Currency processing and strapping systems and methods

• US 20070278064A1
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Klein, Robert, Renz, Mark, Hallowell, Curtis
• Granted Patent: US 8,714,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 194/206
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 27/08 Bundling paper sheets, envelopes, bags, newspapers, or other thin flat articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1912 Banknotes, bills and cheques or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/001 Adaptations of counting devices to feeding of articles to machines B65H5/002
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 31/24 multiple or compartmented, e.d. for alternate, programmed, or selective filling
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/20 Controlling or monitoring the operation of devices; Data handling
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/50 Sorting or counting valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/00 Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency

Abstract

A method and device for evaluating currency bills using a strapping unit that allows a currency evaluating device to automatically strap stacks of currency bills. Currency bills are placed in an input receptacle and an evaluating unit processes each currency bill one at a time. The currency bills are then transported to a plurality of output receptacles. A stack moving mechanism transports a stack of currency bills, which contains a predetermined number of currency bills, from each of the plurality of output receptacles to the strapping unit or a strapping position. Each stack of currency bills is strapped using strapping material.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A method for processing and strapping currency bills, each bill having a respective denomination, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a plurality of bills in an input receptacle;

transporting the bills, one at a time, along a transport path from the input receptacle, past one or more denomination sensors;

determining the denominations of passing bills using information detected by the one or more denomination sensors;

transporting bills to and sorting bills into a plurality of output receptacles based on the denominations of the bills so that a given output receptacle receives bills having a same denomination;

monitoring how many bills have been transported into a first output receptacle, the first output receptacle having a strap limit associated therewith;

determining when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the first output receptacle has been detected;

printing stack-specific indicia onto strapping material to be used to strap bills associated with the first output receptacle after the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been detected;

determining when the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been delivered to the first output receptacle;

after the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been delivered to the first output receptacle, moving bills from the first output receptacle to a strapping position, the strapping position being adapted to receive bills from more than one of the plurality of output receptacles;

strapping a complete stack of bills that is placed in the strapping position from the first output receptacle with the strapping material bearing the stack-specific indicia.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the acts of:

monitoring how many bills have been transported into a second output receptacle, the second output receptacle having a strap limit associated therewith;

determining when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the second output receptacle has been detected;

printing stack-specific indicia onto strapping material to be used to strap bills associated with the second output receptacle after the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the second output receptacle has been detected;

determining when the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the second output receptacle has been delivered to the second output receptacle;

after the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the second output receptacle has been delivered to the second output receptacle, moving bills from the second output receptacle to the strapping position;

strapping a complete stack of bills that is placed in the strapping position from the second output receptacle with the strapping material bearing the stack-specific indicia.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the act of determining when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the first output receptacle has been detected is performed before the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been delivered to the first output receptacle and wherein the act of determining when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the second output receptacle has been detected is performed before the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the second output receptacle has been delivered to the second output receptacle.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the acts of receiving and determining the denominations of passing bills are performed by a currency processing device and;

wherein the act of strapping is performed by a strapping unit coupled to the currency processing device and the first and the second output receptacles are first and second stacking receptacles located within the strapping unit; and

wherein the act of determining when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the first output receptacle has been detected is performed before the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been delivered to the strapping unit and wherein the act of determining when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the second output receptacle has been detected is performed before the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the second output receptacle has been delivered to the strapping unit.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the act of determining when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the first output receptacle has been detected is performed before the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been delivered to the first output receptacle.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the acts of receiving and determining the denominations of passing bills are performed by a currency processing device and;

wherein the act of strapping is performed by a strapping unit coupled to the currency processing device and the first output receptacle is a first stacking receptacle located within the strapping unit, and

wherein the act of determining when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the first output receptacle has been detected is performed before the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been delivered to the strapping unit.

39. The method of claim 33, further comprising the act of dynamically assigning denominations to the plurality of output receptacles;

and

wherein the act of printing stack-specific indicia onto strapping material comprises printing denomination-specific indicia on the strapping material based on the denomination of bills dynamically assigned to the output receptacle to be strapped next.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein printing denomination-specific indicia on the strapping material comprises printing appropriate denominational color-coding on the strapping material based on the denomination of the bills to be strapped.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein printing denomination-specific indicia on the strapping material comprises printing appropriate denominational alphanumeric information based on the denomination of the bills to be strapped.

42. The method of claim 33, further comprising the act of sorting strapped currency into denomination specific receptacles.

