Abstract:
An automated financial system (6) includes a plurality of wall-mounted user interface units (10, 12, 14) and a central module system (8), including a plurality of modules (40, 42, 46, 48) such as may be employed in a conventional ATM, located in a safe area remote from the interface units (10, 12 or 14). A track (20) connects each interface unit (10, 12 or 14) to the central module system (8). A motor-driven carriage (24) rides on each track (20) and has a cassette (26) fixed thereto, which is capable of carrying currency or other media between the respective interface unit (10, 12 or 14) and the central module system (8). A receptacle (18) for holding small amounts of currency is associated with each interface unit (10, 12 or 14) for supplying small amounts of currency to a user without the need for obtaining such currency from the central module system (8). A central track (32) with a carriage-mounted cassette (38) thereon is associated with the central module system (8), this cassette (38) having the capability of transferring media to, or receiving media from, one of the other cassettes (26).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an automated financial system. 
     Automated teller machines (ATMs) have come into increasing use in recent years because of the convenience to customers of providing fast efficient service at a large number of locations and because of the economic advantage which they provide to financial institutions in enabling a reduction of staffing requirements. 
     Since automated teller machines are relatively large, complex machines, any arrangement which reduces their overall purchase and maintenance costs is highly desirable. In addition, any arrangement which reduces the vulnerability of automated teller machines to criminal activity, such as &#34;ram raiding&#34;, in which a machine may be rammed by a vehicle to obtain access to its currency supply, would be highly desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention there is provided an automated financial system for carrying out financial transactions, including a plurality of user interface units each including apertures for receiving and dispensing media, and entry means for determining the type of transaction to be made by a user, characterized by a central module system remote from said interface units and including an array of modules each arranged to receive or dispense specific media, and a plurality of media transport devices respectively associated with said interface units, each transport device being arranged to move back and forth along a predetermined path between the respective interface unit and said central module system for carrying media from said central module system to the respective interface unit and vice versa. 
     It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an automated financial system which is of reduced cost. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an automated financial system which provides enhanced security against &#34;ram raiding&#34; criminal activity. 
     Another object is to provide an automated financial system which includes a plurality of user interface units and a remote central modular system. 
     Another object is to provide an automated financial system having a reduced cost because of the use of a single remote central modular system in combination with a plurality of user interface units. 
     Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a system in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevation view showing three wall-mounted user interface units. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the interconnections for control purposes of the various elements of the system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in FIG. 1, an automated financial system 6 includes a central module system 8 and a plurality (three, in the illustrated embodiment) of ATM fascias, or user interface units, 10, 12 and 14, which are mounted in an exterior wall 16 (FIG. 2) of the financial institution in which the system 6 is installed. Associated with each customer interface unit 10, 12 or 14 is a security receptacle 18, in which a relatively small quantity of pre-counted bundles of currency notes may be stored, to facilitate withdrawal by users of small amounts of cash without the necessity for transporting currency from the central module system 8 to the interface units 10, 12 and 14. Each receptacle 18 includes actuating means (not shown) for use in transferring a bundle of currency notes into and out of the receptacle 18. 
     Transportation of media (which henceforth in this description will be understood to include currency notes, envelopes and printed statements) between the central module system 8 and the interface units 10, 12 and 14 is accomplished by use of a plurality of tracks 20, on each of which is mounted for movement therealong a device 22, which comprises a carriage 24 to which is attached a cassette 26 in which media of various types may be contained and carried. Each carriage 24 and the associated track 20 are constructed to act as a linear motor whereby the carriage 24 may be driven along the track 20 to a selected position by appropriate energization of the track 20. It should be understood that a linear motor has the advantages of being accurate and fast in operation. 
     Each of the tracks 20 has a first straight portion 28 which is positioned adjacent to the receptacle 18 for each interface unit 10, 12 or 14 in order to facilitate transfer of bundles of currency notes between the associated cassette 26 and the relevant receptacle 18. Also, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 2, each cassette 26 can be arranged to be positioned adjacent to deposit, cash withdrawal, statement and envelope slots in the associated interface units 10, 12 and 14 in order to permit the transfer of media between the cassette 26 and a user through the respective slots. 
     Each of the tracks 20 also has a second straight portion 30 which is positioned adjacent to and parallel with a central track 32 forming part of the central module system 8. Mounted for linear movement on the track 32 is a central transport device 34 which comprises a carriage 36 to which is attached a cassette 38. In a similar manner to the carriages 24 and the tracks 20, the carriage 36 and the track 32 are constructed to act as a linear motor whereby the carriage 36 may be driven to a selected position on the track 32 by appropriate energization of the track 32. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the central module system 8 includes five modules consisting of two cash dispensers 40 and a depository 42 which are housed in a safe 44, together with a statement printer 46 and an envelope dispenser 48. The module system 8 is provided with five horizontally aligned slots 50 via which media transfer can take place to or from the respective five modules 40, 42, 46, 48. The track 32 is mounted adjacent to the modules 40, 42, 46, 48 in such a position that the transport device 34 can be moved on the track 32 to a position in which the cassette 38 is in cooperative relationship with a selected one of the slots 50. 
     The cassettes 26 and the cassette 38 are so designed as to be able to pass media back and forth from cassette to cassette or from cassette to another element of the system 6. Movement of media into and out of a cassette 26 or 38 when located at a particular position on the associated track 20 or 32 is controlled by a respective control means 51 (FIG. 3) located adjacent that position and arranged to cooperate with actuating means (not shown) included in cassette 26 or 38, with power for the actuating means being supplied via the associated track 20 or 32. Each control means 51 could, for example, be formed by an infra-red control device which cooperates in a contactless manner with the actuating means of the corresponding cassette 26 or 38. When the cassette 38 of the central transport device 34 is positioned in cooperative relationship with the slot 50 associated with one of the modules 40, 46 and 48, the cassette 38 can receive media from the relevant module 40, 46 or 48 through the slot 50. The transport device 34 and an appropriate one of the transport devices 22 are then moved to positions in which the corresponding cassettes 38 and 26 are in cooperative relationship with each other, whereupon the media contained in the cassette 38 is transferred to the cassette 26. When this transfer is completed, the device 22 is moved along the corresponding track 20 to a position in which the cassette 26 is in cooperative relationship with the appropriate slot in the corresponding interface unit 10, 12 or 14, the media contained in the cassette 26 then being transferred to the user. 
     In an alternative mode of operation, if a user transaction is a cash withdrawal of a commonly requested currency amount and a currency note bundle for that amount is contained in the corresponding receptacle 18, then instead of proceeding to the central module system 8 for collection of cash from one of the cash dispensers 40, the relevant transport device 22 moves to a position in which the associated cassette 26 is in cooperative relationship with the receptacle 18. A bundle of currency notes representing the requested amount of cash is then transferred from the receptacle 18 to the cassette 26, this bundle thereafter being transferred to the user via the cash withdrawal slot in the relevant interface unit 10, 12 or 14. It should be understood that during periods of low user activity in respect of the system 6, each receptacle 18 can be replenished with bundles of currency notes obtained from one of the cash dispensers 40 and transferred to the receptacle 18 by the cassette 26 of the relevant transport device 22. 
     A reverse procedure is employed when a user wishes to deposit an envelope containing cash or checks into the financial system 6. The cassette 26 associated with one of the interface units, say unit 12, is moved by its carriage 24 along the track 20 on to the straight portion 28 and is positioned in cooperative relation with the depository slot of the interface unit 12. When the deposit is made, the relevant transport device 22 is moved along the associated track 20 to a position on the straight portion 30 in which the cassette 26 is in cooperative relationship with the cassette 38 of the transport device 34, the device 34 having previously been moved along the track 32 to place it in the correct position. The deposited envelope is then passed from the cassette 26 to the cassette 38, after which the carriage 36 is moved on the track 32 to a position in which the cassette 38 is placed in cooperative relationship with the slot 50 associated with the depository 42. The envelope is then passed from the cassette 38 through the slot 50 into the depository 42 located within the safe 44. 
     Shown in FIG. 2 are typical user interfaces for the customer interface units 10, 12 and 14. Each of these units typically includes a numeric keyboard 52, a display 54 with associated control keys 56 for a user lead-through operation, a user account card reader slot 58, a slot 60 through which a printed record (receipt) of a transaction is presented to a user, a depository slot 62 through which a user can deposit an envelope containing currency and/or checks, a currency dispenser slot 63 through which currency notes are presented to a user as part of a withdrawal transaction, a statement slot 64 through which a printed statement relating to a user&#39;s account is presented to the user on request, and an envelope slot 65 through which an empty envelope is presented to a user for his use in making a deposit. The operation of each user interface unit 10, 12 or 14 is conventional, and accordingly will not be described further. 
     The main difference between the layout of the various elements of the interface units 10, 12 and 14 and the layout of corresponding elements of known ATMs is that the slots 62, 63, 64 and 65 of each of the units 10, 12 and 14 are all aligned horizontally in order to facilitate the transfer of media between the slots and the associated transport device 22. Depending on whether a user transaction is a deposit, a cash withdrawal, a request for a statement or a request for an envelope, the relevant transport device 22 is moved to a position in which the associated cassette 26 is positioned adjacent the relevant slot 62, 63, 64 or 65 to enable the desired media transfer to take place between the user and the cassette 26. 
     It should be understood that each of the interface units 10, 12 and 14 includes a receipt printer (not shown) for printing and issuing transaction receipts through the slot 60, and a card reader (not shown) for reading account information from an account card inserted by a user through the slot 58. 
     The manner in which the various elements of the system are controlled is shown generally in FIG. 3. The user interface units 10, 12 and 14 and the central module system 8 are coupled electronically to an appropriately programmed electronic control means 66. The control means 66 controls various media receiving and dispensing mechanisms in the central module system 8 and various elements of the interface units 10, 12 and 14, as well as the movement of the devices 22 and 34 on the tracks 20 and 32, respectively, and the operation of the cassettes 26 and 38 and the receptacles 18 in transferring media to and from them. Operation of the control means 66, in turn, is dependent on input data entered by users in initiating various types of transactions. 
     It will be seen that the selection by a user of a desired transaction and the entry of other information such as his personal identification number PIN, using the keyboard 52 and the keys 56 is communicated from the user interface unit 10, 12 or 14 to the electronic control means 66. The electronic control means 66, together with the various cassette control means 51 controlled by the control means 66, then cause the necessary operating sequence of the system 6 to take place, including the necessary positioning of the devices 22 and 34 on their respective tracks 20 and 32 by appropriate energization of the tracks, and the transfer of media as necessary between the selected interface unit 10, 12 or 14 and the appropriate cassette 26, between the cassette 26 and the cassette 38, between the cassette 38 and the appropriate module 40, 42, 46 or 48 of the central module system 8, and, if required, between the cassette 26 and the associated receptacle 18. 
     It should be understood that by virtue of the fact that the three interface units 10, 12 and 14 share between them only two cash dispensers, and only one statement printer and one envelope dispenser, a considerable saving in hardware costs is achieved compared with three separate ATMs providing the same functions as the system 6. A further advantage of the system 6 is that by virtue of the provision of the receptacles 18 a considerable reduction in transaction time is achieved in respect of a significant number of cash withdrawal transactions. Another advantage of the system 6 is that by virtue of the fact that the cash dispensers 40 (which contain most of the cash held in the system 6) are located in an area remote from the exterior wall 16 of the financial institution, there is significantly enhanced security against &#34;ram raiding&#34; criminal activity. 
     In an alternative arrangement to that described above, the tracks 20 and 32 and the carriages 24 and 36 could be replaced by tubes, with each cassette 26 being mounted for movement along a respective one of the tubes, and with compressed air serving as the propulsion means. 
     Although the invention has been described with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, variations and modifications of the present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the following claims.