There is provided a bank note processing machine in which a discrimination
sensor can be formed compactly even when bank notes are discriminated
using a light source having a plurality of wavelengths and in which the
bank note transport path is shortened to achieve compactness. A bank note
processing machine in which bank notes placed on an insert tray are
sequentially delivered one by one to be fed to a discrimination sensor
section; the bank note types and the genuineness or falsehood of bank
notes are discriminated based on signals detected by a discrimination
sensor at the discrimination sensor section; and the discriminated bank
notes are sent to an accumulating section, wherein the discrimination
sensor is formed by a light projecting section for irradiating over a slit
area substantially the entire passing width of the bank notes and a light
receiving section constituted by a photodiode array; the light projecting
section is formed by a light guide plate and at least one LED provided on
a side of the light guide plate; and the light projecting section and
light receiving section are provided in a face-to-face relationship with
the transport path of the bank notes sandwiched therebetween or provided
in parallel on one the of the transport path.
