Self-service transaction apparatus and method using a robot for article transport and repair of internal article handling devices
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsPaul A. Hakenewerth, Gene D. Rohrer, Nils G. Stalberg
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Abstract
Transfer of articles of different types between article handling devices within the apparatus and the user outside of it is effected through a limited number of access ports by an article gripping and transporting robot that undergoes multi-directional translational movement and that is capable of gripping articles of different kinds, sizes and shapes. The robot may be and preferably is also used to perform maintenance services upon article handling devices of the apparatus.
Claims8
A self-service transaction apparatus for articles comprising:
- a housing having an access port for permitting the passage of said articles between the interior of said housing and a user of said self-service transaction apparatus;
- a plurality of article handling devices each mounted at a predetermined position within said housing for handling articles passed through said access port;
- storage means mounted in said housing for storing a plurality of replacement handling devices;
- a multi-purpose robot mounted in said housing, said robot having an article gripper including a pair of cooperating gripper jaws;
- and
- control means mounted in said housing and connected to said robot for controlling said robot to transport at least one of said articles between said access port and at least one of said handling devices and to replace one of said handling devices at one of said predetermined positions with one of said replacement devices at said storing means.
A self-service transaction apparatus for articles comprising:
- a housing having an access port for permitting the passage of said articles between the interior of said housing and a user of said self-service transaction apparatus;
- a plurality of article handling devices each mounted at a predetermined position within said housing for handling articles passed through said access port;
- storage means mounted in said housing for storing a plurality of maintenance articles including replacement handling devices;
- a multi-purpose robot mounted in said housing, said robot having an article gripper including a pair of cooperating gripper jaws;
- and
- control means mounted in said housing and connected to said robot for controlling said robot to transport at least one of said articles between said access port and at least one of said handling devices and to replace one of said handling devices at one of said predetermined positions with one of said replacement devices at said storing means and to service handling device at one of said predetermined positions by installing a maintenance article on said handling device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.