Patent Publication Number: US-8528715-B2

Title: Modularized document handler

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a document handler driven by a modular drive device that may drive a plurality of different modular driven devices drivingly and disengageably connected to the drive device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,435 discloses a bill handling apparatus that comprises a validator means for validating a bill inserted into the apparatus, a stacker means for storing a bill in response to an output from the validator means when the bill is considered genuine by the validator means, a frame for supporting the stacker means, a coupling means provided between the validator means and frame for detachably supporting the validator means on the frame in the condition of alignment of the passageway in the validator means with a passageway of the stacker means, a connector means which comprises a plug and a jack, one of which is attached to a rear end of the validator means for electrical connection with a validator sensor, and the other is attached to a front end of the frame, and a power transmission means which comprises a drive gear rotatably supported on the frame, and a follower gear rotatably mounted on the validator means and disposed on the same plane of the drive gear. 
     The validator means includes conveyor means for transporting the bill along a passageway, and sensor means disposed adjacent to the passageway. When the validator means is attached to the frame through the connector means, the follower gear in the validator means automatically comes into engagement with the drive gear of the frame, and the plug and jack of the connector means are simultaneously and automatically engaged with each other to drive a conveyer means in the validator means by a motor provided outside the validator means and in the frame. Also, the sensor means in the validator means can forward its output to a validator control means provided outside the validator means and in the frame through the connector means. However, this bill handling apparatus is disadvantageous because a drive means and a pusher in the bill handling apparatus are not modularized for assembly and disassembly. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,361 demonstrates a bill handling apparatus which comprises a validator for checking a bill fed into the apparatus whether or not the bill is genuine, a stacker detachably mounted in the apparatus and having a casing for defining a compartment to store the accumulated bills, and a transporter for transporting the bill along a passageway from the validator to the stacker, a chamber defined by the casing of the stacker, a pusher removably located within the chamber of the stacker and drivingly connected with the transporter for pushing the bill into the compartment, an opening formed in the casing in the vicinity of the chamber for passing the pusher, and a slit-shaped inlet formed in a base plate of the pusher for receiving the bill within the pusher from an exit of the passageway of the transporter. However, this apparatus is inconvenient because the validator cannot be removed from the apparatus. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,461 represents a banknote validator that comprises a plurality of releasable components secured in a frame body, and electrical means for connecting the validator to an associated device allowing communication therebetween. The releasable components include a validating head for receiving and determining the authenticity of a banknote, a banknote storage arrangement for receiving banknotes accepted by the validator, and a power interface module for receiving power from the electrical means to provide any power conversion necessary for powering the validating head. This banknote validator comprises several releasable components, however, does not have any releasable power transmission device. 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a modularized document handler that comprises a modular drive device and a plurality of modular driven devices drivingly and detachably connected to the drive device to operate the driven devices by the drive device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a modularized document handler that comprises a drive device, a validator and a stacker each formed into a unit that may be organically and separably interlocked each other for integral driving of the validator and stacker by the drive device. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a modularized document handler that comprises a drive device, a validator and a stacker organically and separably unitized each other to consistently and continuously transport a document inserted into the validator through the drive device to the stacker. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The modularized document handler according to the present invention, comprises a validator ( 2 ) for validating a document ( 35 ), a stacker ( 3 ) for stowing document ( 35 ) sent from validator ( 2 ) and a drive device ( 1 ) for transporting document ( 35 ) from validator ( 2 ) to stacker ( 3 ). Drive device ( 1 ) comprises an actuator ( 17 ), a power transmission device ( 8 ) driven by actuator ( 17 ), anterior and posterior gears ( 11 ,  12 ) both driven by drive power from actuator ( 17 ) through power transmission device ( 8 ). Validator ( 2 ) and stacker ( 3 ) are drivingly and disengageably connected to respectively anterior and posterior gears ( 11 ,  12 ) to operate validator ( 2 ) and stacker ( 3 ) by drive power from actuator ( 17 ) to consistently transport a document ( 35 ) from a passageway ( 10 ) formed in validator ( 2 ) through an intermediate path ( 48 ) formed in drive device ( 1 ) to stacker ( 3 ). The document handler is advantageous because validator ( 2 ) and stacker ( 3 ) may be disengaged from respectively anterior and posterior gears ( 11 ,  12 ) for easy assembly, disassembly, repair, maintenance, check, overhaul or exchange or the like. 
     Another modularized document handler according to the present invention, comprises an actuator ( 17 ), a power transmission device ( 8 ), a support frame ( 22 ) formed with a pair of hinges ( 160 ) for sustaining actuator ( 17 ) and power transmission device ( 8 ) as a single drive unit ( 13 ), and a case ( 15 ) for accommodating drive unit ( 13 ). Case ( 15 ) is formed with a pair of bearings ( 161 ) capable of detachably and rotatably receiving hinges ( 160 ) of support frame ( 22 ). Drive unit ( 13 ) is easily mounted in position within case ( 15 ) by detachably fitting hinges ( 160 ) in mating bearings ( 161 ) and then rotating drive unit ( 13 ) toward inside of case ( 15 ). Drive device ( 1 ), validator ( 2 ) and stacker ( 3 ) are independently assembled as discrete and different modules or units that may be organically and separably interlocked for integral driving of validator ( 2 ) and stacker ( 3 ) by drive device ( 1 ) to consistently transport a document ( 35 ) from validator ( 2 ) through drive device ( 1 ) to stacker ( 3 ). The document handler is advantageous because drive device ( 1 ), validator ( 2 ) and stacker ( 3 ) may be disengaged from each other for easy assembly, disassembly, repair, maintenance, check or exchange or the like. 
     A still further modularized document handler according to the present invention comprises a drive device ( 1 ) and a validator ( 2 ) drivingly and disengageably connected to drive device ( 1 ). Drive device ( 1 ) comprises an actuator ( 17 ) and a power transmission device ( 8 ) driven by actuator ( 17 ), an anterior gear ( 11 ) driven by actuator ( 17 ) through a power transmission device ( 8 ), a support frame ( 22 ) for sustaining an incorporate drive unit ( 13 ) made up of actuator ( 17 ), power transmission device ( 8 ) and anterior gear ( 11 ), and a case ( 15 ) for accommodating incorporate drive unit ( 13 ). Validator ( 2 ) comprises a passageway ( 10 ) and a conveyer device ( 5 ) for conveying a document ( 35 ) along passageway ( 10 ). Conveyer device ( 5 ) has an input gear ( 21 ) drivingly and disengageably connected to anterior gear ( 11 ) of drive device ( 1 ). 
