Apparatus for handling flexible sheets

Abstract

In a paper money handling apparatus including a volume for containing a paper money, a paper money transfer means for taking the paper money into and out from the volume, a paper money guide for guiding the paper money to be taken into and out from the volume, and a paper money pressing means for pressing the paper money in the volume, the paper money pressing means descends with its gravity at a side of the paper money guide facing to the volume, and the apparatus further includes a paper money deforming member for applying to the paper money a rigidity for moving vertically upward the paper money pressing means.

1 . A flexible sheet handling apparatus comprising,
 flexible sheet transfer means for taking a flexible sheet into and out from a volume for storing the flexible sheet,   a flexible sheet guide for guiding the flexible sheet to be taken into and out from the volume, and   flexible sheet pressing means for pressing the flexible sheet in the volume,   wherein the flexible sheet pressing means projects from the flexible sheet guide into the volume to extend over the flexible sheet transfer means so that the flexible sheet in the volume is prevented from contacting the flexible sheet transfer means when the flexible sheet is taken into the volume.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible sheet handling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet pressing means projects from the flexible sheet guide into the volume with a gravity of the flexible sheet pressing means. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible sheet handling apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic member for urging the flexible sheet pressing means to project from the flexible sheet guide into the volume. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible sheet handling apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible sheet deforming member for applying to the flexible sheet a force for moving the flexible sheet pressing means toward the flexible sheet guide. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible sheet handling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet pressing means is kept protruded into the volume until the flexible sheet is transferred, and is moved toward the flexible sheet guide after the flexible sheet is received by the volume. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible sheet handling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet pressing means is moved toward the flexible sheet guide by a force applied to the flexible sheet pressing means from the flexible sheet. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible sheet handling apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet pressing means is moved toward the flexible sheet guide by a force applied to the flexible sheet pressing means from the flexible sheet when the flexible sheet is discharged from the volume. 
     
     
         8 . A flexible sheet handling apparatus for taking a flexible sheet into a volume, comprising,
 a flexible sheet transfer device for driving the flexible sheet to be transferred into the volume, and   a pressing member capable of reciprocating with respect to the volume to move between a first position at which the pressing member presses the flexible sheet in the volume and a second position at which the pressing member is separated from the flexible sheet in the volume to allow a subsequent one of the flexible sheet to move onto the flexible sheet in the volume.   
     
     
         9 . The flexible sheet handling apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the pressing member is urged toward the flexible sheet in the volume by a gravity of the pressing member. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible sheet handling apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the pressing member is urged toward the flexible sheet in the volume by an elastic force. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible sheet handling apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the flexible sheet transfer device includes:
 a pair of rollers having respective peripheral surfaces between which the flexible sheet is clamped and whose rotational axes are parallel to each other, and being rotatable to drive the flexible sheet along an imaginary straight driving line which extends perpendicular to an imaginary straight junction line passing the rotational axes as seen in a direction parallel to the rotational axes and which passes a boundary between the peripheral surfaces at which the flexible sheet is clamped, and   a pair of flexible sheet deforming members having respective contact surfaces contactable with a surface of the flexible sheet, wherein the flexible sheet deforming members is capable of extending over the imaginary straight driving line as seen in the direction to contact the surface at the contact surfaces and the peripheral surfaces are arranged between the contact surfaces in an axial direction of the rollers so that a groove whose longitudinal direction is parallel to another direction in which the flexible sheet is driven by the rollers and whose concave surface as a reverse surface of the flexible sheet with respect to the surface in a thickness direction thereof is contactable with the pressing member, is formed on the flexible sheet to increase a rigidity of the flexible sheet for moving the pressing member to the second position.   
     
     
         12 . The flexible sheet handling apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the pressing member is arranged between the contact surfaces in the axial direction. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible sheet handling apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the contact surfaces overlap at least partially the rollers as seen in the axial direction. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible sheet handling apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the flexible sheet deforming members is capable of reciprocating with respect to the rollers to move between a projecting position at which the flexible sheet deforming members extend over the imaginary straight driving line to form the groove and a withdrawn position at which the flexible sheet deforming members is prevented from extending over the imaginary straight driving line to prevent the groove from being formed. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible sheet handling apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the pressing member has respective pressing surfaces contactable with the surface, and the rollers are arranged between the pressing surfaces in the axial direction.