Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
To attain the above object, a paper sheet process-
in apparatus according to the present invention is
provided with a batch half wrapping device and a destroy-
in means which are operated selectively.
According to one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an apparatus for processing paper
sheets for general use, said sheets being withdrawn as
required and being classified into at least two categories
including those fit for reuse and those unfit for reuse,
said apparatus comprising carrying means for carrying
said paper sheets; pickup means for individually picking
up said paper sheets from said carrying means; judgment
means for judging said paper sheets picked up by said
pickup means, and for classifying said paper sheets into
at least two group types including a first group type fit
for reuse, and a second group type unfit for reuse;
first conveying means for conveying sheets away from
said judgment means; first collecting means for collect-
in a plurality of sheets classified as said first group
type of paper sheets from said first conveying means;
second collecting means for collecting a prescribed numb
bier of sheets classified as said second group type of
paper sheets from said conveying means so that a convey-
ante of the paper sheets is interrupted thus reducing a
possibility of an erroneous further operation thereupon;
batch half wrapping means, for selectively half wrapping
and banding paper sheets collected in said second collect-
in means; destroying means for selectively destroying
~!~
~i96~
I
paper sheets collected in said second collecting means;
and second conveying means, coupled to said second got-
looting means and to said batch half wrapping means and
said destroying means for selectively delivering said
second group type of paper sheets from said second got-
looting means to one of (a) said batch half wrapping
means, and (b) said destroying means.
This invention can be more fully understood from
the following detailed description when taken in conjunct
lion with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figs. lay lo and lo are a plan view, a vertical side sectional view, and a front view, respectively, of a bank
note processing apparatus as one embodiment of the paper
sheet processing apparatus according to the present in-
mention;
Figs. I and 2B are front and rear perspective views
of the bank note processing apparatus, respectively;
Fig. 2C is a perspective view showing a modification
of a batch feeder;
fugue. 3 is a perspective view of a batch feeder of
one embodiment;
Fig. is a vertical side sectional view of a batch
feeding stand;
Fig. 5 is a vertical side sectional view of a batch
extruding section;
Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of an unmachin-
able batch removing section;
- pa -
Fig. 7 is a side view of a rocking mechanism for
rollers;
Figs. PA and 8B are a vertical front sectional view
and a vertical side sectional view of a band cutting sea-
lion, respectively;
Lo I
Figs. PA, loan lea, AYE, AYE and AYE are vertical
front sectional views for schematically illustrating the
band cutting/removing operation;
Figs. 98, lob lob, 12B, 13B, 14B and 15 are
vertical side sectional views for schematically
illustrating the band cutting/removing operation;
Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a rejected note
collecting section;
Figs. AYE and 17B are side views for schematically
illustrating the bundle packaging operation;
Fig. 17C is a perspective view of a packaged
bundle; and
Fig. 18 is a front view showing an example of an
indication mode on a CRT of an external operating
device.
There will now be described in detail a bank note
processing apparatus as one embodiment of the paper
sheet processing apparatus according to the present
invention, which processes bank notes as paper sheets.
Figs. lo to lo schematically show the bank note
processing apparatus, in which Fig. lo is a plan view
of the apparatus, Fig lo is a vertical side sectional
view, and Fix. lo is a front view. The bank note
processing apparatus, which is installed in a bank
note issuing agency, classifies circulating bank notes
withdrawn from city banks into four categories, i.e.,
correct notes, unfit notes, counterfeit notes, and
-- 5
unmachinable notes, and bundles only the correct notes
so that they are returned to the city banks for
recirculation. The bank note processing apparatus
comprises a batch feeder 1, a takeout device 2, a
conveyor/sorter 3, a judgment unit 4, a sorter/collectar
5, a batch ilalf-wrapping device 6, a bundle half-
wrapping device PA, a bundle packaging device 7B, a
destroying device 8, a control unit 9, and an operating
panel section 10.
In one embodiment, a "batch" P consists of 100
banded notes, while a "bundle" includes 10 banded
batches. The "correct notes" are defined as notes which
are judged normal and valid and are to be returned from
the issuing agent for reuse. The "unfit notes" are
defined as notes which, although judged normal and
valid, are unfit for reuse and are to be destroyed at
the issuing agency. The "counterfeit notes" are defined
as notes which are judged neither normal nor valid
(unidentifiable notes are regarded as invalid). The
"unmachinable notes" are defined as notes which cannot
be judged due to superposition, skew or short pitch
(too short a distance between two adjacent notes in a
conveyor path for the following note to be processed
with ease). The "counterfeit notes" and "unmachinable
notes" are also referred to as "ejectable (or rejected)
notes", since they are to be rejected from the bank note
processing apparatus. "Fine notes" are defined as those
-- 6
"correct notes" which are relatively fine and clean.
The sorter/collector 5 comprises a rejected note
collecting section PA, different sheet collecting sea-
lion 5B, a fine note collecting section 5C, a correct
note collecting section ED, and an unfit note collecting --
section YE. The conveyor/sorter 3 comprises five
conveyor/sorter sections PA to YE in the conveyor path,
corresponding to the collecting sections PA to YE of
the sorter/collector 5, respectively. Gates GUT are
provided at the respective diverging portions of the
conveyor/sorter sections PA to YE. The collecting sea-
lions PA to YE are provided with conventional recovery
wheels Fly to FOE, respectively, which take out fed bank
notes one by one to collect them in their corresponding
collecting boxes (Bins). Among these collecting boxes
(Bins), a counterfeit note collecting box Bin and an
unmachinable note collecting box BIN are disposed
independently at the rejected note collecting section
PA, lying one upon the other. Collecting boxes BIN to
BIN are arranged at the other collecting sections 5B to
YE, respectively.
The batch half-wrapping device 6 is provided with
batch half-wrapping sections PA to ED arranged under the
collecting boxes BIN to BIN, respectively. The bundle
half-wrapping device PA is disposed under the batch
half-wrapping section 6C which underlies the correct
note collecting section ED. The bundle half-wrapping
I
-- 7 --
unit PA has a window Sal through which the bank notes
are delivered to the bundle packaging device 7B at the
back of the bundle half-wrapping device PA.