     According to the present invention, the drive device can be drivingly and detachably connected to driven devices such as validator and stacker to synchronously energize the drive device and driven devices by an actuator provided in the drive device in the organically interlocked fashion without need of any additional actuator or actuators in the driven devices. Also, the drive and driven devices may make up individually discrete or independent modules or units that may be drivingly and separably connected to each other for improvement in easy assembly, disassembly, maintenance, check, exchange of the drive and driven devices, and concurrently this structure effectively proves useful in reductions in number of assembled parts, weight of the apparatus and production costs. Moreover, when the validator and stacker are drivingly and disengageably connected to the drive device in the organically interlocked relation to each other, a document can be continuously sent from the validator through the drive device to the stacker. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description in connection with preferred embodiments of the modularized document handler applied to a bill handling apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a drive device for use in a modularized document handler according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the drive device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective front-bottom view of the drive device; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective back-bottom view of the drive device; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view of a posterior gear in the drive device; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a bill handling apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the drive device to which a validator is attached in drivingly and separably interlocked relation; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective bottom view of the drive device from which a drive unit is removed; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the drive device in which the drive unit is mounted on mating bearings with a case; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the drive device with the drive unit further rotated within the case shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective bottom view of the drive device shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the drive device with the drive unit completely stored within the case; 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of a stacker having a built-in carrier device; 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the stacker having a built-in pusher device; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the whole bill handling apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective bottom view of the drive device for use in the bill handling apparatus; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective top view of the stacker; 
         FIG. 18  is a sectional view of a cam connector for attaching the drive device to a frame; 
         FIG. 19  is an enlarged sectional view of the cam connector; 
         FIG. 20  is a sectional view of a cam guide in the cam connector; 
         FIG. 21  is a sectional view of a follower in the cam connector; 
         FIG. 22  is a sectional view of the cam connector with the follower inserted into the cam guide; 
         FIG. 23  is a sectional view of a posterior gear in the drive device in a spaced relation to a drive gear in the stacker; 
         FIG. 24  is a sectional view showing the cam connector with the follower further inserted into the cam guide; 
         FIG. 25  is a sectional view of the posterior gear in the drive device in an engaged relation to the drive gear in the stacker; 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a latch device for removably fastening the validator to the frame; 
         FIG. 27  is a sectional view of the latch device shown in  FIG. 26 ; 
         FIG. 28  is a perspective view of the latch device released from a bracket to disengage the validator from the frame; 
         FIG. 29  is a side elevation view of the latch device shown in  FIG. 28 ; 
         FIG. 30  is a sectional view of a rotor in an anti-pullback unit; 
         FIG. 31  is a perspective view of a roller in the anti-pullback unit; 
         FIG. 32  is a partial perspective view of the anti-pullback unit with fins in the roller with which an extracting string is tangled; and 
         FIG. 33  is a partial front view of the anti-pullback unit shown in  FIG. 32 . 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Described hereinafter in connection with  FIGS. 1 to 33  of the drawings will be embodiments of a bill handling apparatus as a highly-modularized document handler according to the present invention. These embodiments exemplify and instantiate an example of a practical and concrete bill handling apparatus that incorporates a drive device  1 , a validator  2 , a stacker  3  and a frame  4  all of which are modularized into discrete units and are assembled into the bill handling apparatus. In the description herein, a word “unit” for drive device  1 , validator  2 , stacker  3  and frame  4  has the same meaning as a discrete incorporable “module”, “block” or “package”, and a word “modularize” has the same meaning as “unitize”, “package” and “lump together”. In addition, a word “detachable” has the same meaning as “removable”, “separable”, “dismountable”. A word “document” means a bill, bank note, coupon, security, tender, token, scrip or all other valuable paper. The embodiments of the present invention may include as driven devices a conveyer device, a carrier device, a pusher device, a transport device and an anti-pullback unit, however, it is apparent that one of ordinary skill in the art would be able to select a plurality of necessary driven devices, to remove unnecessary driven device or devices or to add another device or other devices undisclosed herein to one or more of devices driven by the drive device in the present invention. 
     [1] Structure of Drive Device 
       FIGS. 1 to 4  indicate a drive unit  13  of generally triangular section for use in a drive device  1  of a bill handling apparatus according to the present invention. Drive unit  13  comprises an actuator  17 , power transmission devices  8  driven by actuator  17 , and a support frame  22  for sustaining actuator  17  and power transmission devices  8  as a unit. As seen from  FIGS. 6 and 7 , drive device  1  has drive unit  13  and a case  15  for accommodating drive unit  13 . Not shown in the drawings, however, disposed within case  15  is a drive control device electrically connected to drive unit  13  to control operation of drive unit  13 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , drive device  1  is drivingly and separably connected to a conveyer device  5  in a validator  2  as a first driven device to operate conveyer device  5  by drive device  1 . 
     As depicted in  FIG. 7 , drive device  1  comprises a partially-arcuate intermediate path  48 , and a transport device  9  as a fourth driven device drivingly connected to actuator  17  through power transmission device  8  for transporting bill  35  along intermediate path  48  in drive device  1 . An inlet  48   a  of intermediate path  48  ( FIG. 10 ) is communicated to a passageway  10  in a validator  2 , and an outlet  48   b  of intermediate path  48  is communicated to a standby chamber  78  in a stacker  3  ( FIGS. 13 and 14 ). 
     In the shown embodiment of the invention, actuator  17  comprises a reversible transport motor  701  rotatable in the forward and adverse directions, and a stowing motor  702 . Transport motor  701  has a drive shaft for supporting a pinion  23  drivingly connected to power transmission device  8  to drive it by transport motor  701 . Then, power transmission device  8  is drivingly connected to transport device  9  and a transport gear  201  as one of posterior gears  12 . Transport device  9  is then drivingly connected to an anti-pullback unit  41  and an anterior gear  11  in turn. Stowing motor  702  is drivingly connected to a stowing gear  202  as the other of posterior gears  12  through an additional power transmission device that has same or similar constructions as shown pinion  23  and power transmission device  8  so that additional power transmission device is rotatably mounted on same shafts. Reduction ratio or number of gear teeth in additional power transmission device connected to stowing gear  202  may be different from that of power transmission device  8 . 
