Check and U.S. bank note processing device and method

• US 8,339,589 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2011
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Jones, John E., Jones, Paul A., Jones, William J., Mennie, Douglas U.
• Primary Examiner(s): Punnoose, Roy M
• Application Number:
  US13/240,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20120008850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 356/71, 235/487, 235/494
• US Class Current: 356/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/30 Tracking or tracing valuable papers or cassettes
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/50 Sorting or counting valuable papers
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/14 Apparatus driven under control of coin-sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/12 Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/20 Testing patterns thereon G07D7/004, G07D7/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs

Abstract

A check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes. The device comprises an input receptacle configured to receive checks and U.S. bank notes and an output receptacle. The device further comprises a transport mechanism configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner. The image scanner is configured to obtain an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner. The device is configured to determine the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner. The device further comprises a memory configured to store the determined serial numbers of U.S. bank notes.

Claims

1. A check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes, the device comprising:

an input receptacle configured to receive checks and U.S. bank notes;

an output receptacle;

a transport mechanism configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner;

the image scanner being configured to obtain an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device being configured to determine the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner;

the device being configured to capture information from checks transported past the image scanner; and

a memory configured to store the determined serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner and the information captured from checks transported past the image scanner.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the output receptacle comprises one and only one output receptacle.

3. The device of claim 2 configured to identify the bank which issued each check processed and to stop the transport mechanism upon the detection of a check not issued by a particular bank.

4. The device of claim 2 configured to identify the bank which issued each check processed and to stop the transport mechanism upon the detection of a check being issued by a bank meeting a flagging criteria.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the output receptacle comprises a plurality of output receptacles.

6. The device of claim 5 configured to identify the bank which issued each check processed and to sort checks into the output receptacles based on the identity of the bank which issued each check.

7. The device of claim 5 configured to separate checks into the output receptacles based on the source of each check.

8. The device of claim 5 configured to separate checks and U.S. bank notes into the output receptacles based on document type.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the output receptacle comprises exactly two output receptacles.

10. The device of claim 9 configured to identify the bank which issued each check processed and to sort checks into the two output receptacles based on the identity of the bank which issued each check.

11. The device of claim 9 configured to separate checks into the output receptacles based on the source of each check.

12. The device of claim 1 configured to identify the bank which issued each check processed and to stop the transport mechanism upon the detection of a check being issued by a bank meeting a flagging criteria.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular and wherein the transport mechanism is configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes in a wide-edge leading manner.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the checks and U.S. banks are transported past the image scanner along a common transport path.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the image scanner is configured to automatically determine from the image of each U.S. bank note an ASCII representation of the serial number of the each U.S. bank note.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the memory is configured to store the ASCII representation of the serial number of each U.S. bank note.

17. The device of claim 1 configured to automatically determine the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the device is configured to automatically determine the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the device is configured to automatically determine the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 1000 U.S. bank notes per minute.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to automatically determine the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to automatically determine the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 1000 U.S. bank notes per minute.

22. The device of claim 1 configured to automatically determine the denominations of the U.S. bank notes and to total the value for all of the U.S. bank notes in a batch of U.S. bank notes processed by the device including U.S. bank notes of a plurality of denominations.

23. The device of claim 22 further comprising a display configured to display the total value.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to capture a check number from each check transported past the image scanner.

25. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to capture a bank number from each check transported past the image scanner.

26. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to capture an account number from each check transported past the image scanner.

27. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to capture a check amount from each check transported past the image scanner.

28. The device of claim 1 further comprising an interface configured to permit the image of each check transported past the image scanner to be communicated to a remote processor.

29. The device of claim 28 wherein the remote processor is configured to extract alphanumeric information from the image of each check.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein the remote processor is configured to extract a check number from the image of each check.

31. The device of claim 29 wherein the remote processor is configured to extract a bank number from the image of each check.

32. The device of claim 29 wherein the remote processor is configured to extract an account number from the image of each check.

33. The device of claim 29 wherein the remote processor is configured to extract a check amount from the image of each check.

34. The device of claim 1 wherein the image scanner is configured to obtain an image of front and back surfaces of each check and U.S. bank note.

35. The device of claim 1 wherein the image scanner is configured to obtain an image of an entire surface of each check and U.S. bank note.

36. The device of claim 1 wherein the image scanner and transport mechanism are enclosed in a device housing and wherein the device housing has a depth of about 15 inches.

