Abstract: Sheet feeding apparatus for example for use as a banknote counter comprises a stripper system having a pair of rollers; and a banknote detection system including two pairs of rollers defining respective nips into which single notes are fed by the stripper system. The relative deflection of the sheet detection system rollers due to the passage of a sheet through the nips is monitored in use. The stripper system rollers and the rollers of the sheet detection system are substantially coaxially mounted on a shaft and are driven by a common drive motor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the passage of sheets past at least one sensing assembly (48,49). The sensing assembly (48,49) generates an output signal whose level varies in accordance with a characteristic of the sheets, for example the thickness of the sheets. The method comprises for the or each sensing assembly, presetting a first threshold (62) spaced by a predetermined amount from a datum output signal level (57) when no sheet is sensed, the predetermined amount being such that the first threshold (62) is not passed as a result of random noise variations in the output signal but is passed during the passage past the sensing means of all sheets which it is desired to monitor. The size of the output signal from the sensing means (48, 49) relative to the datum level is monitored when the output signal first passes the first threshold (62) corresponding to the passage of a first sheet.

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus for documents requiring secure handling, such as banknotes. The documents are fed one at a time along a main flow-line in which they are sensed to determine whether they are in a fit condition or in an unfit condition. If unfit, they are routed into a secondary flow-line leading to a shredder, the secondary flow-line including further checking structure to ensure that documents classed as unfit in the main flow-line are present in the secondary flow-line at the appropriate time and are guided to the shredder.

Abstract: A flexible sheet stacker is described which includes a support surface disposed substantially at right-angles to a flowline along which flexible sheets are fed in spaced relationship. The support surface is adapted to support in a stack the leading edges of the successive sheets fed along the flowline. The pressure-member is arranged to contact a face of a first sheet fed to the support surface and is thereafter movable away from the flowline against biasing means as sheets are progressively fed to the support surface. A wedge shaped separation member is movable along a substantially rectilinear path in advance of a sheet approaching the support surface, the separation member contacting the face of the stack and maintaining the contact during rectilinear movement of the separation means up to the support surface, a face of the stack being thereby displaced laterally out of the path of the leading edge of the approaching sheet as the sheet is advanced up to the support surface.