Reject bin having separated storage areas for diverted and retracted currency notes

• US 7,121,461 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems (Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Graef, H. Thomas, VanKirk, Thomas A., Blackford, Damon J., Washington, Jon, VanKeulen, Eric, Dominick, Douglas, Spicer, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, STEVEN SANGYUL
• Application Number:
  US10/790,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20040188921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/435, 271/145, 271/147, 705/39, 705/43
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/12 Containers for valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/13 with internal means for handling valuable papers
• 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

Abstract

A reject cassette can commonly receive and separately store both diverted and retracted currency notes. The reject cassette includes a diverted note storage area and a retracted note storage area. The diverted note storage area receives notes deemed unpresentable to a customer. The retracted note storage area receives previously presented notes that were left by a customer. A movable partition directs the notes to the appropriate storage area.

Claims

1. An apparatus including:

a divert cassette,

wherein the divert cassette is insertable in, adapted for use in, and removable from an automated banking machine,

wherein the divert cassette comprises a first storage compartment including a diverted media storage area,

wherein the first storage compartment is adapted to receive diverted media which was deemed unpresentable to an automated banking machine customer,

wherein the divert cassette comprises a second storage compartment including a retracted media storage area,

wherein the second storage compartment is adapted to receive retracted media which was presented to an automated banking machine customer,

wherein the divert cassette has a portion thereof comprising a compartment separating structure,

wherein the compartment separating structure separates the first storage compartment from the second storage compartment.

2. An apparatus including:

a divert cassette,

wherein the divert cassette is adapted for use in an automated banking machine,

wherein the divert cassette includes a diverted media storage area,

wherein the diverted media storage area is operative to receive diverted media which was deemed unpresentable to an automated banking machine customer,

wherein the divert cassette includes a retracted media storage area,

wherein the retracted media storage area is operative to receive retracted media which was presented to an automated banking machine customer,

wherein the retracted media storage area is separated from the diverted media storage area,

wherein the divert cassette includes a partition operative to direct media to either of the diverted media storage area or the retracted media storage area.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the partition is operatively movable.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the partition is pivotable.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the divert cassette includes a lever operatively connected to the partition, wherein the lever is operative to be driven by an exterior drive mechanism, and wherein movement of the lever is operative to correspondingly move the partition.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the divert cassette includes a separator operatively connected to the partition, wherein the separator is operative to separate the diverted media storage area from the retracted media storage area.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the separator is movable.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the separator is operative to correspondingly move with the partition.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the partition is operatively connected to the separator via a flexible guide.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the partition includes a pair of arms connected via a bridge, wherein the arms are integral with the bridge.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the arms are operatively connected to the lever.

12. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the divert cassette includes a common media receiving opening, wherein both diverted media and retracted media are operative to enter the divert cassette through the opening.

13. The apparatus according to claim 3 and further including an automated banking machine, wherein the machine includes at least one computer, wherein the machine is operative to present media to a customer, and wherein the machine includes the divert cassette.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the machine is operative to determine whether media has an unacceptable media condition, wherein the machine is operative to divert media with an unacceptable condition to the diverted media storage area.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the machine is operative to store the diverted media in the diverted media storage area.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the machine is operative to store the diverted media in the diverted media storage area without presenting the diverted media to a customer.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the machine is operative to retract media presented to a customer after a predetermined time period.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the machine is operative to store the retracted media in the retracted media storage area.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the divert cassette includes a media-high indicator, wherein the indicator is operative to be actuated when the media in one of the storage areas reaches a predetermined level, wherein the machine is operative to read the indicator.

20. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the diverted media storage area is located above the retracted media storage area with the divert cassette in an operating position.

21. A method including:

(a) operating an automated banking machine, wherein the machine includes a computer and a removable divert cassette,

wherein the divert cassette comprises a first storage compartment including a diverted media storage area, wherein the first storage compartment is adapted to receive diverted media which was deemed unpresentable to an automated banking machine customer,

wherein the divert cassette comprises a second storage compartment including a retracted media storage area, wherein the second storage compartment is adapted to receive retracted media which was presented to an automated banking machine customer and remained in a customer accessible location during a predetermined period of time,

wherein the divert cassette has a portion thereof comprising a compartment separating structure, wherein the compartment separating structure separates the first storage compartment from the second storage compartment;

(b) operating the computer to determine at least one of;

 

(b1) unpresentable media, or

 

(b2) retracted media;

(c) responsive to (b1), operating the machine to store the unpresentable media in the first storage compartment;

(d) responsive to (b2), operating the machine to store the retracted media in the second storage compartment.

22. A method including:

(a) providing an automated banking machine with a divert cassette including a partition movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the divert cassette includes a diverted media storage area separated from a retracted media storage area, wherein the first position is operative to direct media to the diverted media storage area, wherein the second position is operative to direct media to the retracted media storage area,

(b) determining whether media has an acceptable or an unacceptable media condition,

(c) responsive to (b), either

(c1) diverting media having an unacceptable media condition to the diverted media storage area, including moving the partition to the first position, or

(c2) presenting media having an acceptable media condition to a customer;

(c2a) responsive to (c2), retracting presented media remaining after a predetermined time period to the retracted media storage area, including moving the partition to the second position.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein (c1) includes storing the diverted media in the diverted media storage area without presenting the diverted media to a customer.

24. The method according to claim 22 wherein (a) includes providing the automated banking machine with a divert cassette including a common media receiving opening, wherein both diverted media and retracted media are operative to enter the divert cassette through the common opening.

25. The method according to claim 22 wherein the automated banking machine includes a drive mechanism, wherein (a) includes providing the automated banking machine with a divert cassette including a movable lever operatively connected to the partition, wherein movement of the lever is operative to correspondingly move the partition, and further including

(d) moving the lever with the drive mechanism.

26. The method according to claim 22 wherein the media comprises currency, wherein (b) includes determining whether the currency is presentable to a customer.

27. The method according to claim 26 and further including

(d) removing currency from one of the diverted media storage area and the retracted media storage area;

(e) removing any currency in the other of the diverted media storage area and the retracted media storage area.