The takeout device 2 comprises a collecting section
PA in which are collected a plurality of loose bank --,
notes, a delivery roller 2B for picking up one by one
the bank notes collected in the collecting section PA, a
group of conveyor rollers 2C for transferring the bank
notes picked up by the delivery roller 2B, and an
inspection section ED provided in the conveyor path for
inspecting the bank notes for unmachinable kirk-
teristics (erg., superposition, skew, short pitch,
etc.). The takeout device 2 is prevented from picking
up the individual bank notes of a subsequent batch
before the processing of a preceding batch is completed.
As shown in Fig. lo, the operating panel section 10 is
provided with an inlet portion lo for fed batches, an
operating portion lob including a tunics unit above the
inlet portion loan a monitoring CRT lock and a cassette
outlet opening lode The bundle packaging device 7B has
an outlet opening blue.
The sections containing the aforementioned devices
are formed into individual modules. As shown in
Fig. lay a feeding module Ml detachably fitted with a
feeding stand 11, a judgment module My, first and second
collecting modules My and My, scrapping module My, and
the bundle packaging device 7B are arranged so that they
I
can be attached to or detached from one another. Thus,
these modules can optionally be increased or decreased
in number depending on applications and functions
required. As shown in Fig. lo, the feeding module Ml
contains therein the rejected note collecting section !
PA and the takeout device 2 arranged vertically, and
the control unit 9 behind them. The judgment module
My contains the judgment unit 4 and the first and
second conveyor/sorter sections PA and 3B. The first
collecting module My contains the different sheet
collecting section 5B, the fine note collecting section
5C, the batch half-wrapping sections PA and 6B, and the
third and fourth conveyor/sorter sections 3C and ED.
The second collecting module I contains the correct
note collecting section ED, the unfit note collecting
section YE, the batch half-wrapping sections 6C and ED,
the fifth conveyor/sorter section YE, and the shredders
PA and 8B as first and second destroying devices. The
scrapping module My contains a scrap box 8C,
Fig. PA is a partially disassembled perspective
view of the bank note processing apparatus, Fig. 2B is
a rear perspective view of the apparatus, and Fig. 2C
is a perspective view showing the principal part of a
modification of the batch feeder. As shown in Fig. PA,
the modules Ml to My have their respective doors. For
example, the first and second shredders PA and 8B and
the bundle half-wrapping device PA can be connected and
.. . . .
I
9 _
contained in the module My with its door open. Disposed
near the bank note processing apparatus is an external
operating device 100, whereby a rejected note cassette
CYST containing rejected notes processed at the rejected
note collecting section PA is taken out in order to - -
inspect the rejected notes for the cause of rejection.
The external operating device 100 comprises a desk AYE,
an input unit loo including a ten-key unit, a CRT loo,
a printer loud, and a keyboard love, the units loo to
love being set on the desk loo. A cover lo for loose
note insertion is provided on the flank of the module
Ml. The bank note processing apparatus is adapted to be
in a loose note processing mode when the cover lo is
open. As shown in Fig. 2B, a pipe containing portion
101 containing a cooling pipe, etc., is attached to the
back of the bank note processing apparatus.
Fig. 2C shows the modification of one embodiment,
in which the batch feeding stand 11 is replaced by
a feeding stand 11' which is provided with a belt
conveyor capable of longitudinally feeding a plurality
of batches at a time. In this modification, a lid lea'
on the top of the feeding stand 11' is lifted when
batches or bundles of bank notes are fed manually. In
this case, the batches or bundles of bank notes auto-
magically transferred flow in the direction of arrow
A to be fed into the bank note processing apparatus.
After the processing, the bundles of bank notes are
- 10 -
carried in the direction of arrow B to be discharged to
the outside through an outlet opening lye at the lower
portion of the module Ml.
The construction of various parts of the bank note
processing apparatus will now be described in detail. --
As shown in Fig. 3, the batch feeder 1 comprises
the batch feeding stand 11, a batch extruding section
12, an unmachinable batch removing section 13, and a
band cutting section 14. The batch feeding stand 11
and the batch extruding section 12 constitute an example
of batch takeout means for taking out and feeding one
by one those batches which are each formed of a pro-
determined number of (e.g., 100) banded bank notes. The
band cutting section 14 is an example of band cutting
means for cutting bands wound around the batches taken
out by the batch takeout means.
As shown in Fig. 4, the batch feeding stand 11
comprises a frame lea having a slanted top surface and a
groove thereon, a first belt lob adapted to transfer the
batches in the longitudinal direction (at right angles
to the drawing plane) along the slanted top surface, a
second belt llC extending at right angles to one end
portion of the first belt lob for regulating the batches
in position, rollers lid and lye wound with the belts
lob and llC, respectively, and a drive belt elf, a set
of gears lug and a motor elf for driving the rollers lid
and lye.
As shown in Fig. 5, the batch extruding section 12
comprises a slanted floor AYE on the extension of the
belt lob, a backup plate 12B capable of moving from the
lower end portion of the floor AYE along the slope, a
ball screw shaft 12C attached to the backup plate 12B, a
motor 12D for driving the ball screw shaft 12C, a guide
EYE for downwardly guiding the batches P of bank notes
forced out from the forward end portion of the floor
AYE, belts 12F and 12G carrying the batches dropped
thereon, and a screening plate 12H attached to the rear
end portion of the ball screw shaft 12C. The batch
extruding section 12 further comprises a first sensor
So for detecting a position of the screening plate 12H
to determine the initial position of the backup plate
12B, a second sensor So for detecting a passage of the
screening plate 12H to determine the terminal end pus-
lion of the backup plate 12B, a third sensor So adapted
to be actuated by an actuator AT which rocks as the
batches are forced out and which derives a stop signal
for the motor 12D, a fourth sensor So adapted to be
actuated as a light beam from a light source LO is
intercepted by the dropped batch and to deliver an
output signal for determining the timing for the start
of the drive for the conveyor belts 12F and 12G, and a
fifth sensor So adapted to detect the existence of
the batches over the backup plate 12B and to deliver
an output signal to determine the timing for stopping
- 12 -
the motor 12D.
