In a method for forming product stacks of folded or unfolded product blanks made of paper or chemical pulp, product blanks are supplied consecutively to a stacking surface and placed in an upright position. A separating element is inserted between two consecutive product blanks as the product blanks are moved against a channel wall of a discharge channel for temporary support of a rear side of the product blanks, to thereby form a first product stack with a predetermined number of product blanks between the separating element and the channel wall. The channel wall is opened to thereby allow the first product stack to be transferred to the discharge channel, and a sliding element is inserted between the product stack and a subsequent second product stack, as the first product stack is moved to the discharge channel.

A paper sheet insertion apparatus (for example, depositing and dispensing unit 20) includes: an imaging unit (for example, camera 60) configured to take an image of a side edge portion, on a placement member 23a side, of paper sheets placed in a placement unit 22, or a side edge portion, on a side opposite to the placement member 23a side, of the paper sheets placed in the placement unit 22, to obtain image data; and a control unit (for example, depositing and dispensing unit control unit 72) configured to determine, based on the image data obtained by the imaging unit, whether or not a plurality of the paper sheets placed in the placement unit are bundled by a bundling member.

A sorting machine (1) for sorting flat articles (100, 101) having non-uniform physical characteristics, the sorting machine having sorting outlets equipped with stackers (3) controlled by a monitoring and control unit in compliance with a plurality of programs, each of which is assigned to a predefined type of flat article (100, 101) having predetermined physical characteristics and setting predetermined operating parameters such as, in particular, the pitch between said flat articles (100, 101), and the speed at which said flat articles (100, 101) are conveyed, the sorting machine (1) having means for determining the predetermined physical characteristics of each incoming flat article (101) arriving in said stacker (3), said monitoring and control unit being arranged to act after said determination to assign a predefined type of flat article to said flat article (101) arriving in said stacker (3) and to activate the corresponding unstacking program so as to apply predetermined operating parameters while said incoming flat article (101) is being stacked.

A sorting machine (1) for sorting flat articles (100, 101) having non-uniform physical characteristics, the sorting machine having sorting outlets equipped with stackers (3) controlled by a monitoring and control unit in compliance with a plurality of programs, each of which is assigned to a predefined type of flat article (100, 101) having predetermined physical characteristics and setting predetermined operating parameters such as, in particular, the pitch between said flat articles (100, 101), and the speed at which said flat articles (100, 101) are conveyed, the sorting machine (1) having means for determining the predetermined physical characteristics of each incoming flat article (101) arriving in said stacker (3), said monitoring and control unit being arranged to act after said determination to assign a predefined type of flat article to said flat article (101) arriving in said stacker (3) and to activate the corresponding unstacking program so as to apply predetermined operating parameters while said incoming flat article (101) is being stacked.

A medium placing device (feeding tray) includes a placement unit, a regulation unit (edge guide), a displacement unit, a detection unit, and an adjustment unit. The regulation unit (edge guide) includes a first regulation member (first edge guide) and a second regulation member (second edge guide). The displacement unit is capable of moving the first regulation member (first edge guide) and the second regulation member (second edge guide) in directions opposite to each other along a first direction. The detection unit is provided between the placement unit and the adjustment unit.

A medium placing device (feeding tray) includes a placement unit, a regulation unit (edge guide), a displacement unit, a detection unit, and an adjustment unit. The regulation unit (edge guide) includes a first regulation member (first edge guide) and a second regulation member (second edge guide). The displacement unit is capable of moving the first regulation member (first edge guide) and the second regulation member (second edge guide) in directions opposite to each other along a first direction. The detection unit is provided between the placement unit and the adjustment unit.

A cassette for an automated teller machine includes: a case providing a support plate for supporting a medium; a front plate rotatably disposed in the case to guide the medium into an accommodation space within the case; and a push plate disposed on the support plate to be movable horizontally toward or away from the front plate. The support plate is disposed to be inclined downward within the accommodation space in a stack direction in which the medium is stacked.

A cassette for an automated teller machine includes: a case providing a support plate for supporting a medium; a front plate rotatably disposed in the case to guide the medium into an accommodation space within the case; and a push plate disposed on the support plate to be movable horizontally toward or away from the front plate. The support plate is disposed to be inclined downward within the accommodation space in a stack direction in which the medium is stacked.