Abstract:
A safe unlocking machine is provided with: an operation direction switching mechanism for selectively switching between a first direction allowance state in which only the operation of an operation unit in the first direction is allowed, and a second direction allowance state in which only the operation of the operation unit in the second direction is allowed; detectors for detecting the action of the safe unlocking machine and generating a detection signal; and a switching controller for controlling an operation direction switching mechanism on the basis of the detection signal from the detectors and thereby selectively setting the direction of movement of the operation unit to the first direction or the second direction.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This U.S. national phase application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2013/082181 filed on Nov. 29, 2013, which in turn claims the benefit under Japanese Application Serial No 2012-266528 filed on Dec. 5, 2012 and all of whose entire disclosures are incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a safe unlocking machine that obtains currency from safes and collects the currency at a single location. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A safe unlocking machine that collects, at a single location, items (currency or the like) from farebox safes (see Patent Document 1) is known in the art. After running a route, a driver removes the safe from the farebox and carries the removed safe to a commuter vehicle terminal or the like. The safe removed from the farebox body has an opening that is closed by a safe door for security. The safe door is locked when the opening of the safe is closed. 
     When collecting currency from the safe with a safe unlocking machine, the safe is, for example, set upside side down on the safe unlocking machine. The safe door is unlocked with a key provided in the safe unlocking machine. When collection starting conditions are satisfied for the safe unlocking machine, a handle of the safe unlocking machine becomes operable. A single rotation of the handle moves only a safe body from a home position, which is the set position, to an inner retraction position, while the safe door remains at the same position. The currency and the like fall out of the safe body from the opening. This collects the currency from the safe in the container of the safe unlocking machine. This collecting operation is performed for each safe so that the safe unlocking machine collects, at a single location, currency from each safe. 
     The following constitutes a prior art document:
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-128586   

     All references cited and/or identified are specifically incorporated by reference herein 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In the present safe unlocking machine, for example, a return mechanism such as a spring returns the safe body from the retraction position to the original home position after a certain time elapses from when the safe body reaches the retraction position. It is therefore necessary to provide the safe unlocking machine with a complicated spring for returning the safe body from the retraction position to the home position, which is where the safe body was located before operation of the handle. Thus, the safe unlocking machine has a complicated structure. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a safe unlocking machine that allows for a simplified structure. 
     One aspect of the present invention is a safe unlocking machine. The safe unlocking machine collects items accommodated in a safe body of a safe by setting the safe, unlocking the safe, and opening a lid of the safe. The safe unlocking machine moves the safe body of the safe between a first position where the lid closes the safe and a second position where the lid opens the safe. The safe unlocking machine includes an operation unit operable to move in a first direction when moving the safe body from the first position to the second position and to move in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, when moving the safe body from the second position to the first position. An operation direction switching mechanism that selectively switches to a first movement permitting condition in which movement of the operation unit is permitted only in the first direction and a second movement permitting condition in which movement of the operation unit is permitted only in the second direction. A detector detects operation of the safe unlocking machine and generates a detection signal. A switch controller that controls the operation direction switching mechanism based on a detection signal from the detector to selectively set a movement direction of the operation unit to the first direction and the second direction. 
     In the above structure, the safe unlocking machine includes a safe accommodation portion capable of setting the safe and including a door. The switch controller sets the operation direction switching mechanism to the first movement permitting condition, when the safe is set in the safe accommodation portion and the door of the safe accommodation portion is closed and locked. The switch controller sets the operation direction switching mechanism to the second movement permitting condition, when the safe body of the safe set in the safe accommodation portion moves from the first position to the second position. 
     In the above structure, the safe unlocking machine includes an operation unit lock mechanism that includes a projection that moves in cooperation with the door and a receptacle that moves in cooperation with the operation unit. The operation unit lock mechanism restricts movement of the operation unit when the door of the safe accommodation portion is open and the projection is engaged with the receptacle. The operation unit lock mechanism allows movement of the operation unit by closing the door of the safe accommodation portion to separate the projection from the receptacle. 
     In the above structure, the switch controller switches the operation direction switching mechanism from the first movement permitting condition to the second movement permitting condition when the safe body does not move from the first position to the second position within a predetermined time. The switch controller switches the operation direction switching mechanism from the second movement permitting condition to the first movement permitting condition when the safe body does not move from the second position to the first position within a predetermined time. 
     In the above structure, the safe unlocking machine includes a first detection sensor that detects when the safe body is located at the first position and supplies a first detection signal to the switch controller and a second detection sensor that detects when the safe body is located at the second position and supplies a second detection signal to the switch controller. The switch controller determines whether the safe body has moved between the first position and the second position within a predetermined time based on the first detection signal and the second detection signal. 
