Sheet handling apparatus

A device for handling and feeding sheet material comprising:

• an elongated, generally flat first surface means defining a path along which said sheet material is to be driven;
• at least three spaced-apart side-by-side, endless drive belts having an outer frictional surface, each of said drive belts having a portion thereof extending along said surface means wherein said frictional surfaces are disposed opposing and generally parallel to said surface means to confine said sheet material between said frictional surface of said drive belts and said surface means;
• belt drive means for simultaneously driving said belts;
• and,
• stacking means positioned along said path defined by said first surface means in operative relation with said belts for stacking said sheet material into a uniform stack, said stacking means comprised of a generally planar stacking plate capable of reciprocal movement between a first position for stacking said sheet material and a second position wherein said plate is generally co-planar with said surface means and in operative engagement with said belts, and means for aligning one edge of said sheet material into a uniform stack.

A device for handling and feeding sheet material comprising:

• and elongated, generally flat first surface means defining a path along which said sheet material is to be driven;
• at least three spaced-apart side-by-side, endless drive belts having an outer frictional surface, each of said drive belts having a portion thereof extending along said surface means wherein said frictional surfaces are disposed opposing and generally parallel to said surface means to confine said sheet material between said frictional surfaces of said drive belts and said surface means;
• dispensing means for dispensing said sheet material;
• belt drive means for simultaneously driving said belts;
• storage means for storing said sheet material to be dispensed;
• holding means for holding predetermined sheets of said sheet material;
• and,
• diverting means positioned along said path in operative engagement with said belts for diverting said predetermined sheets from said dispensing means to said holding means, said diverting means including a generally planar divert plate having surfaces defining a portion of said path along which said sheets are driven, said plate being capable of reciprocal movement along said path from a first position for dispensing said sheet material to a second position for diverting said predetermined sheets to said holding means.

An apparatus for dispensing sheet media comprising:

• a housing for containing one or more types of sheet media to be dispensed;
• receiving means accessible to a patron from which said sheet media may be received;
• means for receiving identification information from a patron;
• means for utilizing said identification information to determine whether said patron has a dispensing authorization status;
• means for receiving dispensing information from a patron;
• a computer unit having means for receiving identification information and dispensing information and for generating output instructional information and control signals;
• and,
• sheet media dispensing means responsive to output instructional information and control signals from said computer unit for dispensing said sheet media, said sheet media dispensing means including:
• at least one sheet media transport comprised of surface means having at least two side-by-side elongated surfaces which lie in a common plane and which extend parallel to each other to define a generally linear sheet media path;
• and,
• at least three spaced-apart, side-by-side, parallel endless belts having outer frictional surfaces, each of said belts having a portion thereof extending parallel to said elongated surfaces, said belts being juxtaposed and spaced from said elongated surfaces to form an undulating passage therebetween to receive individual sheets of said sheet media wherein said belts are operative to drive said sheets along said elongated surfaces;
• stacking means for stacking said sheet media;
• and
• divert means for diverting irregular sheet media from said stacking means, said stacking means and said divert means including movable surface means positionable to form part of said surface means.