Method and apparatus for discriminating and counting documents

A currency identification system for identifying currency bills of different denominations comprising:

• a discriminating unit for retrieving a given type of characteristic information from a bill, said discriminating unit comprising at least three laterally displaced scanheads retrieving said type of characteristic information by scanning said bill along laterally displaced segments and generating laterally displaced scanned patterns for the laterally displaced segments;
• a memory for storing master characteristic information of said given type associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying;
• said memory storing master characteristic patterns associated with genuine bills of a plurality of denominations, said memory storing laterally displaced master patterns associated with laterally displaced scans for at least one of said denominations;
• and
• a signal processing means for comparing laterally displaced scanned patterns with laterally displaced master patterns associated with corresponding laterally displaced scans of at least one genuine bill;
• said signal processing means generating an indication of the identity of said bill based on said comparison when said scanned patterns sufficiently match said master patterns.

A currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of a plurality of denominations and a plurality of sizes comprising:

• a transport mechanism for transporting bills, one at a time, along a transport path past a discriminating unit, said transport path being at least as wide as the widest type of bill that the system is designed to discriminate;
• said discriminating unit retrieving characteristic information from a bill using a scanhead located near the center of said transport path and generating a scanned pattern;
• a memory for storing at least one master characteristic pattern associated with each genuine bill which the system is designed to discriminate;
• said memory storing master characteristic patterns associated with genuine bills of a plurality of denominations, said memory storing a first master characteristic pattern generated by scanning a genuine bill having a first denomination along a first segment and a second master characteristic pattern generated by scanning a genuine bill having the first denomination along a second segment that is laterally displaced from the first segment, said master characteristic patterns associated with laterally displaced scans assisting in compensating for lateral displacement of said bill relative to the center of said transport path;
• and
• a signal processing means for comparing the scanned pattern generated from using said scanhead with the first and second master characteristic patterns associated with laterally displaced scans;
• said signal processing means generating an indication of the identity of said bill based on said comparison when said scanned pattern sufficiently matches a master pattern.

A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills of different denominations and rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, said device comprising:

• an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated;
• a transport mechanism for transporting said bills, one at a time, along a transport path past a discriminating unit to a single output receptacle, said discriminating unit retrieving characteristic information from said bills;
• a memory for storing master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying;
• said memory storing master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from at least two currency systems;
• a currency system selection device for designating one or more of said at least two currency systems;
• a signal processor comparing said retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with said designated one or more of said at least two currency systems;
• said signal processor generating an indication of the identity of said bill based on said comparison when said retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches said master characteristic information associated with said designated one or more of said at least two currency systems.

A method for rapidly evaluating a stack of currency bills of different denominations using a currency evaluation device, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated in an input receptacle of said currency evaluation device;
• transporting said bills under control of said device, one at a time, along a transport path;
• evaluating a first bill by retrieving characteristic information therefrom;
• comparing said retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with at least two currency systems;
• identifying with which one of said at least two currency systems said first bill is associated;
• evaluating subsequent bills by retrieving characteristic information therefrom;
• comparing characteristic information retrieved from subsequent bills only with master characteristic information associated with said one of said at least two currency systems said first bill is associated.

A currency identification system for identifying currency bills of a plurality of denominations and a plurality of sizes comprising:

• a transport mechanism for transporting bills, one at a time, along a transport path past a discriminating unit, said transport path being at least as wide as the widest type of bill that the system is designed to discriminate;
• said discriminating unit retrieving characteristic information from a bill using a scanhead positioned along said transport path and generating a scanned pattern;
• a memory for storing at least one masters characteristic pattern associated with each genuine bill which the system is designed to discriminate;
• said memory storing master characteristic patterns associated with genuine bills of a plurality of denominations, said memory storing a first master characteristic pattern generated by scanning a genuine bill having a first denomination along a first segment and a second master characteristic pattern generated by scanning a genuine bill having the first denomination along a second segment that is laterally displaced from the first segment, said master characteristic patterns associated with laterally displaced scans assisting in compensating for lateral displacement of said bill relative to said transport path;
• and
• a signal processor for comparing the scanned pattern generated from using said scanhead with the first and second master characteristic patterns associated with laterally displaced scans;
• said signal processing means generating an indication of the identity of said bill based on said comparison when said scanned pattern sufficiently matches a master pattern.

A currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems, said device comprising:

• an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated;
• a transport mechanism for transporting said bills, one at a time, along a transport path past a discriminating unit, said discriminating unit retrieving rectangularly shaped samples of characteristic information from said bills by employing a scanhead;
• said samples having one dimension measuring about 1/2 inch;
• a memory for storing master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying;
• said memory storing master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from at least two currency systems;
• and
• a signal processing means for comparing said retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill;
• said signal processing means generating an indication of the identity of said bill based on said comparison when said retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches said master characteristic information.

A multiple currency system currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems comprising:

• a discriminating unit for retrieving characteristic information from one or more bills, the discriminating unit comprising one or more scanheads for scanning one or more segments along bills, wherein the discriminating unit scans substantially less than the entire bill;
• a memory for storing 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 for comparing 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 the bill based on the comparison when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches the master characteristic information.

A method for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems using a currency evaluation device, the method comprising the steps of the device:

• retrieving characteristic information from a bill including scanning one or more segments along the bill, wherein the scanning is of substantially less than the entire bill;
• comparing the retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill, the master characteristic information being stored in a memory of the device, the memory having stored therein master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the device is capable of identifying, including master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of at least two currency systems;
• and
• generating an indication of the identity of the bill based on said comparing when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches the master characteristic information.

A multiple currency system currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems comprising:

• a discriminating unit for retrieving characteristic information from one or more bills, the discriminating unit comprising one or more scanheads for scanning one or more segments along bills, wherein the discriminating unit scans substantially less than the entire bill and wherein the one or more scanheads are positioned so that the characteristic information retrieved by scanning along the one or more segments is sufficient to discriminate the denominations of bills of a plurality of currency systems;
• a memory for storing 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;
• and
• a signal processing means for comparing 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 the bill based on the comparison when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches the master characteristic information.

A method for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems using a currency evaluation device, the method comprising the steps of the device:

• retrieving characteristic information from a bill, including scanning one or more selected segments along the bill, wherein the scanning is of substantially less than the entire bill and wherein the selected segments for scanning are selected so that the characteristic information retrieved by scanning along the one or more selected segments is sufficient to discriminate among the denominations of bills of a plurality of currency systems;
• comparing the retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill, the master characteristic information being stored in a memory of the device, the memory having stored therein master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the device is capable of identifying, including master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of at least two currency systems;
• and
• generating an indication of the identity of the bill based on the comparing when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches the master characteristic information.

A multiple currency system currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems comprising:

• a discriminating unit for retrieving characteristic information from one or more bills, the discriminating unit comprising at least one scanhead for scanning at least one segment along bills, wherein the discriminating unit utilizes characteristic information derived from only selected areas of the bill containing sufficient information to identify the scanned bill and to discriminate the scanned bill from other bills in said plurality of currency systems, the selected areas totaling substantially less than the entire bill;
• a memory for storing 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;
• and
• a signal processing means for comparing 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 the bill based on the comparison when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches the master characteristic information.

A method for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems using a currency evaluation device, the method comprising the steps of the device:

• retrieving characteristic information from a bill, including scanning at least one segment along the bill;
• comparing the retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill, the master characteristic information being stored in a memory of the device, the memory having stored therein master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the device is capable of identifying, including master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of at least two currency systems;
• and
• generating an indication of the identity of the bill based on the comparing when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches the master characteristic information, wherein the device utilizes characteristic information derived from only selected areas of the bill containing sufficient information to identify the scanned bill and to discriminate the scanned bill from other bills in said plurality of currency systems, the selected areas totaling substantially less than the entire bill.

A multiple currency system currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems comprising:

• a discriminating unit for retrieving characteristic information from one or more bills, the discriminating unit comprising at least one scanhead for scanning at least one segment along bills;
• a memory for storing master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying;
• said master characteristic information corresponding to only selected areas of a bill containing sufficient information to identify the bill and to discriminate the bill from other bills in said at least two currency systems, the selected areas totaling substantially less than the entire bill;
• the memory storing master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of at least two currency systems;
• and
• a signal processing means for comparing 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 the bill based on the comparison when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches the master characteristic information.

