Presenting misaligned stacks of media
A method of operating a self-service terminal is described in which a stack of media is presented to a customer. If it is detected that at least some of the stack remains within the terminal, the remaining media is advanced out of the self-service terminal.
1. A method of operating a self-service terminal, the method comprising:
moving a stack of media along a media path to a dispense position;
determining if, after a first period of time, at least a portion of the stack remains in the media path;
if at least a portion of the stack remains in the media path, advancing said at least a portion of the stack along the media path;
measuring a length of said stack of media; and
if said length does not exceed a first threshold, performing said determining and advancing steps.
2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
repeating the determining and advancing steps until at least a portion of the stack does not remain in media path.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein advancing said at least a portion of the stack along the media path comprises:
advancing said at least a portion of the stack a predefined distance along the media path.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein advancing said at least a portion of the stack along the media path comprises:
advancing said at least a portion of the stack in a plurality of steps of a predefined distance along the media path.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein advancing said at least a portion of the stack along the media path comprises:
advancing said at least a portion of the stack at a slow speed along the media path.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein determining if at least a portion of the stack remains in the media path comprises:
determining if an exit sensor detects at least a portion of the stack.
7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein determining if at least a portion of the stack remains in the media path comprises:
determining if a portion of the stack has been removed from the media path.
8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein determining if a portion of the stack has been removed from the media path comprises:
detecting an increase in incident light at an optical exit sensor.
9. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
providing at least one of a visual and an audible alert substantially at the same time as said advancing said at least a portion of the stack along the media path.
10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the self-service terminal is an automated teller machine.
11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the stack of media comprises a stack of bank notes.
12. An automated teller machine (ATM) comprising:
a user interface;
a media path to a dispensing aperture;
an exit sensor proximate to the dispensing aperture arranged to detect media in said media path; and
control means for controlling motion of a stack of media along said media path, wherein said control means is arranged:
to move a stack of media along the media path to a dispense position;
to determine using said exit sensor if after a first period of time at least a portion of the stack remains in the media path;
to advance said at least a portion of the stack along the media path through the dispensing aperture if said at least a portion of the stack remains in the media path;
to measure a length of said stack of media; and
if said length does not exceed a first threshold, to perform said determining and advancing steps.