Patent Description:
As illustrated in PTL <NUM> for example, conventionally, a sheet processing machine comprising a wind-up type storage unit in which sheets are stored in a state of being wound up by a drum together with a tape.

<CIT> discloses a sheet processing machine for storing sheets transported by a transport unit, wherein the sheet processing machine comprises the features listed up in the preamble portion of claim <NUM>, and further discloses a method including the steps defined the preamble portion of claim <NUM>. The same technical disclosure is revealed in <CIT>.

Conventionally, control of a winding state of the storage unit has been required.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a technique for controlling the winding state of the storage unit.

A sheet processing machine according to the present disclosure includes the features defined in claim <NUM>, and is the sheet processing machine for storing sheets transported by a transport unit, the sheet processing machine comprising: a reel on which a first end side of a tape is wound; a first stepper motor for rotating the reel about a rotation axis of the reel; a drum for winding up a second end side of the tape together with the sheets to form a winding body together with the tape and the sheets; a second stepper motor for rotating the drum about a rotation axis of the drum; and a control unit for changing an interval between the sheets wound on the drum by controlling rotation of the first stepper motor and the second stepper motor based on a parameter indicating a condition of the winding body, characterized in that the control unit reduces a winding speed of the winding body from a first winding speed to a second winding speed and then increases the winding speed from the second winding speed to the first winding speed, between winding one of the sheets and winding next one of the sheets.

According to the present disclosure, the winding state of the storage unit can be controlled.

In the following description, as a representative example of a sheet processing machine according to the present disclosure, a banknote processing machine for processing banknotes as sheets will be described. Note that the sheets are not limited to the banknotes, and may be gift certificates, securities, voting sheets, and/or the like. The sheets are not limited to things made of paper as a material, things formed by a material other than the paper into a sheet shape or things formed by sticking the material other than the paper and paper into the sheet shape. The material other than the paper is, for example, a resin.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a banknote processing machine <NUM> according to Embodiment. The banknote processing machine <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is a banknote depositing and dispensing machine for depositing and dispensing the banknotes. In the following description, the term "front" of the banknote processing machine <NUM> means a side of an operator who performs at least one of the operation of inserting and discharging the banknotes via a depositing unit or a dispensing unit, and the term "rear" of the banknote processing machine means the opposite side of "front". In other words, the "front" of the banknote processing machine means the side on which an opening for performing at least one of the operation of inserting and discharging the banknotes is provided. The term "left" of the banknote processing machine means a left side as viewed from the operator facing the opening, and the term "right" of the banknote processing machine means a right side as viewed from the operator facing the opening.

The banknote processing machine <NUM> comprises a processing unit <NUM> and a storage <NUM> provided below the processing unit <NUM>.

The processing unit <NUM> has an upper housing <NUM>. A depositing unit <NUM> on which the banknotes to be deposited are placed and a dispensing unit <NUM> on which the banknotes to be dispensed are placed are disposed in front of the upper portion of the upper housing <NUM>. In the upper housing <NUM>, a second dispensing unit <NUM> configured similarly to the dispensing unit <NUM> may be disposed next to the dispensing unit <NUM>, if necessary. Inside the upper housing <NUM>, a transport unit <NUM> for transporting the banknotes, a recognition unit <NUM> for recognizing the banknotes, and a temporary storage <NUM> for temporarily storing the banknotes are disposed. Inside the upper housing <NUM>, a control unit <NUM> for controlling each unit of the banknote processing machine <NUM>, and a memory unit <NUM> are disposed.

The depositing unit <NUM> is configured to feed out the banknotes one by one toward the transport unit <NUM>. The dispensing unit <NUM> is configured to accumulate the banknotes transported by the transport unit <NUM>.

The transport unit <NUM> is a transporting device that transports the banknotes at a predetermined transport speed. The transport unit <NUM> can be configured by, for example, any one of or a combination of a belt mechanism and a roller mechanism. The transport unit <NUM> comprises a loop-shaped transport path <NUM> that transports the banknotes in a loop shape, and a first diverter path <NUM>, a second diverter path <NUM>, a third diverter path <NUM>, a fourth diverter path <NUM>, and a fifth diverter path <NUM> that diverge from the loop-shaped transport path <NUM>.

The first diverter path <NUM> connects the loop-shaped transport path <NUM> and the depositing unit <NUM>. The second diverter path <NUM> connects the loop-shaped transport path <NUM> and the dispensing unit <NUM>. The third diverter path <NUM> connects the loop-shaped transport path <NUM> and the temporary storage <NUM> to be described later. The fourth diverter path <NUM> connects the loop-shaped transport path <NUM> and a stacking type storage <NUM> to be described later. The fifth diverter path <NUM> connects the loop-shaped transport path <NUM> and a plurality of the winding type storage <NUM> to be described later. At a portion where each diverter path diverges from the loop-shaped transport path <NUM>, a diverter claw (not illustrated) for distributing the banknotes is disposed. In the case where the second dispensing unit <NUM> is disposed, another diverter path for connecting the loop-shaped transport path <NUM> and the second dispensing unit <NUM> is provided.

The recognition unit <NUM> is an recognizing device that reads information of the banknotes and recognizing the banknotes. The recognition unit <NUM> comprises sensors such as an image sensor, an optical sensor, and a magnetic sensor, and recognizes the banknote information such as the authenticity, the denomination, the fitness, and the serial number of the banknotes transported by the transport unit <NUM>.

The serial number is a unique number attached to each banknote, for example, a <NUM>-digit character string of a combination of alphabets and numbers. The recognition unit <NUM> recognizes each of the <NUM>-digit characters constituting the serial number.

The temporary storage <NUM> is a storage device that temporarily stores the banknotes. The temporary storage <NUM> can take in and store the banknotes one by one, and feed out the stored banknotes one by one.

The temporary storage <NUM> is a type of a winding type storage in which a plurality of the banknotes is stored in a state of being wound around a rotating body. The temporary storage <NUM> comprises a banknote storage unit <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) which will be described later. The temporary storage <NUM> may be a stacking type storage in which a plurality of the banknotes is stored in a stacked state.

The control unit <NUM> is configured to control the operation of the banknote processing machine <NUM>. The memory unit <NUM> is, for example, a nonvolatile memory. The control unit <NUM> is configured to perform various types of processing using the information memorized in the memory unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> controls the transport unit <NUM> so that the banknotes are transported between the depositing unit <NUM>, the dispensing unit <NUM>, the temporary storage <NUM>, the stacking type storage <NUM>, and the winding type storage <NUM>.

Storage <NUM> has a lower housing <NUM>. The storage <NUM> is composed of a lockable storage box, for example, a safe. In the front side of the lower housing <NUM>, lockable storage door (not illustrated) is disposed.

Inside the lower housing <NUM>, in order from the front, the stacking type storage <NUM>, and a plurality (eight as the example illustrated in <FIG>) of the winding type storage <NUM> is disposed.

