Method and apparatus for currency discrimination and counting

• US 7,672,499 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Bauch, Aaron M., Graves, Bradford T., Stromme, Lars R., Raterman, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Phuoc
• Application Number:
  US10/163,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20030108233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,826 Days
• Field of Search: 382/135, 382/190, 382/218, 382318-323, 194/206, 209/534, 256/71
• US Class Current: 382/135
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/541 Counting
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2557/514 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/1912 Banknotes, bills and cheques or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 3/063 separating from the bottom of pile B65H3/0615, B65H3/0623 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/10 Mechanical details
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/50 Sorting or counting valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/04 Testing magnetic properties of the materials thereof, e.g. by detection of magnetic imprint G07D7/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/12 Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/1205 Testing spectral properties
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/128 Viewing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/16 Testing the dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/162 Length or width
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/20 Testing patterns thereon G07D7/004, G07D7/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 by paper currency

Abstract

A U.S. currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of U.S. currency bills and rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack. According to one embodiment the device comprises an input receptacle positioned to receive a stack of bills to be evaluated and at least one output receptacle positioned to receive bills after evaluation. A transport mechanism transports the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the at least one output receptacle. The device also comprises a denomination discriminating unit adapted to denominate bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations. According to some embodiments, the device is adapted to deliver any bill that has been denominated to one and only one of the at least one output receptacle. According to some embodiments, the device has a single output receptacle.

Claims

1. A U.S. currency processing device for receiving a stack of U.S. currency bills and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

an input receptacle positioned to receive a stack of U.S. bills;

at least one output receptacle positioned to receive bills, only one of the at least one output receptacle being an output receptacle for receiving denominated bills;

a transport mechanism comprising a transport drive motor and transport rollers, the transport mechanism being configured to transport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the at least one output receptacle along a transport path; and

a denomination discriminating unit comprising a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the at least one output receptacle and comprising a processor, the detector generating a characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving the characteristic information output signal and generating a denomination signal, the discriminating unit being configured to denominate and count bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations;

wherein the device is configured to deliver any bill that has been denominated to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle including bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations; and

wherein the device is configured (a) to halt the transport mechanism when the denomination of a bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit and (b) to permit the transport mechanism to be restarted after being halted while maintaining a cumulative value of bills in the stack which have been denominated and delivered to the denominated bill output receptacle.

2. The currency processing device of claim 1 further comprising means for halting the transport mechanism when the denomination of a bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit.

3. The currency processing device of claim 2 wherein the means for halting causes the transport mechanism to halt with the bill whose denomination has not been determined being the last bill transported to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to deliver to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle (a) all bills that the device has denominated and (b) at least some bills that the device has not denominated and which remain undenominated when delivered to the output receptacle.

5. The currency processing device of claim 4 further comprising means for halting the transport mechanism when the denomination of a bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit.

6. The currency processing device of claim 5 wherein the means for halting causes the transport mechanism to halt with the bill whose denomination has not been determined being the last bill transported to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a stacking wheel comprising flexible blades positioned to restack bills that have been denominated in the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the detector is positioned to receive light reflected off passing bills, the detector generating a reflected light characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the reflected light characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving the reflected light characteristic information output signal and generating the denomination signal in response thereto.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the detector is positioned to receive light reflected off passing bills, the detector generating a reflected light characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the reflected light characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving the reflected light characteristic information output signal and generating the denomination signal in response thereto.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the transport mechanism is configured to transport bills and the denomination discriminating unit is configured to denominate bills at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute.

11. The U.S. currency processing device of claim 1 wherein the bills having edges;

the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle being a single denominated bill output receptacle, the single denominated bill output receptacle having a stacking mechanism comprising flexible blades positioned to restack bills that have been denominated; and

wherein the device is configured to restack bills that have been denominated on their edges in a stack in the single denominated bill output receptacle.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the device is configured to deliver to the single denominated bill output receptacle (a) all bills that the device has denominated and (b) at least some bills that the device has not denominated and which remain undenominated when delivered to the output receptacle.