43. A currency processing and strapping system comprising:

an input receptacle configured to receive a plurality of currency bills, each bill having a respective denomination;

one or more denomination detectors configured to retrieve information from a passing bill which is used to denominate the passing bill;

a plurality of output receptacles;

a transport mechanism defining a transport path between the input receptacle and the plurality of output receptacles, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each bill individually along the transport path past the one or more denomination detectors, the transport mechanism being adapted to sort the bills into the plurality of output receptacles based on the denomination of the bills as determined from the information obtained from the one or more denomination detectors so that an individual one of the output receptacles contains bills having the same denomination;

a strapping unit for strapping stacks of bills, the strapping unit being adapted to receive and strap stacks of bills from more than one of the plurality of output receptacles;

a printer configured to print stack-specific indicia onto strapping material to be used to strap bills;

a stack moving mechanism adapted to move a stack of bills selected for strapping from one of the plurality of output receptacles to the strapping unit; and

a processor configured to;

monitor how many bills have been transported into a first output receptacle, the first output receptacle having a strap limit associated therewith;

determine when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the first output receptacle has been detected;

cause the printer to print stack-specific indicia onto strapping material to be used to strap bills associated with the first output receptacle after the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been detected;

determine when the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been delivered to the first output receptacle;

after the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been delivered to the first output receptacle, cause bills to be moved from the first output receptacle to a strapping position within the strapping unit; and

cause the strapping unit to strap a complete stack of bills that is placed in the strapping position from the first output receptacle with the strapping material bearing the stack-specific indicia.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to:

monitor how many bills have been transported into a second output receptacle, the second output receptacle having a strap limit associated therewith;

determine when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the second output receptacle has been detected;

cause the printer to print stack-specific indicia onto strapping material to be used to strap bills associated with the second output receptacle after the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the second output receptacle has been detected;

determine when the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the second output receptacle has been delivered to the second output receptacle;

after the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the second output receptacle has been delivered to the second output receptacle, cause bills to be moved from the second output receptacle to the strapping position; and

cause the strapping unit to strap a complete stack of bills that is placed in the strapping position from the second output receptacle with the strapping material bearing the stack-specific indicia.

45. The system of claim 44, further comprising a bill position sensor located upstream of the first and second output receptacles and electrically coupled to the processor, and wherein the processor is configured to determine when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the first output receptacle has been detected by the bill position sensor and wherein the processor is configured to determine when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the second output receptacle has been detected has been detected by the bill position sensor.

46. The system of claim 44, further comprising a currency processing device comprising the input receptacle and the one or more denomination detectors;

wherein the strapping unit is coupled to the currency processing device and the first and the second output receptacles are first and second stacking receptacles located within the strapping unit; and

wherein the processor is configured to determine when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the first output receptacle has been detected before the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been delivered to the strapping unit and wherein the processor is configured to determine when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the second output receptacle has been detected before the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the second output receptacle has been delivered to the strapping unit.

47. The system of claim 43, further comprising a bill position sensor located upstream of the first output receptacle and electrically coupled to the processor, and wherein the processor is configured to determine when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the first output receptacle has been detected by the bill position sensor.

48. The system of claim 43, further comprising a currency processing device comprising the input receptacle and the one or more denomination detectors;

wherein the strapping unit is coupled to the currency processing device and the first output receptacle is a first stacking receptacle located within the strapping unit; and

wherein the processor is configured to determine when the last bill needed to reach the strap limit for the first output receptacle has been detected before the last bill needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been delivered to the strapping unit.

49. The system of claim 43, wherein the processor is configured to dynamically assign denominations to the plurality of output receptacles;

and

wherein the processor is configured to cause the printer to print denomination-specific indicia on the strapping material based on the denomination of bills dynamically assigned to the output receptacle to be strapped next.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the denomination-specific indicia which the printer is configured to print on the strapping material comprise appropriate denominational color-coding associated with the denomination of the bills to be strapped.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the denomination-specific indicia which the printer is configured to print on the strapping material comprise appropriate denominational alphanumeric information based on the denomination of the bills to be strapped.

52. The system of claim 43, further comprising a plurality of denomination specific receptacles adapted to receive strapped stacks of bills, wherein the system is configured to sort strapped stacks of bills into the denomination specific receptacles based on denomination.

