Abstract: An optical scanning station is disclosed which utilizes light bending apparatus such as mirrors or optical wedges to gather and redirect some of the illumination radiating from the object. The gathering of the light occurs off-axis from the lens and the redirection of the light to the lens causes an off-axis angle between the light beam and the lens axis, thereby resulting in multiple images which are spaced apart from each other when focused on an image plane. The multiple images may be split apart and directed to separate image planes by use of front surface mirrors making the images then available for individual capture by charge couple devices or other similar image capture apparatus. Alternatively, the outboard images may be redirected, again by mirrors, to be focused coincident to the on-axis image, thereby increasing the illumination level at the image plane well in excess of that obtainable with only a single image of the object being focused at the image plane.

Abstract: Transfer of articles of different types between article handling devices within the apparatus and the user outside of it is effected through a limited number of access ports by an article gripping and transporting robot that undergoes multi-directional translational movement and that is capable of gripping articles of different kinds, sizes and shapes. The robot may be and preferably is also used to perform maintenance services upon article handling devices of the apparatus.

Abstract: Transfer of articles of different types between article handling devices within the apparatus and the user outside of it is effected through a limited number of access ports by an article gripping and transporting robot that undergoes multi-directional translational movement and that is capable of gripping articles of different kinds, sizes and shapes. The robot may be and preferably is also used to perform maintenance services upon article handling devices of the apparatus.

Abstract: A document processing system directs documents at a high rate of speed past an optical scanner which captures written information on the documents as video image data. The video image data is directed over a data channel to a host computer system where the data is stored on a mass data storage device for subsequent retrieval. A buffer is provided between the scanner and the data channel, which receives data a rate which varies in relation to the amount of information present on the documents. Data is extracted from the buffer at a rate which is limited by the host computer's channel transfer rate. A control means is associated with the buffer and is operable for controlling a hierarchy of actions ranging from slowing down the incoming data stream to stopping the data stream altogether in order to prevent any loss of video image data due to overfilling of the buffer.

Abstract: Documents, such as bank checks, are processed at a high rate of speed on an image processing system which optically scans the documents and converts optically perceptible data on the documents into video image data. The video image data from the scanner is compressed by data compression techniques and the compressed data is sent over a high speed data channel to a high speed mass storage device which receives and temporarily stores the data. A lower speed mass data storage device, such as an optical disk, is connected for receiving at a lower data transfer rate the compressed video image data and for storing the video image data for subsequent retrieval. The system also includes real-time quality control systems for monitoring the quality of the image data to detect the existence of unacceptable image quality data and for generating a signal which can be used for immediately stopping the generation of unacceptable quality image data.

Abstract: The present invention employs a method of choosing between the output of two different character recognition systems to improve the rate at which characters are recognized, without significantly increasing the number of undetected substitution errors. If the first recognition system cannot recognize a character, a random probability generator is used to determine whether to use the output of the second recognition system, or alternatively to generate a reject character.

Abstract: A system is provided which separates line image data from a complex background by analyzing both contrast and shape characteristics of the image data. The system inherently provides image rotations and compression. Image quality monitoring is also provided.

Abstract: The Laplacian operator is obtained by using CCD architecture to provide positive and negative weights to respective inputs and then combining the weighted signals.

Abstract: A multi-gap magnetic character reader is provided with the ability to automatically detect double documents. Where only weak signals are sensed, all signals are combined and compared to a reference. Where the weak signals are due to a piggyback document, the combined signals will be large with respect to the reference. Multiple documents thus detected are directed to a special reject bin.

Abstract: A character recognition system including a timing subsystem, comprising a base oscillator or clock, and timing circuits driven by the base clock to provide a plurality of timing pulses for timing the operation of the entire system. The timing circuits are governed in part by delay circuits which are in turn controlled by the amplitude and location of peak signals derived from scanning earlier pulses.

Abstract: A power driven belt provides back-up pressure for a check or similar document bearing magnetic information as the document moves past a reading transducer. The belt is resiliently urged against cylindrical bearing surfaces adjacent the transducer to provide a non-critical geometry.