MXPA00004784A - Control system for currency recycling automated banking machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An automated banking machine (10) identifies and stores documents such as currency bills deposited by a user. The machine then selectively recovers documents from storage and dispenses them to other users. The machine includes a central transport (70) wherein documents deposited in a stack are unstacked, 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, documents stored in the storage areas are selectively picked therefrom and delivered to the user through an input/output area (50) of the machine. The control system (30) for the machine includes a terminal processor (548). The terminal processor communicates with a module processor (552). The module processor (552) communicates with module controllers (554, 556, 558, 560, 562 and 564) which control the operation of devices. The module processor coordinates the activities of the module controllers to achieve the processing of documents reliably and at high speeds.

Description

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMATED BANK MACHINE FOR RECYCLING MONEY TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to automated banking machines, specifically this invention refers to an automated banking machine that allows tickets, notes or other documents deposited by a customer to be identified and stored in the machine, and then selectively supplied to another customer. .

ANTECEDENTS OF ART Automated banking machines are well known in the prior art. A popular type of automated banking machine is an ATM machine (ATM). Other types of automated banking machines are used to count and supply cash. These machines are often used by tellers or customer service representatives in the areas of banking transactions and other transactions.

Some types of automated banking machines have been used to stock other items such as tickets, traveler's checks, coupons, writings, tickets, brochures or other items of value. Some automated banking machines accept deposits in the form of envelopes, checks, cash other items. Some automatic banking machines can be used to provide credit, make account or debit payments or deposit funds in various accounts. For the purposes of this description, an automatic banking machine will be considered any type of machine that carries out value transactions.

ATM machines commonly accept deposits from customers and process deposits using the devices which are separate from the devices which supply the bills and other items to the customers. Most commonly the depositors of an automatic teller machine require that the customers place your deposits in an envelope. The envelope is accepted in the machine for storage. Even when the client indicates the value of the contents of the envelope, the customer's account is not often credited for the amount of the deposit until the envelope is removed from the ATM machine by a bank staff and the contents are verified.

Other ATM machines have the ability to receive checks and other negotiable instruments. Such machines may include a device such as that shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,422,467. Devices of this type can be used to cancel and produce electronic check machines which are deposited in an ATM machine. Canceled checks are stored in the machine for later removal by bank staff.

Money bills, traveler's checks and other documents and sheet materials are commonly stocked by the ATM machine and are generally housed in the machine in removable cans. The sheets are uploaded from the cans and delivered by the machine to the customers. Periodically these cans must be removed from the machine and the supply of the sheets must then be filled. This is a labor of intensive activity. To replace the cans the safe part of the ATM machine should be opened. The cans in the machine should be removed and in new cans which include a new supply of sheets should be placed in the machine. Alternatively, the boats in the machine must be opened, money or other sheets must be added and then replaced. After the boats are placed again, the safe part of the machine must be closed.

The replacement or resupply of the boats often requires transporting the full boats to the machine and returning the partially exhausted boats to a remote location. Even though efforts have been made in the design of the boat to minimize opportunities for looting, there is always some risk. Therefore, such activities are normally carried out by armed transporters. More than one person is often assigned to any task where they have access to cash or other securities on the machine. Because many individuals may be involved in the loading of replacement boats, the transportation of the replacement boats for the ATM machines, the replacement of the boats, the return of the boats removed and the auditing of the contents of the returned boats, it is often difficult to identify the cause of any losses.

The need to periodically replace cash cans is an inconvenience because the ATM machine must be closed. Customers are not able to use the ATM machine while the cash supply is being refilled, and opportunities to conduct transactions are lost and this may result in customer dissatisfaction. Customers will also be disappointed if filling operations are not carried out frequently enough, and the machine runs out of cash or other documents.

Other types of automated banking machines, such as those that supply cash to customer service representatives, have the same disadvantages as ATM machines. The periodic resupply of cash or other valuable documents that are supplied by the machine must be done to keep the machine in operation. Even when such machines accelerate the cash-assortment service to the customer, there is a significant cost associated with the segregation, preparation and transportation of the cash before it is placed inside the machine.

Other banking machines have been developed to identify and count cash. Such machines can be used in banking and sales environments. The machines which count the money usually require that the money be preoriented in a particular way to obtain proper identification. This is a consumer of time for the person who operates the machine. Many cash counting machines also tend to reject valid notes due to the natural deterioration that occurs in the banknotes or money of the United States of America. The speed associated with such cash account and acceptance machines is also less than desirable in many cases.

The automated banking machines which are able to receive the cash, identify the particular type and denomination of the tickets, store the money and subsequently supply it to a customer have been used in other countries outside the United States of America. Such recycling machines are feasible in countries such as Japan where money bills include a special feature, which facilitates their identification by machines. However, such recycling machines have not been generally feasible with the money notes of the United States of America which generally do not include special features that facilitate identification by the machine. The money notes of the United States of America are also subject to a wide range of conditions such as wear, fouling and bleaching, which do not make a ticket suitable for use, but which make it very difficult for a machine identify it appropriately.

The money recycling type banking machines that have been developed also generally suffer from slow operating speeds. This is particularly true when machines are used to process a large number of bills. Frequently, such machines require that the bills are oriented in a particular manner and a considerable time is associated with the rejection of the bills due to inadequate orientation. Handling the sheets to facilitate identification and storage is also a time-consuming process. Once a sheet has been initially identified as adequate and has been stored in the machine, there is usually no verification to be sure that the original determination of the type and character of the ticket was correct. As a result of this, a customer may receive a wrongly identified note. This can reduce customer satisfaction.

Therefore, there is a need for automated banking machines to recycle money that is reliable, that operates faster and that can be used with the United States of America and other banknotes as well as other documents, which have a wide range of properties.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an automated banking machine for bill recycling.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated bank recycling machine that is reliable and operates more quickly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated bank money recycling machine that works with banknotes and other documents having a wide variety of properties.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated money recycling machine that is capable of unstacking and separating the documents that enter a stack.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated banking machine that orients documents in relation to a sheet path while moving such documents at a high rate of speed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated money recycling machine that can transport a plurality of documents in a sheet path concurrently and at a high speed rate.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated banking machine for recycling money that identifies documents and which returns unidentifiable documents to a customer.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated bank recycling machine that allows a customer to deposit documents in a bank machine, and after the documents have been identified, to choose whether to deposit the documents. oe return them.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated bank recycling machine that can identify the deposited documents if they import their orientation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated money recycling machine that allows the selective storage of documents deposited in storage areas in the machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated money recycling machine that allows the selective storage of documents deposited in removable cans.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated money recycling machine that allows a retrieval of the documents stored in the storage areas and to deliver the documents to the customers.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated banking machine in which documents can be concurrently transported, oriented, stored in storage areas and be supplied from other storage areas within the machine.

The additional objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following better modes for carrying out the invention and the appended claims.

The above objects are achieved in a preferred embodiment of the present invention by means of an automated bank money recycling machine. The machine has a document management mechanism which includes an entry / exit area in which a client can insert documents that are to be deposited and from which a client can retrieve documents and can receive them.

A customer deposits documents in a stack through an opening in the machine enclosure. The documents are moved from the entry / exit area to a central transport. In an unstacking area, the documents are removed from the stack one by one by a destacker device and separated into a stream of single separate documents. Documents move along a document path in the central transport. The documents move in the central transport and are stretched by a stretching device to appropriately angle them in relation to the direction of travel along the path of the document. The documents are also moved by an alignment device to align them in a proper centered relationship in the document's path.

Each document is then moved beyond the device which operates to identify the type and / or denomination of each document. Acceptable identifiable documents are directed to an escrow area while non-acceptable or non-identifiable documents are directed to a rejection area in the machine's entry / exit area.

A client is informed of any non-identifiable documents through the input and output devices of the machine. Any non-identifiable documents can then be delivered to the client from the rejection area. Alternatively, depending on the programming of the machine such rejected documents can be stored in the machine for further analysis.

The documents properly identified are initially maintained in the escrow area. The output devices of the machine indicate to the customer the type and / or the value of the identifiable documents. The client is preferably enabled to select either to have such documents returned or to deposit such documents. If the client chose to have the documents returned, the documents are passed out of the entry / exit area and the client's account is not credited for the value of the documents.

If the client chooses to deposit the documents, the documents are again moved through the central transport in a stream of documents that move apart quickly. The documents are again identified by the identification device. However, rather than being directed to the reject and escrow areas, the identified documents are now preferably directed by the machine control system to selected storage areas. Storage areas are places in which documents of particular types are stored in the machine. The storage areas in the machine of the preferred embodiment are areas in a plurality of removable cans. The client's account is accredited by the value of the deposited documents.

The same customer who deposited the documents or a subsequent customer who wishes to make a withdrawal from the machine can receive the documents that have been previously stored in the storage areas. The document assortment mechanisms associated with the storage areas selectively remove documents from the storage areas in response to the control system and direct the documents to the central transport of the machine. As the documents move through the central transport, they pass through the identification device. The type and denomination of each document that is being supplied is verified. This ensures that the initial identification of the documents made when they were deposited in the machine is correct. This third check reduces the risk that a customer who withdraws documents from the machine will receive an inappropriate document. The documents are removed from the storage areas concurrently to facilitate the quick operation of the machine and are controlled in the movement through the remote transport segments and the central transport to ensure that they move as a separate document stream to the pass these the identification device.

The identified documents that are to be delivered to the customer are moved by the central transport to the escrow area. From the escrow area these are presented to the client. The client's account is then credited or debited for the documents that have been withdrawn.

The preferred incorporation control system includes a distributed processing system. The processing system has a hierarchy with the highest level being the terminal processor (TP). The processor ends a terminal application which communicates with the external devices as well as with other levels in the hierarchy of the control system. A module processor (MP) is below the terminal processor in the hierarchy of the control system. The module processor coordinates the activities within the machine and follows the assortment and acceptance of media. The module processing handles the details of the instructions it receives from the terminal processor.

The module processor communicates with a plurality of module controllers (MC). The drivers of the module communicate with the devices they perceive, move, direct the media. The module controllers communicate with the module processor and receive the module instructions. The module controllers run tasks to control the physical devices based on the instructions that they receive from the module processor. The tasks executed by the module controllers carry out the particular activities associated with the instructions received from the module processor.

The hierarchy of the preferred incorporation control system enables each level to deal with the particular functions that are most effectively managed by this level. This provides for faster processing as well as coordination between activities so that these documents can be moved concurrently through the machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an automated bank money recycling machine of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the functions carried out by the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the components of the central transport and the entrance / exit area of the machine.

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 schematically representing the entry of a stack of documents by a customer.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the entry / exit area showing receipt of a stack of documents from a client.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 which shows the document stack after it has been placed inside the machine.

Figure 7 is a schematic view similar to l of Figure 1 showing an inserted document stack being moved from the machine's entry / exit area to the document unstacking area of the machine.

Figure 8 is a schematic view showing the stack moving from the entry / exit area to the unstacked area d.

Figure 9 is a schematic view of the unstacking area of the machine before the arrival of the stack.

Figure 10 is a schematic view of an unstacking area showing a stack of documents being transported to the unstacking area.

Figure 11 is a view similar to that of Figure 10 showing the stack of documents moving in position for unstacking.

Figure 12 is a view similar to that of Figure 11 with the documents in position for unstacking in the unstacking area.

Figure 13 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 showing the documents that pass from the unstacked area d via the central transport to the reject and escrow areas of the machine.

Figure 14 is a view similar to that of Figure 12 showing a document being unstacked in the unstacking area.

Figure 15 is a view similar to that of Figure 14 showing a document that is being removed from the stack and moving beyond the sensors to sense double and pre-centered.

Figure 16 is a schematic view showing a double bill that is being returned in the stack.

Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of a mechanism used for unstacking banknotes in the unstacking area.

Figure 18 is a schematic view of a shuttle medi which is part of a pulling mechanism, the shuttle being shown in a bill passing position.

Figure 19 is a view similar to that of Figure 18 showing the shuttle media in a ticket stopping position.

Figure 20 is a top plan view of a shuttle used to stretch and center the documents in the central transport.

Figure 21 is a schematic view of a misaligned bill.

Figure 22 is a schematic view similar to that of Figure 21 showing the bill that is being stretched by the operation of the shuttle.

Figure 23 is a view similar to that of the Figure 22 showing the banknote aligned transversely to the direction of travel in the central transport but in an off-center condition.

Figure 24 is a schematic view of the billet shown in Figure 23 which has been moved by the shuttle to a position centered on the central transport.

Figure 25 is a schematic view showing the shuttle moving a document transversely to the direction of travel in the central transport.

Figure 26 is a schematic view of the pre-centering and centering circuit used in connection with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 27 is a schematic view of the entry / exit area of the machine when the documents are delivered from the central transport.

Figure 28 is a schematic view similar to l of Figure 1 showing the non-identifiable documents that are being delivered outside the machine to a customer.

Figure 29 is a schematic view of the entry / exit area showing the unidentifiable documents that are being moved outside the machine.

Figure 30 is a schematic view similar to Figure 29 showing the unidentifiable documents being directed to the machine for storage.

Figure 31 is a schematic view similar to that of Figure 1 showing the documents held in escrow being directed to the central transport for storage in the machine.

Figure 32 is a schematic view of an entry / exit area that moves documents held in the escrow area.

Figure 33 is a schematic view showing a part of the drive mechanism for the drive belts in the entry / exit area.

Figure 34 is an isometric schematic view of the input / output area drive mechanism.

Figure 35 is a schematic view similar to that of Figure 1 showing the documents that have been previously held in the plica area that are being unstacked and that are being passed through the central transport and to the machine for storage in the storage areas of document storage boats.

Figure 36 is a schematic view of the carriage and band roller used to transport documents in the central transport of the machine.

Figure 37 is a side view of a guide used in relation to the carriage transport rollers.

Figure 38 is a cross-sectional side view of the carriage rollers, the document bands and the guides shown in a support relationship with a document.

Figure 39 is a side view of a door mechanism used to direct the moving documents and remote transport segments, with the door mechanism shown in position allowing a document to pass directly through it.

Figure 40 is a side view of the door mechanism shown in Figure 39 in a condition that passes a document from the remote transport segment to a can transport.

Figure 41 is a view similar to that of Figure 39 with the gate mechanism shown passing a document from a boat transport to the remote transport segment.

Figure 42 is a view of the gate mechanism shown in Figure 39 in a condition that allows a document to pass from the boat transport to the remote transport segment, with the document moving in an opposite direction from that shown in the figure. Figure 41 Figure 43 is a view of the door mechanism shown in Figure 39 with a document passing from the remote transport segment to the can transport with the document moving in an opposite direction from that shown in Figure 40.

Figure 44 is a schematic view of an array of belts and pulleys adjacent to the door mechanism shown in Figure 39.

Figure 45 is a schematic view of a sheet transport exemplifying the principles used to move documents in the remote transport segments and in the boat transports.

Figure 46 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a document moving in transport of the type shown in Figure 45.

Figure 47 is a top plan view of a lid covering a storage area inside a money recycled canister.

Figure 48 is a side transverse sectional view of a storage area in a diner shown with a sheet moving toward the storage area.

Figure 49 is a view similar to that of Figure 48 showing the partially accepted sheet in the storage area.

Figure 50 is a front plane view of the supply wheels, take-up wheels and knock wheels adjacent to the storage area, with the sheet shown moving inside the storage area as indicated in Figure 49.

Figure 51 is a view similar to that of Figure 49 with the sheet moved inside the storage area but placed on top of the stack of documents held there.

Figure 52 is a view similar to that of Figure 50 with the accepted sheet integrated in the stack.

Figure 53 is a view similar to that of Figure 52 with the recently accepted sheet held as a part of the stack by fingers placed next to the storage area.

Figure 54 is a schematic view similar to l of Figure 1 showing the flow of leaves from a storage area to a escrow area in response to an entry s request of documents by a user.

Figure 55 is a cross-sectional view of a storage area including a stack of sheets ah from which a sheet is to be removed as part of an assortment operation.

Figure 56 is a view similar to that of Figure 55 in which the fingers holding the stack of sheets in the storage area have been retracted to allow the sheets to engage the interior surface of the trunk door.

Figure 57 is a view similar to that of Figure 56 in which the trunk door is raised with the supply wheels and the sprocket wheels shown beginning to move as to take a sheet from the stack.

Figure 58 is a view similar to that of Figure 57 showing the supply and strike wheels moving to a position in which a top sheet on the pil is being removed therefrom.

Figure 59 is a front view of the supply wheels, the caster wheels, the caster wheels and the caster wheels in contact with a blade as it is removed from the stack in the manner shown in Figure 58.

Figure 60 is a view similar to that of Figure 58 with the sheet shown having been removed from the storage area and being sensed by the doubles detector.

Figure 61 is a top plan view of the chest door that lies on a storage area showing a leaf that has been removed therefrom and that moves to a door mechanism on one side of the remote transport.

Figure 62 is a schematic view similar to that of Figure 1 showing a stack of sheets that have been dispensed from the storage locations being delivered to a user of the machine.

Figure 63 is a schematic view of the architecture of the control system of a preferred embodiment of the machine.

Figures 64-68 are a simplified flow diagram showing an exemplary transaction flow for a deposit transaction carried out in an automated bank money recycle machine of the present invention.

Figures 69 and 70 are a simplified flow chart showing the transaction flow of a withdrawal transaction carried out on the machine.

Figure 71 is a schematic view of the class categories that operate in the module processor and the relationships between class categories.

Figure 72 is a schematic view showing the map, the slot and the station numbering convention used by the module processor in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 73 is a schematic view of a module map produced by the module processor according to the central transport of the preferred embodiment of the machine.

Figure 74 is a schematic view of a module map developed by the module processor for a transport, canister and gate combination referred to as a multi-media recycler (MMR) in a preferred embodiment of the recent invention.

