Patent US6539104B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6539104B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for currency discrimination
Assignee: Cummins Allison Corp
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Filing: 1994-04-12
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Granted: 2003-03-25
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Expires: 2014-04-12
Abstract
Abstract An improved method and apparatus for discriminating between currency bills of different denominations uses an optical sensing and correlation technique based on the sensing of bill reflectance characteristics obtained by illuminating and scanning a bill along one of its dimensions. A series of detected reflectance signals are obtained by sampling and digitally processing, under microprocessor control, the reflected light at a plurality of predefined sample points as a currency bill is moved across an illuminated strip with a preselected dimension parallel to the direction of transport of the bill. The sample data is subjected to digital processing, including a normalizing process, whereby the reflectance data represents a characteristic pattern that is unique for a given bill denomination and incorporates sufficient distinguishing features between characteristic patterns for discriminating between different currency denominations. A plurality of master characteristic patterns are generated and stored using original bills for each denomination of currency to be detected. The pattern generated by scanning a bill under test and processing the data samples is compared with each of the prestored master patterns to generate, for each comparison, a correlation number representing the extent of similarity between corresponding ones of the plurality of data samples for the compared patterns. Denomination identification is based on designating the scanned bill as belonging to the denomination corresponding to the stored master pattern for which the correlation number resulting from pattern comparison is determined to be the highest, subject to a bi-level threshold of correlation.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald P. Raterman
- 👤 Bradford T. Graves
- 👤 Lars R. Stromme
- 👤 Aaron M. Bauch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:28
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/02; B65H3/06; B65H3/063; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/18; G07; G07D; G07D11/00; G07D11/10; G07D11/50; G07D7/00; G07D7/04; G07D7/06; G07D7/12; G07D7/1205; G07D7/121; G07D7/128; G07D7/16; G07D7/162; G07D7/20; G07F; G07F19/00; G07F19/20; G07F7/00; G07F7/04; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/50; B65H2301/54; B65H2301/541; B65H2557/00; B65H2557/50; B65H2557/514; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/10; B65H2701/19; B65H2701/1912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 189
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, said device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding said bills, one at a time, to a bill transport mechanism; said bill transport mechanism transporting bills at a first operating speed from said feed mechanism to a stacking station; a scanning head located between said feed mechanism and said stacking station for scanning a segment of each bill transported between said feed mechanism and said stacking station by said transport mechanism, said scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along said segment of each bill; means for sampling said output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across said scanning head; a memory for storing characteristic signal samples produced by scanning bills of different denominations; signal processing means for receiving said signal samples and determining the denomination of scanned bills by comparing said stored signal samples with said output signal samples produced by scanning bills with said scanning head; and means for decelerating said bill transport mechanism from said first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of said bill transport mechanism a particular scanned bill is transported to said stacking station and a next upstream bill from said particular scanned bill is scanned by said scanning head, said particular scanned bill being the last bill delivered to said stacking station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, said device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding said bills, one at a time, to a bill transport mechanism; said bill transport mechanism transporting bills at a first operating speed from said feed mechanism to a stacking station; a scanning head located between said feed mechanism and said stacking station for scanning a segment of each bill transported between said feed mechanism and said stacking station by said transport mechanism, said scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along said segment of each bill; means for sampling said output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across said scanning head; a memory for storing characteristic signal samples produced by scanning bills of different denominations; signal processing means for receiving said signal samples and determining the denomination of scanned bills by comparing said stored signal samples with said output signal samples produced by scanning bills with said scanning head; and means for decelerating said bill transport mechanism from said first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of said bill transport mechanism a particular scanned bill is transported to said stacking station and a next upstream bill from said particular scanned bill is scanned by said scanning head, said particular scanned bill being the last bill delivered to said stacking station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 1 , wherein said decelerating means decelerates said bill transport mechanism to said second operating speed at such a rate that said scanning head completes scanning said next upstream bill prior to said bill transport mechanism reaching said second operating speed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 1 , wherein said second operating speed is approximately one-third of said first operating speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 1 , wherein said decelerating means decelerates said bill transport mechanism from said second operating speed to a third operating speed after said next upstream bill is scanned by said scanning head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 1 , wherein said decelerating means decelerates said bill transport mechanism from said second operating speed to a complete halt prior to a bill located upstream from said next upstream bill being scanned by said scanning head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 1 wherein said decelerating means decelerates said bill transport mechanism from said first operating speed to said second operating speed in response to said signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of said particular scanned bill.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 1 wherein said scanning head is an optical scanning head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 7 wherein said scanning bead includes at least one light source for illuminating a strip of a bill, and at least one detector for receiving reflected light from the illuminated strip on the bill and produces an output signal representing variations in the intensity of the reflected light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 8 wherein said decelerating decelerates said bill transport mechanism from said first operating speed to said second operating speed in response to said signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of said particular scanned bill.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 9 , wherein each of said output signal samples and said stored signal samples is proportional to the intensity of the light reflected from a different strip of said preselected segment of a bill.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 9 wherein said feed mechanism feeds said bills in the direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills; said bill transport mechanism transports said bills in the direction of the predetermined dimension of the bills: said optical scanning head scans a preselected segment of a central portion of each bill transported between said feed mechanism and said stacking station by said transport mechanism, said at least one light source illuminating a strip of said preselected segment of a bill; and said memory stores characteristic signal samples produced by scanning said preselected segments of bills of different denominations with said scanning head and sampling said output signal at said preselected intervals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 11 , wherein said decelerating means decelerates said bill transport mechanism from said second operating speed to a complete halt prior to a bill located upstream from said next upstream bill being scanned by said scanning head.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 9 , wherein said decelerating means decelerates said bill transport mechanism to said second operating speed at such a rate that said scanning head completes scanning said next upstream bill prior to said bill transport mechanism reaching said second operating speed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 9 , wherein said decelerating means decelerates said bill transport mechanism from said second operating speed to a third operating speed after said next upstream bill is scanned by said scanning head.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 9 , wherein said decelerating means decelerates said bill transport mechanism from said second operating speed to a complete halt prior to a bill located upstream from said next upstream bill being scanned by said scanning head.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
228 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, said device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding said bills in the direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills, one at a time, to a feed station; a bill transport mechanism for transporting bills in the direction of the predetermined dimension of the bills, from said feed mechanism to a stacking mechanism associated with an output receptacle; an encoder coupled to said transport mechanism for monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from said feed mechanism to said stacking mechanism; a stationary optical scanning head located between said feed and stacking mechanisms for scanning at least a preselected segment of each bill transported between said feed and stacking mechanisms by said transport mechanism, and producing an output signal representing the scanned image; signal processing means for receiving said output signal and determining the denomination of scanned bills; and control means coupled to said feed mechanism, said transport mechanism, and said stacking mechanism for stopping said stacking mechanism with a selected bill being the last bill deposited in said output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
228 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, said device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding said bills in the direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills, one at a time, to a feed station; a bill transport mechanism for transporting bills in the direction of the predetermined dimension of the bills, from said feed mechanism to a stacking mechanism associated with an output receptacle; an encoder coupled to said transport mechanism for monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from said feed mechanism to said stacking mechanism; a stationary optical scanning head located between said feed and stacking mechanisms for scanning at least a preselected segment of each bill transported between said feed and stacking mechanisms by said transport mechanism, and producing an output signal representing the scanned image; signal processing means for receiving said output signal and determining the denomination of scanned bills; and control means coupled to said feed mechanism, said transport mechanism, and said stacking mechanism for stopping said stacking mechanism with a selected bill being the last bill deposited in said output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