13. A system comprising the device of claim 11 and a printer coupled thereto and wherein the printer is configured to print the total value of denominated bills delivered to the single denominated bill output receptacle and the number of denominated bills of each of the plurality of denominations delivered to the single denominated bill output receptacle.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the discriminating unit is adapted to denominate bills of the plurality of denominations including bills of different denominations having the same size.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the discriminating unit is adapted to denominate bills independently of the size of the bills.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein each bill is rectangular and has a wide dimension and a narrow dimension and wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport bills in a transport direction with their narrow dimension parallel to the transport direction.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport and the denomination discriminating unit is adapted to determine the denomination of bills at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute.

18. The U.S. currency processing device of claim 1 wherein the at least one output receptacle comprises one and only one stacker wheel containing output receptacle positioned to receive bills after processing.

19. A U.S. currency processing device for receiving a stack of U.S. currency bills and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

an input receptacle positioned to receive a stack of U.S. bills;

at least one output receptacle positioned to receive bills after processing, only one of the at least one output receptacle being a denominated bill output receptacle;

a transport mechanism comprising a transport drive motor and transport rollers, the transport mechanism being configured to transport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the at least one output receptacle along a transport path; and

a denomination discriminating unit comprising a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the at least one output receptacle and comprising a processor, the detector generating a characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving and processing the characteristic information output signal and generating denomination signals, the discriminating unit being configured to denominate bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations; and

a memory storing a cumulative value of the bills that have been denominated;

wherein the device is configured to deliver all bills which have been denominated to the denominated bill output receptacle including bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations;

wherein the device is configured (a) to automatically halt the transport mechanism when the denomination of a bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit and (b) to permit the transport mechanism to be re-started while maintaining said cumulative value and the processing of said characteristic information output signal for bills following the bill for which the denomination could not be determined.

20. The U.S. currency processing device of claim 19 which includes an authenticating unit for determining the genuineness of the bills, and wherein the device is configured to automatically halt the transport mechanism when a bill is determined to be a potentially non-genuine bill by the authenticating unit and (b) to permit the transport mechanism to be re-started while maintaining the cumulative value and the processing of the characteristic information output signal for bills following the bill determined to be a potentially non-genuine bill.

21. The currency processing device of claim 19 wherein the device at least one output receptacle comprises one and only one output receptacle.

22. The currency processing device of claim 19 wherein the device is configured to halt the transport mechanism when the denomination of the bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit the bill whose denomination has not been determined being the last bill transported to one of the at least one output receptacle.

23. The device of claim 19 wherein each bill is rectangular and has a wide dimension and a narrow dimension and wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport bills in a transport direction with their narrow dimension parallel to the transport direction.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport and the denomination discriminating unit is adapted to determine the denomination of bills at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute.

25. The device of claim 19 wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport and the denomination discriminating unit is adapted to determine the denomination of bills at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute.

26. A U.S. currency processing device for receiving a stack of U.S. currency bills and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

an input receptacle positioned to receive a stack of U.S. bills;

at least one output receptacle positioned to receive bills after processing, only one of the at least one output receptacle being a denominated bill output receptacle;

a transport mechanism comprising a transport drive motor and transport rollers, the transport mechanism being configured to transport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the at least one output receptacle along a transport path;

a denomination discriminating unit comprising a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the at least one output receptacle and comprising a processor, the detector generating a characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving the characteristic information output signal and generating a denomination signal, the discriminating unit being configured to denominate and count bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations; and

a memory storing one or more counts associated with bills in the stack which have been denominated;

wherein the device is configured to deliver all bills which have been denominated to the denominated bill output receptacle including bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations; and

wherein the device is configured (a) to automatically halt the transport mechanism when the denomination of a bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit and then (b) to be restarted after being halted without any disruption of the one or more counts.

27. The U.S. currency processing device of claim 26 wherein the device is configured to deliver to the denominated bill output receptacle (a) all bills that the device has denominated and (b) at least some bills that the device has not denominated and which remain undenominated when delivered to the output receptacle.

