SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS

Abstract: A device (10) for dispensing sheet media comprising a storage location (34) for storing sheet media to be dispensed; a receiving location (32) accessible to a patron from which the sheet media may be received; a receptacle (122) for retaining sheets of the media; a stacking assembly (200) for stacking individual sheets of the sheet media into a stack; a transport assembly (80), (180) for transporting individual sheets from the storage location (34) to the stacking assembly (200) and for transporting sheets of the media from the receiving location (32) to the receptacle (122); a transfer assembly (400) for transferring a stack of sheets from the stacking assembly (200) to the receiving location (32); and, a divert assembly (300) associated with the transport assembly operable to cause sheets transported from the storage location (34) to the stacking assembly (200) to be diverted to the receptacle (122).

Description: SHEET HAI-DI_-CN__ APE__ A_TO5 Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to handling and transport apparatus and more particularly to mechanisms for handling and feeding sheet media. The present invention is particularly applicable to a device for transporting sheet media such as currency, tickets, coupons and the like, in an Automatic Teller Machine (AIM) and will be described with particular reference thereto, although the present invention may find advantageous application in other apparatus utilizing sheet feeding and handling mechanisms. 1 '-" ; - • Bac_kcrround of the Invention ϊhe present invention relates generally to a sheet media handling and dispensing device for use in an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), which device is capable of handling individual sheet media, such as currency, coupons, tickets and the like, as well as feeding a stack of such sheet media to a dispensing location. Sheet media transfer devices known heretofore, particularly currency transfer devices, have generally utilized roller systems or belt systems for driving and feeding the .sheet media (currency) within the device. Roller transfer systems are typically ∞mprised of cooperating pairs of opposed rollers wherein each opposed roller is rotated in an opposite direction to drive the sheet media therebetween. Such pairs of opposed rollers are generally disposed side-by-side, as well as in succession to form a path along which the individual sheet media is to be fed. Belt systems operate in a similar fashion fcy driving the sheet media between facing surfaces of opposed belts. Both types of systems thus operate by frictionally gripping and driving the sheet media. Such systems typically require precise alignment between successive pairs of rollers or belts to ensure proper operation of the device. In addition, such systems ..equire precise tilming between each roller or belt in the system. In this respect, if a particular roller or belt is moving too slowly in relation to a successive roller or belt, the .sheet media may tear as the successive roller or belt accelerates the leading edge of the sheet. If the roller or belt is moving too quickly in relation to the next roller or belt, the deceleration of the leading edge may cause the sheet to buckle and replicate■itself which may jam the system. Accordingly, rollers and belts in systems known heretofore are typically interconnected by timing chains or belts and are generally driven by a single large motor which generally has a high power consumption. Because of the intricacies of such systems, together with the high¬ speed at which such devices normally operate, even slight misalignment or force imbalances can cause excessive wear among the cxjmponents, and more importantly can create document jaimtings in the transport assemblies. Moreover, the intricacies and precise alignment found in these systems also mates access to and removal of jammed .sheets difficult. The present invention overcomes these and other problems by providing a sheet media dispensing device which is less complicated than currency feeding and handling systems known heretofore. The present invention provides a sheet media dispensing device which utilizes a plurality of moving belts in operative relationship to a stationary surface to transport sheet material along a path defined by the stationary surface. Summary of Invention In accordance with the present invention there is provided a device for handling and feeding sheet media comprising surface means including at least two spaced-apart, side-by-side, parallel elongated surfaces, said elongated surfaces lying in a common plane and defining a path along which the ssheets are to be driven. At least three spaced-apart side-by-side, endless drive belts, each having an outer frictional surface extending along the surface means are provided wherein a portion of the belts and the outer frictional surfaces thereof are disposed facing and generally parallel to the surface means, the portions of the drive belts facing the surface means being parallel to and juxtaposed with the elongated surfaces to define an undulating passage therebetween, which passage confines the sheets between the frictional surface of the drive belts and the elongated surfaces. Belt drive means are provided for simultaneously driving the belts such that the ssheets confined between the elongated surface and frictional surface of the moving belts are driven along the elongated surfaces by the moving belts. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a sheet handling and feeding device, as defined above, further comprising a first location for receiving individual media ssheets from a .storage location, a second location for pressenting the media as a single sheet or a stack of sheets, a third location for sstoring predetermined ones of the ssheets in the first location, .stacking means for stocking individual ssheets into a εstack of ssheets, transport means for feeding individual ssheets from the first location to the means for stacking or from the ssecond location to the third location, transfer means for transferring a stack of sheets from the means for stacking to the ssecond location, ssensing means for sensing the p__edetermined ones of the ssheets from the sstorage location, and divert means responsive to the ssensing means for diverting the predetermined ones of the sheets from the .stacking means to the third location. A primary object of the present invention is to provide a sheet media handling and feeding device which is less complicated and less intricate than exissting machines. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device as defined above having a media transfer assembly wherein the tuning and operational speeds of the media transfer aεssserribly are not critical and wherein the media transfer assembly is less susceptible to wear. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device as defined above which is less susceptible to jamning. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device as defined above wherein the operative components of the transfer mechanism have no ssurface-to-ssurface engagement and the ssheet media is directed along paths without physical guides. A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as defined above wherein the operative transfer mechanissm is compriεsed of moving belts disspossed in relation to stationary .surfaces. A further object of the pressent invention is to provide a device as defined above for feeding and handling sheet media in an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) . A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as defined above which includes means for stacking individual bills or currency in an ATM into a sstack and presenting such stack at a predetermined location in the device. A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as defined above for use in an ATM which device is capable of handling ssheet media of various sizes at the ssame time. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device as defined above which includes means for sensing certain bills and diverting ssuch bills to a storage location. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof taken together with the acxompanying drawings. Description of the Drawings The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, preferred embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic representation of an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) according to the preεsent invention illustrating several major ccmponents thereof in phantom; FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a ssheet media dispensing me ianiεsm illusstrating a preferred eπibodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the sheet media diεspensing mechaniss shown in FIG. 2, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is an end elevational view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is an enlarged εsectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 sshowing a media canister and a feed module according to a preferred embodiment of the pressent invention; FIG. 6 is an enlarged ssectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4; FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3; FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 3; ;iSl1 FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 3; FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 3; FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 3; FIG. 12A is an enlarged ssectional view taken along line 12a-12a of FIG. 3 sshowing a note being transferred from a vertical tran-sport to a horizontal transsport; FIG. 12B is an enlarged ssectional view sshowing an individual note engaging conveyor belts of the horizontal transport; FIG. 13A is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 3 sshowing a control wheel according to a preferred embodiment of the pressent invention, wherein the control wheel is in a first position and a .stacking plate (εshσwn in phantom) is in a sstacking position and a divert plate in a normal position; FIG. 13B is a sectional view of the control wheel sshown in FIG. 13A showing the control wheel in a ssecond position wherein the .stacking plate in a .stacking position and the divert plate is in a currency diverting position; FIG. 13C is a view of the control wheel sshown in FIG. 13A sshowing the control wheel in a third position wherein the stacking plate is in a currency transfer position; FIG. 13D is a view of the control wheel sshown in FIG. 13A sshowing the control wheel in a fourth position wherein a gate controller arm is being activated; FIGS. 14A-14D are a representative view of the media disspensing mechanissm according to the present invention at various stages of operation; FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a media disspensing mechanissm illusstrating an alternate errfoodiment of the pressent invention; FIGS. 16A & 16B are ssectional views taken along lines 16A-16A and lines 16B-16B of FIG. 2 illustrating a switch arrangement used to identify parameters of the media contained in media canisters; and, FIG. 17 is a block diagrammatic representation of the internal electronic control ssystem for the embodiment sshown. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment Referring new to the drawings wherein the sshowing is for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting same, the drawings illustrate a card operated Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) 10 according to the pressent invention for disspensing sheet media εsuch as currency, traveller's checks, tickets, coupons, and the like. Hereinafter, for purposes of clarity and convenience, such ssheet media, i.e. currency, traveller's checks, etc., shall be referred to as "notes" or "a note", it being understood that the present invention find advantageous application to the identified sheet media and others. Machine 10 is intended to diεspensse notes upon request to individuals meeting predetermined criteria. Machine 10, which is schematically repre-sented in FIG. 1, includes a cabinet or housing 12 which encloses an ATM processor 14, a media disspensing mechanissm 16, hereinafter referred to as a "media diεspenser 16", and disspensser processor 18 for controlling the operation of media dispenser 16. AIM processsor -14 basically controls the personal aspects of the dispensing routine (i.e. the financial record keeping aspects and customer interface) of AIM 10. To facilitate these functions, asssociated with ATM processsor 14 are a video monitor 20 having a sscreen 22 expossed to the exterior of housing 12, a keypad 24 including a plurality of operational keys 26 for use by a customer for entering information to processssor 14, and a card reader 28 for reading information from conventionally-known cards having identification data encoded thereon. A card is inserted into card reader 28 through a card slot 30 provided in housing 12. A currency disspensing opening 32 is provided in housing 12 for dispensing currency to users of AIM 10. Referring now to FIGS. 2-8, in the embodiment sshown, media disspensser 16 is generally comprissed of the three .separate modules, namely a bottom module hereinafter referred to as a "feed module" and designated "34" in the drawings, an intermediate module hereinafter referred to as a "stacking module" and designated "36" in the drawings, and a top module referred to as a "transsport module" and designated "38" in the drawings. Feed module 34, best seen in FIG. 5, is generally a .storage location for the media to be disspenssed by the ATM 10 and is cσmprissed of a housing 40 having side walls 42, 44. A pair of vertically-aligned panels 46, 48 form the front end of housing 40. Panels 46, 48 include outwardly facing, generally planar .surfaces 46a, 48a which are aligned and co-planar to each other. The back of housing 40 is open to receive conventionally-known money canisters 50 on shelves 52. Canisters 50 in and of themsselves form no part of the pressent invention and therefore εshall not be desscribed in greater detail. Caniεsters 50 are basically rectangular boxes which hold a εstack of ssheet media, i.e. notes N. The sstack is biased by a pussh plate 54 and biasing means 56 toward an opening 58 at one end of canisster 50. A picker assssembly 60 is provided adjacent opening 58 of each canister 50 to remove ("pick") individual notes N from canisters 50. Picker assembly 60 is comprissed of a cylindrical roller 62 which is rotatable about a sshaft 64. Roller 62 includes a raiεsed pad 62a which is operable to engage and remove ("pick") the exposed note N in opening 58 of the canisster 50, ...one note N being "picked" during each single revolution of roller 62. In the embodiment sshown, each roller 62 is preferably driven by a .separate, independently operated motor, designated 72a, 72b and schematically illustrated in the drawings. Motors 72a, 72b are preferably .stepping motors and include ssensing means (not shown) for monitoring each revolution of the roller 62, as well as the position of raissed pad 62a relative to opening 58. Below each roller 62 an arcuate wall 74 is provided. A slot or opening 76 is defined between the end of arcuate wall 74 and the lower end of each panel 46, 48. To identify the particular canister 50 inserted into feed module 34 and particulars of the ssheet media therein, a keyboard 66 having a plurality of .switches 67 arranged in rows thereon is mounted in module 34 and connected to disspensser processor 18. Keyboard 66, illusstrated in FIG. 16A, is positioned to be aligned with correεsponding rows of removable actuating pins 68 provided on the end of canister 50 above opening 58, illustrated in FIG. 16B. By inserting actuating pins 68 at .specific locations on canisster 50, when insserting canisster 50 into feed module 34 against keyboard 66 only corresponding switches 67 are actuated. -Using such an arrangement, the .specific canisster inserted in feed module 34 can be identified, together with other parameters such as the particular type of note N contained in canisster 50, the height of the note and the note's thicknesss. According to one asspect of the present invention, a vertical currency transsport 80 for conveying individual notes picked from canisters 50 to -stacking module 36 is provided. Vertical transport 80 is basically comprised of a plurality of endlesss belts in operative relationsship with .stationary .surfaces. More .specifically, in the errfoodiment sshown, three (3) identical, endless, εide-by-side and parallel belts 82 are mounted on rollers 84. Rollers 84 are fixedly mounted to shafts 86, 88 and include annular grooves 84a to receive ribs 82a on belts 82, as best seen in FIG. 6. Shafts 86, 88 are positioned in housing 40 such that belts 82 define two parallel belt flights 90a and 90b wherein flight 90b is adjacent to and a predetermined distance from .surfaces 46a, 48a, of panels 46, 48. In this respect, each belt 82 has an outer frictional .surface which faces surfaces 46a, 48a along flight 90b. As best illustrated in FIG. 6, .surfaces 46a (not sshown) and 48a each include a pair of side-by-side parallel rails 92 which project therefrom. Rails 92 are juxtaposed relative to the belts 82 such that a rail 92 is disposed between each adjacent belt 82. In the embodiment sshown, rails 92 are integrally formed in panels 46a, 48a, but as will be sseen below, rails 92 may be .separate components attached to planar .surfaces. An undulated or corrugated passage 94 is formed between the belts 82 and rails 92, as will be disscussssed in greater detail below. Belts 1 82 and rails 92 have a predetermined dimension and are sspaced apart a predetermined distance such that a note N is confined between belts 82 and rails 92 will be driven along rails 92 in the direction belts 82 are moving. Acc_ordingly, rails 92 and ssurfaces 46a, 48a are preferably ssmoσth to enable notes N to move therealong. Shaft 86 is preferably driven ty a coπventionally-kncwn brussh motor 96, which is .schematically illustrated in the drawings, having conventionally-known sspeed .sensing means (not sshown) aεssociated therewith. Referring now to FIGS. 2-4 and 7-12, .stacking module 36 is generally cσrrprissed of a rectangular housing 100 formed by two side walls 104, 106, a bottom wall 108, and a plurality of transverεse walls 110, 112, 114, and 116 as best sseen in FIG. 7. Transverse walls 110, 112, 114, and 116 define three corrpartments or chambers 118, 120, 122 within housing 100 wherein cxsipartments 120, 122 are open on the top. The upper ends of side walls 104, 106 include cwtwardly extending flanges 105, 107 respectively. besst sseen in FIG. 11. Transverεse walls 110, 112 define outward facing planar .surfaces 110a, 112a respectively. In the ei±odiment sshown, stacking module 36 includes a vertical transsport 130 along one end wall of the housing 100. vertical transsport 130 is basically siir lcir to the vertical transport 80 on feed module 34 and is dimensioned to be aligned therewith. In this respect, vertical transsport 130 includes three (3) generally identical side-by-side and parallel belts 132 which are mounted on rollers 134 on sshafts 136 and 138. As best seen in FIG. 7, sshafts 136, 138 are sspaced apart vertically and positioned to define parallel belt flights 140a, 140b wherein belt flight 140b is dispossed adjacent and parallel to .surface 110a of transverse wall 110. Belts 132 include cuter frictional .surfaces whic face planar ssurface 110a along flight 140b. Two gene__a ly L-sshaped rails 142 (best seen in FIG. 12A and 12B) are provided for mounting on -stacking module housing 100. Rails 142 include leg portions 142a, 142b which are mounted on transverεse wall .sections 110, 112 respectively. leg portion 142a is generally lower (flatter) than leg portion 142b, and includes a laterally and longitudinal tapered ridge 142c. Leg portion 142b, in addition to being higher, has a more rectangular croεss-section. Rails 142 are mounted to housing 100 so that leg portions 142a are parallel to and juxtapossed with belts 132 such that a leg portion 142a of rail 142 is disposed between each belt 132. In this resspect, like vertical transsport 80, an undulated or corrugated passsage is formed between the belts 132 and the rails 142. In the ernbodiment sshown, shaft 136 is driven simultaneously with sshaft 86 of vertical transsport 80 (by means not sshown) by motor 96. Assssociated with each belt 132 is a pinch roller 146 mounted to transsversse wall 110 as best seen in FIGS. 12A and 12B. Pinch rollers 146 are dimensioned to be biased into engagement with belts 132. Referring now to FIG. 7, transsport module 38 is generally coirprissed of εshallow frame 150 having parallel side walls 152, 154. The upper edges of side walls 152, 154 include inwardly extending flanges 156, 158 (besst seen in FIG. 9) which extends along the length thereof. Frame 150 includes bottom walls 162, 164 at the distal ends thereof and an open εspace defined therebetween. Bottom wall 162 includes an upward facing, generally planar .surface 162a. Frame 150 is mounted on housing 100 wherein bottom wall 164 of frame 150 is above chamber 122 of housing 100. Bottom wall 162 of frame 150 extends beyond housing 100 with the opening between bottom walls 162, 164 being diεsposed over transsverse wall 112V chamber 120, and a portion of chamber 122. Side walls 152, 154 each include a -shallow notched-cut area which defines a horizontal slot 165 (besst sseen in FIG. 2) between the lower edges thereof and flanges 105, 107 of housing 100. The upper surface 162a of bottom wall 162 is generally aligned and co-planar with surface 112a of trarisverse wall 112 of housing 100. Bottom wall 162 is dimensioned such that a gap or space 166 (best seen in FIG. 8) is defined between the end thereof and transverse wall 112. A plate 168 having a disspensing slot 170 is mounted at the disspensing end of frame 150. Slot 170 is climensioned to correspond to slot 32 in housing 12. Plate 168 is mounted to an angle- sshaped member 169 which in turn is mounted to side walls 152, 154 of frame 150 wherein a sspace is defined between plate 168 and the ends of side walls 152, 154. Transport module 38 includes a horizontal transport 180 for moving the ssheet media along a generally horizontal path or plane P. In this respect, horizontal transport 180 is similar to the vertical transport 80 of feed module 34 and transsport 130 of ssteσking module 36 in that it is basically corπprissed of a plurality of endless belts in operative relationship with a .stationary .surface having elevated rails thereon. More .specifically, horizontal transsport 180 includes three (3) generally identical side-by-side parallel belts 182 which are mounted on rollers 184 on shaft 186, 188. As best seen in FIG. 7, the sshafts 186, 188 are spaced apart to define generally straight, horizontal belt flights 190a, 190b. Belts 182 include outer frictional ssurfaces which face .surfaces 112a and 162a. : Shafts 186, 188 are mounted in side walls 152, 154 such that belt flights 190b of belts 182 are generally disspcsed parallel to and a predetermined disstance from .surfaces 162a and 112a. More particularly, sshaft 186 is mounted in inclined, elongated slots 187 in side walls 152, 154. As seen in the drawings, belts 182 also extend the entire length of transport module frame 150, and over chambers 120, 122 of stoc_king module 36. As besst sseen in FIG. 3, belts 182 are juxtaposed with resspect to leg portions 142b of L-sshaped member 142, wherein a leg portion 142b is disposed between each belt 182. Supplemental rails 192 are provided on wall 112 as best seen in FIG. 3. Supplemental rails 192 are dimensioned to correspond to leg portions 142b of L-sshaped rails 142. Bottom wall 162 of frame 150 includes two (2) side-by-side rails 194 which are aligned with leg portions 142b and dimensioned to correspond therewith. Importantly, the upper surfaces of rails 142b, 192, and 194 are generally aligned and lie in a common plane which defines path P. In other words, the upper surface of rails 142b, 192, and 194 define the work path P along which the notes to be dispensed are conveyed. As with vertical transports 80, 130, an undulated passssage is defined between belts 182 and rails 142b, 192, and 194. Belts 182 are preferably driven by a conventionally-known brush