127 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 16 wherein said scanning head produces an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along said segment of said bill; and further comprises means for sampling said output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across said scanning head in the direction of the predetermined dimension of the bill; and a memory for storing characteristic signal samples produced by scanning said preselected segments of bills of different denominations with said scanning head and sampling said output signal at said preselected intervals; said signal processing means receiving said signal samples and determining the denomination of each scanned bill by comparing said stored signal samples with said output signal samples produced by the scanning of each bill with said scanning head.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 17 wherein said scanning head includes at least one light source for illuminating a strip of a bill, and at least one detector for receiving reflected light from the illuminated strip on the bill and produces an output signal representing variations in the intensity of the reflected light.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 18 wherein each of said output signal samples and said stored signal samples is proportional to the intensity of the light reflected from a different strip of said preselected segment of a bill.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 16 wherein said control means stops said stacking mechanism in response to said signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of said selected bill.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 16 comprising means responsive to said signal processing means for decelerating said bill transport mechanism from a first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of said bill transport mechanism said selected bill is transported to said stacking mechanism and said following bill is scanned by said scanning head.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 21 wherein said means responsive to said signal processing means decelerates said bill transport mechanism from said first operating speed to said second operating speed in response to said signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of said selected bill.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 21 wherein said means responsive to said signal processing means decelerates said bill transport mechanism from said second operating speed to a complete halt prior to said next following bill being scanned by said scanning head.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 21 wherein said means responsive to said signal processing means decelerates said bill transport mechanism to said second operating speed at such a rate that said scanning head completes scanning said following bill prior to said bill transport mechanism reaching said second operating speed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 24 wherein said means responsive to said signal processing means decelerates said bill transport mechanism from said second operating speed to a complete halt prior to said next following bill being scanned by said scanning head.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 1 , wherein said decelerating means decelerates said bill transport mechanism to said second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that mechanical backlash of the bill transport mechanism and resultant disruption of the precise synchronization of scanning intervals is prevented.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 26 wherein said decelerating means decelerates said bill transport mechanism from said first operating speed to said second operating speed in response to said signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of said particular scanned bill.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
56 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 1 , wherein said decelerating means decelerates said bill transport mechanism to said second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the bill transport mechanism is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 28 wherein said decelerating means decelerates said bill transport mechanism from said first operating speed to said second operating speed in response to said signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of said particular scanned bill.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 1 , wherein said decelerating means decelerates said bill transport mechanism to said second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that overall bill recognition can be resumed after said transport mechanism is halted as if the bill transport mechanism had never been halted.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 1 , wherein said decelerating means decelerates said bill transport mechanism to said second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that subsequent discrimination efficiency is not adversely affected.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 16 , wherein said control means decelerates said bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that mechanical backlash of the bill transport mechanism is prevented.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 32 wherein said control means decelerates said bill transport mechanism in response to said signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of said selected bill.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
49 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 16 , wherein said control means decelerates said bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the bill transport mechanism is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 34 wherein said control means decelerates said bill transport mechanism in response to said signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of said selected bill.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
49 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 16 , wherein said control means decelerates said bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that overall bill recognition can be resumed after said transport mechanism is halted as if the bill transport mechanism had never been halted.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 16 , wherein said control means decelerates said bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that subsequent discrimination efficiency is not adversely affected.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
248 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, said device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding said bills, one at a time, to a bill transport mechanism; said bill transport mechanism transporting bills at a first operating speed from said feed mechanism to a stacking station; a scanning head located between said feed mechanism and said stacking station for scanning a segment of each bill transported between said feed mechanism and said stacking station by said transport mechanism, said scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along said segment of each bill; means for sampling said output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across said scanning head; a memory for storing characteristic signal samples produced by scanning bills of different denominations; signal processing means for receiving said signal samples and determining the denomination of scanned bills by comparing said stored signal samples with said output signal samples produced by scanning bills with said scanning head; and means for flagging a particular scanned bill, the means for flagging ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to said stacking station and a next upstream bill from said particular scanned bill is scanned by said scanning head and further that the bill transport mechanism is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all by the scanning head.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
248 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, said device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding said bills, one at a time, to a bill transport mechanism; said bill transport mechanism transporting bills at a first operating speed from said feed mechanism to a stacking station; a scanning head located between said feed mechanism and said stacking station for scanning a segment of each bill transported between said feed mechanism and said stacking station by said transport mechanism, said scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along said segment of each bill; means for sampling said output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across said scanning head; a memory for storing characteristic signal samples produced by scanning bills of different denominations; signal processing means for receiving said signal samples and determining the denomination of scanned bills by comparing said stored signal samples with said output signal samples produced by scanning bills with said scanning head; and means for flagging a particular scanned bill, the means for flagging ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to said stacking station and a next upstream bill from said particular scanned bill is scanned by said scanning head and further that the bill transport mechanism is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all by the scanning head.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 38 wherein said means for flagging decelerates said bill transport mechanism in response to said signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of said particular scanned bill.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
47 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 38 , wherein said means for flagging decelerates said bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that mechanical backlash of the bill transport mechanism and resultant disruption of the precise synchronization of scanning intervals is prevented.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
34 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 40 wherein said means for flagging decelerates said bill transport mechanism in response to said signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of said particular scanned bill.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
50 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 38 , wherein said means for flagging decelerates said bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the bill transport mechanism is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
34 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 42 wherein said means for flagging decelerates said bill transport mechanism in response to said signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of said particular scanned bill.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
50 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 38 , wherein said means for flagging decelerates said bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that overall bill recognition can be resumed after said transport mechanism is halted as if the bill transport mechanism had never been halted.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
35 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 38 , wherein said means for flagging decelerates said bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that subsequent discrimination efficiency is not adversely affected.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
