Abstract:
A self-service terminal ( 10 ) comprising a fascia ( 12 ) having a document entry/exit slot ( 56 ), and a document processing module ( 60 ) for processing documents entered via the slot ( 56 ) is described. The terminal ( 10 ) includes a document transport mechanism ( 70 ) for transporting documents between the slot ( 56 ) and a processing zone ( 72  or  74  or  76 ), and the transport mechanism ( 70 ) includes a chute ( 88 ) leading to a dispense area ( 58 ), so that if a document is to be returned to the user, the transport mechanism ( 70 ) attempts firstly to return the document via the slot ( 56 ), and if that fails, the transport mechanism ( 70 ) deposits the document into the chute ( 88 ) to return the document to the user via the dispense area ( 58 ). The terminal may be a check cashing ATM.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a self-service terminal (SST), such as an automated teller machine (ATM). In particular, the invention relates to an SST for cashing checks, such as a check cashing ATM.  
           [0002]    A check cashing ATM allows a registered user, who typically does not have a bank account, to cash a check and receive money from the ATM in a public access, unattended environment. A user typically registers with an institution that owns or operates check cashing ATMs, and provides identification information (such as a social security number) and information about a check (usually a pay check) that he/she regularly receives. The registered user is typically provided with a card to initiate a check cashing transaction at a check cashing ATM.  
           [0003]    The check information typically includes details of how frequently a check is paid (for example, every week), who the check is paid by (that is, the payor of the check), the payor&#39;s bank details (for example, a bank code identifying the name of the bank), the typical amount that the check is made out for, and such like.  
           [0004]    To cash a check, a user enters his/her card at a check cashing ATM, then enters a check to be cashed through a check slot in the ATM&#39;s fascia. The ATM draws in and processes this check. If the check is valid, and the details printed on the check match the check information provided during registration, then the ATM informs the user of a surcharge that will be applied if the user wishes to cash the check.  
           [0005]    If the user agrees to the surcharge then cash is dispensed to the user and the check is stored within the ATM. If the user does not agree to the surcharge then the check is returned to the user via the check slot.  
           [0006]    The check may be returned to the user for other reasons, for example, if the check is not complete, if the check has not been endorsed by the user, if the ATM decides that the details printed on the check do not match the check information provided by the user during registration, and such like.  
           [0007]    One problem associated with check cashing ATMs relates to the condition of the checks that are presented for cashing. It is difficult for an ATM to transport checks that have defects such as large tears, holes, creases, folds, dog-ears, and such like. A substantial percentage of checks entered at a check cashing ATM include one or more of these defects.  
           [0008]    For some defects, such as folds, an ATM may be able to draw in a check, but may not be able to return the check to the user because the fold prevents the check from being transported in the reverse direction.  
           [0009]    For check deposit ATMs, where the user has a bank account, a check that can be drawn in but not returned is usually deposited in a reject bin for manual processing at some later time. However, this option is not acceptable for a check cashing ATM because the user does not have an account to which the value of the check can be credited. Even if a temporary account is created and the value of the check is subsequently credited to this temporary account, this is still unsatisfactory because the user typically needs the money immediately as it is the user&#39;s pay.  
           [0010]    To overcome this problem, it is conventional for a maintenance engineer to be called to return the check to the user. This is expensive for the owner of the ATM, and time consuming for the user who has to wait for his/her check to be returned. This also causes the ATM to go out of service until the maintenance engineer has arrived, and may give rise to security implications.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    It is among the objects of an embodiment of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the above disadvantage or other disadvantages of prior art self-service terminals.  
           [0012]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-service terminal comprising a fascia having a document entry/exit slot, and a document processing module for processing documents entered via the slot; where the terminal includes a document transport mechanism for transporting documents between the slot and a processing zone, and the transport mechanism includes a chute leading to a dispense area, so that if a document is to be returned to the user, the transport mechanism attempts firstly to return the document via the slot, and if that fails, the transport mechanism deposits the document into the chute to return the document to the user via the dispense area.  
           [0013]    Preferably, the entry/exit slot is located above the dispense area.  
           [0014]    The processing zone may include a MICR (magnetic ink character recognition) reader and/or one or more imagers and/or a printer.  
           [0015]    Preferably, access to the dispense area by a user is controlled by a shutter, where the shutter is opened by the SST to allow a user to retrieve a returned document. This enables the SST to restrict access to the document, which may be useful if the user does not retrieve a document because the SST can stop third parties from retrieving the document once the user has left the vicinity of the SST.  
           [0016]    In one embodiment, the chute may include a purge mechanism for purging a document from the dispense area to a purge bin in the event of the document not being retrieved by a user. The purge mechanism may be implemented by a trap door in the chute through which a document may fall from the dispense area to the purge bin; alternatively, the chute may pivot to deposit a document into the purge bin. Any other convenient purge mechanism may be used.  
           [0017]    By virtue of this aspect of the invention, a SST is provided that can return a document to a user by using a chute to guide the document to a dispense area under the action of the force of gravity, thereby reducing service calls to the SST.  
           [0018]    According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-service terminal including a document processing module for receiving documents inserted by a user, characterized in that the module is operable to return a document to the user without changing direction of transport of the document.  
           [0019]    Preferably, the document may be returned to a user via an entrance/exit slot through which the document was originally inserted. This has the advantage that the user receives the document through the same slot that the document was inserted.  
           [0020]    In a preferred embodiment, the document is delivered to the user via a chute, so that the document can be released by the document processing module and returned to the user under the action of gravity.  
           [0021]    In some embodiments, the terminal initially attempts to return the document to the user via the entrance/exit slot, but if this is not possible, then the terminal attempts to return the document to the user via the chute.  
           [0022]    Preferably, the terminal includes a display for presenting a screen to the user informing the user that the document is being returned via the chute.  
           [0023]    Preferably, the terminal is a check cashing ATM.  
           [0024]    According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a document processing module having an entrance port at an upper area of the module and an exit port at a lower area, the module including a document transport mechanism for transporting documents from the entrance port to a storage area, where the module includes a chute for delivering documents to the lower port, whereby any document that cannot be transported properly by the module may be returned to the user via the chute.  
           [0025]    Preferably, the document processing module is a check processing module.  
           [0026]    Preferably, the terminal is an ATM.  
           [0027]    According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of returning documents to a user from a self-service terminal, the method comprising the steps of: providing a chute leading to a dispense area; delivering the document into the chute.  
           [0028]    Preferably, the method includes the step of informing the user via a display that a document is being returned via the dispense area.  
           [0029]    According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of cashing financial instruments, the method comprising the steps of: transporting a financial instrument from an entrance slot to a process zone; determining whether to accept or reject the instrument; in the event of accepting the instrument, dispensing cash; in the event of rejecting the instrument, returning the instrument to the user; where the step of returning the instrument to the user includes the step of dropping the instrument into a chute leading to a dispense area.  
           [0030]    The financial instrument may be a check, money order, or such like.  
           [0031]    According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a document processing module comprising a document transport mechanism, a document processing mechanism, and a plurality of document repositories, characterized in that one of the document repositories includes a chute leading to an open area through which the document can be removed, so that any document dropped into the chute is delivered to the open area for removal by a user.  
           [0032]    It will be appreciated that the above aspect of the present invention has the advantage that a financial instrument is returned to a user by the force of gravity, thereby avoiding any transport problems associated with defects in the media substrate such as tears, folds, creases, and such like. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0033]    These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specific description, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 1 is a pictorial diagram of a self-service terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic sectional diagram showing a part (the check processing module) of the terminal of FIG. 1;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3 is a pictorial diagram of a part (the lower dispense area) of the terminal of FIG. 1;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the steps involved in a check cashing operation; and  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the steps involved in a check return operation during an unsuccessful check cashing operation. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0039]    Reference is first made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a self-service terminal  10  in the form of a check cashing ATM. The ATM  10  comprises a fascia  12  pivotably coupled to a chassis (not shown); an upper panel  14  mounted to the chassis and defining an aperture  16  through which a camera (not shown) images a user of the ATM  10 ; and a lower panel  18  hingeably coupled to the chassis (not shown) so that the lower panel  18  can be opened to reveal a safe (not shown) mounted in the chassis (not shown).  
         [0040]    When the lower panel  18  is open, the fascia  12  can be pivoted upwards to reveal ATM modules mounted within the chassis (not shown).  
         [0041]    The fascia  12  and lower panel  18  provide a user interface  20  for allowing a user to execute a transaction. The fascia  12  includes a handset  30  and a telephone keypad  32  for allowing a user to contact a remote operator (not shown) typically located in a call center (not shown). The fascia  12  also includes an encrypting keyboard  34  for allowing a user to enter transaction details, and a display  36  for presenting screens to a user.  
         [0042]    The fascia  12  also defines eight slots for receiving and dispensing media items, and a tray  40  into which coins can be dispensed. The slots include: a money order printer slot  42 , a bunch note input slot  44 , a bunch note exit slot  46 , a statement output slot  48 , a cash dispense slot  50 , a card reader slot  52 , a card issue slot  54 , and a check input/output slot  56 . The slots  42  to  56  and tray  40  are arranged so that when the fascia  12  is closed, the slots and tray align with corresponding ATM modules mounted within the ATM&#39;s chassis (not shown).  
         [0043]    The user interface features described above are all provided on an NCR PERSONAS (trade mark) 5878 financial services center ATM, available from NCR Financial Solutions Group Limited, Discovery Center, 3 Fulton Road, Dundee, DD2 4SW, Scotland.  
         [0044]    However, in this embodiment of the invention an NCR PERSONAS (trade mark) 5878 ATM has been modified to include a lower dispense area  58 . The dispense area  58  is located beneath the check input/output slot  56  and is fed by a check processing module  60  located within the ATM chassis (not shown).  
         [0045]    The check processing module (CPM)  60  will now be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic sectional diagram (along line  2 - 2  in FIG. 1) showing part of the fascia  12  and lower panel  18 , and the main parts of the CPM  60 . FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the main elements in the CPM  60 .  
         [0046]    The CPM  60  is a modified version of a conventional check processing module, such as the check processing module provided with the PERSONAS (trade mark) 5878 NCR ATM.  
         [0047]    The CPM  60  comprises the following elements: a check input/output transport mechanism  70  including an alignment mechanism for aligning a check; a MICR head  72  for reading magnetic details on a code line of a check; an imager  74  including an upper  74   a  and lower  74   b  CCD camera for capturing an image of each side of a check (front and rear); a printer  76  for endorsing a check; and a storage bin  78  for storing processed checks. The transport mechanism  70  includes two divert gates  80   a ,  80   b  for diverting checks to either a reject bin  82  or a chute bin  84 . The elements ( 70  to  82 ) are conventional and will not be described in detail herein.  
         [0048]    The CPM  60  also includes a controller  86  for controlling the operation of the elements ( 70  to  80 ) within the CPM  60 .  
         [0049]    The chute bin  84  includes a chute  88  in the form of a steep, sloping plastics guide arranged to deliver a check from the transport mechanism  70  to the dispense area  58  using the force of gravity.  
         [0050]    The CPM  60  also includes an entrance shutter  90  for opening and closing the check input/output slot  56 , and a dispense area shutter  92  for allowing user access to the chute  88 .  
         [0051]    A typical transaction will now be described with reference to FIG. 4, which is a flowchart illustrating the steps involved in a check cashing transaction, and also with reference to FIGS.  1  to  3 . In this transaction, a user has registered with an institution owning and operating the ATM  10 , and the user has informed the institution that he receives a weekly pay check for two hundred pounds, and has received a registration card for accessing check cashing functions at the ATM  10 .  
         [0052]    Initially, the user enters the registration card into the card reader slot  52 , selects “check cashing” from a list of transaction options presented on the display  36 , and inserts the check to be cashed through the check input/output slot  56 .  
         [0053]    The CPM controller  30  opens the slot shutter  90  to receive the check, and transports the received check (step  110 ) to the MICR head  72  where a code line on the check is read (step  112 ).  
         [0054]    The transport mechanism  70  then transports the check to the imager, where both sides of the check are imaged (step  114 ).  
         [0055]    The ATM  10  then verifies that the check has been completed correctly (step  116 ). If the check is incomplete, then the CPM  60  initiates a check return operation, described below with reference to FIG. 5.  
         [0056]    If the check is complete, then the ATM  10  verifies that the amount printed in a courtesy amount field on the check matches details provided by the user when the user registered with the institution operating the check cashing ATM (step  118 ). In this example, the user registered a two hundred pounds check that was received weekly, and the check being presented is made out for two hundred pounds.  
         [0057]    If the amounts do not match, then the CPM  60  initiates a check return operation, described below with reference to FIG. 5.  
         [0058]    If the amounts do match, as in this example, then the ATM  10  displays the charge that will be deducted for cashing the check (step  120 ), in this example five pounds, and requests the user to confirm that he is willing to pay this charge to cash the check (step  122 ).  
         [0059]    If the user does not wish to pay the charge, then the CPM  60  initiates a check return operation, described below with reference to FIG. 5.  
         [0060]    If the user accepts the charge, then the CPM  60  prints endorsement data onto the check (step  124 ), and dispenses cash (step  126 ) to the value of the courtesy amount of the check minus the charge levied for cashing the check, in this example, one hundred and ninety five pounds is dispensed to the user.  
         [0061]    The CPM  60  then transports the check to the storage bin  78  (step  128 ) for subsequent collection and further processing.  
         [0062]    The check return operation will now be described with reference to FIG. 5, which is a flowchart illustrating the steps involved in attempting to return a check to a user.  
         [0063]    In attempting to return a check, the transport mechanism initially reverses the direction of transport (step  140 ) to convey the check to the check input/output slot  56 . The CPM  60  determines if the check has been successfully conveyed to the input/output slot  56  (step  142 ) using sensors (not shown) in the vicinity of the shutter  90 .  
         [0064]    If the check has been conveyed to the input/output slot  56  then the reverse transport has been successful and the check can be returned to the user (step  144 ) in the conventional manner, that is, by presenting the check to the user via the check input/output slot  56 . The CPM may monitor the slot  56  to ensure that the check has been removed by the user, and if the user has not removed the check within a predetermined time period, the CPM may retract the check and convey the check to the reject bin  82 .  
         [0065]    If the check cannot be transported to the input/output slot  56 , then the transport mechanism  70  reverses the direction of transport again so that the check is driven towards the chute (step  146 ). When the check reaches the chute, it leaves the transport mechanism  70  and falls down the chute  88  under force of gravity. The CPM controller  86  opens the dispense area shutter  92  (step  148 ) to allow the user to remove the check from the open area defined by the chute bin  84 . The display  36  also informs the user that the check has been delivered to the lower dispense area  58 .  
         [0066]    A sensor (not shown) in the chute bin  84  detects if the check is present in the bin  84 . If the controller  86  determines that the check has not been removed within a predetermined time period (step  150 ), the controller  86  may close the dispense area shutter  92  (step  152 ) to block access to the check until the check has been removed by an authorized person. If the check is removed by the user, then the ATM  10  returns the card to the user via the card reader slot  52  (step  154 ).  
         [0067]    Various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment within the scope of the invention, for example, in other embodiments the chute may be arranged so that the guide is substantially vertical. In other embodiments, the chute may include a purge mechanism. The purge mechanism may include a trap door so that if there is a check in the dispense area that has not been removed by a user, the trap door can be opened by the CPM controller  86  to allow the check to fall into a purge bin located beneath the chute. Alternatively, the purge mechanism may be implemented by the chute being pivotable so that if there is a check in the dispense area that has not been removed by a user, the chute can be pivoted by the CPM controller  86  to allow the check to fall into a purge bin located beneath the chute. The advantage of having a purge mechanism is that an authorized person is not required to remove a check from the dispense area, thereby reducing the cost of operating the ATM  10 .  
         [0068]    In other embodiments, other documents may be deposited than checks.