Cash processing system

A cash processing system comprises: a transaction terminal having an opening for taking out and putting in a cash, and means for demanding payment or receipt of the cash; cashier terminal which is provided separately from the transaction terminal to effect the payment and receipt of the cash; a passage for connecting the transaction terminal and the cashier terminal; a carriage capable of moving along and on the passage for conveying the cash between the terminals; a system controller for controlling the receipt and payment of the cash; and a conveyance controller for controlling the conveyance of the cash.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a cash processing system in which a 
tellers window at a counter and a cashier machine are connected together 
via carrier means in a money-handling organization such as a bank or the 
like. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
In recent years, remarkable developments in the field of office automation 
have enabled many and various types of work to be carried out 
automatically. In organizations where large amounts of cash are handled, 
e.g., banks, there is a strong trend toward the adoption of office 
automation to further enhance the reliability of the handling of cash. For 
this purpose, an automatic cash disbursing machine and an automatic 
depositing machine have been developed and are already in use in such 
organizations, to automatically carry out the work of handling the cash. 
In a bank, these automatic machines are installed at places separate from 
the ordinary wickets (tellers' windows), and are used exclusively for 
depositing or withdrawing cash from an account by using a cash card. 
However, in the cash processing system of the prior art as mentioned above, 
since the control of the cash discrimination, cash counting, cash 
accommodation, and cash carriage from the tellers windows to a cash box or 
vice versa are sequential, if these operations are demanded from a 
plurality of tellers at the same time, they cannot be effected 
simultaneously. This results in the customers being kept waiting for long 
periods of time. Furthermore, when the cash box becomes full and must be 
exchanged for an empty one, the automatic cash receiving or disbursing 
system line must be temporarily stopped. In addition, when a clearance 
operation is required, according to the cash processing system of the 
prior art, such a clearance operation cannot be effected in parallel with 
the transactions for the receipt or disbursement of the cash. To overcome 
these problems, and to promote the automation of cash handling at the 
teller's windows, there has arisen a strong demand for an automatic cash 
processing system operating between the teller's windows and the cash box. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The primary object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned 
problems of the prior art by providing a cash processing system having a 
simplified control system for cash receipt and/or cash payment. Another 
object of the present invention is to provide a cash processing system in 
which details of an operation such as cash receipt of cash disbursement 
can be temporarily held in the control device to enable the cash boxes to 
be exchanged. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cash 
processing system in which a clearance can be effected in parallel with 
other cash transactions. 
In order to achieve the above objects, according to the present invention, 
there is provided a cash processing system including a transaction 
terminal having opening means for taking out and putting in cash, and 
means for demanding the payment or receipt of cash, a cashier terminal 
provided separately from the transaction terminal to effect the payment 
and receipt of cash, passage means for connecting the transaction terminal 
and the cashier terminal, carriage means capable of moving along and on 
the passage means for conveying cash between the transaction and cashier 
terminals, and vice versa, a system controller for controlling the receipt 
and payment of cash by the cashier terminal, in response to a demand from 
the transaction terminal, and a conveyance controller for controlling the 
conveyance of cash by the carriage means in accordance with signals output 
from the system controller. 
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a 
cash processing system including a teller's window terminal having an 
outlet opening for taking out cash and input means for inputting a demand 
including a cash payment amount, a paying-in terminal having a cash box 
for receiving cash, and means for feeding cash from the cash box into 
passage means between the teller's window terminal and the payment 
terminal for connecting the terminals, carriage means capable of moving 
along and on the passage means for conveying cash fed from the payment 
terminal to the teller's window terminal, a system controller for issuing 
a signal for feeding cash to the payment terminal, in response to a demand 
from the teller's window terminal and for issuing a signal for movement of 
the carriage means located in the associated teller's window terminal to 
the payment terminal, and a conveyance controller for conveying the 
carriage means of the associated teller's window terminal to the payment 
terminal, in response to signals output by the system controller, the 
conveyance of the movement of the carriage means between the teller's 
window terminal and the payment terminal being able to move abreast of 
cash fed by the payment terminal. 
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is 
provided a cash processing system including a teller's window terminal 
having a cash putting in opening, cash counting means for counting cash 
put in through the cash putting in opening, and loading means for 
automatically loading cash counted by the counting means onto a carriage 
for conveying the cash, a receiving terminal for receiving cash loaded on 
the carriage, a passage means between the teller's window terminal and the 
receiving terminal for the movement of the carriage, a system controller 
for stopping the receipt transaction at the teller's window terminal, in 
response to the completion of loading of cash onto the carriage at the 
teller's window terminal, and for demanding the commencement of the 
movement of the carriage at the associated teller's window terminal, and a 
conveyance controller for conveying the carriage at the teller's terminal 
to the receiving terminal, in response to the demand to the system 
controller.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In the cash processing system shown in FIG. 1, a wicket counter (teller's 
window counter) 1 and a cashier machine 2 are connected together through a 
carrier device 3. 
The wicket counter 1 is equipped with a cash handling port 10, a teller 
terminal 11, and a cash receiving machine 12 for the teller. These units 
1, 10, 11, and 12 constitute a transaction terminal. 
The cashier machine 2 has an automatic cash discharging machine 2a and an 
automatic cash accomodating machine 2b. 
The carrier device 3 includes rails 3b that connect the cashier machine 2 
to the wicket counter 1, and a linear motor car which has a carrier 3a 
that moves on the rails 3b and a stator 3c that drives the carrier 3a. 
The operation of the above are controlled by a control unit (system 
controller) 4, and the carrier device 3 is further controlled by a linear 
motor controller (carriage controller) 5. 
In the transaction terminal, the cash receiving operation is carried out as 
described below. That is, the cash, etc. which the teller has received 
from a customer at the wicket counter 1 is put into the cash handling port 
10, and directly placed on the carrier 3a. The amount of cash, etc. is 
then input at the teller terminal 11. Under the control of the control 
unit 4 and the linear motor controller 5, the carrier 3a in the wicket 
counter 1 is driven on the rail 3b to the cashier machine 2, and the cash 
placed on the carrier 3a is held in the safe in the automatic cash 
accomodating machine 2b. This operation also can be carried out through 
the teller's cash receiving machine 12. In this case, the teller's cash 
receiving machine 12 discriminates the cash and confirms the amount of 
cash received; the cash is then placed on the carrier 3a. 
