Night depository method and apparatus
AssigneeNCR Corporation
InventorJohn P. Caldwell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A night depository is configured to be placed beneath and to support an automated teller machine, which is used by a customer to provide access to the night depository, and which provides documentation of customer access to the night depository. Access to the night depository is provided by a closure positioned vertically beneath the front of the automated teller machine. A conveyor within the night depository prevents piling up of deposits within the night depository beneath the closure. The conveyor carries the deposits to the vincinity of a second closure which may be opened by an authorized person to remove the accumulated deposits.
Claims22
A method for receiving customer deposits in a night depository operatively associated with an automated teller machine (ATM), comprising the following steps:
- a. receiving at the ATM a customer entry of personal identification and transaction data;
- b. verifying the identity of the customer;
- c. releasing a latch means to enable the customer to open a closure of the night depository, make a deposit in the night depository, and close the closure;
- d. enabling the deposit to drop into a conveyor area, which includes a conveyor, in the night depository;
- e. sensing, by a sensor, the height of deposits reposing in the conveyor area;
- f. operating the conveyor to reposition the deposits in the night depository when the height of the accumulated deposits exceeds a predetermined value as determined by the sensor;
- g. generating a signal by the depository to the ATM that the deposit has been made;
- h. recording data pertaining to the transaction in the ATM;
- and
- i. issuing a receipt to the customer by the ATM relating to the deposit.
A night depository system for receiving customer deposits, maintaining a record of such deposits, and providing a receipt to a customer making such a deposit comprising, in combination:
- customer operated means for receiving customer identification and transaction data and for controlling access to a night depository;
- means for verifying the identity of the customer;
- a night depository for receiving customer deposits;
- closure means for the night depository to enable deposits to be placed within said night depository;
- latch means for said closure means controlled by said customer operated means;
- switch means operatively coupled to said closure means to provide a signal to said customer operated means as to whether said closure is opened or closed;
- conveyor means for transporting deposits which have been placed in the night depository to prevent such deposits from accumulating in a position adjacent to said closure means;
- sensing means for sensing when an accumulation of deposits adjacent said closure means exceeds a predetermined quantity;
- and
- motor means controlled by said sensing means for operating said conveyor means for moving said accumulated deposits from said position adjacent said closure means to a remote position.
A night depository system for receiving customer deposits, maintaining a record of such deposits, and providing a receipt to a customer making such a deposit, comprising, in combination:
- an automated teller machine for receiving customer identification and transaction data and for controlling access to a night depository;
- and
- a night depository for receiving customer deposits, having deposit closure means for receiving customer deposits controlled by said automated teller machine, and being configured to rest upon a floor and to support the automated teller machine thereabove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.