JP2634796B2 - Cash transfer system - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cash transport system for replenishing and collecting cash from a plurality of cash machines handling cash.

[Background of the Invention]

Conventionally, this type of transfer system technology has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-1758.
No. 2 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 59-139491. That is, in the former example, a cassette is placed on the self-conveying type transport means for transportation, and in the latter example, a case containing cash is transported by a belt conveyor / air shutter and a linear motor. The cash of the cassette or the case is reciprocated between automatic handling machines and the like.

However, in the above-described conventional technology, since the transport path for the forward path and the return path is also used, in a system in which cash is frequently returned and returned, the transportation efficiency becomes poor due to the obstruction of going and returning, and the control of transport of a plurality of cassettes or cases is not possible. It becomes extremely complicated, and eventually becomes inefficient.

[Object of the invention]

An object of the present invention is to provide a cash transfer system in which the use efficiency of funds of an automatic machine is improved.

[Summary of the Invention]

In the present invention, when reciprocating cash is transported between the automatic cash machine and the original machine, a dedicated path for reciprocating and a reversing path connecting both paths are provided, and one of the reciprocating transport paths is carried. The cash is transferred to the other transporting path via the reversing path, which is characterized in that it is driven in parallel and in opposite directions to each other, as described in the claims. B
And a plurality of transport shelves that are moved by the transport means and transport bills. The transport shelves are provided at a plurality of locations along the transport means in common with the outgoing path A and the return path B, and temporarily move the transport shelves. A transfer station that stops and transfers banknotes, and is provided at at least two places along the transport path,
A reversing station for reversing the transport direction of the transport, and a transport loaded with a predetermined number of bills from the transport, or an empty transport, is identified, and the relevant transport located at a short distance is called, and a desired transport is retrieved. After having been conveyed to the transfer station, there is provided a control means for transferring the bill between the corresponding transfer box and the desired transfer station.

(Example of the invention)

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an original machine, which counts and replenishes a shortage of bills to an automatic bill handling machine (hereinafter referred to as "automatic machine") 2a, 2b, 2c or collects extra bills from the automatic machine. In order to count and store the bills, the banknotes are delivered and the operation of the entire system is managed. Here, the automatic machine refers to a cash automatic teller machine handled by a customer, a cash automatic machine handled by a bank employee, or the like.

3a to 3d are transport shelves for storing and transporting banknotes, and 4.5 and 5 are transport belts (transporting means) for loading and transporting the transport shelves.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a forward path traveling from the original machine 1 to the automatic machine at the upper stage of the belt, and reference numeral 5 denotes a return path from the automatic machine to the original machine at the lower stage of the belt. The transport path is supported by rollers or the like (not shown) so that the transport path does not drop under its own weight.

Reference numerals 5a to 5c denote reversing sections (reversing paths) interposed between the forward path 4 and the return path 5 to change the transport direction by transferring the transporters 3a to 3d from one transport path to the other transport path. 6 is the transport path 4/5
It is a box-shaped cover that covers the entirety of the machine and presents a safe state, and doors 1a, 6a to 6c (installation) for inspection and holding are provided corresponding to the original machine 1 and the automatic bill handling machines 2a to 2c. , Other than that can not be opened. Cover 6 is the original machine
1. The automatic bill handling machines 2a to 2c and the reversing units 5a to 5c are arranged in close contact with each other to cover the communication parts between these parts and the conveyor belt.

 Next, details of the reversing unit will be described.

FIG. 3 is an internal structural view of the reversing unit 5b arranged at the right end of the transport path. Reference numeral 7 denotes a drive pulley which is driven by a synchronous motor (not shown) around 7a and rotates, and the conveyor belts 4.5 are wound around the pulley to drive the belt in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise). The movement of the belt is stopped prior to the operation of the reversing unit, and is started at the end of the reversing operation.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an L-shaped fixed stopper for supporting a carrier (for example, 3a) on the belt 4 so as not to come off the belt.
In the figure, it supports the rear surface and the rear side surface of the transport storage 3a in the traveling direction. The stopper 8 is also provided in front of the pulley 7 of the belt 5 to prevent the stopper 5 from being caught in the transport pulley.