     In the above structure, when the operation unit does not receive the second detection signal before a predetermined time elapses from when the operation unit moves in the first direction, the switch controller determines that the safe body has not moved from the first position to the second position within the predetermined time and switches the operation direction switching mechanism from the first movement permitting condition to the second movement permitting condition. When the operation unit does not receive the first detection signal before a predetermined time elapses from when the operation unit moves in the second direction, the switch controller determines that the safe body has not moved from the second position to the first position within the predetermined time and switches the operation direction switching mechanism from the second movement permitting condition to the first movement permitting condition. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to simplify the structure of a safe unlocking machine. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the front side of one embodiment of a safe unlocking machine. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the back side of the safe unlocking machine. 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view showing a lock-incorporated safe when the safe is locked, and  FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view showing the lock-incorporated safe when the safe is unlocked. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the structure near a receiver handle. 
         FIG. 5A  is a front view showing an operating state of a receiver door lock mechanism when the safe is unlocked, and  FIG. 5B  is a front view showing an operating state of the receiver door lock mechanism when the safe is locked. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the structure of a receiver handle lock mechanism. 
         FIG. 7A  is a plan view showing an operating state of the receiver handle lock mechanism when the safe is locked, and  FIG. 7B  is a plan view showing an operating state of the receiver handle lock mechanism when the safe is unlocked. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the structure of a receiver handle operation direction switching mechanism. 
         FIG. 9A  is a front view showing an operating state of the receiver handle operation direction switching mechanism when reverse rotation of the receiver handle is allowed;  FIG. 9B  is a front view showing an operating state of the receiver handle operation direction switching mechanism when forward rotation of the receiver handle is allowed. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram showing a home position and a retraction position of a safe body. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram showing the electric configuration of the safe unlocking machine. 
         FIG. 12A  is a perspective view of a safe handle in a vertical position, and  FIG. 12B  is a perspective view of the safe handle in a horizontal position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     One embodiment of a safe unlocking machine will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a safe unlocking machine  1  is a machine that collects, at a single location, currency (coins/bills) and tickets from a plurality of safes  2  respectively removed from a plurality of fareboxes (not shown). The safe unlocking machine  1  includes a cabinet  3 , which functions as a location for collecting items, and a receiver  4 , which is arranged on the cabinet  3  and to which the safe  2  is set. The cabinet  3  is larger in size than the receiver  4 . For example, the cabinet  3  is box-shaped and supported by four legs  5 . The receiver  4  includes a safe accommodation portion  6 , which is located at the front of the receiver  4 , and a receiver door  7 , which has a lock (not shown) and which opens and closes the safe accommodation portion  6 . The safe  2  is set in the safe accommodation portion  6 . The safe  2  includes a safe body  8 , which accommodates currency and the like, and a safe lid  9 , which closes an opening of the safe body  8 . When the safe  2  is set in the safe accommodation portion  6 , the safe body  8  is located at the upper side of the safe lid  9 . The receiver door  7  is one example of a safe storage door. 
     A rotatable receiver handle  10  is arranged on the front surface of the receiver  4 . When the safe  2  is set in the safe accommodation portion  6 , rotation of the receiver handle  10  moves only the safe body  8  in the rearward direction (X-axis direction in  FIG. 1 ) of the machine, while the safe lid  9  remains at the same location. A handle knob  12  of the receiver handle  10  can be rotated once (by 360 degrees) around a handle shaft  11  from a home position. The home position of the receiver handle  10  refers to the rotation position where the handle knob  12  is located at the lowermost position. In this example, the receiver handle  10  is used when moving the safe body  8  in the rearward direction (arrow X 1  direction in  FIG. 1 ) and when moving the safe body  8  in the frontward direction (arrow X 2  direction in  FIG. 1 ). The receiver handle  10  is one example of an operation unit. 
     The front surface of the receiver  4  includes an indicator  13 , which indicates the operating state of the safe unlocking machine  1 . The indicator  13  includes, for example, a plurality of LEDs so that an operator may recognize, for example, a normal condition, currency retrieval, an operation error, or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the rear surface of the cabinet  3  includes a discharge door  14  for coins, which are accommodated in the cabinet  3 . The rear surface of the cabinet  3  also includes a rear door  15 , which opens sideward. The rear door  15  closes a container accommodation portion  16  of the cabinet  3 . The accommodation portion  16  accommodates a container  17 , which accommodates currency and the like. The container  17  may be drawn out of the container accommodation portion  16 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the safe lid  9  includes a safe handle  18 , which is operated when opening and closing the safe lid  9 . The safe handle  18  includes a grip  19  and a shaft  20 . The shaft  20  is movably inserted into a block  21  of the safe body  8 . The block  21  includes a bearing  22  that supports the safe handle  18  so that the safe handle  18  is rotatable around the shaft  20 . Further, the bearing  22  of the block  21  supports the safe handle  18  to be movable. When the safe lid  9  is fully drawn out, the block  21  is rotatable together with the safe lid  9  and the safe handle  18  about an axis orthogonal to the direction of the safe lid  9 . 
