the transport of the money by the money transport unit. Since the dispensing limitation portion is provided, it is possible to prevent the money that is not allowed to be dispensed from being dispensed.

In the dispensing processing, since the processing in the first and second steps is performed, it is possible to quickly perform the processing as compared with dispensing processing in which a shortage of dispensed money is checked each time money of a given denomination is dispensed, and in which the money of the denomination is continuously dispensed (the process does not proceed to the dispensing of another denomination) until the shortage is replenished.

According to the present invention, there is provided a money handling machine for handling money that includes: a money handling machine for handling money comprising: a denomination-specific storing portion that has a plurality of storing units and that stores money by denomination in the storing units; a money transport unit that transports money to a predetermined dispensing portion; a transport starting unit that causes the money transport unit to start transport of the money stored in the denomination-specific storing portion; and a dispensing limitation portion that performs dispensing limitation processing on the money being transported, in which at least dispensing processing is performed in which, an amount of money to be dispensed out of the money stored in the denomination-specific storing portion is brought to the dispensing portion through the transport; the dispensing limitation processing is processing in which whether or not the money is allowed to be dispensed is determined based on predetermined conditions, and in which the transport of money determined not to be allowed to be dispensed is prevented from being completed such that the money is not dispensed; and the dispensing processing is processing in which, after the transport of the amount of money to be dispensed is all started, money is transported from the denomination-specific storing portion to the dispensing portion such that a shortage of dispensed money produced by performing the dispensing limitation processing is replenished (second configuration).

With this configuration, it is possible to transport the money to the dispensing portion through the transport of the money by the money transport unit. Since the dispensing limitation portion is provided, it is possible to prevent the money that is not allowed to be dispensed from being dispensed.

In the dispensing processing, since, until the transport of the amount of all money corresponding to an instruction to dispense money is started, a shortage of dispensed money is not replenished, it is possible to quickly perform the processing as compared with dispensing processing in which a shortage of dispensed money is checked each time money of a given denomination is dispensed, and in which the money of the denomination is continuously dispensed (the process does not proceed to the dispensing of another denomination) until the shortage is replenished.

In the first or the second configuration, the money transport unit may include a transport line that produces a flow for transferring the money to the dispensing portion, and the transport starting unit may start the transport by putting the money on the flow of the transport line (the third configuration).

With this configuration, simply by preparing a transport line (for example, belt conveyer type) for producing a predetermined flow and putting money on the flow of this transport line, it is possible to achieve the transport of money. Thus, it is possible to effectively achieve the transport.

In the first configuration, the money handling machine may be configured in which, when the dispensing processing is performed on money of a plurality of denominations, any of first processing and second processing can be selected and performed as the dispensing processing, and the first processing includes: the first step; and the second step, whereas the second processing includes: a third step of transporting, with the money transport unit, money of a given denomination out of the amount of money to be dispensed; a fourth step of transporting, when a shortage of dispensed money of the denomination is produced by performing the dispensing limitation processing, the money of the denomination until the shortage is replenished; and a fifth step of performing the third step and the fourth step on money of each of the plurality of denominations in a sequential manner (the fourth embodiment).

With this configuration, since any of the first processing and the second processing can be selected and performed, it is easier to perform dispensing processing that is more suitable for the situation.

In the fourth configuration, the money handling machine may be configured in which a user can select which one of the first processing and the second processing is performed (the fifth configuration). With this configuration, it is possible to achieve dispensing processing corresponding to the decision of the user.

In the fourth configuration, the money handling machine may be configured in which a communication interface which enables communication with an external device is provided, and in which one of the first processing and the second processing is selected is determined based on information transmitted from the external device (the sixth embodiment).

With this configuration, it is possible to select any of the first processing and the second processing by the use of an external device such as a communication terminal. Thus, it is possible for a teller or the like to easily control dispensing processing.

In the first or the second configuration, the money transport unit may be configured in which the dispensing portion has a mechanism of collecting the money transported from the denomination-specific storing portion on a denomination-by-denomination basis (the seventh configuration).

With this configuration, it is possible to collect dispensed money on a denomination-by-denomination basis; this makes it possible for a teller or the like to eliminate an operation for dividing the dispensed money on a denomination-by-denomination basis. Thus, it is possible to reduce work and time on a depositing transaction.

In the third configuration, the money transport unit may be configured in which the transport starting unit transfers the money stored in the denomination-specific storing portion to a transport start position, on the transport line, that is predetermined for each of the storing units so as to put the money on the flow of the transport line; and, when money of a plurality of denominations is transported to the dispensing portion, the dispensing processing starts the transport from money stored in one of the storing units where a distance on the transport line between the dispensing portion and the transport start position is greatest, in decreasing order of the distance (the eighth embodiment).

With this configuration, when money is transported on the transport line, it is easier to start, soon after the transport of the last money of the preceding denomination, the transport of money of the succeeding denomination. Thus, the blank period of the transport is minimized, and this makes it easier to reduce the dispensing processing time.

