Patent Document

FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to improvements in, or relating to, a media depository. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    Media depositories are used to receive media items from a customer. One common type of media depository is a sheet media depository for receiving media items in sheet form (such as banknotes, cheques, tickets, giros, and the like). 
         [0003]    Sheet media depositories are used in ATMs and other self-service terminals (such as vending machines, change machines, and the like) to identify and validate deposited sheets. 
         [0004]    Some sheet depositories are capable of receiving a bunch of sheets in a loading area and then picking individual sheets from the bunch so that each sheet can be identified and validated individually prior to storage of the validated sheet within the depository. These depositories are referred to herein as “bunch sheet depositories”. Bunch sheet depositories may transport the bunch from the loading area to the picking area, or the picking area may be adjacent the loading area. 
         [0005]    It is desirable to provide bunch sheet depositories that can accept a large bunch of sheets. However, when a large bunch of sheets has to be transported to the picking area there is a tendency for sheets within the bunch to splay out prior to reaching the picking area. This makes picking the sheets less reliable. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, some customers will only insert a small number of sheets (such as one banknote and/or cheque) into the bunch depository; whereas, other customers will insert the maximum permissible number of sheets (for example, fifty media items) into the bunch depository. It is important to be able to provide an appropriate force on the bunch, regardless of the size of the bunch. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0007]    Accordingly, the invention generally provides methods, systems, and apparatus for an improved media depository. 
         [0008]    In addition to the Summary of Invention provided above and the subject matter disclosed below in the Detailed Description, the following paragraphs of this section are intended to provide further basis for alternative claim language for possible use during prosecution of this application, if required. If this application is granted, some aspects may relate to claims added during prosecution of this application, other aspects may relate to claims deleted during prosecution, other aspects may relate to subject matter never claimed. Furthermore, the various aspects detailed hereinafter are independent of each other, except where stated otherwise. Any claim corresponding to one aspect should not be construed as incorporating any element or feature of the other aspects unless explicitly stated in that claim. 
         [0009]    According to a first aspect there is provided a bunch sheet depository comprising: 
         [0010]    a pressure plate for pressing on a bunch of sheets; 
         [0011]    a picker aligned with the pressure plate and arranged to remove sheets individually from the bunch of sheets; 
         [0012]    a link arm including (i) a pivot, (ii) an urging portion coupled to the pressure plate and (iii) a resilient member; and 
         [0013]    an actuator coupled to the resilient member and operable, when actuated, to compress the resilient member to pivot the link arm and thereby cause compression of the bunch of sheets by the pressure plate using a force that reduces as the pressure plate moves in response to sheets being removed from the bunch of sheets by the picker. 
         [0014]    The pressure plate may receive a bunch of sheets on an upper surface thereof. Alternatively, the pressure plate may push downwards on a bunch of sheets. In other words, in some embodiments the pressure plate may act on a top sheet of a bunch of sheets; whereas, in other embodiments, the pressure plate may act on a bottom sheet of a bunch of sheets. 
         [0015]    Where the pressure plate pushes up on the bottom of a bunch of sheets, the picker may pick individual sheets from the top of the bunch. Where the pressure plate pushes down on the top of a bunch of sheets, the picker may pick individual sheets from the bottom of the bunch. 
         [0016]    Where the pressure plate pushes up on the bottom of a bunch of sheets, the resilient member may be selected so that the reduction in the spring force applied by the resilient member as a sheet is removed approximately matches the weight of the removed sheet so that a relatively constant pinch force is applied to the bunch of sheets as sheets are removed. Providing a generally constant pinch force to a bunch of sheets, even as individual sheets are removed from the bunch, enables a picking operation to be performed more reliably. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the resilient member may be selected to have a stiffness k within the range of 0.05 N/mm to 1.00 N/mm. In embodiments where the resilient member is to be used with bunches of banknotes, or mixed cheque and banknote bunches, the resilient member may be selected to have a stiffness k within the range of 0.07 N/mm to 0.09 N/mm. In one embodiment, the stiffness k may be selected to be approximately 0.08 N/mm. 