Figure 75 is a table of events and actions that occur in response to events in the module processor operation.

Figure 76 is a schematic view of the tasks that operate in a module controller and the task manager which also runs here.

Figure 77 is a schematic view of the software flow for a typical acceptance operation for accepting documents in the central transport of the machine.

BEST MODES TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Figure 1 there is shown an automated banking money recycling machine representing an embodiment of the present invention generally indicated with the number 10. The machine includes a box or enclosure 12. The enclosure 12 it includes a client interconnection in an interconnection area generally indicated at number 14. Interconnection area 14 includes components used to communicate with a user of the machine. These components may include a display 16, which served as part of an output device. The interconnected area may also include a keyboard 18 and / or a card reader 20, which serves as parts of the manually acceptable input devices through which a user can put information or instructions into the machine. It should be understood that these devices are exemplary and that other devices are exemplary and that other input and output devices such as digital display devices, audio speakers, iris scanning devices, electronic devices fingerprint reading, infrared transmitters and receivers and other devices, which are capable of receiving or providing information may be used.

The machine also includes other devices which are schematically indicated. Such devices may include a receipt printer 22, which provides receipts to a customer in relation to activities related to his transactions. Other devices indicated schematically include a newspaper printer 24 for making a paper record of the transactions. A passbook printer 26 indicated schematically can also be included within the enclosure of the machine. A check imaging device 28 may also be included for the purposes of producing electronic images of the checks deposited in the machine as well as for the cancellation of such checks. Such a check imaging device may be of the type shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,422,467 or other similar mechanism.

Devices 22, 24, 26 and 28 are exemplary other devices may also be included in the machine, such as video cameras for connection to a remote site, an envelope deposit acceptance mechanism, ticket printing devices , devices for printing statements and other devices. It should further be understood that even when the embodiment described herein is in the form of an automated teller machine (ATM), the present invention can be used in connection with other types of automated banking machines.

The machine 10 includes a control system generally indicated with the number 30. The control system is in operative connection with the components of the machine and controls the operation thereof in accordance with the programmed instructions. The control system 30 also provides communications with other computers in relation to transactions carried out on the machine. Such communications may be provided by any suitable means, such as telephone lines, a wireless radio link or through a connection through a proprietary transaction network.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has the ability to recycle money or other sheets or documents that represent a value received from a customer. For the purpose of this description except where indicated, the words documents, sheets, bills and money, are used interchangeably to refer to the sheet materials processed by the invention. The recycling process involves receiving the documents in a customer's volume, and identifying the type of documents deposited and storing the documents in appropriate places inside the machine. The stored documents can then be selectively retrieved and provided to customers who wish to withdraw funds from the machine.

The preferred embodiment of the invention includes devices which comprise the functional components schematically indicated in Figure 2. These functional components include an input / output function which receives the documents and delivers the documents to the users of the machine. An unstack function 34 receives the documents from the input / output function 32. The unstack function serves to separate the documents from the stack and deliver them to a sheet path in a spaced apart relationship.

The functional components of the machine further include a stretch or alignment function 36. As will be discussed later in detail, the stretch function operates to orient the documents so that they align transversely in a suitable manner with a sheet path. An alignment function 38 also orientates the documents and movement by centering them relative to the sheet trajectory. After the documents have been aligned they are passed to an identification function 40. The identification function operates to determine the type of documents that pass through the sheet path. In the preferred embodiment, the identification function includes determining the type and denomination of the money bill or other document. The identification function also preferably determines whether the document looks suspicious or simply is not identifiable.

The identification function is linked to the entry / exit function so that the clients can have any suspicious documents or identifiable documents returned, rather than being deposited in the machine. The identification function is also linked to some functions of storage and retrieval of documents 42, 44, 46 and 48. The functions of storage and retrieval operate to store the documents in selected places, and to recover those documents for the purposes of supply the documents to a client.

Referring again to Figure 1, the apparatus which carries out the previously described functions is shown schematically. The input / output function was carried out in an input / output area generally indicated with number 50. The input / output area is on one side of an opening 52 in the machine case. The access through the opening 52 is controlled by a movable door 54 which is shown in the closed position in Figure 1.

The input / output area 50 includes a document handling mechanism with four band-type transports.

These web-type conveyors are suitable devices for moving a stack of sheets and preferably each comprise a plurality of webs such as are shown in the patent of the States of America number 5, 507,481. The first bands 56 and the second bands 58 join a delivery / rejection area 60 which extends vertically between the bands. As explained below, the webs 56 and 58 are movable vertically in relation to one another and move transversely in a coordinated relationship to convey a stack of sheets placed therebetween.

The input / output area 50 also includes the third bands 62 and the fourth bands 64. The third bands 62 and the fourth bands 64 vertically join a plic area generally indicated with the number 66. The bands 62 and 64 are similar to bands 56 and 58 and are capable of moving a stack of documents transversely therebetween. The bands in the entrance / exit area, as well as a gate 54, are driven or moved by the appropriate impellers schematically indicated with the number 68 which are operated in response to the control system 30. The entry / exit area can be operated in several ways, the examples of which will be discussed hereafter. Figure 3 shows the entry / exit area 50 in greater detail.

The entrance / exit area communicates with a central transport generally indicated with the number 70. The central transport 70 includes an unstacking area generally indicated with the number 72. The unstacking area includes a tray 74 which is suitable for moving a stack of documents on it. The unstacking area 72 further includes the transport strips 76 and the collection strips 78. As will be explained later in detail, the unstack area operates to separate documents and deliver them in a spaced relation to a document path of the central transport.

The stretching operation also includes double sensors 80 for use in detecting double document cases which have been removed from a stack in the unstacked area d. These documents can be separated in a later discussed way. The pre-centering sensors are also provided in a partnership with the unstack operation, whose sensors operate to ensure that the stretching and alignment operations are properly carried out.

From the unstacking area the sheets are transported to a combined centering and stretching device 84. The stretching and centering device 84 performs the function of transversely moving the sheets so that they are centered in relation to the trajectory. of leaf through the central transport.

From the stretching and centering device, the documents change direction by being turned on the carriage rollers 86 and moved beyond an identification device 88. The identification device 88 is preferably of the type shown in the patent application. of the United States of America number 08 / 749,260 filed November 15, 1996 which is owned by the assignee of the present invention and whose description is incorporated herein by reference. In alternate additions, other types of identification devices may be used. The identification devices preferably identify the type and character of the ticket that passes. The identification device also preferably distinguishes genuine documents such as genuine diner notes from unidentifiable or suspicious documents.

From the identification device the documents are selectively addressed in response to the position of the deflection doors shown schematically with the number 90. The deflection doors operate under the control of the control system to direct the documents either to the delivery / rejection area 60, to the escrow area 66 or to the document storage and retrieval areas of the machine.

The document storage and retrieval areas include recycle bins 92, 84, 96 and 98, which are described in detail below. Recycling bins are preferably removed from the machine by authorized personnel. Each of the recycling bins includes four storage areas there. These are represented by the storage areas 100, 102, 104 and 106 in the can 94. The storage areas provide places to store documents that have successfully passed through the central transport. The documents are preferably stored in storage areas with documents of the same type. The documents stored in the storage areas can then be removed or taken from them at a time and delivered to other customers.

The documents are moved to the canisters through the remote transport segments generally indicated by numbers 108, 110, 112 and 114. The remote transport segments are preferably arranged in an aligned relationship so that the documents can be passed between the transportation segment. Each remote transport segment has a media gate mechanism associated therewith. The medium gates generally indicated with the numbers 116, 118, 120 and 122 operate in a manner that is explained below to selectively direct documents from the remote transport segments to a connection with the adjacent bottle delivery transports indicated with the numbers 124, 126, 128 and 130. The boat transports operate in a manner that will be explained later to move the documents to and from the storage areas in the boats.

It should be appreciated that the various components which comprise the doors, transports and storage areas have associated motors and sensors, all of which are in an operative condition with the control system 30 for the purposes of sensing and controlling the movement of the documents through them.

It should also be noted that in a preferred embodiment of the invention a dump area generally indicated with the number 132 is provided inside the machine box at the bottom of the remote transport segments. The dump or trash area 132 functions as a receptacle for documents that are not determined to be suitable for handling or which are otherwise deemed unsuitable for a subsequent retrieval and assortment to a customer. In the preferred embodiment the garbage area 132 comprises a tray which can be moved out of the machine box to facilitate cleaning and removal of documents when the inside of the machine has been accessed.

The operation of the automated banknote recycling machine will now be explained by an example of operational steps and functions carried out in connection with a deposit transaction by a customer. It should be understood that this is only an example of a way in which the machine can be operated. Other operating methods and functions can be achieved based on the programming of the machine.

The transaction flow for the deposit transaction is shown in Figures 64-68. A client approaching the machine 10 operates the components in the client interconnection area 14 to enable the operation of the machine. This may include, for example, the insertion of a credit or debit card and the entry of a personal identification number (PIN). Of course other steps may be required by the client to identify themselves to the machine. This may include other modes of operation such as biometric type or fingerprint identification devices. These steps by which the customer goes to identify themselves to the machine are represented in Figure 6 by the sequence of customer identification which is indicated by the number 134.

After the clients identify themselves to the machine, the machine is programmed to proceed through the main transaction sequence generally indicated with the number 136. This sequence of main transaction preferably provides the client with a menu of the various options of transaction that are viable to be carried out in the machine 10. The transaction flow proceeds in Figure 64 of a step 138 in which a client chooses to carry out a deposit transaction which involves the entry of documents, such as bills or money notes.

When the customer indicates that he intends to make a deposit the machine immediately executes a step 140. In step 140 an inner door indicated 142 in Figures 4 and 5 is moved to block additional access to the interior of the machine from the delivery area / rejection 60. After the inner door 142 is extended the program then executes a passage 144 in which the front door 54 of the machine moves to discover the opening 52. In this position a client is enabled to insert a stack of documents indicated with number 146 in Figure 5 inside the delivery / rejection area 6 between bands 56 and 58. As shown in Figure 5, bands 58 and 56 can also run inward to help place stack 146 against inner door 142.

As shown in Figure 6, the delivery / receipt sensors 148 and 150 are placed inside the machine case on the side of the opening 52. The transaction flow, as shown in Figure 64, is executed on a step 152 to determine if the storage cell 146 has moved beyond the sensors. A determination is made in a step 154 to determine if the sensors are clear. If the sensors 148 and 150 are not cleared, a step 154. is carried out. In step 154 efforts are made to clear the sensors. This is done by running the conveyor belts 56 and 58 within a step 156 and to drive the customer in step 158 to put their deposit. Then the verification is done again to see if the sensors have been cleared. Provisions are made in the flow of transactions so that after a number of tests to clear the sensors the transport bands 56 58 are run in reverse to remove anything that has been put into the machine, and the door 54 is closed.

If however the sensors 148 and 150 have been cleared indicating that a stack of documents has been properly inserted, the transaction flow is moved to a step 160 in which the front door 54 is again closed as shown in Figure 6. The transaction flow then moves to a step 162 in which the inner door 142 is retracted so that the stack 146 can be reprocessed in a manner hereinafter described.

The stack is then moved as shown schematically in Figure 7 from the delivery / rejection area 60 to the unstacked area 72. This is accomplished as shown in Figure 65 by moving a carriage which holds four bands 64 upwards in the entry / exit area 50 as shown in Figure 8. The carriage for the strips 64 moves upward to engage the carriage support strips 62 and 58 and to move them upwards as well. The carriage moves up until the stack 146 is between the webs 56 and 58. This is represented by the step 164 in Figure 65. The webs 58 and 56 are then driven to move the cell inward toward the unstack area 72 The destacking area 72 is shown in detail in detail in Figure 9. This includes the conveyor belts 76 and collection belts 78 which are independently operable by the motors and / or other drive devices. A strip return stop 166 is movably positioned in the area between the transport bands 66 and the bands 168 on the tray 74. It should be understood that the bands 76 and 78 and 168 are arranged to be in the middle in relation when the Tray 76 is moved to one side thereof in a manner as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,507,481, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The unstacking area 72 includes an unstack wall 170. An unstack wall 170 includes a plurality of steps 172 thereon, the purpose of which will be explained below. The unstacking wall 170 includes therein a plurality of grooves that extend generally vertically (not shown). The tray 74 includes a plurality of tray projections 174 which extend from an upper surface of the tray and extend into the slots. On one side of the collection band 78 are the contact stripping wheels indicated with the number 176 and the non-contact stripping wheels 178 whose function will be explained later.

In the operation of the machine the stack 146 e moved to the unstacking area for said unstacking. This is represented by a step 180 in Figure 65. As shown in Figure 10, in the step of moving the stack 146 to an unstacked area d, the tray 74 moves sufficiently toward the transport bands 66 for a movement mechanisms d so that the stack 146 can be moved thereon. The rear stop 166 is raised by a movement mechanism to allow the entry of the stack. The conveyor belts 76 the tray strips 168 move forward so that the stack 146 moves toward the destacking wall 170. In the preferred form of the invention the tray 74 is pressed co spring upwards once the stack 146 is moved between them, the stack is maintained between the bands 168 on the tray 74 and the transport bands 76 and the collecting bands 78 by the pressing force acting on the tray.

As shown in Figure 11, once the stack 146 moves past the stop 166, the stop back and lowered by its movement of mechanism to be in position behind the stack. As discussed below, the back top is usually useful when unzipping double bills which can be picked up during the unstacking operation. As shown in Figure 11 the bands 78 are also run in the forward direction to move the pil 146 toward the wall 170. As shown in Figure 12 when the stack is completely moved against the wall 170, the passages 172 on the wall surface tend to extend the sheets of the stack. This extension of the sheets tends to break the surface tension between the adjacent sheets and facilitates the separation of each sheet adjacent to each other. It should be noted that the steps 172 are configured so that the contact of the sheets in the stack 146 with the steps 162 generally does not interfere with the movement of the tray 74 upwards as the sheets of the stack are removed. This allows the tray 74 to apply a continuous upward pressing force so that the uppermost sheet in the stack contacts the collecting bands 78.

Referring again to the transaction flow in Figure 65, once the stack has moved to the unstacked position d, a check is made in step 182 to determine the presence of notes in the non-stacked area. Assuming that the bills are properly in position the flow then moves to an unstacking routine in a country 184. As will be explained later in detail, the control system 30 of the present invention is a novelty type control system which facilitates the quick operation of the machine. As represented in phantom by step 186 the control system operates to perform the tasks concurrently. As a result of this, rather than unstacking a single bill in the manner hereinafter described and then waiting for it to be processed, the preferred embodiment of control system 30 unstacks a bill and as soon as the bill has left the unstacking area, proceeds to unstack another ticket. This allows to provide a separate stream of leaves which move concurrently in the central transport under the control of the control system. This greatly accelerates the operation of the machine.

The operation of the machine in the unstacked operation d is schematically represented in Figure 13. As shown there, the stack 146 in the unstacking area 72 is separated into a stream of single sheets which move through the central transport 70 in the direction of the arrows C. The notes are then selectively directed by reason which are subsequently explained by the steering mechanism and which includes the deflection gates 90 to either the delivery / rejection area 60 or the bearing area 66.

The operation of the unstacking device for unstacking the sheets in the unstacking area 72 is explained with reference to Figures 14-17. The stack 146 is pushed up against the collection strips 78 by the tray 74. The lower pallet of the strips 78, which serves as pick-up members, engages with the top sheet in the stack, moves to the left in Figure 14 to collect a sheet 188. As shown in Figure 17, the picking bands 78 are supported on the rollers and the faces of the picking bands which engage the sheet extending beyond the faces on the web. the outer circumference of the stripping wheels 178. The stripping wheels 176 are arranged in a generally opposite relationship to the two inner strip strips 78. As the strip strips move to the left as shown in Figure 14, the contact stripping wheels and the non-contact stripping wheels 176 and 178 do not move, thus moving in an opposite direction relative to the mobile picking strips. This serves to hook a back face of the upper leaf which moves from the pile and serves to keep the leaves different from the upper sheet in the pile.

Referring again to Figure 14, if the leaf 188 that is moved from the stack is a single sheet, this condition is perceived by the double sensors 80. This means that the leaf is suitable for movement in the central transport. The blade then moves beyond the double sensors 80 into the vicinity of the take-up rolls 190 and 192. In response to the sheet being perceived being like a single sheet, the take-up roll 192 is moved in response to the control system of the position shown in phantom to the position shown in solid lines in which it is in contact with the sheet 188. The removal rollers 192 and 190 are driven in the indicated directions to move the sheet out of the pile. The drive of the take-up rollers is chronized by the control system 30 to ensure that the leaf 188 is properly spaced a distance from the unstacked leaf moving through the central transport.

As shown in Figure 15, the sheet 188 is moved by the take-up rollers 190 and 192 beyond the pre-centering sensors 82. The centering sensors are operated in a manner that will be described later to perceive the position of the pair transversely. opposite of the lateral edges of the leaf. The signals of the pre-centering sensors 82 are used by the control system 30 to move a shuttle which serves as a blade catching device and which is associated with the stretching and centering operations for the blade. The operational control system for moving the shuttle transversely in the transport path to a position in which it is enabled to catch the moving leaf in the manner that will allow the sheet to be aligned. This is particularly valuable when the leaves which are removed from the pile are of different sizes.

It should be understood that even when the United States of America has tickets which are of the same size for all denominations, other countries use documents of different sizes for various types of coins. It is a fundamental advantage of the present invention that the documents inserted by a user do not need to be arranged so that the documents are all of the same size, nor that the documents need to be oriented in a particular direction in order to be handled by the preferred embodiment of the invention. The unstacker device of the embodiment described is particularly well suited for unstacking the sheets and which may not necessarily be positioned as having a side edge in alignment with the wall 170 particularly for the sheets in the middle of the stack 146.

