MXPA00005153A - Automated banking machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An automated banking machine (10) includes a user interface (12) including an opening (20) for users to deliver and receive individual sheets and stacks of sheets to and from the machine. The machine includes a sheet handling mechanism therein including a first transport path (46) and a second transport path (42). Various devices for dispensing and receiving sheets (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40) are positioned adjacent to the second transport path and dispense and/or receive sheets therefrom. The second transport path meets the first transport path at an intersection (60). The machine further includes a third transport path (74). The third transport path has sheet dispensing and receiving devices (62, 64, 66, 68) in operative connection therewith. The third transport path intersects the first transport path at a second intersection (76). The machine includes control circuitry (44) which controls the dispensing and movement of sheets along the sheet paths in response to inputs by customers. Sheets are moved along the sheet paths so that sheets are selectively stacked or unstacked as they move through the intersection.

Description

AUTOMATED BANKING MACHINE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to automatic banking machines. Specifically, this invention relates to an automatic banking machine which delivers and receives various types of sheet materials through a single opening in the machine.

ANTECEDENTS OF ART Automatic banking machines are known in the prior art. A common type of automatic banking machine is an ATM machine. ATM machines are commonly used by individuals to receive cash from their accounts, to pay bills, to transfer cash between accounts, and to make deposits. Certain ATM machines also allow customers to deposit checks, money orders. , traveler's checks, or other instruments. Such automatic mail machines also sometimes have the ability to create an electronic image of a deposited instrument.

ATM machines also commonly provide various types of sheets to customers.

Such sheets include money bills that customers remove from the machine. Customers can also receive sheet materials such as money orders, bank checks, written stamps or other stored sheet materials and on or produced by the machine. Customers also commonly receive from the ATM machine a printed sheet which is a receipt indicating the details of the transactions that have been carried out on the machine. In addition, customers can request and receive from the ATM machines a more detailed statement of the transactions carried out in their account.

ATM machines currently used often have several different places on the machine where the sheets are received from or delivered to a customer. For example, most machines include an area for the delivery of cash to a customer and another area for receiving deposits. More than one deposit area for deposits can be provided for different types of deposits. For example, an ATM machine may have an opening for receiving deposits in envelopes, and a separate opening for receiving negotiable instruments such as checks. ATM machines typically also have a particular area to deliver receipts to customers. If the machine has the ability to print a complete account statement on a large piece of paper, an additional area may be provided where the statement sheets are delivered.

Having different areas on the interconnected customer at an ATM machine to receive different types of sheets is required because each type of sheet is processed by a different mechanism within the machine. Each of these mechanisms has its own separate access for the client. This makes the machines so essentially characteristics very different from other machines adds complexity to their operation. Providing various different conduits and transports to receive and provide sheet materials to customers also adds complexity to the machine.

Although the disadvantages associated with multiple sheet delivery and receipt openings are easily appreciated in relation to ATM machines, other automatic banking machines have similar disadvantages. For example, the machines used by bank tellers to cash money received from customers are generally machines totally different from those used to supply money that are provided by the cashier to a customer. Such machines are also provided to receive and form images of checks and other types of negotiable instruments and valuable documents. Frequently, a separate terminal is provided to print a record of a transaction for a customer. The disadvantages associated with having several different machine interconnections to receive and deliver documents is common for automatic bank machines other than ATM machines. Therefore there is a need for an automatic banking machine that has a simpler user interface and which is capable of receiving as well as providing various types of sheets through a single aperture.

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

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated banking machine which has a simpler client interconnection.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated banking machine which has a single opening for receiving and providing various types of sheet and documents.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated banking machine which carries out a plurality of banking transaction functions and which has a compact physical size.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated banking machine that can be more easily configured to provide different banking functions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated banking machine that is economical to manufacture and operate.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated banking machine that accepts delivery of various types of bank documents in a stack from to the clients, respectively.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated banking machine that allows the selective removal of sheets from a stack.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an automated banking machine that selectively enables the assembly of document sheets in a stack.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for the operation of an automated banking machine in which the sheets are selectively removed from a stack by transporting the stack in a prime transport path through an intersection with a second path of transport in which a sheet directs apparatus adjacent to the intersection selectively separates the sheets from the stack.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for the operation of an automated banking machine in which a sheet moving in a prime transport path and a sheet moving in a second transport path are brought together in a relationship. aligned to form a stack, by passing the sheets through an intersection of the first and second transport paths The additional objects of the present invention will remain apparent in the following modes for carrying out the invention and the appended claims.

The above objects are achieved in a preferred embodiment of the present invention by an automated banking machine having a transport which moves the sheets or stacks of sheets along a first transport path. The first transport path extends from an opening accessible to the user on an interconnection of the machine. The machine also includes a second internal transport path for transporting the sheets. The second transport path finds the first transport path at an intersection. A leaf handling apparatus is placed on one side of the intersection. The machine further includes at least one sheet dispenser device and at least one sheet acceptance device for dispensing and receiving sheets respectively. The sheet delivery and reception devices are in operative connection with and either the first or second transport paths.

In operation of the machine, a stack of sheet received from a user is moved from the opening along the first transport path. As the stack passes through the intersection, the sheet handling apparatus is selectively operated to separate a sheet from the stack and direct the sheet to the second transport path. Once on the second transport path the separate sheet can be handled individually for processing or storage on the machine. Passing the stack through the intersection selectively enables the removal of the sheets from the stack in response to the operation of a sheet address apparatus.

Assorted or otherwise maintained sheets in the machine are enabled to be assembled in a pil by moving a sheet in the first transport path. A sheet on the second transport path moved to the intersection in a coordinate relationship with the first sheet. The first and second leaves engage in an aligned relationship and form a stack in the first transport path as the sheets move through the intersection. The additional sheets are selectively added to the pile at the stack then moved back through the intersection while successive sheets are brought to the intersection through the second transport path. Several types of leaves are selectively assembled in the stack in the operation of the machine. The control circuit operates the components of the machine to assemble the battery. Once the stack is assembled, it is delivered to the user by passing it along the first transport path to use the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a front plane view of an automated banking machine of the described embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a left side view of the automated banking machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the automated banking machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a first transport path and a second transport path in an automated banking machine Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a transport used in the automated banking machine.

Figure 6 is a schematic side view of a sheet moving from the second transport path to the first transport path through or intersection.

Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6 with the blade moving in the first transport path from the intersection.

Figure 8 is a schematic view similar to l of Figure 7 with the blade moving in an opposite direction across the intersection.

Figure 9 is a schematic view similar to l of Figure 8 with the sheet held in a retention device.

Figure 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 9 with the leaf moving at the intersection and engaging a second sheet being delivered through the second transport path, the second sheet engaging in relation aligned with the first sheet for form a pile.

Figure 11 is a schematic view similar to l of Figure 10 in which the pair of stacked sheets have passed through the intersection.

