U.S. patent number 3,873,443 [Application Number 05/320,718] was granted by the patent office on 1975-03-25 for depository system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Docutel Corporation. Invention is credited to Martin D. Cothran, Russell L. Hall, Lewis J. O'Kelly.
United States Patent |
3,873,443 |
Cothran , et al. |
March 25, 1975 |
Depository system
Abstract
Integral with a high speed, computer control banking machine is
a depository system to provide a fully automatic teller station. At
the customer interface there is an entry gate controlled to an open
position by a solenoid actuated in accordance with computer
generated signals. A deposit envelope inserted through the entry
gate is detected by a light sensor as it moves along a belt
transport extending to a printing station. Positioned along the
belt transport is a second sensor, which in combination with the
first sensor, determines the length of an inserted envelope to
insure acceptance by the depository stacker pockets. After an
envelope has been transported to the printing station, a numeric
print machine is actuated to imprint on the envelope identifying
data. A sensor responsive to the completion of the printing cycle
actuates a transverse transport for delivering the envelope into
one of two stacker pockets. An envelope deposited in one of the
stacker pockets is detected by a light sensor that controls an
elevator platform to insure sequential stacking of each inserted
envelope.
Inventors: |
Cothran; Martin D. (Euless,
TX), O'Kelly; Lewis J. (Fort Worth, TX), Hall; Russell
L. (Scottsdale, AZ) |
Assignee: |
Docutel Corporation (Dallas,
TX)
|
Family
ID: |
23247609 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/320,718 |
Filed: |
January 3, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
209/586;
101/93.24; 209/933; 271/184; 902/9; 902/18 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07D
11/0096 (20130101); Y10S 209/933 (20130101); E05G
7/001 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07D
11/00 (20060101); B07c 005/342 () |
Field of
Search: |
;270/82,83,85
;194/DIG.9B,1,4R,4B,4C,4D,4E,4F,4G ;133/1 ;271/68,69,66
;209/111.7,75,DIG.2,82 ;232/1D |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Knowles; Allen N.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Richards, Harris & Medlock
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An automatic document depository responsive to commands from a
central controller, comprising in combination:
an entry gate to said depository responsive to a command from the
central controller to be actuated from a locked closed position to
an open position for receiving a deposit document,
transport means for moving a deposit document from said entry gate
to a station displaced therefrom,
first sensor means responsive to a document moving through said
transport means to generate a signal to the central controller when
a document has passed through said entry gate,
a second sensor displaced downstream from the first sensor in said
transport means and generating a signal representing a passing
document wherein the generated signals from the first and second
sensors are coupled to the central controller to actuate said entry
gate from an open position to a closed locked position when a
signal from the first sensor is representative of the absence of a
passing document and a signal from the second sensor is at a level
representative of a passing document, and
stacker means receiving a document from said transport means for
storing the documents received.
2. An automatic document depository as set forth in claim 1 wherein
the central controller responds to the simultaneous occurrence of
passing document signals from said first and second sensors to
reverse the direction of movement of a document through said
transport means.
3. An automatic document depository as set forth in claim 1
including means for locking said entry gate in a closed position,
said means responsive to an unlocking signal from the central
controller.
4. An automatic document depository as set forth in claim 1
including drive means coupled to said entry gate and energized by a
command from the central controller to actuate said gate from a
closed position to an open position.
5. An automatic document depository as set forth in claim 1
including means responsive to the opening of said entry gate to
generate a signal to the central controller to indicate the opening
of said gate.
6. An automatic document depository as set forth in claim 5
including timing means actuated by the signal from said means
responsive to the opening of said entry gate and connected to said
drive means for limiting the open period of said gate to an
established time limit.
7. An automatic document depository as set forth in claim 1
including a divert platen positioned along said transport means
remote from said entry gate to guide a deposit document into said
stacker means.
8. An automatic document depository as set forth in claim 7 wherein
the central controller responds to a signal from said sensor means
to actuate said divert platen from a first position to a divert
position.
Description
This invention relates to a banking machine, and more particularly
to an automatic depository system for use with a computer control
banking machine.
Recent studies have shown that attempts are being made by the
banking community to influence the general public to use fewer
checks in their finacial transactions and to reduce paper work for
in-bank services. This is primarily due to the difficulty of
handling and processing large amounts of paper. In its place, there
appears to be a wide use of credit cards for completion of daily
household and business transactions.
A problem which has plagued the financial community with the
increased use of credit cards is the unauthorized use of the card
due to loss by the owner or theft. This particular problem has been
minimized by a scrambling coding technique as described in the U.S.
Pat. 3,662,343 of Kenneth S. Goldstein and John D. White, entitled
"Credit Card Automatic Currency Dispenser."
With the risk of unauthorized use now minimized, the banking
industry has accepted automatic currency dispensers for unattended
distribution of cash to complete some business and personal
transactions. This, financial institutions have found, provides
customer convenience and eliminates the need for the construction
and operation of branch banks, which are expensive and
unprofitable.
A feature of the present invention is to provide a complete
automatic banking system including a depository for accepting
customer deposits and payments. An additional feature of the
present invention is to provide a depository system in an automatic
banking machine responsive to actuating signals from a computer
controlled terminal machine. A depository in accordance with the
present invention accepts deposit envelopes, prints a serial number
on each successive envelope corresponding to the receipt serial
number printed in the banking terminal and stacks each envelope
sequentially in either of two stacker pockets.
A depository system in accordance with the present invention is
utilized in conjunction with an automatic banking machine made
operational in response to the insertion of a standard class "A"
credit card. Where such automatic banking machines are operated
unattended, a customer is not limited to normal banking hours or
required to wait on the services of a bank employee to complete
teller functions. However, the unattended operation of such
automatic banking machines requires a strict security operation to
prevent theft of funds and documents deposited therein. This
requires careful control and checking of the depository system to
insure proper operation for each transaction. Of considerable
importance is the entry gate which responds to the proper opening
control signals and also securely closes to prevent removal of
deposited envelopes. It is also important in the unattended
operation of a depository system that each deposit is identified
with the corresponding transaction and only envelopes meeting
certain dimensional specifications are accepted into the
machine.
In accordance with the present invention, an automatic document
depository responds to commands from a computer controlled
automatic banking terminal. The depository includes an entry gate
responsive to a command from the terminal computer such that it is
actuated from a locked closed position to an open position for
receiving a deposit envelope. A transport for moving the deposited
documents from the entry gate to a station displaced therefrom is
actuated and sensors respond to document movement through the
transport to sense when the document has passed the entry gate. The
sensors then generate a signal to the terminal computer to close
the gate from an open position to a locked position. A document
deposited and moved through the transport enters a stacker for
storing the documents in the order received.
A more complete understanding of the invention and its advantages
will be apparent from the specification and claims and from the
accompanying drawings illustrative of the invention.
Referring to the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a free standing model of an automatic
banking machine including a deposit module containing the
depository system of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective of a depository system utilizing a
longitudinal belt transport and a chain transverse transport with
two stacker pockets;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the longitudinal transport system for
moving a deposit envelope from an entry gate to a print
station;
FIG. 4 is a detailed side view of the entry gate control
mechanism;
FIG. 5 is also a detailed view of the entry gate showing a gate
open sensor;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the longitudinal belt transport taken
along the line 6--6 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a top view detail of a pair of belt transport tension
rollers;
FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the main drive for the longitudinal
belt transport;
FIG. 9 is a top view of the chain transverse transport of the
depository system of FIG. 2;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the chain transverse transport taken
along the line 10--10 of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a side view detail of a depository envelope guide
positioned between the longitudinal belt transport and a printing
station;
FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the printing station including a five
character numeric print machine;
FIG. 13 is a side view of the printing station showing the numeric
print machine actuator including a positioning solenoid;
FIG. 14 is a detail view of an actuator and micro switch for
generating a signal indicating the completion of a printing cycle
as taken along the line 14--14 of FIG. 12;
FIG. 15 is an end view of a document stacker including two stacker
pockets;
FIG. 16 is a partial sectional view of the drive mechanism for one
of the stacker pockets of the document stacker taken along the line
16--16 of FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a detail view of an elevator pad of one stacker pocket
taken along the line 17--17 of FIG. 15; and
FIG. 18 is a flow chart of the operation of a depository system in
response to control signals from a computer controlled automatic
banking terminal.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a free standing automatic
banking machine including a console 10 which houses all operating
controls and indicators of a currency dispensing mechanism, a card
handler, a receipt/voucher printer and necessary power supplies in
addition to customer interface equipment. In the free standing
unit, the console 10 is mounted within a cabinet 12 which also
houses an electronic module containing a computer and necessary
interface connections to the console. Also housed within the
cabinet 12 is a depository system 14 containing an envelope
transport, a printing station, envelope stackers and necessary
power supplies. A storage rack 16 is positioned within the cabinet
12 above the depository system 14 and provides an area for
stationery supplies, such as envelopes.
