Automated banking machine currency dispenser modules
View Patent ↗Dispenser modules include structure permitting their securement in stacked and aligned relation. The dispenser modules can contain multimedia. The dispenser modules can be used in an automated banking machine operative to dispense multimedia. Modules can include a projection plate and a biasing latch arm on side walls thereof. The projection plate includes a pin operative to be received in a side wall slot. A first module is locked to a second module due to a first module latch preventing movement of a second module pin from a first module slot. Disassembly of the locked modules can occur with compressing of the latch to release the modules relative to each other.
1. A method comprising:
(a) placing a first dispenser module adjacent a second dispenser module, wherein the modules are operative to store sheet items dispensable by an automated banking machine;
(b) deforming at least one biasing member portion operatively connected to the first module by engagement with at least one projection member portion operatively connected to the second module;
(c) subsequent to (b), moving the first module relative to the second module with the at least one biasing member portion biasingly deformed, wherein the first module is moved in an alignment direction toward an operative aligned position with the second module;
(d) further moving the first module relative to the second module in the alignment direction until the at least one deformed biasing member portion moves responsive to biasing force, wherein the at least one moved biasing member portion operatively prevents movement of the first module relative to the second module in a direction opposite the alignment direction.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the modules each include at least one side wall having at least one face, and
wherein (a) includes positioning at least one projection member portion operatively connected to the second module adjacent and outwardly disposed relative to at least one side wall face of the first module, and
wherein (b) includes deforming at least one biasing member operatively connected to the first module inwardly relative to the at least one side wall of the first module.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the at least one projection member portion includes a pin portion extending generally perpendicular to the side wall face, wherein the side wall face of the first module includes a recess in operative connection therewith, and step (c) includes:
moving the pin portion in the recess.
4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the pin portion includes an enlarged portion, wherein the enlarged portion is unable to pass through an engaging portion of the recess, and wherein (d) includes:
moving the pin portion in the recess so that the enlarged portion of the pin portion is unable to pass through the engaging portion of the recess.
5. The method according to claim 4 wherein (d) includes releasibly locking the first and second modules in the operative aligned relation.
6. The method according to claim 3 wherein a side wall face of the first module is operatively connected to a biasing tab portion, and wherein (c) includes:
relatively moving the projection member portion intermediate of the tab portion and the side wall face of the first module.
7. The method according to claim 6 wherein (d) includes:
retaining the projection member portion operatively connected to the second module, intermediate of the tab portion and the side wall face of the first module.
8. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising subsequent to step (d):
(e) biasingly deforming the biasing member portion to enable movement of the first module relative to the second module in a direction opposite the alignment direction.
9. The method according to claim 1 wherein(d) includes
locking the first and second modules in stacked operatively aligned position, and subsequent to(d) further comprising:
deforming the biasing member portion to unlock the modules from each other.
10. A method comprising:
in a sheet dispensing automated banking machine comprising a plurality of modules,
(a) moving at least one biasing member portion operatively attached to a first module, wherein moving the at least one biasing member portion enables the first module to move relative to a second module and away from an aligned position with the second module, wherein in the aligned position the first and second modules are engaged with each other, and wherein in the aligned position each of the first and second modules are operatively positioned in the machine to at least one of dispense currency sheets therefrom and receive currency sheets therein;
(b) subsequent to (a), moving the first module relative to the second module to disengage the first and second modules from each other.
11. A method comprising:
in a sheet dispensing automated banking machine comprising a plurality of modules, each module adapted to at least one of dispense currency sheets from or receive currency sheets in the module,
(a) moving at least one biasing member portion operatively attached to a first module, wherein moving the at least one biasing member portion enables the first module to move relative to a second module away from an operative and aligned position of the first and second modules, wherein in the operative and aligned position each of the modules are enabled to be operative in the machine to at least one of dispense currency sheets from and receive currency sheets in the module;
(b) subsequent to (a), moving the first module relative to the second module to disengage the first and second modules, wherein relative movement of the first and second modules disengages a plurality of interengaging projections and recesses holding the first and second modules in engagement in the operative and aligned position.
12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the second module includes a pair of disposed projecting portions, and wherein in the operative and aligned position of the first and second modules, the disposed projection portions are operative to hold the first and second modules in locked and engaged relation, and wherein moving the at least one biasing member portion in (a) enables each of the pair of projecting portions to be moved relative to the first module.
13. The method according to claim 12 wherein each of the projecting portions include a pin portion, and wherein each of the pin portions extend in an inward direction relative to the second module when the first and second modules are in the operative and aligned position, and wherein each pin portion is engaged in a recess of the first module, and wherein (b) includes moving each of the pin portions relative to each respective recess.
14. The method according to claim 13 wherein each recess includes a generally L shaped portion and wherein (b) includes moving the first and second modules relative to one another first in a first direction and thereafter in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.
15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the first module has connected thereto a pair of biasing member portions, each of the biasing member portions operatively engaging and preventing relative movement of a respective projecting portion in the operative and aligned position of the first and second modules, and wherein (a) includes moving each of the pair of biasing member portions inwardly relative to the first module.
16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the second module includes two disposed walls, and wherein each biasing member portion is integrally formed with a respective one of the walls, and wherein (a) includes inwardly moving each of the biasing member portions relative to each of the walls.
17. The method according to claim 16 wherein each of the pair of disposed walls includes a tab portion operatively connected thereto, and wherein (b) includes moving each projecting portion from intermediate relation between a respective tab portion and a respective wall.
18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the machine includes a third module, wherein the third module remains in an operative and aligned position with the first module after (b), and further comprising subsequent to (b):
(c) disengaging the first module and the third module from each other.
19. The method according to claim 18 wherein (c) includes:
(i) moving at least one further biasing member portion operatively attached to the third module, wherein moving the at least one further biasing member portion enables the first module to move relative to the third module;
(ii) moving the first module relative to the third module to disengage a plurality of interengaging projections and recesses operatively connected to the first and third modules.
20. The method according to claim 10 and further comprising:
(c) disconnecting at least one of the first module and second module from a presenter mechanism operative to present currency sheets from the machine.
21. The method according to claim 10 and subsequent to (b):
(c) moving the first module relative to the second module to reengage the first and second modules in the operative and aligned position.
22. A method comprising:
in a sheet dispensing automated banking machine comprising at least one module adapted to at least one of dispense currency sheets from and receive currency sheets in the module,
(a) moving a first module in adjacent relation to a second module, wherein at least one of the first module and the second module include a plurality of projections and recesses;
(b) moving the second module relative to the first module to cause the projections to enter recesses and to lock the first module and the second module to each other in an aligned position through biasing movement of at least one deformable biasing member portion.
23. The method according to claim 22 wherein (a) includes moving the first module and second module into generally vertically aligned relation.
24. The method according to claim 23 wherein (b) includes moving the first module and second module generally horizontally relative to one another.
25. The method according to claim 24 wherein in (a) the at least one deformable biasing member portion is deformed by the first module and second module being moved in generally vertically aligned relation, and in (b) the at least one deformable biasing member portion moves responsive to horizontal movement of the first module relative to the second module to hold the modules in the aligned position.
26. The method according to claim 25 and subsequent to (b):
(c) moving the at least one deformable biasing member portion;
(d) subsequent to (c) moving the first module generally horizontally relative to the second module whereby the first module and second module are enabled to be separated.
27. The method according to claim 22 and prior to (a) unlocking a door of a chest portion, wherein unlocking the door enables accessing at least one module.
28. The method according to claim 22 and further comprising:
(c) disconnecting the first module from a sheet presenter mechanism of the machine.
29. The method according to claim 28 wherein (c) includes
(i) moving at least one biasing member operatively connected to at least one of the first module and presenter mechanism,
(ii) moving the first module relative to the presenter mechanism to disengage a plurality of interengaging projections and recesses each operatively attached to at least one of the first module and presenter mechanism.
30. The method according to claim 25 and further comprising:
(c) dispensing currency sheets from the at least one second module.
31. The method according to claim 25 and further comprising:
(c) receiving currency sheets into the at least one second module.
32. The method according to claim 30 and prior to (c) positioning at least one sheet holding cassette in the at least one second module, wherein in (c) the currency sheets are dispensed form the at least one cassette.
33. The method according to claim 31 and prior to (c) positioning at least one cassette in the at least one second module, wherein in (c) the currency sheets are received within the at least one cassette.