9 is an elevator that can move up and down in the direction of arrow A and move back and forth in the direction of arrow B with a carrier, and 10 is the elevator 9
Is a drive unit that drives the drive unit in the directions of arrows A and B, and 11 is a rail that guides the drive unit in the directions of arrows B. Although the details of the inside of 10 are omitted, a wheel for self-running along the rail, a drive motor for the wheel, and a drive mechanism for raising and lowering a sliding rod 9a supporting the elevator 9 are built in.

The carrier has legs 3a 'on the lower surface, and the back surface and belts 4.5
A space having a predetermined height is formed between the mounting surfaces. The elevator 9 can enter the lower part of the transport storage by being inserted into this space. Then, in this state, the elevator is slightly raised, the transport is lifted, and then the elevator is retracted, so that the transport is released from the belt.

When placing the transport on the belt, the elevator 9 on which the transport is placed enters the upper part of the belt at a position slightly higher than the belt surface, and lowers slightly when the transport comes directly above the center of the belt. Then, the legs 3a 'of the carrier are placed on the belt.

In the reversing section 5b shown in FIG. 3, the delivery of the carrier is limited to the belt 5 to the belt 4. On the other hand, in the reversing section 5a in FIG. 1, the delivery of the transport is performed from the belt 4 to the belt 5.

FIG. 4 is an internal structural diagram of the reversing unit 5c placed at the center (other than the end) of the transport path shown in FIGS. The same parts as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Reference numerals 15a to 15d denote movable stoppers which can move forward and backward in the direction of the arrow (in the direction in which the belt rises and retracts). Each stopper is separately driven in the direction of the arrow by a driving device (not shown).

To move the transport from the belt 4 to the belt 5, the movement of the belt is stopped and the transport 3a is stopped. At this time, the stoppers 15a and 15b protrude above the belt and serve as guides for the transport. Next, the elevator 9 enters the lower side of the transport box on the belt 4 and lifts and removes the transport box. Next, the elevator moves backward to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 4 and descends. When the elevator descends to a position slightly higher than the upper surface position of the belt 5, the elevator stops descending and advances in the direction of the belt 5. The elevator 9 stops moving when the transport reaches directly above the center of the belt 5 and descends slightly to bring the transport into contact with the belt 5. At this time, the stoppers 15c and 15d protrude above the belt 5 and serve as guides for the transport.

After the elevator 9 retreats, this retraction is detected by a sensor (not shown), the belt starts to operate, and the transport moves.

The above is an example in which the transport is transferred from the belt 4 to the belt 5, but the reverse transfer is also possible, and the movement of the elevator 9 at this time is reversed.

Reference numeral 35 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a position identification mark provided at a predetermined position on the front and back of the belt, and is used to identify a transporter. Details will be described later.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the transfer of bills between the automatic bill handling device and a transporter on a belt.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a hand for grasping and delivering bills, and the bills having an arbitrary thickness can be grasped reliably by the fingers that open and close. Reference numeral 16 denotes an arm that supports the handle 13 and is configured to be extendable and retractable, and moves the hand 13 forward and backward. Reference numeral 19 denotes a guide bar for supporting the arm 16 so as to be able to move up and down. Reference numeral 18 denotes a drive unit that drives the arm 16 and the hand 13 through a guide rod 19,
It is fixed to the bottom of the device 2c.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a safe located at the back of the upper part of the apparatus, which stores banknotes stacked horizontally. The belt is disposed on the back of the apparatus, and an opening 20 for the hand to protrude and retract is formed at the same height as the belt on the back of the apparatus. The transporter 3a transports the banknotes 15 in a horizontal direction, like the safe 17.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the transfer of banknotes between the original machine and the carrier on the belt.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a hand for grasping and delivering a bill, and a bill having an arbitrary thickness can be grasped reliably by a finger that opens and closes. 26 is configured to extend and contract with the arm that supports the hand 13,
The hand 13 is moved forward and backward. Reference numeral 29 denotes a guide bar for supporting the arm 26 so as to be vertically movable.

