Banking system operated responsive to data bearing records
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a sheet dispensing mechanism including at least one currency note picking member. Rotation of a picking member causes an end note to be picked from a stack of currency notes. The picking member includes an outer surface portion that has a thickness including a built in physical wear indicator. The indicator includes material surface layers of different colors. Each color indicates a different surface wear state.
1. Apparatus including:
an automated banking machine operative to carry out financial transactions responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records,
wherein the machine includes a sheet moving component,
wherein the component comprises an outer surface segment,
wherein the outer surface segment includes at least one wear signal emitter therein,
wherein the at least one wear signal emitter includes a passive radio frequency emitter,
wherein the passive radio frequency emitter is operative to wirelessly emit at least one radio frequency signal indicative of a structural wear condition of the component,
wherein the machine includes at least one sensor,
wherein the at least one sensor is spaced from the component,
wherein the at least one sensor includes a radio frequency receiver,
wherein the radio frequency receiver is operative to wirelessly receive at least one radio frequency signal wirelessly emitted by the passive radio frequency emitter,
wherein the machine includes at least one computer,
wherein the at least one computer is operative to control when the passive radio frequency emitter operates to wirelessly emit at least one radio frequency signal,
wherein the at least one computer is programmed to prevent operation of the passive radio frequency emitter while the automated banking machine is carrying out a financial transaction,
wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with the at least one sensor,
wherein the at least one computer is operative to receive at least one worn signal caused, responsive at least in part to the radio frequency receiver wirelessly receiving at least one radio frequency signal wirelessly emitted by the passive radio frequency emitter, by the at least one sensor,
wherein the at least one computer is operative to determine whether the automated banking machine is not carrying out a financial transaction,
wherein the at least one computer is operative while the automated banking machine is not carrying out a financial transaction, to cause the passive radio frequency emitter to wirelessly emit at least one radio frequency signal,
wherein the at least one computer is operative to determine an unacceptable wear condition of the outer surface segment responsive at least in part to receiving the at least one worn signal,
wherein the at least one computer is programmed to determine the unacceptable wear condition only while the automated banking machine is not carrying out a financial transaction,
wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause a replacement-needed service notification responsive at least in part to a determination of the unacceptable wear condition.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the automated banking machine includes a currency sheet dispenser, wherein the component comprises a currency sheet picker roller.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the automated banking machine includes a currency sheet dispenser, wherein the component comprises a currency sheet transport belt.
4. A method comprising:
(a) operating a sheet moving component of an automated banking machine operative to carry out financial transactions responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records, so as to cause wear to an outer surface segment of the component,
wherein the outer surface segment includes at least one wear signal emitter therein,
wherein the at least one wear signal emitter includes a passive, radio frequency emitter,
wherein the passive radio frequency emitter is operative to wirelessly emit at least one radio frequency signal indicative of a structural wear condition of the component,
wherein the machine includes at least one sensor,
wherein the at least one sensor is spaced from the component,
wherein the at least one sensor includes a radio frequency receiver,
wherein the radio frequency receiver is operative to wirelessly receive at least one radio frequency signal wirelessly emitted by the passive radio frequency emitter,
wherein the machine includes at least one computer,
wherein the at least one computer is operative to control when the passive radio frequency emitter operates to wirelessly emit at least one radio frequency signal,
wherein the at least one computer is programmed to prevent operation of the passive radio frequency emitter while the automated banking machine is carrying out a financial transaction,
wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with the at least one sensor,
wherein the at least one computer is operative to receive at least one worn signal caused, responsive at least in part to the radio frequency receiver wirelessly receiving at least one radio frequency signal wirelessly emitted by the passive radio frequency emitter, by the at least one sensor,
wherein the at least one computer is operative to determine whether the automated banking machine is not carrying out a financial transaction,
wherein the at least one computer is operative while the automated banking machine is not carrying out a financial transaction, to cause the passive radio frequency emitter to wirelessly emit at least one radio frequency signal,
wherein the at least one computer is operative to determine an unacceptable wear condition of the outer surface segment responsive at least in part to receiving the at least one worn signal,
wherein the at least one computer is programmed to determine the current wear condition of the outer surface segment only while the automated banking machine is not carrying out a financial transaction,
wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause a replacement-needed service notification responsive at least in part to a determination of the unacceptable wear condition;
(b) operating the at least one computer to determine that the automated banking machine is not carrying out a financial transaction;
(c) subsequent to (b), operating the at least one computer while the automated banking machine is not carrying out a financial transaction,
to cause the passive radio frequency emitter to wirelessly emit at least one radio frequency signal;
(d) subsequent to (c), operating the at least one computer to receive the at least one worn signal caused by the at least one sensor;
(e) operating the at least one computer to determine an unacceptable wear condition of the outer surface segment responsive at least in part to receiving the at least one worn signal in (d); and
(f) responsive at least in part to (e), operating the at least one computer to cause a replacement-needed service notification.
