Patent ID: 7261236

Claim:
Apparatus comprising: an automated banking machine including: a housing; a user interface in supporting connection with the housing, the user interface including at least one input device and at least one output device, wherein the user interface is adapted to receive identifying inputs usable to identify user accounts, to output indicia usable to operate the machine, and to receive machine transaction inputs responsive to which the machine is operative to carry out at least one transaction function; a sheet holding area within the housing, wherein the sheet holding area is adapted to hold a stack comprising a plurality of financial instrument sheets in abutting relation; at least one movable picking member, wherein the at least one picking member is positioned such that a first sheet bounding the stack engages the at least one picking member, and wherein movement of the at least one picking member in a picking direction is operative to urge the first sheet to move relative to the stack in a first direction, and wherein the at least one picking member includes a plurality of sheet engaging portions adapted to engage the first sheet, and at least one recess wherein the at least one recess extends in the first direction and is intermediate of adjacent sheet engaging portions; at least one first stripper portion, wherein the at least one first stripper portion extends in generally aligned relation with the at least one recess, wherein the at least one first stripper portion is positioned to engage the first sheet when the first sheet moves in the first direction between the at least one picking member and the at least one first stripper portion, wherein the at least one first stripper portion is not in contact stripping engagement with the at least one sheet engaging portion when the first sheet is not positioned between the at least one picking member and the at least one first stripper portion; at least one second stripper portion, wherein the at least one second stripper portion engages at least one cooperating sheet engaging portion in contact stripping engagement, and wherein the first sheet is enabled to move in the first direction between the at least one second stripper portion and the at least one cooperating first sheet engaging portion; wherein responsive to at least one user input to the at least one input device of the user interface, the at least one picking member moves in the picking direction engaging a first face of the first sheet and urging the first sheet to move from the stack in the first direction while the first stripper portion and the second stripper portion engage an opposed face of the first sheet and resist movement of the first sheet in the first direction, wherein sheets included in the stack other than the first sheet are generally prevented from moving from the stack with the first sheet.