Automatic teller machine transport system

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6422158
  • Patent Number
    6,422,158
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, June 21, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 23, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
Apparatus is disclosed for moving an automatic teller machine and the like between an operational position and a servicing position to provide access to the back of the machine for servicing. The apparatus essentially comprises a stationary frame and a moving carriage supported by the frame. In the operational position, the front end of the carriage is coextensive with the front end of the frame. In the servicing position, however, the front end of the carriage is cantilevered beyond the front end of the frame. The carriage may also be telescopic such that a telescoping member is contained in the carriage to allow the carriage more movement. In order to move and support the carriage, especially in the servicing position, there is a shaft freely rotatable in a pair of bearings at the front end of the frame on which the carriage rides. The back end of the carriage rides within the frame's rails, which prevent the carriage from moving up or down but otherwise freely allow lateral movement. By turning the shaft, with a hand crank or a small motor, the carriage with the teller machine can easily be moved between operational to servicing positions. An ATM housing shaped like a cabinet is also disclosed that contains a door in the back for servicing the ATM. When the ATM is housed in a cabinet, the whole cabinet moves between the servicing and operational position.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to the moving of automatic teller machines (ATMs) between operational positions and servicing positions for servicing. In particular, the present invention relates to moving an ATM located on an island in a drive-through bank lane between operational and servicing positions.




DISCUSSION OF BACKGROUND




Automatic teller machines (ATMs) and, more recently, automatic loan machines (ALMs), have made it more convenient for consumers to take care of their routine banking needs. ATMs are frequently housed in small buildings, or “kiosks” on concrete “islands” between lanes of a drive-through bank. Consumers may obtain cash, make deposits, check on balances, obtain consumer loans, etc., by simply driving up to the ATM from the appropriate lane and accessing its control panel.




These ATMs must be serviced periodically by reloading them with cash, retrieving the deposits, changing printer ribbons, and performing routine maintenance and repair. However, the nature of kiosks and orientation of the ATM in relation to the kiosk complicates servicing. The kiosks are narrow and relatively small buildings. Because servicing of the ATM is done from inside the kiosk, the formalities associated with construction of any occupied or building apply to kiosks, such as windloading standards, occupancy standards, building permits and installation of air conditioning.




Furthermore, servicing of ATMs is done from the back. Because the kiosks housing the ATMs are narrow, to occupy as narrow a drive-through island as possible, there would be insufficient space behind the ATM in the kiosk for servicing unless (1) the ATM were rotated so that its back is oriented to the side; (2) the ATM could be pushed out of the kiosk into the drive-through lane to provide room behind it in the kiosk; or (3) the back of the kiosk opened up to allow access to the ATM from the next lane. This last alternative is generally unacceptable because it puts two lanes of a drive through bank out of service: the lane where the ATM is accessed, and the next lane where the servicing employee is standing.




ATM rotation systems are often somewhat complicated so “push out” systems are preferred. Consequently, a number of systems have been designed to move the ATM between a operational position inside a kiosk and a servicing position pushed out of a kiosk. These are generally referred to as transport systems.




For example, the transport systems described by Dallman et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,999 include several approaches to moving an ATM between servicing and operational positions, including two designs based on the use of cables. The cable systems are complicated and involve multiple cables and pulleys and air or hydraulic cylinders. Another of the designs uses a rack and pinion arrangement.




In the designs of ATM transport systems there is usually a bearing that allows movement between a base and a carriage that supports the ATM. The base remains stationary and the carriage moves between the operational position and servicing position. Additionally, there is a device that causes the movement of the carriage with respect to the base.




An effective ATM transport system would move the ATM simply, reliably and inexpensively between the operational and servicing positions on as narrow a drive-through island as possible, yet providing sufficient room behind the ATM to allow access by an employee standing on the island.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention is an apparatus for moving an automatic teller machine (ATM) and the like between a operational position and a servicing position. The apparatus in its essential embodiment comprises a stationary frame and a moving carriage supported by the frame. In the operational position, the front end of the carriage is coextensive with the front end of the frame and both are inside the kiosk. In the servicing position, however, the front end of the carriage is cantilevered beyond the front end of the frame. In order to move and support the carriage, especially in the servicing position, there is a shaft held by bearings attached to the front end of the frame. The shaft rotates freely in the bearings and the carriage rides directly on the shaft. The back end of the carriage rides within the frame's rails to prevent the carriage from moving up or down but otherwise freely allows lateral movement. By turning the shaft with a hand crank or a small motor, the carriage with the teller machine resting on it can easily be moved between operational and servicing positions.




