METHOD FOR TAKING OUT PAPER SHEETS AND PAPER SHEET TAKE-OUT PROCESSING SYSTEM

Abstract

A method for taking out paper sheets that is capable of accurately taking out paper sheets (for example, separator cards) stored in a paper sheet storage container one-by-one at low cost. In this paper sheet taking-out method, air is blown from the side of or below the paper sheet while it is in a spread state, so that the upper surface of the paper sheet is raised. In this state, sucking the upper surface of the paper sheet by a suction mechanism allows for taking out the paper sheet with high accuracy.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a technique for taking out paper sheets from a container in which paper sheets have been stored.

BACKGROUND ART

For example, a bill processing system has been developed to collect bills stored in a cash box detachably mounted on a gaming machine or the like of a casino, and to confirm whether the sales amount for each cash box and the total amount of bills actually collected from the cash box coincide with each other.

If the bill processing system performs bill counting processing for each bill bundle collected from the cash box, continuously counting bills cannot be performed and thus the efficiency is low. To cope with this, the bill handling system ties up (stacks) bill bundles collected from a plurality of cash boxes (for example, bill bundle Bills (CB1) to Bills (CBN) in FIG. 39, N: natural number, CBk: k-th (1≤k≤N) cash box, bill bundle Bills (CBk): bill bundle collected from the k-th cash box) to create a batch (bill bundle group) (for example, batches Batch1 to BatchN in FIG. 39) and create a batch group by collecting a plurality of batches (for example, a batch group Batch_G1 in FIG. 39), and then the batch group is applied to an automatic bill counting machine (sorter) to perform bill counting. This allows the bill processing system to perform bill counting processing continuously without stopping the automatic bill counting machine (sorter), thus allowing for performing bill counting processing efficiently. At this time, the automatic bill counting machine (sorter) inserts separator cards (for example, separator cards Sep_card1 to Sep_cardN in FIG. 39) into the bill bundles taken out from the respective cash boxes to generate a batch (bill bundle group) (for example, the batches Batch1 to BatchN in FIG. 39) so that the total amount of money for the bills stored in each cash box can be obtained (e.g., see Patent Document 1). For example, a bar code is printed on the separator card, and reading the bar code by the automatic bill counting machine (sorter) allows for specifying the separator card. For example, the bill processing system identifies a cash box by reading information of a tag (for example, a RF tag) assigned to each cash box, obtains information (for example, information specified by a barcode printed on the front surface of the separator card) specifying the separator card inserted into the bill bundle taken out from the cash box, and generates data in which information identifying the cash box is associated with information specifying the separator card. In the bill processing system, the automatic bill counter (sorter) can recognize that the bill bundle partitioned by the separator card is the bill bundle collected from the cash box associated with the separator card from the data in which the information identifying the cash box has been associated with the information specifying the separator card, and furthermore can obtain the total amount of money collected from the cash box.

As described above, using the separator card, the bill processing system can achieve continuous bill counting processing, and furthermore can obtain the total amount of money for bill bundles collected from the individual cash boxes.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

• Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-67522

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

To perform the above processing, the bill handling system needs to insert the separator cards one-by-one into the bill bundle collected from the cash box. In order to realize this, for example, it is conceivable to take out the separators one-by-one from a container containing a plurality of separator cards, and then insert the taken-out separator cards into the bill bundle collected from the cash box (for example, it is conceivable to place the separator cards one-by-one on the bill bundle collected from the cash box). In other words, it is conceivable to use a paper sheet feeding device that takes out a separator card one-by-one from a container containing a plurality of separator cards.

However, such a paper sheet feeding device requires a complicated sheet feeding mechanism (for example, a sheet feeding mechanism for taking out paper sheets one-by-one) in order to take out a separator card one-by-one from a container containing a plurality of separator cards, and also requires a sensor or the like for detecting whether the fed separator cards overlap. Thus, when the separator is taken out one-by-one from the container containing the plurality of separator cards and the taken-out separator card is inserted into the bill bundle collected from the cash box using the paper sheet feeding device as described above, the cost is high.

Alternatively, it is conceivable that the separator is taken out one-by-one from the container containing the plurality of separator cards by hand, and then the taken-out separator card is inserted into the bill bundle collected from the cash box; however, in this case, labor costs are still required and thus the cost is high.

For this reason, there is a demand for a technique capable of reliably taking out paper sheets (for example, separator cards) one-by-one using a simple mechanism at low cost.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for taking out paper sheets and a paper sheet storage take-out processing system that are capable of accurately taking out paper sheets (for example, separator cards) stored in a paper sheet storage container one-by-one at low cost.

Solution to Problem

To solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention provides a method for taking out paper sheets; the method includes taking out a paper sheet by sucking the upper surface of the paper sheet by a suction mechanism while blowing air to the paper sheet from the side of or below the paper sheet in a spread state.

In this method for taking out paper sheets, blowing air from the side of or below the paper sheet in a spread state causes the upper surface of the paper sheet to be raised. In this state, sucking the upper surface of the paper sheet by the suction mechanism allows for taking out the paper sheet with high accuracy (for example, taking out one sheet at a time with high accuracy).

A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for taking out paper sheets including a first step of blowing air from the side of or below the paper sheet in a state in which the paper sheet has been spread and in a state in which at least a part of an end portion of the paper sheet has been held, and a second step of taking out the paper sheet by sucking the raised portion of the upper surface of the paper sheet, which is caused by blowing air from the side of or below the paper sheet, by a suction mechanism.

In this method for taking out paper sheets, blowing air from the side of or below the paper sheet in a spread state, in which at least a part of the end portion of the paper has been held, causes the upper surface of the paper sheet to be raised. In this state, sucking the upper surface of the paper sheet by the suction mechanism allows for taking out the paper sheet with high accuracy (for example, taking out one sheet at a time with high accuracy).

A third aspect of the present invention provides the method for taking out paper sheets of the second aspect of the present invention in which the second step lowers the suction mechanism from above the upper surface of the paper sheet, and lifts the suction mechanism upward after the paper sheet has been sucked to take out the paper sheet.

Thus, in this method for taking out paper sheets, lowering and raising the suction mechanism allows for taking out the paper sheet with high accuracy.

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides the method for taking out paper sheets of the third aspect of the present invention in which when a pressure in the suction mechanism becomes lower than a predetermined value or when an amount of decrease in the pressure in the suction mechanism becomes larger than a predetermined value, lowering the suction mechanism is stopped and the suction mechanism is lifted upward.

Thus, in this method for taking out paper sheets, monitoring the pressure in the suction mechanism allows for easily and accurately detecting whether the paper sheet is in a sucked state. This allows for performing processing of taking out paper sheets with high accuracy.

Note that in this method for taking out paper sheets, when the amount of decrease in the pressure in the suction mechanism becomes larger than a predetermined value, lowering the suction mechanism may be stopped and the suction mechanism may be lifted upward.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second step, the tip of the suction mechanism is lowered only to a position higher than the upper surface of the paper sheet.

Accordingly, in this method for taking out paper sheets, the suction mechanism is not lowered unnecessarily; as a result, the paper sheets can be taken out at high speed.

A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a paper sheet take-out processing system for performing processing of taking out paper sheets, including a paper sheet storage container configured to store paper sheets, a pump configured to cause air to flow into the inside of the paper sheet storage container, and a suction mechanism.

The paper sheet storage container includes a bottom portion, a paper sheet placing table configured to place paper sheets, an elastic member disposed between the bottom portion and the paper sheet placing table for urging the paper sheet placing table upward, a holding member configured to hold paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table together with the paper sheet placing table, and a side wall portion that is arranged so as to surround the paper sheet placing table, and is provided with a hole for causing air to flow from the outside in the vicinity of a height substantially the same as a height at which the surface of the uppermost paper sheet is positioned when the paper sheets are placed on the paper sheet placing table

When air is flowing into the inside of the paper sheet storage container by the pump, the suction mechanism moves downward from above the paper sheet placed on the paper sheet placing table, and then moves upward after the paper sheet is sucked, thereby taking out the paper sheet from the paper sheet storage container.

The paper sheet take-out processing system blows air from the side of or below the paper sheet placed on the paper sheet placing table of the paper sheet storage container, thereby bringing the upper surface of the paper sheet placed on the paper sheet placing table into a floating state; and then in this state, sucking the upper surface of the paper sheet by the suction mechanism allows for taking out the paper sheet with high accuracy (for example, taking out one sheet at a time with high accuracy).

A seventh aspect of the present invention provides the paper sheet take-out processing system of the sixth aspect of the present invention, further including a pressure detecting unit configured to detect a pressure inside the suction mechanism.

when the pressure inside the suction mechanism becomes lower than a predetermined value, which is detected by the pressure detecting unit, the suction mechanism moves upward to take out the paper sheet from the paper sheet storage container.

Thus, the paper sheet take-out processing system monitors the pressure in the suction mechanism, thereby allowing for easily and accurately detecting whether the paper sheet is in a state of being sucked. This makes it possible to perform processing of taking out paper sheets with high accuracy.

In this paper sheet take-out processing system, when the amount of decrease in the pressure in the suction mechanism becomes larger than a predetermined value, the lowering of the suction mechanism may be stopped and the suction mechanism may be lifted upward.

Advantageous Effects

The present invention provides a method for taking out paper sheets and a paper sheet storage take-out processing system that are capable of accurately taking out paper sheets (for example, separator cards) stored in a paper sheet storage container one-by-one at low cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a suction mechanism 1 and a paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the suction mechanism 1 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram (perspective view) showing an external appearance of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view (the upper portion of FIG. 6) and a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line) (the lower portion of FIG. 6) of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram (perspective view) showing an external appearance of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram (perspective view) of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, and is a diagram showing a rotational shaft of a front panel portion 106.

FIG. 9 is a diagram (perspective view) of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, and is a diagram for explaining a rotation operation (opening and closing operation) of the front panel portion 106.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a positional relationship between holes in the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment and is a diagram an enlarged portion of a cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a plan view (the upper portion of FIG. 11) and an external view (perspective view) (the lower portion of FIG. 11) of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, and is a diagram schematically showing flow paths of air flowing into the paper sheet storage container 100.

FIG. 12 is a diagram (perspective view) showing an external appearance of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, and is a diagram for explaining the placing of paper sheets on a paper sheet placing table 103.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line of FIG. 6 of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, is a diagram for explaining the placing of the paper sheet on the paper sheet placing table 103.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, and is a diagram for explaining air flow path regulation.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment and a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 6, and is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a first flap portion 105a and a second flap portion 105b.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 6 of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, and is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b.

FIG. 17 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, and is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b.

FIG. 18 is a diagram (perspective view) showing an external appearance of a front panel portion 106 of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of processing performed by the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of processing performed by the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining an operation when a bundle G_sep_cards of paper sheets is inserted.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 6 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining the operation when the bundle G_sep_cards of the paper sheets is inserted.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 6 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining the operation when the bundle G_sep_cards of the paper sheets is inserted.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an external appearance of the paper sheet storage container 100 with the paper sheet bundle G_sep_cards inserted.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an external appearance of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 including the paper sheet storage container 100 in which a bundle G_sep_cards of paper sheets has been inserted.

FIG. 26 is a diagram schematically showing a first suction unit 11a and a second suction unit 11b of the suction mechanism 1 and a bundle of paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining processing for taking out paper sheets.

FIG. 27 is a diagram schematically showing the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b of the suction mechanism 1 and a bundle of paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining processing for taking out paper sheets.

FIG. 28 is a diagram schematically showing the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b of the suction mechanism 1 and a bundle of paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining processing for taking out paper sheets.

FIG. 29 is a diagram schematically showing the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b of the suction mechanism 1 and a bundle of paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining processing for taking out paper sheets.

FIG. 30 is a diagram schematically showing the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b of the suction mechanism 1 and a bundle of paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining processing for taking out paper sheets.

FIG. 31 is a diagram schematically showing the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b of the suction mechanism 1 and a bundle of paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining processing for taking out paper sheets.

FIG. 32 is a diagram schematically showing the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b of the suction mechanism 1 and a bundle of paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining processing for taking out paper sheets.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a plan view of the paper sheet storage container 100 (the upper portion of FIG. 33) and a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 6 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining processing for taking out paper sheets.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 6 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining processing for taking out paper sheets.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 6 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining processing for taking out paper sheets.

FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining fixing members Dev_fixA and Dev_fixB for stably fixing pipes for allowing air to flow into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a paper sheet storage container 100A.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an exemplary arrangement of the paper sheet storage container 100 and the paper sheet storage container 100A.

FIG. 39 is a diagram for explaining a bill bundle, a separator card, a batch, and a batch group.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

A first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1.1: Configuration of Paper Sheet Take-Out Processing System

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the suction mechanism 1 and the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the suction mechanism 1 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram (perspective view) showing an external appearance of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view (the upper portion of FIG. 6) and a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line) (the lower portion of FIG. 6) of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram (perspective view) showing an external appearance of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram (perspective view) of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, and is a diagram showing a rotational shaft of a front panel portion 106.

FIG. 9 is a diagram (perspective view) of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, and is a diagram for explaining a rotation operation (opening and closing operation) of the front panel portion 106.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a positional relationship between holes in the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment and is a diagram an enlarged portion of a cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a plan view (the upper portion of FIG. 11) and an external view (perspective view) (the lower portion of FIG. 11) of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, and is a diagram schematically showing flow paths of air flowing into the paper sheet storage container 100.

FIG. 12 is a diagram (perspective view) showing an external appearance of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, and is a diagram for explaining the placing of paper sheets on a paper sheet placing table 103.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line of FIG. 6 of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, is a diagram for explaining the placing of the paper sheet on the paper sheet placing table 103.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, and is a diagram for explaining air flow path regulation.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment and a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 6, and is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a first flap portion 105a and a second flap portion 105b.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 6 of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, and is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b.

FIG. 17 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment, and is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b.

FIG. 18 is a diagram (perspective view) showing an external appearance of a front panel portion 106 of the paper sheet storage container 100 of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 according to the first embodiment.

The x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis are set as shown in FIGS. 1 to 18.

The paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 is used, for example, when performing processing for taking out paper sheets one-by-one from a paper sheet storage container 100 that stores paper sheets (for example, separator cards Sep_card1 to Sep_cardN in FIG. 39) used when a bill processing system ties up (stacks) bill bundles collected from a plurality of cash boxes to create a batch (bill bundle group).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 includes a suction mechanism 1 for sucking and taking out paper sheets, a moving mechanism Rbt1 for moving the suction mechanism 1, a suction pump Pump1, a suction mechanism 1, a pressure detecting unit 2, a data reading unit L_scan1, an air delivery pump Pump2, a control unit CPU1, a communication interface IF1, and a paper sheet storage container 100.

The suction pump Pump1 is connected to the suction mechanism 1 (for example, via tube(s)), and is a pump that performs suction. The suction pump Pump1 is also connected to the pressure detecting unit 2. The suction pump Pump1 is also connected to the control unit CPU1 and operates in accordance with a command from the control unit CPU1.

The suction mechanism 1 is a mechanism for sucking paper sheets or the like. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the suction mechanism 1 includes a first suction unit 11a, a second suction unit 11b, a first flat plate member plt1 for holding the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b, and a second flat plate member plt2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first suction unit 11a includes a tube-connecting portion 11a1, a connecting portion 11a2, and a bellows-type pad portion 11a3. The first suction unit 11a has a hollow-structure, and is, for example, a member connected to the suction pump Pump1 via a tube and sucked by the suction pump Pump1 to suck, for example, paper sheets or the like.

The tube-connecting portion 11a1 is a hollow-structured member and is a member for connecting a tube that is to be connected to the suction pump Pump1. The first suction unit 11a is connected to the suction pump Pump1 via a tube connected to the tube connecting portion 11a1.

The connecting portion 11a2 is a hollow-structured member for connecting it to the tube-connecting portion 11a1 and the bellows-type pad portion 11a3. As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting portion 11a2 is installed so as to pass through a hole provided in the first flat plate member plt1, and is further fixed to the first flat plate member plt1 by being screwed by two screws so as to sandwich the first flat plate member plt1.

The bellows-type pad portion 11a3 is a hollow-structured member and is connected to the connecting portion 11a2. The bellows-type pad portion 11a3 has a bellows configuration and is formed to be stretchable.

The second suction unit 11b has the same configuration as the first suction unit 11a, and includes a tube-connecting portion 11b1, a connecting portion 11b2, and a bellows-type pad portion 11b3 as shown in FIG. 4. The second suction unit 11b has a hollow-structure, and is, for example, a member connected to the suction pump Pump1 via tubing and sucked by the suction pump Pump1 to suck, for example, paper sheets or the like.

The tube connecting portion 11b1 is a hollow-structured member and is a member for connecting a tube that is to be connected to the suction pump Pump1. The second suction unit 11b is connected to the suction pump Pump1 via a tube connected to the tube connecting portion 11b1.

The connecting portion 11b2 is a hollow-structured member for connecting it to the tube-connecting portion 11b1 and the bellows-type pad portion 11b3. As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting portion 11b2 is installed so as to pass through a hole provided in the first flat plate member plt1, and is further fixed to the first flat plate member plt1 by being screwed by two screws so as to sandwich the first flat plate member plt1.

The bellows-type padding portion 11b3 is a hollow-structured member and is connected to the connecting portion 11b2. The bellows-type pad portion 11b3 has a bellows configuration and is formed to be stretchable.

The first flat plate member plt1 is a member for fixing the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b, and is fixed by screwing with the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b passed through. As shown in FIG. 3, the first flat plate member plt1 is also connected to the second flat plate member plt2 with spacers sp1 and sp2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second flat plate member plt2 is connected to the rotational shaft rot_ax1_Rbt1 for moving the suction mechanism of the moving mechanism Rbt1 via the connecting member bx1. As shown in FIG. 3, the positioning members gd1 and gd2 are connected to the second flat plate member plt2. As shown in FIG. 3, the first flat plate member plt1 is connected to the second flat plate member plt2 via the spacers sp1 and sp2.