         [0018]    The term “bunch loader” may be used herein to describe the combination of, inter alia, the pressure plate, the link arm, and the actuator. 
         [0019]    The bunch loader may further comprise a transport arrangement. The transport arrangement may comprise: (i) a chassis, (ii) a pivot shaft mounted to the chassis, and (iii) a combination of one or more skid plates, one or more stretchable endless belts, one or more rollers, or any other conventional sheet drive mechanism. The pressure plate may include a hub that is mounted onto the pivot shaft to allow the pressure plate to pivot about the pivot shaft. The urging portion may also define a hub that is mounted to the pivot shaft, so that the pressure plate and the urging portion are coupled via the pivot shaft. 
         [0020]    The picker may comprise a registration edge against which a bunch of sheets is driven to maintain the bunch of sheets in registration therewith, a pick surface adjacent the registration edge and movable in a forward direction when picking individual sheets, and a retard surface opposite the pick surface and also adjacent the registration edge. The retard surface may be movable in a reverse direction when picking individual sheets. The pick surface and/or the retard surface may be defined by a roller, a belt, a wheel, or the like. 
         [0021]    The pivot may define a hub for mounting on a link arm pivot shaft. The hub may be disposed at an opposite end of the link arm to the urging portion to maximise displacement of the urging portion as the pivot rotates about the link arm pivot shaft. 
         [0022]    The link arm pivot shaft may be used as a drive shaft to drive belts or rollers in the transport arrangement. 
         [0023]    The link arm may further comprise a cam follower coupled to the resilient member, and arranged to abut to a portion of the actuator. 
         [0024]    The actuator may comprise a rotatable shaft including a cam axially mounted thereon. Rotation of the shaft may cause the cam to engage with the cam follower and thereby pivot the link arm to provide movement to the pressure plate. The cam may be generally teardrop-shaped. 
         [0025]    The resilient member may comprise a coil spring, a leaf spring, a gas spring, or any other convenient spring. 
         [0026]    The link arm may comprise a yoke link arm. The yoke link arm may include a pair of resilient members (an upper resilient member and a lower resilient member), disposed on opposing sides of the actuator rotatable shaft, each resilient member including a cam follower (an upper and lower cam follower, respectively), so that as the shaft rotates the cam on the shaft deflects, and then allows relaxation of, the upper cam follower, and then deflects, and allows relaxation of, the lower cam follower. 
         [0027]    The yoke link arm urging portion may also be coupled to the transport arrangement. The transport arrangement may include an upper portion of a lower sheet transporter. The upper portion of the lower sheet transporter may comprise one or more stretchable endless belts looping around rollers mounted on shafts, or any other convenient drive mechanism. 
         [0028]    A lower portion of the lower sheet transporter may comprise one or more of the following: a skid plate, a stretchable endless belt, and/or a roller. 
         [0029]    The lower sheet transporter may be operable to present sheets to a customer. The sheets may have been inserted by the customer as part of a bunch of sheets (that is, the sheets are being returned to the customer, for example, because the sheets are invalid, not recognised, or the customer desires to cancel the transaction), or the sheets may have been stored within the bunch sheet depository as a result of an earlier transaction (that is, the depository may operate as a sheet recycler). 
         [0030]    When the lower cam follower is actuated, the yoke link arm urging portion may push the upper portion of the lower sheet transporter onto a bunch of sheets being transported for presenting to the customer. 
         [0031]    The depository may comprise a pair of yoke link arms, each mounted on the actuator rotatable shaft. The actuator rotatable shaft may include two cams mounted thereon, and each cam may be aligned with upper and lower cam followers on a respective one of the yoke link arms. 
         [0032]    A yoke link arm has the advantage that it can (i) urge a pressure plate upwards to provide an appropriate pinch force to a bunch of sheets being inserted into the depository, or (ii) urge an upper portion of the lower sheet transporter downwards to provide a force on a bunch of sheets to enable transport of the sheets as a bunch to the customer. 
