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US 12,718,645 B1Granted
Stepper re-buncher for stacking media items
AssigneeCardtronics USA, Inc.
InventorCraig Rutherford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stepper re-buncher for stacking media items within a transaction terminal includes first and second sliding metal plates driven by a single motor in a synchronized stepping motion. The first plate includes a window aperture allowing media items to pass through, while both plates operate to securely grip and stack multiple media items in sequence. The stepper re-buncher achieves reduced spatial requirements through elimination of circular/oval designs by maintaining stacked media items in a stationary position during stacking operations.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a first sliding plate having a window aperture;
- a second sliding plate;
- a rubber grip plate;
- a motor coupled to both the first sliding plate and the second sliding plate;
- a drive mechanism converting rotational motion of the motor to synchronized linear motion of the first sliding plate and the second sliding plate;
- transport belts configured to move media items through the window aperture;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- control the motor to move the first sliding plate and the second sliding plate in opposing directions to grip media items between at least one of the first sliding plate, the second sliding plate, and the rubber grip plate, and
- control the transport belts to move media items through the window aperture.
7 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a transaction terminal having a media depository;
- a media transport path within the media depository;
- and
- a stepper re-buncher positioned along the media transport path, the stepper re-buncher comprising:
- a first sliding plate and a second sliding plate driven by a single motor in synchronized opposing motion;
- a window aperture in the first sliding plate;
- a rubber grip plate;
- transport belts configured to move media items through the window aperture;
- and
- a controller configured to coordinate motion of the first sliding plate, the second sliding plate, and transport belts to stack multiple media items.
7 more elements
A method, comprising:
- receiving a first media item through a window aperture in a first sliding plate of a stepper re-buncher;
- detecting a trailing edge position of the first media item;
- stopping transport of the first media item based on a detected trailing edge position;
- moving the first sliding plate upward and a second sliding plate downward to grip the first media item;
- reversing motion of the first sliding plate and the second sliding plate to secure the first media item;
- receiving and stacking an additional media item through synchronized motion of the first sliding plate and the second sliding plate;
- and
- releasing a stack of media items by positioning the first sliding plate and the second sliding plate in release positions and activating transport belts.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.