Abstract: To enable the payment of charges, for example those for mobile telephones, with cash there is provided an automated terminal for receiving payments including an input for currency notes, an acceptor for such currency notes and an input for information on an account for charges to which payment is required together with a control arrangement to record said account information and the value of acceptable currency notes fed in, to relate said information to said value as payment to said account and to hold said related information and value and acceptable currency notes available for retrieval. In this way a user need not have a bank account to make a payment to an account with a service provider.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (12) forming part of a SST network is provided with an infra-red port (30) enabling digital data interchange to take place between the SST (12) and a portable electronic digital device (20 or 90) having a corresponding matching port (82 or 92) which is presented to the SST (12). The portable device (20 or 90) may be any device having an electronic digital data memory. Examples include PDAs (20), digital cameras (90) and cellular mobile phones. The SST network is connected to the Internet thus enabling data interchange to take place between the portable device (20 or 90) and any Internet address. Thus the SST (12) can be used to interchange data between a customer's PDA (20) and his home computer (16).

Abstract: To enable the payment of charges, for example those for mobile telephones, with cash there is provided an automated terminal for receiving payments including an input for currency notes, an acceptor for such currency notes and an input for information on an account for charges to which payment is required together with a control arrangement to record said account information and the value of acceptable currency notes fed in, to relate said information to said value as payment to said account and to hold said related information and value and acceptable currency notes available for retrieval. In this way a user need not have a bank account to make a payment to an account with a service provider.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (10) having a simplified user interface (20). The user interface (20) contains a plurality of indicators (28) for entering data, where each indicator (28) has a unique attribute, such as size, shape, color, surface texture, or the like. Each indicator is associated with a pre-defined transaction, so that a user may execute a desired transaction by selecting a single indicator (28). A method of executing a transaction is also described.

Abstract: To enable the payment of charges, for example those for mobile telephones, with cash there is provided an automated terminal for receiving payments including an input for currency notes, an acceptor for such currency notes and an input for information on an account for charges to which payment is required together with a control arrangement to record said account information and the value of acceptable currency notes fed in, to relate said information to said value as payment to said account and to hold said related information and value and acceptable currency notes available for retrieval. In this way a user need not have a bank account to make a payment to an account with a service provider.

Abstract: A self-service terminal, such as an ATM (10), comprises a speech generator (31) and loudspeaker (30) for producing natural language operating instructions for a user, and a user interface (12) permitting the user to interact with the terminal (10) in response to the spoken instructions. The user interface may include a microphone (32) and a speech recognition module (33).

Abstract: A self-service terminal (SST), such as an ATM includes apparatus for producing images containing instructions for users of the terminal, and an arrangement for projecting the images onto a screen forming part of a terminal user interface.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (10) includes an adaptable fascia (12). The fascia (12) has a first appearance when not in use, and a second, different appearance when a user has been identified by the terminal (10). This enables a card issuer to associate its corporate color scheme with a user, so that when the user operates the terminal (10), the terminal can adapt the fascia to present the color scheme of the card issuer in a method of use.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (10) such as an ATM has a secure enclosure (12) and an external column (14) extending from the secure enclosure (12). The column (14) has a bore (54) for routing electrical conductors and one or more access slots (58) connecting the bore (54) with an external surface (52) of the column (14). A module (40,42) is mounted onto the column (14) using a bracket (50) defining a channel (94) through which the module's electrical conductors (88) are routed. The electrical conductors (88) are routed from the bracket (50) to a central processor within the secure enclosure (12) by means of an access slot (58) and the bore (54). The modules (40,42) are height adjustable relative to the secure enclosure (12).

Abstract: A self-service terminal (10) is provided, which includes a plurality of media dispense modules (20, 22) and media pick mechanisms (30, 48). At least one module (20) is associated with a vacuum pick mechanism (30), while at least one other module (22) is associated with a friction pick mechanism (48). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the friction pick module (22) includes a plurality of media storage locations (42), each of which is associated with a friction pick mechanism (48). The modules may also be removable and interchangeable. Also provided is an SST with at least one friction pick media module including a plurality of media storage locations and friction pick mechanisms; and a friction pick media module per se.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (10) includes a non-contact interface (18, 20) for enabling a user to interact with the terminal without requiring physical contact with the terminal, a biometric sensor (14) for establishing the identity of the user by sensing a physical trait or characteristic of the user, and a processor (30) for controlling the terminal. The interface (18, 20) may utilize speech recognition and generation.

Abstract: A self service terminal (10) is described. The SST 10 has a front portion (16) including a user interface (24) located within a fascia (18). The fascia (18) has a concave inner surface (61) which defines a privacy area (20) and which reduces reflection of sound. The inner surface (61) is bounded by one or more extremities (54,56) which project out from the terminal (10). The fascia (18) has a canopy (21) which extends beyond the projecting extremities. In use, the user places his head within or in proximity to the privacy area (20) for increased privacy when using the terminal (10).

Abstract: Document transport apparatus (10) includes at least one pair of cooperating rollers (20A, 20B) for engaging documents therebetween and for defining a first stage (18) of a document transport path (16) for movement of documents therealong, the first stage (18) also being defined by at least one pair of tapes (28A, 28B) arranged such that one tape (28A) at least overlaps the other tape (28B) and such that documents are moved therebetween and relative thereto by the cooperating rollers (20A, 20B).

Abstract: The invention relates to a card reader system (10) including a detector (58') for determining a predetermined irregular mode of operation of the reader system. The invention is characterized by a card invalidation device (21, 24, 26) operable to render a card (2) permanently non-usable in response to the detection of the predetermined irregular mode of operation.

Abstract: A document alignment system includes a plurality of drive rolls (42, 44) operative to drive documents one by one along a feed path, and a plurality of alignment rolls (100) spaced apart along the feed path with their axes perpendicular to those of the drive rolls (42,44) and operative to move a document (124) transversely to the feed path so as to bring a long edge of the document (124) into parallel abutting contact with a reference surface (72). When the alignment rolls are operative the drive rolls (42) are inoperative and out of contact with the document (124). Each alignment roll (100) is arranged to cooperate with a spring biased rotatably mounted ball (112) whereby in the course of an alignment operation the document (124) is gripped resiliently between the alignment rolls (100) and the cooperating balls (112).

Abstract: The invention relates to a torque limiting mechanism comprising rotatable drive and driven members (144,146) having a common axis of rotation. The drive member (144) includes a resilient tripping finger (152) having an end portion (154) which is adapted to engage resiliently in a recess (166) formed in the inner surface of a cylindrical portion (162) of the driven member (146) for the purpose of applying a driving torque to the driven member (146). In the event of this torque exceeding a certain limit, the tripping finger (152) is caused to become disengaged from the recess (166), thereby disconnecting the drive to the driven member (146) and permitting the drive member (144) to rotate relative to the driven member (146). The torque limiting mechanism may be included in a drive system included in a currency note pick mechanism, the torque limiting mechanism serving to disconnect drive to the pick mechanism in the event of a gulp feed occurring.

Abstract: A cash dispenser unit includes note transport means (74, 78, 86) driven by an electric motor and including first (74) and second (78) sets of rolls which are arranged to grip therebetween a note (18'), partly withdrawn from a currency cassette (14) by associated pick arms (36), for the purpose of removing the note (18') from the cassette (14). The first (74) and second (78) sets of rolls are respectively mounted on first (76) and second (80) shafts, the first shaft (76) being mounted so that one end thereof is movable away from the second shaft (80). For the purpose of protecting the transport means (74, 78, 86) from damage in the event of the occurrence of a gulp feed of notes, said one end of the first shaft (76) is operatively associated with a microswitch, whereby movement of said one end away from the second shaft (80) by more than a predetermined amount operates the microswitch so as to deenergize the motor.