Patent Publication Number: US-10773919-B2

Title: Sheet handling apparatus and sheet handling method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-184673 filed on Sep. 26, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a sheet handling apparatus and a sheet handling method for storing sheets in a storage bag having an opening. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     To date, as a sheet handling apparatus for performing depositing of sheets such as banknotes, such an apparatus that stores sheets taken into the apparatus, in a storage bag such as a pouch, has been used. For example, such a sheet handling apparatus is used as a part of a cash handling machine installed in a back office region of a store such as a supermarket. The cash handling machine performs withdrawing of money as change funds with which a cash settlement machine disposed in a front office region is to be replenished, and performs depositing of money as proceeds, from sales, collected from the cash settlement machine. Such a sheet handling apparatus is disclosed in, for example, WO2016/136517. 
     The banknote handling apparatus disclosed in WO2016/136517 has a banknote storing mechanism for storing banknotes in a layered state in a storage bag having an opening on one side. More specifically, the banknote storing mechanism has a pair of holding members that are spaced so as to face each other, and two portions, near the opening of the storage bag, which face each other are held by the holding members, respectively. Furthermore, the holding members have heating members, respectively. A predetermined number of banknotes are stored in a layered state in the storage bag held by the holding members in the banknote storing mechanism. Thereafter, one of the holding members is moved toward the other of the holding members, a portion, near the opening, of the storage bag is heated by the heating members in a state where the holding members are in contact with each other, the opening of the storage bag is heat-sealed, and the storage bag is thereafter taken out from the banknote storing mechanism. Furthermore, the banknote storing mechanism has a stage on which the bottom of the storage bag held by the pair of holding members is placed. The stage is slightly moved downward each time a banknote is stored in the storage bag held by the pair of holding members, whereby a space in which banknotes are stored in the storage bag is assured. 
     In the banknote handling apparatus disclosed in WO2016/136517, the banknote storing mechanism has a pressing plate that is moved into the storage bag held by the pair of holding members and presses banknotes stored in the storage bag, toward the stage. The banknotes stored in the storage bag are pressed toward the stage by the pressing plate, whereby a plurality of banknotes stored in the storage bag can be compressed in the layering direction, so that the increased number of banknotes can be stored in the storage bag. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the conventional banknote handling apparatus as disclosed in, for example, WO2016/136517, in a case where banknotes to be stored in the storage bag are not brand-new notes but wrinkled banknotes, when the pressing plate presses the banknotes and thereafter retracts outward from the storage bag, a plurality of banknotes stored in the storage bag may expand in the layering direction. In the conventional banknote handling apparatus as described above, when the stage reaches a predetermined position, the storage bag is determined as being in nearly full state of banknotes or full state of banknotes, and the opening of the storage bag is heat-sealed by the heating member. However, in a case where banknotes to be stored in the storage bag are not brand-new notes but wrinkled banknotes, if the pressing plate retracts outward from the storage bag and a plurality of banknotes stored in the storage bag expands in the layering direction, when the opening of the storage bag is heat-sealed by the heating member, the banknote in the storage bag may contact with the heating member, so that the poor sealing may occur. When the poor sealing occurs in such a manner, a part of the opening of the storage bag may not be sealed. Therefore, a problem arises that a banknote in the storage bag may be extracted from the unsealed portion. 
     The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet handling apparatus and a sheet handling method that prevent occurrence of poor sealing due to a sheet in a storage bag contacting with a sealing member when an opening of the storage bag is sealed even in a case where wrinkled sheets are stored in the storage bag. 
     A sheet handling apparatus of the present invention for storing a sheet in a storage bag having an opening, the sheet handling apparatus includes: a support configured to support a portion, near the opening, of the storage bag; a receiver configured to receive a part of the storage bag supported by the support; a driver configured to move the receiver in a layering direction of sheets stored in the storage bag; a number information receiver configured to receive information on the number of sheets stored in the storage bag; a presser configured to move into the storage bag supported by the support, and press sheets stored in the storage bag toward the receiver; and a controller configured to control the presser and the driver, and the controller stops an operation of storing a sheet in the storage bag on a condition that the number of sheets received by the number information receiver is less than a predetermined number, when a distance between the receiver and the presser that is pressing the sheets stored in the storage bag toward the receiver, is greater than a predetermined distance. 
     The sheet handling apparatus of the present invention may further include: a temporary storage configured to temporarily store sheets to be stored in the storage bag; and a sheet sender configured to send a sheet to the temporary storage, a sheet released from the temporary storage may be stored in the storage bag supported by the support, and the controller may control the sheet sender such that, in a case where a distance between the receiver and the presser that is pressing sheets stored in the storage bag which is supported by the support, toward the receiver, is greater than the predetermined distance, when the number of the sheets received by the number information receiver is less than the predetermined number, no sheet is sent to the temporary storage. 
     In the sheet handling apparatus of the present invention, the controller may control the driver such that the receiver is moved so as to be distant from the support on the condition that the number of sheets received by the number information receiver is less than the predetermined number, when a distance between the receiver and the presser that is pressing the sheets stored in the storage bag which is supported by the support, toward the receiver, is greater than the predetermined distance. 
     In this case, the receiver may be moved so as to be distant from the support and to be close to the support in a predetermined movement range, the controller may control the driver such that the receiver is moved so as to be farthest from the support in the predetermined movement range on the condition that the number of sheets received by the number information receiver is less than the predetermined number, when a distance between the receiver and the presser that is pressing the sheets stored in the storage bag which is supported by the support, toward the receiver, is greater than the predetermined distance, and in a case where a distance between the receiver and the presser that is pressing sheets stored in the storage bag which is supported by the support, toward the receiver, is greater than the predetermined distance, when the receiver reaches a first predetermined position, if the number of the sheets received by the number information receiver is greater than the predetermined number, the controller may control the driver such that the receiver is moved so as to be farthest from the support in the predetermined movement range. 
     In the sheet handling apparatus of the present invention, the controller may control the driver such that the receiver is moved so as to be distant from the support in a state where sheets are gripped between the presser and the receiver until the presser reaches a second predetermined position when the sheets stored in the storage bag that is supported by the support are pressed toward the receiver by the presser. 
     In this case, the presser may be moved between a retracting position that is upward of the storage bag supported by the support and a lower end position in the storage bag, supported by the support, into which the presser is moved, and the second predetermined position may be the lower end position. 
     The sheet handling apparatus of the present invention may further include: a detector for detecting whether or not the presser is at the lower end position. 
     In this case, the controller may control the driver such that the receiver is moved so as to be distant from the support when the detector does not detect that the presser is at the lower end position in a case where the presser is moved into the storage bag, and contacts with sheets stored in the storage bag. 
     The sheet handling apparatus of the present invention may further include a recognizer configured to perform recognition of a sheet to be stored in the storage bag, and the number of sheets sent to the storage bag may be calculated based on a recognition result by the recognizer, and information on the calculated number of the sheets is received by the number information receiver. 
     The sheet handling apparatus of the present invention may further include a parameter setter configured to set at least one of the predetermined distance and the predetermined number. 
     The sheet handling apparatus of the present invention may further include a process mode setter configured to set one of a first process mode and a second process mode, as a process mode for an operation of storing a sheet in the storage bag supported by the support, and: in a case where the process mode setter sets the first process mode for performing the operation of storing the sheet in the storage bag, the controller may stop the operation of storing the sheet in the storage bag on the condition that the number of sheets received by the number information receiver is less than the predetermined number, when a distance between the receiver and the presser that is pressing the sheets stored in the storage bag which is supported by the support, toward the receiver, is greater than the predetermined distance, and in a case where the process mode setter sets the second process mode for performing the operation of storing the sheet in the storage bag, the controller may not stop the operation of storing the sheet in the storage bag even if the number of sheets received by the number information receiver is less than the predetermined number when the distance between the receiver and the presser that is pressing the sheets stored in the storage bag which is supported by the support, toward the receiver, is greater than the predetermined distance. 
     A sheet storing method of the present invention for storing a sheet in a storage bag having an opening through which the sheet is inserted includes: supporting a portion, near the opening, of the storage bag by a support; receiving, by a receiver, a part of the storage bag supported by the support; storing a sheet in the storage bag supported by the support; receiving information on the number of sheets stored in the storage bag; and pressing, by a presser, sheets stored in the storage bag that is supported by the support, toward the receiver, by moving the presser in the storage bag, and an operation of storing the sheet in the storage bag is stopped on the condition that the number of sheets having been received is less than a predetermined number, when a distance between the receiver and the presser that is pressing the sheets stored in the storage bag which is supported by the support, toward the receiver, is greater than a predetermined distance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an internal configuration of a banknote handling machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view showing in detail a configuration of a banknote storing mechanism in the banknote handling machine shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a configuration of a pair of holding members and the like in the banknote storing mechanism shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a configuration of a storage bag to be held by each holding member in the banknote storing mechanism shown in  FIG. 2  and the like; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a state where the storage bag is held by each holding member in the banknote storing mechanism shown in  FIG. 2  and the like; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a configuration of a pressing plate, a temporary storage, and the like in the banknote storing mechanism shown in  FIG. 2  and the like, in a state where no banknote is stored on the temporary storage; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a configuration of the pressing plate, the temporary storage, and the like in the banknote storing mechanism shown in  FIG. 2  and the like, in a state where the temporary storage is in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a configuration of a pantograph and the like for moving the pressing plate in the banknote storing mechanism shown in  FIG. 2  and the like; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a configuration of a motor, a gear, and the like for moving the pantograph in the banknote storing mechanism shown in  FIG. 2  and the like; 
         FIG. 10  is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system in the banknote handling machine shown in  FIG. 1  and the like; and 
         FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11E  are each a side view schematically illustrating an operation of storing banknotes in the storage bag in the banknote storing mechanism shown in  FIG. 2  and the like. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the present invention in which a banknote handling machine that performs handling of banknotes is used as a sheet handling apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 11  illustrate the banknote handling machine according to the present embodiment. In  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 11 , reference character P, Pa, Pb represents a plurality of banknotes in a layered state. 
     A banknote handling machine  10  according to the present embodiment is disposed in a front office region or a back office region in a store such as a supermarket, in a bank lobby, or inside a bank, in general. The banknote handling machine  10  can perform various handlings such as depositing of banknotes. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the banknote handling machine  10  of the present embodiment has an almost rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped housing  12 . In  FIG. 1 , the surface, of the housing  12 , on the left side is a front surface (that is, a surface which an operator faces) of the housing  12 . In the housing  12 , an upper unit assembly  14  and a lower unit assembly  16  are accommodated so as to be drawn forward (specifically, leftward in  FIG. 1 ) from the front surface of the housing  12 . In the upper unit assembly  14 , an inlet  20  such as a receptacle hopper through which a banknote is inserted into the housing  12  from the outside is disposed on the upper front surface (the upper portion on the left side surface in  FIG. 1 ) of the housing  12 . Furthermore, in the upper unit assembly  14 , an outlet unit  22  for discharging a banknote from the housing  12  to the outside is disposed below the inlet  20  on the front surface (the surface on the left side in  FIG. 1 ) of the housing  12 . 
     The inlet  20  has a banknote feeding mechanism  20   a  for feeding out banknotes placed in the inlet  20  in a layered state by an operator, one by one, into the housing  12 . In the upper unit assembly  14 , a transporter  24  for transporting banknotes one by one in the housing  12  is disposed in the housing  12  of the banknote handling machine  10 , and the banknotes fed out from the inlet  20  by the banknote feeding mechanism  20   a  are transported one by one by the transporter  24 . In the transporter  24 , a recognizer  26  is disposed, and the recognizer  26  performs recognition of a denomination, authentication, face/back, fitness, new/old, a transport state, and the like for a banknote fed out to the transporter  24  by the banknote feeding mechanism  20   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the outlet unit  22  is connected to the transporter  24 , and banknotes transported to the outlet unit  22  from the transporter  24  are stacked in the outlet unit  22 . The outlet unit  22  can be accessed from the outside of the housing  12 , and an operator is allowed to take out the banknotes stacked in the outlet unit  22  from the front surface of the housing  12 . A stacking wheel  22   a  is disposed at a portion of the transporter  24  at which the transporter  24  is connected to the outlet unit  22 , and the stacking wheel  22   a  rotates in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 1 . When a banknote is transported from the transporter  24  to the outlet unit  22 , the stacking wheel  22   a  rotates in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 1  in a state where the banknote is gripped between two vanes of the stacking wheel  22   a , whereby the banknote gripped between the two vanes of the stacking wheel  22   a  can be stacked in the outlet unit  22  in an aligned state. 
     In the upper unit assembly  14 , a tape-type storage/feeding unit  30  is disposed at the transporter  24 , and a banknote transported from the transporter  24  to the storage/feeding unit  30  is stored in the storage/feeding unit  30  and banknotes stored in the storage/feeding unit  30  can be fed out one by one to the transporter  24 . More specifically, the storage/feeding unit  30  has a drum  30   a  that can perform both forward rotation and reverse rotation, and one end of a pair of band-like tapes  31  is connected to the outer circumferential surface of the drum  30   a . When banknotes are transported from the transporter  24  to the storage/feeding unit  30 , both the banknotes and the tapes  31  are wound on the drum  30   a  one by one by the band-like tapes  31 . Meanwhile, when each tape  31  is wound back from the drum  30   a  by reverse rotation of the drum  30   a , the banknote wound on the drum  30   a  is also released from each tape  31  and fed out to the transporter  24 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in the present embodiment, the lower unit assembly  16  has a plurality (for example, two) of banknote storing mechanisms  32  each of which stores banknotes in a banknote storage bag  34  having, on one side, an opening through which a banknote is inserted. Each banknote storing mechanism  32  has a pair of holding members  36  that are spaced so as to face each other, and two portions, near an opening of each banknote storage bag  34 , which face each other are held by the holding members  36 , respectively. One of the holding members  36  (specifically, for example, the holding member  36  on the right side in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ) is fixedly positioned, whereas the other of the holding members  36  (specifically, for example, the holding member  36  on the left side in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ) can be moved toward the holding member  36  that is fixedly positioned. As shown in  FIG. 2 , each holding member  36  has a heater  38 . After a predetermined number of banknotes are stored in the banknote storage bag  34  held by each holding member  36  in the banknote storing mechanism  32 , before the banknote storage bag  34  is taken out from the banknote storing mechanism  32 , one of the holding members  36  is moved toward the other of the holding members  36 , and a portion, near the opening, of the banknote storage bag  34  is heated by the heater  38  in a state where the holding members  36  are joined to each other, whereby the opening of the banknote storage bag  34  is heat-sealed. In the banknote storing mechanism  32 , instead of one of the paired holding members  36  being moved toward the other of the holding members  36 , both the holding members  36  may be moved toward each other up to the center position, and the holding members  36  may be joined to each other at the center position. 
     In the upper unit assembly  14 , a plurality (two in the example shown in  FIG. 1 ) of diverging transporters  25  diverges from the transporter  24  so as to correspond to the banknote storing mechanisms  32 , respectively, and a banknote which is diverted from the transporter  24  to the diverging transporter  25  is transported from the diverging transporter  25  to the banknote storage bag  34  mounted to the banknote storing mechanism  32 , and stored in the banknote storage bag  34 . 
     Next, a configuration of the banknote storing mechanism  32  according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 2  is a side view showing in detail the configuration of the banknote storing mechanism  32 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a configuration of the pair of holding members  36  and the like in the banknote storing mechanism  32  shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a configuration of the banknote storage bag  34  to be held by each holding member  36  in banknote storing mechanism  32  shown in  FIG. 2  and the like.  FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a state where the banknote storage bag  34  is held by each holding member  36  in the banknote storing mechanism  32  shown in  FIG. 2  and the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the banknote storing mechanism  32  has: a banknote sending-out unit  48  for sending a banknote transported from the diverging transporter  25  of the upper unit assembly  14  to the lower unit assembly  16 , to the banknote storage bag  34  held by the pair of holding members  36 ; a temporary storage  44  for temporarily storing a banknote sent by the banknote sending-out unit  48 ; and a stage  40  on which the bottom of the banknote storage bag  34  held by the pair of holding members  36  is placed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the banknote sending-out unit  48  uses a roller and a belt in combination, and sends banknotes transported from the diverging transporter  25  of the upper unit assembly  14  to the lower unit assembly  16  one by one to the temporary storage  44 , to stack the banknotes in the temporary storage  44 . Furthermore, the temporary storage  44  is implemented by a pair of left and right temporary storage, and each temporary storage  44  can rotate about a shaft  44   a  disposed at the proximal end portion of the temporary storage  44  in the downward direction (that is, directions indicated by arrows in  FIG. 2 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the banknote storing mechanism  32 , the stage  40  on which at least a part of the banknote storage bag  34  held by the holding members  36  is placed, is disposed. The stage  40  is implemented by a pair of left and right stages. Each stage  40  can be moved in the up-down direction and the left-right direction in  FIG. 2 . More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the pair of stages  40  are connected to each other by a hinge portion  40   a  disposed at the end portion of each stage  40 , and the stages  40  can swing about the hinge portion  40   a  along the horizontal plane in the directions indicated by arrows in  FIG. 5 . When each stage  40  is opened, a gap is formed between the stages  40 . A part of the banknote storage bag  34  held by the holding members  36  can be extended downward from each stage  40  through the gap. Each stage  40  is driven by a stage driver  41  (see  FIG. 10 ) such as an electric actuator. Specifically, the stage driver  41  moves each stage  40  in the up-down direction in  FIG. 2 , and also opens and closes each stage  40  about the hinge portion  40   a  along the horizontal plane. As described above, the paired stages  40  are connected to each other by the hinge portion  40   a , and open and close about the hinge portion  40   a . However, in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 11 , for convenience sake, the operation of opening and closing of each the stage  40  about the hinge portion  40   a  is indicated as movement of each stage  40  in the left-right direction. 
     A heater  42  is disposed at each stage  40 . Before the banknote storage bag  34  is taken out from the banknote storing mechanism  32 , one of the stages  40  (for example, the stage  40  on the right side in  FIG. 2 ) is moved toward the other of the stages  40  (for example, the stage  40  on the left side in  FIG. 2 ), and a portion, of the banknote storage bag  34 , which serves as the bottom thereof when banknotes are stored in the banknote storage bag  34  is heated by each heater  42  in a state where the stages  40  are in contact with each other, whereby the portion is heat-sealed. In the banknote storing mechanism  32 , instead of one of the paired stages  40  being moved toward the other of the stages  40 , both the stages  40  may be moved toward each other, and joined to each other. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a pantograph  37  is disposed at the left side holding member  36  among the pair of left and right holding members  36 , and the left side holding member  36  is moved toward the right side holding member  36  by the pantograph  37 , and the holding members  36  are brought into contact with each other. More specifically, a guide pin  36   p  is disposed at the end portion of the left side holding member  36 , and a frame  36   k  that supports each holding member  36  has a linear long hole  36   q  by which the guide pin  36   p  is guided. The long hole  36   q  extends in the frame  36   k  in the horizontal direction. When the pantograph  37  is extended, the guide pin  36   p  disposed at the left side holding member  36  is guided along the long hole  36   q , whereby the left side holding member  36  is moved toward the right side holding member  36 . Thus, a surface  36   b  of the left side holding member  36  is brought into contact with a surface  36   b  of the right side holding member  36 . In the banknote storing mechanism  32 , instead of one of the paired holding members  36  being moved toward the other of the holding members  36 , both the holding members  36  may be moved toward each other up to the center position, whereby the holding members  36  may contact with each other at the center position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , three pins  36   a  are disposed on the upper surface of each of the paired left and right holding members  36 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , paired protrusions  34   a  each having three openings  34   b  are disposed at portions (that is, the upper end portion of the banknote storage bag  34 ), near the opening, of the banknote storage bag  34  to be held by each holding member  36 . When the banknote storage bag  34  is held by each holding member  36 , the pins  36   a  of the holding members  36  pass through the openings  34   b , respectively, disposed in the protrusions  34   a  of the banknote storage bag  34 , whereby the protrusions  34   a  are held by the holding members  36 , respectively. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and the like, a band-like reinforcing member  34   c  is disposed at a portion, near the opening, on the outer surface of the banknote storage bag  34 . The reinforcing member  34   c  is formed from polyethylene terephthalate having strong stiffness as compared to the banknote storage bag  34 . By the reinforcing member  34   c , force thus acts so as to prevent wrinkling at the opening of the banknote storage bag  34 . In the description herein, “strong stiffness” means that stiffness is high with respect to bending. A reinforcing member that is limper than the banknote storage bag  34  may be used as the reinforcing member  34   c . Also in this case, since the reinforcing member  34   c  which is another member is disposed at (attached to) the banknote storage bag  34 , stiffness near the opening becomes strong over the entirety, and wrinkling at the opening can be inhibited. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a pressing plate  46  is disposed above the pair of temporary storage  44 . The pressing plate  46  has a pantograph  50 , and the pantograph  50  extends and contracts in the up-down direction in  FIG. 2 , whereby the pressing plate  46  can be moved in a range indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 2  in the up-down direction. Since the pressing plate  46  is thus moved downward, when banknotes temporarily stored on each temporary storage  44  are stored in the banknote storage bag  34 , the banknotes on each temporary storage  44  can be pushed toward the banknote storage bag  34  in the stacked state. 
     A configuration of the pressing plate  46  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are each a side view of the configuration of the pressing plate  46 , the pair of the temporary storage  44 , and the like in the banknote storing mechanism  32  shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a state where no banknote is stored in the temporary storage  44 .  FIG. 7  illustrates a state where the temporary storage  44  is in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the pressing plate  46  has a pushing portion  46   a  and a base portion  46   b . The pushing portion  46   a  can swing about a shaft  46   c  with respect to the base portion  46   b . More specifically, the pushing portion  46   a  has an arc-shaped guide hole  46   f , and the base portion  46   b  has a pin member  46   g  to be inserted into the guide hole  46   f  of the pushing portion  46   a . The pushing portion  46   a  swings about the shaft  46   c  with respect to the base portion  46   b  in a range in which the pin member  46   g  moves relative to the guide hole  46   f . In a case where no force is applied to the pushing portion  46   a , the pushing portion  46   a  is maintained so as to protrude downward relative to the base portion  46   b  due to its own weight as shown in  FIG. 6 . Meanwhile, when the pushing portion  46   a  is pressed upward by banknotes stored on each temporary storage  44 , the pushing portion  46   a  in a state shown in  FIG. 6  rotates about the shaft  46   c  in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 6 , and the pushing portion  46   a  retracts upward relative to the base portion  46   b  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , a to-be-detected member  46   d  is mounted to the upper portion of the pushing portion  46   a , and a detection sensor  47  for detecting for the to-be-detected member  46   d  is disposed. The detection sensor  47  is fixedly positioned. In a case where the pressing plate  46  is positioned as shown in  FIG. 6  or  FIG. 7 , when the pushing portion  46   a  is pressed upward by banknotes stored on each temporary storage  44 , and the pushing portion  46   a  rotates about the shaft  46   c  in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 6  or  FIG. 7 , the to-be-detected member  46   d  mounted to the pushing portion  46   a  is detected by the detection sensor  47 . Thus, the detection sensor  47  detects that the pushing portion  46   a  rotates about the shaft  46   c  upward relative to the base portion  46   b . The detection sensor  47  may not be fixedly positioned. In another example, the detection sensor  47  and the pressing plate  46  may integrally move in the up-down direction in  FIG. 2 . In this case, also when the pressing plate  46  moves into the banknote storage bag  34 , to push banknotes on each temporary storage  44  into the banknote storage bag  34  as shown in  FIG. 2 , it can be detected that the pushing portion  46   a  is pushed upward by banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  and the pushing portion  46   a  rotates upward about the shaft  46   c.    
     In the present embodiment, the pressing plate  46  thus acts as a presser that moves into the banknote storage bag  34  held by the pair of holding members  36 , and presses banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  toward each stage  40 . The pressing plate  46  acts also as a guide for guiding a banknote when the banknote sent by the banknote sending-out unit  48  is stored on each temporary storage  44 . When each temporary storage  44  is in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes, the pushing portion  46   a  of the pressing plate  46  is pushed upward, and the to-be-detected member  46   d  is detected by the detection sensor  47 . That is, when each temporary storage  44  is in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes, the detection sensor  47  detects that the temporary storage  44  is in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes. 
     Next, a mechanism for moving the pressing plate  46  downward and a mechanism for rotating the pair of temporary storage  44  downward in the banknote storing mechanism  32  according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 . In the banknote storing mechanism  32  according to the present embodiment, one motor  54  (see  FIG. 9 ) is used to simultaneously perform an operation of moving the pressing plate  46  downward and an operation of rotating the pair of temporary storage  44  downward. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , a mounting member  46   e  is mounted to the upper surface of the base portion  46   b  of the pressing plate  46 , and two lower end portions of the pantograph  50  are mounted to the mounting member  46   e . One of the two lower end portions of the pantograph  50  is mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the mounting member  46   e , whereas the other of the two lower end portions has a pin member, and the pin member is moved in the horizontal direction in a long hole formed in the mounting member  46   e . Furthermore, one of two upper end portions of the pantograph  50  has a shaft  51  mounted thereto, and the upper end portion rotates about the shaft  51 . The other of the two upper end portions of the pantograph  50  is rotatably mounted to a rack  52  that is moved in the horizontal direction by a not-illustrated pinion. When the rack  52  is moved by the pinion so as to be close to the shaft  51 , the pantograph  50  extends downward, whereby the pressing plate  46  mounted to the lower end portion of the pantograph  50  is also moved downward. Meanwhile, when the rack  52  is moved by the pinion so as to be distant from the shaft  51 , the pantograph  50  contracts upward, whereby the pressing plate  46  mounted to the lower end portion of the pantograph  50  is also moved upward. 
     Next, a configuration of the motor  54  and the like for simultaneously performing an operation of moving the pressing plate  46  downward, and an operation of rotating the pair of temporary storage  44  downward will be described with reference to  FIG. 9 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , a gear  55  is mounted to the motor  54 , and both forward rotation and reverse rotation of the gear  55  are performed by the motor  54 . The gear  55  mounted to the motor  54  meshes with another gear  56 . The gear  56  further meshes with another gear  57 . A pulley  58  over which an endless belt  60  is extended is disposed at the rotating shaft of the gear  57 , and the gear  57  and the pulley  58  rotate in synchronization with each other. A torque limiter  59  is disposed at the rotating shaft of the gear  57 . When an excessive torque higher than a predetermined torque is applied between the rotating shaft and the pulley  58 , the rotating shaft and the pulley  58  are disconnected from each other and the rotating shaft rotates relative to the pulley  58  in an idling state. The endless belt  60  is extended also over another pulley  62 . Another gear (not shown) is mounted to the rotating shaft of the pulley  62 , and the pulley  62  and the gear rotate in synchronization with each other. The gear mounted to the rotating shaft of the pulley  62  meshes with another gear  64 , and the gear  64  rotates about a rotating shaft  66 . In such a configuration, when forward rotation and reverse rotation of the gear  55  are performed by the motor  54 , the rotating shaft  66  performs forward rotation and the reverse rotation. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the above-described pinion (not shown), a cam  70 , and a to-be-detected plate  75  are mounted to the rotating shaft  66 , and, when the rotating shaft  66  rotates, the pinion, the cam  70 , and the to-be-detected plate  75  also rotate about the rotating shaft  66 . As described above, when the pinion rotates about the rotating shaft  66 , the rack  52  is moved so as to be close to the shaft  51  or distant from the shaft  51 , so that the pantograph  50  extends or contracts. Near the cam  70 , a power transmission member  72  for operating each temporary storage  44  is disposed. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the power transmission member  72  is an almost rectangular plate-like member. The power transmission member  72  is disposed so as to extend in the vertical direction. Near each of the lower end portions on both the side edges of the power transmission member  72 , a teeth portion  72   a  is formed so as to linearly extend. A gear  45  is mounted to each of the shafts  44   a  of the paired temporary storage  44 , and the gear  45  meshes with the teeth portion  72   a  of the power transmission member  72 . Therefore, when the power transmission member  72  in the state shown in  FIG. 9  moves downward, the teeth portions  72   a  rotate the gears  45 , respectively, so that each temporary storage  44  opens downward about the shaft  44   a . In a case where no force is applied to the power transmission member  72 , the power transmission member  72  is drawn upward by a not-illustrated tension spring or the like. A roller is rotatably mounted to the power transmission member  72 , and the outer circumferential surface of the roller is brought into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cam  70 . When the cam  70  rotates about the rotating shaft  66  in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 9 , the roller is pushed downward by the outer circumferential surface of the cam  70 , so that the power transmission member  72  moves downward against a drawing force due to the above-described tension spring or the like. When the power transmission member  72  thus moves downward, the teeth portions  72   a  rotate the gears  45 , respectively, as described above, so that each temporary storage  44  opens downward about the shaft  44   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , near the rotating shaft  66 , two sensors (specifically, an upper end detection sensor  76  and a lower end detection sensor  78 ) for detecting for the to-be-detected plate  75  mounted to the rotating shaft  66  are disposed. More specifically, when the pantograph  50  fully contracts, and the pressing plate  46  is at the upper end position (retracting position), the to-be-detected plate  75  is detected by the upper end detection sensor  76 . When the pantograph  50  fully extends, and the pressing plate  46  is at the lower end position, the to-be-detected plate  75  is detected by the lower end detection sensor  78 . Thus, the upper end detection sensor  76  and the lower end detection sensor  78  detect that the pressing plate  46  is at the upper end position (retracting position) and the lower end position, respectively. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a one-side aligning lever  39  is disposed below the right side holding member  36  among the pair of holding members  36 , and banknotes that are stored in the banknote storage bag  34  held by the pair of holding members  36  are aligned on one side (specifically, the left side in  FIG. 2 ) in the banknote storage bag  34  by the one-side aligning lever  39 . More specifically, the one-side aligning lever  39  in the state shown in  FIG. 2  is moved leftward by a one-side aligning lever driver  39   a  (see  FIG. 10 ) that includes a pantograph, an electric actuator, and the like. 
     In the banknote storing mechanism  32  of the present embodiment, a stage position detector  79  for detecting a position of each stage  40  in the vertical direction is disposed. Specifically, each stage  40  is moved in a predetermined movement range so as to be distant from each holding member  36  and be close to each holding member  36 . That is, each stage  40  is moved in the predetermined movement range in the up-down direction in  FIG. 2 . A to-be-detected plate (not shown) is mounted to each stage  40 . The stage position detector  79  has: a first sensor  79   a  for detecting the to-be-detected plate mounted to each stage  40  when the stage  40  is positioned at the lower end in the predetermined movement range; and a second sensor  79   b  disposed above the first sensor  79   a . The second sensor  79   b  detects a position of each stage  40  when the banknote storage bag  34  held by each holding member  36  is in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes. In  FIG. 11 , reference character A represents a position of the upper end surface of each stage  40  in the case of the stage  40  being detected by the first sensor  79   a , and reference character B represents a position of the upper end surface of each stage  40  in the case of the stage  40  being detected by the second sensor  79   b.    
     The banknote handling machine  10  of the present embodiment has a controller  80  that controls the components of the banknote handling machine  10 . More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the banknote feeding mechanism  20   a  disposed at the inlet  20 , a stacking wheel driver  22   b  for driving the stacking wheel  22   a  disposed at the outlet unit  22 , the transporter  24 , the diverging transporter  25 , the recognizer  26 , the storage/feeding unit  30 , the banknote storing mechanism  32  (specifically, the pantograph  37 , the heating member  38 , the one-side aligning lever driver  39   a , the stage driver  41 , the heater  42 , the detection sensor  47 , the motor  54 , the upper end detection sensor  76 , the lower end detection sensor  78 , the stage position detector  79 , and the banknote sending-out unit  48 ), and the like, are connected to the controller  80 . A signal representing a result of recognition of a banknote by the recognizer  26  is transmitted to the controller  80 , and the controller  80  controls operations of the components by transmitting an instruction signal to each component of the banknote handling machine  10 . Detection information by the detection sensor  47 , the upper end detection sensor  76 , the lower end detection sensor  78 , and the stage position detector  79  is also transmitted to the controller  80 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , an operation/display unit  82 , a memory  84 , a printer  86 , and a communication interface unit  88  are connected to the controller  80 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the operation/display unit  82  is implemented by, for example, a touch panel disposed on the upper surface of the housing  12 , and the operation/display unit  82  displays information on, for example, a state of handling such as depositing of banknotes in the banknote handling machine  10 , and an inventory amount of banknotes stored in each banknote storage bag  34 . When an operator operates the operation/display unit  82 , various instructions can be provided to the controller  80 . The memory  84  stores information on, for example, a history of handling such as depositing of banknotes in the banknote handling machine  10 , and an inventory amount of banknotes stored in each banknote storage bag  34 . The printer  86  prints, on a receipt or the like, information on, for example, a history of handling such as depositing of banknotes in the banknote handling machine  10  and an inventory amount of banknotes stored in each banknote storage bag  34 . The controller  80  can transmit a signal to and receive a signal from an external device (specifically, for example, higher-ranking terminal) disposed separately from the banknote handling machine  10  of the present embodiment, through the communication interface unit  88 . Specifically, the controller  80  can transmit information stored in the memory  84  through the communication interface unit  88  to an external device which is disposed separately from the banknote handling machine  10 . For example, when the banknotes together with the banknote storage bag  34  are collected by, for example, a guard of a cash-in-transit company, the information on the collected banknotes is transmitted to, for example, a computer of the cash-in-transit company through the communication interface unit  88 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , a number information receiver  90 , a parameter setter  92 , and a process mode setter  94  are connected to the controller  80 . Functions of the number information receiver  90 , the parameter setter  92 , and the process mode setter  94  will be described below in detail. 
     Next, an operation of the banknote handling machine  10  having such a configuration will be described. The operation of the banknote handling machine  10  as described below is performed by the controller  80  controlling the components of the banknote handling machine  10 . 
     Firstly, an operation of depositing of banknotes in the banknote handling machine  10  will be described. An operator inserts banknotes in the inlet  20  and then provides the controller  80  with an instruction for starting the depositing through the operation/display unit  82 . Then, the banknotes inserted in the inlet  20  are fed out into the housing  12  one by one by the banknote feeding mechanism  20   a , and transported one by one by the transporter  24 . The recognizer  26  performs recognition of a denomination, authentication, face/back, fitness, new/old, a transport state, and the like for the banknote transported by the transporter  24 . A banknote recognized as being not normal by the recognizer  26 , that is, a rejected note is transported to the outlet unit  22  by the transporter  24 , and stacked in the outlet unit  22 . Thus, the operator is allowed to manually take out the rejected banknotes stacked in the outlet unit  22  from the front surface of the housing  12 , and, for example, to insert again the banknotes in the inlet  20 . Meanwhile, a banknote recognized as being normal by the recognizer  26  is transported to the storage/feeding unit  30 , and temporarily stored in the storage/feeding unit  30 . The number of banknotes temporarily stored in the storage/feeding unit  30  and the total monetary amount thereof are displayed for each denomination by the operation/display unit  82 . When the operator confirms the displayed contents, and performs an operation of confirming the depositing, banknotes are fed out one by one from the storage/feeding unit  30  to the transporter  24 , are diverted from the transporter  24  to the diverging transporter  25 , are transported from the diverging transporter  25  to the banknote storage bag  34 , and are stored in the banknote storage bag  34 . 
     When the banknote storage bag  34  to which the banknote recognized by the recognizer  26  is to be transported is in full state or nearly full state, and the banknote cannot be stored in the banknote storage bag  34 , the storage/feeding unit  30  may be used as a storage for storing banknotes until the full state or the nearly full state is overcome. Specifically, the banknotes recognized by the recognizer  26  are transported to the storage/feeding unit  30 , and stored in the storage/feeding unit  30 . The banknote storage bag  34  in the full state or the nearly full state, is taken out from the banknote storing mechanism  32  of the lower unit assembly  16  by a guard of a cash-in-transit company, a clerk of the store, or the like, and the empty banknote storage bag  34  is mounted to the banknote storing mechanism  32 , and banknotes are then fed out one by one from the storage/feeding unit  30  to the transporter  24 , and transported to the banknote storage bag  34  by the transporter  24 . 
     In the present embodiment, when the banknote recognized by the recognizer  26  is stored in the banknote storage bag  34 , information on the number of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  is received by the number information receiver  90  based on the recognition result by the recognizer  26 . Thus, the controller  80  can obtain the number of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  based on the information received by the number information receiver  90 . 
     Next, an operation of storing a banknote transported from the diverging transporter  25  of the upper unit assembly  14  to the lower unit assembly  16 , in the banknote storage bag  34  held by the pair of holding members  36 , in the banknote storing mechanism  32 , will be described. 
     The banknote transported from the diverging transporter  25  of the upper unit assembly  14  to the lower unit assembly  16  is sent onto the pair of left and right temporary storage  44  by the banknote sending-out unit  48 , and stacked on the temporary storage  44 . When a predetermined number of banknotes are stacked on each temporary storage  44 , the temporary storage  44  rotates about the shaft  44   a  disposed at the proximal end portion in the downward direction (that is, the directions indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 2 ), and the banknotes stacked on each temporary storage  44  fall from the temporary storage  44  due to its own weight, and are stored in the banknote storage bag  34 . Specifically, the motor  54  rotates the gear  55 , to rotate the rotating shaft  66 , and the cam  70  mounted to the rotating shaft  66  rotates, whereby the power transmission member  72  moves downward. When the power transmission member  72  moves downward, each gear  45  is rotated by the teeth portion  72   a  disposed at the power transmission member  72 , so that each temporary storage  44  opens downward about the shaft  44   a . When the motor  54  rotates the gear  55  to rotate the rotating shaft  66 , the pinion rotates, and the rack  52  is moved by the pinion so as to be close to the shaft  51 . Thus, the pantograph  50  extends downward, and the pressing plate  46  mounted to the lower end portion of the pantograph  50  is also moved downward. Thus, when the banknotes temporarily stored on each temporary storage  44  are stored in the banknote storage bag  34 , banknotes having been left in each temporary storage  44  can be pushed toward the banknote storage bag  34  by the pressing plate  46 . 
     When banknotes fall from each temporary storage  44 , and are stored in the banknote storage bag  34 , each stage  40  is moved downward by the stage driver  41 , and a space for subsequently storing banknotes sent to the banknote storage bag  34  from each temporary storage  44  is formed in the banknote storage bag  34 . More specifically, in a state where the banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are pressed toward each stage  40  by the pressing plate  46 , each stage  40  and the pressing plate  46  integrally move in the downward direction in  FIG. 2 . At this time, in a case where the pressing plate  46  is moved into the banknote storage bag  34 , and the banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are brought into contact with the pressing plate  46 , when the lower end detection sensor  78  does not detect that the pressing plate  46  is at the lower end position, each stage  40  is moved downward. Thus, in a state where banknotes are gripped between each stage  40  and the pressing plate  46 , each stage  40  is moved downward by the stage driver  41 . Extending of the pantograph  50  causes the pressing plate  46  to be also moved downward. The torque limiter  59  is disposed at the rotating shaft of the gear  57 . When an excessive torque higher than a predetermined torque is applied between the rotating shaft and the pulley  58 , the rotating shaft and the pulley  58  are disconnected from each other, and the rotating shaft rotates relative to the pulley  58  in an idling state. Therefore, excessive pressing force is not applied to banknotes by the pressing plate  46 . Thereafter, in a case where the pressing plate  46  reaches the lower end position, and the lower end detection sensor  78  detects that the pressing plate  46  is at the lower end position, each stage  40  is stopped. Thus, when each stage  40  is moved downward, since the banknotes are pushed toward the stage  40  in the banknote storage bag  34  by the pressing plate  46  until the pressing plate  46  reaches the lower end position, banknotes stacked in the banknote storage bag  34  in a layered state are compressed in the stacking direction, so that collapsing of the banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  in the layered state can be inhibited. After each stage  40  has been stopped, the pressing plate  46  retracts upward from the banknote storage bag  34 . At this time, in a case where banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are, for example, wrinkled banknotes, when the pressing plate  46  retracts upward from the banknote storage bag  34 , a plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  is released from the compressed state by the pressing plate  46 , and may expand in the layering direction. Meanwhile, in a case where banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are, for example, brand-new notes, even when the pressing plate  46  retracts upward from the banknote storage bag  34 , a plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  does not greatly expand in the layering direction. 
     When each stage  40  is moved downward and the second sensor  79   b  detects the stage  40  (that is, when the upper surface of the stage  40  reaches a position represented by reference character B in  FIG. 11 ), the banknote storage bag  34  is determined as being in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes. In this case, after the pressing plate  46  retracts upward from the banknote storage bag  34 , the opening of the banknote storage bag  34  is heat-sealed by each heating member  38 . More specifically, in a case where the lower end detection sensor  78  detects that the pressing plate  46  is at the lower end position, each stage  40  is temporarily stopped. However, in a case where banknotes are stored in the banknote storage bag  34 , when, while each stage  40  is moving downward, the stage  40  is detected by the second sensor  79   b , after the pressing plate  46  has retracted upward from the banknote storage bag  34 , the stage driver  41  moves the stage  40  to the lower end in the predetermined movement range. That is, each stage  40  is moved downward until the stage  40  is detected by the first sensor  79   a . Thus, a region, near the opening of the banknote storage bag  34 , which is to be heat-sealed by each heating member  38  can be assured. In other words, after the banknote storage bag  34  is determined as being in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes, unless each stage  40  is moved downward, when the opening of the banknote storage bag  34  is heat-sealed by each heating member  38 , the banknote in the banknote storage bag  34  contacts with the heating member  38 , whereby the poor sealing may occur. Therefore, after each stage  40  is detected by the second sensor  79   b , the stage  40  is further moved downward. 
     In the present embodiment, in a case where banknotes temporarily stored on each temporary storage  44  are stored in the banknote storage bag  34  held by each holding member  36 , when a distance between each stage  40  and the pressing plate  46  that is pressing the banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  toward the stage  40  is greater than a predetermined distance h, the controller  80  stops the operation of storing a banknote in the banknote storage bag  34  on the condition that the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is less than a predetermined number m. The predetermined distance h and the predetermined number m are preset values. Specifically, in a case where banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are wrinkled banknotes, the banknote storage bag  34  is determined as being in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes before each stage  40  is detected by the second sensor  79   b , and the stage  40  is moved to a position (that is, the position of the lower end in the predetermined movement range) detected by the first sensor  79   a . Such an operation will be described with reference to  FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11E .  FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11C  are side views sequentially showing operations of storing wrinkled banknotes (represented by reference character Pa) in the banknote storage bag  34 .  FIG. 11D  and  FIG. 11E  are side views sequentially showing operations of storing banknotes (represented by reference character Pb) as brand-new notes in the banknote storage bag  34 . 
     Firstly, an operation of storing wrinkled banknotes in the banknote storage bag  34  will be described with reference to  FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11C . In a case where banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are not brand-new notes but wrinkled banknotes, when the banknotes are pushed toward each stage  40  in the banknote storage bag  34  by the pressing plate  46 , and the pressing plate  46  thereafter retracts upward from the banknote storage bag  34 , a plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  may expand in the layering direction. In this case, if the banknote storage bag  34  is determined as being in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes since each stage  40  reaches the position represented by reference character B, and the stage  40  is thereafter moved from the position represented by reference character B to the position represented by reference character A, a region, near the opening of the banknote storage bag  34 , which is to be heat-sealed by each heating member  38  may not be sufficiently assured. That is, if each stage  40  is merely moved from the position represented by reference character B to the position represented by reference character A, when the pressing plate  46  retracts upward from the banknote storage bag  34 , a plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  expands in the layering direction, and, therefore, the banknote in the banknote storage bag  34  contacts with the heating member  38  when the opening of the banknote storage bag  34  is heat-sealed by each heating member  38 , so that poor sealing may occur. Therefore, a distance over which each stage  40  is moved needs to be increased in order to sufficiently assure a region, near the opening of the banknote storage bag  34 , which is to be heat-sealed by each heating member  38 . 
     Therefore, in the present embodiment, in a case where banknotes temporarily stored on each temporary storage  44  are stored in the banknote storage bag  34  held by each holding member  36 , when a distance between each stage  40  and the pressing plate  46  that is pressing the banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  toward the stage  40  is greater than the predetermined distance h, if the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is less than the predetermined number m, the banknote storage bag  34  is determined as being in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes. More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 11A , in a case where each stage  40  is slightly moved downward as a banknote is stored in the banknote storage bag  34 , and the upper surface of the stage  40  reaches the position (position higher than the position represented by reference character B) represented by reference character C in  FIG. 11 , or reaches a position lower than the position represented by reference character C, the controller  80  determines whether or not the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is greater than or equal to the predetermined number m. More specifically, as described above, when banknotes are stored in the banknote storage bag  34 , each stage  40  is moved downward, and the banknotes are pushed toward the stage  40  in the banknote storage bag  34  by the pressing plate  46  until the pressing plate  46  reaches the lower end position, and, when the pressing plate  46  reaches the lower end position, the stage  40  is stopped. In a case where, when the stage  40  is stopped, the upper surface of the stage  40  is at the position represented by reference character C in  FIG. 11 , or at a position lower than the position represented by reference character C, the controller  80  determines whether or not the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is greater than or equal to the predetermined number m.  FIG. 11A  illustrates a state where the pressing plate  46  is at the lower end position. As shown in  FIG. 11A , a distance between the lower end surface of the pressing plate  46  that is at the lower end position and the position represented by reference character C is set as the predetermined distance h. That is, the position represented by reference character C is lower than the lower end surface of the pressing plate  46  that is at the lower end position, by the predetermined distance h. 
     In a case where the upper surface of the stage  40  is at the position represented by reference character C in  FIG. 11  or at a position lower than the position represented by reference character C, when the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is greater than or equal to the predetermined number m, banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are determined as brand-new notes, and an operation of storing a banknote in the banknote storage bag  34  is not stopped. Such an operation will be described below. Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 11A , in a case where the upper surface of the stage  40  is at the position represented by reference character C in  FIG. 11  or at a position lower than the position represented by reference character C, when the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is less than the predetermined number m, banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are determined as wrinkled banknotes, and an operation of transporting a banknote from the transporter  24  through the diverging transporter  25  and the banknote sending-out unit  48  to the temporary storage  44  is stopped. In this case, as shown in  FIG. 11B , the pressing plate  46  retracts upward from the banknote storage bag  34 , and the pressing plate  46  is disposed at the upper end position (retracted position). Due to this, a plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  may expand in the layering direction. In  FIG. 11B , reference character a represents an amount of expansion of the plurality of banknotes in the layering direction. Thus, when the plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  expands in the layering direction, the height of the plurality of banknotes has a magnitude of h+a. Furthermore, each stage  40  is moved downward to the lower end position (that is, the position detected by the first sensor  79   a ) in the predetermined movement range by the stage driver  41 . Since each stage  40  is moved downward from the position represented by reference character C to the position represented by reference character A in  FIG. 11 , a region, near the opening of the banknote storage bag  34 , which is to be heat-sealed by each heating member  38 , can be widened as compared to a case where each stage  40  is moved downward from the position represented by reference character B to the position represented by reference character A in  FIG. 11 . That is, in a case where banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are wrinkled banknotes, when the pressing plate  46  retracts upward from the banknote storage bag  34 , if a plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  expands in the layering direction, an operation of storing a banknote in the banknote storage bag  34  is stopped, and a distance over which each stage  40  is moved downward is then increased, whereby a region, near the opening of the banknote storage bag  34 , which is to be heat-sealed by each heating member  38 , can be sufficiently assured. 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 11C , one of the holding members  36  is moved so as to be close to the other of the holding members  36 , whereby a portion, near the opening, of the banknote storage bag  34  is gripped by the holding members  36 . Specifically, the right side holding member  36  is moved so as to be close to the left side holding member  36  in  FIG. 11 . Thereafter, the opening of the banknote storage bag  34  is heat-sealed by each heating member  38 . Furthermore, one of the stages  40  is moved so as to be close to the other of the stages  40 , whereby a portion, near the bottom, of the banknote storage bag  34  is gripped by the stages  40 . A portion, of the banknote storage bag  34 , which serves as the bottom thereof when banknotes are stored in the banknote storage bag  34  is heat-sealed by each heater  42 . Thereafter, the holding members  36  are moved so as to be separate from each other. Specifically, the right side holding member  36  is moved so as to be distant from the left side holding member  36  in  FIG. 11 . Furthermore, the stages  40  are moved so as to be separate from each other. Thereafter, the banknote storage bag  34  is dismounted from each holding member  36 , whereby the banknote storage bag  34  can be taken out through the upper side of each holding member  36  of the banknote storing mechanism  32  in the upward direction. 
     Meanwhile, in a case where the upper surface of the stage  40  is at the position represented by reference character C in  FIG. 11  or at a position lower than the position represented by reference character C, when the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is greater than or equal to the predetermined number m, banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are determined as brand-new notes, and an operation of transporting a banknote from the transporter  24  through the diverging transporter  25  and the banknote sending-out unit  48  to the temporary storage  44  is not stopped. In this case, an operation of storing banknotes in the banknote storage bag  34  is continued until each stage  40  is detected by the second sensor  79   b . As shown in  FIG. 11D , when each stage  40  is detected by the second sensor  79   b , the banknote storage bag  34  is determined as being in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes, an operation of transporting a banknote from the transporter  24  through the diverging transporter  25  and the banknote sending-out unit  48  to the temporary storage  44  is stopped. Reference character H represents a height of a plurality of banknotes in the layering direction in the case of the operation of transporting a banknote to the temporary storage  44  being stopped. Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 11E , the pressing plate  46  retracts upward from the banknote storage bag  34 , and the pressing plate  46  is disposed at the upper end position (retracted position). In a case where banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are brand-new notes, even when the pressing plate  46  retracts upward from the banknote storage bag  34 , a plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  does not greatly expand in the layering direction. That is, the height of the plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  remains as represented by reference character H. Thereafter, each stage  40  is moved downward to the lower end position (that is, position detected by the first sensor  79   a ) in the predetermined movement range by the stage driver  41 . In this case, each stage  40  is moved downward from the position represented by reference character B to the position represented by reference character A in  FIG. 11  in order to assure a region, near the opening of the banknote storage bag  34 , which is to be heat-sealed by each heating member  38 , whereby a distance over which the stage  40  is moved is reduced as compared to the manner shown in  FIG. 11A  to  FIG. 11C . However, in a case where a plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  is brand-new notes, the banknotes may not greatly expand in the layering direction. Therefore, poor sealing is inhibited from occurring. Furthermore, in the manner shown in  FIG. 11D  and  FIG. 11E , banknotes can be stored in the banknote storage bag  34  while each stage  40  is moved downward from the position represented by reference character C to the position represented by reference character B, whereby the number of banknotes to be stored in the banknote storage bag  34  can be increased. 
     A relationship between the predetermined distance h and the predetermined number m in the above-described operation will be described. In a case where banknotes to be stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are wrinkled banknotes, a height per one banknote is increased when the banknotes are pushed toward each stage  40  by the pressing plate  46 . That is, a value, obtained by dividing the height of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  when each stage  40  is moved downward while the banknotes are gripped between the pressing plate  46  and the stage  40 , by the number (that is, the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90 ) of the banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34 , is increased. Therefore, when the upper surface of the stage  40  is at the position represented by reference character C in  FIG. 11  or at a position lower than the position represented by reference character C, and a distance between the lower end surface of the pressing plate  46  and the upper surface of each stage  40  is greater than the predetermined distance h, the number of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  is less than the predetermined number m. Meanwhile, when banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are brand-new notes, a height per one banknote is reduced when the banknotes are pushed toward each stage  40  by the pressing plate  46 . That is, a value, obtained by dividing the height of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  when each stage  40  is moved downward while the banknotes are gripped between the pressing plate  46  and the stage  40 , by the number (that is, the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90 ) of the banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34 , is reduced. Therefore, when the upper surface of the stage  40  is at the position represented by reference character C in  FIG. 11  or at a position lower than the position represented by reference character C, and a distance between the lower end surface of the pressing plate  46  and the upper surface of each stage  40  is greater than the predetermined distance h, the number of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  is greater than the predetermined number m. Thus, a value obtained by dividing a distance between the lower end surface of the pressing plate  46  and the upper surface of each stage  40  in the case of the stage  40  being moved downward while banknotes are gripped between the pressing plate  46  and the stage  40 , by the number of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  is different between a case where banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are wrinkled banknotes and a case where banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are brand-new notes. 
     In the present embodiment, an operator is allowed to change the value of the predetermined distance h or the predetermined number m according to a country or a region where the banknote handling machine  10  is installed. Specifically, an operator is allowed to set or change a value of the predetermined distance h by using the operation/display unit  82 . The parameter setter  92  sets the value of the predetermined distance h based on the information inputted through the operation/display unit  82 . Furthermore, an operator is allowed to set or change a value of the predetermined number m by using the operation/display unit  82 . The parameter setter  92  sets the value of the predetermined number m based on the information inputted through the operation/display unit  82 . Thus, the parameter setter  92  can set the predetermined distance h and the predetermined number m. In a banknote handling machine according to modification, the parameter setter  92  may set one of the predetermined distance h or the predetermined number m. In this case, although a parameter of one of the predetermined distance h or the predetermined number m can be changed, a parameter of the other thereof cannot be changed. 
     In the present embodiment, as a process mode for an operation of storing banknotes in the banknote storage bag  34 , one of a first process mode or a second process mode may be selected. An operator is allowed to perform such selection of the process mode by using the operation/display unit  82 . The process mode setter  94  sets one of the first process mode or the second process mode as the process mode for the operation of storing banknotes in the banknote storage bag  34 , based on the information inputted by the operator by using the operation/display unit  82 . In a case where the first process mode is selected by the process mode setter  94 , and banknotes are stored in the banknote storage bag  34  held by each holding member  36 , when a distance between each stage  40  and the pressing plate  46  that is pressing the banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  toward the stage  40  is greater than the predetermined distance h, the controller  80  stops the operation of storing a banknote in the banknote storage bag  34  on the condition that the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is less than the predetermined number m, as described above. Meanwhile, in a case where the second process mode is selected by the process mode setter  94 , and banknotes are stored in the banknote storage bag  34  held by each holding member  36 , when a distance between each stage  40  and the pressing plate  46  that is pressing the banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  toward the stage  40  is greater than the predetermined distance h, even if the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is less than the predetermined number m, an operation of storing a banknote in the banknote storage bag  34  is not stopped. That is, also in a case where, when the upper surface of the stage  40  is at the position represented by reference character C in  FIG. 11  or at a position lower than the position represented by reference character C, the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is less than the predetermined number m, an operation of transporting a banknote from the transporter  24  through the diverging transporter  25  and the banknote sending-out unit  48  to the temporary storage  44  is not stopped. In this case, an operation of storing banknotes in the banknote storage bag  34  is continued until each stage  40  is detected by the second sensor  79   b . When each stage  40  is detected by the second sensor  79   b , the banknote storage bag  34  is determined as being in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes, and an operation of transporting a banknote from the transporter  24  through the diverging transporter  25  and the banknote sending-out unit  48  to the temporary storage  44  is stopped. Thereafter, each stage  40  is moved downward to the lower end position (that is, position detected by the first sensor  79   a ) in the predetermined movement range by the stage driver  41 , and the opening of the banknote storage bag  34  is heat-sealed by each heating member  38 . In a case where it is previously known that banknotes to be stored in the banknote storage bag  34  are brand-new notes, the process mode for the banknotes is set as the second process mode by the process mode setter  94 , whereby forced stopping of an operation of storing a banknote in the banknote storage bag  34  when the upper surface of the stage  40  is at the position represented by reference character C in  FIG. 11  or at a position lower than the position represented by reference character C can be prevented. Therefore, the number of banknotes to be stored in the banknote storage bag  34  can be increased. 