Thus, moving the rotational shaft rot_ax1_Rbt1 for moving the suction mechanism of the moving mechanism Rbt1 in the up-down direction Dir1_up_down (z-axis direction) shown in FIG. 3 allows for moving the suction mechanism 1 in the up-down direction (z-axis direction). Further, rotating the rotational shaft rot_ax1_Rbt1 for moving the suction mechanism of the moving mechanism Rbt1 in the rotation direction Dir1_rot (rotation direction defined by setting the rotational shaft rot_ax1_Rbt1 for moving the suction mechanism as a rotation axis) shown in FIG. 3 allows for rotating the suction mechanism 1 around the rotation direction Dir1_rot.

The moving mechanism Rbt1 is a mechanism for moving the suction mechanism 1 to a predetermined position, and is provided using, for example, an articulated robot arm or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the moving mechanism Rbt1 is connected to the control unit CPU1, and moves the suction mechanism 1 to a predetermined position based on a command from the control unit CPU1.

The pressure detecting unit 2 detects the pressure in a target space where the suction pump Pump1 performs suction (a space defined by the suction pump Pump1, the tube that connects the suction pump Pump1 with the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b, and the hollow-structure part of the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b). In addition, the pressure detecting unit 2 transmits data related to the detected pressure to the control unit CPU1.

The data reading unit L_scan1 is a device for reading a barcode or the like printed on a paper sheet (for example, a separator card), and is provided by using, for example, a laser-scanner type scanner device. The data-reading unit L_scan1 is connected to the control unit CPU1 and operates in accordance with a command from the control unit CPU1.

The air delivery pump Pump2 is connected to the paper sheet storage container 100 (for example, via a tube) and is a pump that delivers air. The air delivery pump Pump2 is also connected to the control unit CPU1 and operates in accordance with a command from the control unit CPU1.

The control unit CPU1 is a functional unit for controlling the individual functional units of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000, and is provided by using, for example, a CPU, ROM, RAM, or the like. The control unit CPU1 is also connected to the communication interface IF and can perform data communication with the outside via the communication interface IF.

The communication interface IF1 is an interface for performing data communication with the outside of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000. The communication interface IF1 is connected to the control unit CPU1, and transmits data from the control unit CPU1 to the outside and/or transmits data received from the outside to the control unit CPU1.

As shown in FIG. 5, the paper sheet storage container 100 includes a bottom portion 101, a side wall portion 102, a paper sheet placing table 103, a first flow path regulating portion 104a (flow path restricting member), a second flow path regulating portion 104b (flow path restricting member), a first flap portion 105a (holding member), a second flap portion 105b (holding member), and a front panel portion 106 that is installed so as to be freely opened and closed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the paper sheet storage container 100 includes an elastic member Spr1 disposed between the bottom portion 101 and the paper sheet placing table 103.

The bottom portion 101 is, for example, a rectangular flat plate-like member, and is a member for supporting the side wall portion 102 while enabling the paper sheet storage container 100 to be installed on a flat floor or a desk. The bottom portion 101 is a member for supporting the elastic member Spr1 on the upper surface thereof. The bottom portion 101, together with the side wall portion 102 and the front panel portion 106 (the front panel portion 106 in a closed state), secures a space for storing paper sheets in a state in which the paper sheets have been placed on the paper sheet placing table 103.

The side wall portion 102 is formed of, for example, a rectangular flat plate-like member. The side wall portion 102 includes a first sidewall portion 102a, a second sidewall portion 102b, and a third side wall portion 102c. As shown in FIG. 5, the side wall portion 102 (the first side wall portion 102a, the second side wall portion 102b, and the third side wall portion 102c) is installed so as to extend in the vertical direction (the positive z-axis direction in FIG. 5) at the peripheral edge portion of the bottom portion 101. This allows the side wall portion 102, together with the bottom portion 101 and the front panel portion 106 (the front panel portion 106 in a closed state), to secure a space for storing the paper sheets in a state in which the paper sheets have been placed on the paper sheet placing table 103. As shown in FIG. 8, the first side wall portion 102a has a rotational shaft support portion 102a1 for supporting a rotational shaft rot_ax_106 for rotating the front panel portion 106 to open and close it; the second side wall portion 102b has a rotational shaft support portion 102b1 for supporting the rotational shaft rot_ax_106 for rotating the front panel portion 106 to open and close it. This allows the front panel portion 106 to be rotatably installed around the rotational shaft rot_ax_106, thus allowing for installing the front panel so as to be freely opened and closed, as shown in FIG. 9. When the front panel portion 106 is set to be closed, the front panel portion 106 can be maintained closed by a predetermined lock mechanism. For example, a magnet and a metal plate each provided at the corresponding positions of the side wall portion 102 and the front panel portion 106 are attached to each other to maintain a state in which the front panel is in contact with the side wall portion 102 (a state in which the metal plate is attracted to the magnet), thereby bringing the front panel portion 106 into a closed state.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the side wall portion 102 is provided with holes for allowing air to flow from the outside to the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 in the vicinity of the upper portion.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the second side wall portion 102b has three holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b), and Hole3 (102b) near the upper portion thereof; the third side wall portion 102c has one hole Hole1 (102c) near the upper portion thereof.

As shown in FIG. 10, each of the three holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b) and Hole3 (102b) has a cylindrical shape, and is formed in the second side wall portion 102b such that the height of the central axis of each of the holes, that is, the z-coordinate value z_center, is substantially the same. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, the three holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b) and Hole3 (102b) are formed such that the position of the central axis (the z-coordinate value z_center) thereof is substantially the same (substantially the same height) as the position of the upper surface of the paper sheet placing table 103 when no paper sheet is placed on the paper sheet placing table 103.

The hole Hole1 (102c) has a cylindrical shape, and is formed in the third side wall portion 102c such that the height of the central axis (z-coordinate value z_center) of the hole Hole1 (102c) is substantially the same height (substantially the same z-coordinate value) as those of the hole Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b) and Hole3 (102b); and the cross-section orthogonal to the central axis of the hole Hole1 (102c) is substantially the same shape as the cross-sections of the hole Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b) and Hole3 (102b), which are each orthogonal to their central axes. The hole Hole1 (102c) is formed such that the position of the center axis (z-coordinate value z_center) thereof is substantially the same (substantially the same height) as the position of the upper surface of the paper sheet placing table 103 in a state when no paper sheet is placed on the paper sheet placing table 103.

Note that the first flow path regulating portion 104a and the second flow path regulating portion 104b are installed on the paper sheet placing table 103 so that the position (z-coordinate value) of the upper surface of the second flow path regulating portion 104b is substantially the same as the position (z-coordinate value) of the upper surface of the first flow path regulating portion 104a in a state where no paper sheet is placed on the paper sheet placing table 103.

Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, pipes (for example, pipes Pipe1 to Pipe4 in FIG. 11) for allowing air (for example, an airflow) to flow into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 are connected to the holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b), Hole3 (102b), and Hole1 (102c) of the side wall portion 102. Air from the pipes (for example, the pipes Pipe1 to Pipe4 in FIG. 11) are then introduced into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 through the holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b), Hole3 (102b), and Hole1 (102c) of the side wall portion 102. For example, the pipes (for example, the pipes Pipe1 to Pipe4 in FIG. 11) for leading air flows into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 may be connected to, as shown in FIG. 11, a distributor Pdist1 by which a pipe Pipe0 branches into the pipes Pipe1 to Pipe4; the branched pipes Pipe1 to Pipe4 may be connected to the holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b), Hole3 (102b), and Hole1 (102c), respectively. Further, the pipe Pipe0 may be connected to the air delivery pump Pump2, and air may be supplied from the air delivery pump Pump2 to the pipe Pipe0.

As shown in FIG. 15, the first side wall portion 102a has rotational shaft support portions 102a2 and 102a3 for supporting a rotational shaft rot_ax_105a for rotatably supporting the first flap portion 105a.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the second side wall portion 102b has rotational shaft support portions 102b2 and 102b3 for supporting the rotational shaft rot_ax_105a for rotatably supporting the first flap portion 105a.

The paper sheet placing table 103 is, for example, a table on which paper sheets (for example, separator cards) are placed in a flat stacking state (a state in which paper sheets are spread) as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The paper sheet placing table 103 has substantially the same shape as or substantially a similar shape to the shape of a paper sheet to be placed thereon so that the paper sheet can be placed in a flat stacking state, and has substantially the same size as or larger than that of the sheet. The paper sheet placing table 103 is arranged in a space defined by the bottom portion 101, the side wall portion 102, and the front panel portion 106 (the front panel portion 106 in a closed state). The lower surface of the paper sheet placing table 103 is connected to the other end of the elastic member Spr1 having one end installed on the bottom portion 101, as shown in the lower portion of FIG. 6. The paper sheet placing table 103 is biased upward (in the positive z-axis direction) by the elastic member Spr1, thereby allowing the paper sheet placing table 103 to hold an object (for example, paper sheets) placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 together with the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b (for example, refer to FIGS. 12 and 13).

As shown in FIG. 14, the first flow path regulating portion 104a and the second flow path regulating portion 104b are provided on the surface of the paper sheet placing table 103 on which the paper sheet is to be placed.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 14, the first flow path regulating portion 104a is an elongated flat plate-shaped member, and is installed on the upper surface of the paper sheet placing table 103. The first flow path regulating portion 104a is a member for regulating flow directions of the air (e.g., airflow) flowing into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 from the outside through the holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b), Hole3 (102b), and Hole1 (102c) of the side wall portion 102.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 14, the second flow path regulating portion 104b is an elongated flat plate-shaped member, and is installed on the upper surface of the paper sheet placing table 103. The second flow path regulating portion 104b is a member for regulating flow directions of the air (e.g., airflow) flowing into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 from the outside through the holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b), Hole3 (102b), and Hole1 (102c) of the side wall portion 102.

It is preferable that the first flow path regulating portion 104a and the second flow path regulating portion 104b are arranged at positions such that the flow rate to the vicinity of the center of the upper surface of the paper sheet placing table 103 increases when air flows into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 from the outside. For example, in a case where the holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b), Hole3 (102b), and Hole1 (102c) of the side wall portion 102 are arranged as shown in FIG. 14, the first flow path regulating portion 104a is preferably installed so that the position of the first flow path regulating portion 104a is closer to the front panel portion 106 than the position of the hole Hole1 (102b) in the x-axis direction. In addition, in the above-described case, it is preferable that the second flow path regulating portion 104b is installed such that the position of the second flow path regulating portion 104b is closer to the first side wall portion 102a than the position of the hole Hole1 (102c) in the y-axis direction.

Arranging the first flow path regulating portion 104a and the second flow path regulating portion 104b as described above makes it possible to reliably take out the paper sheets one-by-one from the paper sheet storage container 100 even when the number of remaining paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 is one to several. When the number of remaining paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 is one to several, the flow rate of air flowing into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 increases near the center of the lower surface of the remaining one to several paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table due to the first flow path regulating portion 104a and the second flow path regulating portion 104b. This causes a state in which the vicinity of the center of the remaining one to several paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 has been raised.

In this state, for example, a suction mechanism 1 sucks the paper sheets, thereby allowing for taking out the paper sheets one-by-one from the paper sheet storage container 100.

In other words, arranging the first flow path regulating portion 104a and the second flow path regulating portion 104b as described above in the paper sheet storage container 100 makes it possible to reliably take out the paper sheets one-by-one even when the number of the remaining paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 is one to several.

As shown in FIG. 15, the first flap portion 105a has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and is disposed along an inner wall of the first side wall portion 102a at an upper end portion of the first side wall portion 102a. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the first flap portion 105a is rotatably installed around the rotational shaft rot_ax_105a supported by the rotational shaft support portions 102a2 and 102a3 of the first side wall portion 102a. For example, a helical spring (not shown) is installed in the first flap portion 105a or the rotational shaft rot_ax_105a, and applying a force in the rotational direction DirA of FIG. 16 by the helical spring generates an elastic force in a direction (a direction opposite to the rotational direction DirA) in which the force applied by the helical spring is repelled.

As a result, the first flap portion 105a returns to the state B1 of FIG. 16 when the force is released after the force is applied to the rotational DirA. As shown in FIG. 16, contacting the surface 105a_s1 of the first flap portion 105a with the surface 102a_s1 of the first side wall portion 102a restricts the rotation of the first flap portion 105a (rotation by the elastic force of the helical spring), thereby causing the first flap portion 105a to be maintained in the state B1.

As shown in FIG. 17, the first flap portion 105a has a locking protrusion 1051a for locking the first flap portion 105a so as not to rotate in a state where the front panel portion 106 has been closed.

As shown in FIG. 15, the second flap portion 105b has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and is disposed along an inner wall of the second side wall portion 102b at an upper end portion of the second side wall portion 102b. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the second flap portion 105b is rotatably installed around the rotational shaft rot_ax_105b supported by the rotational shaft support portions 102b2 and 102b3 of the second side wall portion 102b. For example, a helical spring (not shown) is installed in the second flap portion 105b or the rotational shaft rot_ax_105b, and applying a force in the rotation direction DirB in FIG. 16 by the helical spring generates an elastic force in a direction (a direction opposite to the rotation direction DirB) in which the force applied by the helical spring is repelled. As a result, the second flap portion 105b returns to the state B1 of FIG. 16 when the force is released after the force is applied to the rotational DirB. As shown in FIG. 16, contacting the surface 105b_s1 of the second flap portion 105b with the surface 102b_s1 of the second side wall portion 102b restricts the rotation of the second flap portion 105b (rotation by the elastic force of the helical spring), thereby causing the second flap portion 105b to be maintained in the state B1.

As shown in FIG. 17, the second flap portion 105b has a locking protrusion 1051b for locking the second flap portion 105b so as not to rotate in a state where the front panel portion 106 has been closed.

As shown in FIG. 18, the front panel portion 106 includes a rotational shaft holding portion 1062 for installation in a state of passing through the rotational shaft, a locking recess 1061a for locking the first flap portion 105a so as not to rotate in a state where the front panel portion 106 has been closed, and a locking recess 1061b for locking the second flap portion 105b so as not to rotate in a state where the front panel portion 106 has been closed.

The locking recess 1061a is provided at a position where the locking protrusion 1051a of the first flap portion 105a is accommodated in a state where the front panel portion 106 has been closed.

The locking recess 1061b is provided at a position where the locking protrusion 1051b of the second flap portion 105b is accommodated in a state where the front panel portion 106 has been closed.

An elastic member fixing portion 107 is installed on the bottom portion 101 and is a member for supporting the elastic member Spr1 on the upper surface thereof.

The elastic member Spr1 is disposed between the upper surface of the bottom portion 101 and the lower surface of the paper sheet placing table 103, and is a member for biasing the paper sheet placing table 103 upward (in the positive z-axis direction). The elastic member Spr1 is provided by using a spring, for example. Note that the elastic member Spr1 may be other than a spring as long as it generates an elastic force.

1.2: Operation of Paper Sheet Take-Out Processing System

The operation of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are flowcharts of processing performed by the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining an operation when a bundle G_sep_cards of paper sheets is inserted.

FIGS. 22 and 23 are diagrams showing a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 6 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and are diagrams for explaining the operation when the bundle G_sep_cards of the paper sheets is inserted.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an external appearance of the paper sheet storage container 100 with the paper sheet bundle G_sep_cards inserted.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an external appearance of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 including the paper sheet storage container 100 in which a bundle G_sep_cards of paper sheets has been inserted.

FIGS. 26 to 32 are diagrams schematically showing the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b of the suction mechanism 1 and a bundle of paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and are diagrams for explaining processing for taking out paper sheets.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a plan view of the paper sheet storage container 100 (the upper portion of FIG. 33) and a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 6 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and is a diagram for explaining processing for taking out paper sheets.

FIGS. 34 and 35 are diagrams showing a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the A-A line in FIG. 6 of the paper sheet storage container 100, and are diagrams for explaining processing for taking out paper sheets.

In the following, the operation of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 will now be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 19 and 20.

Step S1:

In the step S1, the processing of inserting paper sheets (bundles of paper sheets) into the paper sheet storage container 100 is performed.

First, in the paper sheet storage container 100, the front panel portion 106 is rotated in a direction opposite to the arrow shown in FIG. 9, for example, so that the front panel portion 106 is opened. In this state, the locking protrusion 1051a of the first flap portion 105a and the locking protrusion 105b of the second flap portion 1051b are in an open state, and consequently, the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b are in a state (unlocked state) in which they can be rotated around the rotational shafts rot_ax_105a and rot_ax_105b, respectively.

In this state (unlocked state), paper sheets are inserted into the paper sheet storage container 100 and stored in the paper sheet storage container 100. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 21, in a state where the front panel portion 106 has been opened and the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b have been rotatable, pressing a bundle of paper sheets (the paper sheet group G_sep_cards) against the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b from above causes the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b to rotate downward to place the bundle of paper sheets (the paper sheet group G_sep_cards) on the paper sheet placing table 103. This operation is shown in FIGS. 22 and 23.

As shown in FIG. 22, lowering the paper sheet group G_sep_cards downward from above the paper sheet storage container 100 in the unlocked state (state C1 in FIG. 22) causes the end portion of the lowermost paper sheet to be contact with the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b; and then the force applied in the downward direction causes the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b to rotate around the rotational shafts rot_ax_105a and rot_ax_105b in the rotational directions DirA and DirB direction in FIG. 22, respectively (state C2 in FIG. 22). Further, lowering the paper sheet group G_sep_cards allows the paper sheet group G_sep_cards to be placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 (status C3 in FIG. 22). The lower surface of the paper sheet of the lowermost portion of the paper sheet group G_sep_cards comes into contact with the upper surfaces of the first flow path regulating portion 104a and the second flow path regulating portion 104b each having substantially the same height (substantially the same z-coordinate value), thus causing the paper sheet group G_sep_cards to be placed in a state substantially parallel to the upper surface of the paper sheet placing table 103.

