Patent Application
20210065495
Legacy vacuum tube drive-up units currently in-service function by the driver communicating with an on-site bank teller via a microphone and loud speaker. Any media which passes between the bank staff and the customer (or vice versa) must be loaded into a round cassette which is then transferred using a system of vacuum powered pipes. For these units to function they must be manned by bank staff located in on-site mini-banks. This is an expensive operation as all transactions must be individually processed one after the other resulting in high transaction times and poor customer satisfaction.
Disclosed is a media rotation mechanism. The media rotation mechanism may include a housing, a media receiver, and a rotation motor. The housing may define a first opening and a second opening. The media receiver may define a media receiver opening. The rotation motor may be configured to rotate the media receiver between a first position and a second position. The first position may correspond to the media receiver opening facing the first opening. The second position may correspond to the media receiver opening facing the second opening.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The examples set out herein illustrate possible embodiments, and such examples are not to be construed as limiting the scope of this disclosure in any manner.
To replace legacy vacuum tube drive-up terminals, drive-up automated teller machines (ATM) units may use the media rotation mechanisms disclosed herein. The island on which legacy vacuum tube drive-up terminals are installed have a depth ranging from 18 inches to 24 inches. Without the media rotation mechanisms disclosed herein, drive-up ATM are not capable of being mounted within the 18-24 inch depth of islands where legacy vacuum tube drive-terminals are installed. The media rotation mechanisms disclosed herein, allows an ATM to be constructed which can readily be mounted on an island of having a depth of 18 inches to 24 inches.
The media rotation mechanisms disclosed herein allow for media presented from a recycler that may be stored in a safe module, to then be turned through an angle ranging from about 20° to about 180°, such as 90°, and then to be presented to a shutter for retrieval by a user. The reverse may also occur where a user may present media to the ATM via the shutter and the media rotation mechanisms may rotate the media through an angle for presentation to a recycler. By using the rotation mechanisms disclosed herein, the safe and main media module may be rotated through an angle such as 90° so as to significantly reduce the depth of the ATMs.
Turning now to the figures,
As shown in
Housing 202 may define one or more openings 203. Openings 203 may allow for media to pass into and out of housing 202. Housing 202 may allow media rotation mechanism 116 to be modular. As a result, media rotation mechanism 116 can be easily replaced during maintenance or other service operations if needed.
Axle 310 may be mechanically coupled to rotation motor 302 via a belt 312. Rotation motor 302 may include a pulley 314 and axle 310 may include a pulley 316. Pulleys 314 and 316 may be used to increase torque applied to axle 310 and slow down rotation of axle 310 as compared to the spindle speed of rotation motor 302. While
Translation motor 208 may be mechanically coupled to media receiver 204 via tracks 206. For example, tracks 206 may be coupled to media receiver and a belt 320 may couple tracks to translation motor 208. During operation, a limit switch 304 may be used to limit translation of media receiver 204. A limit switch 318 may be used to limit rotation of media receiver 204. Non-limiting examples of limit switches 304 and 318 include optical and mechanical switches, such as a lever, a roller plunger, a whisker type switch, and a reed switch. While a single limit switch has been shown to limit rotational and translational motion of media receiver 204, any number of limits switches may be used to limit motion of media receiver 204 in the rotational and/or translational directions.
Non-limiting examples of translation motor 208 and rotation motor 302 include stepper motors, brushed or brushless motors, servo motors, linear motors, etc. As indicated herein, gears, pulleys, etc. may be used to increase the force applied to tracks 206 and/or torque applied to turntable 306.
As disclosed herein, translation motor 208 and rotation motor 302 may be controlled by controller 122. For example, as disclosed herein, controller 122 may transmit a rotation signal to rotation motor 302. The rotation signal may cause rotation motor 302 to actuate and rotate in a first or second direction. Controller 122 may transmit a translation signal to translation motor 208 and the translation signal may cause translation motor 302 to actuate and translate tracks 206 in a first or second direction. As disclosed herein, controller 122 may also receive interrupt signals from limit switches 304 and/or 318. Upon receiving the interrupt signals, controller 122 may cease transmitting the rotation and/or translation signals. For example, limit switches 304 and/or 318 may be normally open switches and upon media receiver 204 reaching a predetermined position, media receiver 204 may depress limit switches 304 and/or 318 and close a circuit. The closed circuit may allow the interrupt signals to travel to controller 122.
Controller 122 may include a user interface 408. User interface 408 may allow a user to deposit media and/or withdraw media from media terminal 102. User interface 408 may also allow a technician or manufacture to program media terminal 102 and configured media rotation mechanism 116. User interface 408 may include a keypad, a display (touchscreen or otherwise), etc. In addition, user interface 408 may include audio equipment such as speakers, a microphone, a headphone jack, etc. that may be used to allow customers, technicians, etc. to interface with media rotation mechanism 116.
Controller 122 may also include a communications port 410. Communications port 410 may allow media terminal 102 to communicate with various information sources, such as, but not limited to, external banking systems, computers operated by tellers, customers, technicians, etc. As disclosed herein, communications port 410 may be wired or wireless. Use of wired or wireless connections may allow media terminal to replace legacy vacuum tube drive-up terminals without a need for bulky plumbing required by legacy vacuum tube drive-up terminals. Non-limiting examples of communications port 410 include, Ethernet cards (wireless or wired), Bluetooth® transmitters and receivers, near-field communications modules, serial port interfaces, etc.
Controller 122 may also include an input/output (I/O) device 412. I/O device 412 may allow controller 122 to receive and output information. Non-limiting examples of I/O device 412 include, a camera (still or video), a printer, a scanner, biometric readers, limit switches, etc. For example, I/O device 412 may include limit switches 304 and/or 318.
In
In
The translation of media receiver 204 may be limited by limit switch 304. For example, upon retracting media receiver 204 from opening 203, controller 122 may receive an interruption signal (604) from limit switch 304. In addition to limit switches, translation motor 208 may be a stepper motor and controller 122 may transmit pulses and/or count a number of steps translation motor 208 makes to reposition media receiver 204. Limit switch 304 may act as a safety to prevent media receiver 204 from over traveling. For example, if translation motor 208 is a stepper motor and misses a step or each step is not exactly even, then limit switch 304 may transmit the interruption signal to prevent overtravel of media receiver 204.
As shown in
The rotation of media receiver 204 may be limited by limit switch 318. For example, upon rotating media receiver 204 90° or to a predetermined position/orientation, controller 122 may receive an interruption signal (604) from limit switch 318. In addition to limit switches, rotation motor 302 may be a stepper motor and controller 122 may transmit pulses and/or count a number of steps rotation motor 302 makes to rotate media receiver 204. Limit switch 318 may act as a safety to prevent media receiver 204 from over rotating. For example, if rotation motor 302 is a stepper motor and misses a step or each step is not exactly even, then limit switch 318 may transmit the interruption signal to prevent over rotation of media receiver 204.
Upon rotating 90°, media receiver 204 may be translated as indicated by arrow 508 in
Example 1 is a media rotation mechanism comprising: a housing defining a first opening and a second opening; a media receiver defining a media receiver opening; and a rotation motor operative to rotate the media receiver between a first position and a second position, the first position corresponding to the media receiver opening facing the first opening, the second position corresponding to the media receiver opening facing the second opening.
In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 optionally includes a limit switch in electrical communication with the rotation motor, the limit switch arranged to limit rotation of the media receiver in a first direction or a second direction.
In Example 3, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-2 optionally include a track mechanically coupled to the media receiver; and a translation motor operative to translate the media receiver from a third position to a fourth position along the track.
In Example 4, the subject matter of Example 3 optionally includes a limit switch in electrical communication with the translation motor, the limit switch arranged to limit translation of the media receiver between the third position and the fourth position.
In Example 5, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 3-4 optionally include wherein the translation motor is a stepper motor.
In Example 6, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-5 optionally include wherein the rotation motor is a stepper motor.
In Example 7, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 1-6 optionally include a turntable mechanically coupled to the rotation motor and the media receiver.
Example 8 is a media rotation mechanism for use in a media terminal, the media rotation mechanism comprising: a processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform actions comprising: transmitting a rotation signal to a rotation motor, the rotation signal operative to activate the rotation motor, and cease transmitting the rotation signal.
In Example 9, the subject matter of Example 8 optionally includes a limit switch, and wherein the actions further comprise receiving an interruption signal from the limit switch, and wherein ceasing transmitting the rotation signal is in response to receiving the interruption signal.
In Example 10, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 8-9 optionally include wherein the actions further comprise deskewing a plurality of media objects.
Example 11 is a media terminal comprising: a media recycler defining a media recycler opening; a shutter located adjacent the media recycler and arranged at an angle to the media recycler opening; and a media rotation mechanism located adjacent to the media recycler opening and the shutter, the media rotation mechanism comprising: a media receiver defining a media receiver opening, and a rotation motor operative to rotate the media receiver between a first position and a second position, the first position corresponding to the media receiver opening facing the shutter, the second position corresponding to the media receiver opening facing the media recycler opening.
In Example 12, the subject matter of Example 11 optionally includes a limit switch in electrical communication with the rotation motor, the limit switch arranged to limit rotation of the media receiver in a first direction or a second direction.
In Example 13, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 11-12 optionally include a track mechanically coupled to the media receiver; and a translation motor operative to translate the media receiver from a third position to a fourth position along the track.
In Example 14, the subject matter of Example 13 optionally includes a limit switch in electrical communication with the translation motor, the limit switch arranged to limit translation of the media receiver between the third position and the fourth position.
In Example 15, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 13-14 optionally include wherein the translation motor is a stepper motor.
In Example 16, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 11-15 optionally include wherein the rotation motor is a stepper motor.
In Example 17, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 11-16 optionally include a turntable mechanically coupled to the rotation motor and the media receiver.
In Example 18, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 11-17 optionally include a processor in electrical communication with the rotation motor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform actions comprising transmitting a rotation signal to the rotation motor, the rotation signal operative to activate the rotation motor.
In Example 19, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 11-18 optionally include a limit switch; a processor in electrical communication with the rotation motor and the limit switch; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform actions comprising: transmitting a rotation signal to the rotation motor, the rotation signal operative to activate the rotation motor, receiving an interruption signal from the limit switch, and cease transmitting the rotation signal in response to receiving the interruption signal.
In Example 20, the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 18-19 optionally include wherein the actions further comprise deskewing a plurality of media objects.
In Example 21, the media rotation mechanisms, media terminals, and methods of any one of or any combination of Examples 1-20 are optionally configured such that all elements or options recited are available to use or select from.
The above detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or similar elements. While embodiments and examples are described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, and/or modifications may be made to the elements and stages illustrated in the drawings, and the systems and methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, and/or adding stages to the disclosed methods and/or elements to the discloses systems. Accordingly, the detailed description does not limit this disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of any invention disclosed herein is defined by the appended claims.
It will be readily understood to those skilled in the art that various other changes in the details, material, and arrangements of the parts and method stages which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the subject matter may be made without departing from the principles and scope of the inventive subject matter as expressed in the subjoined claims.