264 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding the bills, one at a time, to a bill transport mechanism; the bill transport mechanism transporting bills at a first operating speed from the feed mechanism to a stacking station; a scanning head located between the feed mechanism and the stacking station for scanning segments of bills transported between the feed mechanism and the stacking station by the transport mechanism, the scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segments of the bills; means for sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across the scanning head; a memory for storing characteristic signal samples produced by scanning bills of different denominations; signal processing means for receiving the signal samples and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill by comparing the stored signal samples with the output signal samples produced by scanning each bill with the scanning head; means for flagging a bill; and means responsive to the means for flagging a bill for decelerating the bill transport mechanism from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of the bill transport mechanism the flagged bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the flagged bill is scanned by the scanning head, the flagged bill being the last bill delivered to the stacking station.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
264 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding the bills, one at a time, to a bill transport mechanism; the bill transport mechanism transporting bills at a first operating speed from the feed mechanism to a stacking station; a scanning head located between the feed mechanism and the stacking station for scanning segments of bills transported between the feed mechanism and the stacking station by the transport mechanism, the scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segments of the bills; means for sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across the scanning head; a memory for storing characteristic signal samples produced by scanning bills of different denominations; signal processing means for receiving the signal samples and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill by comparing the stored signal samples with the output signal samples produced by scanning each bill with the scanning head; means for flagging a bill; and means responsive to the means for flagging a bill for decelerating the bill transport mechanism from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of the bill transport mechanism the flagged bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the flagged bill is scanned by the scanning head, the flagged bill being the last bill delivered to the stacking station.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
29 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 46 wherein the flagging means flags a bill in response to the signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of the bill.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
289 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding the bills, one at a time, to a bill transport mechanism; the bill transport mechanism transporting bills at a first operating speed from the feed mechanism to a stacking station; a scanning head located between the feed mechanism and the stacking station for scanning segments of bills transported between the feed mechanism and the stacking station by the transport mechanism, the scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segments of the bills; means for sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across the scanning head; a memory for storing characteristic signal samples produced by scanning bills of different denominations; and signal processing means for receiving the signal samples and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill by comparing the stored signal samples with the output signal samples produced by scanning each bill with the scanning head, the signal processing means being adapted to flag a bill based on a given criterion, a bill to be flagged being a flagged bill, the signal processing means being adapted to flag a particular scanned bill by decelerating the bill transport mechanism from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of the bill transport mechanism the particular scanned bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head, the particular scanned bill being the last bill delivered to the stacking station.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
289 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding the bills, one at a time, to a bill transport mechanism; the bill transport mechanism transporting bills at a first operating speed from the feed mechanism to a stacking station; a scanning head located between the feed mechanism and the stacking station for scanning segments of bills transported between the feed mechanism and the stacking station by the transport mechanism, the scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segments of the bills; means for sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across the scanning head; a memory for storing characteristic signal samples produced by scanning bills of different denominations; and signal processing means for receiving the signal samples and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill by comparing the stored signal samples with the output signal samples produced by scanning each bill with the scanning head, the signal processing means being adapted to flag a bill based on a given criterion, a bill to be flagged being a flagged bill, the signal processing means being adapted to flag a particular scanned bill by decelerating the bill transport mechanism from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of the bill transport mechanism the particular scanned bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head, the particular scanned bill being the last bill delivered to the stacking station.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
44 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 48 wherein the signal processing means decelerates the bill transport mechanism from the first operating speed to the second operating speed in response to the signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
189 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills; an output receptacle adapted to receive bills after being evaluated; a bill transport mechanism adapted to transport bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path at a first operating speed; a denomination discriminating unit comprising a scanning head positioned adjacent the transport path and further comprising a processor, the scanning head being adapted to scan passing bills, the discriminating unit being adapted to determine the denomination of passing bills; and means for flagging a particular scanned bill by decelerating the bill transport mechanism from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of the bill transport mechanism the particular scanned bill is transported to the output receptacle and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head, the particular scanned bill being the last bill delivered to the output receptacle.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
189 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills; an output receptacle adapted to receive bills after being evaluated; a bill transport mechanism adapted to transport bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path at a first operating speed; a denomination discriminating unit comprising a scanning head positioned adjacent the transport path and further comprising a processor, the scanning head being adapted to scan passing bills, the discriminating unit being adapted to determine the denomination of passing bills; and means for flagging a particular scanned bill by decelerating the bill transport mechanism from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of the bill transport mechanism the particular scanned bill is transported to the output receptacle and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head, the particular scanned bill being the last bill delivered to the output receptacle.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
46 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 50 wherein the flagging means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to the second operating speed at such a rate that the scanning head completes scanning the next upstream bill prior to the bill transport mechanism reaching the second operating speed.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
20 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 50 wherein the second operating speed is approximately one-third of the first operating speed.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
42 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 50 wherein the flagging means decelerates the bill transport mechanism from the first operating speed to the second operating speed in response to the discriminating unit failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
80 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 50 wherein the scanning head is an optical scanning head and wherein the scanning head includes at least one light source for illuminating a strip of a bill, and at least one detector for receiving reflected light from the illuminated strip on the bill and produces an output signal representing variations in the intensity of the reflected light and wherein the discriminating unit employs the output signal in determining the denomination of a bill.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
52 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 50 wherein the flagging means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that mechanical backlash of the bill transport mechanism and resultant disruption of the precise synchronization of scanning intervals is prevented.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
55 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 50 wherein the flagging means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the bill transport mechanism is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
55 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 50 wherein the flagging means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that overall bill recognition can be resumed after the transport mechanism is halted as if the bill transport mechanism had never been halted.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
40 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 50 wherein the flagging means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that subsequent discrimination efficiency is not adversely affected.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
274 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding the bills, one at a time, to a bill transport mechanism; the bill transport mechanism transporting bills at a first operating speed from the feed mechanism to a stacking station; a scanning head located between the feed mechanism and the stacking station for scanning a segment of each bill transported between the feed mechanism and the stacking station by the transport mechanism, the scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; means for sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across the scanning head; a memory for storing characteristic signal samples produced by scanning bills of different denominations; signal processing means for receiving the signal samples and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill by comparing the stored signal samples with the output signal samples produced by the scanning of each bill with the scanning head, the signal processing means being adapted to flag a bill, a bill to be flagged being a flagged bill; and means for decelerating the bill transport mechanism from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of the bill transport mechanism a flagged bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the flagged bill is scanned by the scanning head, the flagged bill being the last bill delivered to the stacking station.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
274 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding the bills, one at a time, to a bill transport mechanism; the bill transport mechanism transporting bills at a first operating speed from the feed mechanism to a stacking station; a scanning head located between the feed mechanism and the stacking station for scanning a segment of each bill transported between the feed mechanism and the stacking station by the transport mechanism, the scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; means for sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across the scanning head; a memory for storing characteristic signal samples produced by scanning bills of different denominations; signal processing means for receiving the signal samples and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill by comparing the stored signal samples with the output signal samples produced by the scanning of each bill with the scanning head, the signal processing means being adapted to flag a bill, a bill to be flagged being a flagged bill; and means for decelerating the bill transport mechanism from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of the bill transport mechanism a flagged bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the flagged bill is scanned by the scanning head, the flagged bill being the last bill delivered to the stacking station.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
