Cash dispensing automated banking machine with deposit holding container
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine ( 10 ) is provided. The automated banking machine may include a fascia ( 50 ) in operative connection with a frame ( 110 ). The machine may include a plurality of hardware devices which are accessible through the fascia. The hardware devices may include a cash dispenser ( 24 ), receipt printer ( 20 ), and a card reader ( 22 ). The fascia may include replaceable bezels ( 550,552 ) with apertures therein for providing access to hardware devices. The bezels may be operative to float with respect to the fascia and hardware devices to automatically align hardware devices with the bezels. In addition the hardware devices may include movable portions which are operative to automatically align with the bezels. The bezels may include ramps, ribs, or other angled surfaces which guide the hardware devices into alignment with the openings in the bezels.
1. A cash dispensing automated banking machine comprising:
a chest;
a cash dispenser in operative connection with the chest;
an acceptor device in operative connection with an outer portion of the chest;
a bracket in operative connection with an inner portion of the chest;
a deposit holding container movably engageable with the bracket, wherein the container comprises:
a reservoir;
a locking mechanism in operative connection with the reservoir, wherein the locking mechanism is operative to change from a locked state to an armed state responsive to a key, wherein the locking mechanism includes a movable portion, wherein when the movable portion is moved, the locking mechanism is operative to change from an armed state to a locked state; and
a door in operative connection with the reservoir, wherein when the locking mechanism is in the armed state, the door is moveable from a closed position to an open position;
wherein when the container is moved into supporting engagement with the bracket:
a first portion of the machine is operative to urge the movable portion of the container to move, whereby the locking mechanism is changed from the armed state to the locked state;
wherein when the locking mechanism is in the locked state and the container is moved out of engagement with the bracket:
a second portion of the machine is operative to urge the door of the container to move from the opened position to the closed position, wherein in the closed position, a portion of the door is in operative to engagement with the locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism in the locked state is operative to prevent the door from moving to an open position.
2. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein, when the locking mechanism is in the armed position; the door of the container is in the closed state; and the container is moved into engagement with the bracket, a third portion of the automated banking machine is operative to urge the door of the container to slide into the open position.
3. The machine according to claim 2 , wherein the door of the container includes a slot, wherein when the container is moved out of engagement with the bracket, the third portion of the machine is operative to pivot into the slot and urge the door into the closed position.
4. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is operative to accept a key therein, wherein when the key rotates in a first direction, the key is operative to cause the locking mechanism to change to an unlocked state, wherein in the unlocked state, the door is moveable from the closed position to the open position, wherein after changing to the unlocked state, when the key rotates in a second direction opposed of the first direction, the locking mechanism is operative to change to the armed state.
5. The machine according to claim 4 , wherein afier the key is rotated in the first direction within the locking mechanism, the locking mechanism is operative to prevent the key from being removed from the locking mechanism, until the key is rotated in the second direction.
6. The machine according to claim 4 , wherein the acceptor device is operative to move to a position above the bracket, wherein the chest incluclcs at least one opening therethrough located adjacent the bracket, wherein the acceptor device is operative to move items through the opening into the container.
7. The machine according to claim 6 , further comprising a movable projection, wherein when the container is moved into engagement with the bracket, the container is operative to urge the movable projection into a first position adjacent a portion of the acceptor device, wherein the movable projection in the first position is operative to prevent the acceptor device from moving into a service position, wherein when the container is removed out of engagement with the bracket, the movable projection is operative to move to a second position, wherein the moveable projection in the second position does not prevent the acceptor device from moving into the service position.
8. The machine according to claims 7 , wherein when the acceptor device is not in the service position, the acceptor device is positioned above the bracket, wherein when the acceptor device is in the service position, the acceptor device is not directly above at least a portion of the at least one opening through the chest.
9. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the chest has a generally “L” shaped contour with a first taller portion adjacent a second relatively shorter portion, wherein the acceptor device is positioned above the shorter second portion adjacent the first taller portion, wherein the bracket is positioned within the second shorter portion of the chest below the acceptor device, wherein the chest includes an opening between the bracket and the acceptor device, wherein the acceptor device is operative to move items though the opening into the container.
10. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the door of the container includes an upwardly directed projection, wherein when the container is moved into supporting engagement with the bracket the second portion of the machine is operative to contact the upwardly directed projection to urge the door to move into the open position.
11. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is operative to accept a key therein, wherein when the key rotates in a first direction, the key is operative to cause the locking mechanism to change to an unlocked state, wherein in the unlocked state, the door is moveable from the closed position to the open position.
12. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the container includes a frame, wherein the locking mechanism is mounted in supporting connection with the frame, wherein the frame includes an aperture therethrough adjacent the movable portion, wherein the first portion includes a pin which is positioned to extend in the aperture and engage the moveable portion when the container is moved into supporting engagement with the bracket.
13. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the door includes a flexible tambour portion which is operative to slide between parallel channels adjacent an opening into the reservoir.
14. The machine according to claim 13 , wherein the tambour door includes flanges which are operative to slide within the channels.
15. The machine according to claim 14 , wherein each channel includes a frangible portion, wherein the frangible portion is operative to break to provide an opening for inserting one of the flanges of the door into the channel.
16. A method comprising:
a) urging a deposit holding container to slide adjacent a bracket of an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser, wherein the container includes a locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is in an anned state, wherein the container includes a door, wherein the door is operative to move from a closed position to an open position when the locking mechanism is in the armed state;
b) urging with a first portion of the automated banking machine the locking mechanism to change to a locked state responsive to (a);
c) urging the container to slide out of the bracket; and
d) urging with a second portion of the automated banking machine, the door of the container to move to a closed position responsive to (c), wherein a portion of the door engages with the locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism in the locked state is operative to prevent the door from moving to an open position.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein prior to (a) the door of the container is in the closed position, wherein responsive to (a) urging with a third portion of the automated banking machine the door of the container to slide into the open position.
18. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
e) placing a key into engagement with the locking mechanism;
f) urging with the key the locking mechanism into an unlocked state, wherein the door is operative to move to the open position.
19. The method according to claim 18 , fUrther comprising:
g) removing the key from engagement with the locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is in the armed state.
20. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising:
g) causing with the key, the locking mechanism to change from the unlocked state to the armed state; and
h) removing the key from engagement with the locking mechanism.
21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein between (f) and (g) the key is not removable from the locking mechanism.
22. The method according to claim 20 , wherein (f) includes rotating the key within the locking mechanism in a first direction.
23. The method according to claim 22 , wherein (g) includes rotating the key in an opposite second direction.
24. A cash dispensing automated banking machine comprising:
a chest in operative coninection with a frame, wherein the chest has a generally “L” shaped outer contour with a first taller portion adjacent a second relatively shorter portion, wherein the shorter portion includes an upper face with an opening therethrough;
a cash dispenser in operative connection within the taller portion of the chest;
an acceptor device in operative connection with an outer portion of the chest, wherein the acceptor device is positioned above the shorter portion and adjacent to the first taller portion; and
a deposit holding container in removable connection within the shorter portion of the chest, wherein the acceptor device is operative to move items through the opening into the container.
25. A method comprising:
a) urging a deposit holding container to slide into a chest of an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser and a deposit accepting device, wherein the deposit holding container includes a locking mechanism and a door controlling access to an interior area of the container, and wherein the locking mechanism is in a first state which permits the door to move from a closed position to an open position, wherein the door is moved from the closed position to the open position responsive to the container sliding into the chest;
b) responsive to the container sliding into the chest in (a), urging Through operative engagement with a portion of the automated banking machine, the locking mechanism to change from the first state to a second state, wherein with the locking mechanism in the second state the door will be held closed by the locking mechanism when the door is next moved to the closed position;
c) subsequent to (b), urging the container to slide out of the chest; and
d) responsive to (c), urging through engagement with a portion of the automated banking machine, the door of the deposit holding container to move from the open position to the closed position, wherein when the door has moved to the closed position, the locking mechanism in the second state prevents the door from thereafter moving from the closed position to the open position.
26. The method according to claim 25 , further comprising:
e) subsequent to (b) and prior to (c) through operation of the deposit accepting device, moving at least one item through an opening in the chest and into the interior area of the deposit holding container.
27. The method according to claim 25 , further comprising:
e) subsequent to (d), actuating the locking mechanism outside of the chest using a key, wherein responsive to actuating the locking mechanism the door is moveable from the closed position to the open position.