motor 196, which is schematically illustrated in the drawings, having conventionally-known sspeed ssensing means (not sshown) assssociated therewith. In this resspeσt, in the embodiment sshown, horizontal transsport 180 is driven independently of vertical transsports 80 and 130. If desired, however, horizontal transport 180 may be si ultanecusly driven with vertical transports 80, 130 by a single motor, by means within the purview of these skilled in the art, without detracting from the pressent invention. In addition to being in alignment with .surfaces 112a, 162a, horizontal transport 180 is disposed to be in operative relationship with a stacking assembly 200 for stacking'the sheet media, a divert asssembly 300 for diverting notes or dumping a stack of notes to a "divert/duπp location", a push plate assembly 400 for transferring a stack of media toward disspensing slot 170, a gate asssembly 500 for controlling accesss to slot 170, and a control assembly 600 for txordinating the actions of .stocking assssembly 200, divert assssembly 300, and gate asssembly 500. Stocking Assembly 200 According to the preferred embodiment of the pressent invention, .stocking mechanism 200 includes a sstock plate 210 besst sseen in FIG. 7. Stack plate 210 is generally comprised of a platform 214 having a planar upper surface 214a and a plurality of side-by-side, parallel rails extending thereacross. In the errbodi ent sshown, sstack plate 210 includes four (4) side-by-side, parallel rails 216. Rails 216 are basically dimensioned to correspond in cross-section to rails 142b, 192, 194, and to extend in alignment therewith. The ends of rails 216 are angled to correεspond and to align with the angled ends of rails 142b, 192, as best seen in FIG. 3. Stock plate 210 is generally diεspossed within chamber 120 of sstacking module 36. Slots are provided in walls 112, 114 to acxommodate the ends of rails 216 to the extent they extend beyond chamber 120. Elongated slots 218 extend through platform 214 and rails 216. Slots 218 are dimensioned to receive vertical tines 220 on a media sstop 222. Stop 222 is operable to be repositioned along a guide 224. Stock plate 210 is mounted on 1 a pair of elongated arms 226 which attoch to the sides of stock plate 210. Arms 226 extend toward the rear of the housing 100 along the exterior sides thereof and are mounted for pivotal movement on pivot pins 228 (shown in FIG. 2) . In this resspect, sstack plate 210 is pivσtally movable with the arms 226 about the pins 228 between a sstacking position (best seen in FIG. 7) wherein .stocking plate 210 is positioned away from belts 182 and ssecond position wherein rails 216 of stack plate 210 are aligned with rails 142b, 192, 194 and in operative relationship with belts 182. In this position, the upper .surfaces of rail 216 are generally co- planar to plane P defined by the upper .surfaces of rails 142, 192, and 194. The arm 226 adjacent wall 106 of .stocking module 36 includes a laterally extending cam follower 234 (besst illusstrated in FIGS. 13A-13D) in the form of a roller pin for operative engagement with control assembly 600 which will be desscribed in greater detail below. Stocking asssembly 200 also includes a mechanism for aligning notes during .stacking. In the embodiment sshown, the stacking assembly 200 includes three (3) paddle wheels 230 (besst sseen in FIG. 7) which are operative to align the individual notes against wall 114 of housing 100. Each paddle wheel 230 is generally ccmprissed of a central hub 230a having a bore t_heret_hrOugh. Paddle wheels 230 are mounted on an sshaft 232 which extends through chairiber 118 of housing 100. A plurality of thin, narrow, radially-sspaced belts 230b extend outwardly from hub 230a to form a paddle wheel configuration as besst sseen in FIG. 7. Wheels 230 are preferably formed from a neoprene material or other similar material which is pliable and which has a "spongy" or adhering outer ssurface to adhere or grip ssheet material. As seen in FIG. 10, paddle wheels 230 are sspaced apart along sshaft 232 ssuch that paddle wheels 230 are dissposed between belts 182 and rail 142b, 192 on wall 112. Slots are provided in walls 112, 114 to enable the radial ends 230b of the paddle wheel to extend beyond walls 112, 114 during the rotation of the paddle wheels 230. Paddle wheels 230 are driven by motor 196 via sshaft 232. As indicated above, motor 196 alsso drives belts 182 of horizontal transport 180. Divert Assembly 300 According to another aεspect of the pressent invention, there is provided a divert assssembly 300 to divert individual notes or dump groups of notes from sstacking assssembly 200 to a designated "divert/dump location". The divert assssembly 300 is primarily intended to "divert" double bills (i.e. bills which are sstuck together) and prevent ssuch bills from being issued to a cusstomer. In addition, according to the pressent invention, divert assssembly 300 is also used in conjunction with the transfer assembly to "dump" to the designated divert/dump location notes which have been preεsented to a cusstomer, but which have not been taken by the cusstomer from presenter slot 170. Divert asssembly 300 (best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7) is generally comprised of a divert plate 310 which is slidably mounted for reciprocal movement on flanges 105, 107 of housing 100. Divert plate 310 is generally flat and includes an upper planar surface 310a. Divert plate 310 is dimensioned ssuch that ssurface 310a is generally aligned and co-planar with surfaces 112a, 162a. Divert plate 310 includes four (4) side-by-side parallel rails 312 extending across surface 310a. Rails 312 are dimensioned to corrεsspond to and be aligned with rails 216 on stock plate 210, rails 142b, 192 on ssurface 112, and rails 194 on ssurface 162a. In this respect, the upper .surfaces of rails 312 are co-planar to path P defined by rails 142b, 192, 194, and 216. As shown in the drawings, the ends of rails 312 are angled along the longitudinal axis thereof to conform to and mate with ends of rails 216 on the sstack plate 210. Divert plate 310 is dimensioned to extend torcugh horizontal slots 165 and resst on flanges 105, 107 of housing 100, as besst sseen in FIG. 11. One side of divert plate 310 includes a guide 314 (best seen in FIG. 11) which is dimensioned to receive the lower edge of side wall 154 and is operable to maintain divert plate 310 in alignment with frame 150. In this resspect, the divert plate is movable between a first position wherein the divert plate 310 is positioned over chamber 122 at one end of the sstack plate 210 (as best seen in FIG. 7) to a ssecond position wherein divert plate 310 is positioned above or over chamber 120 and sstack plate 210. To permit divert plate 310 to move over tines 220 of media sstop 222, stack plate 310 includes elongated grooves 316 formed below rails 242. A vertically oriented, generally rectangular plate 318 is attoched to one side of divert plate 310. Plate 318 includes a vertically aligned slot 320 (besst sseen in FIG. 2) which is dimensioned to operatively engage a control pin on control mechanissm 600 as will be diεscusssed in greater detail below. Push Plate Assembly 400 Push plate assembly 400 is generally comprised of a push plate 410 and means for reciprocally moving pussh plate 410 the length of transport module 38. Pussh plate 410 is generally ccmprissed of a rectangular platform 412 which extends between side walls 152, 154 of transsport module 38. As best sseen in FIG. 3, one end of 412 includes extensions 414 and the other end includes vertically spaced tabs 416. Extensions 414 define generally L-sshaped recesses 422 dimensioned to receive flange 156 and side wall 152, while vertically sspaσed tabs 416 define a slot 424 to receive flange 158 of side wall 154, as best seen in FIG. 11. Recess 422 and slot 424 are dimensioned to enable platform 412 to slide freely on flanges 156, 158, with extensions 414 iraintoining the lateral position of platform 412. A plate 426 extends downward from platform 412. Plate 426 has a planar ssurface 426a which is generally perpendicular to plane P (i.e. the upper .surfaces of rails 142b, 216, 192, 194, etc.). Plate 426 is dimensioned such that its lower edge is immediately above (i.e. not touching) , and can slide freely over .surfaces 112a, 162a, 214a, and 310a. A plurality of notches 428 are formed in plate 426 to accommodate belts 182 of horizontal transport 180 and the rails on stack plate 210, divert plate 310 and modules 36, 38. A toothed belt 430 is secured to platform 412. Belt 430 is driven by a motor 432 .schematically repressented in the drawings. Motor 432 is preferably a conventionally-known .stepping motor having a sspeed senssor asssoσiated therewith wherein the sspeed of motor 432 can be cαntrolled and monitored. Motor 432 is mounted to the outer ssurface of wall 152 (not sshown) of frame 150 and includes a shaft 434 extending through wall 152 having a drive ssprocket 436 thereon. An idle .sprocket 438 is mounted to wall 152 adjacent disspensing slot 170. Sprockets 436, 438 are-positioned such that toothed belt 430 is generally parallel to belts 182. Gate Assssembly 500 Gate asssembly 500, best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 7, 8, and 10, includes a box-like gate 510 having a bottom wall 510a, one end wall 510b which is climensioned to be received in the sspace between plate 168 and the ends of side wall 152, 154 of stocking module 38, and two parallel side walls 510c dimensioned to be disposed outside side walls 152, 154 of stacking module 38. Gate 510 is pivσtally mounted to sstacking module 38 by pivot pins 512 extending from side walls 152, 154. The gate side wall 510c adjacent side wall 154 of transsport module 38 includes a pin 514 which extends tjhrough a rectangular opening 516 (sshown in phantom in FIG. 8) into a slot 518 at one end of an elongated link 520. As sshown in FIG. 8, link 520 is mounted to 21 side wall .154 by pins 522 extending through slots 524 in link 520, ssuch that link 520 has limited longitudinal movement along wall 154. Link 520 includes two downwardly extending fingers 525, 526. Finger 526 is biased by a spring 527 which urges link 520 and gate 510 toward the position shown in FIG. 8 wherein end wall 510b is adjacent to and obstructs opening 170 in plate 168. Referring new to the other end of link 520, a laterally projecting arm 528 extends from link 520 through a rectangular opening 530 in side wall 154. Arm 528 is operatively attached to a generally L-sshaped actuating member 532, best seen in FIG. 2. Actuating member 532 is mounted to the outer side of side wall 154 by a pin 534 extending τ_hrough a slot 536 therein. An outwardly projecting pin 538 (shown in phantom in FIG. 2) is provided at the end of actuating member 532 to operatively engage control mec-haniεsm 600 as will be discusssed in greater detail below. Control Assembly 600 To coordinate the movement and operation of stock plate 210, divert plate 310 and gate 510, control assssembly 600 is provided. The control asssembly 600 is ' generally ccmpriεsed of a control wheel 610 which is mounted for rotation about a fixed axis on an axle 612 (besst seen in FIG. 11) which is secured to wall 106 of stack module 36. Control wheel 610 includes a cylindrical portion 614 and flange portion 616. As best seen in FIGS. 13A-13D, cylindrical portion 614 includes an elongated curving slot 618, which opens toward wall 106 of stacking module 36 and extends around axle 612. Slot 618 is cc-rprissed of three distinct portions, namely, a first, relatively long concentric portion 618a which forms a major portion of slot 618, a shorter second portion 618b which spirals inwardly from first portion 618a toward axle 612 and a sstill sshorter third portion 618c which is concentric about axle 612. Slot 618 has a p__edete__mined configuration which will be more fully underεstood from the .subsequent diεscussion of the operation of control wheel 610. Slot 618 is dimensioned to received roller pin 234 on arm 226 of sstack plate 210 and control pin 538 on actuator member 532 of gate asssembly 500. Control wheel 610 alsso includes an actuating pin 620 extending .Inwardly from flange portion 616 toward wall 106. Actuating pin 620 is dimensioned to be received within slot 320 of divert plate 310. Control wheel 610 also includes an inwardly extending annular wall 622, besst sseen in FIG. 11. In this respect, wall 622 is generally concentric to the axis of axle 612 and projects toward side wall 106 of stocking module 36. Aεsssociated with control wheel 610 is a stepping motor 624 .schematic designated in the drawings. Motor 624 is preferably positioned within the housing 100 of stacking module 36 with a drive sshaft 626 extending through wall 106. Shaft 626 includes a tooth drive sprocket 628 for driving a tooth belt 630. Belt 630 is operable to drive a toothed ring 632 (besst sseen in FIG. 3) which is attached to cylindrical portion 614 of control wheel 610. Computer Processing Units 14 , 18 Operations of ATM 10 and multi-media disspensser 16 are controlled by AIM processor 14 and disspensser processor 18 which are .schematically illusstrated in FIG. 17. In the preferred eiitodiment of the present invention, AIM processor 14 is operatively associated with card reader 28, monitor 20, εscreen 22, and keypad 24. Broadly stated, ATM processor 14 monitors and controls two generally sseparate asspects or functions of ATM 10, i.e. the perεsonal asspects of a transaction (the financial asspects and the customer interface) and providing operational instructions to dispenser processor 18. With respect to the former, ATM 10 is typically utilized in a media disspensing activity involving a financial transaction, e.g. dispensing currency or purτ_hasing tickets. In this respect, ATM processsor 14 is provided to accept information dato from a prospective patron or customer, to asscertoin from ssuch dato possibly in conjunction with a network computer and (together with other dato about ssuch prospective customer from a record εscurce) whether the prospective patron or cusstomer has a predetermined stotus neceεssary to receive notes (-typically withdraw c_urrency) from ATM 10, to record dato regarding a withdrawal of notes or currency and to adjust the record date in response to a withdrawal by a customer. In addition, ATM processor 14 is programmed to provide a patron with information regarding features and functions of ATM 10 by means of the video screen 22 and the electronic display 20. The information data from the patron is generally in the form of a conventiorvally-known credit card having identification dato encoded thereon. The credit card is insserted into card slot 30 to be read by card reader 28 in a conventional manner. The card provides information identifying the cardholder and provides other information with resspect to the prospective patrons financial stotus, which may be in the form of dato with resspect to financial record files or financial institutions. Such date, utilized together with date from a record file or an external ssσurce, determines whether the prospective patron is authorized to utilize ATM 10. In this respect, processor 14 may have an internal record file including the account numbers of all patrons for whom the access machine is allowed, or it may be connectoble by a modem 250 (or directly by a dedicated line) to an external record .source ssuch as a financial insstitution or credit authorization sservice in a manner coπventionally-kr wn in automatic bank teller machines. With information from the credit card, together with information from the internal or external record ssσurce, ATM processor 14 can determine whether the identified patron has the appropriate status to make a media or currency withdrawal. If authorized, dato regarding parameters of the disspensing (i.e. date, time, amount, etc.) are recorded in file storage of AIM processor 14. The financial records of the patron are modified (debited) baεsed on the value of the notes or currency disspensed. With respect to this modification of the financial records, if the records are maintained internally by the machine, ssuch modification can be done by AIM processor 14. If the financial records are external of the machine (at a financial institution or credit authorization service) , information regarding withdrawal transaction are transferred to ssuch external records from ATM processsor 14. As set forth above, communications with the external records may be aσcoπplisshed by modem 250, as shown by FIG. 17 or directly by a dedicated line (not sshown) . With the modem arrangement, information coricerning sseveral transactions may be sstored in file .storage of processor 14 throughout the day and then transferred to the 25 external records at one time, thereby ssaving on transmission and hook-up costs. ATM processssor 14 may also include printer means (not physically sshown) providing patrons with a records of all transactions. Thus, with resspect to the financial and cusstomer interface asspects of the pressent invention, ATM processor 14 basically provides a means for identifying patrons, means for communicating with the patrons, means for checking a patron's financial εstotus, means for monitoring the withdrawal transsaction, and means for means for modifying a patron's financial records. Referring now to the operational function of AIM processsor 14, processor 14, bassed on information from a customer, basically insstructs disspensser processsor 18 as to the number of notes to be diεspensed and the number of notes to be dispensed from each canister (in the event canister 50 holds different types of notes) . Referring now to dispenser processssor 18, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 17, processor 18 basically controls and monitors the operation of picker mechanissms 60, vertical transsports 80 and 130, horizontal transsport 180, sstecking assembly 200, divert assssembly 300, push plate assembly 400, gate assembly 500, and control asssembly 600. Thesse components are controlled via picker motors 72a, 72b, vertical transsports drive motor 96, horizontal transport drive motor 196, push plate drive motor 432, and control wheel drive motor 624. As indicated above, motors 72a, 72b, 96, 196, 432, and 624 include εsensing means (not shown) wherein disspensser processor 18 can monitor the relative position of components asssociated therewith. In addition to thesse ssensing means, media disspensser 16 includes, several other ssensors. Referring now to FIG. 5, ssensors 710 are disspoεsed below each picker mechanissm 60. Senssors 710 are of a type dissclcsed in united Stotes Patent No. 4,664,369 (which is owned by the asssignee of the pressent application) and are operative to ssensse the thicknesss of notes being transferred thereover. The teachings of U.S. Patent No. 4,664,369 are hereby incorporated by reference into pressent application. Senssors 710 monitor notes picked by mechanissms 60 and to enssure doubles, (i.e. notes which may be stuck together) are not diεspenssed to a cusstomer. A counting ssenssor 720 is provided in the upper ssurface of leg portion 142b of L-shaped rail 142 (best seen in FIG. 3) to count notes which pass thereover as they move to .stocking asssembly 200. A exit sensor 730 is provided in the upper ssurface of rail 194 to ssense the position of a stack of notes being presented to a customer through slot 170. A gate sensor 740 (best seen in FIG. 8) is provided on side wall 154 in operative relation to finger 525 to monitor the positions of gate 510. A control wheel ssenssor 750 (sshown in phantom in FIGS. 13A-13D) is provided to monitor the positions of control wheel 610. Senssor 750 is generally U-sshaped and is disposed such that wall 622 is disposed between the legs thereof. Sensor 750 is operable to ssensse notches and windows (not shown) formed at predeteπnined positions in wall 622. The notches and windows corresspond .specific irrportant operational positions of control wheel 610. The important operational position of control wheel 610 are illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13B and will be disscussssed in greater detail below. In addition to ssensors 710, 720, 730, 740, and 750, disspenser processssor receives information from keyboard 66. Keyboard 66 provides information which identifies the particular canister 50 inserted into multi-media disspensser 16, but more importantly, it alsso identifies the type of media (notes currency, etc.) within canister 50, the height of the notes, and the thickness of the note contained therein. Information from keyboard 66 is cxmmunicated by disspensser processssor 18 to AIM processor 14. Transsports 80. 130, 180 Referring more .specifically to vertical transsport 80, 130, and horizontal transsport 180, each is basically cσrrprissed of a plurality of side-by-side, parallel belts juxtapossed with a plurality of side-by-side parallel rails. The belts and rails are aligned and extend in the same direction. As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the rails are interjacent the belts and sspaced a predetermined distance therefrom. The rails basically define elevated surfaces which generally lie in a common plane and define the path along which the notes are conveyed. In each transport, the operative frictional ssurface of the belts are disspossed below the plane defined by the elevated rail ssurface in the sspace defined therebetween. In this respect, the belts and rails messh and interact to provide an undulated or corrugated passage therebetween. Specifically, notes disspossed between the belts and the rails preferably engage the belts sufficiently to maintoin fictional engagement therewith and to be rootionlesss relative thereto as the belts move between the rails. In this resspect, the elevated .surfaces are preferably smooth to allow the notes to freely slide thereover. As besst sseen in F GS. 4-6, the rails of vertical transsports 80, 130 are tapered along their longitudinal and lateral edges. The rails of horizontal transsport 180 (including the rail on stock plate 210 and divert plate 310) while having tapered and angled longitudineil edges are generally rectangular in cross-ssection (best seen in FIGS. 10 and 11) . Moreover, the rails of horizontal transport 180 are slightly higher (elevated) than these on vertical transsports 80, 130. Thesse differences are basically due to the functicβi of each transsport. In this resspect, vertical transsports 80, 130 are provided to transport single notes in a vertical direction, as besst illustrated in FIG. 4. For ssuch an operation, it is basically only necesssary that εsucσesssive rails be aligned and that the upper ssurface of the rails lie in a common plane. As sseen in FIG. 4, the configuration of the ssuccesssive rails, as well as the belts, may vary sso long as the rails and belts are aligned and are operable to convey a note. Horizontal transsport 180 on the other hand is provided to convey a sstack of notes (as well as single notes) in conjunction with pussh plate 410. In this resspect, to ensure close cooperation between pussh plate 410 and the respective rails, the lateral edges of the rail are .squared to match the ssquared corners of the notches provided in pussh plate 410. Moreover, the rails of horizontal transsport 180 are higher to enable pussh plate 410 to extend below the upper ssurface of the rails a disstance .sufficient to enssure that no notes will passs or be wedged under the bottom edge of pussh plate 410 during operation. Accordingly, the height and cross-ssectional configuration of the rails in and of themselves are not critical to the pressent invention. It is only important that the rails and belts be aligned and juxtaposed in operative relation to another to form an undulated paεssage therebetween (i.e. the frictional ssurface of the belts is below the elevated ssurface of the rails) and are operable to maintain frictional engagement between the belts and the notes to be conveyed. It will also be appreciated that the lateral .spacing between adjacent rails and belt may vary depending on the sheet media to be conveyed, and that the number of belts and rails may vary. In each of the transports shown, three belts and two rails are provided. In this resspect, it is believed at least two rails are necessssary to maintain alignment of the notes. In the embodiment sshown, additional rails are sshown on stock plate 210 and divert 310. It has been found that additional rails on these members facilitotes better .stocking by ssupporting the lateral ends of the notes and that ssuch ssupport assists in ensuring proper engagement between a sstack of notes and push plate 410. In the embodiment shown, belts 82, 132 of vertical transports 80, 130 are of an un-reinforced urethane, belts 182 of horizontal transsport 180 are formed of nylon reinforced, εsemi-sstreteh necprene. Operation Referring now to the operation of AIM 10, media canisters 50 are insserted into multi-media dispenser 16 as shewn in FIG. 5. Pins 68 on canister 50 are positioned to engage .specific .switches 67 on keyboard 66. In the embodiment shown, actuation of the preselected .switches 67 identifies to dispensser processor 18: (1) the .specific canisster 50 (identification code) being inserted into the machine; (2) the media (notes) contained within the canister 50; (3) the thicknesss of the notes; and, (4) the height of the notes. This information is ccmmunicated to ATM processor 14 by dispenser processor 18. In the eirfoodiment sshown, two canisters 50 may be utilized. Inportantly, acco__ding to the present invention each canisster 50 may contain a different type of note. For example, caniεsters 50 may contain the ssame type of currency but each canisster 50 having a different denomination. In another respect, one canisster 50 may contain currency of a particular size and thickness and the other may contain coupons having a completely different size and thickness. In other words, media disspensser 16 is operational with two dissimilar types of notes. The following disscusssiσn of the use and operation of ATM 10 is bassed upon a disspensing transaction involving financial value wherein a patron or cu_stoιtιet r u_3t meet a predeter_rύned sstotus. It will, of ccursse, be appreciated that ATM 10 and media disspensser 18 may be programmed to operate merely upon request by airy individual. Usse of a AIM 10 is initiated by a customer insserting a coπventionally-kncwn credit card into card slot 30. The card, which is read by c^rdreader 28, provides information identifying the cardholder and provides other information with resspect to the prosspective patron's financial sstotus. If the media contained within the ATM 10 has value, typically an approval of the customer's financial sstotus is required. AIM processor 14 may have an internal record file including the account numbers of all patrons for whom access to the machine is allowed, or AIM processor 14 may connect via modem 250 or dedicated line (not sshown) to an external record ssource ssuch as a financial insstitution or credit authorization .service to check the status of the customer. In a cxiπventionally-kncwn 31 manner, AIM processsor 14 can adviεse the customer via screen 22 of monitor 20 whether access to the machine is allowed and provide insstructiσns as to procedures for the cusstomer to follow to receive notes from AIM 10. The transaction is conducted by the cusstomer entering pertinent information (in ressponsse to prompts by AIM processor 14) using operation keys 26 on keypad 24. When the pertinent information has been entered and processed, processsor 14 will instruct disspensser processssor 18 as to the number of notes to be disspensed from canisster 50. Having received insstruσtions form ATM processor 14 with resspect to the number of notes to be dispensed, dispenser processssor 18 initiates disspensing of the notes in a predetermined sequence. FIG. 14A shews general, positions of the respective components of media disspensser 16 when dispensing of notes is initiated. As indicated above, control wheel 610 coordinates the operation of sstack plate 210, divert plate 310 and gate 510. In this respect, FIG. 13A sshcws generally the position of control wheel 610 to locate the operative components, i.e. stocking plate 210, divert plate 310, pussh plate 410, and gate 510, to the positions shown in FIG. 14A. FIG. 13A sshcws control wheel 610 in a first position, wherein pin 234 which is assssociated with stocking plate 210 and pin 538 which is associated with gate 510 are disspossed within slot portion 618a of cam slot 618. Actuating pin 620 is disposed at the bottom of slot 320 of divert plate 310. With control wheel 610 in this position, stock plate 210 is in a first position disspossed below and away from belts 182 of horizontal transsport 180, divert plate 310 is a position shown in FIG. 14A, and gate 510 is in a normal, closed position. Pussh plate 410 which is independently controlled by dispenser processsor 18 via motor 432 is positioned in a rearmost location as shown in FIG. 14B. Media stop 222 is preferably fixedly positioned within media dispenser 16 to a position which will acxxmmodate the largest media expected to be ussed in media disspenser 16. According to the preferred operation of the present invention, divert plate 310 and pussh plate 410 are repositioned by disspensser processssor 18 prior to disspensing to predeteπr ned positions relative to stock plate 210 as shewn in phantom in FIG. 14A. These positions are determined by disspensser processor 18 based upon the height of the note to be disspenssed, which information was provided by keyboard 66. Pussh plate 410 is repositioned by disspensser processor 18 by means of motor 432. Divert plate 310 is repositioned by disspensser processsor 18 by rotating control wheel 610 by motor 624. Control wheel 610 as viewed in FIG. 13A would be rotated clockwisse a predeteα_mined angle from the position shown. The amount of rotation being calculated and monitored by disspensser processsor 18 via information from .stepping motor 624 and the positional ssenssor therewith (not sshown) and ssenssor 750. The rotation of control wheel 610 causes actuating pin 620 to move along an arcuate path to the right as seen in FIG. 13A, wherein actuating pin 620 moving torcugh vertical slot 320 causes divert plate 310 to move to the right in FIG. 13A (to the left in FIG. 14A) . Disspenser processor 18 initiates vertical transsport motor 96 and horizontal transsport motor 196 ssuch that belts 82 of vertical transsport 80, belts 132 of vertical transsport 130 and belts 182 of horizontal transport 180 move in the direction shown in FIG. 14A. Disspensser processor 18 then initiates picker mechanissms 60 in .sequence to pick individual notes from canisters 50. If media disspenser 16 contains notes of different sizes, dispenser processor 18 is programmed ssuch that the largest note is dispensed first. In this resspect, an individual note is picked by pad 62a of roller 62 which feeds the note toward flight 90b of belts 82 of vertical transsport 80. The individual note passes over thickness senssor 710 which sscans the thickness to ensure that a single note is being transferred. Sensor 710 has been p__ogrammed by processsor 18 to monitor a predetermined thicknesss. In this respect, the programmed thickness is determined by the inforxtation provided to processor 18 and AIM processor 14 by switches 67 on teyboard 66. The individual note engages flight 90b of belts 82 which bend the note upward, the note being trapped in undulated passsage 94 between the belts 82 and rails 92. In this respect, the cuter frictional ssurface of the belts 82 force the note along rails 92. The note is driven to vertical transsport 130 wherein belts 132 force the note along L-sshaped rails 142 toward horizontol transport 180. As besst sseen in FIGS. 12A, 12B, belt 132 forces the note between pinch roller 146 and roller 134. Pinch roller 146 produces a "hard drive" to force the note upward under a positive friction. This "hard drive" forces the leading edge of the note into flight 190b of belts 182 of horizontal transport 180, as best seen in FIG. 12B. The leading edge of the note generally causes flight 190b of belts 182 to deflect upward as belts 182 pull the leading edge of the note in the direction of the moving belt. The amount of deflection depends on the thickness and rigidity of the note being transferred, ϋiportantly, this resilient feature enables disspenser 18 to transfer rigid cards as well as pliable currency. Notes transferred to horizontal transsport 180 are confined between belts 182 and the upper εsurfaces of leg portions 142b of L-shaped rails 142 and .supplemental rails 192. The frictional outer ssurface of belts 182 drives the note along rails 142, 192. Note N is driven horizontally by horizontol transport 180 until it is positioned above sstacking plate 210. As the horizontal movement of the note brings it to a position above stock plate 210, belts 230b of paddle wheels 230 catch the upper ssurface of the note and force it downward onto sstack plate 210. Movement of the flexible belts 230b across the upper ssurface of the note, alsso draw the note against traverεse wall 114 to align the leading edges "- ■ ... thereof. Importantly, as indicated above, divert plate 3iθ ' anά push plate 410 are positioned prior to the .stocking ssequence to generally align with tines 220 of media εstop 222 as schematically represented in FIG. 14A. In this resspect, media sstop 222, divert plate 310, and pussh plate 410 provide a positive barrier to prevent the notes from being transferred beyond the stocking position. Counting ssenssor 720 on leg portion 142b of L-sshaped rail 142 counts the individual notes as they pass thereover to insure that the correct number of notes have been picked by picker asssembly 60 and transferred to sstack plate 210. If a ssecond type or denomination of note, possibly a smaller note, is to be dispensed, such notes are transferred in a similar manner from their respective canisster 50. Importantly, during the sstacking of the smaller notes, divert plate 310 and pussh plate 410 are repositioned by dispenεser processor 18, i.e. moved horizontally to the left, a predeteπrdned amount to provide a barrier for the εsmaller note. Again, the position of divert plate 310 and push plate 410 is calculated by disspensser processor 18 based upon the information received with respect to the height of the .smaller note. The ssmaller media is then .stacked upon the larger media in a manner previously described wherein the edges of both notes (i.e. the larger and ssmaller) are aligned by paddle wheels 230 against transverse wall 114. During the picking of the notes from canisters 50, seme notes may have a tendency to sstick together wherein double bills may be detected by ssenssor 710. In ssuch an event, disspenser processor 18 reverses direction of the picker roller 62 in an attempt to .separate the double bills. If the double bill cannot be .separated by repeated reversing of picker roller 62, media disspensser 16 is cperable to divert the double to a "divert/duπp location" located in coirpartment 122 of stocking module 36. To acccmplissh "dumping" or "diverting" of notes, divert plate 310 is moved to the left to a position above sstack plate 210 as schematically illustrated in FIG. 14B. Movement of divert plate 310 is initiated by control wheel 610 as shown in FIG. 13B. In this resspect, to move divert plate 310 to the position schematically illustrated in FIG. 14B, control wheel 610 is rotated by motor 624 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 13B. In this respect, actuating pin 620 moves divert rectangular plate 310 to the right (as seen in FIG. 13B) by moving terough slot 320 of plate 318 in a manner as discussssed above. The positions of stack plate 210 and gate 510 remain the ssame as pins 234 and 538 move through slot portion 618c which is generally concentric about axle 612. The double bills are conveyed by vertical transsports 80, 130 to horizontol transsport 180. Belts 182 drive the "doubles" over rails 312 of divert plate 310 into chamber 122 of stocking module 36. The diverted notes are monitored by disspensser processor 18 and AIM processsor 14. A divert/duπp canisster having a similar keyboard type of arrangement may be provided in chamber 122 wherein the .specific canister and the amount of currency dumped therein can be monitored. After the double bill has been diverted, control wheel 610 causes divert plate 310 to return to a sstecking position generally sshcwn in FIG. 14A, wherein further .stocking of notes, monitored by disspenser processor 18, can be conducted until the appropriate number and type of notes are stocked. Upon completion of the sstecking of the notes to be diεspenεsed, push plate 410 is moved back to clear sstack plate 210 and sstack plate 210 is moved from its first sstecking position to a ssecond elevated position, as schematically illusstrated in FIG. 14C, wherein rails 216 are aligned with rails 142, 192, 194 and in operative engagement with belts 182 of horizontol transport 180. Such movement is initiated by disspensser processssor 18 which causes control wheel 610 to rotate in a counterclockwi.se direction to a position as illusstrated in FIG. 13C. As shown in FIG. 13C, divert plate 310 has been moved to its rear most position by actuating pin 620 which upon further rotation of control wheel 610 in a counterclockwise position rotates away from slot 320. The cσunterclockwisse rotation of control wheel 610 causes pin 234 on arm 226 to move from its initial position in cam slot portion 618a through cam portion 618b, which urges pin 234 toward axle 612 causing arm 226 to pivot about pin 234 and to bring S3tock plate 210 into alignment with the operative plane P. With stock plate 210 in the position shown in FIG. 14C, pussh plate 410 is initiated by disspensser prccessssor 18 to drive the stock of rxJtes toward gate asssembly 500. Simultaneously, belts 182 of horizontol transport are driven ssuch that flight 190b moves toward gate asssembly 500. A x-ording to a preferred method of operation of the pressent invention, if the sstack of notes to be presented are all the same, pussh plate 410 is driven at a rate fasster than belts 182 of horizontal transsport 180. If the sstack contains notes of two separate sizes, both^ sizes being aligned along their leading edges, dispenser processor 18 preferably causes belts 182 of horizontal transsport 180 and pussh plate 410 to be driven sirπultanecusly at the ssa e sspeed ssuch that relative movements of the ssmaller notes relative to the larger notes does not occur. ■ r As the sstack of notes is moved toward gate asssembly 500, the leading edge of the sstack encounters exit sensor 730 on rail 194. Upon exit ssenssor 730 .sensing the leading edge of the stack, disspensser processsor 18 causes control wheel 610 to rotate further in a counterclockwi__e direction to the position shown in FIG. 13D. Such rotation causes pin 538 to move through cam slot portion 618b which forces pin 538 toward axle 612. This movement forces actuating member 532 to the left as shown in FIG. 13D. Referring now to FIG. 8, the aforementioned movement of actuating member 532 causes link 520, as shewn in FIG. 8, to move to the left. Slot 518 on link 520 causses pin 514 on gate member 510 to move downward to the position shown in phantom FIG. 8 wherein gate 510 is moved down, away from slot 170. Disspensser processsor 18 then causses pussh plate 410 to move the stock of notes a predetermined diεstonce through slot 170 to be accessible to the customer. The 'predetermined disstance" is bassed upon the size parameters of the note as indicated by sswitches 67 on keyboard 66. Slots 187 in side walls 152, 154 enable shaft 186 and belts 182 to move upward to accommodate large stocks of notes. The customer may then take the notes pressented through slot 170 which is generally aligned with disspensing opening 32 in housing 12. When the notes are removed by the customer, exit ssenssor 730 indicates the absence of the notes. Processssor 18 then causses control wheel 610 to return to the position shown in FIG. 13C wherein spring 527 acting on finger 526 (besst sseen in FIG. 8) forces link 520 to return gate 510 to a closed position. Gate sensor 740 which generally monitors the position of finger 525 on link 520 indicates when gate 510 has assumed a closed position. Pussh plate 410 then returns to its no___nal ,hcm f . position. In the event, that the sstack of notes pressented is not taken by the cusstomer, disspenser processsor 18 causses push plate 410 to move back a predet-eπrtined disstance and belts 182 of horizontol transport 180 to reverse direction to move the sstack of notes away from gate 510. Exit ssenssor 730 indicates when all the notes have been moved away from slot 170. Control wheel 610 is then actuated, as discussssed above, to close gate 510. Processor 18 then rotates control wheel 610 to the position shown in FIG. 13B wherein divert plate 310 is positioned over stocking plate 210. Pussh plate 410 is moved back to a home position, and belts 182 of horizontal transsport 180 are actuated to transfer the untaken notes to the "divert/duirp location" in chamber 122 of sstacking module 36. Information regarding the untaken notes is c-cπmunicated to AIM processor 14 via disspensser processssor 18. Upon completion of the transsaction, AIM processssor 14 may provide a cusstomer with a printed .summary of the transaction via a printer (not sshown) . As can be appreciated from the foregoing desscription, the pressent invention provides a media handling and feeding device which is relatively simple in design and operation, yet which provides several considerable advantages over media disspensing devices known heretofore. In this respect, as indicated above, prior transfer assemblies generally included moving elements which are in operative engagement with other moving elements, i.e. roller-to-roller or belt to belt. Such interaction inevitably produces wear among ssuch elements, which wear can effect the overall operation of the device. Unlike these prior devices, a transsport acxxjrding to the pressent " ijiπvention has no ssurf ace-to-ssurf ace interaction in that, as indicated above, notes are transsported through a sspace defined between moving belts and .stationary rails. Thus, no surfaces interact or rub against each or which can causse wear or create static electricity. Moreover, ssuch a transsport ssystem requires substantially lesss power than prior belt or roller ssystems. More importantly, however, it is the manner in which the notes are transferred. Because of the sspace between the belts and the rail .surfaces, only slight frictional forces are exerted on each note. In other words, a transsport a xording to the pressent invention produces a relatively low driving force on the notes. While ssuch force is sufficient to convey notes along the rail Saurfaces, it is inssufficient to pull the notes from components exerting a greater frictional force thereon or to retard the motion of the note when engaging a component exerting a greater force thereon. For example, in the embodiment sshown, picker assse blies 60 are provided to pick individual notes from canissters 50. As indicated, occasionally bills will stick together to produce doubles, in which case the direction of rotation of picker roller 62 is repeatedly reversed in an attempt to .separate the double bills. During ssuch an operation, a portion of the "double" may be disspcsed within vertical transsport 30 between belts 82 and rails 92. According to the present invention, the relatively low frictional driving force exerted by belts 82 on the notes are insufficient to pull it from picker assembly 60. In this respect, only when a note or "double" is releassed by mechanissm 60 will belts 82 be able to convey ssuch note or double along rails 92. Important, in this resspect, is that the sspeed of belt 82 need not be timed to cooperate with roller 62 of picker assssembly 60, and is therefore not limited by the speed of picker asssembly 60. Consequently, belt 82 may move at a much greater sspeed than picker roller 62. In similar respects, belt 182 of horizontal transport may move at a different speed than belts 82. Accordingly, the present invention provides a means of transsporting notes which does not require exact tuning between resspective components. Still further, the present invention provides a transsport wherein the direction of movement of the notes may be changed without the reqμirement of physical guides which typically are sites where jamming problems occur. In this resspect, as best seen in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the direction of note N is changed through its engagement with a moving belt. No physical or structural guides are required to change the direction of the note. The driving force of one transport and the transsverse motion of belts causse the note to change direction in a simple highly-efficient, reliable manner. Each of these features is basically the result of a unique transport mechanissm according to the present invention which enables a note to be transferred without speed synchronization between the resspective transsports, without physical guides to direct the note from one transport to another, and without the need of ssurface contacting components. Importantly, a transsport according to the pressent invention facilitotes simplification of other mechanissms normally associated with media transfer devices. In this resspect, a divert assssembly according to the pressent invention provides a sheet media disspensing device wherein individual sheets may be diverted from a sstacking mechanissm during a .stocking operation. Typically, devices known heretofore would be required to "dump" a partial stock if a bad bill (e.g. a "double") was introduced into the ssysstem. According to the present invention, ssuch a bill could be "diverted" from the stocking operation without interfering with the partially completed sstack. This is accomplished using a divert assssembly which is alsso operable to "dump" entire .stocks of notes (in the event the sstack is not token by a cusstomer) . The present invention thus provides a media transsport and handling device which is simpler in design and operation and has operational advantages over -systems known heretofore. Although the invention has been deεscribed with resspect to a preferred embodiment, modifications will occur to others upon their reading and understanding of the .specification. For example, while the pressent invention has been desscribed with respect to a stocking device and mechanissm for diverting bills to a ''divert/dump location", a media dispensing device can be provided utilizing a transport ssysstem as herein desscribed without the additional features. In this respect, FIG. 15 diεscloses a media disspensing apparatus illustrating an alternate embodiment of the pressent invention wherein feed module 34 is combined with a transsport module 800 having a horizontal transport 805 comprissed of a plurality of side-by-side parallel endless belts 810 aligned with juxtaposed rails 820. Belts 810 are driven by a reversible motor 830. Depending on the direction of belts 810, notes may be disspenssed from either end of module 800. It will also be appreciated that the media disspensser sshown in FIGS. .1-14 could be easily modified to diεspense a sstack of notes from the other end of transsport module 38 to provide a "front" loading and dispensing device (FIGS. 1-14 sshow a "rear" loading device) . In this resspect, one basically need only provide gate asssembly 500 on the other end of module 38 and program disspenser processor 18 to .sequence and position the resspective components, primarily pussh plate 410 to accorromodate for ssuch a change. In this resspect, essentially all the components would function the same, but the back side of push plate 410 would push the sstack of notes toward the dispensing opening. Repositioning gate assembly 500 and reprogramming disspenser processssor 18 would clearly be within the ability of these .skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the present specification. Still further, while media disspenser 16 was described as having two canissters 50, it will be appreciated that a media disspensser may have more or less than two canissters without deviating from the pressent invention. The.se and other modifications will occur to others upon reading and understanding of the -specification. ' It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included in εso far as they come within the sscope of the patent as claimed or the equivalents thereof.

Claims: Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed: 1. A device for disspensing ssheet media comprising: a first location for εstoring ssaid ssheet media to be dispensed, a second location for dispensing said sheet media as a single ssheet or a sstack of sheets, a third location for retaining predetermined ones of said sheets from ssaid firsst location, a sstacking location including stacking means for stocking individual ssheets into a sstack of ssheets, transport means for feeding individual ssheets from ssaid firsst location to ssaid sstacking location or from said second location to ssaid third location, transfer means for transferring a stack of sheets from ssaid sstacking location to ssaid ssecond location, .sensing means for ssensing ssaid predetermined ones of said sheets, and divert means asssociated with ssaid transsport means for diverting ssaid predetermined one of said sheets from said stocking location to ssaid third locaticai. 2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein: ssaid device includes surface means defining a generally flat path along which ssaid ssheets are fed, and ssaid transport means is comprissed of endless belt means movable along ssaid path, ssaid belt means having friction surface means opposing said surface means and in operative relation therewith to drive ssaid along ssaid path. 3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein ssaid ssecond location, said third location, said stocking means, said divert means and ssaid transfer means are associated with ssaid transfer means and disspossed along ssaid path. 4. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein ssaid ssurface means includes at leasst two sspaced-apart side-by-side parallel rails and wherein ssaid transsport means includes at least three sspaced-apart, side-by-side, parallel endless drive belts having an outer frictional ssurface, each of ssaid drive belts having a portion thereof extending parallel to ssaid rails in operative relation therewith to drive ssaid ssheets by frictional engagement along ssaid rails. 5. A device for disspensing sheet media comprising: storage means for sstoring ssheet media to be disspenssed; receiving means accessible to a patron from which ssaid ssheet media may be received; receptacle means for retaining ssheets of said media; stacking means for stocking individual sheets of said sheet media into a stock; transsport means for transporting individual sheets from ssaid .storage means to said sstecking means and for transporting ssheets of ssaid media from ssaid receiving means to said receptacle means; transfer means for transferring a stock of sheets from ssaid sstecking means to ssaid receiving means; and, divert means asssociated with ssaid transport means operable to cause ssheets tran__ported from ssaid sstorage means to ssaid sstacking means to be diverted to ssaid receptacle means. 6. A device as defined in claim 5 further comprising sensing means for sensing predetermiined ones of said ssheets to be disspenssed, wherein ssaid divert means causes said predeterinined ones to be diverted to ssaid receptacle means. 7. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein ssaid tran__port means is .comprised of: generally planar ssurface means, and at leasst three (3) sspaced-apart, side-by-side, endlesss drive belts having an cuter frictional ssurface, each of ssaid drive belts having a portion thereof extending along ssaid ssurface means wherein ssaid frictional surfaces of said belts are disposed opposing and generally parallel to ssaid surface means. 8. A device as defined in claim 7 wherein ssaid sstecking means and ssaid divert means form a portion of ssaid ssurface means. 9. A device as defined in claim 8 wherein ssaid ssurface means defines at least two (2) spaced-apart, side-by-side, parallel rails extending along the length thereof, ssaid rails being parallel to and juxtaposed with ssaid belte to define an undulating passage teerebetween. 10. A device as defined in claim 5 further comprising control means for coordinating and controlling ssaid stecking means and ssaid divert means. 11. A device as defined in claim 10 further comprising gate means for controlling access to said receiving means. 12. A device as defined in claim 11 wherein ssaid gate means is controlled by ssaid control means. 13. A device as defined in claim 11 wherein ssaid control means includes a structural member which is rotatable about a fixed axis which includes cam means operatively engaging ssaid sstacking means, said divert means and said gate means. 14. A device as defined in claim 7 wherein ssaid stacking means is ccmpriεsed of a generally planar member having sspaced-apart, side-by-side rails thereon, ssaid planar member being movable between a first position for stocking said sheet media and a ssecond position wherein ssaid planar member is generally parallel to and sspaced from ssaid portion of said drive belts which extend along ssaid ssurface means, said rails being parallel to and juxtapossed with ssaid belts. 15. A device as defined in claim 14 wherein ssaid divert means is comprissed of a generally planar divert member having sspaced-apart, side-by- side, parallel rails thereon, ssaid rails being aligned with said rails on ssaid sstecking member, ssaid planar divert member being movable along an axis generally parallel to ssaid rails. 16. A device for handling and feeding ssheet media comprising: elongated ssurface means defining a linear path along which ssaid ssheets are to be driven, ssaid surface means including at least two sspaced-apart, side-by-side, parallel elongated .surfaces, lying in a ccmmon plane extending along ssaid linear path; at leasst three spaced-apart side-by-side, endlesss drive belts having an cuter frictional ssurface, each of ssaid drive belts having a portion thereof extending along ssaid ssurface means wherein ssaid frictional .surfaces are disspossed opposing and generally parallel to said surface means, said portions of said drive belts being parallel to and juxtapossed with ssaid elongated .surfaces to define an undulating passssage therebetween to confine ssaid ssheet between ssaid frictional ssurfaces of said drive belts and said elongated ssurfaces; and, belt drive means for simultaneously driving ssaid belts. 17. A device as defined in claim 16 wherein ssaid ssurface means is co prissed of a plurality of identical side-by-side, parallel rails, said rails having an upper ssurface defining said elongated ssurfaces. 18. A device as defined in claim 16 further comprising stocking means associated with ssaid drive belts for stecking said ssheet media. 19. A device as defined in claim 18 wherein ssaid sstecking means includes a plurality of elongated side-by-side parallel ssurfaces lying in a common plane and is movable between a first location for stacking sheets of said sheet media and a ssecond position wherein ssaid elongated ssurfaces on said stecking means is aligned along ssaid path with ssaid elongated ssurfaces of said surface means and are co-planar therewith. 20. A device as defined in claim 18 further comprising divert means associated with ssaid drive belts and ssaid sstecking means for selectively diverting ssheets from ssaid .stocking means. 21. A device as defined in claim 20 wherein ssaid divert means includes a plurality of elongated, side-by-side parallel ssurfaces lying in the plane defined by the elongated ssurfaces of said surface means and being aligned therewith, said divert means being associated with said belte and being movable along ssaid path between a first non-diverting position and a ssecond position wherein ssaid divert means obstructs said stacking means. 22. A device as defined in claim 20 further comprising control means for cxxjrdinating movement of said stocking means and ssaid divert means relative to ssaid belts, said control means compriεsed of a rotatable element movable about a fixed axis having cam ssurfaces operatively engaging ssaid sstecking means and ssaid divert means. 23. A device as defined in claim 22 wherein: ssaid sstecking means includes a plurality of elongated side-by- side parallel surfaces lying in a common plane and being movable between a firsst location for stecking sheets of said sheet media and a ssecond position wherein ssaid elongated ssurfaces on said stocking means are aligned along ssaid path with ssaid elongated ssurfaces of said surface means and are co-plianar therewith; and, ssaid divert means includes a plurality of elongated, side-by- side parallel surfaces lying in the plane defined by the elongated ssurfaces of said ssurface means and being aligned therewith, ssaid divert means being asssoσiated with ssaid belts and being movable along ssaid path between a first r_on-diverting position and a ssecond position wherein ssaid divert means obεstructs ssaid sstacking means. 24. A device as defined in claim 22 further comprising transfer means associated with ssaid belts for moving a stack of sheets from ssaid sstacking means to a receiving location. 25. A device for handling and feeding ssheet material comprising: an elongated, generally flat first surface means defining a path 51 along which ssaid ssheet material is to be driven; at least three sspaced-apart side-by-side, endless drive belte having an outer frictional ssurface, each of ssaid drive belts having a portion thereof extending along ssaid ssurface means wherein ssaid frictional ssurfaces are disspcsed opposing and generally parallel to ssaid ssurface means to confine ssaid sheet material between ssaid frictional ssurface of ssaid drive belte and ssaid ssurface means; belt drive means for simultaneously driving ssaid belt; and, stecking means positioned along ssaid path defined by ssaid first surface means in operative relation with ssaid belts for stecking said sheet material into a uniform sstack. 26. A device for handling and feeding ssheet material as defined in claim 25 wherein ssaid stacking means is comprised of: a generally planar stack plate capable of reciprocal movement between a first position for stocking said ssheet material and a ssecond position wherein ssaid plate is generally co-planar with ssaid ssurface means and in operative engagement with ssaid belts; and, means for aligning one edge of ssaid sheet material into a uniform sstack. 27. A device as defined in claim 26 wherein ssaid aligning means ccmprisses: a generally planar wall asssociated with ssaid stacking plate; and, a paddle wheel assembly which is operable to engage the surface of ssaid ssheets and to urge ssaid sheets against ssaid planar wall. 28. A device as defined in claim 27 wherein ssaid paddle wheel assembly comprises: annular hubs having a plurality of resilient straps extending radially therefrom, wherein ssaid resilient straps are cσmprissed of the material capable of gripping ssaid ssheet material. 