42 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 59 wherein the decelerating means decelerates the bill transport mechanism from the first operating speed to the second operating speed in response to the signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of the flagged bill.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
232 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding the bills, one at a time, to a bill transport mechanism; the bill transport mechanism transporting bills at a first operating speed from the feed mechanism to a stacking station; a scanning head located between the feed mechanism and the stacking station for scanning a segment of each bill transported between the feed mechanism and the stacking station by the transport mechanism, the scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; means for receiving the output signal and generating test bill characteristic information; a memory for storing master characteristic information associated with bills of different denominations; signal processing means for determining the denomination of scanned bills by comparing stored master characteristic information with test bill characteristic information; and means for decelerating the bill transport mechanism from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of the bill transport mechanism a particular scanned bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head, the particular scanned bill being the last bill delivered to the stacking station.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
232 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding the bills, one at a time, to a bill transport mechanism; the bill transport mechanism transporting bills at a first operating speed from the feed mechanism to a stacking station; a scanning head located between the feed mechanism and the stacking station for scanning a segment of each bill transported between the feed mechanism and the stacking station by the transport mechanism, the scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; means for receiving the output signal and generating test bill characteristic information; a memory for storing master characteristic information associated with bills of different denominations; signal processing means for determining the denomination of scanned bills by comparing stored master characteristic information with test bill characteristic information; and means for decelerating the bill transport mechanism from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of the bill transport mechanism a particular scanned bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head, the particular scanned bill being the last bill delivered to the stacking station.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
46 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 61 wherein the decelerating means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to the second operating speed at such a rate that the scanning head completes scanning the next upstream bill prior to the bill transport mechanism reaching the second operating speed.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
20 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 61 wherein the second operating speed is approximately one-third of the first operating speed.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
43 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 61 wherein the decelerating means decelerates the bill transport mechanism from the first operating speed to the second operating speed in response to the signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
81 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 61 wherein the scanning head is an optical scanning head and wherein the scanning head includes at least one light source for illuminating a strip of a bill, and at least one detector for receiving reflected light from the illuminated strip on the bill and produces an output signal representing variations in the intensity of the reflected light and wherein the signal processing means employs the output signal in determining the denomination of a bill.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
52 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 61 wherein the decelerating means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that mechanical backlash of the bill transport mechanism and resultant disruption of the precise synchronization of scanning intervals is prevented.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
55 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 61 wherein the decelerating means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the bill transport mechanism is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
55 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 61 wherein the decelerating means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that overall bill recognition can be resumed after the transport mechanism is halted as if the bill transport mechanism had never been halted.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
40 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 61 wherein the decelerating means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that subsequent discrimination efficiency is not adversely affected.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
245 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding the bills in a direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills, one at a time, to a feed station; a bill transport mechanism for transporting bills in the direction of the predetermined dimension of the bills, from the feed mechanism to a stacking mechanism associated with an output receptacle; an encoder coupled to the transport mechanism for monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from the feed mechanism to the stacking mechanism; a stationary optical scanning head located between the feed and stacking mechanisms for scanning at least a preselected segment of each bill transported between the feed and stacking mechanisms by the transport mechanism, and producing an output signal representing the scanned image; signal processing means for receiving the output signal and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill; means for flagging a bill; and control means responsive to the means for flagging a bill and coupled to the feed mechanism, the transport mechanism, and the stacking mechanism for stopping the stacking mechanism with a flagged bill being the last bill deposited in the output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
245 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding the bills in a direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills, one at a time, to a feed station; a bill transport mechanism for transporting bills in the direction of the predetermined dimension of the bills, from the feed mechanism to a stacking mechanism associated with an output receptacle; an encoder coupled to the transport mechanism for monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from the feed mechanism to the stacking mechanism; a stationary optical scanning head located between the feed and stacking mechanisms for scanning at least a preselected segment of each bill transported between the feed and stacking mechanisms by the transport mechanism, and producing an output signal representing the scanned image; signal processing means for receiving the output signal and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill; means for flagging a bill; and control means responsive to the means for flagging a bill and coupled to the feed mechanism, the transport mechanism, and the stacking mechanism for stopping the stacking mechanism with a flagged bill being the last bill deposited in the output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
30 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 70 wherein the flagging means is adapted to flag a bill when the signal processing means fails to determine the denomination of the bill.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
240 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills; an output receptacle adapted to receive bills after being evaluated; a bill transport mechanism adapted to transport bills, one at a time, in a direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills, from the input receptacle to a stacking mechanism associated with an output receptacle; an encoder coupled to the transport mechanism for monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from the feed mechanism to the stacking mechanism; a stationary optical scanning head located between the input and output receptacles adapted to scan at least a preselected segment of each bill transported between the input and output receptacles by the transport mechanism, and producing an output signal representing the scanned image; a processor adapted to receive the output signal and attempt to determine the denomination of each scanned bill; the processor being adapted to flag a bill, a bill to be flagged being a flagged bill; and control means coupled to the transport mechanism and the stacking mechanism for stopping the stacking mechanism with a flagged bill being the last bill deposited in the output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
240 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills; an output receptacle adapted to receive bills after being evaluated; a bill transport mechanism adapted to transport bills, one at a time, in a direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills, from the input receptacle to a stacking mechanism associated with an output receptacle; an encoder coupled to the transport mechanism for monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from the feed mechanism to the stacking mechanism; a stationary optical scanning head located between the input and output receptacles adapted to scan at least a preselected segment of each bill transported between the input and output receptacles by the transport mechanism, and producing an output signal representing the scanned image; a processor adapted to receive the output signal and attempt to determine the denomination of each scanned bill; the processor being adapted to flag a bill, a bill to be flagged being a flagged bill; and control means coupled to the transport mechanism and the stacking mechanism for stopping the stacking mechanism with a flagged bill being the last bill deposited in the output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
109 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 72 wherein the scanning head produces an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; and further comprises means for sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across the scanning head in the direction of the predetermined dimension of the bill; and a memory for storing characteristic signal samples associated with bills of different denominations; the processor receiving the signal samples and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill by comparing the stored signal samples with the output signal samples produced by the scanning of each bill with the scanning head.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
54 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 73 wherein the scanning head includes at least one light source for illuminating a strip of a bill, and at least one detector for receiving reflected light from the illuminated strip on the bill and produces an output signal representing variations in the intensity of the reflected light.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