In the event that a double document ticket is received by the double sensors 80, the bills can be separated. A double bill is indicated in Figure 16 by the sheets 194 which for the purpose of this example, are considered to be two overlapping sheets. To separate these sheets the collection bands 78 are stopped and the tray 7 moves downward in response to the control system that the stack 146 is no longer pushed against the lower pallets of the collection bands 78.

The collection bands 78 are then run backwards so that the lower pallet thereof moves to the right as shown. This pulls the leaves back to the pile. The contact stripping wheels 176 the non-contact stripping wheels also rotate to facilitate pulling the sheets back to the stack. This is achieved in the preferred embodiment by having the caster wheels operated by a one-way clutch. The caster wheels can rotate freely in the direction shown in Figure 16 but may not turn in the opposite direction. The movement of the bands 78 pulls the sheets 194 back to the pile. The back strip stop operates to prevent the leaves from moving too much and falling out of the pile.

Once the sheets 194 are returned to the top of the stack in the tray 74 it is again raised, the collection operation is attempted. Generally one or more repeated attempts to undress the leaves will be successful so that the leaves are continuously removed from the stack 14 one by one.

The transaction flow associated with the doubles perception and the efforts to undress the top sheet are represented in Figure 65. In a step 196 a determination is made as to whether a double (or a higher multiple document) has been perceived during the routine of destacking. If this is the case, the step associated with the descent of the stack 198 is executed. The collection bands are moved in reverse in a step 200 to pull the doubles back into the stack and the stack is then raised in a step 202. As previously discussed, the unstack routine is then started again. Then, if the doubles are not perceived when a sheet is collected, the sheet moves beyond the pre-centering sensors 82 and the transverse position of the note in the transport is perceived in step 204.

After a document passes through the pre-centering sensor, it moves to the combined stretching and alignment device 84. The stretching device is adapted to catch a moving sheet and align its leading edge generally transverse to the direction of displacement of the sheet. the leaf in the path of the leaf. One sees that the leading edge of the sheet has been angularly aligned the alignment device operates to move the sheet of paper so that its centerline is generally in alignment with the transverse center line of the transport path. Doing this allows the document to be identified more quickly for ons which are explained later.

As shown in Figure 20, the combined stretching and aligning device 84 includes a launcher indicated with the number 204. The shuttle is composed of a pair of shuttle halves 206 and 208. Each shuttle half is connected to a drive shaft 210. which operates to move the pinch wheels 212 and 214 on the shuttle halves in the manner described hereinbefore. The shuttle 204 can also be moved transversely in a support connection with the drive shaft 210. The shuttle also includes a first sensor 21 on one side of the shuttle half 206 and a second sensor 218 on the side of the shuttle media 208. The shuttle also it includes a mean 220 sensor. The pinch rollers engage a segmented loose 222.

Referring to Figure 18, the half thrower 206 is shown schematically there. The half-thrower includes a solenoid 224. The solenoid 224 is connected to a movable brake rod 226 which can be moved over the bolts 228. The pinch wheel 212 serves as a movable member rotates about a central pin 230. The central pin 230 is mounted movably in a slot 232 on the body of the shuttle media 206.

The drive shaft 210 is a splined type shaft as shown. The shaft 210 extends through a driving wheel 234 which is mounted to rotate on the body of the shuttle media 206.

As shown in Figure 18 when the solenoid 224 is not energized the pinch wheel 212 is pressed to make contact with the driving wheel 234 by means of a schematically indicated spring 236. The pinch wheel 212 rotates in response to the rotation of the pin. drive shaft 210. The rotation of pinch wheel 212 also engages the independently rotatable segments of the segmented shaft 222. The documents are enabled to pass through the pressure point between the pinch wheels 212 and the segmented shaft 22 in response to the rotation of the pinch roller 212 by the driving wheel 234.

As shown in Figure 19, when the solenoid 224 is energized the brake rod 226 moves. E movement of the brake rod causes the brake rod to engage the pinch wheel 212. When engaging the brake rod the pinch wheelsaid pinch wheel is displaced from the driving wheel 23 and its movement is prevented until the solenoid is again de-energized and the brake rod is retracted. As a result of this, the area of the document which is placed at the point of pressure between the pinch roller 212 and the segmented shaft 222 when the solenoid is energized, will stop at this position. Documents will be prevented from moving to the area of the pressure point until the solenoid is de-energized.

The operation of the shuttle is indicated schematically in Figures 21-24. As shown in Figure 21, a sheet or document 238 is shown moving in the direction of the arrow in the sheet path. The shuttle moves prior to the arrival of the blade in a transverse direction on the drive shaft 210 so that the pinch rollers 212 and 214 will both engage the blade. This is done by the control system 30 based on the signals of the pre-centering sensors 82 which are upwardly of the launcher 204. The shuttle moves transversely in the path of the blade by the device moving transverse the cua a fast action motor or other suitable device.

In response to the movement of the blade 238 into the area adjacent to the pinch rollers, the sensors 216 218 and 220 perceive the sheet. Because the sample sheet 23 is biased, the sensor adjacent the pinch roller 214 and which is the sensor 218 will sense the leading edge of the first sheet. When this occurs, the solenoid associated with the shuttle means 208 is energized, stopping the movement of the pinch pin 214, while the roller 212 continues to rotate in response to the rotation of the shaft 210. As a result of this, the sheet 238 begins to rotate about the area of the pinch point 240 created between the stationary roller 214 and the segmented ej 222. The blade 238 moves so that the front edge 242 of the blade begins to move angularly to a condition aligned in the transverse direction the direction of movement of the sheet.

As shown in Figure 23, the blade 238 rotates around the pinch point 240 until the leading edge is transversely aligned with the blade path When an aligned condition is reached, the solenoid 224 is preferably energized to stop the movement of the blade. pinch rod 212. This produces a second pinch point 24 between the banknote 238 and the loose axis 222.

In the stopped condition of the bill shown in Figure 23, the leading edge of the sheet extends in the path beyond the centering sensors generally indicated by the number 246. The centering sensors operate to perceive the lateral edges of the sheet indicated with numbers 248 and 250 in Figure 23, in a manner hereinafter described. On perceiving the lateral edges the control system 30 determines the position of the central line which extends through a central part of the sheet 238. This central line is indicated schematically in Figure 23 with the number 252. The shuttle then the blade is moved transversely in the manner shown in Figure 25. The blade is moved in a contact relationship between pinch rollers 212 and 214 and segmented loose shaft 222. As shown in Figure 24, blade 238 is moved. to the right so that the center line of the sheet 252 is generally in alignment with a center line of the leaf transport path. Once the sheet has been stretched in this way and moved to a path-centered relationship d transport, the solenoids operating the pinch rollers 212 and 214 are released simultaneously to discharge the leaf 238 of the shuttle. This is done in response to the control system in a manner which ensures that the sheet 238 is adequately spaced by at least a selected minimum amount of a preceding sheet. Optimally sheet n is retracted in any way from what is absolutely necessary to ensure that the sheet is properly oriented.

The schematic view of the centering circuit components which is used in relation to the centering sensors 246 and the pre-centering sensors 82 is indicated schematically in Figure 26. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the sensors 246 include the coupled devices. and loaded (CCDs) which are used to perceive the edges of the sheet. An emission on an opposite sheet side is provided. The emitter to perceive the edges of the sheet. In other embodiments, other types of sensors may be used. The signals from the sensors 246 are transmitted to a modifier 256. The signals from the amplifier are sent to a digitized comparator 258. The digitized comparator is provided with a threshold input from an interconnection 260.

A trip point output from the interconnection 260 is determined by a computer program routine that adjusts the threshold input for the presence of a bill based on the radiation perceived by the sensors when a ticket is not present. This allows adjustment of the sensors with respect to changes during the operation of the device, such as changes in the intensity of the emitters or the accumulation of dirt on the emitters or on the sensors.

The output of the digitized comparator is transmitted to a programmable logic device 262. The programmable logic device determines the position of the edge of the note transmits the output signals together with the timing signals to a processor 264. The processor generates signals according to its programming to move the transverse movement device which moves the launcher transversely to the desired position. In the case of the pre-centering sensors, the shuttle moves to a position to ensure that it finds the note preferably so that the bill is generally centered between the pinch wheels. In the case of the centering and stretching operation sensors, the shuttle is moved to ensure that the note moves to align with the center of the transport. The timing signals also follow when the front and rear edges of the bill find the sensors to allow the control system to maintain adequate separation of the bills within the central part. The signals of the sensors 246 as well as those of the sensors 216, 218 and 220 on the shuttle are used to ensure that a note which has been released from the shuttle moves outward in the proper and coordinated manner.

The logical flow associated with the stretching and alignment operations of the described embodiment is shown with reference to the steps indicated in Figure 65. As indicated by step 266, signals from the pre-center sensors 82 are used by the system. control to move the shuttle to make sure it hooks the bill. A stretching leg 268 operates in the manner already described to align a leading edge of the bill so that it extends transversely to the direction of movement of the sheet in transport. In a step 279 the centerline of the sheet moved in alignment with the center line of the sheet transport. The sheet having been stretched and aligned, this is released in the passage 272 in a chronized manner and continues on its path in the path of the sheet.

As shown in Figure 13, after a document leaves the alignment and stretching device said document moves through the transport area centers where it is sensed by several sensors associated with the identification device 88. In one form Preferred of the invention, the identification device includes the device described in the United States patent application serial number 08 / 749,260, filed November 15, 1996, which is incorporated. This identification device is suitable to identify the type and denomination of a passing document. It is also suitable to distinguish genuine documents from suspicious documents. One advantage of the device used in the described embodiment is its ability to identify a document despite the failure of the document to be aligned with the path of the sheet. It should be understood that due to the various conditions, despite the efforts made to orient each sheet, the sheets may still be somewhat out of alignment at the time of analysis by the identification device. Of course in other additions, other devices can be used to classify and identify the leaves.

The ticket analysis by the identification device 88 produces signals. These signals can be indicative of the type of ticket and the denomination. Alternatively, the signals can be indicative that the note can not be identified satisfactorily or that they are invalid. These signals are transmitted to the control system 30 which operates the diversion gates 90 on one side of the central transport. As shown in Figure 27, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the documents which can not be identified with a high degree of confidence are directed by the doors 90 to the delivery / rejection area 60 and are subjected to the second bands 58. Such rejected bills are represented in Figure 27 by a stack 274.

The documents identified as suitable for the deposit are directed by the diversion gate 90 to the cover area 66 where such bills are held on the web 64. Such identified documents are shown in Figure 27 by the stack 276. It should be understood that the Direction of the sheets identified to the position of escrow 266 is optional depending on the programming of the control systems 30 d the machine or the customer inputs to the interconnection of the machine. Identifiable bills can be directed directly to the storage areas appropriate for recovery.

The transaction flow associated with the analysis of the documents and the address to the rejection / delivery and escrow areas of the document handling mechanism is represented in Figure 66. The analysis of the documents and movement is represented by a step 278 If the bill is properly identified in step 280, a check is made in the next step 282 to determine if the machine is in a deposit mode. If this is the case, properly identified bills are directed to the storage areas in the recycling bins. If the machine is not currently in a storage mode, which is the case with the described example, the suitably identified bills are directed to the escrow position in a step 284.

If in a step 280 a bill is not identifiable or is identified as unacceptable the bill is directed to the reject position in a step 286. Of course it should be understood that the steps of unstacking, pre-centering, stretching, alignment and identification of All tickets are being carried out concurrently by passing each document in the document stream through the central transport. The bills are continuously being directed to the escrow or reject positions until the bank of the bills has been completely unstacked.

In the operation of the invention of the preferred embodiments, the sheets which are not acceptable to the machine, such as the unidentifiable sheets, and the sheets which appear suspicious are returned to the customer from the entry / exit area 50. This is represented schematically in Figure 28 which shows the rejected stack 274 that is being delivered to the customer through the opening 52. This is normally done by the machine after displaying to the customers through the interconnection 14, information about a number of documents which were not identifiable or not acceptable in the deposit stack that had been "submitted." The client will be notified through the interconnection of the value of the documents that have been properly identified. option to enter a return address to an input device of the customer interconnection, which makes the machine a re-treat the rejected pages to determine if they can be identified. If this occurs, the machine can be programmed to run the reject pil 274 back through the central transport in the manner previously done with the deposited stack. This is a matter of choice in the programming of the machine and depends on the preferences of the operator of the machine.

Assuming that the reject stack 274 is to be returned to the customer, the reject stack is delivered to the client in a manner indicated in Figure 29. The inner door 14 is extended while the carriage support strips 6 are raised in a manner that the stack 276 engages with the carriage support strips 62 and 58. The bands 58 are so raised that the reject stack engages the strips 56. When the reject stack 274 is sandwiched between the webs 56 and 58, the strips 58 open the door 54. The reject stack 274 e moved by the strips 56 and 58 out through the opening 5 in the machine case. The delivery and receiving sensors 148 and 150 on one side of the opening 52 operate to sense the movement of the stack.

The transaction flow associated with the delivery of the reject stack to the clients is represented in Figure 66. In step 288 a determination is made as to whether the bills are present in a reject stack after all the sheets have been unstacked and passed through the central transport. If this is the case, the reject stack is moved to the delivery position in step 290. The inner door is closed in a step 292 as shown in Figure 29. The front door is then opened in step 294 and the bands are driven to deliver the reject stack to the client in step 296.

As shown in Figure 67, the client can then be urged to take the reject stack in a step 298. This is done through the output devices over the client interconnect. The sensors 148 and 150 are then monitored in a step 300 and a decision is made in step 302 of whether the reject sheets have been taken. If the sheets have been taken the front door 54 of the machine is closed at a step 304 and the inner door is retracted at a step 306.

As discussed previously, in the described embodiment of the invention the client is required to take the rejected sheets. Therefore if in a step 302 the customer has not taken the sheets, the transport is operated to push the sheets out of the opening 52 in a step 308. After the transport has run in a sufficient manner to push the sheets outwardly the Front door is closed.

In alternate embodiments of the invention, the customer may have the option of having the rejected stack re-processed to determine whether the documents can be identified. This is done in response to customer entries through an interconnection input device. In other alternate additions, the machine can be programmed so as not to return rejected or unidentified sheets to customers. This can be done for purposes such as to prevent counterfeit bills from being placed back in circulation. If the machine is programmed in this manner, the reject stack 274 can be moved in the manner shown in Figure 30 back to the unstacked area of the machine for an additional pass through the central transport. In this second pass, the leaves can be either returned to the rejection area if they can not be identified; they can be placed in the escrow area if they can be identified; or alternatively, they can be passed to a storage location in the garbage area or recycling cans 132 for further analysis. Because the preferred embodiment of the present invention is capable of tracking individual sheets which pass through the machine, it is possible for the machine to continue to determine where the particular sheets were originally based on their storage location and position within the machine. a storage place.

Returning to the operation of the described embodiment, the stack 276 maintained in the escrow position now moved upward and the entry / exit area as indicated in FIG. 31. At this point, the customer may have the option to receive the identifiable leaves that have been deposited again. This can be done, for example, if the clients are not in agreement with the account of the machine's sheets. This can be achieved by programming the machine so that the customer can obtain the return of the escrow documents by an appropriate input to an interconnection input device.

If the machine is programmed to deposit the identified documents held in escrow, the machine moves the document stack 276 in the manner shown in Figure 31. Alternatively, the escrow stack will be moved in a manner shown in Figure 31 if the machine it requires that the client input deposits the escrow documents and such entry is given through the client interconnection.

When the stack stack 276 is to be deposited at the storage places in the machine, the web 64 is raised to the position shown in Figure 32 and the stack stack 276 is placed in sandwich form between the webs 62 and 64. The webs are then urged to move the stack stack 276 to the non-stacked area of the machine in the manner previously described.

The operation of the document handling device which includes the driving rollers and the moving belt carriages of the entry / exit area 50 is described in greater detail in Figures 33 and 34. The carriage associated with the bands 64 is moved upwards. and down by a drive or elevator. The carriage that holds the bands 62 and 58 is free floating but is restricted to a degree to which it can move downward. The carriage holding the bands 56 can be rotatably conformed to the position of an adjacent stack but is generally prevented from • move down from the position shown. This configuration minimizes the complexity of the document handling device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the carriage support bands 64, 62 and 68 are guided to move vertically by a first guide shaft / driver 310 and a second guide shaft / driver 312. The guide shafts / drivers serve as guides and carriages an operational support connection is moved with them. The guide shafts / impellers only extend generally vertically, but they are also axially grooved which can be rotated by suitable drive and drive mechanisms in the directions shown. For example, the impeller may include one or more electric motors, which are operatively connected to the guide shafts / impellers by the gears, the bands or other motion transmission devices. The mobile journal guide blocks 314 and 316 can movers vertically on the axis 310. Each diary guide block represented by the guide block 314 in Figure 33 includes the oscillating gears 318. The oscillating gears operate to transmit the rotational movement from the guide shaft / impeller 310 to the axes 320 and 322. The axes 320 and 322 include the rollers on which the webs 56 and 58 are respectively supported.

The guide blocks 324 and 326 can be moved on the shaft 312. As indicated in Figure 33 by the guide block 324, the journal guide block includes the oscillating gears 328 which operate to transmit the rotational movement of the shaft. guide / driver 312 to the axes 330 and 332. The webs 62 and 64 are supported on the rollers which are driven by the axes 330 and 332 respectively.

As it should be appreciated, this arrangement for driving the bands in the entry / exit area reduces the complexity and comparison to other arrangements. This arrangement also increases the flexibility to selectively place stacks of documents.

