Document handling apparatus

Abstract

A document handling apparatus ( 100 ) is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an input module ( 500 ) for feeding documents one-by-one into the machine, a note handling assembly ( 400 ) including a note transport system, secure document analysis assembly, diverter and stacker module. The secure document analysis assembly includes one or more detectors for detecting characteristics of the documents. The diverter ( 800 ) directs documents along one of plural transport paths. Documents pass from the diverter into a safe via a through-safe transport and transport safe module to a series of roll storage modules, in which documents can be stored and later dispensed.

1 - 51 . (canceled) 
   
   
       52 . A method of conveying an upstream document and a downstream document along a transport path, the method comprising:
 a) conveying the upstream document at the first predetermined position along a transport path;   b) halting the upstream document from its source to a first predetermined position;   c) at a predetermined time based on the position of the downstream document, conveying the upstream document along the transport path at substantially the same velocity as the down stream document.   
   
   
       53 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the arrival of the upstream document at the first predetermined position is detected by a first sensor located at the first predetermined position in the transport path. 
   
   
       54 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the predetermined time corresponds to the arrival of the downstream document at a second predetermined position, detected by a second sensor located at the second predetermined position in the transport path. 
   
   
       55 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein in step c), the predetermined time occurs when a predetermined delay has elapsed since the departure of the downstream document from the first predetermined position is detected using the first sensor. 
   
   
       56 . A method according to  claim 52 , further comprising:
 d) measuring the gap between the upstream and downstream documents.   
   
   
       57 . A method according to  claim 55 , further comprising:
 d) measuring the gap between the upstream and downstream documents.   
   
   
       58 . A method according to  claim 57 , wherein the duration of the predetermined delay is calculated based on the measured gap between adjacent downstream documents. 
   
   
       59 . A method according to  claim 58 , wherein an average measured gap between adjacent downstream documents is calculated, and the duration of the predetermined delay is calculated based on the average measured gap. 
   
   
       60 . A method according to  claim 58 , wherein the measured gaps between pairs of adjacent downstream documents are recorded as a statistical distribution, and the duration of the predetermined delay is calculated based on the recorded distribution. 
   
   
       61 . A method according to  claim 60 , wherein the duration of the predetermined delay is calculated to maintain the 95 th  percentile of the statistical distribution at or below a standard deviation of 2. 
   
   
       62 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the upstream document is conveyed by step a) by a first drive assembly, which is stopped in step b) to halt the upstream document. 
   
   
       63 . A method according to  claim 62 , wherein the upstream document is conveyed in step c) by a second drive assembly. 
   
   
       64 . A method according to  claim 63 , wherein the first predetermined position is located such that when the document is halted, the document is positioned to receive drive from the second drive assembly and its trailing edge is retained by the first drive assembly. 
   
   
       65 . A method according to  claim 64 , wherein, during step c), the first drive assembly is not driven such that a retardation force is applied to the document by the first drive assembly as it is conveyed by the second drive assembly.