         [0033]    The depository may further comprise conventional features of a depository, such as a validator arranged to recognise and validate individual sheets; an internal transport section arranged to transport individual sheets from the picker to the validator; an escrow for temporarily storing sheets that have been inserted and passed through the validator; a storage area for storing deposited sheets; a communications circuit; a depository controller; and the like. 
         [0034]    The bunch sheet depository may be a banknote depository, a cheque depository, a combined cheque and banknote depository, a financial document depository (banknotes, cheques, giros, and the like), or the like. 
         [0035]    It will now be appreciated that this aspect of the invention has the advantage that a resilient member (such as a spring) is used to impart force to a pressure plate. The pressure plate moves as individual sheets are removed from a bunch compressed by the pressure plate, which cause the resilient member to return to nearer its quiescent state, thereby reducing the spring force applied by the resilient member to the pressure plate. When this is used to push up on a bottom surface of a bunch of sheets, the spring force reduction can be matched to the weight of a sheet so that a generally constant pinch force can be applied to the bunch of sheets regardless of the size of the bunch of sheets, and even though individual sheets are being removed from the bunch. 
         [0036]    According to a second aspect there is provided a self-service terminal including the bunch sheet depository of the first aspect. 
         [0037]    The self-service terminal may be an automated teller machine (ATM), an information kiosk, a financial services centre, a bill payment kiosk, a lottery kiosk, a postal services machine, a check-in and/or check-out terminal such as those used in the retail, hotel, car rental, gaming, healthcare, and airline industries, or the like. 
         [0038]    According to a third aspect there is provided a bunch loader for a bunch sheet depository, the bunch loader comprising: 
         [0039]    a pressure plate for applying pressure to a bunch of sheets; 
         [0040]    a link arm including (i) a pivot, (ii) an urging portion coupled to the pressure plate and (iii) a resilient member; and 
         [0041]    an actuator coupled to the resilient member and operable, when actuated, to move the resilient member to rotate the link arm about the pivot and thereby cause compression of the bunch of sheets by the pressure plate using a force from the resilient member that reduces as the resilient member relaxes in response to the pressure plate moving as sheets are removed from the bunch of sheets. 
         [0042]    According to a fourth aspect there is provided method of applying a controlled pinch force to a bunch of sheets inserted into a depository, the method comprising: 
         [0043]    receiving a bunch of sheets; 
         [0044]    activating an engagement mechanism to urge a resilient member to a compressed position; 
         [0045]    using the compressed resilient member to pivot a link arm to apply pressure to the bunch of sheets; 
         [0046]    picking individual sheets from the bunch; 
         [0047]    allowing the resilient member to expand from the compressed position as sheets are removed from the bunch of sheets to ensure that a controlled force is applied to the bunch of sheets. 
         [0048]    The method may further comprise: de-activating the engagement mechanism to allow the resilient member to return to a quiescent (relatively uncompressed) position. 
         [0049]    The resilient member may be partially compressed in the quiescent position, but it should not be as compressed as when it is in the compressed position. 
         [0050]    According to a fifth aspect there is provided a bunch sheet depository comprising: 
         [0051]    a pressure plate for receiving a bunch of sheets on an upper surface thereof; 
         [0052]    a picker arranged to remove sheets individually from the bunch of sheets on the pressure plate; 
         [0053]    a link arm including (i) a pivot, (ii) an urging portion coupled to the pressure plate and (iii) a resilient member; and 
         [0054]    an actuator coupled to the resilient member and operable, when actuated, to move the link arm about the pivot and thereby provide upward movement to the pressure plate, the resilient member being operable to provide upward pressure that reduces as the pressure plate rises in response to sheets being removed from the bunch by the picker. 