The cash disbursing operation is carried out as described below. That is, 
as the teller inputs the disbursing instruction and the disbursement 
amount from the teller temrinal 11 to the control unit 4, the carrier 3a 
in the wicket counter 1 is driven on the rail 3b to the automatic cash 
discharging machine 2a. The amount of cash discharged from the cash box of 
the automatic cash discharging machine 2a is placed on the carrier 3a, 
which then moves alone the rail 3b to the wicket counter 1. The teller 
then takes out the cash through the cash handling port 10. 
According to the above-mentioned cash processing system, the cash is 
transferred between the cash box and the wicket without the need for 
manual handling, making it possible to alleviate the amount of work at the 
wicket, to control the cash in a uniform manner, and to contribute to the 
prevention of crime. Therefore, the cash processing system of the present 
invention can be very effectively adopted to the work of handling cash. 
In the conventional automatic cash processing system, the cash 
discrimination and counting, cash carriage, and cash holding in the cash 
receiving operation, or the cash disbursement and cash carriage in the 
cash disbursing operation, are controlled by the same single control 
block, and accordingly, the control is rather complex. Therefore, when 
cash discrimination and counting are demanded from a plurality of tellers' 
windows simultaneously, the processing thereof must be made sequentially, 
with the result that it is impossible to effect those demands at the same 
time. 
Furthermore, as mentioned before, in the processing system of the prior 
art, when a full cash box must be exchanged for an empty one, the entire 
system must be temporarily stopped. In addition, during cash receiving and 
disbursing transactions, the sum of the incomings or outgoings are stored 
in a cash counter in the control device 4, and is renewed when the cash 
receiving or cash disbursing transaction is completed. Meanwhile, during 
these transactions, a clearance operation is effected to confirm the 
amount of transactions per one day or per a certain period of time. This 
clearance operation is effected by means of a cashier console (not shown) 
associated with the control device, and the receiving or paying 
transactions are stopped so that a minute examination note can be issued 
in accordance with the content of the cash counter and the cash counter is 
then cleared. 
The cash box at the cash accomodating machine 2b is taken out and the 
amount of cash in the box is compared with amount shown on the examination 
note, so that if the identity is confirmd, the operation is concluded as a 
no-error operation. As can be understood from the above, since the 
clearance operation is effected independently of the transactions at the 
tellers counter, the demand for a clearance operation may be issued during 
a cash receiving or disbursing operation. In this case, in the 
conventional processing system as mentioned above, there is a possibility 
that the amount of cash in that transaction is not counted at the cash 
counter or the clearance operation is effected during the carriage of the 
cash, thus resulting in an inconsistency between the cash in the cash box 
and the amount on the examination note, or in a failure to include the 
amount of cash in the transaction which should be included in the counted 
amount of cash. 
According to the significant feature of the present invention, the carriage 
controller (linear motor controller) 5 is provided separately from the 
system controller (control unit) 4. 
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a simple arrangement of an embodiment of a 
cash disbursing system of the present invention, in which a plurality of 
tellers terminals are arranged. 
In FIG. 2, the system controller 4 controls the automatic cash discharging 
machine 2a and the carriage controller 5. The system controller 4 actuates 
the cash discharging machine 2a in response to a demand for payment from 
the tellers terminals 11, operates the carriage controller 5 at a 
predetermined time, and counts and stores in a memory the sum of the 
payments for each of the tellers terminals 11 and the total of the sum of 
all the tellers terminals. 
The term "at the predetermined time" referred to above is that time from 
the commencement of the actuation of the cash discharging machine 2b to 
the determination that the requested amount of cash is loaded on a 
selected carrier 3a, and that no carrier other than the selected carrier 
is on the rail 3b of the carriage device. 
The carriage controller 6 controls the carriage of the carriers 3a to move 
along the rail 3b between the tellers counters 1 and the cash disbursing 
station, i.e., the cash discharging machine 2a. The tellers stations, 
i.e., the tellers counters 1, are provided corresponding to the tellers 
terminals 11 where the corresponding carriers 3a are located and wait. 
Cash discharging station 7d is located at the start point of the conveyance 
passage, i.e., the rail 3b, corresponding to the cash discharging machine 
2a, so that the discharged cash is loaded on the associated carrier 3a. 
The carriers 3a convey the cash loaded thereon between the cash disbursing 
station 7d and the tellers counters 1, as will be described hereinafter. 
The details of the construction of the stations and machines in the 
arrangement in FIG. 2 will be described later. 
Assuming that the leftmost tellers counter 1 in FIG. 2 has issued a demand 
for payment, then the payment of the cash will be effected as follows (see 
FIG. 3). 
In FIG. 3, at step 301, the operation starts. The tellers terminal 11 
inputs the demand for payment at step 302. The demand signal Sd is fed to 
the system controller 4 at step 303. The system controller 4 issues the 
signal Sp for payment to the cash accomodating machine 2b and the cash 
discharging machine 2a at step 304, and also issues a signal Sc to the 
carriage controller 5 so that the latter causes the associated carrier 3a 
waiting at the tellers counter 1 to move to the cash disbursing station 7d 
at step 305. 
The cash discharging machine 2a operates to discharge the requested amount 
of cash from the cash accommodating machine 2b at step 306, and the 
discharged cash is then loaded on the carrier 3a at step 307. 
The system controller 4 detects that no other carrier 3a is on the rail 3b 
at step 308 and then causes the carriage controller 5 to move the carrier 
having the cash to the tellers terminal 11, and accordingly, tellers 
counter 1 at step 309. The cash conveyed to the tellers counter is checked 
and confirmed by the teller that it conforms with the requested amount of 
money by means of a cash counter 11a provided in the tellers temrinal. The 
cash is then delivered to the customer at step 310. 
FIG. 4 shows an simple arrangement of an embodiment of the present 
invention for carrying out cash receipt transactions. In the arrangement 
illustrated in FIG. 4, the tellers counters 1 and the cash receiving 
machines 12 are provided for every two tellers terminals 11. The cash box 
2 is separate from the cash receiving machines 12. The reference 7c 
designates the cash accomodating station which corresponds to the cash 
discharging station 7d in FIG. 2. The details of the cash receiving 
machines 12 will be described hereinafter. 
The cash receiving operation in FIG. 4 is carried out as follows. 
Described below is the case when the cash is to be deposited according to a 
deposit instruction from the leftmost tellers terminal 11 in FIG. 4, in 
conjunction with the flowchart given in FIG. 5. 
