Cash dispensing automated banking machine with improved card retention capabilities and method

• US 7,032,245 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2004
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Magee, Paul D., Barker, Dave, Turocy, Kenneth, Booth, Jim, Utz, Zachary, Scarafile, Pietro, Ghiringhelli, Piero, Cerioni, Giorgio, Ferraro, Francesco, Ramachandran, Natarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): Stcyr, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel A.
• Application Number:
  US10/797,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20040178260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/375, 235/379, 235/381, 235/382, 902/22, 902/26, 902/27
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/205 Housing aspects of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/2055 Anti-skimming aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/206 Software aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/209 Monitoring, auditing or diagnose of functioning of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/21 Retaining of the payment card by ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/211 Software architecture within ATMs or in relation to the ATM network

Abstract

An automated banking machine (10) includes a card reader (256) in the machine operative to receive cards from users. Cards that are to be captured and held in the machine are moved by the card reader to the interior of a bin (268). Cards entering the bin are engaged with and moved away from the card reader by action of a movable member (274). Authorized servicers recover captured cards from the bin by opening a lock (272) and accessing the interior of the bin by opening a lid (270). The user interface of the machine includes a movable fascia portion (240) that assures proper alignment of the fascia opening and card reader and also minimizes the risk of undetected installation of unauthorized card reading devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a) moving a card reader with a card holding bin operatively engaged therewith relatively away from a fascia opening in a fascia portion of an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser, wherein the movement is operative to cause a gate to close the fascia opening, wherein the machine includes a machine housing, wherein the fascia portion is movably mounted relative to the machine housing, wherein the fascia potion includes the gate, and wherein the gate is movable relative to the fascia opening;

b) moving at least one closure member bounding the bin;

c) subsequent to (b), removing from the bin at least one card captured by the machine from a user.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein in (a) the gate closes the fascia opening by moving downward as a card housing including a card accepting opening moves with the card reader away from the fascia opening.

3. The method according to claim 2 and prior to (b) further comprising unlocking at least one lock which in the locked condition holds the at least one closure member in a closed position in which cards within the bin are prevented from being removed therefrom.

4. The method according to claim 3 and prior to (a) further comprising:

d) receiving a card from a user of the machine through a card accepting opening in the card housing;

e) reading data from the card through operation of the card reader;

f) determining through operation of at least one controller in the machine that the card is to be captured by the machine;

g) moving the card through operation of the card reader into the bin.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein (g) comprises moving the card away from the card reader in the bin by operative engagement of the card and a movable member.

6. The method according to claim 2 and subsequent to (c) further comprising:

d) moving the card reader with the bin operatively engaged therewith relatively toward the fascia opening to extend the card housing in the fascia opening;

e) during at least a portion of (d) moving a gate upward to enable the card housing to extend in the fascia opening.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein (e) includes engaging the card housing with at least one cam surface in operative connection with the gate, wherein such engagement moves the gate upward.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the fascia portion includes an inside face and at least one ramp surface in operative connection with the inside face, and wherein in (d) the fascia portion is moved responsive to the card housing operatively engaging the at least one ramp surface.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein in (d) the fascia portion is moved both vertically and horizontally responsive to the card housing operatively engaging the at least one ramp surface.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the card housing includes at least one illumination device, and subsequent to (d), illuminating the at least one illumination device in the card housing responsive to a controller in the apparatus.

11. The method according to claim 6 and subsequent to (d) further comprising, sensing at least one unauthorized card reading device with at least one sensor in supporting connection with the card housing.

12. The method according to claim 6 wherein the card reader and bin are in supporting connection with at least one slide, and wherein in (a) the card reader is moved in a first direction in supporting connection with the at least one slide, and in (d) the card reader is moved in a second direction opposed of the first direction in supporting connection with the at least one slide.

13. The method according to claim 1 and prior to (b) further comprising unlocking at least one lock which in the locked condition holds at least one closure member in the closed position in which cards within the bin are prevented from being removed therefrom.

