Granted Patent B1

US 7,870,996 · App. 11/544,214 · Granted Jan 18, 2011

Abstract

Claims (102)

1. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including:

a housing,

wherein the housing includes a chest portion,

wherein the chest portion includes an interior area bounded by a wall including an opening;

a note dispenser mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing;

a user interface including at least one input device adapted to receive inputs corresponding to user financial accounts;

a sheet acceptor,

wherein the sheet acceptor is movably mounted within and in operatively supported connection with the housing outside the chest portion,

wherein in an operative position of the sheet acceptor, sheets are enabled to pass from the sheet acceptor into the interior area of the chest through the opening;

a sheet transport,

wherein the sheet transport is operative to move sheets generally along a transport direction,

wherein the sheet transport is movably mounted in operatively supported connection with the housing,

wherein the sheet transport extends in the opening and is movable relative to the opening;

wherein movement of the sheet acceptor relative to the housing is operative to cause the sheet acceptor to operatively engage and cause the sheet transport to move relative to the opening,

wherein when the sheet acceptor and sheet transport are in engaged relation the sheet transport is enabled to move sheets from the sheet acceptor through the opening in the wall and into the interior area of the chest portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one of a card reader and a keypad.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one user interface includes at least one output device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the at least one output device includes a display.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 and further comprising:

at least one processor in the housing,

wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the at least one input device and the at least one output device, and

wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to at least one input to the at least one input device to communicate with at least one remote computer, and

wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to communication with the at least one remote computer to cause the note dispenser to dispense notes from the machine.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 and further comprising:

at least one processor in the housing,

wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the at least one input device and the at least one output device, and

wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to at least one input to the at least one input device to communicate with at least one remote computer, and

wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to communication with the at least one remote computer to cause the sheet acceptor to accept sheets from a user of the machine.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sheet acceptor is operative to validate notes.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sheet acceptor is operative to image sheets.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the sheet acceptor is operative to image checks.

10. An automated banking machine apparatus comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing includes a chest portion, wherein the chest portion includes an interior area bounded by a wall, wherein the wall includes a sheet accepting opening;

a note dispenser adapted to selectively dispense notes stored in the interior area to users of the machine;

a carriage assembly including

a bracket member mounted in operatively supported connection with the chest portion and extending into the interior area, and

a carriage structure movably mounted in movable operatively supported connection with the bracket member,

wherein the carriage structure is movable between a docked position and an undocked position, and

wherein the carriage structure operative to direct sheets along a first sheet path through the sheet accepting opening;

a sheet acceptor,

wherein the sheet acceptor is movably mounted relative to the housing and engageable with the carriage assembly in a predetermined racked position,

wherein the sheet acceptor is operative to direct sheets along a second sheet path toward the sheet accepting opening,

wherein in the racked position the sheet acceptor is generally disposed above the chest portion and the second sheet path is generally aligned with the first sheet path; and

a carriage movement mechanism,

wherein the carriage movement mechanism is in operative connection with the carriage structure, and

wherein the carriage movement mechanism is operative to cause the sheet acceptor in the racked position and the carriage structure to move between the docked and undocked positions,

wherein in the docked position the first and second sheet paths are in alignment and the carriage structure is operative to pass sheets from the sheet acceptor to the interior area.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the carriage assembly includes at least one spring, wherein the at least one spring is in operative connection with the bracket member and the carriage structure, wherein the at least one spring is operative to bias the carriage structure toward the undocked position.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 and further comprising:

a storage container removably mounted in operative connection with the carriage structure at a mounting site,

wherein the storage container is movable with the carriage structure between the docked and undocked positions,

wherein when the storage container is mounted at the mounting site and the carriage structure is in the docked position, the storage container is disposed in an operative position,

wherein the storage container in the operative position is operative to receive sheets passing through the sheet accepting opening.

13. The apparatus of claim 10

wherein the carriage movement mechanism includes a first gear member operatively supported on the carriage structure and a second gear member operatively supported on the sheet acceptor,

wherein the first and second gear members are in operative engagement when the sheet acceptor is in the racked position.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the carriage structure includes a plate member, wherein the plate member is movably mounted in slidable relationship relative to the wall of the chest portion adjacent the sheet accepting opening.

15. The apparatus of claim 14

wherein the sheet acceptor includes at least one docking foot and the carriage structure includes at least one docking pin extending from the plate member,

wherein when the sheet acceptor is in the racked position, the at least one docking foot is operably engaged with the at least one docking pin.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 and further comprising a device operative to provide an audible output when the storage container is in the operative position.

17. A method comprising:

a) in an automated teller machine (ATM), mounting a removable sheet storage container at a mounting site of a carriage assembly,

wherein the carriage assembly includes a bracket member and a movable carriage structure,

wherein the carriage structure is positioned in an undocked position relative to a secure chest portion of the ATM,

wherein the chest portion includes a sheet accepting opening therein providing access to an interior area, and

wherein the carriage structure includes a first sheet path directing sheets through the sheet accepting opening;

b) moving a sheet acceptor in the ATM to engage the carriage structure at a predetermined racked position,

wherein the sheet acceptor includes a second sheet path directing sheets to the sheet accepting opening, and

wherein when the sheet acceptor is in the racked position

the sheet acceptor is generally disposed above the chest portion and

the second sheet path is generally aligned with the first sheet path; and

c) subsequent to (a) and (b), operating a carriage movement mechanism to move the carriage structure into a docked position,

wherein when

the sheet acceptor is in the racked position,

the storage container is at the mounting site and

the carriage structure is in the docked position,

the storage container is in an operative position,

wherein in the operative position the storage container is operative to receive sheets passing through the sheet accepting opening.

18. The method of claim 17

wherein the carriage movement mechanism includes a first gear member operatively supported on the carriage structure and a second gear member operatively supported on the sheet acceptor,

wherein when the sheet acceptor is in the racked position, the first and second gear members are operatively engaged, and

wherein in (c) operating the carriage movement mechanism includes

driving at least one of the first and second gear members and

moving the other one of the first and second gear members and the carriage structure responsive to driving the at least one gear member.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein (b) includes:

moving at least one docking foot operatively supported on the sheet acceptor into operative engagement with at least one docking pin operatively supported on the carriage structure.

20. The method of claim 17 and further including:

d) moving the sheet acceptor away from the racked position;

e) responsive to (d), returning the carriage structure to the undocked position by action of a spring member biasing the carriage structure toward the undocked position.

21. The method of claim 20 and further including:

f) removing the sheet storage container from the machine.

22. The method of claim 17 and further comprising:

d) generating an audible signal with the ATM when the storage container is moved into the operative position.

23. A method comprising:

a) moving a sheet acceptor relative to and in supporting connection with a chest portion of an automated banking machine, wherein the machine includes a housing including the chest portion;

b) subsequent to (a), relatively moving a sheet transport into operative engagement with the moving sheet acceptor; and

c) subsequent to (b), operating a drive which causes both the sheet acceptor and the sheet transport while operatively engaged to be together moved toward an operating position, wherein in the operating position sheets are able to pass from the sheet acceptor to the sheet transport.

24. The method of claim 23 and further comprising:

d) during at least a portion of (b), moving a sheet storage container in concerted movement with the sheet transport.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the drive comprises a sheet acceptor drive, wherein (c) includes operating the sheet acceptor drive to cause the movement toward the operating position.

Assignments (26)