Security apparatus for an automated teller machine

A cash capture operation defeating assembly for an automated teller machine, said assembly comprising a kit of parts comprising:

• a first part comprising a first sensor for mounting outside a plane of paper currency dispense and between a currency dispenser shutter and presenter belts of a presenter area of the automated teller machine and for mounting in a same vertical plane as a pair of presenter belts, said first sensor being operable for detecting a first object inserted between presenter belts of a pair of presenter belts;
• a second part comprising a second sensor for mounting outside the plane of paper currency dispense in the presenter area and not for mounting in the same vertical plane as the pair of presenter belts, said second sensor being operable for detecting paper currency as the paper currency passes in a paper currency dispense operation;
• and
• a third part comprising control circuitry for receiving object detection signals from the first and second sensors so that when the kit of parts is installed on an automated teller machine, the assembly is operable in such a way that, when the first sensor detects a first object:
• if the second sensor has previously detected a second object within a predetermined time period before the detecting of the first object by the first sensor, the time period being determined so as to encompass the time for traverse of paper currency from the second to the first sensor during a paper currency dispense operation, then the control circuitry determines that a normal paper currency dispense has occurred and that the first and second objects each comprise the paper currency;
• and
• if the second sensor has not previously detected the second object within the predetermined time period before the detecting of the first object by the first sensor, then the control circuitry determines that the first object detected by the first sensor is a cash capture device, and the control circuitry initiates an alarm state of the assembly.

An automated teller machine, comprising a cash capture operation defeating assembly, said assembly comprising:

• a first sensor positioned outside a plane of paper currency dispense and between a currency dispenser shutter and presenter belts of a presenter area of the automated teller machine and mounted in a same vertical plane as a pair of presenter belts, said first sensor being operable for detecting a first object inserted between presenter belts of a pair of presenter belts;
• a second sensor positioned outside the plane of paper currency dispense in the presenter area and not mounted in the same vertical plane as the pair of presenter belts, said second sensor being operable for detecting paper currency as the paper currency passes in a paper currency dispense operation;
• and
• control circuitry for receiving object detection signals from the first and second sensors;
• said assembly operable in such a way that, when the first sensor detects a first object:
• if the second sensor has previously detected a second object within a predetermined time period before the detecting of the first object by the first sensor, the time period being determined so as to encompass the time for traverse of paper currency from the second to the first sensor during a paper currency dispense operation, then the control circuitry determines that a normal paper currency dispense has occurred and that the first and second objects each comprise the paper currency;
• and
• if the second sensor has not previously detected the second object within the predetermined time period before the detecting of the first object by the first sensor, then the control circuitry determines that the first object detected by the first sensor is a cash capture device, and the control circuitry initiates an alarm state of the assembly.

A method for detecting insertion of a cash capture device into a presenter area of an automated teller machine, said method comprising providing a cash capture operation defeating assembly,

• said assembly comprising:
• a first sensor mounted outside a plane of paper currency dispense and between a currency dispenser shutter and presenter belts of a presenter area of the automated teller machine and mounted in a same vertical plane as a pair of presenter belts, said first sensor being operable for detecting a first object inserted between presenter belts of a pair of presenter belts;
• a second sensor mounted outside the plane of paper currency dispense in the presenter area and not mounted in the same vertical plane as the pair of presenter belts, said second sensor being operable for detecting paper currency as the paper currency passes in a paper currency dispense operation;
• and
• control circuitry for receiving object detection signals from the first and second sensors and determining an outcome;
• said method further comprising:
• detecting a first object by the first sensor, and:
• if the second sensor has previously detected a second object within a predetermined time period before the detecting of the first object by the first sensor, the time period being determined so as to encompass the time for traverse of paper currency from the second to the first sensor during a paper currency dispense operation, then the control circuitry determining that a normal paper currency dispense has occurred and that the first and second objects each comprise the paper currency;
• and
• if the second sensor has not previously detected the second object within the predetermined time period before the detecting of the first object by the first sensor, then the control circuitry determining that the first object detected by the first sensor is the cash capture device, and the control circuitry initiating an alarm state of the assembly.

A computer program product comprising one or more computer readable hardware storage devices having computer readable program code stored therein, said program code executable by control circuitry of a cash capture operation defeating assembly to implement a method for detecting insertion of a cash capture device into a presenter area of an automated teller machine, said method comprising providing a cash capture operation defeating assembly,

• said assembly comprising:
• a first sensor mounted outside a plane of paper currency dispense and between a currency dispenser shutter and presenter belts of a presenter area of the automated teller machine and mounted in a same vertical plane as a pair of presenter belts, said first sensor being operable for detecting a first object inserted between presenter belts of a pair of presenter belts;
• a second sensor mounted outside the plane of paper currency dispense in the presenter area and not mounted in the same vertical plane as the pair of presenter belts, said second sensor being operable for detecting paper currency as the paper currency passes in a paper currency dispense operation;
• and
• control circuitry for receiving object detection signals from the first and second sensors and determining an outcome;
• said method further comprising:
• detecting a first object by the first sensor, and:
• if the second sensor has previously detected a second object within a predetermined time period before the detecting of the first object by the first sensor, the time period being determined so as to encompass the time for traverse of paper currency from the second to the first sensor during a paper currency dispense operation, then the control circuitry determining that a normal paper currency dispense has occurred and that the first and second objects each comprise the paper currency;
• and
• if the second sensor has not previously detected the second object within the predetermined time period before the detecting of the first object by the first sensor, then the control circuitry determining that the first object detected by the first sensor is the cash capture device, and the control circuitry initiating an alarm state of the assembly.