Granted Patent B2

US 7,419,092 · App. 11/728,498 · Granted Sep 2, 2008

Abstract

Claims (79)

1. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including:

a cash dispenser,

at least one reader device operative to read data provided by a machine user,

a transport arrangement operative to transport items from a user accessible area to a storage area,

wherein the transport arrangement includes an item engaging surface,

a printer printhead,

a wiper comprising a resilient squeegee portion,

a wiper drive in operative connection with the wiper,

wherein the wiper drive is operative to cause the squeegee portion to engage and disengage the printhead,

wherein when the squeegee portion is not engaged with the printhead, an outer surface of the wiper extends generally flush with the item engaging surface.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the automated banking machine further includes:

a housing,

wherein the housing includes a deposit receiving opening configured to receive deposit items therethrough,

a deposit storage area in the housing,

wherein the transport arrangement is operative to transport deposit items between the deposit receiving opening and the deposit storage area,

at least one input device is in supporting connection with the housing,

wherein the at least one input device is adapted to receive inputs from a machine user,

wherein the printhead is operative to print indicia on deposit items that are moved via the transport arrangement,

at least one controller in the housing,

wherein the at least one controller comprises at least one computer,

wherein the at least one controller is in operative connection with the printhead and the wiper drive,

wherein the at least one controller is operative to control engagement and disengagement of the squeegee portion with the printhead.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the data reader device comprises a magnetic stripe card reader operative to read a customer account number from a card inserted into the machine, wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause a customer account number read by the card reader to be compared with data store information in determining whether a customer is an authorized user of the machine.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the printhead includes ink nozzles, and wherein the wiper drive is operative to cause the squeegee portion to move over the nozzles.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the wiper drive is operative to cause the squeegee portion to move over a surface of the nozzles, causing excess ink to be removed from the surface.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the wiper drive is operative to cause the squeegee portion to move in a first direction over the nozzles from a first position to a second position, and wherein the wiper drive is operative to cause the squeegee portion to move in a second direction over the nozzles from the second position to the first position, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the transport arrangement is operative to move deposit items along a first direction, and wherein the wiper is operative to move along the first direction to move the squeegee portion over the nozzles.

8. The apparatus according to claim 4

wherein the transport arrangement includes a platen comprising the item engaging surface,

wherein when the squeegee portion of the wiper is not engaged with the nozzles, an outer surface of the wiper extends generally flush with the item engaging surface.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the platen includes at least one guide surface in supporting connection therewith, wherein the at least one guide surface is operative to guide the squeegee portion to move over the nozzles.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 and further comprising a movable plate in supporting connection with the housing, and wherein the wiper is in operative connection with the plate and is moved responsive to movement thereof, and wherein the plate has in supporting connection therewith a gate, and wherein the gate responsive to movement of the plate, moves between a blocking position wherein the gate extends between the transport and the deposit storage area, and an open position wherein the gate does not extend between the transport and the deposit storage area.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 and further comprising a vessel including an interior cavity, wherein the vessel is movably mounted in supporting releasable connection with the housing, and wherein the nozzles generally direct ink in an upward direction, and wherein the vessel includes a vessel opening generally aligned with the nozzles, wherein ink from the nozzles not applied to deposit items passes into the vessel opening, and wherein the vessel includes at least one cavity bounded by an internal weir, wherein ink passed into the vessel through the vessel opening is held in the cavity and generally prevented from passing out of the vessel through the vessel opening by the weir, and wherein the vessel includes a movable access member supported thereon, wherein ink in the cavity is enabled to be accessed to be removed therefrom through movement of the movable access member, and wherein the vessel includes at least one contoured exterior surface, wherein at least one of empty envelopes and deposit items moving along the first direction in the transport engage the at least one contoured external surface and are directed thereby between the nozzles and the vessel opening.

12. The apparatus according to claim 4 and further comprising an ink capturing vessel in supporting connection with the housing, wherein the vessel includes a vessel opening in opposed relation of the nozzles, and wherein the vessel opening accepts ink sprayed from the nozzles that was not applied to deposit items.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12

wherein the vessel comprises an internal cavity and at least one weir extending in the internal cavity,

wherein the at least one weir enables excess ink to collect in the cavity without flowing out of the vessel through the vessel opening,

wherein the vessel includes a movable access member movable relative to the vessel,

wherein the movable access member enables an interior of the cavity to be accessed to remove ink therefrom.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12

wherein the nozzles are generally upwardly directed,

wherein the vessel extends generally above the printhead,

wherein the vessel is movably mounted in supporting connection with the housing through a pivot,

wherein the vessel is biased to rotatably move about the pivot and to urge the vessel opening to be positioned adjacent the nozzles.

15. The apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising a gate movably mounted in supporting connection with the housing,

wherein the gate is movable between a blocking position and an open position,

wherein in the blocking position, the gate extends between the transport arrangement and the deposit storage area,

wherein in the open position, deposit items are enabled to move from the transport arrangement to the deposit storage area.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the gate is in operative connection with the wiper drive, wherein the gate and the wiper are operatively interconnected.

17. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including:

a cash dispenser,

a transport adapted to move deposit items in the machine,

wherein the transport comprises a platen including an item engaging surface,

a printer including ink nozzles,

wherein the printer is operative to print indicia on deposit items through ink output through the nozzles,

a wiper comprising a resilient squeegee portion, movably mounted in the machine and adapted to wipe the nozzles,

a wiper drive, wherein the wiper drive is operative to move the wiper, causing the squeegee portion to remove ink from the nozzles,

wherein when the squeegee portion of the wiper is not engaged with the nozzles, an outer surface of the wiper extends generally flush with the item engaging surface.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the machine further includes a wiper drive, wherein the wiper comprises a resilient squeegee portion, wherein the wiper drive is operative to move the wiper, causing the squeegee portion to remove ink from the nozzles.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the transport is adapted to move deposit items comprising at least one of deposit envelopes, empty envelopes, checks, and sheets.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the machine further includes

a removable vessel,

wherein the vessel includes an internal ink holding cavity,

wherein the vessel includes a vessel opening,

wherein the vessel opening is positioned generally opposed of the nozzles,

wherein the vessel is positioned to capture through the vessel opening at least some excess ink outputted from the nozzles.

21. Apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine including:

a cash dispenser,

at least one input device operative to read data provided by a machine user,

a transport arrangement operative to transport deposit items from a user accessible area to a storage area,

wherein the transport arrangement includes an item engaging surface having a wiper device guide slot therein,

a printer printhead,

wherein the printhead is operative to place ink on deposit items moved via the transport arrangement,

a wiper device comprising a resilient squeegee portion,

wherein the wiper device is moveable in the guide slot,

a wiper drive operative to move the wiper device in the guide slot causing the squeegee portion to movingly engage a surface portion of the printhead to cause ink to be removed therefrom.

Assignments (24)