Statement presenter mechanism for automated teller machine

• US 5,435,542 A
• Filed: 03/15/1994
• Issued: 07/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: InterBold Co.
• Inventors: Van Pham, Tuyen, Henderson, Kevin, Mason, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skaggs, H. Grant
• Assistant Examiner(s): DRUZBICK, CAROL L
• Application Number:
  US08/213,413
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 271/228, 271/246, 271/268, 271/272, 271/273, 271/277, 271/265, 271/902, 414/789, 198/434, 198/463.4, 221/21
• US Class Current: 271/246
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/422 Handling piles, sets or stacks of articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/1122 for rendering elastically deformable
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/2614 Means for engaging or disengaging belts into or out of contact with opposite belts, rollers or balls
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1912 Banknotes, bills and cheques or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/145 the pile being formed between the two, or between the two sets of, tapes or bands or rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 31/28 Bands, chains, or like moving receivers for articles piled on edge B65H31/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 9/06 Movable stops or gauges, e.g. rising and falling front stops B65H11/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 271/902 Reverse direction of sheet movement

Abstract

A statement presenter for an automated teller machine includes a pair of upper belts (30) and a pair of lower belts (32). A paper stop (28) is mounted on a frame assembly (40). Cooperating arm members (42, 52) are operable to move the upper belts downwardly as the paper stop is moved upwardly and vice versa. In operation, the upper belts are moved upwardly while said paper stop is moved downwardly and a stack of papers (12) is accumulated. After accumulation of the stack, the paper stop is moved upwardly as the upper belt moves downwardly to engage the stack. Thereafter, the stack is moved outward to an exit slot (32) where the stack may be taken by a customer. If the customer fails to take the stack the direction of the belts is reversed until the stack engages a diverter plate (36) and passes into a storage bin (39) wherein the stack is held within the automated teller machine.

Claims

1. A paper presentation apparatus for an automated teller machine, comprising:

a movable first belt,

a first axle and a second axle disposed from said first axle, said first belt supported on said first and second axles;

a movable second belt extending generally parallel of said first belt,

a paper stop, and

a mechanism interconnecting said paper stop and said first belt wherein as said paper stop is moved away from said second belt, said first belt is moved toward said second belt, and vice versa, said mechanism including a first arm member and a second arm member, said first arm member rotatable about a first pivot and said second arm member rotatable about a second pivot, and wherein said first axle is journalled in said first arm member on a first side of said first pivot and said paper stop is connected to said first arm member on an opposed side of said first pivot, and wherein said second axle is journalled in said second arm member on a first side of said second pivot and said paper stop is connected to said second arm member on an opposed side of said second pivot.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second arms are pivotally engaged intermediate of said first and second pivots.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said apparatus includes a frame having first and second slots extending generally in a traverse direction of said belts, and wherein said first and second axles are movable in guided relation in said first and second slots respectively, and wherein said first and second arms include first and second arm slots respectively, said first and second axles journalled in said first and second arm slots respectively.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said frame comprises a pair of spaced side walls, and wherein said apparatus comprises a pair of said first arm members and a pair of said second arm members, each of said arm members in a pair disposed on opposed sides of said spaced side walls, and wherein each side wall includes said first and second slots therein enabling movement of said first axle and said second axle therein respectively.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein one of said arm members includes a gear portion, and wherein said apparatus further comprises a pinion engaging said gear portion and a reversing motor for driving said pinion, and wherein said reversing motor moves said paper stop and first belt.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said paper stop comprises at least one finger portion extending in a traverse direction of said belts, and wherein said finger portion extends traversely beyond said second belt when said paper stop as positioned adjacent said second belt.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 and further comprising a platen having a platen surface extending adjacent and generally in a plane with said second belt, and wherein said finger portion of said paper stop extends traversely beyond said platen surface when said paper stop is positioned adjacent said second belt.

8. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said paper stop is mounted on a paper stop frame and wherein said paper stop frame is engaged to each of said arm members by connector pins.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said apparatus comprises a frame having frame walls and wherein said frame walls include pin connector slots, wherein said connector pins extend from said arm members to said paper stop frame through said pin connector slots.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising an entry end, and an entry sensor sensing a sheet adjacent said entry end, and further comprising a paper entry timing device in operative connection with said entry sensor, wherein said entry end timing device generates a signal when said sheet is adjacent said entry sensor for more than an entry time.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said first axle is driven by a gear train, said gear train including a pair of floating gears.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein each floating gear is journalled on a link, each link rotatable about an adjacent gear.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising an entry end and an entry sensor adjacent said entry end sensing a sheet passing adjacent thereto, and wherein said apparatus further comprises a motor driving said belts to accept said sheet into said apparatus, and wherein said motor is operatively connected to said entry sensor wherein said entry sensor is operative to start said motor upon entry of said sheet into said entry end.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising an entry end and wherein a sheet enters said apparatus through said entry end and wherein said sheet travels in a generally first direction into said entry end, and wherein said second belt extends from said entry end in a direction downward relative to said first direction, whereby sheets are stacked above prior sheets against said paper stop.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein each said sheet has a leading edge engaging said paper stop and a trailing edge adjacent said entry end.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 and further comprising a rotatable flapper adjacent said entry end, said flapper including arms deformably engagable with said sheets, whereby said sheets are urged into a stack adjacent said paper stop.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 and further comprising a deformable diverter plate adjacent said entry end, whereby said sheets pass on a first side of said diverter plate as said sheets move in the first direction through said entry end, and wherein said diverter plate engages sheets passing in an opposed direction on a second side of said diverter plate whereby said diverter plate prevents said sheets from passing out of said entry end.

18. A paper presentation apparatus for an automated teller machine comprising:

a movable first belt,

a movable second belt extending generally parallel of said first belt,

a guide support extending generally parallel of said first belt,

a paper stop wherein said paper stop is movably mounted on said guide support, said paper stop movable on said guide support in a direction generally parallel of said belts,

a mechanism interconnecting said paper stop and said first belt wherein as said paper stop is moved away from said second belt, said first belt is moved toward said second belt, and vice versa.

19. A paper presentation apparatus for an automated teller machine comprising:

a movable first belt,

a movable second belt extending generally parallel of said first belt,

a paper stop,

a mechanism interconnecting Said paper stop and said first belt wherein as said paper stop is moved away from said second belt, said first belt is moved toward said second belt and vice versa, and

wherein said apparatus further comprises an entry end, and a diverter plate adjacent said entry end, wherein said diverter plate is adjacent said second belt and disposed in a direction away from said second belt and toward said first belt, and wherein paper sheets entering said apparatus through said entry end pass between said diverter plate and said first belt.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said diverter plate is disposed from said second belt wherein sheets are enabled to pass between said diverter plate and said second belt.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19 and further comprising a storage bin positioned vertically below said diverter plate.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 and further comprising a roller positioned adjacent said entry end, said roller in engagement with said first belt, and wherein said diverter plate includes a cut-out, and wherein said roller extends through said cut-out to engage said first belt.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said diverter plate is flexible.

24. A paper presentation apparatus for an automated teller machine comprising:

a movable first belt,

a movable second belt extending generally parallel of said first belt,

a paper stop,

a mechanism interconnecting said paper stop and said first belt wherein as said paper stop is moved away from said second belt, said first belt is moved toward said second belt, and vice versa, and

wherein said apparatus further comprises an exit end, and an exit sensor adjacent said exit end sensing sheets at said exit end, and

a first reversible motor in operative connection with at least one of said first and second belts, and

a timing device in operative connection with said first motor and said exit sensor,

wherein said first motor is operative to move said sheets in a first direction to said exit end wherein said sensor senses said sheets, and wherein if said sheets are sensed after a time determined by said timing device, said first motor is operative to move said sheets in a second direction away from said exit end.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24 and further comprising a second reversible motor in operative connection with said interconnecting mechanism, wherein said first belt is moved adjacent said second belt responsive to a first movement of said second reversible motor whereby said sheets move in said first direction between said belts, and wherein when said sheets reach said exit end, said first belt is disposed away from said second belt responsive to a second movement of said second motor, whereby said sheets may be removed from said exit end.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25 and wherein said second motor is operatively connected to said timing device, and wherein said belts are moved adjacent by said first movement of said second motor if said sheets are not removed within said time.

27. A paper presentation apparatus for an automated teller machine comprising:

a movable first belt,

a movable second belt extending generally parallel of said first belt, wherein said second belt is supportably driven by a first shaft,

a paper stop,

a mechanism interconnecting said paper stop and said first belt wherein as said paper stop is moved away from said second belt, said first belt is moved toward said second belt, and vice versa,

a roller adjacent and movable in cooperating relation with said first shaft, said roller supportably driven by a roller shaft, said roller shaft driven by said first shaft, said first belt supportably driven by an axle shaft, said axle shaft having a first gear thereon, said first gear engaged with a second gear, said first and second gears journalled on a first rotatable link, said second gear engaged with a third gear, said second gear and third gear journalled on a second rotatable link, said third gear operatively engaged with said roller shaft, whereby said first axle is movable in driven relation with said roller shaft.

28. A paper presentation apparatus for an automated teller machine comprising:

a movable first belt wherein said first belt is supported on a first axle, and wherein said first axle has a first flapper member mounted thereon,

a movable second belt extending generally parallel of said first belt,

a paper stop, and

a mechanism interconnecting said paper stop and said first belt wherein as said paper stop is moved away from said second belt, said first belt is moved toward said second belt, and vice versa.

29. A paper presentation apparatus for an automated teller machine comprising:

a movable first belt,

a movable second belt extending generally parallel of said first belt,

a paper stop,

a mechanism interconnecting said paper stop and said first belt wherein as said paper stop is moved away from said second belt, said first belt is moved toward said second belt, and vice versa, and

wherein said apparatus further comprises an entry end and an entry sensor adjacent said entry end sensing a sheet passing adjacent thereto, and wherein said apparatus further comprises a motor driving said belts to accept said sheet into said apparatus, and wherein said motor is operatively connected to said entry sensor and wherein said entry sensor is operative to stop movement of said motor after said sheet has cleared said entry end.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29 and further comprising a timer operatively connected to said entry sensor, wherein said timer is operative to turn off said motor a time after said sheet passes said entry sensor.

31. A paper presentation apparatus for an automated teller machine comprising:

a first sheet movement means for moving sheets in contact therewith;

a second sheet movement means for moving sheets in contact therewith, said second sheet movement means movable between a first position adjacent said first sheet movement means and a second position disposed from said first sheet movement means;

a paper stop means for stopping sheets from passing between said first and second sheet movement means, said paper stop means movable between a stop position wherein it stops the passage of sheets and a disposed position wherein sheets are enabled to pass between said first and second sheet movement means;

first interconnecting means for interconnecting said second sheet movement means and said paper stop means, wherein when said paper stop means is in the stop position, said second sheet movement means is in the second position, and wherein when said paper stop means is in the disposed position, said second sheet movement is in the first position;

wherein said apparatus includes an entry end and an exit end, and further comprises means for holding said sheets at said exit end and means for returning said sheets from said exit end by passing them between said first and second sheet movement means toward said entry end.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31 and further comprising diverter means for diverting said sheets to a storage bin as said sheets are moved toward said entry end.

33. A method for presenting stacks of sheets to a customer from an apparatus in an automated banking machine, comprising the steps of:

moving sheets on a first belt in a first direction into a stack against a paper stop;

disposing said paper stop from said stack;

moving a second belt to engage said stack on an opposed side from said first belt; and

moving said first and second belts in said first direction to move said stack to an exit end of said apparatus whereby said stack is delivered to a customer.

34. The method according to claim 33 and further comprising the step of disposing said second belt from said stack when said stack is at the exit end.

35. The method according to claim 33 and further comprising the steps of:

timing with a timing device a time that said stack is at said exit end; and

moving said stack in an opposed direction between said belts if said stack is not removed during said time.

36. The method according to claim 34 and further comprising the steps of:

timing with a timing device a time said stack is at said exit end;

moving said second belt adjacent said stack if said stack is not removed during said time; and

moving said belts in an opposed direction to move said stack from said exit end.

37. The method according to claim 33 and further comprising the step of passing sheets in said first direction one at a time onto said first belt by passing them on a first side of a diverter plate.

38. The method according to claim 37 and further comprising the step of moving said stack in an opposed direction and engaging said stack and said diverter plate wherein said stack is directed by said diverter plate to a second side of said diverter plate, and passing said stack into a storage bin.

39. The method according to claim 33 wherein said method further comprises passing said sheets in an entry direction one at a time between said first and second belts, and wherein said first direction is downward relative to said entry direction.

40. The method according to claim 39 and further comprising interconnecting said second belt and said paper stop with a mechanism and wherein when said paper stop is adjacent said stack, said second belt is disposed from said stack and vice-versa.

41. The method according to claim 40 wherein said interconnecting step comprises connecting said second belt and said paper stop with a mechanism that includes a pair of rotatable dog-leg shaped arm members, said dog-leg shaped arm members aligned relative to one another in said first direction, wherein each dog-leg shaped arm member rotates in a plane about spaced pivots, said dog-leg shaped arm members pivotally engaged to one another at first ends thereof, said second belt supported on spaced axles journalled in opposed ends of said dog-leg shaped arm members, and wherein said paper stop is connected to said arm members intermediate of said pivots.

42. The method according to claim 33 and further comprising the step of sensing a sheet entering an entry end of said apparatus with an entry sensor and stopping movement of said first belt after said sheet has passed through said entry end.

43. The method according to claim 42 and further comprising the steps of measuring a duration said sheet is sensed by said entry sensor with a timer and generating a fault signal if said duration exceeds a time.