Returning to the sample transaction flow with the stack stack 276 in the position shown in Figure 31, the transaction fiow continues in the manner indicated in Figure 67. As indicated in step 334, the escrow stack is moved upward so that it is generally aligned with the opening in the box and in a position to either be delivered to the customer or to be moved back to the unstacked position. The customers operating the machine are then urged to step 336 to indicate whether they desire the return of the escrow stack or that the quantity is deposited in the escrow stack in the machine. As indicated by step 338, if the customer chooses to have the stack returned rather than deposited, the machine continues to return the stack to the customer through the opening.

The process of returning the stack is indicated through the transaction flow shown in Figure 68. At this point in the transaction flow the stack stack 266 is on one side of the opening 52, and can be easily delivered to the customer. The inner gate is closed in step 340 and the front door is open in step 342. The bands 62 and 64 are then urged to move the stack of stem towards the front to present it to the customer in step 344. A determination is made in step 346 of whether the client has taken the escrow This is based on signals from the sensors 148 and 158. If the escrow is perceived as taken, the machine returns to the main ATM machine transaction sequence in step 348.

If the client does not take the stack, step is executed to encourage the customer to take the stack, or to retract it to the machine. If the stack is not perceived as taken in step 346, the customer is encouraged through the interconnection of the machine at step 358 to take the stack. If the stack is now perceived as having been taken, a step 352 returns the machine to the main sequence. In the event that however the battery has not been taken, the transaction flow continues through steps 354 and 356 in which the stack is retrieved stored, and an irregular transaction is noted. This can happen for example by retracting the battery inside the machine by closing the door and then passing the battery through the central transport to one of the storage areas.

The alternate forms of the invention may be provided to accredit the customer's account by quantity which they have indicated they wish to be returned but not taken. If the machine is programmed to operate in this way the documents in the escrow pile will be stored according to their type and denomination in the various storage areas in the recycling cans. Alternatively, the documents in the escrow stack can be stored separately in one of the storage areas. The machine can be programmed to allow the customer to return at a later time and obtain the documents in the escrow stack. This can be valuable for example if the client forgets to take the escrow or if he is distracted while carrying out the transaction.

In most cases when a client has deposited documents in the machine, these clients will choose to have the funds credited to their account. As a result of this, in the transaction flow in step 338 the customers will indicate through the customer interconnection that they wish to make a deposit. The transaction flow is moved through a step 358 in which the machine is put into deposit mode. Then the stack stack 276 is moved to the unstack area in step 360. This is done in the manner previously described for the deposited stack.

As shown schematically in Figure 35, the escrow stack will now be unstacked in the manner previously discussed. However, now instead of the unstacked bills that are directed by the deviation gate 90 to the escrow area and the delivery / rejection area, the bills are selectively directed to the other area in the machine as shown, to the various storage areas in the recycling d cans. During this operation each of the unstacked bills is again classified and identified by the bill identification apparatus 88. The identification of the type of banknotes is used to selectively direct each document to a storage area where the documents of that type are stored. . It should be understood that the internal memory of the machine is preferably programmed to record the type of document held in the escrow stack and to compare the determination of the type of document made in the initial pass with the type determination made in the second pass. In case of an error or an inconsistency, the deviation gate 9 can be used to direct any irregular documents to the delivery / rejection area 60 instead of moving them down to a place in the storage in the machine.

As can be seen with the transaction flow beginning at step 358 in Figure 67, the plic pile undergoes the unstacked process previously described in relation to steps 184, 196 and 204. Each note is also stretched centered relative to the transport path and then release.

The ticket goes through the analysis discussed in connection with step 278 and if the ticket is not properly identified in step 280, the transaction flow moves to step 262 when the machine is in the warehouse mode. In step 262 each The ticket is dispatched to an appropriate storage location. The notes are moved through this central part in the direction of the arrows "D shown in Figure 35. Each note is then directed to an appropriate storage location in a passage 264. It should be noted that the notes are moving concurrently to different places. of storage under the control of control system Figure 35 shows an example of a bill g deposited in a storage area 102. It should be understood, however, that bills can be moved in numerous storage areas during the storage process .

The bills in stack 276 continue to be unstacked until the stack is determined to have run out in step 266. Assuming no notes have been rejected during the deposit process, the transaction flow can then be returned to the transaction sequence. Main AT in a step 268. The customer can be given a receipt for their deposit and 'can continue with other transactions.

In the operation of the central transport 70 there are places in which the bills in movement must suffer generally 180 degrees turns. An example of this is indicated by the transport section 370 which is shown in Figure 35. In the transport section 370 the documents that must be aligned in the transport path have had their address reversed so that they can pass to one side of the identification device 88. The transport section 370 requires that the bills be transported in an exact manner and keep their relationship aligned and spaced. The documents are also preferably unwrinkled or otherwise distorted, as this may adversely impact their ability to be identified in the next section. More details regarding the transportation section 370 are shown in Figures 36-38.

The transport section 370 includes a plurality of strips 372. These strips in the preferred embodiment are V-type strips which engage the impeller and slack rollers 374, 376 and 378. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the "V" the webs 372 is pointed radially inwardly as the web passes the rollers 374, 376 and 378.

As the bands 372 move between the rollers 374 and 376 they are supported on the carriage rollers 380.

The carriage rollers 380 support the belt in a manner that the "V" section is pointed outwardly from the carriage rollers. An upper planar surface of each band is positioned on one side of an annular dimple 382 on the outer circumference of each carriage. The carriage rollers 380 are also spaced from one another. The guides 38 which generally have a somewhat smaller diameter than the carriage rollers are placed between them. An example of a guide 364 is shown in greater detail in Figure 37.

When a ticket 386 passes through the transport section 370 these are retained from the planar surfaces d of the band 372 and the dimples 382 of the carriage rollers com are shown in Figure 38. The bills move around the rollers of carriage without being skewed or distorted. When the bills are passed into the area adjacent the roller 37 the projections 388 on the guides push the bill out of contact with the carriage rollers and in the desired direction.

This configuration is used in a preferred embodiment of the invention since it has been found that tickets can be generally transported through the transport section 370 without adversely impacting their aligned and separate relationship. The ability to flip the banknote path 180 degrees also greatly reduces the overall size of the automated banking machine.

As shown in Figure 35 the tickets which are passed through the central transport 70, and which are moved to the storage areas inside the machine, pass down through the central transport through the transportation segments. remote 108, 110, 112 and 114. - * r These remote transport segments operate as part of u remote transport. The remote transport segments are vertically aligned in the preferred embodiments to allow the documents to be transported selectively between the transport segments. The transportation segment also allows documents to be addressed selectively either through the transport segments inward or outward of the adjacent bot transports, one of which is placed on the side of each transport segment. The selective direction of the documents is achieved through the use of a middle door associated with CAD transport segment which is operated under the control of the control system 30.

An example of a transport segment used in a preferred embodiment of the invention is indicated by the transport segment 110 shown in Figure 39. The transport segment 110 includes a plurality of spaced band support rollers 390 and 392. The rollers are driven by an impeller in operative connection with the control system. Each of the rollers supports a band 394 on the same (see Figure 44). An inner vane 396 of each band 39 generally extends in a first plane and is positioned beside a first sheet support surface 398 and a second sheet support surface 400. The sheet support surfaces each include a plurality of raised and spaced projections or dimples on them. This high projection serves to break the surface tension and minimize the risk of documents sticking there.

The principles of operation of the transport segment 110 as well as the can transport used in the preferred embodiment can be seen with reference to Figures 45 and 46. The transports operate to hold the documents in a hooked relationship between an outer surface of a pallet band and the elongated projections which extend towards the band vane from an adjacent opposing support surface. In the example shown in Figure 45, the band vanes 402 extend to one side of an opposite support surface 404. The projections 406 extend transversely between the band vanes from the support surface. A document 408 which is engaged between the band vanes and the supporting surface is deformed by the projections 406 to remain engaged with the band vanes. This allows the movement of the web pallets to move exactly the document 408 in a relationship therewith.

Returning to Figure 39, the projections 410 extend from the first sheet support surface 39. The projections 410 are generally segmented projections include the tapered front and tail edges to minimize the risk of documents being caught in them. The loose rolls 412 and 416 are also screwed on and a support connection with the member including a sheet support surface 398. The loose rolls 412 and 416 are generally placed in an aligned relationship with the inner pallets 396 and carried out a function which is explained later.

Each remote transport segment has boat transport adjacent to it which finds transport segment at an intersection. In the case of transport segment 110, can transport 126 extends adjacent to it as shown in Figure 1. Can transport 126 includes pairs of spaced-apart support rollers 418, only one of which is shown in Figur 39. The rollers 418 are driven by an impeller in operative connection with the control system. The rollers 418 hold the bands 420 which include the lower vanes 422 The lower vanes 422 extend generally in a plan and further extend to one side of a supporting surface 42 which includes the dimpled projections thereon of the type previously discussed. The projections 426s extend from the support surface 424 between the bands are generally parallel thereto. This structure allows the documents to be transported in a hooked relationship between the projections 426 and the band vanes 422 previously described.

As shown in Figure 44, the rollers 418 of the can carriers and the rollers 390 of the remote transport segments are arranged in a transversely intermediate relationship, similar to the manner in which the projections on the supporting surface are placed transversely in the middle of the band vanes. This ensures that documents can be passed between transport segments in a controlled relationship in the manner described here.

Each of the remote transport segments includes a fourth means which is selectively operable to direct the documents in the desired directions. In the case of the transport segment 110 the middle door associated with it is the door 118. The door 118 includes a plurality of movable arms 428. The arms are engaged to move together and are selectively movable about an axis of the rollers 390 Each arm 428 has a roller 430 mounted movably thereon. Each roller 430 which serves as a diverter member is positioned in alignment with a corresponding inner band pallet 396.

The operation of the remote segment and the middle gate will now be explained with reference to Figures 39-43. As shown in Figure 39, when the diverter roller 43 of the door 118 is positioned from the web pallets 396, or document 432 is enabled to pass along a first direction directly through the remote transport segment. Even though document 432 is shown as facing upwards in Figure 39, it should be understood that documents can be moved down as well. In similar form they can be moved down and then passed upwards in the remote transport segment.

Figure 40 shows a document 434 that moved in a downward direction while the deviated roller 430 of the door 118 is extended. In this condition the document 434 is directed towards the pressure point created by the band vanes 422 and the projections 426 of the can transport 126. As a result, the movement of the band vanes 420 in the direction shown with the associated impeller when the middle door is operated, it transfers the document inside a boat transport path along which it is carried by the boat transport. As can be seen from FIG. 40, when the door 118 is actuated and moved to the position to direct the documents to and from the shuttle, the web pallet 396 is deformed. Loose roll 41 holds the blade paddle in the deformed position to prevent excessive wear as a result of friction.

Figure 41 shows the document 436 that is being moved from the canister transport to the remote transport segment 110. In the position shown the median gate 118 operates to direct the document 436 to the remote transportation segment 108 placed above the transport section. remote transport 110 (see Figure 35) and to the central transport.

Figure 42 shows the gate 118 in a condition that directs a document 438 from the can transport 126 downward in the remote transport segment 110. As will be appreciated from the discussion above, the preferred embodiment of the invention allows the movement of the documents from one storage area to another. This function is enabled by the machine control system that moves documents from the storage areas in cans where they have been stored to the storage areas in cans either above or below the storage canister in the machine.

Figure 43 shows a document 440 that is moved upward in the remote transport segment 110 and that is being directed by the door 118 inside the bot transport 126. The ability to move the documents in the manner shown in Figures 39- 43 in response to the control system greatly facilitates the ability of the preferred embodiment of the present invention to store and retrieve documents. As will be appreciated from the previous Figures, the door mechanisms can also be used to selectively orient the documents. This may be desirable, particularly when you want to provide customers with documents oriented evenly in a stack. This can be achieved by reorienting the documents prior to storage based on the orientation of each document as determined by the identification device 88. However, as discussed previously the incorporation of the present invention shown does not require the documents to be oriented in No particular way for a satisfactory operation.

The storage of the documents in a storage location will now be described with reference to Figures 47-53. For the purposes of this illustration, storage of a document in the storage area 102, as shown in Figure 35, will be discussed. However, it should be understood that the following description is generally applicable to the storage of documents in any of the storage areas available in the preferred embodiment machine.

Referring to Figure 47, the storage area 102 is shown from the top. The band vanes 422 of the can transport 26 extend in a transport path above a coffer door 442. The coffer door 442 is movably mounted in a support connection with the can above the storage area 102. The coffer door 442 includes a supporting surface 444 which supports the bills or other documents that are moved thereon and from the adjacent storage areas. The support surface 444 included projections with holes which serve to reduce the surface tension and the adherence of the documents moving on it.

The hood door 442 includes projections that engage the documents that pass and hold the documents in engagement with the bands 422. A pair of openings or perforations 448 are in a generally aligned relationship with the projections 446. The openings 448 provide access for the kicking wheels which will be discussed later. As can be seen in Figure 47 the projections 446 are tapered to one side of the openings 448 to minimize the risk of the documents sticking thereon. The coffer door 442 also includes a plurality of loose rollers 450.

The rollers 450 are positioned in an aligned relationship with the webs 422. The rollers 450 engage the webs and facilitate the movement of the webs when the hood door 442 is open to accept a document in a manner as described below.

The hood door 442 also includes a central opening 452. The opening 452 is sized to accept a pair of closely spaced striker wheels 454 there. The central kicking wheels 454 are similar in construction to the outer kicking wheels 456 which extend through the openings 448. The central opening 452 is also sized to accept the supply wheels 458 and 460 which serve as the engagement members of the blade and which are placed on the side of the front of the hood door 442 covering the storage area 102. The supply wheels 458 and 460 are connected to the striker wheels 454 by a supply band 462.

It should be understood that the 454 hitting wheels and 456 as well as the supply wheels 458 and 460 are supported on a surface positioned on one side of and vertically above the coffer door 442. The supply wheels and the sprocket wheels are preferably supported on the machine case, while the storage area 102 and the coffer door 442 are supported on the recycling can 94. The recycling can can be removed from the machine when the supply wheels and the hitting wheels are placed so that they do not extend through of the boat 452.

The coffer door 442 also includes a sensor 464 which serves as a sheet thickness detector. The sensor 464 in the form of the invention is an optical receiver type sensor that receives signals from an opto-transmitting device which is placed in the machine on one side of and above the sensor 45 when the can 94 is in an operative position. The sensor 46 is in connection with the control circuit of the machine.

The steps involved in storing a ticket in a storage area 102 will now be described with reference to Figures 48-53. The storage area 10 retains a stack 466 that includes a plurality of sheets, tickets or other documents. The stack 466 is preferably a plurality of horizontally oriented documents which are supported on a thrust plate 468. The thrust plate 468 is biased upward toward the coffer door by a spring or other similar mechanism. The stack is held at its upper end by a plurality of transversely spaced front fingers 470 and rear fingers 472. The front fingers and the rear fingers are movable by a mechanism in the manner to be discussed hereafter.

The hood door 442 includes an interior surface 474 which includes a plurality of projections extending downwardly with the recesses therebetween. In the position of the fingers 470 and 472, the side projections 476 and 468 on one side of the upper ends of the fingers 470 and 472 respectively, extend above the pil and move in the recesses of the inner surface of the coffer door. These inwardly extending projections 47 and 478 of fingers 470 and 472 hold the top of the stack in a ratio captured at the positions shown in Figure 48.

In Figure 48 a document 480 is shown to move it towards the storage area 402. In this position before the arrival of the document, the supply wheels and the hitting wheels are placed above the support surface 444 of the coffer door . The withdrawal wheels 482 which are movably mounted on the edge 94, which includes the storage area 102, are moved by a driver or other movement mechanism in an operative connection with the control system to a position placed outside the supply wheels 458 and 460.

With the arrival of the document 480 to the storage area 102 the coffer door 442 rises upwards and a front area adjacent to the front surface thereof.

The withdrawal rollers 482 move upwardly of the mechanism while the supply wheels 458 and 460 which are rotated by an impeller engage and move the document in the storage area 102. The fingers 470 and 472 also support and move the surface top of the stack down against the presser door which is applied upwardly by the push plate 468. This allows the document 48 to move into the storage area above the inward projections of the fingers.

Figure 50 shows the configuration of the supply wheels and withdrawal wheels as the document 480 is moved within the storage area. In this condition the rotating supply wheels 458 and 460 engage the document 480 as do the withdrawal wheels 482, so that the document can be driven to the storage area. As shown in Figure 50, a stripping rod 484 whose operation is discussed below in detail, remains positioned away from the supply web 462 upon entry of the document 480 into the storage area.

As shown in Figure 51, the document 480 enters the storage area 102 above the stack 466. The fingers 470 and 472 are then moved outwards as shown in Figure 51.

As shown in Figure 52, eventually the fingers 470 and 472 are moved outward by a sufficient distance to release the stack 466 so that it moves upward in response to the pressing force on the push plate 468. As a As a result of this, the document 480 was integrated into the stack when the coffer door 442 was moved down to its original position. When the chest door is moved downwards the inwardly extending projections on the fingers 472 and 470 are in an aligned relationship with the recesses on the inner surface of the chest door.

From the positions shown in Figure 52 the fingers 470 and 472 are moved inward by the finger movement mechanism to again capture the top surface of the stack which now includes the document 480. The withdrawal wheels 482 are again they retract down and the storage area 102 is again ready to receive additional documents for storage there.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing discussion, mechanisms such as those shown and discussed are used to move the cassette door fingers and wheels of the invention. These mechanisms may include rotational linear motors and other mechanisms, transmissions and articulations suitable for use in the movement of the components in the manner described. Such conventional components are not shown here to promote clarity and facilitate understanding of the operation of the invention.

It should be understood that when one or more documents are directed to a place of storage in the machine, the storage place where the document or particular documents are to be stored undergoes the series of steps described. Even though the series of operations for the storage place has been described as receiving the documents and then integrating them into the stack at the storage location one document at a time, it should be understood that the mechanisms in the storage areas can be optimally configured. so that a plurality of documents can be collected in the storage area above the fingers and then the fingers and the chest door moved to integrate the plurality of documents in the stack. Such configuration can be used to optimize the speed of operation of the automated banking machine. It should be further understood that while the mechanisms for storing documents in the storage areas are exemplary, other mechanisms which store such documents may be used in alternate embodiments of the invention.