According to the batch feeder 11 constructed in
this manner, 10 batches placed on the batch feeding
stand 11 are carried onto the backup plate 12B as -the
belts lob and llC are driven by the rotation of the
driving rollers lid and lye. The moment the batches
cross the sensor So the driving rollers lid and lye and
the belts lob and llC are stopped, and the transfer of
the batches is stopped. Then, as the backup plate 12B
is actuated to push the batches obliquely upward, the
uppermost batch slides down the guide EYE on the other
side of the floor AYE. Thus, the batches are fed one
by one. As the motor 12D rotates, the shaft 12C moves
forward to cause the backup plate 12B to force out each
batch. When the batch moves forward and the light-
receiving portion of the sensor So is darkened, the
motor 12D stops. Thereafter, the motor 12D rotates
intermittently, so that the batches fall one after
another from the floor AYE onto the belts 12F and 12G.
The moment each dropped batch screens the sensor So, the
motor 12D stops, and the belts 12F and 12G start to
move. Thus, the motor 12D rotates intermittently at
regular time intervals to feed the batches one by one.
The sensor Skis located in a position such that all the
10 batches can be fed. Thus, the motor 12D rotates as
the screening plate 12H at the rear end portion of the
shaft 12C crosses the sensor So, end stops when the
9~;~9
- 13 -
plate 12H crosses the sensor Sly The moment the motor
12D stops, the rollers lid and lye of the feeding stand
11 start to rotate, and another ten batches P are
carried onto the backup plate 12B by running of the
belts lob and llC. This cycle of operation is repeated.
If no batch is detected by the sensor So near the backup
plate 12B within a given time, the belts lob and llC go
on moving, and the CRT or a buzzer makes an indication
to urge an operator to place batches on the feeding
stand 11.
Referring now to Fig. 6, the construction of the
unmachinable batch removing section 13 and the band
cutting section 14 will be described in detail. The
unmachinable batch removing section 13 comprises a
delivery table AYE for delivering the extruded batches,
a set of guide rollers 13B for guiding the batches, a
metal piece detecting member 13C in the middle of the
conveyor path, a rocking mechanism 13D for rocking the
guide rollers 13B, a rotary solenoid 13K over the guide
rollers 13B, a lever 13L nested with the guide rollers
13B and adapted to strike down to the side of an outlet
opening 13N the batches rocked by the rotary solenoid
13K and delivered, a basket 13M set under the outlet
opening 13N, and an obverse/reverse detector 13R for
detecting the obverse or reverse of the delivered batch
of bank notes.
The rocking mechanism 13D for the guide rollers 13B
I
is constructed as shown in fig. 7. Namely, the rocking
mechanism 13D comprises a frame EYE rotatable supporting
the guide rollers 13s, a rotating shaft 13S mounted on
the frame EYE by means of one-way clutches 13P and
rotatable supporting the frame EYE, a group of gears
13Q including one set of bevel gears fixed to one ends
of the guide rollers 13B and the other set of bevel
gears fixed to the middle portion of the shaft 13S,
meshing with the gears of the first mentioned set, a
pulley 13F attached to one end of the shaft 13S, a drive
motor 13H, a belt 13G passed around the pulley 13F and
the pulley of the motor 13H, a stopper 13I for deter-
mining the initial position of the frame EYE, and a
plunger solenoid 13J for rocking the stopper 13I to
release the frame EYE. When -the rocking mechanism 13D
is in operation, the stopper 13I is removed from the
frame EYE by the energization of a plunger solenoid 13J,
so that the guide rollers 13B rock in the counter-
clockwise direction of Fig. 6 by gravity. In returning
the guide rollers 13B to the initial position, they are
rocked clockwise by the drive of the motor 13H.
According to the unmachinable batch removing sea-
lion 13, the batch on the belts 12F and 12G of the batch
feeder 1 is checked for the existence of clips, setting
pins or other metal pieces therein by the metal piece
detector 13C as it passes through the detector 13C.
Then, the batch is delivered from the belts 12F and 12G
I
- 15 -
to the rollers 13B. The belts 12F and 12G and the
rollers 13B stop when the movement of the batch to a
predetermined position is detected by a sensor (not
shown). If a metal piece or pieces are found in the
batch by the metal piece detector 13C, the rotary
solenoid 13K is excited after the belts 12F and 12G and
the rollers 13B are stopped. As a result, the batch is
discharged into the basket 13M outside the apparatus by
the lever 13L. The moment the solenoid 13K is excited
the next batch is fed onto the belts 12F and 12G. The
discharged batch is checked by the operator, and is fed
again into the apparatus to be processed thereby. The
batch undergoes the same processing if it is found to be
reversed by the obverse/reverse detector 13R.
In the present embodiment, as described above,
the unmachinable batch is defined as a batch which is
accompanied with a metal piece or pieces or is fed
reversed. The metal piece detecting member 13C and the
obverse/reverse detector 13R constitute an example of
unmachinable batch detecting means. Those batches which
are judged free from any metal piece by the metal piece
detector 13C are delivered to the band cutting section
14.
As shown in Figs. PA and 8B, the band cutting
section 14 comprises an upper conveyor section AYE
including a plurality of rollers AYE, a driving roller
Allah, a moving roller AYE attached to a rocking lever
I
-- 16 -
AYE, and a belt AYE; a lower conveyor section 14B
including a plurality of rollers 14B3, a driving roller
blue, a moving roller 14B2 attached to a rocking lever
14B4, and a belt 14B5; upper and lower squeezers 14C and
5 14D arranged in the middle of a conveyor path defined
between the upper and lower conveyor sections AYE and
14B at right angles thereto so that the two squeezers
14C and 14D can approach and move away from each other,
a band catch lever EYE attached to the upper squeezer
14C, a cutter guide 14F formed along the lower squeezer
14D, a band catch pin 14G capable of moving horizontally
under the band catch lever EYE, a cutter 14H movable
along the cutter guide 14F, and a backup plate 14I for
carrying out the unbended bank notes.