28. The U.S. currency processing device of claim 26 wherein the bills have edges, and further comprising a stacking mechanism comprising flexible blades positioned to restack bills that have been denominated vertically on their edges in the denominated bill output receptacle.

29. The device of claim 26 wherein the discriminating unit is adapted to denominate bills independently of the size of the bills.

30. The device of claim 26 wherein each bill is rectangular and has a wide dimension and a narrow dimension and wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport bills in a transport direction with their narrow dimension parallel to the transport direction.

31. The device of claim 30 wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport and the denomination discriminating unit is adapted to determine the denomination of bills at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute.

32. The device of claim 26 further comprising a display and a housing, the housing containing the input and output receptacles and the transport mechanism, wherein the display is affixed to the housing and wherein the display is positioned between the input receptacle and the at least one output receptacle.

33. The device of claim 26 wherein the detector is positioned to receive light reflected off passing bills and the detector is adapted to generate a reflected light characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the reflected light characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving the reflected light characteristic information output signal and generating the denomination signal in response thereto.

34. A system comprising the device of claim 26 and a printer coupled thereto and wherein the printer is configured to print the total value of denominated bills delivered to the denominated bill output receptacle and the number of denominated bills of each of the plurality of denominations delivered to the denominated bill output receptacle.

35. The device of claim 26 further comprising a display adapted to communicate the total value of denominated bills delivered to the denominated bill output receptacle and the number of denominated bills of each of the plurality of denominations delivered to the denominated bill output receptacle.

36. The device of claim 26 further comprising a housing, the housing containing the input and output receptacles and the transport mechanism, wherein the display is affixed to the housing and wherein the display is positioned between the input receptacle and the at least one output receptacle.

37. A U.S. currency processing device for receiving a stack of U.S. currency bills and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

an input receptacle positioned to receive a stack of U.S. bills having a plurality of U.S. denominations;

a single denominated bill output receptacle;

a transport mechanism comprising a transport drive motor and transport rollers, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the denominated bill output receptacle along a transport path;

a denomination discriminating unit comprising a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle and comprising a processor, the detector generating a characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving the characteristic information output signal and generating a denomination signal, the discriminating unit being configured to denominate bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations; and

a processor programmed to determine an aggregate total of the amount of denominated bills received in denominated bill output receptacle;

wherein the device is configured to deliver all bills that have been denominated, including bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations, to the single denominated bill output receptacle, the single denominated bill output receptacle being the only output receptacle configured to receive bills that have been denominated; and

wherein the device is configured (a) to automatically halt the transport mechanism when the denomination of the bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit and then (b) to be restarted after being halted, including restarting the transport mechanism, without any disruption of the aggregate total.

38. The device of claim 37 wherein the device is configured to deliver to the single denominated bill output receptacle (a) all bills that the device has denominated and (b) at least some bills that the device has not denominated and which remain undenominated when delivered to the output receptacle.

39. The device of claim 37 wherein the discriminating unit is adapted to denominate bills independently of the size of the bills.

40. The device of claim 37 wherein each bill is rectangular and has a wide dimension and a narrow dimension and wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport bills in a transport direction with their narrow dimension parallel to the transport direction.

41. The device of claim 40 wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport and the denomination discriminating unit is adapted to determine the denomination of bills at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute.

42. The device of claim 41 wherein the transport mechanism does not employ a vacuum.

43. The device of claim 40 wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport and the denomination discriminating unit is adapted to determine the denomination of bills at a rate in excess of about 1000 bills per minute.

44. The device of claim 43 wherein the transport mechanism does not employ a vacuum.

45. A system comprising the device of claim 37 and a printer coupled thereto and wherein the printer is configured to print the total value of denominated bills delivered to the denominated bill output receptacle and the number of denominated bills of each of the plurality of denominations delivered to the denominated bill output receptacle.

46. The device of claim 37 further comprising a display adapted to communicate the total value of denominated bills delivered to the denominated bill output receptacle and the number of denominated bills of each of the plurality of denominations delivered to the denominated bill output receptacle.

47. The device of claim 46 further comprising a housing, the housing containing the input and output receptacles and the transport mechanism, wherein the display is affixed to the housing and wherein the display is positioned between the input receptacle and the output receptacle.

48. The device of claim 46 wherein each bill is rectangular and has a wide dimension and a narrow dimension and wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport bills in a transport direction with their narrow dimension parallel to the transport direction.

49. The device of claim 48 wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport and the denomination discriminating unit is adapted to determine the denomination of bills at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute.

50. The device of claim 49 wherein the transport mechanism does not employ a vacuum.

51. The device of claim 48 wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport and the denomination discriminating unit is adapted to determine the denomination of bills at a rate in excess of about 1000 bills per minute.

52. The device of claim 51 wherein the transport mechanism does not employ a vacuum.

53. The device of claim 37 further comprising a display and a housing, the housing containing the input and output receptacles and the transport mechanism, wherein the display is affixed to the housing and wherein the display is positioned between the input receptacle and the output receptacle.

54. The device of claim 37 wherein the detector is positioned to receive light reflected off passing bills and the detector generates a reflected light characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information.

55. A U.S. currency processing device for receiving a stack of U.S. currency bills including bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

an input receptacle positioned to receive a stack of U.S. bills including bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations;

at least one output receptacle positioned to receive bills after processing, one and only one of the at least one output receptacle being configured to receive denominated bills;

a transport mechanism comprising a transport drive motor and transport rollers, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the at least one output receptacle along a transport path; and

a denomination discriminating unit comprising a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle and comprising a processor, the detector generating a characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving and processing the characteristic information output signal and generating denomination signals, the discriminating unit being adapted to denominate and total bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations;

wherein the device is configured to deliver any bill that has been denominated and totaled to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle including bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations.

56. The device of claim 55 further comprising a memory storing a cumulative value of the bills that have been denominated;

and

wherein the device is configured (a) to automatically halt the transport mechanism when the denomination of a bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit and (b) to permit the transport mechanism to be re-started while maintaining the cumulative value and the processing of the characteristic information output signal for bills following the bill for which the denomination could not be determined.

57. The U.S. currency processing device of claim 56 which includes an authenticating unit for determining the genuineness of said bills, and wherein the device is configured to automatically halt the transport mechanism when a bill is determined to be a potentially non-genuine bill by the authenticating unit and (b) to permit the transport mechanism to be re-started while maintaining the cumulative value and the processing of the characteristic information output signal for bills following the bill determined to be a potentially non-genuine bill.

58. The device of claim 55 wherein the device is the discriminating unit is configured to denominate and count bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations;

wherein the device is configured (a) to halt the transport mechanism when the denomination of a bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit and (b) to permit the transport mechanism to be restarted after being halted while maintaining a cumulative value of bills in the stack which have been denominated and delivered to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle.

59. The device of claim 55 further comprising a memory storing one or more counts associated with bills in the stack which have been denominated;

wherein the discriminating unit is configured to denominate and count bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations; and

wherein the device is configured (a) to automatically halt the transport mechanism when the denomination of a bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit and then (b) to be restarted after being halted without any disruption of the one or more counts.

60. The device of claim 55 comprising a processor programmed to determine an aggregate total of the amount of denominated bills received in the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle;

wherein the device is configured (a) to automatically halt the transport mechanism when the denomination of the bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit and then (b) to be restarted after being halted, including restarting the transport mechanism, without any disruption of the aggregate total.

61. The device of claim 55 wherein the device is configured to deliver to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle (a) all bills that the device has denominated and (b) at least some bills that the device has not denominated and which remain undenominated when delivered to the output receptacle.

62. The device of claim 55 wherein the bills having edges and wherein the output receptacle to which any denominated bill is delivered comprises a stacker wheel and wherein the device is adapted to receive bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations in the input receptacle and transport bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations to the stacker wheel containing output receptacle and to stack any bill that has been denominated in the stacker wheel containing output receptacle vertically on an edge of the bill.

63. The device of claim 55 wherein bills of at least two of the plurality of denominations have the same size and the discriminating unit is adapted to denominate bills of the plurality of denominations including bills of different denominations having the same size.

64. The device of claim 55 wherein the discriminating unit is adapted to denominate bills independently of the size of the bills.

65. The device of claim 55 wherein each bill is rectangular and has a wide dimension and a narrow dimension and wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport bills in a transport direction with their narrow dimension parallel to the transport direction.

66. The device of claim 65 wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport and the denomination discriminating unit is adapted to determine the denomination of bills at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute.

67. A system comprising the device of claim 55 and a printer coupled thereto and wherein the device is configured to receive and denominate bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations and transport bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle, and wherein the printer is configured to print the total value of denominated bills delivered to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle and the number of denominated bills of each of the plurality of denominations delivered to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle.

68. The device of claim 55 wherein the device is adapted to receive and denominate bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations and transport bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle, the device further comprising a display adapted to communicate the total value of denominated bills delivered to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle and the number of denominated bills of each of the plurality of denominations delivered to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle.

69. The device of claim 68 further comprising a housing, the housing containing the input and output receptacles and the transport mechanism, wherein the display is affixed to the housing and wherein the display is positioned between the input receptacle and the output receptacle.

70. The device of claim 55 further comprising a display and a housing, the housing containing the input and output receptacles and the transport mechanism, wherein the display is affixed to the housing and wherein the display is positioned between the input receptacle and the output receptacle.

71. The device of claim 55 wherein the detector is positioned to receive light reflected off passing bills and the detector is adapted to generate a reflected light characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the reflected light characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving the reflected light characteristic information output signal and generating the denomination signal in response thereto.

72. A high-speed U.S. currency processing device for receiving a stack of U.S. currency bills and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

an input receptacle positioned to receive a stack of U.S. bills to be processed;

at least one output receptacle positioned to receive bills after processing, a single one of the at least one output receptacle for receiving all denominated bills;

a transport mechanism comprising a transport drive motor and transport rollers, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport bills at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute; and

a denomination discriminating unit comprising a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle and comprising a processor, the detector generating a characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving the characteristic information output signal and generating a denomination signal in response thereto, the discriminating unit being adapted to denominate and total bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute;

wherein the device is configured to deliver any bill that has been denominated and totaled to the single output receptacle for receiving all denominated bills.

73. The device of claim 72 further comprising a memory storing a cumulative value of the bills that have been denominated and delivered to the single output receptacle for receiving all denominated bills;

and

wherein the device is configured (a) to automatically halt the transport mechanism when the denomination of a bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit and (b) to permit the transport mechanism to be re-started while maintaining the cumulative value and the processing of the characteristic information output signal for bills following the bill for which the denomination could not be determined.

74. The U.S. currency processing device of claim 72 further comprising a memory storing a cumulative value of the bills that have been denominated and delivered to the single output receptacle for receiving all denominated bills;

and

an authenticating unit for determining the genuineness of said bills; and

wherein the device is configured to automatically halt the transport mechanism when a bill is determined to be a potentially non-genuine bill by the authenticating unit and (b) to permit the transport mechanism to be re-started while maintaining the cumulative value and the processing of the characteristic information output signal for bills following the bill determined to be a potentially non-genuine bill.

75. The device of claim 72 wherein the device is the discriminating unit is configured to denominate and count bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations;

wherein the device is configured (a) to halt the transport mechanism when the denomination of a bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit and (b) to permit the transport mechanism to be restarted after being halted while maintaining a cumulative value of bills in the stack which have been denominated and delivered to the single output receptacle for receiving all denominated bills.

76. The device of claim 72 further comprising a memory storing one or more counts associated with bills in the stack which have been denominated;

wherein the discriminating unit is configured to denominate and count bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations; and

wherein the device is configured (a) to automatically halt the transport mechanism when the denomination of a bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit and then (b) to be restarted after being halted without any disruption of the one or more counts.

77. The device of claim 72 comprising a processor programmed to determine an aggregate total of the amount of denominated bills received in the single output receptacle for receiving all denominated bills;

wherein the device is configured (a) to automatically halt the transport mechanism when the denomination of the bill is not determined by the denomination discriminating unit and then (b) to be restarted after being halted, including restarting the transport mechanism, without any disruption of the aggregate total.

78. The device of claim 72 wherein the device is configured to deliver to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle (a) all bills that the device has denominated and (b) at least some bills that the device has not denominated and which remain undenominated when delivered to the output receptacle.

79. The currency evaluation device of claim 72 wherein bills of at least two of the plurality of denominations have the same size and the discriminating unit is adapted to denominate bills of the plurality of denominations including bills of different denominations having the same size.

80. The currency evaluation device of claim 72 wherein the discriminating unit is adapted to denominate bills independently of the size of the bills.

81. The currency evaluation device of claim 72 wherein each bill is rectangular and has a wide dimension and a narrow dimension and wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport bills in a transport direction with their narrow dimension parallel to the transport direction.

82. The currency evaluation device of claim 72 wherein the device is adapted to receive bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations in the input receptacle and transport bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle.

83. The currency evaluation device of claim 82 wherein the detector is positioned to receive light reflected off passing bills and the detector is adapted to generate a reflected light characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the reflected light characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving the reflected light characteristic information output signal and generating the denomination signal in response thereto.

84. A system comprising the device of claim 82 and a printer coupled thereto and wherein the printer is configured to print the total value of denominated bills delivered to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle and the number of denominated bills of each of the plurality of denominations delivered to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle.

85. The device of claim 82 further comprising a display adapted to communicate the total value of denominated bills delivered to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle and the number of denominated bills of each of the plurality of denominations delivered to the one and only one of the at least one output receptacle.

86. The device of claim 85 further comprising a housing, the housing containing the input and output receptacles and the transport mechanism, wherein the display is affixed to the housing and wherein the display is positioned between the input receptacle and the at least one output receptacle.

87. The device of claim 82 further comprising a display and a housing, the housing containing the input and output receptacles and the transport mechanism, wherein the display is positioned between the input receptacle and the at least one output receptacle.

88. A U.S. currency processing device for receiving a stack of U.S. currency bills and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

an input receptacle positioned to receive a stack of U.S. bills including bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations, each bill being rectangular and having a wide dimension and a narrow dimension;

a single denominated bill output receptacle positioned to receive bills after processing;

a stacking mechanism comprising flexible blades positioned to restack bills that have been denominated in the denominated bill output receptacle, the denominated bill output receptacle being the only output receptacle having a stacking mechanism comprising flexible blades associated therewith;

a transport mechanism comprising a transport drive motor and transport rollers, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the denominated bill output receptacle along a transport path in a transport direction, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport bills with their narrow dimension parallel to the transport direction; and

a denomination discriminating unit comprising a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle and comprising a processor, the detector generating a characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving the characteristic information output signal and generating a denomination signal in response thereto, the discriminating unit being adapted to denominate bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations;

wherein the device is configured such that after processing the entire stack of bills, the denominated bill output receptacle includes denominated bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations.

89. The device of claim 88 wherein the device is configured to deliver to the denominated bill output receptacle (a) all bills that the device has denominated and (b) at least some bills that the device has not denominated and which remain undenominated when delivered to the output receptacle.

90. The device of claim 88 wherein the discriminating unit is adapted to denominate bills independently of the size of the bills.

91. The device of claim 88 wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport and the denomination discriminating unit is adapted to determine the denomination of bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute.

92. A system comprising the device of claim 88 and a printer coupled thereto and wherein the printer is configured to print the total value of denominated bills delivered to the denominated bill output receptacle and the number of bills of each of the plurality of denominations delivered to the denominated bill output receptacle.

93. The device of claim 88 wherein the device is adapted to receive and denominate bills of a plurality of denominations and further comprising a display adapted to communicate the total value of denominated bills delivered to the denominated bill output receptacle and the number of denominated bills of each of the plurality of denominations delivered to the denominated bill output receptacle.