The operation starts at step 501. At step 502, the deposit instruction is 
input through the operation portion of the wicket counter (tellers 
terminal) 11a. The operator then puts the cash received from the customer 
into the bill port 100 (FIG. 10) and the coin port 105 (FIG. 10) of the 
cash receiving machine 12, at step 503. The cash is discriminated and 
counted at step 504, and the bills are pooled in the bill pool portion 
(described later) and the coins are pooled in the coin pool portion 
(described later), at the step 505. The counted result is displayed on the 
display portion at the wicket counter 11 at step 506 and it is confirmed 
whetehr the result is correct, at step 507. 
When the transaction is finished, the operator depresses a transaction 
finish button at step 508, so that the contents of transaction are printed 
on the bankbook or the slip inserted in the registering machine. Further, 
the bills and coins pooled in the bill pool portion and in the coin pool 
portion are accommodated in the bill or holding or accommodating portion 
and in the coin holding or accomodating portion, respectively. 
Then, the system control apparatus 4 produces an instruction signal Si to 
open the bottom portion of the bill holding portion and the gate of the 
coin holding portion (described hereinafter), so that the cash held 
therein is loaded onto the carrier 3a, at step 509. 
The tellers terminal 11 detects whether the loading is completed at step 
510 and feeds data of the amount of loaded cash to the system controller 
4. The system controller 4 then carried out processes such as totalling 
the deposited cash and storing the total in a memory, and then selects the 
associated tellers counter 1, in accordance with the amount of the money 
loaded on the carrier 3a. The system controller 4 then outputs a signal to 
the carriage controller 5 to close the cover (described hereinafter) of 
the carrier 3a. 
At step 511, the system controller 4 makes sure that no other carrier 3a is 
waiting at the holding or accommodating station 7c and that the rail 3b of 
the carrier path is not in use, and then produces an instruction Sc to the 
carriage control apparatus 5 to drive the carrier 3a at the wicket counter 
1, at step 512, so that the cash is carried from the wicket counter 1 to 
the holding station 7c, at step 513. 
The carrier 3a arrives at the holding station 7c and is raised by the 
elevator, and deposits the bills and coins through the bill holding port 
and coin holding port. At step 514, the bills and coins are held in the 
bill holding box and coin holding box. 
The cash held in the cash box 6 is added to the counter which counts the 
held amount in the cash box 6. 
The cash is also held in the same manner as above even when deposited by 
issuing a deposit instruction from other wicket apparatuses 11. 
As mentioned above, the cash deposited through a plurality of cash 
receiving machines 10a, 10b is held in one cash box 2. 
This makes it possible for the system controller 4 to easily determine and 
administrate the held cash. When instructions for discrimination and 
counting are issued from a plurality of tellers terminals at the same 
time, the discrimination and counting operations can be carried out in 
paralle. Namely, only carriage and holding operations of the carriers are 
sequential in the present invention. 
In the aforementioned embodiment, data for the amount of loaded cash is 
input to the system controller 4 from the tellers terminal 11 when the 
cash is loaded on the carrier 3a. Alternatively, it is also possible to 
input data for the amount of the loaded cash to the system controller 4 
immediately after the tellers terminal 11 instructs the cash receiving 
machines 12 to load the cash on the carriers 3a. In this alternative, even 
if the electrical power source is cut off, the tellers terminals 11 are 
initialized during the loading of the cash on the carriers 3a, and thus 
the system controller 4 can continue to operate correctly. 
In this way, according to the present invention, the control block for the 
conveyance of the carriage is separate from and independent of the control 
block for other operations such as the cash receiving and disbursing, and 
accordingly, the system can be simplified. Furthermore, since the cash 
discharging machine is common to the plurality of tellers terminals, the 
determination of the amount of transacted cash and the amount of cash in 
the cash box can be achieved at a location remote from the tellers 
counters. 
FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating the detailed structure of an 
embodiment according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 6 is a 
schematic side view, and FIG. 7 is a top view. In these diagrams, the same 
portions as those of FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, 
reference numeral 6a denotes a cash handling port in a cashier station, 
through which the cash on the carrier 3a can be taken out by hand or the 
cash can be placed on the carrier 3a by hand, and 6b denotes a cashier 
terminal which includes a display and a keyboard that will be manipulated 
by the teller at the time of calculation. 
Reference numerals 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, and 7i denote lift 
mechanisms (FIG. 9) which work to remove the carrier 3a from the rail 3c, 
lift the carrier 3a upwards, move the carrier 3a to the cash handling 
ports 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 6a, and to the discharge port of the cash 
receiving machine for the teller, then move the carrier 3a to the 
discharge ports of the cash discharge machines 2a, 2a', and to the holding 
port of the cash holding or accommodating machine 2b. Then, after the 
processing is finished, move the carrier 3a downwards to place it on the 
rail 3c. Reference numerals 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d denote cash handling 
ports at wicket counters A, B, C, and D, and reference numerals 11a, 11b, 
11c, and 11d denote teller terminals at those wicket counters, each of 
which has a display and a keyboard through which the data for receiving or 
disbursing the money can be input by the wicket teller. Reference numerals 
12a, 12b denote cash receiving machines for tellers, which are explained 
in detail in FIG. 10, and into which the wicket tellers at the wicket 
counters A, B, C, and D put the cash received. Reference numerals 13a, 13b 
denote terminal writers which, when a customer inserts his bankbook 
thereinto, read the data (account number and the like) from the magnetic 
stripes, report the data to the control unit 4, record the amount treated, 
balance, and the like sent from the control unit 4 onto the bankbook or 
journal, and return the bankbook to the customer. 
According to this structure, there are four counters A, B, C, and D that 
are equipped with cash handling ports 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d and teller 
terminals 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d. Each of the cash receiving machines 12a, 
13b for tellers, and the terminal writers 13a, 13b is commonly used by the 
wickets on each side. 
The cashier counter consists of the operational cash discharging machine 
2a, a spare cash discharging machine 2a', a cash holding or accommodating 
machine 2b, and a cashier station (cash handling port 6a, cashier 
terminal 6b). A rail 3b is laid to the wicket counters A, B, C, and D, and 
the carrier 3a moves on the rail 3b between the cashier counter and the 
wicket counters A, B, C, and D to carry the cash. 
Next, the structure of each of the above portions will be described below 
prior to explaining the operation of the structure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. 
