Cash dispensing automated banking machine deposit printing system and method
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine which dispenses cash and includes a mechanism for accepting deposited items. Deposited items may be provided to the machine in envelopes which are first passed to a user from an envelope storage area ( 132 ) in the machine through a transport ( 124 ) and which are presented to the user through an opening ( 244 ). A user may thereafter include deposit items in the dispensed envelope. The deposited items are passed through the opening ( 244 ) and are deposited in a deposit-holding container ( 128 ). The deposited items may be marked by an inkjet printer with indicia corresponding to the transaction or properties of the deposited item. The operation of the printer is caused by a controller ( 56 ) which controls the operation responsive to one or more environmental parameters.
1. A method comprising:
(a) sensing temperature with a temperature sensor within an automated banking machine, wherein the machine includes a cash dispenser, an inkjet printer including a plurality of nozzles that expel ink therefrom, and at least one controller in operative connection with the inkjet printer and temperature sensor, wherein the at least one controller is operative to vary a level of firing energy applied to the nozzles for printing based on temperature sensed with the temperature sensor;
(b) carrying out at least one transaction through operation of the machine, wherein in carrying out the at least one transaction the at least one controller causes the inkjet printer to print indicia on an item;
(c) operating the at least one controller responsive to the temperature sensed in (a), to adjust the level of firing energy applied to each of the nozzles from a first firing energy level operative to cause printing to a second firing energy level operative to cause printing, wherein the second firing energy level is determined based on the temperature sensed in (a), and wherein in step (b) the nozzles print indicia at the second firing energy level.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein (b) includes carrying out a cash dispensing transaction.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (b) the inkjet printer prints indicia on a deposit envelope.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (b) the inkjet printer prints indicia on a check.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (b) the inkjet printer prints indicia on a currency note.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (c) the at least one controller causes a decrease in a level of firing energy responsive to a sensing of a higher temperature in (a).
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (c) the at least one controller causes a decrease in applied electrical potential of the firing energy responsive to a sensing of a higher temperature in (a).
8. The method according to claim 6 wherein in (a) temperature is sensed within the inkjet printer.
9. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (c) the at least one controller causes an increase in a time that firing energy is applied responsive to a sensing of a higher temperature in (a).
10. The method according to claim 9 wherein in (c) the at least one controller causes a reduction in a pulse width of at least one signal, causing ink to be expelled from a nozzle responsive to sensing increased temperature in (a).
11. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (c) the at least one controller causes a decrease in a level of firing energy responsive to sensing increased temperature in (a) as a function of the boiling point of ink expelled by the inkjet printer.
12. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
(d) sensing humidity with a humidity sensor at the automated banking machine, wherein the humidity sensor is in operative connection with the at least one controller;
(e) operating the at least one controller to control operation of the inkjet printer responsive to humidity sensed in (d).
13. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
(d) providing at least one altitude value to the at least one controller, the at least one altitude value corresponding to an altitude at which the banking machine operates;
(e) operating the at least one controller to control operation of the inkjet printer responsive to the at least one altitude value provided in (d).
14. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
(d) providing at least one altitude value to the at least one controller, the at least one altitude value corresponding to an altitude at which the banking machine operates;
wherein in (c) the at least one controller adjusts the level of firing energy responsive to the at least one altitude value.
15. The method according to claim 14 wherein ink expelled by nozzles of the inkjet printer has an associated boiling point, and wherein in (c) the at least one controller is operative to vary the level of firing energy as a function of the boiling point.
16. The method according to claim 1 wherein the inkjet printer includes an ink holding reservoir, and wherein in (a) temperature of ink in the reservoir is sensed.
17. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (c) the at least one controller adjusts the level of firing energy as a function of a boiling point of ink expelled from the inkjet printer.
18. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (c) the at least one controller is operative to vary electrical potential applied in firing a nozzle as a function of temperature.
19. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (c) the at least one controller is operative to vary a time firing energy is applied in firing a nozzle as a function of temperature.
20. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
receiving a card from a user of the machine; and
reading card indicia from the card through operation of a card reader in the machine;
wherein in (b) the at least one transaction is carried out responsive to the card indicia read from the card.
21. The method according to claim 20 and further comprising:
receiving a PIN from the user through an input device on the machine;
wherein in (b) the at least one transaction is carried out responsive to the card indicia and the PIN having a predetermined relationship.
22. The method according to claim 21 wherein in (b) the at least one transaction includes dispensing cash to the user through operation of the cash dispenser.
23. The method according to claim 21 wherein in (b) the indicia is printed on at least one of a receipt, statement, check, currency note and envelope.
24. The method according to claim 23 wherein in (c) the level of firing energy is varied through operation of the at least one controller as a function of temperature, and wherein at least one of electrical potential applied in firing a nozzle and time firing energy is applied in firing a nozzle, is decreased responsive to increased temperature and as a function of a boiling point of ink expelled from nozzles of the inkjet printer.
25. The method according to claim 24 and further comprising:
(d) receiving at least one altitude value with the at least one controller, wherein the at least one altitude value corresponds to an altitude at which the machine carries out transactions;
wherein in (c) the at least one controller is operative to adjust the level of firing energy as a function of at least both the temperature sensed in (a) and the at least one altitude value received in (d);
and further comprising,
(e) sensing with a humidity sensor, humidity at the machine, wherein the humidity sensor is in operative connection with the at least one controller;
(f) operating the at least one controller to control operation of the inkjet printer responsive to humidity sensed in (e).
26. At least one computer readable medium including computer executable instructions operative to cause at least one computer to cause an automated banking machine to carry out a method comprising:
(a) sensing temperature with a temperature sensor within an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser, an inkjet printer including a plurality of nozzles that expel ink therefrom and at least one controller in operative connection with the inkjet printer and temperature sensor, wherein the at least one controller is operative to vary a level of firing energy applied to the nozzles for printing based on temperature sensed with the temperature sensor;
(b) carrying out at least one transaction through operation of the machine, wherein in carrying out the at least one transaction the at least one controller causes the inkjet printer to print indicia on an item;
(c) operating the at least one controller responsive to the temperature sensed in (a), to adjust the level of firing energy applied to each of the nozzles from a first firing energy level operative to cause printing to a second firing energy level operative to cause printing, wherein the second firing energy level is determined based on the temperature sensed in (a), and wherein in step (b) the nozzles print indicia at the second firing energy level.
27. A method comprising:
(a) sensing temperature with a temperature sensor within an automated banking machine, wherein the machine includes a cash dispenser, an inkjet printer including a plurality of nozzles that expel ink therefrom, and at least one controller in operative connection with the inkjet printer and temperature sensor;
(b) operating the at least one controller to determine a particular amount of firing energy based on the temperature sensed in (a), wherein the at least one controller is operative to determine other amounts of firing energy respectively based on other temperatures sensed with the temperature sensor, wherein each amount of firing energy when applied to each of the plurality of nozzles causes the inkjet printer to print; and
(c) carrying out at least one transaction through operation of the machine, wherein in carrying out the at least one transaction the at least one controller causes the particular amount of firing energy determined in step (b) to be applied to each of the plurality of nozzles to cause the inkjet printer to print indicia on an item.