Article depositing apparatus

A deposit processing module comprising:

• a first transport having a first end for receiving envelope deposits and single document deposits and a second end from which said deposits are discharged,
• printing means disposed along said first transport for printing deposit information on said deposits,
• a second transport having an end positioned adjacent said second end of said first transport for receiving and returning single document deposits to and from said first transport,
• at least one reversible drive belt having a portion thereof in communication with said first transport for conveying envelope deposits and single document deposits therealong and having a portion thereof in communication with said second transport for conveying single document deposits therealong,
• a magnetic charge/read head disposed along said second transport for charging and reading magnetic information on said single document deposits,
• an imager disposed along said second transport for imaging one side of said single document deposits, and
• a gate mechanism associated with said second end of said first transport, said gate mechanism having a contoured guide surface which is movable between a first position wherein envelope deposits and single document deposits may be discharged from said processing module from said second end of said first transport and a second position wherein single document deposits may be transported back and forth between said first transport and said second transport by said reversible drive belt.

A deposit processing module comprising:

• a first transport having a first end for receiving envelope deposits and single document deposits and a second end from which said deposits are discharged,
• printing means disposed along said first transport for printing deposit information on said deposits,
• a second transport having an end positioned adjacent said second end of said first transport for receiving and returning single document deposits to and from said first transport,
• a magnetic charge/read head disposed along said second transport for charging and reading magnetic information on said single document deposits,
• an imager disposed along said second transport for imaging one side of said single document deposits,
• a gate mechanism associated with said second end of said first transport, said gate mechanism being movable between a first position wherein envelope deposits and single document deposits may be discharged from said processing module from said second end of said first transport and a Second position wherein single document deposits may be transported between said first transport and said second transport, and
• a plurality of deposit storage locations disposed adjacent said second end of said first transport, said deposit processing module is pivotally movable about a fixed axis between said plurality of deposit storage locations.

A deposit processing module comprising:

• a first transport having a first end for receiving envelope deposits and single document deposits and a second end from which said deposits are discharged,
• printing means disposed along said first transport for printing deposit information on said deposits,
• a second transport having an end positioned adjacent said second end of said first transport for receiving and returning single document deposits to and from said first transport,
• a magnetic charge/read head disposed along said second transport for charging and reading magnetic information on said single document deposits,
• an imager disposed along said second transport for imaging one side of said single document deposits,
• a gate mechanism associated with said second end of said first transport, said gate mechanism being movable between a first position wherein envelope deposits and single document deposits may be discharged from said processing module from said second end of said first transport and a second position wherein single document deposits may be transported between said first transport and said second transport
• an elongated platen having opposite facing elongated planar surfaces,
• an endless belt encircling said platen having a first belt run extending along one of said opposite facing elongated surfaces and a second belt run extending along the other of said opposite facing surface,
• reversible drive means for moving said belt around said platen,
• first plate means adjacent said one of said opposite facing elongated surfaces in operative engagement with said first belt run to define said first transport and being operable to move said envelope deposits and single document deposits along said platen, and
• second plate means adjacent said other of said opposite facing elongated planar surfaces in operative engagement with said second belt run to define said second transport and being operable to move single document deposits along said platen.

A depository for receiving envelopes, checks, utility bills, or other sheet notes comprising:

• a deposit storage module having a plurality of deposit storage locations therein,
• a deposit receiving module having:
• a printer for printing deposit information on a deposit,
• a magnetic charge and read head for magnetically charging and reading coded information on a deposit,
• an imager for copying the surface of a deposit,
• a receiving end for receiving deposits,
• a discharge end for discharging said deposits to said deposit storage module, and
• means for pivoting said receiving module about a fixed axis among a number of positions corresponding to said deposit storage locations.

A deposit processing module comprising:

• an elongated platen having opposite facing elongated planar surfaces,
• a single endless belt encircling said platen having a first belt run extending along one of said opposite facing elongated surfaces and a second belt run extending along the other of said opposite facing surfaces,
• reversible drive means for conveying said belt around said platen,
• first plate means adjacent said one of said opposite facing elongated surfaces in operative engagement with said first belt run to define a first transport,
• second plate means adjacent said other of said opposite facing elongated planar surfaces in operative engagement with said second belt run to define a second transport, and
• a gate member disposed at one end of said platen and being movable relative thereto, said gate member having a contoured surface positionable adjacent said belt for conveying deposits between said first transport and said second transport.