FIGS. 8A-8C are diagrams showing in detail the structure of the carrier 
means 3, wherein the diagram 8A shows the carrier 3a in detail, and in 
which reference numeral 30 denotes a vessel having a cover 31 that is 
supported by a hinge 34 so as to be opened. Reference numeral 32 denotes a 
bill container, and 33 denotes a coin container, each of which are 
designed to contain bills and coins, and are formed in the vessel 30. 
Reference numeral 35 denotes a base which supports the vessel 30 on the 
upper portion thereof, which has a rotor plate 36 at the lower central 
portion thereof, the rotor plate 36 corresponding to the rotor of a motor, 
and which has guide plates 37 at both lower sides thereof. Reference 
numerals 38, 39 denote guide rollers provided at the front and rear 
portions of the guide plates 37. 
The diagram 8B shows the rail 3b in detail. The rail 3b is generally 
constructed in a generally inverted C-shape in cross section, and has 
upper guides 3d and side guides 3e. Reference numeral 3c denotes stators 
that are provided under the lower surface of the rail 3b, and on which the 
coils are wound to constitute a linear motor. The rotor plate 36 of the 
carrier 3a is placed between the pair of stators 3c. By permitting an 
electric current to flow into the coils, the carrier 3a is accelerated (or 
started), driven, or stopped (brake applied). The stators 3c are provided 
on the rail 3b at positions of lift mechanisms 7a to 7j (i.e., stations 
STa to STj) of FIG. 7, and at suitable positions between the station 7f 
and the station 7g. 
FIG. 8c shows a diagram of the coupling between the carrier 3a and the rail 
3b. As the carrier 3a is fitted to the rail 3b, the rotor plate 36 is 
positioned between the pair of stators 3c as mentioned earlier. In this 
case, the guide roller 39 of the guide plate 37 comes into contact with 
the inner surface of side guide 3e of the rail 3b to guide the carrier 3a 
in the lateral direction. At the same time, both sides of the upper guide 
3d of the rail 3b are sandwiched by a pair of guide rollers 38 of the 
guide plate 37 to guide the carrier 3a in the up and down directions. 
Therefore, the carrier 3a movement is guided by the rail 3b. 
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the detail the structure of lift mechanisms 7a 
to 7j. Here, however, the lift mechanism 7a at the position of cash 
handling port 10a only is illustrated. Other lift mechanisms 7b to 7j are 
also constructed in the same manner. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 70 
denotes a lift belt provided on both sides of the carrier 3a, and equipped 
with a bracket 71 having a pin 71a which engages with an engaging hole 
(not shown) formed in the base 35 of the carrier 3a. Reference numerals 
72, 73 denote pulleys that rotate to drive the lift belts 70 in such a 
manner that the carrier 3a engaged with the pins 71a of the brackets 71 is 
moved in the upper and lower directions, and 75 denotes a motor which 
rotates the pulleys 76 to drive the lift belts 70. Rotation of the pulleys 
76 is transmitted to the pulleys 73 through belts 74, to drive the lift 
belts 70. Reference numeral 3f denotes a hinge which is provided only at 
the positions of stations where the lift mechanism is provided. The hinge 
3f works to turn the side guide 3e of the rail 3b to disengage the upper 
and side guides 3d, 3e of the rail 3b from the guide rollers 38, 39 of the 
carrier 3b; i.e., the carrier 3b is unlocked. 
Therefore, the carrier 3a which runs on the rail 3b and which arrives at a 
desired station is stopped at a certain position by the braking force of 
the stator 3c at that station. Then, the lift belts 70 move upwards to 
some extent, so that the pins 71a of the brackets 71 engage with the base 
35 of the carrier 3a. Further, the side guide 3e is turned by an unlocking 
mechanism (not shown) with the hinge 3f as a center, whereby the rail 3b 
is liberated, the carrier 3a is unlocked, and the lifting operation is 
carried out by the lift belts 70. Thereafter, the motor 75 runs to drive 
the lift belts 70, and the carrier is upwardly driven and is positioned 
under the cash handling port 10a. This position is a base position for the 
carrier 3a. In FIG. 7, six carriers 3a are provided, i.e., one carrier for 
each of the stations STa to STf. When not in use, the carriers wait at 
their base positions (correspond to refuge lines) in the stations. 
After the lifting operation is finished, the rail 3b which is liberated is 
restored to the initial state, and is used for passing other carriers 3a. 
When the carrier 3a is to be used, the rail 3b is liberated, the carrier 
3a is lowered by the lift belts 70 onto the rail 3b, which then restores 
the initial state, and guide rollers 38, 39 of the carrier 3a are engaged 
with upper and side guides 3d, 3e of the rail 3b. The lift belts 70 are 
further lowered to liberate the engagement between the pins 71a of the 
brackets 71 and engaging holes of the base 35, whereby the carrier 3a is 
liberated to run on the rail 3b. 
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating in detail the cash receiving machine 12a 
for the teller and the terminal writer 13a, wherein reference numeral 100 
denotes a bill putting in port through which the bills are put that are 
received by the wicket teller from a customer, 101 denotes a bill 
separating portion which separates the bills put into the bill putting in 
port 100 into individual pieces and sends them to a bill discriminating 
portion 102. The bill discriminating portion 102 discriminates and counts 
the bills sent from the bill separating portion. A bill returning portion 
103 then returns any bills discriminated by the bill discriminating 
portion 102 as counterfeit (impossible to discriminate), and also returns 
the bills in the primary pool upwardly. A bill discharging portion 104 
having the primary pool at the upper position thereof to pool the bills 
discriminated as genuine bills, discharges the bills in the primary pool 
into the bill container 32 of the carrier 3a, which is at the base 
position. Reference numeral 105 denotes a coin putting in port into which 
are put the coins received by the wicket teller from a customer, 106 
denotes a coin sending portion which sends the coins put in through the 
coin putting in port 105 to a coin discriminating portion 107. The coin 
discriminating portion 107 discriminates the coins sent by the coin 
sending portion, and a coin discharging portion 108 discahrges the coins 
discriminated by the coin discriminating portion 107 as genuine coins into 
the coin container 32 in the carrier 3a. The coins discriminated by the 
coin discriminating portion 107 as counterfeit are returned to a coin 
returning port via a coin guide. Reference numeral 110 denotes a 
bankbook/slip insert port through which the wicket teller inserts a 
bankbook or a slip received from a customer. The inserted bankbook or slip 
is sent to a registering machine where it is registered, and is then 
returned to the insert port 110. A control apparatus 109 is provided in 
the cash receiving machine to control the discriminating operation, pool 
operation, etc. in a well known manner. 
