Methods of operating register system for storing sheets and notes
View Patent ↗A card activated automated banking machine ( 10 ) includes a user interface ( 15 ). The user interface includes a card reader ( 16 ), receipt printer opening ( 30 ), cash dispensing opening ( 38 ) and deposit accepting opening ( 40 ). A stack of notes ( 84 ) input to the machine are separated one by one from the stack through the action of at least one picking member ( 158, 352 ) and at least one stripper member ( 64, 162, 354 ). Note holding cassettes include sensors operative to detect near full and near empty conditions. At least one processor in the machine is operative to control the addition and/or removal of notes from each cassette so as to avoid overfilling or depleting the cassettes which may result in machine malfunctions.
1. A method comprising:
(a) determining through operation of at least one processor associated with an automated banking machine that operates to allow a user to request a transaction responsive at least in part to a computer determined positive comparison of information read from a card by a card reader and identification information corresponding to an authorized user of the card, responsive at least in part to at least one sensor in the machine, that a note holding container in operative connection with a note acceptor in the automated banking machine is in a near empty condition,
wherein the automated banking machine includes a note recycler, and wherein the note recycler includes the note acceptor;
(b) through operation of the at least one processor, determining a quantity corresponding to a plurality of notes that can be removed from the container;
(c) determining through operation of the at least one processor, a further quantity corresponding to a plurality of notes that would be removed from the container in completing a note dispensing transaction being requested by a user at the machine;
(d) comparing through operation of the at least one processor, the quantity and the further quantity; and
(e) causing through operation of the at least one processor, operation of the machine, responsive at least in part to the comparison in (d).
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the container holds notes of one type, and wherein (c) includes determining through operation of the at least one processor the further quantity of notes of the one type.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein (e) includes causing the machine to output
to the user through a user interface of the machine, at least one message indicating that the transaction cannot be completed.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein (e) includes operating the recycler to remove notes from the container responsive at least in part to determining from (d) that the further quantity does not exceed the quantity.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein (e) includes not completing the transaction through operation of the machine responsive at least in part to determining from (d) that the further quantity exceeds the quantity.
6. A method comprising:
(a) operating at least one computer responsive at least in part to operation of at least one sensor of an automated banking machine, to determine that a note holding container is in a near empty condition,
wherein the machine includes at least one note holder configured to hold notes,
wherein the at least one note holder includes the container,
wherein the machine includes a note recycler in operative connection with the container,
wherein the note recycler includes a note acceptor,
wherein the note acceptor is operative to receive notes from users of the machine,
wherein the note recycler includes a note dispenser,
wherein the note dispenser is operative to dispense notes to users of the machine,
wherein the machine includes at least one data reader,
wherein the at least one data reader is operative to read data corresponding to at least one of a machine user and a financial account,
wherein the machine is operative to allow a machine user to request a note dispensing transaction responsive at least in part to data read by the at least one data reader corresponding to an authorized machine user;
(b) operating the at least one computer to determine an available quantity of notes that can be removed from the container for dispensing;
(c) operating the at least one computer to determine a needed quantity of notes that need to be removed from the container to complete a note dispensing transaction requested by an authorized user;
(d) operating the at least one computer to compare the available quantity and the needed quantity; and
(e) responsive at least in part to the comparison in (d), operating the at least one computer to either:
(ei) allow completion of the transaction, responsive at least in part to a determination that the needed quantity does not exceed the available quantity,
including allowing the needed quantity of notes to be removed from the container during the transaction;
or
(eii) prevent completion of the transaction, responsive at least in part to a determination that the needed quantity exceeds the available quantity,
including preventing notes from being removed from the container during the transaction.
7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the at least one reader includes a card reader and a biometric reader, and further comprising:
(f) operating the card reader to read user card data;
(g) operating the biometric reader to read user biometric data; and
(h) operating the at least one computer to allow the user to request a transaction, responsive at least in part to both
computer-determined correspondence between the user card data read in (f) and stored card information, and
computer-determined correspondence between the user biometric data read in (g) and stored biometric information.
8. The method according to claim 6 wherein (eii) includes causing the machine to output through a user interface of the machine, at least one message indicating that the transaction cannot be completed.
9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the user interface includes a display, wherein (eii) includes outputting the at least one message through the display.
10. The method according to claim 6 wherein the note recycler is operative to remove notes from the container, wherein (ei) includes operating the at least one computer to
cause the note recycler to remove the needed quantity of notes from the container, and
cause the note dispenser to dispense the removed notes to the authorized user.
11. The method according to claim 6 wherein (b) includes determining the current number of notes in the container.
12. The method according to claim 6 wherein the container holds only one type of notes, and wherein (c) includes determining a quantity of the one type of notes.
13. The method according to claim 11 wherein the container holds only one denomination type of notes, and wherein (c) includes determining a quantity of the one denomination type of notes.
14. Apparatus comprising:
an automated banking machine,
wherein the machine includes at least one note holder configured to hold notes,
wherein the at least one note holder includes a note holding container,
wherein the machine includes a note recycler,
wherein the note recycler is operative to add notes to the container,
wherein the note recycler is operative to remove notes from the container,
wherein the note recycler includes a note acceptor,
wherein the note acceptor is operative to receive notes from users of the machine,
wherein the note recycler includes a note dispenser,
wherein the note dispenser is operative to dispense notes to users of the machine,
wherein the machine includes at least one data reader,
wherein the at least one data reader is operative to read data corresponding to at least one of a machine user and a financial account,
wherein the machine is operative to allow a machine user to request a note dispensing transaction responsive at least in part to data read by the at least one data reader corresponding to an authorized machine user,
wherein the machine includes at least one sensor,
wherein the at least one sensor is operative to detect a near empty condition of the container,
at least one computer in operative connection with at least the note recycler, the at least one data reader, and the at least one sensor,
wherein the at least one computer is operative responsive at least in part to operation of at least one sensor, to determine when the container is in the near empty condition,
wherein responsive at least in part to a determination that the container is in the near empty condition, the at least one computer operates to determine an available quantity of notes that can be removed from the container for dispensing,
wherein responsive at least in part to a note dispensing transaction requested by an authorized user when the container is in the near empty condition, the at least one computer operates to
determine a needed quantity of notes that need to be removed from the container to complete the transaction, and
determine whether the needed quantity exceeds the available quantity,
wherein responsive at least in part to a determination that the needed quantity does not exceed the available quantity, the at least one computer operates to allow completion of the transaction, including allowing the needed quantity of notes to be removed from the container during the transaction,
wherein responsive at least in part to a determination that the needed quantity exceeds the available quantity, the at least one computer operates to prevent completion of the transaction, including preventing notes from being removed from the container during the transaction.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the machine includes a user interface, wherein responsive at least in part to a determination that the needed quantity exceeds the available quantity, the at least one computer operates to cause the user interface to output at least one message indicating that the transaction cannot be completed.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the user interface includes a display, wherein responsive at least in part to a determination that the needed quantity exceeds the available quantity, the at least one computer operates to cause the display to output the at least one message.
17. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein responsive at least in part to a determination that the needed quantity does not exceed the available quantity, the at least one computer operates to
cause the note recycler to remove the needed quantity of notes from the container, and
cause the note dispenser to dispense the removed notes to the authorized user.
18. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein responsive at least in part to a determination that the container is in the near empty condition, the at least one computer operates to determine the current number of notes in the container.
19. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the container is positioned in the machine to hold only one type of notes, wherein responsive at least in part to a note dispensing transaction requested by an authorized user when the container is in the near empty condition, the at least one computer operates to determine a quantity of the one type of notes that need to be removed from the container to complete the transaction.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the container is positioned in the machine to hold only one denomination type of notes, wherein responsive at least in part to a note dispensing transaction requested by an authorized user when the container is in the near empty condition, the at least one computer operates to determine a quantity of the one denomination type of notes that need to be removed from the container to complete the transaction.