         [0055]    According to a sixth aspect there is provided a method of applying a controlled pinch force to a bunch of sheets inserted into a depository, the method comprising: 
         [0056]    receiving a bunch of sheets; 
         [0057]    moving a resilient member to a compressed position; 
         [0058]    using the compressed resilient member to pivot a link arm to apply pressure to the bunch of sheets; 
         [0059]    picking individual sheets from the bunch; and 
         [0060]    allowing the resilient member to expand from the compressed position as sheets are removed from the bunch of sheets to ensure that a reduced spring force is applied to the bunch of sheets as individual sheets are picked from the bunch, but a relatively constant pinch force is applied to the bunch of sheets due to the reduction in weight of the bunch of sheets. 
         [0061]    For clarity and simplicity of description, not all combinations of elements provided in the aspects recited above have been set forth expressly. Notwithstanding this, the skilled person will directly and unambiguously recognise that unless it is not technically possible, or it is explicitly stated to the contrary, the consistory clauses referring to one aspect are intended to apply mutatis mutandis as optional features of every other aspect to which those consistory clauses could possibly relate. 
         [0062]    These and other aspects will be apparent from the following specific description, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0063]      FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic diagram of a bunch sheet depository according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0064]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing part (a bunch loader) of the depository of  FIG. 1  in more detail as a perspective view from above; 
           [0065]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of the bunch loader of  FIG. 2  shown as a perspective view from below; 
           [0066]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of the bunch loader of  FIG. 2  shown as a side view; 
           [0067]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing parts (the bunch loader, an upper sheet transport section, and a lower sheet transport section) of the depository of  FIG. 1  as a perspective view from above, where the pressure plate is urged towards the upper sheet transport section; 
           [0068]      FIG. 6  is a diagram showing the parts of  FIG. 5 , as a perspective view from below; 
           [0069]      FIG. 7  is a diagram showing the parts of  FIG. 5 , as a side view; 
           [0070]      FIG. 8  is a diagram showing the parts of the depository of  FIG. 5  as a perspective view from above, where the pressure plate is urged towards the lower sheet transport section; 
           [0071]      FIG. 9  is a diagram showing the parts of  FIG. 8 , as a perspective view from below; 
           [0072]      FIG. 10  is a diagram showing the parts of  FIG. 8 , as a side view; 
           [0073]      FIG. 11  is a simplified diagram showing the parts of  FIG. 5  holding a bunch of sheets at a picking point; and 
           [0074]      FIG. 12  is a simplified diagram showing the parts of  FIG. 8  holding a bunch of sheets near a customer return point. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0075]    Reference will now be made to  FIG. 1 , which is a simplified schematic diagram of a bunch sheet depository  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The depository  10  is operable to receive bunches of banknotes and/or cheques from a customer. 
         [0076]    The depository  10  includes a chassis  12  onto which various parts are mounted. The depository  10  further comprises: a bunch deposit slot  14  into which a bunch of sheets  16  can be deposited; a bunch loader  22 ; a picker  24  aligned with the bunch loader  22  for removing individual sheets from the bunch (or stack) of sheets  16 ; a sheet validator  26 ; an escrow  28  for temporarily holding validated sheets until a customer confirms that he/she wants to complete the transaction; a storage compartment  30 ; a communications circuit board  32  for communicating with a self-service terminal (not shown) into which the depository  10  may be installed; and an onboard controller  34  for controlling the operation of the depository  10 . 
         [0077]    The depository  10  includes a plurality of sheet transport sections, only some of which will be described herein. An upper sheet transport section  40  is located above the bunch loader  22  and adjacent the picker  24 . A lower sheet transport section  42  is located beneath the bunch loader  22  and near the bunch deposit slot  14 . 
         [0078]    The bunch loader  22  is used to transport deposited banknotes from the bunch deposit slot  14  to the picker  24 . 
