# US 2008/0187209 A1 · Billing process apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0187209 A1 - Document ID: US20080187209A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/024,374 - Filed: 2008-02-01 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-02 - Assignees: Aruze Corp.; Seta Corp. - Inventors: Kazuei YOSHIOKA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080187209A1 ## CPC - G07F 7/04: by paper currency - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract In a bill processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, a lock device 400 is mechanically operated in connection with the movement of a loading tray 60 that is moved by a movement device 70. Accordingly, it is possible to drive the lock device 400 as well as the movement device 70 using only a driving source of the movement device 70. Therefore, it is possible to drive the lock device 400 with low power consumption. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a driving source for driving the lock device 400, the number of parts is decreased and the entire apparatus is thus made to be small. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bill processing apparatus comprising: a bill receiver that receives a bill inserted and delivered through a bill insertion slot; a bill collection slot that collects the bill received in the bill receiver; an openable shield plate that shuts the bill collection slot; a movement device that moves the bill receiver toward the bill collection slot; and a lock device that locks a shut state of the shield plate to be released, wherein the lock device is mechanically operated in connection with the movement of the bill receiver that is moved by the movement device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lock device contacts the bill receiver that is moved toward the bill collection slot by the movement device, thereby releasing a lock of the shield plate shut. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lock device comprises a pivot member that is pivoted between a lock position at which the lock device is opposite to the shield plate to obstruct the shield plate from being opened, and a lock release position at which the lock device retreats from the shield plate to allow the shield plate to be opened, and wherein the pivot member has a first interlocking operation part that is protruded into a movement path of the bill receiver and is pivoted from the lock position to the lock release position as the bill receiver to be moved toward the bill collection slot by the movement device is contacted to the first interlocking operation part. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a biasing member that biases the pivot member toward the lock position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shield plate contacts the bill receiver, which is moved toward the bill collection slot by the movement device under state that the lock of the shield plate shut is released by means of the lock device, thereby opening the bill collection slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an opening/shutting device that opens/shuts the shield plate, wherein the opening/shutting device is mechanically operated in connection with the movement of the bill receiver that is moved by the movement device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the opening/shutting device contacts the bill receiver, which is moved toward the bill collection slot under state that the lock of the shield plate shut is released, thereby opening the shield plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the opening/shutting device comprises a rotation member which has a second interlocking operation part protruding into a movement path of the bill receiver and a gear device that is engaged with the rotation member and converts rotation force of the rotation member into an opening/shutting operation of the shield plate, and wherein the bill receiver, which is moved toward the bill collection slot by means of the movement device, contacts the second interlocking operation part to rotate the rotation member in one direction, so that the shield plate is opened by means of the gear device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a biasing member that biases the rotation member in a direction opposite to the one direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the bill receiver has an opening maintain unit that maintains an opened state of the shield plate after contacting the second interlocking operation part. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement device moves the bill receiver between a bill receiving position for receiving the bill in the bill receiver and a bill collection position at which the bill receiver is protruded from the bill collection slot, and wherein the bill receiver has a lock release prevention unit that is engaged with the lock device at the bill receiving position to prevent the lock of the shield plate shut from being released. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the bill receiver has a prevention release unit that releases the lock release prevention state by the lock release prevention unit, accompanying with the movement of the bill receiver toward the bill collection slot by the movement device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detection member that detects an opened/shut state of the shield plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the lock release prevention unit has an end face that contacts a protrusion piece of a rear end of the pivot member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the prevention release unit has elongated grooves that are formed along the sidewalls of the bill receiver. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The bill processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the detection member comprises a detection piece of a protrusion type that is formed at an end edge opposite to a pivot axis that is a central axis of the opening/shutting operation of the shield plate, and a shield plate opening/shutting detection sensor that has a receiving recessed portion that receives the detection piece when the shield plate is opened.