37. The device of claim 1 wherein the image scanner and transport mechanism are enclosed in a device housing and wherein the device housing has a width of about 13½

inches.

38. The device of claim 1 wherein the image scanner and transport mechanism are enclosed in a device housing and wherein the device housing has a footprint of about 1.4 square feet.

39. The device of claim 1 wherein the image scanner and transport mechanism are enclosed in a device housing and wherein the device housing has a volume of about 2 cubic feet.

147. The device of claim 1, wherein the output receptacle is configured to receive and securely store at least a portion of the U.S. bank notes transported by the transport mechanism.

148. The device of claim 147, wherein the U.S. bank notes are transported, the images are obtained, and the serial numbers are determined at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute.

149. The device of claim 147, wherein the U.S. bank notes are transported, the images are obtained, and the serial numbers are determined at a rate of at least 1000 U.S. bank notes per minute.

150. The device of claim 147, wherein the U.S. bank notes and checks have a wide edge and a narrow edge, and wherein the transport mechanism is configured to transport the U.S. bank notes and checks with a wide edge of each U.S. bank and check note being generally perpendicular to the direction of transport by the transport mechanism.

151. The device of claim 1, further comprising a secure housing defining an outer insecure area and an inner secure area, wherein the input receptacle is at least partially located in the outer insecure area, and wherein the image scanner, transport mechanism, and output receptacle are located in the inner secure area such that a U.S. bank note after being transported is generally inaccessible to an operator of the device.

152. The device of claim 151, wherein the U.S. bank notes are transported, the images are obtained, and the serial numbers are determined at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute.

153. The device of claim 151, wherein the U.S. bank notes are transported, the images are obtained, and the serial numbers are determined at a rate of at least 1000 U.S. bank notes per minute.

154. The device of claim 151, wherein the U.S. bank notes and checks have a wide edge and a narrow edge, and wherein the transport mechanism is configured to transport the U.S. bank notes and checks with a wide edge of each U.S. bank note and check being generally perpendicular to the direction of transport by the transport mechanism.

40. A method of processing checks and U.S. bank notes using a check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving checks and U.S. bank notes in an input receptacle of the device;

the device transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner and to an output receptacle;

the device obtaining an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device determining the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner;

the device capturing information from checks transported past the image scanner; and

storing the determined serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner and the information captured from checks transported past the image scanner in a memory.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular and wherein the act of transporting comprises transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes in a wide-edge leading manner.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein the output receptacle comprises a plurality of output receptacles;

and

further comprising identifying the bank which issued each check processed; and

sorting the checks into the output receptacles based on the identity of the bank which issued each check.

43. The method of claim 40 further comprising automatically determining at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

155. The method of claim 40, further comprising securely storing the transported U.S. bank notes in the processing device.

156. The method of claim 155, wherein the U.S. bank notes are transported, images are obtained, and serial numbers are captured at a rate of at least 800U.S. bank notes per minute.

157. The method of claim 155, wherein the U.S. bank notes are transported, images are obtained, and serial numbers are captured at a rate of at least 1000U.S. bank notes per minute.

158. The method of claim 155, wherein the U.S. bank notes and checks have a wide edge and a narrow edge, and the transporting comprises transporting the U.S. bank notes and checks with a wide edge of each U.S. bank note and check being generally perpendicular to the direction of transport.

44. A check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes, the device comprising:

an input receptacle configured to receive checks and U.S. bank notes;

an output receptacle;

a transport mechanism configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner;

the image scanner being configured to obtain an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device being configured to capture information from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner;

the device being configured to capture the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner; and

a memory configured to store the information captured from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner including the captured serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

45. The device of claim 44 wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular and wherein the transport mechanism is configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes in a wide-edge leading manner.

46. The device of claim 44 configured to automatically determine at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

47. The device of claim 44 wherein the device is configured to automatically determine the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 1000 U.S. bank notes per minute.

48. A method of processing checks and U.S. bank notes using a check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving checks and U.S. bank notes in an input receptacle of the device;

the device transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner to an output receptacle;

the device obtaining an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device capturing information from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner including the device capturing the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner; and

storing the information captured from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner in a memory including storing the captured serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular and wherein the act of transporting comprises transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes in a wide-edge leading manner.

