Abstract:
A method and apparatus are disclosed for removing one item of media at a time from an item of media container. The apparatus includes a movable element locatable in an abutting relationship with an elected item of media in a media container and disposed to vibrating against the elected item of media to permit the elected item of media to be subsequently be removed alone from the container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing one item of media at a time from an item of media container. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to apparatus which can generate a separating effect between an elected item that is to be removed from a container and a next item of media in the container to thereby permit the elected item of media to be removed alone from the container. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is known that various types of container can be used to contain items of media. For example, a cassette or depository can be utilized to store flexible items of media such as, but not limited to, currency notes, checks, tickets, giros and the like. 
         [0003]    Such media containers are often used in self-service terminals such as automatic teller machines (ATMs), vending machines, change machines and the like. 
         [0004]    In such machines, it is important that when an item of media is to be removed from the container in which it is held, the item of media is removed without error. A particular problem with such removal is that it is often difficult to remove one item of media from a pick up region of a container without upsetting the next item of media within the container or without risking the removal of multiple items together. 
         [0005]    Certain solutions to this problem have been suggested, however, often these require separate parts to be provided in or close to the container and these must be moved from time to time and often utilize excessive force during a pick up sequence. The provision of such extra parts is costly, prone to error and can itself lead to further aggravating problems which can cause failure of the removal process. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an aim of the present invention to at least partly mitigate the above-mentioned problems. It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide an apparatus for removing one item of media at a time from an item of media container. 
         [0007]    It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus which enables items of media to be removed alone without any additional parts being needed in the service terminal. 
         [0008]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for removing one item of media at a time from an item of media container, the apparatus comprising:
       a movable element locatable in an abutting relationship with an elected item of media in a media container and disposed to vibrate against said elected item of media to permit said elected item of media to be subsequently removed alone from the container.   Aptly, the movable element vibrates against an outer surface of the elected item at a frequency of about around 50 to 150 Hz responsive to repeated counter rotationary motion of a carrier of said movable element.   Aptly, the movable element comprises a region of a pick up lever.   Aptly, the movable element is locatable responsive to a driver signal.   Aptly, the drive signal comprises a stepper motor pick line drive signal.   Aptly, in a release mode of operation, a carrier of said movable element is repeatedly rotatable in a clockwise and anti-clockwise motion about an axis of rotation on each side of a resting position, said movable element being located off centre on the carrier whereby repeated counter rotation of the carrier induces an effective backwards and forwards motion of the movable element against the elected item of media.   Aptly, in a pick mode of operation, immediately subsequent to said release mode of operation, said carrier of the movable element is rotated about the axis of rotation responsive to a non-idle pick line drive signal to thereby urge a suction element carried by the movable element against an outer surface of said elected item of media.   Aptly, the region of the pick up lever comprises a low friction surface region.   Aptly, the apparatus comprises an automated teller machine (ATM), the item of media comprises a currency note and the container comprises a currency cassette.       
 
         [0018]    According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of removing one item of media at a time from an item of media container, the method comprising the steps of:
       prior to a pick mode of operation in which an elected item of media is removed alone from an item of media container, vibrating a movable element arranged to abut the elected item of media against an outer surface of the elected item of media, to thereby separate said elected item of media from a next item of media in the container.       
 
         [0020]    Aptly, the method step of vibrating the movable element comprises the steps of repeatedly rotating a carrier of the movable element in a clockwise and anti-clockwise motion about an axis of rotation on each side of a resting position, and inducing an effective backwards and forwards motion of the movable element located off centre on the carrier, responsive to the repeated rotation. 
         [0021]    Aptly, the method further comprises the steps of: 
         [0000]    in the pick mode of operation immediately subsequent to a release mode of operation, providing a non-idle pick line drive signal;
 
rotating a carrier of the movable element about an axis of rotation responsive to the non-idle pick line drive signal;
 
urging a suction element carried by the movable element against the elected item of media;
 
energizing a negative pressure source connected to the suction element to thereby releasably secure the item of media to the suction element; and
 
removing the item of media from the item of media container by rotating the carrier of the movable element about the axis of rotation into a feed location, a portion of said item of media being carried with the movable element.
 
         [0022]    According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a product which comprises a computer program comprising program instructions for: 
         [0000]    prior to a pick mode of operation in which an elected item of media is removed alone from an item of media container, vibrating a movable element arranged to abut the elected item of media against an outer surface of the elected item of media, to thereby separate said elected item of media from a next item of media in the container. 
         [0023]    Certain embodiments of the present invention provide the advantage that a movable pick up lever can be utilized to provide a separating effect between an elected item of media and a next item of media to be removed in a container. This helps permit the elected media to be subsequently removed from the container alone, as it minimizes the chance that other items of media will be removed from the container with the picked item of media. 
         [0024]    Certain embodiments of the present invention provide the advantage that a movable pick up lever, normally utilized to pick items of media from the container, can have a double function. Notably, an end of the lever can be made to abut an outermost item of media at a pick up region of the container and this part of the lever can be made to vibrate against the items media in the container immediately prior to a step in which the outermost elected item of media is picked and removed from the container. By continually knocking against the elected item of media which is to be picked, other items of media in the container become detached from the item being picked. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic diagram of a self-service terminal such as an ATM; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic diagram of a media dispenser such as a currency note dispenser; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  illustrates a pick up arm beginning a pick mode of operation; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates a currency note cassette containing currency notes; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates a later stage in the pick mode of operation; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  illustrates a release mode of operation prior to the pick mode of operation. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a self-service terminal  100  in the form of an automated teller machine (ATM) according to one embodiment of the present invention. It will be understood that certain embodiments of the present invention are applicable to other types of terminal such as ATMs, vending machines, change machines and the like. 
         [0034]    The ATM  100  includes different modules for enabling transactions to be executed and recorded by the ATM  100 . These ATM modules include customer transaction modules and service personnel modules. The ATM modules include an ATM controller  101 , a customer display  102 , a card reader/writer module  103 , an encrypting keypad module  104 , a receipt printer module  105 , a cash dispenser module  106 , a journal printer module  107  for creating a record of every transaction executed by the ATM, a connection module  108 , an operator panel module  109  for use by a service operator (such as a field engineer, a replenisher (of currency, of printed paper or the like), or the like). 
         [0035]    Certain customer transaction modules (such as the ATM controller  101 ) are also used by the service personnel for implementing management functions. However, some of the modules are referred to herein as service personnel modules (such as the journal printer module  107  and the operator panel module  109 ) because they are never used by ATM customers. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic diagram of an ATM media dispenser  100 . The ATM  100  includes a removable currency cassette  200 , a pick unit  201  which operates to remove individual bank notes from the currency cassette  200 , a transport section  202  for transporting picked bank notes, a stacker wheel  203  (instead of a stacker wheel a ballistic stacker or a spray dispenser or the like could be used). A presenter unit  204  presents a bunch of picked and collated bank notes to a customer. A controller  205  controls the operation of the dispenser  100  and a purge bin  206  stores incorrectly picked bank notes or bank notes not removed by a customer. These component parts are housed within a chassis  207 . 
         [0037]    The transport section  202  includes a vertical portion  208  for receiving a picked bank note from the pick unit  201  and a horizontal portion  209  for conveying a picked bank note either to the stacker wheel  203  or the purge bin  206 . The vertical portion  208  includes a conventional bank note thickness sensor  210  to detect multiple superimposed bank notes being transported erroneously as a single bank note. Any such superimposed bank notes may have to be diverted to the purge bin  206  via a divert path  211 . The horizontal portion  209  comprises an upper guide  212  which is pivotably coupled to a lower guide  213  to permit access to any bank notes jammed therebetween so that the jammed bank note can be removed therefrom. The lower guide  213  includes a diverter (not shown) for routing a bank note (or multiple bank notes) to the divert path  211 . 
         [0038]    The transport section includes various belts and/or gears to transport bank notes or other such currency notes and these belts and/or gears are all powered by a pick motor  215 . The stacker wheel  203  is coupled to a stacker wheel motor  216 . The stacker wheel motor  216  is coupled to the controller  205  by a control line  217 . 
         [0039]    The stacker wheel  203  comprises an axle  220  on which are mounted a plurality of mutually coupled but axially separated hubs (only one of which is shown in  FIG. 2 ). Each hub includes a plurality of arcuate tines  221  disposed transverse to the axle on which the hubs are mounted. The hubs are mounted in registration so that the arcuate tines on one hub are aligned with the corresponding arcuate tines on all other hubs. 
         [0040]    The hubs are rotated in unison as bank notes are fed towards the stacker wheel from the transport section. The rotation of the stacker wheel is synchronized with the speed at which bank notes are conveyed so that only one bank note is stored between adjacent tines on a hub. 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  illustrates a pick up arm  300  which is supported by a pick arm carrier  301 . A pick arm gear  302  moves with the pick arm and carrier  301 . A first upper roller  303  rotates about a respective axis of rotation  304  and a lower roller  305  rotates about a respective further axis of rotation  306 . 
         [0042]    The opposed nip rollers  303 ,  305 , pick arm  300 , pick arm carrier  301  and gear  302  form part of the pick unit  201  shown in  FIG. 2 . The pick arm  300  is an elongate arm which carries at a first end thereof (only partially shown in  FIG. 3 ) a suction cup  307 . At a further end region of the pick arm  300  the arm is fixed off centre to the pick arm carrier  301  which rotates with respect to the axis of rotation  308 . The arm, carrier and gear may be separate parts connected together as may be integrally formed. 
         [0043]    The opposed nip rollers are continually driven. That is to say, the upper nip roller  303  is constantly rotated clockwise whilst the lower nip roller  305  is constantly driven anti-clockwise. The lower nip roller  305  is not a whole roller. The diameters of the nip rollers are different and the speed of rotation is different so as to avoid undue wear on the opposed rollers. That is to say, the complete roller and gap roller both rotate at different speeds and have different diameters but have the same surface speed so that the rollers close at different places on each rotation to avoid undue wear in any one place. 
         [0044]    In use, the pick arm lever  300  which carries the suction cup  307  is rotated so as to urge the suction cup against an outer surface of an item of media to be picked.  FIG. 4  illustrates a portion of a currency cassette  200  which includes an outer secure housing  400  which has an open mouth region  401 . Currency notes or other such items of media are stacked within the cassette. An outermost currency note  402  is an elected item of media in the sense that it will be picked in a next picking mode of operation. The elected item of media  402  has an outer surface  403  and an inner surface  404 . The inner surface  404  of the elected item of media  402  is in a face-to-face juxtaposed position with an outer surface of a next item of media and so on. A cassette plunger  405  is biaised so as to urge any currency notes in the cassette in the direction A shown in  FIG. 4 . That is to say, towards the open mouth of the currency cassette. This means that the currency notes are constantly moved to present items of media at the opening of the cassette so that the currency cassette can be emptied of currency notes after many pick operations. 
         [0045]      FIG. 3  illustrates the configuration of the pick arm and pick carrier at an initiation sequence of a pick mode of operation. The gear  302  is driven by a stepper motor gear so as to rotate all of the gear  302 , carrier  301  and pick arm  300  in an anti-clockwise direction about the axis of rotation  308 . It is to be noted that in the initial state shown in  FIG. 3 , an abutment surface region  310  which is an arcuate, partially cylindrical surface region of the end of the pick arm extends beyond a centre line Z-Z. As the gear  302  is driven anti-clockwise about the axis of rotation  308  it will be understood that because the pick arm is mounted off centre with respect to the axis of rotation of the carrier  301 , then the pick arm abutment surface  310  will move away from the line Z-Z. 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  illustrates the location of the pick arm and suction cup  307  in a later state of a pick mode of operation. The gear  302  has been driven anti-clockwise about the axis of rotation  308  which has rotated the pick arm in an anti-clockwise fashion into the position shown in  FIG. 5 . The currency cassette and any currency notes in the currency cassette are located so that the outer surface  403  of an outermost currency note is aligned along the line Z-Z. Thus, in the position show in  FIG. 5 , the suction cup  307  becomes engaged with an outer surface  403  with an elected item of media. In fact, the pick arm, gear and carrier may optionally be driven a little further anti-clockwise so as to move the pick arm a little (aptly, one, two or more degrees) into the open mouth of the currency cassette. 