49 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 72 wherein the processor is adapted to flag a bill when the processor fails to determine the denomination of the bill and wherein the control means stops the stacking mechanism in response to the processor failing to determine the denomination of the bill.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
58 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 72 comprising means responsive to the processor for decelerating the bill transport mechanism from a first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of the bill transport mechanism the flagged bill is transported to the stacking mechanism and the following bill is scanned by the scanning head.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
40 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 76 wherein the means responsive to the processor decelerates the bill transport mechanism from the second operating speed to a complete halt prior to the next following bill being scanned by the scanning head.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
36 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 72 , wherein the control means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that mechanical backlash of the bill transport mechanism is prevented.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
49 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 72 , wherein the control means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the bill transport mechanism is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
49 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 72 , wherein the control means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that overall bill recognition can be resumed after the transport mechanism is halted as if the bill transport mechanism had never been halted.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
34 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 72 , wherein the control means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that subsequent discrimination efficiency is not adversely affected.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
237 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills; an output receptacle adapted to receive bills after being evaluated; a bill transport mechanism adapted to transport bills, one at a time, in a direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills, from the input receptacle to a stacking mechanism associated with an output receptacle; an encoder coupled to the transport mechanism for monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from the feed mechanism to the stacking mechanism; a stationary optical scanning head located between the input and output receptacles adapted to scan at least a preselected segment of each bill transported between the input and output receptacles by the transport mechanism, and producing an output signal representing the scanned image; a processor adapted to receive the output signal and determine the denomination of scanned bills; the processor being adapted to flag a bill, a bill to be flagged being a flagged bill; and control means coupled to the transport mechanism and the stacking mechanism for stopping the stacking mechanism with a flagged bill being the last bill deposited in the output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
237 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills; an output receptacle adapted to receive bills after being evaluated; a bill transport mechanism adapted to transport bills, one at a time, in a direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills, from the input receptacle to a stacking mechanism associated with an output receptacle; an encoder coupled to the transport mechanism for monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from the feed mechanism to the stacking mechanism; a stationary optical scanning head located between the input and output receptacles adapted to scan at least a preselected segment of each bill transported between the input and output receptacles by the transport mechanism, and producing an output signal representing the scanned image; a processor adapted to receive the output signal and determine the denomination of scanned bills; the processor being adapted to flag a bill, a bill to be flagged being a flagged bill; and control means coupled to the transport mechanism and the stacking mechanism for stopping the stacking mechanism with a flagged bill being the last bill deposited in the output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
27 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 82 wherein the processor is adapted to flag a bill when the processor fails to determine the denomination of the bill.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
250 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding the bills in a direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills, one at a time, to a feed station; a bill transport mechanism for transporting bills in the direction of the predetermined dimension of the bills, from the feed mechanism to a stacking mechanism associated with an output receptacle; an encoder coupled to the transport mechanism for monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from the feed mechanism to the stacking mechanism; a stationary optical scanning head located between the feed and stacking mechanisms for scanning at least a preselected segment of each bill transported between the feed and stacking mechanisms by the transport mechanism, and producing an output signal representing the scanned image; signal processing means for receiving the output signal and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill, the signal processing means being adapted to flag a bill, a bill to be flagged being a flagged bill; and control means coupled to the feed mechanism, the transport mechanism, and the stacking mechanism for stopping the stacking mechanism with a flagged bill being the last bill deposited in the output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
250 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding the bills in a direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills, one at a time, to a feed station; a bill transport mechanism for transporting bills in the direction of the predetermined dimension of the bills, from the feed mechanism to a stacking mechanism associated with an output receptacle; an encoder coupled to the transport mechanism for monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from the feed mechanism to the stacking mechanism; a stationary optical scanning head located between the feed and stacking mechanisms for scanning at least a preselected segment of each bill transported between the feed and stacking mechanisms by the transport mechanism, and producing an output signal representing the scanned image; signal processing means for receiving the output signal and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill, the signal processing means being adapted to flag a bill, a bill to be flagged being a flagged bill; and control means coupled to the feed mechanism, the transport mechanism, and the stacking mechanism for stopping the stacking mechanism with a flagged bill being the last bill deposited in the output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
55 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 84 wherein the control means decelerates the bill transport mechanism from a first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration of the bill transport mechanism the flagged bill is transported to the stacking mechanism and the following bill is scanned by the scanning head.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
32 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 84 wherein the control means decelerates the bill transport mechanism in response to the signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of the flagged bill.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
49 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 84 , wherein the control means decelerates the bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the bill transport mechanism is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
32 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 87 wherein the control means decelerates the bill transport mechanism in response to the signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of the flagged bill.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
184 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills; an output receptacle for receiving bills after being evaluated; a bill transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path at a first operating speed; a denomination discriminating unit comprising a scanning head positioned along the transport path and further comprising a processor coupled to the scanning head; the scanning head being adapted to scan passing bills, the discriminating unit being adapted to determine the denomination of passing bills; and means for flagging a particular scanned bill, the means for flagging ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to the output receptacle and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head and further that the bill transport mechanism is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all by the scanning head.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
184 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills; an output receptacle for receiving bills after being evaluated; a bill transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path at a first operating speed; a denomination discriminating unit comprising a scanning head positioned along the transport path and further comprising a processor coupled to the scanning head; the scanning head being adapted to scan passing bills, the discriminating unit being adapted to determine the denomination of passing bills; and means for flagging a particular scanned bill, the means for flagging ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to the output receptacle and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head and further that the bill transport mechanism is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all by the scanning head.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
33 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 89 wherein the means for flagging decelerates the bill transport mechanism in response to the discriminating unit failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
256 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills, an output receptacle for receiving bills after being evaluated; a bill transport mechanism adapted to transport bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path at a first operating speed; a scanning head located between the input and output receptacles for scanning a segment of each bill transported between the input and output receptacles by the transport mechanism, the scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; means for sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across the scanning head; a memory for storing characteristic signal samples associated with different denominations of bills; a signal processor adapted to receive the signal samples and programmed to determine the denomination of scanned bills by comparing the stored signal samples with the output signal samples produced by the scanning of the bills with the scanning head; and means for flagging a particular scanned bill, the means for flagging ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to the output receptacle and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head and further that the bill transport mechanism is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all by the scanning head.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
