Automated transaction system and method

• US 6,443,359 B1
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Diebold Incorporated (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Mark, Barker, David A., Ramachandran, Natarajan, Hill, Jeffrey A., Delaney, Daniel J., Theriault, Franklin M., Herrera, Elizabeth, Douglass, Mark, Green, Patrick C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US09/725,650
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/375, 902/8, 902/30, 705/43, 705/35
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/165 using xyz-picker or multi-dimensional article picking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs

Abstract

An automated transaction system includes an automated transaction machine (10) for carrying out banking transactions. The machine includes a plurality of customer stations (16, 18, 20) at which customers may conduct transactions. Each of the transactions requested by customers is carried out using a set of transaction function devices (34) positioned within or adjacent to the machine housing. The robotic item handling device (42) is included among the transaction function devices and enables moving items between the customer stations and the transaction function devices included in the machine. The machine is enabled to carry out transactions for multiple users simultaneously. The machine is also readily configured to add and delete transaction function devices, thereby more readily changing the types of transactions which may be conducted.

Claims

1. An automated banking machine apparatus comprising:

an enclosure;

a plurality of transaction function devices within the enclosure, the transaction function devices including at least one primary device, wherein the primary device performs a first transaction function, and at least one fallback device, wherein the fallback device is capable of performing the first transaction function;

at least one tray, wherein the tray includes a delivery area;

a robotic item handling device, wherein the robotic item handling device is operative to move items between the delivery area and the plurality of transaction function devices;

at least one controller in operative connection with the robotic handling device and the plurality of transaction function devices, wherein the controller is operative to cause a first transaction type including the first transaction function to be performed, by moving items with the robotic item handling device between the delivery area and the primary device, and upon the primary device becoming unavailable, by moving items with the robotic item handling device between the delivery area and the fallback device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of user interfaces disposed from one another relative to the enclosure, wherein each user interface includes a tray, and wherein the robotic item handling device is operative to move items between the delivery area in each one of the plurality of trays and the transaction function devices.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the user interfaces are disposed on the enclosure such that the plurality of trays are disposed vertically from one another.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the user interfaces are disposed on the enclosure such that the trays are disposed horizontally from one another.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each user interface includes at least one input device and at least one output device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one transaction function device is operative to produce flexible sheet items, and wherein the robotic item handling device includes a plurality of movable gripper members, and wherein the gripper members are movable relative to one another to engage a flexible sheet item and to impart a curved contour thereto when the item is moved between the at least one transaction function device and the delivery area.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the gripper members comprise a pair of opposed gripper fingers, and wherein at least one of the pair of fingers includes an arcuate bounding surface, and wherein the contour of the sheet is imparted by engagement of the sheet with the arcuate bounding surface.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein each of the fingers in the pair include an arcuate bounding surface, and wherein the contour of the sheet is imparted by engagement of the sheet between the arcuate bounding surfaces on each of the respective fingers.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the controller is operative as the sheet is moved between the at least one transaction function device and the tray, to cause the pair of opposed gripper fingers to position the sheet generally vertically, with the curved contour generally transverse to the vertical direction, and then to cause the gripper fingers to position the sheet such that the sheet extends generally horizontally.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the tray is movably mounted in supporting connection with the enclosure, and further comprising a resilient member in operative connection with the tray extending in cantilevered relation relative thereto, and wherein the resilient member includes a free end disposed from the tray, and wherein the controller is operative to cause the tray to be selectively moved such that the delivery area is positioned inside and outside of the enclosure by engaging the robotic item handling device adjacent the free end of the resilient member.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the apparatus further comprises a wall adjacent the delivery area, and wherein the wall includes at least one vertically extending slot therein having an open top, and wherein the robotic item handling device includes a pair of generally opposed gripper members, and wherein the controller is operative to cause at least one item engaged in intermediate relation between the pair of gripper members to be positioned in registration with the delivery area by causing the robotic item handling device to move at least one of the pair of gripper members generally downward into the slot through the open top, and then causing the pair of gripper members to move apart, and then withdrawing the at least one gripper member extending in the slot therefrom by moving the at least one gripper member generally horizontally.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 and further comprising a wall bounding an interior to area of the enclosure, and wherein the wall separates the interior area of the enclosure from a room, and wherein at least one of the transaction function devices is located in the room, and wherein the wall includes at least one wall opening, and wherein the robotic item handling device is operative to move items between the delivery area and the wall opening.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the enclosure comprises a vertically extending slot, and convergent guides adjacent the vertically extending slot within the enclosure, and wherein the robotic item handling device is operative to move items between the vertically extending slot and at least one transaction function device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the enclosure comprises a frame, and a plurality of panels in supporting connection with the frame, and at least one lock in operative connection with at least one panel, and wherein the at least one panel is movable in supporting connection with the frame to enable access to an interior area of the enclosure responsive to unlocking the at least one lock.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the at least one transaction function device includes at least one processor and at least one memory with at least one software application residing therein, and wherein the transaction function device, processor and memory are included in a transaction service, and wherein the controller operates the at least one transaction function device in coordinated relation with the robotic item handling device responsive to the transaction service being placed in operative connection with the controller.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein at least one transaction function device includes a location indicator and a device type identifying indicator in corresponding relation with the at least one transaction function device, and further comprising at least one sensor in operative connection with the robotic item handling device, and wherein the controller is operative to cause items to be moved by the robotic item handling device between the delivery area and the at least one transaction function device responsive to the at least one sensor sensing the location indicator and the device type identifying indicator.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 and further comprising a plurality of user interfaces on the enclosure, wherein each user interface includes a tray, and wherein the robotic item handling device is operative to move items between the delivery area in each one of the plurality of trays and the transaction function devices.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the user interfaces are generally vertically aligned from one another.

19. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the controller is operative as the sheet is moved between the at least one transaction function device and the tray, to extend the sheet in a vertical direction.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein when the sheet is positioned in the vertical direction the curved contour is generally transverse to the vertical direction.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the controller is operative after the sheet is positioned in the vertical direction to move the sheet to a generally horizontally extending position.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the tray is movably mounted in supporting connection with the enclosure such that the delivery area is selectively movable between positions inside and outside of the enclosure.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the tray has a resilient member in operative connection therewith, and wherein the controller is selectively operative to cause the delivery area to move responsive to the robotic handling device engaging the resilient member.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the resilient member extends in cantilevered relation with the tray.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the resilient member includes a free end disposed from the tray, and wherein the robotic item handling device moves the tray by engagement with the resilient member adjacent the free end.

26. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus furtherer comprises a wall extending adjacent to the delivery area, wherein the wall includes a slot therein having an open top, and wherein the robotic item handling device includes a plurality of gripper members, and wherein the controller is operative to cause at least one item engaged with at least one gripper member to be placed in the delivery area by moving the at least one gripper member downward in the slot through the open top with the at least one item in engagement therewith, to position the at least one item in registration with the delivery area, and then moving the at least one gripper member generally horizontally from the slot.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the robotic item handling device includes a pair of opposed gripper members, wherein the at least one item is engaged in intermediate relation between the opposed pair of gripper members as the item is positioned in registration with the delivery area, and then the controller is operative to cause the opposed pair of gripper members to separate before the at least one gripper member moves generally horizontally in the slot, wherein the gripper member moves out of registration with the delivery area.

28. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a wall, and wherein the enclosure includes an interior area bounded by the wall, and wherein the wall includes an opening, and wherein the robotic item handling device is operative to move items between the delivery area and the opening in the wall.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the robotic item handling device is operative to place deposit items in the opening in the wall.

30. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein at least one of the transaction function device is positioned in a room behind the wall relative to the enclosure.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the at least one transaction function device located in the room is operative to deliver sheets through the wall opening, and wherein the robotic item handling device is operative to move the sheets between the wall opening and the delivery area.

32. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a panel, and wherein the panel includes a vertically extending slot therethrough, and wherein the robotic item handling device is operative to remove an item from the vertically extending slot.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32 and further comprising convergent guides extending adjacent the vertically extending slot, wherein the convergent guides extend interiorly of the enclosure, and wherein the robotic item handling device is operative to place items in the vertically extending slot by engaging items with at least one of the convergent guides.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33 wherein the robotic item handling device is operative to move items between the vertically extending slot and the at least one transaction function device.

35. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of operatively engaged panels.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35 and further comprising at least one lock in operative connection with at least one of the plurality of panels, and wherein the at least one panel is movable to enable access to an interior area of the enclosure responsive to unlocking the lock.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36 wherein at least two panels are movable to enable access to the interior area.

38. The apparatus according to claim 36 wherein the enclosure comprises a frame, and wherein the plurality of panels are mounted in supporting connection with the frame, and wherein the at least one panel is movably mounted in supporting connection with the frame.

39. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one transaction function device includes at least one processor and at least one memory, wherein the memory includes at least one software application, and wherein the controller operates the at least one transaction function device in coordinated relation with the robotic item handling device responsive to the at least one transaction function device being placed in operative connection with the controller.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39 wherein the at least one transaction function device is included in a transaction service.

41. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one transaction function device includes a location indicator positioned in corresponding relation therewith, and further comprising at least one sensor in operative connection with the robotic item handling device, and wherein the controller is operative to cause items to be moved by the robotic item handling device between the delivery area and the at least one transaction function device responsive to the at least one sensor sensing the location indicator.

42. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one transaction function device includes a device type identifying indicator in corresponding relation therewith, and furtherer comprising at least one sensor in operative connection with the robotic item handling device, and wherein the controller is operative to cause items to be moved between the delivery area and the at least one transaction function device responsive to the device type identifying indicator being sensed by the at least one sensor.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42 wherein the at least one transaction function device includes a location indicator positioned in corresponding relation therewith, wherein the controller is operative to cause items to be moved by the robotic item handling device between the delivery area and the at least one transaction function device responsive to the at least one sensor sensing the location indicator.