Document routing mechanism

When selected documents traveling along a first feed path (46) are to be fed to a second feed path (48), a solenoid is energized causing pivotal movement of a pair of flipper arms (56a, 56b) so as to direct the documents onto the second feed path (48). When the solenoid is de-energized, documents on the first feed path (46) may proceed to the continuation portion thereof i.e., path (46a), or documents from the second feed path (48) may be fed to the continuation portion (46a) of the first feed path (46). The flipper arms (56a, 56b) are coupled by gearing mechanisms so that they are moveable relative to each other, pivotal movement of one flipper arm (56a, 56b) causing pivotal movement of the other arm (56a, 56b). Such relative movement between the flipper arms (56a, 56b) allows for a compact and reliable structure and activation of the mechanism is required only when documents are to be fed from the first feed path (46) to the second feed path (48).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates to document routing mechanism and in
 particular, to a document routing mechanism associated with a storage
 device for currency notes in an automated teller machine (ATM).
 Currency notes are generally stored in one or more currency cassettes
 within the cash dispenser module of an ATM. During a cash withdrawal
 transaction, the requisite notes must be picked from the appropriate
 cassette or cassettes by a vacuum or friction picking mechanism and fed
 along a main transport path to a stacking mechanism, prior to being
 delivered to a customer through a slot in the front panel of the ATM. In
 order to increase the speed and efficiency at which currency notes are
 dispensed to a customer, currency notes may be picked from one or more of
 the currency cassettes prior to receipt of a customer cash withdrawal
 request and are transported to one or more auxiliary storage devices
 (escrows) for temporary storage. The auxiliary storage devices are located
 along the transport path closer to the stacking mechanism than the
 currency cassettes and are arranged to dispense currency notes at a faster
 rate than dispensing from the main currency cassettes. In subsequent cash
 withdrawal transactions, if at least some of the notes required for the
 transaction are available in the auxiliary storage devices, these notes
 are dispensed therefrom in preference to, or in addition to the notes from
 the currency cassettes.
 In order to achieve appropriate routing of the currency notes from the main
 feed path towards the auxiliary storage device when currency notes are
 delivered thereto and from the auxiliary storage device to the main feed
 path when currency notes are dispensed therefrom, a reliable document
 routing mechanism is required. Since currency notes are commonly picked
 from a currency cassette at a rate of up to ten notes per second, the
 document routing mechanism must be suitably responsive so as to provide
 for the appropriate routing of bank notes traveling at such a speed.
 A document routing mechanism for an ATM currency note storage device is
 described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,125. The routing mechanism comprises a
 pair of curved baffles and a gating mechanism having a core member which
 can be moved between a first position to define a transport path into the
 escrow and a second position to define a transport path out of the escrow.
 The core member is moved by means of an electromagnet and a lever linkage
 which is connected to the core member. However, this known mechanism is
 complex and bulky and has a limited operating speed.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 It is an object of the present invention to provide a fast and reliable
 document routing mechanism of relatively simple construction.
 According to the present invention there is provided a document routing
 mechanism for selectively directing documents traveling along a first feed
 path to either a second feed path or to a continuation of the first feed
 path, and for selectively directing documents returning on the second feed
 path to the continuation of the first feed path, comprising deflecting
 means for movement within the first feed path and the second feed path and
 in that the deflecting means comprises a first deflecting means moveable
 within the first feed path and, a second deflecting means moveable within
 the second feed path wherein the first deflecting means is moveable
 relative to the second deflecting means.
 The relative movement between the first and second deflecting means allows
 for a particularly compact and reliable configuration for the document
 routing mechanism of the present invention.
 Preferably, the first and second deflector means are driven for movement by
 a common drive means. This arrangement allows for simple operation of the
 routing mechanism so as to achieve the required operating speeds with the
 required degree of reliability.
 The first deflecting means is preferably operatively connected to the
 second defecting means in such a way that movement of one of the
 deflecting means cause movement of the other deflecting means.
 Each of the first and second deflector means preferably comprises a
 pivotally mounted document deflection member and may be arranged for
 relative pivotal movement.