     The rear surface of the safe body  8  includes a cylinder lock  23 , which functions as a lock of the safe lid  9 . A rotational piece  25 , which rotates integrally with the cylinder lock  23  when an authorized key plate  24  is inserted into the cylinder lock  23 , is arranged on the outer circumference of the cylinder lock  23 . The outer circumference of the rotational piece  25  includes an engagement groove  27 , which is engageable with a projection  26  of the key plate  24 . The rotational piece  25  produces clicks with two clicking portions  29 , which are arranged on a substantially ring-shaped support frame  28 . When the safe lid  9  is moved in a closing direction and closed, a shaft engagement portion  31  of the cylinder lock  23  moves into and engages an engagement recess  30  in a distal end of the shaft  20  and so that the shaft  20  and the cylinder lock  23  become integrally rotatable. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3A , rotation of the cylinder lock  23  is disabled when the safe lid  9  is closed by arranging the safe handle  18  at the vertical position and moving the safe handle  18  to the innermost position under a situation in which the key plate  24  is not inserted into the cylinder lock  23 . The safe handle  18  is fixed to the safe body  8  in the vertical position, that is, the safe lid  9  is locked. Therefore, when carrying the safe  2 , the safe lid  9  is closed and locked so that another person will not be able to open the safe lid  9 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3B , unlocking of the cylinder lock  23  is enabled when the safe  2  is set to, for example, a farebox or the safe unlocking machine  1  and the key plate  24  is inserted into the cylinder lock  23 . This allows rotation of the cylinder lock  23  and the rotational piece  25 , that is, the safe handle  18 . The safe handle  18  is pulled from the fixed position and rotated by approximately 90 degrees to a horizontal position to open the safe lid  9 . When the safe  2  is fully drawn out, the safe lid  9  is rotatable with the block  21  and may be pushed down by 90 degrees from the horizontal position. When the safe handle  18  is rotated to the unlocking side, the projection  26  is caught in the engagement groove  27  to fix the safe  2  to a farebox or the safe unlocking machine  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the bottom of the safe accommodation portion  6  includes a safe detection sensor  32 , which detects whether the safe  2  is set in the safe accommodation portion  6 . The safe detection sensor  32  includes, for example, a photocoupler (optical sensor). The safe detection sensor  32  includes a lever  34 , which is rotatable around a rotational shaft  33 , a sensor  35 , which detects whether or not the lever  34  is blocking light, and a biasing portion  36 , which biases the lever  34  in an opening direction (direction of arrow A 2  in  FIG. 4 ). If the safe handle  18  is rotated by approximately 90 degrees in an unlocking direction (direction of arrow B 1  in  FIG. 4 ) when the safe  2  is set in the safe accommodation portion  6 , a projection  37 , which is located at the bottom of the safe handle  18 , rotates the lever  34  in a pushing direction (direction of arrow A 1  in  FIG. 4 ) against a biasing force of the biasing portion  36 . This activates the safe detection sensor  32 . The safe detection sensor  32  is one example of a detection sensor. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B , the receiver  4  includes a receiver door lock mechanism  38 , which is capable of locking the closed receiver door  7 . A frame  39  of the receiver  4  includes a lever  41 , which is rotatable around a rotational shaft  40  extending in the inward direction (X-axis direction in  FIG. 4 ). A projection  42 , which is engaged with the receiver door  7 , projects from the upper end of the lever  41 . The basal end of the lever  41  pivotally supports one end of a connection portion  43 , which is an elongated plate. The other end of the connection portion  43  is pivotally supported by a plunger  45  of a solenoid  44 . The solenoid  44  includes, for example, a retractable solenoid. The solenoid  44  serves as a drive source when rotating the lever  41  in a locking direction (arrow C 1  direction of  FIG. 4 ). The projection  42  is exposed to the outside from a slit  46  in the upper wall of the frame  39  when the lever  41  is rotated in a locking direction. A biasing portion  47 , which biases the lever  41  in an unlocking direction (arrow C 2  direction of  FIG. 4 ), is located between the frame  39  and the lever  41 . 