         [0047]    In order to pick the currency note, when the suction cup is engaged against an outer surface of a currency note, a vacuum source (not shown) is initiated and connected into fluid communication with the suction cup  307 . If an item of media is present in the currency cassette, the body of the item of media closes an open mouth of the suction cup, thus effectively forming a sealed pathway. The negative pressure established in the suction cup enclosure thus causes the outermost elected item of media to “stick” to the pick arm. In a next mode of operation, the stepper motor is driven in an opposite direction against the gears  302  which then begins to move the pick arm in a clockwise rotation motion about the axis of rotation of the carrier. Because the currency note is effectively stuck to the suction cup at this stage, the elected item of media begins to move, or at least a region of the currency note where the suction cup is located, begins to move. 
         [0048]    Aptly, two brushes (not shown) are positioned approximately ten to fifteen degrees of rotation away from the line Z-Z. If by accident two or more items of media are picked, the brushes cause any items of media which are not engaged with the suction cup to fall away from that elected item of media and they will fall back into the currency cassette. 
         [0049]    The rotation of the gear  302  in a clockwise direction about the axis of rotation  308  then continues moving the elected item of currency into a position where an edge region of the elected item of media is presented between the counter-rotating rollers. The vacuum source is then terminated and the nip rollers remove the elected and now picked item of media which is then transported to a distribution point. 
         [0050]      FIG. 6  illustrates a release mode of operation. The release mode of operation is carried out immediately prior to a pick mode of operation. The release mode of operation operates to separate an elected item of media in a container from a next item of media to be picked so that the elected item of media can be picked alone. That is to say, only a single item of media is picked in any one pick step. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the abutment surface  310  extends beyond the line Z-Z. In this position, the surface  310  abuts against an outer surface of an elected item of media. By providing a drive signal to a stepper motor which drives the gear  302 , and because the pick arm is positioned off centre with respect to an axis of rotation  308  of the carrier by repeatedly driving the gear  302  by a short distance clockwise and then anti-clockwise, the abutment surface  310  can be made to effectively move backwards and forwards against the outer surface of an elected item of media. That is to say, rotatory motion of the gear  302  is translated into an effective vibrating force exerted by the abutment surface  310  against an elected item of media. If the notes are crisp and flat, indicative of newly printed currency notes, then this vibrating force can affect many hundreds of notes in the currency cassette. If the notes are softer and more crumply, indicative of pre-used notes, then the vibration force translates only through the first handful of notes. Aptly, the first two or three notes. This vibratory force causes the currency notes to separate by falling away from one another when the abutment surface  310  pushes the outermost currency note against the biaising force exerted by the cassette pusher  405 . That is to say, in a release mode of operation the abutment surface  310  pushes against the direction A shown in  FIG. 4 . This releases the elected item of media which falls by virtue of gravity away from a next item of media to be picked. During a subsequent pick mode of operation, the elected item of media can thus be picked alone. 
         [0052]    Aptly, the vibration caused by the motion of the abutment surface  310  has a frequency of about around 50 to 150 Hz. Aptly, the frequency is 80 to 120 Hz. Aptly, the frequency is 90 to 110 Hz. 
         [0053]    The production of a vibrating force that causes an elected currency note to separate from a next currency note is particularly helpful when currency notes or other items of media have a high friction component acting between them. That is to say, when the printing surface decoration, or holographic methodology used to print the item of media means that a relatively rough surface is provided. The separation mode of operation described herein above helps reduce this combined friction and helps ensure that only one item of media is ever picked at any one time. 
         [0054]    Whilst certain embodiments of the present invention have been described herein above with reference to the pick up arm lever as being a movable element which can cause a separation force, it will be understood that certain other embodiments of the present invention can utilize a dedicated and separate movable element, for example, a driven roller which is urged against an outer surface of an elected item of media in the container. The pick lever thus plays no part in the release mode of operation but rather is used solely to pick elected items in the pick mode of operation. Drive signals may be provided to this driven roller or other such vibrating movable mechanism prior to the pick mode of operation to separate the elected item of media from a next item of media. 
         [0055]    Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to” and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise. 
         [0056]    Features, integers, characteristics or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of the features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to any details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. 
         [0057]    The reader&#39;s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.