Paper-sheet counting machine

Abstract

A paper-sheet counting machine ( 10 ) includes: a recognition and counting unit ( 24 ) configured to count paper sheets; a stacking unit ( 26 ) configured to stack therein the paper sheets that have been counted by the recognition and counting unit ( 24 ), an opening being provided in a front face of the stacking unit ( 26 ); a rotary guide unit ( 28 ) provided to the stacking unit ( 26 ) and configured to allow the paper sheets that have been counted by the recognition and counting unit ( 24 ) to be stacked in the stacking unit ( 26 ); a shutter ( 40 ) configured to close the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit ( 26 ); a shutter drive unit ( 50 ) configured to drive the shutter ( 40 ) to open and close the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit ( 26 ); and a control unit ( 70 ) configured to control the shutter drive unit ( 50 ).

1 . A paper-sheet counting machine comprising:
 a counting unit configured to count paper sheets;   a stacking unit configured to stack therein the paper sheets that have been counted by the counting unit, an opening being provided in a front face of the stacking unit;   a rotary guide unit provided to the stacking unit and configured to allow the paper sheets that have been counted by the counting unit to be stacked in the stacking unit;   a shutter configured to close the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit;   a shutter drive unit configured to drive the shutter to open and close the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit; and   a control unit configured to control the shutter drive unit.   
     
     
         2 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the rotary guide unit includes a stacking wheel configured to be rotated about a shaft extending in a substantially horizontal direction, the stacking wheel having a plurality of vanes respectively extending from the outer circumferential face of the stacking wheel, outward in a direction reverse to the rotation direction of the rotary guide unit, and   the stacking wheel is configured to receive each paper sheet counted by the counting unit, between the vanes thereof, and then feed the paper sheet received between the vanes into the stacking unit.   
     
     
         3 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the shutter drive unit to drive the shutter to close the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit, before the counting process for the paper sheets is started by the counting unit. 
     
     
         4 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the shutter drive unit to drive the shutter to start closing the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit, at the same time as starting of the counting process for the paper sheets by the counting unit, thereby allowing the paper sheets to be counted, while the opening is closed. 
     
     
         5 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the paper-sheet counting machine further comprises a placing unit configured to place thereon the paper sheets to be respectively counted by the counting unit, for allowing such paper sheets, respectively placed on the placing unit, to be fed, one by one, to the counting unit, and a first paper-sheet detection unit configured to detect whether or not the paper sheets are placed on the placing unit, and   when the first paper-sheet detection unit detects that all of the paper sheets respectively placed on the placing unit are fed to the counting unit and thus there is no paper sheet remaining on the placing unit, the control unit controls the shutter drive unit to retreat the shutter from the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit to open the opening.   
     
     
         6 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 5 , wherein interval of time between the time the first paper-sheet detection unit detects that there is no paper sheet remaining on the placing unit and the time the control unit controls the shutter drive unit to retreat the shutter from the opening, is capable of being altered by settings. 
     
     
         7 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the counting unit is configured to recognize the paper sheets, and   the paper-sheet counting machine further comprises a reject unit configured to receive the paper sheets respectively recognized as reject paper sheets by the counting unit and fed thereto from the counting unit, and a second paper-sheet detection unit configured to detect whether or not the paper sheets are stacked in the reject unit, and   when the first paper-sheet detection unit detects that there is no paper sheet remaining on the placing unit and when the second paper-sheet detection unit detects that there is a paper sheet or sheets in the reject unit, the control unit serves to drive the shutter to keep closing the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit.   
     
     
         8 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the control unit serves to selectively perform a batch process mode, in which the counting unit counts paper sheets by the batch number, the batch number being instructed to the control unit, and   when the first paper-sheet detection unit detects that there is no paper sheet remaining on the placing unit and when the number of the paper sheets fed to the stacking unit does not reach the batch number, during the process for the paper sheets in the batch process mode performed by the control unit, the control unit serves to drive the shutter to keep closing the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit.   
     
     
         9 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the control unit serves to selectively perform a batch process mode, in which the counting unit counts paper sheets by the batch number, the batch number being instructed to the control unit, and   when the batch number inputted to the control unit is smaller than a preset number, during the process for the paper sheets in the batch process mode performed by the control unit, the control unit serves to retreat the shutter from the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit to keep the opening opened.   
     
     
         10 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the paper-sheet counting machine further comprises a placing unit configured to place thereon the paper sheets to be respectively counted by the counting unit, for allowing such paper sheets, respectively placed on the placing unit, to be fed, one by one, to the counting unit, and a third paper-sheet detection unit provided between the placing unit and the stacking unit and configured to detect each paper sheet when the paper sheet fed to the stacking unit from the placing unit passes through the third paper-sheet detection unit, and   the control unit serves to selectively perform a batch process mode, in which the counting unit counts paper sheets by the batch number, the batch number being instructed to the control unit, and   when the batch number inputted to the control unit is equal to or greater than the preset number, during the process for the paper sheets in the batch process mode performed by the control unit, the control unit controls the shutter drive unit to drive the shutter to close the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit, before the counting process for the paper sheets is started by the counting unit, and   when the third paper-sheet detection unit detects the last paper sheet of the batch number, the control unit controls the shutter drive unit to retreat the shutter from the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit to open the opening.   
     
     
         11 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 10 , wherein interval of time between the time the third paper-sheet detection unit detects the last paper sheet of the batch number and the time the control unit controls the shutter drive unit to retreat the shutter from the opening, is capable of being altered by settings. 
     
     
         12 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the paper-sheet counting machine further comprises a placing unit configured to place thereon the paper sheets to be respectively counted by the counting unit, for allowing such paper sheets, respectively placed on the placing unit, to be fed, one by one, to the counting unit, and a third paper-sheet detection unit provided between the placing unit and the stacking unit and configured to detect each paper sheet when the paper sheet fed to the stacking unit from the placing unit passes through the third paper-sheet detection unit, and   the control unit controls the shutter drive unit to drive the shutter to close the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit, before the counting process for the paper sheets is started by the counting unit, and   when the third paper-sheet detection unit detects a certain paper sheet, with which the stacking unit will be full up upon receiving thereof, the control unit controls the shutter drive unit to retreat the shutter from the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit to open the opening.   
     
     
         13 . A paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 12 , wherein interval of time between the time the third paper-sheet detection unit detects the paper sheet, with which the stacking unit will be full up upon receiving thereof, and the time the control unit controls the shutter drive unit to retreat the shutter from the opening, is capable of being altered by settings. 
     
     
         14 . A paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the third paper-sheet detection unit is provided in such a position that interval of time between the time the paper sheet is detected by the third paper-sheet detection unit and the time this paper sheet is fed to the stacking unit is substantially matched with the time required for the shutter to be moved from the position for closing the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit to the position for opening the same opening. 
     
     
         15 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit performs selectively either one of a with-shutter-operation mode, in which the control unit controls the shutter drive unit to drive the shutter to open and close the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit, and a without-shutter-operation mode, in which the shutter drive unit is not controlled by the control unit, and thus the opening and closing operation for the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit is not performed by the shutter. 
     
     
         16 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the shutter is configured to be retreated from the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit, by hand, even during the counting process for the paper sheets by the counting unit. 
     
     
         17 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the shutter is composed of a transparent material. 
     
     
         18 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the shutter is capable of being reciprocated, about a shaft, between a closing position for closing the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit and an opening position retreated from the opening to open the opening, the opening position being located below the rotary guide unit. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a gear and a torque limiter are respectively provided between the shutter and the shutter drive unit, and the driving force applied from the shutter drive unit is transmitted to the shutter, via the gear and torque limiter, and   when force greater than a preset torque is applied to the torque limiter, the torque limiter serves to block the driving force transmitted from the shutter drive unit to the shutter.   
     
     
         21 . A paper-sheet counting machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the third paper-sheet detection unit is provided in such a position that interval of time between the time the paper sheet is detected by the third paper-sheet detection unit and the time this paper sheet is fed to the stacking unit is substantially matched with the time required for the shutter to be moved from the position for closing the opening provided in the front face of the stacking unit to the position for opening the same opening.