Apparatus for dispensing change

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6598376
  • Patent Number
    6,598,376
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, June 3, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 29, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
The apparatus for dispensing change and packing cash in a change pack, according to the present invention, comprises: a data input device for inputting change data; a change data divider for calculating an amount of cash corresponding to the change data based on the change data input from the data input device, comparing the calculated amount of cash with a predetermined reference value, and dividing the change data into a plurality of pack data so that the amount of cash corresponding to each divided change data is below the reference value, when the calculated amount of cash exceeds the reference value; and a change pack producer for producing the change pack based on the change data when the change data is not divided, and producing the change pack based on the divided pack data when the change data is divided by the change data divider.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing change, which is suitable for preparation of desired amounts and types of change, and to a cash supply apparatus for packing a desired amount and type of coins and bills.




This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 10-174164, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.




2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98




Stores handling cash put the sales in banks, which calculate the sales. Recently, the amount of cash put in the banks by large stores has increased, and there are security problems when the sales are put in night safe boxes. Therefore, business service companies or security companies collect the sales from the stores, and integrated processing centers calculate the sales.




The integrated processing centers must prepare cash which the dealers uses for change on the next day (hereinafter simply referred to as “change”). Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. Hei 9-147184 discloses an apparatus for dispensing change.




In the disclosed apparatus for dispensing change, a cash deliverer delivers cash to a change box transferred by a conveyer. Then the cash, which is loaded into the change box, must be manually transferred into a bag.




There is the problem that the disclosed apparatus for dispensing change increases the labor costs because the cash is manually transferred from the change box to the bag. To avoid this, the cash may not be delivered in the change box but may be directly packed. In such apparatus, however, when packing a large amount of cash in one pack, the cash may overflow from the pack, or an overweight pack may accidentally fall from the apparatus.




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for dispensing change which can pack cash in a pack to reliably produce a change pack.




In order to accomplish the above object, the apparatus for dispensing change and packing cash in a change pack, comprises: a data input device for inputting change data; a change data divider for calculating an amount of cash corresponding to the change data based on the change data input from the data input device, comparing the calculated amount of cash with a predetermined reference value, and dividing the change data into a plurality of pack data so that the amount of cash corresponding to each divided change data is below the reference value, when the calculated amount of cash exceeds the reference value; and a change pack producer for producing the change pack based on the change data when the change data is not divided, and producing the change pack based on the divided pack data when the change data is divided by the change data divider.




According to the present invention, when there is a large amount of cash, the apparatus divides the cash and pack the coins and bills into a plurality of change packs. Therefore, the apparatus prevents the overflow of cash from the pack, and prevents the packs from accidentally falling from the apparatus.




The change data divider divides the change data into a plurality of pack data so that the same type of cash is included in the same divided pack data, except when the amount of the type of cash exceeds the reference value. This apparatus prevents the same type of cash from being packed in two or more packs, except when the amount of the type of cash exceeds the reference value.




The apparatus further comprises: a labeler for printing the contents of the change data on a label and adhering the label on the change pack when the change data does not divide the change data, and for printing the contents of each pack data on the label and adhering the labels on the corresponding change packs when the change data divider divides the change data into a plurality of pack data. According to the present invention, the contents of the change pack can be indicated by the label.




The labeler prints the reference weight of the change pack, calculated based on the change data, on the label, when the change data divider does not divide the change data, and prints the reference weights of the change packs, calculated based on the pack data, on the labels, when the change data divider divides the change data into a plurality of pack data. According to the present invention, the reference weight of cash in the change pack can be easily confirmed by the label.




The labeler prints the identification of division of the change data, and derivation of the pack data from the same change data on the labels, when the change data divider divides the change data. From the label on the change pack, an operator can easily confirm whether the change data is divided, and can easily identify the other packs derived from the same change data.




The change data is input to the data input device by contractor, store, or cash register. Therefore, in response to the input of the change data by contractor, the cash is divided if necessary., and the change pack can be prepared for each contractor. In response to the input of the change data by store, the cash is divided if necessary, and the change packs can be prepared for each store. In response to the input of the change data by cash-register, the cash is divided if necessary, and the change packs can be prepared for each cash-register.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a schematic view showing the first embodiment of the apparatus for dispensing change of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a side view showing the first embodiment of the apparatus for dispensing change of the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a block diagram showing a control system in the first embodiment of the apparatus for dispensing change of the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a top view showing containers of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 5

is a front view showing the containers of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 6

is a side view showing a base sheet supplier and a base sheet arranger in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 7

is a front view showing the base sheet supplier and the base sheet arranger in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 8

is a front view showing a base sheet cutter in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIGS. 9A and 9B

are top views showing a base sheet insert in the first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 9A

shows the open condition, and

FIG. 9B

shows the closed condition.





FIG. 10

is a side view showing the operations of the base sheet supplier and the base sheet arranger before extraction of the base sheet in the present invention.





FIG. 11

is a side view showing the operations of the base sheet supplier and the base sheet arranger after extraction of the base sheet in the present invention.





FIG. 12

is a side view showing the operations of the base sheet supplier and the base sheet arranger after engagement of the base sheet in the present invention.





FIG. 13

is a side view showing the operations of the base sheet supplier and the base sheet arranger after an extracting arm returns in the present invention.





FIG. 14

is a side view showing the operations of the base sheet supplier and the base sheet arranger after insertion by the base sheet insert in the present invention.





FIG. 15

is a side view showing the operations of the base sheet supplier and the base sheet arranger when cutting the base sheet in the present invention.





FIG. 16

is a side view showing the operations of the base sheet supplier and the base sheet arranger when moving up a stopper portion in the present invention.





FIG. 17

is a side view showing the operations of the base sheet supplier and the base sheet arranger when the base sheet insert is opened in the present invention.





FIG. 18

is a side view showing the operations of the base sheet supplier and the base sheet arranger when the base sheet insert is closed in the present invention.





FIG. 19

is a top view showing a coin roll deliverer in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 20

is a front cross-sectional view showing a deliverer portion of the coin roll deliverer of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 21

is a rear view showing a stacked bills deliverer of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 22

is a top view showing a stacked bills deliverer of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 23

is a top view showing a stage and an aligner of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 24

is a side view showing a stage and an aligner of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 25

is a front view showing the operation of the stacked bills deliverer before delivery of the stacked bills in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 26

is a front view showing the operation of the stacked bills deliverer during the delivery of the stacked bills in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 27

is a front view showing the operation of the stacked bills deliverer when aligning the stacked bills in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 28

is a front view showing the operation of the stacked bills deliverer when transferring the stacked bills in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 29

is a front view showing the operation of the stacked bills deliverer when holder transporter holds the stacked bills in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 30

is a front view showing the operation of the stacked bills deliverer after holder transporter holds the stacked bills in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 31

is a front view showing the operation of the stacked bills deliverer when holder transporter changes the loading positions of the stacked bills in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 32A

is a top view showing the directions of the loaded stacked bills delivered by the stacked bill deliverer of the first embodiment of the present invention, and





FIG. 32B

is a top view showing the other directions of the loaded stacked bills delivered by the stacked bill deliverer of the first embodiment of the present invention





FIG. 33

is a front view showing a loading adjuster of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 34

is a front view showing the operation of the loading adjuster of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 35

is a side view showing a top sheet supplier, a printing label sticker, and a bonding device of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 36

is a front view showing a top sheet supplier, a printing label sticker, and a bonding device of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 37

is a front view showing a top sheet cutter of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 38

is a side view showing the operations of a top sheet supplier, a printing label sticker, and a bonding device before extraction of the top sheet in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 39

is a side view showing the operations of the top sheet supplier, the printing label sticker, and the bonding device after extraction of the top sheet in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 40

is a side view showing the operations of the top sheet supplier, the printing label sticker, and the bonding device after engagement of the top sheet in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 41

is a side view showing the operations of the top sheet supplier, the printing label sticker, and the bonding device after the return of the extracting arm in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 42

is a side view showing the operations of the top sheet supplier, the printing label sticker, and the bonding device during bonding by the bonding device in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 43

is a side view showing the operations of the top sheet supplier, the printing label sticker, and the bonding device before extraction of the top sheet in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 44

is a side view showing the operations of the top sheet supplier, the printing label sticker, and the bonding device when the bonding device separates from the sheets in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 45

is a front view showing a lifter and a transfer device of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 46

is a side view showing a lifter and a transfer device of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 47

is a top view showing a lifter and a transfer device of the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 48

is a side view showing the operations of the lifter and the transfer device when lifting up the change pack in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 49

is a side view showing the operations of the lifter and the transfer device after a support is lowered in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 50

is a side view showing the operations of the lifter and the transfer device when the support supports the change pack in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 51

is a side view showing the operations of the lifter and the transfer device when transferring the change pack in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 52

is a side view showing the operations of the lifter and the transfer device when transporting the change pack in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 53

is a schematic diagram showing input data in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 54

is an example of division of the change data into pack data in the first embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 55

is a top view showing the second embodiment of the apparatus for dispensing change of the present invention.





FIG. 56

is a side view showing a top sheet supplier, a labeler, and a bonding device of the second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 57

is a side view showing the operation of a loose bills pack producer before moving down the loose bills in the second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 58

is a side view showing the operation of the loose bills pack producer when moving down the loose bills in the second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 59

is a side view showing the operation of the loose bills pack producer before catching the loose bills in the second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 60

is a side view showing the operation of the loose bills pack producer when bonding the top sheet in the second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 61

is a side view showing the operation of the loose bills pack producer after bonding the top sheet in the second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 62

is a side view showing the operation of the loose bills pack producer when transferring the loose bills pack in the second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 63

is a side view showing the change pack produced by the second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 64

is a front view showing the operations of the lifter and the transfer device of the second embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 65

is a side view showing the operations of the lifter and the transfer device of the second embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




First Embodiment




Referring to

FIGS. 1

to


54


, the best mode of the apparatus for dispensing change, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, will be explained.




The apparatus packs change based on input change data. Specifically, the apparatus divides the change data of a large amount of cash into a plurality of pack data so as to pack the cash corresponding to the pack data into a change pack. That is, the apparatus packs the change based on divided pack data.




The apparatus for dispensing change, as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, comprises an endless-type main conveyer (conveyer)


11


extending horizontally, and a number of containers


12


with identical shapes which are fixed to the main conveyer


11


at even intervals. The apparatus produces a change pack packing cash using containers


12


. In the following description, “upstream” and “downstream” are relative to the traveling direction of the containers


12


on the upper side of the conveyer. Hereinafter, in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the right direction will be referred to as “upstream”, while the left direction will be referred to as “downstream”. The X-direction represents the direction parallel to the transfer of the container


12


on the upper side of the conveyer (the right—left direction in FIG.


1


), and the Y-direction represents the direction perpendicular to the transfer of the containers


12


on the upper side of the conveyer (the top—bottom direction in FIG.


1


).




The apparatus for dispensing change, in which the main conveyer


11


is stopped, will be explained. As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the apparatus for dispensing change has a base sheet supplier


14


(a base sheet supplier, or a change pack producer) and a base sheet arranger


15


which are located furthest upstream, a coin roll deliverer (a cash deliverer, a coin roll deliverer, or a change pack producer)


16


for the container


12


(


12




b


) stopped downstream of the base sheet supplier


14


and the base sheet arranger


15


, and a coin roll deliverer


17


(a cash deliverer, a coin roll deliverer, or a change pack producer) for the container


12


(


12




c


) stopped downstream of the container


12


(


12




b


).




Additionally, the apparatus for dispensing change has a coin roll deliverer


18


(a cash deliverer, a coin roll deliverer, or a change pack producer) for the container


12


(


12




d


) stopped downstream of the container


12


(


12




c


), a coin roll deliverer


19


(a cash deliverer, a coin roll deliverer, or a change pack producer) for the container


12


(


12




e


) stopped downstream of the container


12


(


12




d


), a coin roll deliverer (a cash deliverer, a coin roll deliverer, or a change pack producer)


20


for the container


12


(


12




f


) stopped downstream of the container


12


(


12




e


), and a coin roll deliverer (a cash deliverer, a coin roll deliverer, or a change pack producer)


21


for the container


12


(


12




g


) stopped downstream of the container


12


(


12




f


).




Further, the apparatus for dispensing change has a stacked bills deliverer (a cash deliverer, a stacked bills deliverer, or a change pack producer)


22


for the container


12


(


12




h


) stopped downstream of the container


12


(


12




g


), a coin roll deliverer


23


(a cash deliverer, a coin roll deliverer, or a change pack producer) for the container


12


(


12




i


) stopped downstream of the container


12


(


12




h


), a load adjuster


24


for the container


12


(


12




k


) stopped downstream of the container


12


(


12




i


), a top sheet supplier (a top sheet supplier, or a change pack producer)


25


for the containers


12


(


12




m


and


12




n


), a labeler (labeler for printing and adhering a label)


26


, and a bonding device (a change pack producer)


27


.




The apparatus for dispensing change has a lifter


28


for the container


12


(


12




o


) stopped downstream of the container


12


(


12




n


), a transfer device


29


above the lifter


28


, a checker (change pack checker)


30


parallel to the downstream portion of the main conveyer


11


, a bagging checker


31


located downstream of the checker


30


, a loose bills deliverer


32


located near the container


12


(


12




j


) which is positioned between the containers


12


(


12




i


) and


12


(


12




k


), and a controller


33


adjacent to the loose bills deliverer


32


. The controller


33


, as shown in

FIG. 3

, comprises an integrated pack production controller


35


for controlling the entire operation of the apparatus for dispensing change, and a data input device (data input means)


36


for inputting data for the change pack.




As shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

, the container


12


comprises a container body (a change pack producer, or a base)


38


coupled to the main conveyer


11


, and a stopper


39


coupled to the container body


38


. Hereinafter, a description will be give for when the container


12


is positioned on the upper side of the main conveyer


11


.




The container body


38


has a pair of walls


40


which extend in the X-direction along the main conveyer


11


, stand vertically, and are parallel to each other, a pair of walls


41


which connect the ends of the walls


40


, and stand vertically, and a flat bottom


42


positioned horizontally so as to seal the lower opening of the space enclosed by the walls


40


and


41


. That is, the container body


38


is a box with an upper opening and a concavity


44


as seen from the upper side.




Through holes


43


are made at the corners of the container body


38


and extend vertically.




A number of through holes


45


, which extend vertically, are distributed over the bottom


42


of the container body


38


, and are located at the intersections of a number of virtual lines at even intervals in the X-direction and in the Y-direction.




On the top horizontal surfaces of the walls


40


adjacent to the concavity


44


, heat resisting seal receptors


46


are fixed. Similarly, on the top horizontal surfaces of the walls


41


adjacent to the concavity


44


, heat resisting seal receptors


47


are fixed. The seal receptors


46


and


47


forms a rectangular shape.




The stopper


39


comprises shafts


49


inserted movably in the vertical direction into the through holes


43


at the four corners of the container body


38


, horizontal flat stopper portion


50


fixed at the tops of the shafts


49


, and a horizontal flat operational portion


51


with a rectangular shape which is fixed to the lower ends of the shafts


49


.




The stopper portion


50


is disposed on holding surface


52


which is arranged outside of the seal receptors


46


and


47


on the walls


40


and


41


, so as to surround the seal receptors


46


and


47


. The shafts


49


are longer than the through holes


43


so that the stopper portion


50


can separate from the holding surfaces


52


of the container body


38


. When a base sheet BS is held between the stopper portion


50


and the holding surface


52


, the upper surfaces of the stopper portion


50


are lower than the upper surfaces of the seal receptors


46


and


47


, as described later.