53. A currency processing and strapping system for strapping a stack of currency bills, each bill having a respective denomination, the device comprising:

an input receptacle adapted to receive bills to be sorted;

one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing bill which is used to denominate the passing bill;

a plurality of output receptacles, each one of the plurality of output receptacles having a stack limit which determines how many bills will form a complete stack of bills;

a processor programmed to dynamically assign a bill denomination to at least one of the output receptacles;

a transport mechanism defining a transport path between the input receptacle and the plurality of output receptacles, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each bill individually along the transport path past the one or more detectors, the transport mechanism being adapted to sort the bills into the plurality of output receptacles based on the denomination of the bills as determined from the information obtained from the one or more detectors so that an individual one of the output receptacles contains bills having the same denomination;

a strapping unit for strapping stacks of bills, the strapping unit being adapted to receive and strap stacks of bills from more than one of the plurality of output receptacles; and

a stack moving mechanism adapted to move a stack of bills selected for strapping from one of the plurality of output receptacles to the strapping unit.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the strapping unit further comprises:

strapping material for strapping stacks of bills; and

a printer configured to apply appropriate color-coding to the strapping material based on the denomination of the bills to be strapped.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the strapping unit further comprises:

strapping material for strapping stacks of bills; and

a printer configured to apply appropriate alphanumeric information to the strapping material based on the denomination of the bills to be strapped.

56. The system of claim 53, further comprising a plurality of denomination specific receptacles adapted to receive strapped stacks of bills, wherein the system is configured to sort strapped stacks of bills into the denomination specific receptacles based on denomination.

57. A currency processing and strapping device for strapping a stack of currency bills, each bill having a respective denomination, the device comprising:

an input receptacle adapted to receive bills to be sorted;

one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing bill which is used to denominate the passing bill;

a plurality of output receptacles, each one of the plurality of output receptacles having a stack limit which determines how many bills will form a complete stack of bills;

a processor programmed to dynamically assign a bill denomination to at least one of the output receptacles;

a transport mechanism defining a transport path between the input receptacle and the plurality of output receptacles, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each bill individually along the transport path past the one or more detectors, the transport mechanism being adapted to sort the bills into the plurality of output receptacles based on the denomination of the bills as determined from the information obtained from the one or more detectors so that an individual one of the output receptacles contains bills having the same denomination; and

a strapping unit for strapping stacks of bills, the strapping unit being adapted to receive and strap stacks of bills from more than one of the plurality of output receptacles.

58. The device of claim 57, wherein the strapping unit further comprises:

strapping material for strapping stacks of bills; and

a printer configured to apply appropriate color-coding to the strapping material based on the denomination of the bills to be strapped.

59. The device of claim 57, wherein the strapping unit further comprises:

strapping material for strapping stacks of bills; and

a printer configured to apply appropriate alphanumeric information to the strapping material based on the denomination of the bills to be strapped.

60. The system of claim 57 further comprising a plurality of denomination specific receptacles adapted to receive strapped stacks of bills, wherein the system is configured to sort strapped stacks of bills into the denomination specific receptacles based on denomination.

61. A currency processing and strapping device for strapping a stack of currency bills, each bill having a respective denomination, the device comprising:

an input receptacle adapted to receive bills to be sorted;

one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing bill which is used to denominate the passing bill;

a plurality of output receptacles;

a strapping unit for strapping stacks of bills, the strapping unit comprising a plurality of stacking positions, the strapping unit being adapted to receive bills and stack bills in the plurality of stacking positions, the strapping unit being adapted to move bills in any of the plurality of stacking positions to a strapping position and to strap a stack of bills located in the strapping position;

a transport mechanism defining one or more transport paths between the input receptacle, the plurality of output receptacles, and the strapping unit, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each bill individually along the transport path past the one or more detectors, the transport mechanism being adapted to sort the bills into the plurality of output receptacles and into the strapping unit based on the denomination of the bills as determined from the information obtained from the one or more detectors so that an individual one of the output receptacles receives bills having the same denomination and so that the strapping unit receives bills having the same denomination; and

a processor programmed to dynamically assign a bill denomination to at least one of the output receptacles.

62. The device of claim 61, wherein the strapping unit further comprises:

strapping material for strapping stacks of bills; and

a printer configured to apply appropriate color-coding to the strapping material based on the denomination of the bills to be strapped.

63. The device of claim 61, wherein the strapping unit further comprises:

strapping material for strapping stacks of bills; and

a printer configured to apply appropriate alphanumeric information to the strapping material based on the denomination of the bills to be strapped.

64. The device of claim 61, further comprising a plurality of denomination specific receptacles adapted to receive strapped stacks of bills, wherein the device is configured to sort strapped stacks of bills into the denomination specific receptacles based on denomination.

65. A currency processing and strapping device for strapping a stack of currency bills, each bill having a respective denomination, the device comprising:

an input receptacle adapted to receive bills to be sorted;

one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing bill which is used to denominate the passing bill;

a plurality of output receptacles;

a strapping unit;

a transport mechanism configured to transport bills individually along the transport path past the one or more detectors and to the plurality of output receptacles and the strapping unit, the transport mechanism being adapted to sort the bills into the plurality of output receptacles and into the strapping unit based on the denomination of the bills as determined from the information obtained from the one or more detectors; and

a processor programmed to dynamically assign a bill denomination to at least one of the output receptacles and to the strapping unit.