Fig. 12 is a schematic view similar to l of Fig. 11 in which the stacked sheets are held in the retaining device.

Figure 13 is a schematic view of the first and second transport paths with the sheet director apparatus operating to separate a first sheet from a stack as the stack passes through an intersection.

Fig. 14 is a schematic view similar to l of Fig. 13 showing the separate sheet of the stack as the stack passes through the intersection.

Figure 15 is a schematic view of the first and second transport paths showing a needle that is being reoriented by a leaf turning device.

Figure 16 is a schematic view showing a sheet passing through a second intersection between the first transport path and a third transport path.

Fig. 17 is a schematic view of the first and second transport paths with a reservoir envelope passing therethrough.

Figure 18 is a schematic view showing the first, second and third transport paths, with a leaf moving from the holding device to the third transport path.

Figure 19 is a schematic view of an alternate incorporation of the first, second and third transport paths with additional retention devices in the first transport path.

Figure 20 is a schematic view showing the first and second transport paths with a sheet qu moving from the second transport path to the first transport path, and schematically demonstrating how the sheet handling apparatus is used as part of a sheet turning device.

Figure 21 is a schematic view of an alternate incorporation of the first and second first transport paths used in an alternating automated banking machine in which two user interconnections and openings accessible to the user are provided.

Figure 22 is a side view of an automated banking machine that houses the transport apparatus shown schematically in Figure 21.

BEST MODES TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings particularly to Figure 1, there is shown an automated banking machine generally indicated with the number 10. The machine 10 is an ATM machine, however, other embodiments of the invention can be other types of banking machines automated The ATM machine 10 includes a client or user interconnection generally indicated with the number 12. The client interconnect 12 includes a digital display 14. The digital display 14 is of a type known in the prior art which serves co both an input device and an output device. Digital display allows exits through display on the screen and allows customers to provide inputs by placing a finger to one side of the screen areas.

The client interface 12 further includes a keyboard 16. The keypad 16 includes a plurality of buttons which can be operated by a client to provide inputs to the machines. The client interconnect 12 further includes a card reader slot 18. The card slot 18 is used to put a card with data encoded therein identifying the customer and / or customer account information. The card slot 18 is connected to a card reader of a conventional type to read the data encoded on the card.

The client interconnect 12 further includes an opening 20. The opening 20 as will be explained later is used to receive stacks of sheets or documents of a machine operating the customer 10. The opening 20 is also used to deliver a stack of documents. to customers who operate the machine. Even when the opening 20 is shown in Figure 1, it should be understood that in other embodiments it can be selectively covered by a moving door or a similar closing structure.

As shown in Figure 2, the machine has a body structure generally divided cu which includes a chest part 22. The chest part 22 preferably a safe chest and is used to hold items of value such as money or deposits. The chest part has a door 24 which can be selectively opened to gain access to the interior of the chest part. A door 2 preferably includes a lock combination or lock mechanism (not shown) which prevents the box part from being opened by unauthorized persons.

The machine 10 further includes an upper cover portion 26. The upper cover portion has the customer interconnect 12 thereon. The client interconnect portion 12 includes a face 28. The face 28 is preferably movably mounted on the upper cover portion 26 and can be selectively opened to gain access to the components housed in the upper cover portion. A locking mechanism (not shown) is preferably included in the upper cover portion to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to the inside of the same.

As shown in Figure 3, the machine 1 includes a plurality of devices for carrying out banking transactions. It should be understood that the devices discussed herein are exemplary and that additional or different devices may be included in other embodiments of the invention.

The interior of the ATM machine 1 is shown schematically in Figure 3. The ATM machine includes various leaf jet devices and sheet receiving devices. Among the sheet dispensing devices are the cash dispensers 30 and 32. The sheet dispensers 30 and 32 are preferably of the type shown in United States of America No. 4,494,747 which selectively dispenses leaves at a time in response to signals. of control. The cash dispensers 30 and 3 preferably include the sheet holding containers which include indicia or markings thereon. The cans are preferably interchangeable and of the type shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,871,085. sheet support cans are preferably indicative of the type and / or properties of the sheets held there (e.g., denomination money type) and the indicia are read by the reading apparatus when the canister is installed in the machine.

The ATM machine operates in response to the signs on the cans to adjust the operation of the dispensers to shape the position and contents of the canister. The preferred embent of the invention, the sheet bearing cans and other devices, preferably include an indication of the type shown in United States Patent No. 4,871,085. The information represented by the indicia e read by the reading apparatus and the resulting signals are transmitted to the machine control circuit. The control circuit adjusts the operation of the dispensing devices and sheet reception in response to the signals to conform to the type and character of the sheets held in the various cans.

In the example embent of the machine 1 shown in figure 3, the machine preferably includes the receiving and delivery devices of sheets 34, 36 and 38. The receiving and delivery devices of sheets allow and receive and store sheets in compartments selected as well as selectively delivering sheets from the various compartments. The machine 10 further includes a reservoir d on schematically indicated with the number 40. The reservoir d on 40 is a device configured to accept and retain a relatively thick sheet as deposit envelopes deposited by the customers in the machine.

The reservoir 40, the cash dispensers 30 and 3 and the receiving and delivery devices of the sheets 34, 36 and 3 are all placed inside the coffer part 22 of the machine 10. In the preferred embent, the devices assortment and of sheet reception, except for the deposit, can be placed interchangeably in the machine. The control circuit adjusts the operation of the machine according to the position of the device and the indications on the cans or devices.

Each of the cash dispensers 30 and 32, d the sheet receiving and delivery devices 34, 36 and 38 of the reservoir 40 are in communication with a sheet transport path generally indicated with the number 42. L transport path of Sheet 42 comprises a plurality of sheet transports which are aligned and operatively connected through the rear area of the box part. The sheet transport path 42 preferably includes one or more sheet bearings of the type known from U.S. Patent No. 5,240,638. Each of the depot 40, the cash dispensers 30 and 32 and the receiving and delivery devices of the sheets 34, 36 and 38 are in operative connection with the sheet transport path 42, and are enabled to deliver the sheets and / or receive the sheets from the sheet transport path 42.

The sheet transport path 42 s extends through an opening (not shown) in the coffer part 22 of the ATM machine chest. The wiring that connects the components located in the coffer part with the components in the upper cover part 2 also extends through an opening in the coffer part and is connected to the control circuit, indicated schematically with the number 44. The control circuit 4 preferably includes at least one processor in operational connection with a memory, and carries out the programmed instructions based on the data stored in the memory. The control circuit operates the machine for carry out the operations described here.

The upper cover part 26 includes the faj 28 and the customer accessible opening 20. A first transport path generally indicated with the number 46 extends into the machine from the opening 20. The first transport path 46 preferably includes a woven web type transport of the type shown in FIG. The co-pending patent application series No. 08 / 813,134 filed on March 7, 1997, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference. A transport of this type is shown schematically in FIG. 5, and is generally indicated with the number 48.

The transport 48 includes a plurality of first spaced rollers 50 and a plurality of second intermediate spaced rollers 52. The rollers 50 and 52 which are preferably crowned rollers, hold the elastomeric bands thereon. The first rollers 5 support the first strips 54, the second rollers 5 support the second strips 56. The strips 54 and 56 s extend longitudinally in the transport 48.

A stack of sheets schematically represented by the sheet 58 in Figure 5 moves in a relationship engaged with the webs 54 and 56 in the transport as described in the United States patent application of America series No. 08 / 813,134 . The configuration of the transport 4 allows the transport of the stacks having various numbers of sheets, as well as the transport of bank passbooks and other forms of stacked sheets. The preferred embodiment transport is particularly useful because of its ability to transport sheets of various types, which have varying thicknesses and frictional properties while minimizing skewing.

Referring again to Figure 3, the first transport path 46 intersects the transport path 42 at a first intersection, generally indicated by the number 60. As explained hereafter, the sheets are selectively stacked and unstacked while it moves through the first intersection 60 to allow processing of the sheets within the machine 20.

The upper cover part 26 also includes several sheet receiving and receiving devices. Such assortment and receiving devices preferably include dispensers similar to those shown in US Pat. No. 4,494,747 and include removable bots for retaining the sheets therein. Such removable bots may also include clues of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 4,871,085 which are read by the apparatus within the machine. Control circuit operates to control the operation of the machine in response to the clues.

The sheet dispensing devices 62 and 6 preferably retain the sheets such as blank receipts or declaration forms. Alternatively, one of such boats may retain instruments which must be completed, such as traveler's checks or forms. An additional sheet assortment device 66 can supply bank checks or stamp plates.

A sheet receiving device 68 is also preferably included in the upper cover part. The sheet receiving device 68 may be used to retain the sheets such as checks, which may have been entered by a customer into the machine and which may have been formed in images and / or canceled through the process of the machine. .

The upper cover part also includes a printing device indicated schematically with the number 70. The printing device 70 is used to selectively print on the sheets under control of the control circuit. An image forming device shown schematically with the number 72 is also included. The imaging device 72 is preferably of the type which permits reading and generation of an electronic image of a document, such as is shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,534,682.

The sheet dispensing devices 62, 64 and 6 as well as the sheet receiving device 68 are all communicating as one or more transports. These transports are preferably of the type shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,342,165, or other suitable sheet transport devices. The leaf transport devices d form a sheet transport path 74. The sheet transport path 74 extends to the transport path 46 and finds the transport path 46 at a second intersection 76.

The upper cover part may also include additional or other devices. Such devices may include a newspaper printer as schematically indicated by the rollers 78. The journal printer is used to make a paper record of the transactions carried out on the machine 10. Electronic journals may also be carried out by the control circuit stored in the memory. Other devices which may be included in the machine are audio output devices, customer sensors, cameras and registers and other apparatus suitable for use in the operation of the particular type of an automatic banking machine.

The transport paths 42, 46 and 74 are shown in greater detail in Figure 4. The transport path 46 which includes one or more transports of the interwoven web type shown in Figure 5. The transport path there has a plurality of first bands 80 which extend between the first rollers 82 and 84. The first rollers 82 and 84 are selectively driven by a reversible driver, indicated schematically with the number 86 The second bands 88 extend between a second roller 90 and the rollers 92, 94 and 96. The second bands 88 are driven by a second reversible driver indicated schematically 98. As shown in Figure 4, the roller 96 is selectively movable for the purposes which will be explained later. Of course it should be understood that the bands and rollers shown in the first transport path 46 are actually a plurality of spaced apart bands and rollers of the type shown in Figure 5.

The first transport path 46 further includes an additional transport section 100. The transport section 100 is similar to the transport shown in the figure and includes a plurality of third bands 102 screwed onto the spaced rollers 104 and 106.

The rollers 106 have on one side thereof a plurality of retention rollers 108. The retention rollers 108 are placed in an intermediate and spaced apart relationship of the third strips 102. This configuration imparts a wave configuration to the sheets and stacks of the sheets in a manner comparable to that imparted to the sheets held by the transport 48 as shown in Fig. 5. The holding rollers 108 and the transport section 100 are independently driven by the reversible impellers (not shown) under control of the control circuit 44.

Adjacent to the first intersection 60, where the sheet path 42 meets the leaf path 46, there is a sheet directing the apparatus generally indicated with the numeral 110. The sheet directing apparatus 110 includes the sheet engaging rollers 112 and the additional rollers 114 The rollers 112 and 114 have the flexible strips 116 mounted thereon. It should be understood that the rollers 112 and 11 are driven by an independent reversible impeller (n shown) under the control of the control circuit 44. It should be understood that the rollers 114 and 112 and the bands 116 in FIG. 4 represent a plurality of such bands and roller which are preferably placed in an intermediate relationship between the lower vanes of the first band 80.

The transport path 42 further includes the transport 118 which is adjacent to the reservoir 40. The transport 118 includes a plurality of rollers which drive the belts 120 in response to a reversible impeller (n shown). The rollers 122 which are engaged with the bands 120, as well as the rollers 124 which are independently driven by a reversible impeller (not shown) are positioned in the blade path 42 on one side of the rollers 114 and 96. The purpose of this configuration is discussed in detail below.

As depicted schematically in Figure 4, the transport path 46 includes the sensor devices. These sensor devices are in an operative connection with the control circuit 44, and operate to perceive the characteristics of the sheets and the stacks of sheets in the sheet transport path. A thickness sensor indicated schematically with the numeral 126 is preferably provided to sense the thickness of the sheets, of the stacks of sheets, or of the sheet as the envelopes of deposits moving along the transport path 46. index reader devices 128 and 130 preferably operate to sense indicia or marks on the sheets and envelopes that move in the transport path. The sensor devices must include photo reflection devices, magnetic sensing devices or other devices suitable for distinguishing money, various types of negotiable instruments and deposit. The type and placement of particular sensor devices used in the particular machine will depend on the characteristics and types of documents which are intended to be processed by the machine.

Various sheet handling and processing operations performed by the automated banking machine of the described embodiment will now be explained in detail with reference to Figures 6-21.

Fig. 6 shows a sheet 132 moving through the intersection 60 of the first path 46 and the second path 42. The blade 132, before reaching the position shown in Fig. 6, may have been stocked p one of the sheet assortment devices placed on the side of the transport path 42 and moved adjacent to the intersection by the transports which constitute the transport path. As the sheet 132 approaches the intersection, it is engaged by the bands 116 of the sheet director apparatus 110, as well as by the bands 88. The control circuit operates the impellers which move the bands to work in cooperation to move the sheet toward the intersection Once the sheet is passed through the intersection, it is hooked between the lower vanes of the band 80 and the upper vanes of the bands 88, and the sheet 132 is carried in the first direction indicated by the arrow A in Figure 6 As will be appreciated from Figure 4, the arrow A is in the direction of the customer opening 20 of the automated banking machine.

As shown in Figure 7, in the mode d operation that is currently being described, once the leaf 132 is moved completely through the intersection e the first sheet path 146, the movement of the sheet in the first direction is stopped This is achieved by the control circuit 44 which operates the transport drivers according to its program logic stored in the memory, and the response to the client inputs in the client interconnection. A sensor indicated schematically with the number 13 placed on the first sheet path perceives the position of the sheet. The position sensor 134 may be one of several types of sensors suitable for sensing the position of the leaves, such as a photoreflective type sensor. Once the sheet 13 is in the position shown in Figure 7, the bands 80 and 8 are stopped.

As shown in Figure 8, the control circuit now operates the components of the machine to move the blade 132 in a second opposite direction as indicated by the arrow B. To move the blade 132 through the intersection in the direction Opposite, the sheet engaging rollers 112 and the strips 116 rotate to prevent the sheet 132 from passing to the second sheet transport path 42. The transport section 100 is also operated by the control circuit to engage the blade 132 and move it in the opposite direction. A sheet turner member 136 described later in detail, moved to allow the blade 132 to pass the roller 82 in the first blade path.

As shown in Figure 9, the blade 132 e moved in the second direction until it is engaged between the reel rollers 108 and the transport section 100. The sensor which is indicated schematically with the number 13 is placed to perceive that blade 132 is positioned in the retaining device provided by the combination of the reel rollers 108 and the transport section 100. The sensor 138 is operatively connected to the control circuit which operates to further stop the movement of the leaf 132. in the second direction when it has reached the position shown. It should be noted that the blade 132 in this position is held to one side of the second intersection 76, which is the intersection of the blade path 74 and the blade path 76.

The next step of the operation of the machine that is described is shown in Figure 10. An additional leaf 140 is moved in the transport path 42 to the intersection 60. The sheet 140 can be supplied by one of the assortment devices leaves or is otherwise in the path and moves towards the intersection. As the leaf 140 moves to one side of the intersection it is engaged by the webs 116 of the sheet handler 110 as well as the web 88. The sheet 140 is also sensed by a sensor 142 of the transport path 42. The sensor 142 is in operational connection with the control circuit. The control circuit operates to exactly coordinate the movement of the blade 140 in engagement with the blade control apparatus 110 and the bands 88.

As the sheet 140 moves to the intersection 60, the control circuit operates to begin moving the sheet 132 in the first direction along the path 46 toward intersection. The control circuit coordinates the operation of the impellers for the various components so that the leaf 140 and the leaf 132 pass through the intersection 60 in a coordinated relationship. As a result of this, the blades 132 140 engage in an abutting relationship aligned to form a stack as they move through the intersection 60.

As shown in Figure 11, the eleven sheets 14 and 132 have passed through the intersection 60 in the first direction and these are in a stack generally indicated with number 144. As indicated schematically in Figure 11 in this mode of operation The same operates to sense the passage of the battery through the intersection and the control circuit operates to stop the movement of the battery in the first direction and response to the sensor signals. After the sheets 13 and 140 have been combined to form the stack 144, additional sheets can be added to the stack. This is achieved by moving the stack 144 in the second similar direction which is done with the sheet 132 previously, as s represented in figure 8. The stack 144 is moved to the position shown in figure 12 in which It is held by the retainer device formed by the retention rollers 10 and the transport section 100. Then the additional sheets can be added to the stack by passing the sheets over the transport path 42 and hooking such sheets in an aligned relationship with the conveyor. the stack in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 10.

It will be appreciated that a stack comprising a significant number of aligned and butted sheets can be formed in a manner described. Because the sheets are selectively positioned from the dispensing devices on one side of the transport path 42, the sheets can be stacked in a desired order as determined by the control circuit. For example, the sheets which are money can be stacked in an order from the highest denomination to the lowest denomination. The particular sheets can be placed in a desired place inside the stack. Once the stack has been configured in the desired manner by the control circuit of the machine, it can be moved in a first transport path 46 to the opening 20 so that it can be taken by a customer.

It should also be noted that the position of the pil 144 shown in Figure 12, the stack is placed in the retention device formed by the retention rollers 108 and the transport section 100 adjacent to the intersection 76. The intersection 76 is the intersection of the transport path 46 and of the transport path 74. The transport path 74 extends to the devices housed in the upper cover part 26 of the machine 10.

As schematically depicted in FIG. 16, a sheet 146 can be moved from one of the devices arrayed on one side of the sheet path 74 to engage stack 144 at the intersection 76 as the stacks move in the first direction. This allows the addition of sheets to the stack which are housed in the leaf jet devices adjacent to the sheet path 74. The stack formed by the addition of sheets of a sheet path 74 can be moved through the path from sheets 46 to the customer.

It will be understood that the sheets of the sheet path 74 may be delivered individually through the intersection 76 in the sheet path 46 and may then be added to a stack formed at the intersection 60 in a manner similar to that previously described. It should be understood that the blade path 74 includes the appropriate sensors that are operatively connected to the control circuit. The control circuit operates so that the leaves of the leaf path 74 can be added to a stack in an aligned relationship engaged with other sheets in the stack as the sheets pass through the intersection 76.

As shown in Figure 15, the machine 1 further includes the ability to take leaves in the first sheet path and to flip them over using a tumbling device. This can be done as shown in Figure 15 through the use of a leaf turning member 136. The leaf turning member 136 preferably comprises a member that includes arcuate guides that conform to the contour of the rollers 82. When the turning member is placed on a roll ladder 82, such as in Fig. 15, a leaf and movement 148 is caused to be turned from the position of the sheet e in the first sheet path 46. This is accomplished by moving the sheet 148 in the direction of the arrow C in Figure 15 In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper web blades of the web 80 are part of the path of the web generally indicated with the number 150. The path of the web 150 extends to a side of the printing device 70 of the image forming device 72 shown in FIG. 3. As a result of this, the sheet can be moved selectively into the path of the sheet 140 for the purpose thereof. You have to carry out the printing on it, to produce an electronic image of the sheet or both.

Once the printing activity or image formation has been carried out on the sheet in the sheet path 150, the sheet is returned to the first sheet path 46. Once the sheet 148 is returned the first path of The sheets can be moved selectively to one of the other sheet paths 42 or 74. These sheet paths can be directed to be stored in an appropriate sheet storage device. Alternatively, the sheet 148 may be selectively movable to be combined in a stack with other sheets at the intersections 60 or 76.

In the embodiments of the invention, the leaf turning members 136 can be configured so that the sheets in the transport path 150 can be added directly to a stack of sheets at the intersection of the sheet path 46 and the turning device. This is achieved by configuring or moving the turning member d so that the vats in the lower position do not interfere with the passage of a stack of sheets in the first direction beyond the turning member. This feature can be particularly advantageous when a customer receipt is printed on a sheet by the printer in the sheet path 150 and it is desired to have the receipt at the top of the stack. This can be achieved by providing the stack in the retainer device formed by the retainer rollers 108 and the transport section 100., and moving the stack in the first direction to the right in Figure 15 upon being hooked the receipt sheet printed in an aligned relationship with the top of the pil as the stack moves toward the opening 20.

It should be understood that in other embodiments, the leaves of the paths 74 and 42, as well as of the path 150, can be added to a stack by moving the stack of retaining device provided by the transport section 100 and the retention rollers 108, in the first direction towards the client. This can easily be achieved from the schematic view shown in Figure 16 with stack 1 moving to the right, as shown, and the sheets are added to the stack as said stack passes through the roll 82 and the stack moves through again. of intersection 60. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, numerous configurations and system operations may be provided depending on the functions carried out for the machine as well as the programming and configuration of the control circuit.

It should be understood that other leaf turning devices, other than or in addition to the reverse member 136, may be provided in the embodiments of the invention. For example, in Figure 18 a steering member 15 is shown in a cooperative relationship with the roller 108. The steering member 152 is selectively movable between the position shown, wherein the latter is adjacent to the roller 108 the position shown in phantom. As depicted in FIG. 18, when the steering member 152 is in the position shown it operates to direct a blade 154 which is held in the retaining device formed by the transport section 110 and the retention rollers 108 in the path of the vehicle. transport 74. The sheet 154 may be moved in the transport path 54 to a sheet receiving device for storage there in the manner previously discussed.

Alternatively, the leaflet 154 can be achieved by moving it in the transport path 17 and then dispensing the member 152 directly out of the roller 108. Once this is done, the sheet 154 can again be directed to the Path 146 and move to the right as shown in Figure 18 so that the sheet 154 s will move in a manner comparable to that of the sheet 146 shown in Figure 16. This will result in the orientation of the sheet 15 being reversed in the trajectory of sheet 46 of its original orientation.

The components adjacent to the intersection 6 can also be operated as a turning device? sheet. This is shown schematically in Figure 20. This is achieved by having a sheet 156 initially placed on the first sheet path similar to sheet 132 in Figure 7. The sheet is then moved to the second sheet path at the intersection 60 by the operation of the blade control apparatus 110 in a manner that was later explained in detail. Once the blade 156 is in the second blade path, the direction of the bands 88 and 116 is inverted while the lower blades of the belt 80 are moved to move the blade in the second direction indicated by the arrow B. This it results in the sheet being flipped from its original orientation in the transport.

It should be understood that the sheets which originate in the transport path 42 can also be directed in the manner shown in FIG. 20. This characteristic allows selective positioning of the sheets and flipping them through the number of different mechanisms that improve the capabilities of the automated banking machine.

A further fundamental aspect of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically in Figures 13 and 14. The embodiment of the present invention shown includes the ability to selectively separate a sheet from a stack of sheets as the stack passes through the intersection. 60 of the transport path 4 in the transport path 42. As shown schematically in FIG. 13, a stack of sheets 158 moved in the direction indicated by the arrow B in the transport path 46. Even when the stack 158 it is shown as a stack of four sheets, it should be understood that the stack can comprise a greater or lesser number of sheets. The stack 158 may be a stack of sheets received from a user of the machine through the opening 20 and may consist of different types of sheets.

As the stack 158 moves to the intersection 6 of the machine control circuit, the sheet steering apparatus 110 operates so that the rollers 112 and 114 and the bands 116 screwed thereon move relative to the stack in an opposite direction. to the direction of the stack movement. As a result of this movement of the sheet direction apparatus, a first sheet 160 which limits a first side of the stack, is frictionally engaged by the webs 11 and is stripped and separated from the stack. The first sheet 160 e directed to the sheet path 42 by continuing on the path 46 the stack comprising the remaining sheets. This allows the sheet 160 to be handled separately by the devices adjacent to the path 42, or individually carried back to the path 4 by the individual transport to the adjacent devices other trajectories.

It should be noted that in the preferred embodiment, a sensor 162 is positioned adjacent the path 42. The sensor 162 may be a photoelectric sensor connected to a control circuit to sense the position of the sheet. Alternatively, the sensor 162 may comprise a plurality of similar or different sensors adapted to perceive the characteristics of a sheet such as its type and denomination. This allows the control circuit to properly identify a cash sheet and place it in a designated position within the sheet receiving devices. The sensors 162 may alternatively operate in connection with the control circuit to determine the genuineness of a blade. In other embodiments, other features such as magnetic ink indicia, bar coding, and other characteristics may be detected for purposes of identifying the type of blade as it moves beyond the sensors.

After the sheet 160 is separated from the pil 158 as shown in Figure 14, the control circuit can operate the transports on the first path 46 to move the remaining stack to a position to the right of the intersection. If you wish to separate an additional sheet from the stack, the remaining sheets can be moved through the intersection of new in the direction of arrow D to achieve separation of the sheet that is recently attached to the stack side. Alternatively, if the The control circuit determines that it is necessary to separate an additional sheet from the stack, the sheet handling apparatus can be operated so that the webs 11 and rollers 112 and 114, move in the same direction as the rollers 92 and a similar speed. This will result in the pile passing through the intersection without a sheet being separated from the stack.

It should be understood that even when in embodiment shown the sheet handling apparatus comprises a plurality of rollers having elastic surfaces on them which move at a relative speed which is more than the speed of the moving battery, in other embodiments they may be used other types of devices separators and separators. These may include, for example, elastic pads or rollers. Such devices may also include elastic suction cup type mechanisms or vacuum generating devices. The additional alternate forms of the leaflet-directing devices may include other physical members that selectively engage one or more of the leaves so as to direct them from path 46 to another trajectory 42.

It should also be noted that in the embodiment shown in Figures 13 and 14, the sheets can be separated from a stack by moving the stack from right to left. However, in other embodiments of the invention, it may be desirable to add the sheet handling apparatus so that the sheets can be separated from a stack when the stack moves in any direction. This can be easily achieved through the arrangements of elastic rollers or other stripping devices or members which can be selectively actuated to engage and separate a sheet in the passage of a stack through an intersection. This configuration can have advantages in other incorporations e where a greater speed in leaf separation is desired As will be appreciated from the above discussion, in some banking machines it may be desirable to process certain sheets individually. For example, if it is determined that a separate sheet in a stack is a check or other negotiable instrument that must be transferred to the imager, it may be desirable to clear a path that allows the sheet to require such handling to be transported individually. This can be achieved by placing the stack of sheets that are not currently being processed individually outwardly of the single sheet on the first path 46. In this manner, the sheet which requires individual handling can be transferred to path 150 or to another place such as is necessary without causing the remaining battery to suffer transport to an undesirable location A further alternative to facilitate the individual handling of the particular sheets is represented by the alternate embodiment shown in Figure 19. In this embodiment of incorporation 46, three separately controlled transport sections 164, 166 and 168 are included. The transport section 164 is similar to the transport previously discussed except that its webs terminate on the rollers 170 and 172. The transport section 166 is an interweaved web transport similar to that shown in Fig. 5 except that its webs are offset from those in the web. transport section 164. The transport section 166 is preferably driven by an independent reversible impeller from a transport section 164. The impeller for the transport section 16 is in operative connection with and operates under the control of control circuit.

The transport section 166 terminates in the rollers 174 and 176. The rollers 174 and 176 are coaxial with other rollers that are spaced in the middle thereof which are part of the transport section 168. The transport section 168 terminates in the rollers. 178 and 180 which is adjacent to an aperture accessible to the client indicated with number 182. The transport section 168 is operated by an independent reversible driver in response to the control circuit.

The transport sections 166 and 168 along path 46 provide places in which documents or stacks of documents can be stored temporarily as other documents are directed through intersections 60 and 76. After the processing is done necessary on the individual documents, the documents temporarily stored in the transport sections 166 168 can be moved to other transport sections for further processing. It should be understood that the transport sections 166 and 168 include the appropriate sensors for perceiving the positions of the documents that are temporarily stored there allowing the circuit to coordinate the movement thereof.

An additional advantage of the preferred embodiment of the invention is that not only can the automated banking machine accept individual documents and documents from a customer, but it may also accept conventional deposit envelopes. As shown in FIG. 17, a thick sheet such as a deposit envelope 184 may be moved along the path 46 from a customer. identification of the item deposited as a deposit envelope can be done based on the readings of the sensors 12 128 or 130 as shown in figure 4, or alternatively based on the customer's inputs in the customer interface 12 of the machine.

The reservoir envelope 184 moves in transport path 46 in the direction of the arrow E co is shown in figure 17. Upon determining that the article q moves in the transport path is a reservoir envelope the control circuit operates the sheet steering apparatus 11 for directing the envelope to the transport path 42. The control circuit also enables the roller 96 and the web 88 to move in the direction indicated by the arrow F. This makes the web of the web 88 moves to the position shown in phantom in Fig. 4. This allows the envelope to move in the reservoir device 40 (see Fig. 3) in which it can be stacked in an aligned relationship with other envelopes., the control circuit may also operate the conveyor 118 and the rollers 124 shown in FIG. 4 to ensure that the envelope 184 does not pass further along the sheet transport path 42 than the reservoir 40.

The ability of the preferred embodiment of the automated banking machine to handle deposit envelopes stacks of individual sheets and sheets provides increased functionality for the machine. The ability of the preferred embodiment to accept thick articles in the area of the track 42 adjacent to the intersection also allows the control circuit to use the area adjacent to the intersection as a temporary storage location for the stacks of sheets. This may be desirable. in some embodiments where a receipt form is delivered on the transport path 74 and must be directed to the transport path 150 for printing on it being combined with a stack to be delivered to a customer.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has the ability to store the assembled stack of sheets on one side of the intersection 60 in the transport path 42 until such time as the printed receipt is moved to the intersection. along the first path 46. In order to be moved the receipt form inside the intersection 60 by the transport section 100, the stack is moved to the intersection in a coordinated relationship with it so that the printed receipt is placed on the top side of the stack. The completed pil can be moved along the transport path 46 to the opening where it can be taken by the customer.

An alternate embodiment of an automated banking machine embodying the present invention is indicated in 1896 in Figure 22. Machine 186 is similar to machine 10 except that it includes two belts and the designated customer interconnections 188 and 190. The machine 18 is capable of an operation by the two users generally and simultaneously.

The sheet handling mechanism for the machine 18 is indicated with the number 192 in Figure 21. The mechanism of sheet 192 is similar to that described in the first embodiment, except for what was noted otherwise. The mechanism 19 includes a first aperture accessible to the client 194 in the client interconnect 190 and a second client accessible aperture 196 in the client interconnect 188. The client aperture 196 receives and delivers the sheets through a transport section 197. The transport section 197 is preferably an interwoven web type transport of the type shown in FIG. 5 and is capable of moving the sheets, the envelopes and the stack of sheets in contact therewith. The transport section 19 is operated by a reversible impeller similar to the reversible impellers used for the belt transport sections being in an operative connection with the control circuit of the machine.

The operation of the alternate leaf handling mechanism 192 is similar to that previously described except that the sheets, envelopes or stacks of sheets that are processed can be received from or delivered to the customer's door 194 or customer's window 196. Due to the high speed capability of the preferred embodiment, it is possible that the sheet handling mechanism 192 adequately served two users simultaneously without undue delay.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, the modifications necessary for the sheet handling mechanism d the first incorporation to accommodate two concurrent users is relatively modest. In the preferred embodiment of the invention it is possible to increase the number of customer interconnections on the machine from one to two at a relatively small cost. This is particularly advantageous for an ATM machine placed in a customer traffic area. It is also useful for automated banking machines, such as those used by tellers to count and supply tickets. This is because the leaf handling mechanism allows two tellers or other personnel to provide service through a single machine.

Therefore, the new automatic banking machine of the present invention achieves the aforementioned objectives eliminates difficulties encountered in the use of the previous device systems, solves problems and achieves the results described herein.

In the previous description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity and understanding. However, no unnecessary limitations should be implied because such terms are used for description purposes and are intended to be widely considered. Furthermore, the descriptions and illustrations given by way of examples in the invention are not limited to the exact details shown described.

In the following claims any characteristic described as means for carrying out a function will be considered as encompassing any means capable of carrying out the recited function and equivalent numbers the particular means described in the previous description.

Having described the discoveries and principles of the invention, the way in which it is constructed and operated and the advantages and useful results achieved, the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations of systems, equipment, operations, methods and relationships is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (43)

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

1. An automated banking machine apparatus comprising: a transport, wherein the transport moves a stack of sheets along a first path of sheets, the stack is limited by a first sheet on one side of the stack; a second path of leaves intersecting the first path at an intersection; a sheet handler adjacent to the intersection, the sheet handler is selectively operated to either separate the first sheet from the stack directing it to the second sheet path as the stack moves through the intersection, or to enable the first sheet going through the intersection and staying hooked with the pile.

2. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1, further characterized in that it comprises a reversible impeller in operative connection with the transport wherein the impeller is operated to repeatedly move the stack through the intersection, wherein the leaves that limit the side of the stack are selectively separated from the stack and directed to the second sheet path as the stack is moved through intersection.

3. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1, further characterized in that it comprises a second transport that moves a second sheet in the second trajectory towards the intersection, and a control circuit in operative connection with the first transport and the second transport, and where the control circuit operates to control the movement of the stack in the first transport and the movement of the second sheet in a second transport to cause the second sheet to be added to the stack as the stack moves through the intersection.

4. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the first transport is in operative connection with a leaf turning device, and further comprises a retention device in operative connection with transport, where the battery is enabled to retain in the retention device when the first sheet is struck by the leaf turning device.

5. The apparatus as claimed in clause 3, further characterized in that it comprises a leaf dispensing device in operative connection with the control circuit, wherein the leaf spout device is operated to selectively deliver an assorted sheet to the second transport where the control circuit is operated to control the first and second transports to add the assorted sheet to the stack as the stack moves through the intersection.

6. The apparatus as claimed in clause 5, further characterized in that it comprises a third blade path intersecting the first blade path at a second intersection positioned from the first intersection and a third blade moving the third path of sheet, the third transport in operative connection with the control circuit, and further comprises a second leaf spout device in operative connection with the control circuit, wherein the second leaf spout device is operated to selectively deliver a second assorted sheet to the third transport, and wherein the control circuit operates to control the first and third transports to add the second assorted sheet to the stack as the stack moves through the second intersection.

7. The apparatus as claimed in clause 6, characterized in that the first sheet supplied and added to the first side of the stack and the second sheet assorted and added to an opposite side of the stack.

8. The apparatus as claimed in clause 5, further characterized in that it comprises a form in operative connection with a control circuit and wherein the printer is selectively operated to print on the sheets placed in a path of sheets of printer, and in which path of printer sheets is in operative connection c the second sheet path, and wherein the control circuit is operated to direct the assorted sheet to the path of printer sheets and to cause printing on the same before adding the assorted sheet to the first leaf trajectory.

9. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1, characterized in that the transport moves either a stack of sheets or an envelope thereon and further comprises a sensor adjacent to the transport, the sensor is in operative connection with the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is operated in response to signals from the sensor to make a determination as to whether the stack or envelope is in the transport and where the control circuit is operated to control and the sheet address apparatus in response to the determination.

10. The apparatus as claimed in clause 9, characterized in that the leaf direction apparatus is operated in response to the determination that the envelope is moving in the transport to direct the envelope to the reservoir.

11. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1, further characterized in that it comprises an image former, wherein the image former is in operative connection with the control circuit and is operated to make or electronic image of the leaves in a sheet path images, and further comprises a sensor operating to sense the first sheet, the sensor in operative connection with the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is operated to make a determination in response to the sensor signals as to whether the first The sheet is of a first type and wherein the control circuit is operated in response to the determination to direct the sheet to the imaging path.

12. An automated banking machine apparatus comprising: an opening for delivering or receiving a stack of stop sheets so that a user of the apparatus is enabled to deliver or receive sheets through the opening; a first transport where the first transport moves the documents to and from the opening along a first transport path; a second transport where the second transport moves the leaves on a second path and e where the second path intersects the first path at an intersection; at least one leaf jet device operatively connected to at least one of the first trajectory of the second path, said leaf jet device selectively leaves the leaves in the path; at least one leaf receiving device and operative connection with at least one of the first trajectory of the second trajectory, wherein a leaf receiving device selectively receives the leaves of a trajectory; a sheet handler adjacent to the intersection where the sheet handler is selectively operated as the stack moves through the interconnect and is to add a sheet from the second path to the pil or to separate a sheet from the stack and direct the sheet separated the second path.

13. The apparatus as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that the sheet handling apparatus comprises a member, wherein the member selectively applied frictional resistance to the movement of a sheet joining a stack lad, wherein the frictional resistance separates the sheet the pile.

14. The apparatus as claimed in clause 13, characterized in that the member has a relatively movable surface thereon wherein when the stack moves through the intersection in a first direction, said surface of moving member moves in a opposite direction in relation to the stack, the sheet is separated from the stack where when the surface of the member moves in the first direction in a relationship generally coordinated with the stack, the sheet is not separated from the stack when the stack moves to through the intersection.

15. The apparatus as claimed in clause 12, characterized in that the leaf handling apparatus comprises a member having a moving member surface thereon, wherein when the cell moves in a first direction through the intersection , the moving member surface moves to guide a sheet moving on the second transport path to a contact relationship with the stack

16. The apparatus as claimed in clause 15, further characterized in that it comprises a first sensor that perceives the stack in the first transport path, and a second sensor that perceives the sheet in the second transport path, and a control circuit in operational connection with the first transport, the second transport, the first sensor and the second sensor and where the control circuit is operative to control transports first second to add the sheet to the stack as the stack moves through the intersection .

17. The apparatus as claimed in clause 12, further characterized by comprising a third transport, wherein the third transport moves the documents along a third transport path and where the third path intersects the first path at a second intersection placed from the first intersection and where a sheet in the third path is selectively added to the stack as the stack moves through the second intersection.

18. The apparatus as claimed in clause 12, further characterized in that it comprises a retention device in operative connection with the first path, the retention device being positioned outwardly from the intersection, and wherein at least one leaf is maintained. selectively in the holding device while at least one other leaf is moved through the intersection in the first path.

19. The apparatus as claimed in clause 18, characterized in that the retention device is in the first blade path between the opening and the intersection.

20. The apparatus as claimed in clause 12, further characterized in that it comprises a second opening, wherein a stack of sheets can be received delivered through the second opening, the second aperture being placed at an opposite end of the first path. d transport from the first opening, and because the machine is enabled to deliver and receive user stacks in one of the openings.

21. An automated banking machine apparatus comprising: a first trajectory; a first impeller that moves leaves in the first path of leaves; a second path of leaves intersecting the first path of leaves at an intersection; a second impeller that moves the leaves in the second sheet path; a first sensor that senses the first sheet in the first sheet path; a second sensor that perceives a sheet in the second sheet path; a control circuit in operative connection with the first impeller, the second impeller, the first sensor and the second sensor wherein the control circuit operates to control the first and second impellers to cause the first leaf and the second leaf to engage in a relationship stacked and aligned as the first and second leaves move through the intersection.

22. The apparatus as claimed in clause 21, characterized in that the first and second leaves move in a first direction in the intersection as they are engaged in a stacked relation and further comprises: a sheet guiding apparatus adjacent to the intersection of the first and second sheet paths, and wherein the sheet steering apparatus is in operative connection with the control circuit and is selectively operated to direct at least one blade that moves in one direction. opposite direction through the intersection to either the first sheet path or the second sheet path; and wherein the control circuit is operated to cause the first impeller and the leaf handler to move the stack comprising the first and second leaves in the opposite directions in the first sheet path beyond the intersection, and then move the stack including the first and second sheets in the first direction toward the intersection and causing the first and second sheets stacked and the second additional sheet to move in the second pair of sheets to engage in a stacked and aligned relationship as the first sheets move , second and second additional through the intersection

23. The automated banking machine as claimed in clause 21, characterized in that the first sheet path extends to a user opening accessible in the machine whereby the first and second stacked sheets are enabled to be delivered to the user of the machine. machine

24. The automated banking machine as claimed in clause 21, characterized in that the stacked first and second sheets are moved together in the first direction beyond the intersection and further comprise the sheet handling apparatus adjacent to the intersection, where the The sheet handling apparatus is in operative connection with the control circuit and wherein the sheet handling apparatus is selectively operated to separate the second sheet from the first sheet and direct the second sheet to the second sheet path as the first and second sheets move. second in an opposite direction through the intersection.

25. The apparatus as claimed in clause 24, characterized in that the control circuit is selectively operated to control the first impeller, the second impeller and the leaf handler, to promote the second leaf in the second leaf path to the intersect and then move the second sheet in the first sheet path to the opposite direction from the intersection, whereby the second sheet is flipped in relation to its previous orientation.

26. The apparatus as claimed in clause 22, further characterized by comprising: a retaining device in operative connection with the first sheet path and wherein the first and second stacked sheets are held in the retention device before being released in the first sheet path to engage the second additional sheet.

27. The apparatus as claimed in clause 21, characterized in that the first leaf path includes at least one holding device in operative connection with the control circuit, and wherein the holding device operates to selectively retain at least one a sheet facing away from the intersection as at least one other sheet moves through the intersection, and wherein the retaining device is then operated to release at least one leaf to move through the intersection.

28. The apparatus as claimed in clause 21, further characterized in that it comprises at least one leaf spout device in operative connection with the control circuit, wherein the spout jet device is in an operative connection with the first spout path. hoj and allows the selectively deliver a sheet to it.

29. The apparatus as claimed in clause 21, further characterized in that it comprises at least one sheet dispensing device in operative connection with the control circuit and wherein the dispensing device operates to selectively deliver a sheet in the second sheet path. .

30. The apparatus as claimed in clause 29, further characterized in that it comprises at least one additional leaf spout device in an operative connection with the control circuit, and wherein the sheet spout device is also in operative connection with the first distinct sheet trajectory through the second sheet trajectory, and wherein the sheet ejecting device adds' selectively delivers an additional sheet to the first sheet trajectory, whereby the additional sheet is delivered through another sheet than the second trajectory of sheet.

31. The apparatus as claimed in clause 21, further characterized in that it comprises a printing device in operative connection with the control circuit, and wherein the printing device is selectively operated to print on a printing sheet placed on a first sheet path. of the printer, and wherein the first sheet path is selectively connectable with the printer sheet path, wherein a first sheet in the first path is selectively directed to a printing sheet path where the print is enabled to be fed to the printer. out on the print sheet.

32. The apparatus as claimed in clause 31, characterized in that after printing is carried out on the printing sheet, the printing sheet is directed from the printer sheet path to the first sheet path.

33. The apparatus as claimed in clause 31, characterized in that after the printed sheet is returned to the first sheet path, the printing sheet is hooked in a stacked and aligned relationship with at least one other sheet of paper. second sheet path to move the print sheet in the first direction through the intersection.

34. The apparatus as claimed in clause 21, further characterized in that it comprises an image-forming device in operative connection with the control circuit, wherein the image-forming device is selectively operated to capture an electronic image of a sheet formed with images placed in an imaginary sheet path and wherein the first sheet path is selectively connectable with the imaginary sheet path where the imagined sheet is selectively directed from the first sheet path to the sheet path imagined by what is done an electronic image of the sheet imagined by the image forming device.

35. A method of operating an automated banking machine apparatus comprising the steps of: (a) moving a first sheet in a second sheet path to an intersection with the first sheet path; (b) moving the first sheet through the intersection and up to the first sheet path; (c) moving the first sheet in the first sheet path in a first direction to a first side d of the intersection; (d) moving the first sheet again on the first sheet path through the intersection; (e) moving a second sheet in the second sheet path through the intersection as the first sheet moves back through the intersection on the first sheet path, where the first and second sheets are engaged in an aligned relationship to form a stack to move the first and second leaves through the intersection.

36. The method as claimed in clause 35, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of repeating step (d) with the stack and step (e) with a third sheet moving on the second transport path, so that the third sheet is added to the stack.

37. The method as claimed in clause 35, characterized in that before step (d): the first sheet is moved on the first sheet path in a direction opposite to a second opposite side of the intersection; Y wherein in steps (d) and (e) the first and second leaves engaged in the stack move in the first direction from the intersection.

38. The method as claimed in clause 35, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of: (f) moving the stack in the first path of the sheet to an accessible user area on the apparatus of the machine, whereby the sheets passed into the accessible area of the user can be accessed by a user of the machine. (g) move the stack to the user's accessible area.

39. The method as claimed in clause 35, further characterized in that it comprises the steps of: (f) moving the stack again through the intersection; (g) separating the second sheet from the stack when movers the stack through the intersection with the sheet direction device, wherein the second sheet is directed to the second sheet path.

40. A method of operating an automated banking machine apparatus comprising the steps of: (a) moving a stack of sheets along a first sheet path, said stack includes a first sheet joining one side of the stack; (b) moving the stack through an intersection d the first sheet path with a second path d leaf; (c) separating the first sheet from the stack when movers the stack through the intersection with a sheet direction device, wherein the first sheet is removed from the stack and directed to the second sheet path.

41. The method as claimed in clause 40, characterized in that the second sheet joins the side of the stack after the first sheet has been separated from the same and also comprises the steps of: (d) again, moving the stack through the intersection; (e) separating the second sheet from the stack with the sheet directing device, wherein the second sheet is directed to the second sheet path.

42. The method as claimed in clause 40, characterized in that before or after step (c), it also comprises the step of: (f) pass the stack through the intersection if you separate a sheet from the stack.

43. The method as claimed in clause 40, further characterized by comprising the steps of: (d) supplying a second sheet of a sheet dispensing device in the machine; (e) moving the second sheet toward intersection along the second sheet path; (f) again move the stack through the intersection; (cr) moving the second sheet through the intersection as the stack moves through the intersection along the length of the first sheet path, where the second sheet is engaged with the stack in an aligned relationship as the stack and the stack move; second sheet through the intersection. SUMMARY An automated banking machine that includes a user interface that includes an opening for user to deliver and receive individual sheets and stacks of sheets from the machine. The machine includes a sheet handling mechanism there including a first transport path and a second transport path. Several devices for supplying and receiving sheets are placed on one side of the second transport path and supply and / or receive sheets thereof. The second transport path finds the first transport path at an intersection. The machine also includes a third transport path. The third transport path has assortment devices and leaf receptors in an operational connection with it. The third transport path intersects the first transport path at a second intersection. The machine includes a control circuit which controls the assortment and movement of the sheets along the sheet path in response to the inputs by the customers. The sheets are moved along the sheet paths so that the sheets are stacked and unstacked selectively as they move through the intersections.