Patent ID: 8307989

Claim:
A paper handling apparatus for handling a plurality of pieces of paper being transferred on a transfer path, the apparatus being utilized by a user and comprising: a first sensor located along the transfer path for detecting a thickness of the plurality of pieces of paper; a second sensor located along the transfer path for acquiring images of the plurality of pieces of paper, the images showing profiles and surfaces of the plurality of pieces of paper; a judgment unit for judging positions and directions of folds of the plurality of pieces of paper with respect to the transfer path using the thickness information acquired with the first sensor and the images acquired with the second sensor, the judgment unit judging each direction of the folds of the plurality of pieces of paper to be upward or downward with respect to the transfer path; and a control unit for controlling the apparatus such that when a judgment result of the judgment unit shows that the position and direction of a fold of a first piece of paper are in a state of a chance of double bill transfer in relation to a second piece of paper located immediately before or after the first piece of paper in the plurality of pieces of paper, the first piece of paper is kept in the apparatus without being returned to the user.