The following method (the ninth method) is also useful: a method of controlling a money handling machine including a denomination-specific storing portion that has a plurality of storing units and that stores money by denomination in the storing portions such that the money handling machine performs dispensing processing in which an amount of money to be dispensed out of the money stored in the denomination-specific storing portion is transported to a predetermined dispensing portion, the method including: a sixth step of starting the transport of the amount of all money to be dispensed out of the money stored in the denomination-specific storing portion to the dispensing portion; a seventh step of determining, on the money being transported in the sixth step, whether or not the money is allowed to be dispensed, and of performing, on money determined not to be allowed to be dispensed, the dispensing limitation processing for preventing the transport from being completed; and an eighth step of transporting, after completion of the sixth step, money from the denomination-specific storing portion to the dispensing portion such that a shortage of dispensed money produced by performing the dispensing limitation processing is replenished.

Advantages of The Invention

With a money handling machine according to the present invention, it is possible to transport money to a dispensing portion through the transport of the money by money transport unit. Since it is provided with a dispensing limitation portion, it is possible to prevent money that is not allowed to be dispensed from being dispensed.

In the dispensing process, the processing (or a shortage of dispensed money is not replenished until the transport of the amount of all money corresponding to an instruction to dispense money is started) in the first and second steps is performed. Thus, it is possible to quickly perform the processing as compared with dispensing processing in which a shortage of dispensed money is checked each time money of a given denomination is dispensed, and in which the money of the denomination is continuously dispensed (the process does not proceed to the dispensing of another denomination) until the shortage is replenished.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

11Circulation type banknote depositing and dispensing machine (money handling machine)

35Deposited banknote temporarily holding portion

40Upper unit banknote transport portion

50Banknote recognition portion

85Lower unit banknote transport portion

210Movable banknote storage unit

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The configuration of a circulation type banknote depositing and dispensing machine (hereinafter referred to as a “banknote depositing and dispensing machine”) according to this embodiment will be first described.

InFIG. 1, an appearance diagram of the circulation type banknote depositing and dispensing machine (hereinafter simply referred to as the “banknote depositing and dispensing machine”)11is shown; inFIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11is shown. This banknote depositing and dispensing machine11is installed in the counter of a financial institution such as a bank, and specifically is installed between two tellers behind the counter; the depositing and dispensing machine11can be used by either or both of the tellers on the left and right of the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11.

The banknote depositing and dispensing machine11is provided with a communication interface; higher-ranking terminals12and13operated by the two tellers on the left and right are connected to the communication interface. Thus, the higher-ranking terminals12and13and the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11can bi-directionally communicate with each other. There are three ways of using the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11: only one of the higher-ranking terminals12and13uses the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11; and both of them use the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11.

The banknote depositing and dispensing machine11has a main body14; the main body14is configured such that, when an operation surface operated by the tellers is assumed to be a front surface14aand the opposite surface of the front surface14a, that is, the surface facing a customer in front of the counter is assumed to be a rear surface14b, the main body14is uprightly mounted with a narrow width in a lateral direction, a wide depth in a forward and backward direction and a long height in a vertical direction.

The main body14is provided with an upper unit15and a lower unit16so that they can be removable from the side of the front surface of the main body14.

On the front side of the upper surface of and the upper side of the front surface of the upper unit15, there are arranged an upper surface operation portion17and a front surface operation portion18, respectively, as an operation portion. The upper surface operation portion17protrudes upward from the upper surface14cof the main body14. A fitting step portion19to which a counter fits is formed on an upper surface region of the main body14behind the upper surface operation portion17, the counter having a width dimension equal to a distance from the fitting step portion19to the rear surface14bof the main body14is fitted to the upper surface14cof the main body14and the upper surface of the upper surface operation portion17is so arranged as to be substantially equal in height to that of the counter.

In the upper surface operation portion17of the upper unit15, that is, in the front side of the upper surface of the main body14, a slant surface20that extends forward and slants downward and a substantially horizontal surface21are formed in this order from the front side. In the horizontal surface21, a banknote dispensing outlet22through which banknotes are dispensed and a banknote depositing inlet23through which banknotes are deposited are formed in this order from the front side. On the left and right sides of the banknote dispensing outlet22and the banknote depositing inlet23, there are arranged occupation buttons24that serve as an occupation indication portion for indicating which one of the tellers on the left and right occupies the depositing processing or the dispensing processing. On one side of the banknote dispensing outlet22and the banknote depositing inlet23, that is, on the left side thereof, there is arranged a display portion25that displays a location where a banknote jam occurs and the number of remaining banknotes. The occupation buttons24each incorporate a lamp, and the lamp lights when the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11is occupied by being operated.

In the front surface operation portion18of the upper unit15, there is formed an opening portion26through which banknotes returned due to the non-approval of a depositing operation after deposited banknotes are escrowed at the time of the depositing processing are taken out; the opening portion26is blocked by a front door36. An upper unit lock27is provided that is operated by a teller and that is opened and closed with the upper unit15housed in the main body14. The upper unit lock27is opened, and thus the upper unit15can be removed from the main body14.

