# US 2013/0153371 A1 · Belt supporting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153371 A1 - Document ID: US20130153371A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/330,118 - Filed: 2011-12-19 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19 - Assignees: NCR Corporation - Inventors: Robert Suttie - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153371A1 ## CPC - B65G 15/60: Arrangements for supporting or guiding belts, e.g. by fluid jets - G07D 11/14: Inlet or outlet ports - G07F 19/202: {Depositing operations within ATMs (depositing in general G07D11/00)} - G07F 19/205: {Housing aspects of ATMs} - B65G 39/16: for aligning belts or chains - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - G07D: HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract An apparatus and method are disclosed for supporting a flat belt member. The apparatus includes a drum member rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation and comprising an outer support surface that generally increases in diameter from a first end region to a central region and decreases in diameter from the central region to a further end region. The central region includes a groove in the support surface which extends circumferentially around the drum member. A ring member is located in the groove. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for supporting a flat belt member, comprising: a drum member rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation and comprising an outer support surface that generally increases in diameter from a first end region to a central region and decreases in diameter from the central region to a further end region, said central region comprising a groove in the support surface extending circumferentially around the drum member; and a ring member located in the groove. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: the ring member is manufactured from a material that has a co-efficient of friction of at least about around 0.70. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the co-efficient of friction is at least about around 0.90. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the co-efficient of friction is at least about around 1.00. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ring member is a rubber “O” ring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drum member is a crown roller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ring member is arranged to substantially prevent slippage between the drum member and an inner abutting surface of a flat belt member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: the groove has a substantially U-shaped cross-section or a substantially V-shaped cross-section or a substantially semi-circular cross-section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: the ring member has a substantially circular cross-section or a substantially rectangular cross-section. ### Claim 10 Apparatus for conveying an item of media, comprising: a drum member rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation and comprising an outer support surface that generally increases in diameter from a first end region to a central region and decreases in diameter from the central region to a further end region, said central region comprising a groove in the support surface and a ring member in the groove; and a flat endless belt member that at least partially rides on the central region of the support surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An automated teller machine (ATM) or self-service terminal that comprises the apparatus as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 12 A method of preventing slippage between a rotatable drum member and a flat belt member, comprising the steps of: providing a groove in an outer surface of a rotatable drum member; and providing a ring member in the groove whereby as the drum member rotates the ring member provides a non-slip surface between a flat belt member that at least partially rides on the outer surface and the ring member, and the ring member and the drum member. ### Claim 13 A method of centring a flat belt member on a rotating drum member, comprising the steps of: providing a groove in a central region of an outer surface of a rotatable drum member; providing a ring member extending proud of the outer surface of the rotatable drum element in the groove; and locating the belt member at the central region of the drum member as the belt member rides on the ring member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: providing the groove in a crowned outer surface of the drum member. ### Claim 15 A method of driving an endless belt member, comprising the steps of: simultaneously and automatically centring a rotating belt member on a drive roller member and providing a non-slip interface between the belt member and roller member.