Document alignment mechanism for currency recycling automated banking machine

Apparatus in an automated banking machine comprising:

• a sheet path, wherein sheets move in generally a first direction in the sheet path;
• a first sheet sensor and a second sheet sensor adjacent the sheet path, wherein the first and second sheet sensors are generally disposed from each other in a transverse direction relative to the first direction;
• a first sheet brake and a second sheet brake adjacent the sheet path, wherein the second sheet brake is generally transversely disposed from the first sheet brake, wherein each sheet brake is selectively operative to change relative speed of disposed areas of a sheet adjacent to the sheet brakes as the sheet moves adjacent to the sheet brakes in the sheet path;
• a generally transversely extending guide, wherein the first and second sheet brakes are transversely movable relative to the sheet path in operative connection with the guide;
• and
• a control system in operative connection with the first and second sheet sensors and the first and second sheet brakes, wherein the control system is operative responsive to sensing a sheet with the first and second sensors to selectively actuate the first and second sheet brakes to change the orientation of the sheet relative to the sheet path.

Apparatus in an automated banking machine comprising:

• a sheet path, wherein sheets move in generally a first direction in the sheet path;
• a first sheet sensor and a second sheet sensor adjacent the sheet path, wherein the first and second sheet sensors are generally disposed from each other in a transverse direction relative to the first direction;
• a first sheet brake and a second sheet brake adjacent the sheet path, wherein the second sheet brake is generally transversely disposed from the first sheet brake, wherein each sheet brake is selectively operative to change relative speed of disposed areas of a sheet adjacent to the sheet brakes as the sheet moves adjacent to the sheet brakes in the sheet path;
• a drive shaft and a drive in operative connection with the drive shaft, wherein the drive is operative to rotate the drive shaft, and wherein the first sheet brake includes a first movable member and a first mechanism, wherein the first movable member is operative to engage the sheets moving in the sheet path, wherein the first mechanism is operative to selectively operatively engage and disengage the first movable member and the drive shaft, wherein the first movable member slows when it is operatively disengaged from the drive shaft by the first mechanism;
• and
• a control system in operative connection with the first and second sheet sensors and the first and second sheet brakes, wherein the control system is operative responsive to sensing a sheet with the first and second sensors to selectively actuate the first and second sheet brakes to change the orientation of the sheet relative to the sheet path.

Apparatus in an automated banking machine comprising:

• a sheet path, wherein sheets move in generally a first direction in the sheet path;
• a first sheet sensor and a second sheet sensor adjacent the sheet path, wherein the first and second sheet sensors are generally disposed from each other in a transverse direction relative to the first direction;
• a first sheet brake and a second sheet brake adjacent the sheet path, wherein the second sheet brake is generally transversely disposed from the first sheet brake, wherein each sheet brake is selectively operative to change relative speed of disposed areas of a sheet adjacent to the sheet brakes as the sheet moves adjacent to the sheet brakes in the sheet path;
• a control system in operative connection with the first and second sheet sensors and the first and second sheet brakes, wherein the control system is operative responsive to sensing a sheet with the first and second sensors to selectively actuate the first and second sheet brakes to change the orientation of the sheet relative to the sheet path;
• and
• an idler shaft extending generally transversely in the sheet path and opposed of the sheet brakes, wherein sheets moving in the sheet path pass between the sheet brakes and the idler shaft, and wherein sheets in engagement with the sheet brakes are also in engagement with the idler shaft, and further comprising a transverse moving device, wherein the transverse moving device is in operative connection with the control system, and wherein the transverse moving device is operative to selectively move the sheet brakes in the transverse direction, wherein sheets in engagement with the sheet brakes are moved transversely in supporting connection with the idler shaft.

A method comprising

• (a) moving a sheet in a first direction in a sheet path, the sheet being bounded by a leading edge and a pair of transversely disposed side edges;
• (b) sensing the sheet with a first sheet sensor in the sheet path;
• (c) relatively slowing the sheet in a first area with a first sheet brake responsive to sensing the sheet with a first sheet sensor;
• (d) sensing the sheet with a second sheet sensor transversely disposed of the first sheet sensor in the sheet path;
• (e) relatively slowing the sheet in a second area transversely disposed of the first area with a second sheet brake responsive to sensing the sheet with the second sheet sensor;
• (f) moving the first sheet brake generally transversely in the sheet path with a transverse moving device.

A method comprising

• (a) moving a sheet in a first direction in a sheet path, the sheet being bounded by a leading edge and a pair of transversely disposed side edges, wherein a rotatable drive shaft extends generally transversely relative to the sheet path;
• (b) sensing the sheet with a first sheet sensor in the sheet path;
• (c) relatively slowing the sheet in a first area with a first sheet brake responsive to sensing the sheet with a first sheet sensor, wherein the first sheet brake includes a first movable member that operatively engages the sheet, and wherein the slowing includes operatively disconnecting the first movable member from the drive shaft;
• (d) sensing the sheet with a second sheet sensor transversely disposed of the first sheet sensor in the sheet path;
• (e) relatively slowing the sheet in a second area transversely disposed of the first area with a second sheet brake responsive to sensing the sheet with the second sheet sensor.

Apparatus in an automated banking machine comprising:

• a first sheet sensor and a second sheet sensor operative to sense a sheet moving in generally a first direction in a sheet path, wherein the first and second sheet sensors are generally disposed from each other in a transverse direction relative to the first direction;
• a first sheet brake and a second sheet brake, wherein the second sheet brake is generally transversely disposed from the first sheet brake, wherein each sheet brake is selectively operative to change relative speed of disposed areas of a sheet adjacent to the sheet brakes as the sheet moves adjacent to the sheet brakes in the sheet path;
• a guide, wherein the guide is movable in at least one direction via at least one moving device, wherein each of the first sheet brake and the second sheet brake are operatively movable with the guide in at least one direction;
• a control system in operative connection with the first and second sheet sensors and the first and second sheet brakes, wherein the control system is operative to selectively independently actuate the first and second sheet brakes, wherein the control system is operative responsive to sheet sensing to change the orientation of the sheet relative to the sheet path.