5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the automated banking machine includes a currency sheet dispenser, wherein the component comprises a currency sheet picker roller, and wherein step (a) includes at least one currency sheet picking operation.
6. The method according to claim 4 wherein the automated banking machine includes a currency sheet dispenser, wherein the component comprises a currency sheet transport belt, and wherein step (a) includes at least one currency sheet transport operation.
7. A method of making an automated banking machine component, comprising:
(a) positioning at least one wear signal emitter during manufacturing of an automated banking machine currency note moving component,
wherein the at least one wear signal emitter includes a passive radio frequency emitter; and
(b) during a molding process in the manufacturing, forming the component,
wherein the formed component includes an outer surface segment,
wherein the segment includes the passive radio frequency emitter therein,
wherein the passive radio frequency emitter is operative to wirelessly emit at least one radio frequency signal indicative of a structural wear condition of the component,
wherein the at least one radio frequency signal has a signal strength related to an unacceptable worn condition of the component,
wherein the segment comprises an initial thickness,
wherein after the initial thickness has worn a predetermined worn distance, the signal strength enables the at least one radio frequency signal to wirelessly pass through the segment, permitting the at least one radio frequency signal to be wirelessly received by a sensor spaced from the component,
wherein the predetermined worn distance corresponds to the unacceptable worn condition of the component,
wherein before the initial thickness has worn the predetermined worn distance, the signal strength prevents the at least one radio frequency signal from passing through the segment.
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the automated banking machine component comprises a currency sheet picker roller, wherein (b) includes forming a currency sheet picker roller having a passive radio frequency emitter positioned therein.
9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the automated banking machine component comprises a currency sheet transport belt, wherein (b) includes forming a currency sheet transport belt having a passive radio frequency emitter positioned therein.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the passive radio frequency emitter comprises an RFID tag, wherein (b) includes forming a currency sheet transport belt having an RFID tag therein.
11. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the passive radio frequency emitter comprises an RFID tag, wherein (b) includes forming a currency sheet picker roller having an RFID tag therein.
12. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the passive radio frequency emitter comprises an RFID tag, wherein (b) includes forming a component having an RFID tag therein.
13. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the passive radio frequency emitter comprises an RFID tag.
14. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the passive radio frequency emitter comprises an RFID tag.
15. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the passive radio frequency emitter comprises an RFID tag.
16. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the passive radio frequency emitter comprises an RFID tag, and wherein step (c) includes causing the RFID tag to emit at least one radio frequency signal.
17. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the passive radio frequency emitter comprises an RFID tag, and wherein step (c) includes causing the RFID tag to emit at least one radio frequency signal.
18. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the passive radio frequency emitter comprises an RFID tag, and wherein step (c) includes causing the RFID tag to emit at least one radio frequency signal.
19. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the automated banking machine includes machine memory which is accessible by a local service person, wherein (f) includes operating the at least one computer to cause the notification to be stored in the machine memory.
20. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein (f) includes operating the at least one computer to cause the notification to be sent to a service center that is remotely located from the automated banking machine.