Automated teller machines and method of replenishing the same

Method of replenishing currency in an ATM, comprising the following steps:

• a) at replenishment, causing a feed mechanism to transfer all currency notes from some money cassettes (40) within the ATM to a storage device (54) within the ATM, thereby emptying the money cassettes (40);
• b) removing empty money cassettes (40) from the ATM;
• c) leaving the storage device (54) within the ATM, together with currency deposited into the storage device in step (a);
• and
• d) replacing the empty cassettes (40) with replenished cassettes.

Method of replenishing currency in an ATM, comprising the following steps:

• a) at replenishment, causing a feed mechanism to transfer all currency notes from some money cassettes (40) within the ATM to a storage device (54) within the ATM, thereby emptying the money cassettes (40);
• b) removing empty money cassettes (40) from the ATM;
• c) leaving the storage device (54) within the ATM, together with currency deposited into the storage device in step (a);
• d) replacing the empty cassettes (40) with replenished cassettes;
• e) causing the feed mechanism to place currency notes between a pair of belts (97, 98) within the storage device (54), when the feed mechanism delivers the currency notes to the storage device (54);
• and
• f) winding the belts (97, 98) around a drum (90), thereby storing the currency notes on the drum (90).

A system, comprising:

• a) an ATM, which contains money cassettes (40) within a locked compartment (42) which become depleted as the ATM dispenses currency to customers;
• b) within the ATM,
• i) means for receiving a PURGE command and, in response, causing a feed mechanism to transfer all currency from at least some money cassettes (40) within the ATM to a storage device (54) within the ATM, thereby emptying at least some money cassettes (40);
• and
• ii) means for
• A) receiving codes from an operator and
• B) opening the compartment (42) if the codes meet predetermined criteria.

In an ATM which contains cassettes which store currency, a method of replenishing currency in the cassettes, comprising the following steps:

• a) receiving data from a service technician, and verifying the identity of the technician;
• b) entering a supervisory mode, wherein the ATM is disabled from dispensing currency to customers;
• c) after entering supervisory mode, transmitting an ATM status report to a host computer, which report
• i) identifies empty cassettes,
• ii) identifies cassettes for which a low-level condition has been detected, and
• iii) indicates present currency content of an Auxiliary Storage Device, ASD;
• d) after entering supervisory mode, receiving a purge signal from the technician and, in response
• i) ascertaining remaining capacity of the ASD;
• ii) ascertaining a target cassette having the smallest number of pieces of currency;
• iii) transferring all pieces of currency from the target cassette to the ASD;
• and
• iv) repeating steps (d)(i), (d)(ii) and (d)(iii) until the remaining capacity of the ASD will not allow further cassettes to be emptied into the ASD;
• and
• e) after responding to the purge signal, replacing empty cassettes, including cassettes emptied in response to the purge signal, with cassettes stocked with currency.