Sheet feeding or delivering – Delivering to stack and feeding therefrom
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-07
2001-12-18
Bollinger, David H. (Department: 3651)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Delivering to stack and feeding therefrom
C271S003050, C271S003080, C271S003120, C271S178000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06331000
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to automated banking machines. Specifically, this invention relates to an automated banking machine which includes an apparatus for storing sheets such as currency notes. Alternative forms of the invention also have the capability of selectively dispensing sheets that have been previously stored.
BACKGROUND ART
Automated banking machines are known in the prior art. A common type automated banking machine is an automated teller machine (ATM). Automated banking machines are commonly used to conduct transactions such as dispensing cash, making deposits, paying bills and receiving statements. Other types of automated banking machines are used by service providers such as retail clerks and bank tellers to obtain cash from a storage area. Other types of automated banking machines are used to dispense and receive checks, scrip, tickets, vouchers and coupons. For purposes of this disclosure an automated banking machine shall be considered to be any machine which performs transactions involving transfers of value.
Automated banking machines such as ATMs commonly dispense cash in the form of currency notes to a user from a supply within the machine. Provisions must be made in such machines to periodically replenish the cash which is dispensed. This often involves having an armored car service or similar personnel open the machine and replace the canisters which hold currency sheets or other sheets representative of value.
Some automated banking machines also accept deposits from customers. Commonly such deposits are accepted in envelopes. The deposited envelopes are marked with identifying indicia and stored in a secure enclosure within the machine. Periodically personnel open the machine, remove the deposit envelopes and verify that the amounts actually deposited correspond to the amounts indicated by users as being deposited in the machine. Again this process typically involves having the deposit envelopes removed by personnel under secure circumstances so that deposited fulnds are not lost or stolen.
Some types of currency recycling automated banking machines have been developed. In such machines currency deposited by one customer is identified and stored. The stored currency may then be retrieved from storage and provided to another customer who requests a withdrawal of cash from the machine. Currency recycling machines are not common in the United States due to difficulties associated with identifying and handling the sheets which comprise the U.S. currency bills. In addition current recycling machines generally have limitations associated with slow speeds, reliability and relatively high cost.
Thus there exists a need for a media storage system for automated banking machines that is more economical, and which operates at higher speeds with greater reliability. There further exists a need for a media storage system in an automated banking machine that enables both storing currency or other sheets in a storage area and dispensing sheets from the storage area so that sheets deposited into the machine by one user may be dispensed to another user.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which stacks sheet media such as U.S. currency notes.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which stacks sheets reliably and at high speed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which stacks sheets in a storage area and selectively dispenses sheets from the storage area.
It is a farther object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which includes an automated banking machine which receives sheets and stacks the sheets therein.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a currency recycling automated banking machine.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for storing stacked sheets.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for storing and dispensing stacked sheets.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for storing sheets in a storage area and dispensing sheets from the storage area.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for operating an automated banking machine.
Further objects of the present invention will be made apparent in the following Best Modes for Carrying Out Invention and the appended claims.
The foregoing objects are accomplished in exemplary embodiments of the present invention by an automated banking machine. The machine includes a frame which supports a plurality of devices therein. Among the devices in the machine is a sheet moving mechanism which is operative to move sheets along a sheet path.
A rotatable flipper member is mounted in the machine and is selectively rotated therein. The flipper member includes a peripherally extending slot which is sized to accept a sheet. In an engaging position of the flipper member the slot is positioned to engage a sheet moving in the sheet path.
A gripper member is movably mounted in supporting connection with the flipper member. The gripper member is movable relative to the slot between a first position and a second position. In the first position the gripper member is positioned to hold a sheet in the slot in relatively fixed engagement with the flipper member. In the second position the gripper member is positioned so that a sheet is enabled to move in the slot relative to the flipper member.
A stop surface is positioned adjacent to the flipper member such that a projection of the stop surface in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the flipper member intersects the slot when the flipper member is rotated to a releasing position. A moving mechanism is in operative connection with the flipper member and the gripper member. The moving mechanism is operative responsive to a controller in the machine to move the flipper member between engaging and the releasing positions as the gripper member moves between the first and second positions, respectively.
In operation a sheet moving in the sheet path engages the slot in the flipper member. The gripper member moves to engage and hold the sheet in relatively fixed engagement with the flipper member as the flipper member rotates towards the releasing position. As the flipper member reaches the releasing position the sheet engages the stop surface and is positioned in abutting relation therewith as the gripper member releases the sheet. As a result the sheet is deposited in a stack positioned against the stop surface. The flipper member continues to rotate until it is again in the engaging position adjacent the sheet path.
In alternative exemplary forms of the invention sheets are dispensable from the stack into the sheet path. In one form of the invention the gripper member includes a high friction segment which is selectively engageable with the first sheet in the stack. A stripping mechanism is provided to minimize the probability that more than one sheet is removed from the stack at any one time. A sheet removed from the stack is then directed into the sheet path.
The exemplary apparatus of the present invention is preferably used in an automated banking machine that accepts and stores sheets such as currency notes, checks or similar items of value, and stores them in at least one stack within the machine. Alternative exemplary forms of the invention include automated banking machines that provide recycling of sheets by accepting sheets from a user and then storing them in a stack. The sheets in the stack are then removed from the stack and dispensed to customers using the machine.
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Beskitt William Daniel
Eastman Jeffrey
Harty Michael J.
Phelps Richard J.
Bollinger David H.
Diebold Incorporated
Jocke Ralph E.
Walker & Jocke
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