Apparatus and system for processing currency bills and financial documents and method for using the same

• US 10,163,023 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Jones, William J., Jones, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rudolph, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, PINALBEN V
• Application Number:
  US15/381,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20170098134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/12 Containers for valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/125 Secure containers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/30 Tracking or tracing valuable papers or cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/32 Record keeping transaction aspects G07F19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/36 Auditing of activities
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/50 Sorting or counting valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00588 to the scanning position H04N1/00572, H04N1/00594 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00631 Ejecting or stacking H04N1/00641 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

A document processing device convertible between a first configuration and a second configuration includes an input receptacle, a transport mechanism, a scanner, and a convertible output area. The input receptacle is configured to receive documents including currency bills therein. The transport mechanism is configured to transport the documents along a transport path from the input receptacle. The scanner is positioned along the transport path and is configured to scan at least a portion of each of the documents transported to generate data associated therewith. The convertible output area is configured to be selectively coupled with a first output assembly and a second output assembly.

Claims

1. A document processing device, comprising:

a first input port configured to receive a first container such that the first container is coupled to the first input port, wherein the first container is a mini-safe configured to be locked, thereby securely storing a plurality of documents therein, a housing of the first container extending from the document processing device such that a portion of the housing of the first container protrudes outside of a housing of the document processing device;

a transport mechanism configured to transport at least a portion of the plurality of documents from the first container along a transport path past a sensor;

the sensor configured to scan at least a portion of each of the documents transported past the sensor to produce data; and

a first output port configured to have a second container coupled thereto,

the transport mechanism being configured to deliver a first portion of scanned ones of the plurality of documents to a second container coupled to the first output port, wherein the second container is a mini-safe configured to be locked, thereby securely storing the first portion of the scanned ones of the plurality of documents therein,

a housing of the second container extending from the document processing device such that a portion of the housing of the second container protrudes outside of the housing of the document processing device, wherein the portion of the housing of the first container and the portion of the housing of the second container protrude outside of the housing of the document processing device during transporting and scanning of documents.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first container and the second container are substantially identical automated document containers.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first container and the second container are each configured to store at least one thousand documents therein.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first container and the second container are each smart containers such that each includes a memory device configured to store information associated with documents stored therein.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of documents included in the first container includes U.S. currency bills.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of documents included in the first container includes currency bills associated with multiple countries including two or more of the following currencies:

U.S. dollar, euro, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, Japanese yen, and pound sterling and wherein the document processing device is configured to transport and scan currency bills associated with multiple countries including two or more of the following currencies;

U.S. dollar, euro, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, Japanese yen, and pound sterling.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of documents included in the first container includes U.S. currency bills of a plurality of denominations.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the transport mechanism is configured to deliver U.S. currency bills of a plurality of denominations to the second container.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of documents included in the first container includes U.S. currency bills and checks.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the transport mechanism is configured to deliver U.S. currency bills and checks to the second container.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of documents included in the first container includes U.S. currency bills, checks, and one or more deposit slips.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the transport mechanism is configured to deliver U.S. currency bills, checks, and one or more deposit slips to the second container.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an image sensor configured to image at least a portion of each of the documents transported past the image sensor to produce image data.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising an output receptacle and wherein the transport mechanism is configured to deliver a second portion of scanned ones of the plurality of documents to the output receptacle of the document processing device, the output receptacle being configured to contain the second portion of the scanned ones of the plurality of documents therein in an unsecure manner.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the transport mechanism is configured to deliver exception documents to the output receptacle.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the transport mechanism is configured to deliver deposit slips to the output receptacle.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the transport mechanism is configured to deliver checks to the output receptacle.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second output port configured to have a third container coupled thereto,

wherein the transport mechanism is configured to deliver a third portion of scanned ones of the plurality of documents to the third container coupled to the second output port of the document processing device, wherein the third container is a mini-safe configured to be locked, thereby securely storing the third portion of the scanned ones of the plurality of documents therein, a housing of the third container extending from the document processing device such that a portion of the housing of the third container protrudes outside of the housing of the document processing device during transporting and scanning of documents.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the transport mechanism is configured to deliver only U.S. currency bills to the second container, and to deliver only checks to the third container.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein first input port is configured to permit the first container to be decoupled from the first input port subsequent to all of the plurality of documents included in the first container being transported along the transport path and delivered to the second container.

21. The device of claim 1:

wherein first input port is configured to permit the first container to be decoupled from the first input port subsequent to all of the plurality of documents included in the first container being transported along the transport path and delivered to the second container;

wherein the first output port is configured to permit the second container to be decoupled from the first output port subsequent to all of the plurality of documents included in the first container being transported along the transport path and delivered to the second container;

wherein first input port is configured to receive a third container such that the third container is coupled to the first input port, wherein the third container is a mini-safe configured to be locked, thereby securely storing a second plurality of documents therein, a housing of the third container extending from the document processing device such that a portion of the housing of the third container protrudes outside of the housing of the document processing device;

wherein the first output port of the document processing device is configured to receive the first container subsequent to the first container being decoupled from the first input port;

wherein the transport mechanism of the document processing device is configured to transport, at least a portion of the second plurality of documents from the third container along the transport path past the sensor and deliver a first portion of the second plurality of documents to the first container, the first container being configured to be locked, thereby securely storing the first portion of the second plurality of documents therein.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the document processing device has a housing having footprint of less than about two square feet and wherein the document processing device has a a weight of less than about thirty pounds.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of documents has a wide edge, and wherein the transport mechanism transports the at least a portion of the plurality of documents in a wide-edge leading manner.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein at least about twenty percent of the housing of the first container protrudes outside of the housing of the document processing device.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein a majority of the housing of the first container protrudes outside of the housing of the document processing device.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein at least about eighty percent of the housing of the first container protrudes outside of the housing of the document processing device.