     Transport device  9  and posterior gears  12  are drivingly connected in parallel to power transmission device  8 , and anti-pullback unit  41  and anterior gear  11  are drivingly connected in parallel to transport device  9 . This embodiment adopts the above gear train order or sequence of power transmission device  8 , transport device  9 , posterior and anterior gears  12  and  11 , however, one of ordinary skill in the art would be able to change the train order as necessary. Anterior gear  11  is drivingly connected to an input gear (a first driven gear)  21  in conveyer device  5  through output gear  39  ( FIG. 7 ), and posterior gears  12  are made up of transport and stowing gears  201  and  202  that are drivingly connected to respectively a carrier gear  761  in carrier device  6  of stacker  3  ( FIG. 13 ) and a pusher gear  762  in a pusher device  7  of stacker  3  ( FIG. 14 ). Carrier gear  761  is used to rotate carrier device  6  in stacker  3  to transport bill  35  from drive device  1  into standby chamber  78  in stacker  3 , and pusher gear  762  is used to activate pusher device  7  to stow bill  35  in standby chamber  78  into storage  79 . Carrier and pusher gears  761  and  762  are inclusively shown as drive gears  76 . 
     Power transmission device  8  comprises a third gear  63  meshed with ah pinion  23  of transport and stowing motors  701  and  702 , a fourth gear  64  mounted on a shaft of third gear  63 , a fifth gear  65  meshed with fourth gear  64 , a sixth gear  66  mounted on a shaft of fifth gear  65 , a seventh gear  67  meshed with sixth gear  66 , an eighth gear  68  mounted on a shaft of seventh gear  67 , a ninth gear  69  meshed with eighth gear  68 , a tenth gear  70  mounted on a shaft of ninth gear  69 , and an eleventh gear  71  meshed with tenth gear  70  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Eleventh gear  71  is engaged with twelfth gear  72  that comprises transport and stowing gear  201  in posterior gears  12 . As in power transmission device  8 , additional power transmission device has similar gears as those  63  to  72  and stowing gear  202  in posterior gears  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , transport device  9  comprises twelfth gear  72  meshed with eleventh gear  71 , a first pulley  74  ( FIG. 1 ) mounted on a hinge shaft  73  of twelfth gears  72 , a drive belt  36  wound around first pulley  74 , a plurality of idle rollers  38  in contact to drive belt  36  to hold it in position, a second pulley  75  mounted on a shaft for supporting anterior gear  11 , and a drive pulley  32  mounted on a shaft  140  of anti-pullback unit  41  to wind drive belt  36  around drive pulley  32 . Anterior gear  11  is rotatably mounted on a shaft of second pulleys  75  in drive unit  13  to disengageably mesh anterior gear  11  with output gear  39  ( FIG. 7 ) rotatably mounted within case  15 . In this way, transport and stowing motors  701  and  702  in actuator  17  can drive, through power transmission devices  8 , five driven devices that contain a first driven device: conveyer device  5  in validator  2  drivingly connected to anterior gear  11 ; second and third driven devices: carrier and pusher devices  6  and  7  drivingly connected to transport and stowing gears  201  and  202  in posterior gears  12 ; a fourth driven device: transport device  9  with first pulley  74  drivingly connected to twelfth gear  72 ; and a fifth driven device: anti-pullback unit  41  with rotor  42  drivingly connected to drive belt  36 . 
     [2] First Driven Device=Conveyer Device 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , input gear  21  in conveyer device  5  of validator  2  as first driven device is drivingly and disengageably connected to output gear  39  in drive device  1  to drive input gear  21  by rotation of actuator  17  through power transmission device  8 , anterior gear  11  and output gear  39 . An inlet sensor (not shown) is provided in validator  2  to detect insertion of bill  35  into an inlet  14  of passageway  10  and produce a detection signal that is used to rotate transport motor  701  in the forward direction. Thus, conveyer device  5  is rotated in the forward direction to transport bill  35  along passageway  10  toward drive device  1 . Discrimination sensors (not shown) are deployed in validator  2  to photo-electrically or magneto-electrically detect physical features of bill  35  to produce pattern signals. A drive control device (not shown) in case  15  receives pattern signals from discrimination sensors to discriminate authenticity of bill  35  in view of pattern signals. When drive control device decides bill  35  as false, it rotates transport motor  701  and conveyer device  5  in the adverse direction to return bill  35  to inlet  14  in validator  2 . 
     [3] Driving and Disengageable Connection Between Transport Device and Drive Device 
     As is apparent from  FIG. 6 , a sliding connector  16  is provided between case  15  in drive device  1  and housing  20  in validator  2  to detachably or separably mount housing  20  in validator  2  on case  15  in drive device  1  via sliding connector  16 . Sliding connector  16  comprises a pair of rails  52  of L-shaped section secured on case  15 , and mating sliders (not shown) secured on a bottom surface of housing  20 . These sliders have their cross-section complementary to those of rails  52  to detachably attach sliders to rails  52  for sliding movement of sliders on rails  52  so that validator  2  can move on case  15  along rails  52 . When validator  2  moves on case  15  to the innermost and proper fit position, input gear  21  of conveyer device  5  is automatically and disengageably brought into engagement with output gear  39  in drive device  1 . Here, as shown in  FIG. 7 , an outlet of passageway  10  in validator  2  is automatically communicated with inlet  48   a  of intermediate path  48  in drive device  1 . When validator  2  moves on rails  52  in the adverse direction away from drive device  1 , input gear  21  of conveyer device  5  is automatically disengaged from output gear  39  of drive device  1  to remove validator  2  from drive device  1  while releasing the driving relation between conveyer device  5  and drive device  1 . An additional latch device may be provided to prevent contingent separation of validator  2  from drive device  1  under the engaged condition of input gear  21  with output gear  39 , and this additional latch device may have a similar structure as that of a latch device shown in  FIGS. 26 to 29 . 
