Banknotes processing apparatus and banknotes processing method

Abstract

A banknotes processing apparatus has a banknote discriminator for discriminating banknotes and a reversing portion for reversing the direction of banknotes to be conveyed according to a discrimination result of the banknote discriminator. The conveying direction of banknotes is properly arranged by the reversing portion and furthermore, according to the discrimination result of the banknote discriminator, banknotes for each designated note kind are stacked in a first stacker or a second stacker. Each banknotes in a predetermined number of sheets which are stacked in these stackers are conveyed to a tape winding portion in a batch. The conveyed banknotes, on the basis of the note kind discrimination result by the detector, are banded by the tape winding portion in a batch using tapes whereon attributes including the note kind of the concerned banknotes are color-printed by a printer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-330268 filed on Sep. 22, 2003; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a banknotes processing apparatus in which a banding device for banding paper-like materials such as banknotes with a tape and a printer for printing attributes of banknotes of the note kind to be banded on the concerned tape are arranged and a banknotes processing method.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a processing apparatus for processing paper-like materials to be conveyed such as banknotes takes out a plurality of paper-like materials in different dimensions inputted in a random state of “front and back” and “top and bottom” one by one on a conveying path and the note kind and the direction of banknotes to be conveyed (hereinafter, referred to as the conveying direction) are discriminated by a detector installed on the conveying path. On the basis of the discrimination results, a plurality of gates installed on the conveying path are switched and furthermore, for example, paper-like materials of the note kind designated so as to be banded are arranged properly in the conveying direction by a switchback reversing mechanism or a front/back reversing mechanism and are conveyed to an online banding device. And, by this online banding device, banknotes are banded using a tape in a different color for each note kind.

Namely, the online banding device is composed of a stacker for counting and stacking paper-like materials to be supplied to the banding device up to the designated number of notes (generally 100 notes) and a banding portion for conveying the stacked paper-like materials and automatically banding them with a tape in the color designated beforehand for the concerned paper-like materials to be banded.

Therefore, as described in Japanese Patent Application 5-6478, for example, when banding banknotes of two note kinds, two sets of banding devices (one set is composed of a stacker and a banding portion) are incorporated, and tapes corresponding to the note kind to be banded are set in each of the banding devices, and banknotes are banded by the respective banding devices. Further, when a set of banding device is used, tapes corresponding to one note kind are incorporated into the banding device, and the concerned banknotes are banded with the predetermined tape, and then the tapes of the banding device are exchanged with tapes of the other note kind, and banknotes of the concerned other note kind are conveyed and banded.

However, in such a conventional constitution, whenever the note kind to be banded is to be changed, an operation of exchanging the previous tapes with tapes printed in the color of the note kind to be banded (hereinafter, referred to as the banding note kind) must be performed by an operator, thus a great deal of time is required for the operator, and a problem arises that due to a mistake of the operator, tapes in a different color are incorrectly used for the banding note kind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a banknotes processing apparatus and a banknotes processing method in which a tape printer is installed in a banding device, and various information (note kind, sum of money, bank name, etc.) concerning banknotes of the banding note kind is printed on tapes in color, thus the labor of an operator to exchange tapes for each note kind can be saved, and the operator is prevented from a failure of use of wrong tapes, and banknotes of a plurality of note kinds can be banded flexibly by one banding device without fixing the note kind and exchanging tapes for each banding device, and the operation rate is improved, and cut-down of cost and space saving are realized, and tapes are standardized to one kind of solid color, and cost reduction, inventory, and ordering management of expendables can be executed easily.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, a banknotes processing apparatus is provided, 10 which comprises a stacker configured to stack banknotes arranged properly by unifying a note kind, a front and back, and a direction; a printer configured to print attribute information of the stacked banknotes on a tape in color; and a banding portion configured to band the banknotes stacked on the stacker with the tape.

Further, according to the embodiments of the present invention, a banknotes processing method is provided, which comprises supplying a plurality of banknotes in a batch; conveying the banknotes to be supplied; discriminating a note kind and a conveying direction of the banknotes to be conveyed; changing the conveying directions of the banknotes to be conveyed so as to properly arrange them in the same conveying direction on the basis of the discrimination results; stacking the banknotes arranged properly in the same direction; printing attribute information including the note kind of the banknotes on a tape in color on the basis of the discrimination results; and

banding the stacked banknotes with the color-printed tape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view showing an embodiment of the banknotes processing apparatus of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is block diagram showing the constitution of the banknotes discriminating device and main controller of the banknotes processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the banding operation of the banknotes processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a front/back and forward/reverse arranging subroutine of the flow chart showing the procedure of the banding operation,

FIG. 5 is a table for explaining changes in the conveying direction by the switchback reversing process and front/back reversing process,

FIG. 6 is a schematic view for explaining the operation of the banding portion, and

FIGS. 7A to 7G are plan views showing an example of color-printed tapes used to band banknotes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of the banknotes processing apparatus of the present invention. The banknotes processing apparatus is composed of banknote processing unit 1 and main controller 51. Banknote processing unit 1, for a plurality of banknotes B of a plurality of note kinds and of different dimensions which are mixed and inputted in a batch, on the basis of the note kind discrimination result by the detector and the designation from main controller 51, properly arranges the conveying direction of all banknotes B, for example, in the upright state on the front and classifies them for each note kind.

At this time, banknotes of the note kind designated by 15 main controller 51 are banded by banding portion 4 and banknotes of the other note kinds are stacked in storages 60 to 65.

Next, the conveying direction of banknotes B will be explained. Banknotes B are composed of four kinds of front (F: the state that the front is up), back (B: the state that the back is up), forward (F: the state that the print on the front or back of banknotes is upright), and reverse (R: the state that the print on the front or back of banknotes is upside down) and four kinds of conveying directions composed of front and forward FF, front and reverse FR, back and forward BF, and back and reverse BR in combination of the aforementioned four kinds are formed.

Banknote processing unit 1 is composed of supply portion 10 for supplying banknotes B, conveying path 16 for conveying banknotes B supplied from supply portion 10, conveying pitch correction portion 2 for correcting the conveying pitch of banknotes B to be conveyed, banknote discriminating device 19 for discriminating banknotes B conveyed in this way one by one, switchback reversing portion 3 reversing to properly arrange the conveying directions of the banknotes on the basis of the discrimination results of banknote discriminating device 19, front/back reversing portion 45, banding portion 4 for banding the arranged banknotes, and storages 60 to 65 for storing the arranged banknotes for each note kind.

Further, banknote processing unit 1 is connected to main controller 51 via interface 50.

Supply portion 10 is composed of stage 11 for making contact with and arranging banknotes B in which the four kinds of conveying directions coexist and backup plate 12 installed upright perpendicularly to stage 11. Further, backup plate 12 can move to the left along stage 11 by the pressing force of spring 13. Banknotes B supplied in this way are pressed on the side of take-out rollers 14 by backup plate 12.

Take-out rollers 14 take out pressed banknotes B one by one by rotating and supplies them to conveying path 16. Supplied banknotes B are fetched by conveying rollers 15 and are supplied to conveying pitch correction portion 2.

Conveying pitch correction portion 2 is composed of timing sensor SC1 installed in the neighborhood of the downstream side of conveying rollers 15 in the conveying direction for detecting banknotes, conveyor roller 201 capable of changing the rotational speed by the driving force from conveyor roller driving motor 202, pinch roller 200 arranged opposite to conveyor roller 201, and a conveying pitch controller (not shown in the drawing) for controlling conveyor roller driving motor 202.

FIG. 2 is block diagram showing the constitution of banknote discriminating device 19 and main controller 51. Banknote discriminating device 19 is composed of banknote discriminator 20 for discriminating banknotes B and conveyor controller 30 for deciding the destination of banknotes B to be conveyed.

