MXPA97002049A

MXPA97002049A - Mechanism of door supply machine for automat cash machine

Info

Publication number: MXPA97002049A
Application number: MXPA/A/1997/002049A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Ramachandran Natarajan; Raymond Lewis Kim; Calvin Lute Richard Jr
Original assignee: Interbold
Priority date: 1994-09-30
Filing date: 1997-03-18
Publication date: 1997-06-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to an envelope dispenser for use in an ATM machine that includes an access door that can be fixed. The door includes a slot, integrated in the first side. The door is fixed by the contact of a first member in a first groove part of the groove. The door is released by an actuator which upon receiving an electrical signal moves the first member to a central position of the slot. In this position the door can be manually moved to a fully open position by the user. In the open position the user presses the first member into a second notch part, which releasably retains the door in the open position. In the open position you have access to the envelopes stored in the machine. From the open position the door can be either manually closed or automatically closed upon cessation of the electrical signal that enables a spring to move the first member to the central part of the slot. Once the door is returned to the closed position and the actuator is deactivated, the first member returns to the first notch part by again closing the door.

Description

MECHANISM OF 8QBRE SURGERY DOOR FOR AUTOMATIC CASH MACHINE TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates generally to access doors and, more particularly, to an envelope dispenser used in a bank ATM machine that provides selective access to the envelopes through a slidable and lockable door.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the use of ATM machines (ATMs). These machines have been used to both stock money and receive deposits. Deposits may consist of checks of various sizes, money orders, bills and the like. For the device to accept paper of different size, the ATM customer is often asked to use an envelope to put the deposit there. The machine often has envelopes for this purpose, which can be stored in a compartment of the machine. If this compartment is freely accessible, envelopes in such a compartment may be stolen or tampered with.

In the past some ATM machines have been equipped with a closing door limiting access to the envelope compartment. These doors in the prior art have typically been of two types. The first door is of the fast blow variety and the second is a sliding door. The rapid blow door is frequently arched and counterbalanced, and utilizes directly linked actuation means to open and close the door. Alternatively, fast-blow doors can be manually operated. The rapid blow door can be bulky and take up considerable space inside the machine. Some such doors may be prone to jamming due to the direct link and to the customers interfering or otherwise opposing the drive means.

The sliding door variety is also closed by directly linked actuating means which are held in position by a friction mechanism or forces between the side door and the door frame. The side door is less bulky than the fast slamming door but may also be prone to jamming due to the direct link. In addition some sliding doors are difficult to operate due to the friction between the door and the frame.

As a result of this, there is a need for an access door to be used in conjunction with an envelope dispenser for an ATM machine that is compact, easy to operate, that can not be jammed by a customer error, and which it can be fixed in a closed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an envelope dispenser in an ATM machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a door for an envelope spout which is selectively fixed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a door for an envelope spout which can be releasably held in an open position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dispenser for envelopes which can not easily jam or become inoperable due to an error or attack.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a door for an envelope spout which can be closed from the open position at any time without damage.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an envelope dispenser which is compact and easy to use.

Additional aspects of the present invention can be made evident from the following better modes for carrying out the invention and from the appended claims.

The above objects are achieved in the preferred embodiment of the invention by an envelope dispenser used in an ATM machine. The dispenser includes an envelope holder which holds a supply of envelopes. The envelope dispenser is mounted inside the machine. The spout includes a frame, which is generally flat and rectangular. The frame has an opening which is larger than the width of an envelope, so that an envelope can be easily pulled through the opening by a customer.

The spout also includes a door which is sized to fit over the opening in the frame. The door has a first side which faces inwardly in the opening and a second side which faces the customer. The door is mounted on the frame so that it can slide longitudinally between a first closed position in which the door completely covers the opening and a second open position. The door also includes a handle on its second side which is manually hooked by the user of the ATM machine.

The first side of the door has a recessed groove and forms an integral part of the door. The slot has two notch portions, both extending transverse to the longitudinal direction. The first and second notch portions are positioned longitudinally one from the other. The slot further includes a central portion extending longitudinally between the two notch portions.

The spout also includes a second member slidably mounted on the frame. The second member can move on the frame in a transverse direction between the front, rear and middle positions. The second member includes a bolt mounted thereon. A first member is rotatably mounted on the bolt of the second member.

When the door is in the first position, the first member is in the first notch portion of the slot. When the door is in the second position the first member is engaged in the second notch part. When the door is positioned between the first and second positions, the first member is engaged in the central part of the slot.

The spout also includes a spring which presses the second member towards the return position. An actuator is operated in connection with the second member. The actuator moves the second member and therefore moves the first member in the transverse direction against the force of the spring.

When the door is in a first closed position, the spring pushes the first member into the first notch part, so that the door is fixed. The force applied to the handle will not open the door. When the customer operates an ATM input device and indicates that he attempts to make a deposit that requires an envelope, the ATM machine generates an electrical signal which causes the actuator to move the second member to the middle position. As a result of this, the first member moves out of the first notch portion and into the central part of the slot where the door can be moved in the longitudinal direction by the application of force to the door handle for the client.

When the door is moved to the second open position, the actuator moves the second member to the forward position as the first member of the central part of the slot moves into the second notch part. In this second position the door remains open releasably. If the user applies sufficient closing force to the handle, an angled surface obtusely between the second notch part and the central part of the slot allows the first member to be guided back against the force of the actuator to the central part. This allows the door to be moved manually in the longitudinal direction to the closed position.

If the door is left in the second position by the customer, then at the end of the electrical signal to the actuator, the force applied by the spring moves the second member to the middle position. As a result of this, the first member moves from the second notch part of the groove into the middle part. This allows the door to move to the first position by gravity or other means. Upon reaching the closed position, the spring moves the second member to the return position and the first member moves from the central part of the slot to the first notch part. Once it is in the first notch part the first member again prevents the door from being opened by a customer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an exploded isometric view of the envelope spout of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front transparent view of the envelope dispenser door of the present invention shown in the second open position.

Figure 3 is a front transparent view of the envelope dispenser door of the present invention shown in the first closed position.

Figure 4 is a front view of the groove and the first member of the present invention.

BEST MODES TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Figure 1, there is shown the preferred embodiment of the envelope dispenser of the present invention generally indicated with the number 50. The envelope dispenser is part of an automatic teller machine (ATM) and is designed to allow a customer to operate an ATM machine to gain access to envelopes in which he deposits money, checks or other valuables that can be entered into the ATM machine through an acceptance mechanism of separate deposits.

The envelope spout includes a generally flat and rectangular frame 10. The frame has two parts as shown in Figure 1. A first frame part 78 is connected to a second part 80 by the fasteners 58. The frame includes a rectangular aperture 12. The width of the opening is designed somewhat larger than the width of a deposit envelope.

The spout includes a door 14 which is designed to cover the opening 12. The door is slidably mounted on the frame 10 so that it can move in a longitudinal direction between a first closed position shown in Figure 3 and a second position. open shown in Figure 2. In the closed position the door completely covers the opening of the frame. In the open position the user is able to access the interior area of the dispenser through the opening 12.

The door 18 is slidably mounted on the frame and constrained to move between the guides 30 extending backward from a face plate 40. The face plate is held in the frame by the fasteners 56. A pack 54 extends between the face plate and the frame.

The door 14 has a first face 16 and a second face 18. The second face 18 is accessible to a customer through the opening in the face plate when the door is in the closed position. The door has a slot 20 on its first face which is integrated to the door. The door further includes a manually engageable handle 22 which extends outwardly from the second face 18. The handle 22 allows the user of the ATM machine to selectively move the door between the open and closed positions when the door is in position. in an unfixed condition.

The slot 20 is best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The slot is joined by a continuous wall 23 which extends inwardly on the first face of the door. As shown in Figure 4, the slot has a first notch portion 24 that extends in a transverse direction of the longitudinal direction. The slot also has a second notch portion 26 extending in the transverse direction. The second notch is positioned longitudinally of the first notch. The slot further comprises a central part 28 which extends between the first and second notch portions.

A first shelf surface 32 delimits the lower end of the first notch part. The first shelf surface extends transversely, generally normal to the central part of the slot. The slot 20 further includes a second shelf surface 34 which confines the upper end of the second notch portion of the slot. The second shelf surface extending generally at an obtuse angle relative to the central part of the slot is curved in an arc which terminates in the central part of the slot.

The spout includes a second member 42. The member 42 includes two guide slots 66 positioned longitudinally with respect to each other and which extend in the transverse direction. The second member is slidably mounted on the frame on the bolts 76 which extend rearwardly from the frame part 80. Each bolt has mounted on it a spacer 74 which can be rotatably moved on the bolt. The collars 70 and the fasteners 68 mounted on the bolts 76 hold the second member in the frame while allowing the latter to move in the transverse direction. As the second member moves, the spacers 74 roll into the slots 66 facilitating the movement thereof. The second member 42 can move between a forward position shown in Figure 2, a rear position shown in Figure 3 and an intermediate position therebetween.

