Stacking Cassette

Abstract

A document storage container assembly ( 100 ) comprises a storage container ( 102 ), a first tray ( 330 ) mounted to the container so as to receive documents to be stacked, the bottom of said tray including an elongate aperture ( 331 ) opening into the storage container, and a pusher member ( 103 ) mounted on and laterally extending from at least one elongate supporting member ( 104, 204 ) which is coupled to an operating mechanism ( 150, 250 ) located within the storage container; wherein the operating mechanism is adapted to first move the pusher member through the aperture from a retracted position to an extended position above the first tray and then to move the pusher member from the extended position laterally over the first tray , before moving the pushing member from the extended position to the retracted position orthogonally to the first tray so as to push any documents on the said first tray into the container through the aperture .

1 . A document storage container assembly ( 100 ) comprising:
 a storage container ( 102 );   a first tray ( 330 ) mounted to the container ( 102 ) so as to receive documents to be stacked, the bottom of said tray including an elongate aperture ( 331 ) opening into the storage container; and   a pusher member ( 103 ) mounted on and laterally extending from at least one elongate supporting member ( 104 ,  204 ), which is coupled to an operating mechanism ( 150 ,  250 ) located within the storage container;   wherein the operating mechanism ( 150 ,  250 ) is adapted to first move the pusher member ( 103 ) through the aperture ( 331 ) from a retracted position to an extended position above the first tray and then to move the pusher-member ( 103 ) from the extended position laterally over the first tray ( 330 ), before moving the pushing member ( 103 ) from the extended position to the retracted position orthogonally to the first tray so as to push any documents on the said first tray ( 330 ) into the container ( 102 ) through the aperture ( 331 ).   
     
     
         2 . A document storage container assembly ( 100 ) according to  claim 1  wherein the operating mechanism ( 150 ,  250 ) further comprises:
 at least one guide member ( 105 ,  205 ) in which the at least one supporting member ( 104 ,  204 ) is free to move; and   driving means ( 108 ,  160 ) to propel the at least one supporting member ( 104 ,  204 ) through the at least one guide member ( 105 , 205 ) to move the pusher member ( 103 ) from the retracted position to the extended position;   
     
     
         3 . A document storage container assembly ( 100 ) according to  claim 2  wherein each guide member ( 105 ,  205 ) further comprises:
 an aperture ( 113 ,  213 ) through which a respective supporting member ( 104 ,  204 ) is slideably mounted;   wherein:   each guide member ( 105 ,  205 ) is pivotally mounted at a pivot point ( 106 ,  206 ) to the storage container ( 102 ),   the guide member aperture ( 113 ,  213 ) and the pivot point ( 106 ,  206 ) are offset from each other; and wherein   the rotation of the or each guide member ( 105 ,  205 ) about the pivot point ( 106 ,  206 ) causes a corresponding pivotal movement of the pusher member ( 103 ).   
     
     
         4 . A document storage container assembly ( 100 ) according to  claim 2  or  claim 3 , wherein the driving means comprises a base axle ( 108 ) and a belt assembly ( 160 ,  260 ), and the at least one supporting member ( 104 ,  204 ) is attached to the belt ( 114 ,  214 ) at a rigid base ( 107 ,  207 ), the movement of the belt propelling the at least one member through its respective guide member ( 105 ,  205 ). 
     
     
         5 . A document storage container assembly ( 100 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the rigid base ( 107 ,  207 ) comes into contact with, and applies a force to, the guide member ( 105 ,  205 ), wherein the force generates a moment about the pivot point ( 106 ,  206 ) and produces the rotation of the or each guide member about the pivot point. 
     
     
         6 . A document storage container assembly ( 100 ) according to  claims 2  to  5  in which the driving means are powered manually ( 111 ) or by electric motor ( 225 ). 
     
     
         7 . A document storage container assembly ( 100 ) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a second tray ( 332 ) mounted within the container ( 102 ) so as to receive documents pushed through the aperture ( 331 ) of the first tray ( 330 ), wherein the second tray is urged towards the first tray by an urging member ( 333 ). 
     
     
         8 . A document storage container assembly ( 100 ) according to any of the preceding claims wherein the pushing member ( 103 ) is mounted between two lateral supporting members ( 104 ,  204 ). 
     
     
         9 . A document transport system ( 900 ) comprising:
 housing apparatus ( 901 );   a document inlet ( 902 ); and   a transport system defining a document deposit path to convey documents from the inlet; wherein   the transport system comprises a document storage container assembly ( 100 ), according to any of the preceding claims, removably mounted within the housing apparatus ( 901 ) and adapted to receive documents from the document deposit path and to provide a secure storage facility for said documents;   
     
     
         10 . A document transport system ( 900 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein, in the extended position, the pusher member ( 103 ) of the document storage container assembly ( 100 ) extends beyond the assembly into the housing apparatus so as to lock the assembly in place within the housing apparatus ( 901 ). 
     
     
         11 . A document transport system ( 900 ) according to  claim 9  or  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a temporary store ( 905 ) between the document deposit path and the container assembly ( 100 ) comprising a moveable platform ( 502 ) that drops down into the housing apparatus ( 504 ,  901 ) so as to deposit any documents onto the first tray ( 330 ) of the document storage container assembly;   
     
     
         12 . A method for storing documents in a container comprising the steps of:
 depositing a plurality of documents to be stored on a tray mounted to the container;   moving a pusher member in an extended position laterally over the tray; and   moving the pushing member from the extended position to a retracted position orthogonally to the tray so as to push the plurality of documents through an aperture in the bottom of the tray into the container.