Ncr Corporation

John A Peebles

Norman G Taylor

James D Swinton

Ahmad H Ebrahimi

Andrew Calder

Ian McIntyre

Alan G Shepherd

Gary A Ross

Simon J Forrest

Fredrik L N Kallin

Douglas L Milne

Timothy P Johnson

Kenneth J Peters

Robert J Suttie

David Sommerville

David J McMillan

Andrew Lynch

Christopher Wylie

Grant G Keir

Mary L McCarron

John L Martin

Ian McIntosh

Jonas K McNab

Ian N Campbell

A storage device () for storing valuable media is described. The device has a rotary storage compartment () for storing media items () in a fixed order. The items are held in place by one or two tapes (and/or) wound around the rotary storage compartment. The device includes a memory (and/or) for storing the order in which the items are stored and details of transactions associated with the stored items, so that each stored item can be linked to a transaction. In a preferred embodiment, one of the tapes (or) serves as the memory so that transaction details for a stored media item () can be read as the stored media item () is dispensed from the storage device ().

Media storage device

A self-service machine, such as an automated teller machine (), that includes a plurality of vacuum pick mechanisms () for picking media (), such as banknotes, each vacuum pick mechanism () including a pump (), a pickline () connected the pump, a drive mechanism for moving the pickline () between a media pick position and a media release position, and a motor () for driving both the pump () and the drive mechanism.

Vacuum picking system

A media storage device for use in self service terminals (SSTs) is described. The storage device comprises a media storage containerincluding flexible fingersprotruding into the interior of the container, and a media loading assemblyincluding a movable platewhich can be operated to transfer media from the loading assemblyto the container. The flexible fingersserve to retain stored media in a compact and ordered arrangement, so improving storage efficiency. Embodiments of the invention may also include a scissor type arrangement of armsin the loading assembly, arranged to increase the effective stroke length of the movable platewithout increasing the required depth of the loading assembly.

Self service terminal media loading and storage device

A self-service terminal (SST) ( ) having a reconfigurable media entry slot is provided. The slot ( ) has paired vertically movable ( ) and horizontally movable ( ) shutters located so as to be capable of being moved to restrict the size of the slot ( ). In use, the SST ( ) determines the orientation and size of media to be entered, and adjusts the slot ( ) size accordingly by means of motors ( ) driving the shutters. An indicator ( ) may also be provided to further indicate to a user the expected media size, with media sensors ( ) being present to further avoid entry of incorrect media.

Self-service terminal having a reconfigurable media entry slot

A media cassette ( ) for a self-service terminal (SST) comprises a body ( ) for receiving media to be dispensed in the form of a bundle of media ( ) having end faces and side faces. At least one movable guide member ( ) is provided for locating the media within the body ( ) and for engaging a respective side face of the media bundle ( ). The guide member ( ) is urged towards the respective side face of the media bundle ( ).

Media cassette for self-service terminal

A self-service terminal (SST) ( ) is provided which includes a plurality of media dispense and deposit modules ( ), a media port ( ), and a media transport ( ) movable between the modules ( ) and the port ( ), the transport ( ) including a media entrance and a media exit. The transport ( ) may be movable vertically, horizontally, or both. Embodiments of the invention include SSTs with a number of separate media module assemblies and a number of movable transports, and SSTs with two communicating transports which may pass media between them.

Self-service terminal

A self-service terminal (SST) has a user interface ( ), a bank note receiver ( ) where a user may input bank notes, and a bank note validator ( ) for checking the bank notes received from the user (the user's bank notes). The terminal ( ) also has a cassette receiver ( ) for holding a cassette ( ) which is to be replenished with the user's bank notes. A loading mechanism ( ) is used to replenish the cassette ( ) with the validated user's bank notes. The loading mechanism ( ) has a pivoting linkage arrangement so that as the bank notes are stacked in the cassette ( ), part of the linkage remains parallel to the stack of bank notes. The SST ( ) also has a cassette emptying mechanism ( ) for emptying and reconciling partially-filled cassettes ( ). A method of replenishing a cassette with bank notes and an SST system are also described.

Self-service terminal having a cassette and method of replenishing the cassette with sheet currency

A media escrow unit ( ) is provided for use in dispensing or depositing media. The escrow unit ( ) is arranged in use with a media removal path ( ) leading from a media receptacle ( ), and communicating with a media return path ( ) leading to the media receptacle. In use, media may be removed from the receptacle ( ) and passed through media validation sensors ( ) before being returned to the receptacle ( ). The media may then either be presented from the escrow unit ( ) to a user, or passed via the media removal path ( ) to a media storage location, depending on the outputs obtained from the media validation sensors ( ), and the actions of the user. Also provided is a self-service terminal incorporating such an escrow unit; and methods of dispensing or depositing media.

A dispensing container for storing valuable media and a self-service terminal (such as an ATM) for using these dispensing containers are described. The container has frangible portions to allow opening of the container, so that when the container is loaded into an ATM, the ATM breaks the frangible portions to define an opening through which the contents of the container are dispensed. The ATM incorporates a housing for storing these containers; a breaching mechanism for breaking the frangible portions and defining an opening; an emptying mechanism for removing valuable media from the opening; and a discharging mechanism for discarding empty containers.

Dispensing container

A belt (28) is moved into contact with a sheet (70) to be fed from the stack (18) under the control of a solenoid (48), which when energized causes pivoting of a crank mechanism (42) and an pulley (26) which supports the belt (28). The belt (28) frictionally engages the sheet (70) as to separate it from the stack (18) and move it into engagement with feed rollers (56) of a transport mechanism. The belt (28) is then retracted from the sheet (70) which is moved away from the stack (18) by the feed rollers (56). After a predetermined time period, the belt (28) is moved into contact with the next sheet of the stack (18) to be fed and the process is repeated until the desired number of sheets have been fed from the stack (18). The belt (28) is driven so that it rotates continuously during the pick operation and is brought to rest on retraction of the belt (28) after the final sheet has been picked from the stack (18).

Sheet feeding apparatus

A bill stacker (30) to handle bills of different sizes in an automated teller machine (10) includes two matched sets of different length arms (60a-e) with returns (62a-e) that act as bill stoppers where the arms are pivoted about a common shaft (64). Bills having the greatest width are engaged and stopped by the longest arms and bills of the shortest width are engaged and stopped by the shortest arms, with intermediate width bills being stopped by intermediate length arms. The arms are brought into position by means of two sets of cams (66a-e) so as to bring about the alignment of bills dynamically as bills are fed into the stacker in order of decreasing width.

Apparatus for stacking sheets

In sheet separating apparatus suitable for use in an automated teller machine (ATM), sheets, such as banknotes, are removed singly from a stack (14) using reduced pressure derived from a vacuum pump (86). An air filter (72) is provided in the vacuum supply line (16) from the vacuum pump (86). A pressure sensor (68) senses the pressure in the vacuum supply line (16) and when this rises to a threshold value, causes the vacuum pump to supply reverse air flow through the air filter (72) to transport any dust particles impeding the operation of the air filter (72) to a dust collection container (106).

Sheet Separating apparatus

Apparatus for indicating the thickness of a document being fed along a feed path comprises cooperating upper and lower roll sets (20 and 32) between which a document passes. The lower roll set (20) is driven by the document transport, while the upper roll set (32) is rotatably mounted on a pivotally mounted arm (36), which is urged by a spring (42) to cause the upper roll set (32) to move toward engagement with the lower roll set (20). The upper roll set (32) includes a central cylindrical portion (30) of reduced diameter. A further roll (46) is mounted so that its circumference is normally spaced from the surface of the cylindrical portion by a predetermined distance. A timing disc (52) is mounted for rotation with the further roll (46), and a sensing device (58) is associated with the timing disc (52) to generate pulses as the further roll (46) rotates. If a document of more than a predetermined thickness equal to the predetermined distance passes between the two roll sets (20 and 32) the upper roll set (32) is rocked and engages the further roll (46) to rotate the further roll and the timing disc (52). Pulses are generated, indicating a document in excess of said predetermined thickness. Counting of the pulses by a data processor (68) enables the apparatus to distinguish between a crease in the document and an entire document in excess of said predetermined thickness.

Apparatus and method for indicating the thickness of record media by

A container for use in loading notes into a currency cassette in a simple and rapid manner includes a base and wall portions upstanding therefrom. A rectangular removable plate is positioned over the base. In order to load the cassette, the container is first loaded with a stack of currency notes with corresponding long edges of the notes resting on the plate and with the end notes in the stack being respectively in engagement with the end wall portions of the container. The cassette is then inverted and placed, with its lid open, over the container. The combination of the container and the cassette is inverted, and the plate is pressed down on the stack of notes through an opening in the base of the container while simultaneously, the remainder of the container is removed from the cassette, thereby leaving the stack of notes in the correct position in the cassette.

Container and method for loading currency notes into a currency cassette

A sheet feeding apparatus includes a first elongated drive belt assembly (52) which is driven by, and is pivotable about the axis of, a first drive shaft (86) mounted adjacent one end of this assembly (52), and a second elongated drive belt assembly (50) which is mounted in coopertive relationship with respect to the first belt assembly (52) and which is driven by, and pivotable about the axis of, a second drive shaft (72) spaced inwardly from both ends of the second belt assembly (52). The two belt assemblies (50, 52) are pivotally movable under the control of a single solenoid between closed positions in which the belt assemblies are in cooperative relationship with respect to each other for feeding a sheet therebetween towards an exit solt (26), and open positions in which the cooperating surfaces of the belt assemblies (50, 52) are spaced apart to facilitate the entry of a sheet between the belt assemblies (50, 52) at an entry location (169).

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Dundee, United Kingdom

John A Peebles