Abstract: The apparatus enables identifying data relating to a suspect currency note received by an ATM to be correlated with identifying data relating to the depositor of the suspect note. A note validator can assess the validity of received notes. Data can be generated that is usable to identify each suspect note and identify the person from whom the suspect note was received. The data usable to identify a suspect note can correspond to its serial number. The data usable to identify the person can correspond to an account number and/or a biometric input. The suspect note/depositor identifying data can be stored in correlated relation in a data store enabling each suspect note to be linked to a person. Thus, the validity of a received note can be determined, a suspect note can be identified, and correlating data usable to identify the suspect note depositor can be stored.

Abstract: A multifeed detection apparatus and method for use in a check processing terminal including a paper supply unit for individually feeding a plurality of checks from the paper supply unit along a check transportation path in a given direction; a MICR head having a non-movable contact surface on one side of the check transportation path; a pressure member disposed on another side of the check transportation path opposite the non-movable contact surface for pressing one or more transported checks between the pressure member and the MICR head; and a displacement detection sensor for detecting physical displacement of the pressure member from the non-movable contact surface to indicate check thickness.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for processing bank notes wherein bank notes are provided in a stack and each has a serial number. The bank notes are arranged according to a first sequence of their serial numbers. According to the method and system, the bank notes are removed singly from the stack and processed successively in accordance with the first sequence of their serial numbers. A second sequence of serial numbers of the processed bank notes is determined. To minimize throughput losses in the case of disturbances during processing of a subset of bank notes, the following steps are implemented: depositing the subset of bank notes; continuing the processing of following bank notes in the stack in accordance with the first sequence of their serial numbers; and continuing the determination of the second sequence of serial numbers for the properly processed following bank notes using a hypothetical number of bank notes in the subset.

Abstract: A bank note dispensing device includes a storage unit which can store bank notes that can be dispensed to a user through a discharge opening. A monitor unit can be operatively positioned relative to a passageway for transporting the bank notes in order to determine any abnormal conditions, such as accidental discharge of duplicate bank notes. A diverting unit can be operatively connected to the monitoring unit to remove a bank note from the passageway when the monitoring unit indicates an abnormal condition. A second diverting unit can be activated to position a removed bank note in a reject storage container. A recycle unit can receive an abnormal designated bank note and provide a second passageway to return the abnormal designated bank note to a position for subsequent transportation by the transporting unit through the discharge opening.

Abstract: A point-of-transaction machine that allows global users to reach all aspects of their finances, from their brokerage account to their banks, mortgage accounts, credit card accounts and more. Unlike conventional ATMs where you can only reach your bank account(s), the initial screen when signed on will give the global user options on which account or accounts they want to transact business. This initial screen will satisfy the banking, mortgage, and security law requirements of most countries, including those of the United States and Canada where such companies are required to be independent. The point-of-transaction machine will collect fees for each transaction, similar to current ATM usage fee agreements and will allow certain users to complete transactions without fees.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) identifies and stores documents such as currency bills deposited by a user. The machine then selectively recovers such documents from storage areas and dispenses them to other users. The machine includes a sheet thickness detector (810) used for distinguishing single sheets from double sheets which pass through the machine. The thickness detector includes a radiation source (822). Radiation from the radiation source is directed by radiation guide (824) to a generally linear elongated radiation outlet (826) which extends transversely to the sheet path. A receiver (814) includes a radiation sensitive element (830) which is also transversely elongated relative to the sheet path. Sheets passing between the emitter and the receiver cause variations in the amount of radiation reaching the receiver. The transversely elongated surface of the sheet through which the transmission of radiation is sensed enables accurately distinguishing single sheets from double sheets.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for thin flat articles, such as monetary currency bills, includes a plenum chamber having an aperture of a size smaller than the articles to be dispensed. A suction device is connected to the plenum chamber to provide sufficient negative pressure to adhere an article to the aperture. A contact member, such as an endless belt, is mounted for movement across the aperture to drive the article adhering to the aperture for release from the stack of articles. The stack of articles can be stored in a storage tray and biased towards the plenum chamber aperture. A series of spacer members can relieve part of the bias pressure. The released articles can be counted and stored in a storage chamber until a predetermined number of articles are accumulated. Subsequently, the passageway from the storage chamber to a dispenser tray can be opened and the articles ejected to the user.

Abstract: A sheet dispenser mechanism (10) is described. The mechanism includes upper and lower transport guides (12, 14) for conveying a sheet such as a bank note therebetween, only one of the transport guides (12) being movable in a plane transverse to the surface of the bank note (38). A piezoelectric sensor (36) is mechanically coupled to the movable transport guide (12). A detecting circuit (52) monitors the output from the piezoelectric sensor (36). When a single bank note (38) is being transported the movable transport guide (12) is deflected by the thickness of the bank note and the detecting circuit (52) detects a first signal. If two sheets are stuck together and transported as a single sheet then the movable transport guide (12) is deflected by the thickness of the two sheets and the detecting circuit (52) detects a second signal which is greater than the first signal, thereby indicating that multiple sheets are present.

