Automated document processing system using full image scanning

• US 8,352,322 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• 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:
  US11/803,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20080044077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,066 Days
• Field of Search: 194/206, 194/210, 235/379, 235/380, 235/449, 235/487, 705/1, 705/14, 705/17, 705/26, 705/28, 705/41, 705/43, 705/44, 453/30, 453/57
• 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, comprising:

a coin module for receiving bulk mixed coins inputted by said customer, said coin module discriminating between valid and invalid coins of said bulk mixed coins;

a bill module for receiving bills inputted by said customer, said bill module discriminating between valid and invalid bills;

a dispenser for dispensing a card having a storage medium for storing a monetary value;

a slot for receiving a credit card of said customer and including a media reader for reading information from said credit card;

a connector coupling said machine to an external network accessing a credit line associated with said credit card of said customer;

a customer interface panel allowing said customer to withdraw funds from said credit line after said credit card is inputted into said slot;

a controller coupled to said coin module, said bill module, said dispenser, said connector, and said media reader of said slot, said controller determining a total inputted value, said total inputted value being the sum of said valid coins, said valid bills, and said withdrawn funds from said credit line, said controller instructing said dispenser to dispense said card with a monetary value that is related to said total inputted value; and

a printer coupled to said controller for printing a written record of the redemption transaction,

wherein said coin module distributes said valid coins into a coin bag specific to the coin denomination.

2. A self-service machine for redeeming currency from a customer, comprising:

a coin module for receiving bulk mixed coins inputted by said customer, said coin module discriminating between valid and invalid coins of said bulk mixed coins;

a bill module for receiving bills inputted by said customer, said bill module discriminating between valid and invalid bills;

a dispenser for dispensing a card having a storage medium for storing a monetary value;

a slot for receiving a credit card of said customer and including a media reader for reading information from said credit card;

a connector coupling said machine to an external network accessing a credit line associated with said credit card of said customer;

a customer interface panel allowing said customer to withdraw funds from said credit line after said credit card is inputted into said slot;

a controller coupled to said coin module, said bill module, said dispenser, said connector, and said media reader of said slot, said controller determining a total inputted value, said total inputted value being the sum of said valid coins, said valid bills, and said withdrawn funds from said credit line, said controller instructing said dispenser to dispense said card with a monetary value that is related to said total inputted value; and

a printer coupled to said controller for printing a written record of the redemption transaction,

wherein said coin module is configured to substantially simultaneously receive the bulk mixed coins in a coin hopper and to separate the bulk mixed coins into a single-file stream of coins wherein, following the separation of the bulk mixed coins into a single-file stream of coins, the coin module is configured to discriminate between valid and invalid coins of said bulk mixed coins using at least one discrimination sensor, and

wherein said coin module comprises a high-speed coin sorter having a rotating disc and a stationary sorting head for processing said bulk mixed coins, wherein the stationary sorting head is disposed adjacent to and above the rotating disc, and wherein the stationary sorting head comprises features defining coin paths along which the coins are guided by the rotating disc.