Document unstack system for currency recycling automated banking machine

A method comprising the steps of:

• (a) splaying a stack of documents in an automated banking machine;
• (b) moving a first document bounding the stack, outward from the stack with a picking member, wherein the first document is moved from the stack in generally a first direction in a transport path;
• (c) engaging a document with a stripper member, whereby the first document is generally separated from the other documents in the stack;
• (d) sensing a position of a first side edge surface of the first document with a sensing device, wherein the first side edge surface bounds the document and extends generally along the first direction;
• (e) subsequent to step (d), moving a catching device to a document engagement position to engage the document responsive to the position of the side edge surface sensed in step (d), wherein the catching device is moved to the engagement position prior to engagement with the document, and wherein the catching device is operative to move the engaged document to a position in the transport path generally transversely from the engagement position.

Apparatus in an automated banking machine comprising:

• a stack moving device, wherein the stack moving device is adapted to move a stack comprising a plurality of documents into generally abutting engagement with a wall surface, wherein engagement of the stack with the wall surface is operative to splay the documents in the stack;
• a picking member, wherein the picking member is selectively movable and is positioned to be engageable with a front face of a first document bounding the stack, and wherein the picking member is operative when the first document is engaged therewith to move the first document in generally a first direction;
• a stripper member, wherein the stripper member is disposed adjacent the picking member and configured such that when the picking member moves the first document in the first direction, the stripper member engages a back face of the first document generally opposed of the front face, wherein the picking member and the stripper member are arranged such that the first document is generally separated from other documents in the stack;
• a sensing device, wherein the sensing device is operative to sense a position of a first side edge surface bounding documents moved from the stack, wherein the side edge surface extends generally along in the first direction;
• a catching device, wherein the catching device is generally transversely movable, and wherein the catching device is operative to engage documents moved from the stack;
• and
• a control system in operative connection with the sensing device and the catching device, wherein the control system is operative to move the catching device to a document engagement position to engage a document moved from the stack responsive to the position of the side edge surface sensed by the sensing device, wherein the control system is operative to move the catching device to the engagement position prior to engagement with the document, and wherein the catching device is adapted to move the engaged document to a position generally transversely from the engagement position.

A method comprising

• (a) splaying a stack of documents in an automated banking machine by engaging the stack against an angled wall surface in the machine;
• (b) engaging a movable picking member with a front face of a first document bounding the stack;
• (c) moving the picking member, wherein the first document moves from the stack in generally a first direction in engagement with the picking member;
• (d) engaging a back face of the first document with a stripper member as the first document moves in the first direction, whereby the first document is generally separated from the other documents in the stack;
• (e) moving a back stop to a position adjacent to the stack, wherein the stack is disposed between the angled wall surface and the back stop, wherein the backstop is adapted to be moved to the adjacent position after the stack moves past the adjacent position, and wherein the positioned back stop is operative to prevent a document from falling out of the backstop-side of the splayed stack.

A method comprising

• (a) splaying a stack of documents in an automated banking machine by engaging the stack against an angled wall surface in the machine by moving the stack in a first direction;
• (b) engaging a movable picking member with a front face of a first document bounding the stack, wherein the first document includes a pair of transversely opposed side edge surfaces, wherein each side edge surface bounds the first document and extends generally along the first direction;
• (c) moving the picking member to move the first document from the stack in the first direction in engagement with the picking member;
• (d) engaging a back face of the first document with a stripper member as the first document moves in the first direction, whereby the first document is generally separated from the other documents in the stack;
• (e) sensing a position of the first side edge surfaces with a sensing device;
• and
• (f) moving a catching device to engage the first document in response to the position sensed in step (e), wherein the catching device is operative to catch the first document in generally centered relation between the side edge surfaces, wherein the catching device is operative to angularly rotate the first document, and wherein the catching device is operative to move the first document in a direction generally transverse to the first direction.

Apparatus in an automated banking machine comprising:

• at least one picking member, wherein the picking member includes a first document engaging surface;
• at least one stripper member, wherein the stripper member includes at least one second document engaging surface in generally opposed adjacent relation with the first document engaging surface;
• a stack including a plurality of documents, wherein the stack includes a first end, and wherein the first end is adjacent the first and second document engaging surfaces, wherein the first end of the stack is bounded by a first document, wherein the first document contacts the first and second document engaging surfaces;
• a drive, wherein the drive is operative to move the picking member relative to the stripper member, wherein the picking member is operative to pick the first document from the stack in a first direction, and wherein the first document is adapted to move in the first direction generally in engagement with the relatively moving picking member as the remainder of the plurality of documents are maintained by the stripper member;
• a sensor and a take away device, wherein the take away device is operative to engage the first document when a portion of the first document is in the stack and another portion of the first document is moved in the first direction beyond the stripper member, wherein the sensor is operative to sense a document thickness,
• wherein the sensor is disposed intermediate of the stripper member and the take away device, and wherein the take away device is in operative connection with the sensor and is operative responsive to the sensor sensing only a single document thickness to completely displace the first document from the stack;
• wherein the drive is in operative connection with the sensor and is operative responsive to the sensor sensing more than the single document thickness to move the picking member to move the first document in a direction opposed of the first direction, wherein the first document is returned to the stack;
• a selectively movable backstop adapted to be positioned adjacent a side of the stack, wherein the backstop is operative to prevent a returned document from falling out of the backstop-side of the stack.

