Pick mechanism

Abstract

A pick mechanism for picking sheet media comprising control circuitry, a motor and a pick means, wherein the motor is arranged to move the pick means such that it can pick sheet media and the control circuitry is arranged to determine a pick action and to control the motor such that the pick means follows the determined pick action. The pick mechanism may be for use in an Automated Teller Machine, in which case the sheet media comprises currency notes.

1 . A pick mechanism for picking sheet media comprising control circuitry, a motor and a pick means, wherein the motor is arranged to move the pick means such that it can pick sheet media and the control circuitry is arranged to determine a pick action and to control the motor such that the pick means follows the determined pick action.  
   
   
       2 . A pick mechanism according to  claim 1  in which the pick action is determined according to characteristics of the sheet media with which the pick mechanism is intended to operate.  
   
   
       3 . A pick mechanism according to  claim 2  in which the characteristics comprise one or more of the following: density of media, substrate, weight of media, quality of media, dimensions.  
   
   
       4 . A pick mechanism according to  claim 1 , in which the control circuitry is arranged to determine a new pick motion plan following a failed pick attempt.  
   
   
       5 . A pick mechanism according to  claim 1 , in which the new pick motion plan comprises one or more of: holding the pick means against the sheet media for longer, holding the pick means against the sheet media with greater pressure than in a failed pick attempt, agitating the sheet media with the pick means.  
   
   
       6 . A pick mechanism according to  claim 1 , in the motor is a stepping motor.  
   
   
       7 . An Automated Teller Machine comprising at least one pick mechanism for picking sheet media comprising control circuitry, a motor and a pick means, wherein the motor is arranged to move the pick means such that it can pick sheet media and the control circuitry is arranged to determine a pick action and to control the motor such that the pick means follows the determined pick action.  
   
   
       8 . An Automated Teller Machine according to  claim 7  in which the pick action is determined according to characteristics of the sheet media with which the pick mechanism is intended to operate.  
   
   
       9 . An Automated Teller Machine according to  claim 8  in which the characteristics comprise one or more of the following: density of media, substrate, weight of media, quality of media, dimensions.  
   
   
       10 . An Automated Teller Machine according to  claim 7  in which the control circuitry is arranged to determine a new pick motion plan following a failed pick attempt.  
   
   
       11 . An Automated Teller Machine according to  claim 7  in which the new pick motion plan comprises one or more of: holding the pick means against the sheet media for longer, holding the pick means against the sheet media with greater pressure than in a failed pick attempt, agitating the sheet media with the pick means.  
   
   
       12 . An Automated Teller Machine according to  claim 7  in the motor is a stepping motor.