     [4] Second Driven Device=Carrier Device 
     Carrier and pusher devices  6  and  7  in stacker  3  shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14  are respectively second and third driven devices which have respectively carrier and pusher gears  761  and  762  (drive gears  76 ) drivingly and disengageably connected to respectively transport and stowing gears  201  and  202  of posterior gears  12  in drive device  1  ( FIG. 2 ). Carrier device  6  comprises carrier gear  761 , an intermediate gear  767  meshed with carrier gear  761 , a pulley gear  763  meshed with intermediate gear  767 , a pulley  764  rotatable integrally with pulley gear  763 , and a belt  765  wound around pulleys  764  and  768  and an idle roller  766 . During forward rotation of reversible transport motor  701 , transport device  9  in drive device  1  is operated to transport bill  35  through passageway  10  and intermediate path  48  and also rotate carrier gear  761  of carrier device  6 . Rotation of transport gear  201  causes carrier gear  761 , intermediate gear  767 , pulley gear  763  and pulley  764  to rotate so that belt  765  receives bill  35  supplied from outlet  48   b  of intermediate path  48  to transport it into standby chamber  78  in stacker  3 . During adverse rotation of transport motor  701 , transport device  9  in drive device  1  is rotated in the adverse direction to return bill  35  through intermediate path  48  and passageway  10  to inlet  14 . 
     Pusher device  7  comprises a series of gears  710  to  713  meshed with pusher gear  762 , and a link device  717  provided with an arm  715  formed with an opening  716  for receiving a pin  714  secured on gear  713 . Operation of stowing motor  702  causes pusher gear  762  to rotate, and therefore, gear  713  together with pin  714  is rotated to retract link device  717  to the backward original position shown in  FIG. 14 . When bill  35  is sent to standby chamber  78 , stowing motor  702  is operated to extend link device  717  from the original position to the stretched position (not shown) to stow bill  35  in standby chamber  78  into storage  79 . Further forward rotation or adverse rotation of stowing motor  702  causes link device  717  to be retracted from the stretched position and to return pusher device  7  to the shown original position. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,836,435 and 5,372,361 disclose a detail of such a pusher device for stowing a bill in standby chamber into a storage, and further detailed description on pusher device  7  is omitted herein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , drive device  1  may be detachably attached to a frame  4  of the bill handling apparatus through a cam connector  19 . In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 19 , cam connector  19  comprises cam guides  80  ( FIG. 20 ) formed on a pair of vertically disposed side walls  40  in frame  4 , and followers  81  formed on a pair of vertically disposed side walls  51  in drive device  1  so that followers  81  may be inserted into mating cam guides  80  for detachable attachment of drive device  1  to frame  4 . A bracket  82  is horizontally disposed at a right angle and connected to vertically disposed side walls  40  in frame  4 . Cam connector  19  may be formed of molding resin, forming metal or combined material of resin and metal. As shown in  FIG. 20 , cam guide  80  comprises a distal path  83  horizontally formed on side walls  40  in frame  4 , an aslope access path  84  connected to distal path  83 , and a horizontal proximal path  85  connected to a bottom of access path  84 . 
     Distal path  83  comprises a distal surface  86  formed opposite to bracket  82 , a ridged surface  87  upwardly protruded toward distal surface  86  and an inlet incline  88  formed in front of ridged surface  87 . Access path  84  is formed between distal and proximal paths  83  and  85  to comprise a back ramp  89  connected to distal surface  86  and an anterior ramp  90  connected to ridged surface  87  and disposed in parallel to back ramp  89 . Proximal path  85  comprises a proximal surface  91  continuously extending from anterior ramp  90  and disposed in parallel to distal surface  86 , a latch surface  92  continuously extending from back ramp  89  and disposed in parallel to distal surface  86 , and an innermost surface  93  formed between proximal and latch surfaces  91  and  92 . Bracket  82  is attached and secured to frame  4  in front of inlet incline  88  to define an inlet  105  of distal path  83  in cooperation with distal surface  86 . 
     Follower  81  shown in  FIG. 21  comprises a proximal flat  94 , a distal flat  95  formed in parallel to and in an upwardly spaced relation to proximal flat  94 , an intermediate ramp  96  connected to proximal flat  94  and disposed in parallel to anterior ramp  90 , an intermediate flat  97  connected to intermediate ramp  96  and disposed in parallel to and in an upwardly spaced relation to proximal flat  94 , a complementary ramp  98  connected to intermediate flat  97 , a base flat  99  connected to complementary ramp  98  and disposed in parallel to and in a downwardly spaced relation to intermediate flat  97 , a stabilizing ramp  100  connected to distal flat  95  and disposed in parallel to intermediate ramp  96 , and an anterior flat  101  connected to stabilizing ramp  100  and disposed in parallel to and in an upwardly spaced relation to distal flat  95 , a rising  103  formed at an end of anterior flat  101  to come into contact to or confrontation with an edge  102  of inlet  105  in distal path  83  when follower  81  is inserted into cam guide  80 , and an arcuate end surface  104  connecting proximal and distal flats  94  and  95 . Arcuate end surface  104  has a complementary arcuate shape to that of innermost surface  93  of proximal path  85 . 
     As seen from  FIGS. 22 and 23 , when follower  81  of drive device  1  is installed in the fixed position of frame  4 , end surface  104  of follower  81  is inserted into inlet  105  of distal path  83  and is brought into contact to inlet incline  88  to guide end surface  104  upward along inlet incline  88  onto ridged surface  87 . Then, proximal flat  94  of follower  81  is in contact to and slides on ridged surface  87  to simultaneously bring distal flat  95  of follower  81  to face or be in contact to distal surface  86  of distal path  83 , and then proximal flat  94  is inwardly moved along and in sliding contact to distal path  83 . In other words, follower  81  is traveled toward the rear of frame  4  in an upwardly spaced relation from stacker  3  by a height of ridged surface  87  over bracket  82 . Although bottom parts of posterior gears  12  and protective ridges  58  of drive device  1  are located to project from bottom surface  15   a  of case  15 , it is possible to prevent unfavorable contact of these bottom parts to bracket  82  and a top surface  62  of stacker  3  while moving follower  81  rearward, because proximal flat  94  of follower  81  is in contact to ridged surface  87  of cam guide  80  to space these bottom parts from bracket  82  and top surface  62  as shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 . 
