Banking apparatus controlled responsive to data bearing records
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine system includes an automated banking machine controlled responsive to data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader that is operative to read user identifying data from user cards. The system authorizes machine operation responsive to the user identifying data corresponding to an authorized user data. The machine also includes a check accepting device that comprises a plurality of sensors for determining locations of checks during check processing.
1. Apparatus comprising:
an automated banking machine including:
at least one output device, wherein the at least one output device includes at least one display viewable by an authorized servicer of the machine,
at least one machine input device, wherein the at least one machine input device includes at least one reader operable to read user data usable to identify a financial account of a user of the automated banking machine,
at least one cash dispenser,
a check acceptor,
wherein the check acceptor includes a plurality of sensors at a plurality of sensor locations in the check acceptor,
wherein each sensor is operative to sense a sheet located adjacent thereto,
at least one computer,
wherein the at least one computer is in operative connection with the at least one output device, the at least one machine input device, the at least one cash dispenser, and the check acceptor,
wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the at least one display to output a visual representation corresponding to the check acceptor,
wherein output of the visual representation is dependent on the computer receiving at least one authorizing input from an Authorized servicer of the machine,
wherein the visual representation includes a respective visual indicator for each of the respective sensor locations of the plurality of sensors in the check acceptor,
wherein during testing of the check acceptor with a test sheet provided to the check acceptor during authorized servicing of the machine, the at least one computer is operative for each respective sensor,
responsive at least in part to the respective sensor sensing the test sheet adjacent thereto,
to cause a visual change in the respective visual indicator for the respective sensor location of the respective sensor.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause the machine to dispense cash through operation of the at least one cash dispenser.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the machine includes a housing,
wherein the housing includes an inlet opening,
wherein the inlet opening is operatively connected with the check acceptor,
wherein the housing includes a storage area,
wherein a transport path extends in the check acceptor between the inlet opening and the storage area,
wherein the plurality of sensors are spaced along the transport path.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the transport path includes an alignment area,
wherein the alignment area includes at least three linearly aligned sensors,
wherein the alignment area includes at least one sheet driving device,
wherein the at least one sheet driving device is operative to drive the test sheet in a direction transverse to the transport path in the alignment area, and
wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is operative to sense the test sheet while the test sheet is in engagement with the at least one sheet driving device.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3
wherein the at least one computer is operative responsive to at least one input to at least one input device, to cause
the test sheet to be moved in the transport path toward the storage area, and
a change in the respective visual indicator for the respective sensor location of each respective sensor that senses the test sheet adjacent thereto.
6. The apparatus according to claim 3
wherein the at least one computer is operative responsive to at least one input to at least one input device, to cause
movement of the test sheet in the transport path toward the inlet opening, and
a change in the respective visual indicator for the respective sensor location of each respective sensor that senses the test sheet adjacent thereto.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6
wherein the at least one computer is operative responsive to at least one first input to at least one input device, to cause the test sheet in the transport path to move a distance toward the inlet opening but not thereto,
wherein the at least one computer is operative responsive to at least one second input to the at least one input device, to cause the test sheet to move in the transport path to the inlet opening.
8. The apparatus according to claim 3
wherein the at least one computer is operative responsive to at least one input to at least one input device, to selectively cause the test sheet in the transport path to move either toward the document storage area or the inlet opening,
wherein the at least one computer is operative to cause a change in the respective visual indicator for the respective sensor location of each respective sensor that senses the test sheet adjacent thereto.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8
wherein the transport path includes a document alignment area,
wherein the document alignment area includes at least one sheet driving device operable to move the test sheet in a direction transversely of the transport path, and
wherein the at least one input to the at least one input device is operative to cause the at least one sheet driving device to move the test sheet transversely of the transport path.
10. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the at least one computer is operative responsive to operative engagement with a diagnostic article, to cause the at least one display to output at least a portion of the at least one visual representation.
11. A method comprising:
(a) receiving a test sheet in an automated banking machine check acceptor during testing of the check acceptor by an authorized servicer of the check acceptor, wherein the check acceptor includes a transport path and a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor is operative to sense a sheet located adjacent thereto;
(b) receiving through at least one input device during the testing of the check acceptor, at least one input that causes selective movement of the test sheet in the transport path; and
(c) during at least a portion of the test sheet movement in (b), outputting at least one visual representation through at least one display,
wherein the at least one visual representation includes both
a visual representation corresponding to the check acceptor, and
visual representations of respective sensor locations of the plurality of sensors,
wherein a visual representation of a respective sensor location of a respective sensor is caused to change responsive at least in part to the test sheet being sensed by the respective sensor,
wherein output through the at least one display of visual representation corresponding to the check acceptor depends on at least one input to the at least one input device from an authorized servicer of the check acceptor.
12. The method according to claim 11 wherein in (b) the at least one input causes the test sheet to be moved in the transport path toward a storage area that is in operative connection with the check acceptor.
13. The method according to claim 11 wherein in (b) the at least one input causes the test sheet to be moved in the transport path in a direction transversely of the transport path.
14. The method according to claim 11 wherein in (b) the at least one input causes the test sheet to be moved in the transport path toward an inlet opening that is in operative connection with a check acceptor.
15. The method according to claim 11 wherein an automated banking machine includes the check acceptor and the at least one display, wherein in (c) the at least one visual representation is output through the automated banking machine.
16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the automated banking machine includes the at least one input device, wherein in (c) output of a visual representation corresponding to the check acceptor is dependent on the automated banking machine receiving at least one authorizing input from an authorized servicer of the machine.
17. The method according to claim 11 and further comprising:
(d) prior to (b), operatively connecting a diagnostic article and at least one computer associated with the check acceptor;
wherein the operative connecting in (d) causes the at least one display to output the at least one visual representation in (c).
18. The method according to claim 11 wherein in (c) the visual representations of the respective sensor locations comprise visual indicators of the respective sensor locations,
wherein a visual indicator of a respective sensor location of a respective sensor is caused to visually change responsive at least in part to the test sheet being sensed by the respective sensor.
19. The method according to claim 18 wherein in (c) the visual representation corresponding to the check acceptor includes the visual indicators of the respective sensor locations.
20. At least one article including computer executable instructions configured to cause at least one computer to carry out a method comprising:
(a) receiving a test sheet in an automated banking machine check acceptor during testing of the check acceptor by an authorized servicer of the check acceptor, wherein the check acceptor includes a transport path and a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor is operative to sense a sheet located adjacent thereto;
(b) receiving through at least one input device during the testing of the check acceptor, at least one input that causes selective movement of the test sheet in the transport path; and
(c) during at least a portion of the test sheet movement in (b), outputting at least one visual representation through at least one display,
wherein the at least one visual representation includes both
a visual representation corresponding to the check acceptor, and
visual representations of respective sensor locations of the plurality of sensors,
wherein a visual representation of a respective sensor location of a respective sensor is caused to change responsive at least in part to the test sheet being sensed by the respective sensor,
wherein output through the at least one display of visual representation corresponding to the check acceptor depends on at least one input to the at least one input device from an authorized servicer of the check acceptor.