In a lower portion of the front surface of the main body14, a door member28is fitted such that it can be opened and closed. In the door member28, a lower unit lock29is provided that is opened and closed with the lower unit16housed in the main body14and the door member28closed and that can only be operated by a senior manager of a financial institution or a staff member of a security company; the lock of the door member28is opened and thus the door member28is opened, with the result that it is possible to remove the lower unit16out of the main body14in a frontward direction. The lower unit lock29cannot be opened by a teller.

Below the banknote dispensing outlet22and the banknote depositing inlet23of the upper unit15, there are arranged a box-shaped banknote dispensing portion32and a box-shaped banknote depositing portion33, respectively that house a banknote in an upright position with the short edge direction of the rectangular banknote coinciding with a vertical direction. In the banknote dispensing outlet22, a transparent shutter34is arranged such that it can be opened and closed; the transparent shutter34closes the banknote dispensing outlet22while money is dispensed and opens it at the time of the completion of the dispensing of money; and it is possible to see, through the transparent shutter34closed while money is dispensed, banknotes that are being dispensed into the banknote dispensing portion32.

Inside the opening portion26of the front surface of the upper unit15, that is, in a front side region of the main body14, there is arranged a deposited banknote escrow portion35that receives deposited banknotes determined to be authentic, that is, deposited authentic banknotes and that collectively escrows the banknotes of different denominations. In the front surface of the deposited banknote escrow portion35, the transparent front door36that is locked by an unillustrated electromagnetic lock with the front door36closed is arranged such that it can be opened and closed; since, when the escrowed banknotes are returned, the electromagnetic lock is opened, it is possible to collectively receive, by holding a knob37provided in the front door36and opening the front door36forward from the opening portion26, the escrowed banknotes at the time of the non-approval of the depositing operation stored in the deposited banknote escrow portion35through the opening portion26.

In the upper unit15, there is provided an upper unit banknote transport portion40that is connected to the banknote dispensing portion32, the banknote depositing portion33and the deposited banknote escrow portion35and that transports banknotes. The upper unit banknote transport portion40is provided with: a dispensing transport path portion41that transport a banknote to the banknote dispensing portion32; a depositing transport path portion42that transports a banknote fed from the banknote depositing portion33; an escrow transport path portion43that is connected to a halfway portion of the dispensing transport path portion41and that transports a banknote between the escrow transport path portion43and the deposited banknote escrow portion35; a recognition transport path portion44that is folded back from the back to the front into an approximate U-shape and whose one end on the upper side is connected to the banknote transport portion42; a bypass transport path portion45that connects the one end on the upper side of the recognition transport path portion44to the other end on the lower side; an escrow dispensing transport path portion46that is connected between the dispensing transport path portion41and the one end (the upper end of the bypass transport path portion45) on the upper side of the recognition transport path portion44; a rejected banknote transport path portion47that is connected to the escrow dispensing transport path portion46and that extends forward; a storing/dispensing transport path portion48that is connected to the other end (the lower end of the bypass transport path portion45) on the lower side of the recognition transport path portion44, that extends forward and whose front end is connected to the rejected banknote transport path portion47.

At least the dispensing transport path portion41, the escrow transport path portion43, the recognition transport path portion44, the escrow dispensing transport path portion46and the storing/dispensing transport path portion48can reverse the banknote transport direction, that is, can perform the transport in both forward and reverse directions. At the portions connected between the transport path portions41to48, there are provided switching members49that switch a direction in which a banknote moves. On the recognition transport path portion44, there is provided a banknote recognition portion50that recognizes the denomination, the authenticity, the fitness and the like of a banknote that is transported. The “denomination” refers to the type of money, the “authenticity” refers to whether or not money is counterfeit (whether it is authentic or counterfeit) and the “fitness” refers to whether or not money meets predetermined criteria (for example, criteria for the degrees of soil and damage) to be appropriate.

The banknote dispensing portion32is provided with: a blade roller53that feeds banknotes transported through the dispensing transport path portion41into the banknote dispensing portion32in an upright position on a one-by-one basis; and a tray54that receives, in an upright position, the banknotes fed by the blade roller53and that moves according to the number of banknotes received so that the position at which the banknotes are received is stationary and that the banknotes are kept in an upright position and placed in proper alignment in a front area.

The banknote depositing portion33is provided with: a tray57that receives deposited banknotes in an upright position; a kick roller58that feeds downward on a one-by-one basis banknotes that are placed in an upright position and in proper alignment by being pushed by the tray57which moves at the start of the depositing processing; and a feed roller59and a gate roller60that hold the banknotes fed by the kick roller58to feed them to the depositing transport path portion42.

In the deposited banknote escrow portion35, the escrow transport path portion43is connected to the upper side of the rear surface thereof, the upper side of the rear surface slants backward and downward and the banknotes are placed, with the sides of the banknotes pointing in a vertical direction, on a collection board65that moves up and down within the deposited banknote escrow portion35between a front wall63serving as the front door36and a rear wall64that cover an escrow space portion35ain the deposited banknote escrow portion35.