Apparatus in an automated banking machine comprising

• a stack moving device, wherein the stack moving device is adapted to move a stack comprising a plurality of documents into generally abutting engagement with a splaying surface;
• a picking member, wherein the picking member is selectively movable and is positioned to be engageable with a front face of a first document bounding the stack, and wherein the picking member is operative when the first document is engaged therewith to move the first document in generally a first direction;
• a stripper member, wherein the stripper member is disposed adjacent the picking member and configured such that when the picking member moves the first document in the first direction, the stripper member engages a back face of the first document generally opposed of the front face, wherein the picking member and the stripper member are arranged such that the first document is generally separated from other documents in the stack;
• a take away device, wherein the take away device is operative to engage the first document when a portion of the first document is in the stack and another portion of the first document is moved in the first direction beyond the stripper member;
• a thickness sensing device, wherein the thickness sensing device is operative to sense a thickness of documents moved from the stack by the picking member, wherein the thickness sensing device is disposed intermediate of the stripper member and the take away device;
• a pre-centering sensing device, wherein the pre-centering sensing device is disposed in generally the first direction from the take away device, wherein the pre-centering sensing device is operative to sense the position of opposed side edges of the documents moved from the stack, wherein each side edge surface bounds the first document and extends generally along the first direction;
• a document sensing device, wherein the document sensing device is disposed in generally the first direction from the picking member, wherein the sensing device is operative to sense if a document was moved in the first direction from the stack;
• a transport operatively adjacent to the picking member, wherein the transport is operative to move documents generally one at a time therein;
• and
• a control system in operative connection with the thickness sensing device, the pre-centering sensing device, the document sensing device, the transport, and the picking member, wherein the control system is operative to move the picking member to provide a stream of separated single documents moving in the transport.

Apparatus in an automated banking machine comprising

• a stack supporting surface, wherein the stack supporting surface is adapted to support a stack at an end generally opposed of a first document bounding the stack, wherein the stack supporting surface is adapted to urge a stack comprising a plurality of documents to move in a first direction into generally abutting engagement with a wall surface, wherein engagement of the stack with the wall surface is operative to splay the documents in the stack;
• a picking member, wherein the picking member is selectively movable and is positioned to be engageable with a front face of the first document, and wherein movement of the picking member is operative when the first document is engaged therewith to move the first document in generally the first direction;
• a stripper member, wherein the stripper member is disposed adjacent the picking member and configured such that when the picking member moves the first document in the first direction, the stripper member engages a back face of the first document generally opposed of the front face, wherein the picking member and the stripper member are arranged such that the first document is generally separated from other documents in the stack;
• a drive mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism is operative to move the stack supporting surface in a second direction generally transversely to the first direction toward the picking member.

Apparatus in an automated banking machine comprising:

• a stack moving device, wherein the stack moving device is adapted to move a stack comprising a plurality of documents into generally abutting engagement with a wall surface;
• a picking member, wherein the picking member is selectively movable and is positioned to be engageable with a front face of a first document bounding the stack, and wherein the picking member is operative when the first document is engaged therewith to move the first document in generally a first direction;
• a stripper member, wherein the stripper member is disposed adjacent the picking member and configured such that when the picking member moves the first document in the first direction, the stripper member engages a back face of the first document generally opposed of the front face, wherein the picking member and the stripper member are arranged such that the first document is generally separated from other documents in the stack;
• a sensing device, wherein the sensing device is operative to sense positions of pairs of generally opposed side edge surfaces bounding documents moved from the stack, wherein the side edge surfaces extend generally along in the first direction;
• a catching device, wherein the catching device is generally transversely movable, and wherein the catching device is operative to engage documents moved from the stack;
• and
• a control system in operative connection with the sensing device and the catching device, wherein the control system is operative to cause the catching device to move to engage documents moved from the stack, and wherein the control system is operative to cause the catching device to move responsive to the positions sensed by the sensing device.

A method comprising the steps of:

• (a) operating a stack supporting surface to cause a stack of documents in an automated banking machine to move in a generally first direction to generate a splayed stack of documents, wherein operation of the stack supporting surface is adapted to urge the stack to move in generally the first direction;
• (b) engaging a movable picking member with a front face of a first document bounding the splayed stack;
• (c) moving the picking member, wherein the first document moves from the stack in generally the first direction in engagement with the picking member;
• (d) moving the stack supporting surface, with a splayed stack supported thereon, in a second direction generally transversely to the first direction.