JPS6155143B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to teller machines, and more particularly to teller machines of the type in which a dispensing device is operated to dispense items to be delivered to a customer in response to a transaction requested by the customer.

An automated teller machine is used by a bank or other general company to dispense cash (usually paper money) or other items (e.g., traveler's checks) in response to requests made to the machine by a customer. It is widely used in The request here typically involves keying in a machine with a secret number and comparing the secret number in the machine for a match with other numbers entered by the customer. Other numbers entered by the customer may originate from data encrypted on the card presented by the customer to the machine as part of the request, in which case e.g. , British Patent Specification No.
It may be the customer's account number read by the machine from the card presented, as in the case of the machine disclosed in No. 1494736. Alternatively, other numbers may be used, for example British Patent Specification No.
As in the case of the machine disclosed in No. 1223556, it can be calculated within the machine from multiple numbers read from the card. Furthermore, other numbers may be numbers keyed into the machine by the customer separately from the secret number stored in said machine, as is the case, for example, in the machine disclosed in British Patent Specification No. 1429467. You can also do that.

The above types of automated teller machines are
A bank has been installed in a bank store or office so that it is accessible from the outside of the building so that the distribution of banknotes or other items to customers or other transactions may be carried out at any time, especially outside the bank's business hours. It has been made possible. Such teller machines are also installed inside stores or offices and can only be operated by customers in the hall or lobby of the bank. In the latter case, the teller machine provides a system that is equivalent in many respects to that provided by a human teller or cashier.
Or at least it is possible to automatically perform a service that assists with this. In the case of such installation within a bank, it is possible to reduce the workload of bank tellers or cashiers, and to provide the desired minimum level of service to customers even when the teller is not providing customer service. It is possible to do this. Although such teller machines, along with all cash dispensing and basic calculation operations, can completely replace human tellers, most customers prefer not to be serviced by a human. This is not desirable commercially. In any case, the services of a human teller are necessary to answer questions, handle difficult cases, and conduct complex transactions.

The present invention provides an automated system capable of maintaining or supplementing customer service with dispensing capabilities suitable for supplementing human service rendered to customers from a teller location. Regarding teller machines. It is already known to install dispensing devices at the teller's location for use by the teller to count or collect coins or banknotes handed over to customers. However, such dispensing devices could only be operated by a teller and could not be used to maintain customer service unless a human teller was present at the teller's location.

British Patent Specification No. 1486299 discloses a bank which is installed at a location remote from the bank premises and used by a customer to carry out requested transactions automatically under program control in a known manner. An automated teller machine is disclosed that can be switched into a mode of operation in which the customer is assisted by a bank employee in completing the transaction. In this case, the customer
It can operate the key switch of an automated teller machine to enable communication with a human teller located in a remote bank building. By combining in this way, transactions can be carried out entirely by the customer under the direction of a remote teller;
Alternatively, it can be completed directly by keyboard input by a human teller located at a remote location. If the requested transaction involves dispensing cash to a customer, a human teller may have limited control over the dispensing device of the teller machine at a remote location. This will be done. However, in this case, the human teller's involvement is essentially limited to assisting the customer in operating the automated teller machine at a remote location. That is, the involvement of a human teller merely supplements the service that would be available to a customer at a remotely located teller machine. Such prior systems, in contrast to the present invention, utilize automated teller machines to assist in human service rendered to customers in the presence of a human teller. It does not relate to the use of the device, nor is it applicable to that purpose.

According to the present invention, in a teller machine in which a dispensing device is operated to dispense items to be delivered to a customer in response to a transaction requested by the customer, the dispensing device is operated manually by a human from a teller's location. a first mode in which the dispensing device operates to dispense the item under control; and the dispensing device automatically dispenses the item under program control in response to a customer request made from the customer's location. the machine is switchable to operate selectively in either mode and a second mode in which it operates; the two locations are located in close proximity to each other, and the machine operates in the first mode. The dispensing device transfers the dispensed items from both locations so that the delivery of the dispensed items to the customer is under the direct control of the teller operating from the teller location. A teller machine is provided that is adapted to dispense to a reachable location.

The customer's location and the teller's location may be located on opposite sides of the counter from each other, in which case the dispensing device is located in a receptacle located intermediate the two locations of the counter. It is possible to distribute goods to The bin may also have a lid operable by the teller from the teller's location to make items within the bin accessible or unavailable to customers.

Switching the teller machine from one mode to the other can be accomplished by setting a switch device located at the teller's location. The switch device may, in particular, be configured to operate a locking device such that a human teller can control the operation of the teller machine by using a removable key.
It is possible to reliably operate in the first mode or the second mode.

Although the teller machine according to the present invention is particularly suitable for use in banks, the scope of application of the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be similarly used in other companies or offices. Furthermore, although the teller machine according to the present invention is particularly suitable for dispensing cash to customers, it can equally be used for dispensing other items such as traveler's checks or tickets.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The bank teller machine described below is used in a bank store or office to provide services to customers. In particular, this teller machine is used in a bank hall or lobby of a store or office in conjunction with a conventional bank counter that separates the customer from the bank staff. The teller machine includes a bill dispensing device located at the transaction location of the counter for dispensing bills to a location intermediate a teller location and a customer location facing each other across the counter. There is.

This teller machine has two main modes of operation, depending on whether or not a person is present at the teller's location. When a person is present at the teller's location, the teller machine operates in a first mode that assists the teller or cashier in performing transactions requested by the customer. In contrast, in the second mode, the teller machine operates as an automated teller machine, automatically dispensing cash or responding to other requests according to procedures programmed into the machine. handle the work given to them. Therefore, according to this teller machine, it is possible to always receive service from the transaction location regardless of whether there is a person at the teller's location, and moreover, if there is a person at the teller's location, the processing It is possible to operate to assist the teller depending on the work to be done.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, a counter 1 that separates a teller's location 2 and a customer's location 3 from each other in a transaction location is equipped with a known security screen 4 and a counter surface 6. Embedded in the security screen 4 is a stainless steel tray 5 which allows banknotes or other items to be exchanged between the teller and the customer through the security screen 4. The tray 5 has a horizontal sliding lid 7 that can be advanced or retracted by the teller to make the items in the tray 5 available or unavailable to customers.

The bill dispensing device 8 of the teller machine is installed below the counter surface 6, and dispenses bills from the side through the outlet 9 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) into the storage section formed by the tray 5. allocate. The bill dispensing operation of the dispensing device 8 is managed by a data processing device 10 connected to an input/output device 11 installed on the counter surface 6. The input/output device 1
1 has two keyboards 12 and 13 for inputting data to the data processing device 10,
A keyboard 12 (which is capable of keying in a wider range of functions than the keyboard 13) is arranged so as to be accessible for operation from the teller's location 2. On the other hand, the keyboard 13 is connected to the card reader 14 of the input/output device 11.
(See FIG. 4) and is located opposite the counter 1 in a location accessible to customers from a customer location 3. In the first mode of operation, information or instructions output from the data processing device 10 are displayed to the teller in the form of alphanumeric characters on the cathode ray tube screen 15 of the input/output device 11 above the keyboard 12. . On the other hand, information for instructions or confirmation applied in the second operation mode is sent to the data processing device 1.
0 is output for display in the form of alphanumeric characters and numbers on a screen 16 (cathode ray tube or other simple display device) placed above the keyboard 13 so as to be visible from the customer's location 3. The data processing device 10 includes a transmission line 17
(See Figure 4) is connected to the bank's terminal system in the bank's branch or office, and is connected to the bank's terminal system in the bank's branch or office, where information for identification, instructions and other customer requests can be entered by the teller via the keyboard 12. The entered questions are transmitted online to the bank's central data processing system. In response to the request or inquiry, the central data processing system transmits data, instructions and other information, including, for example, a requested cash withdrawal authorization or other instructions, back to the data processing device 10 via transmission line 18. be done. The functionality of data processing device 10 in response to output signals from this central data processing system depends on whether the teller device is operating in a first, human-present, or a second, human-free mode. It changes.