     When follower  81  of drive device  1  is further inwardly pushed into the rear of distal path  83  from the position shown in  FIG. 22 , as illustrated in  FIG. 24 , end surface  104  of follower  81  comes into contact to back ramp  89  to concurrently put intermediate ramp  96  of follower  81  in touch with and slides on anterior ramp  90  so that the whole of follower  81  and drive device  1  is moved downwardly toward stacker  3  along access path  84  defined by back and anterior ramps  89  and  90  on the angle shown by an oblique arrow in  FIG. 24 . Immediately when follower  81  reaches proximal path  85 , proximal flat  94  of follower  81  is brought into contact to proximal surface  91 , and simultaneously, posterior gears  12  and protective ridges  58 , projecting from bottom surface  15   a  of case  15 , are brought into engagement with respectively carrier and pusher gears  761 ,  762  and mating inset grooves  53 . 
     Then, as follower  81  is further pushed toward the rear of proximal path  85 , it horizontally moves along proximal path  85  of cam guide  80  by a small distance, and finally end surface  104  of follower  81  comes into contact to innermost surface  93  of proximal path  85  to completely put case  15  in the proper fixed position, at the same time to bring posterior gears  12  into secure engagement with carrier and pusher gears  761 ,  762  and also to prevent further forward movement of follower  81  as shown in  FIGS. 19 and 25 . Also, complementary ramp  98  of follower  81  is in contact to or faces inlet incline  88 , and rising  103  of follower  81  faces or is in contact to edge  102  of inlet  105 , but a gap is formed between intermediate ramp  96  of follower  81  and anterior ramp  90  of cam guide  80  as shown in  FIG. 19 . Alternatively, posterior gears  12  may be in driving connection with carrier and pusher gears  761 ,  762  at the time of contact of proximal flat  94  to proximal surface  91  once end surface  104  reaches proximal path  85 , and a spring or elastic medium for producing elastic buffer action may be used in at least one of interlocked posterior and carrier and pusher gears  761  and  762 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , bottom surface  15   a  of case  15  is also formed with an outlet  48   b  of intermediate path  48  in drive device  1 ; transport and stowing gears  201  and  202  of posterior gears  12  of transport device  9  in drive device  1  protrude from openings  56   a ,  56   b  formed on bottom surface  15   a  in case  15 ; a plurality of protective ridges  58  are formed around openings  56   a ,  56   b  to downward project from bottom surface  15   b  toward stacker  3  while surrounding posterior gears  12 . Projection length of protective ridges  58  from bottom surface  15   a  is substantially the same as or more than that of posterior gears  12  to completely surround posterior gears  12  by protective ridges  58 . Protective ridges  58  extend in parallel to each other and perpendicularly to outlet  48   b . As shown in  FIG. 17 , top surface  62  of stacker  3  is disposed in parallel to bottom surface  15   a  of case  15 , and comprises an inlet  59  for receiving bill  35  transported from outlet  48   b  of intermediate path  48  in drive device  1 , and a plurality of or four inwardly hollow and straight inset grooves  53  extending lengthwise or perpendicularly to inlet  59  and in parallel to each other. Openings  57   a  and  57   b  are formed in inset grooves  53  to expose carrier and pusher gears  761  and  762  outside through openings  57   a  and  57   b . A plurality of ridges  54  are formed in inset grooves  53  on top surface  62  and on opposite sides of carrier and pusher gears  761  and  762 . 
     When mounting drive device  1  in the fixed position shown in  FIG. 25  on frame  4 , bottom surface  15   a  of case  15  comes to be disposed in parallel to top surface  62  of stacker  3 ; protective ridges  58  of drive device  1  is fit into mating inset grooves  53  of stacker  3 ; posterior gears  12  of drive device  1  become meshed with carrier and pusher gears  761  and  762  of stacker  3 ; and at the same time, protective ridges  58  of case  15  are located to sandwich ridges  54  of stacker  3  therebetween; and outlet  48   b  of intermediate path  48  in case  15  is rendered properly aligned with inlet  59  of stacker  3 . At least each bottom part of transport and stowing gears  201  and  202  projects in each opening  56   a ,  56   b  to come into driving and disengageable engagement with respectively carrier and pusher gears  761  and  762  of stacker  3 .  FIGS. 18 and 19  indicate the arrangement of case  15  in the properly fixed position of frame  4  where end surface  104  of follower  81  is in contact to or closest to innermost surface  93  of cam guide  80 . There, as seen from  FIG. 25 , transport and stowing gears  201  and  202  are in engagement with respectively carrier and pusher gears  761  and  762  to drive carrier device  6  for introducing bill  35  and pusher device  7  for stowing bill  35 . 
     During forward rotation of transport motor  701  in actuator  17 , transport gear  201  activates carrier device  6  to introduce bill  35  into standby chamber  78 , and during adverse rotation of transport motor  701 , bill  35  can be returned to inlet  14  through intermediate path  48  and passageway  10 . Then, when bill  35  is retained in standby chamber  78 , stowing motor  702  is operated to rotate power transmission device  8  and stowing gear  202  of posterior gears  12  to activate pusher device  7  which then stows bill  35  in standby chamber  78  into storage  79 . 
     [5] Latch Device 
     As shown in  FIGS. 26 to 29 , disposed at the front end of case  15  and between case  15  and bracket  82  is a latch device  120  that securely fastens case  15  to bracket  82  to prevent contingent movement of case  15  in the withdrawal direction. Latch device  120  comprises a ratchet lever  122  rotatably mounted on bracket  82  around a shaft  121 , a rotatable operation lever  124  secured on an axis  123 , a handle  125  secured on axis  123  and a tensile spring  127  having one end secured to side wall  51  of case  15  ( FIGS. 6 and 27 ) and the other end connected to a biased end  128  of ratchet lever  122  to produce a tensile elastic force for resiliently urging ratchet lever  122  in the counterclockwise direction of rotation around shaft  121 . Ratchet lever  122  comprises a stopper  126  formed with a lever slant  126   a  which may be caught by an edge of an opening  82   a  formed on bracket  82 , and an elongated hole  130  for rotatably receiving a pin  129  secured on operation lever  124 . When drive device  1  is mounted on frame  4 , stopper  126  slides on an upper surface of bracket  82  with lever slant  126   a  in contact to bracket  82 , and therefore, lever slant  126   a  forcibly rotates ratchet lever  122  in the clockwise direction against resilient force of tensile spring  127 . When handle  125  is manually withdrawn downward, ratchet lever  122  is also forcibly rotated in the clockwise direction to release engagement of stopper  125  from opening  82   a.    
