GB2175391A - A dispensing apparatus for drive up machines - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for use from an open window of a stationary vehicle, such as an automatic bank teller or an automatic sales machine, the apparatus having detection means (6) capable of determining the position of the open window, carriage means (17) activated by detection means capable of providing horizontal and vertical movement of a data input (4) and dispensing component, the data input and dispensing component (17) being capable of moving from a rest position to a position adjacent the open window such that the apparatus can be operated by a person in the vehicle. In the case of the automatic teller the input of data causes cash to be dispensed, and in the case of the automatic sales machine causes the component to return to the rest position to collect the item to be dispensed and to return to the position adjacent the open window to allow collection of the item dispensed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A dispensing apparatus for drive up machines Technical Field and Background Art This invention relates to dispensing apparatus for an automatic bank teller or vending machines where the machine is to be used by a person within a vehicle. In particular, the apparatus is an attachment to or forms part of an automatic bank teller such as those commonly provided by banks to enable their customers to withdraw money from their accounts. Although the invention is described in this specification as being particularly relevant to automatic bank tellers, it should be realised that the invention is applicable to other types of dispensing machines.

A person attempting to operate an automatic bank teller from within a stationary road vehicle can and often does experience considerable difficulty in reaching the controls of the machine, i.e. the keyboard, which is used to input data from the user and a security card as well as reaching the money output point on the machine. The difficulty is caused by the automatic bank teller being located in a fixed position in relation to a vehicle. This means that there may be a considerable horizontal distance between the side of the vehicle parked adjacent the machine and the controls of the machine. In addition, different vehicles have a different window height from the ground such that a parked vehicle or driver of a low vehicle will have to reach up whereas the driver of a high vehicle will have to stretch downwards.This results in the driver being discouraged from using existing "drive up" automatic bank tellers. Analogous problems are experienced when machines of other types are used as "drive up" machines.

It is an object of the present invention to attempt to provide a dispensing apparatus which can be fitted to existing machines of the type previously described which enables the machine to be more readily used by a person in a stationary road vehicle.

The present invention attempts to provide a dispensing apparatus which provides a service between a machine such as an automatic bank teller and a person in a vehicle at a remote point to the position of the automatic bank teller and this varies according to the type of vehicle being used.

According to the present invention, there is provided a dispensing apparatus for use by a person in a stationary vehicle adjacent the apparatus, the apparatus having detection means capable of determining the position of an open window, carriage means capable of providing horizontal and vertical movement of a data input component to a position adjacent the open window such that the apparatus can be more easily operated by a person in the vehicle.

The present invention further provides apparatus for use from an open window of a stationary vehicle, the apparatus having detection means capable of determining the position of the open window, carriage means activated by said detection means capable of providing horizontal and vertical movement of a data input and dispensing component, the data input and dispensing component being capable of moving from a rest position to a position adjacent the open window such that the apparatus can be operated by a person in the vehicle, input of data causing the component to return to the rest position to collect the material to be dispensed and to return to the position adjacent the open window to allow collection of the material dispensed.

Dispensing Apparatus The invention particularly relates to automatic bank tellers. However, it should be realised that the invention can be applied to many other forms of machines such as road toll machines, where data has to be input, or food or drink dispensers.

Preferably the apparatus is in the form of an apparatus which can be fitted to an existing vending machine mounted in a suitable roadside location. This form of the apparatus has the advantage that minimal modification of the construction of the existing automatic bank teller is required and can allow the dispensing apparatus of the present invention to be attached thereto. However, it is to be understood that the present invention includes apparatus which may be incorporated into the construction of a machine when it is manufactured.

In an embodiment of the invention where the dispensing apparatus is associated with an automatic bank teller, the data input and dispensing component can incorporate existing apparatus for reading a data card, a keyboard to enable the person in the vehicle to input the necessary instructions for a transaction to the automatic bank teller and money handling machinery to enable any money from the automatic bank vending machine to be transferred to the person in the vehicle. The data input and dispensing component may also be capable of supplying information appropriate to the transaction such as a bank statement by means of a visual display or hard copy printout.

In a preferred embodiment of this type of machine, the card reading apparatus and keyboard may be of substantially conventional type and may be connected to an automatic bank teller so that data can be entered into the antomatic bank teller and cash can be dispensed from it to the apparatus of the present invention. When valid instructions for the transaction have been completed by the person in the vehicle, the data input and dispensing component will return to its rest position against an automatic bank teller which will dispense the money requested, transfer it to the dispensing apparatus which in turn will return to the position adjacent a person in a vehicle.

