JP4930103B2 - Medium storage device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium storage device that is used as a check storage device or the like mounted on a check processing device and that receives and stores a sheet-like medium after processing such as reading processing of printed information and printing processing is completed.

In financial institutions such as banks, check items such as checks and bills (securities) are put into a check reader, the surface image and magnetic ink characters are read, and the checks are sorted according to the read results. We are working. The surface image and magnetic ink characters are read while the check is being transported through the transport path of the check reading device, and the check whose information has been read is stored in a check storage section formed at the exit portion of the transport path. Is done. The check storage unit has an elongated box shape corresponding to the shape of an elongate check, and the conveyed check is sent and stored in the check storage unit by a feed roller arranged on one end side thereof. Such a check reading apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228707.
JP 2004-206362 A

  Here, the check is subjected to processing such as reading of the carrier information while being conveyed while standing along the conveyance path defined by the elongated vertical groove, and the check after processing is performed by the feeding roller while standing. It is sent to the storage unit and stored there. The check storage unit is provided with a vertical guide surface and a pressing plate for pressing the fed check against the vertical guide surface. The check that is sent to the check storage unit by the infeed roller while standing is pushed between the check and the pressing plate that are already stored while pushing the pressing plate away. In this way, the checks sent to the check storage unit are stored in an overlapping state while standing between the vertical guide plate and the pressing plate.

  Therefore, when the check is fed into the check storage unit, a sliding load is generated between the check plate and the check plate. In addition, a sliding load is generated between the surface of the check that has already been fed. For this reason, in the case of a thin check or a check with a weak waist, the portion on the leading end side of the check fed from the position where the feed roller and the pressing roller pressed against it are in such a sliding load. It may bend or bend without being able to withstand. In this state, even if the trailing end of the check has passed from the sandwiching position of the feeding roller, the portion on the leading end side of the check is not completely stored in the storing position between the vertical guide plate and the pressing plate, A jamming state occurs between the feed roller and the feed roller.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to propose a medium storage device that can surely send a thin sheet-like medium or a weakly sheet-like medium to a storage position.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a medium storage device according to the present invention includes a medium storage unit that stores a sheet-shaped medium, a roller main body, and coaxially formed at both ends of the roller main body, and is larger than the roller main body. A feed roller for feeding a sheet-like medium into the medium storage unit, and a rotary shaft, and being pressed against the roller body of the feed roller to feed the sheet-like medium to the feed roller. A pressing roller for pressing the pressing roller, and a pressing surface attached to the rotary shaft to which the pressing roller is mounted, and having a concave arc-shaped pressing surface corresponding to an outer peripheral surface portion of the roller body of the feeding roller, the feeding roller and the pressing roller Facing the roller body of the feeding roller within a predetermined angle range from the sandwiched position of the sheet-like medium by It is characterized by having a lever even, the. Further, the pressing roller having a roller length shorter than the roller main body and a roller diameter smaller than the roller main body can be used.

  In the present invention, large-diameter portions are formed at both ends of the feeding roller, and a pressing roller having a smaller diameter is pressed against the roller body between them. The sheet-like medium that passes through the position where the sheet-like medium is sandwiched by the feeding roller and the pressing roller is sent toward the medium storage unit in a state of being bent out of the plane in a “U” shape by a short pressing roller having a small diameter. It is. In this way, bending in the out-of-plane direction into a “<” shape increases the out-of-plane rigidity of the sheet-like medium, so-called waist. Therefore, even if a load caused by friction with the sheet medium already stored in the medium storage portion acts, the sheet medium can be reliably fed into the medium storage portion without falling into a jamming state.

  Here, if protrusions are formed at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction of the large-diameter portion of the feeding roller, the protrusions are mechanically engaged with the rear end of the sheet-like medium to be fed. Thus, the sheet-like medium can be reliably fed.

  Further, as the pressing roller, a roller having a shape in which the roller diameter gradually decreases from the center in the axial direction toward both ends, for example, a barrel-shaped roller can be used.

  Furthermore, as the pressing roller, one having a configuration including a plurality of pressing roller bodies attached coaxially with a space between the rotating shafts can be used. In this case, the distance between the outer end surfaces of the pressing roller bodies located on both sides of these pressing roller bodies may be made shorter than the roller length of the roller body portion of the feeding roller.

  Next, the present invention relates to a medium processing apparatus, a conveyance path for conveying a sheet-like medium, and an information reading means for reading information carried on the sheet-like medium conveyed along the conveyance path. And a medium storage device for storing a sheet-like medium after reading information discharged from the conveyance path, and the medium storage device is a medium storage device having the above-described configuration.

  In the medium processing apparatus of the present invention, the processed sheet-like medium can be reliably stored in the medium storage device without jamming. Therefore, the processing operation for the sheet-like medium can be performed efficiently.

  According to the present invention, the sheet-like medium is bent into a “<” shape when passing through the nipping position between the feeding roller and the pressing roller, and has a high out-of-plane rigidity (a state of strong waist). It is sent to the medium storage unit. Therefore, even a thin sheet-like medium or a weakly sheet-like medium can be surely sent to the medium storage portion and stored therein.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a check processing apparatus provided with a medium storage device to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a check processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof. The check processing device 1 includes a main body case 2 and a lid case 3 placed on the upper side of the main body case 2, and each component is incorporated therein. The cover case 3 is formed with a conveyance path 5 for a check 4 (sheet-like medium) composed of a narrow vertical groove. When viewed from above, the conveyance path 5 has a U-shape as a whole, and includes a straight upstream conveyance path portion 6, a curved conveyance path portion 7 continuous thereto, and a slight bend continuous thereto. And a downstream conveyance path portion 8.

  The upstream end of the upstream conveyance path portion 6 communicates with a check insertion portion 9 formed of a wide vertical groove. The downstream end of the downstream conveyance path portion 8 communicates with the check storage device 10. The check storage device 10 includes first and second check storage portions 11 each including branch paths 10a and 10b branched from the downstream end of the downstream conveyance path portion 8 to the left and right, and wide vertical grooves communicating with the branch paths 10a and 10b. , 12.

  The check 4 to be read has a magnetic ink character 4A printed on the lower end portion of the surface 4a thereof. The front surface 4a has a predetermined pattern background with an amount, a payer, a number, a signature, and the like, and the back surface 4b has an endorsement column.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal mechanism of the check processing device 1. As shown in this figure, the check insertion portion 9 has a feeding roller 13 for feeding the check 4 inserted in a stacked state here toward the conveyance path 5 and a pressing for pressing the check 4 against the feeding roller 13. A member 14 is arranged. Further, a separation path 16 for separating the check 4 fed by the feeding roller 13 to the transport path 5 is separated as a separation mechanism for separating the check 4 one by one and sending it to the transport path 5. A separation roller pair including 17 and a retard roller 18 is disposed. The feeding roller 13, the separation roller 17, and the pressing member 14 are driven by, for example, a feeding motor 19.

  Next, the transport mechanism for transporting the check 4 along the transport path 5 includes a transport motor 21, a drive roller 22 attached to the rotation shaft of the transport motor 21, and a transport roller disposed along the transport path 5. 31 to 37, press rollers 41 to 46 and second feed rollers 47 which are pressed against the respective transport rollers 31 to 37 and rotated. The rotation of the second feeding roller 47 is transmitted to the first feeding roller 49 via the transmission gear 48. The rotation of the transport motor 21 is transmitted to the transport rollers 31 to 37 via the endless belt 23.

  The conveyance rollers 31 to 34 are arranged at the upstream end of the upstream conveyance path portion 6, the middle position thereof, and the boundary position with the curved conveyance path portion 7, respectively. The conveyance roller 35 is disposed at a downstream position in the curved conveyance path portion 7. The transport roller 36 is disposed at a middle position in the downstream transport path portion 8, and the transport roller 37 is disposed in front of the second check storage unit 12. The first feed roller 49 is disposed in front of the first check storage unit 11.

  A magnet 51 for magnetizing magnetic ink characters is disposed between the transport rollers 31 and 32 in the upstream transport path portion 6. Between the transport rollers 32 and 33, a front side contact image scanner 52 as a front side image reading unit and a back side contact image scanner 53 as a back side image reading unit are arranged. A magnetic head 54 for reading magnetic ink characters is disposed between the transport rollers 33 and 34.

  A printing mechanism 56 is arranged on the downstream side conveyance path portion 8 on the downstream side of the conveyance roller 36. The printing mechanism 56 can be moved between a printing position pressed by the check 4 and a standby position retracted from the printing position by a driving motor (not shown). The printing mechanism 56 may be a stamp mechanism that prints on the check 4 by being pushed by a plunger.

