US6724927B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated document processing system with document imaging and value indication
Assignee: Cummins Allison Corp
•
Filing: 2002-01-08
•
Granted: 2004-04-20
•
Expires: 2022-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document. The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. Jones
- 👤 Paul A. Jones
- 👤 William J. Jones
- 👤 Douglas U. Mennie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:26
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/06; G07D7/12; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/04; G06Q20/042; G06Q20/0425; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/10; G06Q20/105; G06Q20/108; G06Q20/1085; G06Q20/18; G06Q20/20; G06Q40/00; G06Q40/02; G06T; G06T1/00; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/12; G06V30/127; G06V30/26; G06V30/262; G06V30/274; G07D11/00; G07D11/50; G07D7/1205; G07D7/20; G07F; G07F19/00; G07F19/20; G07F19/202; G07F19/207; G07F7/00; G07F7/04; G07D7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A document processing device, comprising: an input receptacle for receiving a stack of documents including checks and currency bills; a document imager; a currency bill denomination scanner; one or more output receptacles; a transport mechanism that conveys the documents, one at a time, from the input receptacle past both the document imager and the denomination scanner to the one or more output receptacles, whereby the document imager obtains an image of each document and the denomination scanner obtains reflective scan data for each currency bill; a processing device operable to: evaluate the obtained document images and attempt a determination of the imprinted value of each check from those document images; and evaluate the obtained reflective scan data and attempt a determination of the imprinted value of each currency bill from the reflective scan data; a value indication input that allows an operator of the system to enter the imprinted value of any check or currency bill for which the processing device fails to determine value; and a counter that accumulates the processing device determined imprinted values along with the operator input imprinted values for the checks and currency bills.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A document processing device, comprising: an input receptacle for receiving a stack of documents including checks and currency bills; a document imager; a currency bill denomination scanner; one or more output receptacles; a transport mechanism that conveys the documents, one at a time, from the input receptacle past both the document imager and the denomination scanner to the one or more output receptacles, whereby the document imager obtains an image of each document and the denomination scanner obtains reflective scan data for each currency bill; a processing device operable to: evaluate the obtained document images and attempt a determination of the imprinted value of each check from those document images; and evaluate the obtained reflective scan data and attempt a determination of the imprinted value of each currency bill from the reflective scan data; a value indication input that allows an operator of the system to enter the imprinted value of any check or currency bill for which the processing device fails to determine value; and a counter that accumulates the processing device determined imprinted values along with the operator input imprinted values for the checks and currency bills.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1 further including a memory that stores the document images for subsequent retrieval and review.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 1 wherein individual documents whose value is determined by the processing device are delivered by the transport mechanism to a first output receptacle, and all other documents are delivered by the transport mechanism to a second output receptacle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 1 wherein operation of the transport mechanism is temporarily suspended when the processing device is unable to determine the imprinted value of a certain document, and wherein operation is resumed following operator entry of the imprinted value of the certain document.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the certain document is delivered by the transport mechanism to an inspection station for operator review prior to suspension of transport mechanism operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the value indication input is a key entry device selected from a group consisting of a keypad, a keyboard and a touch screen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 1 further including a desktop sized housing for containing the input receptacle, imager, scanner, one or more output receptacles, transport mechanism, processing device, value indication input and counter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device of claim 1 further including a prompting device responsive to a failure of the processing device to determine the imprinted value of a certain document, the prompting device operable to prompt the operator to enter, through the value indication input, the imprinted value of that certain document.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 8 wherein the prompting device suggests a possible imprinted value for that certain document.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the image of each document is a full document image, and the processing device evaluates that full document image to determine imprinted value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the value indication input comprises currency bill denomination selection elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the device is adapted to process at least 800 currency bills per minute.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the currency bills have wide and narrow dimensions and the transport mechanism is adapted to convey the currency bills with their narrow dimension parallel to a direction of transport.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising a stacking wheel comprising flexible blades positioned to re-stack documents in each of the one or more output receptacles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
141 words
A document processing method, comprising the steps of: receiving a stack of documents which include checks and currency bills; conveying the documents, one at a time, along a transport path; imaging each document as it is conveyed along the transport path to obtain a document image; reflectively scanning each document as it is conveyed along the transport path to obtain reflective scan data; collecting the conveyed documents; determining the imprinted value of each check from an evaluation of the obtained document image; determining the imprinted value of each currency bill from an evaluation of the obtained reflective scan data; receiving operator input of the imprinted value of any check or currency bill for which the foregoing determining steps fail to determine value; and accumulating the determined imprinted values along with the operator input imprinted values for the checks and currency bills.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
