ATM with security sensing system for cash dispenser customer interface gate
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine operates to dispense cash to authorized users. The machine includes at least one processor which controls various banking machine devices and operates the machine in response to inputs by customers. A sensor is in operative connection with a gate that controls access through a currency dispensing opening. The at least one processor operates to analyze signals from the sensor and to determine if the gate movement corresponds to a suspect condition. If the at least one processor determines that there is a suspect condition, the machine executes one or more protective actions to minimize the risk of improper activity.
1. A method comprising:
a) moving a gate member controlling access through an opening in a housing of an automated banking machine responsive to operation of at least one processor in the machine, wherein the gate member is moved from a closed position wherein the gate member blocks access through the opening, to an open position;
b) subsequent to (a) and with the gate member in the open position, operating the machine responsive to the at least one processor, to extend a stack comprising at least one currency bill outward from the machine through the opening, whereby the stack is enabled to be taken by a machine user from outside the machine;
c) during at least a portion of (b), moving the gate member towards the closed position, wherein the gate member is biased into supporting connection with the stack;
d) during at least a portion of (c) generating through at least one sensor in operative connection with the gate member, at least one signal corresponding to the extent the gate member is disposed from a reference position; and
e) analyzing the at least one signal generated in (d) through operation of the at least one processor to determine if the at least one signal corresponds to at least one suspect condition.
2. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
f) responsive to determining in (e) that the at least one signal corresponds to at least one suspect condition, operating the at least one processor to cause the machine to operate to take at least one protective action.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein in (f) the at least one protective action includes operating the at least one processor to conduct a currency dispense capability verification process.
4. The method according to claim 2 wherein in (f) the at least one protective action includes operating an alarm mechanism.
5. The method according to claim 2 wherein in (f) the at least one protective action includes operating a video image capture system.
6. The method according to claim 2 wherein in (f) the at least one protective action includes generating a service request to a remote server.
7. An article including computer executable instructions in operative connection with at least one processor in the automated banking machine, wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to the instructions to cause the machine to carry out the method steps recited in claim 1 .
8. Machine readable medium including instructions operative to cause at least one processor to cause an automated banking machine to carry out a method comprising:
(a) moving a gate member controlling access through an opening in a housing of the automated banking machine, wherein the gate member is moved from a closed position wherein the gate member blocks access through the opening, to an open position;
(b) subsequent to (a) and with the gate member in the open position, extending a stack comprising at least one currency bill outward through the opening, whereby the stack is enabled to be taken by a machine user from outside the automated banking machine;
(c) during at least a portion of (b), moving the gate member towards the closed position, wherein the gate member is biased into supporting connection with the stack;
(d) during at least a portion of (c), generating through at least one sensor in operative connection with the gate member, at least one signal corresponding to the extent the gate member is disposed from a reference position; and
(e) analyzing the at least one signal generated in (d) to determine if the at least one signal corresponds to at least one suspect condition.
9. A method comprising:
a) receiving a request from a machine user through at least one input device on an automated banking machine, to conduct a transaction including the dispense of at least one sheet from the machine to the user;
b) moving the at least one sheet responsive to operation of at least one processor in the machine, wherein the at least one sheet is moved from a storage area in the machine to a delivery position from which sheets are moved in delivering sheets from the machine;
c) moving a gate member controlling access through an opening in a housing of the automated banking machine responsive to operation of the at least one processor, wherein the gate member is moved from a closed position wherein the gate member blocks access through the opening, to an open position;
d) subsequent to (c) and with the gate member in the open position, operating the machine responsive to the at least one processor, to move the at least one sheet from the delivery position to a presented position in which the at least one sheet extends outward from the machine through the opening, whereby the at least one sheet is enabled to be taken by the machine user;
e) during at least a portion of (d), moving the gate member towards the closed position, wherein the gate member is biased into supporting connection with the at least one sheet in the presented position;
f) during at least a portion of (e) generating through at least one sensor in operative connection with the gate member, at least one signal corresponding to the extent the gate member is disposed from the closed position;
g) analyzing the at least one signal generated in (f) through operation of the at least one processor to determine if the at least one signal corresponds to at least one suspect condition; and
h) responsive to determining in (g) that the at least one signal corresponds to at least one suspect condition, operating the at least one processor to cause the machine to operate to take at least one action.
10. A method comprising:
a) generating through at least one sensor in operative connection with a gate member of a cash dispensing automated banking machine, at least one first signal corresponding to normal movement of the gate member which controls access through a currency dispensing opening of the automated banking machine, wherein the at least one first signal is generated responsive to the gate moving from a closed position wherein the gate member blocks access through the currency delivery opening, to an open position during at least one cash dispensing operation carried out with the machine;
b) storing data corresponding to the at least one first signal generated in (a) through operation of a processor, in at least one data store of the automated banking machine;
c) subsequent to (b), generating through the at least one sensor, at least one subsequent signal corresponding to movement of the gate member during a subsequent cash dispensing operation carried out with the machine;
d) operating the at least one processor responsive to the data stored in the data store and the at least one subsequent signal generated in (c) to determine if a suspicious activity occurred during the subsequent cash dispensing transaction.
11. The method according to claim 10 and further comprising:
e) responsive to determining in (d) that the suspicious activity occurred, operating the at least one processor to cause the machine to operate to take at least one protective action.
12. The method according to claim 11 wherein in (e) the at least one protective action includes operating the at least one processor to cause the machine to conduct a verification process to test whether a sheet material dispensing path in the automated banking machine is unobstructed.
13. The method of claim 10 wherein in (a) the at least one first signal corresponding to normal movement of the gate member includes at least one signal indicative of an extent that the gate member is disposed from the closed position.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein in (a) the at least one first signal corresponding to normal movement of the gate member includes at least one signal indicative of at least one period of time that the gate member is disposed from the closed position.
15. The method according to claim 13 wherein in (a) the at least one first signal further includes at least one signal indicative of at least one period of time that the gate member is disposed from the closed position.
16. The method according to claim 10 and further comprising:
e) operating the at least one processor responsive to the determination in (d), to stop performing further cash dispensing transactions through operation of the machine.