The deposited banknote escrow portion35is provided with feeding unit66that feeds, from the escrow transport path portion43, deposited banknotes into the deposited banknote escrow portion35on a one-by-one basis and that feeds out, when the depositing operation is approved, the escrowed banknotes to the escrow transport path portion43on a one-by-one basis. The feeding unit66operates together with the collection board65, which moves up and down with the banknotes thereon. The feeding unit66is provided with: a plurality of feed rollers67and gate rollers68arranged in an axial direction in which banknotes are fed from the escrow transport path portion43into the deposited banknote escrow portion35and in which banknotes are fed out from the deposited banknote escrow portion35to the escrow transport path portion43; a kick roller72that feeds out, when banknotes are fed, the escrowed banknotes placed on the collection board65between the feed rollers67and the gate rollers68on a one-by-one basis.

In the lower unit16, in the front side region of the main body14, a removable box81that stores a gift certificate and the like is removably arranged, and a reject box82that stores rejected banknotes is fixedly arranged.

In a region behind the reject box82, denomination-specific banknote storing portions83that store banknotes denomination by denomination are fixedly arranged in the forward and backward direction as represented by letters (A) to (E) inFIG. 2. Above the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83, there are arranged banknote receiving and feeding portions84that receive and feed banknotes one by one. In a region above the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83, there is arranged a lower unit banknote transport portion85that connects to the banknote receiving and feeding portions84to transport the banknotes. In a rearmost portion of the lower unit16, as represented by the letter (F), there is formed an additional space86that allows a denomination-specific banknote storing portion83to be additionally provided as required.

In the reject box82, there is arranged feed-in unit87that can feed in banknotes through an upper portion of the reject box82on a one-by-one basis.

In the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83, a collection board88is provided such that it can move up and down; banknotes are stored on the collection board88with the sides of the banknotes pointing in the vertical direction.

The lower unit banknote transport portion85is provided with: a main transport path portion89that is arranged along the upper regions of the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83in the forward and backward direction; feed-in transport path portions90that transport banknotes fed from the main transport path portion89into the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83; and feed-out transport path portions91that transport banknotes fed out of the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83to the main transport path portion89. At the portions connected between the transport path portions89to91, there are provided switching members92that switch a direction in which a banknote moves. The main transport path portion89in the lower unit banknote transport portion85can reverse the banknote transport direction, that is, can perform the transport in both forward and reverse directions.

The banknote receiving and feeding portion84operates together with the collection board88, which moves up and down with the banknotes thereon. The banknote receiving and feeding portion84is provided with: feed-in rollers93and94that feed in, when banknotes are stored, banknotes from the feed-in transport path portions90onto the collection board88; a kick roller95that feeds out, when banknotes are fed out, banknotes on the collection board88on a one-by-one basis; and a feed-out roller96and a gate roller97that feed out the banknote fed out by the kick roller95to the feed-out transport path portions91.

When banknotes are fed into the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83, since the height of the upper surface of a stack of banknotes is increased each time a banknote is placed on the collection board88, the collection board88is sequentially lowered to receive the banknote such that the upper surface is kept within a predetermined range. When banknotes are fed out of the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83, the collection board88is raised to press the banknote onto the kick roller95, and the banknote is fed out by the rotation of the kick roller95one by one.

In the main body14, a plate-shaped cover member100is fixed between the upper unit15and the lower unit16so as to cover the upper surface of the lower unit16housed in the main body14to block the lower unit16. In the front end side of the cover member100, there are formed a first opening portion101and a second opening portion102. In the first opening portion101, there is arranged a first connection passage portion103that connects the front end side of the storing/dispensing transport path portion48of the upper unit banknote transport portion40to the front end side of the lower unit banknote transport portion85and that transports banknotes; in the second opening portion102, there is formed a second connection passage portion104that connects the rejected banknote transport path portion47of the upper unit banknote transport portion40to the reject box82and that transports banknotes.

With these first and second connection passage portions103and104, it is possible to transport banknotes between the upper unit15and the lower unit16through the first opening portion101and the second opening portion102of the cover member100fixed to the main body14with the upper unit15and the lower unit16removable from the main body14being housed in the main body14and connected to each other. The first connection passage portion103and the second connection passage portion104can reverse the banknote transport direction, that is, can perform the transport in both forward and reverse directions.

The control system of a system composed of the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11and the higher-ranking terminals12and13will now be described with reference toFIG. 3. As shown in this figure, the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11includes not only what are described previously but also a transport line201, a storage portion203and a control portion204.

The transport line201refers to the entire line that are formed with, for example, the upper unit banknote transport portion40and the lower unit banknote transport portion85described previously and that transports banknotes. In particular, in the dispensing processing, the transport line201refers to one that transports banknotes from the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83to the banknote dispensing outlet22or the reject box82.

In terms of function, the transport line201can be said to be a mechanism for producing a flow to sequentially move banknotes to the banknote dispensing outlet22or the reject box82. Specifically, banknotes stored in each denomination-specific banknote storing portion83are fed out, by the banknote receiving and feeding portion84and the like, to the a predetermined position (a transport start position) on the transport line201corresponding to the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83. In this way, the banknotes are put onto the flow of the transport line201and are transported to the banknote dispensing outlet22or the reject box82.

The storage portion203is formed with a rewritable storage device such as a flash memory, and stores various types of information such as the amount of money corresponding to an instruction to dispense money and the number of banknotes of each denomination that are determined, by the banknote recognition portion50, not to be allowed to be dispensed. The control portion204collectively controls the depositing processing, the dispensing processing and the like performed by the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11. In controlling them, various types of information are used that are acquired from the higher-ranking terminals12and13, the banknote recognition portion50, the storage portion203and the like.

With the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11configured as described above, it is possible to perform the banknote depositing processing (processing for storing received banknotes in predetermined locations), the dispensing processing (processing for taking the specified amount of money out of banknotes stored) and the like. The details of the dispensing processing performed by the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11will now be described with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 4.

When, for example, the teller on the left side uses the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11, the occupation button24on the left side is operated, and thus the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11enters the occupation mode on the teller on the left side. In a counter of a financial institution, deposit information such as the amount of money corresponding to a customer's requirement for dispensing money is entered into the higher-ranking terminal12of the teller on the left side, and thus an operation for an instruction to dispense money is performed, with the result that the dispensing processing is started (Y in step S11). Here, information indicating how many banknotes of each denomination need to be transported (dispensed) is entered into the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11.

The banknote depositing and dispensing machine11receives the instruction to dispense money to start the transport of the specified number of banknotes. Here, when banknotes of one denomination are dispensed, banknotes are sequentially fed out of only the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83of the corresponding denomination. On the other hand, when banknotes of a plurality of denominations are dispensed, likewise, in the transport line201, the transport of banknotes from the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83in which the corresponding transport start position is farthest from the banknote dispensing outlet22(the transport path is longest) is first started (step S12).

Specifically, in the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11, as the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83is located closer to the right side inFIG. 2, the corresponding transport start position is farther from the banknote dispensing outlet22, and thus, the transport of banknotes is sequentially started from, among banknotes of denominations required to be dispensed, the transport of banknotes stored in the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83closest to the right side. The “starting the transport” specifically refers to the putting of banknotes onto the flow of the transport line201by the banknote receiving and feeding portion84and the like.

The banknote fed from the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83is transported through the first connection passage portion103from the feed-out transport path portion91and the main transport path portion89to the storing/dispensing transport path portion48and the recognition transport path portion44of the upper unit banknote transport portion40. Then, whether or not the banknote is allowed to be dispensed is determined by the banknote recognition portion50.

Whether or not the banknote is allowed to be dispensed is determined from predetermined criteria for the authenticity and the fitness of the banknote. The banknote that is determined to be allowed to be dispensed is fed from the recognition transport path portion44through the escrow dispensing transport path portion46and the dispensing transport path portion41into the banknote dispensing outlet22, and is collected in an upright position. On the other hand, the banknote that is determined not to be allowed to be dispensed is fed from the recognition transport path portion44to the reject box82in the lower unit16through the escrow dispensing transport path portion46, the rejected banknote transport path portion47and the second connection passage portion104, with the result that the banknote is stored in the reject box82. In this way, the processing (dispensing limitation processing) for preventing the completion of the transport of the banknote that is not allowed to be dispensed to the banknote dispensing outlet22is realized.

As described above, the transport of all the banknotes of a given denomination corresponding to the instruction to dispense money is started and then completed, and thereafter, from the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83in which its transport start position is second farthest from the banknote dispensing outlet22, the transport of all the banknotes of the relevant denomination corresponding to the instruction to dispense money is sequentially started (step S14). Then, the transport of all the banknotes of each denomination included in the instruction to dispense money is started and then completed in this way (Y in step S13), and thereafter, if it is unnecessary to additionally transport money to replenish a shortage of dispensed money (N in step S15), the purpose of the dispensing processing is achieved, with the result that the dispensing processing is completed. Thereafter, the dispensed banknotes are taken from the banknote dispensing outlet22by the teller, and are handed over to a customer.

On the other hand, if it is necessary to additionally transport money to replenish the shortage of dispensed money (Y in step S15), then the banknote transport is additionally performed to replenish the shortage of dispensed money (step S16). Specifically, banknotes equivalent to banknotes stored in the reject box82are transported again from the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83to the banknote dispensing outlet22. After the banknotes are transported again, if a shortage occurs, the banknote transport is repeated; until all the banknotes corresponding to the instruction to dispense money reach the banknote dispensing outlet22, the same processing is repeated.

Here, the shortage of dispensed money occurs because banknotes that are not to be allowed to be dispensed are transported to the reject box82and thus the number of the banknotes that reach the banknote dispensing outlet22is reduced by those banknotes. Thus, it is possible to identify both whether or not money needs to be additionally transported to replenish the shortage of dispensed money and the number of banknotes to be additionally transported by counting how many times a banknote is not allowed or otherwise on the processing for determining, by the banknote recognition portion50, whether each banknote is allowed to be dispensed.

By performing the processing described above, money corresponding to an instruction to dispense money is successfully dispensed. Here, for ease of understanding the dispensing processing, a specific example of the dispensing processing will now be described below. InFIG. 5, the conditions of this example are schematically shown. Here, denominations assigned to the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83may be set in an order other than the following order, or may freely be set. In general, however, banknotes of small denomination are dispensed relatively often; since, in the processing for dispensing banknotes of a plurality of denominations, the dispensing of banknotes in order of decreasing denomination results in good balance of stacked banknotes in the banknote dispensing outlet22, the denominations are assigned as follows.

