Cash dispensing automated banking machine with improved resistance to fraud
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine ( 10 ) includes a controller ( 72 ) in the machine operative to selectively illuminate light emitting devices ( 118, 126 ) for purposes of facilitating user operation of the machine. Sensing devices ( 128 ) adjacent a card reader slot ( 28 ) on the machine enables the controller to detect the presence of unauthorized card reading devices. Structural features adjacent to a card reader slot ( 242 ) further reduce the risk of the undetected installation of unauthorized card reading devices.
1. An automated banking machine apparatus comprising:
a cash dispenser,
a user interface in supporting connection with a housing,
wherein the user interface includes at least one input device and at least one output device,
wherein the cash dispenser is operative to dispense cash responsive to inputs to the at least on input device,
wherein the at least one input device includes a card reader adapted to read magnetic stripe cards,
wherein the user interface includes a fascia portion,
wherein the fascia portion includes a recessed pocket,
wherein the pocket includes a card slot,
wherein the slot has a transverse width,
wherein the pocket is bounded by a lower wall,
wherein the lower wall includes a lower vertically extending projection,
wherein the lower vertically extending projection terminates vertically generally flush with the slot,
wherein the lower vertically extending projection at a portion generally flush with the slot transversely spans only a portion of the slot width,
wherein the pocket is bounded by an upper wall,
wherein the upper wall includes an upper vertically extending projection,
wherein the upper vertically extending projection terminates adjacent the slot,
wherein the upper vertically extending projection at a portion adjacent the slot transversely spans only a portion of the slot width.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the lower vertically extending projection extends on a first side of the slot, and wherein the upper vertically extending projection extends on an opposed side of the slot from the first side.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the lower vertically extending projection has a generally arcuate surface, wherein the upper vertically extending projection has a generally arcuate surface, and wherein the upper wall is generally arcuate in contour.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 and further comprising
a housing member adjacent the slot,
at least one radiation emitting device mounted in supporting relation with the housing member,
at least one radiation sensing device mounted in supporting relation with the housing member,
wherein the at least one radiation sensing device is operative to sense radiation emitted from the at least one radiation emitting device,
whereby positioning of an unauthorized card reading device adjacent the slot causes a change in at least one property of radiation sensed by the at least one radiation sensing device,
at least one controller,
wherein the at least one controller is operative responsive to a determination of an unauthorized card reading device to output a message.
5. An automated banking machine apparatus comprising:
housing,
cash dispenser extending in the housing,
a user interface in supporting connection with the housing, the user interface including at least one input and at least one output device, wherein the cash dispenser is operative to dispense cash selectively responsive to inputs to the at least on input device,
wherein the at least one input device includes a card reader having an associated card reader slot and adapted to accept magnetic stripe cards input by users of the machine,
wherein the user interface includes a fascia portion in adjacent surrounding relation of the card reader slot, wherein the fascia portion includes a recessed pocket, wherein the pocket includes a first wall, and wherein the slot is positioned in the pocket, wherein the slot has a transverse width,
a vertically extending projection extending on the fascia portion and partially spanning the transverse width of the slot, wherein the vertically extending projection extends vertically from the first wall, wherein the vertically extending projection terminates vertically generally flush with the slot,
wherein magnetic stripes on cards being read by the card reader pass through the slot in a stripe area, and wherein the vertically extending projection extends generally vertically flush with the slot in the stripe area.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vertically extending projection is elongated longitudinally.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vertically extending projection increases in the extent to which it projects from the first wall with longitudinal proximity to the slot.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vertically extending projection is bounded outwardly from the first wall by a generally arcuate surface.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first wall generally bounds a bottom area of the pocket, and wherein the vertically extending projection extends vertically upward from the first wall.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first wall is generally arcuate in configuration.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a housing member bounding the slot, and at least one radiation emitting device positioned in supporting connection with the housing member.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 and further comprising at least one radiation sensing device adjacent the slot such that positioning an unauthorized card reading device adjacent the slot causes change in at least one property of radiation from the at least one emitting device that is sensed by the at least one radiation sensing device.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 and further comprising at least one controller in operative connection with the at least one radiation sensing device, and wherein the at least one controller is operative to generate at least one signal responsive to sensing an unauthorized card reading device.
14. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the at least one sensing device and the at least one emitting device are mounted in supporting relation with the housing member.
15. The apparatus according to claim 11 and further comprising at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller is operative to cause the apparatus to carry out a currency dispensing transaction, and wherein the at least one controller is operative to cause the at least one radiation emitting device to initiate emitting radiation during at least one of a transaction step in which a card is to be inserted in the slot and a transaction step in which a card is to be taken from the slot.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the at least one controller is operative responsive to sensing an unauthorized card reading device to provide a message through at least one output device of the user interface.
17. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the at least one emitting device is operative to surroundingly illuminate the slot.
18. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising an upper wall, wherein the upper wall bounds an upper area of the pocket.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18 and further comprising a further vertically extending projection extending from the upper wall and adjacent the slot.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the further vertically extending projection partially spans the transverse width of the slot.
21. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the further vertically extending projection increases in the extent to which it projects from the upper wall with longitudinal proximity to the slot.
22. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the further vertically extending projection is bounded outwardly by a generally arcuate surface.
23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the generally arcuate surface bounding the further vertically extending projection terminates adjacent and vertically disposed of the slot.
24. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the upper wall is generally arcuate in contour.
25. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vertically extending projection extends on a first side of the slot, and further comprising a further vertically extending projection extending on an opposed side of the slot from the first side.
26. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the further vertically extending projection partially spans the transverse width of the slot on the opposed side.
27. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the further vertically extending projection extends generally vertically flush with the slot in the stripe area.