Patent ID: 8333376

Claim:
A paper sheet processing apparatus comprising: a traveling route in which an identification object is conveyed, the traveling route including a first portion and a second portion that is connected to, and offset at a predetermined angle from, the first portion; a first sensor installed along the first portion of the traveling route, the first sensor including a first light emitting part which is disposed on a first side of the traveling route, and which irradiates the identification object with light, and a first light receiving part which is disposed on a second side of the traveling route that is opposite the first side, and which receives light passing through the identification object from the first light emitting part; a second sensor installed along the second portion of the traveling route, the second sensor including a second light emitting part which is disposed on the first side of the traveling route, and which irradiates light in a different irradiation direction from an irradiation direction of the first light emitting part, and a second light receiving part which is disposed on the first side of the traveling route and in a lateral direction from the second light emitting part, and which receives light reflected from the identification object; a conveyance mechanism which conveys the identification object; a movable piece detecting sensor disposed along the traveling route such that the first sensor is arranged between the movable piece detecting sensor and the second sensor, wherein the movable piece detecting sensor (a) detects a trailing end of the identification object as the identification object travels along the traveling route and (b) triggers a process for closing the traveling route when the trailing end is detected; and a control unit which controls the conveyance mechanism, wherein: the second sensor is configured to detect existence of the identification object in the traveling route, and the control unit is configured to cancel operation of the conveyance mechanism based on a detection result by the second sensor and a period of time during which the identification object is moved by the conveyance mechanism and is passed through the second sensor.