Patent Publication Number: US-6334610-B1

Title: Leaf transfer mechanism unit

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a leaf management apparatus such as an automatic teller machine (ATM) located in a bank, a convenience store, and the like, for example. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A leaf transfer mechanism unit incorporated in an ATM is well known as is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 9-147193, for example. The leaf transfer mechanism unit may comprise a leaf reception room defined between a pickup roller and a front or reception urging member. When a customer intends to deposit cash, the leaf reception room is designed to receive bills. The reception urging member is driven to move forward so as to urge the received bills against the pickup roller. Rotation of the pickup roller serves to sequentially transfer the bills, one by one, to a discrimination section. 
     Behind the reception urging member, a leaf delivery room is defined between a partition member and a rear or retrieval urging member. Bills determined unacceptable at the discrimination section, such as false bills and other types of leaves, are temporarily stored in the leaf delivery room. When all of the bills have been taken out of the leaf reception room, the retrieval urging member is driven to move forward toward the pickup roller. Such advancement of the retrieval urging member causes the leaf delivery room to lead to a leaf delivery opening of the ATM. The customer is allowed to pick up the bills or other types of leaves, which have been determined unacceptable at the discrimination section, out of the leaf delivery opening. 
     If the customer has left the unacceptable bills and other types of leaves in the leaf delivery room, the left bills and leaves should be retrieved into a retrieval container. The retrieval urging member is driven to move forward so as to urge the left bills and leaves against the pickup roller. When the pickup roller is driven to rotate, the left bills and leaves are sequentially transferred, one by one, to the retrieval container. 
     During such operation, the aforementioned reception urging member and the partition member in front of the retrieval urging member should be removed from the path of movement for the retrieval urging member advancing toward the pickup roller. 
     Removal of the partition member may be achieved, as is disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 9-147193, by moving the upright partition member in the direction perpendicularly intersecting the path of movement for the retrieval urging member. However, such movement of the partition member inevitably suffers from occupation of a larger space in the ATM. Moreover, the disclosed leaf transfer mechanism unit is designed to drive the partition member and the reception urging member by separate drive sources, so that a drive mechanism inevitably gets complicated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a leaf transfer mechanism unit capable of operating or acting within a smaller space. 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leaf transfer mechanism unit comprising: a pickup roller; a retrieval urging member designed to move forward toward the pickup roller along a predetermined path leading to a front limit position allowing the retrieval urging member to collide against the pickup roller; and a partition member designed to move forward in front of the retrieval urging member along the predetermined path beyond the front limit position for the retrieval urging member so as to reach a turnout position. 
     When the retrieval urging member is allowed to move forward, bills received between the pickup roller and the retrieval urging member can be urged against the pickup roller. The rotating pickup roller serves to sequentially transfer the bills, one by one, urged against the pickup roller. During this operation of the pickup roller, the partition member is allowed to move forward to the turnout position beyond the front limit position for the retrieval urging member, so that the retrieval urging member is reliably prevented from interfering or colliding with the partition member during the advancement of the retrieval urging member. 
     In general, the partition member and the retrieval urging member are kept in an attitude upright to the predetermined path of movement. If the turnout position of the partition member can be defined at the extension of the predetermined path of movement, it is possible to avoid the partition member at the turnout position from largely and remarkably protruding out of the predetermined path of movement. The leaf transfer mechanism unit is thus allowed to operate within a smaller space as compared with a prior art leaf transfer mechanism unit. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leaf transfer mechanism unit comprising: a pickup roller; a partition member designed to move toward the pickup roller; a leaf reception room defined between the pickup roller and the partition member; a retrieval urging member designed to move forward toward the pickup roller within the limit of a front limit position allowing the retrieval urging member to collide against the pickup roller; and a leaf delivery room defined behind the partition member between the partition member and the retrieval urging member, wherein the partition member is designed to reach a turnout position where the pickup roller is exposed in the leaf delivery room behind the partition member. 
