Patent ID: 7748613

Claim:
An automated banking machine apparatus comprising: a housing, the housing including a secure chest portion including a sheet accepting opening therein, wherein an interior area of the chest portion is accessible through the sheet accepting opening; a note dispenser in operatively supported connection with the housing, wherein the note dispenser is operative to selectively dispense notes stored in the interior area to users of the machine; a sheet acceptor in operatively supported connection with the housing outside the chest portion, wherein in an operative position the sheet acceptor is operative to receive notes input to the machine by users and to move notes to the sheet accepting opening whereby notes move into the interior area of the chest portion; a removable sheet storage container in operatively supported connection with the housing in the interior area, wherein the sheet storage container includes a locking recess therein, and wherein when the sheet storage container is in an operative position, the sheet storage container is operative to receive notes moved by the sheet acceptor into a storage area within the container; a carriage assembly extending within the interior area and in operatively supported relation with the housing, wherein the carriage assembly is operative to movably support the sheet storage container in the interior area when the container is moved between the operative position and a release position, wherein the carriage assembly includes: a stationary member extending in the interior area; a movable frame releasably engageable with the sheet storage container, wherein the movable frame is movable relative the stationary member, and wherein the container in engagement with the frame is movable between the operative position and the release position, wherein in the release position the sheet storage container is disposed horizontally and downward relative to the operative position and is disengageable from the frame; a mechanism mounted in operatively supported connection with the stationary member, wherein the mechanism is operative to direct movement of the frame such that the container in engagement with the frame is moved between the operative and the release positions; and a locking pin movably mounted in operatively supported connection with the stationary member and in operative connection with the mechanism, wherein the locking pin is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein in the locked position, the locking pin operatively engages the locking recess, whereby the sheet storage container is held in the operative position.