The operation of the machine 10 is now described in relation to a transaction in which the documents are retrieved from the storage areas in the machine and are supplied to a customer or operator of the banking machine. This is shown schematically in Figure 54. In the assortment operation, the documents will generally be removed from a plurality of storage locations and moved concurrently under the control of the control system 30 to escrow area 66. As schematically shown in FIG. Fig. 54, each of the documents removed from the storage area moves from the respective canister transport to the adjacent remote transport segment and is directed up the door to the central transport. In the transport centers the documents each pass through the identification device 88. The type and character of the document is newly determined before being supplied to the client. The flow of documents during this assortment operation (document retrieval) is represented by the arrows "E" in Figur 54. Of course, as can be seen from the previous discussion if at any time in the document processing which will be provided to the client, an improper or unidentifiable document is found, this has been directed to the delivery / rejection area 60 for reprocessing or return inside the machine.

The retrieval of the documents from a storage area is represented by the sequence of operations shown in Figures 55-61 in relation to the storage area 102. For purposes of clarity and simplicity of the document 480, which was previously deposited in the upper part of stack 466, will be supplied in this sequence d example of events.

As shown in Figure 55 in the initial position of the storage area 102, the hood door 442 is positioned downwardly by its associated mechanism. The inward projections of the fingers 470 and 472 extend the recesses in the inner surface 474 of the chest door. The fingers together with the inner surface of the coffer door retain the upper part of the stack which is joined by the document 480. The stack 466 is pressed upwards by the action of the spring of the thrust plate 468.

In the next step in the assortment of the document, the fingers 470 and 472 are moved outward in relation to the stack. This allows the document 480 on the upper surface of the stack 466 to be engaged with the projections which join the inner surface 474 of the coffer door 442.

As shown immediately in Figure 57 the front of the coffer door 442 is moved upwards. The withdrawal wheels 482 are moved upward to engage the supply wheels 458 and 460 (see Figure 59). Similarly, the stripping roll 484 is moved upward to engage the supply web 462.

It should be noted with reference to Figure 59 that the supply wheel 460 includes an inner part which has a can segment 486 thereon. The high friction segment 486 comprises a band of elastic material extending part circumferentially around the inner part of the wheel. The supply wheel 458 has a similar high friction segment 488 thereon. The high friction segments extend through the openings in the chest door to provide a gripping contact with the upper document in the stack when the supply wheels are positioned to place the high friction segments in contact with the upper document .

It should also be understood that the stripping rod 484 includes a one-way clutch type mechanism. This one-way clutch mechanism allows the stripping rod to rotate in a manner which allows a document to easily move inside the storage area 102. The clutch associated with a stripping roller 484 is oriented to receive the movement of the documents outside. of the storage area. In this manner, the stripping roll 484 served as a stripping device which generally engages only the single document in the very top portion of the stack undresses or prevents other documents from moving out of the storage area. This is achieved because the high friction segment provides a greater force that moves the single document out of the storage area than the resistance applied to the document by the stripping roller.

As also shown in Figures 57 and 59, the kicking wheels 454 and 456 include a part extending outwardly. These parts extending outwardly are aligned so that all of the extendable parts extend through the respective openings in the coffer door simultaneously. As shown in Figure 59, these extendable portions are generally in angular alignment with the high friction segments arched on the supply wheels.

As shown in Figure 58 to pick up the document, the supply wheels and the swivel wheels are rotated so that the extending parts of the striking wheels and the high-friction segments of the supply wheels engage the document 480 in the top of the stack 466. The action of the hitting wheels, the supply wheels, the removal wheels and the stripping roller, operate to separate a document 480 from the stack and move it in a first direction from the area of the stack. storage as shown in Figure 58. The preferred embodiment of the apparatus is generally designed so that a single rotation of the supply wheels and the sprocket wheels is sufficient to move a document from the storage area. Once the document is moved from the storage area it is moved again and the removal wheels and the stripping roller move through its associated mechanisms so that they are retracted from the can. Fingers 470 and 472 are moved up and in to reattach the top of the stack.

When the document 480 is moved from the storage area 102, the transmission of the light through the document is perceived. The transmission of light through the document by a sensor 490 which is similar similar to the sensor 464 and is placed on a chest door or other structure that covers the storage area or otherwise in the first direction from the storage area 102. The emitter 492 mounted on the machine emits enough light so that it can be determined if a note or double note has been removed from the stack.

The emitter 492 and the sensor 490 are connected to the control system which is programmed to recognize when a double document has been collected from the storage area. The machine can operate in a number of ways depending on the programming of the control system to deal with this occurrence. If the document has been completely removed from the stack, the document can be returned to the address and deposited back on the stack. Then an attempt is made to again remove it. Alternatively, in a second attempted collection operation the supply wheels can be swung back and forth as the bill is being collected to provide the possibility of two bills being removed together. This can be done automatically by the control system in some conditions where the documents are known because they have a particularly high affinity or a high tension surface which makes them difficult to separate.

Finally, in the event that repeated attempts to collect a single bill from the storage area are a failure, the machine can operate to direct the collected document (s) to another storage area or to the refuse area 132. The machine can then proceed to pick up the next banknote. The programming of the machine 10 is preferably established to minimize the associated delay when a collection problem is encountered.

After the document 480 has been successfully removed from the storage area 102 it is transported to the remote transport segment 110 and is directed by the gate 118 to the central transport. The document 480 together with other documents passes the identification device 88 which confirms the identity of each document. The documents are deposited in the escrow area 66 where a stack of escrow 494 is accumulated. Then as shown schematically in Figure 62, the stem area 494 is moved upward in the input / output area 50 of the machine. The door 54 is opened and the stack is delivered to the customer through the opening 52.

The transaction flow executed by the control system to carry out the operations of the machine in a withdrawal transaction is presented in Figures 69 and 70. As is the case with the deposit transaction, the machine first goes through a customer identification sequence represented by a step 134 in which the customer operating the machine is identified to resolve his account data. This sequence of customer identification is not usually executed again when the customer has operated the machine to carry out an immediately previous transaction that the client account data has already been resolved and is available in the machine's memory. After the clients have identified themselves, the machine goes through the transaction sequence of the main ATM 136 as discussed previously.

Clients immediately indicate in a step 496 through the interconnection of clients that they wish to carry out a withdrawal transaction. The withdrawal amount is then received by the machine based on the customer entries in a step 498. In a step 500 the machine operates to determine whether the withdrawal amount the customer has requested is authorized by the programming of the machine and / programming of a computer which is in communication with the machine. If not, the machine returns to the main sequence and provides instructions to the clients.

If the withdrawal amount is authorized, the control system of the machine sees the storage locations of the various denominations of banknotes in step 502 and calculates that a mixture of banknotes can be provided to the customer in country 504. It should be noted that some Incorporations of the invention which are intended to be used primarily by commercial customers, may be allowed to those customers and select the mix of denominations of tickets that the customer will receive. This is done by the control system usand programmed drives displayed over the client interconnection. The client is provided with tickets through the customer's interconnection, which indicate the amount of money they want. However, if the machine does not provide that option or the customer does not want a specific denomination selection, the machine will operate to determine the number of the various types of tickets that are available to provide the tickets to the customer in the denominations that will minimize the probability of that the machine stays if tickets of a particular type.

The machine then continues at a step 506 in which the control system operates to collect the bills from the various storage areas. As indicated by phantom pas 508, collection operations are concurrently executed in the preferred embodiment of the invention. Multiple tickets can be collected from the various storage locations and can be moved as a separate ticket stream through the segments of remote transport and hast the central transport of the machine.

For each collection operation, after the ticket is collected a step 510 is carried out to perceive the double tickets that have been collected from a storage place. If a double is perceived in step 512 the billet is retracted to step 514 and an effort is made again to collect a single bill. However, if in step 512 s a single bill is received the bill is released in step 516. In step 516 the bill is released in a coordinated relationship with the other bills by the control system to ensure that each bill reaches the bill. Central transport of the machine in a relationship spaced by the other bills. However, the spacing is such that the bills move concurrently and are delivered at the high-speed escrow site.

An analysis of each passing ticket is made by the identification device 88 which is indicated in step 518. If the bill is recognized as suitable in a country 520, the bill is directed to the land area 66 in a step 522 the ticket is not recognized in step 520 or is unfit, it is directed to the reject / delivery area 60 in a step 524, or another designated area in the machine's programming. Failed to identify a ticket which comes from a place d _ > Storage is an unusual event. This is due to the fact that each stored ticket has been usually identified twice before. Problems may arise when the ticket was loaded into the boat outside the machine. If a ticket is rejected, the transaction flow of the described incorporation continues to error recovery step 526. This error recovery program may include directing the ticket back through the central transport to a storage place designated for a subsequent analysis.

The tickets are delivered to the escrow area until all the tickets which respond to the client's withdrawal request have been delivered. Upon completion of the delivery, this is verified in step 528. A check was then made in step 530 to determine whether all of the bills that have been delivered have been properly identified. If n have been and there are bills in the rejection area, error recovery step 526 is executed.

However, if the bills have been properly identified, the stack stack corresponding to the stack 494 in Figure 62 moves to the delivery position in a step 532 which aligns the escrow area with the opening in the box. The inner door is then closed in a step 534. The front door is opened in a passage 536 and the transport bands are moved to deliver the bills to the customer in a step 538.

In a step 540 a determination is made based on the reading of the sensors 148 and 150 to determine whether the bank of notes has been taken by the customer. If this is the case, s close the front door in step 542. The transaction flow then returns to the main ATM machine sequence in step 544.

However if the tickets are not taken by the clients the routines can be executed to encourage the client through the customer interconnection to remove the tickets. However, if the customer does not collect the tickets, then step 546 is executed to retract the bills inside the machine. The front door is closed in a step 548 and the machine then continues to the error recovery routine. This may include, for example, storing the tickets at a particular storage location. Alternatively, this may involve reversing the withdrawal transaction requested by the customer and placing the tickets back in the various storage areas by running them through the central transport.

An advantage of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is the ability to operate at high speeds. This is achieved through the architecture of the control system 30 which is schematically represented in Figure 63. The preferred embodiment of the system uses a control system which includes a terminal processor 548. The terminal processor contains the general programming of the machine as well as the necessary programs for the operation of the communication functions with other systems and other functions that the machine carries out. As indicated in Figure 63, the terminal processor 548 is in operative connection with the stored data including the instructions and programmed data. The terminal processor 548 is in communication through appropriate interconnections with the various devices of computer machines.

The terminal processor 548 is also in an operational communication with a processor module 552. The module processor 552 orchestrates the operations carried out by the module driver mode 554, 556, 558, 560, 562 and 564. As indicated , the module processor 552 is also in operative connection with its own respective data, which retain its instructions and programmed data. Similarly, each of the module controllers preferably includes data storage to retain various instructions and programmed data. The module processor 55 is operatively connected to each of the module controllers via a data bus 566. The module controllers, each communicate via the data bus, only with the module processor 552, and the module processor s communicates directly with each module controller. The module controller has associated therewith the computer apparatus devices indicated with the number 567. Each module controller has associated with it its own respective types of computer machine devices, which are responsible for the operation and the operation of the device. control. In some embodiments of the invention, each contigger module includes a single processor referred to as the Controller Module Processor (MCP). However, in other modalities each controller module may include multiple processors (MCP's). Similarly, multiple processors can be used in other modalities for the TP and / or the MP.

In the operation of the system, each module controller operates programs to execute particular tasks associated with each computer apparatus device that is connected to it. This can be, for example, a particular function associated with moving a mechanism or a document.

These tasks are coordinated in the areas executed through the module controller in relation to the computer devices. The movement of the document concurrently, however, and coordinated by the module processor 552 operating to send the control signals to the various module controllers, so that the document handling functions carried out in a chronized and coordinated relationship. The terminal processor 548 controls the operation of the module processor to carry out the particular transactions, which are indicated by the terminal programming. As a result of this configuration, the documents are allowed to be handled concurrently, but independently through the machine which greatly accelerates the document recovery storage operation.

The terminal processor 548 runs the programs stored in its memory which allow the ATM machine 10 to communicate with external devices and systems. This includes host computers operated by a bank or other financial institution that operates the ATM machine. The terminal processor also communicates with the sensors and other devices in the ATM machine that interconnect with the user of the machine. This includes for example the display 16, and the input devices such as the keyboard 18 and a card reader 20. The terminal processor also communicates and controls the operation of the devices such as the printers and depositors which are part of the machine 10.

In the preferred embodiment, the terminal processing 548 also communicates with the identification device 88 which determines the type and denomination of the documents as they pass through the machine. The memory associated with the terminal processor includes information that correlates the information resolved by the identification device with particular document types. The identification device used in the preferred embodiment of the invention is a currency counterfeit and coin validator (CVCD). The counterfeit detector and coin validator determines that the data perceived from a ticket that passes corresponds to one of a plurality of templates stored in the memory, each of the templates reflects data that is expected to be received from a particular type of billet and denomination that has a particular orientation. The memory of the terminal processor includes information which allows the terminal processor based on the template which corresponds to the document or ticket, the ticket type, the denomination and the orientation. The terminal processing also keeps a record in its memory of the storage locations or trunk numbers where the documents or notes of each type are stored.

When a client operates the machine 10, the terminal processor 548 operates in accordance with its programming to cause the module processor and processor to execute the instructions necessary to carry out the transactions. In the case of a deposit transaction, carried out in response to a user input and processor of the terminal determines the storage areas in the cans where each type of document can be stored. The terminal processor then instructs the module processor to carry out the storage activity and to report back when it is completed. The module processor processes the commands from the terminal processor to move the media to the storage locations according to the instructions which comprise the signals from the terminal processor. Similarly, in an assortment transaction, which is carried out similarly in response to user input, the terminal processing communicates with the module processor messages which indicate how many documents are to be delivered from the areas of private storage. The module processor receives these messages and moves the media to the desired places.

As can be seen from the above discussion, the messages communicated by the terminal processor to the module processor are generally general instructions referring to notes, sheets or other documents or media moving through the machine. The details of the operation of the devices and the monitoring of the means to ensure that these move adequately simultaneously as they are carried out under the control of the module processors of the module controllers.

Module (MC) controllers are associated with particular devices or device combinations in the system. The drivers of modul generally run in relatively simple routines limited which are stored in their associated memories The programs run by the module drivers are generally referred to these tasks. The tasks are program of base of state (machine sde of state) that allow the beginning the control of other tasks with signals received from e processor of module as well as of the sensors, devices or d other tasks.

Each module controller in the preferred embodiment is associated with a group of physical devices. The preferred embodiment of a module controller is associated with the money validator and validation detector to control the operation of its sensor sampling devices. The module controller associated with the counterfeit detector and money validator runs tasks which activate the senders and receivers to generate the sample data. The module driver for the counterfeit detector and money validator also provides signals associated with the front and tail edges of the bill. Est also calculates the skew angle of a document as it passes through the counterfeit detector and money validator. The signals and information resolved by the module controller associated with the counterfeit detector and money validator are communicated to the module processor.

The devices which move the documents through the input / output function 32 and the unstack, stretch and center alignment functions 34, 36 and 38 are all controlled by a single module controller in the preferred embodiment. These functions and the devices associated therewith are referred to as the central transport (CT). The module controller associated with the central transport executes tasks necessary for the movement of the documents through the central transport as discussed later in detail. A module controller is also associated with each coin receiving canister and the mechanisms in the machine that remove and deposit documents in the box areas in the cans. The module controller associated with each can also controls the can delivery transport associated with the transport as well as the remote transport segment and the door means associated with transportation. The devices which operate to carry out these functions are mentioned as a multi-media recycler (MMR). Com will be appreciated, each canister on the machine is associated with a separate multi-media recycler and each is operated under the control of a separate module controller.

Even though the terminal processor performs the high-level functions associated with money recycling and the module controller carries out the low-level functions, the module processor performs the critical functions that allow everything to work in a coordinated relationship. E module processor is an object oriented software system. The module processor operates to control the flow of media between the central transport and the multi-media recyclers. The module processor does this in response to the instructions of the assortment and deposit means which comprise signals received from the terminal processor. The module processor also provides thresholds and functions for the order for deposit, rejection and various operations. The module processor also functions to process the information it receives from the module controllers which are associated with each multi-media recycler, the counterfeit and money validator and the central transport.

The module processor also performs the data hosting functions in the system. The communications of the terminal processor and the module processor are maintained as well as the module-module processing communications of the module controller. The module processor also keeps a log of internal software failures or indications. A journal of external software failures or assertions is also maintained by the module processor in its associated data storage. The module processor also maintains a virtual representation of the system and the media here. This includes a virtual representation of the order and placement of all the elements which handle the media in the machine. In addition, the module processor keeps information about the number of stored documents and several places and the identification information which corresponds to the various stored documents. The module processing also works to detect medium obstructions and other problems, and operates to attempt recoveries. The module processor detects the leading and trailing edges of the documents which are moved through the system. It also verifies the events of time, source, order and validate in a manner which is described later.

The module processor controls the module controllers to perform recoveries in certain circumstances and reprograms the module drivers when necessary. The module processor retrieves the limited data journals maintained in the module controllers and stores the information in its associated non-volatile memories. The module processor also operates to detect faults of a module controller and re-set the module controller time stamps when necessary.

The module processor communicates with the terminal processor and carries out all the activities necessary to carry out the terminal processing instructions. The module processor generally operates to determine all operations associated with the current transaction beginning before carrying out a new transaction request from the terminal processor. For example, after a collection of documents has been successfully delivered or have been accepted from a client, the module processor must perform other operations such as the transfer of data log from the module controllers before it can Begin the next transaction. The module processor operates according to its programming to ensure that these functions are carried out.