When the force applied from the lowermost surface of the sheet group G_sep_cards is released, the elastic force of the helical spring installed on the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b causes the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b to rotate in the directionals DirA′ and DirB′ shown in FIG. 23 (state C4 of FIG. 23).

The upper surface of the uppermost paper sheet of the paper sheet group G_sep_cards then comes into contact with the lower surface of the first flap portion 105a and the lower surface of the second flap portion 105b, and the lower surface of the lowermost paper sheet of the paper sheet group G_sep_cards is biased upward by the elastic member Spr1 via the paper sheet placing table 103, the first flow path regulating portion 104a, and the second flow path regulating portion 104b. Accordingly, the paper sheet group G_sep_cards is held in a state of being sandwiched between the lower surfaces of the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b and the paper sheet placing table 103 (state C5 of FIGS. 21 and 23).

Next, in the paper sheet storage container 100, rotating the front panel portion 106 in the state C5 of FIGS. 21 and 23, for example, in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGS. 5 and 21 causes the front panel portion 106 to be closed. Accordingly, the locking protrusion 1051a of the first flap portion 105a and the locking protrusion 105b of the second flap portion 1051b are accommodated in the locking recesses 1061a and 1061b of the front panel portion 106, respectively, so that the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b cannot rotate around the rotational shafts rot_ax_105a and rot_ax_105b, respectively (locked state) (state C6 of FIG. 24). This locked state can also be detected by a detection sensor (not shown). In this case, it is also possible to attach a detection sensor to the side of the front panel portion 6. This makes it possible to prevent forgetting to close the front panel portion 6.

Step S2:

In the step—S2, processing for leading air into the paper sheet storage container 100 is performed.

Specifically, the control unit CPU1 operates the air delivery pump Pump2, and causes air to flow from the air delivery pump Pump2 to the paper sheet storage container 100 via the holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b), Hole3 (102b), and Hole1 (102c) of the side wall portion 102 of the paper sheet storage container 100.

Step S3:

In the step S3, the control unit CPU1 instructs the suction pump Pump1 to start a suction operation. The suction pump Pump1 starts the suction operation in accordance with an instruction (command) from the control unit CPU1.

Step S4:

In the step-wise S4, the processing for taking out paper sheets is performed.

Step S401:

In the step S401, the control unit CPU1 transmits, to the moving mechanism Rbt1, a control signal for moving the suction mechanism 1 above the location where the paper sheet storage container 100 is installed. The moving mechanism Rbt1 moves the suction mechanism 1 above the location where the paper sheet storage container 100 is installed in accordance with the control signal (command) from the control unit CPU1. It is assumed that the control unit CPU1 includes information on the location where the paper sheet storage container 100 is installed. As shown in FIG. 25, the suction mechanism 1 may be moved to a predetermined position based on the positional relation between the positioning members gd1, gd2 and the paper sheet storage container 100. In a case of FIG. 25, when the positioning members gd1 and gd2 are in contact with the first side wall portion 102a of the paper sheet storage container 100, the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b are set to be above the position substantially at the center of the uppermost paper sheet stored in the paper sheet storage container 100. This causes the movement control of the suction mechanism 1 to be smoothly performed.

Step S402:

In the step-wise S402, processing of lowering the suction mechanism 1 is performed.

When the control unit CPU1 recognizes that the moving processing of the step S401 has been completed and the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b have been located above the position substantially at the center of the uppermost sheet stored in the paper sheet storage container 100, it transmits a control signal for performing processing of lowering the suction mechanism 1 to the moving mechanism Rbt1.

The moving mechanism Rbt1 lowers the suction mechanism 1 in accordance with the control signal (command) from the control unit CPU1 (state α1 in FIG. 26).

Steps S403 and S404:

In the step S403, the control unit CPU1 determines whether or not the vertical position (height (z-coordinate value)) of the suction mechanism 1 is equal to or less than a predetermined value Pos_lowest (height) in order to detect whether or not the suction mechanism 1 is lowered to the predetermined position Pos_lowest. (1) When the vertical position of the suction mechanism 1≤Pos_lowest is satisfied, the process proceeds to the step S404, whereas (2) when the vertical position of the suction mechanism 1≤Pos_lowest is not satisfied (2), the process proceeds to the step S405.

Assuming that the vertical position of the suction mechanism 1 (z-coordinate value) is determined to be a position of the upper end portion of the bellows-shaped pad portions 11a3 and 11b3 (the lower end portion of the connecting portion 11a2) (FIG. 4, FIG. 32, the position indicated by Pos_z (z-coordinate value) in FIGS. 4 and 32), the value Pos_lowest is set to the position of the upper end of the bellows-shaped pad portions 11a3 and 11b3 when the surface of the uppermost paper sheet in the paper sheet storage container 100 has been sucked flat, and the bellows portion has been most shrunk (the position of the lower end of the connecting portion 11a2) (the position indicated by Pos_z (height (z-coordinate value) in FIGS. 4 and 32) (see the state a0 in FIG. 32). Note that the above-described setting methods of the value Pos_lowest are mere examples, and the present invention should not be limited thereto. The value Pos_lowest may be set to, for example, a height (z-coordinate value) of a position of a predetermined portion (for example, a portion connected to the front end portion or the first flat plate member plt1) of the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b in the state a0 of FIG. 32; furthermore, the position of the predetermined portion of the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b (for example, a position (for example, a portion connected to the front end portion and the first flat plate member plt1) to be compared with the value Pos_Lowest) is set as a “vertical position of the suction mechanism 1”, and then the determination processing whether the vertical position of the suction mechanism 1≤Pos_lowest is satisfied may be performed.

In the step S404, it is determined that the vertical position (height (z-axis coordinate value)) of the suction mechanism 1 is a value (height) equal to or less than a predetermined value Pos_lowest, and the suction mechanism 1 is lowered to an abnormally low position; and thus error processing is performed. For example, the control unit CPU1 determines that abnormal lowering processing has been performed on the suction mechanism 1, and then instructs the movement mechanism Rbt1 to perform movement control for raising the suction mechanism 1 and returning it to a predetermined position. The moving mechanism Rbt1 raises the suction mechanism 1 in accordance with the instruction (command) from the control unit CPU1 and returns it to a predetermined position.

Steps S405 and S406:

In the step S405, determination processing is performed to determine whether the pressure in the suction mechanism 1 is lower than a predetermined threshold Th1.

Specifically, the pressure detecting unit 2 detects the pressure in the target space where the suction pump Pump1 performs suction (a space defined by the suction pump Pump1, the tube that connects the suction pump Pump1 with the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b, and the hollow-structure part of the first suction unit 11a and the second suction unit 11b). The pressure detecting unit 2 then transmits the detected pressure to the control unit CPU1. The control unit CPU1 then performs determination processing for determining whether the value of the pressure detected by the pressure detecting unit 2 is a value lower than a predetermined threshold Th1.

When it is determined that the pressure in the suction mechanism 1 is not lower than the predetermined threshold Th1, the process returns to the step S402, and the processing of lowering the suction mechanism 1 is continued (the state α2 in FIG. 27, the state α3 in FIG. 28, and the state α4 in FIG. 29). Note that the threshold Th1 may be set sufficiently to distinguish between the suction state and the non-suction state on the basis of the pressure when an object (for example, paper sheets) has been sucked by the suction mechanism 1 (suction state) and the pressure when the object has been not sucked (non-suction state).

Conversely, when it is determined that the pressure in the suction mechanism 1 is lower than the predetermined threshold Th1, the suction mechanism 1 is determined to be in a state in which the paper sheets are sucked; consequently, it can be determined that the pressure in the suction mechanism 1 is lowered (state α5 in FIG. 30), so that the control unit CPU1 instructs the moving mechanism Rbt1 to stop the process of lowering the suction mechanism 1 and perform the process of raising the suction mechanism 1. The moving mechanism Rbt1 performs processing of stopping the process of lowering the suction mechanism 1 and then performs processing of raising the suction mechanism 1 in accordance with the instruction from the control unit CPU1 (step S406) (state α6 in FIG. 31).

Step S407:

In the step S407, the control unit CPU1 instructs the data-reading unit L_scan1 to read a bar code or the like printed on a paper sheet (for example, a separator card) sucked by the suction mechanism 1. In accordance with the instruction from the control unit CPU1, the data reading unit L_scan1 reads the bar code or the like printed on the paper sheet (for example, a separator card) sucked by the suction unit 1, and transmits the read data to the control unit CPU1.

Step S408:

In the step S408, the control unit CPU1 determines whether the data read by the data reading unit L_scan1 is normal data. If it is determined that the data read by the data reading unit L_scan1 is not normal data, the process proceeds to the step S409, whereas if it is determined that the data read by the data reading unit L_scan1 is normal data, the process proceeds to step S410.