The stacking type storage <NUM> is a stacking type storage unit in which a plurality of the banknotes is stored in the stacked state. The winding type storage <NUM> is a winding type storage unit in which a plurality of the banknotes is stored in a state of being wound around the rotating body. The winding type storage <NUM> comprises the banknote storage unit <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) which will be described later. Each winding type storage <NUM> is connected to each other by the fifth diverter path <NUM>.

At the inlet of the stacking type storage <NUM> and the winding type storage <NUM>, a sensor (not illustrated) for detecting passing of the banknote is disposed. The sensor is, for example, an optical sensor comprising a light emitting unit that emits light such as infrared rays and a light receiving unit that receives light from the light emitting unit. The sensor may be any type of sensor as long as it can detect the passing of the banknotes through the inlet.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the case where a plurality of the winding type storage <NUM> is disposed, when a plurality of the winding type storage <NUM> is driven at the same time, the current consumption may exceed the allowable value. Therefore, even in the case where it is necessary to drive a plurality of the winding type storage <NUM>, the timing for starting the driving of the respective winding type storage <NUM> may be different. The number of the winding type storage units <NUM> which can be simultaneously driven may be determined in advance. Thus, the current consumption for driving the winding type storage units <NUM> of the plurality of the winding type can be kept within the allowable range.

The banknote storage unit <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. In <FIG>, the illustration of a part of the components, such as the control unit <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>, is omitted.

In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the banknote storage unit <NUM> is disposed inside the temporary storage <NUM> and the winding type storage <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. The banknote storage unit <NUM> may be configured to store the banknotes transported by the transport unit <NUM> and to feed out the stored banknotes to the transport unit <NUM>. The banknote storage unit <NUM> can be incorporated into various sheet processing machines.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the banknote storage unit <NUM> comprises a reel <NUM>, a drum <NUM>, a pair of tapes 43a, 43b, a first stepper motor <NUM>, a second stepper motor <NUM>, and a tape movement detector <NUM>. In the following, a pair of tapes 43a, 43b will be collectively referred to as tape <NUM>, if necessary.

The operation of the banknote storage unit <NUM> is controlled by the control unit <NUM>. More specifically, the control unit <NUM> controls the first stepper motor <NUM> and the second stepper motor <NUM> to store the banknotes in the banknote storage unit <NUM>. The operation of the banknote storage unit <NUM> may be controlled by another control unit other than the control unit <NUM>. Another control unit may be one or more control units. In the case of more control units, each banknote storage unit <NUM> may be controlled by another control unit each other.

The reel <NUM> rotates around a rotation axis E1, by the operation of the first stepper motor <NUM> controlled by the control unit <NUM>. A first end of the tape <NUM> is connected to the reel <NUM>. The first end side of the tape <NUM> is wound on the reel <NUM>.

The drum <NUM> is disposed so that a rotation axis E2 of the drum <NUM> is parallel to the rotation axis E1 of the reel <NUM>. The drum <NUM> rotates around the rotation axis E2, by the operation of the second stepper motor <NUM> controlled by the control unit <NUM>. A second end of the tape <NUM> is connected to the drum <NUM>. The second end side of the tape <NUM> is wound on the drum <NUM>.

The tape <NUM> is suspended between the reel <NUM> and the drum <NUM>, in a state where the tension is applied.

The tape movement detector <NUM> comprises, for example, a rotary encoder, and is in contact with the tape <NUM> to which the tension is applied. The tape movement detector <NUM> is configured to send a signal of one pulse to the control unit <NUM> at every time that the tape <NUM> moves a predetermined amount. The control unit <NUM> can calculate the movement distance of the tape <NUM>, i.e., the winding length or feeding length, by integrating the number of pulses that the tape movement detector <NUM> has emitted. The control unit <NUM> can calculate the movement speed of the tape <NUM> moving between the reel <NUM> and the drum <NUM>, by integrating the number of pulses emitted per unit time.

A rotation of the reel <NUM> and the drum <NUM> when the banknotes are stored in the banknote storage unit <NUM> is referred to as a forward rotation. In the case of disposing the reel <NUM>, the drum <NUM> and the tape <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, the reel <NUM> and the drum <NUM> rotate in the same direction (clockwise direction in <FIG>) each other. At this time, the tape <NUM> pulled out from the reel <NUM> is wound on the drum <NUM> together with the banknote B delivered from the transport unit <NUM>. The drum <NUM> configures a winding body <NUM> together with the wound tape <NUM> and the banknote B. A symbol D in <FIG> is the diameter of the winding body <NUM>. The movement speed of the tape on the outer peripheral surface of the winding body <NUM> is equal to the movement speed of the tape <NUM> moving between the reel <NUM> and the drum <NUM>. Hereinafter, the movement speed of the tape <NUM> moving between the reel <NUM> and the drum <NUM> or the movement speed of the tape on the outer peripheral surface of the winding body <NUM> may simply be described as the movement speed of the tape <NUM>.

Specifically, the banknote B delivered from the transport unit <NUM> is inserted between a portion of the tape <NUM> located on the outermost periphery of the winding body and a portion of the tape <NUM> that is suspended between the reel <NUM> and the drum <NUM>, as illustrated by the arrow C in <FIG> and <FIG>. The inserted banknote B is wound on the drum <NUM> together with the tape <NUM> by the rotation of the drum <NUM>. A point indicated by 15a in <FIG> is a transport unit side action point located closest to the winding type storage <NUM> (i.e., the banknote storage unit <NUM>) among the portions where the fifth diverter path <NUM> (transport unit <NUM>) exerts a force to the banknote B. A point indicated by 40a in <FIG> is a storage side action point located closest to the transport unit <NUM> among the portions where the winding type storage <NUM> exerts a force to the banknote B. The banknote B in contact with the storage side action point 40a is wound inside the winding body <NUM> by the tape <NUM>. Note that a portion of the transport unit <NUM> comprising the transport unit side action point 15a may be disposed inside the winding type storage <NUM>. This portion of the transport unit <NUM> may be configured to be separable from the main body of the transport unit <NUM>, and may be united with the winding type storage <NUM>.

When the banknotes are fed out from the banknote storage unit <NUM>, the reel <NUM> and the drum <NUM> rotate in a direction opposite to the forward rotation. The rotation at this time will be hereafter referred to as reverse rotation. In the case of disposing the reel <NUM>, the drum <NUM>, and the tape <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, the reel <NUM> and the drum <NUM> rotates in the counterclockwise direction. At this time, the tape <NUM> pulled out from the drum is wound on the reel <NUM>. The banknote B is delivered to the transport unit <NUM>.

Specifically, the banknote B wound on the drum <NUM> is released from a state of sandwiching between a portion of the tape <NUM> and another portion of the tape <NUM>, when the tape <NUM> is fed out from the drum <NUM> and wound on the reel <NUM>. When released, the banknote B is fed in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow C, and is delivered to the transport unit <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> can control the first stepper motor <NUM> and the second stepper motor <NUM> in accordance with a state of the banknote storage unit <NUM> or the banknote processing machine <NUM>, and can change the movement speed of the tape <NUM>. The movement speed of the tape <NUM> is the movement speed of the banknote B in the banknote storage unit <NUM>. The movement speed of the tape <NUM> at the time of winding the banknote B is the winding speed of the banknote B, and the movement speed of the tape <NUM> at the time of feeding out the banknote B is the feeding speed of the banknote B. The movement speed of the tape <NUM> can be calculated by using the tape movement detector <NUM> as described above.

The control unit <NUM> controls at least one of the first stepper motor <NUM> and the second stepper motor <NUM> in accordance with the state of the banknote storage unit <NUM> or the banknote processing machine <NUM>, and can change the tension acting on the tape <NUM> that is suspended between the reel <NUM> and the drum <NUM>.

The tension acting on the tape <NUM> can be adjusted by adjusting any one or more of the rotational direction, the rotational speed, the torque of the reel <NUM>, and the rotational direction, the rotational speed, the torque of the drum <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> controls the rotational speed and the torque of the reel <NUM> and the drum <NUM> via controlling the rotational speed and the torque of the first stepper motor <NUM> and the second stepper motor <NUM>, for example, by PWM (Pulse Width Modulation).

In the banknote processing machine <NUM> configured as described above, for example, the banknotes are stored in the winding type storage <NUM> as described below.

The banknotes that can be transported to the transport unit <NUM>, such as the banknotes placed on the depositing unit <NUM> or the banknotes stored in the temporary storage <NUM>, are transported to the transport unit <NUM>. The transport unit <NUM> continuously transports the delivered banknotes at a predetermined transport speed. Since the banknotes are delivered to the transport unit <NUM> at a substantially constant pace, the distance between the front edge of the banknote moving on the transport unit <NUM> and the front edge of the subsequent banknote is substantially an equal interval. In the case where a plurality of the banknotes having the same length in the transport direction is continuously transported, the distance between the rear end of the banknote moving on the transport unit <NUM> and the front end of the subsequent banknote is substantially an equal interval. Hereinafter, the distance between the rear end of the banknote moving on the transport unit <NUM> and the front end of the subsequent banknote may be described as the interval between the banknotes. Similarly, the distance between the rear end of the banknote transported by the tape <NUM> and the front end of the subsequent banknote may be described as the interval between the banknotes. Note that the interval between the banknotes is a predetermined interval determined in advance. When the interval is smaller than the predetermined interval, the recognition unit <NUM> cannot recognize the banknotes one by one. In this case, it is determined as, for example, a sheet in a double feed state or a sheet deviated from a specified size, and the banknote which has been transported at a narrow interval is rejected.

The banknotes transported by the transport unit <NUM> are recognized by the recognition unit <NUM>. Based on the recognition result, the transport destination of the banknotes is determined. Hereinafter, the explain will be continued on the assumption that all the banknotes are transported to the single winding type storage <NUM>.

<FIG> are conceptual diagrams for explaining the delivering of the banknotes between the transport unit <NUM> and the winding type storage <NUM> ( i.e., the banknote storage unit <NUM>). It should be noted that, it does not necessarily correspond to the shape and arrangement of the actual device because of the conceptual diagram.

The control in the case where the number of banknotes B stored in the winding type storage <NUM> is not specifically intended to be increased will be described, while referring to <FIG>.

The banknote B is transported at a speed s1 on the fifth diverter path <NUM> of the transport unit <NUM>. The banknote B is delivered from the fifth diverter path <NUM> to the banknote storage unit <NUM>, specifically, the tape <NUM>, disposed in the winding type storage <NUM>. The banknote B is transported on the tape <NUM> at the speed s1 equal to the speed at which the transport unit <NUM> transports the banknote B. This speed s1 is the movement speed of the tape <NUM> and the winding speed of the banknote B.

The distance g between the transport unit side action point 15a located closest to the winding type storage <NUM> (i.e., the banknote storage unit <NUM>) among the portions where the fifth diverter path <NUM> exerts the force on the banknote B and the storage side action point 40a located closest to the transport unit <NUM> among the portions where the winding type storage <NUM> exerts the force on the banknote B is smaller than the length L of the banknote in the transport direction. Therefore, when delivering the banknote B between the transport unit <NUM> and the winding type storage <NUM>, it is possible to prevent occurring a state in which the force is not received from any of the transport unit <NUM> and the winding type storage <NUM>, and it is possible to reliably deliver the banknote B. In the case where a plurality of the types of banknotes B having different lengths L in the transport direction are to be processed in the banknote processing machine <NUM>, the distance g is set so as to be shorter than the length in the transport direction of the banknote B having the smallest length L in the transport direction among the plurality of the types of banknotes B. By setting as above, all of the banknotes B to be processed can be reliably delivered.

The intervals between the banknotes B when being transported by the transport unit <NUM> is d1. The transport speed of the banknote B by the transport unit <NUM> and the movement speed of the banknote by the tape <NUM> are both s1. Therefore, the intervals between the banknotes B does not change before and after the delivery. That is, the intervals between the banknotes B when transported by the tape <NUM> remains d1.

Therefore, the banknote B is wound around the winding body <NUM>, that is, the banknote B is stored in the winding type storage <NUM>, while remaining the intervals d1 between the banknotes B when the banknote B is transported by the transport unit <NUM>.

Next, the control capable of increasing the number of banknotes B stored in the winding type storage <NUM> will be described, while referring to <FIG>.

The difference from the case illustrated in <FIG> is that the movement speed of the tape <NUM> is not constant at s1, but after decelerating from s1 to s2, it returns to s1 again. More specifically, the movement speed of the tape <NUM> is decelerated from s1 to s2 relative to the transport speed s1 of the banknote by the transport unit <NUM>, and then accelerated from s2 and returned to s1 again. In other words, the winding speed of the banknote B by the winding body <NUM> is reduced from s1 as a first winding speed to s2 as a second winding speed, and then increased from s2 as the second winding speed s2 to s1 as the first winding speed. As will be apparent from the following description, such a change in the winding speed is performed until one of the banknotes B (e.g., N-th banknote BN) is wound and the next one of the banknotes B (e.g., (N+<NUM>)-th banknote BN+<NUM>) is wounded.

After the rear end of the N-th banknote BN leaves from the transport unit side action point 15a, the banknote BN receives force from only the tape <NUM>. Therefore, even if the movement speed of the tape <NUM> is different from the transport speed s1 of the transport unit <NUM>, the compressive force (the force to bend) or the tension (the force to tear off) does not act on the banknote BN.