A deposit processing device for receiving envelope deposits and single document deposits comprising:

• a deposit processing module including:
• a first transport path dimensioned to receive envelope deposits or single document deposits,
• printer means disposed along said first transport path for printing information onto said envelope deposit or said single document deposit,
• a second transport path adjacent said first transport path dimensioned to receive single document deposits therefrom,
• magnetic scanning means disposed along said second transport path for scanning a single document deposit for coded information thereon,
• imager means disposed along said second transport path for obtaining an image of a single document deposit thereon,
• at least one reversible belt loop for conveying envelope deposits and single document deposits along said first transport path and for conveying single document deposits along said second transport path,
• gate means for operatively connecting said first transport path with said second transport path to permit single document deposits to be conveyed back and forth between said first transport path and said second transport path, and
• means for duplexing single document deposits to permit scanning and imaging of both sides of a single document deposit.

A deposit processing device for receiving envelope deposits and single document deposits comprising:

• a deposit processing module including:
• a first transport path dimensioned to receive envelope deposits or single document deposits,
• printer means disposed along said first transport path for printing information onto said envelope deposit or said single document deposit,
• a second transport path adjacent said first transport path dimensioned to receive single document deposits therefrom,
• magnetic scanning means disposed along said second transport path for scanning a single document deposit for coded information thereon,
• imager means disposed along said second transport path for obtaining an image of a single document deposit thereon,
• conveyer means for conveying envelope deposits and single document deposits along said first transport path and for conveying single document deposits along said second transport path,
• gate means for operatively connecting said first transport path with said second transport path to permit single document deposits to be conveyed therebetween, and
• means for duplexing single document deposits to permit scanning and imaging of both sides of a single document deposit,
• wherein said document processing module includes a deposit receiving end for receiving into said deposit processing device envelope deposits and single document deposits and a deposit discharge end for discharging deposits from said deposit processing device;
• and
• further comprising means for pivoting said deposit processing module about a fixed axis to move said deposit discharge end.

A deposit processing module having:

• a deposit receiving end,
• a deposit discharge end,
• a first deposit transport path extending between said deposit receiving end and said deposit discharge end,
• a second deposit transport path having one end positioned adjacent said deposit discharge end,
• printer means for printing information onto a deposit,
• magnetic scanning means for scanning a deposit for coded information thereon,
• imager means for obtaining an image of a deposit, said primer means, magnetic scanning means and said imager means being positioned along said first and second deposit transport paths,
• reversible conveyor means for conveying a deposit along said first and second deposit transport paths,
• a gate member movable to a position wherein said first deposit transport path is connected to said second deposit transport path, and
• means for pivoting said deposit processing module about a fixed axis to move said deposit discharge end to a plurality of locations.

A deposit processing device for receiving deposits including envelope deposits and single document deposits comprising:

• a deposit processing module having a deposit receiving end and a deposit discharge end, said deposit processing module including:
• transport path(s) extending from said deposit receiving end to said deposit discharge end dimensioned to receive envelope deposits or single document deposits,
• printer means disposed along said transport path(s) for printing information onto said envelope deposit or said single document deposit,
• magnetic scanning means disposed along said transport path(s) for scanning a deposit for coded information thereon,
• imager means disposed along said transport path(s) for obtaining an image of a deposit thereon,
• conveyor means for conveying envelope deposits and single document deposits along said transport path(s),
• gate means for operatively connecting said transport path(s) to permit deposits to be conveyed therebetween,
• a deposit storage module adjacent said deposit discharge end of said deposit processing module having a plurality of storage locations including at least one envelope storage location and at least one single document storage location,
• means for moving said deposit processing module relative to said deposit storage module to position said discharge end of said document processing module adjacent one of said storage locations, and
• means for duplexing deposits to permit scanning and imaging of both sides of a deposit.