         [0079]    There are two different routes that can be taken by a sheet that is inserted into the depository  10 . The first route is shown by arrow  46  and involves the sheet being picked from the bunch of sheets  16 , transported to the picker  24 , moved past the validator  26  to be identified and validated, placed in the escrow  28 , and from the escrow  28  transported into the storage compartment  30 . 
         [0080]    The second route is shown by arrow  48  and involves the sheet being picked from the bunch of sheets  16 , transported to the picker  24 , moved past the validator  26  to be identified and validated, placed in the escrow  28 , and from the escrow  28  returned to the customer via the lower sheet transporter  42 . 
         [0081]    As is known in the art, whether a sheet is stored (that is, follows the first route  46  in this embodiment) or returned to the customer (that is, the second route  48  in this embodiment) depends on a number of factors, such as: whether the sheet is recognised, whether the sheet is validated, whether the customer cancels or confirms the transaction, and the like. 
         [0082]    Reference will now be made to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , which illustrate the bunch loader  22  in more detail. 
         [0083]    The bunch loader  22  comprises: a pair of link arms  50 ; a pressure plate  52 ; and an actuator  54 . To aid clarity, not all reference numerals will be shown in all of the drawings. 
         [0084]    Each link arm  50  defines a pivot  60 , in the form of a hub that is mounted on a link arm pivot shaft  62 . The link arm pivot shaft  62  operates as a drive shaft, as will be described below. 
         [0085]    Each link arm  50  also includes an upper resilient member  66  and a lower resilient member  68  mounted opposite each other with a gap therebetween. The resilient members  66 , 68  are in the form of coil springs. 
         [0086]    Each link arm  50  defines a central area  70  (the gap between the upper and lower coil springs  66 , 68 ) through which the actuator  54  protrudes. Each coil spring  66 , 68  is mounted to the link arm  50  at a fixed end  72 , 74  respectively, and is coupled to a cam follower  76 , 78  respectively, near the centre of the central area  70  (between the opposing fixed ends  72 , 74 ). Thus, the upper coil spring  66  is coupled to the upper cam follower  76 , and the lower coil spring  68  is coupled to the lower cam follower  78 . 
         [0087]    The actuator  54  comprises a rotating shaft  80  on which are mounted two cams  82 , 84 , one cam  82 , 84  for each link arm  50 . Each cam (for example, cam  82 ) is aligned with the respective cam followers  76 , 78  of the associated link arm  50 . 
         [0088]    The cams  82 , 84  are generally teardrop-shaped and are aligned in registration on the shaft  80 , so that as the shaft  80  rotates, the cams  82 , 84  both engage with the upper cam follower  76  to compress the upper coil spring  66 , and then both disengage from the upper cam follower  76  to allow the upper coil spring  66  to relax to its quiescent state. Further rotation of the shaft  80  causes both of the cams  82 , 84  to engage with the lower cam follower  78  to compress the lower coil spring  68 , and then disengage from the lower cam follower  78  to allow the lower coil spring  68  to relax to its quiescent state. 
         [0089]    The bunch loader  22  also includes a transport arrangement  90  powered by the drive shaft  62 . The transport arrangement  90  co-operates with both the upper sheet transport section  40  and the lower sheet transport section  42 . 
         [0090]    The transport arrangement  90  comprises: a chassis  91  including shafts and wheels (not individually labelled in the drawings), a pair of belts  92  mounted to the chassis  91 , a single thinner belt  94  also mounted on the chassis  91 , and a pivot shaft  95  about which both the link arms  50  and the chassis  91  can pivot. 
         [0091]    The three belts  92 , 94  all protrude through the pressure plate  52  (best shown by  FIG. 2 ) for transporting the bunch of sheets  16  to the picker  24 . The pair of belts  92  also extend beneath the pressure plate  52  (best shown by  FIG. 3 ) to provide a transport section that co-operates with the lower sheet transport section  42 . 
