An apparatus and method are disclosed for removing at least one item of media from a rotating drum element. The apparatus includes a scraper element comprising a blade edge region locatable at an effective outer surface of a rotating drum element and a scraper element support that locates the blade edge region at a desired position at the effective outer surface responsive to a diameter of the effective outer surface. The scraper element rotates and moves laterally with respect to the support responsive to the diameter.
1. Apparatus for removing at least one item of media from a rotating drum element, comprising:
a scraper element comprising a blade edge region locatable at an effective outer surface of a rotating drum element; and
a scraper element support that locates the blade edge region at a desired position at the effective outer surface; wherein
the scraper element rotates and moves laterally with respect to the support responsive to a diameter of the effective outer surface, and wherein the support comprises a first and further spaced apart substantially parallel plate element, each comprising a respective elongate plate aperture into which a respective end of a shaft element supporting the scraper element is rotatably mounted.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
the effective outer surface comprises an outer surface of the drum element or an outer surface of a tape element wrapped around the outer surface of the drum element.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
said a desired position comprises location of the blade edge region at a proximity and orientation with respect to the effective outer surface whereby a blade tip of said blade edge region almost engages the effective outer surface and an abutment surface of the blade region terminating in the blade tip has a desired angle of attack relative to a tangent of the effective outer surface.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
the blade edge region is continually located at a respective desired position automatically as items of media are added to or removed from the rotating drum element.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
the first and further plate elements rotate in common at a respective first end region thereof about a support axis of rotation; and
the support further comprises a riding roller element urged against said effective outer surface to ride thereon; wherein
the support plate elements rotate responsive to a location of the riding roller element.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one wall member comprising an elongate wall aperture, an end of said shaft element being rotatably mounted in the wall aperture and a respective one said plate aperture; wherein
a longitudinal axis of the wall aperture and a longitudinal axis of the respective one plate aperture are angled apart to lock the shaft element at a position respective to a diameter of the outer surface.
7. An automated teller machine (ATM) comprising an escrow container, said escrow container comprising the apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , and each item of media comprising a currency note.
8. A self-service terminal or teller assist unit or case recycler comprising the apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each item of media comprises a currency note.