ATM with security sensing system for cash dispenser customer interface gate
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine operates in response to data read from user cards and dispenses cash to authorized users. The machine includes at least one processor which controls various banking machine devices and operates the machine in response to inputs by customers. A sensor is in operative connection with a gate that controls access through a currency dispensing opening. The at least one processor operates to analyze signals from the sensor and to determine if the gate movement corresponds to a suspect condition. If the at least one processor determines that there is a suspect condition, the machine executes one or more protective actions to minimize the risk of improper activity.
1. Apparatus comprising:
an automated banking machine including:
a card reader operative to read data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts, wherein the automated banking machine is operative responsive to the card data to access account information corresponding to data on the user card;
a gate assembly operative to extend a stack comprising at least one currency bill outward from the automated banking machine trough an opening, whereby the stack is enabled to be taken by a machine user from outside the automated banking machine;
a gate member operative to control access through the opening in the automated banking machine;
at least one sensor in operative connection with the gate member operable to generate at least one signal corresponding to an extent the gate member is disposed from a reference position;
at least one processor in operative connection with the card reader, the gate assembly, and the at least one sensor, wherein the at least one processor is operative to:
cause the gate member to be moved from a closed position that blocks access through the opening, to an open position;
cause the gate assembly to extend the stack outward from the automated banking machine through the opening;
cause the gate member to move towards the closed position while the stack is extended outward from the automated banking machine through the opening, wherein the gate member is biased into a supporting connection with the stack;
cause generation through the least one sensor, of at least one signal corresponding to the extent the gate member is disposed from the reference position; and
analyze the at least one signal generated by the at least one sensor to determine if the at least one signal corresponds to at least one suspect condition.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is further operative to:
cause the automated banking machine to operate to take at least one protective action, responsive to determining that the at least one signal corresponds to at least one suspect condition.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one protective action includes causing verification of ability of the automated banking machine to carry out a currency dispense.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one protective action includes operating an alarm mechanism.
5. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one protective action includes operating a video image capture system.
6. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one protective action includes generating a service request to a remote server.
7. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one protective action includes testing whether a sheet material dispensing path in the automated banking machine is unobstructed.
8. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein a video of a user of the automated banking machine is captured.
9. Apparatus comprising:
an automated banking machine including:
a card reader operative to read data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts, wherein the automated banking machine is operative responsive to the card data to access account information corresponding to data on the user card;
at least one input device;
at least one transport;
a storage area;
a delivery area;
a gate member, wherein the gate member controls access through an opening in a housing of the automated banking machine, wherein the gate member is adapted to be positioned in a closed position and an open position;
at least one sensor in operative connection with the gate member, wherein the at least one sensor is operative to generate at least one signal corresponding to an extent the gate member is disposed from the closed position;
at least one processor in operative connection with the card reader, the at least one input device, the at least one transport, the gate member, and the at least one sensor, wherein the at least one processor is operative to:
cause the at least one input device to receive a request from a machine user to conduct a transaction including the dispensing of at least one sheet from the automated banking machine to the machine user;
cause the at least one transport to move at least one sheet, wherein the at least one sheet is moved from the storage area in the automated banking machine to the delivery area;
cause the gate member to move from the closed position that blocks access through the opening, to the open position;
with the gate member in the open position, cause the at least one transport to move the at least one sheet from the delivery area to a presented position in which the at least one sheet extends outward from the automated banking machine through the opening, whereby the at least one sheet is enabled to be taken by the machine user;
cause the gate member to move the gate member towards the closed position, wherein the gate member is biased into supporting connection with the at least one sheet in the presented position;
cause the at least one sensor to generate at least one signal corresponding to the extent the gate member is disposed from the closed position;
analyze the at least one signal to determine if the at least one signal corresponds to at least one suspect condition; and
cause the automated banking machine to operate to take at least one action responsive to a determination that the at least one signal corresponds to at least one suspect condition.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the least one action responsive to the determination that the at least one signal corresponds to at least one suspect condition is at least one of: taking no action, operating the at least one processor to verify ability of the automated banking machine to conduct a currency dispense, operating an alarm mechanism, operating a video image capture system, generating a service request to a remote server, and testing whether a sheet material dispensing path in the automated banking machine is unobstructed.
11. Apparatus comprising:
an automated banking machine including:
a card reader operative to read data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts, wherein the automated banking machine is operative responsive to the card data to access account information corresponding to data on the user card;
a gate member which controls access through a currency dispensing opening;
at least one sensor in operative connection with the gate member;
at least one data store;
at least one processor in operative connection with the card reader, the gate member, the at least one sensor, and the at least one data store, wherein the at least one processor is operative to:
cause the at least one sensor to generate at least one standard signal corresponding to normal movement of the gate member, wherein the at least one standard signal is generated responsive to the gate moving from a closed position wherein the gate member blocks access through the currency dispensing opening, to an open position during at least one cash dispensing operation carried out with the automated banking machine;
store data corresponding to the at least one standard signal corresponding to normal movement of the gate member in the least one data store;
cause the at least one sensor to generate at least one machine user signal corresponding to movement of the gate member during a cash dispensing operation initiated by a user of the automated banking machine; and
compare the at least one standard signal and the at least one machine user signal to determine if a suspicious activity occurred during the operation initiated by the automated banking machine user.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the at least one processor is further operative responsive to a determination that the suspicious activity occurred, to cause the automated banking machine to operate to take at least one protective action.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the at least one protective action includes testing whether a sheet material dispensing path in the automated banking machine is unobstructed.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the at least one standard signal includes at least one signal indicative of an extent that the gate member is disposed from the closed position.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the at least one standard signal includes at least one signal indicative of at least one period of time that the gate member is disposed from the closed position.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the at least one standard signal further includes at least one signal indicative of at least one period of time that the gate member is disposed from the closed position.
17. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the at least on processor is further operative responsive to a determination that the suspicious activity occurred, to stop performing further cash dispensing transactions through operation of the automated banking machine.
18. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the at least one protective action includes operating an alarm mechanism.
19. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the at least one protective action includes operating a video image capture system.
20. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the at least one protective action includes generating a service request to a remote server.