     In this embodiment, superficial configurations of inner surfaces in frame  4  and outer surfaces in drive device  1  can be contoured into cam guide  80  and follower  81  of cam connector  9  without need of any additional component or prior art connector between frame  4  and drive device  1 , and therefore, the bill handling apparatus may increase height and length in stacker  3  to effectively expand its content for accommodating bills therein. Also, as stacker  3  may have its extended length, it can receive longer bills prior art stackers cannot stow, and obviously this widens application ranges of the bill handling apparatus. Although carrier and pusher gears  761  and  762  of stacker  3  are located within stacker  3  not to project beyond top surface  62  of stacker  3 , drive device  1  can be mounted at a predetermined fixed location in frame  4  while protecting transport and stowing gears  201  and  202  of drive device  1  against undesirable collision with externals upon attachment and detachment operation of drive device  1  with respect to frame  4 , thereby extending service life of the bill handling apparatus. 
     When follower  81  is moved along distal path  83  as shown in  FIG. 24 , lever slant  126   a  of stopper  126  in latch device  120  is brought into contact to an edge  82   b  of bracket  82  ( FIG. 27 ) to forcibly rotate latchet lever  122  in the clockwise direction around shaft  121  against elastic force of spring  127 , and therefore, stopper  126  runs on and moves sliding on upper surface of bracket  82 . Then, follower  81  is moved down at a slant along back and anterior ramps  89  and  90  through access path  84  during which stopper  126  remains in contact to upper surface of bracket  82 . When end surface  104  of follower  81  is brought into contact to innermost surface  93  of proximal path  85 , elastic force of spring  127  rotates latchet lever  122  in the counterclockwise direction to engage stopper  126  into opening  82   a  of bracket  82  so that latch device  120  serves to set drive device  1  in the fixed position of frame  4  and to thereby certainly prevent abrupt withdrawal of drive device  1  from frame  4 . In this way, cam guides  80  and mating followers  81  provide a slip-on attachment construction for promptly and easily mounting and dismounting drive device  1  on and from frame  4  without producing any mechanical collision therebetween. 
     When drive device  1  is removed from frame  4 , handle  125  is manually rotated downward or in the counterclockwise direction around axis  123  against resilient force of spring  127  to rotate latchet lever  122  upward in the clockwise direction through pin  129 . Clockwise rotation of latchet lever  122  releases engagement between stopper  126  and opening  82   a  to allow drive device  1  to be pulled forward so that followers  81  can be separated from cam guides  80  to remove drive device  1  from frame  4  without undesirable physical contact of transport device  9  in drive device  1  to bracket  82  and top surface  62  of stacker  3 . 
     [6] Driving and Separable Connection Between Drive Device and Stacker 
     According to the bill handling apparatus of the present invention, after follower  81  is inserted into proximal path  85  of cam guide  80 , case  15  of drive device  1  is further pushed toward inside of frame  4  as shown in  FIG. 24 , and so, follower  81  may be horizontally and slightly moved along proximal path  85 . When end surface  104  of follower  81  comes into contact to innermost surface  93  of proximal path  85 , drive device  1  is brought into the proper fixed position for preventing further inward movement of drive device  1 , and at the same time, posterior gears  12  are drivingly connected to drive gears  76 . At the same time, complementary ramp  98  of follower  81  is in contact to or faces inlet incline  88 ; rising  103  of follower  81  faces or is in contact to edge  102  of inlet  105 ; a gap is formed between intermediate ramp  96  of follower  81  and anterior ramp  90  of cam guide  80  as shown in  FIG. 19 . Alternatively, posterior gears  12  may be drivingly connected to drive gears  76  at the time of arrival of follower  81  at proximal path  85  with proximal flat  94  in contact to proximal surface  91 . Also, an elastic damper action may be produced by resiliently urging at least one of posterior and drive gears  12  and  76  with an elastic material such as a spring when posterior gears  12  are brought into driving engagement with drive gears  76 . 
     In this way, when drive device  1  is attached to frame  4 , follower  81  may be moved along distal path  83  so that drive device  1  may be moved horizontally, parallel to and over top surface  62  of stacker  3  while maintaining drive device  1  in a spaced relation to bracket  82  and stacker  3  to avoid physical contact of posterior gears  12  of drive device  1  to bracket  82  or stacker  3 . Then, follower  81  may be moved at a slant along access path  84  increasingly closer to stacker  3  and proximal path  85 . When follower  81  reaches proximal path  85  or when follower  81  is slightly moved along proximal path  85  to the fixed position, posterior gears  12  of drive device  1  may be brought into direct engagement with drive gears  76  of stacker  3 ; at once, proximal flat  94  of follower  81  is brought into contact to proximal surface  91  of cam guide  80 ; protective ridges  58  on bottom surface  15   a  of drive device  1  may be fit in inset grooves  53  on top surface  62  of stacker  3 ; and outlet  48   b  of drive device  1  may be in alignment with inlet  59  of stacker  3 . The shown embodiment illustrates a structure of cam connector  19  having cam guides  80  formed on inner surfaces of side walls  40  in frame  4  and followers  81  formed on a pair of side walls  51  on case  15  of drive device  1 , otherwise, vice versa, followers  81  may be formed on inner surfaces of side walls  40  in frame  4 , and cam guides  80  may be formed on a pair of side walls  51  of drive device  1 . 
     [7] Fourth Driven Device=Transport Device 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , transport device  9  comprises a drive pulley  32  drivingly connected to actuator  17  through power transmission device  8  for rotating whole anti-pullback unit  41 , a drive belt  36  wound around drive pulley  32 , idle rollers  38  and first pulley  74  in drive device  1  for transporting document or bill  35  along intermediate path  48 . Bill  35  is fed through passageway  10  in validator  2  into intermediate path  48  of drive device  1 , and so, is grasped between drive belt  36  and rotatable pinch rollers  33  to transport bill  35  along intermediate path  48  toward stacker  3 . 
     [8] Fifth Driven Device=Anti-Pullback Unit 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3  and  30 , anti-pullback unit  41  has a rotor  42  that comprises a bearing shaft  140  held on support frame  22 , rotor pulleys  32  mounted on bearing shaft  140  for rotation by drive belts  36  wound around rotor pulleys  32 , and rollers  43  rotatably mounted on bearing shaft  140  disposed in a bore  142  of rollers  43 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 31 , roller  43  comprises a cylindrical core  44  and a plurality of flange-like disks  151  secured on and radially extending from cylindrical core  44  coaxially, in a line and in a spaced relation each other. Each disk  151  has opposite side surfaces formed with fins  143  that axially project toward a faced radial surface  152  of adjoining disk  151  in a spaced relation to former disk  151 . Each fin  143  has a radially outwardly tapered guide surface  144 , a barb  145  formed at a radially inward edge of fin  143  and a hook  146  formed at a tip of fin  143  included between guide surface  144  and barb  145  to form each fin  143  into a generally fletched or right-triangular shape. 
     As shown in  FIG. 32 , hook  146  is formed at the tip of fin  143  to circumferentially or widthwise and radially inwardly slightly project from fin  143  to contour a capture space  147  between barb  145  and cylindrical core  44  so that capture space  147  can catch flexible extracting tool  170  such as thread, string or tape connected to bill  35  to positively prevent unauthorized drawing of bill  35  out of the apparatus. 
     Pulley  74  shown in  FIG. 1  is rotated by transport motor  701  of actuator  17  through power transmission device  8 , and drive belts  36  wound around pulleys  74  run to rotate rotor pulleys  32  integrally with anti-pullback unit  41 . When bill  35  is sent from passageway  10  into intermediate path  48 , it is grasped between drive belts  36  and pinch rollers  33  and transported along intermediate path  48  while bill  35  is in contact to and along outer periphery of disks  151  in roller  43 . Then, drive belts  36  are further operated to convey bill  35  along intermediate path  48  toward stacker  3 . 
     [9] Attachment of Drive Unit 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 through 12 , drive unit  13  of generally triangular section may be easily mounted in and dismounted from case  15  although drive unit  13  comprises as a unit inclusive of actuator  17 , power transmission device  8  driven by actuator  17 , transport device  9  as a fourth driven device, anti-pullback unit  41  as a fifth driven device and support frame  22  for sustaining all these elements to naturally operate transport device  9  and anti-pullback unit  41  through power transmission device  8 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , support frame  22  comprises a pair of cylindrical or semi-cylindrical hinge sleeves  160  that each have a bearing (not shown) for rotatably supporting hinge shaft  73  in power transmission device  8 . Hinge sleeves  160  may be rotatably and removably received by hinge bearings or dents  161  of mating semicircular section formed in case  15 , and hinge shaft  73  may be rotatably and disengageably received by a notch  163  formed in case  15 . When drive unit  13  is mounted within case  15 , firstly, hinge sleeves  160  of drive unit  13  are fit in mating hinge bearings  161 ; secondly, drive unit  13  is rotated in the clockwise direction around hinge sleeves  160  to a predetermined position in case  15  as seen in  FIGS. 9 to 12 ; and finally, fixation screws  163  are used to fasten support frame  22  to an inner wall of case  15  to secure drive unit  13  in position within case  15 . When drive unit  13  is fixed in the proper position within case  15 , rotor  42  of anti-pullback unit  41  and drive belts  36  wound around rotor pulleys  32  are correctly positioned facing arcuate intermediate path  48 , and simultaneously, anterior gears  11  are automatically and disengageably brought into engagement with output gears  39 . A bottom cover  15   a  may be attached to bottom surface of case  15  by means of cap screws  164 . 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a perspective view of the completely assembled bill handling apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 6  represents an exploded perspective view of frame  4 , drive device  1 , validator  2  and stacker  3  before assemblage; and  FIG. 8  depicts drive unit  13  and case  15  before assemblage. In assemblage, firstly, drive unit  13  is mounted in the proper position within case  15  as described before; secondly, drive unit  13  is secured within case  15  by means of fixation screws  163 ; and thirdly, bottom cover  15   a  is attached to bottom surface of case  15  by cap screws  164 . 
     Then, fourthly, housing  20  of validator  2  is removably attached on case  15  of drive device  1  by means of sliding connector  16 ; fifthly, case  15  of drive device  1  is detachably attached to frame  4  by means of cam connector  19 ; and finally, stacker  3  is detachably attached to frame  4 . Adversely, after stacker  3  is attached to frame  4 , case  15  may be attached to frame  4  by means of cam connector  19 . When case  15  of drive device  1  is attached to frame  4 , latchet lever  122  of latch device  120  is automatically locked in opening  82   a  of bracket  82  to prevent accidental pullout of case  15  from frame  4 . There is neither priority order nor particular sequence for assembling drive device  1 , validator  2 , stacker  3  and frame  4 , and any optional order may be adopted for assembly and disassembly. By way of example, firstly, housing  20  of validator  2  may be detachably attached on case  15  of drive device  1  through sliding connector  16  to automatically engage input gear  21  of conveyer device  5  with output gear  39  in drive device  1  so that conveyer device  5  may be drivingly and separably connected to drive device  1 , and concurrently passageway  10  of validator  2  may automatically be communicated with intermediate path  48  in drive device  1 . 
     Also, proper attachment of follower  81  to cam guide  80  in cam connector  19  ensures at a time firstly the detachable attachment of case  15  of drive device  1  to frame  4  without undesirable contact of transport device  9  to bracket  82  of frame  4  and stacker  3  upon attachment of case  15  to frame  4 ; secondly the driving, detachable and automatic engagement of posterior gears  12  in drive device  1  with drive gears  76  in stacker  3 ; thirdly the separable alignment of outlet  48   b  in drive device  1  with inlet  59  in stacker  3 ; and finally the separable fitting of protective ridges  58  in drive device  1  in inset grooves  53  on top surface  62  in stacker  3 . In this case, if drive device  1  is removably attached to frame  4  via cam connector  19  after stacker  3  is detachably attached to frame  4  ahead, or if vice versa, stacker  3  is detachably attached to frame  4  after drive device  1  is removably attached to frame  4  via cam connector  19  ahead, drive device  1  and stacker  3  may be drivingly connected while intermediate path  48  being communicated with standby chamber  78 . In this way, one can easily handle, assemble or disassemble drive device  1 , validator  2 , stacker  3  and frame  4  as discrete individual modules or units.  FIG. 15  illustrates a completely assembled bill handling apparatus according to the present invention. 
     [10] Usage of Bill Handling Apparatus 
     When bill  35  is inserted into inlet  49  of validator  2  in the assembled bill handling apparatus, an optical inlet sensor detects insertion of bill  35  into inlet  49  to produce a detection signal to a drive control device in case  15  that therefore emits drive signals to rotate transport motor  701  in the forward direction. Driving power of transport motor  701  is transmitted to input gear  21  through power transmission device  8 , anterior gear  11  and output gear  39  to operate conveyer device  5 , and simultaneously drive belt  36  in transport device  9  runs through power transmission device  8  to carry bill  35  along passageway  10  toward drive device  1 . Now, drive power of actuator  7  is transmitted to carrier device  6  in stacker  3  through transport gear  201  and carrier gear  761  in stacker  3  to concurrently operate carrier device  6 . Then, validator sensor not shown detects optical and magnetic features of bill  35  moved along passageway  10  to produce detection signals indicative of these features that are received by drive control device for determination on bill authenticity. When drive control device decides bill  35  as genuine, it continuously operate conveyer device  5  in the forward direction to send bill  35  to drive device  1 . When drive control device decides bill  35  as false, it rotates transport motor  701  in the adverse direction to reverse power transmission device  8 , drive belt  36  in transport device  9  and conveyer device  5  to return bill  35  to inlet  49  of validator  2 . 
     Bill  35  decided as genuine is transported through passageway  10  into intermediate path  48  in drive device  1 , and so, it is held between drive belt  36  and pinch rollers  33  to move bill  35  in the forward direction along intermediate path  48  toward stacker  3 . Then, bill  35  goes through outlet  48   b  of intermediate path  48  and inlet  59  of stacker  3  into standby chamber  78  by operation of carrier device  6 , and there, drive control device stops operation of transport motor  701  and carrier device  6 , and at the same time, operates stowing motor  702  to activate pusher device  7  that consequently stows bill  35  in standby chamber  78  into storage  79 . 
     There may be an undesired case that for the purpose of pulling bill out of the bill handling apparatus without authorization, someone inserts into inlet  14  of validator  2  bill  35  to which some extracting tool  170  such as thread, string or tape is connected. However, anti-pullback unit  41  may certainly prevent such an unfair action as follows. When bill  35  has passed anti-pullback unit  41  as genuine one, forward movement of bill  35  pulls connected string  170  into passageway  10  and intermediate path  48  so that string  170  goes along guide surface  144  of fin  143  in the radially inward direction of roller  43  and comes into engagement with barb  145  of fin  143 . In this case, flexible string  170  through passageway  10  and arcuate intermediate path  48  is subject to tensional force by bill  35  transported by transport and carrier devices  9  and  6  possibly in addition to gravities of bill  35  and string  170 . In this way, this tensional force and gravities may exert tension on string  170  to stretch it over an airline or minimal distance within arcuate intermediate path  48 . This operation accelerates to press string  170  within intermediate path  48  on guide surface  144  of fin  143  to cause it to slide on and go radially inwardly along guide surface  144 , and finally, flexible string  170  is driven into capture space  147  for tangled engagement of string  147  with fins  143  as shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  32  and  33 . 
     In this case, once flexible sting  170  is entrapped in capture space  147 , rotation of rotor  42  causes string  170  to be, inextricably without access to rotor  42 , wound up around rotor  42  through capture space  147  and tangled with barb or barbs  145  of fins  143 , and this certainly prevents unduly pullback or extraction of bill  35  and obviously improves in security and reliability of the bill handling apparatus. 
     [11] Disassembly of Bill Handling Apparatus 
     There is no particular order for disassembly of drive device  1 , validator  2 , stacker  3  and frame  4 , and all or selected one or ones of them can be taken apart when needed. For example, after or without release of latch device  120 , housing  20  of validator  2  may be removed from case  15  of drive device  1  along sliding connector  16  while disengaging input gear  21  of validator  2  from output gear  39  of drive device  1 . Also, when handle  125  of latch device  120  is manually pulled downward, latchet lever  122  of latch device  120  is released from opening  82   a  in bracket  82  to remove follower  81  from cam guide  80  and to detach drive device  1  from frame  4  while disengaging posterior gears  12  of drive device  1  from drive gears  76  in stacker  3 . Also, stacker  3  may be separably attached to frame  4  so that stacker  3  may be removed from frame  4  and drive device  1  as necessary. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,361 describes a detail of structure for a stacker removably attached to frame. In this way, the embodiment of the present invention enables drive device  1 , validator  2 , stacker  3  and frame  4  of the bill handling apparatus to disjoin into discrete modules or units under the disassembly method opposite to the assembly method for check, repair, overhaul or exchange of part or unit. 
     [12] Functions, Performances and Effects of Bill Handling Apparatus 
     [1] The unitized bill handling apparatus may be assembled by incorporation of individually modularized drive device  1 , validator  2 , stacker  3  and frame  4 , and then disjoined into their incorporable and separable discrete modules for separate manufacture, assembly, disassembly, check, overhaul and exchange. 
     [2] After assemblage of the bill handling apparatus, the organically interlocked relation is accomplished by separable combination of drive device  1 , validator  2  and stacker  3  to drivingly connect actuator  17  in drive device  1  with conveyer device  5  in validator  2  and carrier and pusher devices  6  and  7  in stacker  3 . 
     [3] After separable assemblage of drive device  1 , validator  2  and stacker  3 , bill  35  may be consistently and continuously transported throughout passageway  10  of validator  2 , intermediate path  48  and standby chamber  78  in stacker  3  by synchronous operation of drive device  1 , conveyer device  5 , carrier and pusher devices  6  and  7 . 
     [4] A single drive device  1  can establish an integrated or centralized drive system for conveyer, carrier and pusher devices  5 ,  6  and  7  without need of any additional drive source and control device in validator  2  and stacker  3  both made in reduced weight, because drive device  1  has actuator  17  inclusive of transport and stowing motors  701  and  702  and drive control device. 
     [5] Drive device  1  may have built-in transport device  9  and anti-pullback unit  41  both driven by transport motor  701 . 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention deals with a modularized document handler that comprises a modular drive device and a plurality of modular driven devices in particular such as a validator and a stacker drivingly and separably connected to the drive device.