     The receiver door lock mechanism  38  includes a receiver door locking detection sensor  48 , which detects whether the receiver door lock mechanism  38  is locked or unlocked. The receiver door locking detection sensor  48  includes, for example, a photocoupler. The receiver door locking detection sensor  48  includes a light-blocking plate  49 , which projects from a distal end of the lever  41 , and a sensor  50 , which detects whether or not light is blocked by the light-blocking plate  49 . When the solenoid  44  is activated and the lever  41  is pivoted to a lock position, the light-blocking plate  49  blocks the light of the sensor  50 . This activates the receiver door locking detection sensor  48 . The receiver door locking detection sensor  48  is one example of a detection sensor. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the receiver  4  includes a receiver handle lock mechanism  51 , which disables rotation of the receiver handle  10  when the receiver door  7  is opened. The lower end of a pivot shaft  52 , which serves as an axis for opening the receiver door  7 , includes a connection piece  52   a  that pivots integrally with the pivot shaft  52 . The connection piece  52   a  pivotally supports a plate-shaped arm  53 , which has an elongated hole  57 . The frame  39  includes a pivot piece  55 , which is pivotal about a pivot shaft  54  extending in a heightwise direction (Z-axis direction in  FIG. 6 ). A projection  56  projects from the rear surface of the pivot piece  55 . The projection  56  is inserted into the elongated hole  57  of the arm  53 . The receiver handle lock mechanism  51  is one example of an operation lock mechanism. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6, 7A and 7B , an end of an elongated connection portion  59  is pivotally supported by a pivot shaft  58 , which is arranged on the pivot piece  55  at the opposite side of the projection  56 . A biasing portion  60  is located between the connection portion  59  and the frame  39 . The biasing portion  60  biases the connection portion  59  in a locking direction (direction of arrow D 1  in  FIG. 6 ). The frame  39  pivotally supports a pivot piece  62 , which is pivotal around a shaft portion  61  extending in a heightwise direction. The pivot piece  62  pivotally supports a distal end of the connection portion  59  around a shaft  63  extending in a heightwise direction. A pin-shaped stopper  64 , which is substantially cylindrical, for example, projects from a distal end of the pivot piece  62 . The stopper  64  is one example of a projection of an operation lock mechanism. 
     A holed restriction plate  65 , which is disk-shaped, for example, is arranged on the handle shaft  11  of the receiver handle  10 . A plurality of circular holes  66  are arranged on the holed restriction plate  65  at regular intervals in a circumferential direction. When the receiver door  7  is closed, the stopper  64  is engaged with one of the holes  66  of the holed restriction plate  65  so that the receiver handle lock mechanism  51  locks the receiver handle  10 . The hole  66  is one example of a receptor. 
     The receiver  4  includes a receiver door opening detection sensor  67 , which detects the opening and closing of the receiver door  7 . The receiver door opening detection sensor  67  includes, for example, a photocoupler. The receiver door opening detection sensor  67  includes a light-blocking plate  68 , which is arranged on the side wall of the connection portion  59 , and a sensor  69  that detects whether or not the light-blocking plate  68  is blocking light. When the receiver door  7  is closed to lock the receiver handle lock mechanism  51 , the light-blocking plate  68  blocks the light of the sensor  69 . This activates the receiver door opening detection sensor  67 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the receiver  4  includes a receiver handle operation direction switching mechanism  70 , which allows rotation of the receiver handle  10  in a single direction, forward rotation or reverse rotation. A forward rotation restriction gear  71 , which restricts forward rotation (direction of arrow E 1  in  FIG. 8 ) of the receiver handle  10 , and a reverse rotation restriction gear  72 , which restricts reverse rotation (direction of arrow E 2  in  FIG. 8 ) of the receiver handle  10 , are attached near the middle of the handle shaft  11  of the receiver handle  10 . A plurality of projections  73  are arranged on the outer circumference of the forward rotation restriction gear  71  at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. The plurality of projections  73  disable forward rotation of the forward rotation restriction gear  71  and enable reverse rotation of the forward rotation restriction gear  71 . Each projection  73  of the forward rotation restriction gear  71  is curved in shape and has a surface that descends in the reverse direction. A plurality of projections  74  are arranged on the outer circumference of the reverse rotation restriction gear  72  at regular intervals in a circumferential direction. The plurality of projections  74  disable reverse rotation of the reverse rotation restriction gear  72  and enable forward rotation of the reverse rotation restriction gear  72 . Each projection  74  of the reverse rotation restriction gear  72  is curved in shape and has a surface that descends in the forward direction. The forward rotation restriction gear  71  and the reverse rotation restriction gear  72  are coaxial. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8, 9A and 9B , a gear rotation restricting unit  75  is located below the forward rotation restriction gear  71  and the reverse rotation restriction gear  72  of the frame  39 . The gear rotation restricting unit  75  allows rotation of only one of the forward rotation restriction gear  71  and the reverse rotation restriction gear  72 . A frame  76  of the gear rotation restricting unit  75  includes a pivot shaft  77  extending in the rearward direction (X-axis direction in  FIG. 8 ). The pivot shaft  77  is pivotally supported by the frame  39 . Thus, the gear rotation restricting unit  75  is pivotal about the pivot shaft  77 . A connection shaft  78  is located at the lower side of the gear rotation restricting unit  75 . The connection shaft  78  includes a biasing portion  79 , which biases the gear rotation restricting unit  75  so that the gear rotation restricting unit  75  pivots in the reverse direction (direction of arrow F 2  in  FIG. 8 ) around the pivot shaft  77 