Abstract: A sorter for separating a plurality of documents into two groups on the basis of characteristics which distinguish the documents of one group from the documents of the other group in which a cabinet has an input tray from which documents are fed one by one along a path past a sensor and between a pair of belts having divergent path portions between which a diverter responsive to the sensor is disposed and is adapted to divert documents alternatively to the nip between an upper pinch roller and one of the belts in its divergent path portion to cause the document to be deposited in an upper output tray by an upper stacker or to the nip between a lower pinch roller and the other belt in its divergent path portion to cause the document to be deposited in a lower output tray by a lower stacker in which the upper output tray and the upper stacker and the pinch rollers are mounted for movement as a unit between an operative position and an inoperative position at which the diverter is accessible with a magnetic coup

Abstract: A currency note dispenser especially adapted for under-the counter use in which a conveyor carries notes removed from the bottom of a supply stack to a delivery tray at an access location above the supply. In response to a malfunction of the dispenser, an energizable element moves the tray to an inoperative position at which notes previously delivered thereto fall to an escrow area in the dispenser cabinet and hold the tray in that position until all notes received by the conveyor have passed to the escrow area. Before moving the tray, the energizable element releases a mechanical lock which prevents movement of the tray to its inoperative position in the absence of energization of the energizable element.

Abstract: A sheet detector comprises a pair of rollers disposed on opposite sides of a feed path, each roller having a conductive outer portion extending therearound. The conductive portions, which are supported on the roller shafts by electrically insulating, relatively yieldable cores, contact each other to establish an electrical connection in the absence of a sheet therebetween and are separated from each other during the passage of a sheet therebetween to break the connection and thereby indicate the presence of the sheet. Conductive brushes resiliently biased into circumferential grooves formed on the conductive portions couple the portions to an external circuit including a sheet counter and a length counter.

Abstract: Sheet-feeding apparatus in which documents having distinguishable sides are momentarily halted by transversely spaced rollers to examine the sheets for proper orientation. A high-speed gating roller directs properly oriented sheets along the normal feed path. Upon detecting an improperly oriented sheet, the gating roller is driven in a reverse direction to drive the sheet into an inversion pocket where it is inverted before being returned to the normal path. The feed members along the inversion path are driven at a greater speed than sheets along the normal path to return the inverted sheet to it proper position in the document stream.

Abstract: Skew-correcting apparatus in which first and second sets of opposing feed rollers each comprise a pair of end rollers and a center roller between the end rollers. The first center roller has a sheet-gripping portion of limited circumferential extent forming a nip with the second center roller, while the first pair of end rollers engage the second pair of end rollers. The second set of rollers are coupled for common rotation; the first pair of end rollers are mounted for rotation relative to the first center roller. The first center roller is driven while the remaining rollers are retarded so that the remaining rollers are normally stationary to align the leading edge of a sheet but are driven by the sheet-gripping portion of the first center roller to advance the sheet through the nip. A downstream feed roller driven synchronously with the first center roller and also having a sheet-gripping portion of limited circumferential extent is used to advance a sheet to the opposing sets of feed rollers.

Abstract: A simplified currency dispenser especially adapted for use at high volume low dollar amount transaction locations. The dispenser is adapted alternatively to transport a selected mix of currency notes from first and second supplies to a delivery location and to display the dollar value of the delivered notes or to transport notes from only one of the supplies to the delivery location and to display the number of notes transported. The dispenser includes a first key pad and display on the dispenser housing for use during a counting operation and a remote key pad and display for use during a dispenser operation. The housing is made in upper and lower sections for ease of manufacture and servicing. It is adapted for either countertop installation or below the counter installation.

Abstract: A sheet dispenser for selectively dispensing predetermined numbers of sheets, for example, paper currency of different denominations and having plural input stations each receiving a stack of each bill denomination. A feed roller at each station has a high friction surface portion which engages a bottom sheet and feeds the sheet between the feed roller and a cooperating stripper shoe to assure single sheet feeding. An elongated acceleration belt extends beneath all of the feed rollers. Cooperating acceleration pinch wheels form a nip with the belt for accelerating a sheet entering the nip. A curved resilient guide cooperates with each feed roller to guide sheets passing the stripper shoe toward its associated acceleration nip. The sheets pass along the acceleration belt to an outfeed stacker including a stacker wheel to facilitate the formation of a neat stack of sheets. Sensors detect the entry of a sheet into each acceleration nip and to assure proper positioning of the feed roller.

Abstract: A sheet dispenser for selectively dispensing predetermined numbers of sheets, for example, paper currency of different denominations and having plural input stations each receiving a stack of each bill denomination. A feed roller at each station has a high friction surface portion which engages a bottom sheet and feeds the sheet between the feed roller and a cooperating stripper shoe to assure single sheet feeding. An elongated acceleration belt extends beneath all of the feed rollers. Cooperating acceleration pinch wheels form a nip with the belt for accelerating a sheet entering the nip. A curved resilient guide cooperates with each feed roller to guide sheets passing the stripper shoe toward its associated acceleration nip. The sheets pass along the acceleration belt and outfeed stacker including a stacker wheel to facilitate the formation of a neat stack of sheets. Sensors detect the entry of a sheet into each acceleration nip and to assure proper positioning of the feed roller.

Abstract: A sheet dispenser for selectively dispensing predetermined numbers of paper currency of different denominations and having plural stations each receiving a stack of bills. The dispenser includes a feed roller with a pair of flanges. The high friction surface portion of the feed roller flanges engage a bottom sheet and feed it between the feed roller and a stripper shoe to assure single sheet feeding. Elongated acceleration pinch wheels each form a nip with the belt for accelerating a sheet entering the nip. A curved resilient guide cooperates with each feed roller to guide sheets toward its associated nip. The sheets pass along the acceleration belt to an outfeed stacker including a stacker wheel. Sensors detect the entry of a sheet into each acceleration nip and control positioning of the feed roller. Notches in the flanges of each feed roller assure movement of the leading edge of the sheet into the feed nip. Each feed roller rotates one revolution for each sheet to be dispensed.

Abstract: Document handling apparatus for determing the fitness of documents such as paper sheets, paper currency and the like and including a feed mechanism for feeding documents in a single file through an examining location. Documents pass through the examining location and are examined for relative limpness or stiffness, density (i.e. clean or dirty,), perforations, cuts, tears, holes and the like, missing and/or folded corners and a test for document genuineness. Based upon the results of the tests, the sheets, which are still moving at high speed in a single file after examination, are directed toward a rotatably mounted gating roller which, dependent upon the condition of the examined sheets, is rotated either in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, at extremely high speed, to deflect sheets toward either of two possible output paths. The gating roller may be either a continuous or dicontinuous member.