The second member further includes a bolt 38 which extends from the second member towards the opening of the frame. A first member 36 which is a roller, is rotatably mounted on the bolt 38 and held therein by a spring. The first member 36 is engaged in the slot 20 of the door 14. A tension spring 44 is connected to both a rearward extension bolt 82 on the frame and a bolt 84 on the second member. The spring 44 presses the second member towards the rear position.

A solenoid actuator 46 is mounted on the frame and is operatively connected to the second member by a clamp bolt 64. The actuator responds to an electrical signal generated by the ATM machine. The electrical signal causes the actuator to move the second member to the left in Figure 2 toward the forward position.

The envelope dispenser includes an envelope holder 48 which has a bottom wall 72 and two side walls 52. The side walls are spaced to keep the envelopes stacked and guided longitudinally in the longitudinal direction. The envelope holder is attached to a support plate 60 with the fasteners 62. The envelope holder includes a front wall having an access opening 86 at the bottom thereof through which the envelopes contained in the holder can be Removed manually when the door is in the open position.

The envelope dispenser provides the automatic adjustment of fixing, liberalization, retention in the opening position and closing the envelope dispenser door again.

When the door is fixed in the closed position the first member 36 is engaged in the first notch part 24 of the groove 20. In this position the movement of the door in the longitudinal direction is prevented by the engagement of the member 36 with the first shelf surface 32 of the wall 23.

When a customer who is using the ATM machine indicates through an input device such as a button or a touch screen that the customer wishes to carry out a deposit transaction requiring an envelope, the door is released by the processor which controls the operation of the activation actuator of the ATM machine 46 with an electrical signal. The actuator moves the movable member 36 transversely from the first notch portion 24 against the force of the spring 44. The member 36 is moved out of the first notch portion 24 and engages the wall 23 on the opposite side of the first part. of notch that prevents further movement in the transverse direction. In this position the member 36 is placed in the longitudinally extending central part 28 of the slot 20 and the actuator 46 has moved approximately one-half of its stroke. A customer operating the machine can then move the door 14 in the longitudinal direction to the open position shown in Figure 2. When the customer opens the door, the member 36 rotates in contact with the wall 23 on the left side of the slot as shown in Figures 2-3.

When the door reaches the fully open position the first member moves further in the transverse direction when the actuator 46 completes its stroke, and engages a second notch portion 26 of the slot 20. The door remains in this position until the electrical signal the actuator is discontinued or until the door is manually closed. With the door in the open position the customer can remove the envelopes from the envelope holder through the opening 12.

The door can be closed by manually moving the door down. When a downward force is applied, the first member engages the obtuse angle shelf surface 34 limiting the second notch portion and moves against the force of the actuator outside the second notch portion within the center portion of the second part. slot. In this condition the door can be opened repeatedly manually and closed as desired until the actuator 46 is deactivated.

Alternatively, from the open position the door can be closed by deactivating the actuator. This occurs under the control of the processor when it is perceived that the deposit envelope has entered the ATM machine or at another convenient time in the cycle of operation of the ATM machine. Deactivation of the actuator 46 causes the second member 42 to move to the right as shown in Figure 2. This causes the first member 36 to move out of the second notch part 26 and the central part 28 of the groove 20. due to the force of the spring 44. The member 36 engages the wall limiting the right side of the groove opposite the second notch part. When this happens the door 14 falls by gravity to the closed position. Once in the closed position, the spring 44 presses the second member to the return position where the member 36 rests in a first notch part 24. Once the first member 36 is in the first notch part 24 , the first shelf surface 32 prevents the opening of the door until the actuator is again activated.

It should be noted that the movement of the door 14 between the open and closed positions is facilitated by the first member 36 that can rotate in contact with the inner surface of the wall 23 which limits the slot 20. Similarly, the movement of the second member 42 is facilitated by rotation of spacers 74 in slots 66.

Although in the drawings the first shelf surface is shown extending normal to the central part of the notch, in other embodiments, it is caused to extend at a somewhat acute angle. As a result of this, attempts to open the door when the first member is in the first notch part will tend to pull the first member further into the first notch part, retaining the door in a fixed manner. The wall 23 in the area of the first shelf surface can be reinforced or made stronger to withstand a greater opening force.

The envelope dispenser door mechanism of the present invention is reliable, efficient and consumes little space inside the ATM machine. It is also protected from breakage by customers who move it from the open to the closed position at inappropriate times in the machine's operating cycle. Even when notch portions of the groove in the preferred embodiment extend in transversely opposite directions, in other embodiments other configurations may be used. Similarly, in other embodiments, the central portion of the slot may extend between the notch portions in a direction other than the direction in which the door moves. Although in the preferred embodiment the door is moved manually, in other embodiments the opening and closing of the door can be actuated by a suitable mechanism.

Therefore the apparatus of the present invention achieves the above-mentioned objects, eliminates the difficulties encountered in the use of the above devices and achieves the desirable results described herein.

In the above description, certain terms have been used for brevity of clarity and understanding. However, no unnecessary limitations should be implied because such terms are for descriptive purposes and are intended to be widely understood. In addition, the descriptions and illustrations given herein are by way of example if the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. In addition, any feature of the invention which is claimed as means for performing a function will be considered as encompassed by any means capable of carrying out the function and will not be limited to the particular means shown or described therein or other equivalents.

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

Claims

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

1. An access door apparatus for an ATM machine comprising: a frame; a movable door mounted on the frame, said door can move in a longitudinal direction between a first position and a second position, the door has a first face, said first face has a slot thereon, said slot includes a first notch part which extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, and a second notch portion extending in the transverse direction, said second notch portion being longitudinally positioned of the first notch wall, said notch further comprising a central part which is extends between the first and second notch portions; a first member engaged in said slot; an actuator in operative connection with said first member, said first member selectively moving in the transverse direction in said groove; wherein in the first position of the door said first member can engage in the first notch part, and wherein in the second position of said door said member can engage in the second notch part.

2. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said central part of said groove extends in the longitudinal direction.

3. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said first notch part is limited by a first shelf surface extending generally in the normal direction to the longitudinal direction and where when said first member is placed in said first part of notch, the movement of said door to the second position is prevented by the contact of said first member and said first shelf surface.

4. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said second notch part is limited by a second shelf surface extending at an obtuse angle relative to said central part, and wherein when said first member is placed in said second notch part the movement of said door towards the first position moves said first member in a hooked and guided relationship with said second shelf part inside the central position of said slot.

5. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said groove forms an integral part of the first face of said door.

6. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that it comprises: a second member movably mounted on said frame, said second member being operatively connected to said actuator, said second member being movable in the transverse direction between a front position, a middle position and a rear position; wherein said first member is held on said second member; a spring operatively connected to the second member, wherein the spring presses said second member toward the rear position; wherein in the first position of the door said first member is pressed to make contact with the first notch portion by said spring, and wherein said first member can move in response to said actuator to a central part of said slot when the door it is in the first position and the second notch part when said door is in the second position.

7. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that it further comprises a manually engageable handle mounted on the second side of the door, whereby the door can be manually moved between the first and second positions by applying force to said door. handle when said first member is positioned from said first notch part.

8. The apparatus as claimed in clause 4, characterized in that it also comprises: a manually engaged handle fastened to the second face of said door, whereby said door can be moved manually between the first and second positions when the first member is placed in the first notch part; and wherein said actuator moves said first member to make contact with said second notch part when said door is in the second position and wherein the first member can move from the second notch part to the central part against the force of said actuator upon manual movement of said door from the second position to the first position.

9. The apparatus as claimed in clause 6 characterized in that said actuator comprises a solenoid that responds to an electrical signal whereby the actuator moves said second member to the forward position in response to said electrical signal, and the spring moves the second member to the rear position when the signal ceases.

10. The apparatus as claimed in clause 9 characterized in that said groove forms an integral part of the first face of said door, and wherein said central part of said groove extends in the longitudinal direction, said first groove portion extends normal to said central part, said second notch part is limited on a side adjacent said first notch part by a shelf surface extending at an obtuse angle relative to said central part and is placed on a transversely opposite side of said part. central part from said first notch part.

11. The apparatus as claimed in clause 10 characterized in that it also comprises: a handle mounted on the second face of said door; so that when the door is in the first position, the transmission of the electrical signal allows the movement of said door by applying force to the handle to the second position where it is releasably retained, and where the door can move to said first position from the second position.

12. The apparatus as claimed in clause 6 characterized in that said apparatus comprises a pair of bolts connected supported to said frame, and wherein said second member comprises a pair of longitudinally placed member slots, wherein one of said pair of bolts it extends in a normal direction through each of the member slots, whereby said second member can move in a transverse direction in a guided relationship on said pins.

13. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said groove is bounded by a continuous wall extending in a direction normal to both longitudinal and transverse directions and wherein said first member can rotationally move in contact with said wall.

14. The apparatus as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that said movement of said first member in said longitudinal direction is avoided.

15. The apparatus as claimed in clause 6 characterized in that said first member is rotatably mounted on said second member and wherein said first member can be mounted rotatably in contact with a wall limiting said groove.

16. The apparatus as claimed in clause 12 characterized in that each bolt includes a spacer mounted rotatably thereon, said spacers extend in said grooves, whereby said spacers are rotatably engageable with the second member.

17. An apparatus for an ATM machine comprising: a frame, said frame has an opening to an interior area in said machine; a door mounted movably on said frame, said door being designed to close said opening, said door can move in a longitudinal direction between a first position closing said opening and a second position wherein the interior area is accessible through the opening , the door has a first face and a second face, said first face has a groove thereon, said groove includes a first notch portion extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, and a second notch portion that is extends in the transverse direction, said second notch portion being positioned longitudinally of the first notch portion, said notch further comprising a central portion extending between the first and second notch portions; a first member engaged in said slot; an actuator in operative connection with said first member, wherein said actuator selectively moves said first member in the transverse direction; wherein in the first position of the door said first member can engage in the first notch part, and wherein in the second position of said door said member can engage in the second notch part.

18. The apparatus as claimed in clause 17 further characterized in that it comprises a bolt in operative connection with said actuator, said first member is rotatably mounted on said bolt whereby the first member can be rotated in said groove.

19. The apparatus as claimed in clause 17 characterized in that said groove includes a first shelf surface limiting said first notch portion of said groove, whereby said first shelf surface extends transversely of said longitudinal direction and is engageable with said groove. stop by said first member to prevent movement of said door from said first position to said second position when said first member is engaged in said first notch part.

20. The apparatus as claimed in clause 17 characterized in that said groove includes a second shelf surface joining said second notch portion of said groove and wherein said second shelf surface extends to a side of the intersection of said second part. of notch and said second central notch portion, and wherein said second shelf part is engageable with said first member and moves said first member in a contact guided therewith from said second notch part to said central part in response to movement from said door from the second position to the first position.

21. The apparatus as claimed in clause 19 characterized in that said groove includes a second shelf surface joining said second groove portion of the groove and wherein said second shelf surface extends adjacent to the intersection of said second groove part and said central part, and wherein said second shelf part can be engaged with said first member and moves said first member in a contact guided therewith from said second notch part to said central part in response to the movement of said door from said second position towards the first position.

22. The apparatus as claimed in clause 20 characterized in that said second shelf surface is placed in the transverse direction at an obtuse angle in relation to said central part.

23. The apparatus as claimed in clause 17 further characterized because it comprises: an envelope holder located in said inner area wherein said envelope holder is manually accessible through said opening when said door is in the second position.

24. The apparatus as claimed in clause 17 further characterized because it comprises: an envelope holder located in said interior area, said support includes a bottom wall and the side walls, wherein said walls maintain envelopes in alignment with said opening.

25. The apparatus as claimed in clause 17 characterized in that said groove is joined by a continuous wall and wherein said first member is rotatable, and wherein said first member can rotationally move in contact with a wall part limiting said central part when said door moves between the first and second positions.

26. A method for maintaining an access door of a closed ATM machine and for selectively enabling the opening of the door comprising the steps of: engaging a first movable member in a first notch portion of a slot in an operative connection with said door, said first notch portion extending in a transverse direction wherein a movement of said door in a longitudinal direction is prevented when said first member is engaged in said first notch part; moving said first movable member in a transverse direction from said first notch portion and engaging said first member in a longitudinally extending central portion of said slot; moving said door in a longitudinal direction to an open position, said first member engaged in said central part when said door is moved; and moving said first member further in the transverse direction to engage a second notch portion of said slot whereby the door is held in the open position.

27. The method as claimed in clause 25 characterized in that the second notch part includes an angled shelf surface extending at an obtuse angle from the central part of said slot, and further comprising the step of: moving said first member in guided contact with said angled shelf surface of said second notch portion to said central part of said slot by pressing said door towards the first position from the second position. SUMMARY An envelope dispenser for use in an ATM machine that includes an access door that can be fixed. The door includes a slot, integrated in the first side. The door is fixed by the contact of a first member in a first groove part of the groove. The door is released by an actuator which upon receiving an electrical signal moves the first member to a central position of the slot. In this position the door can be manually moved to a position fully opened by the user. In the open position the user presses the first member into a second notch part, which releasably retains the door in the open position. In the open position you have access to the envelopes stored in the machine. From the open position the door can be either manually closed or automatically closed upon cessation of the electrical signal that enables a spring to move the first member to the central part of the slot. Once the door is returned to the closed position and the actuator is deactivated, the first member returns to the first notch part by closing the door again.