On the front panel of the console 10 there is arranged an array of
twelve push button keys in an amount/security keyboard 18 for use
by a customer to interface with the computer of the electronic
module. In addition to the push buttom keys on the amount/security
keyboard 18, the front panel of the console 10 includes a
transaction keyboard 24 consisting of twelve push buttons arranged
in sets of three in four rows. The type of banking transaction
performed by the banking machine depends upon the transaction key
depressed in the keyboard 24.
In addition to the above controls and indicators, the front panel
of the console 10 includes an instruction window display 26 that
provides for viewing an illuminated display message drum. This drum
instructs a user in the operation of the banking machine. The last
user interface on the front panel of the console 10 is a cash
drawer 28 that fits flush with the panel in a closed and locked
position. A complete description of the console 10 and the various
customer interface units will be found in the copending patent
application of Harold Don Fought entitled "Banking Machine," filed
Apr. 12, 1972, Ser. No. 243,339.
Referring to FIGS. 2-8, if a deposit or payment function is
selected by any one of the push buttons of the transaction keyboard
24, a control signal is generated to the depository system 14 to
open an entry gate 30 extending across the opening of the housing
32. The entry gate 30 is in the form of a full cylinder with a
rectangular cutout extending along the longitudinal axis of the
cylinder and rotatably mounted in a cavity 34 to rotate with a
shaft 36 as an integral part of the gate 30. Movement of the entry
gate 30 is controlled by a rotary solenoid 38 receiving an
energizing signal from the system computer and linked to the entry
gate by means of a drive link 40 coupled to an arm 42, the arm 42
attached to the entry gate shaft 36.
Opposite from the arm 42, the shaft 36 carries a cam 44 that
positions a cam follower 46 for actuating a micro switch 48. The
rotation of the cam 44 produces a movement of the cam follower 46
to actuate the micro switch 48 and thereby generate a signal to the
system computer to indicate the entry gate 30 is open and ready to
receive a deposit envelope.
An envelope inserted through the housing 32 is picked up by a
longitudinal transport comprising upper belts 50 and 52 and
corresponding lower belts 54 and 55 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. At
the housing 32, the belts 50 and 52 travel on rollers 56 rotating
on a shaft 58 supported by pivot arms 60 and 62. The pivot arms 60
and 62 are individually attached to a transport frame 64. By use of
the pivoted arm construction, the rollers 56 provide a floating
action to the belts 50 and 52 to adjust for various thicknesses of
a deposit envelope inserted into the system.
In the upper travel path for the belts 50 and 52 the belts pass
under idler rollers 66 and then over tension rollers 68. To aid in
tracking the belts 50 and 52, spherical washers 71 and 73 are
positioned between the rollers 68 and the respective supporting
arms 70 and 72. As shown by the detail of FIG. 7, the tension
rollers 68 are mounted to arms 70 and 72 to rotate on a shaft 74.
Each of the arms 70 and 72 is spring biased by means of helical
torsion springs 76 and 78. One end of each of the springs 76 and 78
engages the respective arm 70 or 72 and the other end is attached
to the shaft 74 by means of a collar 80. As constructed, the
tension rollers 68 maintain the belts 50 and 52 in a taunt
condition to provide maximum transport power to move a deposit
envelope through the depository system.
Following the tension rollers 68, the belts 50 and 52 pass under
idler rollers 82 and then over a drive roller 84 secured to a drive
shaft 124. The upper belts 50 and 52 extend only to the roller 84.
The travel path for the upper belts also includes tension rollers
86 mounted by means of arms 88 to a shaft 90 and biased to rotate
counterclockwise. To maintain the belts in a straight transport
path the rollers 86 are equipped with spherical washers the same as
the rollers 68.
The lower belts 54 and 55 travel about idler rollers 92 at a
housing 34. The belts 54 and 55 pass over a table 94 to a diverter
roller system including idler rollers 96, 98 and 100. The purpose
of this belt diversion will be explained.
