Automated document processing system using full image scanning

• US 8,346,610 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Mennie, Douglas U., Jones, William J., Munro, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zare, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Masud, Rokib
• Application Number:
  US11/803,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20070221470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,059 Days
• Field of Search: 194/317, 221/1, 235/379, 235/380, 235/487, 340/5.9, 705/16, 705/43, 705/1, 705/17, 705/67, 714/55
• US Class Current: 705/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0425 the cheque being electronic only
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/127 with the intervention of an operator
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/274 Syntactic or semantic context, e.g. balancing
• 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 7/06 using wave or particle radiation
• 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 7/20 : Testing patterns thereon G07D7/004, G07D7/005 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 : Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/202 : Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 : Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 : by paper currency

Abstract

A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document. The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.

Claims

1. A self-service machine for redeeming currency from a customer, said machine located at a retail location with an account system including a personal customer account for said customer, said machine comprising:

a coin hopper configured to receive bulk mixed coins substantially simultaneously input by said customer;

a coin module for processing the bulk mixed coins, said coin module comprising a coin separation device to separate the bulk mixed coins into a single-file stream of coins and coin discrimination sensor to discriminate between valid and invalid coins of said bulk mixed coins;

a card reader configured to process a data storage medium on a card associated with a monetary value;

a connector coupling said machine to said account system at said location; and

a controller coupled to said coin module and said card reader, said controller determining a total inputted value as the sum of said valid coins and a monetary value withdrawn from a card received in said card reader, said controller communicating with said account system via said connector to credit said personal customer account by an amount related to said total inputted value,

wherein said coin module includes at least two bags that receive coins from a certain denomination, said controller being coupled to a diverter for selectively diverting coins to one of said at least two bags.

2. A self-service machine for redeeming currency from a customer, said machine located at a retail location with an account system including a personal customer account for said customer, said machine comprising:

a coin hopper configured to receive bulk mixed coins substantially simultaneously input by said customer;

a coin module for processing the bulk mixed coins, said coin module comprising a coin separation device to separate the bulk mixed coins into a single-file stream of coins and coin discrimination sensor to discriminate between valid and invalid coins of said bulk mixed coins;

a card reader configured to process a data storage medium on a card associated with a monetary value;

a connector coupling said machine to said account system at said location; and

a controller coupled to said coin module and said card reader, said controller determining a total inputted value as the sum of said valid coins and a monetary value withdrawn from a card received in said card reader, said controller communicating with said account system via said connector to credit said personal customer account by an amount related to said total inputted value, and

wherein said coins are held in escrow until said customer approves said total inputted value, said controller crediting said personal customer account upon receipt of said customer approval.