Automated banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine is operable to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader that can read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The machine is operative responsive to read card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The machine can also provide machine users with a receipt for transactions conducted. The machine includes a cash dispenser that can dispense cash to users, and cause the value of dispensed cash to be assessed to accounts corresponding to the read card data. The machine also includes a sheet accepting device that can receive currency notes and/or checks from users. An account that corresponds to the read card data can be credited for the value of received notes and/or checks.
1. A method carried out during an authorized servicing operation involving an automated banking machine that is operable to carry out financial transactions responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records, comprising:
(a) accessing an interior area of the automated banking machine,
wherein the machine includes at least one data reader,
wherein the at least one data reader is operable to read user data usable to identify a financial account,
wherein the machine is operable to cause a financial transfer involving a financial account responsive at least in part to computer-determined correspondence between user data read by the at least one data reader and the financial account,
wherein the machine includes a housing,
wherein the housing includes an opening through which the machine can receive currency notes from machine users,
wherein the machine includes a currency accepting device,
wherein the currency accepting device includes a currency note evaluation module,
wherein the currency note evaluation module is operable to accept currency notes received through the opening,
wherein the currency accepting device includes a storage assembly,
wherein the storage assembly includes a tray,
wherein the tray is in supporting connection with slides,
wherein the slides allow the tray to be moved between a retracted position and an outwardly extending position,
wherein the tray supports at least one container configured to hold currency notes,
wherein the at least one container includes a first container,
wherein the currency accepting device includes at least one transport device,
wherein the at least one transport device is operable to transport currency notes from the currency note evaluation module to the storage assembly;
(b) subsequent to (a), moving at least one latch to cause the tray to be released from being held in the retracted position;
(c) subsequent to (b), moving the tray to the outwardly extending position while the first container is releasibly fastened to the tray;
(d) subsequent to (c), manually actuating a release lever to cause the first container to be released from being fastened to the tray; and
(e) subsequent to (d), removing the first container from the tray.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the machine is part of a banking system, wherein the currency accepting device is operable to accept both currency notes and financial checks,
wherein the at least one data reader includes both a card reader and a biometric reader,
and further comprising:
(f) operating the card reader to read card data
(g) operating the biometric reader to read biometric data; and
(h) authorizing a machine user to request a financial transaction, responsive at least in part to both
computer-determined correspondence between the card data read in (f) and stored card information, and
computer-determined correspondence between the biometric data read in (g) and stored biometric information.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the currency accepting device includes at least one sensor operative to sense when the first container is approaching a currency note full level, and further comprising:
(f) prior to (a), operating the at least one sensor to sense that the first container is approaching a currency note full level.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tray includes the release lever, wherein the first container includes a latch member, wherein (d) includes disengaging the release lever from the latch member.
5. The method according to claim 1
wherein the first container includes a support plate,
wherein the support plate is configured to support currency notes,
wherein the support plate is in operative connection with a manually actuatable lever,
wherein the first container includes a drive portion operative to selectively move the support plate,
and further comprising:
(f) moving the lever to cause the support plate to be disengaged from the drive portion;
(g) subsequent to (f), moving the support plate to facilitate access to first currency notes supported by the support plate; and
(h) subsequent to (g), removing the first currency notes from the first container.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein (g) includes lowering the support plate.
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein (e) includes removing the first container from a first area of the tray, and further comprising:
(f) subsequent to (e), installing an empty container onto the tray in the first area.
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein (f) includes installing a replacement container onto the tray, wherein the replacement container differs from the first container.
9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tray includes a front wall and a back wall, wherein the front wall is vertically lower than the back wall, and further comprising:
(f) subsequent to (d) and prior to (e), moving at least a top portion of the first container outward away from the back wall;
wherein (e) includes lifting the first container over the front wall.
10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the machine includes a safe, wherein the safe includes at least one safe door, wherein the at least one safe door includes a first safe door, and wherein (a) includes moving the first safe door to an open position,
wherein the first container includes at least one door, and further comprising:
subsequent to (c), opening the at least one door; and
(g) subsequent to (f), removing at least one currency note from the first container.
11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one container includes a second container, wherein the currency accepting device is operable to store currency notes of a first denomination in the first container, wherein the currency accepting device is operable to store currency notes of a second denomination in the second container, and further comprising:
(f) subsequent to (c), removing the second container from the tray.
12. A method carried out during an authorized servicing operation involving an automated banking machine that is operable to carry out financial transactions responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records, comprising:
(a) accessing an interior area of the automated banking machine,
wherein the machine includes at least one data reader,
wherein the at least one data reader is operable to read user data usable to identify a financial account,
wherein the machine is operable to cause a financial transfer involving a financial account responsive at least in part to computer-determined correspondence between user data read by the at least one data reader and the financial account,
wherein the machine includes a housing,
wherein the housing includes an opening through which the machine can receive currency notes from machine users,
wherein the machine includes a currency accepting device,
wherein the currency accepting device includes a currency note evaluation module,
wherein the currency note evaluation module is operable to accept currency notes received through the opening,
wherein the currency accepting device includes a storage assembly,
wherein the storage assembly includes a tray,
wherein the tray is configured to support at least one container configured to hold currency notes,
wherein the tray is in supporting connection with slides,
wherein the slides allow the tray to be moved between a retracted position and an outwardly extending position,
wherein the currency accepting device includes at least one transport device,
wherein the at least one transport device is operable to transport currency notes from the currency note evaluation module to the storage assembly;
(b) installing an empty container onto the tray while the tray is in the outwardly extending position;
(c) subsequent to (b), manually causing the container to be releasibly fastened to the tray in a manner that allows the container to be released from the tray through manual actuation of a release lever;
(d) subsequent to (c), moving the tray toward the retracted position while the tray is in supporting connection with the slides; and
(e) subsequent to (d), causing the tray to be held in the retracted position by at least one latch.
13. The method according to claim 12 and further comprising:
(f) subsequent to (a) and prior to (b), removing a first container from a first area of the tray;
wherein (b) includes installing a replacement container onto the tray in the first area, wherein the replacement container differs from the first container.
14. The method according to claim 12 and further comprising:
(f) subsequent to (a) and prior to (b), removing a container from the tray;
(g) subsequent to (f), removing at least one currency note from the container;
wherein (b) includes returning the container onto the tray.
15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the tray includes the release lever, wherein the first container includes a latch member, wherein (c) causes the release lever to be engaged with the latch member.
16. The method according to claim 12 wherein in (e) the tray includes the at least one latch.
17. A method carried out during an authorized servicing operation involving an automated banking machine that is operable to carry out financial transactions responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records, comprising:
(a) accessing an interior area of the automated banking machine,
wherein the machine includes a housing,
wherein the housing includes an opening through which the machine can receive sheets from machine users,
wherein the machine includes a sheet accepting device,
wherein the sheet accepting device includes a sheet evaluation module,
wherein the sheet evaluation module is operable to accept sheets received through the opening,
wherein the sheet accepting device includes a storage assembly,
wherein the storage assembly includes a tray,
wherein the tray is in supporting connection with slides,
wherein the slides allow the tray to be moved between a retracted position and an outwardly extending position,
wherein the tray supports at least one container configured to hold financial sheets,
wherein the at least one container is releasibly fastened to the tray,
wherein the sheet accepting device includes at least one transport device,
wherein the at least one transport device is operable to transport sheets from the sheet evaluation module to the storage assembly;
(b) subsequent to (a), moving at least one latch to cause the tray to be released from being held in the retracted position;
(c) subsequent to (b), moving the tray to the outwardly extending position while the at least one container is releasibly fastened to the tray;
(d) subsequent to (c), manually actuating at least one release lever to cause at least one of the at least one container to be released from being fastened to the tray;
(e) while the tray is in the outwardly extending position, removing from the tray at least one container released in (d);
(f) while the tray is in the outwardly extending position, installing a respective empty container onto the tray for each respective container removed in (e);
(g) manually causing each respective container installed in (f) to be releasibly fastened to the tray in a manner that allows the respective container to be released from the tray through manual actuation of the at least one release lever;
(h) subsequent to (g), moving the tray toward the retracted position while each installed container is releasibly fastened to the tray; and
(i) subsequent to (h), causing the tray to be held in the retracted position by the at least one latch.
18. The method according to claim 17
wherein in (a) the at least one container includes both a first container and a second container,
wherein the first container is configured to hold currency notes,
wherein the at least one transport device is operable to transport currency notes from the sheet evaluation module to the first container,
wherein the second container is configured to hold financial checks,
wherein the at least one transport device is operable to transport checks from the sheet evaluation module to the second container,
wherein (d) includes causing both the first container and the second container to be released from being fastened to the tray,
wherein (e) includes removing both the first container and the second container from the tray.
19. The method according to claim 18 wherein (f) includes installing onto the tray both a first replacement container and a second replacement container,
wherein the first replacement container is configured to hold currency notes,
wherein the first replacement container differs from the first container,
wherein the second replacement container is configured to hold financial checks,
wherein the second replacement container differs from the second container.
20. Apparatus comprising:
(a) accessing an interior area of an automated banking machine,
wherein the machine includes at least one data reader,
wherein the at least one data reader is operable to read user data usable to identify a financial account,
wherein the machine includes a housing,
wherein the housing includes an opening through which the machine can receive currency notes from machine users,
wherein the machine includes a currency accepting device,
wherein the currency accepting device includes a currency note evaluation module,
wherein the currency note evaluation module is operable to accept currency notes received through the opening,
wherein the currency accepting device includes a storage assembly,
wherein the storage assembly includes a tray,
wherein the tray is in supporting connection with slides,
wherein the slides allow the tray to be moved between a retracted position and an outwardly extending position,
wherein the tray supports at least one container configured to hold currency notes,
wherein the at least one container includes a first container,
wherein the first container includes a support plate,
wherein the support plate is configured to support currency notes,
wherein the support plate is in operative connection with a manually actuatable lever;
(b) subsequent to (a), moving at least one latch to cause the tray to be released from being held in the retracted position;
(c) subsequent to (b), moving the tray to the outwardly extending position while the first container is releasibly fastened to the tray;
(d) subsequent to (c), manually actuating a release lever to cause the first container to be released from being fastened to the tray;
(e) subsequent to (d), removing the first container from the tray;
(f) manually actuating the manually actuatable lever to allow the support plate to be manually moved;
(g) subsequent to (f), manually moving the support plate to facilitate access to first currency notes supported by the support plate; and
(h) subsequent to (g), removing the first currency notes from the first container.