     With the above arrangement, bills can be received in the leaf reception room defined between the pickup roller and the partition member while bills can also be received in the leaf delivery room defined between the partition member and the retrieval urging member. When all bills are taken out of the leaf reception room, the bills in the leaf delivery room are then subjected to a transferring operation. During the transferring operation, the bills can reliably be urged against the pickup roller exposed behind the partition member which is kept at the turnout position. The rotating pickup roller serves to sequentially transfer the bills, one by one, out of the leaf delivery room. 
     As described above, the partition member is usually kept in an attitude upright to its path of movement. If the turnout position of the partition member can be defined at the extension of the path of movement, it is possible to avoid the partition member at the turnout position from largely and remarkably protruding out of the path of movement. The leaf transfer mechanism unit is thus allowed to operate within a smaller space as compared with a prior art leaf transfer mechanism unit. 
     The leaf transfer mechanism unit may further comprise a reception urging member interlocked with or incorporated in the partition member and designed to move forward toward the pickup roller within the limit of a collision position allowing the reception urging member to collide against the pickup roller. This arrangement allows the reception urging member to urge bills, received between the partition member and the pickup roller, against the pickup roller when the reception urging member is allowed to move forward. The rotating pickup roller serves to sequentially transfer the bills, one by one, urged against the pickup roller. 
     The leaf transfer mechanism unit may further comprise: a guide passage formed in the partition member for guiding movement of the reception urging member; and a driving piece connected to the reception urging member and designed to move along a circular orbit described around a rotation axis in parallel with a rotational axis of the pickup roller. With this arrangement, the movement of the drive piece along the orbit causes not only movement of the reception urging member but also movement of the partition member interlocked with the reception urging member. A drive source may be employed common to the reception urging member and the partition member. A drive mechanism can be simplified as compared with a prior art leaf transfer mechanism unit. 
     Alternatively, the aforementioned leaf transfer mechanism unit may further comprise: a reception urging member disposed between the pickup roller and the retrieval urging member at a rearmost position remotest from the pickup roller; and a guide passage formed in the partition member for guiding movement of the reception urging member. In this case, the reception urging member is designed to selectively trace a first and a second advancement path. The first advancement path extends toward the pickup roller from the rearmost position so as to reach a collision position allowing the reception urging member to collide against the pickup roller, while the second advancement path extends from the rearmost position so as to make a roundabout of the pickup roller. When the reception urging member traces the first advancement path, the reception urging member is allowed to urge bills, received between the pickup roller and the partition member, against the pickup roller. On the other hand, when the reception urging member traces the second advancement path, the partition member is allowed to reach the turnout position without inducing collision between the reception urging member and the pickup roller during the advancement of the partition member. 
     The above arrangement may employ a driving piece connected, directly or indirectly, to the reception urging member so as to move along a circular orbit described around a rotation axis in parallel with a rotational axis of the pickup roller. The driving piece serves to drive the reception urging member along the first and second advancement paths with a relatively simpler structure. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leaf transfer mechanism unit comprising: a pickup roller; a rear urging member designed to move forward toward the pickup roller within the limit of a front limit position allowing the rear urging member to collide against the pickup roller; and a front urging member disposed between the pickup roller and the rear urging member at a rearmost position remotest from the pickup roller, wherein the front urging member selectively traces a first and a second advancement path, the first advancement path extending toward the pickup roller from the rearmost position so as to reach a collision position allowing the front urging member to collide against the pickup roller, the second advancement path extending from the rearmost position so as to make a roundabout of the pickup roller. 
     With the above arrangement, bills can be received between the pickup roller and the front urging member, at the same time, bills can be received between the front and rear urging members. When the front urging member traces the first advancement path, the front urging member is allowed to urge the bills, received between the pickup roller and the front urging member. The rotating pickup roller serves to sequentially transfer the received bills, one by one. Moreover, when rear urging member moves forward following the advancement of the front urging member along the second advancement path, the rear urging member is allowed to reach the front limit position without inducing the collision between the front urging member and the pickup roller. The rear urging member is allowed to reliably urge the bills, received between the front and rear urging members, against the pickup roller. The received bills can thus sequentially be transferred one by one. 
     In general, the front and rear urging members are kept in an attitude upright to the path of movement for the rear urging member. If the front urging member is allowed to trace the second advancement path keeping the attitude, it is possible to avoid the front urging member from largely and remarkably protruding out of the path of movement of the rear urging member. The leaf transfer mechanism unit is thus allowed to operate within a smaller space as compared with a prior art leaf transfer mechanism unit. 
     The above arrangement may employ a driving piece connected, directly or indirectly, to the front urging member so as to move along a circular orbit described around a rotation axis in parallel with a rotational axis of the pickup roller. The driving piece serves to drive the front urging member along the first and second advancement paths with a relatively simpler structure. 
     The aforementioned leaf transfer mechanism unit may be incorporated in a leaf management apparatus such as an automatic teller machine (ATM), for example. The leaf may include any of a paper sheet such as a money bill and a valuable ticket, a magnetic card, a plastic card such as a credit card, and the like. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an automatic teller machine (ATM); 
     FIG. 2 schematically illustrates paths for transfer of bills within the ATM; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view, observed through a leaf input opening, schematically illustrating a leaf transfer mechanism unit; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial side view of the ATM for schematically illustrating the structure of the leaf transfer mechanism unit; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the leaf transfer mechanism unit for schematically illustrating a guide mechanism for movement of a partition unit; 
     FIG. 6 is a front view schematically illustrating the structure of the partition unit; 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of the partition unit for illustrating a reception urging member at a lower limit position; 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of the partition unit for schematically illustrating an intermediate plate; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the leaf transfer mechanism unit for illustrating a path for movement of a retrieval urging member; 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the leaf transfer mechanism unit for illustrating a first and a second advancement path for the reception urging member; 
     FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the operation of the leaf transfer mechanism unit when bills are input; 
     FIG. 12 is a side view illustrating the operation of the leaf transfer mechanism unit when bills are transferred; 
     FIG. 13 is a side view illustrating the operation of the leaf transfer mechanism unit when bills are dispensed; and 
     FIG. 14 is a side view illustrating the operation of the leaf transfer mechanism unit when the left bills are transferred. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an automatic teller machine (ATM)  10  as a leaf or sheet management apparatus. The operation of the ATM  10  allows a customer to deposit and/or draw cash in and/or from an own account, to pay cash into another account, or the like. When the customer intends to deposit or pay cash, bills can be received in the ATM  10  through a leaf input opening  11  while coins can be received in the ATM  10  through a coin input opening  12 . When the customer intends to draw cash, the customer can pick up bills and coins through the leaf input opening  11  and the coin input opening  12 , respectively. The bill input opening  11  and the coin input opening  12  can be closed with covers  13 ,  14 , respectively. 
     In general, a cash card is employed to operate the ATM  10 . The cash card can be inserted into the ATM through a card insertion opening  15 . In addition, the ATM  10  is designed to make an entry of each item in a bankbook. The bankbook can be inserted into the ATM  10  through a book insertion opening  16 . 
     The ATM  10  includes a so-called touch panel  17 . Key buttons for options as well as ten keys and character keys can be displayed on the screen of the touch panel  17 . When a customer touches any of the key buttons, the ten keys and the character keys, the ATM  10  is designed to detect or recognize a signal corresponding to the touched key button or key. The operation of these key buttons and keys can be employed to input the sum of cash to be dispensed, a code number of a cash card, or the like, into the ATM  10 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, a leaf transfer mechanism unit  21  is connected to the leaf input opening  11 . When a plurality of or a stack of bills are inserted into the leaf input opening  11 , the leaf transfer mechanism unit  21  is designed to sequentially transfer the input bills one by one. The bills are then transferred to a discrimination section  22 . The discrimination section  22  is designed to distinguish genuine bills from false bills and other types of leaves and to calculate the total amount of money for the genuine bills. 
     The genuine bills are transferred to a temporary storage room  23 . The remaining leaves, which have been determined unacceptable, are returned to the leaf transfer mechanism unit  21 . The remaining leaves may include false bills and other types of leaves such as shopping receipts. A customer is allowed to pick up the leaves, returned to the leaf transfer mechanism unit  21 , through the leaf input opening  11 . The genuine bills temporarily stored in the temporary storage room  23  can be returned to the leaf transfer mechanism unit  21  through the discrimination section  22  in response to cancellation of the transaction. The customer is allowed to pick up the returned genuine bills out of the leaf transfer mechanism unit  21 . 
     On the other hand, when continuation of the transaction has been confirmed, the genuine bills stored in the temporary storage room  23  is transferred to the discrimination section  22  a second time. This time, the discrimination section  22  serves to distinguish reusable ¥10,000 bills and ¥1,000 bills from the remaining genuine bills such as heavily damaged ¥10,000 and ¥1,000 bills, not suitable to reuse, and the other kinds of genuine bills, including ¥5,000 bills, for example. The remaining genuine bills are retrieved into a storage container  24 . The reusable genuine ¥10,000 bills are transferred to a ¥10,000 bill container  25 , while the reusable genuine ¥1,000 bills are transferred to a ¥1,000 bill container  26 . The customer sometimes carelessly leaves the bills which has been not received in the ATM  10 . The bills left in the leaf transfer mechanism unit  21  is transferred to a retrieval container  27  through the discrimination section  22 . 
     When a customer intends to take cash out of the ATM  10 , ¥10,000 bills and/or ¥1,000 bills corresponding to the requested amount of money are picked up from the ¥10,000 bill container  25  and/or the ¥1,000 bill container  26 . The width and thickness of the bills are then measured and examined at a width sensor  28  and a thickness sensor  29 , respectively. The approved bills are thereafter transferred to the leaf transfer mechanism unit  21 . The customer is expected to receive a set of ¥1,000 bills and/or ¥1,000 bills corresponding to the requested amount of money out of the leaf input opening  11 . The customer sometimes carelessly leaves the bills dispensed in the leaf transfer mechanism unit  21 . The bills left in the leaf transfer mechanism unit  21  is transferred to the retrieval container  27  through the discrimination section  22 . 
     Next, the structure of the leaf transfer mechanism unit  21  will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, the leaf transfer mechanism unit  21  comprises, for example, three rotative pickup rollers  32  supported on a rotation axis  31  for rotation, and four separators  33  arranged alternately with the pickup rollers  32  in the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis  31 . As is conventionally known, the pickup roller  32  includes a slippery surface  34  defined on the outer cylindrical periphery for allowing the slippage between the pickup roller  32  and a leaf during rotation of the pickup roller  32 , and a friction surface  35  likewise defined on the outer cylindrical periphery for generating a larger friction between the pickup roller  32  and a leaf during rotation of the pickup roller  32 . A drive source  36  is designed to control the rotation or action of the pickup rollers  32 . The drive source  36  may comprise a servo motor responsive to pulse signals, for example. The separator  33  comprises at least a friction surface defined on the outer surface. A rubber roller, prevented from rotation, may be employed as the separator  33 , for example. 
     As is apparent from FIG. 3, a stack of bills  PP  are urged against the pickup rollers  32  in the radial direction  37  of the pickup rollers  32 . When the rotating pickup rollers  32  contact the first or top bill  PP  at the friction surface  35 , the rotation of the pickup rollers  32  is transformed into a movement of the first bill  PP  between the pickup rollers  32  and the separators  33 . The first bill  PP  is then transferred to subsequent rollers, not shown. The separators  33  are designed to exert a friction on the remaining bills  PP , namely, the second and subsequent bills  PP . The remaining bills  PP  cannot pass by the separators  33 . When the slippery surface  34  comes to contact the top bill  PP  of the stack, the rotation of the pickup rollers  32  is terminated. The pickup rollers  32  are designed to repeat such an action or behavior in the aforementioned manner until all of the bills  PP  in the leaf transfer mechanism unit  21  are taken out. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the leaf transfer mechanism unit  21  comprises a slide plane  38  defined by a rigid plate or rigid frames. The slide plane  38  is designed to guide a forward sliding movement of the bills  PP  toward the pickup rollers  32 . The slide plane  38  is tilted up in the forward direction. A partition unit  40  is disposed on or above the slide plane  38 . The partition unit  40  is design ed to define a leaf reception room  39  between the pickup rollers  32  and itself. Likewise, a retrieval or rear urging member  42  is disposed on or above the slide plane  38 . The retrieval urging member  42  may be a rigid plate or frame. The retrieval urging member  42  is designed to define a leaf delivery room  41  between the partition unit or member  40  and itself behind the partition unit  40 . The partition unit  40  and the retrieval urging member  42  are maintained in an attitude upright to the slide plane  38 . In addition, the partition unit  40  is allowed to move forward and backward along a predetermined path between a rearmost or standard position  43  remotest from the pickup rollers  32  and a front or turnout position  44  where the pickup rollers  32  is exposed in the leaf delivery room  41  behind the partition unit  40 . The retrieval urging member  42  is allowed to move forward and backward along a predetermined path between a rear limit position  45  remotest from the partition unit  40  and a front limit position  46  where the retrieval urging member  42  collides against the pickup rollers  32 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, a guide frame  49  is disposed to extend in the forward and backward direction in parallel with the slide plane  38 . The guide frame  49  serves to establish the predetermined path for the sliding movement of the partition unit  40  in combination with a pair of front and rear rollers  48  supported on the partition unit  40  for rotation. The rollers  48  are received and guided in the guide frame  49 . The rollers  48  and the guide frame  49  may be arranged on left and right sides of the partition unit  40  in the lateral direction, as shown in FIG.  6 . The combination of the rollers  48  and the guide frame  49  serves to allow the partition unit  40  to move forward and backward along the predetermined path keeping the attitude upright to the slide plane  38 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the partition unit  40  includes a pair of upright frames  51  standing upright at left and right sides of the bills  PP  on or above the slide plane  38 . A front or reception urging member  52  is disposed between the upright frames  51 . The reception urging member  52  is maintained in an attitude upright to the slide plane  38  in the same manner as the partition unit  40  and the retrieval urging member  42 . Moreover, the reception urging member  52  is designed to move between a lower limit position closest to the slide plane  38  and an upper limit position remotest from the slide plane  38 . As is apparent from FIG. 7, when the reception urging member  52  is positioned at the lower limit position, the reception urging member  52  is allowed to be opposed to the pickup rollers  32  protruding out of the slide plane  38 . 
     An intermediate member or plate  53  is employed to rigidly connect the upright frames  51  to each other, as shown in FIG. 8, for example. A recess  54  is defined in the intermediate plate  53  for allowing the pickup rollers  32  protruding out of the slide plane  38  to pass through when the partition unit  40  is caused to move forward to the turnout position  44  (see FIG.  4 ). The recess  54  serves to avoid collision between the pickup rollers  32  and the intermediate plate  53  during the forward and backward movement of the partition unit  40  along the slide plane  38 . The recess  54  can be closed with the reception urging member  52  at the lower limit position. 
     As shown in FIG. 9, a guide frame  56  is formed in the respective upright frames  52  for defining a guide passage which extends in a direction orthogonal to the slide plane  38 . The guide frames  56  are designed to guide the vertical movement of the reception urging member  52  in combination with pairs of upper and lower rollers  55  supported on left and right sides of the reception urging member  52  for rotation. 
     The reception urging member  52  is provided with a horizontal rod  57  protruding in the horizontal direction from left and right sides of the reception urging member  52 , referring to FIGS. 6 and 9. The opposite ends of the horizontal rod  57  are received in slots  58  formed in the upright frames  52 , respectively, as is apparent from FIG.  9 . The slots  58  are designed to define the upper and lower limit positions of the reception urging member  52  in combination with the horizontal rod  57 . 
     As shown in FIG. 9, a guide frame  62  is also disposed to extend in the forward and backward direction in parallel with the slide plane  38 . The guide frame  62  serves to establish a path of movement for the retrieval urging member  42  in combination with a pair of front and rear rollers  61  supported on the retrieval urging member  42  for rotation. The rollers  61  are received and guided in the guide frame  62 . The rollers  61  and the guide frame  62  may be arranged on left and right sides of the retrieval urging member  42  in the lateral direction. The combination of the rollers  61  and the guide frame  62  serves to allow the retrieval urging member  42  to move forward and backward along the slide plane  38  keeping the attitude upright to the slide plane  38 . 
     A drive source  63  is designed to control the forward and backward movement of the retrieval urging member  42 . The drive source  63  may comprise a servo motor responsive to pulse signals, for example. The driving force from the drive source  63  is transmitted to the retrieval urging member  42  through a transmission belt  65  wound around a pair of front and rear pulleys  64 , for example. 
     As shown in FIG. 10, a driving piece  67  is rotatively coupled to the reception urging member  52 . The driving piece  67  is designed to move along a circular orbit described around a rotation axis  66  in parallel with the rotational axis of the pickup rollers  32 . The driving piece  67  may be formed as the tip end of a lever  68  designed to swing around a support axis  66 , for example. The horizontal rod  57  may receive the respective driving piece  67  at the opposite ends protruding from the left and right sides of the reception urging member  52  in the aforementioned manner. When the driving piece  67  moves in response to the swinging movement of the lever  68 , the reception urging member  52  is allowed to move in the vertical direction while being guided by the partition unit  40 . The vertical movement of the reception urging member  52  in this manner induces the forward and backward movement of the partition unit  40 . A drive source  69  is connected to the support axis  66  for controlling the swinging movement of the lever  68 . The drive source  69  may comprise a servo motor responsive to pulse signals, for example. 
     For example, when the partition unit  40  is positioned at the standard position  43 , the reception urging member  52  is located at a rearmost position  RR  remotest from the pickup rollers  32 . If the driving piece  67  moves from the rearmost position  RR  in the normal direction, namely, the clockwise direction in FIG. 10, so as to turn around the support axis  66 , the reception urging member  52  is allowed to trace a first advancement path  70 . The first advancement path  70  is designed to extend toward the pickup rollers  32  from the rearmost position  RR  so as to reach a front or collision position  FD  allowing the reception urging member  52  to collide against the pickup rollers  32 . On the other hand, if the driving piece  67  moves from the rearmost position  RR  in the reverse direction, namely, the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 10, so as to turn around the support axis  66 , the reception urging member  52  is allowed to trace a second advancement path  71 . The second advancement path  71  is designed to extend from the rearmost position  RR  so as to make a roundabout of the pickup rollers  32 . The second advancement path  71  of the reception urging member  52  serves to avoid collision between the pickup rollers  32  and the reception urging member  52  during the advance movement of the partition unit  40  reaching the turnout position  44 . In this manner, determination of the direction for rotation of the driving piece  67  serves to allow the reception urging member  52  to selectively trace either of the first and second advancement paths  70 ,  71 . 
     Next, description will be made on the operation of the aforementioned leaf transfer mechanism unit  21 . Assume that a stack of bills  PP  are thrown into the leaf input opening  11 , for example. As shown in FIG. 11, the partition unit  40  has been positioned at the standard position  43  prior to insertion of the bills  PP . Accordingly, the leaf reception room  39  is defined between the pickup rollers  32  and the partition unit  40  for receiving the bills  PP  through the leaf input opening  11 . When the cover  13  is opened, a customer is allowed to insert the bills PP, in an upright attitude, into the leaf reception room  39 . The slide plane  38  receives the lower ends or edges of the bills  PP . The retrieval urging member  42  is expected to stand by right behind the partition unit  40 . The reception urging member  52  incorporated within the partition unit  40  is positioned at the rearmost position  RR  remotest from the pickup rollers  32  (see FIG. 10, for example). 
