Automatic currency processing system
First Claim
1. A document processing system comprising:
- an input receptacle for receiving documents;
a full image scanner;
a transport mechanism coupled to said input receptacle for receiving said documents from said input receptacle and transporting said documents past said full image scanner;
an output receptacle for receiving said documents from said transport mechanism after being transported past said full image scanner;
said full image scanner including means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document; and
a system controller coupled to said transport mechanism for directing the flow of through said transport mechanism.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document. The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.
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Citations
211 Claims
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1. A document processing system comprising:
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an input receptacle for receiving documents;
a full image scanner;
a transport mechanism coupled to said input receptacle for receiving said documents from said input receptacle and transporting said documents past said full image scanner;
an output receptacle for receiving said documents from said transport mechanism after being transported past said full image scanner;
said full image scanner including means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document; and
a system controller coupled to said transport mechanism for directing the flow of through said transport mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A currency processing system comprising:
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an input receptacle for receiving currency;
a full image scanner;
a transport mechanism coupled to said input receptacle for receiving said currency from said input receptacle and transporting said currency past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit;
an output receptacle for receiving said currency from said transport mechanism after being transported past said full image scanner and discrimination unit;
said full image scanner including means for obtaining a full video image of said currency, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said currency, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said currency. said discrimination unit including means for determining the authenticity of said currency; and
a system controller coupled to said transport mechanism for directing the flow of currency said transport mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A check processing system comprising:
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an input receptacle for receiving checks, a full image scanner;
a transport mechanism coupled to said input receptacle for receiving said checks from said input receptacle and transporting said checks past a full image scanner;
an output receptacle for receiving said checks from said transport mechanism after being transported past said full image scanner;
said full image scanner including means for obtaining a full video image of said checks, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said checks, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said checks;
means for receiving customer identification and means for authenticating said customer identification;
means for dispensing and distributing funds after authenticating said customer authentication, and a system controller coupled to said transport mechanism for directing the flow of checks on said transport mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A currency processing system comprising
an input receptacle for receiving currency; -
a full image scanner;
a transport mechanism coupled to said input receptacle for receiving said currency from said input receptacle and transporting said currency past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit, an output receptacle for receiving said currency from said transport mechanism after being transported past said full image scanner and discrimination unit;
said full image scanner including means for obtaining a full video image of said currency, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said currency, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said currency, said information representing the value of said currency;
said discrimination unit including means for determining the authenticity of said currency;
means for communicating operational instructions from said controller to the user;
means for communicating with an outside accounting system coupled to said controller, said outside accounting system processing said information representing the value of said currency substantially immediately; and
a system controller coupled to said transport mechanism for directing the flow of currency on said transport mechanism.
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37. A method for processing documents comprising the steps of
receiving documents in an input receptacle; -
transporting said documents from said input receptacle past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit;
receiving said documents in an output receptacle from said transport mechanism after being transported past said full image scanner and discrimination unit, obtaining a full video image of said documents, obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document;
determining the authenticity of said document, and directing the flows of documents on said transport mechanism.
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38. A system for processing currency comprising.
an input receptacle for receiving currency from a user; -
a full image scanner;
a transport mechanism coupled to said input receptacle for receiving said currency from said input receptacle and transporting said currency past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit;
a system controller coupled to said transport mechanism for directing the flow of currency on said transport mechanism, a single output bin for receiving said currency from said transport mechanism after being transported past said full image scanner and discrimination unit;
said full image scanner including means for obtaining a full video image of said currency, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said currency, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said currency;
said discrimination unit including means for determining the authenticity of said currency, and communication means for communicating operational instructions and a full video image from said controller to the user said communication means coupled to said controller - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A system for processing financial institution documents comprising:
a multitude of compact full-image processing units communicatively coupled together to form a network each of said full image processing units comprising an input receptacle for receiving financial institution documents;
a full image scanner;
a transport mechanism coupled to said input receptacle for receiving said documents from said input receptacle and transporting said documents past a fill image scanner and a discrimination unit;
an output receptacle for receiving said documents from said transport mechanism after being transported past said fill image scanner and discrimination unit;
said full image scanner including means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information from said image of said selected area of said documents;
said discrimination unit including means for determining the authenticity of said documents; and
a system controller coupled to said transport mechanism for directing the flow of documents on said transport mechanism.- View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A system for processing financial institution documents comprising.