The data and dispensing component then transfers the money to the position adjacent to the vehicle windows for retrieval by the person in the vehicle. Preferably, this transfer is achieved by the carriage mechanism moving the data input and dispensing component to a money outlet point where it picks up the money. The apparatus returns to the position adjacent the car window and the person in the vehicle retrieves the money completing the transaction.

It is envisaged that an automatic bank teller fitted with the apparatus is mounted at an appropriate roadside location, such as by the side of a road, a forecourt of a filling station, a car park, etc.

A person in a vehicle desiring to use the machine and apparatus will park the vehicle adjacent the machine so that an open window of the vehicle is opposite the apparatus. The window is opened and the vehicle parked in accordance with instructions visibly displayed near the machine and apparatus. The presence of the vehicle is sensed by a detecting means which may be of either optical, acoustic or weight sensing type. A motion detection means is employed to determine when the vehicle is stationary. The detection means will produce signals which are transmitted to a control device, which device controls the operation of the apparatus. The motion detection means may operate by waiting for a brief period of time to confirm that the vehicle is stationary; or preferably is a detection means employing the doppler effect to detect motion of the vehicle.When the vehicle is stationary, the control device will activate a detection means to commence scanning to locate the open window of the vehicle.

The detection means must be capable of detecting the car body and may be of either optical or acoustic type and may be the same component as is used to initially detect the presence of the vehicle. The optical detector may be of the infra-red type which detects reflection of infra-red light from the vehicle body. The acoustic type may also reflect sound from the body of the vehicle. The detection means is preferably mounted on a carriage mechanism and is initially close to the road surface, but preferably above the vehicle base line, i.e. about 60 cms above the road surface, so that when activated by the control device, the detection means will scan vertically upwards.This scanning motion results in the detection means ignoring the space between the vehicle underbody and the road, sensing the body of the vehicle and then the space provided by the open window, since if the vehicle is parked according to instructions the open window should be opposite the carriage mechanism and associated detection means.

The control is pre-programmed so that on detection of the first open space (i.e. the open window or in the case of a comvertible, the space above the vehicle door) the carriage mechanism will stop the upward motion of the detection means thus locating the height of the window. After stopping the upward motion of the detection means, the control device initiates a horizontal motion of the carriage mechanism. This horizontal motion is toward the open window of the vehicle, which moves with it a second detection means, which maybe the same as that used to detect the height of the window. The second detection means may be an optical or acoustic detection means or may be a soft touch switch located at a position below the height of the window so that it will contact the vehicle body. The purpose of this motion is to determine the horizontal distance of the vehicle window from the apparatus.In the preferred embodiment where an optical or acoustic detection means is used, contact with the vehicle body is avoided. The detection means causes the horizontal motion to stop thus determining the position of the window.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned carriage mechanism carries not only the detecting means but also the data input and dispensing component, i.e. keyboard of the apparatus which enables the operation of the automatic bank teller by the person in the vehicle. The details of the construction of this component depend upon the particular type of automatic bank teller whith which the apparatus is associated. Sensing means in the component can detect the completion of a valid transaction and the assembly returns to the initial starting or rest position.

The assembly can be controlled by means of an electronic control device such as a micro-processor preprogrammed to respond to electrical signals of the detection means. The device controls the motion of the carriage mechanism by means of motors driving the carriage mechanism. The apparatus may be provided with fail-safe features. For example, if the sill of the open window or the vehicle body cannot be detected, the apparatus returns to the rest position. A further preferred safety feature may be provided by a facility which, detects any motion of the vehicle while the data input and dispensing component is extended, and in response to such detected motion causes rapid withdrawal of the data input and dispensing component to avoid damage to the apparatus or the vehicle. Also, if the apparatus is misused, for instance a stolen security card is used, the apparatus can retain the card and return to the rest position.

In the event that the dispensing apparatus is used in association with a vending machine for dispensing items other than money, the data input and dispensing component will be modified to be capable of handling the items dispensed such modification depending specifically on the type of items. In one preferred embodiment of this type, the items to be dispensed may be displayed behind toughened or armoured glass in a cabinet located at the road side to be visibly displayed to the user in a vehicle parked adjacent to the machine. The user in the vehicle may select the items he wishes to purchase and instruct the apparatus to deliver such items to the open vehicle window by means of the data input and dispensing component in a similar fashion to that described in the previous embodiments of this apparatus.The machine may then transfer either the items visibly displayed, or similar items from a store in the machine to an outpoint in the machine where it may be received by the data input and dispensing component for transfer to the vehicle window. Transfer of the items to the output point of the machine is achieved by automatic handling mechanisms in the machine such as, conveyor belts or robot arms.

