Granted Patent B1

US 7,726,558 · App. 11/445,595 · Granted Jun 1, 2010

Abstract

Claims (78)

1. A method comprising:

a) accessing at least one lower banking machine component of an ATM through a first opening in a chest housing bounding a secure area,

wherein the chest housing includes the first opening at an end side thereof and a second opening at a second opposed end thereof, and

wherein a first chest door is movably mounted in supporting connection with the chest housing,

wherein the first chest door is operative to selectively close the first opening, and

wherein a second chest door is movably mounted in supporting connection with the chest housing preventing access to the at least one lower banking machine component through the second opening,

wherein the second chest door is operative to semi-permanently close the second opening, and

wherein the at least one lower banking machine component is mounted in supporting connection with the chest housing in the secure area; and

b) servicing at least one of the at least one lower banking machine components.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

c) prior to (a), disengaging a first locking bolt mechanism,

wherein the first locking bolt mechanism is in supporting connection with the first chest door,

wherein the first locking bolt mechanism is operative to selectively securely lock the first chest door to the chest housing.

3. The method of claim 2 and further comprising:

d) prior to (b), operating a securing mechanism in supporting connection with the second chest door to semi-permanently securely close the second chest door.

4. The method of claim 3 and further comprising:

e) prior to (a), moving a lower fascia from a covering position to an accessible position,

wherein the lower fascia is mounted in supporting connection with the chest housing,

wherein the lower fascia is selectively movable between

the covering position,

wherein the lower fascia covers the first chest door when the first opening is selectively closed by the first chest door,

the accessible position,

wherein the lower fascia is disposed away from the first chest door when the first opening is selectively closed by the first chest door;

f) subsequent to (e), selectively opening the first chest door and thereafter engaging the first chest door with the lower fascia.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein (b) is performed subsequent to (h).

6. The method of claim 3 , and further comprising:

e) replacing the first locking bolt mechanism of (c) with a securing mechanism in supporting connection with the first chest door, wherein the securing mechanism is operative to semi-permanently securely close the first chest door; and

f) replacing the securing mechanism of (d) with a second locking bolt mechanism in supporting connection with the second chest door, wherein the second locking bolt mechanism is operative to securely lock the second chest door to the chest housing.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein (b) includes servicing a currency dispenser mechanism mounted in supporting connection with the chest housing in the secure area.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein (b) includes servicing a currency stacker mounted in supporting connection with the chest housing in the secure area.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the chest housing includes a top wall, wherein a top housing cover is mounted in slidable supporting relationship with the top wall, and further comprising:

c) rearwardly sliding the top housing cover to uncover at least one upper banking machine component, wherein the at least one upper banking machine component is housed outside the secure area.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one upper banking machine component is mounted in supporting connection with a rollout tray, wherein the rollout tray is mounted in supporting connection with the top wall, and further comprising:

d) moving the rollout tray from a retracted position to an extended position to access the at least one upper banking machine component.

11. The method of claim 10 and further comprising:

e) operatively connecting the at least one lower banking machine component with at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is housed in a processor case.

12. The method of claim 11 and further comprising:

f) prior to (a), selectively opening the first chest door; and

g) returning the ATM to an operational condition, where returning the ATM to the operational condition includes placing the rollout tray in the retracted position, forwardly sliding the top housing cover into an operational position above the chest housing, and closing the chest door.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

c) operatively connecting at least one of the at least one lower banking machine component with at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is housed in a processor case, wherein the processor case is mounted in rotational supporting connection with the chest housing outside the secure area.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one upper banking machine component is mounted outside the secure area, and wherein the at least one upper banking machine component is selectively covered by a top housing cover, wherein the top housing cover is mounted in slidable supporting relationship with a top wall of the chest housing, the method further comprising:

c) sliding the top housing cover relative to the top wall to expose the at least one of the at least one upper banking machine component.

15. The method of claim 14

wherein the at least one of the at least one upper banking machine component is mounted in supporting connection with a rollout tray,

wherein the rollout tray is selectively movable between

a retracted position where the rollout tray is within an interior area of a top housing, and

an extended position where the rollout tray extends outwardly from the interior area through a front opening in the top housing,

the method further comprising:

d) moving the rollout tray to the extended position from the retracted position.

16. The method of claim 1

wherein the ATM includes an upper fascia and a lower fascia,

wherein the lower fascia and the upper fascia face outward in a same direction,

wherein the lower fascia is mounted in supporting connection with the chest housing,

wherein the lower fascia is selectively movable relative to the upper fascia between

a covering position,

where the lower fascia covers the first chest door when the first opening is closed by the first chest door, and

an accessible position,

where the lower fascia is disposed away from the first chest door when the first opening is closed by the first chest door,

and further comprising:

c) prior to (a), moving the lower fascia from the covering position to the accessible position.

17. A method comprising:

(a) sliding a movably mounted top cover relative to the top wall of an ATM chest including a first opening, a second opening, a movably mounted first chest door selectively movably to open and close the first opening, and a second chest door configured to close the second opening, and wherein the top cover is movably mounted in slidable supporting relationship with the top wall,

wherein the sliding uncovers at least one upper banking machine component located above the chest; and

(b) subsequent to step (a), accessing the at least one upper banking machine component.

18. The method of claim 17 and further comprising

(c) moving the first chest door to cause the first opening to be opened; and

(d) subsequent to step (c), manually accessing at least one lower banking machine component through the opened first opening.

19. A method comprising:

(a) rotating relative to an upper fascia, from a covering position to a door accessible position, a lower fascia movably mounted in supporting connection with an ATM chest including a first opening, a second opening, a first chest door selectively movably to open and close the first opening, and a second chest door configured to close the second opening,

wherein the lower fascia and the upper fascia face outward in a same direction,

wherein while movably mounted in the covering position, the lower fascia prevents manual access to the first chest door, and

wherein while movably mounted in the door accessible position, the lower fascia allows manual access to the first chest door;

(b) subsequent to step (a), moving the first chest door to cause the first opening to be opened; and

(c) subsequent to step (b), accessing at least one lower banking machine component through the opened first opening.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the chest includes a top wall, wherein a top cover is movably mounted in slidable supporting relationship with the top wall, and further comprising

(d) sliding the top cover relative to the top wall to allow manual access to at least one upper banking machine component located above the chest; and

(e) subsequent to step (d), accessing the at least one upper banking machine component.

Assignments (11)