As shown in Fig. PA, the upper and lower squeezers
14C and 14D are arranged so that they hold there between
the other portions of the fed batch P than that portion
which is wound with a band Pa. The upper squeezer 14C
consists of a pair of rods clue and 14C2. The band
catch lever EYE is rock ably attached to the one rod
clue, and is urged in the clockwise direction of Fig. PA
by an urging member (not shown). The position shown in
Fig. PA is defined as a regulated position of the lever
EYE. The band catch pin 14G is movably held in a groove
formed in the bottom portion of the rod clue. The lower
squeezer 14D consists of a pair of rods 14Dl and 14D2,
and the cutter guide 14F is provided between the two
I. Ed Al 9
rods 14D1 and 14D2. The cutter 14H is movably contained
in one rod 14Dl. The backup plate 14I is nested with
the belt 14s5 and can move vertically.
The band cutting section 14 of this construction is
5 operated as shown in Figs. PA to 15. A batch P supplied _,
from the batch feeder 1 stops at the position sandwiched
between the upper and lower squeezers 14C and 14D in the
middle of the conveyor path between the upper and lower
conveyor sections AYE and 14B, as shown in Fig. 9B. As
shown in Fig. PA, the hatch P is held between the rods
clue, 14C2, 14Dl and 14D2 at those portions thereof
which are free from the wrapping band Pa. Then, as
shown in Figs. lo and lob the upper and lower
squeezers 14C and 14D both move down so that the batch
P is curved to project downward. As a result, a gap is
formed between the upper surface of the batch P and the
top portion of the wrapping band Pa, and the band Pa
touches the bottom face of the band catch lever EYE.
At the same time, the rocking levers AYE and 14B4 of
the upper and lower conveyor sections AYE and 14B rock
counterclockwise as indicated by the arrows of Fig. lob
to facilitate the shift of the belts AYE and 14B5, and
promote smooth squeezing action.
Thereafter, as shown in Figs. lea and lob, the
band catch pin 14G, contained in one rod clue of the
upper squeezer 14C, advances to the right as indicated
by the arrow of Fig. lea and locates under the top
TV
portion of the wrapping band Pa. Thus, the top portion
of the wrapping band Pa is nipped by the band catch
lever EYE and the band catch pin 14G. Then, as shown in
Figs. AYE and 12B, the upper and lower squeezers 14C
and 14D both move up so that the batch P is curved to ;
project upward. At this time, the top portion of the
wrapping band Pa is held between the band catch lever
EYE and the band catch pin 14G, and its bottom portion
abuts against the cutter guide 14F causing the wrapping
band Pa to be strained. At this point, as shown in
Figs. AYE and 13B, the cutter 14H, contained in one
rod 14D1 of the lower squeezer 14D, advances to the
right as indicated by the arrow of Fig. AYE along the
groove of the cutter guide 14F, and touches and cuts the
bottom portion of the wrapping band Pa engaging the
upper surface of the cutter guide 14F.
Thereafter, as shown in Figs. AYE and 14B, only the
lower squeezer 14D moves down to resume its initial
position. The cut wrapping band Pa is left held between
the band catch lever EYE and the band catch pin 14G
attached to one rod clue of the upper squeezer 14C.
At this time, the rocking levers AYE and 14B4 of the
upper and lower conveyor sections AYE and 14B rock
clockwise as indicated by the arrows of Fig. 14B to
resume the original state. Finally, as shown in
Fig. 15, the upper and lower conveyor sections AYE and
14B are driven to convey the unbended bank notes, and
- lug -
the awaiting backup plate 14I enters the conveyor path
to receive the bank notes delivered thereto. The bank
notes received by the backup plate 14I are transferred
as the backup plate 14I moves up, and are delivered to
5 the collecting section of the takeout device 2. The cut
wrapping band Pa is carried into the rejected note
collecting section PA, which will be described in de-tail
below.
As shown in Fig. 16, the rejected note collecting
section PA comprises an unmachinable note collector
50 including the unmachinable note collecting box
BIN, a counterfeit note collector 51 including the
counterfeit note collecting box Bin, a classification
card issuing unit 52, and a cassettes collector 53. In
the unmachinable note collector 50, unmachinable notes
Pi delivered by the conveyor are collected in piles.
The unmachinable note collector 50 comprises a conveyor
belt 50B having a plurality of upright partition plates
AYE and moving horizontally at right angles to the
course of the unmachinable notes Pi, and a conveyor belt
driving motor 50C. The unmachinable notes Pi collected
on the conveyor belt 50B are moved to a predetermined
position with the aid of a sensor (not shown) for
detecting the movement of the conveyor belt 50B and a
positioning sensor So which detects preformations
bored through one side edge portion of the conveyor belt
50B at regular intervals. The upright partition plates
I
- 20 -
AYE on the conveyor belt 50B are arranged at regular
intervals. Each two adjacent partition plates AYE may
define two walls of the unmachinable note collecting box
sin extending along the course of the unmachinable
notes Pi. The conveyor belt 50B moves at predetermined --,
pitches. After the conveyor belt 50s is moved by a
pitch, the two walls of the unmachinable collecting box
BIN are defined by another adjacent pair of upright
partition plates AYE.
The counterfeit note collector 51 is constructed
so that counterfeit notes Pi delivered by the conveyor
belts are received for deceleration by curved grooves
defined between the adjacent vanes of the recovery
wheel Fowl rotating at low speed in the same direction as
the course of the counterfeit notes Pi, and are then
collected in piles. In the counterfeit note collector
51, as in the correct and unfit note collecting sections
ED and YE, the curved grooves of the recovery wheel
Fowl rotate in synchronism with the counterfeit notes
Pi delivered to the recovery wheel Fowl so that the
counterfeit notes Pi can securely enter the individual
curved grooves of the wheel Phyla The counterfeit notes
Pi in the curved grooves of the recovery wheel Fowl
are turned at about 180. Thus, the notes Pi are pro-
vented from advancing by a fixed plate AYE facing
the forward ends of the notes Pi. As the recovery
wheel Fowl rotates, therefore, the counterfeit notes Pi
it
21 -
are gradually drawn out from the curved grooves to be
collected uniformly in the counterfeit note collecting
box Bin.
