Automated banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine operative to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader that is operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine is operative responsive to the card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The automated banking machine is further operative to provide users with a receipt for transactions conducted. The automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser operative to dispense cash to machine users and to cause the value of cash to be assessed to financial accounts corresponding to card data. The automated banking machine is further operative to receive currency bills or other sheets from a user and to process and store such sheets through operation of a currency accepting device. The account corresponding to card data may be credited for the value of bills or other sheets received.
1. Apparatus operative responsive to data read from data bearing records, comprising:
an automated banking machine including:
a card reader, wherein the card reader is operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts;
a display, wherein the display is operative to provide outputs to machine users;
at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the card reader and the display, and wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause financial transfers involving accounts corresponding to the card data;
at least one sheet receiving opening, wherein the sheet receiving opening is configured to receive sheets into the machine from machine users;
at least one sheet analysis device, wherein the at least one sheet analysis device is operative to evaluate indicia on sheets received into the machine through the sheet receiving opening;
a sheet stacking device, wherein the sheet stacking device is operative to produce a stack of sheets in the machine, wherein the stack includes a plurality of sheets that have been analyzed through operation of the at least one sheet analysis device, wherein the sheet stacking device includes:
a rotating assembly,
wherein the rotating assembly is operative to engage a sheet being moved toward the stack,
move the sheet in engagement therewith, and
release the engaged sheet in the stack;
a support plate,
wherein the support plate is movably mounted, and
wherein the support plate is operative to support the stack, wherein the stack includes a top sheet adjacent to and in operatively engaged relation with the rotating assembly;
a drive, wherein the drive is in operative connection with the support plate;
at least one sensor,
wherein the at least one sensor is operative to sense at least one condition corresponding to compressive force acting between the top sheet and the rotating assembly;
wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the drive and the at least one sensor, and
wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause operation of the drive responsive to the at least one sensor, wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the drive to move the support plate responsive to compressive force acting between the rotating assembly and the top sheet.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the rotating assembly includes:
a projecting portion, wherein the projecting portion is movably mounted;
a spring, wherein the spring is operative to bias the projecting portion toward engagement with the top sheet;
wherein the at least one condition sensed by the at least one sensor corresponds to at least one position of the projecting portion.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising:
a target element portion in operative connection with the projecting portion;
wherein the at least one sensor is operative to sense at least one position of the target element portion.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the target element portion comprises a magnet.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3 and further comprising:
at least one further sensor, wherein the at least one further sensor is operative to sense at least one added sheet, wherein each added sheet is added to the stack, wherein the at least one further sensor is in operative connection with the at least one processor;
at least one data store, wherein the at least one data store is in operative connection with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one data store includes at least one stored value;
wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the drive to move the support plate away from the rotating assembly responsive to sheets added to the stack responsive to the at least one further sensor and the at least one stored value.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the at least one processor is operative to change the at least one stored value responsive to the at least one sensor.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause first card data to be read from a first user card through operation of the card reader and to cause communication between the automated banking machine and at least one remote computer, wherein the communication is operative to cause funds to be transferred at least one of to and from a first financial account corresponding to the first card data.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the sheets received by the automated banking machine include checks.
9. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the sheets received by the automated banking machine include currency bills.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising:
at least one data store, wherein the at least one data store is in operative connection with the at least one processor;
wherein the at least one data store includes at least one stored value;
wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the drive to move the support plate away from the rotating assembly as sheets are added to the stack responsive to the at least one stored value.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive to the at least one sensor to change the at least one stored value.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the support plate to move away from the rotating assembly, and then to cause the support plate to stop movement away from the rotating assembly, wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the support plate to stop movement away from the rotating assembly responsive to the at least one sensor.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the at least one processor after the support plate has stopped movement away from the rotating assembly, is operative to cause the support plate to move toward the rotating assembly, and wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the support plate to stop movement toward the rotating assembly responsive to the at least one sensor.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the at least one processor is operative to change the at least one stored value responsive to movement of the support plate.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the at least one processor is operative to change the at least one stored value responsive to at least one of a first distance the support plate is moved away from the rotating assembly before stopping and a second distance the support plate is moved toward the rotating assembly before stopping.
16. An apparatus including:
an automated banking machine cassette,
wherein the cassette is removably usable in a cash dispensing automated banking machine,
wherein the cassette is configured to receive sheets therein during machine operation,
wherein the cassette includes a sheet stacking assembly operable to produce a stack comprising sheets received into the cassette,
wherein the sheet stacking assembly includes at least one rotatable member operable to move a sheet onto the stack,
wherein the at least one rotatable member is engageable with the stack to cause a compressive force to act between the stack and the at least one rotatable member,
wherein the at least one rotatable member is rotatable about an axis,
wherein the at least one rotatable member includes at least one magnet,
wherein each magnet is radially movable relative to the axis,
wherein the sheet stacking assembly includes a stack support plate,
wherein the stack support plate is configured to support the stack,
wherein the sheet stacking assembly includes a drive in operative connection with the stack support plate,
wherein the drive is operative to move the stack support plate relative to the at least one rotatable member,
wherein the stack support plate is configured to be moved based at least in part on at least one magnetically sensed radial position of the at least one magnet, to maintain the compressive force within a predetermined range,
wherein movement of the stack support plate away from the at least one rotatable member allows the compressive force to be decreased,
wherein movement of the stack support plate toward the at least one rotatable member allows the compressive force to be increased.
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the cassette is configured to receive sheets comprising at least one of checks and currency bills, wherein the sheet stacking assembly is operable to produce a stack that includes at least one of checks and currency bills.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the cassette is configured to receive both checks and currency bills, wherein the sheet stacking assembly is operable to produce a stack that includes both checks and currency bills.
19. An apparatus including:
an automated banking machine cassette,
wherein the cassette is removably usable in a cash dispensing automated banking machine,
wherein the cassette is configured to hold sheets therein,
wherein the cassette includes a sheet stacking assembly operable to produce a stack of sheets in the cassette,
wherein the sheet stacking assembly includes a movably mounted support plate configured to support the stack,
wherein the sheet stacking assembly includes a rotatable assembly,
wherein the rotatable assembly is operative to move a sheet onto the stack,
wherein the rotatable assembly is engageable with the stack to cause a compressive force to act between the stack and the rotating assembly,
wherein the rotatable assembly includes a magnet,
wherein the magnet emits magnetic signals,
wherein the magnet is movable in at least one direction,
wherein movement of the magnet in the at least one direction causes a difference in magnetic signal level that can be wirelessly sensed by a stationary sensor positioned outside of the cassette,
wherein a current magnetic signal level sensed is indicative of a current compressive force acting between the stack and the rotating assembly,
wherein the sheet stacking assembly includes a drive in operative connection with the support plate,
wherein the drive is operative to impart movement to the support plate in at least one direction responsive at least in part to movement of the magnet,
wherein the at least one direction includes a first direction,
wherein the first direction causes the stack to move away from the rotatable assembly,
wherein movement of the stack away from the rotatable assembly is capable of reducing compressive force acting between the stack and the rotating assembly.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the cassette is configured to receive sheets comprising at least one of checks and currency bills, wherein the sheet stacking assembly is operable to produce a stack that includes at least one of checks and currency bills.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the cassette is configured to receive both checks and currency bills, wherein the sheet stacking assembly is operable to produce a stack that includes both checks and currency bills.