Abstract: A method of processing documents includes receiving a stack of documents including currency bills and substitute currency media. Each substitute currency medium has at least one barcode. The method further includes transporting the stack of documents via a transport mechanism, one document at a time, along a transport path and denominating with a currency detector each of the currency bills in the stack of documents. The currency detector is positioned adjacent to the transport path. The method further includes scanning with a barcode scanner a barcode on each substitute currency medium in the stack of documents. The barcode scanner is positioned adjacent to the transport path. The method further includes imaging with an image scanner each substitute currency medium in the stack of documents to generate a raw image file of the substitute currency medium. The image scanner is positioned adjacent to the transport path.

Abstract: A currency processing system comprises a first currency bill processing device having a plurality of output receptacles and a second currency bill processing device having at least one output receptacle. The second currency bill processing device is communicatively interfaced with the first currency bill processing device.

Abstract: A method for exchanging coins, the method including the acts of receiving in a self-service coin exchange machine a plurality of coins, processing the plurality of coins to determine a total value of the plurality of coins, and dispensing currency to the patron from a currency dispenser, the currency having a value related to the total value.

Abstract: A check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes and a method of using the same. The device comprises an input receptacle configured to receive checks and U.S. bank notes and an output receptacle. The device further comprises a transport mechanism configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner. The image scanner is configured to obtain an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner. The device is configured to determine the denominations of U.S. bank notes transported by the transport mechanism. The device further comprises a memory configured to store the images of checks transported past the image scanner.

Abstract: A check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes. According to one embodiment, the device comprises an input receptacle configured to receive checks and U.S. bank notes and an output receptacle. The device further comprises a transport mechanism configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner. The image scanner is configured to obtain an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner. The device is configured to determine the denominations of transported U.S. bank notes. The device is configured to capture information from checks transported past the image scanner. The device further comprises a memory configured to store the information captured from checks transported past the image scanner.

Abstract: A stack of a stack of currency bills is received, transported, and imaged. Image data reproducible as a visually readable image of one or more portions of at least one side of each currency bill in the stack is obtained. A serial number and at least one or more additional characters are extracted from the image data for each currency bill. A processor compares the extracted serial number and corresponding extracted one or more additional characters with stored serial number information and corresponding stored additional character information associated with the serial number information of genuine currency bills. The stored serial number information and corresponding stored additional character information uniquely identify a genuine currency bill. Any currency bill that does not have one or more extracted additional characters matching the stored serial number information and corresponding stored additional character information is flagged.

Abstract: A stack of documents is received, transported, and imaged to produce image data. The image data associated with each document is reproducible as a visually readable image of at least a portion of a respective document. The document processing device determines whether each document satisfies one or more certain flag criteria. A document that satisfies one or more of the certain flag criteria is a flagged document. In response to one of the documents satisfying one of the certain flag criteria, the document processing device continues to transport subsequent documents in the stack of documents and displays on a display unit of the document processing device a visually readable image of at least a portion of the flagged document using the image data associated with the flagged document and a positional locator associated with the location of the flagged document in the output receptacle.

Abstract: A stack of currency bills is received, transported, and imaged via an image scanner to produce image data that is reproducible as a visually readable image for each currency bill. Each of the currency bills has an associated serial number and additional identifying character information. The associated currency bill serial number and the additional identifying character information are extracted from the image data of each currency bill. Each currency bill is denominated. A suspect determination is made for each currency bill and upon a determination that a currency bill is a suspect bill, A suspect note report is automatically generated. Fields in the report are populated with information associated with the suspect bill including the extracted serial number, the extracted additional identifying character information, and the denomination of the suspect bill.

Abstract: A first prompt is displayed to insert a deposit slip that includes declared information. The deposit slip is received, transported at a first speed, and imaged. A total declared cash-in amount and a total declared check amount are extracted from image data associated with the deposit slip. The total declared cash-in amount is determined to be a non-zero number. A second prompt is displayed to insert currency bills. The currency bills are received, transported at a second speed, and imaged. Deposit information is generated from image data associated with each of the currency bills. The deposit information at least includes a calculated total cash deposit amount. The deposit information is compared with the declared information to determine if the deposit transaction is balanced.

Abstract: A document processing system includes a communications port and a controller. The communications port is configured to communicatively couple the document processing system to a network and to receive a data file associated with a deposit amount. The data file includes customer deposit information associated with documents. The controller is configured to determine if any of the first plurality of documents are suspect documents based on a comparison of the customer deposit information with suspect information. The controller is configured to generate a credit instruction for an amount equal to a percentage of the deposit amount minus an amount associated with ones of the documents determined to be suspect documents. In response to the controller determining that one of the first plurality of documents is a suspect document, the controller is configured to transmit a notice over the network. The notice includes image data associated with the determined suspect document.

Abstract: A check and U.S. bank note processing device configured to process both checks and U.S. bank notes. The device comprises an input receptacle configured to receive checks and U.S. bank notes and an output receptacle. The device further comprises a transport mechanism configured to transport the checks and U.S. bank notes from the input receptacle past an image scanner. The image scanner is configured to obtain an image of each check and U.S. bank note transported past the image scanner. The device is configured to determine the serial numbers of U.S. bank notes transported past the image scanner. The device further comprises a memory configured to store the determined serial numbers of U.S. bank notes.