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , two shafts  80  and  81  extending in the rearward direction are arranged in the upper portion of the gear rotation restricting unit  75 . A restriction block  82 , which is pivotal around the shaft  80 , is coupled to the shaft  80 . The restriction block  82  is engageable with the projection  73  of the forward rotation restriction gear  71 . A restriction block  83 , which is pivotal around the shaft  81 , is coupled to the shaft  81 . The restriction block  83  is engageable with the projection  74  of the reverse rotation restriction gear  72 . A biasing portion  84 , which biases the two restriction blocks  82  and  83 , is located between the restriction blocks  82  and  83  so that the two restriction blocks  82  and  83  move toward each other. A projection piece  85 , which is located on an end of the restriction block  82 , contacts the pivot shaft  77  and positions the restriction block  82  relative to the forward rotation restriction gear  71 . A projection piece  86 , which is located on an end of the restriction block  83 , contacts the pivot shaft  77  and positions the restriction block  83  relative to the reverse rotation restriction gear  72 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , a solenoid  87  is connected to and located next to the gear rotation restricting unit  75  on the frame  39 . The solenoid  87  serves as a drive source when rotating the gear rotation restricting unit  75  in the forward direction (direction of arrow F 1  in  FIG. 8 ) around the pivot shaft  77 . The solenoid  87  includes, for example, a retractable solenoid. A plunger  88  is pivotally connected to the upper portion of the gear rotation restricting unit  75  by the pivot shaft  89 . 
     Activation of the solenoid  87  selectively actuates the set of the forward rotation restriction gear  71  and the restriction block  82  and the set of the reverse rotation restriction gear  72  and the restriction block  83 . The receiver handle operation direction switching mechanism  70  is in a reverse operation permitting condition when the set of the forward rotation restriction gear  71  and the restriction block  82  is actuated. The receiver handle operation direction switching mechanism  70  is in a forward operation permitting condition when the set of the reverse rotation restriction gear  72  and the restriction block  83  is actuated. The forward operation permitting condition is one example of a first movement permitting condition and the reverse operation permitting condition is one example of a second movement permitting condition. 
     The receiver handle operation direction switching mechanism  70  includes a receiver handle operation direction detection sensor  90 , which detects whether the receiver handle  10  is set to rotate in the forward direction or the reverse direction. The receiver handle operation direction detection sensor  90  includes, for example, a photocoupler. The receiver handle operation direction detection sensor  90  includes a light-blocking plate  91 , which is located on a distal end of the plunger  88  in the solenoid  87 , and a sensor  92  that detects whether or not the blocking plate  91  is blocking light. If the solenoid  87  is activated to retract the plunger  88 , the light-blocking plate  91  is separated from the sensor  92 . This deactivates the receiver handle operation direction detection sensor  90 . 
     The frame  39  includes a clicking unit  93  that produces clicks at the home position of the receiver handle  10 . The clicking unit  93  includes a lower end pivotally supported by the pivot shaft  77  and an upper end connected to a biasing portion  94 . When the receiver handle  10  is rotated near the home position, the clicking unit  93  is rotated by the biasing force of the biasing portion  94  to fall into a notch groove  95 , which is recessed in the side of the holed restriction plate  65 . This pulls the receiver handle  10  to the home position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , an end of the receiver handle  10  is connected to a back surface movable portion  97  by a gear mechanism  96  of, for example, a bevel gear. When the receiver handle  10  undergoes a single rotation in the forward direction, the rotation force moves the back surface movable portion  97  toward the inner side together with the safe body  8 , which is held on the back surface movable portion  97 . When the receiver handle  10  undergoes a single rotation in the reverse direction, the rotation force moves the back surface movable portion  97  to the front side together with the safe body  8 , which is held on the back surface movable portion  97 . That is, the safe body  8  moves between the home position where the opening of the safe body  8  is closed and the retraction position where the safe lid  9  opens the opening of the safe body  8 . 
     The receiver  4  includes a home position detection sensor  98  and a retraction position detection sensor  99 , which are arranged on a side portion of the receiver  4 . The home position detection sensor  98  detects that the safe body  8  is located at the home position. The retraction position detection sensor  99  detects that the safe body  8  is located at the retraction position. Two chutes  4   a  that guide, to the cabinet  3 , collected items falling out of the safe body  8  are arranged at the bottom of the receiver  4 , which faces the safe body  8  at the retraction position. The home position detection sensor  98  and the retraction position detection sensor  99  each include a photocoupler. The home position is one example of a first position and the retraction position is one example of a second position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the safe unlocking machine  1  includes a controller  100 , which controls the operation of the safe unlocking machine  1 . The safe detection sensor  32 , the receiver door locking detection sensor  48 , the receiver door opening detection sensor  67 , the receiver handle operation direction detection sensor  90 , the home position detection sensor  98 , and the retraction position detection sensor  99  are connected to an input side of the controller  100 . The two solenoids  44  and  87  are connected to an output side of the controller  100 . The solenoids  44  and  87  are controlled in accordance with the output from the sensors  32 ,  48 ,  67 ,  90 ,  98 , and  99  to perform an item collecting operation from the safe  2 . The controller  100  is one example of a switch controller. 
