Granted Patent B2

US 6,981,636 · App. 10/325,345 · Granted Jan 3, 2006

Abstract

Claims (41)

1. A self-service terminal for use in an unattended environment to allow a self-service user to conduct a self-service transaction, the self-service terminal comprising:

a fascia including means defining a document slot;

means defining a document storage bin; and

a document processing module including means defining a document processing zone, means defining a first document transport path which extends between the document slot and the document processing zone, means defining a second document transport path which is different from the first document transport path and which extends between the document processing zone and the document storage bin, and a document path selector mechanism disposed along at least one of the first and second document transport paths for (i) enabling a document to be transported along the first document transport path between the document slot and the document processing zone when parts of the document path selector mechanism are in a first position, and (ii) enabling a document to be transported along the second document transport path from the document processing zone to the document storage bin when parts of the document path selector mechanism are in a second position which is different from the first position;

the document path selector mechanism including first and second movable deflector members and a movable selector member disposed between the first and second deflector members, wherein (i) each of the first and second deflector members has a major surface, (ii) the selector member has a first major surface which faces towards the major surface of the first deflector member to define at least a portion of the first document transport path extending between the document slot and the document processing zone when parts are in the first position, and (iii) the selector member has a second major surface which is different from the first major surface and which faces towards the major surface of the second deflector member to define at least a portion of the second document transport path extending between the document processing zone and the document storage bin when parts are in the second position.

2. A self-service terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the document path selector mechanism includes a linking member for linking the first and second deflector members such that the first and second deflector members move together as a unit when parts of the document path selector mechanism switch between the first and second positions.

3. A self-service terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the selector member is separable apart from between the first and second deflector members to allow a document which is jammed between the selector member and one of the first and second deflector members to be removed.

4. A self-service terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the document processing module includes a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) reader disposed along the first document transport path.

5. A cheque cashing automated teller machine (ATM) for enabling an ATM customer to conduct a cheque deposit transaction, the cheque cashing ATM comprising:

an ATM fascia including (i) means defining a currency dispensing slot through which currency can be dispensed to an ATM customer, and (ii) means defining a cheque entrance/exit slot;

a currency dispensing module for dispensing currency via the currency dispensing slot to an ATM customer;

a cheque storage bin for storing cheques deposited by ATM customers;

a cheque processing module for receiving a cheque from an ATM customer, the cheque processing module including means defining a cheque processing zone, means defining a bi-directional cheque transport path which extends between the cheque entrance/exit slot and the cheque processing zone, means defining a divert cheque transport path which is different from the bi-directional cheque transport path and which extends between the cheque processing zone and the cheque storage bin, and a cheque path selector mechanism disposed along at least one of the cheque transport paths for (i) enabling a cheque to be transported along the bi-directional cheque transport path between the cheque entrance/exit slot and the cheque processing zone when parts of the cheque path selector mechanism are in a first position, and (ii) enabling a cheque to be transported along the divert cheque transport path from the cheque processing zone to the cheque storage bin when parts of the cheque path selector mechanism are in a second position which is different from the first position;

the cheque path selector mechanism including first and second movable deflector members and a movable selector member disposed between the first and second deflector members, wherein (i) each of the first and second deflector members has a major surface, (ii) the selector member has a first major surface which faces towards the major surface of the first deflector member to define at least a portion of the bi-directional cheque transport path extending between the cheque entrance/exit slot and the cheque processing zone when parts are in the first position, and (iii) the selector member has a second major surface which is different from the first major surface and which faces towards the major surface of the second deflector member to define at least a portion of the divert cheque transport path extending between the cheque processing zone and the cheque storage bin when parts are in the second position; and

a controller for controlling the currency dispensing module to dispense currency via the currency dispensing slot to an ATM customer when a cheque which has been deposited by the ATM customer is transported along the divert cheque transport path from the cheque processing zone to the cheque storage bin.

6. A cheque cashing ATM according to claim 5 , wherein the cheque path selector mechanism includes a linking member for linking the first and second deflector members such that the first and second deflector members move together as a unit when parts of the cheque path selector mechanism switch between the first and second positions.

7. A cheque cashing ATM according to claim 5 , wherein the selector member is separable apart from between the first and second deflector members to allow a cheque which is jammed between the selector member and one of the first and second deflector members to be removed.

8. A cheque cashing ATM according to claim 5 , wherein the cheque processing module includes a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) reader disposed along the bi-directional cheque transport path.

9. A document transport path selector apparatus for use in a self-service terminal at which a self-service user can deposit a document to conduct a self-service transaction, the document transport path selector apparatus comprising:

first and second movable deflector members; and

a movable selector member disposed between the first and second deflector members and movable between the first and second deflector members, wherein (i) each of the first and second deflector members has a major surface, (ii) the selector member has a first major surface which faces towards the major surface of the first deflector member to define at least a portion of a first document transport path of the self-service terminal when the selector member and the first deflector member are moved to a first position, and (iii) the selector member has a second major surface which is different from the first major surface and which faces towards the major surface of the second deflector member to define at least a portion of a second document transport path of the self-service terminal when the selector member and the second deflector member are in a second position which is different from the first position.