50. The method of claim 48 further comprising automatically determining, at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute, the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

51. The method of claim 48 further comprising automatically determining the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute.

52. The method of claim 48 further comprising capturing a check amount from each check transported past the image scanner.

53. The method of claim 48 further comprising communicating the image of each check transported past the image scanner to a remote processor and further comprising the remote processor extracting a check amount from the image of each check.

54. The method of claim 48 wherein the act of obtaining comprising obtaining an image of front and back surfaces of each check and U.S. bank note.

55. The method of claim 48 wherein the act of obtaining comprising obtaining an image of an entire surface of each check and U.S. bank note.

56. A check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes, the device comprising:

an input receptacle configured to receive checks and U.S. bank notes;

an output receptacle;

a transport mechanism configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner;

the image scanner being configured to obtain an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device being configured to extract alphanumeric information from the images of checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner;

the device being configured to extract alphanumeric representations of the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner; and

a memory configured to store the alphanumeric information extracted from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner including the extracted alphanumeric representations of serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

57. The device of claim 56 wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular and wherein the transport mechanism is configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes in a wide-edge leading manner.

58. The device of claim 56 configured to automatically determine, at a rate of at least 1000 U.S. bank notes per minute, the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

59. The device of claim 56 wherein the device is configured to automatically determine the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute.

60. The device of claim 56 wherein the device is configured to extract a check number from each check transported past the image scanner.

61. The device of claim 56 wherein the image scanner is configured to obtain an image of front and back surfaces of each check and U.S. bank note.

62. The device of claim 56 wherein the image scanner is configured to obtain an image of an entire surface of each check and U.S. bank note.

63. A method of processing checks and U.S. bank notes using a check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving checks and U.S. bank notes in an input receptacle of the device;

the device transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner to an output receptacle;

the device obtaining an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device capturing alphanumeric information from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner including the device capturing alphanumeric representations of the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner; and

storing the alphanumeric information captured from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner in a memory including storing the captured alphanumeric representations of serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular and wherein the act of transporting comprises transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes in a wide-edge leading manner.

65. The method of claim 63 wherein the output receptacle comprises a plurality of output receptacles;

and

further comprising identifying the bank which issued each check processed; and

sorting the checks into the output receptacles based on the identity of the bank which issued each check.

66. The method of claim 63 further comprising automatically determining at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

67. A check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes, the device comprising:

an input receptacle configured to receive checks and U.S. bank notes;

an output receptacle;

a transport mechanism configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner;

the image scanner being configured to obtain an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device being configured to capture information from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner;

the device being configured to capture the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner;

the device being configured to capture the account numbers, bank numbers, and/or check numbers of checks transported past the image scanner; and

a memory configured to store the information captured from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner including the captured serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner and the captured account numbers, bank numbers, and/or check numbers of checks transported past the image scanner.

68. The device of claim 67 wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular and wherein the transport mechanism is configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes in a wide-edge leading manner.

69. The device of claim 67 configured to automatically determine, at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute, the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

70. The device of claim 67 wherein the device is configured to automatically determine the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 1000 U.S. bank notes per minute.

159. The device of claim 67, wherein the output receptacle is configured to receive and securely store at least a portion of the U.S. bank notes transported by the transport mechanism.

160. The device of claim 159, wherein the U.S. bank notes and checks have a wide edge and a narrow edge, and wherein the transport mechanism is configured to transport the U.S. bank notes and checks with a wide edge of each U.S. bank and check note being generally perpendicular to the direction of transport by the transport mechanism.

161. The device of claim 160, wherein the U.S. bank notes are transported, the images are obtained, and the serial numbers are captured at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute.

162. The device of claim 67, further comprising a secure housing defining an outer insecure area and an inner secure area, wherein the input receptacle is at least partially located in the outer insecure area, and wherein the image scanner, transport mechanism, and output receptacle are located in the inner secure area such that a U.S. bank note after being transported is generally inaccessible to an operator of the device.

71. A method of processing checks and U.S. bank notes using a check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving checks and U.S. bank notes in an input receptacle of the device;

the device transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner to an output receptacle;

the device obtaining an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device determining information from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner including determining the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner and determining the account numbers, bank numbers, and/or check numbers of checks transported past the image scanner; and

storing the information determined from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner in a memory including storing the determined serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner and the determined account numbers, bank numbers, and/or check numbers of checks transported past the image scanner.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein the output receptacle comprises a plurality of output receptacles and further comprising identifying the bank which issued each check processed and sorting the checks into the output receptacles based on the identity of the bank which issued each check.

