Patents by Inventor Douglas U. Mennie

Douglas U. Mennie 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).

  • Publication number: 20020056605
    Abstract: A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack. The device comprises an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated and a plurality of output receptacles for receiving the bills after they have been evaluated. A transport mechanism transports the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to one of the output receptacles along a transport path. A discriminating unit including a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle evaluates the bills. The discriminating unit counts and determines the denomination of the bills. A means for flagging bills meeting or failing to meet a certain criteria causes the transport mechanism to halt in response to a determination that a bill meets or fails to meet the criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Richard A. Mazur, Douglas U. Mennie, Mark C. Munro, Lars R. Stromme, Bradford T. Graves, William J. Jones
  • Patent number: 6378683
    Abstract: A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack. The device includes an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated and a single output receptacle for receiving the bills after they have been evaluated. A transport mechanism transports the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path. The device further includes a discriminating unit that evaluates the bills. The discriminating unit comprises two detectors positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle. The detectors are disposed on opposite sides of the transport path so that they are disposed adjacent to opposite sides of the bills. The discriminating unit counts and determines the denomination of the bills. The evaluation device also includes means for flagging a bill when the denomination of the bill is not determined by the discriminating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventor: Douglas U. Mennie
  • Patent number: 6381354
    Abstract: A currency identification system identifies currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems. The device includes a discriminating unit for discriminating the identity of a bill, the discriminating unit retrieving characteristic information from the bill. Furthermore, a memory stores master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying; the memory storing master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of at least two currency systems. A signal processor compares the retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill. The signal processor generates an indication of the identity of said bill based on the comparison when the bill is one that the system is capable of identifying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas U. Mennie, Bradford T. Graves, Richard A. Mazur
  • Patent number: 6363164
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Jones, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Paul A. Jones
  • Patent number: 6351551
    Abstract: A currency counting and discrimination device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly counting and discriminating the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills. The device comprises an input receptacle for receiving a stack of currency bills to be discriminated, a discriminating unit for discriminating the denomination of the currency bills, and one or more output receptacles for receiving the currency bills after being discriminated by the discriminating unit. The device further comprises a transport mechanism for transporting the currency bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle past a sensor of the discriminating unit and to the one or more output receptacles. One or more counters keep track of the value of bills that are discriminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Mark C. Munro, John E. Jones, Bradford T. Graves, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie
  • Patent number: 6337921
    Abstract: A currency identification system identifies currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems. The device includes a discriminating unit for discriminating the identity of a bill, the discriminating unit retrieving characteristic information from the bill. Furthermore, a memory stores master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying; the memory storing master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of at least two currency systems. A signal processor compares the retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill. The signal processor generates an indication of the identity of said bill based on the comparison when the bill is one that the system is capable of identifying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas U. Mennie, Bradford T. Graves, Richard A. Mazur
  • Publication number: 20020001393
    Abstract: An image processing network for processing image files and coupled to an outside data communication network comprising a plurality of remote image capture units, the units scanning documents and creating a plurality of image files of said documents; the image processing means is coupled to said plurality of remote image capture units for processing the image files; the accounting means is coupled to the image processing means for immediately updating accounts associated with said image processing means; and the plurality of remote capture units are coupled to the outside network, the outside data communication network is connected to outside financial institutions, the image processing means transmits said image files to the outside financial institutions via the data communication network and receives image files from the outside financial institutions over the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: JOHN E. JONES, PAUL A. JONES, RONALD M. GAFRON, WILLIAM J. JONES, DOUGLAS U. MENNIE
  • Patent number: 6311819