The module processor also operates to coordinate the movement of the media between the devices controlled by the various module controllers. This included the movement of documents from the central transport to the remote transport segments associated with the recyclers d multiple media and vice versa. The module processor also provides the clock system to control the coordinated movement of documents through the devices, provides the necessary communications between the module processor and the terminal processor as well as from the module processor to the module controllers. As will be appreciated, in the preferred form of the system, the module controllers only communicate with the module processor and not with other module controllers or with the terminal processor. In a similar way, the terminal processor only communicates with the module processing. This approach ensures that communications are effectively addressed and that the system processes documents quickly and effectively.

In accordance with the architecture of the module processor used in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the module processor controls the flow of each note, document or other piece of media within the system regardless of the means that may precede or follow the piece. of particular medium. Rather, the operation the system controls and follows the movement of each piece of means to achieve the desired direction thereof within the chronized parameters. The module processor achieves the movement of mediant mediant moving media through places. Places serve as document retention areas for retaining one or more documents, either on a short-term basis such as in the case of escrow area on a long-term basis such as in storage areas in recycle bins. The places are defined as either a control point or a point of perception. A control point is an element where some physical action took place. A point of perception is an element that gives some information about the position of the document within the system. The control points direct direct means to their destination while the points of perception move the means towards their destination. A door is an example of a control point and a sensor is an example of a point of perception. For the purposes of this description all devices that serve to move or direct the documents are referred to as document retention devices.

In the preferred embodiment, each control point and each point of perception in the recycling mechanism has a tail reservation. The reservation queue indicates the order in which the documents will pass at a particular point. The reservation queue is a FIFO order of all documents destined to pass at a given point. Reservation queues must have the correct order to work correctly. The system ensures the integrity of order by carefully monitoring the movements of documents within the calculated time constraints.

Each control point along a path that follows a document knows in what state it should be to direct the document correctly. For example, a gate may have the "in" states which direct a document to and from an associated or "through" boat transport which allows a document to proceed directly through a remote transport segment. Once a document passes through a control point, the control point questions the next document to pass it and changes the state to accommodate it. In general, if a perception point is associated with a control point, it passes the perceived event to the control point. It is then the responsibility of the control point to decide what to do and when to do it. A point of perception is usually the front or back edge of a document. In summary, each control point has the knowledge of what it does and when it does it in order to direct the next document along the path to that document destination and this knowledge is derived from the reserve queue.

The architecture of the module processor allows any object to communicate with any other object. These communication messages form events which drive the system. Events include both media and map point events, for example, front edge, tail edge, assortment, etcetera, and system events such as initiate acceptance, hold, put back, and so on. The objects send and receive forms of abstract messages for other objects. Objects interpret messages based on their source and content. Some examples of sources are the terminal processor, the module controller or the specific module processor object. The content depends on the source and the identity of the message. This architecture allows any object to receive a message specific map point caused by a single physical document. The preferred architecture also treats all messages as object-to-object even if the eventual message destination is another processor such as the terminal processor or a module controller. The physical layer differences are transparent to the client. The module processor has several class categories which group one or more similar classes. These class categories and their relationships are represented schematically in Figure 71. The EDT orders the category of class schematically indicated with the number 700, proceed and dispatch commands to the devices connected to the controllers d modules. The EDT orders the dispatch of commands to the ED 702 modules and receives notifications when the documents have completed their movements. The EDT 700 also maintains a synopsis of the execution ordered for later use and to provide the terminal processor with the final result. This class category also has the change for all communications with the terminal processor.

The class category of EDT orders maintains the global system status, the assortment status and the acceptance status. This validates the orders considering the state of the current system and rejects those orders that it can not process. The EDT commands also verify the parameter and oren entries from the terminal proessor. It handles interconnection errors locally and errors that result from communication failures.

Classes within the class categories of EDT orders include the interconnection classes. The interconnection classes interpret and process the terminal processor signals representative of orders, provide the results of the orders, handle the sequence of assortment of documents, follow the movements of completed documents and also disable the system when the movement of the document has been completed .

EDT orders also include depositing the result class. The deposit results interpret the messages which indicate that the transit of documents has been completed; stores the results and processes the results in a document movement response to the terminal processor. It also maintains a synopsis of media movements and correlates media movements in their constituent parts. The deposit result class adds a new entry to the results for each document that you arrive at and stores a transit record for that document. L EDT orders also include a status class. The state class stores the state of the system and retrieves the state individual elements. The status class also determines if a potential document movement is possible. If movement is not possible, it can reject an order.

EDT orders also include the withdrawal of results. This class interprets the terminal processor recall message and provides the withdrawal sequence. The class of withdrawal results also stores the results and processes the results in a response response of the terminal processor. A synopsis of the document movements is maintained and the movements of the document and its constituent parts are checked. The class of results of retir also verifies the results of current media against what was expected and provides complementary messages to complete the terminal processor retirement message if the results do not conform to what was requested.

In the course of the withdrawal transaction, the EDT 700 orders are issued assortment orders to the ED 702 modules without considering any possible interference situations of previous assortment orders. The EDT modules operate to verify the interference of other modules and within the current module. This enables the EDT 702 modules to carry out any module repair during the interference time. As a result of this, the documents are sorted as soon as any interference is cleared. The EDT 702 modules return to a system event (full assortment) to the EDT 700 commands and disable the location where the assortment is completed. The complete event assortment system triggers the EDT 700 commands to issue the following order of assortment in the sequence. Each media instance will report a system event (domestic environment) to the EFT command when it reaches its destination. The EDT orders will use this information to complete the transaction, update the results, disable the system and report to the terminal processing.

Since EDT orders can send assortment orders without interference considerations, the category EDT 702 module class must determine when it begins processing the next assortment. To accomplish this, the ED 702 modules operate to wait until the last media of the previous assortment order has entered the remote transport segment and is moving vertically towards the central transport. The EDT 702 modules match for the "clear event" from the module in the interference slot. An event message program delivers the option after the event ensures adequate media spacing. Therefore, the EDT 702 modules will receive the event when they need it, not exactly when it happens.

The class categories of the EDT orders and the class categories of the EDT modules also interact when the documents are moved from the escrow position of the entry / exit area 50 and are deposited in the storage areas of the machine. The EDT 700 commands call the EDT 702 modules to carry the document stack inside the UDC (unstack-stretch-center) devices. Then the EDT 700 orders issue the deposit order to the EDT modules. Each media instance reports a system event (domestic media) to the EDT orders upon reaching its destination. The EDT module returns a system event (full acceptance) to the EDT commands and carries out the station disablement when the • last document reaches its destination based on the identification of the document by the counterfeit and money validator. The EDT commands then call the EDT modules to disable all modules when the last system event is received indicating that the last document was received.

Another example is the operation of the EDT commands of the EDT modules when the machine is operated, so that the machine identifies the documents deposited by the client and stops them in escrow until the client indicates that these should be deposited. The EDT 700 commands send commands to the EDT 702 modules to move the media stack inside the unstack, stretch and centering device. To move the entire stack to the place of escrow, the EDT orders issue an order of "everything, escrow" to the EDT modules. The EDT sol modules enable the module driver for transport centers after each document is identified by the detector of fakes and money validator. The EDT modules set the destination to either "apply to accept" or "request to reject". The document reports "domestic media" when reaching its destination, either the escrow or rejection area. The EDT orders maintain an amount of each document in the escrow accept and the plic reject. The modules are disabled while waiting for the client to recognize the transaction. The EDT commands then send the result to the terminal processor.

If the client confirms the quantity and indicates that he wants the documents to be deposited, the system returns the rejected notes in the manner previously described and the stack of media moves to the unstacking device, centered stretching. The behavior of accepting is now followed. However, if the customer cancels, the EDT 700 orders direct all the tickets to be returned. The returned documents include those in the rejection column and those acceptable bills held in escrow. The module processor controls these actions according to the signals from the sensors in the input / output area.

The EDT 702 modules are responsible for controlling the system during normal activity. The EDT 702 modules build a representation of themselves from the elements of individual modules. The elements of modules or sensors, doors and stations that the documents go through in the system. Each module prepares itself for a transaction and ensures that all module requirements are filled in for the proper operation. In the preferred embodiment there are two types of modules, central transport and multi-media recycler. The EDT module class has the responsibility to enable all modules in the system and start the transaction. If you also know the specific interconnection to each module element such as a multi-media gate or arcade recycler. This serves to both send receive interconnection messages. This category of clas controls the complete module including physical element door and trunk actions. It is also responsible for the control of the sensors.

The EDT modules create module elements that represent the physical modules. Each module element has slot and station numbers to identify its position as well as its type eg door, place, sensor, and so on. Cad module element has an exclusive interconnection knowledge for its physical counterpart. This allows the sending of messages to be handled in a context and opposed to dividing them through the class categories.

The EDT 702 modules maintain the various lists of sequences. The reservation and sequence of events which are discussed later in detail, put the system for each document movement.

The class category of EDT 702 modules also contains a map which serves as a guide for navigating the devices through which documents must pass. Just as a handler uses a map to reach a destination as do the documents. Document objects traverse the system through the use of a virtual map. The map is a software representation of the physical order of the EDT modules of the module elements. Instead of a physical entry in each location, there is a software representation that stores information about the status of the module element. E software terms the map is a linked list of indirectly referenced objects that are unique to each module they represent. The map itself is composed of these elements, doors, places, transports and sensors. As shown graphically in Figure 72, each module is given a slot number starting with the central transport in the zero slot. The grooves increase with the downward movement of the module stack to the multiple media recyclers and decrease with upward movement to the central conveyor. It should be noted that as indicated in Figure 62, the slot numbers are negative above the central transport and the vertical transport station which comprises the remote transport segments is assigned to the zero station. The stations which are above the central transport in Figure 72 are positions for additional modules in the architecture and are not used in the machine 10.

The station numbers start at zero indicating vertical transport which includes the remote transport segments. Station numbers increase with the outward movement of vertical transport. For example, each multi-media recycler has five stations. These begin with zero for vertical transport in the remote transport segment and a number of one through four corresponding with each of the storage areas or chests with the outward movement of vertical transport.

The virtual map stores and organizes for the state of the system and the element data which indicate if certain elements are good, have failed, are full, empty, and so on. It also indicates conditions such as chests or banknotes are stuck, distance and position. The map also maintains accounts of double media transactions and retests. The map is used as a store of information to organize and understand the state of the module elements. Typically when the EDT modules 702 receive a message from a module controller, it outputs the address data, the sensor or the box number, to locate the corresponding module element. The module element contains accounts and lists which allow the modules to follow the activity and status.

The virtual maps created by the categories of the EDT module class are represented in figure 73 and 74. Figure 73 shows a virtual map that corresponds to the devices and to the central transport. The virtual element 71 corresponds to the devices which serve to unstack, stretch and center the documents in the central transport. The virtual element 712 corresponds to a transport section l which transports the document stream to the document identification device (money validator counterfeit detector) which is shown as a virtual element 714. The documents then pass through an element virtual 716 which corresponds to a transport which moves the documents to a virtual element 718 which corresponds to a sensor.

A transport represented by a virtuous element 720 is connected to a virtual element 722 which corresponds to the central transport gate which directs the documents in one of three directions. The virtual element 722 is connected to the element 724 which corresponds to a transport for an area of acceptance of escrow represented by the virutal element 726 The central transport gate represented by the virtual element 722 is also connected in the virtual map to the element 728 which represents a transport which leads to the rejection area or to the escrow area represented by the element 730. Similarly, the gate of the central transport can also direct the documents to the vertical transport composed of the remote transport segments 108, 110, 112 and 114. This is done through a device which is represented by virtual element 732 in figure 73.

The virtual element 734 in FIG. 73 represents a transport which carries the documents from the remote transport segments to the central transport such as during an assortment transaction. It should be noted that even though the same physical transport is used during the deposit and withdrawal transactions, the same physical element is represented by two virtual elements.

Figure 74 is a representation of a virtual map for a multi-media recycler. This includes a virtual element 736 which corresponds to an adjacent sensor a door represented by a virtual element 738. U transport corresponding to a remote transport segment is represented by the virtual element 740.

The physical elements associated with the recycled boat d and a boat delivery transport are represented by the virtual element 742 which corresponds to a transport adjacent to the door. Each of the four chests in the recycle bin has three virtual elements associated with the devices there. Only two of the four chests or storage areas are shown in Figure 74. The virtual element 744 corresponds to a transport section of the boat delivery transport. The virtual element 746 corresponds to a sensor adjacent to a chest and the element 748 corresponds to a chest. It will be appreciated that the control of the system through the use of virtual elements, the operation of which is controlled at a detailed level by the tasks within a module controller, greatly reduces the complexity of the classes at the terminal and processor levels. module processor needed to control the operation of the system.

The modules within the EDT module class category 702 include a destination selection class. This class selects a deposit destination based on the identity of the documents and various control parameters. The destination selection also determines the extremity points for the reservation sequence and the construction of the event sequence. This class also selects a destination for documents which have a problem during the assortment such as doubles.

The locations use the destination selection to determine the midpoint for the respective reservoir sequences. The midpoint defines the end of the assortment sequence and the beginning of the acceptance sequences. The place in the module stack also records the document identification data used by the counterfeit detector and money validator to indicate the documents that it can receive with this class. The selection of destin puts the class in a collection of possible reception points for each type of document.

The counterfeit detector and money validator invokes the destination selection with the resolution of a particular template identifier. The destination selection then sees in your collection of possible destinations to find an adequate storage area. If no article can accept it, the means are directed to reject or deviate depending on the setting of the mode.

The selection of the destination also contains the so-called auxiliary class. The destinations are a collection references module element for all possible stack place where the media can be deposited. The destination selection contains an array which is designed according to the number of templates each referring to class destinations. When a particular identification template was found, the destination selection indexes the array and pi to the collection of module element references, finding the best repository location.

Modules EDT 702 also include a class d event sequence. The event sequence class accumulates the event sequence from a given module element to another module element. It also operates to manage the list of events. The event sequence class builds and stores a sequence of events for a client. The operation was used to copy this sequence for a specific document instance for reference during transit. The event sequence is a series of event objects placed together in a chronologically ordered stream.

The sequence of events builds itself by starting at its source and through the system through intermediate document management devices a desired destination. The event sequence class creates an event for each element of the module type and places it in the sequence. The module element class provides the system's disclosure. After the event sequence is built, this class calculates the intervention times between the sensor events from their distances. Places have their intervention times built in them since this depends more on the mechanism than on distance.

Each location has one or two event sequences. For example, the unstack, center stretch device (UDC) has only one sequence of assortment event. And contrast a multi-media recycler box has both assortment and acceptance event sequences.

Each sequence of events when viewed alone covers only a part of a movement of the document. A multi-media recycler box event sequence is from the hood to some point further when the results of the counterfeit detector and money validator are available (escrow gate sensor) at which point a decision is made as to the final destination of the media. The transfer of the document to a final destination involves an additional sequence of events which is added to the original sequence of events to direct the rest of the movement of the documents. The event sequence class adds the new sequence and makes a chronized adjustment at the addition point. Partial event sequences alleviate the need to avoid the event validation object from the media tracking class 704 when the original desired destination of the media is incorrect.

The backup queue class of the EDT modules uses the media backup queue as a key for document cases when the documents go through the system. If an event occurs on the module elements, these query the reserve queue to see which media events this event is waiting for. The module elements know what event triggers them to remove the media from the queue. This is usually the tail end event for the door sensors and the fill / accept event for the places.

The reservation sequence class of the EDT modules builds and stores a reservation sequence for a client. Once built, the client can invoke method which reserve the module elements along a document path to a destination. Each reservation causes the document reference to be added to the module element reservation queue. When passing the documents an element d module, the document reference is "jumped" from the queue is used to resolve the handling of communication between appropriate object to future events.

The reservation sequence is constructed by starting at its source and crossing the system to the desired destination. The module elements decide if they will be included in this sequence and know which element is next along the path to the destination. The module element class provides the navigation system.

Each location has one or two reservation sequences. The unstacking, stretching and centering device (UDC) has just a stock reservation sequence. A multi-media recycler chest has both stock and accept sequences. Each reservation sequence when viewed alone covers only part of the movement of the document. A backup sequence of the multi-media recycler box is from the hood to a point where the results of the counterfeit detector and money validator are received. At this point a decision is made as to the final destination of the document. The final destination contains another reservation sequence which completes the reservations to cover the rest of the movement of the document. The partial reservation sequences alleviate the need to suppress the reservations of the module elements when the original desired destination of the media is incorrect. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the ability to "not reserve" is provided. For example, this may be necessary when a place waits for means that are going to be stocked and it does not. The empty response of the stretched and centered unstacking device is an example of this scenario.

The module manager class of the EDT 702 modules acts as a client interconnect to control the EDT modules. It coordinates the activity between the modules while allowing operation and disabling and responding to operation requests with completed events. The module handle also includes an auxiliary class called the withdrawal station. Your task is to help the module manager to manage the current and pending assortments. The station retir also forms and sends the withdrawal messages to the modules.

The module elementary class of the ED modules plays a primary role in the construction of the reservation sequences and the sequence of events. They know if they should be included on a given reservation sequence and their type determined what entries, if any. some, that are necessary on sequence of events.

The module elements also know how to navigate the system to a given point. These follow general rules based on slot and station numbers to obtain a specific location. The method of navigation is virtual and the subclass, such as the door, overcomes this method in special cases. For example, the door has a third module element reference for its change point and navigates to the point when it enters a module slot.