In alternative embodiments, the ATM transport system includes the ATM housing, which is also transported between servicing and operational positions along with the ATM. The housing has a door located on its back so that the ATM can be accessed by someone standing on the island to which the frame is secured and who obtains access by opening the door of the housing.




In another alternative embodiment, additional space behind the ATM can be obtained by use of telescoping carriage.




An advantage of the present invention is its simplicity. The ATM can be moved easily using a simple handcrank. Therefore, there are no sprockets, no pulleys, no chains, and no complicated arrangements of moving parts to require service and repair. Furthermore, in the event of an electricity failure, the ATM can still be serviced or retracted into the kiosk. Because ATMs are serviced daily and have useful lives that span several years, reliability of operation of the ATM transport system is an important consideration.




An important feature of the present invention is the rotating shaft. Not only does it support the ATM, via the carriage, but the shaft moves it between the servicing position and operational position. The use of a simple, sturdy shaft to roll the ATM between its extreme positions greatly simplifies the design by combining support and moving mechanisms in one structure.




Extending the housing along with the ATM is another feature of the present invention. By making the housing extend along with the ATM, it no longer needs to be a “building” from a building codes standpoint because no one needs to enter it. Therefore, it no longer needs to meet a number of requirements that increase costs.




Use of a telescoping carriage makes it possible to provide additional space behind the ATM for servicing, making it possible to have slimmer ATM housings and kiosks on narrower islands, making better use of bank property.




Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a careful reading of the Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment presented below and accompanied by the drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




In the drawings,





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a drive-through bank having an ATM housed in a cabinet according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 2A and 2B

illustrate top views of ATM transport systems with the ATM in the operational and servicing positions respectively;





FIGS. 3A and 3B

is a perspective, detailed view of a hand crank and used as an engagement device for a ATM transport system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIGS. 4A and 4B

illustate a perspective view of an ATM transport system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the operational and servicing positions, respectively;





FIG. 5

is a top view of an ATM transport system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the servicing position.





FIG. 6

is an end view of an ATM transport system according to preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 7

is a perspective view of an ATM transport system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention before the telescoping member is engaged;





FIG. 8

is a perspective view of an ATM transport system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention after the telescoping member has engaged;





FIGS. 9A

,


9


B, and


9


C illustrate top view of an ATM transport system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention which is in an operational, partially servicing and fully servicing positions, respectively;





FIG. 10

is a cut away end view of an ATM transport system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 11

is a perspective view of an ATM cabinet, according to an alternate, preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 12

is a top view of the ATM cabinet of

FIG. 11

, according to an alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 13

is a detailed view of the bearings of the ATM cabinet of

FIG. 11

, according to the alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention; and





FIG. 14

is a detailed schematic illustration of a latching mechanism of the ATM cabinet of

FIG. 11

, according to the alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




The present invention includes a device for moving an automatic teller machine (ATM) between an operational and a servicing position and a cabinet housing for an ATM. What is meant by the operational and servicing positions depends on the housing of the ATM. The housing of the ATM may be a kiosk, building, cabinet, or any other structure suitable for enclosing the ATM. If the ATM is housed in kiosk-type structure, the ATM will be in the operational position when the ATM is facing the driver in a drive through bank lane and in the servicing or extended position when it is either carried through a hole in the kiosk to an extended position or rotated so that the ATM is facing parallel to the drive through lane; however, with a cabinet-type housing, the entire cabinet is moved out over the ATM drive-through lane or rotated ninety degrees from its operational position.




A moving apparatus should be able to move the ATM


12


from its operational position as shown in

FIG. 2A

to its servicing position as shown in

FIG. 2B

for any type of housing, whether it be of the kiosk or cabinet type. One embodiment of such a moving device is found in

FIGS. 4A-6

. Using this device the ATM


12


is cantilevered from island


2


into the ATM drive lane


4


so that an attendant can gain access to the back of ATM


12


to service it. This apparatus includes a stationary frame


20


and a movable carriage


22


. For purposes of explaining this embodiment, the front ends of the frame


20


and carriage


22


are located on the same side as the front end


74


of ATM


12


. Frame


20


is fixed with respect to the floor


24


of housing


10


; carriage


22


rests on top of frame


20


and is supported by it in both the operational position and servicing position, where carriage


22


is cantilevered over the ATM drive through lane


4


. By cantilevering, it is meant that neither ATM


12


nor the front end of carriage


22


on which ATM


12


rides touch the surface of ATM drive through lane


4


but are held above it by the support and securement provided by the back of carriage.




