Abstract: Currency processing systems, coin processing machines, and methods of imaging coins are presented herein. A currency processing system is disclosed which includes a housing with an input area for receiving coins and receptacles for stowing processed coins. A disk-type coin processing unit is coupled to the coin input area and coin receptacles. The coin processing unit includes a rotatable disk for imparting motion to coins, and a sorting head adjacent the rotatable disk with shaped regions for guiding moving coins to exit channels through which the coins are discharged to the coin receptacles. A sensor arrangement mounted adjacent the rotatable disk includes one light emitting device for emitting light onto a coin surface at near-normal incidence. A photodetector senses light reflected off the coin surface and outputs a coin-image signal for processing the coin.

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 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: 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.

Abstract: A method of processing a deposit transaction involving a plurality of physical documents includes receiving a data file associated with the deposit transaction. The data file includes a plurality of customer records. Each customer record includes image data. The method further includes transmitting a credit instruction to credit a customer financial account for an amount in response to the receiving the data file. The method further includes receiving physical documents associated with the deposit transaction. The method further includes generating a financial institution record for each one of the received physical documents and comparing the plurality of customer records with the generated financial institution records to determine if all physical documents associated with the deposit transaction were received during the act of receiving physical documents.

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 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: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A document handling system is configured for detecting counterfeit bills using infrared light. The document handling system comprises an infrared light source, a sensor that is adapted to produce an output signal in response to infrared light illumination of a document, and a processor that is programmed to receive the signal and to authenticate the document based thereon.

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.

Abstract: A document handling system is adapted to accommodate a plurality of different currency types. The system includes a sensor for counting the number of bills in a stack of bills. An operator interface panel includes a display for displaying information to an operator. An input device specifies the type of currency and the denomination of currency to be processed. The system may further include an authenticating unit for authenticating each of the bills based on one or more attributes detected from each bill. Based on the designated currency type and denomination, the system appropriately adjusts the display and/or selects which attributes are used to authenticate bills.

Abstract: A document handling system is adapted to accommodate a plurality of different currency types. The system includes a sensor for counting the number of bills in a stack of bills. An operator interface panel includes a display for displaying information to an operator. An input device specifies the type of currency and the denomination of currency to be processed. The system may further include an authenticating unit for authenticating each of the bills based on one or more attributes detected from each bill. Based on the designated currency type and denomination, the system appropriately adjusts the display and/or selects which attributes are used to authenticate bills.

Abstract: A document handling system is adapted to accommodate a plurality of different currency types. The system includes a sensor for counting the number of bills in a stack of bills. An operator interface panel includes a display for displaying information to an operator. An input device specifies the type of currency and the denomination of currency to be processed. The system may further include an authenticating unit for authenticating each of the bills based on one or more attributes detected from each bill. Based on the designated currency type and denomination, the system appropriately adjusts the display and/or selects which attributes are used to authenticate bills.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for loading software changes into a processor-based coin wrapping machine. In one embodiment, a flash card having a memory remotely programmed with a second software code is adapted to be removably electrically coupled to the system controller of the coin wrapping machine. Insertion of the flash card causes the initial code in the resident memory of the machine to become erased and replaced with the second software code. The flash card may thereafter be removed from the machine and used to load software changes into other machines. In an alternative embodiment, the flash card may remain electrically coupled to the coin wrapping machine. In this embodiment, insertion of the flash card causes the machine to execute the second software code, but the initial code is not erased or replaced. Upon removal of the flash card, the machine does not retain the second software code but will revert to execution of the initial code.