Escrow stacker for paper currency

Claim 2

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from Said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, bill-moving means to move bills in said space into a position where they are gripped by said escrow means and to subsequently move bills gripped by said escrow means into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path by said bill-moving means as they are successively moved into positions where they are gripped by said escrow means and are held under pressure by said stacker means, and bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path.

Claim 3

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency as claimed in claim 1 wherein said escrow means presses said bills together in face-to-face relation, and wherein said stacker means subsequently presses said bills together in face-to-face relation.

Claim 4

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bill-moving means includes a pusher that moves a predetermined distance as it moves said bill to the first said position and that moves a further distance as it moves said bill to said second position.

Claim 5

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bill-moving means includes a reciprocable pusher, and wherein said reciprocable pusher moves a predetermined distance in one direction as it moves said bill to the first said position and that moves said bill a further distance in said one direction as it moves said bill to said second position.

Claim 6

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bill-moving means can bodily move a plurality of bills which are gripped in the first said position by said escrow means to said second position where they will be held under pressure by said stacker means.

Claim 7

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space which has gripping members that can receive and temporarily grip the edges of bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means which has further gripping members that can receive bills from said escrow means and that can hold the edges of said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means defining one side of said space, said space and said stacker means being disposed on opposite sides of said escrow means, bill-moving means to move bills in said space into a position where they are gripped by said escrow means and to subsequently move bills gripped by said escrow means into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into the first said position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into said second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means being disposed between two of said walls, and said stacker means being disposed between said two of said walls, whereby a bill that is to be held under pressure by said stacker means will continuously remain between said two of said walls as said bill is successively received and gripped by sAid escrow means and received and held under pressure by said stacker means.

Claim 8

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space which has gripping members that can receive and temporarily grip the edges of bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means which has further gripping members that can receive bills from said escrow means and that can hold the edges of said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means defining one side of said space, said space and said stacker means being disposed on opposite sides of said escrow means, bill-moving means to move bills in said space into a position where they are gripped by said escrow means and to subsequently move bills gripped by said escrow means into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into the first said position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into said second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means being disposed between two of said walls, and said stacker means being disposed between said two of said walls, whereby a bill that is to be held under pressure by said stacker means will continuously remain between said two of said walls as said bill is successively received and gripped by sAid escrow means and received and held under pressure by said stacker means.

Claim 9

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, and bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means having bill-gripping members that grip the edges of bills moved to and held in said first position, and said bill-returning means causing said bill-gripping members to release the bills gripped by said escrow means.

Claim 10

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, and bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means having bill-gripping members that grip the edges of bills moved to and held in said first position, and said bill-returning means causing said bill-gripping members to release the bills gripped by said escrow means.

Claim 11

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, and bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member that remains essentially motion-less as a bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, and said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved away from said first bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and gripped by said escrow means.

Claim 12

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, and bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member that remains essentially motion-less as a bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, and said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved away from said first bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and gripped by said escrow means.

Claim 13

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, bill-moving means which move each bill that is moved into said space into a first position where it is gripped by said escrow meanS, said bill-moving means including a pusher, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member that remains essentially motion-less as said bill-moving means move said bill into said first position, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved away from said first said bill-gripping member by said pusher of said bill-moving means, and said pusher of said bill-moving means subsequently permitting said second bill-gripping member to move back into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member.

Claim 14

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, bill-moving means which move each bill that is moved into said space into a first position where it is gripped by said escrow meanS, said bill-moving means including a pusher, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member that remains essentially motion-less as said bill-moving means move said bill into said first position, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved away from said first said bill-gripping member by said pusher of said bill-moving means, and said pusher of said bill-moving means subsequently permitting said second bill-gripping member to move back into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member.

Claim 15

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member that remains essentially motion-less as a bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved away from said first said bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, and said bill-returning means causing said first said bill-gripping member to move away from said second bill-gripping member and thereby effect the release of any bill gripped by said escrow means.

Claim 16

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member that remains essentially motion-less as a bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved away from said first said bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, and said bill-returning means causing said first said bill-gripping member to move away from said second bill-gripping member and thereby effect the release of any bill gripped by said escrow means.

Claim 17

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member that remains essentially motion-less as a bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved in one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, and said bill-returning means causing said first said bill-gripping member to move away from said second bill-gripping member in a direction transverse of tHe first said direction and thereby effect the release of any bill gripped by said escrow means.

Claim 18

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member that remains essentially motion-less as a bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved in one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, and said bill-returning means causing said first said bill-gripping member to move away from said second bill-gripping member in a direction transverse of tHe first said direction and thereby effect the release of any bill gripped by said escrow means.

Claim 19

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved in one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, said second bill-gripping member being moved in said one direction and also being moved in a direction transverse to the said one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and held under pressure by said stacker means, and said second bill-gripping member subsequently being permitted to move back into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member.

Claim 20

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved in one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, said second bill-gripping member being moved in said one direction and also being moved in a direction transverse to the said one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and held under pressure by said stacker means, and said second bill-gripping member subsequently being permitted to move back into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member.

Claim 21

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, bill-moving means which move each bill that is moved into said space into a first position where it is gripped by said escrow means, said bill-moving means subsequently moving said bill from said first position to a second position where it is held under pressure by said stacker means, said bill-moving means including a reciprocable pusher, said reciprocable pusher moving a predetermined distance in one direction as it moves said bill to said first position and moving said bill a further distance in said one direction as it moves said bill to said second position, and a lost-motion linkage which selectively moves said reciprocable pusher through said predetermined and said further distances.