In the operational position (FIG.


4


A), the front ends of carriage


22


and frame


20


are coextensive, that is, the front end of carriage


22


is located approximately overhead of the front end of frame


20


, both being just inside wall of cabinet


10


. In other words, coextensive means that the front end of the carriage


22


does not extend significantly farther forward, if at all, beyond the front end of frame


20


. In the servicing position (FIG.


4


B), the front end of carriage


22


has moved forward over the ATM drive through lane


4


and the back end of carriage


22


has moved forward toward the front end of frame


20


.




Frame


20


comprises at least one rail and preferably at least two side rails


30


, one on the left side of frame


20


and one on the right side of frame


30


, as well as means for holding two side rails


30


parallel to each other. Side rails


30


may simply be fashioned from channel steel. As illustrated in

FIGS. 4A

,


4


B,


6


a sheet


32


of steel can be used conveniently to hold side rails


30


in parallel relationship. Alternatively, side rails


30


can be set in cement or attached to a member


34


perpendicular to side rails


30


.




Optionally, a central rail


36


, also preferably made of channel steel, is provided for lateral stability in moving ATM


12


between operational and servicing positions. Central rail


36


is located between side rails


30


but not necessarily midway between them. Preferably, central rail


36


is located more toward one side rail


30


, so that the area just above carriage


22


can be covered with a suitable flooring for the attendant servicing the ATM


12


to stand on.




Mounted toward the front end of frame


20


are bearings


40


. A shaft


42


is journaled in bearings


40


so as to rotate freely therein. One end of shaft


42


is coupled to means for rotating the shaft. Two gears


94


are connected by an endless chain


96


and engaged by handle


98


such that turning the handle


98


rotates shaft


42


. Alternatively instead of using a handle


98


, the movement of gear and chain assembly could be effected by a motor


54


. Regardless of whether the movement is accomplished manually or electrically, stops


60


(

FIG. 6

) limit the movement in each direction. If the movement is provided using an electric motor


54


, stops


60


can be limit switches rather than interference stops that can be used to turn off motor


54


when carriage


22


has reached the end of its travel.




Carriage


22


rides on and is supported by frame


20


. At its front end, carriage


22


is supported by resting on shaft


42


. At its back end, it has two arms


62


, one depending from each side and carrying a roller bearing


64


. The location and disposition of arms


62


is such that each roller bearing


64


engages a side rail


30


in such a way that bearing


64


is prevented from vertical movement by side rail


30


. Bearing


64


's horizontal movement along rail


30


is not restricted other than by stops


60


. Preferably, when side rails


30


are made of channel steel, the open side is to the side (outside or inside of frame


20


) so that one side of the channel is up and one is down, like the letter “C”. Roller bearings


64


ride inside the channel, engaging the sides of the channel above and below it, and arms


62


depend from carriage


22


on the open side of side rails


30


.




Central rail


36


is oriented preferably with the open side facing up to receive an arm


66


and a roller bearing


68


from member


34


. Any side-to-side motion of ATM


12


is limited by pressure of central rail


36


against bearing


68


. Central rail


36


, therefore, helps to maintain the alignment of both carriage


22


and ATM


12


as they move between operational and servicing positions.




When carriage


22


is in the operational position, the weight of an ATM


12


will cause roller bearings


64


to bear against the bottom of side rails


30


; when in the servicing position, the weight of ATM


12


will cause roller bearings


64


to bear against the top of rails


30


. Thus, bearings


64


cooperate with side rails


30


to secure the back end of carriage


22


to frame


20


whether it is in the servicing position or the operational position, but provide significant securement to hold carriage


22


down when carriage


22


and ATM


12


move to the servicing position where it is cantilevered over ATM drive-through area


4


.




It will be clear that by simply rotating shaft


42


with ATM


12


on carriage


22


, using manual or electric means, carriage


22


will move in the direction of rotation, as illustrated in FIG.