    Abstract: A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack. The device comprises an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated and a plurality of output receptacles for receiving the bills after the bills have been evaluated. A transport mechanism transports the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacles along a transport path. A discriminating unit including a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles counts and determines the denomination of the bills. The device further comprises a processor which flags a bill meeting or failing to meet a certain criteria. The processor causes the transport mechanism to halt in response to the detection of a bill meeting or failing to meet the criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Lars R. Stromme, Matthew L. Anderson, Bradford T. Graves, William J. Jones, Robert J. Klein, Richard A. Mazur, Douglas U. Mennie, Mark C. Munro, Heinz W. Schreiter
  • Publication number: 20010015311
    Abstract: A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack. The device includes an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated and a single output receptacle for receiving the bills after they have been evaluated. A transport mechanism transports the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path. The device further includes a discriminating unit that evaluates the bills. The discriminating unit comprises two detectors positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle. The detectors are disposed on opposite sides of the transport path so that they are disposed adjacent to opposite sides of the bills. The discriminating unit counts and determines the denomination of the bills. The evaluation device also includes means for flagging a bill when the denomination of the bill is not determined by the discriminating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventor: Douglas U. Mennie
  • Patent number: 6278795
    Abstract: A multi-pocket currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack. The device has an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated and a plurality of output receptacles for receiving the bills after the bills have been evaluated. A transport mechanism transports the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to one of the plurality of output receptacles along a transport path. A discriminating unit evaluates the bills and determines certain information concerning the bills. A control panel includes a touch screen for displaying the information concerning the bills and for receiving operational instructions from a user. A controller coupled to the touch screen and the discriminating unit causes the discriminating unit to operate in any of several operating modes in response to operational instructions from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew L. Anderson, Richard A. Mazur, Douglas U. Mennie, Mark C. Munro
  • Publication number: 20010006556
    Abstract: A system for evaluating currency bills with currency evaluation machines and recording information associated with the evaluated currency bills. The currency evaluation machines utilize sensors to obtain information from the evaluated bills, and comparison tests are performed in which the sensor information is compared to master information in order to identify the denomination, series and authenticity of the currency bills being evaluated. A reviewable record of the comparison tests is maintained for each individual currency evaluation machine. After performing the comparison tests, evaluated bills are identified as either no call bills, suspect documents or genuine bills. Information associated with respective no call bills, suspect documents or genuine bills, including times of occurrence or quantities of no call bills, suspect documents or genuine bills, and/or denomination of suspect documents or genuine bills is recorded in the reviewable record.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Bradford T. Graves, William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie, Frank M. Csulits
  • Publication number: 20010006557
    Abstract: A currency identification system for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems. The device comprises a discriminating unit for discriminating the identity a bill, the discriminating unit retreiving characteristic information from said bill. Furthermore, a memory stores master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying; the memory storing master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from at least two currency systems. A signal processing means compares the retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill; the signal processing means generating an indication of the identity of said bill based on said comparison when said bill is one that the system is capable of identifying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Douglas U. Mennie, Bradford T. Graves, Richard A. Mazur
  • Patent number: 6256407
    Abstract: A document handling system is configured for processing a variety of different documents. The system includes an input receptacle for receiving a stack of documents, a standard sensor for scanning at least one non-color characteristic of the bills in the stack, a color sensor for scanning the color characteristics of the bills, and an output receptacle for receiving the bills after they have been processed. A transport mechanism is included for transporting bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle past the sensors to the output receptacle. An operator interface is provided for displaying information to an operator and inputting information to the system. A processor is also included for processing the data gathered from the sensors to evaluate the bills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas U. Mennie, Frank M. Csulits, Matthew L. Anderson, Gary P. Watts, Richard A. Mazur, Charles P. Jenrick, Bradford T. Graves
  • Patent number: 6237739
    Abstract: A document handling system is adapted to evaluate documents such as currencies of any denomination or type without having been pre-programmed with data representative of the denominations or types. The currency handling system is capable of generating such data internally, by scanning sets of master currency bills to obtain master information representative of the master bills which may be used to evaluate subsequent test bills. The master currency bills may comprise bills of different currency types, including bills issued by different countries. The master information may comprise numerical and/or non-numerical data. The evaluation of the test bills is based on a comparison of either pre-stored or self-generated master information with scanned data values associated with the test bills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Richard A. Mazur, Frank M. Csulits, Douglas U. Mennie
  • Patent number: 6220419
    Abstract: A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack. The device includes an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated and a single output receptacle for receiving the bills after they have been evaluated. A transport mechanism transports the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle along a transport path. The device further includes a discriminating unit that evaluates the bills. The discriminating unit comprises two detectors positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle. The detectors are disposed on opposite sides of the transport path so that they are disposed adjacent to opposite sides of the bills. The discriminating unit counts and determines the denomination of the bills. The evaluation device also flags a bill when the denomination of the bill is not determined by the discriminating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison
    Inventor: Douglas U. Mennie
  • Patent number: 6171182
    Abstract: A coin sorter for sorting mixed coins by denomination includes a rotatable disc, a drive motor for rotating the disc, and a stationary sorting head having a lower surface generally parallel to the upper surface of the rotatable disc and spaced slightly therefrom. The lower surface of the sorting head forms a plurality of exit channels for guiding coins of different denominations to different exit locations around the periphery of the disc. Shunting mechanisms are disposed in one or more of the exit channels or are disposed outside the periphery of the disc adjacent one or more of the exit locations. These shunting mechanisms are used to separate coins into two or more batches for the purpose of either discriminating between valid coins and invalid coins or for the purpose of accumulating a predetermined number of coins in one batch and then accumulating additional coins in another batch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Geib, William J. Jones, Richard A. Mazur, Douglas U. Mennie, Gary P. Watts
  • Patent number: 6128402
    Abstract: An apparatus for currency discrimination comprises first and second stationary scanheads, disposed on opposite sides of a bill transport path, for scanning respective first and second opposing surfaces of a bill traveling along the bill transport path and for producing respective output signals. The bill travels along the transport path in the direction of a predetermined dimension of the bill. A memory stores master characteristic patterns corresponding to associated predetermined surfaces of a plurality of denominations of genuine bills. Sampling circuitry samples the output signals associated with the respective first and second opposing surfaces of the scanned bill. A signal processor is programmed to determine which one of the first and second opposing surfaces corresponds to the associated predetermined surfaces of the plurality of denominations of genuine bills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison
    Inventors: William J. Jones, Douglas U. Mennie
  • Patent number: 6074334
    Abstract: A document facing apparatus for reversing the face orientation of a document includes four substantially similar document folding modules, each having a document gripping and advancing portion and a folding portion. The gripping and advancing portion engages the document along a first longitudinal half portion, with substantially the other longitudinal half portion extending outwardly of the gripping and advancing portion, and advances the entire document through the folding module. The document folding portion engages the document along its other longitudinal half portion and folds the other longitudinal half portion of the document to a substantially 90.degree. angle relative to its initial orientation upon entering the document folding portion. Four document folding modules may be aligned in a given sequence such that a document passing therethrough will have its face orientation reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas U. Mennie, Terry G. Seelenbinder, Charles P. Jenrick, Matthew L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6072896
    Abstract: A currency identification system has at least two laterally displaced scanheads, one or more laterally moveable scanheads, or at least two laterally displaced sensors of a linear scanhead, the scanheads or sensors being positioned so as to permit scanning along at least two segments on a first side of a bill. The scanheads or sensors are capable of detecting characteristic information from the bill along the segments and generating corresponding output signals representing variations in the detected characteristic information from which scanned patterns of characteristic information may be generated. At least one scanned pattern is generated from the output signals, the at least one scanned pattern representing analog variations in the characteristic information along a segment of the bill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Bradford T. Graves, Douglas U. Mennie, Richard A. Mazur
  • Patent number: 6042470
    Abstract: A coin sorter for sorting coins of mixed diameters is set forth. The sorter includes a coin-driving member and a coin-guiding member. The lower surface of the coin-guiding member forms a plurality of exit channels for guiding coins of different diameters to different exit stations along the periphery of the coin-guiding member. The coin sorter includes a brake mechanism which permits stopping of the coin-driving member at high speeds such that an invalid coin is retained or for ensuring the correct amount of coins is sent to the coin-collecting receptacle. The coin sorter also includes an operator interface panel for easy operator inputs. Operator inputs allow the operator to adjust the movement of the coin-driving member after encountering a stop and for adjusting the amount of lubrication sent to the coin-guiding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Cummins-Allison Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Geib, Scott D. Casanova, Douglas U. Mennie, Richard A. Mazur, Gary P. Watts