Step S409:

In the step S409, rejection processing is performed. The data read by the data reading unit L_scan1 is not normal data, and the paper sheet (for example, separator card) sucked by the suction mechanism 1 are not legitimate, and thus, processing (disposal processing) for moving the paper sheet to a disposal box is performed, for example. Specifically, the control unit CPU1 instructs the moving mechanism Rbt1 to move the paper sheet (for example, the separator card) sucked by the suction mechanism 1 to, for example, the discarding box. In accordance with the instruction from the control unit CPU1, the moving mechanism Rbt1 moves the paper sheet sucked by the suction mechanism 1 above the disposal box, then lowers the suction mechanism 1, and further releases the paper sheet sucked by the suction mechanism 1 (for example, temporarily stopping the suction of the air from the outside by the suction mechanism 1 causes the suction state of the suction mechanism 1 to be released, thereby releasing the paper sheet). This causes the paper sheets sucked by the suction mechanism 1 to be put into the disposal box. When the rejection processing of the step S409 is completed, the process proceeds to the step S5; and when the sheet remains in the paper sheet storage container 100 (Yes in the step S5), the process of the step S4 is performed.

Steps S410 and S411:

In the step S410, processing of moving the paper sheet sucked by the suction mechanism 1 to a predetermined location is performed. The data read by the data reading unit L_scan1 is normal data and the paper sheet (for example, separator card) sucked by the suction mechanism 1 are normal, and thus processing of inserting the paper sheet into a conveyance device (a conveyance device with a bill bundle storage box) in which bill bundles collected from cash box are stored is performed.

Specifically, the control unit CPU1 instructs the moving mechanism Rbt1 to move the paper sheet (for example, separator card) sucked by the suction mechanism 1 to the conveyance device (the conveyance device with the bill bundle storage box) in which bill bundles collected from the cash box are stored. In accordance with the instruction from the control unit CPU1, the moving mechanism Rbt1 moves the paper sheet sucked by the suction mechanism 1 above the box (container) of the conveying device in which the bill bundle is stored, then lowers the suction mechanism 1, and further releases the paper sheet sucked by the suction mechanism 1 (for example, temporarily stopping the suction of the air from the outside by the suction mechanism 1 causes the suction state of the suction mechanism 1 to be released, thereby releasing the paper sheet) (step S411). This causes the paper sheets sucked by the suction mechanism 1 to be fed into the conveyance device (the conveyance device with the bill bundle storage box).

In other words, the conveyance device (the conveyance device with the bill bundle storage box) is in a state where one sheet (for example, a separator card) taken out from the paper sheet storage container 100 has been placed on the bill bundle collected from the cash box (a state in which the batch Batch1 in FIG. 39 has been created).

At this time, the control unit CPU1 obtains data in which the information of the cash box in which the bill bundle stored in the conveyance device (the conveyance device with the bill bundle storage box) had been stored is associated with the information (data read by the data reading unit L_scan1) for specifying the paper sheet (for example, the separator card) placed on the bill bundle; and then the control unit CPU1 stores and manages the obtained data. The control unit CPU1 then transmits the data (the association data) to, for example, an automatic bill counter (sorter) via the communication interface IF1. The automatic bill counter (sorter) can recognize that the bill bundle partitioned by the separator card (the paper sheet taken out from the paper sheet storage container 100) is the bill bundle collected from the cash box associated with the separator card based on the data in which the information specifying the cash box has been associated with the information specifying the separator card, and further can obtain the total amount of money collected from the cash box.

As described above, the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 performs the paper sheet take-out processing.

Step S5:

In step S5, it is determined whether there exists any paper sheet remaining in the paper sheet storage container 100; and when it is determined that there exists any paper sheet remaining in the paper sheet storage container 100, the process returns to step S4, whereas when there exists no paper sheet remaining in the paper sheet storage container 100, the process proceeds to step S6.

Note that the process of determining whether there exists any paper sheet remaining in the paper sheet storage container 100 may be performed by, for example, the data reading unit L_scan1 to determine that there exists no paper sheet remaining in the paper sheet storage container 100 due to the occurrence of a reading error; alternatively, it may be performed by attaching a seal printed with a special barcode (a barcode indicating that there exists no paper sheet placed) to the paper sheet placing table 103 of the paper sheet storage container 100 and determining that there exists no paper sheet remaining in the paper sheet storage container 100 when the data of the special barcode has been read by the data reading unit L_scan1.

Step S6:

In the step S6, the operation of the suction pump Pump1 is stopped.

Step S7:

In the step S7, the operation of the air delivery pump Pump2 is stopped, and the process of causing air to flow into the paper sheet storage container 100 is stopped.

As described above, the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 performs the processing in which the paper sheets stored in the paper sheet storage container 100 are taken out one-by-one from the paper sheet storage container 100, and then the paper sheets are put into the conveyance apparatus in which the bill bundle collected for each cash box is placed, for example. Note that timings at which the activation and/or deactivation of the suction pump Pump1 are performed should not be limited to the timings of the flowchart of FIG. 19. For example, the activation and/or deactivation of the suction pump Pump1 may be performed during the processing of taking out paper sheets (step S4). For example, the activation of the suction pump Pump1 may be performed at any timing prior to the step S403, and the deactivation of the suction pump Pump1 may be performed at any timing after the step S405.

Here, details of processing for taking out paper sheets stored in the paper sheet storage container 100 one-by-one from the paper sheet storage container 100 in the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 will be described with reference to FIGS. 33 to 35.

After the paper sheet storage container 100 is locked, air (for example, an air flow) is caused to flow into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 from the air delivery pump Pump2 through, for example, pipes Pipe1 to Pipe4, holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b), and Hole3 (102b) of the second side wall portion 102b of the paper sheet storage container 100, and a hole Hole1 (102c) of the third side wall portion 102c (state D1 shown in FIGS. 33 and 34).

As shown in FIG. 14, the first flow path regulating portion 104a and the second flow path regulating portion 104b are arranged such that the flow rate to the vicinity of the center of the upper surface of the paper sheet placing table 103 increases when air flows into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 from the outside.

Further, the holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b), Hole3 (102b), and Hole1 (102c) in the side wall portion 102 are formed such that the height (z-coordinate value z_center) of the central axis thereof is substantially the same (substantially the same height) as the position of the upper surface of the paper sheet placing table 103 when no paper sheet is placed on the paper sheet placing table 103.

Thus, air (e.g., air flow) flowing, from the outside, into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 through the holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b), and Hole3 (102b) of the second side wall portion 102b of the paper sheet storage container 100, and the hole Hole1 (102c) of the third side wall portion 102c in the paper sheet storage container 100 causes the vicinity of the center of the upper surface of the uppermost paper sheet placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 to be raised.

For example, sucking the paper sheets in the state where the vicinity of the center of the upper surface has been raised by the suction mechanism 1 of the moving mechanism Rbt1 (e.g., a robot arm or the like) and then lifting the paper sheets upward in the sucked state allows for easily taking out the uppermost paper sheets from the paper sheet storage container 100.

This will be described with reference to FIGS. 33 to 35.

When air (e.g., air flow) flows into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 from the outside through the holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b) and Hole3 (102b) of the second side wall portion 102b of the paper sheet storage container 100 and the holes Hole1 (102c) of the third side wall portion 102c, the air is blown from the side (horizontally) to the uppermost paper sheet of the paper sheet group G_sep_cards because the heights (z-coordinate values) of the center axis of the holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b), Hole3 (102b) and Hole1 (102c) are substantially the same as the position (z-coordinate value) of the uppermost paper sheet of the paper sheet group G_sep_cards placed on the paper sheet placing table 103. As shown in FIG. 34, the paper sheet group G_sep_cards placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 has been sandwiched between the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b and the paper sheet placing table 103; and thus, when air is blown from the side (horizontally) to the uppermost paper sheet of the paper sheet group G_sep_cards placed on the paper sheet placing table 103, the air entering the lower surface of the uppermost paper sheet is concentrated in the vicinity of the center, thereby generating a state in which the upper surface of the uppermost paper sheet has been raised upward (state D2 in FIG. 34).

Then, in this state, for example, sucking the paper sheets in the state where the vicinity of the center of the upper surface has been raised by the suction mechanism 1 of the moving mechanism Rbt1 and then lifting the paper sheets upward in the sucked state allows for easily taking out the uppermost paper sheets from the paper sheet storage container 100 (state D3 in FIG. 34). Blowing the air into the paper sheet storage container 100 as described above leads to a state where the center portion of the paper sheet at the uppermost portion has been raised; thus, performing the processing as described above allows for reliably taking out paper sheets one-by-one.

After the uppermost paper sheet placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 is taken out, the second top paper sheet becomes the uppermost paper sheet, and the position (z-coordinate value (height)) of the paper sheet becomes substantially the same as the height (z-coordinate value) of the center axes of the holes Hole1 (102b), Hole2 (102b), Hole3 (102b), and Hole1 (102c) (state D1). Performing the same processing as described above also makes it possible to reliably take out the second top sheet, which is placed next to the top. Repeating this operation allows the paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 to be reliably taken out one-by-one.

As shown in FIG. 35, when there remains only one paper sheet placed on the paper sheet placing table 103, the flow rate of the air flowing into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 increases in the vicinity of the center of the lower surface of the remaining last paper sheet due to the first flow path regulating portion 104a and the second flow path regulating portion 104b. Thus, the remaining last paper sheet is also in a state in which the vicinity of the center of the paper sheet has been raised (state D5).

Similarly to the above, in this state, for example, sucking the remaining last paper sheet in the state where the vicinity of the center of the upper surface has been raised by the suction mechanism 1 of the moving mechanism Rbt1, and then lifting the paper sheet upward in the sucked state allows for reliably taking out the remaining last paper sheet from the paper sheet storage container 100.

As described above, in the paper sheet storage container 100, the paper sheet group is held by the paper sheet placing table 103 and the first flap portion 105a and the second flap portion 105b whose rotation has been locked, while the paper sheet placing table 103 is being biased upward by the elastic member Spr1 so that the position (height) of the uppermost paper sheet of the paper sheet group placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 is substantially the same position (height) as the positions (heights) of the holes through which air flows. In this state, in the paper sheet storage container 100, air is blown from the side (horizontally) to the uppermost paper sheet of the paper sheet group placed on the paper sheet placing table 103, thereby allowing the uppermost paper sheet to be brought into a state in which the vicinity of the center thereof has been raised and furthermore allowing for separating paper sheets in the vicinity of the uppermost portion by air (allowing for forming a gap). In this state, for example, sucking the vicinity of the center of the uppermost paper sheet and then lifting the paper sheet upward allows for easily and reliably taking out the uppermost paper sheet from the paper sheet storage container 100.

Thus, the paper sheet storage container 100 makes it possible to accurately take out paper sheets (for example, separator cards) one-by-one with a simple mechanism.

As described above, the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 makes it possible to accurately take out the paper sheets stored in the paper sheet storage container 100 one-by-one by using the paper sheet storage container 100 having a simple mechanism. The paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 performs the paper sheet take-out processing using the paper sheet storage container 100 with a simple mechanism, and thus can be provided at low cost.

Performing the above processing in the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 allows the conveyance device (the conveyance device with the bill bundle storage box) to create batches shown in FIG. 39 by placing one paper sheet (for example, a separator card) taken out from the paper sheet storage container 100 on the bill bundle collected from the cash box. Repeating the above process and collecting (e.g., stacking) the created batches in a storage device (not shown) allows for creating a batch group shown in FIG. 39, for example. The created batch group (the batch group Batch_G1 in FIG. 39) is conveyed to the automatic bill counter (sorter), and then the automatic bill counter (sorter) can efficiently perform automatic bill counting processing on the batch group. In other words, the automatic bill counter (sorter) has received, from the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000, the information of the cash box from which the bill bundle of each batch has been collected; thus the automatic bill counter (sorter) reads the bar code of the separator card at the head of each batch and refers to the information of the separator card received from the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 and the information specifying the cash box associated therewith, thereby allowing for performing the bill counting processing for each batch (for each cash box).

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 includes one paper sheet storage container 100, but the present invention should not be limited thereto; two or more paper sheet storage containers 100 may be provided in the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000. In this case, a plurality of types of paper sheets (for example, separator cards) can be handled in the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000. Alternatively, the paper sheets (separator cards) of the same type may be stored in a plurality of paper sheet storage containers, paper sheets may be continuously taken out from one paper sheet storage container in which the paper sheets has been stored, and when the paper sheets stored in the paper sheet storage container disappear, paper sheets may be continuously taken out from another paper sheet storage container in which the paper sheets has been stored. This allows for performing processing of taking out paper sheets from another paper sheet storage container even while the empty paper sheet storage container is being replenished, thus making it is possible to continuously perform the processing for taking out paper sheets without stopping it in the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000.

Further, in the above embodiment, a case has been described in which a barcode is printed on a paper sheet, but the present invention should not be limited thereto; instead of a barcode, other codes, numbers, codes, patterns, and the like attached to the surface of the paper sheet may be used. In this case, the data reading device capable of obtaining data from the display on the surface of the paper sheet may be replaced with the data reading unit L_scan1 to achieve the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the pressure in the suction mechanism becomes lower than the predetermined Th1 (see the step S405 in FIG. 20), the suction mechanism is lifted upward, but the present invention should not be limited thereto. For example, in the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000, when the amount of decrease in the pressure in the suction mechanism becomes larger than a predetermined value (the predetermined value may be set to a value that can distinguish between the suction state and the non-suction state of the suction mechanism), the lowering of the suction mechanism may be stopped and then the suction mechanism may be lifted upward.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which four holes are provided in the side wall portion 102 of the paper sheet storage container 100, but the present invention should not be limited thereto; the number of holes (air inflow ports) provided in the side wall portion 102 of the paper sheet storage container 100 may be other numbers (may be one). For example, in the paper sheet storage container 100, one or more holes may be provided in at least two of the first side wall portion 102a, the second side wall portion 102b, the third side wall portion 102c, and the front panel portion 106 (corresponding to four sides in plan view) (one or more holes may be provided in a member corresponding to at least two sides of the four sides in plan view).

Further, the shape of the hole of the side wall portion 102 may be another shape (for example, a cross section orthogonal to the central axis may have a shape other than a circle (for example, a rectangular shape or an oval shape)).

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the position (height (z-coordinate value)) of the hole of the side wall portion 102 is the height (height substantially the same as the paper sheet at the top of the paper sheet placing table 103) at which air can be blown from the side to the uppermost paper sheet placed on the paper sheet placing table 103, but the present invention should not be limited thereto; the hole may be provided in the side wall portion 102 such that the position (height (z-coordinate value)) of the hole of the side wall portion 102 is lower than the uppermost paper sheet placed on the paper sheet placing table 103 (for example, the position of the center axis of the hole is lower than the position of the uppermost paper sheet placed on the paper sheet placing table 103).

Further, as shown in FIG. 36, fixing members Dev_fixA and Dev_fixB for stably fixing pipes (for example, the pipes Pipe1 to Pipe4 in FIG. 36) for allowing air (for example, an airflow) to flow into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 may be installed in the paper sheet storage container 100.

As shown in FIG. 36, a fixing member Dev_fixA (102b) is installed on the second side wall portion 102b, guides the distal ends of the pipes Pipe1 to Pipe3 to holes provided in the second side wall portion 102b, and is connected to a fixing member Dev_fixB (102b) for bundling the pipes Pipe1 to Pipe3.

The fixing member Dev_fixB (102b) is a member for bundling the pipes Pipe1 to Pipe3, and is connected to the fixing member Dev_fixA (102b).

As shown in FIG. 36, a fixing member Dev_fixA (102c) is installed on the third side wall portion 102c, guides the distal end of the pipe Pipe4 to a hole provided in the third side wall portion 102c, and is connected to the fixing member Dev_fixB (102c) for fixing the pipe Pipe4.

The fixing member Dev_fixB (102c) is a member for fixing the pipe Pipe4, and is connected to the fixing member Dev_fixA (102c).

Installing such fixing members Dev_fixA (102b), Dev_fixB (102b), Dev_fixA (102c), and Dev_fixB (102c) in the paper sheet storage container 100 allows pipes for leading flows (for example, an airflow) into the inside of the paper sheet storage container 100 to be stably arranged.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case where the paper sheet storage container 100 includes the holes, the first flow path regulating portion 104a (flow path restricting member), and the second flow path regulating portion 104b (flow path restricting member) that are disposed (arranged) as shown in FIG. 36 has been described, but the present invention should not be limited thereto; the arrangement of the holes, the first flow path regulating portion 104a (flow path restricting member) and the second flow path regulating portion 104b (flow path restricting member) in the paper sheet storage container 100 may be other arrangements.

FIG. 37 is an external view of the paper sheet storage container 100A in which the arrangement of the holes and the flow path regulating members has been changed. As shown in FIG. 37, three holes may be provided in the second side wall portion 102a; one hole may be disposed in the third side wall portion; and further, the first flow path regulating portion 104a′ and the second flow path regulating portion 104b′ may be disposed as shown in FIG. 37.

Further, the paper sheet storage container 100 and the paper sheet storage container 100A whose arrangement of the holes and flow path regulating portions differs from each other may be arranged, for example, as shown in FIG. 38 to construct a system (paper sheet take-out processing system) for taking out paper sheets from the paper sheet storage container 100 and the paper sheet storage container 100A. In other words, the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 may be configured to include the paper sheet storage container 100 and the paper sheet storage container 100A in which the holes and the flow path regulating members are arranged differently from each other. In this case, air may be supplied from the air delivery pump Pump2 to the paper sheet storage container 100 and the paper sheet storage container 100A; or air may be supplied to the paper sheet storage container 100 by the air delivery pump Pump2, an air delivery pump different from the air delivery pump Pump2 may be added, and air may be supplied to the paper sheet storage container 100A by the added air delivery pump.

FIG. 38 shows a table TB1 on which the paper sheet storage container 100, the paper sheet storage container 100A, and a waste container Bx_reject are disposed. The waste container Bx_reject is a container for storing paper sheets, which is to be discarded, taken out from the paper sheet storage container 100 and/or the paper sheet storage container 100A in a case where paper sheets that have been stored in the paper sheet storage container 100 and/or the paper sheet storage container 100A are, for example, irregular paper sheets (e.g., illegal separator cards).

The terms “substantially the same” and “substantial parallel” used in the above embodiments intend to permit an error occurring when control or the like is executed using a target value (or a design value) of being the same or using a target of being the parallel, or also permit an error determined depending on the resolution of the apparatus, and “substantially the same” or “substantial parallel” can include a range that a person skilled in the art determines (or recognizes) as being the same or being parallel.

In some example(s) in the above embodiments, only relevant member(s), among the constituent members of the embodiments of the present invention, necessary for describing the present invention are simplified and shown. Thus, the above embodiment(s) may include any constituent member that is not shown in the above embodiment(s). Also, in the above embodiment(s) and/or drawing(s), the dimensions of the members may not be faithfully (strictly) identical to their actual dimensions, their actual dimension ratios, or the like. Thus, the dimension(s) and/or the dimension ratio(s) may be changed without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention.

Each block of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 described in the above embodiment may be formed using a single chip with a semiconductor device, such as LSI, or some or all of the blocks of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 may be formed using a single chip. Each block of the paper sheet take-out processing system 1000 described in the above embodiment may be provided by using a semiconductor device such as a plurality of LSIs or the like.

Note that although the term LSI is used here, it may also be called IC, system LSI, super LSI, or ultra LSI depending on the degree of integration.

Further, the method of circuit integration should not be limited to LSI, and it may be implemented with a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. A field programmable gate array (FPGA), which is an LSI circuit programmable after manufactured, or a reconfigurable processor, which is an LSI circuit in which internal circuit cells are reconfigurable or more specifically the internal circuit cells can be reconnected or reset, may be used.

All or part of the processes performed by the functional blocks described in the above embodiment may be implemented using programs. All or part of the processes performed by the functional blocks described in the above embodiment is implemented by a central processing unit (CPU) included in a computer. The programs for these processes may be stored in a storage device, such as a hard disk or a ROM, and may be executed from the ROM or be read into a RAM and then executed.

The processes described in the above embodiment may be implemented by using either hardware or software (including use of an operating system (OS), middleware, or a predetermined library), or may be implemented using both software and hardware.

For example, when functional units of the above embodiment is achieved by using software, a predetermined hardware structure (the hardware structure including CPU, ROM, RAM, an input unit, an output unit, a communication unit, a storage unit (e.g., a storage unit achieved by using HDD, SSD, or the like), a drive for external media or the like, each of which is connected to a bus) may be employed to achieve the functional units by using software.

When each functional unit of the above embodiment is achieved by using software, the software may be achieved by using a single computer having the above-described hardware configuration, and may be achieved by using distributed processes using a plurality of computers.

The processes described in the above embodiment may not be performed in the order specified in the above embodiment. The order in which the processes are performed may be changed without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention. Further, in the processing method in the above-described embodiment, some steps may be performed in parallel with other steps without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention.

The present invention may also include a computer program enabling a computer to implement the method described in the above embodiment and a computer readable recording medium on which such a program is recorded. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include a flexible disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, a DVD, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a large capacity DVD, a next-generation DVD, and a semiconductor memory.

The computer program should not be limited to one recorded on the recording medium, but may be transmitted via an electric communication line, a wireless or wired communication line, a network represented by the Internet, or the like.

The specific structures described in the above embodiment are mere examples of the present invention, and may be changed and modified variously without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

• • 1000 paper sheet take-out processing system
  • 100, 100A paper sheet storage container
  • 101 bottom portion
  • 102 side wall portion
  • 103 paper sheet placing table
  • 104a, 104a′ first flow path regulating portion (flow path regulating member)
  • 104b, 104b′ second flow path regulating portion (flow path regulating member)
  • 1051a, 51b locking protrusion (lock mechanism)
  • 1061a, 61b locking recess (lock mechanisms)
  • Spr1 elastic member
  • 1 suction mechanism
  • 2 pressure detecting unit
  • Pump air delivery pump

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. A method for taking out paper sheets one-by-one from a paper sheet storage container, the method comprising:

blowing air into the paper sheet storage container from the side of or below an uppermost paper sheet in a stack of paper sheets within the paper sheet storage container causing at least a portion of the uppermost paper sheet to spread away from an adjacent paper sheet therebelow; and

while the uppermost paper sheet is in a spread state, suctioning an upper surface of the uppermost paper sheet using a suction mechanism thereby capturing the uppermost paper sheet from the paper sheet storage container.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising blowing air into the the paper sheet storage container from the side of or below an uppermost paper sheet within the paper sheet storage container causing a center portion of the uppermost paper sheet to spread from an adjacent paper sheet therebelow.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising lifting the suction mechanism to remove the captured uppermost paper sheet from the paper sheet storage container.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising retaining one or more edges of the uppermost paper sheet to prevent, due to the blowing of the air into the paper sheet storage container, the uppermost paper sheet from exiting the paper sheet storage container before being captured by the suction mechanism.

12. A method for taking out paper sheets one-by-one from a paper sheet storage container, the method comprising:

(i) while holding at least an end portion of an uppermost paper sheet, blowing air from the side of or below an uppermost paper sheet creating a space between a raised portion of the uppermost paper sheet and a neighboring paper sheet; and

(ii) capturing the uppermost paper sheet by suctioning the raised portion of the upper surface of the paper sheet via a suction mechanism.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising lowering the suction mechanism from above to capture the uppermost paper sheet.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising lowering the suction mechanism from above to capture the uppermost paper sheet proximate the raised portion of the uppermost paper sheet.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising lifting the suction mechanism and captured uppermost paper sheet thereby removing the uppermost paper sheet from the paper sheet storage container.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising lifting the suction mechanism and captured uppermost paper sheet thereby removing the uppermost paper sheet from the paper sheet storage container.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising blowing air into the the paper sheet storage container from the side of or below an uppermost paper sheet within the paper sheet storage container creating a space between a center portion of the uppermost paper sheet and neighboring paper sheet.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising blowing air into the the paper sheet storage container from the side of or below an uppermost paper sheet within the paper sheet storage container creating a space between a center portion of the uppermost paper sheet and neighboring paper sheet.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising stopping the lowering of the suction mechanism and lifting the suction mechanism responsive to (i) a pressure in the suction mechanism becoming less than a predetermined value or (ii) an amount of decrease in the pressure in the suction mechanism becoming greater than a predetermined value.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising stopping the lowering of the suction mechanism and lifting the suction mechanism responsive to (i) a pressure in the suction mechanism becoming less than a predetermined value or (ii) an amount of decrease in the pressure in the suction mechanism becoming greater than a predetermined value.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising lowering a tip of the suction mechanism no farther than a position above, and not in contact with, an upper surface of the uppermost paper sheet.

22. The method of claim 14 further comprising lowering a tip of the suction mechanism no farther than a position above, and not in contact with, an upper surface of the uppermost paper sheet.

23. A system for removing paper sheets one-by-one from a paper sheet storage container, comprising:

a paper sheet storage container configured to store a plurality of paper sheets;

a pump configured to cause air to flow into the paper sheet storage container; and

a suction mechanism;

wherein the paper sheet storage container includes: a bottom portion; a paper sheet placing table configured to place paper sheets; an elastic member, disposed between the bottom portion and the paper sheet placing table, for urging the paper sheet placing table upward; a holding member configured to hold paper sheets placed on the paper sheet placing table together with the paper sheet placing table; and a side wall portion arranged to surround the paper sheet placing table, the side wall portion provided with one or more holes for causing air from the pump to flow to a vicinity near an uppermost paper sheet when the plurality of paper sheets are placed on the paper sheet placing table to create a space between the uppermost paper sheet and adjacent paper sheet; and

wherein when air fom the pump is flowing into the paper sheet storage container, the suction mechanism is configured to move downward from above to capture the uppermost paper sheet near the space and then move upward with the captured uppermost paper sheet thereby removing the uppermost paper sheet from the paper sheet storage container.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the suction mechanism is configured to stop lowering and move upward responsive to (i) a pressure in the suction mechanism becoming less than a predetermined value or (ii) an amount of decrease in the pressure in the suction mechanism becoming greater than a predetermined value.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the paper sheet storage container is configured to retain one or more edges of the uppermost paper sheet.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the space is created between a center portion of the uppermost paper sheet and the adjacent paper sheet.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein a tip of the suction mechanism is moved downward no farther than a position above, and not in contact with, an upper surface of the uppermost paper sheet.