The module elements correspond to the physical elements and include a class of counterfeit detector module and money validator. The counterfeit detection and money validator enables and disables the element and verifies the answers regarding time and validity. The element preferably makes counterfeit detection and coin validation functions during the accept mode and the money denomination function only during an assortment. The response from the counterfeit detector and money validator is a template identification and some additional confidence data. The counterfeit and money validator also provides a front edge event which is sent to the media tracking 704 as a front edge event and a tail edge event, since the tracking means awaits both tail events and forward for each sensor. The counterfeit detector and money validator interprets the data and decides whether to direct the media to a storage or another location to validate the media or reject it. The counterfeit detector and money validator also detects doubles and the media skew angle. The counterfeit and money validator detects these factors when deciding whether a document is valid or permissible. The counterfeit and money validator uses the destination selection to find a place that corresponds to the state of the document, for example, normal, double, force, rejection, and so on. The counterfeit and money validator detects the follow-up media with a template identification skew angle and any other pertinent data and uses the final target to complete the complete media tracking events and the required reservations.

A class of door module element is an abstract class that moderates common behaviors for all doors. The solenoids controlled by the module controllers control the physical door elements. The class d gate contains solenoid data and initializes the control parameters of the module controller.

Each door is associated with a sensor. The sensor sends the elements to the door. The door interprets the event, queries the reserve queue and changes its status to direct the following means along the path to its destination. The gate has the knowledge of when to send the module controller message based on the current media size and the following media size. If the action is to be taken after some delay, the gate programs the module controller message to be sent after the delay. Otherwise the module controller message s sends immediately.

The door bases its decision of state on how to direct the following means to pass. In situations where there is no indication of following means on the reserve queue, the gate changes the status for these media immediately. The first document in the transaction is an example of this scenario. The door knows how to change the state for the next medium when the current medium is clear of the door. If there is no current document or half what to expect, then obviously there is no need to wait. Therefore, when the door receives a reservation for media and the reservation queue is empty, the door changes the status for this medium immediately.

The door class operates to remove the media from the reserve tail when it receives the tail edge of the sensor. There are two concrete subclasses for the door class. This is the central transport door and the vertical transport door. Each one overcomes the virtual methods at the door to implement these special cases.

A location class is an abstract class that models the behaviors common to all places. A client enables / disables places for assortment or acceptance.

The places sequentially provide a number of documents asynchronously accept the documents.

Each location builds its reservation and sequence of events according to their special needs. For example, the last sensor in the sequence of acceptance events for a multi-media recycler box does not generate a border event. When a chest is enabled, its sensor is used for detection of media acceptance and not for shore detection. The location knows this and builds its sequences a bit differently. This builds the point just beyond your sensor to the midpoint and then from the midpoint to the point just past your sensor. This then adds the assortment sequence or acceptance as necessary. The same example holds for the first sensor in the assortment sequence. Each place knows when the special rules govern the construction of each sequence. It is known that the unique characteristics of the modules and module elements are reflected in the event sequence.

A escrow class serves as a concrete class for the "accept escrow" and "reject escrow" stations. E central transport initializes this class twice, once to accept escrow and again to reject escrow. The only difference is the station number. The envelope has a reservation sequence and an event sequence, both from the midpoint of this module element. The counterfeit detector and money validator invokes the complete media acceptance method which places the media destinations in the event sequence that makes reservations for the media.

The process message method simply interprets the accept message, removes the following media from the reservation queue and sends the media to the event. The plic also maintains a transaction account of the number of accepted means and of whether it is empty.

A multi-media recycle box class controls all storage locations on the machine. The multi-media recycler box enables disables the item and verifies the responses regarding time and validity. To verify the response of the module driver, the multi-media recycler box schedules a call back to an out-of-time method. When the orderly response is received, the return call is canceled. If the time method is executed, the module control has not responded in the time provided and a recovery action is initiated.

The multi-media recycler box has two sequences of events, one for deposits and another pair for withdrawals. The withdrawal sequence defines the means of event following the expectations from this chest to the stack. The deposit sequence defines the means of events following hopes from the counterfeit detector and money validator to this chest.

The chests enable or disable themselves at the destination of the following media. If this is the next destination of the media, the chest is enabled. Otherwise, it is disabled. The cassette of the multi-media recycler is associated with a sensor which has the tail of all the means to pass that sensor. The sensor sends events to the chest and the chest decides what the next state should be. These states are "inside" for means of direction inside the chest or "through" which allow the means to the documents to pass through there. If the action is to be taken after some delay, the controller programs the message of the module controller to be sent after the delay. D otherwise the message of the module driver is sent immediately. The multi-media recycler's chest adjusts the timeout value to compensate for a delay in the delivery of a message.

The multi-media recycler box class bases its decision on how to direct the following means to pass. The question is what to do if there are no following means in the reserve queue. The first means of the transaction are an example of this scenario. The chest knows how to change the state for the following media when the current media are clear of the chest. If there is no current means to wait, then obviously there is no need to wait. Therefore, when the chest receives a reservation for media and the reserve queue is empty, the chest changes the state for that means immediately. The chest removes the media from the reservation queue when it receives the accepted driver driver message. When the multi-media recycler box class operates to supply a document, the chest waits for any prior assorted media to be cleared and then enabled. This obtains and initializes an instance of media releases the media and finally instructs the module controller to dispense some number of media. The module driver sets the separation and reports when supplying each of the media. To receive each box each assortment message, it interprets the assorted message as for the state of the media. The cofr updates the media with this state (which is usually normal) and sends an event to supply the current media on its reservation queue and obtains and initializes the following media. After the last assortment the hood is disabled itself sends an event termination to the client.

Media initialization involves putting the physical parameters and the source and the target references. The chest also puts the sequence of follow-up events and makes the appropriate reservations. All initialization is completed before the chest releases the media. The cofr removes the media from its reserve queue when it receives the assortment message.

The module elements also include a sensor class. At the beginning of a transaction all the sensors are enabled to perceive means. The disabling of the sensors is handled by the module controller as part of the module control. Each senso element contains the knowledge of what is going to watch for a given transaction. For example, when dispensing a sensor, it can monitor only the tail edge, while in acceptance it can be enabled for front and tail edge detection. At the end of a transaction the sensors are disabled or go to a frequent observation mode to see foreign objects in the transport.

During a transaction, the sensor class receives messages and judges their validity to determine if the message data is correct. The class sensor also has a reserve queue that contains an ordered list of the media documents that will pass. The sensor queries the reserve queue for the media that causes the event and the following expected means. If this sensor has a relationship with a control element, the event is advanced to the control element. After the event is advanced to the media causing the event for intervening time checks and placement. Finalment the sensor updates the reserve queue.

The sensor also includes a recovery method when the tracking means determine that an event has been omitted. The sensor claims that the event has occurred. This does everything it would normally do, queue, checkpoint, etc., but it will not send the edge event to the media since the media tracking has already been clocked out of the sensor.

The modules also include an unstacked-stretched and centered class (UDC). Stretch center unstacking is enabled and disabled as part of the module control. The unstacking, stretching and centering also issues the assortment message order to begin depositing the media. The module control controls the locally stretched-centered unstacking functions including the placement of the intermediate separation. The module control continues unstacking, stretching and centering until all media is exhausted or has been told to stop. As each assortment message is received, the unstack, stretch and center interprets the message and updates the media with data from the unstack-stretch-center operation. This then I sent an assortment event to the media. The center-stretched unstacking device also analyzes the input and output values for skewing and centering and applies any required offsets. It also uses the skew angle with centering data viewed by the money validator counterfeit detector to adjust the stretch-centering operation.

The unstacked-stretch-centered type is not used during withdrawal transactions. This is due to the fact that during the withdrawals the documents do not pass through the part of the central transport that involves unstacking. The decentering-stretch-centering device also executes the sequence of pause-recall-resume when the module control indicates that it has a problem. The unstack-stretch-center device requests notification when the last means is safely out of the way, executes the recovery and then resumes the assortment.

A transportation class is also provided. This class stores and provides access to a specific transport section. This class serves as the concrete class which models the length and physical nature of the various transports which handle the documents.

A module class serves as an abstract base class for all the specific module classes and provides a means to move from the module to the module and both the accept and supply addresses. In a system initialization, the modules are instructed to build a simulation of their structure consisting of module elements Each module slot is connected to the other modules forming a virtual map of the system.

At the start of a transaction, the modules enable their transport and shipping elements and other necessary elements -which will affect the entire module. The reversal takes place at the end of the transaction. A control task receives messages from the module manager and coordinates its module elements to carry out the action requested in the message. A distribution task receives module control messages for the address of the modules and class d command response. Therefore, the module does not specifically interpret all messages from the module controller.

The module classes do not include the responsibility to control the individual module elements. Each module element controls itself. The module class serves to coordinate the activity between module elements when preparing a transaction or stops after a transaction.

The module classes include a central transport class. The central transport class models the physical central transport module. During the deposit, the central transport class directs the acceptance movement of the client's stack media and verifies that the stack It has moved to destacker. The central transport informs the customer of the acceptance of the battery. The central transport begins the deposit of the unique means by enabling the module for the deposit. The central transport commands the unstacked-stretched-centered device to begin stocking. The central transport directs the controller messages to the stations until you are told to close the module. The stations do all the work themselves. After which the de-stacking-stretching-centering device supplies all the means, the module manager instructs the module to close and the central transport disables itself.

In a recall, the central transport is enabled itself and the counterfeit detector and diner validator for the assortment operation. When all the media has completed its movement, the module manager commands a system shutdown which instructs an disablement of the central transport module. The central transport disables itself and sends a termination event.

The multi-media recycler module class configures the module for the repository and allows the module elements to be deposited. During said deposit, the multi-media recycler configures the module for removal and enables the module elements for removal. Each cofr succeeds in sequence and informs the module after the correct number of media that has been supplied. The multi-media recycler disables the module elements at the end of the transaction.

The module class also includes a class d stack management. The stack management accepts a user's means then presents the stack to the unstacked-centered unstacker device. The stack handler accepts the means from the place of acceptance and presents these to the client. E battery management also processes messages from the module controller from the central transport which directs the documents to the batteries in the input / output area of the machine. Battery management also ensures that the door is locked after acceptance or delivery of a stack of media to a customer.

The class category of EDT 702 modules also includes the transport control classes. The transport control provides an interconnection with the control transports within the machine. The class also forms and sends signals or transport messages to the module controllers interpret the transport in response. The classes of modules E use this class to enable and disable transports the system.

The media tracking class category 70 operates to model each piece of physical media on module processor with a delegate. The delegate is the main class of the media tracking class category. This category maintains each media position, identified source, destination and time information along with several other items. The media follower has the responsibility to host all the relevant information about all the media that go through the system. Each instant of the d follower also has an event validation object to verify events received while moving around the system.

The media tracker sends the events when it reaches its destination or it detects a problem event. Est maintains a list of means for recycling a finite number of media objects after each movement has been completed. This list also serves to identify which media articles are actively being moved, which ones are ready for a new assignment and in what order they should be released. This is essentially an assortment order.

The media follower involves an "event check" on each received event message. An object of event validation verifies the event and takes any event action. The event validation object provides a media follower with the following expected event time. This is how times out of event are detected. When a time out of event occurs, the media follower notifies the transaction recovery classes which determine a course of action. The media tracker stops the use of the event validation object when it has reached its destination. Each of the media follows a physical piece of medium (for example a document) in any part of the system.

The EDT modules store a single event sequence for each movement in the system as discussed previously. This sequence of events is copied into the event validation of the media tracker before the media is released. This allows each of the media to follow and physical means from any point to any point within the system without an impact on the media class itself.

The class category of EDT modules is responsible for obtaining a media case and carrying out the necessary initialization. It builds and stores the appropriate event and reservation sequences that allow the media to obtain a destination and verify their trip. Finally, the EDT modules copy an event sequence for the media tracker to use, release the case and send the order to supply the physical media. The media is released first since the physical media can generate a sensor event before the actual assortment event is received. This isolates the apparent system out of order of events that are dependent on the location of the media assortment. The media follower responsible for receiving and sending system events, process events of the module elements, verify the chronology update the media positions. The event sequence contains all the information for media tracking to process the events, cronize, the next module, the item position and other information.

During the movement of the document the EDT modules send the events as messages to the media instance. These "media events" also allow the EDT modules to place important values based on the event messages such as skew angle, centering data, size and template of document identifier.

Media events are the means by which the EDT modules and the media tracker collaborate to ensure that the movement is proceeding as expected. Media events are basically messages from the EDT module to the media tracker that contain information about what , when and where the events in the system are happening. They are also means by which the system detects a potential problem or a suspicious condition. Basically, the media are directed by following a stream of events that must occur during their movement.

The EDT modules have the sequence objects of events which contain events that one expects while en route from one module element to another. The media tracker contains event validation objects which copy an event sequence and validate the events as they are received from the sensing devices that perceive the documents or other conditions.

Events can fail in either time, identity or source. An event can also be very early or very late or this may simply be the wrong event. The average position is verified based on a difference in time from the last known reference point which is the previous event. The event identity defines things such as the tail edge assorted or accepted when passing through the corresponding means a system. Of course, the event may come from an unexpected position as well as indicating that something has been lost.

A list of media events that occur within the system and the actions that have been taken in response to media events are indicated in the Table shown in Figure 75. Of course, in other incorporations of the invention other events and corresponding actions they can be used in relation to the movement of documents.

The event validation has the responsibility to know the format of all EDT modules for media follower event messages, such as to compare those messages with current events and how to validate the event in terms of time and place. The position of the means is updated based on data of specific events.

The EDT modules present the event stream from the source to the midpoint somewhat after the counterfeit detector and money validator. This counterfeit detector and money validator uses the destination to complete the event stream during the processing of results. This also allows events to carry out a specific module or even localization actions. For example, the events contain information on how to update the position of the media. Events can also carry some information which is used to carry out the transaction recovery of what to do when the event fails.

Referring to Figure 71, the class category of transaction recovery is indicated schematically with the 706. This category is responsible for the error recoveries of system-level and module-level means. The transaction recovery has the responsibility to see in the system, determine the probable areas and select and execute an adequate recovery. The entry to a recovery is a somewhat unexpected behavior and an unknown state. The result of the recovery is a system in a known state ready to continue a current transaction, or an inoperable system completely degraded.

The transaction recovery operates as a completely separate context. It presumes broad control of the system until the error is resolved. The transaction recovery uses the media tracker to determine the applications of the documents and the current status data. Once the media tracker detects an apparent problem, it notifies the transaction recovery with this information such as an erroneous or omitted event. The transaction recovery classifies the problem and decides how to proceed.

The transaction recovery also communicated with the EDT 700 commands to indicate that a recovery is in progress and to the EDT 702 modules to indicate that this is now in control. Transaction retrieval uses the EDT modules as an interconnection for control and notification.

The EDT modules no longer carry out autonomous actions but rather are relegated to the transaction recovery in this way. Error recovery is only executed when it is secure in terms of the sequence of complete transactions. The transaction recovery preferably allows the transaction to continue until it is secured to start execution. This may include delivering error-free media to its destination, stopping additional operations, or stopping certain horizontal band drives. Transaction recovery has the responsibility to handle most of the hard errors, out of order events, omitted events, module driver communication failures, media bugs, and other failures.

During a recovery, the ED modules have an atomic module control interconnection. The transaction recovery then performs special actions which are outside the context of normal EDT module operation. The current module status helps determine what the problem is and what recovery to execute. During recovery, the EDT modules forward all event messages for transaction recovery instead of the media tracker.

Before executing a recovery, the modules Direct EDTs retrieve the transaction to refresh the status of all its module elements. Some module elements program module scheduler messages for a future delivery. If this recovery occurs at this time there is a potential state conflict. The stagnation of the module elements ensures that the state presented to the recovery transaction is the current one that exists in the system.

The transaction recovery also consults the media follower to obtain media positions in the system. This stops some means and allows others to continue to their destination. The media tracking instances provide transaction recovery with media, position, size, identity, and event time information data necessary to make a decision about the problem and recovery to execute. Once the recovery is complete, the transaction recovery will put all media tracking cases back during recovery. This presents a known system state so that the transaction sequence can continue. Transaction recovery preferably does not use media tracking cases to observe media during recovery.

As depicted in Figure 71, the class categories that reside in the module processor also include housing the EDT, schematically indicated with the number 750. The global WBS housing category is used for all types of data hosting , message tracking and user event registration. The newspapers exist for each of the MC, TP / MP communications, MP / MC communications and MP software events. Any active module controller data journals are retrieved by the module processor after each transaction. The module processor saves all active data journals in a mass storage device after each transaction.

The interobject communication class category (IOC) 752 is a class category that handles all object-to-object communications within the module processor. Any module processor object can send a message to any other module processor object that is executing a task. Communications between objects have the capabilities to enable objects to speak one another. The sender of the messages specifies the object to receive the message and IOC directs the messages to the receiver. And IOC also allows objects to talk to other processors such as the terminal processor or the module controller.

The class of communication between objects handles the internal differences of how to talk to other processors. All messages for a communication receiver between objects are placed in the same input queue and are of equal priority. Clients do not register for messages from other module processor objects. The sender is responsible for knowing the identifier of the communication class between receiver objects. However, recipients of messages from other processors must manually register their inter-object communication class identifier for the addresses from which they wish to be received. This allows multiple objects to receive messages based on class d messages from other processors. The inter-object communication class maintains a list of each module controller, its assigned address, the slot identifier, the module type, and other information.

To send a message to a particular object, the sender sends the communication class handle from between objects to the receiver and sends the message to it. Each task object that tries to communicate through the class d communication between objects has a handle class d communication between objects. Clients use class d communication between objects to converse with other module processor objects. The relationship is created by the client through the creation of a receipt queue instance and using it to wait for the entry. The class of communication between objects gives clients messages to send. After interpretation, the client returns the messages to the class d canonization of objects to be used again by another object.

The class categories of the module processor also include error handling, schematically indicated with the number 754. In figure 71 the class category d global error handling is used by the module processor program to process all soft errors . Error handling requires knowledge of the state of the current system and some cases may wait for another processing to complete. This category contains the determination of routines used when a soft error is detected.

The start and closure of the class category is indicated schematically with the number 756 in Figure 71 This category possesses the behavior and knowledge which enables it to bring the system to a known state of energization. It also gracefully closes the system when required. The ignition includes taking advantage of the cad controller module, downloading the applications and involves startup classes of other class categories. The closure covers the discharge and non-volatile placements and the placement of the machine in a safe state.

Although the class categories shown in FIG. 71 are used in the preferred embodiment, other embodiments of the invention may use other arrangements. The function carried out by the class categories can be carried out in other processors or to other levels in the transaction hierarchy. Other additions may also include additional or different class categories.

A further fundamental advantage of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the classes allow the development of an event sequence a reservation sequence associated with the address of the document moving in the system. This provides for the creation of reserve queues in each location, which are used to monitor the movement of documents and direct it appropriately. This approach allows the management of the document through physical document handling devices in the system concurrently and without the need to wait for each document to reach its final destination before another document movement begins. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the terminal processor delivers its document delivery instructions as to build a stack of documents for delivery to the consumer. This allows the terminal processor to select the order in which the documents are to be stacked. This may be important for some users such as merchants who wish to have the documents presented in a particular order. In alternate additions, the machine may include separators in a storage area, the assortment of which may be controlled in a manner similar to other documents as for separating particular types of documents such as denominations of banknotes. Such separators can be supplied in a similar way to other documents handled by the machine.

Alternatively, the terminal processor may operate to minimize the processing speed of the transaction regardless of providing the document stack with a particular document order. In this case the terminal processor may send the supply messages in a manner that causes the documents to be sourced from the storage areas which are closest to the central transport and then move progressively further towards the central transport. In this way the documents start to reach the central transport more quickly. The documents which should start to move further outwards can enter and join the flow of documents following those preceding documents. This particular approach is used depending on the programming of the terminal processor and the needs and requirements of a particular client operating the machine.

As indicated schematically in Figure 63, the module drivers 554, 556, 558, 560, 562 and 564 all communicate over the communications bus of the module 566 controller. The module controllers communicate only with the module processor. and not with each other. The module controllers also control the 567 devices through the appropriate interconnections.

The module drivers include programs tasks which control the associated devices. Tasks are usually fairly simple processes that are often repeated in the normal course of the operation. The tasks are status machines in the preferred embodiment can be initiated or interrupted by module processing messages or other task. A software environment in a module controller is indicated schematically with e number 758 in Figure 76. The module controller 78 is shown operating five tasks there schematically indexed 760, 762, 764, 766, and 768. It should be understood that the tasks What operate in the module controller changes during the course of the operation of the module controller as do the number of tasks that are currently running.

An example of the operation of a module controller is schematically indicated with reference to the software flow of the module controller associated with the central transport shown in FIG. 77. FIG. 77 shows the tasks that run in the module controller. a time function during the course of handling a stack of documents. It also indicates the source of a message or signal that causes the task to be initiated. A state task of module 770 is the first task shown in figure 77 which is initiated in the module controller from a module processor message. This task is associated with receiving a stack of documents from the client. The module state task returns a message back to the module processor which then starts a task indicated with the number 772 in which a stack of documents is accepted from a client. This task then initiates a task 774 in which the elements of the machine are operated to secure an input stack between the conveyor belts in the input / output area 50 of the machine in the manner shown in Fig. 4.

The module processor then starts a tare 776 in which the stack is moved and then a task 778 which enables the module. The enabled module then enables a stack task 780. The module processor also initiates an export on task 782 and an unstack task 784.

As can be seen from the above description of the unstacking, stretching and centering operations, the unstack initiates a pre-centering task 786 which moves the shuttle to catch a document that has been unstacked. The pre-centering task then launches the stretching task 788. The stretching task in turn initiates the centering task 790 in which the shuttle centers the drawn banknote in the transport After the centering task initiates a banknote 792 release task The ticket release task initiates the repetition of the unstack cycle in the unstack task and the process continues to operate the document handling devices until all the bills are unstacked.

After unstacking, a task of disabling module 794 is initiated by the module processor as a non-export task 796. It should be noted that in carrying out these tasks the communications are exchanged with the module processor so that the processor of module can coordinate the transport of documents. The messages from the module processor are not shown, other than the messages from the module processor which initiate a task. The ability of the module controller to carry out this various tasks and control the associated devices enables the module processor to concentrate on the coordination of the movement activities of the document.

As can be seen in relation to tasks 784, 786, 788, 790 and 792, which run on a module control are often independent. As shown by these tasks, a task can be initiated in response to a change of state which occurs in another task. In conventional transaction processing systems, once a state change has occurred to initiate a follow-up on the task, follow-up on the task continues to complete it. However, in the preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the documents are concurrently moved the conventional approach is not generally acceptable. This is because the plural documents move concurrently as necessary to achieve the higher transaction speed, a change in the state back to a previous state. An additional state may occur after a subsequent task has been initiated. A failure to take appropriate action to discontinue or otherwise modify a task after it has been released may result in an error or failure of the machine.

To deal with the need to process the documents concurrently, the module controllers of the present invention include a task manager indicated schematically with the number 798 in Figure 76. The task manager in the preferred embodiment comprises a fix which includes the then current state of each one of the tasks that are running in the module controller. The status of each task is verified on a periodic basis to determine if the state has changed which could require a change in the operation of the task that is currently running. In the preferred embodiment, the task manager verifies the states of all tasks every millisecond.

The verification of these states is indicated by a pointer 79 in figure 76. As will be appreciated, this pointer schematically indicates the cyclic verification of the current current status of each of the tasks.

When the tasks in the module controller are operated, the task manager continually monitors on a periodic basis any changes in the states that could affect the operation of another task that is currently operating. If a change occurs in the state, any tasks that were initiated or otherwise carried out depending on the previous state, are modified appropriately according to their configuration to conform to the change that has occurred. For example, in the stretching and centering operation, once a note is centered the shuttle operates to release it. However, if a malfunction occurs and the ticket continues to be hooked with the shuttle, the failure to stop the next ticket until the previous note is released will result in a collision of the tickets. If a ticket is not released, the task manager may notify the task control de-stacker to interrupt its operation to prevent the operation of another ticket to the shuttle.

It should be understood that this is not an example of a situation where an unanticipated change in the state is detected by the task manager and used to modify another task. There are many other examples in the system which will be appreciated by those experts in the art. The operation of a task manager in each module controller increases the reliable operation of the system and allows the system to tolerate unexpected events. It should be understood that while the principles of the present invention have been described for a three processor arrays arrangement (TP, MP and MC-MCPs) other embodiments may use a different processor architecture. This includes different numbers of processor rows and different activity locations among the processors. It should further be understood that the designations given to the components and characteristics given to the described embodiment are used to facilitate the description thereof and are not intended to be limiting in terms of the functions that the corresponding features and components may carry out in other incorporations.

Therefore, the preferred embodiment of the present invention achieves the above stated objectives, eliminates the difficulties encountered in the use of the previous devices, systems and methods, and achieves the results described herein.

In the above description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity and understanding. However, no unnecessary limitations should be implied, since such terms are used for description purposes and are intended to be widely considered. In addition, the above descriptions and illustrations are by way of examples and the invention is not limited to the details shown or described.

In the following claims, any feature described as a means for performing a function will be considered as encompassing any means capable of performing the recited function and should not be limited to the means shown described in the foregoing description as it performs the recited function or its equivalent.

Having described the characteristics, discoveries or principles of the invention, the manner in which it is constructed and operated and the new and useful results obtained, the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, operations , methods and relationships are set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (27)

R E V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. An apparatus comprising: an automatic banking machine system that includes: a plurality of document holding areas, wherein each document holding area is configured to retain at least one document; a plurality of document handling devices wherein each document handling device is selectively operated to move a document, wherein each document holding area is in operative connection with at least one document handling device; a user interconnect that includes at least one input device, wherein the input device is operated to receive a user input; a transaction processor (TP) wherein the transaction processor is in operational connection with the input device, and where the transaction processor is operated in response to a user input to generate a first transaction processor signal, wherein the first processor signal d transaction corresponds to move a prime document between a retention area and a document location; 10 a first module processor (MP) wherein the first module processor operates to receive the first signal from the transaction processor to generate a first reservation sequence, e where the first reservation sequence corresponds to 15 to move the first document through the document handling devices between the retention area and the location of the document where the first module processor is operated to generate the first signals of 20 module processor in response to the first reservation sequence; Y a plurality of module controllers, wherein each module controller is in a 25 operational connection with at least one document handling device, and wherein the module controllers are operated to control the document handling devices in response to the first signals from the module processor to move the prime document between the document area. retention and location of the document.

2. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 1, characterized by the transaction processor and further operated to generate a second terminal processing signal in response to user input, wherein the second terminal processor signal corresponds to move the second document between a retention area and a document location; Y wherein the first module processor is operated to receive the second terminal processor signal and to generate a second reservation sequence, wherein the second reservation sequence corresponds to move the second document through the document handling devices between the area retention and the location of the document, and where the first module processor is operated to generate the second module processing signals in response to the second reservation sequence; Y wherein the module controllers are operated in response to the second module processor signals to control the document handling devices to move the second document between the retention area and the document location, wherein the second document is moved by at least for a document handling device while the first document is moved by at least one document handling device.

3. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 2, characterized in that the machine further comprises the first and second document storage areas and wherein the first document is moved by the document handling devices between a first document location and the first document storage area, and the second document is moved by the document handling devices between the first document location and the second document storage area.

4. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the document handling device moves the first document from the retention area to the document location.

5. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the document handling devices move the first document from the place of documents to the retention area.

6. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that it also comprises: a plurality of document sensing devices, wherein each document sensing device is in operative connection with at least one document handling device, wherein the document handling devices are in operative connection with the first module processor; Y wherein the first module processor e operated in response to the first terminal processor signal to generate a first event sequence, wherein the first event sequence corresponds to an event expected to be perceived by the sensor devices when the device is moved. document management the first document and where the module processor is operated to compare the perception of the first document by the document perception devices and the sequence of events.

7. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 6, characterized in that the first module processor is operated to interrupt the operation of the document handling devices according to the reservation sequence when the perception of the documents by the devices Document perception does not correspond to the event sequence.

8. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 6, characterized in that it includes a module processor memory, and wherein the module processor is in an operative connection with the memory of the module processor, and wherein the module processor operates to store data in the memory of the module processor that corresponds to a current real-time location of the first document in relation to the document handling devices.

9. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that it also comprises a memory in operative connection with the first module processor, wherein for each document handling device, the memory includes a corresponding tail device, wherein each queue device is operated to retain the device instructions, wherein the document handling device corresponds to the queue of the device operates in response to the instructions of the device in the queue device and where the first module processor operates in response to the reservation sequence to cause the device instructions to be stored in the queuing device of the document handling devices that move the first document, wherein the instructions of the device are operated to cause the document handling devices to move the document. first document.

10. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that at least one of the module controllers is operated to execute a plurality of tasks simultaneously and to operate at least two document handling devices in response to the plurality of executed tasks, and wherein the one module controller includes a task handler, wherein the task handler is operated to compare the signals of the device corresponding to the conditions of the document handling devices and to interrupt the execution of at least one task when the conditions of the document handling devices are no longer suitable for the simultaneous execution of the plurality of tasks.

11. An apparatus comprising: an automatic banking machine system that includes: a plurality of document handling devices, wherein document handling device is selectively operated to move a document, and wherein a plurality of document handling devices in which each document handling device operates to produce condition signals in response the conditions of the respective device; a module controller, wherein the module controller is in an operative connection with a memory including instructions for carrying out a plurality of tasks, and wherein the module controller is in an operative connection with a plurality of control devices. documents, wherein the document handling devices operate to move the documents in response to tasks executed by the module controller; and wherein the module controller further includes a task handler and wherein the task handler operates when a plurality of tasks are executed simultaneously by the module controller to read the handler signals of tasks corresponding to device condition signals of the device. handling of documents that operate simultaneously in response to the execution of simultaneous tasks and to modify the operation of at least one task in response to the task manager that reads the signals that correspond to a malfunction.

12. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 11, characterized in that the tasks comprise a status program, and the task manager issues signals including state signals corresponding to the current states of tasks, which are executed simultaneously.

13. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that the task manager includes an arrangement of the then current states of the plurality of tasks that are executed concurrently.

14. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 11, characterized in that it further comprises: a plurality of module controllers e wherein each module controller is in an operative connection with at least one document handling device; Y a first module processor (MP) wherein the first module processor is in an operative connection with a plurality of d module controllers, wherein the module processor operates to generate a first module processor reservation sequence, wherein the The first module processor reservation sequence corresponds to moving a first document through a plurality of document handling devices between a first document location and a second document location, and wherein the at least one module controller operates in the same manner. response to the first module processor reservation sequence to execute at least one task, where the first document is moved from the first place of documents to the second place of documents in response to the execution of the task.

15. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 14, characterized in that the module processor is further operated to generate a second module processor reservation sequence, wherein in the second module processor reservation sequence corresponds to moving the module. second document through a plurality of document handling devices between a third document location and a fourth document location, and wherein at least one module controller is operated in response to the second reservation sequence to execute at least a task, where the second document is moved from the third place of documents to the fourth place of documents in response to the execution of a task, and where the first second documents move simultaneously.

16. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 15, characterized in that the machine also includes at least one document storage area and wherein at least one of the first, second, third or fourth document locations comprises an area storage of documents.

17. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 14, characterized in that it also comprises: a plurality of sensor devices, where the sensor devices are operated to sense events, where each sensor device perceives events that occur at least one document handling device, and where the devices of perception are in connection operative with the first module processor; Y wherein the first module processor e operated in response to the first reservation sequence to generate a first sequence of events, wherein the first sequence of events corresponds to an expected sequence of events to be sent by the sensor devices when the devices Document handles operate in response to the reservation sequence.

18. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 17, characterized in that the first module processor is operated to compare signals corresponding to the events perceived by the sensor devices and to the sequence of events, and to generate a signal indicative of a result. d such comparison.

19. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 11, characterized in that it further comprises a terminal processing, and a client interconnect that includes an input device for accepting user inputs, and where the input device is in an operational connection. with the terminal processor, and wherein the processor terminates is in an operative connection with the module controller, e where a user input to the input device is operated to cause the plurality of tasks to be executed simultaneously by the module controller.

20. The apparatus, as claimed in clause 14, characterized in that it further comprises a terminal processing (TP) and a client interconnect including an input device for accepting user inputs, where the input device is in an operational connection with the terminal processor, and wherein the terminal processor is in an operative connection with the module processor, and wherein the module processor is operated in response to an input to the input device to produce the first corresponding terminal processor signal. moving the first document from the first document location to the second place documents, and wherein the module processor generates the first module processor reservation sequence in response to the first terminal processor signal.

21. A method comprising the steps of (a) generating and storing a first reservation sequence with a module processor operating in connection with an automatic banking machine, wherein the first reservation sequence corresponds to actions required by a plurality of management devices. of documents in the automatic banking machine to move a first document from a first place to a second place in the machine; Y (b) operating the document handling devices according to the first reservation sequence, wherein the first document is moved between the first and second places.

22. The method, as claimed in clause 21, characterized in that it also comprises the steps of: (c) generating a second reservation sequence with the module processor, wherein the second reservation sequence corresponds to actions required by a plurality of document handling devices to move a second document from a third location to a fourth location in the machine; Y (d) concurrently during at least a part of step (b) operating the document handling devices according to the second reservation sequence, wherein the second document is moved between the third and fourth places while the first document is moved on the machine.

23. The method, as claimed in clause 21, characterized in that it also comprises the steps of (c) generating a first sequence of events with the module processor, wherein the first sequence of events corresponds to a plurality of events which are expected to occur when the first document moves between the first and second places; (d) perceive with the devices senses events which occur when moving the first document in the machine; and (e) comparing the first sequence of events with the perceived events with the sensor device in step (d).

24. The method, as claimed in clause 21, characterized in that it also comprises the steps of: (c) sensing with a plurality of sensor devices the current position of the first document between the document handling devices; Y (d) storing representative data of the current position of the first document in a memory.

25. The method, as claimed in clause 21, characterized in that before step (a) further comprises the steps of: receive an input from a user of the machine through an input device; generating with a terminal processor (TP) that responds to the input a first terminal processor signal corresponding to an instruction to move the first document from the first to the second place; Y wherein the module processor operates to perform step (a) in response to receiving the first signal from the module processor.

26. The method, as claimed in clause 21, characterized in that step (b) includes: operate at least one of the controllers d module in response to the reservation sequence e where the module controller is in an operational connection with at least one document handling device, wherein the module controller operates the management device. of documents to move the first document between the first place to the second place.

27. The method, as claimed in clause 26, characterized by step (b) further includes: operating a task manager in at least one module controller, wherein the module controller executes a plurality of tasks simultaneously, wherein the execution of the tasks operates in at least one document handling device, and wherein the Managed tasks then verifies the current status of each of the tasks that are executed simultaneously and in response to the status of the tasks alternatively either allowing the continuation of the plurality of tasks to be executed or interrupting the execution of at least one of Tasks. 10 SUMMARY An automatic banking machine identifies documents such as banknotes deposited by a user. The machine then selectively retrieves the storage documents and supplies them to other users. The machine includes a central transport where the documents deposited in a stack are unstacked, oriented identified. Such documents are then directed to storage area in recycling cans. When a user subsequently requests an assortment, the documents stored in the storage areas are selectively taken from it and delivered to the user through an area in / out of the machine. The control system for the machine includes a terminal processor. The terminal processor communicates with a module processor. The module processor communicates with the module controllers which control the operation of the devices. The module processor coordinates the activities of the module controllers to achieve the processing of documents reliably and at high speeds.