141 words
A document processing method, comprising the steps of: receiving a stack of documents which include checks and currency bills; conveying the documents, one at a time, along a transport path; imaging each document as it is conveyed along the transport path to obtain a document image; reflectively scanning each document as it is conveyed along the transport path to obtain reflective scan data; collecting the conveyed documents; determining the imprinted value of each check from an evaluation of the obtained document image; determining the imprinted value of each currency bill from an evaluation of the obtained reflective scan data; receiving operator input of the imprinted value of any check or currency bill for which the foregoing determining steps fail to determine value; and accumulating the determined imprinted values along with the operator input imprinted values for the checks and currency bills.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 15 further including the steps of: storing the document images in memory; retrieving the document images from memory; and reviewing the retrieved document images to confirm the determined imprinted values and/or operator input imprinted values for the checks and currency bills.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 15 further including the steps of: delivering individual documents whose value is determined by the foregoing determining steps to a first output receptacle; and delivering all other documents to a second output receptacle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 15 further including the steps of: temporarily suspending conveyance of the documents when either of the foregoing determining steps fails to identify the imprinted value of a certain document; and resuming conveyance following operator entry of the imprinted value of the certain document.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the step of temporarily suspending comprises the step of delivering the certain document to an inspection station for operator review prior to suspension of conveyance.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the step of receiving operator input comprises the step of allowing keyed entry of the imprinted value.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
36 words
The method of claim further including the step of prompting the operator to enter the imprinted value of a certain document in response to a failure of the foregoing determining steps to identify the imprinted value.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the step of prompting includes the step of suggesting a possible imprinted value for that certain document.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the image of each document is a full document image, and the steps of determining each including the step of evaluating that full document image to identify the imprinted value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the currency bills have wide and narrow dimensions and the step of conveying includes the step of conveying the currency bills with their narrow dimension parallel to the transport path.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15 further including the step of re-stacking the documents following conveyance.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
170 words
A document processing device, comprising: an input receptacle for receiving a stack of documents; a document imager; a document authenticator; one or more output receptacles; a transport mechanism that conveys the documents, one at a time, from the input receptacle past both the document imager and the document authenticator to the one or more output receptacles, whereby the document imager obtains an image of each document and the document authenticator obtains authentication data for each document; a processing device operable to: evaluate the obtained document images and attempt a determination of the imprinted value of each document from those document images; and evaluate the obtained authentication data and attempt an authentication of each document from the authentication data; a value indication input that allows an operator of the system to enter the imprinted value of any document for which the processing device fails to determine value; and a counter that accumulates the processing device determined imprinted values for authenticated documents along with the operator input imprinted values for the documents.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
170 words
A document processing device, comprising: an input receptacle for receiving a stack of documents; a document imager; a document authenticator; one or more output receptacles; a transport mechanism that conveys the documents, one at a time, from the input receptacle past both the document imager and the document authenticator to the one or more output receptacles, whereby the document imager obtains an image of each document and the document authenticator obtains authentication data for each document; a processing device operable to: evaluate the obtained document images and attempt a determination of the imprinted value of each document from those document images; and evaluate the obtained authentication data and attempt an authentication of each document from the authentication data; a value indication input that allows an operator of the system to enter the imprinted value of any document for which the processing device fails to determine value; and a counter that accumulates the processing device determined imprinted values for authenticated documents along with the operator input imprinted values for the documents.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 26 further including a memory that stores the document images for subsequent retrieval and review.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 26 further including an authentication indication input that allows an operator of the system to authenticate any document which was not authenticated by the processing device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 28 wherein the counter further additionally accumulates the imprinted values for operator authenticated documents.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device of claim 26 wherein individual documents whose value is determined by the processing device are delivered by the transport mechanism to a first output receptacle, and all other documents are delivered by the transport mechanism to a second output receptacle.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 26 wherein operation of the transport mechanism is temporarily suspended when the processing device is unable to determine the imprinted value of a certain document, and wherein operation is resumed following operator entry of the imprinted value of the certain document.