Patent Description:
In a retail store or other stores, a paper sheet handling apparatus capable of receiving sales proceeds to be deposited is used for counting or collecting banknotes of the sales proceeds of the store in a register. When banknotes are inserted, the paper sheet handling apparatus stores the inserted banknotes in a storage compartment. The paper sheet handling apparatus conveys the banknotes stored in the storage compartment by a conveying unit and stows the banknotes in a stowage compartment. Since the paper sheets stowed in the stowage compartment are managed by a security transportation company or a financial institution of the transportation destination of the security transportation company, only the manager or other person of the security transportation company can access the paper sheets. For example, a technique has been proposed in which banknotes stored in a storage compartment are stowed in a stowage compartment (e.g., see <CIT>).

<CIT> discloses a paper sheet handling device. In the process of returning a bottom unit to a storage position in a cashbox cabinet, the bottom unit is raised from a bottom unit rail, and based on the raising action of the bottom unit, support at the bottom unit rail with respect to the bottom unit is released; and at the moment the bottom unit reaches the storage position, the upper and lower space of a transfer junction part of a delivery transfer path is position controlled by a position alignment control mechanism.

<CIT> discloses a paper handling device including: a safe enclosure having a paper storage box housed therein; a processing unit provided so as to be unloaded from and loaded into the device; a conveyance part provided in the processing unit to form a conveyance line; a delivery part provided on a top plate of the safe enclosure to deliver sheets of paper between the paper storage box and the conveyance line; and a positioning part which positions the delivery part and the conveyance line so as to connect them when the processing unit is loaded into the device.

In view of the above conventional situation, an object related to one aspect of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet handling apparatus capable of easily maintaining a conveying unit for conveying paper sheets and maintaining the confidentiality of the paper sheets.

The paper sheet handling apparatus, which is one aspect of the present invention according to claim <NUM>, includes: a storage compartment provided with an opening; a stowage compartment disposed on a lower side of the storage compartment; a storage portion stored in the storage compartment and storing paper sheets; a conveying unit stored in the storage compartment and for conveying the paper sheets stored in the storage portion to the stowage compartment; and a guide unit for guiding paper sheets conveyed by the conveying unit to the stowage compartment, wherein the guide unit comprises a flange, the guide unit is fixed from the stowage compartment side to a through-hole penetrating the storage compartment and the stowage compartment via the flange, the conveying unit is configured to be slidable in a direction of the opening provided in the storage compartment, and the conveying unit is configured such that a slide rail disposed in an orientation extending along a front-rear direction of the conveying unit slides in a front-rear direction on a slide roller disposed in the guide unit, whereby the conveying unit is slidable in a direction of the opening, and the stowage compartment stows the paper sheets conveyed by the conveying unit.

Since clogging (jamming) of banknotes may occur during conveyance of paper sheets stored in a storage compartment to a stowage compartment, a conveying unit is desired to have a configuration that facilitates maintenance. On the other hand, since it is necessary to reject access to the paper sheets stowed in the stowage compartment except for a manager or other person of a security transportation company, it is required to maintain confidentiality.

A paper sheet handling apparatus according to a present embodiment will be discussed below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, although a money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM> is discussed as an example of the paper sheet handling apparatus, the paper sheet handling apparatus may be any other paper sheet handling apparatus such as an automated teller machine (ATM), a point of sales (POS) register, a self-register, a ticket vending machine, or a money changing machine as long as the apparatus handles paper sheets. <FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams illustrating an example of a side view of the money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM> in the present embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>, a drive unit <NUM>, a storage portion <NUM>, a conveying unit <NUM>, a guide unit <NUM>, a heat sealer <NUM>, and a slide member <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> includes a storage compartment <NUM> and a stowage compartment <NUM>.

A first front opening <NUM> is provided in front of the money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM>. The money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM> includes a first front door (not illustrated) for closing the first front opening <NUM> on its front left side.

A first rear opening <NUM> is provided at the rear of the money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM>. The money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM> includes a first rear door (not illustrated) for closing the first rear opening <NUM> on its upper rear side.

The stowage compartment <NUM> is disposed on a lower side of the storage compartment <NUM>, and the storage compartment <NUM> and the stowage compartment <NUM> are connected to each other in the up-down direction.

A second opening <NUM> is provided in front of the money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM>. The money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM> includes a second door <NUM> for closing the second opening <NUM> on its front left side. The second opening <NUM> may be provided at the rear of the money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM>.

Coordinate axes defining the relationship with other drawings are illustrated at the lower right of <FIG> and <FIG>. The Y direction is also referred to as a front-rear direction, and front and rear are as illustrated in the drawings. The Z direction is also referred to as an up-down direction, and up and down is as illustrated in the drawings.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a front view of the money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM>. In <FIG>, the second door <NUM> is not illustrated. A coordinate axis defining the relationship with other drawings is illustrated at the lower right of <FIG>. The X direction is also referred to as a width direction, and left and right are as illustrated in the drawing. The Z direction is also referred to as an up-down direction, and up and down is as illustrated in the drawing.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the drive unit <NUM>, the storage portion <NUM>, and the conveying unit <NUM> are stored in the storage compartment <NUM>. The drive unit <NUM>, the storage portion <NUM>, and the conveying unit <NUM> are connected in the up-down direction in the order of the drive unit <NUM>, the storage portion <NUM>, and the conveying unit <NUM> from above.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the slide members <NUM> disposed along the front-rear direction are disposed at both ends in the width direction of the drive unit <NUM>. The drive unit <NUM> includes a drive source such as a motor, and transmits a drive force generated by the drive source to the storage portion <NUM> and the conveying unit <NUM>. The slide member <NUM> is disposed in the drive unit <NUM>, but is not limited thereto, and may be disposed in the storage portion <NUM> or the conveying unit <NUM>.

Based on the drive force transmitted from the drive unit <NUM>, the storage portion <NUM> conveys the paper sheets deposited from a money depositing and dispensing port <NUM> and stores the paper sheets for each face value of banknotes, for example. The paper sheets stored in the storage portion <NUM> are conveyed to the money depositing and dispensing port <NUM> based on the operation of the operator. The paper sheets stored in the storage portion <NUM> are conveyed to the stowage compartment <NUM> via the conveying unit <NUM> at an arbitrary timing. As the arbitrary timing, a timing operated based on the operation of the operator or a timing set in advance based on the operation of the operator can be adopted.

The conveying unit <NUM> conveys the paper sheets stored in the storage portion <NUM> to the stowage compartment <NUM> based on the drive force transmitted from the drive unit <NUM>. A method of conveying the paper sheets to the stowage compartment <NUM> by the conveying unit <NUM> will be discussed in detail below.

A heat sealer <NUM> and a stowage bag 200a are stowed in the stowage compartment <NUM>. The heat sealer <NUM> and the stowage bag 200a are connected in the up-down direction in the order of the heat sealer <NUM> and the stowage bag 200a from above. The heat sealer <NUM> thermally welds and seals the inlet of the stowage bag 200a based on the operation of the operator.

In an upper plate <NUM> constituting the upper side surface of the stowage compartment <NUM>, a through-hole <NUM> for passing the paper sheets is formed at a position corresponding to the center in the width direction of the money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM>.

The guide unit <NUM> is inserted through the through-hole <NUM>. The guide unit <NUM> includes a flange <NUM> extending in the width direction and the front-rear direction. The guide unit <NUM> inserted through the through-hole <NUM> is fixed to the upper plate <NUM> of the stowage compartment <NUM> by using the flange <NUM> positioned on the stowage compartment <NUM> side.

The guide unit <NUM> guides the paper sheets conveyed by the conveying unit <NUM> from the storage compartment <NUM> to the stowage compartment <NUM>. The guide unit <NUM> is connected to the conveying unit <NUM> on the storage compartment <NUM> side in a state of being detachable in the front-rear direction, and is connected to the stowage bag 200a via the heat sealer <NUM> on the stowage compartment <NUM> side. The details of the guide unit <NUM> will be discussed below with reference to <FIG>.

In the present embodiment, the stowage bag 200a is connected to the guide unit <NUM> via the heat sealer <NUM>, but is not limited thereto, and the stowage bag 200a may be directly connected to the guide unit <NUM> without the heat sealer <NUM>.

The drive unit <NUM> is connected to inner side surfaces on both right and left sides of the storage compartment <NUM> via the slide member <NUM> attached to the drive unit <NUM> and slidable in the front-rear direction.

The drive unit <NUM>, the storage portion <NUM>, and the conveying unit <NUM>, which are integrally connected, are attached to be slidable in the front-rear direction via the slide member <NUM> attached to the drive unit <NUM>. In other words, the conveying unit <NUM> is configured to be slidable in the direction of the first front opening <NUM>.

For example, when the money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM> is in operation, as illustrated in <FIG>, the drive unit <NUM>, the storage portion <NUM>, and the conveying unit <NUM> are integrally slid to the rear of the money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM> via the slide member <NUM> and pushed into and stored in the storage compartment <NUM>. At the time of maintenance of the money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, the drive unit <NUM>, the storage portion <NUM>, and the conveying unit <NUM> are integrally slid to the front of the money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM> via the slide member <NUM> and pulled out from the storage compartment <NUM>.

The drive unit <NUM>, the storage portion <NUM>, and the conveying unit <NUM> are detachably connected to each other. Therefore, even in a case where clogging (jamming) of the paper sheets occurs in the conveying unit <NUM>, the operator can pull out the drive unit <NUM>, the storage portion <NUM>, and the conveying unit <NUM> in the front direction, and then remove the conveying unit <NUM> to visually recognize and easily remove the clogged paper sheets.

Since the paper sheets stored in the storage compartment <NUM> are managed by a store, only the manager or other person of the store needs to be able to access the paper sheets. Therefore, the storage compartment <NUM> is locked so that a person other than the manager or other person of the store cannot open the first front door (not illustrated) of the storage compartment <NUM>.

Since the paper sheets stowed in the stowage bag 200a of the stowage compartment <NUM> are managed by a security transportation company or a financial institution of the transportation destination of the security transportation company, only the managers or other person of the security transportation company needs to be able to access the paper sheets. Therefore, the stowage compartment <NUM> is locked so that a person other than the manager or other person of the security transportation company cannot open the second door <NUM>. Therefore, since a person other than the manager or other person of the security transportation company cannot open the stowage compartment <NUM>, the confidentiality in the stowage compartment <NUM> can be maintained even when the storage compartment <NUM> is opened due to the maintenance of the conveying unit <NUM>.

The conveying unit <NUM> and the guide unit <NUM> of the present embodiment will be discussed with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the conveying unit <NUM> and the guide unit <NUM>. <FIG> is a side view illustrating the conveying unit <NUM> and the guide unit <NUM>. <FIG> is a plan view illustrating the guide unit <NUM>. <FIG> is a rear view illustrating the guide unit <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> are side views illustrating the guide unit <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the conveying unit <NUM> includes a conveying unit housing <NUM>, a pair of slide rails <NUM>, a conveying unit lid <NUM>, a first shaft <NUM> to a fourth shaft <NUM>, a first pulley <NUM> to a fifth pulley <NUM>, a first belt <NUM> to a second belt <NUM>, and a protrusion <NUM>. The conveying unit housing <NUM> is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The pair of slide rails <NUM> is disposed at both ends in the width direction of the conveying unit housing <NUM> in an orientation extending along the front-rear direction.

The first shaft <NUM> to the fourth shaft <NUM> are rotatably pivotally supported at both ends in the width direction of the conveying unit housing <NUM> along the width direction of the conveying unit housing <NUM>. The first shaft <NUM> is disposed in the vicinity of the rear of the conveying unit housing <NUM> in the front-rear direction, and the second shaft <NUM> is disposed in the vicinity of the center of the conveying unit housing <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

The first pulley <NUM> rotates about the first shaft <NUM>, and the second pulley <NUM> and the third pulley rotate about the second shaft <NUM>.

The first belt <NUM> is wound around the outer peripheries of the first pulley <NUM> and the second pulley <NUM>, transmits the drive force of the first pulley <NUM> rotating based on the drive force transmitted from the drive unit <NUM> to the second pulley <NUM>, and rotates the second shaft <NUM>. The rotation of the second shaft <NUM> rotates the third pulley <NUM> pivotally supported by the second shaft <NUM>.

The third shaft <NUM> is disposed in front of the first shaft <NUM> in the front-rear direction of the conveying unit housing <NUM>, and the fourth shaft <NUM> is disposed between the third shaft <NUM> and the second shaft <NUM> in the front-rear direction of the conveying unit housing <NUM>. The fourth pulley <NUM> rotates about the third shaft <NUM>, and the fifth pulley <NUM> rotates about the fourth shaft <NUM>.

The second belt <NUM> is wound around the outer peripheries of the fourth pulley <NUM> and the fifth pulley <NUM>, and conveys the paper sheets stored in the storage portion <NUM> to the guide unit <NUM> based on the drive force transmitted from the drive unit <NUM>.

The conveying unit lid <NUM> is configured to be freely openable and closable. Therefore, even if paper sheets are clogged (jammed) under the conveying unit lid <NUM>, the operator can check the cause of the clogging and easily perform maintenance, by opening the conveying unit lid <NUM>.

The protrusion <NUM> is formed to protrude to the right in the width direction of the conveying unit housing <NUM> in the vicinity of the second shaft <NUM> in the front-rear direction of the conveying unit housing <NUM>. The protrusions <NUM> may be formed to protrude to the left or both sides in the width direction of the conveying unit housing <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the guide unit <NUM> includes a pair of flanges <NUM>, a pair of upper housings <NUM>, a pair of lower housings <NUM>, a shaft housing <NUM>, a support <NUM>, a first guide portion <NUM>, a second guide portion <NUM>, a first guide shaft <NUM> to a fourth guide shaft <NUM>, a first guide pulley <NUM> to a third guide pulley <NUM>, a first roller <NUM>, a second roller <NUM>, a slide roller <NUM>, and a spring <NUM>. The pair of upper housings <NUM> and the pair of lower housings <NUM> are connected in the up-down direction in the order of the upper housing <NUM> and the lower housing <NUM> from above, at both ends in the width direction of the guide unit <NUM>, respectively. The upper housing <NUM> and the lower housing <NUM> are attached so as to be movable in the up-down direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the pair of upper housings <NUM> is fixed to a first guide portion <NUM> and a second guide portion <NUM>, which have a semi-cylindrical shape and are disposed along the width direction of the guide unit <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first guide portion <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM> are disposed substantially parallel to each other, and the paper sheets conveyed from the conveying unit <NUM> are inserted into a gap <NUM> formed between the first guide portion <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM> and guided downward.

Each of the pair of lower housings <NUM> is fixed to a support <NUM> disposed along the width direction of the guide unit <NUM> and having an L-shaped cross section. The first guide shaft <NUM> to the fourth guide shaft <NUM> are rotatably pivotally supported at both ends in the width direction of the guide unit <NUM>.

The first guide shaft <NUM> and the second guide shaft <NUM> are disposed adjacent to each other on the front side of the upper housing <NUM>. The first guide pulley <NUM> and the second guide pulley <NUM> rotate about the first guide shaft <NUM>, and the third guide pulley <NUM> rotates about the second guide shaft <NUM>. The second guide pulley <NUM> and the third guide pulley <NUM> are rotatably engaged with each other, and the drive force transmitted to the second guide pulley <NUM> is transmitted to the third guide pulley <NUM>.

When the conveying unit <NUM> is stored in the storage compartment <NUM> and the conveying unit <NUM> and the guide unit <NUM> are connected to each other, the first guide pulley <NUM> is formed to be engageable with the third pulley <NUM> pivotally supported by the second shaft <NUM> of the conveying unit <NUM>. Therefore, the third pulley <NUM> transmits the drive force transmitted to the second shaft <NUM> to the second guide shaft <NUM> via the first guide pulley <NUM>, the second guide pulley <NUM>, and the third guide pulley <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, five first rollers <NUM> and five second rollers <NUM> are disposed at predetermined intervals along the width direction of the guide unit <NUM> below the first guide portion <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM>, respectively.

In the present embodiment, since five first rollers <NUM> and five second rollers <NUM> are disposed, the gap <NUM> formed between the first guide portion <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM> can be narrowed. Thus, it is possible to prevent unauthorized access to the stowage compartment <NUM> by inserting a hand or a jig into the gap <NUM>, and to improve the confidentiality of the stowage compartment <NUM>. The number of the first rollers <NUM> and the second rollers <NUM> is not limited to five, but may be a plurality of rollers, or may be one roller each. The first roller <NUM> and the second roller <NUM> are rotatably pivotally supported by the upper housing <NUM>, respectively.

In a case where the first roller <NUM> and the second roller <NUM> are configured with a small number of rollers, it is preferable to increase the length of each roller in the width direction. Thus, the gap <NUM> formed between the first guide portion <NUM> and the second guide portion <NUM> can be narrowed. Thus, it is possible to prevent unauthorized access to the stowage compartment <NUM> by inserting a hand or a jig into the gap <NUM>, and to improve the confidentiality of the stowage compartment <NUM>.

The first roller <NUM> and the second roller <NUM> are configured to rotate such that the paper sheets inserted from the gap <NUM> by a one-way clutch are conveyed only in a direction from the upper side to the lower side. Thus, the paper sheets stowed in the stowage compartment <NUM> can be prevented from being pulled out from the gap <NUM> to improve the confidentiality of the stowage compartment <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the width w1 between the outer sides of the pair of slide rails <NUM> of the conveying unit <NUM> is formed to have substantially the same size as the width w2 between the inner sides of the pair of upper housings <NUM> of the guide unit <NUM> or a size with a slight play. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, four slide rollers <NUM> are rotatably pivotally supported on the inside of the pair of upper housings <NUM>.

When the conveying unit <NUM> is connected to the guide unit <NUM> by sliding in the front-rear direction, the pair of slide rails <NUM> formed in the conveying unit <NUM> is guided between the pair of upper housings <NUM> of the guide unit <NUM>, and is configured to be slidable on the four slide rollers <NUM> in the direction of the first front opening <NUM>. Thus, the deviation at the time of connecting the conveying unit <NUM> and the guide unit <NUM> can be suppressed to improve the efficiency of work during maintenance.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a protruding piece <NUM> protruding upward is formed on the upper side of the rear of the upper housing <NUM>. The conveying unit <NUM> is stored in the storage compartment <NUM> from the first front opening <NUM> side, and the conveying unit <NUM> and the guide unit <NUM> are connected to each other. In this case, the front side of the protruding piece <NUM> of the guide unit <NUM> abuts on the rear side of the protrusion <NUM> formed in the conveying unit <NUM> to restrict sliding of the conveying unit <NUM> in the front-rear direction. Thus, when the conveying unit <NUM> and the guide unit <NUM> are connected to each other, the conveying unit and the guide unit are stopped at an appropriate position, so that the deviation at the time of connecting the conveying unit <NUM> and the guide unit <NUM> can be suppressed to improve the efficiency of work during maintenance.

The protruding piece <NUM> is formed on the upper side in the rear of the upper housing <NUM>, but is not limited thereto, and may be formed, for example, on the upper side in the front of the upper housing <NUM>. The conveying unit <NUM> is stored in the storage compartment <NUM> from the first rear opening <NUM> side, and the conveying unit <NUM> and the guide unit <NUM> are connected to each other. In this case, the front side of the protrusion <NUM> formed in the conveying unit <NUM> abuts on the rear side of the protruding piece <NUM> of the guide unit <NUM> to restrict sliding of the conveying unit <NUM> in the front-rear direction. Thus, only by changing the position of the protruding piece <NUM> constituting the upper housing <NUM>, it is possible to cope with the configurations of both the type of the money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM> stored from the first front opening <NUM> and the type of the money depositing and dispensing machine <NUM> stored from the first rear opening <NUM>, and it is possible to increase the variation of the types of money depositing and dispensing machines at low cost.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the pair of flanges <NUM> is formed to extend along the width direction at the lower ends of the pair of lower housings <NUM>. Each flange <NUM> is formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view, and four mounting holes <NUM> are formed therein. As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the guide unit <NUM> is fixed to the through-hole <NUM> of the upper plate <NUM> of the stowage compartment <NUM> from the stowage compartment <NUM> side by screws, bolts, or others through the mounting hole <NUM> formed in the flange <NUM>.

Thus, the through-hole <NUM> formed between the storage compartment <NUM> and the stowage compartment <NUM> can be closed by the guide unit <NUM>. Since the guide unit <NUM> is fixed from the stowage compartment <NUM> side, unauthorized access to the stowage compartment <NUM> can be prevented by inserting a hand or a jig into the through-hole <NUM> from the storage compartment <NUM> side, to improve the confidentiality of the stowage compartment <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the third guide shaft <NUM> is disposed through a first guide hole <NUM> formed in the lower housing <NUM>, below the rear side of the upper housing <NUM>. The third guide shaft <NUM> is disposed through a second guide hole <NUM> formed in the lower housing <NUM>, below the front side of the upper housing <NUM>. Each of the first guide hole <NUM> and the second guide hole <NUM> is formed in an elongated hole shape extending in the up-down direction of the guide unit <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a connecting piece <NUM> protruding in the width direction is formed on the upper side of the lower housing <NUM>. The third guide shaft <NUM> and the connecting piece <NUM> are connected by the spring <NUM>. The spring <NUM> pulls the upper housing <NUM> and the lower housing <NUM> together in the up-down direction.

Specifically, when the spring <NUM> is extended, as illustrated in <FIG>, the third guide shaft <NUM> disposed in the upper housing <NUM> abuts on the upper side of the first guide hole <NUM> formed in the lower housing <NUM>, and the fourth guide shaft <NUM> disposed in the upper housing <NUM> abuts on the upper side of the second guide hole <NUM> formed in the lower housing <NUM>. Thus, the distance between the upper housing <NUM> and the lower housing <NUM> is widened.

When the spring <NUM> contracts, as illustrated in <FIG>, the third guide shaft <NUM> disposed in the upper housing <NUM> abuts on the lower side of the first guide hole <NUM> formed in the lower housing <NUM>, and the fourth guide shaft <NUM> disposed in the upper housing <NUM> abuts on the lower side of the second guide hole <NUM> formed in the lower housing <NUM>. Thus, the distance between the upper housing <NUM> and the lower housing <NUM> is narrowed.

Thus, the distance between the upper housing <NUM> and the lower housing <NUM> constituting the guide unit <NUM> can be adjusted by the length in the up-down direction constituting the first guide hole <NUM> and the second guide hole <NUM>. Thus, when the conveying unit <NUM> and the guide unit <NUM> are connected to each other, the conveying unit and the guide unit can be fixed to each other with an appropriate clearance, so that the deviation at the time of connecting the conveying unit <NUM> and the guide unit <NUM> can be suppressed to improve the efficiency of work during maintenance.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first guide shaft <NUM> is rotatably pivotally supported by being sandwiched between the upper housing <NUM> and the shaft housing <NUM> that extends from the upper housing <NUM> in the width direction and that is connected to the upper housing. The upper housing <NUM> and the lower housing <NUM> are attached such that a relative position along the width direction is changeable with play of a distance w3.

Thus, the distance in the width direction between the upper housing <NUM> and the lower housing <NUM> constituting the guide unit <NUM> can be adjusted by the length of the distance w3. Thus, when the conveying unit <NUM> and the guide unit <NUM> are connected to each other, the conveying unit and the guide unit can be fixed to each other with an appropriate clearance, so that the deviation at the time of connecting the conveying unit <NUM> and the guide unit <NUM> can be suppressed to improve the efficiency of work during maintenance. Since the upper housing <NUM> and the lower housing <NUM> are connected to each other via the spring <NUM>, the upper housing and the lower housing can be returned to an appropriate position, even when the upper housing and the lower housing are deviated in the width direction, to suppress the deviation at the time of connecting the conveying unit <NUM> and the guide unit <NUM>. The spring <NUM> is disposed substantially vertically in the up-down direction, but is not limited thereto, and may be disposed obliquely in the width direction.

Claim 1:
A paper sheet handling apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a storage compartment (<NUM>) provided with an opening (<NUM>);
a stowage compartment (<NUM>) disposed on a lower side of the storage compartment (<NUM>);
a storage portion (<NUM>) stored in the storage compartment (<NUM>) and storing paper sheets;
a conveying unit (<NUM>) stored in the storage compartment (<NUM>) and for conveying the paper sheets stored in the storage portion (<NUM>) to the stowage compartment (<NUM>); and
a guide unit (<NUM>) for guiding paper sheets conveyed by the conveying unit (<NUM>) to the stowage compartment (<NUM>), wherein
the guide unit (<NUM>) comprises a flange (<NUM>),
the guide unit (<NUM>) is fixed from the stowage compartment side to a through-hole (<NUM>) penetrating the storage compartment (<NUM>) and the stowage compartment (<NUM>) via the flange (<NUM>), and wherein the flange (<NUM>) is positioned on the stowage compartment (<NUM>) side,
the conveying unit (<NUM>) is configured to be slidable in a direction of the opening (<NUM>) provided in the storage compartment (<NUM>), and the conveying unit (<NUM>) is configured such that a slide rail (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed in an orientation extending along a front-rear direction of the conveying unit (<NUM>) slides in a front-rear direction on a slide roller (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) disposed in the guide unit (<NUM>), whereby the conveying unit (<NUM>) is slidable in a direction of the opening (<NUM>), and
the stowage compartment (<NUM>) stows the paper sheets conveyed by the conveying unit (<NUM>).