Claim 22

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, bill-moving means which move each bill that is moved into said space into a first position where it is gripped by said escrow means, said bill-moving means subsequently moving said bill from said first position to a second position where it is held under pressure by said stacker means, said bill-moving means including a reciprocable pusher, said reciprocable pusher moving a predetermined distance in one direction as it moves said bill to said first position and moving said bill a further distance in said one direction as it moves said bill to said second position, and a lost-motion linkage which selectively moves said reciprocable pusher through said predetermined and said further distances.

Claim 23

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space than can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means anD to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved in one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, said stacker means having a bill-gripping element, said stacker means having a second bill-gripping element that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping element but that is moved in a given direction away from said first said bill-gripping element and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping element as said bill is received and held under pressure by said stacker means, and said second bill-gripping member being moved in said one direction before said second bill-gripping element is moved in said given direction.

Claim 24

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space than can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means anD to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved in one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, said stacker means having a bill-gripping element, said stacker means having a second bill-gripping element that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping element but that is moved in a given direction away from said first said bill-gripping element and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping element as said bill is received and held under pressure by said stacker means, and said second bill-gripping member being moved in said one direction before said second bill-gripping element is moved in said given direction.

Claim 25

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved in one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, said stacker means having a bill-gripping element, and said stacker means having a second bill-gripping element that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping element but that is moved in a given direction away from said first said bill-gripping element and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping element as said bill is received and held under pressure by said stacker means, said one direction and said given direction being the same.

Claim 26

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved in one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, said stacker means having a bill-gripping element, and said stacker means having a second bill-gripping element that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping element but that is moved in a given direction away from said first said bill-gripping element and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping element as said bill is received and held under pressure by said stacker means, said one direction and said given direction being the same.

Claim 27

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to reCeive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, bill-moving means which move each bill that is moved into said space into a first position where it is gripped by said escrow-means, said bill-moving means subsequently moving said bill from said first position to a second position where it is held under pressure by said stacker means, said bill-moving means including a pusher, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved in one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, said stacker means having a bill-gripping element, said stacker means having a second bill-gripping element that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping element but that is moved in a given direction away from said first said bill-gripping element and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping element as said bill is received and held under pressure by said stacker means, said pusher causing said second bill-gripping member to move in said one direction as said bill is moved into position to be gripped by said escrow means, and said pusher causing said second bill-gripping member to move in said one direction and causing said second bill-gripping element to move in said given direction as said bill is moved into position to be held under pressure by said stacker means.

Claim 28

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into said space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to reCeive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, bill-moving means which move each bill that is moved into said space into a first position where it is gripped by said escrow-means, said bill-moving means subsequently moving said bill from said first position to a second position where it is held under pressure by said stacker means, said bill-moving means including a pusher, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved in one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and gripped by said escrow means, said stacker means having a bill-gripping element, said stacker means having a second bill-gripping element that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping element but that is moved in a given direction away from said first said bill-gripping element and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping element as said bill is received and held under pressure by said stacker means, said pusher causing said second bill-gripping member to move in said one direction as said bill is moved into position to be gripped by said escrow means, and said pusher causing said second bill-gripping member to move in said one direction and causing said second bill-gripping element to move in said given direction as said bill is moved into position to be held under pressure by said stacker means.

Claim 29

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, bill-moving means which move each bill that is moved into said space into a first position where it is gripped by said escrow means, said bill-moving means subsequently moving said bill from said first position to a second position where it is held under pressure by said stacker means, said bill-moving means including a pusher, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved in one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposiTe direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member, said second bill-gripping member being moved in said one direction and also being moved in a direction transverse to the said one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and held under pressure by said stacker means, said stacker means having a bill-gripping element, said stacker means having a second bill-gripping element that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping element but that is moved in a given direction away from said first said bill-gripping element and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping element as said bill is received and held under pressure by said stacker means, said pusher causing said second bill-gripping member to move in said one direction as said bill is moved into position to be gripped by said escrow means, and said pusher causing said second bill-gripping member to move in said one direction and also in said transverse direction and causing said second bill-gripping element to move in said given direction as said bill is moved into position to be held under pressure by said stacker means.

Claim 30

A combination escrow-stacker for paper currency which comprises walls defining a space that can receive bills, escrow means in communication with said space to receive and temporarily grip bills which are moved into space, stacker means in communication with said escrow means to receive bills from said escrow means and to hold said bills under pressure in a stack, said escrow means and said stacker means being so disposed relative to said space that bills which are moved into said space are moved along a predetermined path as they are successively moved into a first position where they are gripped by said escrow means and into a second position where they are held under pressure by said stacker means, bill-returning means which coact with said escrow means to selectively return bills that are gripped by said escrow means, said bill-returning means and said escrow means providing a path of movement, for said bills which are to be returned, that is at least in part separate and distinct from said predetermined path, bill-moving means which move each bill that is moved into said space into a first position where it is gripped by said escrow means, said bill-moving means subsequently moving said bill from said first position to a second position where it is held under pressure by said stacker means, said bill-moving means including a pusher, said escrow means having a bill-gripping member, said escrow means having a second bill-gripping member that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping member but that is moved in one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposiTe direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping member, said second bill-gripping member being moved in said one direction and also being moved in a direction transverse to the said one direction away from said first said bill-gripping member as said bill is received and held under pressure by said stacker means, said stacker means having a bill-gripping element, said stacker means having a second bill-gripping element that initially is adjacent the first said bill-gripping element but that is moved in a given direction away from said first said bill-gripping element and thereafter is permitted to move back in the opposite direction into close proximity to said first said bill-gripping element as said bill is received and held under pressure by said stacker means, said pusher causing said second bill-gripping member to move in said one direction as said bill is moved into position to be gripped by said escrow means, and said pusher causing said second bill-gripping member to move in said one direction and also in said transverse direction and causing said second bill-gripping element to move in said given direction as said bill is moved into position to be held under pressure by said stacker means.