Banknote discriminator 20 is composed of a plurality of sensors 1 to n for detecting optical characteristics and magnetic characteristics concerning the material of banknotes B, amplifier circuits 1 to n for amplifying output signals of sensors 1 to n, and processors 26 for processing output signals of amplifier circuits 1 to n. Processor 26 is composed of A-D converter 24 for executing A-D conversion, logical circuit 23 for performing logical operations for data which is A-D converted by A-D converter 24, CPU 21 for discriminating truth or falsehood (true or false) and normal or damage (normal notes or damaged notes) from an output signal of logical circuit 23 and also controlling whole banknote discriminator 20, memory 25 accessed by CPU 21, and interface portion 22 for communicating results discriminated by CPU 21 and data to and from main controller 51.

Further, conveyor controller 30 is composed of CPU 31 for deciding the destination of banknotes B to be conveyed and controlling conveying of banknotes B by discrimination results of banknote discriminator 20, memory 33 accessed by CPU 31, and interface portion 32 installed between interface portion 22 of banknote discriminator 20 and CPU 31.

Sorting gate G1 shown in FIG. 1 is a gate, for example, for sorting into rejected notes and process notes. Rejected notes mean “undiscriminatable notes” which cannot be discriminated because banknotes B discriminated by banknote discriminator 20 are false, folded, broken, or skewed and when conveyor controller 30 receives a discrimination signal thereof, sorting gate G1 rotates clockwise, thus undiscriminatable notes are stacked in rejected notes stacker.

Further, process notes mean that banknotes B discriminated by banknote discriminator 20 are true notes and normal notes (re-circulatable notes) or true notes and damaged notes (uncirculatable notes) and when conveyor controller 30 receives a discrimination signal thereof, sorting gate G1 rotates counterclockwise.

The reversion processing unit is composed of switchback reversing portion 3 and front/back reversing portion 45 and depending on the arranging direction, one or both of reversing portions 3 and 45 are used.

Switchback reversing portion 3 is composed of timing sensor SC2 installed in the neighborhood of the downstream side of paired conveyor rollers 300 and 301 in the conveying direction for detecting banknotes B, sorting gates G10 and G11 installed in the neighborhood of the downstream side of timing sensor SC2 in the conveying direction, and take-in rollers 302 and 303 and banknotes B are taken in by reversing portion 311.

Reversing portion 311 is composed of forward/reverse rotation roller 304 and pickup roller 305 normally rotating to convey taken-in banknotes B in the direction of arrow A31 shown in the drawing, driving roller 310 for driving forward/reverse rotation roller 304, and conveyor rollers 306 and 307.

Further, to reverse banknotes B taken in by reversing portion 311, conveyor rollers 308 and 309 for conveying in the direction of arrow A32 shown in the drawing and ejecting from switchback reversing portion 3 are installed.

Here, forward/reverse rotation roller 304, when conveying banknotes B in the direction of arrow A31 shown in the drawing, rotates normally and when conveying banknotes B in the direction of arrow A32 shown in the drawing, rotates reversely.

Sorting gate G2 is a front/back and forward/reverse sorting gate. On the basis of the result of the conveying direction of banknotes B discriminated by banknotes discriminator 20, when front and back reverse is required, sorting gate G2 is rotated clockwise and banknotes B pass front/back reversing portion 45 indicated by arrow A6 in the drawing. Further, when front and back reverse is not required, sorting gate G2 is rotated counterclockwise and banknotes B are conveyed in the direction indicated by arrow A4 shown in the drawing.

Front/back reversing portion 45 reverses the front and back of banknotes B discriminated by banknote discriminator 20 of banknote discriminating device 19 in the conveying direction. For example, when banknotes B in the conveying direction are back and reverse (BF), banknotes B are changed to front and forward (FF) by front/back reversing portion 45.

Sorting gate G3 operates so as to sort banknotes B to be conveyed to banding portion 4 and storages 60 to 65. In a case of the note kind that banknotes B to be conveyed are designated so as to be banded by main controller 51, conveyor controller 30 rotates sorting gate G3 clockwise and banknotes B are conveyed in the direction of arrow A40 shown in the drawing where banding portion 4 is installed. Further, banknotes B of the other note kinds are sorted so as to be stored in storages 60 to 65 from gate G3 via gates G4 to G8.