a multitude of image processing units communicatively coupled together to form a network, said units processing financial institution documents deposited by users, said units comprising an input receptacle for receiving financial institution documents; - a full image scanner;
a transport mechanism coupled to said input receptacle for receiving said documents from said input receptacle and transporting said documents past said full image scanner;
an output receptacle for receiving said documents from said transport mechanism after being transported past said full image scanner;
said full image scanner including means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information said selected area of said documents; and
a system controller coupled to said contained mechanism for directing the flow of documents on said transport mechanism;
means for communicating said information contained in selected areas of said document to an outside accounting system, said means coupled to said controller wherein deposits and withdrawals from said accounting system are processed substantially immediately. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
- a full image scanner;
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59. A document processing system comprising
a document processor comprising an input receptacle for receiving documents; - a full image scanner;
a transport mechanism coupled to said input receptacle for receiving said documents from said input receptacle and transporting said documents past said full image scanner and a discrimination unit;
an output receptacle for receiving said documents from said transport mechanism after being transported past said full image scanner and discrimination unit;
said full image scanner including means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said documents;
said discrimination unit including means for determining the authenticity of said document, a controller coupled to said transport mechanism for directing the flow of documents through said transport mechanism; and
a central processing unit located at a central location;
said unit coupled to said document processor for processing and storing information concerning said documents - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
- a full image scanner;
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74. A currency processing system comprising:
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an input receptacle for receiving currency, a full image scanner;
a transport mechanism coupled to said input receptacle for receiving said currency from said input receptacle and transporting said currency past a full image scanner;
an output receptacle for receiving said currency from said transport mechanism after being transported past said fill image scanner;
said full image scanner including means for obtaining a full video image of said currency, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said currency, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said currency; and
a system controller coupled to said transport mechanism for directing the flow of currency on said transport mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77)
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78. A financial institution document processing system comprising.
an input receptacle for receiving financial institution documents; -
a full image scanner;
a transport mechanism coupled to said input receptacle for receiving said documents from said input receptacle and transporting said documents past a full image scanner;
only two output receptacles for receiving said documents from said transport mechanism after being transported past said full image scanner, said full image scanner including means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said documents; and
a system controller coupled to said transport mechanism for directing the flow of documents on said transport mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81, 82)
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83. A method for processing documents comprising the steps of:
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receiving documents in an input receptacle;
transporting said documents from said input receptacle past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit, receiving said documents in an output receptacle from said transport mechanism after being transported past said full image scanner and discrimination unit;
obtaining a full video image of said documents, obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document;
processing unidentified documents;
providing a central office computer;
coupling said central office computer to said full image scanner;
providing a teller monitor;
coupling said teller monitor to said full image scanner;
determining the authenticity of said document, and directing the flows of documents on said transport mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
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96. A document evaluation device for receiving a stack of documents and rapidly evaluating all the documents in the stack, said device comprising:
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an input receptacle for receiving a stack of documents to be evaluated;
a single output receptacle for receiving said documents after said documents have been evaluated;
a transport mechanism for transporting said documents, one at a time, from said input receptacle to said output receptacle along a transport path;
a full image scanner for evaluating and identifying said documents, said full image scanner including a detector positioned along said transport path between said input receptacle and said output receptacle; and
means for flagging a document when the identity of said document is not determined by said full image scanner. - View Dependent Claims (97, 98, 99)
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100. A document evaluation device for receiving a stack of documents and rapidly evaluating all the documents in the stack, said device comprising:
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an input receptacle for receiving a stack of documents to be evaluated, genuine ones of said documents each having one of a plurality of images thereon, said plurality of images defining a plurality of document types;
a single output receptacle for receiving said documents after said documents have been evaluated;
a transport mechanism for transporting said documents, one at a time, from said input receptacle to said output receptacle along a transport path;
a full image scanner for evaluating said documents, said full image scanner including a detector positioned along said transport path between said input receptacle and said output receptacle, said full image scanner being capable of distinguishing among said plurality of document types by scanning the image on each of said documents, said full image scanner counting and determining the document type of said documents, and means for flagging a document when the type of said document is not determined by said full image scanner.
