Card activated automated banking machine
View Patent ↗A banking system is controlled responsive to data bearing records. A card reader is operative to read data on user cards. An automated banking machine operates to cause the read information to be compared to authorized users. The machine operates to cause an authorized user to be credited for deposited items such as notes and checks. The automated banking machine includes a deposit accepting device. The deposit accepting device is operative to receive a stack of sheets and to separate each sheet from the stack through operation of a picker. Each sheet is aligned with the sheet path and analyzed by analysis devices including at least one magnetic read head, an imager and/or a validation device. Sheets determined not to have at least one property of a genuine sheet are returned to a user of the machine. Sheets determined to have at least one property of genuine sheets are processed and stored in the machine.
1. A method of operating a banking system responsive to a data bearing record, comprising:
(a) reading data from a card presented by a user, through operation of a card reader in an automated banking machine;
(b) operating the automated banking machine to determine that the data read in (a) corresponds to stored data associated with an authorized machine user;
(c) receiving a stack comprising a plurality of documents through a sheet opening in a housing of the machine, wherein the stack is received intermediate of a first sheet driver member and a second sheet driver member, and wherein the stack is received on a first side of at least one divider plate, wherein the at least one divider plate is positioned intermediate of the first sheet driver member and the second sheet driver member;
(d) subsequent to (c) relatively moving the at least one divider plate, the first sheet driver member and the second sheet driver member, such that the first sheet driver member operatively engages a first side of the stack and the second sheet driver member operatively engages a second side of the stack opposed of the first side of the stack, wherein the second sheet driver member operatively engages the second side of the stack through an opening in the at least one divider plate;
(e) subsequent to (d), moving the stack within the machine in operative engagement with the first sheet driver member and the second sheet driver member.
2. The method according to claim 1 ,
wherein in (e) the stack is moved inward in the machine relative to the sheet opening, into operative engagement with a picker;
and further comprising:
(f) subsequent to (e) moving each sheet separately from the stack through operation of the picker.
3. The method according to claim 2 and further comprising:
(g) analyzing each sheet separated from the stack through operation of a sheet processor device in the machine.
4. The method according to claim 3 wherein in (g) the sheet processor device includes at least one of a check imager and a note validator.
5. The method according to claim 3 and further comprising:
(h) storing each sheet analyzed in (g) in at least one storage and retrieval device in the machine.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein in (h) the at least one storage and retrieval device comprises a belt recycler.
7. The method according to claim 5 and further comprising:
subsequent to (f), relatively moving the first sheet driving member, second sheet driving member and at least one divider plate, wherein the second sheet driver member is disposed from the at least one divider plate on a second side of the divider plate, wherein the second side is opposed of the first side;
(j) subsequent to (i), moving at least one sheet stored on the at least one storage and retrieval device in (h), to the second side of the at least one divider member.
8. The method according to claim 7 and further comprising:
(k) subsequent to (j), relatively moving the first sheet driver member, second sheet driver member and at least one divider plate such that the at least one sheet on the second side is operatively engaged with both the first sheet driver member and the second sheet driver member, wherein the first sheet driver member operatively engages the at least one sheet on the second side by extending through the opening in the at least one divider plate;
(l) subsequent to (k), moving the at least one sheet on the second side in engagement with the first and second sheet driver members.
9. The method according to claim 8 wherein in (l) the at least one sheet on the second side is moved toward the sheet opening in the housing.
10. The method according to claim 8 wherein in (l) the at least one sheet on the second side is moved to operative engagement with the picker.
11. The method according to claim 10 , and further comprising:
(m) subsequent to (l) separating each of the at least one sheet on the second side from other sheets on the second side through operation of the picker.
12. The method according to claim 11 and further comprising:
(n) storing each of the at least one sheet separated by the picker in (m) in at least one storage location in the automated banking machine.
13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the at least one divider plate comprises a pair of divider plate portions separated by an elongated opening, and wherein the first sheet driver member comprises a first belt flight and the second sheet driver member comprises a second belt flight, and wherein in (d) the second belt flight extends in the elongated opening to engage the stack, and wherein in (k) the first belt flight extends in the elongated opening to engage the at least one sheet.
14. The method according to claim 13 wherein a path extends between the picker, the sheet processor device and the at least one sheet storage and retrieval device, wherein during at least a portion of both (f) and (g), sheets move in a first direction in the path.
15. The method according to claim 14 wherein during at least a portion of (j) at least one sheet moves in a second direction opposed of the first direction in the path, and wherein (j) further includes engaging the at least one sheet and a diverter in the path, wherein the diverter directs the at least one sheet to the second side.
16. The method according to claim 15 wherein in (j) the diverter engages the at least one sheet prior to the at least one sheet reaching the picker when moving in the second direction in the path.
17. The method according to claim 16 and further comprising:
(o) granting the authorized user a credit corresponding to the at least one sheet received by the machine in (c) responsive to operation of the machine.
18. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one divider plate comprises a pair of disposed plate portions separated by an elongated opening, and wherein in (d) the second sheet driver member operatively engages the stack by extending in the elongated opening.
19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the second sheet driver member comprises a belt flight, and wherein in (d) the belt flight extends in the elongated opening.
20. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (d) the relative vertical positions of the at least one divider plate, first sheet driver member and second sheet driver member are changed.
21. Apparatus comprising:
a card reader operative to read data on user cards;
an automated banking machine, wherein the automated banking machine includes a housing, an opening in the housing, the card reader, a picker, a check imaging device and at least one storage and retrieval device, and
a check receiving and delivery apparatus within the housing, including:
a first sheet driver member,
a second sheet driver member,
at least one divider plate,
at least one drive operative to selectively relatively vertically position the first and second sheet driver members and the at least one divider plate, wherein the check delivering and receiving apparatus is operative to receive stacks comprising a plurality of checks into the machine between the first and second sheet driver members and on a first vertical side of the at least one divider plate, and to deliver stacks comprising a plurality of checks from the machine between the first and second sheet driver members and on a second vertical side of the at least one divider plate opposed of the first vertical side.