     When the cover  13  is then closed, the drive source  69  drives the lever  68  for swinging movement around the support axis  66  in the normal direction. The partition unit  40  is consequently allowed to move forward as shown in FIG.  12 . The reception urging member  52  is caused to move forward toward the pickup rollers  32  along the first advancement path  70 . The reception urging member  52  is expected to urge the bills  PP  against the pickup rollers  32 . The rotating pickup rollers  32  serve to transfer the bills  PP , one by one, to the subsequent rollers  73 . The subsequent rollers  73  are designed to hand the received bills  PP  over the discrimination section  22 . 
     Prior to the initial operation of the pickup rollers  32 , the drive source  63  drives the retrieval urging member  42  for backward movement until the retrieval urging member  42  reaches the rear limit position  45 , as shown in FIG.  12 . The leaf delivery room  41  is defined behind the partition unit  40  between the retrieval urging member  40  and the partition unit  40 . The leaf transfer mechanism unit  21  is thus prepared to receive bills  PP , determined unacceptable at the discrimination section  22  in the aforementioned manner. The bills  PP  to be returned from the discrimination section  22  to the leaf transfer mechanism unit  21  are sequentially discharged into the leaf delivery room  41  through a discharge slot  74  defined in the slide plane  38 . 
     Assume that all of the bills  PP  have been taken out of the leaf reception room  39 . If a bill  PP  is detected in the leaf delivery room  41 , the drive source  69  is designed to drive the lever  68  for swinging movement in the reverse direction around the support axis  66 . The partition unit  40  is thus allowed to once return backward to the standard position  43  and then move forward to the turnout position  44 . During the advancement of the partition unit  40 , the reception urging member  52  is allowed to trace the second advancement path  71  (see FIG. 10, for example). The reception urging member  52  is lifted up so as to open the recess  54  in the partition unit  40 . The partition unit  40  and the reception urging member  52  are thus reliably prevented from collision against the pickup rollers  32  during the advancement of the partition unit  40  along with the incorporated reception urging member  52  to the turnout position  44 . 
     As shown in FIG. 13, when the partition unit  40  has reached the turnout position  44 , at the same time, the drive source  63  is designed to allow the retrieval urging member  42  to advance to the position corresponding to the standard position  43  of the partition unit  40 . The bills  PP  in the leaf delivery room  41  are urged to move forward along the slide plane  38 , keeping the upright attitude. When the cover  13  is opened, the customer is allowed to pick up the bills  PP , including other types of leaves, returned to the leaf delivery room  41  through the leaf input opening  11 . 
     Assume that the customer carelessly leaves the returned bills  PP  in the leaf delivery room  41 . The drive source  63  is then designed to allow the retrieval urging member  42  to further move forward toward the pickup rollers  32 , as shown in FIG.  14 . The retrieval urging member  42  is thus caused to urge the bills  PP  against the pickup rollers  32 . The rotating pickup roller  32  serve to sequentially transfer the bills  PP , one by one, to the subsequent rollers  73 . Since the partition unit  40  is allowed to reach the turnout position  44  beyond the front limit position  46  of the retrieval urging member  42 , the pickup rollers  32  are reliably exposed behind the partition unit  40 . The bills  PP  left in the leaf delivery room  41  can reliably be urged against the pickup rollers  32  by the retrieval urging member  42  behind the partition unit  40 . 
     When cash is to be dispensed, the retrieval urging member  42  is moved backward to the rear limit position  45 , while the partition unit  40  is kept at the standard position  43 . The leaf delivery room  41  is thus prepared between the partition unit  40  and the retrieval urging member  42  so as to receive bills sequentially discharged from the discharge slot  74 . When a set of bills corresponding to the requested amount of money are prepared in the leaf delivery room  41 , the partition unit  40  is caused to move forward to the turnout position  44  while the retrieval urging member  42  is allowed to move forward to the position corresponding to the standard position  43  of the partition unit  40  in the same manner as described above. When the cover  13  is opened, a customer is allowed to pick up the bills out of the leaf delivery room  41 . If any bill is left in the leaf delivery room  41 , the retrieval urging member  42  is allowed to move forward to urge the left bill against the pickup rollers  32  in the same manner as described above. The urged bill can finally be transferred to the subsequent rollers  73 .