Apparatus for dispensing flat articles

Abstract: An envelope dispensing module (10) for use in an ATM includes feed belts (26) for feeding the lowermost envelope (18') of a stack of envelopes (18) along a feed path towards an exit slot (50). Pulse generating means (54) include a roller (62) which is urged into engagement with the underside of the lowermost envelope (18') as this envelope (18') is fed along the feed path. During such feeding movement, a sensor (68) associated with a timing disc (64) mounted for rotation with the roller (62) generates a series of timing pulses in response to rotation of the roller (62) due to its engagement with the lowermost envelope (18'). Electronic control means are arranged to stop the feed belts (26) with the lowermost envelope (18') in its correctly presented position at the exit slot (50) in response to the control means counting a predetermined number of timing pulses subsequent to the sensing of the leading edge of this envelope (18') by sensing means (78) positioned behind the exit slot (50).

Description: This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing flat articles such as envelopes. The invention has application, for example, to a depository apparatus included in an automated teller machine (ATM) of the kind which is arranged to dispense currency notes, or accept a deposit of money, as may be required by a customer. As is well known, in operation of an ATM of this kind, a user inserts a customer identifying card into the machine and then enters certain data (such as a personal identification number, type of transaction, and quantity of money required or to be paid in) on one or more keyboards included in a user console of the machine. The machine will then process the transaction, dispense currency notes or accept a money deposit as may be requested, and return the card to the user as part of a routine operation. If money is to be deposited, the user typically inserts an envelope containing the money (cash and/or cheques) through a deposit entry slot in the user console, and the depository apparatus of the ATM transports the envelope to, and deposits it in, a portable container included in the apparatus. From EP-0038175B there is known a depository apparatus including an envelope dispenser for dispensing envelopes to customers for their use in making money deposits, the dispenser including feeding means for feeding envelopes one by one along a feed path from an internal magazine to a slot in a front panel of the apparatus. The dispenser includes first and second sensors which are positioned adjacent the front panel and which are spaced apart along the feed path. Each sensor is obscured and then again illuminated as the envelope moves by and then past the sensor. When the sensor further from the front panel is again illuminated with the other sensor still obscured, the motor driving the feeding means is deactivated and the envelope is in the correct position for collection by a customer. This known envelope dispenser has the disadvantage that, if incorrect feeding of one or more envelopes takes place, there may be insufficient information available to enable the nature of the fault to be determined. For example, if two overlapping envelopes are fed to the slot in the front panel, the apparatus has no means for providing an indication that an incorrect double feed has taken place. From FR-A-2566378, which corresponds to the preamble of claim 1, there is known a sheet dispensing apparatus including feeding means for feeding sheets one by one along a feed path to an outlet slot, an upwardly biased wheel whose periphery is arranged to be engaged by a sheet as the sheet is fed along the feed path whereby rotation of the wheel is brought about, pulse generating means including the wheel and arranged to generate a series of pulses in response to rotation of the wheel, successive pulses being spaced apart by a time substantially equal to a predetermined angular rotation of the wheel, sensing means arranged to sense the passage of the leading edge of the sheet past a predetermined location, and control means arranged to stop the feeding movement of the sheet in response to the generation of a predetermined number of pulses subsequent to the sensing of the leading edge, the sheet at this time projecting from the outlet slot. Upon an operator removing the sheet from the outlet slot further pulses are generated. No further sheets will be dispensed until the prior sheet has been removed. FR-A-2354273 discloses a sheet feeding device including a pair of endless feed belts arranged to engage the lowermost sheet of a stack of sheets and to feed this lowermost sheet along a feed path. The device further includes a roller arranged to rotate in opposed cooperative relationship with respect to the upper portions of the feed belts for the purpose of inhibiting the simultaneous passage of more than one sheet past the roller. It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for dispensing flat articles, such as envelopes, which is of simple construction and which, in the event of incorrect feeding of one or more articles taking place, provides an enhanced amount of information for enabling the nature of the fault to be determined. According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for dispensing flat articles including feeding means for feeding said articles one by one along a feed path to an exit location, roller means whose periphery is arranged to be engaged by an article as said article is fed along said feed path whereby rotation of said roller means is brought about, pulse generating means including said roller means and arranged to generate a series of pulses in response to rotation of said roller means, successive pulses being spaced apart by a time substantially equal to a predetermined angular rotation of said roller means, sensing means arranged to sense the passage of the leading edge of said article past a predetermined location, and control means arranged to stop the feeding movement of said article in response to the generation by said generating means of a predetermined number of pulses subsequent to the sensing of said leading edge by said sensing means, characterized in that said feeding means are arranged to operate, under the control of said control means, in a reverse sense for the purpose of withdrawing back into said apparatus along said feed path any article that has been fed to said exit location and has not been removed from said apparatus, and in that said control means include counter means arranged to count pulses generated by said pulse generating means in response to movement of an article in either direction along said feed path. One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, shown partly broken away, of part of an ATM including an envelope dispensing module in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the envelope dispensing module of Fig. 1: Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of part of the apparatus of Fig. 1 showing a pulse generating mechanism; Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the pulse generating mechanism and associated parts of the envelope dispensing module; and Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the electrical interconnections of parts of the dispensing apparatus. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the envelope dispensing module 10 shown therein forms part of an envelope depository (not otherwise shown) of an ATM having a user console 11 (not shown in Fig. 2), the module 10 being removably mounted in the ATM by means not shown. The module 10 includes a supporting framework 12 which has vertical side walls 14 and 15 and which incorporates a receptacle 16 for holding a stack of empty envelopes 18 (not shown in Fig. 2). The receptacle 16 is bounded by the side walls 14 and 15 and by vertical front and rear walls 20 and 22 extending between the side walls 14 and 15. Typically, the envelopes 18 are between 203 millimetres and 254 millimetres in length and between 99 millimetres and 111 millimetres in width, and are held loosely between the side walls 14 and 15 and between the front and rear walls 20 and 22 with the long dimension of each envelope extending parallel to the side walls 14 and 15. The stack of envelopes 18 is supported by a horizontal support plate 24 secured to the framework 12 and by the upper, horizontally extending portions of a pair of endless feed belts 26, these portions being positioned approximately 0.5 millimetre above a further horizontal plate 28 which is also secured to the framework 12. As seen in Fig. 1, the upper portions of the belts 26 are slightly higher than the support plate 24 so that the weight of the stack of envelopes 18 is mainly supported by the belts 26. There is an opening 29 about 5 or 6 millimetres deep between the upper portions of the belts 26 and the lower edge of the front wall 20 of the receptacle 16, so as to enable the lowermost envelope 18' in the stack to be fed forwardly (from left to right with reference to Fig. 1) by the belts 26 from the receptacle 16 through the opening 29. Two inclined fingers 30 are resiliently attached to the front wall 20 and project forwardly and downwardly from the lower edge of the wall 20 for a purpose which will be described later, the fingers 30 being respectively mounted adjacent the two belts 26 with the free ends of the fingers 30 being disposed between the upper portions of the belts 26 when the spring fingers 30 are in their untensioned state. The belts 26 respectively pass around two front pulleys 32 and around two rear pulleys 34. The front pulleys 32 are secured on a drive shaft 36 extending between, and rotatably mounted with respect to, the side walls 14 and 15, and the rear pulleys 34 are mounted on a further shaft 38 extending between, and rotatably mounted with respect to, the side walls 14 and 15. One of the rear pulleys 34 is secured to the shaft 38 so that when the feed belts 26 are driven the shaft 38 is caused to rotate. A silicone rubber roller 39 having a coefficient of friction greater than that of the feed belts 26 is secured on the shaft 38 between the belts 26. The roller 39 has a diameter slightly greater than that of the pulleys 34, the periphery of the roller 39 projecting slightly above the upper surfaces of the belts 26 so as to engage with the lowermost envelope 18' in the stack. The drive shaft 36 is driven via a gear train 40 (Fig. 2) by a bidirectional electric motor 42 mounted on the framework 12. The gear train 40 is also arranged to drive a further drive shaft 44 which is positioned immediately above the drive shaft 36 and which also extends between, and is rotatably mounted with respect to, the side walls 14 and 15. A rubber separation roller 46 whose function will be described later is secured on a central portion of the drive shaft 44 between the feed belts 26. The periphery of the separation roller 46 is spaced approximately 2 or 3 millimetres above a support strip 48 which is integral with and projects forwardly from, the plate 28, the strip 48 being disposed between the belts 26 and extending a short distance beyond the front ends of the belts 26. In operation, the lowermost envelope 18' in the stack is fed by the feed belts 26 over the support strip 48 along a feed path 49 until the leading edge of the envelope 18' projects through an exit slot 50 formed in the user console 11 as shown in Fig.3, the leading edge of the envelope 18' being guided into the slot 50 by moulded guide means 52 provided on the inner surface of the console 11. Referring now particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, the envelope dispensing module 10 includes a pulse generating mechanism 54. The mechanism 54 includes a support arm 56 pivotably mounted on a shaft 58 which extends between the side walls 14 and 15 with the shaft 58 passing between the upper and lower portions of the belts 26. A roller assembly 60 is rotatably mounted on a stud 61 secured to a front end portion of the arm 56. The roller assembly 60 includes a neoprene roller 62 and an opaque plastic timing disc 64 which rotates together with the roller 62, the timing disc 64 being provided with a series of notches 66 disposed at equal intervals around the periphery of the disc 64. An optical sensor 68 is mounted on a bracket 69 formed integral with the arm 56. The sensor 68 is mounted in cooperative relationship with respect to the timing disc 64 such that, in operation, as the roller assembly 60 rotates, the sensor 68 generates a series of pulses, successive pulses being spaced apart by a time equal to a fixed angular rotation of the roller assembly 60. The support arm 56 is biased to rotate in an anticlockwise direction with reference to Fig. 3 by means of a tension spring 70 the ends of which are respectively attached to a lug 72 on the rear end of the arm 56 and to a post 74 secured to the underside of the plate 28. The periphery of the roller 62 projects through a slot 76 (Fig.4) in the plate 28 so that, in operation, as shown in Fig. 3, the roller 62 is urged by the spring 70 into engagement with the underside of the lowermost envelope 18' after the envelope 18' has been moved partially out of the receptacle 16. By virtue of the engagement of the roller 62 with the envelope 18', movement of the envelope 18' along the feed path 49 (Fig.1) brings about a rotation of the roller assembly 60 which in turn causes a series of pulses to be generated by the sensor 68. Further optical sensing means 78 (not shown in Fig. 3) are mounted in the framework 12 between the end of the support strip 48 and the user console 11, the sensing means 78 being centrally located with respect to the side walls 14 and 15. The sensing means 78 serve to sense whether or not the envelope 18' is blocking the sensor line of sight 80. Thus, the sensing means 78 sense in operation the movement of the leading edge of the envelope 18' past a predetermined location represented by the line of sight 80. Third optical sensing means 82 are mounted on the side walls 14 and 15 of the receptacle 16. The line of sight 84 of the optical sensing means 82 passes through slots 86 in the side walls 14 and 15. When the line of sight 84 ceases to be blocked by envelopes 18 in the receptacle 16, the sensing means 82 provide a signal indicative that the number of envelopes 18 in the receptacle 16 has fallen to a predetermined low level (typically less than 50 envelopes) and that therefore the module 10 requires replenishment with a further supply of blank envelopes. The operation of the envelope dispensing module 10 will now be described with additional reference to Fig. 5. The dispensing of an envelope by the module 10 takes place as part of a money deposit operation in which an envelope is first dispensed to a customer via the exit slot 50 and then, after the customer has placed money inside the envelope, the envelope is inserted by the customer into a separate slot (not shown) in the user console 11 from where the envelope is conveyed to a deposited envelope container (not shown) in the depository. Prior to the money deposit operation being initiated, the motor 42 is in a deactivated condition. The money deposit operation is initiated by the customer inserting a customer identifying card into a card entry slot (not shown) in the user console 11 and entering appropriate data upon keyboard means (not shown) also included in the user console 11. After the entered data has been verified by main electronic control means 88 of the ATM, the control means 88 send an enabling signal to electronic control means 90 included in the depository, the depository control means 90 thereupon causing the motor 42 to become activated. Activation of the motor 42 causes the drive shaft 36 to be rotated in a clockwise direction (with reference to Fig. 1) so as to bring about feeding movement of the feed belts 26 which in turn brings about clockwise rotation of the silicone rubber roller 39 mounted on the rear shaft 38. At the same time, the gear train 40 brings about clockwise rotation of the separation roller 46. Since the separation roller 46 is disposed above the plane containing the uppermost surfaces of the feed belts 26, the lowermost part of the periphery of the roller 46 moves in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the uppermost surfaces of the belts 26. The movement of the uppermost surfaces of the belts 26 together with the rotational movement of the frictional roller 39 cause the lowermost envelope 18' to be moved forwardly in the module 10 with the leading edge of the envelope 18' passing under the lower edge of the front wall 20 of the receptacle 16. As the lowermost envelope 18' commences to move forwardly out of the receptacle 16, there is a tendency for one or more of the envelopes immediately above the lowermost envelope 18' also to commence to move forwardly out of the receptacle 16 together with the envelope 18'. The resiliently mounted fingers 30 help to prevent any envelope other than the lowermost envelope 18' from reaching the separation roller 46, and also assist in the feeding movement of the lowermost envelope 18' towards the exit slot 50 by resiliently pressing this envelope 18' against the uppermost surfaces of the feed belts 26. Also, the fingers 30 act in opposed relationship with respect to the roller 62 so as to press the envelope 18' resiliently against the roller 62 and thereby ensure that the roller 62 is caused to rotate by the feeding movement of the envelope 18'. If more than one envelope should reach the separation roller 46, then normally the reverse movement of the lowermost part of the periphery of the roller 46 will serve to prevent any envelope other than the lowermost envelope 18' being fed past the roller 46 towards the exit slot 50. Upon the leading edge of the envelope 18' intercepting the line of sight 80 of the sensing means 78, the sensing means 78 send a signal to the electronic control means 90 which cause a counter 92 included in the control means 90 to commence counting the pulses applied to the control means 90 by the timing disc sensor 68. Immediately the counter 92 has counted a predetermined number of pulses from the sensor 68, the control means 90 deactivate the motor 42 so as to stop the feeding movement of the envelope 18' brought about by the feed belts 26. The envelope 18' now projects partly through the exit slot 50, as shown in Fig. 3, and is in the correct position for removal by the customer. With the envelope 18' in its correctly presented position ready for removal by the customer, the envelope 18' continues to block the line of sight 80. Upon the customer removing the envelope 18', the line of sight 80 becomes unblocked and the sensing means 78 send a signal to the control means 90 indicative of the fact that the envelope 18' has been removed. Also, the act of withdrawing the envelope 18' by the customer causes further pulses to be generated by the timing disc sensor 68 and to be applied to the control means 90, these further pulses serving a useful purpose as will be explained later. If the customer fails to remove the envelope within a predetermined time (typically 15 seconds) so that the line of sight 80 remains blocked, then the control means 90 activate the motor 42 in the reverse sense so as to cause the feed belts 26 to withdraw the envelope 18' back into its original position inside the receptacle 16. The control means 90 deactivate the motor 42, so as to stop the reverse operation of the feed belts 26, when the counter 92 has counted a predetermined number of pulses after the envelope 18' has ceased to block the line of sight 80. It should be understood that during the feeding of the envelope 18' to the exit slot 50, since the roller 62 of the pulse generating mechanism 54 engages directly with the envelope 18', then after the counter 92 has counted a predetermined number of pulses as mentioned above, the envelope 18' will be in its correctly presented position even though some slippage may have occurred between the envelope 18' and the feed belts 26. Thus, there is a significant advantage in arranging that the roller assembly 60 incorporating the timing disc 64 is driven directly by the lowermost envelope 18' as opposed to an arrangement in which the timing disc 64 is driven directly by the gear train 40. Moreover, the dispensing module 10 described above enables the ATM to recognize different types of envelope misfeed situations. For example, two overlapping envelopes may be fed partly out of the receptacle 16 towards the exit slot 50 such that when the lowermost envelope 18' is stopped in its correctly presented position the other envelope has not reached the exit slot 50 but is blocking the line of sight 80. Such a misfeed is referred to as a short double feed. In the event of a short double feed occurring, after the customer has removed the correctly presented envelope 18' the line of sight 80 remains blocked. However, by virtue of the fact that further pulses are fed to the control means 90 by the timing disc sensor 68 during the removal of the envelope 18' by the customer, the control means 90 recognize that the envelope 18' has been removed by the customer and further recognize that a double feed has taken place because the line of sight 80 remains blocked. Accordingly, a predetermined time after the generation of pulses by the sensor 68 has ceased, the control means 90 activate the motor 42 in the reverse sense so as to cause the other one of the overlapping envelopes to be returned to the receptacle 16. At the same time, the control means 90 send a signal to the main control means 88 of the ATM indicative of the fact that a short double feed has taken place. It is important that the main control means 88 are advised that a short double feed has taken place since a high incidence of such misfeeds could indicate that the feed belts 26 are worn and require replacement. If the main control means 88 ascertain that there is a high incidence of short double feeds, then the control means 88 provide an indication to the financial institution where the ATM is located that appropriate maintenance action needs to be taken. Another type of misfeed which may occur is a long double feed in which two overlapping envelopes are fed partly out of the receptacle 16 so that they both project through the exit slot 50. After the motor 42 has been stopped with the lowermost envelope 18' in its correctly presented position, the counter 92 counts the number of further pulses which are generated by the timing disc sensor 68 during the removal of the presented envelope or envelopes from the slot 50 by the customer. In the event of the customer failing to remove either of the presented envelopes, then the line of sight 80 remains blocked, and after a predetermined time the control means 90 activate the motor 42 in the reverse sense so as to cause both envelopes to be withdrawn back into their original positions in the receptacle 16. Alternatively, if the customer removes just one of the two presented envelopes, then again the line of sight 80 remains blocked and after a predetermined time the remaining envelope is withdrawn back into the receptacle 16. By virtue of the fact that further pulses are counted by the counter 92 during the removal of a presented envelope by the customer, the control means 90 are able to distinguish between a situation where a long double feed has taken place and one only of the presented envelopes is removed, the other envelope being withdrawn back into the receptacle 16, and a situation where a single envelope is presented and then withdrawn following failure of the customer to remove this envelope. Also, the control means 90 are able to distinguish between the situations where an envelope is withdrawn back into the receptacle 16 following a long double feed or following a short double feed by counting, during the reverse operation of the motor 42, the number of pulses generated by the timing disc sensor 68 before the line of sight 80 becomes unblocked. Depending on the type of misfeed which has taken place, the control means 90 send an appropriate signal to the main ATM control means 88. The data provided to the control means 88 is analysed therein and, when necessary, the control means 88 provide an indication to the financial institution that appropriate maintenance action is required. Thus, it will be appreciated that the envelope dispensing module 10 described above is reliable in operation, and also provides a means of recognizing that different types of misfeed have taken place. Further, the module 10 is of simple construction. For example, the module 10 requires only one sensing means (the sensing means 78) between the receptacle 16 and the exit slot 50. As previously mentioned, the sensing means 82 associated with the receptacle 16 are arranged to provide a signal indicative that the number of envelopes 18 in the receptacle 16 has fallen to a predetermined low level, such signal being applied to the depository control means 90. Upon receipt of such signal, the control means 90 send an appropriate signal to the main ATM control means 88 which provide an indication to the financial institution that the envelope dispensing module 10 requires replenishment.

Claims: An apparatus for dispensing flat articles (18) including feeding means (26) for feeding said articles one by one along a feed path (49) to an exit location (50), roller means (62) whose periphery is arranged to be engaged by an article (18') as said article (18') is fed along said feed path (49) whereby rotation of said roller means is brought about, pulse generating means (54) including said roller means (62) and arranged to generate a series of pulses in response to rotation of said roller means, successive pulses being spaced apart by a time substantially equal to a predetermined angular rotation of said roller means, sensing means (78) arranged to sense the passage of the leading edge of said article (18') past a predetermined location (80), and control means (90) arranged to stop the feeding movement of said article in response to the generation by said generating means (54) of a predetermined number of pulses subsequent to the sensing of said leading edge by said sensing means (78), characterized in that said feeding means (26) are arranged to operate, under the control of said control means (90), in a reverse sense for the purpose of withdrawing back into said apparatus along said feed path (49) any article that has been fed to said exit location (50) and has not been removed from said apparatus, and in that said control means (90) include counter means (92) arranged to count pulses generated by said pulse generating means (54) in response to movement of an article in either direction along said feed path (49). An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by spring means (70) arranged to urge said roller means (62) into engagement with a downwardly facing surface of said article (18') as said article is fed along said feed path (49). An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized by engagement means (30) arranged to engage resiliently with an upwardly facing surface of said article (18') as said article is fed along said feed path (49), said flexible engagement means acting in opposed relationship with respect to said roller means (62). An apparatus according to either claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that said feeding means include first and second endless feed belts (26) upper portions of which are arranged to engage with said downwardly facing surface of said article (18') as said article is fed along said feed path (49), said roller means (62) being arranged to engage with said downwardly facing surface between said upper portions of said first and second feed belts (26). An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said feed belts (26) are arranged to extend beneath a receptacle (16) for holding a stack of said articles (18) and to engage with the lowermost article (18') in said stack for the purpose of feeding said lowermost article along said feed path (49) towards said exit location (50) via an opening (29) in a wall (20) of said receptacle. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized by second roller means (39) of frictional material mounted for rotation together with pulley means (34) around which pass said first and second feed belts (26), said second roller means being arranged to engage with said lowermost article (18') for the purpose of assisting in the feeding of said lowermost article along said feed path (49). An apparatus according to either claim 5 or claim 6, characterized by further sensing means (82) arranged to generate a signal indicative that said articles (18) in said receptacle (16) have fallen to a predetermined low level. An apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized by third roller means (46) positioned between said receptacle (16) and said exit location (50) and arranged to rotate in opposed cooperative relationship with respect to said upper portions of said feed belts (26) for the purpose of inhibiting the simultaneous passage of more than one article past said third roller means towards said exit location (50)

Inventors: CRIGHTON ADAM JAMES, CRIGHTON, ADAM JAMES
Applicants: AT & T GLOBAL INF SOLUTION, AT&T GLOBAL INFORMATION SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65H7
IPC codes: B65H3, B65H7