29. A device for handling and feeding sheet material comprising: an elongated, generally flat firsst ssurface means defining a path along which ssaid ssheet material is to be driven; ,_ _ )i .at leasst three sspaced-apart side-by-side, endless drive belte having an cuter frictional ssurface, each of ssaid drive belte having a portion thereof extending along said surface means wherein ssaid frictional ssurfaces are disspossed opposing and generally parallel to ssaid ssurface means to confine said sheet material between ssaid frictional ssurfaces of said drive belte and said surface means; a dispensing location for disspensing said sheet material; belt drive means for simultaneously driving ssaid belts; a storage location for .storing ssaid ssheet material to be dispensed; a holding location for holding predetermined ssheets of ssaid ssheet material; and, diverting means positioned along ssaid path in operative engagement with ssaid belte for diverting ssaid predetermining s eets from ssaid disspensing location to ssaid holding location. 30. A device for handling and feeding ssheet material as defined in claim 29 wherein ssaid diverting means includes a generally planar divert plate having ssurfaces defining a portion of ssaid path along which ssaid ssheets are to be driven, ssaid plate being capable of reciprocal movement along ssaid path from a first position for dispensing said ssheet materieil to a ssecond position for diverting ssaid predetermined ssheets to said holding location. 31. A device for handling and feeding ssheet material comprising: an elongated, generally flat first surface means defining a generally planar, straight path along which said- sheet material is to be driven, ssaid path defined by ssaid first surface means including: transsport means for conveying ssheet material along ssaid path, stocking means for stocking said sheet material into a uniform sstack; diverting means for diverting irregular ssheets from ssaid sstacking means into a holding location; a disspensing means including a gate associated therewith; and, transfer means for driving a stack of said sheet material from ssaid stecking means along ssaid first ssurface means to ssaid disspensing location. 32. A device as defined in claim 31 wherein ssaid transfer means is σαπprissed of a push plate reciprocally movable from a first position to a second position adjacent ssaid disspensing location along ssaid path defined by ssaid firsst ssurface means. 33. A device as defined in claim 32 further comprising control means for cxoi-dinating movement of ssaid divert means and ssaid stecking means. 34. A device as defined in claim 33 wherein ssaid control means, ssaid push plate, said transfer means, and said gate are controlled by a central processsing unit. 35. A device as de ined r in' claim 32 wherein ssaid sstecking means is co prissed of a generally planar stack plate which is movable between a first position for ssteciking ssaid sheets and a ssecond position wherein ssaid sstack plate is generally co-planar with ssaid first ssurface means; and, wherein ssaid diverting means is eomprissed of a generally planar divert plate having an upper ssurface co-planar with ssaid path, ssaid divert plate being movable between a first position for dispensing said ssheet material and a ssecond position for diverting ssaid ssheets to a holding location. 36. An apparatus for disspensing sheet currency or other valuable sheet media comprising: a housing for containing one or more types of c_urrency to be diεpenssed; receiving means accessible to a patron from which ssaid cairrency may be received; means for receiving identification information from a patron; means for utilizing ssaid identification information to determine whether ssaid 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 insstructional information and control signals; and, currency disspensing means responsive to output insstructional information and control signals from said computer unit for disspensing ssaid currency, ssaid currency dispensing means .Including:. - • K at leasst one currency transsport ccmpri-sed of ssurface means having at leasst two side-by-side elongated, ssurfaces which lie in a common plane and which extend parallel to each other to define a general linear currency path; and, at leasst three sspaced-apart, side-by-side, parallel endless belts having cuter frictional ssurfaces, each of said belts having a portion thereof extending parallel to said elongated ssurfaces, said belts being juxtaposed and spaced from ssaid elongated surfaces to form an undulated passssage therebetween to receive individual ssheets of said currency wherein ssaid belte are operative to drive ssaid notes along ssaid elongated .surfaces. 37. An apparatus as defined in claim 36 wherein ssaid currency transsport includes means for stacking ssaid currency, ssaid sstecking means including elevated rails having elongated ssurfaces aligned with ssaid elongated ssurfaces of said surface means and in operative relationsship with ssaid belts, said stacking means operable to form a sstack between ssaid elongated ssurfaces and said belts. 38. An apparatus as defined in claim 37 wherein ssaid sstacking means is cctrprissed of: a sstecking plate having elevated rails thereon, the upper ssurfaces of said rails defining the elongated ssurfaces of said stacking roe-ins, said plate being movable between a first position for stacking said sheets wherein ssaid sstecking plate is disposed from said currency path and a ssecond position wherein ssaid elongated ssurfaces^ on ssaid sstecking plate are aligned with ssaid elongated ssurfaces on said surface means. 39. An apparatus as defined in claim 38 wherein ssaid stacking means further includes aligning means for aligning one edge of the ssheets being stacked by ssaid sstecking means. 40. An apparatus as defined in claim 39 further comprising holding means for holding predetermined sheets of said sheet media and wherein ssaid currency transport includes divert means for diverting ssaid predetermined ssheet from ssaid receiving means to said holding means, ssaid divert means i_r_σlι_ding elevated rails defining elongated ssurfaces which are aligned with ssaid elongated surfaces on said surface means and being movable along ssaid planar currency path. 41. An apparatus as defined in claim 40 further comprising control means controlled by ssaid computer unit for coordinating movement of ssaid sstecking means and ssaid divert means. 42. An apparatus as defined in claim 41 wherein ssaid control means is cc priεsed of a rotatable member pivotable about a fixed axis, said member including cam ssurfaces in operative engagement with ssaid stocking means and said divert means. 43. An apparatus as defined in claim 42 further comprising transfer means for transferring a stock of sheets from ssaid sstecking means to ssaid receiving means. 44. An apparatus as defined in claim 36 further comprising holding means for holding p__edetermined ssheets of said sheet media and wherein ssaid currency transsport includes divert means for diverting ssaid predetermined sheet from ssaid receiving means to ssaid holding means, ssaid divert means including elevated rails defining elongated ssurfaces aligned with ssaid elongated ssurfaces on said surface means and being movable along ssaid planar currency path. 45. An apparatus as defined in claim 44 wherein ssaid σirrency transsport includes means for stecking said currency, ssaid stocking means including elevated rails defining elongated surfaces aligned with ssaid elongated ssurfaces on ssaid ssurface means and in operative relationsship with ssaid belts, ssaid sstacking means operable to form a sstack between ssaid rails and ssaid belts. 46. An apparatus as defined in claim 45 wherein ssaid stecking means is comprised of: a stecking plate having ssaid elevated rails thereon, ssaid plate being movable between a first position for sstacking ssaid ssheets wherein ssaid sstacking plate is disposed from said irrency path and a ssecond position wherein ssaid elevated rails are juxtapossed with ssaid belts. 47. An apparatus as defined in claim 46 further comprising control means controlled by ssaid computer unit for coordinating movement of ssaid sst cking means and said divert means". 48. An apparatus as defined in claim 47 wherein ssaid control means is σoπprissed of a rotatable member pivotable about a fixed axis, said member including cam ssurfaces in operative engagement with ssaid stecking means and ssaid divert means. 49. A method of disspensing sheet media comprising: a) providing a sheet media disspenser including: storage means for .storing ssheet media to be disspenssed; receiving means accessible to a patron from which ssaid ssheet media may be received; stecking means for stacking individual ssheets of said sheet media into a sstack; transsport means for transsporting individual ssheets from ssaid storage means to ssaid stocking means, including means for transferring a stocik of ssheets from ssaid sstociking means to said receiving means; and, divert means associated with ssaid transsport means operable to cause sheets transsported from ssaid storage means to said stecking means to be diverted to ssaid receptacle means, b) transporting individual ssheets from ssaid sstorage means to said stocking means, c) causing the individual ssheets to be .scanned as they move from ssaid storage means to ssaid stocking means to determine if the ssheet is acceptable to be disspensed, d) stacking acceptable ssheets with said stocking means and diverting unacceptable individual sheets from ssaid stacking means to a holding area with ssaid divert means, e) transferring a stack of sheete from said stacking means to said receiving means. 50. A method as defined in claim 49 further comprising the additional εstep of: f ) transferring a stack of sheets from ssaid receiving means to said holding area, if ssuch stack is not withdrawn by a customer within a predetermined period of time. 51. A method as defined in claim 49 wherein ssaid sstorage means includes means for storing two or more different-sized ssheets, wherein the larger sheets are transsported to ssaid sstecking means first and ssaid ssmaller ssheets transported to ssaid sstecking means after to be .stacked on ssaid larger ssheets.

Inventors: BLACKFORD DAMON J, CREWE TIMOTHY R, GRAEF HARRY T, BLACKFORD, DAMON, J., CREWE, TIMOTHY, R., GRAEF, HARRY, T.
Applicants: DIEBOLD INC, DIEBOLD, INCORPORATED
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B65H39
IPC codes: B65H85, G07D1, G07D11