Patents by Inventor Curtis W. Hallowell
Curtis W. Hallowell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8787652Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2013Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: William J. Jones, Frank M. Csulits, Curtis W. Hallowell, Douglas U. Mennie, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti
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Publication number: 20140175173Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2014Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Charles P. Jenrick, Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell, Douglas U. Mennie
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Patent number: 8725289Abstract: A method of processing documents by receiving at least a batch of documents and a separator card in 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. Feeder operation is paused between each batch to verify that the previous batch closed successfully. Pausing feeder operation to address document anomalies before subsequent batches are processed promotes batch integrity and reduces operator confusion.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2012Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell, Charles P. Jenrick
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Patent number: 8714335Abstract: A method and device for evaluating currency bills using a strapping unit that allows a currency evaluating device to automatically strap stacks of currency bills. Currency bills are placed in an input receptacle and an evaluating unit processes each currency bill one at a time. The currency bills are then transported to a plurality of output receptacles. A stack moving mechanism transports a stack of currency bills, which contains a predetermined number of currency bills, from each of the plurality of output receptacles to the strapping unit or a strapping position. Each stack of currency bills is strapped using strapping material.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2007Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Curtis W. Hallowell, Robert J. Klein, Mark B. Renz
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Patent number: 8701860Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for processing coins are presented herein. A coin processing system is disclosed which includes a housing with a coin input area for receiving a batch of coins, a controller with a communication interface operatively attached to the housing, and a coin processing unit for counting, discriminating, and/or valuing coins received from the coin input area. The coin processing system also includes a mobile coin receptacle removably disposed within the housing and configured to receive coins from the coin processing unit. The mobile coin receptacle is configured to wirelessly communicate information to the communication interface of the controller. The mobile coin receptacle can include one or more electrical contacts that mate with one or more electrical contacts on the housing to wirelessly communicate the information.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2013Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: John R. Blake, Curtis W. Hallowell, Marianne Krbec, William J. Jones, Thomas P. Adams
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Patent number: 8701857Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2008Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Charles P. Jenrick, Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell, Douglas U. Mennie
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Patent number: 8684160Abstract: A self-service currency processing machine includes a user control panel, a coin hopper configured to receive input bulk coins, and a coin processing module configured to sort the input bulk coins by denomination and output the coins, via operation of at least one controller-controlled diverter, along a specified path to a coin receptacle station comprising at least one plastic coin bag. The machine also includes a controller configured to selectively distribute coins of one or more denominations to a selected plastic coin bag in the coin receptacle station responsive to an instruction received from one of the user control panel or a host system communicatively coupled to the machine via a communication interface and a bag sealing device configured to seal the selected plastic coin bag following receipt of the predetermined number of coins of one or more denominations in the selected plastic coin bag.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2013Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Curtis W. Hallowell, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie
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Patent number: 8625875Abstract: A document processing system comprising one or more document scanning devices that extract information from document images that uniquely identify a document. The system further comprises a central processor remotely connected to the document scanning devices. The central processor is configured to receive the document images and the extracted information from the document scanning devices and is further configured to execute a correction routine configured to adjust errors in the extracted information from the document image.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2012Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Frank M. Csulits, Matthew Anderson, John R. Blake, Curtis W. Hallowell, Robert J. Klein, Douglas U. Mennie, Gary Watts
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Patent number: 8594414Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: William J. Jones, Frank M. Csulits, Curtis W. Hallowell, Douglas U. Mennie, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti
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Patent number: 8559694Abstract: In one aspect, a method of processing currency in a currency processing machine includes the act of retrieving, from a plurality of input currency bills, characteristic information from each of the bills, the characteristic information itself including at least a first characteristic information relating to fitness. The method also includes the act of assigning to each currency bill one of a plurality of fitness types and fitness levels relating to the first characteristic information of the bill, at least one of the fitness types and the fitness levels being defined by a user. The method also includes the act of outputting each currency bill along one of a plurality of output paths designated by the user to receive currency bills, the output path having a fitness type and/or fitness level assigned to the currency bill.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2011Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Charles P. Jenrick, Douglas U. Mennie, John R. Blake, Matthew L. Anderson, Gary P. Watts, Curtis W. Hallowell, Robert J. Klein, Jeffrey G. Knoll, Tomasz M. Jagielinski
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Patent number: 8545295Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for processing coins are presented herein. A coin processing system is disclosed which includes a housing with a coin input area for receiving a batch of coins, a controller with a communication interface operatively attached to the housing, and a coin processing unit for counting, discriminating, and/or valuing coins received from the coin input area. The coin processing system also includes a mobile coin receptacle removably disposed within the housing and configured to receive coins from the coin processing unit. The mobile coin receptacle is configured to wirelessly communicate information to the communication interface of the controller. The mobile coin receptacle can include one or more electrical contacts that mate with one or more electrical contacts on the housing to wirelessly communicate the information.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: John R. Blake, Curtis W. Hallowell, Marianne Krbec, William J. Jones, Thomas P. Adams
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Patent number: 8478020Abstract: A customer account number is received via an interface of a document processing device. A plurality of documents associated with the deposit transaction is received in an input receptacle of the document processing device. The plurality of documents is transported, one at a time, along a transport path from the input receptacle past an image scanner to one or more output receptacles. Each document is imaged with the image scanner to produce image data associated with the deposit transaction. The image data is reproducible as a visually readable image of at least a portion of each document. Deposit information is generated from the image data associated with the deposit transaction. The customer account number is associated with the generated deposit information. The deposit information is transmitted from the document processing device to a teller system.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: William J. Jones, Frank M. Csulits, Curtis W. Hallowell, Douglas U. Mennie, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti
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Patent number: 8459436Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2012Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Charles P. Jenrick, Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell, Douglas U. Mennie
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Patent number: 8453820Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Curtis W. Hallowell, Robert J. Klein
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Patent number: 8443958Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2008Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: John R. Blake, Curtis W. Hallowell, William J. Jones
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Patent number: 8437532Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: William J. Jones, Frank M. Csulits, Curtis W. Hallowell, Douglas U. Mennie, Matthew L. Anderson, Robert J. Klein, Ralf H. Jaeger, David R. Badalamenti
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Patent number: 8396586Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2008Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell, Charles P. Jenrick
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Patent number: 8297428Abstract: An angled arrangement of a currency document handling device and a second unit and an angle arrangement of two currency document handling devices, components of the same, and methods of coupling and using the same. For example, a currency document processing system for processing currency documents including currency bills comprises a currency handling device, a first currency document receiving unit, and a first angular transport unit. The first currency document receiving unit is adapted to receive at least some bills processed by the currency handling device. The first angular transport unit is adapted to receive bills from the currency handling device and transport bills to the first currency document receiving unit. The angular transport unit is adapted to be coupled between the currency handling device and the first currency document receiving unit such that the currency handling device and the first currency document receiving units are angled relative to each other such as by ninety degrees (90°).Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2010Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Mark B. Renz, Alan T. Lynch, Robert B. Fitzgerald, Stanley P. Sakowski, Curtis W. Hallowell
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Publication number: 20120185083Abstract: A method of processing documents by receiving at least a batch of documents and a separator card in 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. Feeder operation is paused between each batch to verify that the previous batch closed successfully. Pausing feeder operation to address document anomalies before subsequent batches are processed promotes batch integrity and reduces operator confusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2012Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell, Charles P. Jenrick
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Publication number: 20120156976Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for processing coins are presented herein. A coin processing system is disclosed which includes a housing with a coin input area for receiving a batch of coins, a controller with a communication interface operatively attached to the housing, and a coin processing unit for counting, discriminating, and/or valuing coins received from the coin input area. The coin processing system also includes a mobile coin receptacle removably disposed within the housing and configured to receive coins from the coin processing unit. The mobile coin receptacle is configured to wirelessly communicate information to the communication interface of the controller. The mobile coin receptacle can include one or more electrical contacts that mate with one or more electrical contacts on the housing to wirelessly communicate the information.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2011Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventors: John R. Blake, Curtis W. Hallowell, Marianne Krbec, William J. Jones, Thomas P. Adams