The containers


12


with the structure described above are disposed at even intervals on the main conveyer


11


which is transferred in the horizontal direction.




The main conveyer


11


is equipped with a drive unit


53


such as an air cylinder (shown in

FIG. 2

) for transferring the containers


12


intermittently by a pitch corresponding to the distance between the containers


12


(repeated moving and stopping). The drive unit


53


is electrically connected to a conveyer drive controller


54


(shown in

FIG. 3

) which controls the driving operation.




Base Sheet Supplier




The base sheet supplier


14


will be explained. The base sheet supplier, as shown in

FIGS. 6

to


8


, extracts the base sheet (a pack material) BS and provides it onto the upper surface of the container


12


(


12




a


). The base sheet BS is rolled up and is supported by a supporter


56


which is positioned upstream of and above the container


12


(


12




a


) stopped at a predetermined base sheet supply position. The base sheet BS is long and is made of transparent or semi-transparent synthetic resin. The base sheet supplier


14


comprises a base sheet extractor


57


for extracting the base sheet BS in the direction of the movement of the container


12


, a base sheet engager


58


for holding the extracted base sheet BS, and a base sheet cutter


59


for cutting the extracted base sheet BS. These three parts are electrically connected to a base sheet supply and arrangement controller


60


(a change pack producer) (shown in

FIG. 3

) which controls the driving operation of the three parts.




The base sheet extractor


57


comprises: a support shaft


62


positioned in the Y-direction below the container


12


(


12




a


), a pair of extracting arms


63


whose lower ends are supported by the ends of the support shaft


62


, and a pair of drive units


64


, such as air cylinders, which are positioned above the support shaft


62


, extend in the X-direction, and are connected to the middles of the corresponding extracting arms


63


. Between the upper ends of the extracting arms


63


, a catcher


65


for holding the base sheet BS is provided across the container


12


(


12




a


). The drive units


64


rotate the extracting arms


63


to move the catcher


65


between a base position upstream of the container


12


(


12




a


) and an extraction position downstream of the container


12


(


12




a


).




The catcher


65


attached to the upper ends of the extracting arms


63


comprises: a catcher base


66


extending in the Y-direction, drive units


67


, such as air cylinders, positioned at both ends of the catcher base


66


; and a catcher body


68


which is connected to the drive units


67


, and is positioned above and is parallel to the catcher base


66


. By operating the drive units


67


, the catcher body


68


comes close to the catcher base


66


to catch the base sheet BS therebetween. On the other hand, the drive unit


67


separates the catcher body


68


from the catcher base


66


so that the base sheet BS is released.




The catcher body


68


and the catcher base


66


have, for example, four grooves


69


which are formed in the downstream portions of the catcher body


68


and the catcher base


66


. The grooves extend vertically when the catcher body


68


and the catcher base


66


are positioned at the extraction position.




The base sheet engager


58


is positioned above the catcher


65


at the extraction position located downstream of the base sheet engager


58


. The base sheet engager


58


comprises a plurality of, for example, two drive units


71


, such as air cylinders, with movable shafts


70


, and two pins


72


fixed at the lower ends of the movable shafts


70


. The pins


72


which are moved down by the drive units


71


are inserted into the grooves


69


of the catcher


65


which is positioned at the extraction position, so that the lower ends of the pins


72


are moved down to contact the upper surface of the downstream portion of the stopper portion


50


of the container


12


(


12




a


).




The base sheet cutter


59


is positioned upstream of the container


12


(


12




a


) at the base sheet supply position and extends in the Y-direction. The base sheet cutter


59


comprises: a cutter rail


74


which has a groove (not shown) extending in the Y-direction on the upper surface of the cutter rail


74


; a guide rail


75


which is positioned above the cutter rail


74


and is parallel to the cutter rail


74


; a drive unit


77


with a movable body


76


which is movable along the guide rail


75


; and a disc-shaped cutter


78


which is provided rotatably at the lower end of the movable body


76


so as to allow the lower edge of the cutter


78


into the groove on the cutter rail


74


. When the movable body


76


is moved by the drive unit


77


, the cutter


78


runs on the cutter rail


74


in the Y-direction, and as the result, the base sheet BS on the cutter rail


74


is cut.




Base Sheet Arranger




The base sheet arranger


15


will now be explained. The base sheet arranger


15


is located above the container


12


(


12




a


) stopped at the base sheet supply position. The base sheet arranger


15


comprises: a base sheet pusher


80


; a base sheet insert


81


; a pair of drive units


82


, such as air cylinders, which are parallel to each other and move up and down the base sheet pusher


80


and the base sheet insert


81


; and a pair of drive units


83


(shown in FIG.


7


), such as air cylinders, for moving up and down the stopper


39


of the container


12


(


12




a


).




The drive units


82


moves up and down vertically-movable shafts


84


extending in the vertical direction. The base sheet pusher


80


is attached to the lower ends of the vertically-movable shafts


84


, and the base sheet insert


81


is attached above the base sheet pusher


80


.




The base sheet pusher


80


is an approximately flat plate, as seen from the upper side, which corresponds to and is slightly narrower than the inside area of the concavity


44


of the container


12


(


12




a


) at the base sheet supply position. The lower edges of the base sheet pusher


80


are formed with a rounded chamfer. The base sheet pusher


80


can be moved into the concavity


44


of the container


12


(


12




a


) by the drive units


82


.




The base sheet insert


81


comprises: a base plate


86


fixed to the vertically-movable shafts


84


; a pair of drive units


88


A and


88


B, such as air cylinders, mounted on the base plate


86


so that movable shafts


87


A and


87


B extend in the X-direction (the right-left direction in

FIG. 9

) and are directed in opposite directions to each other; a pair of drive units


90


A and


90


B, such as air cylinders, mounted on the base plate


86


so that movable shafts


89


A and


89


B extend in the Y-direction (the top-bottom direction in

FIG. 9

) and are directed in opposite directions to each other; a pair of blades


91


A and


91


B fixed to the movable shafts


87


A and


87


B of the drive units


88


A and


88


B and extending in the horizontal direction; and a pair of blades


92


A and


92


B fixed to the movable shafts


89


A and


89


B of the drive units


90


A and


90


B and extending in the horizontal direction.




The drive units


82


,


83


,


88


A,


88


B,


90


A, and


90


B are electrically connected to the above described base sheet supply and arrangement controller


60


.




The drive unit


88


A moves the movable shaft


87


A upstream, the drive unit


88


B moves the movable shaft


87


B downstream, the drive unit


90


A moves the movable shaft


89


A in the right direction with respect to the transfer of the container


12


, and the drive unit


90


B moves the movable shaft


89


A in the left direction with respect to the traveling direction of the container


12


. Then, as shown in

FIG. 9



a


, all blades


91


A,


91


B,


92


A, and


92


B are moved in the horizontal direction so that they are separated from each other, that is, they come to an “open condition”.




On the other hand, the drive unit


88


A moves the movable shaft


87


A downstream, the drive unit


88


B moves the movable shaft


87


B upstream, the drive unit


90


A moves the movable shaft


89


A to the left with respect to the transfer of the container


12


, and the drive unit


90


B moves the movable shaft


89


A in the right direction with respect to the transfer of the container


12


. Then, as shown in

FIG. 9



b


, the blades


90


A,


91


B,


92


A, and


92


B come close to each other, that is, they come to a “closed condition”.




In the closed condition, the outer edges of all the blades


91


A,


91


B,


92


A, and


92


B are positioned in and slightly separated from the stopper portion


50


of the container


12


(


12




a


) at the base sheet supply position.




In the open condition, the outer edges of all the blades


91


A,


91


B,


92


A, and


92


B are positioned outside the stopper portion


50


of the container


12


(


12




a


) at the base sheet supply position.




The operations of the base sheet supplier


14


and the base sheet arranger


15


controlled by the base sheet supply and arrangement controller


60


will be explained.




Initially, the catcher


65


of the base sheet extractor


57


is set at the base position so that the end of the base sheet BS is caught by the catcher body


68


and the catcher base


66


. The base sheet engager


58


moves up all the pins


72


, and the base sheet arranger


15


moves up the base sheet pusher


80


and the base sheet insert


81


. The base sheet insert


81


is set in the closed condition (FIG.


10


). The base sheet supply and arrangement controller


60


directs the drive units


64


of the base sheet extractor


57


to rotate the extracting arms


63


downstream, so that the catcher


65


is moved from the base position upstream of the container


12


(


12




a


) to the base sheet supply position downstream of the container


12


(


12




a


) (FIG.


11


). Thus, the catcher


65


conveys the base sheet BS onto the upper side of the container


12


(


12




a


). The end of the extracted base sheet BS is positioned downstream of the stopper portion


50


of the container


12


(


12




a


). The extracted base sheet BS corresponds to the shape of the concavity


44


of the container


12


(


12




a


), and projects from both sides of the stopper portion


50


in the Y-direction.




When the base sheet BS is drawn out, the base sheet supply and arrangement controller


60


directs the drive units


71


of the base sheet engager


58


to move down the pins


72


, which are then inserted into the grooves of the catcher


65


(FIG.


12


). As a result, the pins


72


pierce the downstream portion of the base sheet BS caught by the catcher body


68


and the catcher base


66


.




The base sheet supply and arrangement controller


60


directs the drive units


67


of the base sheet extractor


57


to separate the catcher body


68


from the catcher base


66


so as to release the base sheet BS. The drive units


64


rotate the extracting arms


63


upstream so that the catcher


65


returns to the base position (FIG.


13


).




Subsequently, the base sheet supply and arrangement controller


60


directs the drive units


82


of the base sheet arranger


15


to move down the base sheet pusher


80


and the base sheet insert


81


(FIG.


14


). Then, as the base sheet engager


58


engages with the downstream portion of the base sheet BS and the catcher


65


of the base sheet extractor


57


releases the base sheet BS, the base sheet BS on the container


12


(


12




a


) at the base sheet supply position is pushed into the concavity


44


by the base sheet pusher


80


while drawn out from the roll. The base sheet BS conforms to the shape of the concavity


44


.




The base sheet supply and arrangement controller


60


moves the catcher body


68


close to the catcher base


66


of the catcher


65


of the base sheet extractor


57


which stays a the base position, which then holds the base sheet BS.




The base sheet supply and arrangement controller


60


moves the movable body


76


along the guide rail


75


of the base sheet cutter


59


, so that the cutter


78


is rotated and is moved through the groove, which is not shown, of the cutter rail


74


. As the result, the cutter


78


cuts the base sheet BS which is extracted by the base sheet extractor


57


and is placed on the cutter rail


74


(FIG.


15


). Simultaneously, the drive units


71


moves up the pins


72


of the base sheet engager


58


to release the base sheet BS. The cutting position of the base sheet BS is set upstream of the container


12


(


12




a


) stopped at the base sheet supply position and between the portion of the base sheet BS pushed by the base sheet pusher


80


and the other portion of the base sheet BS caught by the catcher


65


.




The upstream base position where the catcher


65


of the base sheet extractor


57


returns is set close to and upstream of the cutter rail


74


. As described above, before the base sheet cutter


59


cuts the base sheet BS, the catcher


65


of the base sheet extractor


57


releases the base sheet BS, returns to the upstream base position, and catches the base sheet BS to maintain the shape of the base sheet BS, preventing twisting the base sheet BS. This allows the base sheet cutter


59


to cut the base sheet BS satisfactorily.




The base sheet supply and arrangement controller


60


directs the drive units


83


to press the underside of the operational portion


51


of the stopper


39


of the container


12


(


12




a


) at the base sheet supply position, so as to lift up the stopper portion


50


, which is then separated from the holding surface


52


of the container body


38


(FIG.


16


).




The base sheet supply and arrangement controller


60


drives the drive units


88


A,


88


B,


90


A, and


90


B so that the blades


91


A,


91


B,


92


A, and


92


B reach the open condition (FIG.


17


). The blades


91


A,


91


B,


92


A, and


92


B are expanded into the space between the stopper portion


50


and the container body


38


toward the outside direction. As the result, while the base sheet BS is pushed into the concavity


44


by the base sheet pusher


80


, the edge of the base sheet BS outside the concavity


44


is inserted between the stopper portion


50


and the container body


38


by the expanded blades


91


A,


91


B,


92


A, and


92


B. The four sides of the base sheet BS are inserted between the stopper portion


50


and the container body


38


.




Then, the base sheet supply and arrangement controller


60


moves the drive units


88


A,


88


B,


90


A, and


90


B to constrict the blades


91


A,


91


B,


92


A, and


92


B, and directs the drive units


83


to move down the stopper


39


so that the stopper portion


50


comes close to the holding surface


52


of the container body


38


to hold the edges of the base sheet BS. Therefore, the base sheet BS conforms to the shape of the concavity


44


, while the outer edge is held by the stopper portion


50


(FIG.


18


).




The base sheet supply and arrangement controller


60


directs the drive units


82


to move up the base sheet pusher


80


and base sheet insert


81


from the concavity


44


of the container body


38


.




The base sheet BS, which is set on the container


12


(


12




a


) at the base sheet supply position, projects from all the sides of the stopper portion


50


of the container


12


(


12




a


) in the X- and Y-directions. The base sheet BS can be held as long as its entire edge reaches the underside of the stopper portion


50


.




As described above, the setting operation of the base sheet BS to the container


12


(


12




a


) positioned at the base sheet supply position is completed, and the base sheet supply and arrangement controller


60


sends a transfer permission signal to the integrated pack production controller


35


.




Coin Roll Deliverer




Next, the coin roll deliverers


16


to


19


,


21


, and


23


will be explained.




The coin roll deliverers


16


to


19


,


21


, and


23


have the identical structures. Each of the coin roll deliverers


16


to


19


,


21


, and


23


comprises a coin packager


94


for packaging a coin roll C with a number of stacked coins from loose coins, a coin roll conveyer


95


for transporting the coin roll C toward the container


12


, a guide


96


attached to the coin roll conveyer


95


, and a counter deliverer


97


for counting the coin rolls C transported by the coin roll conveyer


95


, based on pack data, and for sending them to the container


12


. The coin roll deliverers


16


to


19


,


21


, and


23


are electrically connected to corresponding roll coin delivery controllers (a cash deliverer, a coin roll deliverer, or a coin roll deliverer)


98


to


101


,


103


, and


104


.




The coin packager


94


comprises a hopper


105


into which loose coins are thrown, a packager main portion


106


for making a coin roll by stacking the predetermined number of the coins and putting packing paper round the stacked coins, a releaser


107


for releasing the coin roll C made by the packager main portion


106


. The releaser


107


discharges the coin rolls C, which are then aligned in the X-direction.




The roll coin conveyer


95


has an endless-type movable belt


108


, and extends horizontally and in the Y-direction. The roll coin conveyer


95


transports the coin rolls C discharged from the releaser


107


of the coin packager


94


onto the endless-type belt


108


. The coin rolls C, maintained to be parallel to the X-direction, are transferred in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the coin roll C.




The guide


96


, which is a bent rod, comprises an inclined portion


109


inwardly extending from the side edge of the endless-type belt


108


toward the container


12


, and a straight portion


110


which extends from the end of the inclined portion


109


toward the container


12


and which is parallel to the endless-type belt


108


. The guide


96


is positioned above, is separated slightly from, and is parallel to the upper side of the endless-type belt


108


, so as to come in contact with the ends of the coin rolls C transported by the endless-type belt


108


, thereby guiding and aligning the coin rolls C.




The counter deliverer


97


is provided at the end of the coin roll conveyer


95


. The counter deliverer


97


comprises a guide


111


near the coin roll conveyer


95


, a rotatable deliverer portion


112


attached to the opposite end of the guide


111


to the coin roll conveyer


95


, and a drive unit


113


for rotating the deliverer portion


112


while controlling its speed.




The straight portion


110


of the guide


96


reaches the inside of the guide


111


so that the guide


111


guides the coil rolls C while regulating the positions of the coil rolls C in the direction of their axes.




The deliverer portion


112


is rotatable by a shaft


114


extending in the X-direction, and a plurality of, for example, four grooves


115


extending in the X-direction are formed at even intervals on the circumference of the deliverer portion


112


.




The deliverer portion


112


driven by the drive unit


113


allows one of the grooves


115


to face the guide


111


so as to receive one of the coin rolls C while maintaining its position in the direction of the roll axis. Simultaneously, the other groove


115


turns downwardly so as to drop the coin roll C while maintaining the position of the coin roll C in the direction of the roll axis. The drive unit


113


controls the rotation of the deliverer portion


112


while counting the number of the coin rolls C.




The position of the deliverer portion


112


for delivering the coin roll C is fixed above the concavity


44


of the corresponding container


12


so as to deliver the coin roll C onto the base sheet BS in the concavity


44


while maintaining the roll axis of coin roll C parallel to the X-direction.




The coin roll delivery controller


98


, as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 3

, directs the coin roll deliverer


16


to deliver the necessary number of the coin rolls, which includes fifty 100-yen coins, to the container


12


(


12




b


) at a first coin roll loading position, based on the pack data. Similarly, a coin roll delivery controller


99


directs the coin roll deliverer


17


to deliver coin rolls, which includes fifty 50-yen coins, to the container


12


(


12




c


) at a second coin roll loading position. A coin roll delivery controller


100


directs the coin roll deliverer


18


to deliver a coin roll, which includes fifty 10-yen coins, to the container


12


(


12




d


) at a third coin roll loading position. A coin roll deliverer controller


101


directs the coin roll deliverer


19


to deliver a coin roll, which includes fifty 500-yen coins, to the container


12


(


12




e


) at a fourth coin roll loading position. A coin roll deliverer controller


103


directs the coin roll deliverer


21


to deliver the coin roll, which includes fifty 5-yen coins, to the container


12


(


12




g


) at a sixth coin roll loading position. A coin roll deliverer controller


104


directs the coin roll deliverer


23


to deliver the coin roll, which includes fifty 1-yen coins, to the container


12


(


12




i


) at a seventh coin roll loading position. These coin roll delivery controllers deliver the necessary number of coin rolls to the containers


12


.




The coin roll deliverer with the packager


94


, the coin roll conveyer


95


, the guide


96


, and the counter deliverer


97


are provided for each type of the coins. That is, the coin roll deliverers


16


to


19


,


21


, and


23


are prepared for all types of the coins.




The other coin roll deliverer


20


, controlled by a coin roll delivery controller (a cash deliverer, a coin roll deliverer, or a change pack producer)


102


, delivers twenty 500-yen coins to the container


12


(


12




f


) at a fifth coin roll loading position, based on the pack data. Similarly, the coin roll deliverer


20


comprises the coin packager


94


with the hopper


105


, a packager main part


106


, and the releaser


107


, and the counter deliverer


97


for delivering coin rolls from the coin packager


94


to the corresponding container


12


(


12




f


) while counting the number of coin rolls. In the coin roll deliverer


20


, the releaser


107


of the coin packager


94


releases the coin rolls such that the coin rolls are aligned in the Y-direction, and the counter deliverer


97


drops the coin rolls into the container


12


(


12




f


) while counting the number of coin rolls.




The coin roll deliverer


20


releases the coin rolls while aligning them in the Y-direction in a manner different from the other coin roll deliverers


16


to


19


,


21


, and


23


. This is because the coin rolls with twenty 500-yen coins are short and their directions may differ from those of the other coin rolls. The coin roll deliverer


20


may be constructed in a manner similar to the other coin roll deliverers


16


to


19


,


21


, and


23


.




These coin roll deliverers


16


to


23


deliver the coin rolls to the containers which are stopped at the different positions.




Further, after the delivery of all the coin rolls, the coin roll delivery controllers


98


to


104


send transfer permission signals to the integrated pack production controller


35


.




Stacked Bills Deliverer




The stacked bills deliverer


22


will be explained.




As shown in

FIGS. 21 and 22

, the stacked bills deliverers


22


comprises a storage case


118


, deliverer portions


119


, a stage


120


, an aligner


121


, and a holder transporter


122


. The storage case


118


includes storage spaces


133


to


136


for storing a number of aligned stacks of one hundred bills S


1


by types of bills. The deliverer portions


119


, attached to the storage spaces


133


to


136


, delivers stacks of bills S


1


one by one to the container


12


(


12




h


) at a predetermined stacked bill loading position, based on the pack data. The stacks of bills S


1


delivered from the deliverer portions


119


are placed on the stage


120


. The aligner


121


aligns the stacks of bills S


1


on the stage


120


. The holder transporter


122


holds the stacks of bills S


1


aligned on the stage


120


one by one and loads them onto the container


12


(


12




h


) at the stacked bill loading position, based on the pack data. The deliverer portion


119


, the aligner


121


, and the holder transporter


122


are electrically connected to a stacked bills delivery controller (a cash deliverer, a stacked bills deliverer, or a change pack producer)


123


(FIG.


3


).




The storage case


118


comprises an inclined bottom plate


125


whose end is lowered toward the container


12


, a plate


126


perpendicular to the bottom plate


125


at the edge of the bottom plate


125


nearest the container


12


, a pair of plates


128


and


129


perpendicular to the bottom plate


125


at both side edge in the X-direction, and partitions


130


to


132


parallel to the plates


128


and


129


. In the storage case


118


, there are four storage spaces between the plates


128


and the partition


130


, between the partitions


130


and


131


, between partitions


131


and


132


, and between the partition


132


and the plate


129


. The storage spaces


133


to


136


are assigned to different types of bills. Specifically, the storage spaces


133


and


134


store 1,000-yen bills, the storage space


135


stores 5,000-yen bills, and the storage space


136


stores 10,000-yen bills. The apparatus may not handle the 10,000-yen bills. As financial liberalization is expanded, ordinary stores may exchange foreign money and may prepare 10,000-yen bill. The storage spaces


133


to


136


may be used to store the other types of bills if necessary.




The storage spaces


133


to


136


include pushers


137


which can move by their own weight in the direction of the plate


126


. In the storage spaces


133


to


136


, the stacks of bills S


1


are stacked in the direction parallel to the plate


126


while the longer sides of bills are aligned in the X-direction. The stacks of bills S


1


are stacked from the lower end to the upper end along the inclined surface of the bottom plate


125


. The pushers


137


are positioned on the uppermost stack of bills S


1


so as to press the stack of bills S


1


toward the plate


126


.




The bottom plate


125


has through holes, not shown, near the plate


126


in respective storage spaces


133


to


136


. The deliverer portion


119


has deliverer pins


139


which can be inserted through the corresponding through holes, and a drive unit, such as an air cylinder, for pushing out and extracting the deliverer pins


139


through the bottom plate


125


.




The deliverer portion


119


pushes out the deliverer pins


139


from the bottom plate


125


using the drive unit


140


, so that the deliverer pins


139


come in contact with the lowest stack of bills S


1


, which is then pushed out from the plate


126


. When the deliverer pins


139


are extracted, the next stack of bills S


1


comes in contact with the plate


126


.




The stage


120


is positioned horizontally at the same level as the upper edge of the plate


126


of the storage case


118


and near the container


12


, and extends in the X-direction over the width of the storage case


118


. The stage


120


receives the stacks of bills S


1


pushed out from the storage case


118


by the deliverer portion


119


.




As shown in

FIG. 23

, the stage


120


has a number of cut-out portions


141


in both its longer sides.




The stacked bill delivery controller


123


directs the deliverer portion


119


to release the stacks of bills S


1


from the storage case


118


based on the pack data. The stacks of bills S


1


are placed at different positions corresponding to the storage spaces


133


to


136


, that is, depending on the types of bills.




As shown in

FIGS. 23 and 24

, the aligner


121


comprises an aligner portion


143


and drive units


144


such as air cylinders. The aligner portion


143


is a square bar extending in the X-direction and is located above the stage


120


near the storage case


118


(the upper side in FIG.


23


). The drive units


144


are connected to both ends of the aligner portion


143


, and move the aligner portion


143


in the Y-direction while maintaining the axis of the aligner portion


143


in the X-direction.




The aligner


121


moves the aligner portion


143


farthest from the container


12


, so as to allow the stack of bills S


1


to pass over the aligner portion


143


. As the result, the stack of bills S


1


discharged from the storage case


118


is received by the stage


120


. The stacked bill delivery controller


123


directs the drive units


144


to move the aligner portion


143


toward the container


12


so that the aligner portion


143


comes in contact with and pushes the side of the stacks of bills S


1


. Then, the positions of the stacks of bills S


1


are aligned in the Y-direction. The stacks of bills S


1


are positioned at intermediate positions between the cut-out portions


141


of the stage


120


.




The holder transporter


122


is controlled by the stacked bill delivery controller


123


, and is used commonly for all types of stacks of bills S


1


aligned at the different positions on the stage


120


. As shown in

FIGS. 21 and 22

, the holder transporter


122


comprises a guide rail


146


, a movable body


147


, an air-driven transporter drive unit


150


, an air-driven vertical drive unit


153


, and a holder


154


. The guide rail


146


extends in the X-direction above the storage case


118


. The movable body


147


moves on the guide rail


146


. The transporter drive unit


150


has a guide rail


148


fixed to the movable body


147


and extending in the Y-direction and a movable body


149


on the guide rail


148


. The vertical drive unit


153


has vertical guide shafts


151


attached to the movable body


149


of the transporter drive unit


150


and a movable body


152


which is moved up and down by the guide shafts


151


. The holder


154


is attached to the movable body


152


.




The holder


154


comprises a base


156


, a holder drive unit


158


such as an air cylinder, a pair of claws


159


, and a press portion


160


. The base


156


is fixed to the movable body


152


. The holder drive unit


158


has movable shaft bodies


157


and is attached to the base


156


so that the movable shaft bodies


157


extend in the Y-direction. The claws


159


are symmetrically attached to both ends of the movable shaft bodies


157


and are moved by the holder drive unit


158


to come close to each other and to separate from each other. The press portion


160


is vertically movably attached to the underside of the holder drive unit


158


and is biased toward the lower direction by a spring or other devices.




The claws


159


have lower plates


161


which symmetrically face each other and which can move vertically so as to pass through the cut-out portions


141


of the stage


120


. Above the lower plates


161


, the press portion


160


is positioned.




The operation of the stacked bills deliverer


22


controlled by stacked bill delivery controller


123


will be explained.




The stacked bill delivery controller


123


draws the deliverer pins


139


of the deliverer portion


119


from the storage case


118


, and extracts the holder


154


of the holder transporter


122


from the stage


120


. While maintaining the aligner portion


143


of the aligner


121


near the storage case


118


(as shown in FIG.


25


), the deliverer pins


139


of the deliverer portion


119


for the storage spaces


133


to


136


are pushed out into the storage case


118


, based on the pack data, so that the stacks of bills S


1


jump over the aligner portion


143


and are placed on the stage


120


(FIG.


26


). Depending on the types of bills, the stacks of bills S


1


are discharged to the different positions in the X-direction. The deliverer pins


139


are quickly extracted from the storage case


118


.




The stacked bill delivery controller


123


moves the aligner


143


toward the container


12


(

FIG. 27

) to align the stacks of bills S


1


in the Y-direction, returns the aligner


143


to the storage case


118


, and directs the transporter drive unit


150


to move the holder


154


to a predetermined holding position just above the stack of bills S


1


, based on the pack data (FIG.


28


). At that time, the stacked bill delivery controller


123


moves up the holder


154


by the vertical drive unit


153


and separates the claws


159


by the holder drive unit


158


.




The vertical drive unit


153


moves down the holder


154


from the holding position. When the lower plates


161


of the claws


159


are moves lower than the stage


120


, the holder drive unit


158


narrows the claws


159


, which are then positioned under the stack of bills S


1


. By lowering the holder


154


, the press portion


160


is pressed onto the stack of bills S


1


, and is moved up against the biasing force.




The stacked bill delivery controller


123


moves up the holder


154


using the vertical drive unit


153


. The holder


154


is positioned above the stage while the claws


159


pass through the cut-out portions


141


of the stage


120


. The press portion


160


presses the stack of bills S


1


against the lower plates


161


of the claws


159


by its biasing force.




When the stacked bill delivery controller


123


allows both claws


159


and the press portion


160


to hold the stack of bills S


1


, the transporter drive unit


150


moves the holder


154


above the container


12


(


12




h


) stopped at the stacked bill loading position. (FIG.


30


). The vertical drive unit


153


moves down the holder


154


, and the holder drive unit


158


separates both claws


159


at both ends of the holder


154


, so as to drop the stack of bills S


1


onto the base sheet BS within the concavity


44


of the container


12


(


12




h


) at the stacked bill loading position.




The stacked bill delivery controller


123


arranges the holder


154


, that is, the stack of bills S


1


to the appropriate position for the container


12


(


12




h


) in consideration of the other bills which are to be loaded into the container


12


(


12




h


) according to the pack data. In

FIG. 31

, based on the relationship with the other bills, the stack of bills S


1


may be loaded within the concavity


44


nearest the storage case


118


as shown with the solid lines, farthest from the storage case


118


as shown with the double-short-single-long dashed line, or in the middle of the concavity


44


as shown with the single-short-single-long dashed line.




When the necessary stacks of bills S


1


are loaded on the container


12


(


12




h


) at the stacked bill loading position, the stacked bill delivery controller


123


sends the transfer permission signal to the integrated pack production controller


35


.




As the holder


154


is rotatable by 90 degrees with respect to the movable body


152


around the shaft, the holder


154


, that is, the stack of bills S


1


, is changed to the appropriate direction for the container


12


(


12




h


) in consideration of the other bills which are to be loaded into the container


12


(


12




h


) according to the pack data. Based on the relationship with the other coin rolls C, the longitudinal side of the stack of bills S


1


may be parallel to the X-direction as shown in

FIG. 32



a


, or to the Y-direction as shown in

FIG. 32



b


. The position and direction of the holder


154


may be appropriately controlled.




Loose Bills Deliverer




The loose bill deliverer


32


will now be explained.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, the loose bills deliverer


32


, controlled by a loose bills delivery controller


163


(shown in FIG.


3


), delivers loose bills to the container


12


(


12




j


) stopped at a predetermined a loose bill loading position, based on the pack data. The pack data are produced from change data inputted from shops or cash-registers. When the number of bills to be prepared is several hundreds, the above-described stacks of bills S


1


may be prepared. When a less than hundred bills, for example, 30 or 50 bills are required, depending on the circumstances, the loose bills deliverer


32


delivers the loose bills.




The number of bills (amount of bills) which can be delivered in each operation of the loose bill deliverer


32


is limited. When the number of bills required to be delivered to the container


12


(


12




j


) is above this limitation, the delivery operations are repeated so that the number of bills delivered in each operation does not exceed the limitation. On the other hand, when the number of bills to be delivered is below the limitation, all types of bills are delivered in one operation so that the bills are stacked and classified according to the types of bills.




When repetition of the delivery is required, the loose bills delivery controller


163


divides the bills according to the types of bills. When the division is required for one type of bills, the delivery operations are repeated so as to minimize the number of the repetitions.




