Diebold, Inc.

Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated

Timothy B Allison

Jeffrey M Eastman

Harry Thomas Graef

Michael James Gardner

Kevin H Newton

Aaron Christopher Graham

John E McCloskey

Sathish M Irudayam

Sathish Irudayam

Systems and methods of the invention relate to reducing a number of jams that can occur in an automated teller machine with the employment of a moveable platen that increases a width of a channel for documents. A document analysis area can receive a document via a first transport path, wherein the document analysis area can include a channel in which the document travels to enable at least one scan component to capture an image of the document. The channel is created by one or more platen. The one or more platen can be movable to increase the width of the channel so as to allow documents to pass-through the document analysis area without causing a jam or error for the automated teller machine.

Movable platen in document handling systems for an automated teller machine

Systems and methods of the invention relate to reducing a number of jams that can occur in an automated teller machine with the employment of a moveable platen that increases a width of a channel for documents. A document analysis area can receive a document via a first transport path, wherein the document analysis area can include a channel in which the document travels to enable at least one scan component to capture an image of the document. The channel is created by one or more platen. The one or more platen can be movable to increase the width of the channel so as to allow documents to pass through the document analysis area without causing a jam or error for the automated teller machine.

Moveable platen in document handling systems for an automated teller machine

Apparatus for identifying and indicating the content of document canisters such as those used to hold supplies of documents in Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), includes a canister (10) holding a stack of documents (30) and having a face plate (24). Face plate (24) includes a plurality of buttonholes (26). Spring loaded buttons (25) are distributed among buttonholes (26); the arrangement of said buttons representing items of data such as ownership of the canister, canister serial number, and document information such as the type, denomination, amount, and character of the documents in the canister. In operating position, canister (10) is located in an ATM in contact with a picker mechanism (100) which removes documents, one at a time from the canister. The picker mechanism incorporates a switch plate (126) which is adjacent to face plate (24) when canister (10) and picker mechanism (100) are in operating position. Switch plate (126) incorporates a plurality of switch actuators (128), the locations of which corresponds to the locations of buttonholes (26). Each switch actuator (128) is associated with an electrical switch (130), which changes its electrical condition whenever its associated switch actuator is depressed. Electrical switches (130) are connected to a computer which controls the operations of the ATM, as well as stores and processes data relating to ATM operation. When canister (10) is loaded into operating position, the presence of a spring loaded button (25) in a button hole (26) causes the corresponding switch actuator (128) to be depressed and its associated electrical switch (130) to change electrical condition. Thus, the arrangement of buttons (25) is reflected in the electrical conditions of switches (130). The computer is programmed to associate the arrangement of buttons with the items of data represented by the arrangement. The computer utilizes these items of data according to its programming to do such things as adjust the operation of the ATM to conform to the type, denomination, and character of the documents in each canister, settle accounts between entities who supply the documents to the ATM, track the location of each canister, determine the serial numbers of canisters involved in dispense failures, and signal when the documents in a canister need to be replenished.

Method and apparatus for identifying and indicating the content of

Apparatus for identifying and indicating the content of document canisters such as those used to hold supplies of documents in Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs), includes a canister (10) holding a stack of documents (30) and having a face plate (24). Face plate (24) includes a plurality of buttonholes (26). Spring loaded buttons (25) are distributed among buttonholes (26); the arrangement of the buttons representing items of data such as ownership of the canister, canister serial number, and document information such as the type, denomination, amount, and character of the documents in the canister. When inserted in the ATM, the canister exchanges identifying information with the ATM via the arrangement of buttons. A computer, which controls the operation of the ATM, uses this information to do such things as adjust the operation of the ATM to conform to the type, denomination, and character of the documents in each canister, settle accounts between entities who supply the documents to the ATM, track the location of each canister, determine serial numbers of canisters involved in dispense failures, and signal when the documents in a canister need to be replenished.

Method and apparatus for account settlement in an ATM

Apparatus for identifying and indicating the content of document canisters such as those used to hold supplies of documents in Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), includes a canister (10) holding a stack of documents (30) and having a face plate (24). Face plate (24) includes a plurality of buttonholes (26). Spring loaded buttons (25) are distributed among buttonholes (26); the arrangement of said buttons representing items of data such as ownership of the canister, canister serial number, and document information such as the type, denomination, amount, and character of the documents in the canister. In operating position, canister (10) is located in an ATM in contact with a picker mechanism (100) which removes documents, one at a time from the canister. The picker mechanism incorporates a switch plate (126) which is adjacent to face plate (24) when canister (10) and picker mechanism (100) are in operating position. Switch plate (126) incorporates a plurality of switch actuators (128), the locations of which correspond to the locations of buttonholes (26). Each switch actuator (128) is associated with an electrical switch (130), which changes its electrical condition whenever its associated switch actuator is depressed. Electrical switches (130) are connected to a computer which controls the operation of the ATM, as well as stores and processes data relating to ATM operation. The computer is programmed to associate the arrangement of buttons with the items of data represented by the arrangement.

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Stark County, OH, United States of America

Timothy B Allison