Media cassette

Abstract

A media cassette comprises urging means for urging a stack of media items to one end of the cassette such that the front most media item in the stack can be picked from the cassette. The cassette further comprises a media item separator, located adjacent said one end of the cassette. The separator is adapted to utilize the motion of said stack during the picking of the front most media item to separate each media item from adjacent media items in, at least, a portion of said stack.

1 . A media cassette comprising: urging means for urging a stack of media items to one end of the cassette such that the front most media item in the stack can be picked from the cassette; and a media item separator, located adjacent said one end of the cassette, the separator being adapted to utilize the motion of said stack during the picking of the front most media item to separate each media item from adjacent media items in, at least, a portion of said stack.  
   
   
       2 . A media cassette as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the item separator has a substantially saw tooth cross-section.  
   
   
       3 . A media cassette as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each tooth in the item separator has a leading edge which is substantially vertical.  
   
   
       4 . A media cassette as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each tooth in the item separator has a 45 degree angle to the leading edge of the following tooth.  
   
   
       5 . A cassette as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the urging means comprises a pusher plate slidably mounted on a ratchet for urging media items towards a media pick end opposite a handle end.  
   
   
       6 . A method of picking a media item from a media cassette comprising: urging means for urging a stack of media items to one end of the cassette such that the front most media item in the stack can be picked from the cassette; and a media item separator, located adjacent said one end of the cassette, 
 the method including the step of utilizing the motion of said stack during the picking of the front most media item to pass, at least, a portion of the media items in the stack across the separator so as to separate each media item from adjacent media items in, at least, a portion of said stack.    
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the motion of said stack during the picking of the front most media item is a forward and reverse motion along an axis running the length of the cassette towards said one end of the cassette.  
   
   
       8 . An Automated Teller Machine (ATM) having a pick mechanism including a pick arm; and a media cassette comprising: urging means for urging a stack of media items to one end of the cassette such that the front most media item in the stack can be picked from the cassette by the pick arm being moved into contact with said note stack, the cassette further including a media item separator, located adjacent said one end of the cassette, the separator being adapted to utilize the motion of said stack during the picking of the front most media item, by said pick arm to separate each media item from adjacent media items in, at least, a portion of said stack.