An alternative preferred embodiment of an apparatus for dispensing items other than money need not have a display cabinet of the type described above, but may have a visual display unit mounted in or adjacent the data input and dispensing component. The visual display unit is capable of displaying a visual representation of the items available for sale, to enable a user in a vehicle to select the items he wishes to purchase.

Security for the goods held in the dispensing machine of the present invention is provided by means the static part of the vending machine which may be armoured and provided with alarm systems as deemed appropriate. It will be realised that the effects of accidental or intentional damage or vandalism to the carriage mechanism or data input and dispensing component may be minimised if desired by armouring the carriage mechanism and data input and dispensing component.

The apparatus can be provided with an independant and internal power source which will operate in the event of failure of an external mains supply power source, or may be powered solely from an internal power source.

Drawings The present invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which.

Figure 1 is a partially cut away side view of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus, on a reduced scale, fitted to an automatic bank teller machine, mounted in a roadside location.

Figures 3a-f are a diagrammatic sequence of the present invention in operation.

Figure 4 is a second preferred embodiment of the invention having two detection means which may co-operate to determine the height of an open window.

Figure 5 is an enlarged illustration of an alternative type of optical sensor means for use in the embodiment of Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of one possible carriage mechanism for use with the embodiment of Figure 4.

Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views of the construction of a third possible carriage mechanism capable of being attached to one side of an existing automatic bank teller machine.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one form of the present invention capable of vending items other than money.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the dispensing apparatus is fitted to a substantially conventional automatic bank telle machine 1, mounted in a roadside housing 2 close to the kerb 3 of a road.

The position of a data input component 4 when not in use is close to the ground and to the front of housing 5. This position is the rest position of the data input component.

The data input component 4 is provided with an optical sensor device 6 capable of detecting the presence of a vehicle parked adjacent to the machine, and the height of an open window thereof by sensing a ray of light reflected from the vehicle body. (In an alternative embodiment this could be an acoustic sensor device). The sensor device 6 is constantly active so that when a road vehicle is parked opposite the assembly it will be detected by the sensor device 6.

The data input device 4 is mounted on a carriage mechanism generally indicated by 7.

The carriage mechanism 7 is capable of moving the data input device in both vertical and horizontal directions, i.e. upwards parallel to the front of the housing 5 and horizontal towards or away from the road and any vehicle parked thereon.

The carriage mechanism 7 may comprise two rigid steel rods 8 mounted vertically in the housing 2 and parallel to each other, so that a rigid steel back plate 9 which is slidably mounted on both rods 8 can move vertically up or down. The rods allow the plates to move closer and parallel to the front surface 5 of the housing 2. The vertical movement of the back plate 9 is provided by two pairs of pulleys, a first pulley 10 of each pair being mounted close to an upper end of one of the rods and a second pelley 11, of each pair, being mounted close to a lower end of one of the rods 8, so that a pulley pair is associated with each of the two rods 8.For each pair of pulleys, a cable is securely fastened to an upper surface 13 of the back plate 9 and passed over the upper pulley 10, which passes downward to the lower pulley 11 and around the lower pulley 11 to be fastened to an underside 14 of the back plate 9. Thus, a continuous loop of the cable 12 is formed around the pulleys 10 and 11, linked by the back plate 9. The pulleys 10 are coupled by means of an electric motor (not shown) which can be controlled to rotate the pulleys in either direction of rotation, causing the back plate 9 to be moved upwards or downwards.

The height of the back plate 9 above the ground is determined by means of a precision potentiometer (not shown) coupled to one of the pulleys 11, so that its resistance to an electrical current flowing through it varies proportionally to the number of rotations of the associated pulley and hence the height of the back plate 9.

The horizontal movement of the carriage mechanism is achieved by means of two pneumatically driven pistons 14 and shown in detail in Fig. 2. Each piston comprises a hollow cylinder 15 which is securely mounted within the back plate 9 and which extends horizontally away from the back plate 9 to fit slidably into a cylindrical cavity 16 provided in the upper back portion 17 of the data input component 4 so that the data input component 4 can be moved to allow the upper back 17 of the component 4 to abut a front face 18 of the back plate 9. A piston 20 is slidably mounted within the cylinder 15 and connected by a connecting rod 21 which extends from the outer face of the piston 20 to pass slidably through the end of the cylinder 15 and connect with the data input component 4.