Adjacent to the container


12


, a loading sensor


164


, a confirmation button


165


, and a division sensor


166


are provided. The loading sensor


164


senses the container


12


stopped at the predetermined loose bills loading position through a visual or auditory means. The confirmation button


165


is pushed by the operator. The division sensor


166


senses the repetition of the delivery through a visual or auditory means. The loading sensor


164


, the confirmation button


165


, and the division sensor


166


are connected to the loose bills delivery controller


163


.




When the container


12


is stopped at the loose bills loading position, the loose bills delivery controller


163


informs the loading sensor


164


of positioning of the container, and the loose bill deliverer


32


delivers the loose bills to the container


12


(


12




j


) based on the pack data.




To deliver the loose bills in one operation, the loose bills delivery controller


163


directs the loose bill deliverer to deliver the loose bills, and, once the confirmation button is pushed, outputs the transfer permission signal to the integrated pack production controller


35


.




On the other hand, when the loose bills are delivered in two or more operations, the loose bills delivery controller


163


directs the division sensor


166


to perform the sensing operation, and directs the loose bill deliverer


32


to perform the first delivery operation for delivering the loose bills. Then, the next delivery operation by the loose bill deliverer


32


is stopped until the operator pushes the confirmation button


165


. Once the operator pushes the confirmation button


165


, the next delivery operation is started by the loose bill deliverer


32


. Thus, the delivery operations are repeated in response to the push of the confirmation button


165


. When the last delivery operation is completed and the confirmation button


165


is pushed, the integrated pack production controller


35


outputs the transfer permission signal.




The integrated pack production controller


35


stops transferring the containers


12


(


12




j


) until the loose bills delivery controller


163


outputs the transfer permission signal. When the transfer permission signal is output, the container


12


(


12




j


) is transferred by one pitch.




Load Adjuster




The load adjuster


24


will now be explained.




The load adjuster


24


adjusts the positions of the coin rolls and other loads delivered to the container


12


. As shown in

FIG. 33

, the load adjuster


24


is located above the container


12


(


12




k


) stopped at a predetermined adjustment position downstream of the loose bill deliverer. The load adjuster


24


is controlled by a load adjustment controller


138


(FIG.


3


).




The load adjuster


24


comprises an air-driven drive unit


170


, an adjuster portion


171


, and a sensor


172


. The drive unit


170


has a guide rail


167


positioned above the container


12


(


12




k


) and extending vertically, and a movable body


169


movable along the guide rails


167


. The adjuster portion


171


is fixed to the lower end of the movable body


169


of the drive unit


170


. The sensor


172


is positioned slightly above the container


12


(


12




k


) at the adjustment position and monitors the conditions of the coin rolls C loaded on the container


12


(


12




k


).




The middle portion


173


of the adjuster portion


171


is positioned at the lowest position in the Y-direction. The adjuster portion


171


has lower surfaces


174


inclined upwardly toward both ends of the adjuster portion


171


. The position of the middle portion


173


corresponds to the delivery position where the coin rolls C are stacked by the coin roll deliverers


16


to


21


, and


23


.




The sensor


172


detects that the height of the stacked coin rolls C exceeds the height of the container


12


(


12




k


). The optical sensor


172


performs the detection based on an interrupted light path.




When the sensor


172


detects the coin rolls C, the load adjuster


168


determines that the conditions of the loaded coin rolls C are incomplete, and moves down the adjuster portion


171


(FIG.


34


). Then, the adjuster portion


171


comes in contact with the upper portion of the stacked coin rolls C so as to press and slide the coin rolls in the horizontal direction, thereby regulating the stacked coin rolls C.




The sensor


172


is not always necessary, and the adjuster portion


171


may be moved down at least once for each container


12


(


12




k


) to regulate the stacked coin rolls C.




In addition to the load adjuster


24


downstream of the loose bill deliverer, one or more other load adjusters


24


may be added for the other containers


12


upstream of the container


12




k.






Top Sheet Supplier




As shown in

FIGS. 35

to


37


, the top sheet supplier


25


places a top sheet TS, made from transparent or semi-transparent material, on the container


12


(


12




m


) stopped at a predetermined top sheet supply position downstream of the adjustment position. The top sheet supplier


25


has a support


176


positioned above and upstream of the container


12


(


12




m


). The top sheet supplier


25


draws out the long top sheet (a pack material) TS from the roll supported by the support


176


and overlays the top sheet TS on the cash loaded into the concavity


44


of the container


12


(


12




m


).




The top sheet supplier


25


comprises a top sheet extractor


177


for extracting the top sheet TS in the direction parallel to the transportation of the containers


12


, a top sheet engager


178


for engaging with the top sheet TS, and a top sheet cutter


179


for setting the extracted top sheet TS. The top sheet extractor


177


, the top sheet engager


178


, and the top sheet cutter


179


are electrically connected to a top sheet supply bonding controller (a top sheet supplier, a change pack producer, a bonding device, or a change pack producer)


180


(FIG.


3


).




The top sheet extractor


177


comprises: a support shaft


182


positioned below the container


12


(


12




m


) at the top sheet supply position and extending in the Y-direction; a pair of extracting arms


183


whose lower ends are supported by the ends of the support shaft


182


; and drive units


184


such as air cylinders whose middle portions are coupled to the extracting arms


183


and which extend in the X-direction above the support shaft


182


. Between the upper ends of the extracting arms


183


, the catcher


185


for catching the top sheet TS is provided across the container


12


(


12




m


) in the Y-direction. The drive units


184


rotate the extracting arms


183


to move the catcher


185


between a upstream base position and a downstream extraction position.




The catcher


185


, attached to the upper ends of the extracting arms


183


, comprises: a catcher base


186


extending in the Y-direction; a pair of drive units


187


such as air cylinders positioned at both ends of the catcher base


186


; and a catcher body


188


coupled to the drive units


187


and positioned to be above and parallel to the catcher base


186


. The drive units


187


allows the catcher body


188


to come close to the catcher base


186


so that the catcher body


188


and the catcher base


186


catch the top sheet TS. The drive units


187


separate the catcher body


188


from the catcher base


186


so as to release the top sheet TS.




The catcher body


188


and the catcher base


186


have a plurality of, for example, four grooves


189


in their downstream portions, and the grooves


189


are vertical when the catcher body


188


and the catcher base


186


are positioned at the extraction position.




The top sheet engager


178


is positioned upstream of the catcher


185


at the extraction position. The top sheet engager


178


has two drive units


190


such as air cylinders, and four vertically-movable pins


191


. Two pins


191


are attached to the underside of each drive unit


190


. The pins


191


moved down by the drive units


190


are inserted through the grooves


189


of the catcher body


188


and the catcher base


186


at the extraction position.




The top sheet cutter


179


comprises a cutter rail


192


, an air-driven drive unit


195


, and a disc-shaped cutter


196


. The cutter rail


192


is located above and upstream of the container


12


(


12




m


) at the top sheet supply position, extends in the Y-direction, and has a groove, not shown, extending in the Y-direction in the top surface of the cutter rail


192


. The drive unit


195


has a guide rail


193


above and parallel to the cutter rail


192


, and a movable body


194


movably attached to the guide rail


193


. The cutter


196


is rotatably attached to the lower end of the movable body


194


so as to allow the lower edge of the cutter


196


into the groove on the cutter rail


192


. When the drive unit


195


moves the movable body


194


, the cutter


196


moves on the cutter rail


192


, cutting the top sheet TS on the cutter rail


192


.




Labeler




The labeler


26


is disposed between the support


176


supporting the top sheet roll and the top sheet extractor


177


. The labeler


26


comprises a support


198


, a printer


199


, a folder


200


, a holder


201


, a winder


202


, and a sticker base


203


. The support


198


supports a roll of a label sheet LS whose one surface is an adhesive coated surface. The printer


199


transfers the label sheet LS and prints a predetermined indication on the label of the label sheet LS based on the pack data. The folder


200


with a roller folds the label sheet LS printed by the printer


199


by 180 degrees downwardly so as to detach a label L from the label sheet LS and to allow the detached label L to protrude. The holder


201


is vertically movable and, using a vacuum means, attracts the upper surface of the label L partly detached by the folder


200


. The winder


202


winds the label sheet LS from which the label L is detached. The sticker base


203


supports the underside of the top sheet TS when the label L held by the holder


201


is moved down to stick the label L on the top sheet TS. The printer


199


, the holder


201


, and the winder


202


are electrically connected to a labeler controller (labeler for printing and adhering a label)


204


. The label L is printed for each container


12


, that is, for each change pack P. Specifically, the label L indicates the amount of each type of cash loaded into the change pack P and a bar-code.




Bonding Device




The bonding device


27


will now be explained.




The bonding device


27


comprises a transverse side bonding portion


206


which is horizontally movable and which is disposed above the container


12


(


12




m


) stopped at the top sheet supply position, and a longitudinal side bonding portion which is vertically movable and which is disposed above the container


12


(


12




m


) stopped at a longitudinal side bonding position downstream of the top sheet supply position by one pitch.




The transverse side bonding portion


206


comprises a drive unit


211


, such as an air cylinder, with a pair of movable shafts


210


(

FIG. 42

) extending vertically, and a pair of seals


208


. A pair of the seals


208


are attached to the movable shafts


210


, and extend in the Y-direction at the same height as each other. The seals


208


, which are heated, come in full face contact with the pair of the seal receptors


47


of the container


12


(


12




m


) extending in the Y-direction when the seals


208


are moved down.




The longitudinal side bonding portion


207


comprises a drive unit


213


, such as an air cylinder, with a pair of movable shafts


212


(

FIG. 42

) extending vertically, and a pair of seals


209


attached to the movable shafts


212


and extending in the X-direction so as to make the positions of the seals


209


in the X-direction coincide with each other. The seals


209


, which are heated, come in full face contact with a pair of the seal receptors


46


of the container


12


(


12




n


) extending the X-direction when the seals


209


are moved down.




Assuming that the longitudinal side bonding portion


207


is moved upstream of the container


12


by one pitch between the containers


12


, the seals


209


of the longitudinal side bonding portion


207


and the seals


208


of the transverse side bonding portion


206


form a rectangular shape, and the ends of the seals


208


and


209


are overlapped each other.




The transverse side bonding portion


206


and the longitudinal side bonding portion


207


are driven by the drive units


211


and


213


so as to move the bonding devices


206


and


207


synchronously. Their movement in the vertical direction is controlled by the top sheet supply bonding controller


180


.




The operations of the top sheet supplier


25


, the labeler


26


, and the bonding device


27


will be explained.




By the labeler controller


204


, the labeler


26


prints the data on the labels L one by one according to the sequence of the containers


12


based on the pack data. In these printed labels L, the label L prepared for the container


12


(


12




m


) at the top sheet supply position is separated from the label sheet LS and is received by the holder


201


. The label L is adhered on the top sheet TS to be placed on the container


12


(


12




b


) before the extraction of the top sheet TS.




After the label L is adhered, the catcher


65


remains at the base position while the catcher body


188


and the catcher base


186


hold the end of the top sheet TS, the top sheet engager


178


maintains the pins


191


at the upper position, and the transverse side bonding portion


206


and the longitudinal side bonding portion


207


remain at the upper position (FIG.


38


). First, the top sheet supply bonding controller


180


directs the drive unit


184


of the top sheet extractor


177


to rotate the extracting arms


183


, so that the catcher


185


moves from the base position on the upstream portion of the container


12


(


12




m


) at the top sheet supply position to the extraction position on the downstream portion of the container


12


(


12




m


). Thus, the catcher


185


extracts the top sheet TS onto the container


12


(


12




m


) (FIG.


39


). The end of the extracted top sheet TS is positioned downstream of the stopper portion


50


of the container


12


(


12




m


). The extracted top sheet TS has a width extending beyond both sides of the stopper portion


50


of the container


12


(


12




m


) in the Y-direction. The entire top sheet TS has only to extend beyond at least the seal receptors


46


and


47


.




On the extracted top sheet TS, the label L corresponding to the container


12


((


12




m


)) at the top sheet supply position is adhered at the center of the concavity


44


.




The top sheet supply bonding controller


180


directs the drive unit


190


of the top sheet engager


178


to move down and insert the pins


191


through the catcher


188


and the catcher base


186


. As the result, the pins


191


pass through the downstream portion of the top sheet TS caught between the catcher


188


and the catcher base


186


on the container


12


((


12




m


)) at the top sheet supply position (FIG.


40


).




The top sheet supply bonding controller


180


directs the drive units


187


of the top sheet extractor


177


to release the top sheet TS from the catcher body


188


and the catcher base


186


, and directs the drive units


184


to rotate the extracting arms


183


upstream and to return the catcher


185


to the upstream base position (FIG.


41


).




The top sheet supply bonding controller


180


controls the drive units


211


and


213


to synchronously move down the transverse side bonding portion


206


and the longitudinal side bonding portion


207


. Thus, the overlapped portion of the top sheet TS and the base sheet BS is held between the front and rear seals


208


of the transverse side bonding portion


206


and the front and rear receptors


47


of the container


12


((


12




m


)) at the top sheet supply position. Simultaneously, the overlapped portion of the top sheet TS and the base sheet BS is caught between the right and left seals


209


of the longitudinal side bonding portion


207


and the right left seal receptors


46


of the container


12


(


12




n


) stopped at the longitudinal side bonding position downstream of the top sheet supply position by one pitch (FIG.


42


).




On the container


12


((


12




m


)) at the top sheet supply position, the top sheet TS and the base sheet BS are bonded by heat at two lines in front of and in the rear of the concavity


44


. On the container


12


(


12




n


) at the longitudinal side bonding position, the top sheet TS and the base sheet BS are bonded by heat at two lines on the right and the left of the concavity


44


. Thus, the seals


208


and


209


and the seal receptors


46


and


47


bond the top sheet TS and the base sheet BS outside the concavity


44


of the container


12


and within the stopper portion


50


.




Before the seals


208


and


209


come in contact with the seal receptors


46


and


47


, the top sheet supply bonding controller


180


holds the top sheet TS by the catcher


185


of the sheet extractor


177


which had returned to the base position.




The top sheet supply bonding controller


180


moves the movable body


194


of the top sheet cutter


179


along the guide rail


193


, rotating the cutter


196


within the groove, not shown. As the result, the cutter


196


cuts the top sheet TS on the cutter rail


192


extracted by the top sheet extractor


177


(FIG.


43


). The cutting position is set at the upstream portion of the top sheet TS on the container


12


((


12




m


)) and between the portion bonded by the transverse side bonding portion


206


and the portion held by the catcher


185


.




The base position where the catcher


185


of the top sheet extractor


177


returns is set near and upstream of the cutter rail


192


. Before the top sheet cutter


179


cuts the top sheet TS, the catcher


185


of the top sheet extractor


177


releases the top sheet TS, returns to the base position, and catches the top sheet TS to maintain the shape of the base sheet BS, preventing twisting, and this allows the base sheet cutter


179


to cut the base sheet BS satisfactorily.




On the container


12


(


12




n


) at the longitudinal side bonding position, after the transverse side bonding portion


206


bonded the top sheet TS and the base sheet BS at their front and rear portions, the longitudinal side bonding portion


207


bonds the top sheet TS and the base sheet BS by heat at their right and left portions, thus forming the change pack P with four bonded sides which includes the cash. The label L is attached to the center of the change pack P.




When the top sheet supply bonding controller


180


moves down and maintains the transverse side bonding portion


206


and the longitudinal side bonding portion


207


at a predetermined interval, and moves up them (FIG.


44


), the top sheet supply bonding controller


180


outputs the transfer permission signal to the integrated pack production controller


35


. The signal is output after cutting the top sheet TS on the container


12


((


12




m


)).




Lifter




The lifter


28


will now be explained.