Numeral 24 denotes a counting machine for counting bills, which incorporates a roller belt and a counting discriminator 24a. In addition, the stackers 21 and 22 for temporarily holding bills are provided on the upper and lower sides. 27 is a safe for storing bills. The hand 23 goes out and out of the opening 30 provided on the back surface of the original machine 1 to transfer the banknotes to and from the carrier 3a, and also exchanges the bills with the counter 24 and the safe 27 in the original machine 1 respectively.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 35 denotes the above-mentioned identification mark, which is attached to a necessary place outside the belt. A magnetic strip 36 is provided on the identification mark 35 as shown in FIG. 8, and a box NO for specifying a transporter to be placed aside, a denomination of stored banknotes, the number of banknotes, the number of replenishments, and the number of collections Are recorded. In FIG. 7, reference numerals 30a and 30b denote mark readers, specifically magnetic heads, which read the contents of the marks and supply their signals to the automatic machines 2b and 2c.

The content of the identification mark 35 changes when the carrier placed next to it changes. Therefore, when the position of the carrier is changed on the belt by the reversing section shown in FIG. 4, the content is written on the identification mark of the finally placed position. Erasure / writing of the contents of the identification mark by the above operation is performed by the writing / reading head 38 arranged near the reversing portion, and the writing / reading operation is controlled by the original machine 1.

In addition, as shown in FIG.
In transferring the transport from the belt 5 to the belt 4, if the position where the transport was placed on the belt 5 is moved to the same position in accordance with the timing at which the transport was moved upward as the belt 4, the transporter shown in FIG. Erasing / Rewriting of Contents of Such Identification Marks Next, the operation flow will be described with reference to the above-described drawings. In FIG. 1, carriers 3a to 3d are placed on conveyor belts 4 and 5 and rotate between automatic bill handling machines 2a to 2c and original machine 1. The transport belts 4 and 5 are continuous, and the transporters 3a to 3d are transferred by the reversing units 5a to 5b and transported in opposite directions. There are two types of transport storages, one in which bills are pre-counted and filled by the original machine 1 (3a, 3c) and the other in which no bills are inserted (3b, 3d). The original machine 1 manages all the number of bills in the transport shelves 3a to 3d on the conveyor belts 4 and 5, the safe 17 in the automatic bill handling machine, and the safe 27 of the original machine 1 itself. Or you can send and receive information with 2c.

For example, assuming that the number of banknotes in the automatic machine 2c is reduced and the banknotes need to be replenished, the automatic machine 2c
I will inform you accordingly. The original machine 1 has a carrier (for example, 3a) filled with a predetermined number of bills counted in advance flowing on a belt, and for the automatic machine 2c, a machine close to the automatic machine 2c in the carrier. Instructs to receive a bill from.

The automatic machine 2c reads the identification marks one after another by the reader 30a shown in FIG. 7, and determines whether or not the corresponding storage 3a.
When the corresponding transport storage is determined, the automatic machine 2c notifies the original machine that the rotation of the belt is stopped.

In response to this, the original machine 1 stops the transport belt at a predetermined position. At this time, the belt stops so that the transport storage 3a and the automatic machine 2c are in the state shown in FIG. Next, the automatic bill handling machine 2c uses the hand 13 to remove the bill 15 from the transport storage 3a and refill it into the safe 17 (FIG. 5 to show the operation sequence of the hand). When this operation is completed, the original machine 1 updates the number of banknotes held by the automatic machine 2c, records that the carrier 3a is empty, and starts the transport belt.

When the transporter 3b returns to the original machine 1, the original machine 1 rewrites the bill transfer information 37 of the identification mark 35. This rewriting may be performed by the read / write head 38 provided in the reversing unit when the transport passes through the reversing unit 5c.

In the state shown in FIG. 1, the transport storage 3a is already on the downstream side of the automatic machine 2c on the belt 4, but it approaches the automatic machine 2c through the reversing sections 5a and 5c according to the instruction of the original machine 1. Let it. In this way, the transporter can be transported to the predetermined automatic machine in a shorter time than in the case of passing through the reversing sections 5a and 5b.

Next, when the number of banknotes held among the automatic machines 2a to 2c increases, the corresponding automatic machine notifies the original machine 1 of the fact. The original machine must be empty beforehand (for example, 3b or 3
b) is flown on the belt, and instructs the corresponding automatic machine to discharge the bills to the nearest one of the transport shelves 3b or 3d. When the corresponding automatic machine reads the storage 3b or 3d, it informs the original machine 1 of the stop of the belt and discharges extra bills to a predetermined empty transportation. This transport is carried to the original machine at the instruction of the original machine and stopped, and the bills inside are transported to the counter 24 inside the original machine via the hand 23 as shown in FIG. And is stored in the safe 27 (FIG. 6). Based on this count value, the original machine 1 and the number of banknotes held by the automatic machine that has released the bills to the transport are updated, and the contents are stored in the original machine 1.

When the number of empty transport shelves on the conveyor belt increases, the original machine 1 replenishes some empty transport shelves with banknotes. In addition, when the original machine receives a request for a designated number of bills from the automatic machine side, the designated number of bills is loaded into an empty transport storage based on the request.

The identification mark 35 for identifying the transporters 3-a to 3-d described above may be a barcode or the like in addition to the magnetic stripe, and the transporter itself may be provided with an identification mark. In addition, the entire conveyor belt has a cover 6 with a key,
Since the transport box is safely protected and the entire transport path becomes a safe, it is not necessary to pull out the bills after the operation is completed or on holidays.

According to the present embodiment, the bill is transported in the transport box on the transport belt, so that the bill processing system can be easily realized. In addition, since the number of carriers can be arbitrarily set, flexible operation is possible.

In addition, since a plurality of transporters are rotating on the transport belt, the time for replenishing and collecting bills is short.

In the above embodiment, the identification mark added to the transport belt 4
The system reads 35, identifies the transport shelves 3a to 3d, and stops the transport belt when it is the target transport, and transfers bills. In the next embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the conveyor 3a is taken into the automatic machine 2a while the conveyor belt is rotating. In other words, the transport 3a transported by the transport belt is taken into the automatic machine 2a from the belt by the transport delivery mechanism 50. At this time, the identification of the carrier is performed by the identification mark 35 attached to the bottom plate of the carrier 3a. The method of transferring bills is the same as that of FIG. 5 described in the above embodiment.
In such a manner that the transport belt is not stopped, when replenishment / recovery becomes necessary in a plurality of automatic bill handling machines,
The goal will be achieved without waiting. In the present embodiment, the transport path passes through the automatic bill handling machine, and is suitable for a small space in a store such as a bank.

In the above example, the delivery mechanism 50 is constituted by a small-sized belt conveyor, and is delivered from the belt 4 by a push rod (not shown) built in the automatic machine 2a and taken into the automatic machine.

 The reversing operation with the belt rotating is as follows.

In FIG. 3, the legs 3a 'of the carrier are of a type having a small stiffness coefficient between the belt and the belt, and the movement of the carrier is stopped by the stopper 8 while slipping on the belt 5 in FIG. Have been. Further, instead of the legs 3a ', rollers that rotate in the belt moving direction may be used. In this state, the carrier is lifted from the bottom by the elevator 9.

When the transporter is put on the belt, the legs 3a 'of the transporter are placed on the belt, and at this time, the transporter 3a tries to move along the belt 4, but the leg 3a' hits the elevator 9 and the movement is stopped. It is blocked and slips on the belt 4 via the leg 3a '. In this state, the elevator 9 is removed from the bottom of the transport storage.
The belt starts to move by this extracting operation.

In FIG. 4, to move the transport from the belt 4 to the belt 5, the stopper 15a moves forward on the belt (the other stopper 1).
(5b-15d is retracted) Stop the transport storage 3a (slip). Next, the elevator 9 enters the lower side of the garage, lifts the garage, and takes it out. Next, the elevator moves backward to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 4 and descends. When the elevator descends to a position slightly higher than the upper surface position of the belt 5, the elevator stops descending and advances in the direction of the belt 5. The elevator 9 stops moving forward when the carrier comes directly above the center of the belt 5 and descends slightly to connect the carrier on the belt 5. At this time, the carrier tries to move by the movement of the belt, but is prevented from moving by the elevator 9, and starts to move only after the elevator 9 retreats thereafter.

The timing at which the carrier starts moving after being placed on the belt is extremely important because the carrier may tilt on the belt. Therefore, instead of stopping the movement with the elevator 9, the stopper 15d may be pressed, and the movement of the stopper 15d may be set in the vertical direction or the movement direction of the belt 5 in FIG. May be. In the above case, the portion of the stopper that holds the transporter is always uniform in the direction in which it is going to move, so that inclination at the beginning of movement is prevented.

In each of the above embodiments, the belt conveyor is used as the conveyance path, the outward path is used as the upper surface of the belt, and the return path is used as the lower surface of the belt. As another example, two independently rotating belts are prepared, and Alternatively, it may be rotated. In this case, the upper surface of the belt is the same on both the outward and return paths, and the reversing unit lifts the transporter on one belt, moves horizontally in the direction of the other belt, and places it on the other belt.

In each of the above-described embodiments, only the transport shed placed on the belt 4 (upper stage) is configured to transfer banknotes to and from the automatic machine. ) The upper storage is used for replenishing bills to the automatic machine,
If the transport storage on the belt 5 (lower stage of the belt) is used for collecting bills from the automatic machine, the functions can be shared between the upper and lower stages of the belt, so that the transportation efficiency is further improved.

〔The invention's effect〕

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a cash transfer system with high transfer efficiency can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a structural view thereof, FIGS.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the operation of the automatic machine, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the operation of the original machine, FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the identification mark, FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of the same storage contents, and FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing. 1: Original machine, 2a ~ 2c: Automatic machine, 3a ~ 3d: Cargo, 5a ~ 5c: Reversing path (reversing part), 4: Outbound path, 5: Return path, 9: Elevator

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Takashi Igarashi 4-6-6 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Hitachi, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-59-186832 (JP, A) JP-A-60- 17582 (JP, A)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A forward path A, which is driven in parallel and opposite directions to each other.
Transport means comprising a return path B; a plurality of transport shelves which are moved by the transport means and transport bills; provided at a plurality of locations along the transport means in common with the outbound path A and the return path B, and the transport chamber is temporarily A transfer station that stops and transfers banknotes; a reversing station that is provided at at least two places along the transport path and reverses the transport direction of the transport warehouse; and loads a predetermined number of bills from the transport warehouse. Identify the transfer shed, or an empty transfer shed, call the corresponding transfer shed at a short distance, and after transferring it to the desired transfer station, transfer the bill between the corresponding transfer shed and the desired transfer station. A bill transport system comprising a control unit for performing the bill transfer. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the conveying means comprises a belt driven by a motor, and one of the outward path A and the backward path B is constituted by an upper stage of the belt, and the other is constituted by a lower stage of the belt. The bill transport system according to claim 1, wherein 3. The banknote transport system according to claim 1, wherein said reversing station has means for lifting a carrier on one of said outgoing route A and said returning route B and placing it on the other. .