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing in detail the structure of the cash 
discharging machine 2a, which consists of a bill discharging portion 20 
and a coin discharging portion 21. In FIG. 7, reference numerals 21a, 21b, 
and 21c denote bill holding portions (cash boxes) that receive, different 
denominations of bills, respectively, reference numeral 22 denotes a bill 
take-out portion which takes out bills to an instructed number of pieces 
and of an instructed amount from the bill holding or accommodating 
portions 21a, 21b, and 21c, reference numeral 23 denotes a primary pool 
which pools the bills taken out by the bill take-out portion 22, and 24 
denotes a bill sending portion which sends the bills in the primary pool 
in batches to the bill discharging portion 20. Reference numeral 25a 
denotes a coin holding or accomodating portion (cash box) which holds the 
coins, 25b denotes a coin discharging portion in which coins to an 
instructed number of pieces and amount are taken out from the coin holding 
portion 25a and are once pooled, and then sends the coins to the coin 
discharging portion 21. Reference numeral 26a denotes a bill discharging 
portion where the bills sent by the bill sending portion are discharged 
into the bill container 32 of the carrier 3a raised by the lift mechanism 
7h, and 26b denotes a coin discharging portion where the coins sent from 
the coin take-out portion 25b are guided and discharged into the coin 
container 33 in the carrier 3a. 
In the vicinity of the terminal ends of the bill holding portions 21a, 21b, 
and 21c are provided sensors S1, S2, and S3, which detect the near ends of 
the bills and issue signals to the system controller 4. The bills are fed 
from the bill holding portions 20, 21 by means of rollers R1, R2, and R3, 
respectively. In the vicinity of the terminal end of the coin holding 
portion 25a is provided a sensor S4 which detects a near end of the coin 
discharged from the coin holding portion 25a by means of a coin 
discharging mechanism (not shown) well known per se. 
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing in detail the structure of the cash holding 
(accommodating) machine 2b, wherein reference numeral 27 denotes a bill 
take-out robot having a hand 27a and an arm 27b. The bills in the bill 
container 32 of the carrier 3a are held by the hand 27a, and the arm 27b 
is turned to guide the bills held by the hand 27a to the putting in port 
of the bill discriminating portion 28a. The bill discriminating portion 
28a discriminates the bills put in by the robot 27, and bill holding 
portion 29a (cash box) holds the bills discriminated as genuine bills by 
the bill discriminating portion 28a. The bills discriminated by the bill 
discriminating portion 28a as counterfeit are recovered in a reject box 
(not shown). Reference numeral 28b denotes a coin receiving portion which 
receives and guides the coins put in when the coin container 33 of the 
carrier 3a is tilted, 28c denotes a coin sending portion which sends the 
coins received by the coin receiving portion 28b to the coin holding 
portion 29a (cash box) which holds the coins sent from the coin sending 
portion 28c. The operations in the cash holding machine are controlled by 
a control apparatus 60. 
Operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described below in 
conjunction with a flowchart of the operation of the disbursement 
processing shown in FIG. 13 and a flowchart of the operation of the cash 
receiving processing shown in FIG. 14. Here, symbols STa, STb, STc, STd, 
STe, and STf represent wicket stations, each having a carrier 3a waiting 
at the base position, symbols STg, STh represent AC stations, STi 
represents an AD station, and STj represents a cashier station. 
First, the operation of the disbursement processing of FIG. 13 will be 
described. 
(1) At step 1301, the wicket teller receives a slip requesting cash 
disbursement and a bankbook from a customer, and inputs a bill/coin put in 
instruction consisting of a disbursement instruction and the amount to be 
disbursed through a teller terminal TM (e.g., 11a) at the wicket. The put 
in instruction is sent to the system control unit SC 4, which receives the 
contents of the magnetic stripes of the bankbook read when the bankbook is 
inserted by the wicket teller into the terminal writer (e.g., 13a). The 
system control unit 4 then determines (command/data analyzed) whether the 
transactions can be carried out by consulting the host computer, at step 
1302. If the transactions are allowable, the control unit 4 establishes a 
serial number for the disbursement processing, at step 1303. This serial 
number is then used as a discrimination number, and the processing is 
carried out according to this number. 
(2) The control unit 4 instructs the linear motor controller 5 to move the 
carrier 3a waiting at the wicket station (e.g., STa) to the AC station 
STh, at step 1304. For instance, the control unit 4 issues a drive 
instruction as shown by an arrow 1331, such that the wicket station STa 
becomes a departure station, and the AC station STh an arrival station. At 
the same time, the control unit 4 sends an instruction, as shown by an 
arrow 1330, to the cash discharging machine 2a (AC) to discharge the 
requested amount of money, at step 1305. 
(3) Therefore, the linear motor controller 5 (4c) drives the lift mechanism 
7a (FIG. 9) at the wicket station STa, in such a manner that the carrier 
3a is lowered from the base position and is placed on the rail 3b, at step 
1307. Then, the stator 3c at the wicket station STa is energized to start 
the carrier 3a. The linear motor controller 5 detects the position of the 
carrier 3a, relying upon outputs from the sensors S.sub.5 (FIG. 7), 
maintaining it at a predetermined distance on the rail 3c and successively 
energizes the stators 3c at points where the carrier 3a moves on the rail 
3b, at step 1308. Arrival of the carrier 3a at the AC station STh is 
detected by the output of the sensor S.sub.5, whereby the stator 3c at the 
AC station STh is reversely energized to stop the carrier 3a at that 
position. The linear motor controller 5 then drives the lift mechanism 7h 
at the AC station STh to remove the carrier 3a from the rail 3b and to 
raise it, at step 1309. Thereafter, the linear motor controller 5 informs 
the control unit 4 of the completion of processing, as shown by an arrow 
1332. 
(4) Upon receipt of the instruction to discharge the money, the cash 
discharging machine AC initiates the discharging operation, at step 1306. 
That is, as illustrated with reference to FIG. 11, predetermined bills are 
taken out by the take-out portion 22 from the bill holding portions 21a, 
21b, and 21c and are pooled in the primary pool 23. Similarly, the coins 
are taken out by the take-out portion 25b from the coin holding portion 
25a and are pooled. After the bills and coins are taken out and counted, 
the control unit 4 is informed of the completion of the count, as shown by 
an arrow 1333. 
