Granted Patent B2

US 8,727,336 · App. 13/285,829 · Granted May 20, 2014

Abstract

Claims (49)

1. A method of operating a media container, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring a first sensor signal indicative of whether the media container is in a low contents state;

locating a suction element at a pick up region of the media container;

selectively connecting a source of negative pressure to the suction element to pick a media item from the media container;

after a predetermined number of media item miss picks from the media container, determining if the media container is in a low contents state based upon the first sensor signal;

monitoring a second sensor signal indicative of pressure at the suction element; and

electronically by a processor, logging pressure data based upon the second sensor signal after a determination has been made that the media container is in a low contents state and the predetermined number of media item miss picks from the media container has been attempted.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a respective integrated value or sum value by integrating or summing the logged pressure data between a first time and a second time;

comparing the integrated value or sum value to a predetermined threshold value; and

concluding that the media container is empty when a determination is made that the integrated value or sum value is less than the predetermined threshold value.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a respective integrated value or sum value by integrating or summing the logged pressure data between a first time and a second time;

comparing the integrated value or sum value to a predetermined threshold value; and

concluding that a pusher plate mechanism of the media container is stuck when a determination is made that the integrated value or sum value is less than the predetermined threshold value.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

locating a pick up arm carrying the suction element from a rest position to a pick position in which the suction element is located at the pick up region;

switching on a vacuum pump to thereby provide a source of negative pressure; and

subsequently opening a valve element to thereby selectively connect the source of negative pressure and the suction element.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the of media container is a currency cassette or sheet depository in an automatic teller machine (ATM).

6. A computer program product directly loadable into the internal memory of a digital computer, comprising software code portions for performing the steps of claim 1 when the product is run on a computer.

7. A method for determining a condition at an item of media container, comprising the steps of:

locating a suction element at a pick up region of an item of media container;

selectively connecting a source of negative pressure to the suction element;

determining a pressure at the suction element;

determining a condition of the container responsive to the determined pressure;

determining if an item of media container is in a low content state;

only determining said a condition if the item of media container is in the low contents state; and

if the container is in the low contents state, prior to determining said a condition, urging said suction element and/or a pick arm carrying said suction element in a direction towards a pusher plate in said container until a contents state sensor no longer indicates that the container is in the low contents state.

8. A method of operating a media container, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring a first sensor signal indicative of whether the media container is in a low contents state;

locating a suction element at a pick up region of the media container;

selectively connecting a source of negative pressure to the suction element to pick a media item from the media container;

after a predetermined number of media item miss picks from the media container, determining if the media container is in a low contents state based upon the first sensor signal;

monitoring a second sensor signal indicative of pressure at the suction element;

electronically by a processor, logging pressure data based upon the second sensor signal after a determination has been made that the media container is in a low contents state and the predetermined number of media item miss picks from the media container has been attempted;

providing a respective integrated value or sum value by integrating or summing the logged pressure data between a first time and a second time;

comparing the integrated value or sum value to a first predetermined threshold value;

concluding that a pusher plate mechanism of the media container is stuck when a determination is made that the integrated value or sum value is less than the first predetermined threshold value;

comparing the integrated value or sum value to a second predetermined threshold value; and

concluding that the media container is empty when a determination is made that the integrated value or sum value is less than the second predetermined threshold value.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising:

locating a pick up arm carrying the suction element from a rest position to a pick position in which the suction element is located at the pick up region;

switching on a vacuum pump to thereby provide a source of negative pressure; and

subsequently opening a valve element to thereby selectively connect the source of negative pressure and the suction element.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein

the media container is a currency cassette or sheet depository in an automatic teller machine (ATM).

11. A computer program product directly loadable into the internal memory of a digital computer, comprising software code portions for performing the steps of claim 8 when the product is run on a computer.

Assignments (9)