94. The device of claim 93 further comprising a housing, the housing containing the input and output receptacles and the transport mechanism, wherein the display is affixed to the housing and wherein the display is positioned between the input receptacle and the output receptacle.

95. The device of claim 88 further comprising a display and a housing, the housing containing the input and output receptacles and the transport mechanism, wherein the display is affixed to the housing and wherein the display is positioned between the input receptacle and the output receptacle.

96. The device of claim 88 wherein the detector is positioned to receive light reflected off passing bills and the detector is adapted to generate a reflected light characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the reflected light characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving the reflected light characteristic information output signal and generating the denomination signal in response thereto.

97. A high-speed U.S. currency processing device for receiving a stack of U.S. currency bills and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

an input receptacle positioned to receive a stack of U.S. bills;

one and only one stacker wheel containing output receptacle positioned to receive denominated bills after processing and form a stack of U.S. bills;

a transport mechanism comprising a transport drive motor and transport rollers, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport bills at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute; and

a denomination discriminating unit comprising a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle and comprising a processor, the detector generating a characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving the characteristic information output signal and generating a denomination signal, the discriminating unit being adapted to denominate bills of a plurality of U.S. denominations at a rate in excess of about 800 bills per minute.

98. The device of claim 97 wherein the device is configured to deliver to the one and only one stacker wheel containing output receptacle (a) all bills that the device has denominated and (b) at least some bills that the device has not denominated and which remain undenominated when delivered to the output receptacle.

99. The device of claim 97 wherein bills of at least two of the plurality of denominations have the same size and the discriminating unit is adapted to denominate bills of the plurality of denominations including bills of different denominations having the same size.

100. The device of claim 97 wherein the discriminating unit is adapted to denominate bills independently of the size of the bills.

101. The device of claim 97 wherein each bill is rectangular and has a wide dimension and a narrow dimension and wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport bills in a transport direction with their narrow dimension parallel to the transport direction.

102. A system comprising the device of claim 97 and a printer coupled thereto and wherein the device is configured to send any denominated bill to the stacker wheel containing output receptacle and wherein the printer is configured to print the total value of denominated bills delivered to the stacker wheel containing output receptacle and the number of denominated bills of each of the plurality of denominations delivered to the stacker wheel containing output receptacle.

103. The device of claim 97 wherein the device is adapted to receive and denominate bills of a plurality of denominations and further comprising a display adapted to communicate the total value of denominated bills delivered to the stacker wheel containing output receptacle and the number of denominated bills of each of the plurality of denominations delivered to the stacker wheel containing output receptacle.

104. The device of claim 97 further comprising a housing, the housing containing the input and output receptacles and the transport mechanism, wherein the display is affixed to the housing and wherein the display is positioned between the input receptacle and the output receptacle.

105. The device of claim 97 further comprising a display and a housing, the housing containing the input and output receptacles and the transport mechanism, wherein the display is affixed to the housing wherein the display is positioned between the input and the output receptacle.

106. The device of claim 97 wherein the device is adapted to receive bills of a plurality of denominations in the input receptacle and transport denominated bills of a plurality of denominations to the stacker wheel containing output receptacle.

107. The device of claim 106 wherein the detector is positioned to receive light reflected off passing bills and the detector is adapted to generate a reflected light characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the reflected light characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving the reflected light characteristic information output signal and generating the denomination signal in response thereto.

108. The device of claim 97 wherein the detector is positioned to receive light reflected off passing bills and the detector is adapted to generate a reflected light characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the reflected light characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor receiving the reflected light characteristic information output signal and generating the denomination signal in response thereto.

109. The device of claim 97 wherein the stacker wheel comprises flexible blades.

110. A system comprising the device of claim 97 and a printer coupled thereto and wherein the printer is configured to print the total value of denominated bills delivered to the stacker wheel containing output receptacle and the number of denominated bills of each of the plurality of denominations delivered to the stacker wheel containing output receptacle.