The lifter


28


is controlled by a transfer controller


215


(FIG.


3


). As shown in

FIGS. 45

to


47


, the lifter


28


is located downstream of the container


12


(


12




o


) stopped at a predetermined transfer position downstream of the longitudinal side bonding position, and lifts up the change pack P.




The lifter


28


comprises a base


216


disposed below the container


12


(


12




o


), a number of pins


217


corresponding to the holes


45


of the container


12


(


12




c


), and a pair of drive units


218


, such as air cylinders, for moving up and down the base


216


with the pins


217


.




By driving the drive units


218


, the pins


217


are moved between a recessed position and a protruding position. At the recessed position, the pins


217


are completely recessed from the container


12


(


12




o


) stopped at the transfer position. At the protruding position, the pins


217


are inserted through the holes


45


so as to protrude from the bottom


42


of the concavity


44


. That is, the pins


217


at the recessed position do not interfere with the transferred container


12


, and the pins


217


at the protruding position come into contact with the underside of the change pack P in the concavity


44


and lift the change pack P (FIG.


48


). The change pack P is lifted within the stopper portion


50


of the container


12


(


12




o


), removing the base sheet portion inserted between the stopper portion


50


and the container body


38


.




Transfer Device




The transfer device


29


will now be explained.




The transfer device


29


is located above the container


12


(


12




o


) stopped at the transfer position, and holds and transfers the lifted change pack P. The transfer device


29


is controlled by a transfer controller


215


.




The transfer device


29


comprises an air-driven transfer drive unit


222


, a vertical drive unit


224


such as an air cylinder, and a support


225


. The transfer drive unit


222


has a guide rail


220


extending in the Y-direction above the container


12


(


12




o


) at the transfer position, and a movable body


221


movable by the guide rail


220


. The vertical drive unit


224


is attached to the movable body


221


so that a movable shaft


223


extends vertically. The support


225


is attached to the lower end of the movable shaft


223


.




The support


225


comprises a base


227


, a pair of support drive units


229


such as air cylinders, and support bodies


230


. The base


227


is fixed to the underside of the movable shaft


223


. The support drive units


229


are attached to the base


227


so that movable shafts


228


of the support drive units


229


extend in the X-direction and in opposite directions to each other. The support bodies


230


are symmetrically attached to the movable shafts


228


of the support drive units


229


so as to approach and separate from each other by both support drive units


229


.




The support bodies


230


have lower plates


231


protruding toward each other. The lower plates


231


have a number of grooves


232


in their ends, forming a comb shape.




As shown in

FIG. 47

, the positions of the grooves


232


in the Y-direction correspond to the pins


217


of the lifer


28


, thereby allowing the lower plates


231


to be inserted between the pins


217


.




According to the instruction from the transfer controller


215


, the transfer drive unit


220


moves the support


225


to a predetermined pickup position just above the container


12


(


12




o


) stopped at the transfer position, the vertical drive unit


224


moves up the support


225


, and the support drive units


229


maintain the support bodies


230


separate from each other.




When the pins


217


of the lifter


28


lift up the change pack P in the container


12


(


12




o


) (FIG.


48


), the vertical drive unit


224


moves down the support


225


(FIG.


49


). When the support


225


is moved down until the lower plates


231


of the support bodies


230


are positioned below the change pack P, the support drive units


229


move the support bodies


230


to approach each other so that the pins


217


enter the grooves


232


, thus allowing the lower plates


231


to be inserted between the pins


217


(FIG.


50


).




Next, the transfer controller


215


moves up the support


225


using the vertical drive unit


224


. Then, the support


225


picks up the change pack P, which then is separated from the pins


217


. Simultaneously, the drive units


218


extract the pins


217


to the recessed position below the container


12


(


12




o


) (FIG.


51


). When the vertical drive unit


224


moves up the support


225


, the transfer controller


215


outputs the transfer permission signal to the integrated pack production controller


35


.




The transfer controller


215


moves the support


225


, which picks up the change pack P, using the transfer drive unit


222


, toward and above the checker


30


disposed beside the container


12


(


12




o


). Then, the vertical drive unit


224


moves down the support


225


, the support drive units


229


separates the support bodies


230


of the support


225


, thereby releasing the change pack P onto the checker


30


(FIG.


52


).




The checker


30


comprises a belt conveyer


234


, located beside the main conveyer


11


, for transporting the change pack P in the same direction as the main conveyer


11


, and a weighing machine


235


(shown in

FIG. 46

) for weighing the change pack P on the belt conveyer


234


. The checker


30


is electrically connected to the change pack checker controller (change pack checker)


236


which checks the weight measured by the weighing machine


235


and controls the belt conveyer


234


.




The change pack checker controller


236


stores reference weight data for each change pack P based on the number of bills in the pack data for each change pack P, and compares the reference data with the weight measured by the weighing machine


235


for each change pack P. When the difference is within a predetermined permissible range, the change pack P is transferred downstream to a bagging checker


238


(

FIG. 1

) by the belt conveyer


234


. After the time required for transportation of the change pack P has passed, the change pack checker controller


236


outputs the transfer permission signal to the integrated pack production controller


35


.




When the difference exceeds the permissible range, the change pack checker controller


236


repeats the measurement and the comparison predetermined times depending on the circumstances. When the measured value exceeds the range in the repeated measurement and comparison, the change pack checker controller


236


indicates the occurrence of mis-dispensing the package using a visual or auditory means. The change pack checker controller


236


pauses outputting the transfer permission signal until the weighing machine


235


detects that the change pack P is removed from the belt conveyer


234


. When the weighing machine


235


detects that the change pack P is removed from the belt conveyer


234


, the change pack checker controller


236


outputs the transfer permission signal to the integrated pack production controller


35


. The change pack checker controller


236


is connected to a display, not shown, for indicating the actual measured weight data.




Bagging Checker




The bagging checker


31


(

FIG. 1

) will now be explained.




The bag, not shown, is prepared to pack the change packs P for each group. A shipping tag showing the bar-code is issued in advance and is attached to each bag.




The bagging checker


31


comprises a scanner


239


for reading the bar-code on the shipping tag on the bag and the bar-code on the change pack P, and a display


240


for displaying information to an operator. The bagging checker


31


is connected to a bagging checker controller


241


which verifies the bar-code. The bagging checker controller


241


is electrically connected to a shipping tag issuer, which is not shown, for issuing the shipping tag.




Data Input Device and Integrated Pack Production Controller




The data input device


36


and the integrated pack production controller


35


will be explained.




The data input device


36


receives instructions input by an operator, who can select an initial registration mode for registering a contractor, a store, and a cash-register, a change data registration mode for registering the change data, the relationship registration mode for registering the relationship of the production date to a reference delivery date, a reserve count mode for counting the amount of each type of cash on the production date in response to the input of the production date, and a change pack production mode for producing the change pack.




When the initial registration mode is selected, the integrated pack production controller


35


directs the data input device


36


to display a guide menu for the initial registration mode. Then, the operator inputs a contractor, stores, a delivery route, and cash-registers. A contractor register (a contractor register means)


244


registers the input contractor, the store register (a store register means)


245


registers the input stores and the input delivery route, and the cash-register register (a cash-register register means)


246


registers the input cash-registers (FIG.


3


).




That is, in response to the input of the contractor (for example, a contractor name distinguishable from other contractors) to the data input device


36


, a main controller


243


directs the contractor register


244


to store the contractor name. Subsequently, in response to the input of the stores of the contractor to the data input device


36


, the main controller


243


directs the store register


245


to store the stores associated with the contractor. Subsequently, in response to the input of the delivery route through the stores (for example, a route name distinguishable from other routes), the main controller


243


directs the store register


245


to store the delivery route associated with the contractor. Subsequently, in response to the input of the cash-registers in the stores (for example, a register number distinguishable from the other cash-registers in the same store), the main controller


243


directs the cash-register register


246


to store the cash-registers associated with the stores. Thus, the registrations are repeated for all the contractors.




The registered data of the contractors, stores, delivery routes, and cash-registers, have a hierarchic structure, shown in

FIG. 53

, associating the contractors, stores, and cash-registers. The delivery route is determined for each store (see the company A in FIG.


53


). The cash-registers may not be always registered, and when they are not registered, the registered data of the contractor and the stores have a hierarchic structure without the cash-registers (see the company B in FIG.


53


). When the cash-registers are at the lowest level of the hierarchic structure, each cash-register has a group. When the stores are at the lowest level, each store has a group (the groups are in the boxes in FIG.


53


).




In the initial registration mode, the stored data can be read, modified, and restored.




In consideration of the efficiency of the delivery, two or more delivery routes can be prepared for the stores of one contractor, and one delivery route can be prepared for the stores of the different contractors (the routes α and β in FIG.


53


).




When the change data registration mode is selected, the integrated pack production controller


35


controls the main controller


243


to display a guide menu of the change data registration mode through the data input device


36


. Then, the operator inputs the change data for each group registered in the initial registration mode. The main controller


243


stores the input change data in a change data memory


247


, associating the change data with the groups as shown in FIG.


53


. As shown in

FIG. 53

, the change data includes a delivery date and an amount of each type of cash. Specifically, the change data with different delivery dates are stored independently even when the amount of each type of cash are identical to each other. The change data are input and stored for each group and for each day.




In the change data registration mode, the stored data can be read, modified, and re-stored.




Alternatively, one contractor may be handled as a group, and in this case, any one of a contractor, stores, and cash-registers can be directly input.




The types are coin rolls of fifty 100-yen coins, fifty 50-yen coins, fifty 10-yen coins, fifty 500-yen coins, fifty 5-yen coins, fifty 1-yen coins, and twenty 500-yen coins, stacks of one hundred 10000-yen bills, one hundred 5000-yen bills, and one hundred 1000-yen bills, and loose bills of 10000-yen bills, 5000-yen bills, and 1000-yen bills.




Further, the apparatus for dispensing change may allow the input of the change data which includes large stacks of one thousand 10000-yen bills (ten stacks of bills), one thousand 5000-yen bills (ten stacks of bills), one thousand 1000-yen bills (ten stacks of bills), and large packages of two thousand 500-yen coins, four thousand 100-yen coins, four thousand 50-yen coins, four thousand 10-yen coins, four thousand 5-yen coins, and five thousand 1-yen coins, although this embodiment does not handle them.




When the relationship registration mode is selected, the integrated pack production controller


35


instructs the main controller


243


to display a guide menu for the relationship registration mode through the data input device


36


. Then, the operator inputs the relationship of the production date to the reference delivery date for each store registered in the initial registration mode. The main controller


243


stores the input relationship data in a relationship memory


248


, associating the relationship data with the stores. The relationship between the production date and the delivery date defines when the change packs are produced before the delivery date. By presetting the relationship data, in response to the input of the delivery date of the change data, the production date can be automatically determined. The change data memory


247


stores the determined production date as a part of the change data, associating the production date with the delivery date.




That is, by inputting the delivery date, which is a part of the change data, the production date is automatically determined and registered.




In this relationship registration mode, the stored data can be read, modified, and re-stored.




When the reserve count mode is selected, the integrated pack production controller


35


instructs the main controller


243


to display a guide menu for the reserve count mode through the data input device


36


. Then, the operator inputs the production date though the data input device


36


.




The main controller


243


outputs the input production date to a reserve calculator


249


. The reserve calculator


249


reads all the change data, which includes the input production date, from the change data memory


247


, and counts the amount of each type of cash to be prepared on the production date. A printer, not shown, prints the amount of each type of cash with the production date.




The change pack production mode includes a contractor-based production mode, and a delivery-route-based production mode. When the contractor-based production mode is selected in the change pack production mode, the integrated pack production controller


35


instructs the main controller


243


to display a guide menu for the contractor-based production mode through the data input device


36


. Then, the operator inputs the production date and the contractor through the data input device


36


.




In response to the input of the production date and the contractor, the main controller


243


outputs the input production date and contractor data to an contractor-based production instructor (an contractor-based production instructor means)


250


. The contractor-based production instructor


250


reads only the change data of the input production date and of the input contractor from the change data memory


247


, and outputs them to the main controller


243


.




When the delivery-route-based production mode is selected in the change pack production mode, the integrated pack production controller


35


instructs the main controller


243


to display a guide menu for the delivery-route-based production mode through the data input device


36


. Then, the operator inputs the production date and the contractor through the data input device


36


.




In response to the input of the production date and the delivery route, the main controller


243


outputs the production date and the delivery route to the delivery-route-based production instructor (delivery-route-based production instructor)


251


. The delivery-route-based production instructor


251


reads only the change data of the input production date and the input delivery route from the change data memory


247


, and outputs the read change data to the main controller


243


.




The integrated pack production controller


35


includes a change data divider (a change pack producer)


252


and a pack data memory


253


.




The change data divider


252


receives the change data for each group, which are read in the change pack production mode, from the main controller


243


. The change data divider


252


calculates the amount (number, or weight) of cash corresponding to the received change data, compares the amount of cash with the reference value, and, when the amount exceeds the reference value, divides the change data into a plurality of pack data so as to set the amount of cash of each pack data below the reference value, and stores the pack data in the pack data memory


253


.




That is, the change data divider


252


compares the total amount of cash corresponding to the change data for one group with the predetermined reference value, and, when the total amount of cash is below the reference value, stores the change data as pack data to the memory, associating the pack data with the group. On the other hand, when the total amount of cash exceeds the reference value, the change data divider


252


divides the change data into a plurality of pack data, associating the pack data with the group. The amount of cash of each pack data is below the reference value, and each pack data includes one type of cash, except when the amount of one of types exceeds the reference value. The number of the divided pack data is set to a minimum.




Specifically, the operation of the apparatus of the present invention will be explained when the total amount of cash exceeds the reference value. In

FIG. 54

, in order to allow easy explanation, the change packs of the coin rolls are created, and the reference value is set to thirty coin rolls.




When the total amount of cash exceeds the reference value, the amount of each type of cash is compared with the reference value. When the amount of one of types of cash exceeds the reference value, the change data corresponding to this type of cash are divided to set the amount below the reference value, and the divided data are registered. In

FIG. 54

, the change data includes the fifty rolls of 10-yen coins which exceeds the reference value


30


, and the 10-yen coin rolls are divided into thirty coin rolls and twenty coin rolls. On the other hand, when the amounts of cash are below the reference value, the change data is divided into a plurality of divided according to the types of cash. For instance, the coin rolls other than the 10-yen coin rolls are divided as shown in FIG.


54


. Thus, each of the divided data includes only one type of cash and does not include the other type of cash.




Then, the divided data are combined to minimize the number of data so that the combined data does not exceed the reference value (see the pack data in FIG.


54


).




The pack data memory


253


stores the created divided data and combined divided data as the pack data, associating the pack data with the group. The number of the divided data and the identification numbers are attached to the pack data within the same group.




The pack data are created for all the groups.




The control operation of the integrated pack production controller


35


in the apparatus for dispensing change will be explained.




The reserve count mode is selected and the production date is input through the data input device


36


. The amount of each type of cash to be prepared at the production date is calculated and printed. Based on the printed reserve data, the coin rolls C and the stacks of bills S


1


are loaded beforehand on the coin roll deliverer


16


to


21


and


23


, stacked bills deliverers


22


, and loose bill deliverer


32


.




Then, the change pack production mode is selected, the contractor-based production mode or the delivery-route-based production mode is selected, and the production date is input through the data input device


36


. The integrated pack production controller


35


reads the change data of the groups from the change data memory


247


, and directs the change data divider


252


to create the pack data.




The integrated pack production controller


241


outputs a command to the bagging checker controller


241


to print the shipping tags for the bags using the shipping tag issuer. When the group corresponds to the store, the shipping tag indicates the contractor and the store with the bar-code indicating the group. When the group corresponds to the cash-register, the shipping tag indicates the contractor and the store with the bar-code indicating the group.




When all the change data are converted into the pack data, the integrated pack production controller


35


assigns the first pack data to the container


12


(


12




a


) stopped at the base sheet supply position. Subsequently, the controller


35


assigns the pack data one by one to the container


12


stopped at the base sheet supply position. Naturally, the assigned pack data is maintained to the moving container


12


irrespective of its position until the change pack P is completed. The pack data in the same group are assigned to the containers


12


according to the numerical order.




The integrated pack production controller


35


outputs a command to the base sheet supply controller


60


, which then supplies the base sheet BS using the base sheet supplier


14


and the base sheet arranger


15


onto the container


12


(


12




a


) stopped at the base sheet supply position. The base sheets BS are supplied to all the containers


12


corresponding to the pack data.




Additionally, the integrated pack production controller


35


sends a command to the coin roll delivery controller


98


, which then loads the coin rolls of fifty 100-yen coins using the coin roll deliverer


16


onto the container


12


(


12




b


) stopped at the first coin roll loading position. The number of the loaded coin rolls is specified in the pack data.




The integrated pack production controller


35


outputs a command to the coin roll delivery controller


99


, which then loads the coin rolls of fifty 50-yen coins using the coin roll deliverer


17


onto the container


12


(


12




c


) stopped at the second coin roll loading position. The number of the loaded coin rolls is specified in the pack data.




The integrated pack production controller


35


outputs a command to the coin roll delivery controller


100


, which then loads the coin rolls of fifty 10-yen coins using the coin roll deliverer


18


onto the container


12


(


12




d


) stopped at the third coin roll loading position. The number of the loaded coin rolls is specified in the pack data.




The integrated pack production controller


35


outputs a command to the coin roll delivery controller


101


, which then loads the coin rolls of fifty 500-yen coins using the coin roll deliverer


19


onto the container


12


(


12




e


) stopped at the fourth coin roll loading position. The number of the loaded coin rolls is specified in the pack data.




The integrated pack production controller


35


outputs a command to the coin roll delivery controller


102


, which then loads the coin rolls of twenty 500-yen coins using the coin roll deliverer


20


onto the container


12


(


12




f


) stopped at the fifth coin roll loading position. The number of the loaded coin rolls is specified in the pack data.




The integrated pack production controller


35


outputs a command to the coin roll delivery controller


103


, which then loads the coin rolls of fifty 5-yen coins using the coin roll deliverer


21


onto the container


12


(


12




g


) stopped at the sixth coin roll loading position. The number of the loaded coin rolls is specified in the pack data.




The integrated pack production controller


35


outputs a command to the stacked bills delivery controller


123


, which then loads stacks of bills using the stacked bills deliverer


22


onto the container


12


(


12




h


) stopped at the stacked bills loading position. The number of the loaded stacks of bills is specified in the pack data.




The integrated pack production controller


35


outputs a command to the coin roll delivery controller


104


, which then loads the coin rolls of fifty 1-yen coins using the coin roll deliverer


23


onto the container


12


(


12




i


) stopped at the seventh coin roll loading position. The number of the loaded coin rolls is specified in the pack data.




The integrated pack production controller


35


outputs a command to the loose bills delivery controller


163


, which then loads stacks of loose bills using the loose bills deliverer


32


once or several times onto the container


12


(


12




j


) stopped at the loose bills loading position. The number of the loaded stacks of loose bills is specified in the pack data. The operator may load the delivered loose bills onto the container


12


(


12




j


).




The integrated pack production controller


35


outputs a command to the load adjuster


168


, which then detects the condition of the loaded coin rolls by the sensor


172


, determines that the condition is incomplete when the sensor


172


detects the coin roll, and moves down the adjuster portion


171


by driving the drive unit


170


. The adjuster portion


171


comes in contact with the tops of the stacked coin rolls, and presses and slides them to both sides.




The integrated pack production controller


35


outputs a command to the labeler controller


204


, which then controls the labeler


26


to print the contents of the pack data to the containers


12


in the order of the pack data. When the group corresponds to the store, the printed content includes the contractor, the store, the amount of each type of cash, the reference weight of the change pack calculated based on the amount of each type of cash, and the bar-code indicating the group.




On the other hand, when the group corresponds to the cash-register, the printed content includes the contractor, the store, the cash-register, the amount of each type of cash, the reference weight of the change pack calculated based on the amount of each type of cash, and the bar-code indicating the group.




Irrespective of the groups, when the pack data is one of the divided change data, the division is indicated by a printed fraction whose denominator is the number of the divide data and whose numerator is the identification number. When the change data in the group becomes the pack data as is, the fraction is not indicated.




The integrated pack production controller


35


outputs a command to the labeler controller


204


, which then attaches the label L to the extracted portion of the top sheet TS for the container


12


((


12




m


)) stopped at the top sheet supply position.




The integrated pack production controller


35


outputs a command to the top sheet supply bonding controller


180


, which then supplies the top sheet TS using the top sheet supplier


25


onto the container


12


((


12




m


)) stopped at the top sheet supply position, so as to cover the cash on the base sheet TS. The bonding device


27


bonds the front and rear portions of the base sheet BS and the top sheet TS on the container


12


((


12




m


)), and bonds the right and left portions of the base sheet BS and the top sheet TS on the container


12


(


12




n


).




Further, the integrated pack production controller


35


outputs a command to the transfer controller


215


, which then lifts up the change pack P from the container


12


(


12




o


) at the transfer position by the lifter


28


, and transfers the change pack P onto the belt conveyer


234


of the checker


30


by the transfer device


29


.




The change pack checker controller


236


obtains the reference data of the weight of the change pack, based on the pack data for the transferred change pack P, and compares the reference data with the data measured by the weighing machine


235


. When the difference is within the permissible error range, the belt conveyer


234


transfers the change pack P downstream to the bagging checker


238


.




The change pack checker controller


236


is electrically connected to a display, which displays the measured weight data. As a result, the operator can monitor the difference between the measured weight data and the calculated weight data indicated on the label on the change pack.




The base sheet supply arrangement controller


60


, the coin roll delivery controllers


98


to


104


, the stacked bills delivery controller


123


, the loose bills delivery controller


163


, the load adjuster controller


168


, the top sheet supply bonding controller


180


, and the transfer controller


215


output the transfer permission signals to the integrated pack production controller


35


. The integrated pack production controller


35


includes transfer control flags which are turned on in response to the transfer permission signals. When all the devices for handling the containers


12


terminate their operations and the all the transfer control flags are turned on, the integrated package controller


35


outputs a command to the conveyer drive controller


54


, which then moves the containers


12


by one pitch. On the other hand, when the containers


12


are transferred by one pitch, the integrated pack production controller


35


turns off the transfer control flags.




As described above, when the base sheet supplier


14


and the base sheet arranger


15


place the base sheet BS on the container


12


, as the container


12


proceeds, the coin roll deliverer


16


delivers the necessary coin rolls of fifty 100-yen coins on the base sheet BS within the concavity


44


, the coin roll deliverer


17


delivers the necessary coin rolls of fifty 50-yen coins on the base sheet BS within the concavity


44


, and the coin roll deliverer


18


delivers the necessary coin rolls of fifty 10-yen coins on the base sheet BS within the concavity


44


.




As the container


12


proceeds, the coin roll deliverer


19


delivers the necessary coin rolls of fifty 500-yen coins on the base sheet BS within the concavity


44


, the coin roll deliverer


20


delivers the necessary coin rolls of twenty 500-yen coins on the base sheet BS within the concavity


44


, the coin roll deliverer


21


delivers the necessary coin rolls of fifty 5-yen coins on the base sheet BS within the concavity


44


, the stacked bills deliverer


22


delivers the necessary stacks of bills on the base sheet BS within the concavity


44


, the operator loads the necessary loose bills from the loose bills deliverer


32


on the base sheet BS within the concavity


44


, and the coin roll deliverer


23


delivers the coin rolls of fifty 1-yen coins on the base sheet BS within the concavity


44


.




As the container is transferred, the load adjuster


24


adjust the condition of the loaded coin rolls. The top sheet supplier


25


supplies the top sheet TS with the label L, on which the pack data corresponding to each container


12


by the labeler


26


, so as to cover the cash on the base sheet BS. The bonding device


27


bonds the front and rear portions of the sheets, and subsequently bonds the right and left portions of the sheets. The transfer device


29


transfers the change pack to the checker


30


, which then checks the weight and transports the change pack to the bagging checker


31


.




The operation of bagging the change packs P will now be explained.




When the confirmation signal is output to indicate the completion of the operation of bagging the change packs P of the prior group, the integrated pack production controller


35


obtains the next group of the change packs P which is to be transferred from the checker


28


to the bagging checker


31


, and informs the bagging checker controller


241


of the next group. The bagging checker controller


241


instructs the display


240


to display the next group for which a bag is to be prepared. That is, when the group corresponds to the store, the display indicates the contractor and the store. When the group corresponds to the cash-register, the display indicates the contractor, the store, and the cash-register.




The operator prepares the bag with the shipping tag indicating the displayed group, and provides it to the scanner


239


, which then reads the bar-code on the shipping tag. The bagging checker controller


241


realizes the group of the bar-code, and confirms whether the group is identical to the displayed group. When the group is identical, the display


240


indicates the consistency and produces a particular sound, and the bagging checker controller


241


allows the input of the bar-code of the change pack P which will be explained below.




When the group of the bag is not identical to the displayed group, the display indicates the inconsistency and produces a particular sound, and rejects the input of the bar-code of the change pack P. The operator provides the bar-code of the correct bag to the scanner, thus achieving consistency of the groups.




When the group of the bag is identical to the group displayed by the display


240


, the bagging checker controller


241


allows the input of the bar-code of the change pack P transferred from the checker


30


. The operator provides the bar-code of the change pack P to the scanner


239


, which then reads the bar-code. The bagging checker controller


241


realizes the group in the bar-code, and confirms whether the group is identical to the displayed group. When the group is identical, the display


240


indicates the consistency and produces a particular sound. When the group includes a plurality of the pack data, the bagging checker controller


241


rejects the input of the bar-code of the other bag and allows the input of the bar-code of the change pack P in the same group. When the group includes only single pack data, the bagging checker controller


241


rejects the input of the bar-code of the other change pack P and allows the input of the bar-code of the next bag. Then, the display


240


displays that bagging the change packs of this group are completed, and the integrated pack production controller


35


receives the confirmation signal of completing the operation of bagging the change packs P in the group.




When the group of the bag is not identical to the displayed group, the display indicates the inconsistency and produces the particular sound of the inconsistency, and rejects the input of the bar-code of the next change pack P and the next bag. The operator provides the bar-code of the correct change pack to the scanner, thus achieving consistency of the groups.




When the group includes a plurality of the pack data, in response to the input of the bar-code of the change pack P of this group, the bagging checker controller


241


rejects the input of the bar-code of the next bag and allows the input of the bar-code of the change pack P in the same group until all the bar-codes of the change packs P in the same group are read and input. When all the bar-codes of the change packs in the same group are input, the bagging checker controller


241


rejects the input of the bar-code of the other change pack P and allows the input of the bar-code of the next bag, and instructs the display


240


to display that bagging all the change packs P in the same group is completed.




According to the first embodiment described above, the base sheet BS from the base sheet supplier


14


and the top sheet TS from the top sheet supplier


25


are bonded by bonding device


27


so as to include the cash from the coin roll deliverers


16


to


21


and


23


and the stacked bills deliverer


22


. Therefore, this apparatus eliminates the work of transferring the change packs into the bags, reducing the labor costs to prepare change.




Instead of a bag, the base sheet BS and the top sheet TS are used in the change pack, thereby reducing the cost of the package. Further, the drop of the coin rolls from the coin roll deliverer


16


to


21


and


23


is shortened, thereby preventing the coin rolls from being bent and broken.




The checker


30


measures the weight of the change pack P, and compares the measured weight with the reference weight data calculated based on the pack data input to the data input device


36


, thus preventing the transfer of the incomplete change pack P.




The container


12


has a concavity


44


which holds the placed base sheet BS, and the concavity prevents the cash from accidentally falling from the base sheet BS. Therefore, the change pack P can be manufactured with an inexpensive sheet.




In addition, the coin roll deliverers


16


to


21


and


23


and the stacked bills deliverer


22


are arranged at the intervals (pitches) between the containers


12


, and the coins and bills are delivered one by one from the coin roll deliverers


16


to


21


and


23


and the stacked bills deliverer


22


to the containers


12


. This shortens the time required for the delivery of cash onto the base sheet BS.




The change pack P has the attached label L indicating information such as the group and the amount of each type of cash, eliminating the work of attaching specifications describing these information. This reduces the labor costs required to prepare change.




In addition, the contents of the label L include the reference weight data of the change pack P, and the operator can easily monitor the reference weight data of the change pack P from the label L. Therefore, the weight of the change pack P can be manually compared with the reference weight data without the checker


30


.




The stacked bill deliverer


22


for delivering the stack of bills S


1


and coin roll deliverers


16


to


21


and


23


for delivering the coin rolls C allow the automatic preparation of the change packs P which include the stacks of bills S


1


and the coin rolls C.




The coin roll deliverers


16


to


21


and


23


have the coin packagers


94


, which allow the use of collected loose coins.




The change data divider


252


calculates the amount of cash corresponding to the change data beforehand, based on the change data input from the data input device


36


. When the amount of cash exceeds the reference values, the divider divides the change data into a plurality of the pack data to arrange the quantities of cash corresponding to the pack data below the reference value. When the change data divider divides the change data, the change packs P are prepared based on the divided change data. The large amount of cash is divided into a plurality of the change packs P, preventing the large amount of cash from overflowing the package and from accidentally falling from the transfer device


29


because of overweight. Thus, the change pack P can be reliably prepared.




The change data divider


252


divides the change data into a plurality of pack data, so that each pack data includes the same type of cash, except when the amount of the same type of cash exceeds the reference value. Therefore, when the change packs P are prepared based on the divided pack data, the same types of coins or bills are not divided into two or more change packs P, except when the amounts of the same type of cash exceed the reference value. The operator does not make a mistake when counting the amount of cash.




When the change data is not divided, the labeler


26


attaches the label L, indicating the contents of the change data, to the change pack P. When the change data is divided, the labeler


26


attaches the label L, indicating the contents of the pack data, to the change pack P. Thus, the change packs P indicate the contents of cash, which can be easily confirmed by the label L.




When the change data is not divided, the labeler


26


prints the reference weight, calculated based on the change data, on the label L. When the change data is divided, the labeler


26


prints each reference weight, calculated based on the pack data, on the label L. Thus, the change packs P indicate the reference weight of the packed cash, which can be easily confirmed by the label L.




The labeler


26


prints the identification of the division of the change data on the label L. When the change data is divided, the labeler


26


prints the indication (the denominator of the fraction) that the pack data is derived from the same change data. Thus, the label L of the change pack P indicates whether it is one of the divided data and specifies the other divided data. This enhances the efficiency of sorting the cash.




In response to the input of the change data for each store, the apparatus prepares the divided change packs P for each store. In response to the input of the change data for each cash-register, the apparatus prepares the divided change packs P for each cash-register. Thus, the change packs P can be prepared according to the desired units.




When the base sheet supplier


14


supplies the base sheet BS onto the container


12


(


12




a


), the base sheet pusher


80


enters the concavity


44


to push the base sheet BS into the concavity


44


of the container


12


(


12




a


). The base sheet insert


81


inserts the edge of the base sheet BS between the container body


38


and the stopper portion


50


. As a result, the base sheet BS is formed into a box shape within the concavity


44


, and the edge of the base sheet BS is engaged. Into the base sheet BS with the box shape, the coin roll deliverers


16


to


21


and


23


deliver the coin rolls C. In this process, the drop of the coin rolls C is shortened, preventing the coin rolls C from being bent or broken.




Before the base sheet insert


81


inserts the edge of the base sheet BS between the container body


38


and the stopper portion


50


, the drive unit


83


detaches the stopper portion


50


from the holding surface


52


of the container body


38


, so that the edge of the base sheet BS is reliably and easily inserted by the base sheet insert


81


. After the base sheet insert


81


inserts the edge of the base sheet BS between the container body


38


and the stopper portion


50


, the drive unit


83


moves the stopper portion


50


close to the holding surface


52


of the container body


38


, preventing the edge of the base sheet BS from coming off. Therefore, the edge of the base sheet BS is securely inserted and satisfactorily held between the container


38


and the stopper portion


50


.




The base sheet extractor


57


catching the base sheet BS moves downstream of the container


12


(


12




a


), drawing out the base sheet BS onto the container


12


(


12




a


), and then the base sheet cutter


59


cuts down the upstream portion of the base sheet BS. Thus, the base sheet BS is supplied to the container


12


(


12




a


). The apparatus reduces the costs of the base sheet because the apparatus does not require a base sheet which is cut down beforehand.




When the base sheet engager


58


engages the downstream portion of the base sheet BS drawn out by the base sheet extractor


57


, the base sheet extractor


57


releases the base sheet BS, returns to the position upstream of the container


12


(


12




a


), and holds the upstream portion of the base sheet BS. Then, the base sheet cutter


57


cuts down the base sheet BS. Thus, the base sheet extractor


57


prevents the base sheet from being twisted, and allows the base sheet cutter


59


to cut down the base sheet BS. Because the base sheet extractor


57


returns to the base position, the next base sheet BS can be quickly drawn out.




The coin packagers


94


of the coin roll deliverers


16


to


19


,


21


, and


23


prepare coin rolls C from the loose coins, and discharge the coin rolls C so that the axes of the coin rolls C are parallel to the main conveyer


11


. The coin rolls C are transferred by the coin roll conveyer


95


in the direction perpendicular to the axes of the coin rolls C. The guide portion


96


adjusts the axes of the coin rolls, and the counter deliverer


97


delivers the coin rolls to the containers


12


attached to the main conveyer


11


. Thus, the coin rolls C are supplied while the axes of the coin rolls are aligned to be parallel, the positions of the delivered coin rolls C are stable so that the coin rolls C are securely loaded into the concavity


44


of the base sheet BS.




Each of the coin roll deliverers


16


to


19


,


21


, and


23


, which includes the coin packagers


94


, the coin roll conveyers


95


, the guide portions


96


, and the counter deliverers


97


, is assigned for each type of cash. The coin roll deliverers


16


to


19


,


21


, and


23


are provided for all types of cash, thereby preventing a shortage of coin rolls. Further, the apparatus discharges the coin rolls while appropriately regulating the positions of the coin rolls. This reduces the labor required for the supply of the coin rolls C, eliminates complicated controls, and securely loads all types of coin rolls C in the concavity


44


on the base sheet BS.




In the stacked bills deliverer


22


, the deliverer portion


119


delivers the stack of bills S


1


one by one from the storage spaces


133


to


136


, and the holder transporter


122


holds and loads the stack of bills S


1


on the container


12


(


12




h


). This apparatus eliminates the labor required for the transportation of the stacks of bills S


1


, and reduces the labor costs to prepare change.




Further, one holder transporters


122


is provided for all the types of the stacks of bills S


1


, thereby reducing the costs.




The aligner


121


aligns the positions of the stacks of bills S


1


, so that the holder transporter


122


can securely hold the stacks of bills S


1


, which are therefore reliably loaded on the container


12


(


12




h


).




The holder transporter


122


changes the load positions of the stacks of bills S


1


in the container


12


(


12




h


), based on the input data, preventing the stacks of bills S


1


from being irregularly loaded into the container


12


. Thus, the stacks of bills S


1


can be loaded efficiently and in a well-regulated manner in the storage space in the container


12


.




The holder transporter


122


can arrange the load condition of the stacks of bills S


1


within the container


12


(


12




h


) based on the input data. For example, when the stacks of bills S


1


interfere with the coin rolls C, the holder transporter


122


changes the load condition of the stacks of bills to avoid interference with the coin rolls. Thus, the stacks of bills S


1


can be loaded efficiently and in a well-regulated manner in the storage space in the container


12


(


12




h


).




When the container


12


reaches the loose bills loading position, the loose bills deliverer


32


delivers the loose bills while counting the number of the loose bills, based on the pack data corresponding to the container


12


(


12




j


). Further, the conveyer drive controller


54


controls the transfer of the conveyer


12


based on the operation through the confirmation button


165


. Until loading the loose bills is completed and the operator pushes the confirmation button


165


, the conveyer


12


is stopped at the loose bills loading position. This prevents the container


12


from being accidentally transferred before loading the loose bills from the loose bills deliverers


32


. Therefore, the loose bills can be securely loaded even in the manual operation.




When the number of the loose bills to be delivered exceeds the predetermined value, the loose bills deliverer


32


repeats the delivery of the loose bills so that the number of the loose bills to be delivered is below the predetermined value. Therefore, the number of loose bills is unlimited. The apparatus of the present invention can handle a large amount of the loose bills for change if necessary.




The repetition of the delivery of the loose bills is performed for each type of bills, so that the loose bills are divided within the container


12


(


12




j


) according to their types. For example, the same type of loose bills may be bound by a rubber band and may be loaded into the container


12


(


12




j


).




Because the division sensor


166


reports the repetition of the delivery of the loose bills, the operator can recognize the repetition, thus preventing an accident.




The loose bills deliverer


32


, which repeats the delivery of the loose bills, pauses the delivery until the next input through the confirmation button


165


. When the delivered loose bills are not removed, the deliverer does not deliver the next loose bills, preventing the next loose bills from being mixed with the prior loose bills. The conveyer drive unit


54


pauses the transfer of the container


12


until the next input through the confirmation button


165


, and prevents unexpected movement of the conveyer


12


during the repetition of the delivery of the loose bills. Thus, when the loose bills are divided and the delivery is repeated, the loose bills are easily divided and sorted in the container


12


, and are loaded securely and reliably.




The bonding device


27


bonds the base sheet BS and the top sheet TS outside the concavity


44


which includes the cash, preventing the coins and bills from being bonded together. Therefore, the apparatus can securely prepare the change pack even with an inexpensive sheet.




Because the outer portion of the base sheet BS outside the concavity


44


is held between the holding surface


52


of the container body


38


and the stopper portion


50


, the outer portion can be prevented from being accidentally bent inwardly. Thus, the base sheet BS and the top sheet TS can be securely bonded.




Because the bonding device


27


bonds the base sheet BS and the top sheet TS outside the concavity


44


of the container body


38


and inside the stopper portion


50


, the change pack P can be removed from the gap between the stopper portion


50


and the container body


38


even when the stopper portion


50


is provided.




The transverse side bonding portion


206


and the longitudinal side bonding portion


207


are independently operated at the different positions. That is, the bonding by the transverse side bonding portion


206


and the bonding by the longitudinal side bonding portion


207


are separately performed. Therefore, the intersections of the front and rear bonded portions and the right and left bonded portions are satisfactorily bonded, thereby enhancing the bonding strength. Further, the transverse side bonding portion


206


and the longitudinal side bonding portion


207


may operate simultaneously, thereby shortening the time required for bonding the entire sheets.




The top sheet extractor


177


catches the long top sheet TS and moves downstream of the container


12


((


12




m


)), so as to provide the top sheet TS on the container


12


((


12




m


)). Then, the top sheet cutter


179


cuts down the upstream portion of the top sheet TS to supply the top sheet TS on the container


12


((


12




m


)). The apparatus of the present invention does not require a top sheet which is cut beforehand depending on the shape of the container


12


((


12




m


)), thus reducing the costs of the top sheet TS.




When the top sheet engager


178


engages the upstream portion of the top sheet TS onto the container


12


((


12




m


)) extracted by the top sheet extractor


177


, the top sheet extractor


177


releases the top sheet TS, returns to the position upstream of the container


12


((


12




m


)), and holds the upstream portion of the top sheet TS. Then, the top sheet cutter


179


cuts the top sheet TS. The top sheet extractor


177


prevents the top sheet TS from being twisted, thereby allowing the top sheet cutter


177


to securely cut the top sheet TS. The top sheet extractor


177


, returns to the upstream position, and can quickly perform the next extraction of the top sheet TS.




The lifter


28


moves up the pins


217


through the bottom


42


of the concavity


44


of the container


12


(


12




o


) to lift up the completed change pack P from the concavity


44


, and holds and transfers the change pack P using the transfer device


29


. By lifting up the change pack P from the concavity


44


using the pins


217


, the transfer device


29


can easily hold the change pack P. Therefore, even when the change pack P is made of inexpensive base and top sheets, the change pack P can be easily transferred.




With the transfer device


29


, the change pack P is automatically provided to the checker


30


, which then automatically performs the check operation, thereby reducing the labor costs.




The checker


30


transfers the change pack P which is determined to be complete, thereby reducing the labor costs.




The bagging checker


32


displays the bag data of the target group through the display


240


. Then, the operator prepares the bag, and the bagging checker controller


241


recognizes the group and confirms whether the group of the bag coincides with the group displayed on the display


240


. When the group of the bag is not the displayed group, the controller informs the operator of the inconsistency by an alarm. On the other hand, when the bagging checker controller


241


determines that the group of the bag is the group displayed on the display


240


, the operator prepares the change pack P whose group is identical to the group of the bag. The bagging checker controller


241


recognizes the group of the change pack P, and confirms whether the group of the change pack P is the group of the bag recognized by the bagging checker controller


241


. When the group of the change pack P is not the group of the bag, the bagging checker controller


241


informs the operator of the inconsistency by an alarm. Thus, the completed change packs P can be bagged reliably.




By attaching the shipping tag to the bag, when the scanner


239


reads the barcode of the shipping tag of the bag which the operator prepared, the bagging checker controller


241


recognizes the group from the bar-code, and confirms whether the group is identical to the group displayed on the display


240


. Thus, the group of the bag can be easily and reliably confirmed.




By attaching the label L to the change pack P, when the scanner


239


reads the bar-code of the label L of the change pack P, the bagging checker controller


241


recognizes the group from the bar-code, and confirms whether the group of the label L is identical to the group of the bag. Thus, the group of the bag can be easily and reliably confirmed.




The single scanner


239


is used for the recognition of the bag and the change pack P, reducing the costs and preventing mistakes of incorrect scanning. The single bagging checker controller


241


recognizes both the bag and the change pack P, thereby reducing the costs.




When the bagging checker controller


241


recognizes all the change packs P corresponding to the group of the bag, the display


240


displays the completion. Therefore, when bagging several change packs P, the operator will not forget to bag the change pack P. That is, a number of the change packs P can be reliably bagged.




The load adjuster


24


adjusts and regulates the coins and bills which are delivered on the base sheet BS in the concavity


44


of the container


12


(


12




k


) by the coin roll deliverer


16


to


21


and


23


. The load adjuster


24


prevents the top sheet TS and the base sheet BS from being unsatisfactorily bonded. Therefore, the top sheet TS and the base sheet BS are satisfactorily bonded.




Only when the sensor


172


detects that the condition of cash on the base sheet BS in the concavity


44


of the container


12


(


12




k


) is incomplete, the adjuster portion


171


of the load adjuster


24


driven by the drive unit


170


adjusts and regulates the coins and bills. That is, when the coins and bills are appropriately loaded, the adjuster portion


171


does not work. Thus, the drive unit


170


can avoid useless operations, and can have durability.




Because the data input device


36


can set the change data for each store, each cash-register, or each day, the apparatus of the present invention can prepare different change for each day.




Further, because the relationship of the delivery date of the change pack P to the production date is preset, once the delivery date is input through the data input device


36


, the production date is automatically set. Therefore, after setting the delivery date, the change packs P are automatically created on the production day.




In response to the input of the production date, the reserve calculator


249


counts all the change data of the change to be created on the production day, and calculates the amount of each type of cash. The printer, not shown, prints the amount of each type of cash, and the necessary reserve can be clearly confirmed before the production day.




To create the change packs P for each contractor, the contractor name is input to the contractor-based production instructor


251


, which then reads the change data of the input contractor, and the main controller


243


creates the change packs of the input contractor based on the read change data. Thus, the change packs may be created for each contractor.




The store register


245


allows the registration of the store with the delivery route, which can be easily confirmed.




To create the change pack P for each delivery route, the delivery route is input to the delivery-route-based production instructor


251


, which then reads all the change data of the input delivery route, and the main controller


243


creates the change packs P based on the read change data. Thus, the change packs may be created for each delivery route.




Second Embodiment




The second embodiment of the apparatus for dispensing change of the present invention will be explained with reference to

FIGS. 55

to


65


, in which the same reference numbers in the first embodiment designate like parts in the second embodiment and the difference will be discussed.




In the second embodiment, the layout is modified. As shown in

FIG. 55

, the second embodiment includes, in sequence from the upper stream, the coin roll deliverer


16


for delivering the coin roll of fifty 100-yen coins, the coin roll deliverer


17


for delivering the coin roll of fifty 50-yen coins, the coin roll deliverer


18


for delivering the coin roll of fifty 10-yen coins, the coin roll deliverer


19


for delivering the coin roll of fifty 500-yen coins, the coin roll deliverer


21


for delivering the coin roll of twenty 500-yen coins, the coin roll deliverer


23


for delivering the coin roll of fifty 1-yen coins, and a stacked bills deliverer


22


.




The second embodiment is not equipped with a load sensor and a confirmation button. In the second embodiment, the loose bill deliverer controller (a cash deliverer, a loose bills deliverer, or a change pack producer)


163


controls the loose bills deliverer (a cash deliverer, a loose bills deliverer, or a change pack producer)


32


to deliver the stacks of loose bills, and a loose bills pack producer


255


automatically creates a loose bills pack P


1


with the top sheet TS as a pack sheet.




As shown in

FIG. 56

, the loose bill pack producer


255


is located between the support


176


of the top sheet supplier


25


and the extracting arms


183


and upstream of the labeler


26


. The loose bills pack producer


255


has a hand


256


for holding the stacks of loose bills delivered from the loose bills deliverer


32


. The hand


256


with opened lower ends holds the loose bills S


2


so that their longitudinal sides are aligned in the Y-direction, and that the loose bills S


2


protrude downwardly. The hand


256


is vertically movable while holding the loose bills S


2


(hereinafter referred as an “vertically moving condition”).




The loose bills pack producer


255


has a pair of support bases


257


, a pair of seals


258


, and a pair of catchers


259


. The support bases


257


support the underside of the top sheet TS and are disposed in front of and in the rear of the vertically movable hand


256


. The support bases


257


are movable to approach and to separate from each other. The seals


258


are disposed below the support bases


257


and in front of and in the rear of the hand


256


. The catchers


259


are disposed below the seals


258


and in front of and in the rear of the hand


256


. The catchers


259


are movable to approach and separate from each other. The support bases


257


approach each other by a predetermined interval.




The portion of the top sheet TS on the support bases


257


is assigned to a predetermined container


12


. Therefore, based on the pack data corresponding to the portion of the top sheet TS on the support bases


257


, the loose bills deliverer


32


delivers the stacks of loose bills S


2


. The loose bills pack producer


255


holds the loose bills S


2


using the hand


256


, and sets the hand


256


in the vertically moving position (FIG.