     Next, the operation of the safe unlocking machine  1  in this example will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5, 7 to 10, and 12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12A , when collecting items from the safe  2  with the safe unlocking machine  1 , the safe  2  is set upside down in the safe accommodation portion  6 . When the safe  2  is fitted into the safe accommodation portion  6 , the key plate  24 , which is arranged in the safe accommodation portion  6 , is inserted into the cylinder lock  23 , which is arranged in the rear surface of the safe body  8 . This unlocks the safe  2  and allows rotation of the safe handle  18 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12B , when the safe  2  is set in the safe accommodation portion  6 , the safe handle  18  arranged at the vertical position is pivoted around the shaft  20  by approximately 90 degrees in the downward direction (direction of arrow B 1  in  FIG. 12A ). This moves the safe handle  18  to the horizontal position. The projection  37  of the safe handle  18  pushes the lever  34  and pivots the lever  34  in the opening direction against the biasing force of the biasing portion  36 . This activates the safe detection sensor  32  and supplies an activation signal to the controller  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7A , when the receiver door  7  is open, the connection piece  52   a  is pivoted in the opening direction (direction of arrow G 1  in  FIG. 7A ). Thus, the arm  53  is located toward the left on the plane of the drawing, and the pivot piece  55  is pivoted about the pivot shaft  54  in a locking direction (direction of arrow H 1  in  FIG. 7A ). This moves the connection portion  59  in the locking direction (direction of arrow D 1  in  FIG. 7A ) with the biasing force of the biasing portion  60  so that the distal end of the connection portion  59  pushes the pivot piece  62  and the pivot piece  62  pivots about the shaft  63  in the locking direction (direction of arrow I 1  in  FIG. 7A ). As a result, engagement of the stopper  64  with one of the holes  66  of the holed restriction plate  65  disables rotation of the receiver handle  10  when the receiver  7  is open. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7B , when closing the receiver door  7  after pivoting the safe handle  18  to the horizontal position, the connection piece  52   a  is pivoted in the closing direction (direction of arrow G 2  in  FIG. 7B ). This inclines the arm  53  as the arm  53  moves toward the inner side. The pivot piece  55  pivots about the pivot shaft  54  in the unlocking direction (direction of arrow H 2  in  FIG. 7B ) against the biasing force of the biasing portion  60 , and the connection portion  59  moves in the unlocking direction (direction of arrow D 2  in  FIG. 7B ). This pivots the pivot piece  62  about the shaft  63  in the unlocking direction (direction of arrow  12  in  FIG. 7B ) and disengages the stopper  64  from the hole  66  of the holed restriction plate  65 . Thus, the receiver handle  10  is shifted to a free state to allow rotation of the receiver handle  10 . When the receiver door  7  is closed, the light-blocking plate  68  of the receiver door opening detection sensor  67  is separated from the sensor  69 . This deactivates the receiver door opening detection sensor  67  and supplies a deactivation signal to the controller  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5B , when receiving an activation signal from the safe detection sensor  32  and a deactivation signal from the receiver door opening detection sensor  67 , the controller  100  activates the solenoid  44  and retracts the plunger  45 . This moves the connection portion  43  in the locking direction (direction of arrow J 1  in  FIG. 5B ) and pivots the lever  41  in the locking direction (direction of arrow C 1  in  FIG. 5B ). The projection  42  on the distal end of the lever  41  projects out of the slit  46  and engages the receiver door  7  to lock the receiver door  7  when closed. When the lever  41  is pivoted in the locking direction, the light-blocking plate  49  of the receiver door locking detection sensor  48  blocks the light to the sensor  50 . This activates the receiver door locking detection sensor  48  and supplies an activation signal to the controller  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9B , the controller  100  activates the solenoid  87  and retracts the plunger  88  when acknowledging that the safe  2  is set in the safe accommodation portion  6  from an activation signal of the safe detection sensor  32  and while acknowledging that the receiver door  7  has been locked from an activation signal of the receiver door locking detection sensor  48 . Here, the gear rotation restricting unit  75  rotates in the forward direction (direction of arrow F 1  in  FIG. 9B ) around the pivot shaft  77 . This separates the restriction block  82  from the forward rotation restriction gear  71  and engages the restriction block  83  with the projection  74  of the reverse rotation restriction gear  72 . Thus, the forward rotation restriction gear  71  becomes free and the reverse rotation restriction gear  72  is actuated. When the solenoid  87  is activated, the receiver handle  10  is rotatable only in the forward direction (forward rotation permitting condition). When the receiver handle  10  is rotated in the forward direction, the biasing portion  84  expands and pivots the restriction block  83  around the shaft  81 . This allows forward rotation of the receiver handle  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , when the solenoid  87  is activated, a single rotation of the receiver handle  10  in the forward direction moves the safe body  8  from the home position to the retraction position. When the safe body  8  moves to the retraction position, the items in the safe body  8  fall through the chute  4   a  into the cabinet  3 . That is, items in the safe body  8  are collected in the cabinet  3  at a single location. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9A , when acknowledging that the safe body  8  has reached the retraction position based on an activation signal from the retraction position detection sensor  99 , the controller  100  deactivates the solenoid  87  and pivots the gear rotation restricting unit  75  around the pivot shaft  77  in the reverse direction (direction of arrow F 2  in  FIG. 9A ). This engages the restriction block  82  with the projection  73  of the forward rotation restriction gear  71  and separates the restriction block  83  from the reverse rotation restriction gear  72 . Thus, the forward rotation restriction gear  71  is actuated and the reverse rotation restriction gear  72  becomes free. When the solenoid  87  is deactivated, the receiver handle  10  is rotatable only in the reverse direction (reverse rotation permitting condition). When the receiver handle  10  is rotated in the reverse direction, the biasing portion  84  expands and pivots the restriction block  82  around the shaft  80 . This allows reverse rotation of the receiver handle  10 . 
     When the solenoid  87  is deactivated, a single rotation of the receiver handle  10  in the reverse direction moves the safe body  8  from the retraction position to the home position. When the safe body  8  is located at the home position, the safe lid  9  closes the opening of the safe body  8 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5A , the controller  100  acknowledges that the safe body  8  has returned to the home position when receiving an activation signal of the home position detection sensor  98 . At this moment or after a certain time, the controller  100  deactivates the solenoid  44  and moves the connection portion  43  in the unlocking direction (direction of arrow J 2  in  FIG. 5A ). The lever  41  pivots in the unlocking direction (direction of arrow C 2  in  FIG. 5A ) and the projection  42  moves away from the receiver door  7 . This unlocks the receiver door  7  and allows opening of the receiver door  7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7A , when opening the receiver door  7  after unlocking the receiver door  7 , the connection piece  52   a  is pivoted in the opening direction (direction of arrow G 1  in  FIG. 7A ). This moves the arm  53  toward the left on the plane of the drawing. As a result, the biasing force of the biasing portion  60  pivots the pivot piece  55  about the pivot shaft  54  in the locking direction (direction of arrow H 1  in  FIG. 7B ) and moves the connection portion  59  in the locking direction (direction of arrow D 1  in  FIG. 7B ). This pivots the pivot piece  62  about the shaft portion  61  in the locking direction (direction of arrow I 1  in  FIG. 7B ), and the stopper  64  engages with the hole  66  of the holed restriction plate  65 . Thus, the receiver handle  10  is shifted to a locking state to disable rotation of the receiver handle  10 . The stopper  64  and the hole  66  may be misaligned when the receiver door  7  is open. In such a case, the elongated hole  57  of the arm  53  moves away the projection  56 . This protects the components  55 ,  59 ,  63 , and the like. When the receiver door  7  is open, the receiver door opening detection sensor  67  is deactivated. 
     Subsequently, as shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B , the safe handle  18  is pivoted from the horizontal position around the handle shaft  11  by approximately 90 degrees in the upward direction (direction of arrow B 2  in  FIG. 12B ) to remove the safe  2  from the safe unlocking machine  1 . The safe  2  removed from the safe unlocking machine  1  is set again to the original farebox. 
     The above collecting operation is performed for each safe  2  to collect items from the safe  2  at the same location. The coins in the cabinet  3  are discharged from the discharge door  14  to the outside of the safe unlocking machine  1 . Bills and the like in the cabinet  3  are removed from the cabinet  3  by opening the rear door  15  and drawing out the container  17 . 
     The safe unlocking machine  1  may have a retry function implemented to retry operation when the safe body  8  is caught and stopped, for example, as the safe body  8  returns from the retraction position to the home position or as the safe body  8  moves from the home position to the retraction position. The retry function automatically starts based on, for example, the outputs of the home position detection sensor  98  and the retraction position detection sensor  99 , if the safe body  8  does not reach a target position within a certain time. Alternatively, the retry function is implemented when an operation unit of the controller  100  is operated. 
     For example, if items do not fall from the safe body  8  in a desired manner and the safe body  8  thereby becomes caught as the safe body  8  moves and returns from the retraction position to the home position, the solenoid  87  is activated again to shift the receiver handle  10  to a forward rotation permitting condition. As a result, the receiver handle  10  may be rotated again in the forward direction to return the safe body  8  to the retraction position and drop the caught items. 
