Granted Patent B2

US 8,814,042 · App. 14/072,061 · Granted Aug 26, 2014

Abstract

Claims (67)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first paper supply;

a second paper supply;

a printer;

a support structure for providing paper to the printer; and

a transfer gate having a first surface and a second surface;

wherein the first surface of the transfer gate guides paper from the first paper supply to the support structure; and

wherein the second surface of the transfer gate guides paper from the second paper supply to the support structure; and

wherein the transfer gate is movably mounted to pivot between a first position that allows paper from the first paper supply to reach the support structure and a second position that allows paper from the second paper supply to reach the support structure.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

a first paper sensor located between the first paper supply and the transfer gate;

a second paper sensor located between the second paper supply and the transfer gate; and

a controller coupled with the first paper sensor and the second paper sensor;

wherein the controller is operable to determine whether paper from one of a group consisting of the first paper supply and the second paper supply is provide to the support structure via the transfer gate;

wherein the controller is operable to provide paper from the second paper supply responsive to receiving a signal from the first paper sensor indicating an amount of paper remaining in the first paper supply is below a first predetermined threshold; and

wherein the controller is operable to provide paper from the first paper supply responsive to receiving a signal from the second paper sensor indicating an amount of paper remaining in the second paper supply is below a second predetermined threshold.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

a motor coupled with the transfer gate; and

a processor coupled with the motor;

wherein the processor controls the motor to selectively pivot the transfer gate between the first position and the second position.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein the transfer gate is three sided.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein the transfer gate is arrow shaped.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first surface and second surfaces are inwardly curved surfaces.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first supply comprises a rotatable roll of paper.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second supply comprises a rotatable roll of paper.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a paper cutter coupled with the printer.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 9 , further comprising a presenter drive operable to move paper cut by the paper cutter for dispensing.

11. An apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine that comprises a reader operative to read user data usable to identify a financial account, a cash dispenser, and a user interface that includes a user display;

wherein the automated banking machine is operable to cause a financial transfer involving the financial account responsive at least in part to a computer-determined correspondence between user data read by the reader and the financial account;

a paper supply coupled with the automated banking machine that comprises a first paper supply that includes a first roll of paper and a second paper supply that includes a second roll of paper, wherein the second roll is spaced from the first roll;

a paper transfer arrangement coupled with the paper supply, wherein the paper transfer arrangement includes a first outer platen, a center platen, and a second outer platen, wherein a passage between the center platen and the second outer platen forms a first paper path that is positioned to receive paper from the first roll, and wherein a passage between the first outer platen and the center platen forms a second paper path that is positioned to receive paper from the second roll, the paper transfer arrangement further includes a shared paper path for selectively receiving paper from one of a group consisting of the first paper path and the second paper path;

a printer positioned to receive paper from the shared paper path;

wherein the printer is selectively operative to print transaction receipt indicia on paper received from the shared paper path;

a first paper supply sensor operative to detect paper of the first paper supply;

a second supply sensor operative to detect paper of the second paper supply; and

a controller, wherein the controller is operatively connected to the printer, the first paper supply sensor, and the second paper supply sensor;

wherein the controller is operative to receive respective signals from the first paper supply sensor and the second paper supply sensor;

wherein the controller is operative responsive at least in part to signals received from the first paper supply sensor to determine whether the first paper supply has reached a predetermined low level;

wherein the controller is operative responsive at least in part to a negative determination from the first paper supply sensor to provide paper from the first paper supply to the printer; and

wherein the controller is operative responsive at least in part to a positive determination from the first paper supply sensor to both prevent paper from the first paper supply from being provided to the printer, and to provide paper from the second paper supply to the printer.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim 11 , wherein the paper transfer arrangement includes a plurality of first feed wheels and a plurality of second feed wheels;

wherein the plurality of first feed wheels extend through a respective opening in the first outer platen;

wherein the plurality of second feed wheels extend through a respective opening in the second outer platen;

wherein the paper transfer arrangement includes a first roller and a second roller;

wherein the first roller extends into the shared paper path through a respective opening in the center platen, the first roller is rotatable about a first roller axis;

wherein the at second roller extends into the shared paper path through a respective opening in the other one of the first outer platen and second outer platen, the second roller is rotatable about a second roller axis;

wherein the at second roller is substantially aligned opposite the first roller relative to the shared paper path;

wherein the first roller and the second roller are respectively rotatable to allow paper in the shared paper path to pass there between;

a drive that includes a first operative to cause rotation of the first plurality of feed wheels and the a second motor operative to cause rotation of the second plurality of feed wheels; and

wherein the controller is operable to selectively operate the drive to selectively cause rotation of the first plurality of feed wheels and the second plurality of feed wheels.

13. The apparatus set forth in claim 12 , wherein first plurality of feed wheels have an outer surface that comprises resilient material, wherein the first plurality of feed wheels are rotatable about a plurality of respective axes to cause paper in the first paper path to be engagingly moved between the center platen and the resilient material of the respective first feed wheel.

14. The apparatus set forth in claim 13 , wherein second plurality of feed wheels have an outer surface that comprises resilient material, wherein the second plurality of feed wheels are rotatable about a plurality of respective axes to cause paper in the second paper path to be engagingly moved between the center platen and the resilient material of the respective second feed wheel.

15. An apparatus comprising:

an automated banking machine that comprises a reader operative to identify a financial account, a user interface, first and second paper supplies, a shared printer structure, and a processor;

wherein the first paper supply provides receipt printing paper;

wherein the second paper supply provides a second printing paper for use in printing one of a group consisting of labels, wagering slips, lottery tickets, scrip, admission tickets, transportation tickets, coupons, traveler's checks, bank checks, blank checks, personal checks, money orders, personal memos, user images, and boarding passes;

wherein the shared printer structure is operable to print indicia corresponding to transaction receipt data and indicia corresponding a transaction selected from the group consisting of labels, wagering slips, lottery tickets, scrip, admission tickets, transportation tickets, coupons, traveler's checks, bank checks, blank checks, personal checks, money orders, personal memos, user images, and boarding passes;

wherein the processor is operable to cause paper from the first paper supply to be provided to the shared printer structure when printing a receipt; and

wherein the processor is operable to cause paper from the second paper supply to be provided to the shared printer when printing one of the group consisting of group consisting of labels, wagering slips, lottery tickets, scrip, admission tickets, transportation tickets, coupons, traveler's checks, bank checks, blank checks, personal checks, money orders, personal memos, user images, and boarding passes.

16. The apparatus set forth in claim 15 , further comprising a cash dispenser;

wherein the cash dispenser is operable to dispense cash to authorized users of the automated banking machine.

17. The apparatus set forth in claim 15 , wherein the shared printer structure further comprises a common paper path operable to selectively receive paper from the first paper supply and the second paper supply.

18. The apparatus set forth in claim 15 , the automated banking machine further comprising a sensor;

wherein the processor is operable to determine, based at least in part on data from the sensor, whether the first paper supply has reached a predetermined low level;

wherein the processor is operable to cause paper from the second paper supply to be provided to the shared printer structure responsive at least in part to a determination that the first paper supply has reached the predetermined low level; and

wherein the processor is operable to print transaction receipt indicia on the paper provided to the shared printer structure on the paper provided from the second paper supply responsive at least in part to a determination that the first paper supply has reached the predetermined low level.

Assignments (25)