256 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills, an output receptacle for receiving bills after being evaluated; a bill transport mechanism adapted to transport bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path at a first operating speed; a scanning head located between the input and output receptacles for scanning a segment of each bill transported between the input and output receptacles by the transport mechanism, the scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; means for sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across the scanning head; a memory for storing characteristic signal samples associated with different denominations of bills; a signal processor adapted to receive the signal samples and programmed to determine the denomination of scanned bills by comparing the stored signal samples with the output signal samples produced by the scanning of the bills with the scanning head; and means for flagging a particular scanned bill, the means for flagging ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to the output receptacle and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head and further that the bill transport mechanism is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all by the scanning head.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
33 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 91 wherein the means for flagging flags a particular scanned bill in response to the signal processor failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
47 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 91 , wherein the means for flagging decelerates the bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that mechanical backlash of the bill transport mechanism and resultant disruption of the precise synchronization of scanning intervals is prevented.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
33 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 93 wherein the means for flagging flags a particular scanned bill in response to the signal processor failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
50 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 91 , wherein the means for flagging decelerates the bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the bill transport mechanism is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
33 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 95 wherein the means for flagging flags a particular scanned bill in response to the signal processor failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
50 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 91 , wherein the means for flagging decelerates the bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that overall bill recognition can be resumed after the transport mechanism is halted as if the bill transport mechanism had never been halted.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
35 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 91 , wherein the means for flagging decelerates the bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that subsequent discrimination efficiency is not adversely affected.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
254 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding the bills, one at a time, to a bill transport mechanism; the bill transport mechanism transporting bills at a first operating speed from the feed mechanism to a stacking station; a scanning head located between the feed mechanism and the stacking station for scanning a segment of each bill transported between the feed mechanism and the stacking station by the transport mechanism, the scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; means for sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across the scanning head; a memory for storing characteristic signal samples produced by scanning bills of different denominations; signal processing means for receiving the signal samples and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill by comparing the stored signal samples with the output signal samples produced by the scanning of each bill with the scanning head; and means for flagging a particular scanned bill, the means for flagging ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head and further that the bill transport mechanism is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all by the scanning head.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
254 words
A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills, the device comprising: a feed mechanism for receiving a stack of currency bills and feeding the bills, one at a time, to a bill transport mechanism; the bill transport mechanism transporting bills at a first operating speed from the feed mechanism to a stacking station; a scanning head located between the feed mechanism and the stacking station for scanning a segment of each bill transported between the feed mechanism and the stacking station by the transport mechanism, the scanning head producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; means for sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved across the scanning head; a memory for storing characteristic signal samples produced by scanning bills of different denominations; signal processing means for receiving the signal samples and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill by comparing the stored signal samples with the output signal samples produced by the scanning of each bill with the scanning head; and means for flagging a particular scanned bill, the means for flagging ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head and further that the bill transport mechanism is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all by the scanning head.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
34 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 99 wherein the means for flagging flags a particular scanned bill in response to the signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
47 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 99 , wherein the means for flagging decelerates the bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that mechanical backlash of the bill transport mechanism and resultant disruption of the precise synchronization of scanning intervals is prevented.
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
34 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 101 wherein the means for flagging flags a particular scanned bill in response to the signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
50 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 99 , wherein the means for flagging decelerates the bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the bill transport mechanism is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 119
Dependent Claim
34 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 103 wherein the means for flagging flags a particular scanned bill in response to the signal processing means failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
50 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 99 , wherein the means for flagging decelerates the bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that overall bill recognition can be resumed after the transport mechanism is halted as if the bill transport mechanism had never been halted.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim
35 words
The currency evaluation device of claim 99 , wherein the means for flagging decelerates the bill transport mechanism to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that subsequent discrimination efficiency is not adversely affected.
Claim 122
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of processing currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills to be evaluated in an input receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, at a first operating speed from the input receptacle to a stacking station, scanning a segment of each bill transported between the input receptacle and the stacking station using a scanning head; producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved by the scanning head to produce output signal samples; attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill by comparing stored signal samples associated with bills of different denominations with the output signal samples produced by the scanning of each bill with the scanning head; flagging a bill by decelerating the transporting from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration a bill to be flagged is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the flagged bill is scanned by the scanning head, the flagged bill being the last bill delivered to the stacking station.
Claim 123
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of processing currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills to be evaluated in an input receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, at a first operating speed from the input receptacle to a stacking station, scanning a segment of each bill transported between the input receptacle and the stacking station using a scanning head; producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved by the scanning head to produce output signal samples; attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill by comparing stored signal samples associated with bills of different denominations with the output signal samples produced by the scanning of each bill with the scanning head; flagging a bill by decelerating the transporting from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration a bill to be flagged is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the flagged bill is scanned by the scanning head, the flagged bill being the last bill delivered to the stacking station.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 107 wherein flagging a bill is performed when the denomination of a bill is not determined, the bill whose denomination is not determined being the bill to be flagged.
Claim 125
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills at a feed mechanism of the device; transporting bills at a first operating speed from the feed mechanism to a stacking station; scanning a segment of each bill transported between the feed mechanism and the stacking station using a scanning head; producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved passed the scanning head; attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill by comparing stored signal samples associate with bills of different denominations with the output signal samples produced by the scanning of each bill with the scanning head; and flagging a particular scanned bill based on a given criterion by decelerating the transporting from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration the particular scanned bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head, the transporting being performed such that the particular scanned bill is the last bill delivered to the stacking station.
Claim 126
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills at a feed mechanism of the device; transporting bills at a first operating speed from the feed mechanism to a stacking station; scanning a segment of each bill transported between the feed mechanism and the stacking station using a scanning head; producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved passed the scanning head; attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill by comparing stored signal samples associate with bills of different denominations with the output signal samples produced by the scanning of each bill with the scanning head; and flagging a particular scanned bill based on a given criterion by decelerating the transporting from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration the particular scanned bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head, the transporting being performed such that the particular scanned bill is the last bill delivered to the stacking station.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 109 wherein the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting from the first operating speed to the second operating speed in response to failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 128
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; receiving bills after being evaluated in an output receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path at a first operating speed; scanning bills passing a scanning head; determining the denomination of passing bills; and flagging a particular scanned bill by decelerating the transporting from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration the particular scanned bill is transported to the output receptacle and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head, the particular scanned bill being the last bill delivered to the output receptacle.
Claim 129
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; receiving bills after being evaluated in an output receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path at a first operating speed; scanning bills passing a scanning head; determining the denomination of passing bills; and flagging a particular scanned bill by decelerating the transporting from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration the particular scanned bill is transported to the output receptacle and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head, the particular scanned bill being the last bill delivered to the output receptacle.
Claim 130
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 111 wherein flagging a bill is performed when the denomination of a bill is not determined, the bill whose denomination is not determined being the bill flagged.
Claim 131
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 111 comprising decelerating the transporting to the second operating speed at such a rate that the scanning head completes scanning the next upstream bill prior to the bill transport mechanism reaching the second operating speed.
Claim 132
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 111 wherein the second operating speed is approximately one-third of the first operating speed.
Claim 133
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 111 comprising decelerating the transporting from the first operating speed to the second operating speed in response to failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 134
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 111 wherein the scanning comprises optical scanning and further comprises illuminating a strip of a bill using at least one light source, receiving reflected light from the illuminated strip on the bill using at least one detector, and producing an output signal representing variations in the intensity of the reflected light and wherein determining the denomination of a bill comprises employing the output signal.
Claim 135
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 111 wherein the transporting is performed using a bill transport mechanism and the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that mechanical backlash of the bill transport mechanism and resultant disruption of the precise synchronization of scanning intervals is prevented.
Claim 136
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 111 wherein the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the transporting is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 137
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 111 wherein the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that overall bill recognition can be resumed after the transporting is halted as if the transporting had never been halted.
Claim 138
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 111 wherein the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that subsequent discrimination efficiency is not adversely affected.
Claim 139
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of processing currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills to be evaluated in an input receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, at a first operating speed from the input receptacle to a stacking station; scanning segments of bills transported between the input receptacle and the stacking station using a scanning head; producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segments of bills; receiving the output signal and generating test bill characteristic information; determining the denomination of scanned bills by comparing stored master characteristic information with test bill characteristic information; and decelerating the transporting from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration a particular scanned bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head, the particular scanned bill being the last bill delivered to the stacking station.
Claim 140
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of processing currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills to be evaluated in an input receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, at a first operating speed from the input receptacle to a stacking station; scanning segments of bills transported between the input receptacle and the stacking station using a scanning head; producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segments of bills; receiving the output signal and generating test bill characteristic information; determining the denomination of scanned bills by comparing stored master characteristic information with test bill characteristic information; and decelerating the transporting from the first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration a particular scanned bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head, the particular scanned bill being the last bill delivered to the stacking station.
Claim 141
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 121 wherein the decelerating comprises decelerating the transporting to the second operating speed at such a rate that the scanning head completes scanning the next upstream bill prior to the transporting reaching the second operating speed.
Claim 142
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 121 wherein the second operating speed is approximately one-third of the first operating speed.
Claim 143
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 121 wherein the decelerating comprises decelerating the transporting from the first operating speed to the second operating speed in response to failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 144
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 121 wherein the scanning comprises optical scanning and further comprises illuminating a strip of a bill using at least one light source, receiving reflected light from the illuminated strip on the bill using at least one detector, and producing an output signal representing variations in the intensity of the reflected light and wherein determining the denomination of a bill comprises employing the output signal.
Claim 145
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 121 wherein the transporting is performed using a bill transport mechanism and the decelerating comprises decelerating the transporting to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that mechanical backlash of the bill transport mechanism and resultant disruption of the precise synchronization of scanning intervals is prevented.
Claim 146
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 121 wherein the decelerating comprises decelerating the transporting to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the transporting is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 147
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 121 wherein the decelerating comprises decelerating the transporting to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that overall bill recognition can be resumed after the transporting is halted as if the transporting had never been halted.
Claim 148
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 121 wherein the decelerating comprises decelerating the transporting to the second operating speed and then to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that subsequent discrimination efficiency is not adversely affected.
Claim 149
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, in a direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills, from the input receptacle to a stacking mechanism associated with an output receptacle; monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from the input receptacle to the stacking mechanism; scanning at least a preselected segment of each bill transported between the input receptacle and stacking mechanism using a stationary optical scanning head; producing an output signal representing a scanned image; receiving said output signal and determining the denomination of scanned bills; and stopping said stacking mechanism with a selected bill being the last bill deposited in said output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 150
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, in a direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills, from the input receptacle to a stacking mechanism associated with an output receptacle; monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from the input receptacle to the stacking mechanism; scanning at least a preselected segment of each bill transported between the input receptacle and stacking mechanism using a stationary optical scanning head; producing an output signal representing a scanned image; receiving said output signal and determining the denomination of scanned bills; and stopping said stacking mechanism with a selected bill being the last bill deposited in said output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 151
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 130 wherein the stopping is performed in response to failing to determine the denomination of the selected bill.
Claim 152
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, in a direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills, from the input receptacle to a stacking mechanism associated with an output receptacle; monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from the input receptacle to the stacking mechanism; scanning at least a preselected segment of each bill transported between the input receptacle and stacking mechanism using a stationary optical scanning head, producing an output signal representing a scanned image; receiving the output signal and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill; flagging a bill; and stopping the stacking mechanism with a flagged bill being the last bill deposited in the output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 153
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, in a direction of a predetermined dimension of the bills, from the input receptacle to a stacking mechanism associated with an output receptacle; monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from the input receptacle to the stacking mechanism; scanning at least a preselected segment of each bill transported between the input receptacle and stacking mechanism using a stationary optical scanning head, producing an output signal representing a scanned image; receiving the output signal and attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill; flagging a bill; and stopping the stacking mechanism with a flagged bill being the last bill deposited in the output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 154
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 132 wherein flagging a bill is performed when the denomination of a bill is not determined, the bill whose denomination is not determined being the bill flagged.
Claim 155
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to an output receptacle; monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from the input receptacle to the output receptacle; scanning bills passing a scanning head; attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill; flagging a bill by stopping the transporting with a flagged bill being the last bill deposited in the output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 156
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to an output receptacle; monitoring the position of each bill as it is transported from the input receptacle to the output receptacle; scanning bills passing a scanning head; attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill; flagging a bill by stopping the transporting with a flagged bill being the last bill deposited in the output receptacle for viewing by the operator after the following bill has been scanned and before the scanning of the next following bill has started.