A bottom plate 51B of the counterfeit note
collecting box Bin can move horizontally. As a motor
51C is rotated, the bottom plate 51s is moved to the
outside of the counterfeit note collecting box Bin with
the aid of an arm 51D so that the collected counterfeit
notes Pi can be discharged into the unmachinable note
collecting box BIN which is located under the counter-
left note collecting box Bin. Thus, the counterfeit
notes Pi collected in the counterfeit note collecting
box Bin are stacked on the unmachinable notes Pi
collected in the unmachinable note collecting box sin.
The wrapping band Pa cut by the band cutting
section 14 is placed in the counterfeit note collecting
box Bin for each corresponding batch being processed
currently. Namely, the wrapping band Pa is put on the
bottom plate 51B of the counterfeit note collecting
box Bin before the first counterfeit note Pi of the
processed batch is collected. Thus, the wrapping band
Pa is first placed in the counterfeit note collecting
box Bin, and the counterfeit notes Pi are then stacked
on the wrapping band Pa.
The classification card issuing unit 52 is intended
to discharge one by one classification cards CAD piled
vertically in a card magazine AYE onto the collected
it
- 22 -
counterfeit notes Pi. The classification cards CAD have
their respective identification numbers thereon. As a
takeout roller 52B disposed under the classification
cards CAD makes one revolution, the forward end of a
classification card CAD reaches discharge rollers 52C.
The classification card CAD is discharged as the
discharge rollers 52C rotate. While the classification
card CAD is being discharged, the identification number
on the classification card CAD is read by a reading head
(not shown) and stored in a magnetic disk in the control
unit 9. The discharged classification card CAD is
collected in the counterfeit note collecting box Bin.
The cassette collector 53 is intended to collect
the unmachinable notes Pi, wrapping bands Pa, counter-
left notes Pi, and classification cards CAD on the conveyor belt 50B in a cassette. The cassette collector
53 comprises first and second cassettes Shuttle and SHUT
arranged side by side, an extruding plate AYE for
pushing the bank notes and other sheets on the conveyor
belt 50B into the cassette Shuttle or SHUT, and two
pressure plates 53 for thrusting the sheets into their
corresponding cassette Shuttle or SHUT. The use of the
paired cassettes Shuttle and SHUT and pressure plates 53B
enables one to employ the second cassette SHUT when the
first cassette Shuttle is filled up. Thus, the time
required for cassette replacement is eliminated.
The cassette collector 53 is further provided with
..
- 23
a ball screw shaft 53D which is moved longitudinally as
a motor 53C is rotated. As the ball screw shaft 53D
moves in this manner, the extruding plate AYE fixed to
the forward end of the shaft 53D moves in the same
direction to force out the bank notes and other sheets.
The extruded sheets are positioned by a plate 53H on the
cassettes Shuttle and SHUT. The extruding plate AYE and
the cassettes Shuttle and SHUT face one another with the
conveyor belt 50B between them. Thus, the single
extruding plate AYE serves the two cassettes Shuttle and
SHUT.
Each pressure plate 53B is coupled to a motor 53G
by means of an arm EYE and a moving plate 53F. The
pressure plate 53s is normally on stand-by over the
cassettes Shuttle or SHUT. As the motor 53G rotates, the
pressure plate 53s is moved down through the medium of a
chain to thrust the bank notes and other sheets into the
cassette Shuttle or SHUT.
The cassettes Shuttle and SHUT are each formed of an
open-topped box containing therein a backup plate (not
shown) which can stop at any position inside the box by
friction. The backup plate is pressed downward as
required by the pressure plate 53B due to the bank notes
and other sheets contained in the cassette. When the
backup plate reaches its lowermost position, it is
detected by a sensor So through a hole Hi formed in the
first cassette Shuttle. Thereupon, the sensor So delivers
Q5~
- 24 -
a full-up signal. In response to the full-up signal,
the other cassette gets ready to receive the sheets.
The operation of the rejected note collecting sea-
lion PA will now be described in detail. First, when
the wrapping band Pa is cut and removed from the batch P
by the batch feeder 1, it is immediately carried into
the counterfeit note collecting box Bin. The batch
feeder 1 operates irrespectively of the transfer of the
wrapping band Pa, and the 100 bank notes constituting
the bath P are taken out one after another by the
takeout device 2. Now assume that the batch P includes
one counterfeit note and one unmachinable note, and that
these ejectable notes are collected in their core-
sponging collecting boxes Bin and BIN after judgment.
Then, the counterfeit note Pi is placed on the aforesaid
wrapping band Pa in the counterfeit note collecting box
Bin. When the last or Thea bank note is judged, or
when its rear end passes a sensor (not shown) at the
entrance of the counterfeit note collecting box Bin,
the classification card takeout roller 52B of the
classification card issuing unit 52 starts to rotate,
thereby discharging a classification card CAD onto the
counterfeit note Pi. Thereafter, the motor 51C for
driving the bottom plate 51B of the counterfeit note
collecting box Bin rotates, so that the bottom plate
51B is moved to the outside of the counterfeit note
collecting box Bin by means of the arm 51D. Thus, the
-- 25 -
wrapping band Pa, the counterfeit note Pi, and the
classification card CAD are stacked on the unmachinable
note Pi in the order named.
Then, the conveyor belt driving motor 50C of the
unmachinable note collector 50 rotates to actuate the
conveyor belt 50B, and the upright partition plates AYE
move one pitch. hereupon, the perforations in the
conveyor belt 50B are detected by the sensor So, and the
motor 50C and the belt 50B are stopped. At the same
time, the motor 53C for the extruding plate AYE starts
to rotate, so that the sheets piled on the conveyor
belt, the unmachinable note Pi, the wrapping band Pa,
the counterfeit note Pi, and the classification card
CAD (in that order) are pushed out over the first
cassette Shuttle by the extruding plate AYE. Thereupon, a
sensor trot shown) detects that the extruding plate AYE
has reached its front position, delivering a detection
signal. In response to this detection signal, the motor
53G for the pressure plate 53B starts to rotate. At the
same time, the motor 53C for the extruding plate AYE
is reversed to restore the extruding plate AYE to its
original position, and then stops. When the pressure
plate 53B is moved a predetermined stroke, the motor 53G
is reversed to restore the pressure plate 53B to its
original position, and then stops.
