Paper sheet handling machine

Abstract

The present invention provides a paper sheet handling machine 1 configured to take therein paper sheets from the exterior and then storing the paper sheets in the interior thereof. This paper sheet handling machine 1 includes storage spaces 30 p, 40 p respectively provided therein. Each storage space 30 p, 40 p is configured to store therein the paper sheets taken in the machine 1 from the exterior, in a stacked condition. Further, the paper sheet handling machine 1 includes stacking units 30, 40, each having an opening provided in one side face thereof for allowing the paper sheets stored in each storage space 30 p, 40 p to be taken out, and a transport unit 20 configured to transport the paper sheets taken in the machine 1 from the exterior, toward each of the stacking units 30, 40. In addition, pushing units, each configured to push the paper sheets stored in each storage space 30 p, 40 p of the stacking unit 30 or 40 toward the opening, are provided to the paper sheet handling machine 1.

1 . A paper sheet handling machine, which is configured to take paper sheets therein from the exterior and then store the paper sheets in the interior thereof, and comprises:
 a stacking unit having a storage space provided therein and an opening formed in a side face thereof, the storage space being configured to store therein the paper sheets taken in the machine from the exterior, while the opening is configured to allow the paper sheets stored in the storage space to be taken out therethrough;   a transport unit configured to transport the paper sheets taken in the machine from the exterior, toward the stacking unit; and   a pushing unit configured to push the paper sheets stored in the storage space of the stacking unit, toward the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the stacking units are provided in a plural number, while the pushing units are also provided in the plural number, corresponding to the respective stacking units.   
     
     
         3 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first detector provided to the transport unit and configured to detect each paper sheet transported by the transport unit; and   a control unit configured to control the pushing unit,   wherein the control unit controls the pushing unit to push the paper sheets stored in the storage space of the stacking unit toward the opening, in the case the first detector detects that a predetermined number of paper sheets are fed to the stacking unit.   
     
     
         4 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising the control unit configured to control the pushing unit,
 wherein the control unit controls the pushing unit to push the paper sheets stored in the storage space of the stacking unit toward the opening, in the case the number of the paper sheets stored in the stacking unit reaches a predetermined maximum storage number assigned to the stacking unit.   
     
     
         5 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 3 , further comprising a second detector provided to the stacking unit and configured to detect whether or not the paper sheets are stored in the storage space of the stacking unit,
 wherein the control unit is configured to control the pushing unit as well as control the transport unit, and   wherein the control unit controls the pushing unit and transport unit to interrupt the transportation of the paper sheets by the transport unit, in the case the first detector detects that the predetermined number of paper sheets are fed to the stacking unit, while controlling the pushing unit and transport unit to restart the transportation of the paper sheets by the transport unit, in the case the second detector detects that the paper sheets, which have been pushed toward the opening by the pushing unit in the stacking unit, are taken out from the stacking unit.   
     
     
         6 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the control unit is configured to control the pushing unit as well as control the transport unit, and   wherein the control unit controls the pushing unit and transport unit to interrupt the transportation of the paper sheets by the transport unit, in the case the first detector detects that the predetermined number of paper sheets are fed to the stacking unit, while controlling the pushing unit and transport unit to restart the transportation of the paper sheets by the transport unit, after the paper sheets are pushed toward the opening by the pushing unit in the stacking unit, thereby newly feeding the paper sheets onto a top face of the paper sheets that have been pushed toward the opening.   
     
     
         7 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising the control unit configured to control the pushing unit,
 wherein the control unit controls the pushing unit to push the paper sheets stored in the storage space of the stacking unit toward the opening, in the case the transportation of the paper sheets to the stacking unit by the transport unit is ended.   
     
     
         8 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the storage space provided in the stacking unit is composed of a space surrounded by a bottom face and one or more side faces of the stacking unit,   wherein one of the side faces has a stacking wheel attached thereto, the stacking wheel being configured to stack each paper sheet fed to the stacking unit from the transport unit, in the storage space, and   wherein the bottom face constituting the storage space is downwardly inclined toward the one side face having the stacking wheel attached thereto.   
     
     
         9 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the storage space provided in the stacking unit is composed of the space surrounded by the bottom face and one or more side faces of the stacking unit, and   wherein a cut-out portion is formed in the bottom face, at one edge thereof on the side of the opening of the stacking unit.   
     
     
         10 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the pushing unit includes a pushing member configured to contact with the paper sheets stored in the storage space of the stacking unit and then push the paper sheets toward the opening, and a pushing member driving mechanism configured to drive the pushing member toward the opening.   
     
     
         11 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the pushing member can be reciprocated between a retracted position in which the pushing member is evacuated from the paper sheets while the paper sheets are stacked in the storage space and a pushing position in which the pushing member approaches the opening from the retracted position, and   wherein the pushing member waits in the retracted position during a period of time in which the paper sheets are stacked in the stacking unit, while pushing the paper sheets stored in the storage space toward the opening, when the pushing member is moved from the retracted position to the pushing position.   
     
     
         12 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein when in the retracted position, the pushing member constitutes a rear side face of the storage space of the stacking unit, and   wherein the pushing member is comb-shaped to be meshed with the other side face and bottom face constituting together the storage space of the stacking unit.   
     
     
         13 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the pushing member is configured so that the paper sheets can be stacked on a top face of the pushing member, and the paper sheets stacked on the pushing member can be moved together with the pushing member, and   wherein the pushing member is comb-shaped to be meshed with the side face constituting the storage space of the stacking unit.   
     
     
         14 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the pushing unit includes a plurality of third detectors, each configured to detect the position of the pushing member, and   wherein the pushing member driving mechanism can stop the pushing member in a plurality of positions, based on each detection information obtained from the third detectors.   
     
     
         15 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the opening of the stacking unit is provided, such that the direction in which the paper sheets are taken out from the opening can be substantially orthogonal to the direction in which the paper sheets are fed to the stacking unit from the transport unit.   
     
     
         16 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the direction in which the paper sheets are fed to the stacking unit from the transport unit corresponds to the short-edge direction of each paper sheet.   
     
     
         17 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the direction in which the paper sheets are fed to the stacking unit from the transport unit corresponds to the long-edge direction of each paper sheet.   
     
     
         18 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the stacking unit further includes a paper sheet arranging member configured to contact with each edge of the paper sheets pushed toward the opening by the pushing member, thereby arranging the edges of the respective paper sheets. 
     
     
         19 . The paper sheet handling machine according to  claim 18 , wherein the paper sheet arranging member can be moved in the direction in which the paper sheets are taken out from the stacking unit.