73. The method of claim 71 wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular and wherein the act of transporting comprises transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes in a wide-edge leading manner.

74. The method of claim 71 further comprising automatically determining, at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute, the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

75. The method of claim 71 further comprising automatically determining the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 1000 U.S. bank notes per minute.

76. The method of claim 71 further comprising determining a check amount from each check transported past the image scanner.

77. The method of claim 71 wherein the act of obtaining comprises obtaining an image of front and back surfaces of each check and U.S. bank note.

78. The method of claim 71 wherein the act of obtaining comprises obtaining an image of an entire surface of each check and U.S. bank note.

79. A check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular, the device comprising:

an input receptacle configured to receive checks and U.S. bank notes;

an output receptacle;

a transport mechanism configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner in a wide-edge leading manner;

the image scanner being configured to obtain an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device being configured to obtain alphanumeric information from the images of checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner;

the device being configured to obtain alphanumeric representations of the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner;

the device being configured to obtain alphanumeric representations of the account numbers, bank numbers, and/or check numbers of checks transported past the image scanner; and

a memory configured to store the alphanumeric information obtained from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner including the obtained alphanumeric representations of serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner and the obtained alphanumeric representations of the account numbers, bank numbers, and/or check numbers of checks transported past the image scanner.

80. The device of claim 79 configured to identify the bank which issued each check processed and to stop the transport mechanism upon the detection of a check not issued by a particular bank.

81. The device of claim 79 wherein the output receptacle comprises exactly two output receptacles and wherein the device is configured to identify the bank which issued each check processed and to sort checks into the two output receptacles based on the identity of the bank which issued each check.

82. The device of claim 79 configured to automatically determine, at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute, the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

83. The device of claim 79 wherein the device is configured to automatically determine the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 1000 U.S. bank notes per minute.

84. The device of claim 79 wherein the device is configured to obtain an account number and check amount from the image of each check transported past the image scanner.

85. The device of claim 79 wherein the image scanner is configured to obtain an image of front and back surfaces of each check and U.S. bank note.

86. The device of claim 79 wherein the image scanner is configured to obtain an image of an entire surface of each check and U.S. bank note.

163. The device of claim 79, wherein the output receptacle is configured to receive and securely store at least a portion of the U.S. bank notes transported by the transport mechanism.

164. The device of claim 163, wherein the U.S. bank notes and checks have a wide edge and a narrow edge, and wherein the transport mechanism is configured to transport the U.S. bank notes and checks with a wide edge of each U.S. bank and check note being generally perpendicular to the direction of transport by the transport mechanism.

165. The device of claim 164, wherein the U.S. bank notes are transported, the images are obtained, and the alphanumeric representations of the serial numbers are obtained at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute.

166. The device of claim 79, further comprising a secure housing defining an outer insecure area and an inner secure area, wherein the input receptacle is at least partially located in the outer insecure area, and wherein the image scanner, transport mechanism, and output receptacle are located in the inner secure area such that a U.S. bank note after being transported is generally inaccessible to an operator of the device.

87. A method of processing checks and U.S. bank notes using a check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving checks and U.S. bank notes in an input receptacle of the device;

the device transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner to an output receptacle;

the device obtaining an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device capturing alphanumeric information from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner including capturing alphanumeric representations of the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner and capturing alphanumeric representations of the account numbers, bank numbers, and/or check numbers of checks transported past the image scanner; and

storing the alphanumeric information captured from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner in a memory including storing the captured alphanumeric representations of serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner and storing the captured alphanumeric representations of the account numbers, bank numbers, and/or check numbers of checks transported past the image scanner.

88. The method of claim 87 wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular and wherein the act of transporting comprises transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes in a wide-edge leading manner.

89. The method of claim 87 wherein the output receptacle comprises a plurality of output receptacles;

and

further comprising identifying the bank which issued each check processed; and

sorting the checks into the output receptacles based on the identity of the bank which issued each check.

90. The method of claim 87 further comprising automatically determining, at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute, the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

91. A method of processing checks and U.S. bank notes using a check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving checks in the device;

the device transporting the checks past an image scanner;

receiving U.S. bank notes in the device;

the device transporting the U.S. bank notes past the image scanner;

the device obtaining an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device determining the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner;

the device capturing information from checks transported past the image scanner; and

storing the determined serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner and the information captured from checks transported past the image scanner in a memory.

92. The method of claim 91 wherein the act of receiving checks in the device comprises receiving checks in an input receptacle of the device and wherein the act of receiving U.S. bank notes in the device comprises receiving U.S. bank notes in the input receptacle of the device.

93. The method of claim 91 wherein the output receptacle comprises one and only one output receptacle.

94. The method of claim 93 further comprising identifying the bank which issued each check processed and stopping the transporting upon the detection of a check not issued by a particular bank.

95. The method of claim 93 further comprising identifying the bank which issued each check processed and stopping the transporting upon the detection of a check being issued by a bank meeting a flagging criteria.

96. The method of claim 91 wherein the output receptacle comprises a plurality of output receptacles.

97. The method of claim 96 further comprising identifying the bank which issued each check processed and sorting the checks into the output receptacles based on the identity of the bank which issued each check.

98. The method of claim 96 further comprising separating checks into the output receptacles based on the source of each check.

99. The method of claim 96 further comprising separating checks and U.S. bank notes into the output receptacles based on document type.

100. The method of claim 91 wherein the output receptacle comprises exactly two output receptacles.

101. The method of claim 100 further comprising identifying the bank which issued each check processed and sorting checks into the two output receptacles based on the identity of the bank which issued each check.

102. The method of claim 100 further comprising separating checks into the output receptacles based on the source of each check.

103. The method of claim 91 further comprising identifying the bank which issued each check processed and stopping the transporting upon the detection of a check being issued by a bank meeting a flagging criteria.

104. The method of claim 91 wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular and wherein the act of transporting comprises transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes in a wide-edge leading manner.

105. The method of claim 91 further comprising automatically determining the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

106. The method of claim 105 further comprising automatically determining the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute.

107. The method of claim 105 further comprising automatically determining the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 1000 U.S. bank notes per minute.

108. The method of claim 91 further comprising automatically determining the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute.

109. The method of claim 91 further comprising automatically determining the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 1000 U.S. bank notes per minute.

110. The method of claim 91 further comprising automatically determining the denominations of the U.S. bank notes and totaling a value for all of the U.S. bank notes in a batch of U.S. bank notes processed by the device including U.S. bank notes of a plurality of denominations.

111. The method of claim 110 further comprising displaying the total value on a display of the device.

112. The method of claim 91 further comprising capturing a check number from each check transported past the image scanner.

113. The method of claim 91 further comprising capturing a bank number from each check transported past the image scanner.

114. The method of claim 91 further comprising capturing an account number from each check transported past the image scanner.

115. The method of claim 91 further comprising capturing a check amount from each check transported past the image scanner.

116. The method of claim 91 further comprising communicating the image of each check transported past the image scanner to a remote processor.

117. The method of claim 116 further comprising the remote processor extracting alphanumeric information from the image of each check.

118. The method of claim 117 further comprising the remote processor extracting a check number from the image of each check.

119. The method of claim 117 further comprising the remote processor extracting a bank number from the image of each check.

120. The method of claim 117 further comprising the remote processor extracting an account number from the image of each check.

121. The method of claim 117 further comprising the remote processor extracting a check amount from the image of each check.

122. The method of claim 91 wherein the act of obtaining comprising obtaining an image of front and back surfaces of each check and U.S. bank note.

123. The method of claim 91 wherein the act of obtaining comprising obtaining an image of an entire surface of each check and U.S. bank note.

124. A method of processing checks and U.S. bank notes using a check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving checks in the device;

the device transporting the checks past an image scanner;

receiving U.S. bank notes in the device;

the device transporting the U.S. bank notes past the image scanner;

the device obtaining an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device capturing information from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner including the device capturing the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner; and

storing the information captured from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner in a memory including storing the captured serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

125. The method of claim 124 wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular and wherein the act of transporting comprises transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes in a wide-edge leading manner.

126. The method of claim 124 wherein the output receptacle comprises a plurality of output receptacles;

and

further comprising identifying the bank which issued each check processed; and

sorting the checks into the output receptacles based on the identity of the bank which issued each check.