This cycle of operation is repeated, and thus
batches and wrapping bands can be classified by the use
- 26 -
of classification cards CAD.
When the cassette Shuttle is filled up with the bank
notes and other sheets, the conveyor belt 50B moves two
pitches so that subsequent sheets are collected in the
other cassette SHUT. The takeout of the next batch can
be started after the detection of the movement of the
conveyor belt 50B without waiting until the aforesaid
processing cycle is ended. Naturally, the introduction
of the wrapping band Pa into the counterfeit note
collecting box Bin must be completed by this time.
The conveyor path for the unmachinable notes Pi
is longer than that for the counterfeit notes Pi.
If neither unmachinable notes nor counterfeit notes
are found in a batch, only the wrapping band Pa and
classification card CAD are placed in the cassette Shuttle.
Hereupon, the classification card CAD may be put
directly into the cassette first or last without loosing
its effect. The following effect may be obtained by
interposing the wrapping band Pa between the counterfeit
notes and unmachinable notes. Even if many counterfeit
notes are found, they need not be counted anew, since
they have already been counted by the processing appear-
tusk The unmachinable notes have not, however, been
counted yet. Thus, it is necessary only that only the
unmachinable notes Pi sorted by the wrapping band Pa be
counted anew, so that the cassette processing can be
speeded up. The wrapping band Pa can be put directly
- 27 -
into -the cassette disregarding the speed of the cassette
processing.
The batch half wrapping device 6 is intended to
half wrap in 100 sheet batches the notes which are deli-
vexed to the individual collecting sections 5B to YE and collected in the collecting boxes. For example, a bun-
tiny device previously proposed by the present applicant
in Japanese Published Patent Application No. 153546/82,
filed on March 31, 1982, ma be used for the batch half
wrapping device 6. According to this bundling device,
100 paper sheets collected on the backup plate of each
collecting box are transferred to a carrier by way of the
recovery wheels FOE to FOE, and the carrier is led to a
bundling section. Then, a thermal tape is wound around
the batch on the carrier, and both ends of the tape are
welded together by heat to seal the batch. Thereafter,
the carrier is turned and located on the conveyor path,
and is tilted so that the sealed batch slides down to
the position for the next process.
In the batch half wrapping section 6C of the batch
half wrapping device 6 right under the correct note got-
looting section ED, half wrapped or banded batches can
be fed to the bundle half wrapping device PA under the
. batch half wrapping section 6C. The batch half wrapping
~L9~6~
- 28 -
section ED corresponding to -the unfit note collecting
section YE over the destroying device 8 has two selective
operation modes. In one of these modes, the batch half
wrapping section ED makes a batch. In the other mode,
100 sheets collected in the section ED are transferred
to the conveyor path to be delivered to the destroying
device 8 without being half wrapped.
The bundle half wrapping device PA is intended to
half wrap or band 10 batches of correct notes processed
at the batch half wrapping section 6C. For example, a
bundling device previously proposed by the present
applicant in Japanese Published Patent Application No.
158531/80, filed on November 11, 1980, may be used for
the bundle half wrapping device PA. According to this
bundling device, batches delivered from the batch half
wrapping section 6C are placed on a carrier with a high
profile. When 10 batches are stacked on the carrier,
the carrier is led to a bundling section, where it is
turned for crossed banding. A bundle made in this man-
nor is transferred to the bundle packaging device 7Bthrough the rear window Sal.
The bundle packaging device 7B is intended to
package the bundle half wrapped by the bundle half wrap-
ping device PA. For example, a conventional shrink
I.
- 2g -
wrapping device may be used for the bundle packaging
device 7B. In this shrink wrapping device, as shown in
Fig. AYE, one end portion of a heat-contractile film F
supplied from a roll R is hung down between a facing
S pair of conveyors Cal and CAY, and the bundle P is
placed on the conveyor Cal to be fed thereby in the
direction of the arrow of Fig. AYE. After the bundle
P touches the film F, it is transferred to the other
conveyor CAY to be further advanced thereby, as shown in
Fig. 17B. When three faces of the bundle P are covered
with the film F, the bundle P is stopped. Then, the
film F is put on the uncovered portion of the bundle P
from both upper and lower sides. In this state, the
contact portions are fused by heat and joined together.
Then, the fused portion is quotes indicated by two-dot
chain line in Fig. 17C. Thereafter, the corner portions
are folded in to complete a packaged bundle POX, as shown
in Fig. 17C.
As shown in Fig. lo, the destroying device 8
comprises the two shredders PA and 8B and the scrap box
8C. The first shredder PA cuts unfit notes into small
pieces, while the second shredder 8B pulverizes the
pieces. The pulverized pieces of unfit notes are
discharged into the scrap box 8C by, for example, blast.
The control unit 9 comprises a storage device (not
shown in detail) such as a magnetic disk for storing the
results of inspection and judgment by the inspection
;09
- 30 -
section ED in the takeout device 2 and the judgment
unit 4 for each processed batch, a control circuit for
controlling the various sections on the basis of outputs
from the individual sensors, and a central processing
unit (CPU) for timing the control of the individual
sections and delivering processing instructions.
Now the operation of the bank note processing
apparatus as a whole will be described.
The operator supplies the batch feeder 11 with 10
batches as a unit. The supplied batches are taken out
one by one and fed by the batch conveyor belts lob and
llC. The metal piece detector 13C, which is provided in
the middle of the conveyor path, detects clips, setting
pins or other metal pieces, if any, in a batch or
batches. The batch or batches involving such metal
pieces are rejected in advance, since the metal pieces
may damage the takeout device or conveyor. The batches
P passed through the metal piece detector 13C are bonded
upward or downward to squeeze individual bank notes in
order to prevent defective takeout by the takeout device
2 caused by skew, superposition, etc.
The moment the bank notes are squeezed, the
wrapping band Pa is cut and removed from the batch P.
Thereafter, the 100 untied bank notes are fed to the
takeout device 2. Then, the takeout device 2 takes out
the bank notes one by one. In doing this, the takeout
device 2 is prevented from taking out the individual
I
I I
- 31 -
bank notes of a subsequent batch P before processing of
a preceding batch P is completed.
Preferably, the batch feeder l is supplied with the
bank notes is banded lO0-sheet batches. However, loose
bank notes unbounded notes, such as reprocessed jammed
notes) may also be supplied to the batch feeder l. In
supplying the loose notes, the cover lo in front of
the takeout device 2 is removed. By dozing this, the
operation mode of the bank note processing apparatus is
lo automatically switched to a loose note feeding mode.
The takeout of the loose notes is started by placing the
loose notes on a backup plate under the takeout device
serving also to supply and takeout batches, putting on
the cover loft and depressing a feed start switch. If
the feed start switch is depressed without putting on
the cover loft it will not be activated. The backup ,
plate is automatically checked for the existence of bank
note(s) thereon by depressing the feed start switch. If
there is any bank note or notes on the backup plate, the
apparatus goes or. operating in the loose note feeding
mode. If there is no bank note on the backup plate,
then the loose note feeding mode is automatically
switched to the normal operation mode. The loose notes
can naturally be fed from the batch feeding stand if
if they are previously half-wrapped or banded by the
operator.
Directly after the bank notes are taken out, the
I
- 32 -
inspection section ED inspects the bank notes for skew,
superposition and damage. Those notes which are found
to be skewed, superposed or damaged as a result of the
inspection are collected as unmachinable notes Pi in the
unmachinable note collecting box sin without being -!
delivered to the judgment unit 4 for denomination
detection, fit/unfit detection, etc. All the bank notes
other than the unmachinable notes Pi are passed through
the judgment unit 4, and are collected in the counter-
left note collecting box Bin, the different sheet
collecting box BIN, the fine note collecting box BIN,
the correct note collecting box BIN, and the unfit note
collecting box sin, depending on the results of
judgment.
The collecting boxes BIN to BIN are in the form
of individual modules which can be increased or
decreased in number. For example, the different sheet
collecting box BIN may be eliminated to reduce the size
of the apparatus by collecting the different sheets and
counterfeit notes together. Alternatively, a collecting
box for special application may be added to the modular
structure. If there is an automated teller machine
(AT) which is liable to be jammed by ordinary correct
notes, it may, for example, be provided with the fine
note collecting section SC for collecting only
relatively fine, jam-free notes among other correct
notes, or an additional collecting section for
do Al it 0 I
- 33 -
collecting only former notes out of a mixture of newly
introduced notes and the former notes, or a collecting
section for collecting only dog-erased notes to be
straightened for reprocessing.
If the bank note processing apparatus jams or
experiences other trouble while processing a batch of
bank nuts, the accuracy of batch counting can not be
maintained. In this case, therefore, the bank notes
must be removed from the collecting boxes or conveyor
10 path for reprocessing. Accordingly, the different sheet
collecting box BIN and the fine note collecting box
BIN are each provided with batch dividing means which
can discriminate between individual batches so that the
notes to be reprocessed are identified and minimized in
15 number. The batch dividing means may be used as a
100-sheet divider if the bank notes need be divided by
hundreds.
Jammed and crumpled notes cannot be resupplied to
the apparatus until they are smoothed by hand. For
20 higher processing efficiency, a jammed batch is not
resupplied directly after it is removed from the appear-
tusk and another batch is fed ahead of it. After the
crumpled notes are smoothed, the removed batch is fed
again into the apparatus. In this case, those notes
25 which remain in the takeout section at the time of
jamming are naturally resupplied. At the point of time
when the jam is caused, however, the unmachinable
- I -
note(s) Pi and counterfeit note(s) Pi in the collecting
boxes BIN and Bin, along with a classification card
and a wrapping band, are put into the cassette CYST as if
processing of a batch were completed.
The magnetic disk of the control unit stores
data on jams and the existence of bank notes to be
resupplied. When the jammed batch is resupplied,
unmachinable note(s) Pi and/or counterfeit note(s)
Pi involved therein are collected together with a
classification card CAD in the cassette CYST, as usual.
Hereupon, the batch number of the identification number
on the classification card CAD used for jammed batch is
automatically used for the resupplied batch. Accord-
tingly, at the time of later cassette processing, both
the jammed and resupplied batches can simultaneously
be examined, by displaying the batch number or
classification card number for the jammed batch on
the CRT. Thus, band information can be keyed in for a
count check or counterfeit note processing.
The correct notes or unfit notes are sorted by the
sorter/collector 5 when they reach 100 in number, and
are then half-wrapped or banded into a batch by the
batch half-wrapping device 6. At the same time, the
date of processing, operator's name and other par-
ticklers are put on the batch. A predetermined number
of banded batches, e.g., 10 batches, are collected and
half-wrapped into a bundle by the bundle half-wrapping
I
device PA. The aforesaid particulars are also put on
the bundle. The bundle is packaged by the bundle
packaging device us, and is discharged onto the conveyor
to be transferred thereby to a predetermined position.
Two or more of such bundle packaging devices us may be
connected at the back of the conveyor.
Besides the batch half-wrapping section ED,
destroying devices or shredders PA and 8B are provided
at the counterfeit note collecting section YE. Thus,
lo bank notes sorted and collected in the counterfeit
note collecting section YE may be either half-wrapped
by the half-wrapping device 6 or delivered to the
shredders, depending on the designated operation mode.
The bank notes or sheets processed by the shredders PA
and 8B are pulverized and pneumatically discharged to
some external place. Exhaust gas from a pneumatic
system for cooling the apparatus may be utilized for the
pneumatic discharge. To reduce to noise produced by the
pneumatic feed of the pieces cut by the shredders and
the pulverization process, a spiral rotating member may
be used for the feed of -the pieces.
The operating panel section 10 is provided with
switches for operating the apparatus, a ten-key unit for
inputting an operator's identification number, and a CRT
display for indicating the operating conditions of the
apparatus, operating instructions, location of jam, etc.
The operating panel section lo is separated from the
- 36 -
mechanical section by partition walls. All the devices
or units other than the operating panel section 10 and
the batch feeding stand 11 are located inside the
partition walls. Accordingly, the noise heard by the
S operator can be reduced. If you open a door to enter
the space inside the partition walls, then a monitoring
device will be actuated automatically. Thus, the state
of the internal space may be monitored, to improve the
security of the apparatus.
Now the processing operation related to the
cassettes CYST in the rejected note collecting section
SPA will be described as follows. The magnetic disk
of the control unit stores all data on the results of
counting and detection for each batch of bank notes,
such as the numbers of correct notes, unfit notes,
unmachinable notes, and counterfeit notes. For the
unmachinable notes, the magnetic disk further stores
the result of detection or the cause of rejection,
such as superposition, skew or short pitch, for each
individual note in each batch. For the counterfeit
notes, the magnetic disk stores the result of detection,
such as wrong pattern or absence of magnetism, water-
marks, security thread or fluorescence, for each note.
The stored data is matched to the identification number
of the classification card.
At least two cassettes CYST are set in the bank
note processing apparatus. One of the cassettes is for
I
normal use, while the other cassette(s) is are add-
tonally used when the first cassette is full or is
removed for any reason. In processing the notes in
one cassette while the apparatus is in operation, a
cassette processing button is depressed to turn on a -I
lamp corresponding to the cassette in service. At this
moment, the scene of processing is automatically shifted
to the other cassette, so that the first cassette is
allowed to be removed. When an apparatus processing
stop button is depressed, a lamp corresponding to the
cassette having been used so far glows, indicating that
the cassette is ready to be removed. The lamp is put
out by depressing an apparatus processing button.
When the cassette is full, the lamp corresponding
to this cassette glows. Then, the scene of processing
is shifted to the other cassette, and the first cassette
is allowed to be removed. If the cassette is not
removed after a predetermined number of bank notes are
processed after the cassette processing button is
depressed or after the cassette is filled, then the lamp
flickers to urge the operator to remove the cassette. ,
If the cassette is not removed even after that, the lamp
corresponding to the currently used cassette glows after
a predetermined number of additional bank notes are
processed. This is a final alarm. In this case, both
lamps are put out by removing the cassette corresponding
to the flickering lamp and setting in an empty cassette.
- I -
If the empty cassette is not installed after the
final alarm or the removal of the first cassette, the
lamp flickers and the apparatus processing is stopped,
when the cassette is full. When the lamp is on or
flickering, an alarm may be given to accelerate the
cassette processing. The bank notes in the removed
cassette are counted and manually judged by another
operator at an independent cassette processing table,
which operation is different from the apparatus opera-
ion. The removed cassette is processed by the external operating device 100.
The external operating device 100 is provided with
a keyboard love for inputting the identification number
of a classification card and the number of bank notes, a
CRT loo for indicating processing data on the batch
corresponding to the classification card number, and a
printer loud for printing out the processing data on
each batch indicated on the CRT, as required, all of
these units love, loo, loud being on-line connected to
the bank note processing apparatus.
In processing the cassette CRT, the cassette
is first uncovered and the identification number of
the uppermost classification card CAD is keyed in.
Count data and detection data corresponding to the
identification number of the classification card CAD
are indicated on the CRT loo. Fig. 18 shows an
example of a data indication mode, which contains the
~23L9~(3~3
- 39 -
identification number of classification card, 1234,
date, 1982/10/1, time, AM 11:02, operator's number,
OP;567, apparatus number, M/C No. 3, total number
of batches processed after power is turned on, 100,
denomination, 1,000, number of rejected notes R, 2
(counterfeit note, 1), number of correct notes F, 80,
and number of unfit notes US, 18. "M" indicates
absence of magnetism as the cause of rejection of the
counterfeit note out of the two rejected notes, while
"SK" indicates skew as the cause of rejection of the
unmachinable note. If there are a plurality of rejected
notes, data is successively indicated on the CRT in such
a manner that data on the note fed last is indicated
first. Thus, each rejected note may be matched to the
indication on the CRT. The number of rejected notes R,
2 is obtained by subtracting the sum of the number of
legitimate notes F, 80 and the number of unfit notes US,
18 from the total number of bank notes contained in one
batch, i.e., by subtracting this sum from 100. Thus,
the cassette is actually checked for the number of
rejected notes therein. If two rejected notes are
detected, a clear button on the keyboard love is
depressed to discard the band on the unmachinable notes
Pi, and the rejected notes ens stored in a reprocessing
box.
When the Thea. bath is collated at this point of
time, the CRT 100C automatically displays data on the
- 40 -
next, or the Thea batch. The data on the Thea batch
are indicated first because the bank notes in the
cassette are taken out in the order reverse to the order
of collection. Accordingly, in starting the processing
with the first batch, by turning the cassette upside
down, the CRT loo must be rearranged for the core-
sponging order of indication.
If the actual number of rejected notes differs
from the indicated number, the code number of a
half-wrapper's name, which appears on the wrapping
band of the unmachinable note, is keyed in; a mark "R"
representing the rejected note and the correct number
are keyed in after the code number; and the clear button
its depressed twice If the actual number of counterfeit
notes is different from the indicated number, a band
code number is keyed in, and a mark "C" representing the
counterfeit note and the correct number are keyed in
after the code number. If the actual number of both
rejected notes and counterfeit notes detected by manual
counting differ from the numbers indicate on the CRT,
code "R2Cl" is keyed in for the two rejected notes,
including one counterfeit note, after the band code
number is keyed in, and the clear button is then
depressed twice. Counterfeit notes, along with bands,
are stored separately from unmachinable notes, for
ease of later prejudgment. The CRT indication for the
counterfeit notes may be made prominent by the use of a
bright color (e.g., red), which color differs from those
used for other indications.
The identification numbers of individual
classification cards are automatically indicated in
due order on the CRT, by merely keying in the number
for the uppermost classification card. The external
operating device 100 can be coupled to a plurality
of apparatuses. All data, including the count number
and the results of detection for each batch, may be
stored in the classification cards, so that the
collation of counting and data correction can be
executed as a card reader reads the classification
card, after the rejecting operation. Thus, on-line
processing is permitted.
-
