Document Storage System

Abstract

A document storage device for storing sheet documents is disclosed. The device comprises a band ( 3 ), which can be wound onto a document storage roller ( 2 ) such that sheet documents can be stored between adjacent windings of the band on the document storage roller and which can be unwound from the document storage roller thereby dispensing the stored documents, and a scraper assembly rotatable about a pivot ( 21 ) and comprising a scraper ( 19 ) and an end stop ( 20 ), each for contacting the band on the document storage roller. The scraper assembly is urged by a first biassing element ( 22 ) such that the end stop maintains contact with the band on the document storage roller at a point distal from the pivot relative to the point of contact of the scraper with the band on the document storage roller.

1 . A document storage device for storing sheet documents, the device comprising a band, which can be wound onto a document storage roller such that sheet documents can be stored between adjacent windings of the band on the document storage roller and which can be unwound from the document storage roller thereby dispensing the stored documents, and a scraper assembly rotatable about a pivot and comprising a scraper and an end stop, each for contacting the band on the document storage roller, the scraper assembly being urged by a first biassing element such that the end stop maintains contact with the band on the document storage roller at a point distal from the pivot relative to the point of contact of the scraper with the band on the document storage roller. 
     
     
         2 . A document storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the documents are dispensed from the document storage roller at a point between the points of contact of the scraper and the end stop with the band on the document storage roller. 
     
     
         3 . A document storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the end stop is a roller. 
     
     
         4 . A document storage device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a band roller upon which the band may be wound. 
     
     
         5 . A document storage device according to  claim 4 , wherein the band can be selectively wound between the band roller and the document storage roller so as to store and dispense documents from the document storage roller. 
     
     
         6 . A document storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the band is entrained around one or more rollers mounted on the scraper assembly. 
     
     
         7 . A document storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the documents are conveyed to the document storage roller via a document transport system. 
     
     
         8 . A document storage device according to  claim 7 , wherein the document transport system comprises a belt drive for delivering the documents to and from the band. 
     
     
         9 . A document storage device according to  claim 7 , wherein the document transport system comprises a diverter for diverting documents either into the document transport system or into an alternative document path. 
     
     
         10 . A document storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the scraper assembly comprises a support to which the scraper is pivotally mounted. 
     
     
         11 . A document storage device according to  claim 10 , wherein the scraper is urged by a second biassing element towards the document storage roller. 
     
     
         12 . A document storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the scraper is formed from a resilient material. 
     
     
         13 . A document storage device according to  claim 4 , wherein the document storage roller and the band roller are driven by independent motors. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled)