Abstract: An example cleaning card for cleaning a check-reading machine can include at least two opposing surfaces. The opposing surfaces can include a cleaning feature configured to clean at least one component of the check-reading machine when the cleaning card is fed through the check-reading machine. An ink can be located on at least one of the opposing surfaces. The ink can define a set of Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) characters capable of identifying the cleaning card. The position of the set of MICR characters can coincide with a routing field of the cleaning card as defined in accordance with the standard of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) X9 family of standards. Other systems, apparatuses, and methods are also described.

Abstract: An example cleaning card for cleaning a check-reading machine can include at least two opposing surfaces. The opposing surfaces can include a cleaning feature configured to clean at least one component of the check-reading machine when the cleaning card is fed through the check-reading machine. An ink can be located on at least one of the opposing surfaces. The ink can define a set of Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) characters capable of identifying the cleaning card. The position of the set of MICR characters can coincide with a routing field of the cleaning card as defined in accordance with the standard of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) X9 family of standards. Other systems, apparatuses, and methods are also described.

Abstract: An example cleaning card for cleaning a check-reading machine can include at least two opposing surfaces. The opposing surfaces can include a cleaning feature configured to clean at least one component of the check-reading machine when the cleaning card is fed through the check-reading machine. An ink can be located on at least one of the opposing surfaces. The ink can define a set of Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) characters capable of identifying the cleaning card. The position of the set of MICR characters can coincide with a routing field of the cleaning card as defined in accordance with the standard of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) X9 family of standards. Other systems, apparatuses, and methods are also described.

Abstract: An Any Which Way Check Acceptance method and apparatus is provided, which allow a set of checks to be deposited in a stack, where each check can be oriented in any of sixteen different ways. In one embodiment of the invention, the ATM check reader has an MICR and OCR scanner/reader. When a set of checks is deposited, each check is subjected to a MICR scan and an OCR scan. If the check is aligned correctly and right side up, then the check is processed based on the MICR scan information. If the check is not aligned correctly or is upside down, then the MICR read fails because the magnetic stripe on the check is not where it is expected to be. Rather than rejecting the check at this point, the invention uses the OCR scan information from both the front and back of the check to process the check.

Abstract: An Any Which Way Check Acceptance method and apparatus is provided, which allow a set of checks to be deposited in a stack, where each check can be oriented in any of sixteen different ways. In one embodiment of the invention, the ATM check reader has an MICR and OCR scanner/reader. When a set of checks is deposited, each check is subjected to a MICR scan and an OCR scan. If the check is aligned correctly and right side up, then the check is processed based on the MICR scan information. If the check is not aligned correctly or is upside down, then the MICR read fails because the magnetic stripe on the check is not where it is expected to be. Rather than rejecting the check at this point, the invention uses the OCR scan information from both the front and back of the check to process the check.