Abstract: A method of processing documents includes receiving a stack of documents including currency bills and substitute currency media. Each substitute currency medium has at least one barcode. The method further includes transporting the stack of documents via a transport mechanism, one document at a time, along a transport path and denominating with a currency detector each of the currency bills in the stack of documents. The currency detector is positioned adjacent to the transport path. The method further includes scanning with a barcode scanner a barcode on each substitute currency medium in the stack of documents. The barcode scanner is positioned adjacent to the transport path. The method further includes imaging with an image scanner each substitute currency medium in the stack of documents to generate a raw image file of the substitute currency medium. The image scanner is positioned adjacent to the transport path.

Abstract: A batch of bills is received, transported, and imaged to produce image data. The image data is reproducible as a visually readable image of at least a portion of each of the plurality of currency bills. Each currency bill includes a respective serial number. The serial numbers are extracted from the image data for each of the currency bills. Each extracted serial number is compared with a plurality of serial numbers in a currency bill database to determine if a currency bill associated with an extracted serial number is a suspect currency bill. One of the plurality of currency bills is determined to be a suspect currency bill based on the comparing. In response to determining the suspect currency bill, at least a portion of the produced image data is displayed as a visually readable image of the suspect currency bill on a display unit of the document processing system.

Abstract: A method of using a document processing system includes receiving a target serial number via an input device communicatively connected to a document processing system and determining if the target serial number exactly matches one of a plurality of stored serial numbers residing in a memory. Each stored serial number is associated with a record. Each record includes customer account identification information that can be used to identify a customer account previously credited for a deposit of a currency bill having the stored serial number. In response to the target serial number not exactly matching any of the stored serial numbers, the method further includes displaying a wildcard search element on a display of the document processing system.

Abstract: A vertically arranged combination desktop currency denominating machine and currency dispenser comprising a currency denominating module adapted to receive a stack of currency bills to be denominated and to denominate the received currency bills, wherein a transport mechanism transports bills individually from an input receptacle adapted to receive the stack of currency bills to one or more output receptacles. The combination further comprising a dispenser retaining section adapted to store currency bills to be dispensed to the one or more output receptacles during a dispensing operation, the retaining section comprising one or more dispensing receptacles, each dispensing receptacle adapted to hold bills having a common denomination, wherein the dispenser retainer section is positioned above the currency denominating module.

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the invention, a magnetic sensor having a track width of greater than about 50 millimeters is provided. The magnetic sensor is adapted to detect a magnetic feature and produce a linear, analog output in response to the magnetic feature. The analog output is along a single data channel.

Abstract: A document processing device includes a controller and a sensor arrangement. The sensor arrangement illuminates a surface of documents. The gradient index lens array collects light reflected from the documents and transmits at least a portion of the collected reflected light onto a photodetector array. The photodetector array generates one or more electrical signals in response to a gradient index lens transmitting light thereon. The controller derives data including image data from the one or more electrical signals. The image data is reproducible as a visually readable image of the surface of the documents. The visually readable image has a resolution such that alphanumeric characters can be extracted from the visually readable image in response to the document remaining within a depth of field of the gradient index lens array while being transported via the transport mechanism. The depth of field is at least about 0.03 inches.

Abstract: A method of processing documents by receiving at least a batch of documents and a separator card in an input receptacle of a document processing device. The separator card includes a conductive material disposed on one side, and a barcode indicative of the source of the batch of documents. The documents and separator card are transported via a transport mechanism past an evaluation unit and a field-effect sensor, respectively. The document processing device evaluates each document, determines whether the document meets or fails predetermined criteria, and detects the presence of the conductive material when a separator card is transported past the sensor. The source identification information from each separator card is entered into a memory of the document processing device after all the documents from the corresponding batch of documents have met the predetermined criteria. Feeder operation is paused between each batch long enough to verify that the previous batch closed successfully.

Abstract: A coin processing machine comprises a housing for containing the coin processing device, a coin processing unit disposed within the housing for processing received coins of a plurality of denominations and discharging processed coins into a plurality of coin receptacles, and a coin receptacle station disposed within the housing for holding a plurality of coin receptacles. The coin receptacle station includes a plurality of individually moveable platforms each having at least one coin receptacle disposed thereon. Each moveable platform is moveable between a first position and a second position. Each moveable platform is disposed entirely within the housing for receiving coins in the at least one coin receptacle disposed thereon when in the first position, and each moveable platform extends out of the housing when in the second position.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a coin redemption system, in which a user deposits a batch of mixed coins of a plurality of denominations, comprises a coin input area for receiving a batch of mixed coins from a user of the coin redemption system, a coin processing unit coupled to the coin input area for determining the aggregate value of the coins received from the user, a controller for assigning a transaction number corresponding to the batch of received coins, a first printer for printing a receipt indicative of the determined value and the assigned transaction number, an output device disposed in a redemption area for displaying the assigned transaction number and the determined value.