57


). Then, the support bases


257


approach each other, the seals


258


separate from each other, and the catchers


259


separate from each other. The hand


256


is moved down while maintaining the vertically moving condition. The hand


256


passes between the support bases


257


, and the loose bills S


2


press the top sheet TS on the support bases


257


. As a result, the top sheet TS, whose downstream portion is caught by the extracting arms


183


, is drawn out from the support


176


so as to allow the loose bills S


2


and the hand


256


to pass between the support bases


257


. The top sheet TS is guided by the support bases


257


and is bent at the portion in contact with the lower ends of the loose bills S


2


(FIG.


58


).




Then, the catchers


259


approach each other in the X-direction to catch the loose bills S


2


with the top sheet TS, and the hand


256


releases the loose bills S


2


, is moved up, and extracted from the gap between support bases


257


(FIG.


59


).




The hand


256


and the catchers


259


are complementary comb shapes for moving in the Y-direction and complementarily holding the loose bills S


2


. The catchers


259


catch the top sheet TS, and the hand


256


releases the loose bills S


2


without disturbing the arrangement of the stacks of loose bills S


2


.




The seals


258


approach each other to bend and overlap the top sheet TS above the loose bills S


2


, and the overlapped portions of the top sheet TS are bonded by heat (FIG.


60


). Thus, the loose bills pack P


1


packaging the loose bills S


2


with the top sheet TS is formed. To prevent the loose bills S


2


from falling from the openings of the loose bills pack P


1


in the Y-direction, the portions of the top sheet TS on both right and left sides of the loose bills S


2


may be bonded.




Then, the seals


258


separate from each other, the catchers


259


separate from each other, and the support bases


257


separate from each other (FIG.


61


).




The loose bills pack P


1


, which is formed on the top sheet TS, is transferred with the top sheet TS by the top sheet extractor


177


of the top sheet supplier


25


which is controlled by the top sheet supply bonding controller


180


(FIG.


62


). The loose bills pack P


1


is transferred to the container


12


((


12




m


)) stopped at the top sheet supply position. Then, the top sheet TS is cut at its downstream portion in the process for producing the prior change pack P, and the top sheet extractor


177


extracts the top sheet TS so as to position the loose bill pack P


1


above the concavity


44


of the container


12


((


12




m


)) (FIG.


56


). The bonding device


27


bonds the top sheet TS with the base sheet BS, and the top sheet cutter


179


cuts the top sheet TS at its upstream portion, so that the loose bills pack P


1


is included into the change pack P.




In this change pack P, the loose bills S


2


are held in the loose bills pack P


1


which is bent toward the base sheet BS while the other cash is loaded between the top sheet TS and the base sheet BS (FIG.


63


).




The second embodiment does not have a load adjuster. Instead, the second embodiment includes a sensor


261


, an incomplete loading alarm


262


, and a confirmation button


263


. The sensor


261


is located slightly above the container


12


(


12




k


) between the stacked bills deliverer


22


and the loose bills pack producer


255


and monitors the condition of the loaded coin rolls C. The incomplete loading alarm


262


gives alarm by a visual or auditory means. The confirmation button


263


receives the input by the operator. The sensor


261


, the incomplete loading alarm


262


, and the confirmation button


263


are electrically connected to an adjustment controller, not shown.




When the stacked coin rolls C reach a specified height above the container


12


(


12




k


), the sensor


261


detects the over-height. The sensor


261


may be an optical sensor which performs the detection based on an interrupted light path.




When the container


12


is stopped at the adjustment position, the adjustment controller determines whether the sensor


261


detects the coin roll C. When the sensor


261


detects the coin roll C, the controller determines that the condition of the loaded coin rolls C is incomplete, and instructs the incomplete loading alarm


262


to give an alarm. On the other hand, when the sensor


261


does not detect the coin roll C, the controller determines that the condition of the loaded coin rolls C is complete, outputs the transfer permission signal to the integrated pack production controller


35


, and turns on the transfer permission flag (transfer control flag).




When the incomplete loading alarm


262


gives an alarm, the operator recognizes that the loading condition is incomplete, and manually adjusts and regulates the coins and bills on the container


12


(


12




k


). After the adjustment of the cash is completed, the operator pushes the confirmation button


263


, and then the adjustment controller outputs the transfer permission signal to the integrated pack production controller


35


and turns on the transfer permission flag.




When the sensor


261


detects the coin roll C, the adjustment controller does not output the transfer permission signal to the integrated pack production controller


35


until the operator pushes the confirmation button


263


. Because at least one of the transfer permission flags is in the off-state, the container


12


is not transferred. Therefore, this prevents the top sheet TS from accidentally being supplied on and bonded to the base sheet BS on the container


12


at the adjustment position. When the confirmation button


263


is pushed, the adjustment controller outputs the transfer permission flag to the integrated pack production controller


35


and turns on the transfer permission flag. Then, the top sheet TS is supplied and is bonded by heat onto the base sheet BS on the container


12


(


12




k


) at the adjustment position.




The lifter


28


and the transfer device


29


in the second embodiment differ from those in the first embodiment.




As shown in

FIG. 64

, the heights of the pins


217


in the lifter


28


are different. Specifically, all the pins


217


are positioned on grids, and the pins


217


nearest both outer edges, as seen from the X- and Y-directions, are higher than the other pins


217


. That is, the outermost pins


217


as seen from the top side are higher than the other inner pins


217


.




The transfer device


29


, shown in

FIGS. 64 and 65

, has a support


225


different from that of the first embodiment. Specifically, the support


225


has lower claws


264


, and an upper stopper


265


. The lower claws


264


are coupled via support shafts


267


to movable shafts


228


of the support drive units


229


, and are arranged symmetrically to each other. The upper stopper


265


is attached to the upper ends of the lower claws


264


. The lower claws


264


are rotatably attached to a base


227


by a support shaft


226


so that the lower claws


264


symmetrically extend to each other. The support drive units


229


rotate up and down the ends of the lower claws


264


by the support shaft


266


. When the lower claws


264


are rotated so that their ends are moved up, the ends of the lower claws


264


come in contact with the upper stopper portion


265


.




On the upper surfaces of the ends of the lower claws


264


and of the underside of the upper stopper


265


, high frictional portions are attached in order to prevent the held change pack P from accidentally falling because of its weight.




A number of the lower claws


264


are arranged on both sides in the Y-direction, forming comb shapes.




The intervals between the lower claws


264


correspond to the highest outermost pins


217


of the lifter


28


so that the lower claws


264


can be inserted between the pins


217


.




The transfer controller


215


moves the support


225


by the transfer drive unit


222


to a specified position just above the container


12


(


120


), moves up the support


225


by the vertical drive unit


224


, separates the lower claws


264


from the upper stoppers


265


, and stands by.




When the lifter


28


lifts up the change pack P in the container


12


(


12




o


), the vertical drive unit


224


moves down the support


225


. When the lower claws


264


and the upper stoppers


265


are moved down to the same level as the bonded portion of the top sheet TS and the base sheet BS of the change pack P, the support drive units


229


rotate the lower claws


264


and inserts them between the pins


217


, thus holding the change pack P using the lower claws


264


and the upper stoppers


265


(FIG.


64


).




Because the pins


217


of the lifter


28


are higher than the inner pins, the cash moves toward the center of the change pack P off the portions held by the support


225


.




Then, the vertical drive unit


224


moves up the support


225


. While holding the change pack P, the support


225


lifts up the change pack P, separates it from the pins


217


, and moves it above the checker


30


. The vertical drive unit


224


moves down the support


225


. The lower claws


264


of the support


225


are rotated so as to release the change pack P from the lower claws


264


and the upper stoppers


265


, at which point the change pack P is delivered to the checker


30


.




In the second embodiment, the change pack P, lifted up by the pins


217


, is held by the lower claws


264


, inserted between the pins


217


, and by the upper stoppers


265


above the change pack P, and is transferred by moving up the lower claws


265


and the upper stoppers


265


. Therefore, the lower claws


265


and the upper stoppers


265


can be small, and the change pack P with an unstable shape can be held securely.




Because the pins


217


are higher than the inner pins, the coins and bills are moved toward the center when the change pack P is lifted up. This prevents the coins and bills from being held by the upper stoppers


265


and the lower claws


264


.




The loose bills deliverer


32


counts the loose bills and delivers the stack of loose bills based on the input data. The loose bills pack producer


255


packs the loose bills with the top sheet TS as a pack sheet to create the loose bills pack P


1


. The top sheet supplier


25


loads the loose bills pack P onto the container


12


((


12




m


)). Thus, the loose bills S


2


are collected and loaded not manually, but automatically. This automatic loading operation reduces the labor costs to prepare change.




The hand


256


and the support bases


257


of the loose bills pack producer


255


press the loose bills S


2


onto the top sheet TS, which is then bent. The seals


258


bond the bent portion to the other portion of the top sheet TS, thus completing the loose bills pack P


1


. The loose bills pack P


1


can be easily prepared, eliminating a complicated mechanism and reducing the costs.




Because the top sheet TS is also used as the pack sheet for the loose bills S


2


, the costs of preparing the loose bills pack can be reduced. Further, because the top sheet supplier


25


transfers the loose bills, the costs of manufacturing the entire apparatus can be reduced.




When the sensor


261


detects that the condition of the coin rolls, delivered to the base sheet BS in the concavity


44


of the container


12


(


12




k


) by the coin roll deliverers


16


to


21


, and


23


, is incomplete, the incomplete loading alarm


262


gives an alarm, and the adjustment controller does not allow bonding base sheet BS and the top sheet TS by the bonding device


27


. After the operator who receives the alarm adjusts the condition of the cash and pushes the confirmation button, the adjustment controller permits bonding the base sheet BS and the top sheet TS by the bonding device


27


. Thus, even when the condition of the loaded coins and bills is incomplete, the apparatus of the present invention prevents incompletely bonding the top sheet TS and the base sheet BS. That is, the apparatus of the present invention bonds the top sheet TS and the base sheet BS completely and satisfactorily.




While in the first and second embodiments the containers


12


are discontinuously transferred by one pitch corresponding to the interval between the containers


12


, the containers


12


may be stopped at positions off the pitch. In this case, when the container


12


stores only a number of the coin rolls, the coin roll deliverers


16


to


21


, and


23


may deliver the coin rolls so that the axes of the coin rolls are aligned in the X-direction, setting the size of the change pack P appropriately. When the containers


12


are positioned at the predetermined pitches, the coin roll deliverers


16


to


21


, and


23


may deliver the coin rolls by guiding them with the walls


41


downstream of the container


12


. When the containers


12


are positioned off the pitches, that is, at intermediate positions, the positions of the coin roll deliverers


16


to


21


and


23


may determined so that the coin rolls are guided by the walls


41


upstream of the containers


12


.




This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative and not limiting, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and all modifications falling within the meaning and range of equivalency are intended to be embraced therein.



Claims
  • 1. An apparatus for dispensing change and packing cash in a change pack, comprising:a data input device for inputting a plurality of change data, each change data defining an amount of cash required by a respective end user and including at least one type of cash, at least one said change data defining a different amount of cash than another said change data; a change data comparator for comparing, for each said change data, the amount of cash comprising said change data with a predetermined reference value corresponding to a capacity of a change pack and determining whether said amount of cash exceeds the reference value; a change data divider for dividing the change data into a plurality of divided change data each having an amount of cash below the reference value, when said amount of cash exceeds the reference value; a change pack supplier for successively supplying change packs; and a change pack producer for successively producing a plurality of filled change packs, each containing at least one of coin rolls and stacked bills and each based on respective change data when the change data is not divided, and for successively producing a plurality of filled change packs, each containing at least one of coin rolls and stacked bills and each based on respective divided change data when the change data is divided by said change data divider.
  • 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said change data divider divides the change data into a plurality of divided change data so that each type of cash is included in a respective divided change data, except when the amount of the type of cash cannot be packed in a single change pack.
  • 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:a labeler for printing the contents of the change data on a label and adhering the label on the change pack when the change data is not divided, and for printing the contents of each divided change data on a respective label and adhering the labels on corresponding change packs when the change data divider divides the change data into a plurality of divided change data.
  • 4. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:a labeler for printing the contents of the change data on a label and adhering the label on the change pack when the change data is not divided, and for printing the contents of each divided change data on a respective label and adhering the labels on corresponding change packs when the change data divider divides the change data into a plurality of divided change data.
  • 5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said labeler prints a reference weight of the change pack, calculated based on the change data, on the label, when the said change data divider does not divide the change data, and prints reference weights of the change packs, calculated based on the divided change data, on the labels, when said change data divider divides the change data into a plurality of divided change data.
  • 6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said labeler prints a reference weight of the change pack, calculated based on the change data, on the label, when the said change data divider does not divide the change data, and prints reference weights of the change packs, calculated based on the divided change data, on the labels, when said change data divider divides the change data into a plurality of divided change data.
  • 7. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the labeler prints division of the change data, and prints derivation of the divided change data from the same change data on the labels when said change data divider divides the change data.
  • 8. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the labeler prints division of the change data, and prints derivation of the divided change data from the same change data on the labels when said change data divider divides the change data.
  • 9. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the labeler prints division of the change data, and prints derivation of the divided change data from the same change data on the labels when said change data divider divides the change data.
  • 10. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the labeler prints division of the change data, and prints derivation of the divided change data from the same change data on the labels when said change data divider divides the change data.
  • 11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change data is input to the data input device by contractor, store, or cash register.
  • 12. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the change data is input to the data input device by contractor, store, or cash register.
  • 13. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the change data is input to the data input device by contractor, store, or cash register.
  • 14. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the change data is input to the data input device by contractor, store, or cash register.
  • 15. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the change data is input to the data input device by contractor, store, or cash register.
  • 16. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the change data is input to the data input device by contractor, store, or cash register.
  • 17. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the change data is input to the data input device by contractor, store, or cash register.
  • 18. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the change data is input to the data input device by contractor, store, or cash register.
  • 19. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the change data is input to the data input device by contractor, store, or cash register.
  • 20. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the change data is input to the data input device by contractor, store, or cash register.
  • 21. An apparatus for dispensing change and packing cash in a change pack, comprising:a data input device for inputting change data for each of a plurality of dealers; a change data calculator for determining an amount of cash corresponding to the change data of each dealer; a comparator for determining whether the calculated amount of cash can be packed in a single change pack; a change data divider for dividing the change data into a plurality of divided change data, when the comparator determines that the calculated amount of cash cannot be packed in a single change pack; a change pack producer for producing a plurality of change packs based on and corresponding to the plurality of divided change data, whereby a different amount of cash can be prepared for each dealer.
  • 22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said change data divider divides the change data into a plurality of divided change data so that each type of cash is included in a respective divided change data, except when the amount of the type of cash cannot be packed in a single change pack.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
10-174164 Jun 1998 JP
US Referenced Citations (13)
Number Name Date Kind
4229927 Day Oct 1980 A
4443692 Nishimura Apr 1984 A
4462506 Ohba Jul 1984 A
4646767 Hikita Mar 1987 A
4674060 Larkin et al. Jun 1987 A
4928229 Teraoka et al. May 1990 A
4940162 Thie Jul 1990 A
4953086 Fukatsu Aug 1990 A
4995848 Goh Feb 1991 A
5110009 Gartner et al. May 1992 A
5406770 Fikacek Apr 1995 A
5573457 Watts et al. Nov 1996 A
5940623 Watts et al. Aug 1999 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
9-147184 Jun 1997 JP