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101. A currency identification system for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly counting and evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then delivering the bills to a single output receptacle comprising:
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a bill transport mechanism for transporting bills, one at a time, from an input receptacle past a scanning section to a single output receptacle at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute;
said scanning section comprising at least two first-side sensors positioned so as to permit scanning of a bill along at least two laterally displaced segments on a first side of said bill, said first-side sensors being capable of detecting characteristic information from said bill along said segments and generating corresponding output signals representing analog variations in the detected characteristic information from which analog scanned patterns of characteristic information may be generated, at least two of said sensors being laterally displaced relative to each other, said sensors being able to scan at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute, said scanning section including a full image scanner for obtaining a full image of said bills;
means for generating at least one scanned pattern from said output signals, said at least one scanned pattern representing and approximating analog amplitude variations in said characteristic information along a segment of said bill, a memory for storing at least one master pattern associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying, said at least one master pattern representing and approximating analog amplitude variations in characteristic information along a segment of an associated genuine bill; and
a signal processing means for performing a pattern comparison wherein at least one of said scanned patterns or portions thereof is compared with at least one of said master patterns or portions thereof;
said signal processing means generating an indication of the identity of said bill based on said pattern comparison when said bill is one that the system is capable of identifying. - View Dependent Claims (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162)
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- 124. The currency identification system of 123 wherein the output from said color detection sensor is used to determine the face orientation of said bill
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151. The currency identification system of 150 wherein the output from said color detection sensor is used to determine the face orientation of said bill.
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152. The currency identification system of 151 wherein the lateral positioning of one or more of (1) said first-side scanheads or (2) said second-side scanheads is adjusted based on said determination of said face orientation so as to permit scanning of selected segments of said bill.
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163. A document counting and discrimination device for receiving a stack of documents, rapidly counting and discriminating the documents in the stack, and then re-stacking the documents comprising:
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an input receptacle for receiving a stack of documents to be discriminated;
a full image scanner for obtaining a full image of said documents and for discriminating the value of said documents;
one or more output receptacles for receiving said documents after being discriminated by said full image scanner;
a transport mechanism for transporting said documents, one at a time, from said input receptacle past a sensor of said full image scanner, and to said one or more output receptacles;
one or more counters keeping track of the value of documents discriminated;
value indicating means for an operator of said device to indicate the value of any documents whose value is not determined by said full image scanner, said documents whose value has not determined by said fill image scanner being no call documents, said means appropriately effecting said one or more counters, and a housing for said input receptacle, said full image scanner, said one or more output receptacles, and said transport mechanism;
wherein said value indicating means are affixed to said housing. - View Dependent Claims (164, 165, 166, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180)
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167. A currency counting and discrimination device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly counting and discriminating the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills comprising:
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an input receptacle for receiving a stack of currency bills to be discriminated, a full image scanner for discriminating the denomination of said currency bills;
one or more output receptacles for receiving said currency bills after being discriminated by said full image scanner;
a transport mechanism for transporting said currency bills, one at a time, from said input receptacle past a sensor of said full image scanner and to said one or more output receptacles;
one or more counters keeping track of the value of bills discriminated; and
value indicating means for an operator of said device to indicate the value of any bills denomination are not determined by said full image scanner, said bills whose denomination are not determined by said full image scanner being no call bills, said means appropriately effecting said one or more counters;
wherein the operation of said device is suspended when said full image scanner is unable to identify the denomination of a bill. - View Dependent Claims (168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173)
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181. A currency counting and discrimination device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly counting and discriminating the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills comprising:
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an input receptacle for receiving a stack of currency bills to be discriminated;
a full image scanner for discriminating the denomination of said currency bills;
one or more output receptacles for receiving said currency bills after being discriminated by said discriminating unit;
a transport mechanism for transporting said currency bills, one at a time, from said input receptacle past a sensor of said full image scanner and to said one or more output receptacles;
one or more counters keeping track of the value of bills discriminated, value indicating means for an operator of said device to indicate the value of any bills whose denomination are not determined by said full image scanner, said bills whose denomination are not determined by said full image scanner being no call bills, said means appropriately effecting said one or more counters; and