(5) Upon receipt of completion of count and completion of processing 
signals, the control unit 4 detects the completion of loading preparation 
and outputs a signal (proper completion), as shown by an arrow 1334, to 
the teller terminal 11a, which displays this information to the wicket 
teller. 
(6) Then, the control unit 4 renews the counter of the disbursement amount 
in the internal memory, at step 1310. At the same time, the completion 
processing is performed to load the cash on the carrier, at step 1311. 
That is, the control unit 4 sends a loading start instruction to the cash 
discharging machine AC. As the carrier 3a is raised by the lift mechanism 
7h to the lower portion of the discharging portions 26a, 26b, the cover 31 
is opened by a cover drive mechanism (not shown) as illustrated in FIG. 
11, whereby the bill container 32 is so turned as to easily accept the 
bills. The coin container 33 is also tilted forward to easily accept the 
coins. Responsive to the loading start instruction, the cash discharging 
machine 2a drives the bill sending portion 24 and the bill discharging 
portion 26a so that the bills in the primary pool 23 are discharged and 
loaded onto the bill container 32 in the carrier 3a, at step 1312. 
Similarly, the coin take-out portion 25b is driven, so that the coins in 
the primary pool are sent to the coin discharging portion 26b, and are 
discharged and loaded onto the coin container 33, at step 1312. When the 
loading is finished, the completion is reported to the control unit 4, as 
shown by an arrow 1335. 
(7) At step 1313, the control unit 4 controls the terminal writer 13a to 
register the bankbook inserted. The bankbook is then returned to the 
insert port 110. 
(8) At the same time, the control unit 4 performs the processing to return 
the carrier, at step 1314. The control unit 4 issues to the linear motor 
controller (carriage controller) 5 a drive instruction such that the 
departure station is the AC station STh and the arrival station is the 
wicket station STa. Therefore, the linear motor controller 5 drives the 
lift mechanism 7h at the AC station STh. That is, the cover 31 of the 
carrier 3a is closed by the cover drive mechanism (not shown), and the 
carrier 3a is lowered to be placed on the rail 3b, at step 1315. Then, the 
linear motor controller 5 drives the stator 3c at the AC station STh to 
start the carrier 3a. In the same manner as mentioned above, the linear 
motor controller 5 successively drives the stators 3c at points where the 
carrier passes on the rail 3b; i.e., the carrier 3a runs along the rial 
3b, at step 1316. As the carrier 3a arrives at the wicket station STa, the 
stator 3c at the wicket station STa is reversely excited to stop the 
carrier 3a at that position. Further, at step 1317, the linear motor 
controller 5 drives the lift mechanism 7a at the wicket station STa to 
remove the carrier 3a from the rail 3b, to raise it, and to return it to 
the base position. Then, the cover drive mechanism (not shown) of the lift 
mechanism 7a is driven to open the cover 31 of the carrier 3a. 
The linear motor controller 5 reports the completion of the operation to 
the control unit 4 which then reports the completion of the operaton to 
the teller terminal 11a, as shown by an arrow 1336, where the completion 
of operation is displayed to the wicket teller. The wicket teller then 
takes out, through the cash handling port 10a, the bills and coins loaded 
on the bill container 32 and coin container 33 of the carrier 3a as shown 
in FIG. 9. 
(9) The wicket teller then takes out the bankbook which has been registered 
from the insert port of the temrinal writer 13a, and hands it to the 
customer together with the cash, thereby completing the disbursing 
operation. 
Described below is the processing for receiving cash in conjunction with 
FIG. 14. 
(a) At step 1401, the wicket teller receives from a customer cash, a cash 
deposit slip, and a bankbook, and inputs the amount received to the 
control unit 4 through the teller terminal (e.g., 11a) at the wicket. The 
control unit (SC) 4 further receives the contents read from the magnetic 
stripes of the bankbook when the bankbook is inserted by the wicket teller 
into the terminal writer (e.g., 13a), and determines (command/data 
analysis) whether the transaction can be carried out by consulting the 
host computer, at step 1402. If the transaction is allowable, the control 
unit 4 employs a serial number for processing the money received, at step 
1403. This serial number is then used as a discrimination number to 
execute the processing. 
(b) Next, the control unit 4 issues a deposit notice to the teller terminal 
11a, as shown by an arrow 1430, and registers the bankbook inserted in the 
terminal writer 13a, at step 1404. The wicket teller puts the cash 
received from the customer into the putting in ports 100, 105 (FIG. 10) of 
the cash receiving machine 12a. In the cash receiving machine 12a, as 
described with reference to FIG. 10, the bills and coins are discriminated 
by the discriminating portions 102, 107, counted, and pooled in the 
primary pools. Through the discrimination operation, the amount of cash 
put in is sent to the teller terminal 11a so that the wicket teller can 
confirm the amount of cash put in. If this amount displayed is in 
agreement with the amount to be deposited, the wicket teller inputs an 
approval signal through the teller terminal 11a. Then, the cash in the 
primary pool is discharged through the discharge portion 104 into the bill 
container 32 and coin container 33 of the carrier 3a that is waiting with 
its cover 31 open, and the loading of cash is completed, at step 1405. The 
completion of loading is informed to the control unit 4, as shown by an 
arrow 1431. 
(c) Upon receipt of the loading completion information, the control unit 4 
instructs the linear motor controller (LC) 5 to move the carrier 3a at the 
station STb of the wicket (CC) to the AD station STj, at step 1406. That 
is, the control unti 4 issues a drive instruction as shown by an arrow 
1432, such that the departure station is CC station STb and the arrival 
station is AD station STi. 
(d) The linear motor controller 5 so works that the cover 31 is closed by 
the cover drive mechanism (not shown) of the lift mechanism 7a at the CC 
station STb, and that the carrier 3a is lowered from the base position and 
is placed on the rail 3b, at step 1407. Next, the stator 3c at the CC 
station STb is energized to start the carrier 3a. The linear motor 
controller 5 detects the position of the carrier 3a, relying upon the 
outputs of sensors S.sub.5 (FIG. 7) provided on the rail 3c, maintaining a 
predetermined distance, and successively energizes the stators 3c at 
points where the carrier 3a passes on the rail 3b, so that the carrier 3a 
runs along the rail 3b, at step 1408. 
Arrival of the carrier 3a at the AD station STi is detected by the output 
of the sensor S.sub.5, whereby the stator 3c at the AD station STi is 
reversely excited to stop the carrier 3a at that position. The linear 
motor controller 5 further drives the lift mechanism 7i at the AD station 
STi, so that the carrier 3a is removed from the rail 3b and is raised, at 
step 1409. The linear motor controller 5 then informs the control unit 4 
of the completion of processing, as shown by an arrow 1433. 
(e) Upon receipt of the completion of processing signal, the control unit 4 
initiates the processing for holding, at step 1410. That is, the control 
unit 4 sends a taking instruction to the cash holding machine (AD) 2b, as 
shown by an arrow 1434. As the carrier 3a is raised by the lift mechanism 
7i to a position under the robot 27, the cover 31 is opened by the cover 
drive mechanism (not shown) as illustrated in FIG. 12, whereby the bill 
container 32 is turned to easily accept the bills. The coin container 33 
is also tilted forward to easily accept the coins. In the cash holding 
machine, as described with reference to FIG. 12, the robot 27 takes out 
the bills from the bill container 32 at step 1411 and puts them into the 
putting in port of the bill discriminating portion 28a. Similarly, the 
coin container 33 is tilted by a coin taking mechanism (not shown) so that 
the coins are put into the coin receiving portion 28b. After the taking 
operation is finished, at step 1412, the cash holding machine 2b informs 
the control unit 4 of the completion of the taking operation, as shown by 
an arrow 1435. 
(f) As the taking operation is finished, the control unit 4 performs the 
processing to return the carrier, at step 1412. The control unit 4 issues 
to the linear motor controller 5, as shown by an arrow 1436, a drive 
instruction such taht the departure station is the AD station STi and the 
arrival station is the CC station STb. Therefore, the linear motor 
controller (LC) 5 drives the lift mechanism 7i at the AD station STi. 
Namely, the cover 31 of the carrier 3a is closed by the cover drive 
mechanism (not shown) and the carrier 3a is lowered to be placed on the 
rail 3b, at step 1413. Then, the linear motor controller 5 energizes the 
stator 3c at the AD station STi to start the carrier 3a. In the same 
manner as mentioned above, the linear motor controller 5 successively 
energizes the stators 3c at points where the carrier passes on the rail 3; 
i.e., the carrier 3a runs along the rail 3b, at step 1414. As the carrier 
3a arrives at the CC station STb, the stator 3c at the CC station STb is 
reversely excited to stop the carrier 3a there. The linear motor 
controller 5 then drives the lift mechanism 7b at the CC station STb, to 
remove the carrier 3a from the rail 3b, and to raise it to the base 
position, at step 1415. The cover drive mechanism (not shown) of the lift 
mechanism 7b is then driven to open the cover 31 of the carrier 3a. The 
linear motor controller 5 then informs the control unit 4 of the 
completion of the operation, as shown by an arrow 1437, which then informs 
the teller terminal 11a, as shown by an arrow 1438. 
(g) Continuing with the taking operation mentioned above, the cash holding 
machine (AD) 2b operates the bill discriminating portion 28a to 
discriminate the bills at the putting in port and holds them in the 
holding portion 29a. Similarly, the coin sending portion 28c is driven, so 
that the coins put into the coin receiving portion 28b are held in the 
coin holding portion 29b, at step 1416. 
The cash receiving operation is thus completed. During the above-mentioned 
cash receiving operation, tellers at other wickets may load the cash onto 
the carrier through the cash handling port. 
The control unit 4 has a status memory 4a (FIG. 7) in its internal memory 
to sequentially store the operation conditions of each of the devices. 
When the power supply is interrupted, the data is placed in a nonvolatile 
memory together with other data of the transactions, and is read out when 
the power supply is restored. The status memory 4a stores the process 
modes (whether the cash is being received or disbursed) and the operation 
modes (whether the carrier is being moved, the cash is being loaded, being 
returned, being taken in, or being counted). Through communications with 
the linear motor controller 4, cash discharging machine 2a, and cash 
holding machine 2b described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, the 
control unit 4 detects and stores the current mode of operation. 
Furthermore, the status memory 4a has an area for storing demand data 
(receipt and deposit instructions) issued from the tellers terminals 
11a-11d, so that the demand data from the tellers terminals is stored in 
the order of the arrival of the demand, to make a queue of the processes 
of the cash receipt or cash payment. 
During the operation of receiving or disbursing the cash, the money in the 
cash boxes 21a-21c decreases, or the cash boxes 21a-21c become full, both 
resulting in the necessity for an exchange of the cash boxes for empty 
ones. Thus, according to the present invention, the problem of exchanging 
the cash boxes is also solved. 
Namely, assuming that the cash box 21a at the cash holding machine 2b is 
fully with money, the "full" condition is detected by a sensor S6 (FIG. 
11). 
The detection is displayed at the cashier terminal 6b, and the teller then 
pushes a button 66 (FIG. 7) provided on the keyboard of the cashier 
terminal 6b to temporarily hold or suspend the cash receiving operation. 
The push button 66 sends a holding signal Sh to the system controller 4, so 
that the system controller 4 holds or suspends the cash receiving 
operation at the cash holding machine 2b. Namely, the system controller 4 
keeps a normal routine sequence for interfaces between the system 
controller and the tellers terminals 11a-11d, but holds the actual cash 
receiving operation by using the cash holding machine 2b. In other words, 
the steps after (b) mentioned above among the steps (a)-(g) are held. If 
the processing of a cash receipt is demanded from the tellers terminal 
during the holding time the demand data is stored in the queue of the 
status memory 4a after only the aforementioned step (a) has been effected. 
If the system controller 4 exercises the cash receiving operation when the 
push button 66 is actuated, the system controller holds the later demanded 
cash receiving operation after the first mentioned cash receiving 
operation is completed. The exchange of the cash box (taking out the cash 
box) for an empty one is impossible, until the holding operation is 
completed after the actuation of the push button 66, and this condition is 
displayed at the cashier terminal 4a. In the illustrated embodiment, the 
push button 66 has a lamp or the like (not shown) which intermittently 
lights when the push button 66 is pushed, so that the tellers can 
determine that the system is a holding status. After the holding status is 
settled, the lamp is kept ON, so that the tellers know that the exchange 
of the cash boxes is now possible. 
It should be noted that when the demand of payment is issued from the 
tellers terminals during the holding state, the system controller 4 
exercises the normal disbursing operations (1)-(8) mentioned above. 
Similarly, when a push button 67 on the keyboard of the cashier terminal 
4a for holding the payment is pushed, the disbursing operation is 
temporarily held or suspended. During the holding of the disbursing 
operation, the cash receiving operation can be normally effected by the 
system controller 4. 
When the exchange of the cash boxes is completed by a cashier operator, the 
cashier operator again pushes the push button having the lamp kept ON. 
Consequently, the system controller 4 cancels the holding of the cash 
receiving operation, and the system is returned to the initial position. 
As can be seen from the above discussion, according to the present 
invention, the cash receiving operation or cash disbursing operation can 
be temporarily held on the cahier temrinal side. This is particularly 
useful when the tellers terminals are located at positions remote from the 
cashier terminals, as in the illustrated embodiment of the invention. The 
exchange of the cash boxes can be effected without involving the tellers, 
and the demand data for the cash receipt or disbursement is easily 
controlled by the system controller. 
During the cash receiving or disbursing operation, sometimes a clearance 
operation is necessary. For example, in a bank, the daily transactions are 
usually cleared at 3:00 pm and transactions before that time are treated 
as those of that day, and transactions thereafter, if any are treated as 
those of the next day. The clearance operation is mainly for confirmation 
of the amount of cash transacted in that day. In the clearance operation, 
an examination note is prepared in accordance with the contents of the 
cash counter and the result is compared with the cash in the cash boxes at 
the cash holding machine. The cash counter is then cleared, to make 
transactions after the clearance possible. 
Therefore, if the clearance is demanded during the cash receiving or 
disbursing operation in which the cash exists somewhere on the system line 
the clearance may be effected before the cash is summed or counted or held 
in the safe, i.e., cash box, or before the cash is discharged, resulting 
in failure to correctly verify the cash amount, or an inconsistency 
between the data on the examination note and the cash in the cash boxes. 
These problems are also solved by the present invention. FIG. 15 is a 
schematic block diagram showing the arrangement for a clearance operation. 
In FIG. 15, the elements corresponding to those in FIGS. 6 and 7 are 
designated by the corresponding reference numerals. In FIG. 15, 4b denotes 
a process circuit for carrying out the necessary processes of the control 
unit 4, and MS1 and MS2 are detection switches for detecting the presence 
of the cash boxes 21a, 21b, 21c, and 25a at the cash discharging machine 
2a, and the cash boxes 29a and 29b at the cash holding machine 2b, 
respectively. 
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of the arrangement shown in 
FIG. 15. 
First, the cashier teller pushes a clearing button 69 (FIG. 7) provided on 
the keyboard of the cashier terminal 6b and inserts a manager card into a 
card reader (not shown) so that the card reader reads the contents of the 
card. Then a finish button is pushed on the keyboard of the cashier 
terminal 6b to issue a clearance command to the system controller 4, at 
step 1601. The system controller 4 checks the content of the manager card 
to judge whether the clearance operation is properly demanded by a manager 
or administrator authorized make such a demand. After the card is checked, 
the clearing operation starts. 
The control unit 4 suspends the receipt of a new process demand from the 
tellers machine counters and holds the demand in the queue, at step 1602. 
Then the system controller 4 judges whether the system line is under a 
cash receiving operation or cash disbursing operation condition, based on 
the contents of the money in the process status area, at step 1603. The 
progress of the operations in the courses of the cash receiving or cash 
disbursing operation is successively stored in the process status area 
memory. If the system line is under operation, the completion of the 
operation is waited, at step 1604. The completion of the operation may be 
either the completion of the return operation of the carrier 3a or the 
completion of the loading operation of the cash onto the carrier, or the 
completion of renewal of the cash counter, in the course of the cash 
disbursing operation shown in FIG. 13. In the course of the cash receiving 
operation shown in FIG. 14, the completion of the operation may be the 
completion of the returning operation of the carrier, the completion of 
the holding operation of the cash in the cash box, or the completion of 
the renewal of the cash counter. 
When the answer at step 1603 is No, i.e., when the system line is not under 
operation, or when the completion of the operation is confirmed at step 
1604, the system controller 4 obtains an examination data based on the 
contents of the cash counter 4a. The cash counter 4a has a deposit counter 
71 which counts, sums and renews the amount of incomings 1501 from the 
tellers terminal 11 and the tellers cash receiving machine 12, as shown by 
arrows 1501 (FIG. 15), and a disbursement counter 72 which counts, sums 
and renews the amount of incomings from the cash discharging machine 2a, 
as shown by an arrow 1502. The number of each unit of paper currency and 
each unit of metal currency is stored in the cash counter 4a. Accordingly, 
the process circuit 4b obtains the examination data by editing the 
contents of the cash counter 4a into a predetermined format and outputs it 
to the cashier terminal 6b, at step 1605. The cashier terminal 6b prints 
and outputs the examination data to prepare the examination note. The 
contents printed on the examination note are the amounts of outgoings and 
incomings, the number of the paper currency and metal currency units which 
make up the details of these amounts, etc. 
At the same time, at step 1605, the process circuit 4b clears the cash 
counter 4a. 
After that, the process circuit 4b outputs a command for withdrawl (taking 
out) of the cash box to the cashier terminal 6b, and display this command 
at the cashier terminal 6b, to inform the cashier teller of the output of 
the instruction for the withdrawal of the cash box, at step 1606. 
The following are the operations carried out to ensure the exchange of the 
cash box to reopen the system after a clearance. The system controller 4 
reads the output of the detection switches MS1 and MS2 which detect the 
presence of the cash boxes in the cash discharging machine 2a and the cash 
holding machine 2b, respectively, to detect whether the cash boxes 21a, 
21b, 21c, 25a, 29a, and 29b have been taken out, at step 1607. 
The detection switches MS1 and MS2 are made OFF when the box has been taken 
out. When the system controller 4 detects that the detection switches are 
turned OFF and that the cash boxes have been taken out, the system 
controller detects at step 1608 that new cash boxes are inserted. Namely, 
the system controller 4 detects that the detection switches MS1, MS2 are 
made ON and then permits the system to reopen. In this way, even if the 
system must reopen immediately after the clearance operation ends, there 
is no possibility that the cash incoming after the closure of the system, 
for example, for the purpose of the clearance operation, is held in a cash 
box which has not been exchanged and which held the cash transacted before 
the clearance operation, or that cash transacted after the clearance 
operation is discharged from the cash box which has not been exchanged. 
In the illustrated embodiments, the carriage means is not limited to the 
linear motor car and may be, for example, a conveyer belt, or the like.