14. The method according to claim 1 and prior to (a) further comprising:

d) receiving a card from a user of the machine through a card accepting opening in the card housing;

e) reading the card through operation of the card reader;

f) determining through operation of at least one controller in the machine that the card is to be captured by the machine;

g) moving the card through operation of the card reader into the bin.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein (g) comprises moving the card away from the card reader in the bin by operative engagement with the card and a movable member.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein in (g) the movable member comprises a resilient portion that is operative to throw the card in the bin away from the card reader.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the card reader includes an outlet end in communication with the bin, and wherein (g) includes deforming the resilient portion of the movable member as the card passes through the outlet end of the card reader, wherein the resilient portion is operative to cause the card to be thrown away from the card reader after the card passes from the outlet end.

18. The method according to claim 17 and subsequent to (c) further comprising:

h) moving the card reader with the bin operatively engaged therewith relatively toward the fascia opening to extend the card housing in the fascia opening;

i) during at least a portion of (h) moving a gate upward to enable the card housing to extend in the fascia opening.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein (i) includes engaging the card housing with at least one cam surface in operative connection with the gate, wherein such engagement moves the gate upward.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the machine includes a machine housing, and wherein the fascia portion is movably mounted relative to the machine housing, and wherein (h) includes moving the fascia portion relative to that machine housing by engagement with the card housing.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the fascia portion includes an inside face and at least one ramp surface in operative connection with the inside face, and wherein in (h) the fascia portion is moved responsive to the card housing operatively engaging the at least one ramp surface.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein in (h) the fascia portion is moved both vertically and horizontally responsive to the card housing operatively engaging the at least one ramp surface.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the card housing includes at least one illumination device, and subsequent to (h), illuminating the at least one illumination device in the card housing responsive to a controller in the apparatus.

24. The method according to claim 1 wherein the card reader and bin are in supporting connection with at least one slide, and wherein (a) includes moving the card reader and bin in supporting connection with the at least one slide.

25. A method of servicing a cash dispensing automated banking machine including a card reader and a fascia portion movably mounted relative to a machine housing, wherein the fascia portion includes a card input opening and a gate having at least one cam surface, wherein the gate is movable to close the card input opening in a gate closed position and open the card input opening in a gate open position, comprising:

(a) closing the card input opening responsive to moving the card reader relatively away from the fascia portion to cause the gate to cam downward to the gate closed position;

(b) subsequent to step (a), accessing an interior area of the machine housing, wherein the interior area includes a card holding bin adapted to hold cards captured by the machine; and

(c) subsequent to step (b), opening the card input opening responsive to moving the card reader relatively toward the fascia portion to cause the gate cam upward to the gate open position.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the lid is in operative connection with a lock, wherein the lid is enabled to be moved from the closed position to the open position responsive to the lock being in an unlocked condition, and further comprising:

(c) prior to (a), placing the lock in the unlocked condition.

27. The method according to claim 25 wherein (b) includes removing from the bin at least one card while the bin is adjacent to the card reader in the machine, and further comprising:

(c) moving the bin while operatively engaged with the card reader in the machine relative to a fascia opening in a fascia portion of the machine.

28. A method comprising:

(a) moving a card reader and a card holding bin relatively away from a fascia opening in a fascia portion of an automated banking machine apparatus including a cash dispenser, wherein the card reader is operatively connected to a resilient member adapted to throw a card in the bin in a direction away from the card reader;

(b) opening a lid of the bin;

(c) subsequent to (b), removing from the bin at least one card captured by the machine from a user.

29. Apparatus comprising:

an ATM card capture bin including;

a body,

an interior,

an upper lid,

wherein the lid is selectively movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position captured cards in the interior are accessible for removal therefrom, and wherein in the closed position captured cards in the interior are not accessible for removal therefrom,

a lid lock,

wherein the lid is enabled to be moved from the closed position to the open position responsive to the lock being in a unlocked condition,

wherein the bin is postionable in an automated banking machine including a cash dispenser and a card reader to retain cards thrown in the bin from a deformable resilient card moving member adjacent the card reader,

wherein in the closed position the lid is adapted to maintain in the bin cards that are being thrown.