  A switching plate 66 that is switched by a drive motor (not shown) is disposed on the branch paths 10 a and 10 b that branch from the downstream end of the downstream conveyance path portion 8. The check plate 4 is discharged to one of the first and second check storage units 11 and 12 by the switching plate 66.

(Check processing operation)
An outline of the processing operation of the check 4 in the check processing apparatus 1 will be described. The check 4 inserted into the check insertion portion 9 is sent out to the delivery path 15 by the feed roller 13 and is sent out one by one to the upstream conveyance path portion 6 of the conveyance path 5 through this. The check 4 sent to the upstream side conveyance path portion 6 is conveyed while the front surface image and the back surface image are read by the front surface side contact image scanner 52 and the back surface side contact image scanner 53. Next, the magnetic ink characters are conveyed while being read by the magnetic head 54.

  For the check 4 that has been normally read by the front-side contact image scanner 52, the back-side contact image scanner 53, and the magnetic head 54, the printing mechanism 56 disposed in the downstream-side conveyance path portion 8 places “ “Electronic payment completed” or the like is printed and discharged to the first check storage unit 11 side of the check storage device 10. The check 4 that has not been read normally is discharged to the second check storage unit 12 side of the check storage device 10 without printing by the printing mechanism 56.

(Check storage device)
4, 5 and 6 are views showing the check storage device 10 of the check processing device 1 taken out. 4 is a plan view of the check storage device 10, FIG. 5 (a) is a perspective view of the check storage device 10 as viewed from the rear side, and FIG. 5 (b) is a view of the check storage device 10 on the check feeding side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view when the check storage device 10 is viewed from the back side.

  The check storage device 10 includes first and second check storage portions 11 and 12 that communicate with the downstream conveyance path portion 8 via branch paths 10 a and 10 b, and a switching plate 66. A first feed roller 49 for feeding the check 4 into the first check storage unit 11 via the branch path 10a, and a first for feeding the check 4 into the second check storage unit 12 via the branch path 10b. 2 feed rollers 47. The second feed roller 47 is pressed against the transport roller 37 and rotates, and the rotation of the second feed roller 47 is transmitted to the first feed roller 49 via the transmission gear 48. Yes.

  The first check storage unit 11 has left and right vertical side walls 71 and 72 facing each other at a constant interval, and a front vertical end wall 73, and has a long and narrow box shape that opens upward and rearward. . A check feeding port 76 into which the check 4 is fed is formed between the inner vertical side wall 71 and the front vertical end wall 73. Between the left and right vertical side walls 71 and 72, a rectangular holding plate 74 for pressing the fed check 4 against the vertical side wall 71 is disposed. The pressing plate 74 is made of plastic, for example, and is always pressed against the vertical side wall 71 by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 75 attached to the lower end portion.

  The first feeding roller 49 is disposed on the front side of the check feeding port 76 of the first check storage unit 11. The first feeding roller 49 includes a roller main body 49a, and gear portions 49b having a diameter larger than that of the roller main body 49a are coaxially formed at both ends of the roller main body 49a. A pressing roller 80 is pressed against the roller body 49a at the center in the axial direction thereof and is rotated.

  Here, FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing the first feeding roller 49 and the pressing roller 80 taken out, and FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing only the pressing roller 80. Describing with reference to these figures, the pressing roller 80 includes a rotating shaft 81 and two small-diameter rollers 82 and 83 attached coaxially to the rotating shaft 81 at a predetermined interval. The upper and lower ends of the rotary shaft 81 are supported by a support plate 84 made of a leaf spring, and the small diameter rollers 82 and 83 are pressed against the roller body 49a by the support plate 84. The two small diameter rollers 82 and 83 have the same diameter, and the diameter is smaller than the diameter of the roller body 49a of the first feeding roller 49. The distance between the outer end surfaces of the small diameter rollers 82 and 83 is shorter than that of the roller main body 49a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the check 4 can be stably conveyed while the cross-sectional shape of the check 4 is “<”.

  A pressing lever 85 is attached between the two small-diameter rollers 82 and 83 so as to be rotatable about the rotation shaft 81 in a direction toward and away from the first feeding roller 49. The pressing lever 85 includes a concave arc-shaped pressing surface 85a corresponding to the outer peripheral surface portion of the roller body 49a. The pressing surface 85a faces the outer peripheral surface portion of the roller main body 49a within an angle range of 90 degrees from a check clamping position 49A by the first feeding roller 49 and the pressing roller 80. The holding lever 85 having this configuration is biased toward the first feeding roller 49 by a torsion coil spring 86 attached to the rotating shaft 81 of the pressing roller 80.

  Next, the vertical vertical side wall 71 inside the first check storing portion 11 is located on the first feeding roller 49 side with respect to the check clamping position 49A by the first feeding roller 49 and the pressing roller 80. The rollers 49 and 80 extend in parallel to the check feeding direction 80a. Between the vertical side wall 71 and the check clamping position 49A, an inclined guide wall 71a for guiding the check 4 fed through the check feeding position 49A toward the vertical side wall 71 is formed.

  Next, the basic structure of the second check storage unit 12 is the same as that of the first check storage unit 11. That is, the second check storage unit 12 includes a holding plate 94 inside, and a check feed port 96 is formed at an end of the check feed side, and a second feed roller is disposed in front of the check feed port 96. 47 is arranged. The second feed roller 47 includes a roller body 47a and a gear portion 47b. A pressing roller 90 is pressed against the roller body 49a. The pressing roller 90 includes a rotating shaft 91 and two small-diameter rollers 92 and 93 that are coaxially attached to the upper and lower ends. A pressing lever 95 is attached between the two small diameter rollers 92 and 93. The check feeding port 96 is formed with an inclined guide wall 96a having a corner 96b.

  The pressing plate 94, the second feeding roller 47, the pressing roller 90, the pressing lever 95, and the inclined guide wall 96a are respectively a pressing plate 74, a first feeding roller 49, a pressing roller 80, and a pressing roller of the first check storage unit 11. Since it is the structure similar to the lever 85 and the inclination guide wall 71a, those description is abbreviate | omitted.

(Check movement)
FIG. 8 is a front view of the check storage device 10 during the check feeding operation when viewed from the check feeding side, and FIGS. 9A to 9D are plan views showing the check storage device 10 during the check feeding operation. is there. The operation of feeding the check 4 into the check storage device 10 will be described with reference to these drawings. In addition, since the feeding operation of the check 4 to the first check storage unit 11 and the check discharging operation to the second check storage unit 12 are the same, only the check feeding operation to the first check storage unit 11 will be described.

  First, when the check 4 is conveyed to the branch path 10 a, the check 4 is sandwiched between the rotating first feeding roller 49 and the pressing roller 80, and the check 4 is directed toward the first check storage unit 11. It is sent. In a state where the check 4 is sandwiched between them, the pressing roller 80 presses the substantially center portion of the back surface 4b of the check 4 against the roller body 49a, and the upper and lower ends of the surface 4a of the check 4 hit the gear portion 49b, and the roller body It bends in the direction away from the outer peripheral surface of 49a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the cross-sectional shape of the check 4 becomes “<”. For this reason, the check 4 is fed in a state in which the rigidity in the out-of-plane direction is increased and the waist 4 is bent and is not easily bent.

  When the check 4 is fed in a state of being folded into a “<” shape, its tip portion 4 c is guided along the inclined guide wall 71 a and proceeds in an oblique direction with respect to the check feeding direction 80 a. As shown in FIG. 9 (a), the back plate 4b of the check 4 comes into contact with the corner 71b of the inclined guide wall 71a, and the presser plate 74 is pushed out while being supported from the side by the corner 71b. 74 and the vertical side wall 71.

  Here, even after the trailing end portion 4d has passed the check clamping position 49A by the first feeding roller 49 and the pressing roller 80, the check 4 is moved by the pressing lever 85 as shown in FIG. 9B. The end portion 4d is pressed against the first feeding roller 49 side. For this reason, the rear end portion 4 d of the check 4 does not come off the gear portions at both ends of the first feeding roller 49. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D, the check 4 is surely sent to the first check storage unit 11 side by the first feeding roller 49.

  As described above, in the check storage device 10 of this example, while the check 4 is passing the check clamping position 49 </ b> A by the first feeding roller 49 and the pressing roller 80, the check 4 is “ku”. It is fed into the check storage unit 11 in a state of being bent into a letter shape. That is, the check 4 has a high out-of-plane rigidity, and is sent to the check storage unit 11 in a state of “waist”. Therefore, the leading end portion of the check 4 fed in due to the sliding load generated between the leading end portion of the check 4 and the holding plate 74 or the sliding load generated between the leading end portion of the check 4 and the already stored check. Can be reliably prevented from buckling and falling into the jamming state without being fed between the vertical side wall 71 and the check 4 already stored.

(Other embodiments)
In the above example, the pressing roller 80 has a structure in which two roller main bodies are attached to the rotating shaft, but may have a structure including only a single roller main body. Further, the pressing roller 80 may have a shape in which the roller diameter is the largest at the center in the axial direction and gradually decreases toward both ends. For example, a barrel-shaped pressing roller may be used.

  In the above example, the present invention is applied as a check storage device of a check processing apparatus. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a medium storage device for storing a sheet-like medium other than a check. Of course.

1 is an external perspective view of a check processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. It is a top view of a check processing device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of a check processing apparatus. It is a top view of a check storage device. It is a perspective view at the time of seeing a check storage device from the back side and the front side. It is a perspective view at the time of seeing a check storage device from the back side. It is a perspective view which shows a 1st feeding roller and a pressing roller, and a perspective view which shows only a pressing roller. It is a front view at the time of seeing a check storage device from the check feeding side. It is a top view of a check storage device showing a check feeding operation.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Check processing apparatus, 2 Main body case, 3 Cover case, 4 Check, 5 Conveyance path, 6 Upstream conveyance path part, 7 Curved conveyance path part, 8 Downstream conveyance path part, 9 Check insertion part, 10 Check storage apparatus 10a, 10b Branch path, 11 First check storage unit, 12 Second check storage unit, 13 Feeding roller, 14 Pressing member, 15 Delivery path, 16 Separation pad, 17 Separation roller, 18 Retarding roller, 19 Delivery motor, 21 Conveying motor, 22 Driving roller, 23 Endless belt, 24-27 Guide roller, 31-37 Conveying roller, 41-46 Pressing roller, 47 Second feeding roller, 47a, 49a Roller body, 47b, 49b Gear portion, 49A Check pinching Position, 48 Transmission gear, 49 First feed roller, 51 Magnet, 5 Front side contact image scanner, 53 Back side contact image scanner, 54 Magnetic head, 56 Printing mechanism, 71, 72 Vertical side wall, 73 Vertical end wall, 71a, 96a Inclined guide wall, 71b, 96b Square, 74, 94 Holding plate, 76, 96 Check feeding port, 80a Check feeding direction, 80, 90 Pressing roller, 82, 83, 92, 93 Small diameter roller, 85, 95 Pressing lever, 85a Pressing surface, 84 Support plate

Claims (6)

A medium storage section for storing a sheet-like medium;
A roller body, and a feed roller that is formed coaxially at both ends of the roller body and includes a large-diameter portion larger in diameter than the roller body, and for feeding a sheet-like medium into the medium storage unit;
A pressing roller that is attached to a rotating shaft and pressed against the roller body of the feeding roller to press the sheet-like medium against the feeding roller;
It is attached to the rotating shaft to which the pressing roller is mounted, and has a concave arc-shaped pressing surface corresponding to an outer peripheral surface portion of the roller body of the feeding roller, from a position where the sheet-like medium is sandwiched by the feeding roller and the pressing roller A medium storage device comprising: a pressing lever facing the roller body of the feeding roller within a predetermined angle range.   The medium storage device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing roller has a roller length shorter than the roller main body and a roller diameter smaller than the roller main body.   The medium storage device according to claim 1, wherein protrusions are formed at predetermined intervals along a circumferential direction of the large-diameter portion of the feeding roller.   4. The medium storage device according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the pressing roller gradually decreases from the center in the axial direction toward both ends. 5. The pressing roller includes a rotating shaft and a plurality of pressing roller bodies attached coaxially with a space between the rotating shaft,
The distance between the outer end surfaces of the pressing roller bodies on both sides of these pressing roller bodies is shorter than the roller length of the roller body portion of the feeding roller. The medium storage device described. A conveyance path for conveying a sheet-like medium;
Information reading means for reading the information carried on the sheet-like medium conveyed along the conveying path;
Anda medium accommodating unit for accommodating a sheet-like medium after reading the information being discharged from the transport path,
6. The medium processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the medium storage apparatus is the medium storage apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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