US6628816B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for discriminating and counting documents
Assignee: Cummins Allison Corp
•
Filing: 2001-03-02
•
Granted: 2003-09-30
•
Expires: 2021-03-02
Abstract
Abstract A currency identification system for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems. The device includes a discriminating unit for discriminating the identity a bill, the discriminating unit retreiving characteristic information from the bill. Furthermore, a memory stores master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying; the memory storing master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from at least two currency systems. A signal processor compares the retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill; the signal processor generating an indication of the identity of said bill based on the comparison when the bill is one that the system is capable of identifying.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas U. Mennie
- 👤 Bradford T. Graves
- 👤 Richard A. Mazur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:21
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/06; G07D7/12; G07D7/128; B; B65; B65H; B65H3/00; B65H3/02; B65H3/06; B65H3/063; B65H3/0638; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/18; G07D11/00; G07D11/50; G07D7/04; G07D7/1205; G07D7/16; G07D7/162; G07D7/20; G07F; G07F19/00; G07F19/20; G07F7/00; G07F7/04; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/50; B65H2301/54; B65H2301/541; B65H2511/00; B65H2511/20; B65H2511/21; B65H2511/212; B65H2553/00; B65H2553/51; B65H2557/00; B65H2557/50; B65H2557/514; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/10; B65H2701/19; B65H2701/1912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems, the device comprising: a memory adapted to store master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying, the memory being adapted to store master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of at least two currency systems; and an evaluation unit adapted to retrieve characteristic information from each of a plurality of bills and to compare the retrieved characteristic information to stored master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill at a rate of at least about 800 bills per minute, the evaluation unit being adapted to determine the identity of the bill when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently compares to the master characteristic information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems, the device comprising: a memory adapted to store master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying, the memory being adapted to store master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of at least two currency systems; and an evaluation unit adapted to retrieve characteristic information from each of a plurality of bills and to compare the retrieved characteristic information to stored master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill at a rate of at least about 800 bills per minute, the evaluation unit being adapted to determine the identity of the bill when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently compares to the master characteristic information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising a transport mechanism adapted to transport each of the plurality of bills, one at a time, past the evaluation unit wherein a wide edge of each of the bills is the leading edge of each of the bills.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1 wherein one of the of at least two currency systems is the United States currency system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising a transport mechanism to transport each of the bills, one at a time, from an input receptacle past the evaluation unit to a single output receptacle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising a transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, from an input receptacle past the evaluation unit to a plurality of output receptacles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising a currency system selection device for designating at least one of the at least two currency systems wherein the evaluation unit only compares the retrieved characteristic information with stored master characteristic information associated with genuine bills from the at least one designated currency system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 1 wherein, after the identification of a first bill, the processor is adapted to compare characteristic information retrieved from subsequent bills to stored master characteristic information associated with genuine bills from the currency system of the first bill.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the memory is adapted to store master characteristic information associated with a plurality of genuine bills from a plurality of currency systems, and wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to retrieve characteristic information from each of a plurality of bills from a plurality of currency systems, and wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to compare the retrieved characteristic information to stored master characteristic information associated with a plurality of genuine bills from a plurality of currency systems.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising a transport mechanism adapted to transport bills from an input receptacle past the discrimination unit to at least one output receptacle, the processor adapted to cause the transport mechanism to suspend operation when the identity of a bill cannot be determined.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising a relatively compact housing adapted to enclose the device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 10 wherein the housing has a depth dimension less than about 12.5 inches.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 10 wherein the housing has a height dimension less than about 10 inches.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 10 wherein the housing has a width dimension less than about 10 inches.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
205 words
A multiple currency system currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems, the device comprising: a transport mechanism adapted to transport each of the plurality of bills, one at a time, from an input receptacle to at least one output receptacle a rate of at least 800 bills per minute; an evaluation unit adapted to retrieve characteristic information each of a plurality of bills as the bills are transport from the input receptacle to the at least one output receptacle, the evaluation unit including one or more scanheads adapted to scan one or more segments along bills, wherein the evaluation unit scans substantially less than the entire bill; a memory adapted to store master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying, the memory adapted to store master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from at least two currency systems; and a processor adapted to compare the retrieved characteristic information to stored master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill, the processor being adapted to generate an indication of the identity of the bill when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently compares to the master characteristic information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
205 words