     If something is caught by the safe body  8  thereby stopping movement of the safe body  8  as the safe body  8  moves from the home position to the retraction position, the solenoid  87  is deactivated again to shift the receiver handle  10  to a reverse rotation permitting condition. As a result, the receiver handle  10  may be rotated again in the reverse direction to return the safe body  8  to the home position and free the safe body  8 . 
     The present embodiment has the advantages described below. 
     (1) A single rotation of the receiver handle  10  in the forward direction moves the safe body  8  from the home position to the retraction position. This sets the safe body  8  in the safe unlocking machine  1  and discharges items out of the safe body  8  and into the safe unlocking machine  1 . A single rotation of the receiver handle  10  in the reverse direction returns the safe body  8  from the retraction position to the original home position. When moving the safe body  8  from the home position to the retraction position and when returning the safe body  8  from the retraction position to the home position, the same receiver handle  10  is used to operate the safe unlocking machine  1 . This eliminates the need to provide the safe unlocking machine  1  with a mechanism for, for example, automatically returning the safe body  8  from the retraction position to the home position. Thus, the safe unlocking machine  1  allows for a simplified structure. 
     (2) The mechanism for moving the safe body  8  to the retraction position or the home position is a manual mechanism that uses the receiver handle  10 . The receiver handle  10  is directly operated to return the safe body  8  from the retraction position to the home position. This ensures the reliability of the returning operation when returning the safe body  8  to the home position. When the receiver handle  10  is rotated in the reverse direction to return the safe body  8  from the retraction position to the home position, the operation load on the receiver handle  10  derives only from the weight of the safe body  8 . This enables the receiver handle  10  to be operated relatively easily. Thus, the operability of the receiver handle  10  is ensured. 
     (3) When the safe body  8  set in the safe unlocking machine  1  is moved from the home position to the retraction position, the receiver handle  10  is rotatable only in the forward direction. When the safe body  8  set in the safe unlocking machine  1  is returned from the retraction position to the home position, the receiver handle  10  is rotatable only in the reverse direction. Thus, an operator can immediately recognize the correct direction for operating the receiver handle  10 . In addition, operation errors of the receiver handle  10  are less likely to occur. 
     (4) When the receiver door  7  is closed and locked after setting the safe  2  in the safe unlocking machine  1 , the solenoid  87  is activated. This allows the receiver handle  10  to be rotated in the forward direction. Thus, the receiver handle  10  is rotatable in the forward direction at a preferable timing, which is when the safe  2  is set in the safe accommodation portion  6  and the receiver door  7  is locked. 
     (5) When the receiver door  7  is opened, the stopper  64  engages with the hole  66  of the holed restriction plate  65 . This disables rotation of the receiver handle  10 . Thus, when the receiver door  7  is opened, the receiver handle  10  is not rotated in an unnecessary manner. 
     (6) The receiver handle operation direction detection sensor  90 , which detects a drive condition of the solenoid  87 , recognizes whether the receiver handle operation direction switching mechanism  70  is rotatable in the forward direction or in the reverse direction. 
     (7) The safe unlocking machine includes the retry function. Thus, even if the safe body  8  moved by the receiver  10  becomes caught and is stopped, the safe body  8  may be released by the retry function. 
     The embodiment is not limited to the foregoing structure. It should be understood that the embodiment may be implemented in the following forms. 
     The condition for activating the solenoid  87  of the receiver handle operation direction switching mechanism  70  is not limited to the receiver door  7  being closed and locked. This condition can be changed to another condition such as the receiver door  7  just being closed. Similarly, the condition for deactivating the solenoid  87  can be changed to another condition. The condition for operating the receiver door lock mechanism  38  may also be changed. 
     The first position is not limited to the home position. The first position may be a position where the safe body  8  is arranged before the safe lid  9  is opened. The second position is not limited to the retraction position. The second position may be a position where the safe lid  9  is opened. 
     The first operation permitting condition is not limited to a forward rotation operation permitting condition. The first operation permitting condition may be a condition where the receiver handle  10  opens the safe body  8 . The second operation permitting condition is not limited to a reverse rotation operation permitting condition. The second operation permitting condition may be a condition in which the receiver handle  10  closes the safe lid  9 . 
     The receiver handle operation direction switching mechanism  70  may be changed to a structure other than that disclosed in the embodiment. For example, the drive source may be changed to a motor and the rotating member may be changed to a sliding member. The same is applied to the receiver door lock mechanism  38  and the receiver handle lock mechanism  51 . 
     Each sensor can be changed to a different kind of sensors such as a magnetic sensor. Each sensor can also be changed to a mechanical switch such as a micro switch.