Between the face of the piston 20 and the end of the cylinder 15 is mounted a compression spring 22. The inner end of the cylinder 15 is sealed and provided with a pneumatic fluid inlet 23, attached to a flexible hose 24.

To reduce the complexity of the assembly one pneumatic fluid inlet can be provided for both pistons.

On release of pressure, the compression springs 22 expand which causes the data input component 4 to move towards the back plate 9. On increase of pressure, the springs are compressed and the data input component 4 is moved horizontally away from the back plate 9.

The vertical and horizontal motions of the carriage mechanism are controlled by means of a control device mounted within the data input component 4. The control device controls the carriage mechanism by means of electrical signals, which are applied to the electric motor driving the pulleys 10, and a pneumatic pump which provides pressure for the pistons 14. The control device response according to pre-programmed instructions to signals from the potentiometer coupled to the pulley 11, which enables it to determine how high to the ground the component 4 is, to signals from the optical sensor 6, to a optical detector 25 mounted toward a lower edge of the component 4 and to internal sensors which enable it to determine when various stages of a transaction are completed.All the electrical signals to the controller from the sensory equipment are generally transmitted thereto via electrical cable connections, although ultrasonic or infra-red voltages can also be used.

The data input component 4 has mounted in its front facing surface 26 a receptacle 27 for receiving a security card, a keyboard 28 to permit a person using the assembly to input their security code number and instruct the machine during a transaction, a visual instruction display screen 29 which displays instructions as to how to use the machine and a money output point 30. The money output point 30 is coupled via , for example, driver rollers 31 to a money inlet point 32 located in the rear facing surfaces of the component 4 which surface extends vertically below and horizontally rearward of the back plate 9 when the component 4 is retracted on the pistons 14. This inlet point 32 is provided to enable money 34 to be transferred from a money output point 35 of the automatic bank teller machine 1.

The operation of the assembly is as follows.

A person in a vehicle parks opposite the machine so that a window of the vehicle is opposite the apparatus, he then opens the window (Figures 3a and b). The optical sensor 6 detects the presence of the vehicle and the controller responds by waiting for example about four seconds, to ensure that the vehicle is stationary. If the vehicle moves away during this period the machine will remain at its rest position. After the pause, the controller causes the motor driving the pulleys 10 to operate raising the data input component. As the data input component rises, the sensor 6 continues to sense the presence of the vehicle body until it rises over the sill of the open window where it can no longer sense a solid object. At this point, the controller stops the vertical motion having determined the height of the open window. The controller then causes the pistons 14 to move component 4 towards the vehicle (Figure 3d). Since the optical detection means 25, is below the sensor 6 on the data input component 4 it will touch the car body which will cause the horizontal motion of the component 4 to stop. At this point the front surface 26 of the component 4 can be easily reached by the person in the vehicle who uses the equipment previously described on the front surface of the component 4 in a substantially conventional manner to instruct the machine to perform the desired transaction (Figure 3e). The instructions are transmitted to the automatic bank teller machine and the automatic bank teller machine responds to the instructions in substantially conventional fashion.The control device senses the completion of the instruction input, and operates the carriage mechanism to move the data input component 4 from the position adjacent to the window to a money transfer position. At this position the money inlet point 32 is opposite the money output point of the automatic bank teller machine (Figure 3f).

When this position is reached the machine ejects the money from its output point 35, and the rollers 34 draw the money into the data input component 4 where it is retained.

The data input component is then returned to the position adjacent the vehicle window and the money is ejected from the money output point 30 of the component 4 for removal by the person. When the money has been removed, the transaction is completed and this is sensed by the controller, which returns the assembly to its rest position ready for next use.

Various other sensors may be incorporated to ensure that the apparatus of the present invention avoids projections such as using mirrors, radio aerials etc.