66. The device of claim 65, wherein the strapping unit further comprises:

strapping material for strapping stacks of bills; and

a printer configured to apply appropriate color-coding to the strapping material based on the denomination of the bills dynamically assigned to the strapping unit.

67. The device of claim 65, wherein the strapping unit further comprises:

strapping material for strapping stacks of bills; and

a printer configured to apply appropriate alphanumeric information to the strapping material based on the denomination of the bills dynamically assigned to the strapping unit.

68. The device of claim 65, further comprising a plurality of denomination specific receptacles adapted to receive strapped stacks of bills, wherein the device is configured to sort strapped stacks of bills into the denomination specific receptacles based on denomination.

69. A currency denominating device adapted to denominate currency bills of a plurality of denominations comprising:

(a) a plurality of output receptacles

(b) a strapping unit; and

(c) an operator interface configured to permit the operator of the device to change the designation of at least one of the output receptacles among a plurality of fixed denomination designations and a dynamic denomination designation, the operator interface being configured to permit the operator of the device to change the designation of the strapping unit among a plurality of fixed denomination designations and a dynamic denomination designation.

70. The device of claim 69, wherein the strapping unit further comprises:

strapping material for strapping stacks of bills; and

a printer configured to apply appropriate color-coding to the strapping material based on the denomination of the bills dynamically assigned to the strapping unit.

71. The device of claim 69, further comprising:

strapping material for strapping stacks of bills; and

a printer configured to apply appropriate alphanumeric information to the strapping material based on the denomination of the bills dynamically assigned to the strapping unit.

72. A currency denominating device adapted to denominate currency bills of a plurality of denominations comprising:

(a) a plurality of output receptacles

(b) a strapping unit; and

(c) an operator interface being configured to permit the operator of the device to change the designation of the strapping unit among a plurality of fixed denomination designations and a dynamic denomination designation.

73. The device of claim 72, wherein the strapping unit further comprises:

strapping material for strapping stacks of bills; and

a printer configured to apply appropriate color-coding to the strapping material based on the denomination of the bills dynamically assigned to the strapping unit.

74. The device of claim 72, further comprising:

strapping material for strapping stacks of bills; and

a printer configured to apply appropriate alphanumeric information to the strapping material based on the denomination of the bills dynamically assigned to the strapping unit.

75. A currency denominating device comprising:

(a) a plurality of output receptacles;

(b) a strapping unit and

(c) an operator interface configured to permit the operator of the device to change the designation of at least one of the output receptacles between being a fixed pocket and being a dynamic pocket, wherein a fixed pocket is a pocket assigned to a particular denomination such that during normal operation only bills of the particular denomination may be transported to the fixed output receptacle and wherein a dynamic pocket is a pocket subject to dynamic assignment of a bill denomination during normal operation of the denominating device, the operator interface being further configured to permit the operator of the device to change the designation of the strapping unit between being a fixed denomination strapping unit and being a dynamic strapping unit, wherein a fixed denomination strapping unit is a strapping unit assigned to a particular denomination such that during normal operation only bills of the particular denomination may be transported to the strapping unit and wherein a dynamic strapping unit is a strapping unit subject to dynamic assignment of a bill denomination during normal operation of the denominating device.

76. A currency denominating device comprising:

(a) a plurality of output receptacles;

(b) a strapping unit and

(c) an operator interface configured to permit the operator of the device to change the designation of the strapping unit between being a fixed denomination strapping unit and being a dynamic strapping unit, wherein a fixed denomination strapping unit is a strapping unit assigned to a particular denomination such that during normal operation only bills of the particular denomination may be transported to the strapping unit and wherein a dynamic strapping unit is a strapping unit subject to dynamic assignment of a bill denomination during normal operation of the denominating device.

77. A method of assigning a denomination to a strapping unit of a multi-output receptacle currency denominating system, the method comprising an operator of the denominating system setting a strapping unit to be either a dynamic strapping unit, subject to dynamic assignment of a bill denomination during normal operation of the system, or assigning a particular denomination to the strapping unit thereby making the strapping unit a fixed strapping unit such that during normal operation of the system only bills having the particular denomination are transported into the strapping unit.