Abstract: The automatic banknote selection and delivery safe consists of an armored boxed frame in one upper zone of which is mounted a first banknote acceptance device from which departs a first banknote grasping and conveyance means paths towards a first screening station thereof with associated detection means followed by a second station for sight sensing of the banknotes collected and alternate sending to a restitution door or to a third station of withdrawal from said first path and routing towards an underlying second path of sorting in a containment storage unit divided in preselectable modular tanks with there being provided inspection means for the correct positioning of the banknotes, removable cartridge means for accumulation of banknotes and at least one door directly opening on the exterior equipped with the usual electronic selection means for access to the automatic banknote delivery.

Abstract: A sheet dispensing apparatus includes at least one pair of sheet stores, and a transport system for transporting sheets from the stores to a dispense position. The transport system includes, for each pair of sheet stores, a common feed member which, upon relative movement between the common feed member and the stores, can be moved between a pair of feed positions in each of which it engages a sheet in a respective one of the pair of stores so as to enable sheet(s) to be withdrawn from the corresponding store. The common feed member is able to take up also a neutral position in which, even if actuated, no sheets are fed from either store.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) identifies and stores documents such as currency bills deposited by a user. The machine then selectively recovers such documents from storage areas and dispenses them to other users. The machine includes a central transport (70) in which documents which are deposited are oriented and identified. Such documents are then routed to storage areas in recycling canisters (92, 94, 96, 98) when a user subsequently requests a dispense of documents. Documents are selectively picked from the storage areas and delivered to the customer. Media gates (116, 118, 120, 122) are used to selectively direct documents between remote transport segments (108, 110, 112, 114) and canister delivery transports (124, 126, 128, 130). The media gates operate by selectively directing documents through an intersection (421) in engagement with transversely offset belt flights (396, 422).

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispensing unit for banknotes (42), comprising a banknote container (12) and a receiving module (14) which is in the form of the frame into which the banknote container (12) can be pushed. The unit includes an extracting and separating device for extracting banknotes (42) through an opening of the banknote container. The opening can be closed by a flap (26) and a closure plate (30). A retracting element (34) presses the banknotes against the extracting device by a force (P), before the flap is closed. The banknotes which are located in the banknote container are thereby forced away from the opening, back into the container interior. The retracting device is displaced in the direction of the extracting device (34) until the banknotes (42) come into the extracting position.

Abstract: A device for dispensing sheet media comprising a storage location for storing sheet media to be dispensed; a receiving location accessible to a patron from which the sheet media may be received; a receptacle for retaining sheets of the media; a stacking assembly for stacking individual sheets of the sheet media into a stack; a transport assembly for transporting individual sheets from the storage assembly to the stacking assembly and for transporting sheets of the media from the receiving assembly to the receptacle; a transfer assembly for transferring a stack of sheets from the stacking assembly to the receiving location; and, a divert assembly associated with the transport assembly operable to cause sheets transported from the storage location to the stacking assembly to be diverted to the receptacle.

Abstract: A sheet container is detachably attached to a sheet dispenser mechanism. A stack of sheets stored in the sheet container are taken out by take-out rollers and introduced into nip sections defined between feed rollers and frictional separation rollers which are opposed to and pressedly contacted with the feed rollers, and the stack of sheets are separated from one another to be delivered. The take-out rollers and the feed rollers are provided in the sheet dispenser mechanism, while the frictional separation rollers are provided in the sheet container. The sheet container includes a front plate which determines the position of the front part of the stack of sheets therewithin, and a lower end portion of the front plate is formed with projections which protrude toward the stack of sheets. The projections restrict the position of the lower end portion of the front part of the stack of sheets in the nip sections between the feed rollers and the frictional separation rollers.

Abstract: A multiple sheet detection apparatus includes first and second cooperating rollers (12, 14), the second roller (14) being movable away from the first roller (12) in response to the passage of a single or multiple sheet between the rollers (12, 14). Voltage generating means (42) produce an output voltage which varies linearly with movement of the axis of the second roller relative to the axis of the first roller (12). Data processing means sample this voltage a predetermined number of times over one complete revolution of the first roller (12), first with no sheet present and then with a single or multiple sheet passing between the rollers (12, 14), to produce first and second values which are respectively representative of the sums of the voltages sampled during each such revolution. The first value is subtracted from the second value to produce a third value on the basis of which the number of sheets corresponding to the second value is determined.