In this example, as shown inFIG. 5, the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83are set to store one-dollar banknotes, five-dollar banknotes, ten-dollar banknotes, twenty-dollar banknotes, fifty-dollar banknotes and one-hundred-dollar banknotes in this order from the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83closest to the banknote dispensing outlet22; banknotes are sufficiently assumed to be stored in the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83. The banknotes of each denomination are fed out, by the banknote receiving and feeding portions84and the like, to the transport start position (positions represented by P1to P6inFIG. 5) corresponding to each of the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83, with the result that the transport is started.

Here, it is assumed that only one banknote which is not allowed to be dispensed is mixed into the ten-dollar banknote denomination-specific banknote storing portion83, and that an instruction to dispense 30 five-dollar banknotes, 50 ten-dollar banknotes and 20 fifty-dollar banknotes is received from the higher-ranking terminal (step S11). In this case, the denominations of the five-dollar banknote, the ten-dollar banknote and the fifty-dollar banknote are denominations necessary for the dispensing of money.

The banknote depositing and dispensing machine11receives the instruction to dispense money to feed out and put banknotes onto the transport line one by one from the fifty-dollar denomination-specific banknote storing portion83in which the corresponding transport start position is farthest from the banknote dispensing outlet22, with the result that the transport of banknotes is started (step S12). Thereafter, the transport of 20 fifty-dollar banknotes is started and then completed, and, likewise, the transport of banknotes is started on the ten-dollar denomination-specific banknote storing portion83in which the corresponding transport start position is second farthest from the banknote dispensing outlet22(step S14).

Here, immediately when the 20th fifty-dollar banknote passes through the transport start position (P3inFIG. 3) of the ten-dollar banknote denomination-specific banknote storing portion83, the transport of the first ten-dollar banknote is started. In this way, in the transport line201, an interval between the last fifty-dollar banknote and the first ten-dollar banknote is prevented from being significantly increased, with the result that the blank period of the transport is minimized.

To prevent an interval between the last banknote of a given denomination and the first banknote of the succeeding denomination from being significantly increased is facilitated by sequentially performing, as in this embodiment, the transport of banknotes from the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83in which the corresponding transport start position is farthest from the banknote dispensing outlet22. If the transport of fifty-dollar banknotes is performed after the transport of ten-dollar banknotes, in order for the interval to be reduced, it is necessary to, for example, start the transport of the first fifty-dollar banknote before the start of the transport of the last ten-dollar banknote. In this case, it is more likely that, for example, the ten-dollar banknote overlaps the fifty-dollar banknote, with the result that a transport trouble is more likely to occur.

Then, when the transport of the fiftieth ten-dollar banknote is started, the transport of 30 five-dollar banknotes on a one-by-one basis is likewise started. If, during the transport of the ten-dollar banknotes, the banknote recognition portion50determines the banknote not to be allowed to be dispensed, the banknote is transported to the reject box; however, in this point, a banknote for compensating for the banknote determined not to be allowed to be dispensed is not additionally transported.

When the transport of the thirtieth five-dollar banknote is started, this means that the transport of all the banknotes corresponding to the instruction to dispense money has been started (Y in step S13). Thereafter, since the shortage of dispensed money is one ten-dollar banknote (Y in step S15), the additional transport of one ten-dollar banknote is started (step S16). Then, this one ten-dollar banknote is determined to be allowed to be dispensed, and then reaches the banknote dispensing outlet22, with the result that the dispensing processing is completed.

By performing the dispensing processing (hereinafter, referred to as “first processing”) described above and according to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce processing period as compared with dispensing processing (hereinafter, referred to as “second processing”) in which, for example, when, during the transport of money of a certain denomination to be dispensed, money is determined not to be allowed to be dispensed, money is additionally transported to replenish such a shortage and then the transport of money of another denomination is started. In order for this reason to be explained, the case where dispensing processing equivalent to that of the example described previously is assumed to be performed in the second processing will be described below.

For example, the transport of 20 fifty-dollar banknotes on a one-by-one basis is first started. Since the fifty-dollar banknotes are allowed to be dispensed, the transport of 50 ten-dollar banknotes is then started, and specifically, this starting is done after the 20th fifty-dollar banknote reaches the banknote recognition portion50and is determined to be allowed to be dispensed. That is because, even if the first to the ninetieth fifty-dollar banknotes are determined to be allowed to be dispensed, until the 20th banknote, which is the last one, is determined to be allowed to be dispensed, it is unclear whether the additional transport of a fifty-dollar banknote needs to be performed or the process proceeds to the transport of ten-dollar banknotes of the subsequent denomination.

Then, when the process proceeds to the transport of ten-dollar banknotes, banknotes are transported one by one such that 50 banknotes of this denomination reach the banknote dispensing outlet22. Here, in the transport of the ten-dollar banknotes, one banknote is not allowed to be dispensed, and consequently, the transport of 51 banknotes is started. Thereafter, likewise, the transport of the five-dollar banknotes is performed, with the result that the dispensing processing is completed.