78. A method of assigning a denomination to a stacking position of a multi-stacking position currency strapping device, the method comprising an operator setting a stacking position to be either a dynamic stacking position, subject to dynamic assignment of a bill denomination during normal operation of the device, or assigning a particular denomination to the stacking position thereby making the stacking position a fixed stacking position such that during normal operation of the device only bills having the particular denomination are transported into the stacking position.

79. A currency processing and strapping device for strapping a stack of currency bills, each bill having a respective denomination, the device comprising:

an input receptacle adapted to receive bills to be sorted;

one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing bill which is used to denominate the passing bill;

a plurality of output receptacles;

a strapping unit comprising a plurality of storage receptacles adapted to receive strapped stacks of bills;

a transport mechanism adapted to transport bills individually past the one or more detectors and to the plurality of output receptacles or the strapping unit, the transport mechanism being adapted to sort the bills into the plurality of output receptacles and into the strapping unit based on the denomination of the bills as determined from the information obtained from the one or more detectors;

a processor programmed to cause strapped stacks of bills to be deposited into a first one of the storage receptacles until a predetermined number of strapped stacks of bills have been deposited into the first one of the storage receptacles, the first one of the storage receptacles being designated as being full after the predetermined number of strapped stacks of bills have been deposited therein, the processor being programmed to cause strapped stacks of bills to be deposited into a second one of the storage receptacles after the first one of the storage receptacles becomes full and until the second one of the storage receptacles has received a predetermined number of strapped stacks of bills and has thereby become full, the processor being further programmed to monitor whether a full storage receptacle has been emptied, the processor being further programmed to cause strapped stacks of bills to be deposited, in an alternating manner, into the first storage receptacle and the second storage receptacle after one of the first and second storage receptacles becomes full provided the other one of the first and second storage receptacles is empty, thereby permitting the strapping unit to operate continuously provided a full storage receptacle becomes empty prior to the other storage receptacle also becoming full.

80. A currency processing and strapping device for strapping a stack of currency bills, each bill having a respective denomination, the device comprising:

an input receptacle adapted to receive bills to be sorted;

one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing bill which is used to denominate the passing bill;

a plurality of output receptacles;

a strapping unit comprising a plurality of storage receptacles adapted to receive strapped stacks of bills;

a transport mechanism adapted to transport bills individually past the one or more detectors and to the plurality of output receptacles or the strapping unit, the transport mechanism being adapted to sort the bills into the plurality of output receptacles and into the strapping unit based on the denomination of the bills as determined from the information obtained from the one or more detectors;

a processor programmed to cause strapped stacks of bills to be deposited into an empty one of the storage receptacles until a predetermined number of strapped stacks of bills have been deposited into the storage receptacle, a storage receptacle being designated as being full after the predetermined number of strapped stacks of bills have been deposited therein, the processor being programmed to cause strapped stacks of bills to be deposited into another one of the storage receptacles which is empty after one of the storage receptacles becomes full and until the another one of the storage receptacles has received a predetermined number of strapped stacks of bills and has thereby become full, the processor being further programmed to monitor whether individual ones of the plurality of storage receptacles are empty including being programmed to monitor whether a non-empty storage receptacle has been emptied and thereby has become an empty storage receptacle, the processor being further programmed to cause strapped stacks of bills to be deposited into an empty one of the storage receptacles after one of the storage receptacles becomes full provided at least one of the storage receptacles is empty, thereby permitting the strapping unit to operate continuously provided there is an empty storage receptacle available when another storage receptacle becomes full.

81. The device of claim 80, further comprising:

an operator alert which is configured to alert an operator of the device when a storage receptacle becomes full; and

wherein the device is configured to permit an operator of the device to empty a full storage receptacle without halting the operation of the strapping unit.

82. The device of claim 80, wherein the storage receptacles comprises storage bins configured to receive strapped stacks of bills:

an operator alert which is configured to alert an operator of the device when a storage receptacle becomes full; and

wherein the device is configured to permit an operator of the device to remove a full storage bin without halting the operation of the strapping unit.

83. The device of claim 82, wherein:

the device is configured to permit an operator of the device to empty a full storage bin which has been removed from the strapping unit; and

the device is configured to permit an operator of the device to replace the empty storage bin back into the strapping unit without halting the operation of the strapping unit.

84. The device of claim 82, wherein the device is configured to permit an operator of the device to replace a full storage bin with an empty storage bin without halting the operation of the strapping unit.