means for prompting an operator of the device as to the denomination of a no call bill - View Dependent Claims (182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192)
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193. A currency counting and discrimination device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly counting and discriminating the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills comprising:
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an input receptacle for receiving a stack of currency bills to be discriminated, a full image scanner for discriminating the denomination of said currency bills, one or more output receptacles for receiving said currency bills after being discriminated by said full image scanner, a transport mechanism for transporting said currency bills, one at a time, from said input receptacle past a sensor of said full image scanner and to said one or more output receptacles, one or more counters keeping track of the value of bills discriminated;
means for flagging bills meeting or failing to meet to predetermined criteria, value indicating means for an operator of said device to indicate the value of any flagged bills, said means appropriately effecting said one or more counters, and a housing for said input receptacle, said discriminating unit, said one or more output receptacles, and said transport mechanism, wherein said value indicating means are affixed to said housing. - View Dependent Claims (194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199)
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200. A currency counting and discrimination device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly counting and discriminating the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills comprising:
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an input receptacle for receiving a stack of currency bills to be discriminated, a full image scanner for discriminating the denomination of said currency bills, one or more output receptacles for receiving said currency bills after being discriminated by said full image scanner;
a transport mechanism for transporting said currency bills, one at a time, from said input receptacle past a sensor of said full image scanner and to said one or more output receptacles, one or more counters keeping track of the value of bills discriminated;
means for flagging bills meeting or failing to meet to predetermined criteria;
value indicating means for an operator of said device to indicate the value of any flagged bills, said means appropriately effecting said one or more counters; and
an inspection station and wherein no call bills are delivered to said inspection station.
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201. A currency counting and discrimination device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly counting and discriminating the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills comprising:
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an input receptacle for receiving a stack of currency bills to be discriminated;
a full image scanner for discriminating the denomination of said currency bills;
one or more output receptacles for receiving said currency bills after being discriminated by said full image scanner;
a transport mechanism for transporting said currency bills, one at a time, from said input receptacle past a sensor of said full image scanner and to said one or more output receptacles;
one or more counters keeping track of the value of bills discriminated, means for flagging bills meeting or failing to meet to predetermined criteria; and
value indicating means for an operator of said device to indicate the value of any flagged bills, said means appropriately effecting said one or more counters, wherein said predetermined criteria is said full image scanner identifying the denomination of a bill and wherein said flagging means flags a bill failing to be identified by said full image scanner by suspending the operation of said counting and discrimination device, said device being halted so that said flagged bill is located at a predetermined position within said discrimination device when said transport mechanism stops. - View Dependent Claims (202, 203, 204)
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205. A method of authenticating documents comprising the steps of:
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illuminating a document with ultraviolet light;
obtaining a full video image of the document, processing information from the video image of the document;
detecting ultraviolet light reflected by said document; and
determining the authenticity of said document based upon a comparison of the ultraviolet light reflected from said bill with the ultraviolet light reflected from a genuine document illuminated with ultraviolet light. - View Dependent Claims (206, 207, 208, 209)
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210. An apparatus for currency discrimination, comprising,
first and second stationary scanheads, disposed on opposite sides of a bill transport path, for scanning and obtaining images of the respective full first and full second opposing surfaces of each bill of a plurality of bills traveling downstream along said bill transport path and for producing output signals associated with said respective first and second full surfaces of each bill, each scanned bill having a primary characteristic pattern on one of said first and second full surfaces and a secondary characteristic pattern on the other of said first and second full surfaces; -
a memory for storing master primary characteristic patterns of a plurality of denominations of genuine bills;
sampling means for sampling said output signals associated with said respective first and second opposing full surfaces of each scanned bill; and
signal processing means for (1) determining which surface of said first and second opposing full surfaces of each scanned bill includes said primary characteristic pattern in response to said first and second scanheads scanning portions of said first and second opposing full surfaces of each bill, and (2) in response to determining which surface of said first and second full opposing surfaces of each scanned bill includes said primary characteristic pattern to a predetermined degree of certainty, correlating only an output signal associated with said surface of each scanned bill which includes said primary characteristic pattern with said master primary characteristic patterns to identify the denomination of each scanned bill. - View Dependent Claims (211)
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Specification