The teller machine has a changeover switch 1 of an input/output device 11.
9 (see FIG. 4), it operates in the first mode or the second mode. The setting of this changeover switch 19 is determined by the lock 2 installed on the keyboard 12.
Selection of a particular switch setting (shown in FIG. 4) corresponding to operating the teller machine in a first mode is accomplished by inserting and twisting a designated key into the lock 20. It can be done. This key is held by the teller in charge of the teller's location 2, and when the teller leaves the location unoccupied, he relocks the lock 20 and pulls out the key. By pulling out the key and relocking the lock 20 in this manner, the changeover switch 19 is set to a state corresponding to the position in which the second operating mode of the teller machine is selected.

If there is a person in the teller's location 2 and the teller sets the changeover switch 19 by unlocking the lock 20 to select the first operating mode of the teller machine, the input/output device 11 Dish 5 across surface 6
operates to assist the teller in transactions conducted through the That is, the teller may utilize the keyboard 12 to make inquiries via the data processing device 10 to request the status of the customer's deposit and instructions regarding the handling of the requested transaction. The answer to this question and the requested instructions are displayed on screen 15. In this mode,
Normally, no information is displayed on the screen 16, and the signal output from the data processing device 10 for display and the keyboard 1 to the data processing device 10 are performed.
The signal output from 3 is normally prohibited by the setting of the changeover switch 19. This teller device is the first
It is particularly advantageous for transactions involving the act of dispensing cash to a customer even when operating in this mode.

In this latter case, the banknote dispensing device 8 has the ability to dispense selected arbitrary numbers of a large number of different denominations (four in the illustrated case) under the control of the data processing device 10. has. Dispensing device 8 for dispensing banknotes mixed with an appropriate number of denominations
The release of the transaction is performed by the data processing device 10 only after certain predetermined procedures appropriate to the transaction have been performed by the teller and approval for the transaction has been granted by the central data processing system. For procedures, the teller uses the keyboard 12.
The method includes a procedure in which information regarding the total amount to be distributed to the customer and the mixture of denominations of the amount requested by the customer is input into the data processing device 10 using the . If the transaction is approved, the data processing device 10 transfers the bill to the bill conveyance mechanism 21 of the bill dispensing device 8 (see FIG. 4).
The banknotes are driven to draw out the number of banknotes suitable for the requested mix of denominations from the four cassettes 22 in which different denominations are supplied and stored. The data processing device 10 is programmed to perform a predetermined optimum mixing when no specific mixing of denominations is requested by the teller. The withdrawn banknotes are collected together into one bundle and sent to the delivery port 9 by the delivery mechanism 23 of the banknote dispensing device 8.
through which it is dispensed into the dish 5. This teller therefore provides extra assistance to the teller in quickly counting and bundling the appropriate banknotes to meet the customer's requirements. The delivery of dispensed cash to the customer is still under the direct control of the teller, since the bundle of notes in the tray 5 is within easy reach of the teller's location. The teller therefore positions the horizontal sliding lid 7 in front of the customer until the lid 7 is pulled back by the teller to allow the customer to remove the banknotes from the tray 5. You can make things impossible.

The teller pulls out the key from the lock 20 when leaving the teller's location 2 unattended. In this case, the changeover switch 19 is automatically set to correspond to the second mode. In this second mode, instructions to the customer are transmitted from data processing device 10 for display on screen 16. Normally, nothing is displayed on the screen 15. Specifically, the customer is instructed to insert his or her card into card reader 14 . Once the card is inserted and the information, including the customer's account number, is read from the card and sent to data processing device 10, data processing device 10 displays screen 16 for the customer.
Instruct him or her to enter his or her personalized secret number through the display above. Customer is keyboard 1
Following this instruction by operating 3, you will be further prompted to use the same keyboard 13 to identify the required teller service. The input secret number is compared with the account number read from the card in the data processing device 10 to see if they match, and only when they match can the operation proceed further. Assuming a match, data processing device 10 processes according to a program sequence responsive to the service identified by the customer. If the customer requests to withdraw cash, the transaction is completed by the customer again entering the required amount using the keyboard 13 and by providing approval for the transaction to the data processing device 10 from the central data processing system. It is carried out only after If authorization is granted, the data processing device 10 operates the banknote dispensing device 8 to extract the required banknotes from the cassette 22 and dispense them through the outlet 9 into the tray 5 for withdrawal by the customer.
As mentioned above, the mixing ratio of denominations can be selected by operating the keyboard 13 in this case, and if such a selection has not been made,
It is determined by the program of the data processing device 10. Prior to dispensing banknotes to the customer, the customer's card is preferably released from the card reader 14 and removed by the customer.

The card reader 14 is used both when the teller machine is operating in the first attended mode and when the dispensing of cash to the customer is carried out by securely confirming the transaction with the customer's credit or bank card. Available. In this case, when the appropriate code is entered by the teller on the keyboard 12, the data processing device 10 turns on the card reader 14. The customer is then required to insert his card into the card reader 14, allowing the appropriate information for testing to be read into the data processing device 10. Or, as shown,
The input/output device 11 is provided with a card reader 24 used by the teller, by means of which the encrypted information on the customer's card, presented in this case on the plate 5, can be read into the data processing device 10. is also possible. If the security of the transaction can be further confirmed by inputting the customer's secret number and comparing it with the account number read from the card, the customer is instructed to make such an input using the keyboard 13. Ru. In this case, the teller first uses the keyboard 12.
Enter the appropriate code via , and turn on the keyboard 13 for this purpose.

A check endorsement printer may be installed in the input/output device 11 so that the teller inputs information regarding transactions based on the check via the keyboard 12, and the information is simultaneously printed on the check to enable check settlement. can. Additionally, the banknote dispensing device 8 may be provided with a
It is also possible to provide the tray 5 with the ability to dispense not only banknotes but also coins.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bank counter in which an embodiment of the teller machine according to the present invention is installed, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a cash storage section installed in the embodiment, and FIG. This figure is a sectional view taken along the line -- in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the teller machine according to the present invention. 1... Counter, 2... Teller's location, 3... Customer's location, 4... Security screen, 5... Dish, 6... Counter surface, 7... Horizontal sliding lid, 8... Bill dispensing device, 9... Outlet, 10...data processing device, 11...
Input/output device, 12, 13...Keyboard, 14...Card reader, 15, 16...Screen, 17,
18...Transmission line, 19...Selector switch, 20...Lock,
21...Banknote transport device, 22...Cassette, 23...Sending mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a teller machine in which a dispensing device is operated to dispense items to be delivered to a customer in response to a transaction requested by the customer, the dispensing device is operated from a teller's location. a first mode in which the dispensing device operates to dispense items under manual human control; and a first mode in which the dispensing device automatically dispenses items under program control in response to customer requests made from the customer's location. the machine is switchable to operate selectively in either mode and a second mode in which the machine operates in the first mode; When in operation, the dispensing device handles the items from both locations such that the delivery of the dispensed item to the customer is under the direct control of the teller operating from the teller location. A teller machine characterized by being adapted to dispense money to a position where it can be reached. 2. The two locations are arranged on opposite sides of the counter from each other, and the dispensing device is adapted to dispense items into a receptacle located intermediate the two locations of the counter. Claim 1
The teller machine described in section. 3. Claim 2, wherein the storage unit has a lid that can be operated by the teller from the teller's location to make the items in the storage unit accessible or unavailable to customers. The teller machine described in .