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 31 wherein the certain document is delivered by the transport mechanism to an inspection station for operator review prior to suspension of transport mechanism operation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 26 wherein the value indication input is a key entry device selected from a group consisting of a keypad, a keyboard and a touch screen.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 26 further including a desktop sized housing for containing the input receptacle, imager, authenticator, one or more output receptacles, transport mechanism, processing device, value indication input and counter.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device of claim 26 further including a prompting device responsive to a failure of the processing device to determine the imprinted value of a certain document, the prompting device operable to prompt the operator to enter, through the value indication input, the imprinted value of that certain document.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 35 wherein the prompting device suggests a possible imprinted value for that certain document.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 26 wherein the image of each document is a full document image, and the processing device evaluates that full document image to determine imprinted value.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 26 wherein the value indication input comprises currency bill denomination selection elements.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 26 wherein the device is adapted to process at least 800 currency bills per minute.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 26 wherein the documents are currency bills having wide and narrow dimensions and the transport mechanism is adapted to convey the currency bills with their narrow dimension parallel to a direction of transport.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 26 further comprising a stacking wheel comprising flexible blades positioned to re-stack documents in each of the one or more output receptacles.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 26 wherein the documents are checks.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 26 wherein the documents are currency bills and the authenticator further comprises a denominator that determines the imprinted value of the currency bills.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
120 words
A document processing method, comprising the steps of: receiving a stack of documents; conveying the documents, one at a time, along a transport path; imaging each document as it is conveyed along the transport path to obtain a document image; scanning each document as it is conveyed along the transport path to obtain authentication data; collecting the conveyed documents; determining the imprinted value of each document from an evaluation of the obtained document image; authenticating each document from an evaluation of the obtained authentication data; receiving operator input of the imprinted value of any document which is not obtained through the foregoing determining step; and accumulating the determined imprinted values along with the operator input imprinted values for the documents.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
120 words
A document processing method, comprising the steps of: receiving a stack of documents; conveying the documents, one at a time, along a transport path; imaging each document as it is conveyed along the transport path to obtain a document image; scanning each document as it is conveyed along the transport path to obtain authentication data; collecting the conveyed documents; determining the imprinted value of each document from an evaluation of the obtained document image; authenticating each document from an evaluation of the obtained authentication data; receiving operator input of the imprinted value of any document which is not obtained through the foregoing determining step; and accumulating the determined imprinted values along with the operator input imprinted values for the documents.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 44 further including the steps of: storing the document images in memory; retrieving the document images from memory; and reviewing the retrieved document images to confirm the determined imprinted values and/or operator input imprinted values for the documents.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 44 further including the step of receiving operator input confirming the authenticity of any document which was not authenticated by the authenticating step.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 46 wherein the step of accumulating comprises the step of additionally accumulating the imprinted values for operator authenticated documents.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 44 further including the steps of: delivering individual documents whose value and authentication have been determined to a first output receptacle; and delivering all other documents to a second output receptacle.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 46 further including the steps of: temporarily suspending conveyance of the documents when either value or authentication has not been determined with respect to a certain document; and returning to conveying following operator entry of the imprinted value of the certain document or confirmation of authenticity.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 49 wherein the step of temporarily suspending comprises the step of delivering the certain document to an inspection station for operator review prior to suspension of conveyance.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 44 wherein the step of receiving operator input comprises the step of allowing keyed entry of the imprinted value.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 44 further including the step of prompting the operator to enter the imprinted value of a certain document in response to a failure of the foregoing determining step to identify the imprinted value.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 52 wherein the step of prompting includes the step of suggesting a possible imprinted value for that certain document.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 44 wherein the image of each document is a full document image, and the step of determining includes the step of evaluating that full document image to identify the imprinted value.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 44 wherein the documents have wide and narrow dimensions and the step of conveying includes the step of conveying the documents with their narrow dimension parallel to the transport path.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 44 , further including the step of re-stacking the documents following conveyance.
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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) | 2007-04-20 | 2007-10-20 | 2008-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-20 | 2011-10-20 | 2012-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-20 | 2015-10-20 | 2016-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |