System for processing paper sheets

Claim 2

A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said take-out means (15) includes a counter (16a) for counting the number of packs of a bundle taken out from the input portion (14), and rejecting means (17) for rejecting a bundle having a number of packs other than said predetermined number, in accordance with a count result from the counter.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 2, characterized in that said counter (16a) has a scanner (41) for counting the number of strips (6) of the packs (7).

Claim 4

A system according to claim 2, characterized in that said rejecting means (17) has a storage portion (43) for storing the rejected bundle (4).

Claim 5

A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said take-out means (15) includes a transfer conveyor (35) extending from a portion adjacent to the input portion (14) to the conveying means (3), a push-out device (34) for pushing out bundles (4) placed on the input portion one by one onto the transfer conveyor, a guide member (36), arranged between the input portion and the transfer conveyor, for directing, in a predetermined direction, a bundle pushed out onto the transfer conveyor by the push-out device.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said input portion (14) includes a plurality of horizontal shelves (23) each capable of holding a predetermined number of bundles (4), and a drive mechanism (10, 26a, 27, 28, 29) for moving the shelves along a loop-like path in a horizontal state.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 6, characterized in that said input portion (14) includes detection means (30) for detecting the presence/absence of the bundle (4) on the shelves (23) and stopping or driving the drive mechanism (10, 26a, 27, 28, 29) in accordance with a detection result.

Claim 8

A system according to claim 7, characterized in that said input portion (14) includes accident preventing means (33) for detecting when an object is inserted between two adjacent shelves (23) and stopping the drive mechanism (10, 26a, 27, 28, 29).

Claim 9

A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said conveying means (3) includes a holding device (55, 56) for receiving and holding a bundle (4) from the take-out means (15), an insertion conveyor (70) extending from the holding unit to a portion adjacent to the inspecting apparatus (24), and a push-out device (31) for pushing out the bundle held by the holding means onto the insertion conveyor.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 9, characterized in that said inspecting apparatus (24) includes a take-in unit (58) for taking in a bundle transferred along the insertion conveyor (70), and said conveying means (3) has a storage portion (64) for receiving and stacking a bundle which fails to be taken in by the take-in unit.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said inspecting apparatus (24) includes a take-in unit (58) for taking in a bundle from the conveying means (3), first cutting means (75) for cutting strips (8) binding the taken-in bundle (4), second cutting means (77) for cutting strips (6) binding the packs (7), a pickup device (95B) for picking up paper sheets (5) one by one from the bundle whose strips are cut, first detection means (95C) for detecting damage to and authenticity of the picked-up paper sheets, second detection means (96A) for detecting an uninspectable state and an inspectable state with regard to the paper sheets, a first sorter (96B) for sorting the paper sheets into uninspectable and counterfeited paper sheets and remaining paper sheets, based on the detection results from the first and second detection means, a first stacking device (96C) for stacking the uninspectable and counterfeited paper sheets sorted by the first sorter, a second sorter (96E) for sorting the remaining paper sheets into usable and unusable paper sheets, based on the detection result from the first detection means, a second stacking device (97A) for stacking the usable paper sheets sorted by the second sorter, and a third stacking device (97E) for stacking the unusable paper sheets sorted by the second sorter.

Claim 12

A system according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of said inspecting apparatuses (24) are arranged along the conveying means (3).

Claim 13

A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said inspecting apparatus (24) includes instruction means (72, 73) for detecting when a bundle (4) is received, and supplying a take-out instruction to the take-out means (15), for taking out the next bundle from the input portion (14).

Claim 15

A system according to claim 14, characterized in that said take-out means includes a counter (16a) for counting the number of packs (7) of a bundle (4) taken out from the input portion (14), and rejecting means (17) for rejecting a bundle having a number of packs other than the predetermined number, in accordance with a count result from the counter.

Claim 16

A system according to claim 15, characterized in that said counter (16a) has a scanner (41) for counting the number of strips (6) of the packs.

Claim 17

A system according to claim 15, characterized in that said rejecting means (17) has a storage portion (43) for storing the removed bundle (4).

Claim 18

A system according to claim 14, characterized in that said take-in means (13) includes a take-in conveyor (45) for conveying a bundle (4) from the reception side conveying means to a portion adjacent to the stacking portion (20), sealing means (48) for sealing a predetermined item on the bundle (4) conveyed by the take-in conveyor, turning means (46) for receiving the bundle conveyed by the take-in conveyor and turning the bundle toward a predetermined direction, and moving means (51) for moving the turned bundle to the stacking portion.

Claim 19

A system according to claim 14, characterized in that said stacking portion (20) includes a plurality of horizontal shelves (52) each capable of holding a predetermined number of bundles (4), and a drive mechanism (53, 63, 79) for moving the shelves along a loop-like path in a horizontal state.

Claim 20

A system according to claim 14, characterized in that said stacking portion (20) is arranged adjacent to the input portion (14).

Claim 21

A system according to claim 14, characterized in that said insertion side conveying means includes an insertion conveyor (70) for conveying the bundle (4) from the take-out means (15) to the inspecting apparatus (24), said reception side conveying means has a reception conveyor (71), arranged adjacent to the insertion conveyor, for conveying the bundle from the inspecting apparatus to the take-in means (13), and said insertion and reception side conveying means have a common housing (81) storing the insertion and reception conveyors.

Claim 22

A system according to claim 21, characterized in that said insertion and reception conveyors (70, 71) are arranged parallel to and vertically separated from each other.

Claim 23

A system according to claim 14, characterized in that said inspecting apparatus (24) includes a take-in unit (58) for taking in a bundle (4) from the insertion side conveying means, first cutting means (75) for cutting strips (8) binding the taken-in bundle, second cutting means (77) for cutting strips (6) binding the packs (7), a pickup device (95B) for picking up paper sheets (5) one by one from the bundle whose strips have been cut, first detection means (95C) for detecting damage to and authenticity of the picked-up paper sheets, second detection means (96A) for detecting an uninspectable state (96B) and an inspectable state with regard to the paper sheets, a first sorter for sorting the paper sheets into uninspectable and counterfeited paper sheets and remaining paper sheets, based on the detection results from the first and second detection means, a first stacking device (96C) for stacking the uninspectable and counterfeited paper sheets sorted by the first sorter, a second sorter (96E) for sorting the remaining paper sheets into usable and unusable paper sheets, based on the detection result from the first detection means, a second stacking device (97A) for stacking the usable paper sheets sorted by the second sorter, and a third stacking device (97E) for stacking the unusable paper sheets sorted by the second sorter.

Claim 24

A system according to claim 14, characterized in that a plurality of said inspecting apparatuses (24) are arranged along the insertion and reception side conveying means.