Claim 157
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 134 wherein the scanning comprises producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along a segment of a bill, sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as the bill is moved across the scanning head in a direction of a predetermined dimension of the bill, and producing output signal samples; and wherein attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill comprises comparing stored signal samples associated with bills of different denominations with the output signal samples produced by scanning bills with the scanning head.
Claim 158
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 135 wherein the scanning includes illuminating a strip of a bill using at least one light source, receiving reflected light from the illuminated strip on the bill using at least one detector, and producing an output signal representing variations in the intensity of the reflected light.
Claim 159
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 134 wherein the flagging is performed in response to failing to determine the denomination of a bill.
Claim 160
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 134 comprising decelerating the transporting from a first operating speed to a second operating speed such that during the deceleration the flagged bill is transported to the output receptacle and the following bill is scanned by the scanning head.
Claim 161
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 134 wherein the transporting is performed using a bill transport mechanism and comprising decelerating the transporting to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that mechanical backlash of the bill transport mechanism is prevented.
Claim 162
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 134 comprising decelerating the transporting to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the transporting is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 163
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 134 comprising decelerating the transporting to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that overall bill recognition can be resumed after the transporting is halted as if the transporting had never been halted.
Claim 164
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 134 comprising decelerating the transporting to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that subsequent discrimination efficiency is not adversely affected.
Claim 165
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills at a feed mechanism; transporting the bills, one a time, at a first operating speed from the feed mechanism to a stacking station; scanning a segment of each bill transported between the feed mechanism and the stacking station; producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; sampling the output signal at preselected intervals; receiving the signal samples and determining the denomination of scanned bills by comparing stored signal samples associated with bills of different denominations with the output signal samples produced by scanning bills; and flagging a particular scanned bill, the flagging ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned and further that the transporting is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all.
Claim 166
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills at a feed mechanism; transporting the bills, one a time, at a first operating speed from the feed mechanism to a stacking station; scanning a segment of each bill transported between the feed mechanism and the stacking station; producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; sampling the output signal at preselected intervals; receiving the signal samples and determining the denomination of scanned bills by comparing stored signal samples associated with bills of different denominations with the output signal samples produced by scanning bills; and flagging a particular scanned bill, the flagging ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to the stacking station and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned and further that the transporting is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all.
Claim 167
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 143 wherein the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting in response to failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 168
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 143 , wherein the transporting is performed using a bill transport mechanism and wherein the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that mechanical backlash of the bill transport mechanism and resultant disruption of the precise synchronization of scanning intervals is prevented.
Claim 169
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 145 wherein the flagging comprises flagging a particular scanned bill in response to failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 170
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 143 wherein the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the transporting is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 171
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; receiving bills after the bills have been evaluated in an output receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path passed a scanning head at a first operating speed; scanning passing bills using the scanning head; determining the denomination of passing bills; and flagging a particular scanned bill by ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to the output receptacle and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head and further that the transporting is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all by the scanning head.
Claim 172
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; receiving bills after the bills have been evaluated in an output receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path passed a scanning head at a first operating speed; scanning passing bills using the scanning head; determining the denomination of passing bills; and flagging a particular scanned bill by ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to the output receptacle and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head and further that the transporting is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all by the scanning head.
Claim 173
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 148 wherein the flagging is performed in response to failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 174
Independent Claim
193 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; receiving bills after the bills have been evaluated in an output receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path at a first operating speed; scanning a segment of each bill transported between the input and output receptacles using a scanning head; producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved passed the scanning head; determining the denomination of scanned bills by comparing stored signal samples associated with different denominations of bills with the output signal samples produced by the scanning of the bills with the scanning head; and flagging a particular scanned bill and ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to the output receptacle and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head and further that the transporting is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all by the scanning head.
Claim 175
Independent Claim
193 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; receiving bills after the bills have been evaluated in an output receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path at a first operating speed; scanning a segment of each bill transported between the input and output receptacles using a scanning head; producing an output signal representing variations in characteristic information along the segment of each bill; sampling the output signal at preselected intervals as a bill is moved passed the scanning head; determining the denomination of scanned bills by comparing stored signal samples associated with different denominations of bills with the output signal samples produced by the scanning of the bills with the scanning head; and flagging a particular scanned bill and ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to the output receptacle and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned by the scanning head and further that the transporting is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all by the scanning head.
Claim 176
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 150 wherein the flagging comprises flagging a particular scanned bill in response to failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 177
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 150 , wherein the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the transporting is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 178
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 152 wherein the flagging comprises flagging a particular scanned bill in response to failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 179
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 150 , wherein the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that overall bill recognition can be resumed after the transporting is halted as if the transporting had never been halted.
Claim 180
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 150 , wherein the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that subsequent discrimination efficiency is not adversely affected.
Claim 181
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, at a first operating speed from the input receptacle to an output receptacle; scanning the bills; attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill; and flagging a particular scanned bill by ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to the output receptacle and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned and further that the transporting is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all.
Claim 182
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of evaluating currency using a currency evaluation device comprising: receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle; transporting bills, one at a time, at a first operating speed from the input receptacle to an output receptacle; scanning the bills; attempting to determine the denomination of each scanned bill; and flagging a particular scanned bill by ensuring that the particular scanned bill is transported to the output receptacle and a next upstream bill from the particular scanned bill is scanned and further that the transporting is completely stopped before a third upstream bill is scanned at all.
Claim 183
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 156 wherein the flagging comprises flagging a particular scanned bill in response to failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 184
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 156 , wherein the transporting employs a bill transport mechanism and the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that mechanical backlash of the bill transport mechanism and resultant disruption of precise synchronization of scanning intervals is prevented.
Claim 185
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 158 wherein the flagging comprises flagging a particular scanned bill in response to failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 186
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 156 , wherein the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that when the transporting is restarted, scanning may be continued without adversely affecting data collection and processing for a succeeding bill.
Claim 187
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 160 wherein the flagging comprises flagging a particular scanned bill in response to failing to determine the denomination of the particular scanned bill.
Claim 188
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 156 , wherein the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that overall bill recognition can be resumed after the transporting is halted as if the transporting had never been halted.
Claim 189
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 156 , wherein the flagging comprises decelerating the transporting to a complete halt in a controlled manner such that subsequent discrimination efficiency is not adversely affected.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-24 | 2006-09-23 | 2007-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-24 | 2010-09-23 | 2011-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-24 | 2014-09-23 | 2015-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |