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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Publication number: 20090236201Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2008Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventors: John R. Blake, Curtis W. Hallowell, William J. Jones
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Publication number: 20090239459Abstract: A method of redeeming coins using a self-service coin redemption machine is provided and includes the act of printing on a blank substrate, using a self-service coin redemption machine printer, indicia associated with a coin processing transaction before the initiation of the coin processing transaction or prior to a completion of a processing of a batch of coins in the self-service coin redemption machine to determine a redemption value thereof. The method also includes the acts of dispensing the substrate, processing a batch of coins in the self-service coin redemption machine to determine a redemption value thereof, and transmitting the redemption value from the self-service coin redemption machine to an EPOS terminal using a communication device. The method further includes inputting the indicia printed on the substrate into the EPOS terminal using a data input device, verifying, using the EPOS terminal, that the indicia input into the EPOS terminal corresponds to an open transaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Gary P. Watts, Curtis W. Hallowell, Marianne Krbec, William J. Jones, John R. Blake, Robert S. Tarragon
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Publication number: 20090236200Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2008Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventors: Curtis W. Hallowell, John R. Blake, William J. Jones
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Patent number: 7551764Abstract: A system for processing currency and other media includes a compact currency bill processing device, a coin scale, and a controlling device. The compact currency bill processing device is adapted to count and determine the denomination of currency bills received in an input receptacle and transported, one bill at a time, to at least one output receptacle. The coin scale adapted to receive and determine a coin total for at least one group of coins of a single denomination. The controlling device is communicatively coupled to the currency bill processing device and the coin scale, and includes an integrated keypad and printer. The keypad is adapted to manually receive information from an operator, and the printer is adapted to print a hardcopy of information associated with the currency bills, the coins, and other media.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2007Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Mark G. Chiles, Curtis W. Hallowell
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Publication number: 20090087076Abstract: 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: October 29, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Charles P. Jenrick, Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell, Douglas U. Mennie
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Patent number: 7505831Abstract: A document processing device having an evaluation region disposed along a transport path between an input and output receptacle capable of processing both currency bills and identification cards. An evaluation unit enables entry of source identification information before or after processing currency bills. Memory is adapted to store source identification information for multiple batches of currency. Multiple batches are placed in the processing device for multiple batch processing. The evaluation region includes detectors for detecting predetermined characteristics of currency bills and distinguishing identification cards from currency. During processing, the identification card, or other separator card, is sent to a predetermined output receptacle designated as a reject receptacle. Currency that is rejected is sent to the reject receptacle. Rejected currency is separated into batches by the identification cards sent to the reject receptacle during processing.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2006Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Charles P. Jenrick, Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell
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Publication number: 20090001661Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Inventors: Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell, Charles P. Jenrick
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Publication number: 20080219543Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2008Publication date: September 11, 2008Inventors: FRANK M. CSULITS, Matthew Anderson, John R. Blake, Curtis W. Hallowell, Robert J. Klein, Douglas U. Mennie, Gary Watts
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Publication number: 20080177420Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2008Publication date: July 24, 2008Inventors: Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell, Charles P. Jenrick
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Patent number: 7201320Abstract: A document processing device having an evaluation region disposed along a transport path between an input and output receptacle capable of processing both currency bills and substitute currency media having at least one indicia. The evaluation region includes at least one of a currency detector, a media detector, and an imager for detecting predetermined characteristics of currency bills and substitute currency media. A controller coupled to the evaluation region controls the operation of the document processing device and receives input from and provides information to a user via a control unit. In some embodiments, the document processing device may have any number of output receptacles, and the control unit allows the user to specify which output receptacle receives which type of document. An optional coin sorter may be coupled to the document processing device to allow document and coin processing.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2004Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Frank M. Csulits, Curtis W. Hallowell, William J. Jones
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Patent number: 7146245Abstract: A document processing device having an evaluation region disposed along a transport path between an input and output receptacle capable of processing both currency bills and identification cards. An evaluation unit enables entry of source identification information before or after processing currency bills. Memory is adapted to store source identification information for multiple batches of currency. Multiple batches are placed in the processing, device for multiple batch processing. The evaluation region includes detectors for detecting predetermined characteristics of currency bills and distinguishing identification cards from currency. During processing, the identification card, or other separator card, is sent to a predetermined output receptacle designated as a reject receptacle. Currency that is rejected is sent to the reject receptacle. Rejected currency is separated into batches by the identification cards sent to the reject receptacle during processing.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2004Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Charles P. Jenrick, Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell
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Patent number: 7103438Abstract: A method of processing barcoded tickets in a document processing device including receiving a stack of barcoded tickets in an input receptacle of a document processing device. Each barcoded ticket includes a document-identifier or ticket number that identifies the barcoded ticket. At least one specific document-identifier is inputted by the operator to search for a specific document in a stack of documents. Each of the documents are transported, one at a time, past a detector, which detects the document-identifier of each ticket. A determination is made whether a detected document-identifier matches the specific document-identifier requested by the operator, and if so, the ticket in question is directed to a pre-programmed or user-specified output receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2003Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Curtis W. Hallowell, Robert Fitzgerald
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Patent number: 6994200Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling bill jams within a currency processing device is provided. The device includes a transport mechanism adapted to transport bills along a transport path, one at a time, from the input receptacle past an evaluation unit into a plurality of output receptacles. At least one of the output receptacles includes a holding area and a storage area. A plurality of bill passage sensors are sequentially disposed along the transport path that are adapted to detect the passage of a bill as each bill is transported past each sensor. An encoder is adapted to produce an encoder count for each incremental movement of the transport mechanism. A controller counts the total number of bills transported into each of the holding areas and the total number of bills moved from a holding area to a corresponding storage area after a predetermined number of bills have been transported into the holding area.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2003Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: Cummins Allison Corp.Inventors: Charles P. Jenrick, Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell
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Patent number: 6860375Abstract: Methods and devices for dynamically assigning document parameters to output receptacles of multiple output receptacle document evaluating devices. Documents are directed into individual output receptacles based upon their document parameter or parameters. For example, according to one embodiment a currency evaluating device comprises an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills, a plurality of output receptacles, a transport mechanism, and a processor adapted to control the operation of the device. The processor is programmed to determine the denomination of a bill and determine if an output receptacle is associated with the denomination of the bill. If an output receptacle is not associated with the denomination of the bill, the processor is programmed to associate an output receptacle with the denomination of the bill and cause the bill to be transported to an output receptacle associated with the denomination of the bill.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2002Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: Cummins-Allison CorporationInventors: Curtis W. Hallowell, Robert J. Klein, Mark C. Munro, Bradford T. Graves
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Patent number: 6843418Abstract: A document processing device having an evaluation region disposed along a transport path between an input and output receptacle capable of processing both currency bills and barcoded media having at least two barcodes. One of the barcodes encodes a ticket number and another barcode encodes a payout amount associated with that ticket number. The evaluation region includes detectors for detecting predetermined characteristics of currency bills and a barcode reader for scanning the barcodes printed on the barcoded media.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2002Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: Cummin-Allison Corp.Inventors: William J. Jones, Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell, Charles P. Jenrick
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Publication number: 20040251110Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling bill jams within a currency processing device is provided. The device includes a transport mechanism adapted to transport bills along a transport path, one at a time, from the input receptacle past an evaluation unit into a plurality of output receptacles. At least one of the output receptacles includes a holding area and a storage area. A plurality of bill passage sensors are sequentially disposed along the transport path that are adapted to detect the passage of a bill as each bill is transported past each sensor. An encoder is adapted to produce an encoder count for each incremental movement of the transport mechanism. A controller counts the total number of bills transported into each of the holding areas and the total number of bills moved from a holding area to a corresponding storage area after a predetermined number of bills have been transported into the holding area.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2004Publication date: December 16, 2004Inventors: Charles P. Jenrick, Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell
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Publication number: 20040016621Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling bill jams within a currency processing device is provided. The device includes a transport mechanism adapted to transport bills along a transport path, one at a time, from the input receptacle past an evaluation unit into a plurality of output receptacles. At least one of the output receptacles includes a holding area and a storage area. A plurality of bill passage sensors are sequentially disposed along the transport path that are adapted to detect the passage of a bill as each bill is transported past each sensor. An encoder is adapted to produce an encoder count for each incremental movement of the transport mechanism. A controller counts the total number of bills transported into each of the holding areas and the total number of bills moved from a holding area to a corresponding storage area after a predetermined number of bills have been transported into the holding area.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2003Publication date: January 29, 2004Inventors: Charles P. Jenrick, Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell
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Publication number: 20040016797Abstract: A document processing device having an evaluation region disposed along a transport path between an input and output receptacle capable of processing both currency bills and barcoded media having at least two barcodes. One of the barcodes encodes a ticket number and another barcode encodes a payout amount associated with that ticket number. The evaluation region includes detectors for detecting predetermined characteristics of currency bills and a barcode reader for scanning the barcodes printed on the barcoded media.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2002Publication date: January 29, 2004Inventors: William J. Jones, Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell, Charles P. Jenrick
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Publication number: 20040003980Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2003Publication date: January 8, 2004Inventors: Curtis W. Hallowell, Robert J. Klein, Mark B. Renz
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Patent number: 6601687Abstract: A currency handling device for rapidly processing a plurality of currency bills comprises an input receptacle adapted to receive the currency bills to be processed, a plurality of output receptacles adapted to receive the bills after the bills have been processed, a transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, along a transport path from the input receptacle to the plurality of output receptacles, an evaluating unit that is adapted to determine information concerning the bills, and a controller. The evaluation unit includes at least one sensor positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the plurality of output receptacles. The controller is adapted to operate the currency handling device according to a mode of operation wherein the mode of operation designates the output receptacle to which each of the bills are transported based on the determined information concerning the bill.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2000Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.Inventors: Charles P. Jenrick, Robert J. Klein, Curtis W. Hallowell