Abstract: A method of evaluating a stack of currency bills using a currency evaluation device comprises receiving a stack of bills in an input receptacle of the evaluation device. The bills are transported, one at a time, from the input receptacle to one of two or more output receptacles of the currency evaluation device. The denomination of the bills is counted and determined utilizing a detector positioned along a transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles. The bills are determined on whether they meet or fail to meet a non-piece count related criterion. The transportation is halted when a bill meets or fails to meet the criterion. A bill meeting or failing to meet the criterion is termed a flagged bill. The halting is performed such that the flagged bill is positioned as the last bill in one of the output receptacles.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining the denomination of a coin with a disk-type coin processing system comprises moving a coin along a coin path with a rotatable disk, generating an encoder pulse for each incremental movement of the rotatable disk, directing a light beam transverse the coin path, detecting the light beam with a light detector, developing a signal at the light detector indicating the presence of a coin in the coin path, counting a number of encoder pulses occurring while developing the signal at the light detector, and comparing the counted number of encoder pulses to a plurality of stored numbers of encoder pulses corresponding to the particular coin denominations.

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 currency identification system for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems. The device includes a discriminating unit for discriminating the identity a bill, the discriminating unit retreiving 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 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 generating an indication of the identity of said bill based on the comparison when the bill is one that the system is capable of identifying.

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 method of evaluating a stack of currency bills using a currency evaluation device comprises receiving a stack of bills in an input receptacle of the evaluation device. The bills are transported, one at a time, from the input receptacle to one of two or more output receptacles of the currency evaluation device. The denomination of the bills is counted and determined utilizing a detector positioned along a transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles. The bills are determined on whether they meet or fail to meet a non-piece count related criterion. The transportation is halted when a bill meets or fails to meet the criterion. A bill meeting or failing to meet the criterion is termed a flagged bill. The halting is performed such that the flagged bill is positioned as the last bill in one of the output receptacles.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a stack of currency bills using a currency evaluation device comprising receiving a stack of bills in an input receptacle of the evaluation device. The bills are transported, one at a time, from the input receptacle to one of two or more output receptacles of the currency evaluation device. The denomination of the bill is counted and determined utilizing a detector positioned along a transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles. A bill is flagged when the denomination of the bills is not determined and the flagging comprises halting the transporting when a bill is flagged. The bills that have been denominated including bills of a plurality of denominations are delivered to a first set of one or more of the output receptacles.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 for evaluating documents with respect to master information, has at least one input device adapted to obtain from at least one authentic document information associated with one or more attributes of the authentic document, a processor for generating master information based on the information obtained by the input device, and a memory for storing the master information.

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.

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 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.