After passing over the idler roller 100, the belts 54 and 55 travel
over idler rollers 102 at the end of the longitudinal transport
path.
The return path for the belts 54 and 55 includes tension rollers
104 mounted to be spring biased to maintain tension on the belts in
the travel path. Following the tension rollers 104, the belts 54
and 55 pass over a drive roller 106 and then over an idler roller
108.
The drive roller 106 is powered by a transport motor 110 having a
sprocket 112 on an output shaft. A sprocket 114 is mounted on the
shaft supporting the drive roller 106 and a timing belt 116
provides a positive drive link from the motor 110 to the drive
roller 106. Also mentioned on the shaft supporting the sprocket 114
is a sprocket 118 that carries a timing belt 120 engaging a
sprocket 122 mounted to the shaft 124 supporting the drive roller
84. Thus, operation of the transport motor 110 through the timing
belts 116 and 120 provides motion for both the upper belts 50 and
52 and the lower belts 54 and 55.
As a deposit envelope passes through the housing 32 and enters the
longitudinal transport, the leading edge thereof interrupts a light
beam between a light source 126 and a photocell 128. A signal
generated by the photocell 128 informs the system computer that a
deposit envelope has been inserted into the depository system. As
the envelope is transported along the longitudinal belt system, it
interrupts a light path from a light source 130 to a photocell 132.
Typically, the photocells 128 and 132 are of the type that have a
change in conductivity varying with the light impinging
thereon.
A signal from the photocell 132 is also transmitted to the system
computer as an indication that a deposit envelope has moved through
the transport to the photocell 132. As will be explained, if light
to both the photocells 128 and 132 is interrupted simultaneously, a
"too long" envelope signal is generated. This "too long" signal to
the system computer reverses the direction of operation of the
transport motor 110 and a deposit envelope is returned through the
entry gate 30.
A deposit envelope transported through the longitudinal belt system
exits on a front table 134 as an extension of the table 94 and is
transported by the lower belts 54 and 55 to a rear table 136.
Centrally located within the rear table 136 is a window 138 below
which is positioned an ink pad block 140 rotatably mounted between
brackets 142 and 144. The ink pad block 140 is attached to the
output shaft 146 of a rotary solenoid 148. In the operation of the
total depository system, prior to activating the transport, a
signal from the central controller actuates the solenoid 148 to
rotate the ink pad block 140 in alignment with a printing wheel, as
will be explained.
Referring to FIGS. 9-11, a deposit envelope moving over the front
and rear tables 134 and 136 is positioned in the area of the
transverse transport comprising parallel positioned, endless chains
150, 152 and 154. Each of the chains 150, 152 and 154 rotates on an
idler sprocket 156, 158 and 160, respectively, and on a drive
sprocket 162, 164 and 166. The drive sprockets 162, 164 and 166 are
mounted to a drive shaft 168 carrying at one end thereof a drive
sprocket 170. Coupled to the drive sprocket 170 by means of a
timing belt 172 is a transport motor 174 having a sprocket 176 on
the output shaft and carrying the timing belt. The chains 150, 152
and 154 are positioned to travel laterally across the lower belts
54 and 55.
Each of the chains 150, 152 and 154 carries a sweeper as part of
the coupling link for the chain. The sweeper 178 for the chain 150
includes flexible wipers 182 and 184 that contacts with the plate
134 to sweep a deposit envelope therefrom into one of two stacker
pockets. With regard to the chain 152, the sweeper 186 is also part
of the coupling link and comprises a flexible bar that travels
through the space between the plates 134 and 136. This bar, as
shown by reference in FIG. 6, extends between the belts 54 and 55
in the groove formed by the idler rollers 96, 98 and 100. This
insures a positive sweeping of a deposit envelope from the tables
134 and 136 into one of the stacker pockets. For the chain 154, the
sweeper 187 is part of the coupling link and is a solid bar that
sweeps an envelope from the table 136. The sweeper 187 also
functions as a flag to interrupt a light path between a light
emitting diode and a photocell 261. Interrupting light from the
photocell 261 causes a signal to be sent to the system computer
indicating that the transverse transport has swept a deposit
envelope into one of the stacker pockets. The system computer then
sends a signal to de-energize the transport motor 174.
As a deposit envelope enters the transverse transport mechanism, a
divert plate 188, pivotally mounted to a support bracket 190, is
rotated to guide the envelope into the transverse transport
mechanism and a printing station. The divert plate 188 is
positioned by means of a rotary solenoid 192 having an arm 194
bolted to the output shaft. A coupling link 196 interconnects the
arm 194 to the divert plate 188. A signal to energize the solenoid
192 is received from the system computer of the banking
terminal.
Referring to FIGS. 12-14, a deposit envelope positioned on the
tables 134 and 136 is moved into a printing station wherein a
serial number of the transaction is imprinted thereon to match with
an identical serial number on a receipt printed by operation of the
console 10.
The transaction serial number is imprinted by a five digit numeric
print machine 198 driven against an envelope positioned on the
tables 134 and 136 by actuating solenoids 200 and 202 in response
to a command signal from the system computer. The system computer
generates the command signal as an envelope moves into the print
station and interrupts energy impinging on the photocell 264.
Each of the solenoids 200 and 202 is mounted on a base plate 204
and includes an armature connected to a drive shaft 206. For the
solenoid 200, an armature 208 is biased into an extended position
by means of a spring 210 in contact with a washer 212. Similarly,
for the solenoid 202, an armature 214 is biased into an extended
position by means of a spring 216 engaging a washer 218 in contact
with the shaft 206.
Secured to the shaft 206 is a solenoid driver link 226 having a
roller follower 228 in contact with a mounting plate 230 supporting
the numeric print machine 198. Similarly, the shaft 206 is
connected to a driver link 224 having a roller follower 229 in
contact with the mounting plate 230. Both the driver links 224 and
226 are rotatably mounted on a shaft 207. The shaft 206 is mounted
to the base plate 204 by means of brackets 220 and 222. The
mounting plate 230 includes bearings 232 and 234 for guiding the
numeric print machine 198 by means of guide posts 236 and 238.
In operation of the serial number printer, actuating the solenoids
200 and 202 causes the shaft 206 to be pulled toward the solenoid
coils thereby rotating the driver links 224 and 226 on the shaft
207. Rotating the driver links 224 and 226 forces the rollers 228
and 229 against the mounting plate 230 thereby driving the numeric
print machine 198 against a deposit envelope.
To signal the system computer that the numeric print machine 198
has been actuated, a micro switch 243 attached to a bracket 224 as
part of the base plate 204 is actuated by movement of a cam
follower 246 with the numeric print machine 198. The cam follower
246 is attached to the mounting plate 230 by means of a bracket
248.
The entire assembly of the print module, as attached to the base
plate 204, is pivotally mounted to a support rod 250 (see FIG. 9)
by means of mounting brackets 252 and 254. The mounting brackets
252 and 254 are attached to the base plate 204. To secure the print
module in place, a latch bar 256 is pivotally mounted to the base
plate 204 and includes apertures for engaging a support bar 258 of
the transverse transport mechanism. The latch bar 256 is biased
into a latching position by means of a spring 260.
Also mounted to the base plate 204 is a light emitting diode 262
that provides a light beam to the photocell 261 as part of the
transverse transport. As the sweeper 187 of the chain 154 passes
between the light emitting diode 262 and the photocell, the
photocell generates a home positioned signal for the transverse
transport to the system computer indicating a deposit envelope has
been swept from the print station.
Referring to FIG. 9, to index the numeric print machine 198 from
the system computer, a solenoid 266 is mounted to the frame of the
transverse transport. Energizing this solenoid drives an armature
268 against a cam follower 240 to index the numeric print machine.
The numeric print machine may also be indexed by manually rotating
the print wheels.
After imprinting a serial number on a deposit envelope in the print
station, the transverse transport is actuated to sweep the deposit
document into one of two stacker pockets. Referring to FIGS. 15-17,
envelopes from the transverse transport will be stored in one of
the stacker pockets 272 or 274 in accordance with an established
operating procedure. For example, all envelopes swept from the
printing station will be stored in the stacker pocket 274 until
this pocket has been filled to a preselected height. Then, the
transverse transport will reverse direction to deposit envelopes in
the stacker pocket 272.
To orient the stacker pockets with respect to the print station,
ball bearing slides 276 and 278 are shown mounted to a support
bracket 280. The longitudinal transport and the print station are
mounted to move on the tracks 276, 278.
Since the stacker pockets 272 and 274 are similar in construction
and operation, only the pocket 272 will be described in detail.
Each stacker pocket comprises a rectangularly shaped housing to
accept envelopes having a certain maximum dimensional outline. An
envelope from the transverse transport is delivered to the top of a
stack of such envelopes supported in the stacker pocket 272 on a
platform 282. The platform is guided by a linear motion slide 284.
It is positioned by means of a chain 286 driven by a motor 288. The
motor 288 couples to the chain 286 by means of a worm 290 engaging
a worm gear 292, the latter mounted to a shaft 294 that also has
attached thereto a sprocket 296 for driving the chain. The chain
286 is attached to the platform 282 by means of tabs 298 and 300
bolted or otherwise secured to an extension of the platform
282.
At the top of the stacker pocket 272, there is a light source 302
providing a light beam to a photocell 300. Each time a deposit
envelope is swept from the printing station by the transverse
transport, as it falls into the stacker pocket it breaks the light
beam from the source 302 to the photocell 300. If the beam is still
broken when the transverse transport reaches its home position, the
depository electronics produces a drive signal for the motor 288.
The motor 288 runs for a period sufficient to lower the position of
the platform 282 an increment sufficient to allow the next deposit
envelope to enter the stacker pocket. Initially, the platform 282
is positioned at the top of the stacker pocket and is subsequently
stepped to a lower limit as each deposit envelope is delivered into
the pocket. When the platform 282 has reached the lower limit, a
micro switch (not shown) is actuated to generate an instruction to
the system computer that the pocket 272 is full and cannot accept
additional envelopes.
In construction and operation, the pocket 274 is essentially the
same as the stacker pocket 272 wherein as an envelope enters the
pocket a light beam from a source 306 to a photocell 304 is
interrupted to position a platform 310. When the platform 310
reaches a lower limit, a micro switch (not shown) is actuated to
change operation to the stacker pocket 272.
Referring to FIG. 18, when the depository receives a command from
the system computer of the console 10 to accept a deposit, a
programmed sequence is followed to complete each of the various
transactions of the depository and to check the operation thereof.
Initially, the longitudinal transport motor 110 is turned on by the
computer in the "turn on" transport step 312. Following
energization of the transport motor 110, the system computer
activates the instruction window display 26 to display the message
"Insert Envelope Into Depository" as given by the display step 314.
Next, the entry gate 30 (throat) is unlocked and the rotary
solenoid 38 energized to open the entry gate. Unlocking and opening
the entry gate 30 is completed in the unlock and open throat step
316. At this time, a 6 second time out 318 begins. Before the 6
second time out 318 is completed, the cam 44 must actuate the micro
switch 48 to generate a gate open signal to the system computer.
Inquiry 320 is continuously made to determine if the entry gate 30
has opened. A negative response to the inquiry 320, indicating the
entry gate has not fully opened, produces a negative response and
the operation sequence proceeds to inquiry 322 to evaluate if the
six second time out 318 has been completed. If the 6 second time
out has not been completed, the sequence returns to inquiry
320.
A positive response to the inquiry 322, indicating the six second
time out 318 has been completed, advances the operation sequence to
error step 326. A complete understanding of the error operation
sequence will be found in the copending patent application of
Harold Don Fought.
A positive respose to the inquiry 320 advances the operating
sequence to a sixty second time out 328. Envelope insert inquiry
330 is then made to determine if the customer has inserted a
deposit envelope through the entry gate. The photocell 128,
responding to movement of an envelope through the entry gate,
provides the system computer with the signal to complete the
inquiry 330. A negative response to the inquiry 330 advances the
sequence to a timing inquiry 332 which is an operation that checks
the time elapsed from the opening of the entry gate 30. Inquiry 322
is a 15 second time check and a negative response returns the
sequence to inquiry 330. A positive response advances the sequence
to a flash display step 334 which produces a flashing display at
the instruction window 26. The sequence then advances to inquiry
336 wherein a negative response returns the sequence to inquiry 330
and a positive response advances the operation to an error step 338
which is a system error subroutine as described in the copending
patent application of Harold Don Fought.
A positive response to the envelope insert inquiry 330 advances the
sequence to an envelope length inquiry 340 which is a determination
of the envelope length. If light to both the photocells 128 and 132
interrupted at the same time by an envelope in the longitudinal
transport, then inquiry 340 results in a positive response and the
sequence advances to a reverse transport step 342 wherein the
transport motor 110 is energized to run in a reverse direction to
reject the deposit envelope through the entry gate 30. The envelope
is returned during a return step 344 and as the envelope clears the
photocell 128 the system computer energizes the solenoid 38 during
a close throat step 346 to close the entry gate. The operating
sequence then advances to a throat lock inquiry 348 wherein a
negative response advances the sequence to an error step 350 and
subsequently to a depository shutdown step 352. A positive response
to the inquiry 340 advances the sequence to an error step 354 which
is an error operation to advance the total system sequence to an
error subroutine.
Returning to the envelope length inquiry 340, if a proper sized
envelope has been inserted through the entry gate 30 then as the
light beam to the photocell 132 is interrupted the photocell 128
will be receiving light from the source 126. Inquiry 340 then
generates a negative response and the operating sequence advances
to an ink counter step 356. During the ink counter step 356 the ink
pad block 140 is rotated by energizing the solenoid 148 and the
numeric machine 198 is inked. The sequence advances to a close
throat step 358 wherein the solenoid 38 is de-energized to close
the entry gate 30. A 5 second time out 360 is started at this time
and the sequence advances to the throat closed inquiry 362 in
response to a signal from the switch 48 to determine if the entry
gate 30 has been closed. A negative response to the inquiry 362
indicates the entry gate has not been closed and the sequence
advances to the inquiry 364 which makes a determination of whether
or not the 5 second time out 360 has been completed. A negative
response to inquiry 364 returns the sequence to inquiry 362 and a
positive response advances the sequence to an error step 366.
A positive response to the throat closed inquiry 362, indicating
that the entry gate 30 has been closed and locked, advances the
sequence to a 15 second time out 368 and then to an envelope
position inquiry 370. When a deposit envelope moving through the
longitudinal transport interrupts the photocell 264 the envelope is
in a print position. If an envelope has not reached this position,
inquiry 370 generates a negative response to advance the sequence
to a time inquiry 372 which makes a determination of the 15 second
time out 368. Before the 15 second time out 368 has been completed,
the sequence advances from inquiry 372 back to inquiry 370. After
the 15 second time out, the sequence advances to reset the 15
second time out, at the end of this time out the sequence advances
to a print and stack routine and sequences through a normal exit
routine.
Interrupting the light source to the photocell 264 advances the
operating sequence to a print serial number step 376 wherein the
solenoids 200 and 202 are energized to position the numeric print
machine 198 to print a serial number on the deposit envelope. The
sequence then advances to a print condition inquiry 378 which
responds to a signal from the micro switch 242. If the micro switch
242 has not been actuated by a return of the numeric print machine
198 to a home position, then a negative result is generated by the
inquiry 378 and the sequence advances to an error step 380. A
positive response to the inquiry 378, indicating that the numeric
print machine 198 has tripped the micro switch 242, produces a
positive response to advance the sequence to a stacker step 382
wherein the transverse transport motor 174 is energized to move the
deposit envelope into one of the stacker pockets 272 or 274.
A stacking complete inquiry 384 is then made and if the stacking
has been completed, a positive response results from the inquiry
384 and the depository function is completed. The sequence then
advances to a recycle step 386 for returning the depository to a
position for receiving an additional deposit envelope.
If the stacking operation has not been completed, the inquiry 384
generates a negative response and the operation advances to an
error step 388.
In summary, the operation of the depository of the present
invention accepts a deposit envelope after it has been inserted
through an entry gate 30. The deposit envelope is then engaged by
four belts and transported to a print position. Three photocell
sensors monitor the position and length of the envelope during its
transport. If an over-length envelope is detected, the transport
motor 110 will reverse and the envelope is returned to the
customer. For security, the entry gate is closed and locked after
the deposit envelope clears the entrance photocell 126. The print
solenoids 200 and 202 are energized and, after printing has been
verified, the transverse transport motor 142 is energized to move
the envelope to one of two stacker pockets. The transport motor
stops when the transport home photocell 261 is blocked. If the
stacker photocell is blocked, the stacker elevator is lowered until
the photocell is clear. If no errors have been incurred and at
least one stacker is not full, the depository is ready to process
another transaction.
While only one embodiment of the invention, together with
modifications thereof, has been described in detail herein and
shown in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident that various
further modifications are possible without departing from the scope
of the invention.
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