127. The method of claim 124 further comprising automatically determining at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

128. The method of claim 124 wherein the act of receiving checks in the device comprises receiving checks in an input receptacle of the device and wherein the act of receiving U.S. bank notes in the device comprises receiving U.S. bank notes in the input receptacle of the device.

129. A method of processing checks and U.S. bank notes using a check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving checks in the device;

the device transporting the checks past an image scanner;

receiving U.S. bank notes in the device;

the device transporting the U.S. bank notes past the image scanner;

the device obtaining an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device capturing alphanumeric information from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner including the device capturing alphanumeric representations of the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner; and

storing the alphanumeric information captured from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner in a memory including storing the captured alphanumeric representations of serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

130. The method of claim 129 wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular and wherein the act of transporting comprises transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes in a wide-edge leading manner.

131. The method of claim 129 wherein the output receptacle comprises a plurality of output receptacles;

and

further comprising identifying the bank which issued each check processed; and

sorting the checks into the output receptacles based on the identity of the bank which issued each check.

132. The method of claim 129 further comprising automatically determining at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

133. The method of claim 129 wherein the act of receiving checks in the device comprises receiving checks in an input receptacle of the device and wherein the act of receiving U.S. bank notes in the device comprises receiving U.S. bank notes in the input receptacle of the device.

134. A method of processing checks and U.S. bank notes using a check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving checks in the device;

the device transporting the checks past an image scanner;

receiving U.S. bank notes in the device;

the device transporting the U.S. bank notes past the image scanner;

the device obtaining an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device determining information from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner including determining the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner and determining the account numbers, bank numbers, and/or check numbers of checks transported past the image scanner; and

storing the information determined from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner in a memory including storing the determined serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner and the determined account numbers, bank numbers, and/or check numbers of checks transported past the image scanner.

135. The method of claim 134 wherein the act of receiving checks in the device comprises receiving checks in an input receptacle of the device and wherein the act of receiving U.S. bank notes in the device comprises receiving U.S. bank notes in the input receptacle of the device.

136. The method of claim 134 wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular and wherein the act of transporting comprises transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes in a wide-edge leading manner.

137. The method of claim 134 further comprising automatically determining, at a rate of at least 1000 U.S. bank notes per minute, the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

138. The method of claim 134 further comprising automatically determining the denominations of the U.S. bank notes at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute.

139. The method of claim 134 further comprising automatically determining the denominations of the U.S. bank notes and totaling the value for all of the U.S. bank notes in a batch of U.S. bank notes processed by the device including U.S. bank notes of a plurality of denominations.

140. The method of claim 134 wherein the act of obtaining comprising obtaining an image of front and back surfaces of each check and U.S. bank note.

141. The method of claim 134 wherein the act of obtaining comprising obtaining an image of an entire surface of each check and U.S. bank note.

142. A method of processing checks and U.S. bank notes using a check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving checks in the device;

the device transporting the checks past an image scanner;

receiving U.S. bank notes in the device;

the device transporting the U.S. bank notes past the image scanner;

the device obtaining an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner;

the device capturing alphanumeric information from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner including capturing alphanumeric representations of the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner and capturing alphanumeric representations of the account numbers, bank numbers, and/or check numbers of checks transported past the image scanner; and

storing the alphanumeric information captured from checks and U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner in a memory including storing the captured alphanumeric representations of serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner and storing the captured alphanumeric representations of the account numbers, bank numbers, and/or check numbers of checks transported past the image scanner.

143. The method of claim 142 wherein the checks and U.S. bank notes are rectangular and wherein the act of transporting comprises transporting the checks and U.S. bank notes in a wide-edge leading manner.

144. The method of claim 142 wherein the output receptacle comprises a plurality of output receptacles;

and

further comprising identifying the bank which issued each check processed; and

sorting the checks into the output receptacles based on the identity of the bank which issued each check.

145. The method of claim 142 further comprising automatically determining at a rate of at least 800 U.S. bank notes per minute the denominations of the U.S. bank notes from the obtained images of the U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner.

146. The method of claim 142 wherein the act of receiving checks in the device comprises receiving checks in an input receptacle of the device and wherein the act of receiving U.S. bank notes in the device comprises receiving U.S. bank notes in the input receptacle of the device.