Check accepting and cash dispensing automated banking machine system and method
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine system and method includes ATMs which accept checks and dispense cash to users. The ATMs are operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. Cash may be dispensed to the user from the ATM in exchange for the deposited check. The ATMs dispense cash responsive to communications with a transaction host.
1. A method comprising:
(a) accessing an interior area of an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser, wherein the interior area includes a check accepting device operative to receive checks input to the automated banking machine;
(b) moving a first platen to expose an escrow area of a transport path of the check accepting device;
(c) moving a second platen to expose a document alignment area of the transport path of the check accepting device.
2. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
removing at least one printhead from adjacent the transport path.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein (c) occurs prior to (b), and wherein (c) enables (b) to be carried out.
4. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
(d) prior to (c), disengaging a latch on the check accepting device, wherein disengaging the latch enables the second platen to be rotatably moved about an axis.
5. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
(d) manually servicing at least one of the escrow area and document alignment area.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein in (d) the servicing includes at least one of clearing a check jam, cleaning a component, adjusting a component, and replacing a component.
7. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
(d) prior to (b) and (c), moving the check accepting device to a position outside of the interior area.
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the check accepting device is supported on at least one slide of the automated banking machine,
wherein (d) includes extending the at least one slide relative to the interior area to cause the check accepting device to be moved to the position outside of the interior area;
wherein (b) and (c) occur with the check accepting device positioned outside of the interior area while supported by the at least one slide.
9. A method comprising:
(a) accessing an interior area of an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser;
(b) moving a first platen to expose an escrow area of a transport path of a check accepting device;
(c) moving a second platen to expose a document alignment area of the transport path of the check accepting device;
(d) removing at least one check from at least one of the escrow area and document alignment area.
10. The method according to claim 9 ,
wherein (b) comprises rotating the first platen while in supporting relation with the check accepting device, about a first axis, and
wherein (c) comprises moving the second platen while in supporting connection with the check accepting device about a second axis, wherein the second axis is generally perpendicular to the first axis.
11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the transport path is bounded by a guide portion, wherein the guide portion is bounded by a first toothed contoured edge, and wherein the second platen includes a second toothed contoured edge generally corresponding to and movable into adjacent relation of the first toothed contoured edge, and wherein (c) comprises moving the second toothed contoured edge rotationally away from the first toothed contoured edge.
12. The method according to claim 11 and further comprising:
(e) moving the second platen through rotation about the second axis to bring the first and second toothed contoured edges into adjacent relation, and closing the document alignment area.
13. The method according to claim 12 and further comprising:
(f) prior to (e), moving the first platen through rotation about the first axis to close the escrow area.
14. The method according to claim 13 and further comprising:
(g) subsequent to (e), engaging a latch on the check accepting device, wherein engagement of the latch is adapted to both hold the second platen in position closing the document alignment area and hold the first platen in position closing the escrow area.
15. The method according to claim 9 wherein (c) includes exposing at least one scanning sensor in the transport path.
16. The method according to claim 15 wherein (c) includes exposing at least one magnetic sensor in the transport path.
17. The method according to claim 16 and further comprising:
(e) subsequent to (c), cleaning at least one of the at least one scanning sensor and the at least one magnetic sensor.
18. The method according to claim 9 wherein the automated banking machine comprises a housing, and wherein the check accepting device is movably mounted in supporting relation with the housing, and further comprising:
(e) subsequent to (a), moving the check accepting device in supporting relation with the housing such that the check accepting device extends outside the housing.
19. The method according to claim 18 and further comprising:
(f) subsequent to (a), removing at least one stack of checks from a storage area in the check accepting device.
20. The method according to claim 19 and further comprising:
(g) subsequent to (a), and prior to (f), opening at least one door covering the storage area of the check accepting device.
21. The method according to claim 19 wherein (f) includes moving a backing plate against the force of a biasing mechanism, and removing the at least one stack of checks from between the backing plate and a transport in the storage area.
22. A method comprising:
(a) accessing an interior area of an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser;
(b) moving a first platen to expose an escrow area of a transport path of a check accepting device;
(c) moving a second platen to expose a document alignment area of the transport path and expose at least one of a scanning sensor and a magnetic sensor;
(d) cleaning at least one sensor exposed in (c).
23. A method comprising:
(a) accessing an interior area of an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser;
(b) moving a first platen to expose an escrow area of a transport path of a check accepting device;
(c) moving a second platen to expose a document alignment area of the transport path of the check accepting device;
(d) moving the first platen rotationally about a first axis to close the escrow area;
(e) moving the second platen rotationally about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis, to close the document alignment area.
24. The method according to claim 23 and further comprising:
(f) moving a document in the transport path;
(g) operating the machine to produce data corresponding to an image of at least a portion of the document.
25. The method according to claim 24 and further comprising:
(h) dispensing cash from the machine.