A multiple currency system currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems, the device comprising: a transport mechanism adapted to transport each of the plurality of bills, one at a time, from an input receptacle to at least one output receptacle a rate of at least 800 bills per minute; an evaluation unit adapted to retrieve characteristic information each of a plurality of bills as the bills are transport from the input receptacle to the at least one output receptacle, the evaluation unit including one or more scanheads adapted to scan one or more segments along bills, wherein the evaluation unit scans substantially less than the entire bill; a memory adapted to store master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying, the memory adapted to store master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from at least two currency systems; and a processor adapted to compare the retrieved characteristic information to stored master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill, the processor being adapted to generate an indication of the identity of the bill when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently compares to the master characteristic information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 14 wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport each of the bills such that a wide edge of each of the bills is the leading edge of each of the bills.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 14 wherein one of the of at least two currency systems is the United States currency system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 14 wherein the at least one output receptacle comprises a single output receptacle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 14 wherein the at least one output receptacle comprises a plurality of output receptacles.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 14 further comprising a currency system selection device for designating at least one of the at least two currency systems wherein the evaluation unit only compares the retrieved characteristic information with stored master characteristic information associated with genuine bills from the at least one designated currency system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 14 wherein, after the identification of a first bill, the processor is adapted to compare characteristic information retrieved from subsequent bills to stored master characteristic information associated with genuine bills from the currency system of the first bill.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
82 words
The device of claim 14 wherein the memory is adapted to store master characteristic information associated with a plurality of genuine bills from a plurality of currency systems, and wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to retrieve characteristic information from each of a plurality of bills from a plurality of currency systems, and wherein the processor is adapted to compare the retrieved characteristic information to stored master characteristic information associated with a plurality of genuine bills from a plurality of currency systems.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 14 wherein the processor adapted to cause the transport mechanism to suspend operation when the identity of a bill cannot be determined.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 14 further comprising a relatively compact housing adapted to enclose the device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 23 wherein the housing has a depth dimension less than about 12.5 inches.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 23 wherein the housing has a height dimension less than about 10 inches.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 23 wherein the housing has a width dimension less than about 10 inches.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems using a currency evaluation device, the method comprising: transporting each of the bills, one at a time, from an input receptacle past an evaluation unit to at least one output receptacle such that the bills are transported at a rate of at least about 800 bills per minute; retrieving characteristic information from each of the bills; comparing the characteristic information retrieved from each of the bills to master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of at least two currency systems, the master characteristic information being stored in a memory of the device, the memory having stored therein master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the device is capable of identifying including master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of the at least two currency systems; and determining the identity of the each of the bills when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently compares to the master characteristic information.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
174 words
A method for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems using a currency evaluation device, the method comprising: transporting each of the bills, one at a time, from an input receptacle past an evaluation unit to at least one output receptacle such that the bills are transported at a rate of at least about 800 bills per minute; retrieving characteristic information from each of the bills; comparing the characteristic information retrieved from each of the bills to master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of at least two currency systems, the master characteristic information being stored in a memory of the device, the memory having stored therein master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the device is capable of identifying including master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of the at least two currency systems; and determining the identity of the each of the bills when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently compares to the master characteristic information.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
31 words
The method of 27 wherein transporting further comprises transporting each of the bills wherein a wide edge of each of the bills is the leading edge of each of the bills.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
31 words
The method of 27 wherein transporting further comprises transporting each of the bills wherein a wide edge of each of the bills is the leading edge of each of the bills.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 27 wherein one of the of at least two currency systems is the United States currency system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 27 wherein transporting further comprises transporting each of the bills, one at a time, from an input receptacle past an evaluation unit to a single output receptacle.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 27 wherein transporting further comprises transporting each of the bills, one at a time, from an input receptacle past an evaluation unit to a plurality of output receptacles.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 27 further comprising receiving input from a user of the currency evaluation device designating one or more of said at least two currency systems, and wherein comparing further comprises comparing the retrieved characteristic information only with stored master characteristic information associated with genuine bills from the designated one or more currency systems.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the step of comparing further comprises comparing retrieved characteristic information from a first bill with master characteristic information from a plurality of currency systems, identifying one of the plurality of currency systems with which the first bill is associated, and designating the one of the plurality of currency systems with which the first bill is associated, and thereafter comparing retrieved characteristic information from bills subsequent to the first bill only with stored master characteristic information associated with genuine bills from the designated one of the plurality of currency systems.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 27 wherein comparing further comprises comparing the characteristic information retrieved from each of the bills to master characteristic information associated with a plurality of genuine bills from a plurality of currency systems, and wherein the memory has stored therein master characteristic information associated with a plurality of genuine bills which the device is capable of identifying including master characteristic information associated with a plurality of genuine bills from a plurality of currency systems.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 27 further comprising suspending the transporting of each of the bills when the identity of a bill cannot be determined.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 27 further comprising providing a housing adapted to enclose the system.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the housing has a depth dimension less than about 12.5 inches.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the housing has a height dimension less than about 10 inches.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the housing has a width dimension less than about 10 inches.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
206 words
A multiple currency system currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills issued by two or more governments, the device comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a plurality of currency bills; a transport mechanism adapted to transport each of a plurality of bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to at least one output receptacle a rate of at least 800 bills per minute; an evaluation unit adapted to retrieve characteristic information each of a plurality of bills as the bills are transported from the input receptacle to the at least one output receptacle, the evaluation unit including one or more sensors adapted to scan one or more segments along each of the bills; a memory adapted to store master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying, the memory adapted to store master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill issued by at least two governments; and a processor adapted to compare the retrieved characteristic information to stored master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill, the processor being adapted to generate an indication of the identity of the bill when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently compares to the stored master characteristic information.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
206 words
A multiple currency system currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills issued by two or more governments, the device comprising: an input receptacle adapted to receive a plurality of currency bills; a transport mechanism adapted to transport each of a plurality of bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to at least one output receptacle a rate of at least 800 bills per minute; an evaluation unit adapted to retrieve characteristic information each of a plurality of bills as the bills are transported from the input receptacle to the at least one output receptacle, the evaluation unit including one or more sensors adapted to scan one or more segments along each of the bills; a memory adapted to store master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying, the memory adapted to store master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill issued by at least two governments; and a processor adapted to compare the retrieved characteristic information to stored master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill, the processor being adapted to generate an indication of the identity of the bill when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently compares to the stored master characteristic information.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 40 wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to transport each of the bills such that a wide edge of each of the bills is the leading edge of each of the bills.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 40 wherein the at least one output receptacle comprises a single output receptacle.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 40 wherein the at least one output receptacle comprises a plurality of output receptacles.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 40 further comprising an issuing government selection device for designating at least one of the two or more currency issuing governments wherein the evaluation unit only compares the retrieved characteristic information with stored master characteristic information associated with genuine bills associated with the designated currency issuing government.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 40 wherein, after the identification of a first bill, the processor is adapted to compare characteristic information retrieved from subsequent bills to stored master characteristic information associated with genuine bills issued by the government of the first bill.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
82 words
The device of claim 40 wherein the memory is adapted to store master characteristic information associated with a plurality of genuine bills issued by a plurality of governments, and wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to retrieve characteristic information from each of a plurality of bills issued by a plurality of governments, and wherein the processor is adapted to compare the retrieved characteristic information to stored master characteristic information associated with a plurality of genuine bills issued by a plurality of governments.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 40 wherein the processor is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to suspend operation when the identity of a bill cannot be determined.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 40 further comprising a relatively compact housing adapted to enclose the device.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 48 wherein the housing has a depth dimension less than about 12.5 inches.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 48 wherein the housing has a height dimension less than about 10 inches.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 48 wherein the housing has a width dimension less than about 10 inches.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 40 wherein currency bills issued by two or more governments includes United States Dollars and British Pound Notes.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 40 wherein currency bills issued by two or more governments includes United States Dollars and Canadian Dollars.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 40 wherein currency bills issued by two or more governments includes Canadian Dollars and German Marks.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 40 wherein one of the two or more governments is the United States government.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 40 wherein one of the two or more governments is the German government.
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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) | 2006-09-29 | 2007-03-31 | 2007-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-09-29 | 2011-03-31 | 2011-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-09-29 | 2015-03-31 | 2015-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |