Abstract:
A self-service terminal ( 10 ) such as an ATM has a secure enclosure ( 12 ) and an external column ( 14 ) extending from the secure enclosure ( 12 ). The column ( 14 ) has a bore ( 54 ) for routing electrical conductors and one or more access slots ( 58 ) connecting the bore ( 54 ) with an external surface ( 52 ) of the column ( 14 ). A module ( 40,42 ) is mounted onto the column ( 14 ) using a bracket ( 50 ) defining a channel ( 94 ) through which the module&#39;s electrical conductors ( 88 ) are routed. The electrical conductors ( 88 ) are routed from the bracket ( 50 ) to a central processor within the secure enclosure ( 12 ) by means of an access slot ( 58 ) and the bore ( 54 ). The modules ( 40,42 ) are height adjustable relative to the secure enclosure ( 12 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a self-service terminal (SST), and in particular to a transaction-based SST such as an automated teller machine (ATM). 
     Conventionally, an ATM has a plurality of modules enclosed within the ATM for protection and security. These modules are used to provide various functions; for example a display module and an encrypting keyboard module are used as a user interface; a receipt printer module is used to provide transaction receipts; other modules include a card reader, a cash dispenser, and such like. In the event of failure of one of these modules, the ATM has to be shut-down, the ATM cover removed, and the malfunctioning module removed and replaced or repaired. This is a time consuming and disruptive process. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to obviate or mitigate the above disadvantage. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a self-service terminal is characterized in that the terminal includes at least one external column having a bore, whereby modules may be mounted on the column, and electrical connections from the modules may be routed through the bore. 
     By virtue of the invention, modules may be secured to the column and electrical connections which link various modules can be routed within the column so that the electrical connections are hidden from view. 
     Preferably, the at least one column is an elongate, generally upright member; alternatively, the column may be curved (for example, S-shaped) or angular. 
     Preferably, the column has a circular cross-section; alternatively the column may have a cross-section which is square, elliptical, or a polygon. The cross-section of the column may have a recess. The cross-section of the column may vary (that is, it may not be uniform) throughout the height of the column. The cross-section of the column may be a different shape at different heights. 
     In one embodiment, a single, substantially vertical column is used, and the column is an elongate cylinder having a circular cross-section. 
     Preferably, the SST has a base, and the at least one column extends from the base in an upward direction. Preferably, the modules are height adjustable relative to the top of the base. 
     In one embodiment, the base is an enclosure for housing a central controller to which modules mounted on the column may be electrically connected, and which controls the operations of the mounted modules. 
     Preferably, the modules are height adjustable relative to the column. Preferably, the column includes one or more access slots, whereby the one or more slots allow electrical conductors to be passed therethrough. Where a plurality of access slots are used, these slots may be spaced apart; however, the combined effect of the spaced slots is to provide many access points in the column. 
     By virtue of having access slot(s), a module can be located at one of many locations on the column and the electrical conductors which link that module can be easily passed through the access slot (or a portion of the access slot) nearest the module. This arrangement has the advantage that there is a choice of heights at which a module may be located. Thus, a display could be mounted at a lower height on a column in an SST located in an area where the average height of a user is low; whereas the display could be mounted at a higher height on a column in an SST located in an area where the average height of a user is high. 
     Preferably, the one or more access slots are in the form of one or more apertures. Preferably, each aperture has a resilient seal. Alternatively, where a plurality of access slots are used, each aperture may have an access cover biased to close the aperture so that when the access cover is not in use the aperture is sealed by the access cover to prevent water or dust ingress. 
     The access slot or slots are conveniently located at the rear of the SST. 
     In other embodiments, the modules may be fixed relative to the column, but the column may be height adjustable. For example, the column may raised or lowered by means of a jack located within the base. The jack may be controllable by a user of the SST (for example using switches on the front of the SST), so that the column height may be adjusted by each user. The column may have a telescopic construction to allow the column to expand or contract in the upward direction. The column may be movably mounted on the base so that the column may tilted. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, a module for use with an SST is characterized in that the module has a fixing bracket adapted for securing to an external column in an SST. 
     Preferably, the fixing bracket is configured so that it mounts on an external surface of the column. Alternatively, the column may include a recess into which the fixing bracket mounts. 
     Preferably, the fixing bracket includes a clamp for securing the bracket to the external surface of the column. Preferably, the fixing bracket includes a channel for routing electrical conductors between the module secured to the fixing bracket and an access slot so that the conductors are at least partially hidden from view. Conveniently, the fixing bracket surrounds the access slot used to route the conductors from the module. 
     Preferably, the module is secured to the fixing bracket by an adjustable joint so that the module can be moved to a desired position and then locked in that position. This allows the position of the module to be adjusted relative to the bracket. 
     The SST may be an ATM or a kiosk. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of an SST according to one embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the SST of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is cross-sectional plan view of the column of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view of the fixing bracket of FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 5 a,b  and  c  show different configurations of the column of FIG. 1; and 
     FIGS. 6 a,b  and  c  show different cross-sectional configurations of the column of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, an SST  10  in the form of an ATM is shown. ATM  10  has a base  12  in the form of a high security enclosure from a central area of which a column  14  extends substantially vertically. 
     A curved sheet  16  extends from the base  18  of the enclosure  12  to approximately 30 cm above the top  20  of the enclosure  12 . The sheet  16  curves from the front of the enclosure  12  at the base  18  to near the rear of the enclosure  12  above the top  20 . The curved sheet  16  is best shown by FIG.  2  and gives a user of the ATM  10  the impression that the enclosure  12  is not as deep as it actually is. 
     The enclosure  12  contains a high security safe (not shown) from which currency is dispensed through slot  22  on the front  24  of the enclosure  12 . The enclosure  12  also contains a central processor (not shown) for controlling the operation of the ATM  10 . 
     Column  14  is a substantially vertical pole having a cylindrical shape and extending from the top  20  of the enclosure  12  a distance of approximately 1.2 m, so that the ATM  10  is approximately 2.2 m high. The pole  14  extends from a central area between the front  24  and the sheet  16 . A sphere  26  is located at the top of the pole  14  and contains a light (not shown). When the ATM  10  is operational the light is illuminated; whereas, when the ATM  10  is out of service, the light is not illuminated, thereby providing a visual indication of the status of the ATM  10  to passers by. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a touch screen display module  40  and a human iris recognition module  42  are mounted at different heights on the pole  14  by fixing brackets  50 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional plan view of the pole through line  3 — 3  on FIGS. 1 and 2. The pole  14  has a circular cross-section and an external surface  52 . The pole  14  has a bore  54  co-axial with the external surface  52  so that the bore  54  extends the full height of the pole  14  and has a longitudinal axis  56 . Access slots  58  (one of which is shown in FIG. 3) are located at the rear of the pole  14  along a line parallel to the longitudinal axis  56 . These slots  58  are typically circular, have a diameter of approximately 1 cm, and are spaced apart (center to center) by approximately 3 cm. Each slot  58  has a circular access cover  60  which is biased to close the slot  58  by an urging mechanism  62  in the form of a spring-mounted arm. If electrical conductors are to be routed through the access slot  58 , then the cover  60  is depressed and the conductors are fed through the slot  58 . The spring-mounted arm  58  exerts only a relatively weak force so that the insulation on the conductors is not damaged by the bias force. FIG. 3 shows the access cover  60  depressed and pivoted downwards. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional plan view through a fixing bracket  50  is shown. The bracket  50  has three parts: a flange  70 , and two clamping jaws  72 , 74 . 
     Each clamping jaw  72 , 74  has a C-shaped end  75  having an internal surface  76  profiled to conform to the external surface  52  of the pole  14 . Each jaw  72 , 74  also has a stem  78  extending from the C-shaped end  75 . Each stem  78  has a bore  80 . The C-shaped ends  75  also have apertured projections  82  for use in tightening the jaws  72 , 74  around the pole  14 . 
     The flange  70  has fours bores  84  defined therein (only two are shown) which are used for coupling a module  40 , 42  to the flange  70 . The flange  70  also has a channel  86  for routing electrical conductors  88  from a module coupled to the flange  70 . 
     The flange  70  has two plates  90  projecting towards the jaws  72 , 74 , each plate  90  having a bore  92  for aligning with bores  80 . 
     Jaw  72  has a channel  94  for routing conductors  88  from bore  86  to internal surface  76 , so that the conductors  88  are routed through the jaw  72 . 
     When a module  40 , 42  is to be mounted onto the pole  14 , it is first coupled to the flange  70 . The electrical conductors  88  from the module  40 , 42  are routed through the channel  86  in the flange  70  and through the channel  94  in the jaw  72 . 
     The conductors  88  are then inserted through an access slot  58  (FIG. 3) at or near to the desired height on the pole  14  by depressing the access cover  60  (FIG. 3) so that the electrical conductors  88  may be fed through the access slot  58  and down the bore  54  (FIG. 3) to connect to the central processor (not shown) in the enclosure  12 . 
     The jaws  72 , 74  are then aligned and secured using a bolt through bores  80  and  92  and a bolt through apertured projections  82 . The bolts are tightened to mount the bracket  50  securely to the pole  14 . 
     The electrical conductors  88  which have been routed down the pole  14  may be connected to the central processor (not shown) so that the modules  40 , 42  mounted onto the pole  14  are in electrical communication with the central processor and any modules contained within the enclosure  12 . 
     The embodiment of FIGS. 1 to  4  has the advantage that a module may be located at a number of different locations on the pole  14 , so that each module is height-adjustable on the pole  14 . Another advantage is that the module may be easily removed and replaced in the event of failure of that module. 
     Various changes may be made to the above described embodiments, within the scope of the invention. For example, the size and location of the access slots may vary. In some embodiments, the pole  14  may be designed so that only a single long access slot is used. In other embodiments, a bracket may have a ball joint between the flange and a module which is to be connected to the flange to allow the module to be rotated relative to the flange. In other embodiments, two or more columns may be used in each SST; or one column may be comprised of two or more column portions located on top of each other. A module may be located on top of one column portion and another column portion may be located on the top of that module. 
     In other embodiments, the column may have a different shape. FIGS. 5 a  to  c  show front views of other possible configurations of the column. The column may be angular, as shown in FIG. 5 a ; curved, as shown in FIG. 5 b ; it may have a non-uniform cross-section, as shown in FIG. 5 c . It will be appreciated that other shapes and configurations are possible. 
     FIGS. 6 a  to  c  show plan views of other possible cross-sectional configurations of the column. The column may have an H-shaped cross-section (FIG. 6 a ); a U-shaped cross-section (FIG. 6 b ); or a or C-shaped cross-section (FIG. 6 c ); as will be appreciated, other cross-sectional configurations are possible. 
     In other embodiments, a jack may be located within the enclosure so that the column may be raised or lowered by actuating the jack. In this embodiment, the modules may be fixed at one position on the column and the column height may be adjusted. In other embodiments, the column may be secured to the enclosure using a friction mount which allows the column to be tilted towards or away from the front of the ATM. In other embodiments, a kiosk may be used instead of an ATM.