     In the banknote handling machine  10 , according to the present embodiment, having the above-described configuration, when a distance between each stage  40  (receiver) and the pressing plate  46  (presser) that is pressing banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  held (supported) by each holding member  36  (support), toward the stage  40 , is greater than the predetermined distance h, the controller  80  stops an operation of storing a banknote in the banknote storage bag  34  on the condition that the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is less than the predetermined number m. Thus, also when wrinkled banknotes are stored in the banknote storage bag  34 , a region, near the opening of the banknote storage bag  34 , which is to be heat-sealed by each heating member  38 , can be sufficiently assured. Therefore, when the opening of the banknote storage bag  34  is sealed, poor sealing due to a banknote in the banknote storage bag  34  contacting with the heating member  38  can be prevented. 
     More specifically, in a typical banknote handling machine, in a case where banknotes stored in a storage bag are not brand-new notes but wrinkled banknotes, after the banknotes are pushed by a pressing plate, when the pressing plate retracts outward from the banknote storage bag, a plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag may expand in the layering direction. In a conventional banknote handling machine, when a stage reaches a predetermined position, a banknote storage bag is determined as being in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes, and the opening of the banknote storage bag is heat-sealed by a heating member. However, in a case where banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag are not brand-new notes but wrinkled banknotes, when the pressing plate retracts outward from the banknote storage bag, if a plurality of banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag expands in the layering direction, poor sealing due to the banknote in the banknote storage bag contacting with the heating member may occur in the case of the opening of the banknote storage bag being heat-sealed by the heating member. Such poor sealing causes generation of a part, of the opening of the banknote storage bag, which is not sealed. Therefore, a problem arises that a banknote is extracted from the banknote storage bag through the unsealed portion. Meanwhile, according to the present embodiment, the banknote storage bag  34  is not always determined as being in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes when each stage  40  reaches a predetermined position. In a case where a distance between each stage  40  and the pressing plate  46  that is pressing banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  toward the stage  40  is greater than the predetermined distance h, even when the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is less than the predetermined number m, the banknote storage bag  34  is determined as being in full state of banknotes or nearly full state of banknotes. Thus, a region, near the opening of the banknote storage bag  34 , which is to be heat-sealed by each heating member  38 , can be sufficiently assured. Therefore, poor sealing due to the banknote in the banknote storage bag  34  contacting with the heating member  38  can be prevented when the opening of the banknote storage bag  34  is sealed. 
     Furthermore, in the banknote handling machine  10  according to the present embodiment, as described above, the pair of temporary storage  44  that temporarily store banknotes to be stored in the banknote storage bag  34  is disposed, and, when a distance between each stage  40  and the pressing plate  46  that is pressing banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  that is held by each holding member  36  toward the stage  40  is greater than the predetermined distance h, if the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is less than the predetermined number m, the controller  80  controls the transporter  24 , the diverging transporter  25 , the banknote sending-out unit  48 , and the like so as not to transport a banknote to each temporary storage  44  (the transporter  24 , the diverging transporter  25 , and the banknote sending-out unit  48  function as a banknote sender for sending a banknote to each temporary storage  44 ). The banknote handling machine according to the present invention may not include a temporary storage for temporarily storing a banknote to be stored in a banknote storage bag. In the banknote handling machine according to modification, a temporary storage for temporarily storing a banknote to be stored in a banknote storage bag may not be disposed, and a banknote may be sent directly to a banknote storage bag from a banknote sending-out unit. In the banknote handling machine according to modification, when a distance between each stage and the pressing plate that is pressing banknotes stored in a banknote storage bag held by each holding member toward the stage is greater than a predetermined distance, if the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver is less than a predetermined number, the controller controls the transporter, the banknote sending-out unit, and the like so as not to send a banknote from the banknote sending-out unit to the banknote storage bag. 
     In the banknote handling machine  10  according to the present embodiment, as described above, in a case where a distance between each stage  40  and the pressing plate  46  that is pressing banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  held by each holding member  36  toward the stage  40  is greater than the predetermined distance h, the controller  80  controls the stage driver  41  such that the stage  40  is moved so as to be distant from the holding member  36  on the condition that the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is less than the predetermined number m. Specifically, each stage  40  is moved to the position represented by reference character A in  FIG. 11  (see  FIG. 11B ). Thus, a region, near the opening of the banknote storage bag  34 , which is to be heat-sealed by each heating member  38 , can be sufficiently assured. 
     Each stage  40  is moved so as to be distant from each holding member  36  and so as to be close to each holding member  36  (that is, in the up-down direction in  FIG. 2 ) in a predetermined movement range. In a case where banknotes are stored in the banknote storage bag  34  held by each holding member  36 , when a distance between each stage  40  and the pressing plate  46  that is pressing banknotes toward the stage  40  is greater than the predetermined distance h, if the number of banknotes received by the number information receiver  90  is greater than the predetermined number m, each stage  40  is moved to the farthest position from each holding member  36  in the predetermined movement range in the case of the stage  40  having reached a position (first predetermined position) detected by the second sensor  79   b.    
     In the banknote handling machine  10  according to the present embodiment, as described above, the controller  80  controls the stage driver  41  such that, when banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34  held by each holding member  36  are pressed toward each stage  40  by the pressing plate  46 , the stage  40  is moved so as to be distant from each holding member  36  in a state where the banknotes are gripped between the pressing plate  46  and the stage  40  until the pressing plate  46  reaches the lower end position (second predetermined position). The lower end detection sensor  78  is disposed as a detector for detecting whether or not the pressing plate  46  is at the lower end position. The controller  80  controls the stage driver  41  such that, in a case where the pressing plate  46  is moved into the banknote storage bag  34  and contacts with banknotes stored in the banknote storage bag  34 , when the lower end detection sensor  78  does not detect that the pressing plate  46  is at the lower end position, each stage  40  is moved so as to be distant from the holding member  36 . 
     In the banknote handling machine  10  according to the present embodiment, as described above, the recognizer  26  for performing recognition of a banknote to be stored in the banknote storage bag  34  is disposed, and the number of banknotes transported to the banknote storage bag  34  is calculated based on the recognition result by the recognizer  26 , and the information on the calculated number of banknotes is received by the number information receiver  90 . However, the banknote handling machine of the present invention is not limited to this aspect. In the banknote handling machine according to modification, the number information receiver may receive information on the number of banknotes stored in a banknote storage bag, based on information (for example, the number of banknotes inputted by an operator through the operation/display unit) other than the recognition result by the recognizer. 
     In the banknote handling machine  10  according to the present embodiment, as described above, the parameter setter  92  sets at least one of the predetermined distance h and the predetermined number m. The parameter setter  92  thus allows at least one of values of the predetermined distance h and the predetermined number m to be changed. Furthermore, the process mode setter  94  sets one of the first process mode or the second process mode, as a process mode for the operation of storing a banknote in the banknote storage bag  34  held by each holding member  36 . 
     The banknote handling machine  10  and the banknote handling method according to the present embodiment are not limited to the above described aspects, and various modifications can be made. 
     For example, in a banknote handling machine according to modification, a tubular storage bag having an opening in each of the upper portion and the lower portion may be supported by a support, and banknotes may be stored in the storage bag supported by the support. Also in this case, the principle of the present invention can be applied to the banknote handling machine according to the modification. 
     According to another aspect of the present embodiment, instead of the opening of the storage bag being heat-sealed by the heating member, the opening of the storage bag may be sealed through adhesion by an adhesive. Specifically, a banknote storage bag having an adhesive in an opening in the inner surface may be used as a banknote storage bag for storing banknotes. In this case, the opening of the banknote storage bag is sealed through adhesion by an adhesive at the opening of the banknote storage bag. Also in this case, the principle of the present invention can be applied to the banknote handling machine according to the modification. 
     According to still another aspect of the present embodiment, the heating member for heat-sealing an opening of a banknote storage bag may be a member separate from each holding member for holding a portion, near the opening, of the banknote storage bag. Furthermore, the heating member for heat-sealing a portion, of a banknote storage bag, which serves as the bottom thereof when banknotes are stored in the banknote storage bag may be a member separate from each stage. Furthermore, a portion, of a banknote storage bag, which serves as the bottom thereof when banknotes are stored in the banknote storage bag, may not be sealed. In this case, a heating member is not disposed in each stage or the like. 
     Furthermore, as the sheet handling apparatus and the sheet handling method according to the present invention, an apparatus and a method for storing sheets (for example, checks or gift coupons) other than banknotes in a storage bag, may be used.