The embodiment shown in Figure 4 differs from the previously described embodiment in that co-operating optical sensor means 36 and optical sensor device 37 are employed to determine the height of the vehicle open window. A conventional automatic bank teller machine generally indicated by numeral 39 is mounted in a wall 38 at a height of substantially above that of the road surface. For example so that the height of the lower extremity of the automatic bank teller machine 39 is approximately 1 metre above the road surface. A mobile data input component 40 is mounted on a carriage mechanism (not shown) and has a rest position adjacent to the front of and close to the lower extremity of the automatic bank teller machine 39. An optical sensor 37 is mounted toward the front of and at a low point in the data input component 40.An optical sensor means generally indicated by arrow 36 is mounted in a wall 38 beneath the automatic bank teller machine 39 and the data entry component 40. In this invention the data input component 40 may also provide data output if required.

The optical sensor means 36 may be one of two types. The type shown in Figure 4 has an optical sensor device 36a mounted on a carriage mechanism (not shown) which is capable of moving the device 36a either up or down within a vertical slot 36b in the wall 38. The slot 36b extends from a height close to the road surface for example approximately 0.6 metres above the road surface, to a height approximately equal to that of the height of the sensor 37 when the data entry component is in the rest position. The optical sensor devices 36a and 37, operate by sensing a beam of light reflected from a vehicle parked adjacent the apparatus. The second type of optical sensor means 36 shown in Figure 5, has a number of optical sensor devices 100 mounted vertically in the slot 36b at regularly spaced intervals from the bottom to the top of the slot 36b.In the case of either the first or second described sensor means 36 the slots 36b may be covered by toughened or armoured glass to prevent access to the optical sensor devices 36a or 100.

In this embodiment the optical sensor means 36 and optical sensor means 37 may co-operate to determine the height of an open vehicle window in the following manner.

When a vehicle parks adjacent the apparatus as described in the previous embodiment of this invention the optical sensor device 36a of optical sensor means 36 is initially at a rest position, that is towards the bottom of the slot 36b. The optical sensor device 36a then detects the presence of the vehicle body in response to which it is moved upwards in the slot 36b by its carriage mechanism so that it may scan the vehicle body to detect the open vehicle window. When the optical sensor means 36 detects the open vehicle window, which occurs when the optical sensor device 36a can no longer sense a beam of light being reflected from the vehicle body, the height of the vehicle window is signalled to a control device. The control device causes the carriage mechanism of the data input component 40 to move the component 40 to a position adjacent the open vehicle window.The operation of the apparatus is thereafter similar to that of the previously described embodiment. The operation of optical sensor means 36 shown in Figure 4a is slightly different in that the sensors 100 do not move vertically. Thus if for example the maximum height of the car body below the open vehicle window is between height sensors 101 and 102, the sensor 101 will detect the vehicle body as will all those beneath it and the sensor 102 and those above it will not detect the vehicle body. Thus the height of the open vehicle window is determined, and operation of the apparatus is thereafter as previously described.In the event that the height of the open vehicle window exceeds the maximum height of the optical sensor means 36 the optical sensor means 36 will not detect the open window and the control device will respond to this by causing the data input component 40 to move upwards thus allowing the optical sensor device 37 to scan for the open window. When the height of the open vehicle window is determined by the optical sensor device 37 the upward motion of the data input component 40 stops and the data input component 40 is moved away from the automatic bank teller machine 39 to a position adjacent the open vehicle window. Operation of this apparatus is thereafter similar to the operation of the previously described embodiment of this invention.

Optical sensor 37 may employ two optical sensor devices 37a and 37b mounted one above the other as shown in Figure 5 on the data input component 40. Using the two optical sensor devices 37a and 37b results in the lower optical sensor device 37b always detecting the vehicle body when the data input component 40 is in its extended position adja-, cent the open window of the vehicle. The upper optical sensor device 37a detects only the space provided by the open window of the vehicle. Using this sensor means enhances accurate determination of the height of the vehicle open window. Because of the lower of the optical sensor devices 37b will detect the vehicle body below the open window it may be used to determine the horizontal distance between the vehicle body and the data input component 40.

A motion sensor device may be incorporated in the optical sensor means 37, or preferably in the optical sensor means 36. The motion sensor device is capable of detecting any motion of the vehicle. Thus, if the vehicle should move while the data input component is extended, the motion will be detected and the data input component can be rapidly withdrawn from the vehicle to reduce the possibility of damage to the vehicle or apparatus.

It should be realised that acoustic sensor devices may be employed as an alternative to the optical sensor means 36 and optical sensor device 37.