85. A method of operating a currency processing and strapping device comprising an input receptacle, a plurality of output receptacles, a strapping unit comprising a plurality of storage receptacles adapted to receive strapped stacks of bills, the method comprising the acts of:

transporting bills individually from the input receptacle past a denominating sensor;

determining the denomination of the transported bills;

transporting bills of a particular denomination to the strapping unit;

strapping bills received in the strapping unit after a first predetermined number of bills have been received in the strapping unit, thereby forming a strapped stack of bills;

depositing strapped stacks of bills into one of the storage receptacles until a second predetermined number of strapped stacks of bills have been deposited into a storage receptacle, the storage receptacle being designated as being full after the second predetermined number of strapped stacks of bills have been deposited therein;

once a storage receptacle becomes full, depositing strapped stacks of bills into another one of the storage receptacles which is empty and continuing to deposit strapped stacks of bills into the another one of the storage receptacles until the another one of the storage receptacles becomes full;

detecting when a full storage receptacles becomes empty and thereafter permitting strapped stacks of bills to be deposited therein;

continuing to deposit strapped stacks of bills into the storage receptacles until all storage receptacles are full; and

halting the operation of the strapping unit when all storage receptacles are full.

86. The method of claim 85, further comprising the acts of:

alerting an operator of the device when a storage receptacle becomes full; and

permitting an operator of the device to empty a full storage receptacle without halting the operation of the strapping unit.

87. The method of claim 85, wherein the storage receptacles comprise storage bins configured to receive strapped stacks of bills and further comprising the acts of:

alerting an operator of the device when a storage receptacle becomes full; and

permitting an operator of the device to remove a full storage bin without halting the operation of the strapping unit.

88. The method of claim 87, further comprising the acts of:

permitting an operator of the device to empty a full storage bin which has been removed from the strapping unit; and

permitting an operator of the device to replace the empty storage bin back into the strapping unit without halting the operation of the strapping unit.

89. The method of claim 87, further comprising the act of:

permitting an operator of the device to replace a full storage bin with an empty storage bin without halting the operation of the strapping unit.

90. A method for processing and strapping currency bills, each bill having a respective denomination, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a plurality of bills in an input receptacle;

transporting individually the bills from the input receptacle to a plurality of output receptacles;

determining the denomination of the bills;

dynamically assigning denominations to the plurality of output receptacles;

sorting the bills into the plurality of output receptacles based on their denominations so that each output receptacles receives bills of only one denomination;

monitoring whether a complete stack of bills of the same denomination have been received in any of the output receptacles;

moving a complete stack of bills from one of the plurality of output receptacles to a strapping position; and

strapping a complete stack of bills that is placed in the strapping position, the strapping position being adapted to receive stacks from more than one of the plurality of output receptacles.

91. The method of claim 90, further comprising the act of printing stack-specific indicia onto strapping material to be used to strap a complete stack of bills.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein the act of printing stack-specific indicia onto strapping material comprises printing denomination-specific indicia on the strapping material based on the denomination of bills dynamically assigned to the output receptacle to be strapped next.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein printing denomination-specific indicia on the strapping material comprises printing appropriate denominational color-coding on the strapping material based on the denomination of the bills to be strapped.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein printing denomination-specific indicia on the strapping material comprises printing appropriate denominational alphanumeric information based on the denomination of the bills to be strapped.

95. The method of claim 90, further comprising the act of sorting strapped currency into a plurality of denomination specific receptacles based on denomination.

96. A method for processing and strapping currency documents, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a plurality of currency documents in an input receptacle;

transporting the currency documents, one at a time, along a transport path from the input receptacle, past one or more parameter sensors;

determining parameter information of passing currency documents using information detected by the one or more parameter sensors;

transporting currency documents to and sorting currency documents into a plurality of output receptacles based on the parameter information of the currency documents;

monitoring how many currency documents have been transported into a first output receptacle, the first output receptacle having a strap limit associated therewith;

determining when the last currency document needed to reach the strap limit for the first output receptacle has been detected;

printing stack-specific indicia onto strapping material to be used to strap currency documents associated with the first output receptacle after the last currency document needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been detected;

determining when the last currency document needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been delivered to the first output receptacle;

after the last currency document needed to reach a strap limit for the first output receptacle has been delivered to the first output receptacle, moving currency documents from the first output receptacle to a strapping position, the strapping position being adapted to receive currency documents from more than one of the plurality of output receptacles;

strapping a complete stack of currency documents that is placed in the strapping position from the first output receptacle with the strapping material bearing the stack-specific indicia.

97. The method of claim 96, further comprising the acts of:

monitoring how many currency documents have been transported into a second output receptacle, the second output receptacle having a strap limit associated therewith;

determining when the last currency document needed to reach the strap limit for the second output receptacle has been detected;

printing stack-specific indicia onto strapping material to be used to strap currency documents associated with the second output receptacle after the last currency document needed to reach a strap limit for the second output receptacle has been detected;

determining when the last currency document needed to reach a strap limit for the second output receptacle has been delivered to the second output receptacle;

after the last currency document needed to reach a strap limit for the second output receptacle has been delivered to the second output receptacle, moving currency documents from the second output receptacle to the strapping position;

strapping a complete stack of currency documents that is placed in the strapping position from the second output receptacle with the strapping material bearing the stack-specific indicia.

98. The method of claim 96, further comprising the act of dynamically assigning parameters to the plurality of output receptacles;

and

wherein the act of printing stack-specific indicia onto strapping material comprises printing parameter-specific indicia on the strapping material based on the parameter of currency documents dynamically assigned to the output receptacle to be strapped next.

99. The method of claim 98 wherein the parameter is an authenticity parameter and wherein the act of printing comprises printing authenticity-specific indicia on the strapping material.

100. The method of claim 98 wherein the parameter is a fitness parameter and wherein the act of printing comprises printing fitness-specific indicia on the strapping material.

101. The method of claim 96 wherein the parameter is an authenticity parameter.

102. The method of claim 96 wherein the parameter is a fitness parameter.

103. A currency document processing and strapping device for strapping a stack of currency documents, the device comprising:

an input receptacle adapted to receive currency documents to be sorted;

one or more parameter detectors adapted to retrieve parameter information from passing currency documents which is used to sort the passing currency documents;

a plurality of output receptacles, each one of the plurality of output receptacles having a stack limit which determines how many currency documents will form a complete stack of currency documents;

a processor programmed to dynamically assign a currency document parameter to at least one of the output receptacles;

a transport mechanism defining a transport path between the input receptacle and the plurality of output receptacles, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each currency document individually along the transport path past the one or more detectors, the transport mechanism being adapted to sort the currency documents into the plurality of output receptacles based on the parameter information of the currency documents as determined from the information obtained from the one or more detectors so that an individual one of the output receptacles contains currency documents satisfying the same parameter; and

a strapping unit for strapping stacks of currency documents, the strapping unit being adapted to receive and strap stacks of currency documents from more than one of the plurality of output receptacles.

104. The device of claim 103, further comprising a stack moving mechanism adapted to move a stack of currency documents selected for strapping from one of the plurality of output receptacles to the strapping unit.

105. The device of claim 103, wherein the strapping unit further comprises:

strapping material for strapping stacks of currency documents; and

a printer configured to print appropriate parameter information on the strapping material based on the parameter of the currency documents to be strapped.

106. The device of claim 103 wherein the parameter information is authenticity information.

107. The device of claim 103 wherein the parameter information is fitness information.

108. A currency document processing and strapping device for strapping a stack of currency documents, the device comprising:

an input receptacle adapted to receive currency documents to be sorted;

one or more detectors adapted to retrieve parameter information from a passing currency document which is used to sort the passing currency document;

a plurality of output receptacles;

a strapping unit;

a transport mechanism configured to transport currency documents individually along the transport path past the one or more detectors and to the plurality of output receptacles and the strapping unit, the transport mechanism being adapted to sort the currency documents into the plurality of output receptacles and into the strapping unit based on the parameter information of the currency documents as determined from the information obtained from the one or more detectors; and

a processor programmed to dynamically assign a currency document parameter to at least one of the output receptacles and to the strapping unit.

109. The device of claim 108, wherein the strapping unit further comprises:

strapping material for strapping stacks of currency documents; and

a printer configured to print appropriate parameter information to the strapping material based on a parameter dynamically assigned to the strapping unit.

110. The device of claim 108 wherein the parameter is an authenticity parameter.

111. The device of claim 108 wherein the parameter is a fitness parameter.

112. A currency document strapping device adapted to determine parameter information of currency documents comprising:

(d) a plurality of output receptacles

(e) a strapping unit; and

(f) an operator interface being configured to permit the operator of the device to change the designation of the strapping unit among a plurality of fixed parameter designations and a dynamic parameter designation.

113. The device of claim 112, further comprising:

(d) an operator interface configured to permit the operator of the device to change the designation of at least one of the output receptacles among a plurality of fixed parameter designations and a dynamic parameter designation.

114. The device of claim 112, wherein the strapping unit further comprises:

strapping material for strapping stacks of currency documents; and

a printer configured to print appropriate parameter information on the strapping material based on the parameter assigned to the strapping unit.

115. The device of claim 112 wherein the parameter designation is an authenticity designation.

116. The device of claim 112 wherein the parameter designation is fitness designation.

117. A method of assigning a parameter to a strapping unit of a multi-output receptacle currency processing system, the method comprising an operator of the processing system setting a strapping unit to be either a dynamic strapping unit, subject to dynamic assignment of a currency document parameter during normal operation of the system, or assigning a particular parameter to the strapping unit thereby making the strapping unit a fixed strapping unit such that during normal operation of the system only currency documents satisfying the particular parameter are transported into the strapping unit.

118. The method of claim 117 wherein the parameter is an authenticity parameter.

119. The method of claim 117 wherein the parameter is a fitness parameter.

120. A currency document processing and strapping device for strapping a stack of currency documents, the device comprising:

an input receptacle adapted to receive currency documents to be sorted;

one or more detectors adapted to retrieve parameter information from a passing currency document which is used to sort the passing currency document;

a plurality of output receptacles;

a strapping unit comprising a plurality of storage receptacles adapted to receive strapped stacks of currency documents;

a transport mechanism adapted to transport currency documents individually past the one or more detectors and to the plurality of output receptacles or the strapping unit, the transport mechanism being adapted to sort the currency documents into the plurality of output receptacles and into the strapping unit based on parameter information of the currency documents;

a processor programmed to cause strapped stacks of currency documents to be deposited into an empty one of the storage receptacles until a predetermined number of strapped stacks of currency documents have been deposited into a storage receptacle, a storage receptacle being designated as being full after the predetermined number of strapped stacks of currency documents have been deposited therein, the processor being programmed to cause strapped stacks of currency documents to be deposited into another one of the storage receptacles which is empty after one of the storage receptacles becomes full and until the another one of the storage receptacles has received a predetermined number of strapped stacks of currency documents and has thereby become full, the processor being further programmed to monitor whether individual ones of the plurality of storage receptacles are empty including being programmed to monitor whether a non-empty storage receptacle has been emptied and thereby has become an empty storage receptacle, the processor being further programmed to cause strapped stacks of currency documents to be deposited into an empty one of the storage receptacles after one of the storage receptacles becomes full provided at least one of the storage receptacles is empty, thereby permitting the strapping unit to operate continuously provided there is an empty storage receptacle available when another storage receptacle becomes full.

121. A method of operating a currency document processing and strapping device comprising an input receptacle, a plurality of output receptacles, a strapping unit comprising a plurality of storage receptacles adapted to receive strapped stacks of currency documents, the method comprising the acts of:

transporting currency documents individually from the input receptacle past one or more parameter sensors;

determining parameter information of the transported currency documents;

transporting currency documents satisfying a particular parameter to the strapping unit;

strapping currency documents received in the strapping unit after a first predetermined number of currency documents have been received in the strapping unit, thereby forming a strapped stack of currency documents;

depositing strapped stacks of currency documents into one of the storage receptacles until a second predetermined number of strapped stacks of currency documents have been deposited into a storage receptacle, the storage receptacle being designated as being full after the second predetermined number of strapped stacks of currency documents have been deposited therein;

once a storage receptacle becomes full, depositing strapped stacks of currency documents into another one of the storage receptacles which is empty and continuing to deposit strapped stacks of currency documents into the another one of the storage receptacles until the another one of the storage receptacles becomes full;

detecting when a full storage receptacles becomes empty and thereafter permitting strapped stacks of currency documents to be deposited therein;

continuing to deposit strapped stacks of currency documents into the storage receptacles until all storage receptacles are full; and

halting the operation of the strapping unit when all storage receptacles are full.

122. The method of claim 121 wherein the particular parameter is an authenticity parameter.

123. The method of claim 121 wherein the particular parameter is a fitness parameter.

124. A method for processing and strapping currency documents, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a plurality of currency documents in an input receptacle;

transporting individually the currency documents from the input receptacle to a plurality of output receptacles;

determining parameter information of the currency documents;

dynamically assigning parameters to the plurality of output receptacles;

sorting the currency documents into the plurality of output receptacles based on their parameters;

monitoring whether a complete stack of currency documents have been received in any of the output receptacles;

moving a complete stack of currency documents from one of the plurality of output receptacles to a strapping position; and

strapping a complete stack of currency documents that is placed in the strapping position, the strapping position being adapted to receive stacks from more than one of the plurality of output receptacles.

125. The method of claim 124, further comprising the act of printing stack-specific indicia onto strapping material to be used to strap a complete stack of currency documents, wherein the act of printing stack-specific indicia onto strapping material comprises printing parameter-specific indicia on the strapping material based on the parameter of currency documents dynamically assigned to the output receptacle to be strapped next.

126. The method of claim 124 wherein the parameter information is authenticity information.

127. The method of claim 124 wherein the parameter information is fitness information.