 The document routing mechanism of the present invention may be used in
 connection with a storage device for currency notes in the cash dispenser
 module of an automated teller machine (ATM) in which the second path
 represents a feed path to, and delivery path from, the storage device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
 Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the front of the ATM 10 shown therein is
 provided with a user panel 12 including a card reader slot 14 for
 insertion of a user's identification card, a key pad 16, a cash dispenser
 slot 18 through which currency notes are delivered to a user, a display
 screen 20, a receipt printer slot 22 through which a receipt for a
 transaction is delivered to the user at the end of a transaction and
 additional keytips 24 at the sides of the screen 20 to facilitate
 selection of options or confirmation of information displayed on the
 screen 20. The card reader, cash dispenser and receipt printer modules
 associated with the respective slots 14, 18 and 22 in the user panel 12 of
 the ATM 10, are designated by the same reference numerals in FIG. 2. In a
 typical ATM transaction, a user inserts his card into the card reader slot
 14 and data encoded on the card is read. Instructions are then displayed
 on the screen 20. The user is requested to enter a personal identification
 number (PIN) on the key pad 16 which is verified, usually at a central
 location remote from the ATM 10. If the PIN is determined to be correct
 against information read from the inserted card, a menu of the various
 facilities available to the user is then displayed on the screen 20. If a
 cash withdrawal facility is selected, the user is requested to enter the
 sum required on the key pad 16 or by means of the additional keys 24
 provided at the side of the screen 20.
 The ATM 10 further comprises a controller unit 30 which communicates with
 components of the user panel 12 and with various other operating
 mechanisms of the ATM 10. The controller unit 30 includes a processor unit
 32, and a memory unit 34 connected via a bus line 36 to the processor unit
 32. The processor unit 32 receives input signals from the card reader 14,
 the key pad 16 and the additional keytips 24, and provides output signals
 to various mechanisms of the cash dispenser 18, to the display 20 and to
 the receipt printer 22. It should be understood that the processor unit 32
 controls the amount of cash dispensed by the cash dispenser 18, the
 information displayed on the display 20 and the information printed by the
 receipt printer 22.
 Referring now additionally to FIG. 3, the various mechanisms within the
 cash dispenser 18 controlled by the processor unit 32 include a multiple
 note detector 62 for detecting the presence of multiple superposed
 currency notes, vacuum operated picker devices 44 for picking notes from
 currency cassettes 40, a transport mechanism 45 for transporting notes
 picked from one or more of the cassettes 40 or dispensed from an auxiliary
 storage device 52, a document routing mechanism 50 for selectively
 directing picked notes towards the auxiliary storage device 52 for storage
 and for directing notes dispensed from the auxiliary storage device 52
 toward a stacking wheel 70 and a drive motor 53 of the auxiliary storage
 device 52. The processor unit 32 may include a microcomputer, and the
 memory unit 34 may be a non-volatile RAM. Suitable computers and memories
 are readily available in the marketplace. Their structure and operation
 are well known and therefore will not be described.
 The main operating parts of the cash dispenser 18 embodying the invention
 will now be described with particular reference to FIG. 3. Stacks of
 currency notes 38 are held in the cassettes 40, the cassettes being
 slidably mounted in compartments 42 and each holding notes of different
 denominations. The picker devices 44 serve to extract notes from each
 cassette 40. The transport mechanism 45 is associated with a three feed
 paths 46, 46a and 48 linked by the document routing mechanism 50 and
 serves to transfer notes from one location to another within the ATM 10.
 The document routing mechanism 50 is controlled by the controller unit 30
 to pivot between different positions according to the selected path of
 transport of notes within the ATM 10.
 The transport mechanism 45 transfers notes picked from the cassettes 40
 along a first unidirectional main feed path 46, either to a continuation
 portion of the main feed path 46, i.e. path 46a, for delivery to a
 customer, or to a second feed path 48 for delivery to an auxiliary storage
 device 52. Documents stored in the auxiliary storage device 52 can be
 returned to the continuation portion 46a of the main feed path 46 by means
 of the document routing mechanism 50 as will be described later. A
 diverter 60 is provided along the main feed path 46 to direct any
 mispicked notes which are detected by the multiple note detector 62 into a
 first reject bin 64.
 The stacking wheel 70 and a stripper plate assembly 72 are provided at the
 end of the continuation portion 46a of the main feed path 46, for stacking
 notes prior to being delivered to a customer through a shutter 89
 associated with the cash dispenser slot 18 via a series of co-operating
 belts 80, 82, 84 and 86. The stacking wheel 70 comprises a plurality of
 stacking plates 74, spaced apart in parallel relationship along the shaft
 75 of the stacking wheel 70, each stacking plate 74 incorporating a series
 of curved tines 77 which pass between fingers 78 of the stripper plate
 assembly 72 rockably mounted on a shaft 79. A further reject bin 88 is
 provided for notes which are retracted from the cash dispenser slot 18, in
 the event a customer omits to remove them therefrom at the end of a cash
 withdrawal transaction.
 Referring now to FIG. 4A and 4B, the document routing mechanism 50 will be
 described. The document routing mechanism 50 comprises a gating mechanism
 54 at the intersection between the main feed path 46 and the second feed
 path 48. The gating mechanism 54 includes an isolated support 55 on which
 first and second flipper arms 56a and 56b are pivotally mounted. A gearing
 mechanism 58a and 58b is provided on the mutually adjacent ends of each of
 the flipper arms 56a and 56b, the gear wheels 58a and 58b of which are
 arranged to mesh such that pivotal movement of one of the flipper arms 56a
 or 56b will cause pivotal movement of the other flipper arm 56a or 56b. A
 solenoid mechanism or electromechanical drive means 26 is provided to
 cause pivotal movement of the flipper arms 56a and 56b.
 The auxiliary storage device 52 is shown in more detail in FIG. 5, but it
 should be appreciated that the device may take a variety of other physical
 forms such as, for example, a storage stack. The auxiliary storage device
 52 is operated on a "last in first out" (LIFO) basis and is preferably
 chosen to have less inertia than the currency cassettes 40, so that it can
 dispense notes at a faster rate than dispensing from the currency
 cassettes 40. The auxiliary storage device 52 comprises a main storage
 drum 90, first and second tape feeder drum means 92 and 94 which are
 rotatably mounted within a housing 96. A first tape 97 is secured at one
 end to the main storage drum 90 and at its opposite end to the first
 feeder drum means 92, while a second tape 98 is secured at one end to main
 storage drum 90 and at its opposite end to the second feeder drum means
 94, the tapes 97 and 98 being wound about the main drum 90 and their
 respective feeder drums means 92 and 94. It should be understood that each
 tape 97 and 98 could comprise two or more separate tapes spaced apart
 along the axis of the main storage drum, while each tape feeder drum means
 92 and 94 could comprise two or more separate drums spaced apart along a
 common axis.
 In a depositing mode, notes are directed by the document routing mechanism
 50 from the main feed path 46 to the second feed path 48 and are fed into
 the auxiliary storage device 52 where they pass between the tapes 97 and
 98. The main drum 90 is driven to rotate in a clockwise direction (with
 reference to FIG. 4) winding the tapes 97 and 98 and notes held
 therebetween, onto the main drum 90. Hence, the notes are securely held on
 the main drum 90 between wrappings of the tapes 97 and 98. In a dispensing
 mode, the feeder drum means 92 and 94 are driven to rotate in a clockwise
 direction, causing the tapes 97 and 98 to wind off the main drum 90 and
 the individual notes to be unloaded and fed out of the auxiliary storage
 device 52 onto the second feed path 48.
 Referring again to FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the operation of the ATM embodying
 the present invention will now be described. In order to increase the
 efficiency and speed at which notes can be dispensed to a customer, notes
 are periodically transferred from the currency cassettes 40 to the
 auxiliary storage device 52. The notes to be transferred are picked from
 the cassettes 40 by the picker devices 44 and are fed by the transport
 mechanism 45 along the main feed path 46, the direction of feed of the
 notes being perpendicular to their long dimensions. If the presence of
 multiple superposed notes is detected by the detector 62, the diverter 60
 is controlled to pivot to a position in which passage of the notes along
 the main feed path 46 is blocked and the multiple note is directed via
 rolls 59 into the reject bin 64.
 An energization signal is transmitted to the solenoid of the gating
 mechanism 54 by the controller unit 32. Energization of the solenoid
 causes pivotal movement of the flipper arm 56a in an anticlockwise
 direction (with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B) into the first feed path 46
 so as to block the passage of documents to continuation portion 46a
 thereof. Pivotal movement of the flipper arm 56a causes pivotal movement
 of the other flipper arm 56b in a clockwise direction (with reference to
 FIGS. 4A and 4B) so as to define a path from the first feed path 46 to the
 second feed path 48 as is shown in FIG. 4B. The flipper arms 56a and 56b
 are retained in the relative positions shown in FIG. 4B under the action
 of resilient return means (not shown) associated with the solenoid (not
 shown). In this position, the picked notes are therefore directed from the
 main feed path 46 to the second feed path 48 and are then fed to the
 auxiliary storage device 52 for storage. When the transfer process is
 completed, the solenoid is de-energized causing pivotal movement of the
 flipper arm 54a in a clockwise direction (with reference to FIGS. 4A and
 4B), out of the first feed path 46 and the continuation portion 46a
 thereof, and pivotal movement of the flipper arm 54b in an anticlockwise
 direction (with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B) into the second feed path 48
 to the rest position shown in FIG. 4A. It should be understood that the
 denomination of the notes and the order in which they are transferred to
 the auxiliary storage device 52 is stored in the memory 34 of the ATM
 controller unit 30.
 Notes stored in the auxiliary storage device 52 may be dispensed during
 subsequent customer transactions in preference to, or in addition to,
 notes from the currency cassettes 40. If at least some of the required
 notes are available in the auxiliary storage device 52, they are dispensed
 therefrom on a "last in first out" basis (LIFO) and fed along the second
 bi-directional feed path 48 towards the gating mechanism 54. The flipper
 arms 56a and 56b remain in the rest position shown in FIG. 4A and direct
 the notes being fed along the second feed path 48 to the continuation
 portion of the main feed path i.e. path 46a.
 The notes are then fed along the continuation portion 46a of the main feed
 path towards the stacking wheel 70 to be loaded onto a stationary belt 80.
 Each note enters between adjacent tines 77 of the stacking plates 74 and
 is carried partly around the axis of the stacking wheel 70. The notes are
 stripped from the wheel 70 by the fingers 78 of the stripper plate 72, and
 are stacked against the belt 80 with a long edge of the note resting on
 the stripper plate assembly 72. The belt 80 cooperates with a pair of
 rockably mounted belts 82 (only one of which is shown) which are rocked in
 a clockwise direction so as to trap the stack of notes between the belts
 80 and 82. The belts 80 and 82 are then operated to drive the stacked
 notes to another pair of belts 84 and 86, which are in turn driven to
 transport the stack of notes through a shutter 89 to a position where the
 stack of notes extends through the cash dispenser slot 18 in the user
 panel 12 of the ATM.
 In the event that a customer fails to remove the notes which extend through
 the cash dispenser slot 18, the notes are retracted back through the
 shutter 89 on elapse of a predetermined period of time, to avoid the notes
 being picked up by someone else. The belts 84 and 86 are driven in the
 reverse direction to carry the retracted notes back onto the belt 80. The
 stripper plate assembly 72 is rocked into the position shown in chain
 outline in FIG. 3 and the belts 80 and 82 are operated to feed the stack
 in a direction opposite to the normal feed direction, the stack of
 retracted notes being deposited into the reject bin 88 via an opening 87
 in the top thereof.
 It should be understood that this transfer operation is noticeably faster
 than the equivalent transfer operation from the currency cassettes 40 to
 the customer. If it is not possible to complete the customer request from
 the auxiliary storage device 54, but notes for the transaction are
 available from the currency cassettes 40, the balance of the request is
 picked from the appropriate cassettes 40 and are fed along the main feed
 path 46 in the manner described above. The document routing mechanism 50
 remains in the rest position shown in FIG. 4A, allowing the picked notes
 to proceed along the continuation portion of the main feed path 46, i.e.
 along feed path 46a. The notes are fed towards the stacking wheel 70 and
 are presented to the customer through the cash dispenser slot 18 in the
 manner described above.
 The present invention provides for a fast, reliable and compact gating
 mechanism for directing documents towards an auxiliary storage device. The
 construction of the gating mechanism 54 requires energization of the
 solenoid only when one of the two positions of the gating arrangement is
 required. Thus, in normal, i.e. rest, position of the gating arrangement
 10 in which the solenoid is not activated, notes may be fed directly from
 the cassettes 40 to the stacking wheel 70 along the main feed path 46 and
 the continuation portion thereof, i.e. feed path 46a, or from the
 auxiliary storage device 54 to the stacking wheel 70. Energization of the
 solenoid is required only when notes are to be transferred from the main
 feed path 46 to the auxiliary storage device 54.
 It should be appreciated that the document routing mechanism of the present
 invention is suitable for high-speed document diversion operations, where
 individual notes passing along a main feed path 46 may be selectively
 directed to a second feed path 48. In such a case, a pulse is applied to
 the solenoid at an appropriate instant of time to cause activation of the
 gating mechanism 54 in the manner described above. Hence, the selected
 note on the main feed path 46, (a note which is approaching the
 intersection between the main and second feed paths 46 and 48) is directed
 to the second feed path 48. On elapse of a predetermined period of time,
 the solenoid is de-energized causing the gating mechanism 54 to return to
 the rest position and the note succeeding the selected note on the main
 feed path 46, to pass to the continuation portion thereof, i.e., to feed
 path 46a.
 Further pulses are applied to the solenoid when subsequent selected notes
 are to be diverted to the second feed path. It should be understood that
 the instant of time at which a pulse is applied to the solenoid and the
 duration of the pulse are controlled by the controller unit 30 and will
 depend on the number of notes traveling along the main feed path and the
 feed rate of the notes. For example, the pulse must be applied to the
 solenoid at a time when the selected note is approaching the intersection
 between the main and second feed paths 46 and 48, but not before the note,
 if any, preceding the selected note has passed beyond the intersection, so
 as to avoid the preceding note being directed onto the second feed path
 48. Similarly, the solenoid must be de-energized before the note, if any,
 succeeding the selected note reaches the intersection so as to allow the
 succeeding note to pass to the continuation portion 46a of the main feed
 path.
 It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is
 not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments. For example,
 the document routing apparatus of the present invention could be provided
 with any appropriate configuration of document transport paths and there
 is no need for one of the paths to be associated with an auxiliary storage
 device.