Automated banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine can cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader that can read from user cards, card data that corresponds to financial accounts. The machine can operate responsive to the read card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The machine can provide users a transaction receipt. The machine includes a cash dispenser that can dispense cash to machine users. Value of dispensed cash can be assessed to an account which corresponds to the read card data. The machine also includes an accepting device that can receive currency bills and/or checks from users. An account that corresponds to the read card data can be credited for the value of received bills and/or checks.
1. A method involving an automated banking machine that is operable to cause financial transfers responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records,
(a) operating at least one sensor to sense at least one condition corresponding to compressive force acting between a top sheet of a stack and a rotating assembly of a sheet stacking device of the automated banking machine,
wherein the machine includes at least one data reader,
wherein the at least one data reader is operative to read user data corresponding to financial accounts,
wherein the machine includes at least one display,
wherein the at least one display is operative to provide outputs to users of the machine,
wherein the machine includes at least one sheet receiving opening,
wherein the sheet receiving opening is configured to receive sheets into the machine from users,
wherein the machine includes 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 at least one sheet receiving opening,
wherein the sheet stacking device is operative to produce a stack including a plurality of sheets that have been analyzed through operation of the at least one sheet analysis device,
wherein the rotating assembly is operative to
engage a sheet being moved toward the stack,
move the sheet in engagement therewith,
release the engaged sheet to the stack, and
be adjacent to and in operatively engaged relation with the top sheet,
wherein the sheet stacking device includes a support plate,
wherein the support plate is movably mounted and configured to support the stack,
wherein the sheet stacking device includes a drive,
wherein the drive is in operative connection with the support plate,
wherein the machine is associated with at least one processor,
wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the at least one data reader, the at least one display, the drive, and the at least one sensor,
wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause financial transfers involving financial accounts corresponding to user data read by the at least one data reader,
wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause operation of the drive responsive at least in part to the at least one sensor,
wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the drive to move the support plate responsive at least in part to compressive force acting between the rotating assembly and the top sheet; and
(b) responsive at least in part to (a), operating the drive to move the support plate.
2. The method 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 (a) includes operating the at least one processor to determine that the at least one sensor sensed at least one condition that corresponds to at least one position of the projecting portion.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the sheet stacking device includes a target element portion in operative connection with the projecting portion, and further comprising:
(c) operating the at least one sensor to sense at least one position of the target element portion.
4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the target element portion comprises a magnet, wherein (c) includes operating the at least one sensor to sense at least one position of the magnet.
5. The method according to claim 3
wherein the sheet stacking device includes:
at least one further sensor,
wherein the at least one further sensor is operative to sense at least one added sheet 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 (b) includes operating the at least one processor responsive at least in part to the at least one further sensor and the at least one stored value, to cause the drive to move the support plate away from the rotating assembly responsive at least in part to sheets added to the stack,
and further comprising:
(d) operating the at least one processor to change the at least one stored value responsive at least in part to the at least one sensor.
6. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
(c) operating the at least one processor to cause first user data to be read through operation of the at least one data reader;
(d) operating the at least one processor to cause communication between the 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 user data.
7. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
(c) operating the sheet stacking device to produce a stack that includes checks.
8. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
(c) operating the sheet stacking device to produce a stack that includes currency bills.
9. The method according to claim 1
wherein the machine is associated with 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 (b) includes operating the at least one processor responsive at least in part to the at least one stored value, to cause the drive to move the support plate away from the rotating assembly as sheets are added to the stack.
10. The method according to claim 9 and further comprising:
(c) operating the at least one processor responsive at least in part to the at least one sensor, to change the at least one stored value;
wherein (c) includes operating the at least one processor to change the at least one stored value, responsive at least in part 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.
11. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
(c) operating the at least one processor to cause the support plate to move away from the rotating assembly, and
(d) subsequent to (c), operating the at least one processor responsive at least in part to the at least one sensor, to cause the support plate to stop moving away from the rotating assembly.
12. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
(c) operating the at least one processor to cause the support plate to move toward the rotating assembly, and
(d) subsequent to (c), operating the at least one processor responsive at least in part to the at least one sensor, to cause the support plate to stop moving toward the rotating assembly.
13. A method comprising:
(a) radially moving to at least one radial position relative to an axis, at least one magnet of at least one rotatable member of a sheet stacking assembly of 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 sheet stacking assembly is operable to produce a stack comprising sheets received into the cassette,
wherein the at least one rotatable member is 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 the axis,
wherein each magnet of the at least one 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; and
(b) operating the drive responsive at least in part to the movement in (a) of the at least one magnet, to cause movement of the stack support plate,
wherein the movement of the stack support plate causes the compressive force to be maintained within the predetermined range.
14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the cassette is configured to receive sheets comprising at least one of checks and currency bills, and further comprising:
(c) operating the sheet stacking assembly to produce a stack that includes at least one of checks and currency bills.
15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the cassette is configured to receive both checks and currency bills,
wherein (c) includes operating the sheet stacking assembly to produce a stack that includes both checks and currency bills.
16. The method according to claim 13 and further comprising:
(c) operating at least one sensor to magnetically sense the radial movement in (a) of the at least one magnet;
wherein (b) includes operating the drive responsive at least in part to the sensing in (c), to move the stack support plate.
17. A method comprising:
(a) causing to be moved in at least one direction, a magnet of a rotatable assembly of a sheet stacking assembly of 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 sheet stacking assembly is 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 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 magnet emits magnetic signals,
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 plate moving direction responsive at least in part to movement of the magnet,
wherein the at least one plate moving 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 allows compressive force acting between the stack and the rotating assembly to be reduced; and
(b) responsive at least in part to the movement caused in (a), causing the drive to impart movement to the support plate in the first direction.
18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the cassette is configured to receive sheets comprising at least one of checks and currency bills, and further comprising:
(c) operating the sheet stacking assembly to produce a stack that includes at least one of checks and currency bills.
19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the cassette is configured to receive both checks and currency bills,
wherein (c) includes operating the sheet stacking assembly to produce a stack that includes both checks and currency bills.
20. The method according to claim 17 and further comprising:
(c) operating at least one sensor to magnetically sense the movement caused in (a) of the magnet;
wherein (b) includes operating the drive responsive at least in part to the sensing in (c), to move the stack support plate in the first direction.