Media handling device module alignment
AssigneeNCR Atleos Corporation
InventorJamie Stewart
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Sensors are mounted to surfaces of an intermediate module and a lower module of a media handling device. The sensors report to firmware and the firmware determines whether the lower module is in proper alignment with the intermediate module based on the reported sensor data. A spring plunger is configured with sufficient tension to push the lower module into alignment and a motorized latch controlled by the firmware is configured to pull the lower module into alignment and/or assist the spring plunger in pushing the lower module into alignment. In an embodiment, a lid and a lid alignment rail apparatus is provided to ensure a lid of the lower module is properly latched, aligned, and unlatched.
Claims20
A media recycler or dispenser, comprising:
- an intermediate transport module;
- a lower transport module;
- sensors to provide alignment data relevant to whether the intermediate transport module is aligned with the lower transport module;
- a motorized latch affixed to the lower transport module;
- and
- a processor coupled to the sensors to:
- determine from the alignment data whether the intermediate transport module is aligned with the lower transport module or not;
- and
- control the motorized latch to move the lower transport module into alignment with the intermediate transport module based on the alignment data.
A terminal, comprising:
- a terminal processor to perform media transactions;
- first peripherals for performing the media transactions;
- and
- a media handling device peripheral to handle deposited media and dispensed media during the media transactions at the terminal, wherein the media handling device comprises:
- an intermediate transport module;
- a lower transport module;
- sensors to report alignment data between the intermediate transport module and the lower transport module;
- and
- a processor coupled to the sensors to:
- determine whether the intermediate transport module is aligned with the lower transport module using the alignment data provided by the sensors;
- and
- control a motorized latch to move the lower transport module into alignment with the intermediate transport module based on the alignment data.
A method, comprising:
- receiving sensor data from sensors mounted on an intermediate transport module and a lower transport module of a media handing device;
- determining the lower transport module is out of alignment with the intermediate transport module based on the sensor data;
- and
- controlling a motorized latch affixed to the lower transport module to move the lower transport module into alignment with the intermediate transport module using second sensor data provided from the sensors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.