Figure 6 shows one possible carriage mechanism for the embodiment of Figure 4. In this carriage mechanism, two rigid arms 70 extend horizontally through vertical slots 71 cut into the face of an automatic bank teller machine 39. The arms 70 are capable of being moved by motors (not shown) behind the face of the automatic bank teller machine, ver ticaily and horizontally away from or towards the automatic bank teller machine 39. Ends 72 of the arms 70 remote from the face of the automatic bank teller machine are bent at right angles to extend vertically downwards from the horizontal part of the arms. The ends 72 of the arms support a data input component 40. The data input component 40 is constructed in two sections, a rear section 73 and a front section 74.The ends 72 of arms 70 are slidably inserted into vertical channels in the rear section 73 of the data input component. The ends 72 of the arms 70 are provided with teeth which engage with a rotatable toothed pinion 75, and the pinion 75 is mounted in the rear section 73 and can be rotated by a motor (not shown) in the rear section. Rotation of the pinion 75 will cause the data input component 40 to move up or down on the ends 72 of arms 70. Thus, the data input component 40 can be moved vertically by the vertical motions of arms 70, these vertical motions are limited by the extent of the slots 71 and if these limits are reached and it is necessary to provide further vertial motion, this can be achieved by the vertical motion of the data input component on the ends 72 of arms 70.

The front section 74 of the data input component 40 is mounted on to the rear section 73 by means (not shown) secured to a rear face of the front section which abuts a front face 77 of the rear section. The means are slidably engaged in two parallel horizontal slots 76, which extend across the face 77. A toothed rack 78 extends horizontally across the front face 77 to engage with a rotable toothed pinion (not shown) mounted on the rear face of the front section 74. The toothed pinion may be rotatably driven by a motor (not shown) in the front section 74, so that the front section 74 may be moved horizontally and in a direction parallel to the front face 77 of the rear section 73.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 7 and 8 has a carriage mechanism which can be mounted to one side of an existing automatic bank teller machine. The carriage mechanism has a rigid hollow arm 41 positioned in a vertically extending slot 42 adjacent the automatic bank teller machine 43.

The automatic bank teller machine is surrounded by an armoured collar 44, and recessed in to a wall 45 in which the apparatus and machine is mounted. The arm 41 is driven by motors (not shown) to be capable of vertical and horizontal motion away from and towards the wall and automatic bank teller machine. The arm 41 extends through a doss fitting hole in an armoured plate (not shown) which is slidably mounted in vertical channels (not shown) adjacent and behind the slot 42. The armoured plate is capable of moving vertically with the arm 41 and permits the arm to move horizontally while preventing access to the driving mechanism of the arm 41.

A hollow armoured box 46 is rigidly mounted on an end of the arm 41 remote from the wall 45. The box 46 has an elongate flat upper surface 47 and is mounted on the end of arm 41 so that the long axis of box 46 is horizontal and perpendicular to the long axis of arm 41. A slider 48 is slidably mounted on the surface 47 to be capable of motion in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of box 46 as indicated by arrow 49.

The motion of the slider 48 is provided by means of a motor (not shown) in the box 46.

Mounted on an end of the slider 48 is a parallelogramtype lever mechanism 50 which may be driven by motors in the slider 48 to pivot about the end of the slider. To the end of the parallelogram lever mechanism 50 remote from the slider mechanism 48 is pivotally secured a data input component 51, such that the data component can be moved in a horizontal plane by pivotal motion of the parallelogram lever mechanism. The component 51 may also provide data if so required. The data input component 51 is equipped with sensors 52 capable of detecting the presence and location of obstacles such as side mirrors near the open window of a vehicle.The data input component 51 is also equipped with height detection means 53 which cooperate with height and detection means 54 mounted statically beneath the automatic bank teller machine 43 to determine the height of the vehicle open window, the horizontal distance of the open window from the data input component and any motion of the vehicle in a manner similar to that described for the embodiment of Figure 4.

The operation of this embodiment is as follows. When a vehicle parks adjacent the machine its presence is detected by the detection means 54 which determines if the vehicle is stationary and commences scanning to deterine the height of the open window of the vehicle. At this stage the apparatus is in its rest position as shown in Figure 7 with the arm 41 withdrawn towards the wall and the parallelogram lever mechanism 50 pivoted towards the automatic bank teller machine so that the data input component is against the face of the machine 43. As the detection means 54 scans to determine the height of the open window, the parallelogram lever mechanism 50 pivots to move the data input component 51 away from the automatic bank teller machine 43 to the position shown in Figure 8, so that the data input component 51 is nearer to the vehicle than any other part of the apparatus.It is important that verticle alignment of the detection means 53 and 54 should be maintained throughout the pivotal motion of the parallelogram lever mechanism.

To achieve this, the slider 48 is controlled to move back and forth so that the data input component moves in a straight line rather than an arc. The data input component can at this stage be moved up or down, depending on the height of the open window of the vehicle by means of vertical motion of the arm 41 in slot 42. When the data input component 51 reaches the height of the open vehicle window detection means 53 will operate to determine the horizontal distance of the component 51 from the open window and the component 51 can be moved horizontally towards the open window by means of horizontal motion of the arm 41. As the data input component 51 moves towards the window, the sensors 52 operate to detect any obstacles near the window.If any obstacle such as a side mirror are detected the slider 48 may be operated so that the data input component 51 avoids the obstacle in its approach to the window. Once the data input component 51 reaches the open window of the vehicle, it stops and may then be operated as described for the previous embodiments of the present invention.

The advantages of this carriage mechanism are as follows. The carriage mechanism and apparatus may be mounted to one side of an existing automatic bank teller machine. The parallelogram lever mechanism 50 enables the data entry component to be brought up to the face of an automatic bank teller machine which is recessed into the wall. The motion of the data entry component provided by slider 48 may be advantageously employed in combination with sensors 52 mounted on the data entry component, which enable the apparatus to detect any obstruction, such as a wing mirror, close to the open window of a vehicle and to avoid hitting the obstruction as the data entry component extends towards the open vehicle window. Also the slider 48 and box 46 may be employed to counterbalance the weight of the data input component 51.

Figure 9 shows one possible embodiment of the invention capable of dispensing items other than money. The dispensing apparatus has a data input component 60 which has a chamber 61 within which the items to be dispensed can be carried. A keyboard 62 is provided on the data input component 60 to enable selection of the desired items by a user in a vehicle 63 parked adjacent the machine. A resceptacle 64 for cash money or preferably a credit card or similar payment device is also provided on the data entry component. The items to be dispensed by the apparatus are stored and displayed in a cabinet generally indicated by arrow 65. The items 66 to be dispensed are displayed behind toughened or armoured glass in the cabinet 65. To use the apparatus the driver of the vehicle 63 parks adjacent to the apparatus so that an opened window of a vehicle is oposite the data entry component 60.The data entry component 60 is then moved by a carriage mechanism 67 from a rest position to a position adjacent the open window of the vehicle so that it may be readily reached by the user. The apparatus for moving the data entry component is substantially similar to the apparatus previously described for use with automatic bank teller machines. At the position adjacent the open window the user inserts his credit card, selects which items he wishes to purchase from those displayed in the cabinet and instructs the apparatus accordingly by way of a keyboard 68 on the data entry component. The availability and cost of the items he has selected may be displayed on a screen (not shown) on the data entry component 60. The data entry component 60 is then returned to its rest position.At the rest position the items selected are transfered to the chamber 61 of the data entry component from the cabinet 65. The transfer of the items from the cabinet to the data entry component is achieved by automatic handling machinery (not shown) in the cabinet such as conveyor belts turntables and robot arms. The items transferred may be either those visibly displayed in the cabinet or similar items from a store in the cabinet. The data entry component then returns to the position adjacent the open vehicle window at which position the items and credit card can be retrieved by the user together with any receipt which may be provided by the data entry component. The data entry component then returns to its rest position and the driver drives off the apparatus is then ready for use by the next customer.

Any of the previously described embodiments may be fitted with sensor devices capable of detecting any motion of the vehicle. The purpose of such sensor devices is to detect any motion of the vehicle while the apparatus is in operation particularly when the data entry component is extended. In response to such detected motion the data entry component will rapidly withdraw towards the apparatus and be returned to its rest position, so that the risk of damage to the apparatus or vehicle from such motion is reduced.

Claims (33)

1. A dispensing apparatus for use by a person in a stationary vehicle adjacent an opening window, the apparatus having detection means capable of determining the position of an open window, carriage means capable of providing horizontal and vertical movement of a data input component to a position adjacent the open window such that the apparatus can be operated by a person in the vehicle.

2. Apparatus for use from an open window of a stationary vehicle, the apparatus having detection means capable of determining the position of the open window, carriage means activated by detection means capable of providing horizontal and vertical movement of a data input and dispensing component, the data input and dispensing component being capable of moving from a rest position to a position adjacent the open window such that the apparatus can be operated by a person in the vehicle, input of data causing the component to return to the rest position to collect the material to be dispensed and to return to the position adjacent the open window to allow collection of the material dispensed.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which a first detection means is provided to detect the presence of the vehicle.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the first detection means is capable of determining the height of the open window relative to the apparatus.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claims 3 or 4 in which the first detection means is an optical device or an acoustic device.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 having a first detection means comprising a first sensor means, mounted vertically beneath the data input and dispensing component, and a second sensor device mounted on the data input and dispensing component to move therewith, so that the first sensor means is capable of detecting the height of an open vehicle window up to the height of the rest position of the data input and dispensing component, and the second optical sensor device is capable of detecting the height of an open vehicle window equal to, or in excess of, the height of the rest position of the data input and dispensing component.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 in which said first sensor means is a single vertically movable sensor device.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 in which said first sensor means is a plurality of sensor devices statically mounted at spaced intervals.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8 in which a second detection means is provided to determine the horizontal distance of the vehicle window from the apparatus.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said carriage means has an arm extending horizontally from a housing of the apparatus to be capable of vertical motion and horizontal motion away from and toward the housing of the apparatus.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which the data input and dispensing component is mounted on an end of said arm remote from the housing.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 10 or 11 in which the data input and dispensing component is mounted on a parallelogram lever mechanism.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 in which the data input and dispensing component is slidably mounted on a rod which extends horizontally and perpendicular to the arm to enable the data entry and dispensing component to move in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the carriage means comprises a vertical motion assembly to provide the vertical motion of the apparatus and a horizontal motion assembly to provide the horizontal motion of the apparatus.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 appendant to claims 3 to 5 in which the first detection means is mounted on the carriage means to move with the vertical motion assembly and to stop the vertical motion of the carriage mechanism when it detects the open windows.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which the horizontal motion assembly is carried by the vertical motion assembly.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which the vertical motion assembly comprises a back plate slidably mounted to allow only vertical motion and which includes cables secured to the back plate and coupled to pulleys operable by motors to cause vehicle motion.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 in which a precision potentiometer is coupled to at least one of the pulleys to enable any vertical distance moved by the vertical motion assembly to be determined.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claims 16 or 17 in which the horizontal motion assembly comprises fluid driven pistons capable of providing the horizontal motion.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19 in which the data input component is carried on the horizontal motion assembly.

21. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 20 in which the second detection means is an optical switch carried on the horizontal motion assembly to detect the distance of the body of the vehicle from the apparatus and to stop the horizontal motion of the carriage mechanism before contact with the body occurs.

22. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with an automatic bank teller machine.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22 in which the data input component includes a receptacle for reading a personal security card, a keyboard for the input of a personal security number and instructions for a transaction, the instructions being transmitable to the automatic bank teller machine for processing by the machine, a visual display to display instructions as to how to operate the apparatus and a money transfer mechanism to enable money to be transferred from the machine by the apparatus to the position a djacent the open window for recovery by a person in the vehicle.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23 in which the money transfer mechanism comprises two rows of rollers which rollers are motor driven and biased together, the rows of rollers being laid out in a passage from a back face of the data input component which faces toward the automatic bank teller machine to a front face of the component which faces toward the vehicle, rear operations being provided in the rear facing part of the passage to receive money from the money output point of the machine and a front aperture being provided to present the money for recovery by the person.

25. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 in combination with an automatic vending machine capable of dispensing items other than money.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 having a data input and dispensing component provided with means to receive a credit and/or money for payment of the items to be dispensed, and provided with means for receiving and transporting the items to be dispensed from the vending machine to the position adjacent the open vehicle window.

27. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims capable of reacting to the completion of a transaction by returning to the rest position.

28. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which when the detection means is capable of detecting the presence of a vehicle and confirming that the vehicle is stationary by waiting for a period of time before commencing any motion.

29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 28 in which the period of time is from two to ten seconds.

30. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a control device is capable of controlling the operation of the apparatus in accord with preprogrammed instructions to detect the position of the vehicle window to move the data input component to the position adjacent the open window to transfer the material dispensed to the position adjacent the window and to return the apparatus to the rest position on completion of a transaction.

31. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims provided with motion detection means to detect any motion of the vehicle and capable of responding to such motion by rapidly withdrawing the data input and dispensing component away from the vehicle to reduce the possibility of damage to the apparatus or vehicle.

32. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the data input and dispensing component and any exposed parts of the carriage means are armoured to reduce the possibility of damage to the apparatus.

33. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.