As described above, in the second processing, until the number of banknotes of a certain denomination that are allowed to be dispensed is determined to be equal to the number of banknotes corresponding to an instruction to dispense money, the transport of banknotes of the succeeding denomination is not started. A determination as to whether or not a banknote is allowed to be dispensed is not made until the banknote reaches the banknote recognition portion50positioned halfway (downstream from the transport start point) on the transport line. Hence, in a stage where the transport of banknotes of the current denomination is transferred to the transport of banknotes of the succeeding denomination, during the period during which the last banknote of the current denomination is transported from the transport start position to the banknote recognition portion50, no banknote is naturally transported (there is a blank period of the transport.) When the blank period occurs, the transport of banknotes is stopped for the blank period, with the result that the dispensing processing delays.

On the other hand, in the first processing, based on the instruction to dispense money, the denomination and the number of banknotes that need to be started to be transported are previously found out (the transport of banknotes that replenish a shortage is performed after the transport of all the banknotes corresponding to the instruction to dispense money is completed.) Hence, as described above, after the start of the transport of the last banknote of a certain denomination, without the need to wait for a determination as to whether or not this banknote is allowed to be dispensed, it is possible to start the transport of banknotes of the succeeding denomination.

As described above, with the dispensing processing of this embodiment, it is possible to quickly dispense money as compared with the conventional processing. In particular, when money is rarely determined not to be allowed to be dispensed (for example, when almost all money is determined to be allowed to be dispensed), with the dispensing processing of this embodiment, it is possible not only to very quickly perform the processing as compared to the conventional processing but also to perform proper handling if a banknote that is determined not to be allowed to be dispensed is detected.

That is, the second processing is performed such that the process proceeds from “the transport of banknotes of the first denomination (including the additional transport to replenish a shortage)” to “a blank period of the transport” to “the transport of banknotes of the second denomination (including the additional transport to replenish a shortage)” to “a blank period of the transport” . . . to “a blank period of the transport” and to “the transport of banknotes of the last denomination (including the additional transport to replenish a shortage)”, whereas the first processing is performed such that the process proceeds from “the transport of banknotes of the first denomination” to “the transport of banknotes of the second denomination” . . . to “the transport of banknotes of the last denomination” and to “the additional transport to replenish a shortage (which is omitted if there is no shortage).” Thus, it is possible to perform the dispensing processing more quickly and successfully because “blank periods of the transport” are reduced.

Although the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11of the present invention performs, as the dispensing processing, the first processing described above, the first processing and the second processing may be selectably performed. In this case, for example, the tellers operate the higher-ranking terminals12and13, and, according to these operations, the higher-ranking terminals12and13preferably output, to the banknote depositing and dispensing machine11, information indicating which one of the first processing and the second processing needs to be performed. In this way, it is possible for the teller (user) to freely select which one of the first processing and the second processing is performed. Thus, it is possible to change the flow of the dispensing processing according to the situation, with the result that a more versatile banknote depositing and dispensing machine is provided.

The banknote dispensing portion32may have a mechanism of collecting banknotes transported from the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83on a denomination-by-denomination basis. An example of this mechanism will be described below with reference toFIG. 6.

As shown inFIG. 6, the banknote dispensing portion32is provided with a movable banknote storing unit210. This movable banknote storing unit210has banknote storage spaces corresponding to the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83, and the individual storage spaces are partitioned. The movable banknote storing unit210can move in a direction indicated by the arrows ofFIG. 6according to an instruction from the control portion204, and thus it is possible to change the storage space to the storage space (to which the banknote is transported) corresponding to the transport line201. In the conditions shown inFIG. 6, the storage space represented by the letter (B) corresponds to the movable banknote storing unit210.

In this mechanism, since, at the time of the dispensing of banknotes of a plurality of denominations, the movable banknote storing unit210is appropriately moved according to the denomination of a banknote that reaches the banknote dispensing portion32, it is possible to collect dispensed banknotes denomination by denomination. This allows the teller to eliminate the operation of dividing dispensed banknotes on a denomination-by-denomination basis, with the result that it is possible to reduce work and time on a depositing transaction.

Example 2 will now be described. In the above-described banknote depositing and dispensing machine (money handling machine), a limit capacity is previously determined for each of the denomination-specific banknote storing portions83such that banknotes are prevented from being stored beyond the limit capacity. One specific way to realize it is to stop all the depositing processing when the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83of a certain denomination reaches the limit capacity.

In this way, although, when banknotes of a denomination other than the denomination corresponding to the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83that reaches the limit capacity are deposited, the banknotes of this denomination can be substantially deposited (in terms of the capacity of the storing portion), until the banknotes stored in the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83that reaches the limit capacity are collected halfway (the banknotes are taken out of the storing portion manually or otherwise), it is disadvantageously impossible to perform the depositing processing. This is undesirable because it may result in the depositing operation being often stopped.

Thus, when the fact that the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83of a certain denomination reaches the limit capacity is detected, software processing may be carried out that prevents depositing processing for only such a denomination from being further performed. For example, among banknotes that are put into the banknote depositing inlet23in the depositing processing, the banknotes of a denomination corresponding to the denomination-specific banknote storing portion83that reaches the limit capacity are transported to the banknote dispensing outlet22whereas the banknotes of other denominations are transported either to the other denomination-specific banknote storing portions83or to the deposited banknote escrow portion35.

In this way, it is possible to deposit money until the storing portions of all the denominations reach the limit capacity. The banknotes that are transported to the banknote dispensing outlet22because the corresponding storing portion reaches the limit capacity are manually counted by the teller and organized in another location, and thus it is possible to perform operations as usual.

Example 3 will now be described. The denomination-specific banknote storing portions83and the deposited banknote escrow portion35described above are provided with a mechanism (feed-out mechanism) for feeding out banknotes stored temporarily. Here, the operation of a conventional feed-out mechanism will be specifically described below.

In this feed-out mechanism, feed-out rollers (a feed roller and a kick roller connected thereto) are rotated one revolution, and thus one banknote is fed out. Banknotes are randomly stored on top of each other in a storage space slightly larger than the size of the plane of the banknote. In particular, a device that handles banknotes in which there is a difference between dimensions in their short edge direction may need to be operated with a storage space for banknotes larger than that of a conventional device so that a unit is standardized.

The first banknote is moved a distance (referred to as a “space movement distance”) composed of a play dimension of the storage space and a dimension from the end surface of the storage space to the holding point of a separation roller, and reaches the separation roller. Since the “nth” and subsequent banknotes are substantially pulled up to the separation roller due to friction with “(n−1)th” banknote, the space movement distance is significantly reduced. The rubber portion of the kick roller is previously placed on the side (rear side) opposite the banknote storage plane so that the rubber portion can make contact with the banknote over the entire effective kick rubber length, starting with the first banknote.

Since the first banknote moves, by the space movement distance, more than the movement amount of any one of the second and subsequent banknotes, and thus the space between the first banknote and the second banknote is narrow, they are more likely to be fed out simultaneously. Hence, after the first banknote is detected to be fed out, a feed-out motor is stopped for a predetermined period, and thus the space between the first banknote and the second banknote is increased. The flow of the operations of conventional feed-out mechanism described above is shown inFIG. 7.

In FIG.7(3), in order to control the space between the first banknote and the second banknote, the feed-out motor is slowed down and is then stopped. When the feed-out motor is slowed down, one end of the banknote is often gripped at the holding point of a high-speed transport roller, and the banknote pivots about the holding point of the separation roller, with the result that the banknote may obliquely move. In FIG.7(4), even when the kick rubber does not function, a low-speed roller arranged adjacent to the feed roller grips the banknote and feeds it in the direction of movement. This facilitates the oblique movement of the banknote.

In this feed-out mechanism, although the first banknote and the nth banknote are moved forward with the same kick rubber, the first banknote is fed, by the space movement distance, relatively less than a feeding distance, with the result that the first banknote cannot be completely fed out during the first revolution of the feed-out roller and that it may be fed out during the second revolution of the feed-out roller.

When the banknote is not completely fed out during one revolution as described above, one portion of the banknote kept stationary around the separation roller is held by the high-speed roller, and thus the one portion, which is held, is pulled out, and the other portion, which is not held, is kept stationary by the separation roller. For this reason, the banknote moves very obliquely, and thus is fed out in an oblique state during the second revolution.

This problem is because, when the first banknote is fed out, the banknote moves the space movement distance up to the separation roller. In order for the first banknote to accurately move only the space movement distance during the first revolution, the position of the first banknote is preferably controlled by utilizing part of the effective kick rubber length. The flow of the operations of such a feed-out mechanism is shown inFIG. 8.

In FIG.8(2), since the effective kick rubber length of the kick roller is half the entire rubber, the first banknote is fed by the kick roller but stops at the holding point of the separation roller. In FIG.8(3), the banknote does not reach the holding point of the low-speed roller, and thus remains stationary.

As described above, the first banknote is accurately moved only the space movement distance during the first revolution of the feed-out roller, and thus the position of the banknote is controlled such that the first banknote and the second banknote are in the same state, with the result that banknotes are stably fed out. Hence, the frequency at which the banknote moves very obliquely at a feed-out portion is reduced, and thus it is possible to reduce the frequency at which processing is stopped due to the occurrence of a banknote jam. Moreover, since the first banknote is stably fed out, the slightly oblique movement of a banknote is expected to be reduced, and thus it is possible to effectively utilize banknotes within the device because the rate at which the banknote successfully passes is improved.

The feed-out mechanism described above can be generally applied not only to a banknote depositing and dispensing machine but also to a mechanism for feeding out paper sheets (such as a banknote, a certificate, a ballot paper and a card) stored in a storing unit. When, in a printer or the like, printing is performed in parallel to paper, the positions of the ends of the paper are aligned by utilizing part of the effective kick rubber length, and the alignment of the ends is performed in this way; this makes it easier to correct the oblique movement. Thus, it is expected that the accuracy of printing is enhanced.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention can be utilized in a money handling machine or the like used in a financial institution.