         [0092]    Each link arm  50  is also pivotably coupled to the pressure plate  52  by an urging portion  96 . The urging portion  96  defines a hub  97  mounted on the pivot shaft  95  of the transport arrangement  90 . The pressure plate  52  is also mounted on the pivot shaft  95 . As the urging portion  96  moves upwards, the transport arrangement  90  and the pressure plate  52  move upwards; as the urging portion  96  moves downwards, the transport arrangement  90  and the pressure plate  52  move downwards. 
         [0093]    As will be explained in more detail below, rotation of the actuator shaft  80  can be used to pivot the urging portion  96  upwards to cause the pressure plate  52  and the transport arrangement  90  to rise. Further rotation of the actuator shaft  80  can be used to pivot the urging portion  96  downwards to cause the pressure plate  52  and the transport arrangement  90  to fall. 
         [0094]    A flap  98  is coupled to an end of the pressure plate  52  near to the bunch deposit slot  14 . This flap  98  allows a bunch  16  of sheets to be transported over the sheet return path (route  48 ) when the bunch  16  of sheets is being inserted; but it can also be deflected by a bunch of sheets being transported to the bunch deposit slot  14  in the event that one or more sheets have to be returned to the customer. 
         [0095]    Reference will now be made to  FIGS. 5 to 12 , which illustrate the bunch loader  22 , the upper sheet transport section  40 , and the lower sheet transport section  42  in more detail. Again, for clarity, not all reference numerals are shown on these drawings. 
         [0096]      FIGS. 5 to 7  illustrate the bunch loader  22  driven to an upper position, which is used when the bunch  16  of sheets is inserted into the depository  10 ; and  FIGS. 8 to 10  illustrate the bunch loader  22  driven to a lower position, which is used when a bunch of sheets is being returned to a customer. 
         [0097]    Referring first to  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the upper sheet transport section  40  comprises: a pair of transport belts  100  for moving an inserted bunch  16  towards the picker  24 . The picker  24  includes a pick belt  102  having a high friction surface for picking the topmost sheet from the bunch  16 . 
         [0098]    Although not illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the picker  24  also includes a retard belt  104  ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ) that moves in the opposite direction to the pick belt  102  to reduce the possibility of picking multiple sheets at a time. The picker  24  also includes a registration edge  106  ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ) against which the bunch  16  of sheets is driven prior to (and optionally during) the pick operation. Such retard belts  104  are well known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0099]    The lower sheet transport section  42  comprises a pair of belts  110  that cooperate with the pair of belts  92  in the transport arrangement  90 . 
         [0100]    The controller  34  is responsible for energising all of the transport sections within the depository  10 , rotating the actuator shaft  80 , energising the picker  24 , and all other electrical and electro-mechanical operations of the depository  10 . 
         [0101]    Insertion of Sheet Bunch 
         [0102]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7  and  11 , when a bunch  16  of sheets (such as banknotes) is inserted into the bunch deposit slot  14 , the controller  34  detects this and energises the transport arrangement  90  and the upper sheet transport section  40  to draw the bunch  16  into the depository  10 . The controller  34  also energises the actuator  54  and rotates the actuator shaft  80  until the cams  82 , 84  impart maximum displacement to the upper cam followers  76 . In this position, the lower cam followers  78  are not displaced. 
         [0103]    Displacement of the upper cam followers  76  causes both of the upper coil springs  66  to be compressed. This, in turn, causes both of the link arms  50  to pivot about pivot  60  so that the urging portion  96  of each rises. When the urging portions  96  rise, the pressure plate  52  also rises. This has the effect of compressing the bunch  16 , which ensures that banknotes within the bunch  16  are not splayed during transport. Since the pressure plate  52  is pivotably coupled to the urging portion  96 , the pressure plate  52  remains parallel to the bunch  16  as the pressure plate  52  rises. 
         [0104]    Once the bunch  16  reaches the picker  24 , the picker  24  removes banknotes one at a time. Each banknote that is removed enables the pressure plate  52  to rise a little. This allows the upper coil springs  66  to expand (that is, to relax), which reduces the pressure that the upper coil springs  66  apply to the remaining banknotes in the bunch  16 .  FIG. 11  illustrates the bunch  16  at the picker  24 .  FIG. 7  illustrates the pressure plate  52  urged against the upper sheet transport section  40 . 
         [0105]    Once all of the banknotes in the bunch  16  have been picked, the controller  34  de-activates the actuator  54  by rotating the actuator shaft  80  until the cams  82 , 84  cease to displace the upper cam followers  76 . This allows the pressure plate  52  to fall back to its normal position because the link arms  50  are equally biased by the upper and lower coil springs  66 , 68 . 
         [0106]    It should be noted that in  FIGS. 11 and 12  one of the link arms  50  has been removed for clarity. 
         [0107]    Return of Sheet Bunch to a Customer 
         [0108]    When the depository  10  is to return one or more sheets to a customer, then the controller  34  actuates the bunch loader  22  as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 to 10  and  12 . The controller  34  energises transport sections (not shown in detail) within the depository  10  to transport the bunch  16  of sheets towards the lower transport section  42 . 
         [0109]    The controller  34  also energises the actuator  54  and rotates the actuator shaft  80  until the cams  82 , 84  impart maximum displacement to the lower cam followers  78 . In this position, the upper cam followers  76  are not displaced. 
         [0110]    Displacement of the lower cam followers  78  causes both of the lower coil springs  68  to be compressed. This, in turn, causes both of the link arms  50  to pivot about pivot  60  so that the urging portion  96  of each moves downwards. When the urging portions  96  move down, the pressure plate  52  also moves down (best seen in  FIG. 10 ). This has the effect of compressing the bunch  16  between (i) the pair of belts  92  on the transport arrangement  90  and (ii) the pair of belts  110  on the lower transport section  42 . This ensures that banknotes within the bunch  16  are not splayed during transport towards the bunch deposit slot  14 . As the bunch  16  approaches the bunch deposit slot  14 , the bunch deflects the flap  98  upwards and then partially exits the bunch deposit slot  14  for the customer to retrieve. 
         [0111]    Once the bunch  16  has been removed by the customer, the controller  34  de-activates the actuator  54  by rotating the actuator shaft  80  until the cams  82 , 84  cease to displace the lower cam followers  78 . This allows the pressure plate  52  to fall back to its normal position because the link arms  50  are equally biased by the upper and lower coil springs  66 , 68 . 
         [0112]    It should now be appreciated that this embodiment has the advantage that a bunch of sheets can be transported and the sheets individually picked, while a pressure plate automatically applies an appropriate pressure to the bunch depending on the size of the bunch. Because a yoke link arm is used in the above embodiment (that is, a link arm having a pair of springs mounted thereto), the same mechanism can be used for drawing sheets into the depository and transporting sheets out of the depository. 
         [0113]    Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment within the scope of the invention, for example, in other embodiments, a different resilient member may be used, such as a leaf spring. 
         [0114]    In other embodiments, only a single link arm, or more than two link arms, may be used. In other embodiments, each link arm may only include a single resilient member rather than a pair of opposed resilient members. 
         [0115]    In other embodiments, the resilient members may be extended rather than compressed to pivot the link arms. 
         [0116]    In other embodiments, the actuator may comprise a linkage rather than a shaft and cams. 
         [0117]    In other embodiments, different transport sections may be used than those described. Transport sections may use different sheet drive mechanisms than those described above. 
         [0118]    The steps of the methods described herein may be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate. 
         [0119]    The terms “comprising”, “including”, “incorporating”, and “having” are used herein to recite an open-ended list of one or more elements or steps, not a closed list. When such terms are used, those elements or steps recited in the list are not exclusive of other elements or steps that may be added to the list. 
         [0120]    Unless otherwise indicated by the context, the terms “a” and “an” are used herein to denote at least one of the elements, integers, steps, features, operations, or components mentioned thereafter, but do not exclude additional elements, integers, steps, features, operations, or components.

Technology Category: 7