27. A document processing device, comprising:

a housing;

an input receptacle configured to receive a plurality of documents in an unsecure manner;

an image scanner;

an output port; and

a transport mechanism configured to transport the plurality of documents, one at a time in a serial fashion, from the input receptacle past the image scanner;

wherein the image scanner images at least a portion of each of the plurality of documents transported past the image scanner to generate image data that is reproducible as a visually readable image of at least a portion of each of the plurality of documents; and

wherein the transport mechanism is configured to deliver a first portion of imaged ones of the plurality of documents to an automated document container coupled to the output port, wherein the automated document container is a mini-safe configured to be locked, thereby securely storing the first portion of the scanned ones of the plurality of documents therein, a housing of the automated document container extending from the document processing device such that a portion of the housing of the automated document container protrudes outside of the housing of the document processing device during transporting and imaging of documents.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the automated document container is a smart container such that the automated document container includes a memory device configured to store information associated with the image data generated by the act of imaging.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the memory device of the automated document container is configured to storing data therein including image data that is reproducible as a visually readable image of at least a portion of each of the documents contained within the automated document container.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the memory device of the automated document container is configured to storing data therein including data associated with a total value of the documents contained within the automated document container.

31. The device of claim 27, wherein the first portion of imaged ones of the plurality of documents delivered to the automated document container includes U.S. currency bills of a plurality of denominations.

32. The device of claim 27, wherein the first portion of imaged ones of the plurality of documents delivered to the automated document container includes U.S. currency bills of four or more denominations.

33. The device of claim 27, the first portion of imaged ones of the plurality of documents includes delivered to the automated document container includes U.S. currency bills, checks, and one or more deposit slips.

34. The device of claim 27, further comprising an output receptacle and wherein the transport mechanism delivers a second portion of imaged ones of the plurality of documents to the output receptacle of the document processing device, the output receptacle being configured to contain the second portion of the imaged ones of the plurality of documents therein in an unsecure manner.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the second portion of imaged ones of the plurality of documents delivered to the output receptacle includes exception documents.

36. The device of claim 34, wherein the second portion of scanned ones of the plurality of documents delivered to the output receptacle includes checks.

37. The device of claim 27, wherein the output port is the only output port of the document processing device.

38. The device of claim 27, wherein the automated document container is coupled to the output port of the document processing device in a removable fashion.

39. The device of claim 27, further comprising a processor;

wherein the processor is configured to determine that at least one of the plurality of documents is an exception document based on data receive from the image scanner; and

wherein the transport mechanism is configured to deliver the least one exception document to an escrow area.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein the escrow area is included in a first portion of the automated document container coupled to the output port of the document processing device.

41. The device of claim 39, wherein the escrow area is included in the output port of the document processing device.

42. The device of claim 39, wherein the escrow area is included in the housing of the document processing device.

43. The device of claim 39, wherein the escrow area includes a door for providing operator access to exception documents such that the operator can remove, inspect, or both, the exception documents stored within the escrow area.

44. The device of claim 43, further comprising automatically opening the door in response to an exception document being delivered to the escrow area.

45. The device of claim 27, wherein a majority of the housing of the automated document container protrudes outside of the housing of the document processing device.

46. A document processing system, comprising:

a first document processing device comprising;

a housing;

an input receptacle configured to receive a first plurality of documents in an unsecure manner;

a scanner;

an output port; and

a transport mechanism configured to transport the first plurality of documents, one at a time in a serial fashion, from the input receptacle past the scanner;

the scanner scanning each of the first plurality of documents transported past the scanner to generate a first set of data;

a processor configured to determine a value associated with each of the first plurality of documents transported past the scanner based on the generated first set of data;

wherein the transport mechanism delivers the first plurality of documents to an automated document container coupled to the output port of the first document processing device, wherein the automated document container is a mini-safe configured to be locked, thereby securely storing the scanned ones of the plurality of documents therein, a housing of the automated document container extending from the first document processing device such that a portion of the housing of the automated document container protrudes outside of the housing of the first document processing device during transporting and scanning of the first plurality of documents;

the automated document container comprising a memory configured to store therein the determined values of the delivered ones of the plurality of documents;

wherein the output port is configured to permit the automated document container to be decoupled from the output port of the first document processing device; and

a second document processing device comprising;

a housing;

an input port configured to receive the automated document container such that the automated document container is coupled to the input port of the second document processing device, the automated document container being configured to be locked, thereby securely storing a second plurality of documents therein, the housing of the automated document container extending from the second document processing device such that a portion of the housing of the automated document container protrudes outside of the housing of the second document processing device;

a scanner;

a transport mechanism configured to transport the second plurality of documents, one at a time in a serial fashion, from the automated document container past the scanner of the second document processing device;

wherein the scanner of the second document processing device scans each of the second plurality of documents transported past the scanner of the second document processing device to generate a second set of data;

a processor configured to determine a value associated with each of the second plurality of documents transported past the scanner of the second document processing device based on the generated second set of data; and

to compare the determined values of the second plurality of documents with the determined values of the first plurality of documents stored in the memory of the automated document container;

wherein the portion of the housing of the automated document container protrudes outside of the housing of the second document processing device during transporting and scanning of the second plurality of documents.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the first plurality of documents received in the input receptacle of the first document processing device include U.S. currency bills of four or more denominations in the input receptacle.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the first plurality of documents received in the input receptacle of the first document processing device include U.S. currency bills, checks, and one or more deposit slips in the input receptacle.