Patent Publication Number: US-9852571-B2

Title: Paper sheet processing device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a paper-sheet processing apparatus which processes paper sheets. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Paper-sheet processing apparatuses which process paper sheets have been known heretofore. There has been a demand for paper-sheet processing apparatuses each including at least two stacking units for sorting paper sheets such as banknotes to be deposited or withdrawn at a counter of a financial institution such as a bank. Examples of such a paper-sheet processing apparatus include a paper-sheet processing apparatus disclosed in WO 2009/028071, which includes an upper transport mechanism extending in a horizontal direction, a lower transport mechanism extending in the horizontal direction below the upper transport mechanism, and an intermediate transport mechanism provided between the upper and lower transport mechanisms. WO 2009/028071 also discloses that some of the paper sheets transported by the lower transport mechanism are diverted by diverters from the lower transport mechanism and fed to two staking units. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The paper-sheet processing apparatus as disclosed in WO 2009/028071 has been known heretofore, but there is a demand for smaller paper-sheet processing apparatuses each having two or more stacking units. This is because a bank counter or teller desk has a limited space for placing the apparatus. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the points mentioned above and thus provides a smaller paper-sheet processing apparatus having at least two stacking units. 
     A paper-sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a casing; a take-in unit configured to take in paper sheets into the casing; a recognition unit configured to recognize each of the paper sheets taken in by the take-in unit; a transport unit configured to transport the paper sheets taken in by the take-in unit, the transport unit including a horizontal transport unit configured to transport the paper sheets recognized by the recognition unit, along a substantially horizontal direction; a plurality of stacking units each positioned below the horizontal transport unit and configured to stack the paper sheets transported by the horizontal transport unit; and a plurality of stacking wheels provided correspondingly to the stacking units and used for stacking the paper sheets transported by the horizontal transport unit in the stacking units, in which: for any adjacent two stacking units among the plurality of stacking units, a rotation direction of one of the stacking wheels corresponding to one of the two stacking units and a rotation direction of the other stacking wheel corresponding to the other stacking unit are opposite to each other. 
     According to the present invention, for any adjacent two stacking units among a plurality of stacking units, the rotation direction of the stacking wheel corresponding to one of the adjacent two stacking units and the rotation direction of the stacking wheel corresponding to the other one of adjacent two stacking units are opposite to each other. Thus, it is not necessary to increase the length of the horizontal transport unit before the paper sheets are stacked in the stacking unit positioned on the upstream side and/or to cause the paper sheets to pass through above the stacking unit positioned on the downstream side first and then to be stacked in the stacking unit. Thus, it is made possible to reduce the length of the horizontal transport unit and thus to downsize the paper-sheet processing apparatus including at least two stacking units. 
     The paper-sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention may further include diverters provided correspondingly to the stacking units and each configured to divert the paper sheets transported by the horizontal transport unit. 
     The paper-sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention may include a reject unit provided at an end of the transport unit, the reject unit being disposed above one of the stacking units and configured to stack the paper sheets not stacked by the stacking units, the one of the stacking units being positioned on a most downstream side in a transport direction of the paper sheets. 
     In the paper-sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention, the horizontal transport unit includes a tilt portion tilted upward toward the reject unit. 
     In the paper-sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention, the take-in unit is positioned above the reject unit. 
     In the paper-sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention: the transport unit may include: a first transport unit configured to transport, along one side of a horizontal direction, the paper sheets taken in by the take-in unit; a second transport unit positioned below the first transport unit and configured to transport, along another side of the horizontal direction, the paper sheets transported by the first transport unit, the other side being opposite to the one side of the horizontal direction; and an intermediate transfer unit configured to connect between the first transport unit and the second transport unit, in which the recognition unit may recognize each of the paper sheets transported by the first transport unit, and the horizontal transport unit may be included in the second transport unit. 
     In the paper-sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention, the stacking unit has an opening at a front side and stacks the paper sheets while tilted at an angle of at least 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction. 
     In the paper-sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention, one of the adjacent two stacking units may stack the paper sheets while tilted at an angle of at least 45 degrees with respect to one side of the horizontal direction and the other stacking unit may stack the paper sheets while tilted at an angle of at least 45 degrees with respect to another side of the horizontal direction, the other side being opposite to the one side of the horizontal direction. 
     In the paper-sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention: the paper sheets may be sequentially fed out to one of the adjacent two stacking units in a direction having a component opposite to a transport direction of the paper sheets by the horizontal transport unit, and the paper sheets may be sequentially fed out to the other one of the adjacent two stacking units in a direction having a component of the transport direction of the paper sheets by the horizontal transport unit. 
     In the paper-sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention: an upper portion of one of the stacking wheels corresponding to the one of the stacking units may rotate in the direction having a component opposite to the transport direction of the paper sheets by the horizontal transport unit, and an upper portion of the other one of the stacking wheels corresponding to the other one of the stacking units may rotate in the direction having a component of the transport direction of the paper sheets by the horizontal transport unit. 
     In the paper-sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention: an upstream-side one of the stacking wheels corresponding to one of the stacking units positioned on an upstream side among the adjacent two stacking units may be positioned on a downstream side of the stacking unit positioned on the upstream side, and an upper portion of the upstream-side stacking wheel may rotate in a direction having a component opposite to a transport direction of the paper sheets by the horizontal transport unit as viewed from the front side, and a downstream-side one of the stacking wheels corresponding to the other one of the stacking units positioned on a downstream side among the adjacent two stacking units may be positioned on an upstream side of the stacking unit positioned on the downstream side, and an upper portion of the downstream-side stacking wheel may rotate in a direction having a component of the transport direction of the paper sheets by the horizontal transport unit as viewed from the front side. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a paper-sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic internal configuration diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the paper-sheet processing apparatus according to the present embodiment of the present invention as viewed from a front side. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic internal configuration diagram illustrating how a fourth unit is turned with respect to a third unit for setting the fourth unit in an open-state in the paper-sheet processing apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic internal configuration diagram illustrating how a first unit is turned with respect to a second unit for setting the first unit in an open-state in the paper-sheet processing apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a control block diagram for describing a connection state in the paper-sheet processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6A  is a simplified front view illustrating a state where the first unit is in a closed-state with respect to the second unit while the fourth unit is also in a closed-state with respect to the third unit in a variation of the embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 6B  is a simplified front view illustrating a state where the first unit is in a closed-state with respect to the second unit while the fourth unit is in an open-state with respect to the third unit in the variation of the embodiment of the present invention; and  FIG. 6C  is a simplified front view illustrating a state where the first unit is in an open-state with respect to the second unit while the fourth unit is in a closed-state with respect to the third unit in the variation of the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7A  is a simplified front view illustrating a state where the first unit is in a closed-state with respect to the second unit while the fourth unit is also in a closed-state with respect to the third unit in another variation of the embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 7B  is a simplified front view illustrating a state where the first unit is in a closed-state with respect to the second unit while the fourth unit is in an open-state with respect to the third unit in the other variation of the embodiment of the present invention; and  FIG. 7C  is a simplified front view illustrating a state where the first unit is in an open-state with respect to the second unit while the fourth unit is in a closed-state with respect to the third unit in the other variation of the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT 
     &lt;Configuration&gt; 
     Hereinafter, a description will be given of an embodiment of a paper-sheet processing apparatus according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIGS. 1 through 5  are diagrams for describing the embodiment of the present invention. In addition, while various paper sheets such as banknotes, gift certificates, barcode tickets, checks, and promissory notes can be cited as examples of the paper sheets to be processed by paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  of this embodiment, the representative paper sheets are banknotes. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  of the present embodiment includes: casing  10 ; take-in unit  20  configured to take in paper sheets one by one into casing  10 ; first transport unit  30  configured to transport, along one side (leftward in  FIG. 2 ) of a substantially horizontal direction, the paper sheets taken in by take-in unit  20 ; and recognition unit  60  configured to recognize the paper sheets transported by first transport unit  30 . Take-in unit  20  includes mount unit  29  in which a plurality of paper sheets are placed in a stacked state, and takes in, one by one, the paper sheets placed in mount unit  29 . In this embodiment, the paper sheets are to be transported along a short-edge direction, and the paper sheets are placed in mount unit  29  such that the short-edge direction extends in the left and right direction of  FIG. 2  while a long-edge direction extends in the normal direction of the sheet surface of  FIG. 2 . Note that, the height up to the upper end of casing  10  is approximately 325 mm and the height up to the upper end of mount unit  29  is approximately 290 mm, for example. 
     Paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment is capable of processing (such as sorting of paper sheets, reading of serial numbers, and/or the like) approximately 1,000 paper sheets per minute, for example. 
     Paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  includes: second transport unit  50  positioned below first transport unit  30  and configured to transport, in the other side which is the side opposite to the one side of the abovementioned direction (rightward in  FIG. 2 ), the paper sheets recognized by recognition unit  60 ; intermediate transport unit  40  positioned between first and second transport units  30  and  50  and configured to connect between first and second transport units  30  and  50 ; and a plurality of stacking units  80  and  90  (two stacking units in this embodiment) each positioned below second transport unit  50 , configured to stack the paper sheets transported by second transport unit  50  and having an opening on the front side (see  FIG. 1 ). Stacking units  80  and  90  are provided with stacking wheels  81  and  91  so as to correspond to stacking units  80  and  90 , respectively, in order for the paper sheets transported by second transport unit  50  to be stacked in stacking units  80  and  90 . Note that, although this embodiment employs a mode in which two stacking units ( 80  and  90 ) are provided with two stacking wheels ( 81  and  91 ), respectively, it is also possible to employ a mode in which three or more stacking units are provided with three or more stacking wheels respectively without being limited to the foregoing mode. 
     In addition, stacking units  80  and  90  are provided with push-out units  85  and  95  (see  FIG. 5 ) for pushing out the paper sheets stacked in stacking units  80  and  90  to the front side. Push-out units  85  and  95  are configured to push out the paper sheets stacked in stacking units  80  and  90  to the outside of casing  10  through the openings on the front side of stacking units  80  and  90  after a predetermined number of paper sheets are stacked in stacking units  80  and  90 . Thus, according to the present embodiment, the operator can surely cause only a predetermined number of paper sheets to be stacked in stacking units  80  and  90 , and then easily remove the paper sheets from stacking units  80  and  90 . Note that, push-out units  85  and  95  may be configured to push out the paper sheets stacked in stacking units  80  and  90  to the outside of casing  10  through the openings on the front side of stacking units  80  and  90  after all the paper sheets placed in mount unit  29  are sorted to stacking units  80  and  90  and/or reject unit  110  to be described hereinafter. 
     In this embodiment, first transport unit  30 , intermediate transport unit  40  and second transport unit  50  form a substantially U-shape. The paper sheets taken in by take-in unit  20  into casing  10  are transported one by one in the order of first transport unit  30 , intermediate transport unit  40  and second transport unit  50 . First transport unit  30 , intermediate transport unit  40  and second transport unit  50  are each composed of a combination of transport mechanisms. Each of the transport mechanisms includes a pair of or three or more transport rollers and a transport belt such as a rubber belt, for example, placed around these transport rollers in a tensioned state. Note that, this transport mechanism may be composed of a plurality of transport rollers to be in contact with paper sheets, and a driving belt such as a rubber belt for driving these transport rollers. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , take-in unit  20  includes: feed roller  21  for feeding out paper sheets into casing  10 ; reverse-rotation roller  22  provided so as to face feed roller  21  and configured to form a gate unit with feed roller  21  in between; kicker roller  23  for kicking out the paper sheets housed in mount unit  29  to feed roller  21 ; auxiliary roller  24  for surely taking in the paper sheets kicked out by kicker roller  23  into the gate unit; and pinch roller  25  having a higher frictional coefficient than feed roller  21  and used for surely taking in the paper sheets that have passed through between feed roller  21  and reverse-rotation roller  22  to the inside of first transport unit  30 . 
     Recognition unit  60  is configured to recognize the fitness, authenticity, denomination, orientation, face/back and/or the like of each of the paper sheets including a banknote transported by first transport unit  30 . Recognition unit  60  also recognizes the transported condition such as whether the banknotes are transported obliquely, whether the banknotes are transported in an overlapped condition, whether the banknotes at front and rear are transported in a chained condition and/or the like. Each recognition result made by recognition unit  60  is transmitted to control unit  150  to be described hereinafter (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , two stacking units  80  and  90  are arranged in parallel in the left and right direction as viewed from the front side in this embodiment. Stacking units  80  and  90  are each configured to house the paper sheets that satisfy a predetermined condition according to recognition unit  60  among the paper sheets taken in into casing  10 , while stacking the paper sheets in a standing state as will be described hereinafter. 
     In this embodiment, a description will be given while the surface side where the openings of stacking units  80  and  90  are formed is referred to as “front side.” Note that, the openings of stacking units  80  and  90  may be provided at a lateral surface side of casing  10 , but even in this case, the paper sheets stacked in stacking units  80  and  90  are mainly taken out in the front side direction. Second transport unit  50  in the present embodiment corresponds to “horizontal transport unit” recited in the claims. Note that, the expression, transporting a paper sheet “along the horizontal direction” means a mode in which a paper sheet is transported in a direction having a component of “horizontal direction” which includes a mode in which a paper sheet is transported in the horizontal direction in a form that the paper sheet is transported in a vertically zigzag manner, for example. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , diversion transport units  71  and  72  connecting between second transport unit  50  and stacking units  80  and  90  together are provided between second transport unit  50 , and stacking units  80  and  90 . Diverters  76  and  77  each having, for example, a nail-like shape and used for diverting the paper sheets transported by second transport unit  50  into diversion transport units  71  and  72  are provided so as to correspond to stacking units  80  and  90 , respectively. In this embodiment, diversion transport units  71  and  72  are each shorter in length in the transport direction than a paper sheet having the shortest length in the transport direction among the paper sheets recognizable by recognition unit  60 . For example, the banknote having the shortest length in the transport direction among the banknotes currently circulating in China in general is one chiao, and the length of chiao in the short-edge direction is 52 mm. Accordingly, when recognition unit  60  is configured based on an assumption that recognition unit  60  processes the banknotes circulating in China and thus capable of recognizing chiao, the length of each of diversion transport units  71  and  72  is less than 52 mm. In another example, the banknote having the shortest length in the transport direction among the banknotes currently circulating in the eurozone in general is five euros, and the length of five euros in the short-edge direction is 62 mm. Accordingly, when recognition unit  60  is configured based on an assumption that recognition unit  60  processes the banknotes circulating in the eurozone and thus capable of recognizing five euros, the length of each of diversion transport units  71  and  72  is less than 62 mm. Note that, when paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  is supposedly manufactured in a predetermined size, the length of each of diversion transport units  71  and  72  is less than 50 mm, for example. 
     In this embodiment, when a mode in which three or more stacking units are provided with three or more stacking wheels corresponding to the respective stacking units is employed, stacking wheels  81  and  91  are disposed in the horizontal direction between adjacent two stacking units  80  and  90  among the plurality of stacking units  80  and  90  in such a manner that stacking wheel  81  corresponds to one of adjacent two stacking units  80  and  90  while stacking wheel  91  corresponds to the other one of adjacent two stacking units  80  and  90 . Regarding any adjacent two stacking units  80  and  90  among a plurality of stacking units  80  and  90 , the rotation direction of stacking wheel  81  corresponding to one of two stacking units  80  and  90  and the rotation direction of stacking wheel  91  corresponding to the other one of two stacking units  80  and  90  are opposite to each other. 
     Regarding this point, since only two stacking units  80  and  90  are provided in the mode illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , stacking wheels  81  and  91  corresponding to stacking units  80  and  90  respectively are provided between two stacking units  80  and  90  in the horizontal direction, and the rotation direction of stacking wheel  81  positioned on the left as viewed from the front side and the rotation direction of stacking wheel  91  positioned on the right as viewed from the front side are opposite to each other. More specifically, stacking wheel  81  configured to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the front side is provided at the lower right of stacking unit  80  positioned on the left as viewed from the front side, while stacking wheel  91  configured to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed from the front side is provided at the lower left of stacking unit  90  positioned on the right as viewed from the front side. Note that, stacking wheels  81  and  91  take the paper sheets released toward the inside of stacking units  80  and  90  respectively from diversion transport units  71  and  72  into the spaces between their adjacent blade portions and cause the paper sheets to be housed in appropriate orientation and position in stacking units  80  and  90 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , reject unit  110  for stacking the paper sheets that have been neither stacked in stacking unit  80  nor  90  is provided at the end of second transport unit  50 . In this embodiment, rejection unit  110  is at least partially disposed above stacking unit  90  positioned on the most downstream side in the transport direction of the paper sheets. In the mode illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a left portion of reject unit  110  is positioned right above stacking unit  90  positioned on a downstream side while the rest of reject unit  110  on the right is positioned on the upper right of stacking unit  90  positioned on the downstream side, but the entirety of reject unit  110  may be positioned right above stacking unit  90  as viewed from the front side. 
     Release unit  114  is provided at the end of second transport unit  50 . Release unit  114  includes: release roller  111  configured to feed out the paper sheets to reject unit  110  from the inside of casing  10 ; opposite roller  112  disposed opposite to release roller  111 ; and elastic fin wheels  113  of rotary type provided coaxially with release roller  111 . The paper sheets fed to the end of second transport unit  50  are to be released from between release roller  111  and opposite roller  112  to reject unit  110 . The paper sheets that have been released in the manner described above are to be hit by elastic fin wheels  113  at the rear edges of the paper sheets and thus stacked in reject unit  110 . 
     In addition, stopper  115  for preventing the paper sheets released from between release roller  111  and opposite roller  112  from protruding from reject unit  110  and then being released externally is provided at the end portion (right end portion in  FIG. 2 ) of reject unit  110 . Stopper  115  can be manually turned in a clockwise direction, and manually turning stopper  115  in a clockwise direction by the operator makes the paper sheets housed in reject unit  110  freely removable. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , take-in unit  20  is at least partially positioned above reject unit  110 . In the mode illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a right portion of take-in unit  20  is positioned right above reject unit  110  while the rest of take-in unit  20  on the left is positioned on the upper left of reject unit  110 , but the entirety of take-in unit  20  may be positioned right above reject unit  110  as viewed from the front side. Note that, this embodiment employs the mode in which take-in unit  20  is positioned within a region right above stacking unit  90  positioned on the most downstream side as viewed from the front side. 
     Second transport unit  50  of this embodiment includes tilt portion  51  tilted upward toward reject unit  110  at a downstream side in the transport direction of the paper sheets. 
     In this embodiment, stacking units  80  and  90  are each configured to stack paper sheets while tilted at an angle of at least 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction. When this embodiment employs the mode in which three or more stacking units are provided with three or more stacking wheels respectively corresponding to the stacking units, one of any adjacent two stacking units  80  and  90  stacks the paper sheets while tilted at an angle of at least 45 degrees with respect to one side of the horizontal direction and the other one of the stacking units stacks the paper sheets while tilted at an angle of at least 45 degrees with respect to the side opposite to the one side of the horizontal direction. 
     Regarding this point, in the mode illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , only two stacking units  80  and  90  are provided, and stacking unit  80  on the left as viewed from front stacks the paper sheets while tilted at an angle of at least 45 degrees with respect to one side of the horizontal direction (leftward in  FIG. 2 , which is the direction opposite to the transport direction of the paper sheets on second transport unit  50 ), and stacking unit  90  on the right as viewed from front stacks the paper sheets while tilted at an angle of at least 45 degrees with respect to the side opposite to the one side of the horizontal direction (rightward in  FIG. 2 , which is the same direction as the transport direction of the paper sheets on second transport unit  50 ). Note that, stacking units  80  and  90  are preferably configured to stack paper sheets while tilted at an angle of at least 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction, but stacking units  80  and  90  are more preferably configured to stack paper sheets while tilted at an angle of 60 to 70 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction and thus to stack the paper sheets in a standing state. 
     When the present embodiment employs the mode in which three or more stacking units are provided with three or more stacking wheels respectively corresponding to the stacking units, the paper sheets are sequentially fed out to one of adjacent two stacking units  80  and  90 , which is stacking unit  80 , in a direction having a component opposite to the transport direction of the paper sheets by second transport unit  50 , while the paper sheets are sequentially fed out to the other one of adjacent two stacking units  80  and  90  in a direction having a component of the transport direction of the paper sheets by second transport unit  50 . 
     Regarding this point, in the mode illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , only two stacking units  80  and  90  are provided, and the paper sheets are sequentially fed out to stacking unit  80  on the left as viewed from front in the direction having a component opposite to the transport direction of the paper sheets by second transport unit  50  (substantially leftward in  FIG. 2 ), while the paper sheets are sequentially fed out to stacking unit  90  on the right as viewed from front in the direction having a component of the transport direction of the paper sheets by second transport unit  50  (substantially rightward in  FIG. 2 ). 
     When this embodiment employs the mode in which three or more stacking units are provided with three or more stacking wheels respectively corresponding to the stacking units, an upper portion of stacking wheel  81  corresponding to one of any adjacent two stacking units  80  and  90  is rotated in the direction having a component opposite to the transport direction of the paper sheets by second transport unit  50 , while an upper portion of stacking wheel  91  corresponding to the other one of adjacent two stacking units  80  and  90  is rotated in the direction having a component of the transport direction of the paper sheets by a horizontal transport unit. 
     Regarding this point, in the mode illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , only two stacking units  80  and  90  are provided, and stacking wheel  81  positioned on the left as viewed from the front side rotates in a counterclockwise direction while stacking wheel  91  positioned on the right as viewed from the front side rotates in a clockwise direction, so that the upper portion of stacking wheel  81  is rotated in the direction having a component opposite to the transport direction of the paper sheets by second transport unit  50  and the upper portion of stacking wheel  91  is rotated in the direction having a component of the transport direction of the paper sheets by second transport unit  50 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , take-in unit  20  is provided with sensor  121  configured to detect whether a paper sheet is placed in mount unit  29 . Furthermore, sensor  122  is provided at an entrance portion of first transport unit  30  and configured to detect that a paper sheet has been surely taken into casing  10 . 
     Sensor  124  is provided at intermediate transport unit  40 , and sensor  125  is provided at a downstream side of diverter  76  at an upstream side while sensor  126  is provided at a downstream side of diverter  77  at a downstream side. More specifically, sensor  124  is provided at intermediate transport unit  40  and configured to detect all the paper sheets transported by second transport unit  50 . Sensor  125  is provided at a downstream side of diverter  76  at an upstream side and configured to detect only a paper sheet that has not been diverted into diversion transport unit  71  by diverter  76  among the paper sheets transported by second transport unit  50 . In addition, sensor  126  is provided at a downstream side of diverter  77  at a downstream side and configured to detect only a paper sheet that has neither been diverted into diversion transport unit  71  nor  72  by diverter  76  or  77  among the paper sheets transported by second transport unit  50 . 
     Stacking units  80  and  90  are provided with sensors  89  and  99 , respectively. Sensors  89  and  99  are configured to detect whether paper sheets are housed in stacking units  80  and  90 , respectively. Moreover, reject unit  110  is provided with sensor  119 , and sensor  119  is configured to detect whether a paper sheet is housed in reject unit  110 . 
     Take-in unit  20 , first transport unit  30  and recognition unit  60  are at least partially provided within first unit  160  positioned above (see  FIG. 4 ). Meanwhile, second transport unit  50  and stacking units  80  and  90  are at least partially provided within second unit  170  provided below first unit  160 . Note that, in this embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a description will be hereinafter given of a mode in which take-in unit  20 , first transport unit  30  and recognition unit  60  are all provided within first unit  160  positioned above while stacking units  80  and  90  are all provided within second unit  170  provided below first unit  160 , and second transport unit  50  is partially provided within first unit  160 , and the rest of second transport unit  50  is provided within second unit  170 , but it is not limited to this mode. 
     First unit  160  described above is configured to turn with respect to second unit  170  around first horizontal shaft  165  extending in the front and rear direction (normal direction of the sheet surface of  FIG. 4 ). Second transport unit  50  is at least partially formed by the bottom surface of first unit  160  and the upper surface of second unit  170 , which is opposite to the bottom surface of first unit  160  (when first unit  160  is in a closed-state with respect to second unit  170 ). Turning first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  to set first unit  160  in an open-state makes second transport unit  50  at least partially (entirety of second transport unit  50  in the mode illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) exposed and externally accessible. In other words, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , turning first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  to set it in an open-state makes it possible for the operator to access both part of second transport unit  50  provided in first unit  160  and part of second transport unit  50  provided in second unit  170 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , first unit  160  includes third unit  180 , and fourth unit  190  positioned above third unit  180  and configured to turn with respect to third unit  180  around second horizontal shaft  195  extending in the front and rear direction. First transport unit  30  is at least partially formed by the bottom surface of fourth unit  190  and the upper surface of third unit  180 , which is opposite to the bottom surface of fourth unit  190  (when fourth unit  190  is in a closed-state with respect to third unit  180 ). Turning fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  to set fourth unit  190  in an open-state makes first transport unit  30  at least partially exposed and externally accessible. In other words, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , turning fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  to set it in an open-state makes it possible for the operator to access both part of first transport unit  30  provided in fourth unit  190  and part of first transport unit  30  provided in third unit  180 . 
     Note that, regarding recognition unit  60 , turning fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  to set fourth unit  190  in an open-state causes upper portion  61  of recognition unit  60  to turn together with fourth unit  190 , while lower portion  62  of recognition unit  60  remains in third unit  180 . Thus, the inside of recognition unit  60  is also made accessible in this embodiment. 
     Moreover, in this embodiment, turning first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  to set first unit  160  in an open-state (see  FIG. 4 ) as described above makes intermediate transport unit  40  at least partially (entirety of intermediate transport unit  40  in the mode illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) accessible. In other words, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , intermediate transport unit  40  is at least partially formed by a side surface of second unit  170  and a side surface of first unit  160 , which is opposite to the side surface of second unit  170  (when first unit  160  is in a closed-state with respect to second unit  170 ). Accordingly, turning first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  to set first unit  160  in an open-state makes intermediate transport unit  40  at least partially exposed and makes it possible for the operator to access both part of intermediate transport unit  40  provided in first unit  160  and part of intermediate transport unit  40  provided in second unit  170 . 
     Note that, the mode to be employed is not limited to the mode mentioned above, and it is also possible to employ a mode in which turning fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  to set fourth unit  190  in an open-state makes intermediate transport unit  40  and first transport unit  30  accessible (see  FIG. 6B ), for example. Note that, in this mode, turning first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  to set it in an open-state makes second transport unit  50  accessible (see  FIG. 6C ). Furthermore, it is also possible to employ a mode in which turning first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  to set it in an open-state makes some of intermediate transport unit  40 , and second transport unit  50  accessible (see  FIG. 7C ), while turning fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  to set it in an open-state makes the rest of intermediate transport unit  40 , and first transport unit  30  accessible (see  FIG. 7B ). 
     First horizontal shaft  165  used for turning first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  and second horizontal shaft  195  used for turning fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  may be the same horizontal shaft or may be disposed in proximity to each other. This embodiment employs the mode in which first and second horizontal shafts  165  and  195  are disposed close to each other. More specifically, first horizontal shaft  165  is positioned in an upper-left end region and second horizontal shaft  195  is positioned in a more inward region than first horizontal shaft  165  (lower right region in  FIG. 2 ) as viewed from front. 
     Note that, in the embodiment, the maximum value of the length of an inaccessible part of first transport unit  30 , second transport unit  50 , and intermediate transport unit  40  when first unit  160  is turned with respect to second unit  170  to set it in an open-state (see  FIG. 4 ) while fourth unit  190  is turned with respect to third unit  180  to set it in an open-state is shorter than a paper sheet having the shortest length in the transport direction among the paper sheets recognizable by recognition unit  60 . In the case of the example described above, when recognition unit  60  is configured based on the assumption that recognition unit  60  processes the banknotes circulating in China and thus capable of recognizing chiao, the maximum value of the length of the inaccessible part of first transport unit  30 , second transport unit  50  and intermediate transport unit  40  when first unit  160  is turned with respect to second unit  170  to set it in an open-state while fourth unit  190  is turned with respect to third unit  180  to set it in an open-state is less than 52 mm. In addition, when recognition unit  60  is configured based on the assumption that recognition unit  60  processes the banknotes circulating in the euro-zone and thus capable of recognizing five euros, the maximum value of the length of the inaccessible part of first transport unit  30 , second transport unit  50 , and intermediate transport unit  40  when first unit  160  is turned with respect to second unit  170  to set it in an open-state while fourth unit  190  is turned with respect to third unit  180  to set it in an open-state is less than 62 mm. Note that, when paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  is supposedly manufactured in a predetermined size, the length of the inaccessible part of first transport unit  30 , second transport unit  50 , and intermediate transport unit  40  is less than 50 mm. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  of the present embodiment includes, on the front side of casing  10 , operation display unit  5  configured to receive input from the operator and also to display a variety of information and composed of a touch panel or the like, for example. Operation display unit  5  may display position information indicating where a paper sheet has jammed in a case where a paper sheet has jammed, or release information indicating how to remove the jammed paper sheet, such as which unit is to be opened for removing the jammed paper sheet, or more specifically, whether to open first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170 , and/or whether to open fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180 . Note that, this embodiment employs the mode in which operation display unit  5  serves both roles as an operation unit for receiving input from the operator and as a display unit for displaying a variety of information, but without being limited to this mode, it is also possible to provide the operation unit and display unit, separately. Meanwhile, in this embodiment, employing operation display unit  5  configured to serve both the roles as the operation unit and display unit eliminates the need for providing both of the operation unit and display unit, which makes it possible to further downsize paper-sheet processing apparatus  100 . For example, operation display unit  5  includes display screen  5   a  of a size approximately equal to seven inches. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  includes control unit  150  configured to control paper-sheet processing apparatus  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the following components are connected to control unit  150 : take-in unit  20 , first transport unit  30 , intermediate transport unit  40 , second transport unit  50 , recognition unit  60 , release unit  114 , diverters  76  and  77 , reject unit  110 , stacking wheels  81  and  91 , various sensors  121  to  126 , and  89 ,  99 , and  119 , operation display unit  5  and push-out units  85  and  95 . Control unit  150  is configured to acquire information from or to give an instruction to take-in unit  20 , first transport unit  30 , intermediate transport unit  40 , second transport unit  50 , recognition unit  60 , release unit  114 , diverters  76  and  77 , reject unit  110 , stacking wheels  81  and  91 , various sensors  121  to  126 , and  89 ,  99 , and  119 , operation display unit  5  and push-out units  85  and  95 . 
     &lt;Method&gt; 
     [Transport Mode] 
     A description will be given of how paper sheets are transported in paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  of the present embodiment. 
     First, the operator places a plurality of paper sheets in mount unit  29  of take-in unit  20  in a stacked manner such that the long-edge direction of the paper sheets is oriented in the front and rear direction (normal direction of the sheet surface of  FIG. 2 ). The paper sheets stacked in mount unit  29  are taken into casing  10  one by one by kicker roller  23 , auxiliary roller  24 , feed roller  21 , reverse-rotation roller  22 , and pinch roller  25  of take-in unit  20 . The paper sheets taken into casing  10  are transported by transport units  30 ,  40 , and  50 . More specifically, the paper sheets taken into casing  10  are transported in the order of first transport unit  30 , intermediate transport unit  40 , and second transport unit  50 . 
     While the paper sheets are transported by first transport unit  30 , recognition unit  60  detects the fitness, authenticity, denomination, orientation, face/back, transport condition and/or the like of each of the paper sheets. The following paper sheets are considered to be fed to rejection unit  110 : the paper sheets that are unrecognizable by recognition unit  60  (such as unrecognizable note or irregularly-transported note such as oblique transport, overlapped transport, or chained transport), the paper sheets that have been recognized but considered as irregular notes (counterfeit note or suspect note), and the paper sheets that do not satisfy a predetermined condition. Meanwhile, the paper sheets determined by recognition unit  60  to satisfy a predetermined condition are to be stacked in stacking units  80  and  90 . 
     The paper sheets transported by first transport unit  30  are fed to second transport unit  50  from first transport unit  30  via intermediate transport unit  40 . Among the paper sheets transported by second transport unit  50 , the paper sheets to be stacked in staking unit  80  on the left as viewed from front are diverted into diversion transport unit  71  by diverter  76  on the upstream side while the paper sheets to be stacked in staking unit  90  on the right as viewed from front are diverted into diversion transport unit  72  by diverter  77  on the downstream side. 
     The paper sheets transported by diversion transport unit  71  on the left as viewed from front are taken into the spaces between adjacent blade portions of stacking wheel  81  rotating in a counterclockwise direction, and sequentially stacked in stacking unit  80  on the left as viewed from front in a direction having a component opposite to the transport direction of the paper sheets by second transport unit  50  (substantially leftward in  FIG. 2 ). In this case, the paper sheets are stacked in stacking unit  80  on the left as viewed from front while tilted at an angle of at least 45 degrees or preferably 60 to 70 degrees with respect to the left side (one side) of the horizontal direction (i.e., in a standing state). 
     The paper sheets transported by diversion transport unit  72  on the right as viewed from front are taken into the spaces between adjacent blade portions of stacking wheel  91  rotating in a clockwise direction, and sequentially stacked in stacking unit  90  on the right as viewed from front in a direction having a component of the transport direction of the paper sheets by second transport unit  50  (substantially rightward in  FIG. 2 ). In this case, the paper sheets are stacked in stacking unit  90  on the right as viewed from front while tilted at an angle of at least 45 degrees or preferably 60 to 70 degrees with respect to the right side (the side opposite to the one side) of the horizontal direction (i.e., in a standing state). 
     Among the paper sheets transported by second transport unit  50 , the paper sheets determined to be fed to rejection unit  110  are transported to the end of second transport unit  50  via tilt portion  51  tilted above second transport unit  50  without being diverted into diversion transport unit  71  or  72  by diverter  76  or  77 . The paper sheets fed to the end of second transport unit  50  are released from between release roller  111  and opposite roller  112  but the rear edges of the paper sheets are hit by elastic fin wheels  113  of rotary type provided near release roller  111  during this release and are thus stacked in reject unit  110 . 
     [Release Mode] 
     Next, a description will be given of how casing  10  is opened in a case where a paper sheet has jammed, for example. 
     For example, in a case where a paper sheet has jammed at first transport unit  30 , the information indicating that a paper sheet has jammed at first transport unit  30  (position information) is displayed by operation display unit  5  (see  FIG. 1 ). The operator who has received the result, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , turns fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  around second horizontal shaft  195  to set fourth unit  190  in an open-state, thereby making it possible for the operator to access the paper sheet that has jammed at first transport unit  30 . The operator then removes from first transport unit  30  the paper sheet that has jammed at first transport unit  30 . Note that, operation display unit  5  may display the information indicating turning of fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  to set it in an open-state (release information) in addition to or instead of the information indicating that the paper sheet has jammed at first transport unit  30  (position information) as described above. 
     For example, in a case where a paper sheet has jammed at second transport unit  50 , the information indicating that a paper sheet has jammed at second transport unit  50  (position information) is displayed by operation display unit  5  (see  FIG. 1 ). The operator who has received the result, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , turns first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  around first horizontal shaft  165  to set first unit  160  in an open-state, thereby making it possible for the operator to access the paper sheet that has jammed at second transport unit  50 . The operator then removes from second transport unit  50  the paper sheet that has jammed at second transport unit  50 . Note that, operation display unit  5  may display the information indicating turning of first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  to set it in an open-state (release information) in addition to or instead of the information indicating that the paper sheet has jammed at second transport unit  50  (position information). 
     For example, in a case where a paper sheet has jammed at intermediate transport unit  40 , the information indicating that a paper sheet has jammed at intermediate transport unit  40  (position information) is displayed by operation display unit  5  (see  FIG. 1 ). The operator who has received the result, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , turns first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  around first horizontal shaft  165  to set first unit  160  in an open-state, thereby making it possible for the operator to access the paper sheet that has jammed at intermediate transport unit  40 . The operator then removes from intermediate transport unit  40  the paper sheet that has jammed at intermediate transport unit  40 . Note that, operation display unit  5  may display the information indicating turning of first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  to set it in an open-state (release information) in addition to or instead of the information indicating that the paper sheet has jammed at intermediate transport unit  40  (position information) as described above. 
     For example, in a case where a paper sheet has jammed at first transport unit  30 , second transport unit  50  and/or intermediate transport unit  40 , the information indicating that a paper sheet has jammed at first transport unit  30  (position information) and the information indicating that a paper sheet has jammed at second transport unit  50  and/or intermediate transport unit  40  (position information) are displayed by operation display unit  5  (see  FIG. 1 ). The operator who has received the result, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , turns fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  around second horizontal shaft  195  to set fourth unit  190  in an open-state, thereby making it possible for the operator to access the paper sheet that has jammed at first transport unit  30 . The operator then removes from first transport unit  30  the paper sheet that has jammed at first transport unit  30 . In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the operator turns first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  around first horizontal shaft  165  to set first unit  160  in an open-state, thereby making it possible for the operator to access the paper sheet that has jammed at second transport unit  50  and/or intermediate unit  40 . The operator then removes from intermediate transport unit  40  the paper sheet that has jammed at second transport unit  50  and/or intermediate transport unit  40 . Note that, operation display unit  5  may display the information indicating turning of first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  to set it in an open-state (release information) and/or the information indicating turning of fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  to set it in an open-state (release information) in addition to or instead of the information indicating that the paper sheet has jammed at first transport unit  30 , second transport unit  50  and/or intermediate transport unit  40  (position information) as described above. 
     Note that, in a case where a paper sheet has jammed at first transport unit  30 , second transport unit  50  and/or intermediate transport unit  40 , the information indicating that a paper sheet has jammed at first transport unit  30  (position information) and the information indicating that a paper sheet has jammed at second transport unit  50  and/or intermediate transport unit  40  (position information) are not necessarily displayed by operation display unit  5  at the same time (see  FIG. 1 ). For example, the information indicating that a paper sheet has jammed at first transport unit  30  (position information) may be displayed first, and the information indicating that a paper sheet has jammed at second transport unit  50  and/or intermediate transport unit  40  (position information) is displayed after removal of the jammed paper sheet from first transport unit  30 . Reversely, the information indicating that a paper sheet has jammed at second transport unit  50  and/or intermediate transport unit  40  (position information) may be displayed first, and the information indicating that a paper sheet has jammed at first transport unit  30  (position information) is displayed after removal of the jammed paper sheet from second transport unit  50  and/or intermediate transport unit  40 . 
     Furthermore, in a case where a paper sheet has jammed at first transport unit  30 , second transport unit  50 , and/or intermediate transport unit  40 , operation display unit  5  may display at the same time the information indicating setting of first unit  160  to an open-state with respect to second unit  170  (release information) and the information indicating setting of fourth unit  190  to an open-state with respect to third unit  180  (release information), but it is not limited to this mode. For example, the information indicating setting of fourth unit  190  to an open-state with respect to third unit  180  (release information) may be displayed first, and the information indicating setting of first unit  160  to an open-state with respect to second unit  170  (release information) is displayed after removal of the jammed paper sheet from the first transport unit  30 . Reversely, the information indicating setting of first unit  160  to an open-state with respect to second unit  170  (release information) may be displayed first, and the information indicating setting of fourth unit  190  to an open-state with respect to third unit  180  (release information) is displayed after removal of the jammed paper sheet from the second transport unit  50  and/or intermediate transport unit  40 . 
     Note that, in a case where a paper sheet has jammed at diversion transport unit  71  or  72 , the operator may put his or her hand into stacking unit  80  or  90  having an opening on the front side (see  FIG. 1 ), to remove the jammed paper sheet, or as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , first unit  160  may be turned with respect to second unit  170  to set first unit  160  in an open-state for the operator to access the paper sheet from above diversion transport unit  71  or  72  for removal of the jammed paper sheet. 
     Note that, operation display unit  5  may keep displaying the position information and/or release information, for example, until the jammed paper sheets are removed from all of first transport unit  30 , second transport unit  50 , intermediate transport unit  40 , and diversion transport units  71  and  72 . In this case, removal of the jammed paper sheets from all of first transport unit  30 , second transport unit  50 , intermediate transport unit  40 , and diversion transport units  71  and  72  causes the displayed information to go off, and paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  becomes available again. Note that, in a case where a paper sheet has jammed at any of first transport unit  30 , second transport unit  50 , intermediate transport unit  40 , and diversion transport units  71  and  72 , the paper-sheet processing apparatus may provide an audio notification indicating the jam instead of or in addition to the displaying of the information by operation display unit  5 . 
     &lt;Operational Effects&gt; 
     Next, a description will be given of the effects to be brought about by paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment, which have not been presented yet or which are particularly important. 
     According to the present embodiment, for any adjacent two stacking units  80  and  90  among a plurality of stacking units  80  and  90 , the rotation direction of stacking wheel  81  corresponding to one of adjacent two stacking units  80  and  90  and the rotation direction of stacking wheel  91  corresponding to the other one of adjacent two stacking units  80  and  90  are opposite to each other. This mode eliminates the need for increasing the length of second transport unit  50  before the paper sheets are stacked in stacking unit  80  and/or for causing the paper sheets to pass through above stacking unit  90  first and then to be stacked in stacking unit  90 . Thus, the length of second transport unit  50  can be reduced. This point will be described. Supposedly, when the rotation directions of the stacking wheels are the same, all the stacking wheels are positioned left or right of the stacking units as viewed from the front side. Supposedly, in a case where all the stacking wheels are positioned left of the stacking units as viewed from the front side, it is necessary to increase the length of second transport unit  50  before the paper sheets are stacked in the stacking unit positioned on the most upstream side. This is because control unit  150  needs to secure some time required for receiving the recognition result of a paper sheet from recognition unit  60 , determining a transport destination of the paper sheet, and controlling an applicable one of diverters  76  and  77 . Meanwhile, in a case where all the stacking wheels are positioned right of the stacking units as viewed from the front side, it is necessary to cause a paper sheet to pass through above the stacking unit positioned on the most downstream side first and then to be stacked in this stacking unit, and the length of second transport unit  50  becomes long accordingly in this case. Regarding this point, according to the present embodiment, stacking wheel  81  is positioned on the downstream side (right side) of stacking unit  80  positioned on the most upstream side and an upper part of stacking wheel  81  rotates in a direction having a component opposite to the transport direction of the paper sheets by second transport unit (horizontal transport unit)  50  (rotates in a counterclockwise direction in this embodiment) as viewed from the front side. In addition, stacking wheel  91  is positioned on the upstream side (left side) of stacking unit  90  positioned on the most downstream side and an upper part of stacking wheel  91  rotates in a direction having a component of the transport direction of the paper sheets by second transport unit (horizontal transport unit)  50  (rotates in a clockwise direction in this embodiment) as viewed from the front side. Thus, it is not necessary to increase the length of second transport unit  50  before the paper sheets are staked in stacking unit  80  or to cause a paper sheet to pass through above stacking unit  90  first and then to be stacked in the stacking unit  90 . Thus, the length of second transport unit  50  can be reduced. 
     As a result, according to the present embodiment, paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  including at least two stacking units  80  and  90  can be further reduced in size. As a recap, the positioning of stacking wheel  81  on the downstream side (right side) of stacking unit  80  positioned on the most upstream side among a plurality of stacking units makes it possible for the transport path from recognition unit  60  to very first diverter  76  to include the transport path positioned above stacking unit  80  positioned on the most upstream side. Thus, the length of the transport path from recognition unit  60  to stacking unit  80  can be reduced. In addition, the positioning of stacking wheel  91  on the upstream side (left side) of stacking unit  90  positioned on the most downstream side among a plurality of stacking units makes it possible to reduce the length of the transport path by the horizontal length of stacking unit  90  positioned on the most downstream side. 
     According to the present embodiment, reject unit  110  is provided above stacking unit  90  positioned on the most downstream side in the transport direction of the paper sheets and partially positioned inward of casing  10 . The positioning of reject unit  110  partially inward of casing  10  makes it possible to reduce the horizontal size of paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  and thereby to further downsize paper-sheet processing apparatus  100 . Note that, the positioning of reject unit  110  partially inward of casing  10  to reduce the horizontal size of paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  is a configuration enabled by, as to stacking unit  90 , the positioning of stacking wheel  91  on the upstream side (left side) of stacking unit  90 . More specifically, as viewed from the front side, the positioning of stacking wheel  91  on the upstream side (left side) of stacking unit  90  positioned on the downstream side and the rotation of the upper part of stacking wheel  91  in the direction having a component of the transport direction of the paper sheets by second transport unit  50  (rotates in a clockwise direction in this embodiment) eliminate the need for transporting above stacking unit  90  the paper sheets to be stacked in stacking unit  90 . Thus, reject unit  110  can be positioned in the space formed above stacking unit  90 . As a recap, positioning stacking wheel  91  on the upstream side (leftward) of stacking unit  90  positioned on the most downstream side among a plurality of stacking units allows reject unit  110  to be disposed above stacking unit  90 , thus enabling downsizing of the apparatus. 
     Moreover, reject unit  110  is preferably configured such that a paper sheet is dropped from above reject unit  110  in order that the paper sheet can be surely housed in reject unit  110  even when the condition of the paper sheet is poor (e.g., unfit note). According to the present embodiment, second transport unit  50  includes tilt portion  51  tilted upward toward reject unit  110  at a downstream side in the transport direction of paper sheets. Thus, as in this embodiment, even when the mode in which reject unit  110  is provided above stacking unit  90  positioned on the most downstream side in the transport direction of paper sheets is employed, the paper sheets can be dropped from above when transported to reject unit  110 . 
     As a result, reject unit  110  can be provided above stacking unit  90  positioned on the most downstream side in the transport direction of paper sheets, so that paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  can be reduced in size in the horizontal direction. 
     In the present embodiment, take-in unit  20  is positioned above reject unit  110 . This positioning results from the positioning of reject unit  110  partially inward of casing  10 . Meanwhile, employing this mode makes it possible to reduce the horizontal size of paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  and thus to further downsize paper-sheet processing apparatus  100 . 
     Moreover, in this embodiment, the paper sheets are stacked while tilted at an angle of at least 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction. More specifically, the paper sheets can be stacked in a standing state tilted at an angle of at least 45 degrees or preferably 60 to 70 degrees with respect to the left side (one side) of the horizontal direction in stacking unit  80  on the left as viewed from front. Moreover, the paper sheets can be stacked in a standing state tilted at an angle of at least 45 degrees or preferably 60 to 70 degrees with respect to the right side (side opposite to the one side) of the horizontal direction in stacking unit  90  on the right as viewed from front. As a result, the vertical size of paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  can be reduced. This point will be described. In a case where paper sheets are stacked vertically in each stacking unit as disclosed in WO 2009/028071, it is necessary to provide a certain distance from the bottom end of a stacking wheel to the uppermost one of the stacked paper sheets. As a result, it is necessary to increase the vertical size of paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  by a certain amount. Meanwhile, according to the present embodiment, the paper sheets can be stacked in a standing state tilted leftward in stacking unit  80  while the paper sheets can be stacked in a standing state tilted rightward in stacking unit  90 , so that, unlike the case where paper sheets are stacked vertically in a stacking unit, it is not necessary to provide a certain distance from the bottom end of a stacking wheel to the uppermost one of the stacked paper sheets, thus making it possible to reduce the vertical size of paper-sheet processing apparatus  100 . Thus, paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  can be further downsized. Note that, reducing the size in the vertical direction makes it easier for the operator who works while sitting to handle paper-sheet processing apparatus  100 , so that the operator can increase the work efficiency. 
     In the present embodiment, the paper sheets are sequentially fed out to stacking unit  80  on the left as viewed from front (one of adjacent two stacking units  80  and  90 ) in a direction having a component opposite to the transport direction of the paper sheets by second transport unit  50  (substantially leftward in  FIG. 2 ). Meanwhile, the paper sheets are sequentially fed out to stacking unit  90  on the right as viewed from front (the other one of adjacent two stacking units  80  and  90 ) in a direction having a component of the transport direction of the paper sheets by second transport unit  50  (substantially rightward in  FIG. 2 ). For this reason, the paper sheets can be stacked so as to be packed leftward in stacking unit  80  on the left as viewed from front while the paper sheets can be stacked so as to be packed rightward in stacking unit  90  on the right as viewed from front. Thus, the stacked paper sheets can be easily taken out from the inside of each of stacking units  80  and  90 . 
     Note that, in this embodiment, stacking wheel  81  positioned left as viewed from the front side rotates in a counterclockwise direction, takes in a paper sheet into a space between adjacent blade portions, and releases the paper sheet leftward as viewed from the front side, so that the paper sheets can be more surely stacked so as to be packed leftward in stacking unit  80  on the left as viewed from front. Meanwhile, stacking wheel  91  positioned right as viewed from the front side rotates in a clockwise direction, takes a paper sheet in a space between adjacent blade portions, and releases the paper sheet rightward as viewed from the front side, so that the paper sheets can be more surely stacked so as to be packed rightward in stacking unit  90  on the right as viewed from front. 
     In the present embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , first unit  160  including take-in unit  20 , first transport unit  30  and recognition unit  60  turns with respect to second unit  170  including second transport unit  50  and stacking units  80  and  90 , around first horizontal shaft  165  extending in “front and rear direction.” Thus, paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  without requiring an extra space on the rear side can be provided. This point will be described. Heretofore, the mode has been employed in which an upper unit is turned with respect to a lower unit from the front side to the rear side around a horizontal shaft extending in the left and right direction as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 of Japanese Patent No. 4896997. For this reason, the paper-sheet processing apparatus cannot be disposed with the rear surface thereof placed on the wall, for example, in considering a situation where the upper unit is turned with respect to the lower unit in a case where a paper sheet has jammed at a transport unit. Accordingly, the paper-sheet processing apparatus needs to be disposed with a space interposed between the rear surface of the paper-sheet processing apparatus and the wall or the like, resulting in requiring an extra space on the rear side of the paper-sheet processing apparatus. Meanwhile, according to the present embodiment, first unit  160  including take-in unit  20 , first transport unit  30  and recognition unit  60  turns with respect to second unit  170  including second transport unit  50  and stacking units  80  and  90  around first horizontal shaft  165  extending in the front and rear direction. Thus, even when a situation is taken into consideration where first unit  160  is turned with respect to second unit  170  around first horizontal shaft  165  in a case where a paper sheet has jammed at second transport unit  50  and/or intermediate transport unit  40  (see  FIG. 4 ), unlike the related art, no space has to be provided on the rear side of the paper-sheet processing apparatus, and paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  without requiring an extra space on the rear side thereof can be provided. Note that, placement of the rear surface of paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  on the wall makes it possible to secure a wider work space on the desk or the like where paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  is placed, thus making it possible to increase the work efficiency of the operator. 
     Furthermore, according to the embodiment, fourth unit  190  turns with respect to third unit  180  around second horizontal shaft  195  extending in “front and rear direction” likewise. Thus, paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  without requiring an extra space on the rear side thereof can be provided. As a result, a wider work space can be secured on the desk or the like where paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  is placed, so that it is made possible to increase the work efficiency of the operator. 
     According to the present embodiment, turning first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  to set first unit  160  in an open-state makes second transport unit  50  at least partially (the entirety of second transport unit  50  in the mode illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) accessible. For this reason, turning first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  makes the transport belt and/or transport roller of second transport unit  50  accessible and thus makes it possible to easily release a paper sheet jam in second transport unit  50 , for example. 
     Moreover, according to the present embodiment, turning fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  to set fourth unit  190  in an open-state makes first transport unit  30  at least partially accessible. For this reason, turning fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  makes the transport belt and/or transport roller of first transport unit  30  accessible and thus makes it possible to easily release a paper sheet jam in first transport unit  30 , for example. 
     According to the present embodiment, turning first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  to set first unit  160  in an open-state makes intermediate transport unit  40  at least partially (the entirety of intermediate transport unit  40  in the mode illustrated in  FIG. 4 ) accessible. For this reason, turning first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  makes the transport belt and/or transport roller of intermediate transport unit  40  accessible and thus makes it possible to easily release a paper sheet jam in intermediate transport unit  40 , for example. Note that, a similar effect can be obtained even when the mode in which turning of fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  to set fourth unit  190  in an open-state makes intermediate transport unit  40  accessible is supposedly employed. In other words, even when such a mode is employed, turning of fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  makes the transport belt and/or the transport roller of intermediate transport unit  40  accessible and thus makes it possible to easily release a paper sheet jam in intermediate transport unit  40 , for example. Likewise, a similar effect can be obtained even when the mode is employed, in which turning of first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  to set first unit  160  in an open-state makes intermediate transport unit  40  partially accessible while the rest of intermediate transport unit  40  is made accessible by turning fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  to set fourth unit  190  in an open-state. 
     Moreover, in this embodiment, the length of diversion transport units  71  and  72  provided between second transport unit  50  and stacking units  80  and  90  is shorter than the paper sheet having the shortest length in the transport direction among the paper sheets recognizable by recognition unit  60 . For this reason, supposedly, even when a paper sheet jam occurs at diversion transport unit  71  or  72 , the operator can access the jammed paper sheet by putting his or her hand from stacking unit  80  or  90  having an opening on the front side (see  FIG. 1 ) or by setting first unit  160  to an open-state with respect to second unit  170 . Thus, the operator can easily remove the jammed paper sheet from diversion transport unit  71  or  72 . 
     In the present embodiment, the maximum value of the length of an inaccessible part of first transport unit  30 , second transport unit  50 , and intermediate transport unit  40  when first unit  160  is turned with respect to second unit  170  to set it in an open-state while fourth unit  190  is turned with respect to third unit  180  to set it in an open-state is shorter than a paper sheet having the shortest length in the transport direction among the paper sheets recognizable by recognition unit  60 . Thus, even in a case where a paper sheet has jammed at any of first transport unit  30 , second transport unit  50 , and intermediate transport unit  40 , the operator can access the jammed paper sheet by turning first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  to set it in an open-state (see  FIG. 4 ) or turning fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  to set it in an open-state (see  FIG. 3 ). Thus, the operator can easily remove the jammed paper sheet from first transport unit  30 , second transport unit  50 , and/or intermediate transport unit  40 . 
     In this embodiment, first horizontal shaft  165  used for turning first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  and second horizontal shaft  195  used for turning fourth unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  are disposed in proximity to each other. More specifically, first horizontal shaft  165  is positioned in an upper left end region and second horizontal shaft  195  is positioned in a more inward region than first horizontal shaft  165  (lower right region in  FIG. 2 ) as viewed from the front side. 
     For this reason, it is possible to match the direction in which first unit  160  turns with respect to second unit  170  and the direction in which fourth unit  190  turns with respect to third unit  180 , and first unit  160  is set to an open-state with respect to second unit  170  (see  FIG. 4 ) and fourth unit  190  can be set to an open-state with respect to third unit  180  (see  FIG. 3 ) using a similar operation. Thus, the operability can be improved. 
     In a case where first horizontal shaft  165  used for turning first unit  160  with respect to second unit  170  and second horizontal shaft  195  used for turning third unit  190  with respect to third unit  180  are the same horizontal shaft, not only the operability can be improved as described above, but also the number of component members required for horizontal shafts can be one, so that the production cost can be reduced and/or the production easiness can be enhanced. 
     In this embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , even when first unit  160  is turned with respect to second unit  170  to set first unit  160  in an open-state, first unit  160  is partially positioned outward of casing  10 , i.e., partially positioned leftward of casing  10  in  FIG. 4 . Furthermore, in this embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , even when fourth unit  190  is turned with respect to third unit  180  to set fourth unit  190  in an open-state, fourth unit  190  is not positioned outward of casing  10 , i.e., not positioned leftward of casing  10  in  FIG. 3 . For this reason, according to this embodiment, providing a slight space on the left side of paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  as viewed from the front side is sufficient, and no space needs to be provided on the right side of paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  as viewed from the front side, so that no extra space is required on either side of paper-sheet processing apparatus  100 . 
     Thus, the paper-sheet processing apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment can be disposed at a position where the left surface of casing  10  is placed very close to the wall or the like as viewed from the front side while the right surface of casing  10  is placed in contact with or very close to the wall or the like as viewed from the front side. 
     According to the present embodiment, when first unit  160  is turned with respect to second unit  170  to set first unit  160  in an open-state as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , second transport unit  50  and intermediate transport unit  40  can be checked from the front side. Moreover, when fourth unit  190  is turned with respect to third unit  180  to set fourth unit  190  in an open-state as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , first transport unit  30  can be checked from the front side. Thus, the operator can check all first transport unit  30 , intermediate transport unit  40 , and second transport unit  50  while remaining seated, so that the work efficiency in processing of a jammed paper sheet can be improved. 
     Lastly, the disclosures of the description and drawings of the above embodiment are only examples for describing the invention recited in claims and do not impose any limitations on the invention recited in the claims. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           10  Casing 
           20  Take-in unit 
           30  First transport unit 
           40  Intermediate transport unit 
           50  Second transport unit (horizontal transport unit) 
           51  Tilt portion 
           60  Recognition unit 
           71 ,  72  Diversion transport unit 
           76 ,  77  Diverter 
           80  Stacking unit 
           81  Stacking wheel 
           90  Stacking unit 
           91  Stacking wheel 
           110  Reject unit 
           160  First unit 
           165  First horizontal shaft 
           170  Second unit 
           180  Third unit 
           190  Fourth unit 
           195  Second horizontal shaft