Banding portion 4 is composed of a stacker for stacking banknotes B, a conveying portion for conveying stacked banknotes, and a taping portion for banding conveyed banknotes with a printed tape. Hereunder, by referring to FIG. 6, the constitution of each unit of banding portion 4 will be explained.

The stacker is composed of first stacker 401 and second stacker 404 for counting conveyed banknotes B and sorting and stacking them every 100 notes.

The conveying portion is composed of a vertical conveying path, conveyor carrier 407, and horizontal conveying path 411. The vertical conveying path is composed of first vertical conveying path 402 and second vertical conveying path 405 for moving up or down 100 banknotes 412 received by backup plates 403 and 406. Further, conveyor carrier 407 is structured so as to receive 100 banknotes 412 from backup plates 403 and 406 at the stop position of first vertical conveying path 402 and to deliver them to receiving tray 413, move back and forth on horizontal conveying path 411.

The taping portion is composed of tape 408 for banding 100 banknotes 412 stacked on receiving stray 413, printer 409 for printing on tape 408 in color, tape winding portion 410 for banding 100 banknotes 412 with a printed tape, and banding controller 400 (FIG. 1) for controlling banding portion 4.

Next, the procedure of the banding operation will be explained. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the procedure of the banding operation of the present invention. In the flow chart, the part for controlling the conveyance of banknotes B is processed by conveyor controller 30 shown in FIG. 2 and the part for controlling banding portion 4 is processed by banding controller 400 shown in FIG. 1.

In this case, the note kind designated by main controller 51 so as to be banded after banknotes B are supplied to the banknote processing apparatus is conveyed to banding portion 4 and the other note kinds are stored in rejected note stacker 80 or storages 60 to 65. Further, the conveying process for banknotes B is controlled by conveyor controller 30, though banknotes B conveyed to banding portion 4 by clockwise rotation of sorting gate G3 are controlled by banding controller 400. These procedures will be explained below.

When banknotes B including a plurality of note kinds are supplied to supply portion 10 by an operator, supplied banknotes B are taken out one by one by take-out rollers 14 and are supplied to conveying path 16. Supplied banknotes B are conveyed to conveying pitch correction portion 2 (Step S1).

Conveying pitch correction portion 2 executes the conveying pitch correction. The conveying pitch correction, to keep the interval of banknotes B conveyed continuously below a predetermined value, when the interval between the leading edge of banknote B conveyed earlier and the leading edge of banknote B conveyed immediately after exceeds a specified value, the interval is corrected.

Namely, the conveying pitch between banknote B and banknote B taken out next is measured using timing sensor SC1, and when pitch shortening or pitch delay exceeding a set value occurs, according to a conveying pitch controller (not shown in the drawing), the rotational speed of conveyor roller 201 is changed by conveyor roller driving motor 202 and the pitch shortening or pitch delay of banknote B taken out next is corrected (Step S2). Banknote B whose conveying pitch is corrected is sent to banknote discriminating device 19.

The note kind, conveying direction, truth or falsehood, and normal or damage of banknotes B to be conveyed are discriminated by banknote discriminator 20 of banknote discriminating device 19 (Step S3).

Conveyor controller 30, when as a result of banknote discrimination, banknotes B are discriminated as false notes or damaged notes, to stack rejected banknotes B in rejected note stacker 80, rotates sorting gate GI clockwise (Step S4). As a result, rejected banknotes B pass sorting gate G1 and are stacked in rejected banknote stacker 80 (Step S5).

Further, when as a result of banknote discrimination, banknotes B are discriminated as true notes (normal notes or damaged notes), a “front/back and forward/reverse arranging” subroutine process of properly arranging the front and back or forward and reverse of banknotes B in the conveying direction designated by main controller 51 is performed (Step S6).

FIG. 4 shows the “front/back and forward/reverse arranging” subroutine. The subroutine discriminates whether the conveying direction designation by main controller 51 at the time of stacking or storing is one-direction arranging designation or front and back arranging designation (Step S23).

In a case of one-direction arranging designation, depending on the banknote discrimination result of concerned banknotes B by banknote discriminating device 19, the subroutine operates switchback reversing portion 3 and front/back reversing portion 45 and performs the switchback reversing process and front/back reversing process based on the table shown in FIG. 5 (Step S24).

For example, when properly arranging banknotes B in the direction of front and forward FF, the conveying direction is converted as indicated below.

• • Conveying direction to be supplied: Front and forward FF→nothing done
  • Conveying direction to be supplied: Front and reverse FR→process A+process B
  • Conveying direction to be supplied: Back and forward BF→process B
  • Conveying direction to be supplied: Back and reverse BR→process A
  • Process A: Switchback reversing process by switchback reversing portion 3
  • Process B: Front/back reversing process by front/back reversing portion 45
  • Process A+process B: Both processes A and B are performed.

Further, in a case of front and back arranging designation, when the banknote discrimination result of concerned banknotes B by banknote discriminating device 19 is front conveyance (front and forward FF, front and reverse FR), no processes are performed and the process is finished (Yes at Step S25). On the other hand, when the banknote discrimination result is back conveyance (back and forward BF, back and reverse BR), the front/back reversing process (process B) for passing banknotes through front/back reversing portion 45 and reversing the front and back of banknotes B is performed (Step S26). In this case, the conveying direction is converted as indicated below.

• • (Front/back reversing process by front/back reversing portion 45)
  • Conveying direction to be supplied: Front and forward FF→nothing done
  • Conveying direction to be supplied: Front and reverse FR→nothing done
  • Conveying direction to be supplied: Back and forward BF→front and forward FF
  • Conveying direction to be supplied: Back and reverse BR→front and reverse FR.

By the aforementioned process, banknotes B whose conveying direction is properly arranged are returned to FIG. 3 and the banding process at Step S7 and the subsequent steps is performed.

The “front/back and forward/reverse arranging” subroutine process is finished and whether banknotes B whose conveying direction is properly arranged are of the banding note kind or not is discriminated (Step S7).

When the discrimination result at Step S7 shows other than the banding note kind, conveyor controller 30 rotates sorting gate G3 counterclockwise, furthermore rotates sorting gates G4 to G8, thereby stores banknotes B in any of storages 60 to 65 designated for each note kind (Steps S8 and S9).

When the discrimination result at Step S7 shows the banding note kind, conveyor controller 30, to perform the banding process, sets sorting gates G3 and G12 in the initial state. Namely, conveyor controller 30 rotates sorting gate G3 clockwise, sets so as to convey banknotes B to banding portion 4, rotates sorting gate G12 counterclockwise, and sets so as to stack banknotes B in first stacker 401 of banding portion 4 (Step S10). Further, in parallel with this process, tape printing of the banding 10 note kind is started (Step S11).

Next, tape 408 will be explained. Tape 408 can be printed on its surface in color, and the back thereof is composed of roll paper which can be thermally adhered, and tape 408 is set in rotatable roll paper holder 408a shown in FIG. 6.

When the banding note kind is detected at Step S7, printer 409, to distinguish the note kind, prints the attributes of the banding note kind (items for discriminating banknotes in the banded state) such as pattern, note kind, normal note/damaged note, sum of money, and bank name on tape 408 by example an ink jet method etc. and prints whole tape 408 in a color corresponding to the note kind. Or the attributes of the banding note kind of the pattern etc. are printed on tape 408 in a color corresponding to the note kind.

In FIGS. 7A to 7G, 7 kinds of samples of tape 408 printed in colors are shown. Namely, as shown in FIG. 7A, a pair of blue stripes corresponding to 1$ note are printed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of tape 408 and reversed characters of “ONES” are printed on both stripes. Namely, it indicates that the note kind of the banknote is a one-dollar banknote by information printed on tape 408 and the color. Between the pair of blue stripes, blue characters of “$100” are printed and since 100 banknotes are banded, it indicates a total of 100 dollars.

As shown in FIG. 7B, a pair of green stripes corresponding to 2$ note are printed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of tape 408 and reversed characters of “TWOS” are printed on both stripes. Namely, it indicates that the note kind of the banknote is a two-dollar banknote by information printed on tape 408 and the color. Between the pair of green stripes, green characters of “$200” are printed and since 100 banknotes are banded, it indicates a total of 200 dollars.

As shown in FIG. 7C, a pair of red stripes corresponding to 5$ note are printed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of tape 408 and reversed characters of “FIVES” are printed on both stripes. Namely, it indicates that the note kind of the banknote is a five-dollar banknote by information printed on tape 408 and the color. Between the pair of red stripes, red characters of “$500” are printed and since 100 banknotes are banded, it indicates a total of 500 dollars.

As shown in FIG. 7D, a pair of yellow stripes corresponding to 10$ note are printed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of tape 408 and reversed characters of “TENS” are printed on both stripes. Namely, it indicates that the note kind of the banknote is a ten-dollar banknote by information printed on tape 408 and the color. Between the pair of yellow stripes, yellow characters of “$1,000” are printed and since 100 banknotes are banded, it indicates a total of 1,000 dollars.

As shown in FIG. 7E, a pair of purple stripes corresponding to 20$ note are printed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of tape 408 and reversed characters of “TWENTIES” are printed on both stripes. Namely, it indicates that the note kind of the banknote is a twenty-dollar banknote by information printed on tape 408 and the color. Between the pair of purple stripes, purple characters of “$2,000” are printed and since 100 banknotes are banded, it indicates a total of 2,000 dollars.

As shown in FIG. 7F, a pair of brown stripes corresponding to 50$ note are printed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of tape 408 and reversed characters of “FIFTIES” are printed on both stripes. Namely, it indicates that the note kind of the banknote is a fifty-dollar banknote by information printed on tape 408 and the color. Between the pair of brown stripes, brown characters of “$5,000” are printed and since 100 banknotes are banded, it indicates a total of 5,000 dollars.

As shown in FIG. 7G, pair of ocher stripes corresponding to 100$ note are printed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of tape 408 and reversed characters of “HUNDREDS” are printed on both stripes. Namely, it indicates that the note kind of the banknote is a hundred-dollar banknote by information printed on tape 408 and the color. Between the pair of ocher stripes, ocher characters of “$10,000” are printed and since 100 banknotes are banded, it indicates a total of 10,000 dollars.

Further, the material of tape 408 is paper or polyvinyl chloride.

FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining the operation of the banding portion. At the following steps, by referring to FIG. 6, the operation of banding portion 4 will be explained.

Banding controller 400 discriminates whether the number of banknotes B stacked on first stacker 401 of banding portion 4 reaches 100 sheets or not (Step S12). When the discrimination result at Step S12 shows smaller than 100 sheets, banding controller 400 waits until the number thereof reaches 100 sheets (No at Step S12).

When the number of banknotes B in first stacker 401 reaches 100 sheets in this way, to stack banknotes B continuously conveyed in second stacker 404, banding controller 400 rotates sorting gate G12 clockwise (Step S16). Further, banknotes B in first stacker 401 whose number reaches 100 sheets are banded according to the tape winding process routine (Steps S13 to S15).

Namely, the tape winding process routine holds the banknotes whose number reaches 100 sheets (100 banknotes 412) between backup plate 403 and a paper holder (not shown in the drawing) (a banknote holding mechanism) and moves first vertical conveying path 402 down to the lower stop position in the direction of arrow A41 shown in the drawing (Step S13).

Next, the tape winding process routine moves 100 banknotes 412, which are held between backup plate 403 and the paper holder and are moved down to the stop position of first vertical conveying path 402, to conveyor carrier 407.

Furthermore, conveyor carrier 407 with 100 banknotes 412 stacked is conveyed on horizontal conveying path 411 in the direction of arrow A44 shown in the drawing and transfers 100 banknotes 412 to receiving tray 413 (Step S14).

Empty conveyor carrier 407, to convey the next 100 banknotes, for example, waits at the lower stop position of second vertical conveying path 405.

Next, 100 banknotes 412 in receiving tray 413 are formed in a mass by tape winding portion 410 and then are banded with tape 408 printed at Step S11 (Step S15). 100 banknotes 412 banded with a color-printed tape in this way are ejected from banding portion 4 (Step S22).

Next, the operation of second stacker 404 will be explained.

Banding controller 400, similarly to Step S12, discriminates whether the number of banknotes B in first stacker 401 of banding portion 4 reaches 100 sheets or not (Step S17). When the discrimination result at Step S17 shows smaller than 100 sheets, banding controller 400 waits until the number thereof reaches 100 sheets (No at Step S17).

When the number of banknotes B in second stacker 404 reaches 100 sheets in this way, to stack banknotes B continuously conveyed in first stacker 401, banding controller 400 rotates sorting gate G12 counterclockwise (Step S21). Further, banknotes B in second stacker 404 whose number reaches 100 sheets are banded according to the tape winding process routine (Steps S18 to S20).

The tape winding process routine, similarly to Step S13, holds banknotes 412, whose number reaches 100 sheets, between backup plate 406 and a paper holder (not shown in the drawing) and moves second vertical conveying path 405 down to the stop position in the direction of arrow A43 shown in the drawing (Step S18).

Next, the tape winding process routine, similarly to Step S14, moves 100 banknotes 412, which are held between backup plate 406 and the paper holder (banknote holding mechanism) and are moved down to the stop position of second vertical conveying path 405, to conveyor carrier 407.

Furthermore, conveyor carrier 407 with 100 banknotes 412 stacked is conveyed on horizontal conveying path 411 in the direction of arrow A44 shown in the drawing and transfers 100 banknotes 412 to receiving tray 413 (Step S19).

Empty conveyor carrier 407, to convey the next 100 banknotes, for example, waits at the lower stop position of first vertical conveying path 402.

Next, similarly to Step S15, 100 banknotes 412 in receiving tray 413 are formed in a mass by tape winding portion 410 and then are banded with tape 408 printed at Step S11.

100 banknotes 412 banded with a color-printed tape in this way are ejected from banding portion 4 (Step S22).

In the aforementioned embodiment, as a printing method of printer 409, the ink jet method is used. However, the printing method is not limited to the ink jet method and other heat transfer methods can be applied.

As explained above, according to the aforementioned embodiment, banknotes sorted for each designated number of sheets are automatically banded with a tape with the attributes of the note kind printed on the basis of the note kind discrimination result by the detector, so that a banknote processing apparatus in which there is no troublesomeness of setting a tape depending on the note kind to be handled, and a tape is not incorrectly set, and a plurality of note kinds can be banded flexibly by one banding device without exchanging tapes, thus the operation rate is improved, and cut-down of cost and space saving (miniaturization) can be realized can be provided.

According to the present invention, a banknotes processing apparatus in which a tape printer is installed in a banding device, and various information (note kind, sum of money, bank name, etc.) concerning the banding note kind designated so as to be banded and a color according to each banding note kind are automatically printed on tapes in color by the banding device on the basis of the note kind discrimination result by the detector, thus the labor of an operator to exchange the tapes for each note kind to be banded is saved, and the operator is prevented from setting a wrong tape kind, and a plurality of note kinds can be banded flexibly without exchanging the note kind and exchanging the tape for each banding device, so that the operation rate of the banding device is improved, and cut-down of cost and miniaturization (space saving by reduction in the number of banding devices) can be realized can be provided.

Further, due to the mass production effect by unifying and standardizing banding tapes conventionally different in color, design, and printing for each note kind between countries, financial institutions, and cash transport companies to pain tapes, cost reduction of tapes which are expendables can be expected and the running cost of the banding device can be reduced. Furthermore, by standardization of tapes which are expendables to one kind, the inventory cost and ordering cost can be reduced.

Claims

1. A banknotes processing apparatus comprising:

a stacker configured to stack banknotes arranged properly by unifying a note kind, a front and back, and a direction;

a printer configured to print attribute information of the stacked banknotes on a tape in color; and

a banding portion configured to band the banknotes stacked on the stacker with the tape.

2. The banknotes processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attribute information includes at least one of the note kinds, a sum of money, and a bank name.

3. The banknotes processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a supply portion configured to supply a plurality of banknotes in a batch;

a conveying means for conveying the banknotes supplied from the supply portion;

a discriminator installed on the conveying means configured to discriminate the note kind and the conveying direction of the banknotes; and

a reversing portion configured to change the conveying direction of the banknotes conveyed according to a discrimination result of the discriminator and properly arranging in a unified conveying direction.

4. The banknotes processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the stacker includes a first stacker and a second stacker and further includes, when the number of the banknotes stacked in the first stacker reaches a predetermined number of sheets, a sorting gate configured to sort conveyance of the banknotes so as to stack the banknotes in the second stacker.

5. A banknotes processing apparatus comprising:

a supply portion configured to supplying a plurality of banknotes in a batch;

a conveying means for conveying the banknotes supplied from the supply portion;

a banknote discriminator, provided on the conveying means, configured to discriminate a note kind and a conveying direction of the banknotes;

a reverse processing unit configured to change the conveying direction of the banknotes conveyed according to a discrimination result of the discriminator and properly arranging in the same conveying direction;

a stacker configured to stack the banknotes for each note kind according to the discrimination result of the banknote discriminator;

a banding portion configured to band the banknotes in a predetermined number stacked in the stacker with a tape; and

a printer configured to print attribute information including the note kind of the banknotes banded in the banding portion according to the discrimination result of the banknote discriminator on the tape in color corresponding to the note kind.

6. The banknotes processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of the stackers are installed and by a sorting gate at a banknote supply port of the stackers, when the number of the banknotes stacked in one stacker reaches a predetermined number of sheets, conveyance is sorted so as to stack the banknotes in the other stacker.

7. The banknotes processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the banding portion includes:

a banknote holding mechanism configured to hold banknotes in a predetermined number stacked in the stacker in a batch;

a vertical conveying means for conveying vertically the banknote holding mechanism;

a conveyor carrier configured to receive the banknotes conveyed to a lower stop position of the vertical conveying means;

a horizontal conveying means for moving the conveyor carrier right and left; and

a tape winding portion configured to wind the tape round the banknotes conveyed to a stop position of the horizontal conveying means, wherein:

the banknotes of the banding note kind are stacked on the conveyor carrier, are conveyed to the horizontal conveying means, and are transferred to the tape winding portion in a batch.

8. The banknotes processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the reverse processing unit includes:

a switchback reversing portion arranged on a downstream side of the banknote discriminator in the conveying direction configured to reverse a front and a back and the conveying direction of the banknotes; and

a front/back reversing portion arranged on the downstream side of the banknote discriminator in the conveying direction configured to reverse the front and the back of the banknotes, wherein:

by at least one of the switchback reversing process by the switchback reversing portion and the front/back reversing process by the front/back reversing portion, the conveying direction of the banknotes is properly arranged in one direction and the banknotes are stacked in the stacker.

9. A banknotes processing method comprising:

supplying a plurality of banknotes in a batch;

conveying the banknotes to be supplied;

discriminating a note kind and a conveying direction of the banknotes to be conveyed;

changing the conveying directions of the banknotes to be conveyed so as to properly arrange them in the same conveying direction on the basis of the discrimination results;

stacking the banknotes arranged properly in the same direction;

printing attribute information including the note kind of the banknotes on a tape in color on the basis of the discrimination results; and

banding the stacked banknotes with the color-printed tape.

10. The banknotes processing method according to claim 9, wherein the printed attribute information includes at least one of the note kind, a sum of money, and a bank name.