3


A. The speed of rotation is arbitrary, and assuming frame


20


is level, the amount of force will depend primarily on the friction of bearings


40


and the diameter of shaft


42


.




Another embodiment of an ATM moving apparatus is shown in

FIGS. 7

,


8


,


9


A,


9


B,


9


C, and


10


. Using this device the ATM


12


is also cantilevered into the ATM drive lane


4


so that an attendant can gain access to the back of ATM


12


to service it without blocking a banking drive through lane


6


. This apparatus includes a stationary frame


120


and a movable carriage


130


. For purposes of explaining this embodiment, the front ends of the frame


120


and carriage


130


are located on the same side as the front end of housing


10


. Frame


120


is fixed with respect to the floor of housing


10


; carriage


130


rests on top of frame


120


and is supported by it in both the operational position and servicing position, where carriage


130


is cantilevered over the ATM drive through lane


4


.




In the operational position (See FIG.


9


A), the front ends of carriage


130


and frame


120


are coextensive, that is, the front end of carriage


130


is located approximately overhead of the front end of frame


120


, both being just inside wall of housing


10


. In the servicing position (See FIG.


9


C), the front end of carriage


130


has moved forward over the ATM drive and the back end of carriage


130


has moved forward toward the front end of frame


120


.




Frame


120


comprises at least one rail and preferably at least two side rails


124


, one on the left side of frame


120


and one on the right side of frame


120


, as well as means for holding two side rails


124


parallel to each other. Side rails


124


may simply be fashioned from channel steel. As illustrated in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, a sheet


126


of steel can be used conveniently to hold side rails


124


in parallel relationship. Alternatively, side rails


124


can be set in cement or attached to a member


128


perpendicular to side rails


124


.




Mounted toward the front end of frame


120


are at least two bearings, but preferably a series of bearings


150


. A shaft


160


is journaled in bearings


150


so as to rotate freely therein. Connected on each side of the bearings is a flange


152


which hold beams


154


on the carriage


154


from moving laterally when the carriage


130


is moving between the operational and servicing positions. The bearings and flanges should be positioned on the shaft to allow for lateral stability of beams


154


.




Carriage


130


rides on and is supported by frame


120


. At its front end, carriage


130


is supported by resting on shaft


160


. At its back end, the carriage


130


is supported by a telescoping member


140


. Telescoping member


140


is of suitable size to slidably conform to beams


154


of carriage


130


.




At the front of telescoping member


140


, telescoping beams


142


are contained within carriage beams


154


in the operational position or partially contained within the carriage beams


154


in the servicing position. At the back end of telescoping member


140


is a cross beam


144


containing a roller bearing


146


on each side. The location and disposition of cross beam


144


is such that each roller bearing


146


engages a side rail


124


in such a way that bearing


146


is prevented from vertical movement by side rail


124


. When carriage is in the operational position, the weight of an ATM


12


will cause roller bearings


146


to bear against the bottom of side rails


124


; when in the servicing position, the weight of ATM


12


will cause roller bearings


146


to bear against the top of rails


124


. Thus, bearings


150


cooperate with side rails


124


in conjunction with telescoping beams


142


to secure the back end of carriage


130


to frame


120


whether it is in the servicing position or the operational position, but provide significant securement to hold carriage


130


down when carriage


130


and ATM


12


move to the servicing position where it is cantilevered over ATM drive lane


4


.




The telescoping member is engaged by cross beam


144


's contact with stops


148


and operational by moving carriage beams


154


over telescoping beams


142


while telescoping member


140


is stopped by rear frame member


128


. In operation moving to an servicing position, the telescoping member


140


is fully contained within the carriage beams


154


(See

FIG. 9A

) and does not telescope until the cross beam


144


comes into contact with the stops


148


(See FIG.


9


B). Once the cross beam


144


contacts the stops


148


, the telescoping member


140


remains stationary while the carriage


130


continues to extend (See FIG.


9


C). In moving to an operational position, the telescoping member moves toward the back end of the frame and is stopped by making contact with the rear frame member


128


. The carriage


130


continues to move toward the back end of the housing


10


such that it contains the telescoping member


140


and stops upon contacting the cross beam


144


.




If more friction is needed to extend the ATM


12


, several options are available. The shaft upon which the ATM rests could be coated with a abrasive material. Optionally, a set of chain and sprocket systems may work in conjunction with the shaft


160


to move the carriage


130


to its servicing and operational positions. For example, a chain attached by clamps to a mounting member located along each outside most carriage beams


154


and gripably fastened to a set of sprockets mounted on the shaft


160


could be driven by set of sprockets are mounted on the shaft


160


such that the sprockets rotate in accordance with the shaft


160


's rotation propelling the chains.




Referring now to

FIGS. 2A and 2B

, the present invention includes a cabinet


10


for housing an automatic teller machine (ATM)


12


that may be used in conjunction with an apparatus for moving the cabinet


10


between its operational position and servicing position. The cabinet


10


contains a front end


100


, back end


102


, and sides


104


which are of suitable sizes to fully enclose an ATM


12


inside the cabinet


10


. The front end


100


is the side from which traffic approaches to make use of the ATM


12


, the same side as ATM drive-through lane


4


. The front end


100


contains an opening


106


for the ATM


12


display and keypad to be seen and used. The ATM


12


is positioned such that the back end


102


is the side for servicing and may face a banking drive through lane


6


. The back end


102


contains a door


108


that opens to provide access for servicing the ATM


12


. In the preferred embodiment, the door


108


is a fan type door to allow the door to be folded and not block a banking drive through lane


6


. One side of the cabinet


10


contains an engagement aperture


84


in which an external device could engage an apparatus for moving the cabinet


10


between its operational and servicing positions. In the preferred embodiment, a socket is contained in the engagement aperture


84


to engage a moving apparatus.





FIGS. 11-14

illustrate an ATM cabinet according to an alternate, preferred embodiment of the present invention. Cabinet


180


rests on a base


182


holding plural transfer bearings


184


that facilitate the rotation of cabinet


180


with respect to base


182


from an operational position wherein ATM


188


is facing the lane on the side of an “island”


190


of a drive-through bank (not shown) to a servicing position wherein ATM


188


is at right angles with respect to the operational position. In the servicing position, the back


192


of cabinet is accessible to someone standing on island


190


for servicing (adding cash, changing receipt tapes, etc.).




Rotation of cabinet


180


with respect to base


182


is about a shaft


196


(best seen in

FIG. 13

) extending downward from a carriage


198


into a recess


202


in base


182


. Carriage


198


supports ATM


188


. Shaft


196


is mounted in a bearing


200


to facilitate its rotation in recess


202


. Transfer bearings


184


, or any other suitable bearings, are carried by base


182


to support carriage


198


but allow it to rotate freely. Transfer bearings


184


are large ball bearings


204


in cups


206


formed in base


184


filled with smaller ball bearings


210


.




To limit rotation of cabinet


180


to the range between the servicing and operational positions, stops


216


and


218


prevent over-rotation. A latch


220


stabilizes cabinet


180


. Latch


220


can be selected from numerous types of latches that releasibly prevent movement of a rotatable body. In

FIG. 14

, a latch


220


based on use of an electromagnet is illustrated schematically. A key


230


turned in a lock


232


carried by cabinet


180


closes a switch


234


. When switch


234


is closed, an electromagnet


236


is activated by power from a power source


238


such as a battery, as shown, and pulls a lever arm


240


free of a recess


244


in base


182


. Lever arm


240


is biased by a spring


246


to the lowered position and does in fact lower lever arm


240


when switch


234


is opened. However, it will be clear to those familiar with simple mechanical, electrical and electromechanical latches that many other possible latches could be employed in the present invention to prevent the rotation of cabinet


180


once in either the operational or servicing positions.




It will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and substitutions can be made to the preferred embodiments described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is defined by the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. An apparatus for use with an automatic teller machine, said apparatus comprising:a base; a carriage adapted to hold an automatic teller machine; a housing dimensioned to enclose said automatic teller machine; and bearing means for securing said carriage and said housing to said base and for moving said carriage and said housing with respect to said base between an operational position and a servicing position, said carriage and said housing being cantilevered from said base by said bearing means when in said servicing position, wherein said bearing means further comprises a shaft on which said carriage and said housing are rolled to move said carriage and said housing between said operational position and said servicing position.
  • 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said bearing means further comprises a first bearing that supports said carriage when said carriage is in said operational and said servicing positions, and a second bearing that supports said carriage and said housing when said carriage is in said operational position and secures said carriage and said housing to said base when said carriage is cantilevered from said base in said servicing position.
  • 3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said base has a first end and an opposing second end, and wherein said bearing means further comprises bearings attached to said base and a shaft journaled in said bearings, said shaft moving said carriage and said housing when rotated in said bearings.
  • 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said carriage rotates with respect to said base between said operational and said servicing positions.
  • 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said base carries bearings to facilitate rotation of said carriage with respect to said base.
  • 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said base has a channel formed therein, said channel having a top and an opposing bottom, and wherein said bearing means further comprises bearings that run within said channel, engaging said top of said channel when said carriage is in said servicing position and engaging said bottom of said channel when in said operational position.
  • 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing has a front and an opposing back, said back of said housing having a door that provides access to said automatic teller machine for servicing by a user from a position over said base.
  • 8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said carriage further comprises a first portion and a second portion received within said first portion, said second portion extending telescopingly from said first portion when said bearing means moves said carriage to said servicing position.
  • 9. An apparatus for moving an automatic teller machine in a housing between a operational position and a servicing position, said housing having a hole formed therein for said automatic teller to pass therethrough when being moved between said operational position and said servicing position, said apparatus comprising:a base; a carriage adapted to hold an automatic teller machine; and bearing means for securing said carriage to said base and for moving said carriage with respect to said base between an operational position and a servicing position, said carriage being cantilevered from said base by said bearing means when in said servicing position.
  • 10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said carriage further comprises a first portion and a second portion received within said first portion, said second portion extending telescopingly from said first portion when said bearing means moves said carriage to said servicing position.
  • 11. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said carriage further comprises:a first portion; a second portion received within said first portion, said second portion extending telescopingly from said first portion when said bearing means moves said carriage to said servicing position; and stops for stopping the movement of said first portion but not said second portion when said bearing means moves said carriage between said first position and said second position.
  • 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said bearing means further comprises a shaft on which said is rolled to move said base between said operational position and said servicing position.
  • 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said bearing means further comprises a first bearing that supports said carriage when said carriage is in said operational and said servicing positions, and a second bearing that supports said carriage when said carriage is in said operational position and secures said carriage to said base when said carriage is cantilevered from said base in said servicing position.
  • 14. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said base has a first end and an opposing second end, and wherein said bearing means further comprises bearings attached to said base and a shaft journaled in said bearings, said shaft moving said carriage when rotated in said bearings.
  • 15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising means for rotating said shaft.
  • 16. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising a hand crank for rotating said shaft.
  • 17. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said base has a channel formed therein, said channel having a top and an opposing bottom, and wherein said bearing means further comprises bearings that run within said channel, engaging said top of said channel when said carriage is in said servicing position and engaging said bottom of said channel when in said operational position.
  • 18. An apparatus for use on an island between two lanes of traffic at a drive-through bank, said apparatus comprising:a base secured to an island of a drive-through bank; a carriage movably secured to said base; an automatic teller machine mounted to said carriage; a housing enclosing said automatic teller machine, said housing having an access door; means for moving said housing and said automatic teller machine between an operational position atop said island and a servicing position where said automatic teller machine and housing are cantilevered over a lane adjacent to said island.
  • 19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said carriage further comprises a first portion and a second portion received within said first portion, said second portion extending telescopingly from said first portion when said moving means moves said carriage to said servicing position.
Parent Case Info

The present application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 09/191,226, filed Nov. 13, 1998 and now abandoned, which is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 08/887,012 filed Jul. 2, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No.5,836,256.

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Number Name Date Kind
4399755 Widemann Aug 1983 A
4497261 Ferris et al. Feb 1985 A
4557352 Tschappat, Jr. Dec 1985 A
4558650 Berman Dec 1985 A
4577562 Berman Mar 1986 A
4603643 Couvrette Aug 1986 A
4856437 Trucksess Aug 1989 A
5036779 Capraro Aug 1991 A
5379704 Couvrette Jan 1995 A
5440999 Dallman et al. Aug 1995 A
5615623 Capraro, Jr. Apr 1997 A
5711231 Couvrette et al. Jan 1998 A
5836256 Senterfeit, Sr. Nov 1998 A
Continuation in Parts (2)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/191226 Nov 1998 US
Child 09/599292 US
Parent 08/887012 Jul 1997 US
Child 09/191226 US