It is possible to reduce the movement speed of the tape <NUM> from s1 to s2, after the rear end of the N-th banknote BN leaves from the transport unit side action point 15a. When the movement speed of the tape <NUM> is reduced, the (N+<NUM>)-th banknote BN+<NUM> still being transported by the transport unit <NUM> moves faster than the banknote BN transported by the tape <NUM>, so that the interval between the two banknotes becomes smaller than d1.

If the movement speed of the tape <NUM> remains smaller than the transport speed s1 of the transport unit <NUM>, when the front end in the transport direction of the banknote BN+<NUM> reaches the storage side action point 40a, the movement speeds of the front end side and the rear end side of the banknote BN+<NUM> are different In such a state, the compressive force acts on the banknote BN+<NUM>, the banknote BN+<NUM> bends, and troubles such as jamming of the banknote may occur between the transport unit <NUM> and the winding type storage <NUM>.

Therefore, the movement speed of the tape <NUM> is returned to s1 until the front end in the transport direction of the banknote BN+<NUM> reaches the storage side action point 40a. When the front end in the transport direction of the banknote BN+<NUM> reaches the storage side action point 40a, the force is exerted on the banknote BN+<NUM> to move at the speed s1 on the front end side and the rear end side. The banknote BN+<NUM> is smoothly delivered to and stored in the winding type storage <NUM>. The interval between the banknote BN and the banknote BN+<NUM> is d2 which is smaller than d1.

As described above, the interval between the two banknotes can be reduced by reducing the movement speed of the tape <NUM> and returns to the previous speed, after the rear end in the transport direction of the N-th banknote BN leaves from the transport unit side action point 15a, until the front end in the transport direction of the (N+<NUM>)-th banknote BN+<NUM> reaches the storage side action point 40a. Thus, it is possible to increase the number of banknotes B stored in the winding type storage <NUM>.

Such control is performed, based on one or more parameters indicating the state of the winding body <NUM>, for example, in the case where the parameters reaches a predetermined value, or until the parameters reaches the predetermined value. The parameters indicating the state of the winding body <NUM> are, for example, any one of or a combination of the number of banknotes B wound on the drum <NUM>, the length of the tape <NUM> wound on the drum <NUM>, and the diameter or the radius of the winding body <NUM>. The diameter or the radius of the winding body <NUM> is the diameter or radius of the winding body <NUM>.

The smaller the mass of the winding body <NUM> is, the smaller the inertial force associated with the rotation of the winding body <NUM> is. The smaller the diameter or the radius of the winding body <NUM> is, the smaller the inertial force associated with the rotation of the winding body <NUM>. That is, the smaller the mass, diameter, or radius of the winding body <NUM> is, the more quickly the rotational speed of the winding body <NUM> can be increased or reduced. The above described control can be performed more effectively when the mass, diameter, or radius of the winding body <NUM> is small, in other words, when the number of banknotes B wound on the drum <NUM> is small.

The control unit <NUM> can obtain the number of banknotes B wound on the drum <NUM> based on the detection result of the sensor disposed at the inlet of the winding type storage <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may perform control to reduce and increase the winding speed, for example, until the number of the wound banknotes B reaches a predetermined value.

Since the banknotes B are wound on the winding body <NUM> at the predetermined intervals of, for example, d1 or d2, the length of the tape <NUM> wound on the drum <NUM> can indirectly indicate the number of banknotes B wound on the drum <NUM>. The length of the tape <NUM> wound on the drum <NUM> can be obtained based on the signal received from the tape movement detector <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may perform the control to reduce and increase the winding speed, for example, until the length of the wound tape <NUM> reaches a predetermined length, in other words, until the number of wound banknotes B reaches a predetermined number.

Similar to the length of the tape <NUM> wound on the drum <NUM>, the diameter or radius (e.g., diameter D) of the winding body <NUM> can indirectly indicate the number of banknotes B wound on the drum <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may perform the control to reduce and increase the winding speed, for example, until the diameter D of the winding body <NUM> reaches a predetermined value,.

The control unit <NUM> can obtain the diameter D of the winding body <NUM> based on the number of steps of the second stepper motor <NUM> and the number of pulses of the tape movement detector <NUM> per unit time. Specifically, it is possible to obtain the rotation angle of the drum <NUM>, that is, the winding body <NUM>, per unit time, based on the number of steps of the second stepper motor <NUM>. The length of the tape <NUM> wound per unit time, that is, the length of the arc drawn by one point on the outermost peripheral portion of the winding body <NUM> moves per unit time can be obtained based on the number of pulses of the tape movement detector <NUM>. When the rotation angle of the winding body <NUM> per unit time is θD, the length of the arc formed by the tape <NUM> wound per unit time is a, the diameter D of the winding body <NUM> is represented by D=2a/θD. Therefore, the control unit <NUM> can obtain the diameter D of the winding body <NUM>, based on the number of steps of the second stepper motor <NUM> and the number of pulses of the tape movement detector <NUM> per unit time.

The intervals between the banknotes B wound on the drum <NUM> may be changed over a plurality of the stages. For example, in an initial stage at which winding is started, the interval is set to a first distance which is an extremely short distance, in a middle stage after winding to some extent, the interval may be set to a second distance which is slightly longer than the first distance, and in a later stage after winding, the interval may be set to a third distance which is longer than the second distance. Thus, at each stage, it is possible to realize the maximum number of sheets to be stored in the range where the inertial force of the winding body <NUM> allows.

The intervals between the banknotes B may be adjusted every time one banknote B is wound. Thus, the shape of the winding body <NUM> can be approached to an exact circle, it is possible to prevent the winding body <NUM> becomes elliptical shape in advance.

Next, the shortening amount of the banknote intervals will be described with reference to <FIG>. The time chart in the case described referring to <FIG> is indicated by a broken line in the upper part of <FIG>. This time chart will be described.

Until the time t1, the banknote BN transported by the transport unit <NUM> and the tape <NUM> moves at the speed s1.

At the time t1, the rear end in the transport direction of the banknote BN leaves from the transport unit side action point 15a. At this time, the deceleration of the tape <NUM>, that is, the reduction of the winding speed, is started. The tape <NUM> and the banknote BN are decelerated at a predetermined deceleration rate.

At the time t2, the deceleration of the tape <NUM> is completed. At this time, the speed of the tape <NUM> and the banknote BN is s2. At the same time, the tape <NUM> starts to be accelerated. The tape <NUM> and the banknote BN are accelerated at a predetermined acceleration rate. If possible, s2 may be <NUM>.

At the time t3, the speed of the tape <NUM> and the banknote BN reaches s1. The acceleration of the tape <NUM> is completed. At the same time, the front end in the transport direction of the banknote BN+<NUM> reaches the storage side action point 40a, and starts to be transported by the transport unit <NUM> and the tape <NUM>.

In <FIG>, area of the region indicated by A1 corresponds to the shortening amount of the interval between the banknote BN and the banknote BN+<NUM> (i.e., the difference between d1 and d2). The time t3 is determined so as to be a value obtained by dividing the interval d1 between the banknote BN and the banknote BN+<NUM> before the interval between the time t3 and the time t1 is shortened, by the speed s1 (i.e., t3-t1=d1/s1). The time t2 is determined based on the deceleration rate and acceleration rate of the tape <NUM>, and the difference between the time t3 and t1. For example, in the case where the absolute values of deceleration rate and acceleration rate of the tape <NUM> are equal, the time t2 is determined at the time of the center of the time t1 and the time t3 (i.e., t2-t1=t3-t2).

The speed s2 is a target speed determined based on the time (t2-t1) that can be secured for deceleration, the time (t3-t2) that can be secured for acceleration, the deceleration rate, and the acceleration rate. The sum of the time that can be secured for deceleration and the time that can be secured for acceleration is naturally determined by the transport speed s1 in the transport unit <NUM> and the interval d1 between the banknotes B. The time that can be secured for each of deceleration and acceleration is determined by the absolute values of the deceleration rate and acceleration rate. Therefore, it can be said that the speed s2, which is the target speed, is determined depending on the deceleration rate and acceleration rate, and can be achieved by adjusting the deceleration rate and acceleration rate.

The deceleration rate and acceleration rate of the winding body <NUM>, that is, the adjustment of the rate of change of the winding speed can be performed by adjusting the tension of the tape <NUM>. The tension of the tape <NUM> is performed accurately, in a state in which the tension is applied without loosening the tape <NUM>, by controlling the rotation of the first stepper motor <NUM> and the second stepper motor <NUM>.

In Embodiment, it is possible to reduce the transport speed of the transport unit <NUM> and the movement speed of the tape <NUM>, that is, the winding speed of the winding body <NUM>. A solid line illustrated on the lower side of <FIG> illustrates a time chart in the case of reducing the transport speed of the transport unit <NUM>.

Until the time t1, the transport unit <NUM> and the tape <NUM> transport the banknote BN at a speed s3 slower than the speed s1. The first winding speed in this case is s3. Although not limited particularly, <FIG> illustrates the case where the speed s3 is half the speed s1.

At the time t1, the rear end of in the transport direction the banknote BN leaves from the transport unit side action point 15a. At this time, the deceleration of the tape <NUM>, that is, the reduction of the winding speed, is started. In other words, deceleration of the winding speed toward the target speed is started. The tape <NUM> and the banknote BN are decelerated at a predetermined deceleration rate. The deceleration rate at this time may be equal to or different from the deceleration rate in the case where the transport speed of the transport unit <NUM> is not reduced (the case indicated by a broken line in <FIG> illustrates the case where both deceleration rate is equal.

At the time t3, the deceleration of the tape <NUM> is completed. At this time, the speed of the tape and the banknote BN is s4. That is, the second winding speed in this case is s4. At the same time as the deceleration of the tape <NUM> is completed, the tape <NUM> starts to accelerate. The tape <NUM> and the banknote BN are accelerated at a predetermined acceleration rate. The acceleration rate at this time may be equal to or different from the acceleration rate in the case where the transport speed of the transport unit <NUM> is not reduced (the case indicated by a broken line in <FIG> illustrates the case where both acceleration rate is equal.

At the time t4, the speed of the tape <NUM> and the banknote BN reaches s3. The acceleration of the tape <NUM> is completed. At the same time, the front end in the transport direction of the banknote BN+<NUM> reaches the storage side action point 40a, and starts to be transported by the transport unit <NUM> and the tape <NUM>.

In <FIG>, area of the region indicated by A2 corresponds to the shortening amount of the interval between the banknote BN and the banknote BN+<NUM> (i.e., the difference between d1 and d2), in the case where the transport speed of the transport unit <NUM> is reduced. The time t4 is determined so that the difference between the time t4 and the time t1 is a value that the interval d1 between the banknote BN and the banknote BN+<NUM> before shortened is divided by the speed s3 (i.e., t4-t1=d1/s3). The time t3 is determined based on the deceleration rate and the acceleration rate of the tape <NUM>, and the difference between the time t4 and t1. For example, in the case where the absolute values of deceleration rate and acceleration rate of the tape <NUM> are equal, the time t3 is determined at the time of the center of time t1 and time t4 (i.e., t3-t1=t4-t3).

The speed s4 is a target speed determined based on the time (t3-t1) that can be secured for deceleration, the time (t4-t3) that can be secured for acceleration, the deceleration rate, and the acceleration rate. The sum of the time that can be secured for deceleration and the time that can be secured for acceleration is naturally determined by the transport speed s3 in the transport unit <NUM> and the interval d1 between the banknotes B. The time that can be secured for each of deceleration and acceleration is determined by the absolute values of deceleration rate and acceleration rate. Therefore, it can be said that the speed s4, which is the target speed, is determined depending on the deceleration rate and the acceleration rate, and can be achieved by adjusting the deceleration rate and the acceleration rate.

As is apparent from <FIG>, the area of the region A2 is larger than the area of the region A1. That is, by reducing the transport speed of the transport unit <NUM>, the intervals between the banknotes B can be further shortened. The reason why the area of the region A2 becomes larger than the area of the region A1 is as follows.

When the transport speed of the transport unit <NUM> and the movement speed of the tape <NUM> before reduction are reduced from s1 to s3, it takes a long time from the rear end in the transport direction of the banknote BN leaves from the transport unit side action point 15a until the front end in the transport direction of the banknote BN+<NUM> reaches the storage side action point 40a. That is, the time at which the deceleration is completed is delayed from t2 to t3, and the time at which the acceleration is completed is delayed from t3 to t4. Since these times are delayed, the difference between the speeds before and after deceleration becomes large. That is, the difference between s3 and s4 is larger than the difference between s1 and s2. Therefore, the area of the region A2 is larger than the area of the region A1.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, by reducing the transport speed of the banknotes by the transport unit <NUM>, it is possible to reduce the intervals between the banknotes B stored in the winding type storage <NUM>, thus, it is possible to increase the number of banknotes B stored in the winding type storage <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the state in the case where the transport speed is s1 and s3, and in the case where the deceleration rate and the acceleration rate are assumed to be equal is illustrated. Since s3 is smaller than s1, the inertial force of the winding body <NUM> is smaller in the case where the transport speed is s3 than in the case where it is s1. Therefore, in the case where the transport speed is s3, it is possible to increase the absolute value of the deceleration rate and acceleration rate than the case where the transport speed is s1, that is, to reach the target speed s4 more quickly and to return to the previous speed s3 more quickly. With such a configuration, the target speed s4 can be made smaller than the value illustrated in <FIG>, and the area of the region A2 can be made larger. That is, the amount of shortening of the interval between the banknote BN and the banknote BN+<NUM> can be increased. The smaller the target speed s4 is, the greater the amount of shortening of the interval between the banknote BN and the banknote BN+<NUM> is. The target speed s4, which is the second winding speed, may be <NUM>.

In the case where it is possible to increase the absolute value of the deceleration rate and acceleration rate, after setting the target speed s4 to <NUM>, it may be stopped rotation of the winding body <NUM> for a predetermined time. In this case, the shape of the region corresponding to the region A2 becomes trapezoidal, the area of this region becomes larger, and the amount of shortening of the interval between the banknote BN and the banknote BN+<NUM> can be further increased.

It is preferable that the transport speed is reduced as s3 during a time period in which the operation rate of the banknote processing machine <NUM> is lowered, such as at night. The control unit <NUM> may obtain the time information, and perform the above-described control based on the time information, for example, after the business hours of the shop in which the banknote processing machine <NUM> is installed.

Further, s3 is smaller than s1. The banknote processing machine <NUM> is quieter when the transport unit <NUM> is moving in s3 than when the transport unit <NUM> is moving in s1. The transport speed may be actively reduced as the so-called silent mode during the business hours of the shop.

Although the case where the banknotes B are continuously stored in the winding type storage has been described up to here, the effect described above is not limited to such a case. Even in the case where the banknotes B are stored intermittently, that is, there is a relatively long time interval between the storage of one banknote B and the storage of the next banknote B, it is possible to obtain the effect of increasing the storage amount by changing the intervals between the wound banknotes and reducing the transport speed by the transport unit <NUM>.

<FIG> is a time chart illustrating the movement speed of the banknote BN when the banknotes B are intermittently stored in the winding type storage <NUM>. A time chart in the case where the transport speed of the banknote is s1 which is relatively high is illustrated by a broken line. A time chart in the case where the transport speed of the banknote is s3 which is slower than s1 is illustrated by the solid line.

A case where the transport speed of the banknote is s1 will be described. At the time t5, when the rear end in the transport direction of the intermittently transported banknote BN passes through, for example, the transport unit side action point 15a, the control unit <NUM> stops the second stepper motor <NUM>. The winding body <NUM> configured by the drum <NUM>, the tape <NUM>, and the banknotes N wound up to that time has a certain amount of mass. Therefore, the winding body <NUM> is rotated to some extent by the inertial force. the winding body <NUM> actually stops at the time t7, and the banknote BN is moved to some extent by the tape <NUM> between the time t5 and the time t7. The amount of movement at this time corresponds to the area of the triangular region indicated by A3 in <FIG>.

The movement speed of the tape <NUM> needs to reach s1 before the front end in the transport direction of the next banknote BN+<NUM> reaches the storage side action point 40a. As described above, the winding body <NUM> has a certain mass. Therefore, even when the driving of the second stepper motor <NUM> is started, the rotational speed of the winding body, that is, the movement speed of the tape <NUM> does not immediately become s1. In the case where the time at which the front end in the transport direction of the banknote BN+<NUM> reaches the storage side action point 40a is expected to be t10, it is necessary to start the movement of the tape <NUM> from the time t8, which is a time somewhat earlier than the time t10. The amount of movement at this time corresponds to the area of the triangular region indicated by A4 in <FIG>.

In the case where the banknotes B are intermittently stored, finally, the intervals between the banknotes B is determined as follows.

By controlling the operation of the drum <NUM>, the tape <NUM> moves by a predetermined distance (corresponding to the sum of the areas of the region A3 and the region A4) between the times t5 and t10. As described above, the time t5 is the timing at which the rear end of the banknote BN comes to the transport unit side action point 15a and the speed of the tape <NUM> starts to be decelerated from s1. The time t5 is the timing at which the second stepper motor <NUM> stops. The time t10 is a timing at which the front end of the banknote BN+<NUM> reaches the storage side action point 40a and the speed of the tape <NUM> returns to s1.

By controlling the operation of the transport unit <NUM>, the banknote BN+<NUM> is transported between the time t5 and t10. At the time point of t10, the front end of the banknote BN+<NUM> is located on the upstream side in the moving direction of the storage side action point 40a, that is, on the side of the transport unit <NUM>. On the other hand, at the time t10, the closer the front end of the banknote BN+<NUM> is to the storage side action point 40a, the greater the effect of reducing the intervals between the banknotes B is. Hereinafter, the distance between the front end of the banknote BN+<NUM> and the transport unit side action point 15a at the time t10 (the length of the banknote BN+<NUM> protruding from the transport unit side action point 15a) is defined as X.

The operation control of the transport unit <NUM> and the drum <NUM> may be appropriately changed as long as the condition that the movement speed of the tape <NUM> reaches s1 until the front end in the transport direction of the banknote BN+<NUM> next of the banknote BN reaches the storage side action point 40a is satisfied. Based on the above (<NUM>) and (<NUM>), the interval d2 between the banknotes B stored in the winding type storage <NUM> is determined as follows. The interval d2 = (the area of the region A3 + the area of the region A4) - (the distance X between the front end of the banknote BN+<NUM> stored next and the transport unit side action point 15a, at the time when the movement speed of the tape <NUM> returns to the speed s1 same as the transport speed s1 of the transport unit <NUM>).

Even in the case where the banknotes B are intermittently stored, by increasing the deceleration rate and acceleration rate of the first stepper motor <NUM> and the second stepper motor <NUM>, it is possible to reduce the area of the region A3 and the region A4, that is, to reduce the interval d2 between the banknotes B. Thus, it is possible to increase the number of banknotes B to be stored. In the case where the distance X is larger than the sum of the area of the region A3 and the area of the region A4, the banknotes B are wound on the drum in a state of partially overlapped each other. In the case where such a state is unacceptable, the sum of the area of the region A3 and the area of the region A4 may be adjusted to be equal to or greater than the distance X.

Next, a case where the transport speed of the banknotes is s3 will be described. Although not limited particularly, <FIG> illustrates a case where the speed s3 is half the speed s1.

At the time t5, when the rear end of in the transport direction the intermittently transported banknote BN passes through, for example, the transport unit side action point 15a, the control unit <NUM> stops the second stepper motor <NUM>. As described above, the winding body <NUM> has a certain mass. The winding body <NUM> is rotated to some extent by the inertial force. It is the time t6 that the winding body <NUM> actually stops (that is, the winding speed becomes <NUM>), and between the time t5 and time t6, the banknote BN is moved to some extent by the tape <NUM>. The amount of movement at this time corresponds to the area of the region indicated by A5 in <FIG>.

The movement speed of the tape <NUM> needs to reach s3 before the front end in the transport direction of the next banknote BN+<NUM> reaches the storage side action point 40a. As described above, the winding body <NUM> has a certain mass. Therefore, even when the driving of the second stepper motor <NUM> is started, the rotational speed of the winding body, that is, the movement speed of the tape <NUM> does not immediately become s3. In the case where the time at which the front end in the transport direction of the banknote BN+<NUM> reaches the storage side action point 40a is expected to be t10, it is necessary to start the movement of the tape <NUM> from the time t9, which is a time somewhat earlier than time t10. The amount of movement at this time corresponds to the area of the region indicated by A6 in <FIG>.

The final interval d2 between the banknotes B in the case where the banknotes are intermittently transported at the transport speed s3 is determined in the same manner as in the case where the transport speed is s1. That is, it is determined as follows. The interval d2 between banknotes B = (the area of the region A5 + the area of the region A6) - (the distance X between the front end of the banknote BN+<NUM> to be stored next and the transport unit side action point 15a at the time when the movement speed of the tape <NUM> returns to the speed s3 same as the transport speed s3 of the transport unit <NUM>).

As is apparent from <FIG>, the sum of the areas of the region A5 and the region A6 is smaller than the sum of the areas of the region A3 and the region A4. That is, even when the banknotes B are intermittently transported, the intervals between the banknotes B can be shortened by reducing the transport speed of the transport unit <NUM>. Thus, it is possible to increase the number of banknotes B stored in the winding type storage <NUM>. In the case where the distance X is larger than the sum of the area of the region A5 and the area of the region A6, the banknotes B are wound on the drum in a state of partially overlapped each other. When such a state is unacceptable, the sum of the area of the region A5 and the area of the region A6 may be adjusted to be equal to or greater than the distance X.

In <FIG>, the case where the transport speed is s1, and the case where the speed is s3 in assuming that the deceleration rate and acceleration rate are equal is illustrated. Since s3 is smaller than s1, the inertial force of the winding body <NUM> is smaller in the case where the transport speed is s3 than in the case where the transport speed is s1. Therefore, it is possible to increase the absolute value of the deceleration rate and acceleration rate in the case where the transport speed is s3 than the cases where the transport speed is s1, that is, to stop more quickly and to reach s3 more quickly. The areas of the region A5 and the region A6 can be made smaller than the region illustrated in <FIG>, and the amount of shortening of the interval between the banknote BN and the banknote BN+<NUM> can be made larger. That is, it is possible to increase the number of banknotes B stored in the winding type storage <NUM>.

It is needless to say that the increase in the number of stored banknotes B can be made in the temporary storage <NUM> comprising the banknote storage unit <NUM> in the same manner as in the winding type storage <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> can calculate the number of banknotes B that can be further wound by the drum <NUM> at a certain time point, based on the length of the tape <NUM> wound on the reel <NUM> and the set interval between the banknotes B. For example, in the case where the length of the tape <NUM> wound on the reel <NUM> is set to LTape, the length of the banknotes B in the transport direction is set to L, and the interval between the banknotes B in the state wound on the drum <NUM> is set to d2, the number of the banknotes B that can be wound further by the drum <NUM> can be expressed by LTape/(L+d2). Therefore, the control unit <NUM> can calculate the number of banknotes B that can be further wound by the drum <NUM> based on this equation.

The length LTape of the tape <NUM> wound on the reel <NUM> can be calculated based on the rotation amount, that is, rotation angle of the reel <NUM>, the feeding length of the tape <NUM> from the reel <NUM>, and the thickness of the tape <NUM>. Specifically, the rotation angle of the reel <NUM> per unit time can be obtained from the number of steps of the first stepper motor <NUM>. The length of the tape <NUM> fed out per unit time, that is, the length of the arc configuring the outermost peripheral portion of the cylindrical body formed by the tape wound on the reel <NUM> can be obtained from the number of pulses of the tape movement detector <NUM>. In the case where the rotational angle of the reel <NUM>, that is, the cylindrical body per unit time is set to θR, and the length of the arc of the tape <NUM> fed out per unit time is set to b, the diameter of the cylindrical body is represented by 2b/θR. The length LTape of the tape <NUM> wound on the reel <NUM> can be calculated by dividing the difference in the diameter of the reel <NUM> by the thickness of the tape <NUM>.

According to the above procedures, the length LTape of the tape <NUM> wound on the reels <NUM> can be detected at any desired time. Therefore, the tape <NUM> can be used without waste, and thus, the number of banknotes B stored in the winding type storage <NUM> can be increased.

The length LTape of the tape <NUM> wound on the reel <NUM> can be detected also by performing the operation that all the usable amount of the tape <NUM> remaining on the reel <NUM> is wound on the drum <NUM> once, and is rewound on the reel <NUM>. The length LTape of the tape <NUM> remained on the reel <NUM>, that is, wound on the reel <NUM> can be detected based on the number of pulses the tape movement detector <NUM> emits during this operation is performed. It can be grasped that all the usable amount of the tape <NUM> remaining on the reel <NUM> is wound on the drum <NUM> in the case where an optical sensor disposed in the winding type storage <NUM> of the winding type detects marks attached to a predetermined position.

As described above, the reel <NUM> and the drum <NUM> are reversely rotated so that the banknotes B wound on the drum <NUM> can be fed out to the transport unit <NUM>. When the banknotes B are fed out from the drum <NUM> to the transport unit <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> can set the interval between the banknotes B transported by the transport unit <NUM> to be different from the interval between the banknotes B in a condition in which the banknotes B are wound on the drum <NUM>. Specifically, by controlling the rotation of the first stepper motor <NUM> and the second stepper motor <NUM>, the interval between the banknotes B transported by the transport unit <NUM> can be changed to a predetermined interval set in advance. By setting the interval to the predetermined interval, the recognition unit <NUM> can recognize the banknotes B one by one. That is, it is possible to prevent the banknotes B from being rejected.

The intervals between the banknotes B wound on the drum <NUM> may differ individually. Also, depending on whether or not the banknote has been wound by the drum <NUM> at the initial stage of starting the winding of the banknotes, there is a possibility that the intervals between the wound banknotes B may differ. Therefore, unless the intervals between the banknotes B in the state in which the banknotes B are wound on the drum <NUM> is accurately grasped, the intervals between the banknotes B fed out to the transport unit <NUM> cannot be set to the target interval.

When the banknotes B are wound on the drum <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> may store the intervals between the banknotes B one by one individually in the memory unit <NUM>. In this way, when the banknote B wound on the drum <NUM> is fed out to the transport unit <NUM>, the control unit <NUM> can control the feeding speed based on the intervals between the banknotes B in the state of being wound on the drum <NUM>. That is, the control unit <NUM> can adjust the intervals between the banknotes B transported by the transport unit <NUM> by controlling the rotation of the first stepper motor <NUM> and the second stepper motor <NUM>, based on the intervals between the banknotes B stored in the memory unit <NUM>.

It can be realized that the intervals between the banknotes B transported by the transport unit <NUM> is set to intervals different from the intervals between the banknotes B in the state in which the banknotes B are wound on the drum <NUM> by performing an operation opposite to the operation when winding the banknotes B on the drum <NUM> while narrowing the interval between the banknotes B. That is, the control unit <NUM> reduces the feeding speed of the winding body <NUM> from the first feeding speed (the same speed as the transport speed of the transport unit <NUM>) to the second feeding speed. When the feeding speed of the winding body <NUM> reaches the second feeding speed, the control unit <NUM> increases the feeding speed of the winding body <NUM> to the first feeding speed. By controlling the deceleration rate when reducing from the first feeding speed to the second feeding speed and the acceleration rate when increasing from the second feeding speed to the first feeding speed, the interval between the banknotes B transported by the transport unit <NUM> can be set to the desired interval.

As described above, the control unit <NUM> can obtain the diameter or radius of the winding body <NUM>, for example, the diameter D, based on the number of steps of the second stepper motor <NUM> and the number of pulses of the tape movement detector <NUM> per unit time. The control unit <NUM> can verify the validity of the diameter D based on the number and type of the wound banknotes B and the set intervals d2 between the banknotes B. The method of verification is as follows.

The length L in the transport direction and the thickness of the banknotes B are known based on the type of the wound banknotes B. Also, the thickness of the tape <NUM> is known. The theoretical value of the diameter D of the winding body <NUM> can be calculated based on the number and type of the wound banknotes B and the set interval d2 between the banknotes B. The theoretical value of the diameter D of the winding body <NUM> may be calculated in consideration of the presence or absence of irregularities due to printing of the banknotes B and the positions of the banknotes when the banknotes B is wound on the drum.

Therefore, it is possible to verify the validity of the diameter D by comparing the diameter D obtained based on the number of steps of the second stepper motor <NUM> and the number of pulses of the tape movement detector <NUM> per unit time with theoretical value. In the case where the deviation from the theoretical value is large, there is a possibility that the banknote having an unexpected thickness is wound. An example of the banknote B having an unexpected thickness is a banknote that does not become flat or is difficult to become flat because of the formation of wrinkles, folds, and/or the like. In the case where the number of such banknotes increases, when the banknotes are later transferred to a collection bag and/or the like, there is a possibility that the banknotes cannot be properly stored in the bag and/or the like. Therefore, by verifying the validity of the diameter D in advance and recognizing that the deviation from the theoretical value is large, it becomes possible to take measures before the collection.

The large deviation may be caused by an abnormality of a mechanism configuring the banknote storage unit <NUM>, for example, the first stepper motor <NUM> and the second stepper motor <NUM>. Therefore, by verifying the validity of the diameter D, it is possible to detect the abnormality of the banknote storage unit <NUM> early before an actual problem such as damage or jamming of the banknotes B due to slack of the tape <NUM> occurs.

The control unit <NUM> may calculate the diameter of the winding body <NUM> in a plurality of the states in which the rotation angles of the drums <NUM> are different from each other and compare a calculated plurality of the diameters of the winding body <NUM> to detect the abnormality in which the banknote B having the above described unexpected thickness is wound or the abnormality in each of the stepper motors <NUM>, <NUM>.

For example, the control unit <NUM> calculates a first diameter of the winding body <NUM> when the second stepper motor <NUM> is in a first number of step, and a second diameter of the winding body <NUM> when the second stepper motor <NUM> is in a second number of step. The difference between the first number of step and the second number of step corresponds to, for example, <NUM>° at the rotation angle of the drum <NUM>. That is, in this case, the control unit <NUM> calculates the diameter of the winding body <NUM> in each state of the two different rotation angles of the drum <NUM> each other.

In the case that the calculated difference between the first diameter and the second diameter is within a predetermined range, the control unit <NUM> determines that the banknotes B are normally wound. The control unit <NUM> determines that there is the abnormality in the case where the difference between the first diameter and the second diameter exceeds the predetermined range. In the case where it is determined that there is the abnormality, the control unit <NUM> may adjust the intervals between the banknotes B so that more banknotes B are wound, in the number of steps with smaller diameter.

The control unit <NUM> may calculate the outer peripheral shape of the winding body <NUM>, by using a plurality of the diameters calculated based on a plurality of the number of steps different from each other of the second stepper motor <NUM>. The more the number of a plurality of the calculated diameters of the winding body <NUM> is, the higher the accuracy of the outer peripheral shape becomes. For example, the diameter of the winding body <NUM> may be calculated every time when the number of steps of the second stepper motor <NUM> advances <NUM> ° in terms of the rotation angle of the drum <NUM>. In this case, the diameters of a total of eight winding bodies <NUM> are calculated. The diameter of the winding body <NUM> may be calculated every time when the number of steps of the second stepper motor <NUM> advances <NUM> ° in terms of the rotation angle of the drum <NUM>. In this case, the diameters of a total of forty winding bodies <NUM> are calculated.

In the case where roundness of the outer peripheral shape calculated from a plurality of the diameters of the winding bodies <NUM> of which rotational angles of the drum different from each other is within a predetermined range, the control unit <NUM> determines it is normal. The control unit <NUM> determines that there is an abnormality, in the case where the roundness of the outer peripheral shape calculated from a plurality of the diameters of the winding body <NUM> exceeds the predetermined range. In the case when determining that there is the abnormality, the control unit <NUM> may adjust the intervals between the banknotes B so that the outer peripheral shape of the winding body <NUM> approaches an exact circle. The roundness can be determined by various methods. Specifically, it may be performed determination of the roundness by evaluating the deviation of a plurality of the diameters of the winding body <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may determine whether the outer peripheral shape of the winding body <NUM> is an elliptical shape, by using a plurality of the diameters of the winding body <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may adjust the intervals between the banknotes B so that the outer peripheral shape of the winding body <NUM> approaches an exact circle.

Claim 1:
A sheet processing machine (<NUM>) for storing sheets transported by a transport unit (<NUM>), the sheet processing machine (<NUM>) comprising:
a reel (<NUM>) on which a first end side of a tape (<NUM>; 43a; 43b) is wound;
a first stepper motor (<NUM>) for rotating the reel (<NUM>) about a rotation axis of the reel (<NUM>);
a drum (<NUM>) for winding up a second end side of the tape (<NUM>; 43a; 43b) together with the sheets to form a winding body (<NUM>) together with the tape (<NUM>; 43a; 43b) and the sheets;
a second stepper motor (<NUM>) for rotating the drum (<NUM>) about a rotation axis of the drum (<NUM>); and
a control unit (<NUM>) for changing an interval between the sheets wound on the drum (<NUM>) by controlling rotation of the first stepper motor (<NUM>) and the second stepper motor (<NUM>) based on a parameter indicating a condition of the winding body;
characterized in that
the control unit (<NUM>) reduces a winding speed of the winding body (<NUM>) from a first winding speed to a second winding speed and then increases the winding speed from the second winding speed to the first winding speed, between winding one of the sheets and winding next one of the sheets.