10. A document transport path selector apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a linking member for linking the first and second deflector members such that the first and second deflector members move together as a unit when the selector member switches between the first and second positions.

11. A document transport path selector apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the selector member is separable apart from between the first and second deflector members to allow a document which is jammed between the selector member and one of the first and second deflector members to be removed.

12. A self-service terminal comprising:

a fascia including means defining a document slot; and

a document processing module including means defining a document processing zone, means defining a bi-directional document transport path which extends between the document slot and the document processing zone, and a document path selector mechanism disposed along the document transport path for (i) enabling a document to be transported along the document transport path between the document slot and the document processing zone when parts of the document path selector mechanism are in a first position, and (ii) enabling a document to be transported along a divert path extending from the document processing zone to a location other than the document slot when parts of the document path selector mechanism are in a second position;

the document path selector mechanism including first and second movable deflector members and a movable selector member disposed between the first and second deflector members such that (i) the selector member and the first deflector member co-operate to define at least a portion of the document transport path extending between the document slot and the document processing zone when parts are in the first position, and (ii) the selector member and the second deflector member co-operate to define the divert path extending from the document processing zone to the location other than the document slot when parts are in the second position;

wherein the document path selector mechanism includes a linking member for linking the first and second deflector members such that the first and second deflector members move together as a unit when parts of the document path selector mechanism switch between the first and second positions;

wherein (i) the first deflector member includes a stopping surface for engaging a surface of a first stopping member to physically limit the extent of movement of the first deflector member when parts are in the first position, and (ii) the second deflector member includes a stopping surface for engaging a surface of a second stopping member which is different from the first stopping member to physically limit the extent of movement of the second deflector member when parts are in the second position.

13. An automated teller machine (ATM) comprising:

an ATM fascia including (i) means defining a currency dispensing slot through which currency can be dispensed to an ATM customer, and (ii) means defining a cheque entrance/exit slot;

a currency dispensing module for dispensing currency via the currency dispensing slot to an ATM customer; and

a cheque processing module for receiving a cheque from an ATM customer, the cheque processing module including means defining a cheque processing zone, means defining a bi-directional cheque transport path which extends between the cheque entrance/exit slot and the cheque processing zone, and a cheque path selector mechanism disposed along the cheque transport path for (i) enabling a cheque to be transported along the cheque transport path between the cheque entrance/exit slot and the cheque processing zone when parts of the cheque path selector mechanism are in a first position, and (ii) enabling a cheque to be transported along a divert path extending from the cheque processing zone to a location other than the cheque entrance/exit slot when parts of the cheque path selector mechanism are in a second position;

the cheque path selector mechanism including first and second movable deflector members and a movable selector member disposed between the first and second deflector members such that (i) the selector member and the first deflector member co-operate to define at least a portion of the cheque transport path extending between the cheque entrance/exit slot and the cheque processing zone when parts are in the first position, and (ii) the selector member and the second deflector member co-operate to define the divert path extending from the cheque processing zone to the location other than the cheque entrance/exit slot when parts are in the second position;

wherein the cheque path selector mechanism includes a linking member for linking the first and second deflector members such that the first and second deflector members move together as a unit when parts of the cheque path selector mechanism switch between the first and second positions;

wherein (i) the first deflector member includes a stopping surface for engaging a surface of a first stopping member to physically limit the extent of movement of the first deflector member when parts are in the first position, and (ii) the second deflector member includes a stopping surface for engaging a surface of a second stopping member which is different from the first stopping member to physically limit the extent of movement of the second deflector member when parts are in the second position.

14. A document path selector apparatus for use in a self-service terminal, the apparatus comprising:

first and second movable deflector members;

a movable selector member disposed between the first and second deflector members and movable between the first and second deflector members such that the selector member and the first deflector member co-operate to define at least a portion of a first document transport path of the self-service terminal when the selector member and the first deflector member are moved to a first position and the selector member and the second deflector member co-operate to define at least a portion of a second document transport path of the self-service terminal when the selector member and the second deflector member are in a second position which is different from the first position; and

a linking member for linking the first and second deflector members such that the first and second deflector members move together as a unit when the selector member switches between the first and second positions;

wherein (i) the first deflector member includes a stopping surface for engaging a surface of a first stopping member to physically limit the extent of movement of the first deflector member when the selector member and the first deflector member are in the first position, and (ii) the second deflector member includes a stopping surface for engaging a surface of a second stopping member which is different from the first stopping member to physically limit the extent of movement of the second deflector member when the selector member and the second deflector member are in the second position.

Assignments (9)