A method for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems using a currency evaluation device, the method comprising the steps of the device:

• retrieving characteristic information from a bill, including scanning at least one segment along the bill;
• comparing the retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill, the master characteristic information being stored in a memory of the device, the memory having stored therein master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the device is capable of identifying, including master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of at least two currency systems, the master characteristic information corresponding to only selected areas of a bill containing sufficient information to identify the bill and to discriminate the bill from other bills in said at least two currency systems, the selected areas totaling substantially less than the entire bill;
• and
• generating an indication of the identity of the bill based on the comparing when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches the master characteristic information.

A compact currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems comprising:

• an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated;
• a transport mechanism for transporting the bills, one at a time, along a transport path past a discriminating unit to a single output receptacle, the discriminating unit retrieving characteristic information from the bills;
• a memory for storing 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 for comparing 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 the bill based on the comparison when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches the master characteristic information;
• and
• further comprising a currency system selection device for designating one or more of the at least two currency systems whereby the signal processor only compares the retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with genuine bills from the designated one or more currency systems.

A currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly evaluating all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

• an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be evaluated;
• a transport mechanism for transporting the bills from the input receptacle, one at a time, along a transport path past a discriminating unit to a single output receptacle, the discriminating unit retrieving characteristic information from the bills;
• a memory for storing 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 currency system selection device for designating one or more of the at least two currency systems;
• a signal processor comparing the retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with the designated one or more of the at least two currency systems;
• the signal processor generating an indication of the identity of the bill based on the comparison when the retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches the master characteristic information associated with the designated one or more of the at least two currency systems.

A multiple currency system currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems comprising:

• a transport mechanism for transporting a bill along a transport path past a discriminating unit to a single output receptacle, the discriminating unit retrieving bill-type characteristic information from the bill;
• a memory for storing master bill-type characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying;
• the memory storing master bill-type characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from at least two currency systems;
• the memory also storing master authenticating information associated with each of the at least two currency systems;
• a signal processor for comparing said retrieved bill-type characteristic information with master bill-type characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill;
• the signal processor generating an indication of the identity of the bill based on the comparison when the retrieved bill-type characteristic information sufficiently matches the master bill-type characteristic information, the signal processor thus determining with which one of the at least two currency systems that the bill is associated;
• and
• an authenticating unit for authenticating the bill identified by the signal processor by retrieving authenticating information from the bill and comparing the retrieved authenticating information to master authenticating information associated with the one of the at least two currency systems that the bill is associated.

A method for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems using a currency evaluation device, the method comprising the steps of the device:

• transporting bills, one at a time, past a discriminating unit to a single output receptacle,
• the discriminating unit retrieving bill-type characteristic information from a bill;
• comparing the retrieved bill-type characteristic information with master bill-type characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill, the master bill-type
• characteristic information being stored in a memory of the device, the memory having stored therein master bill-type characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the device is capable of identifying, including master bill-type characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of at least two currency systems, the memory also having stored therein master authenticating information associated with each of the at least two currency systems;
• generating an indication of the identity of said bill including the currency system with which the bill is associated based on said comparing when said retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches said master characteristic information;
• retrieving authenticating information from the bill;
• and
• authenticating the bill by comparing the retrieved authenticating information to master authenticating information associated with the currency system with which the bill is associated.

A currency evaluation method for identifying currency bills different denominations of a plurality of currency systems using a currency evaluation device, the method comprising the steps of:

• the device:
• transporting bills, one at a time, along a transport path past a discriminating region to a single output receptacle,
• retrieving characteristic information from a bill passing the discriminating region;
• comparing the retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill, the master characteristic information being stored in a memory of the device, the memory having stored therein master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the device is capable of identifying, including master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from each of at least two currency systems;
• and
• generating an indication of the identity of said bill based on said comparison when said retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches said master characteristic information;
• the method further comprising the step of designating one or more of said at least two currency systems whereby said comparing step compares said retrieved characteristic information only with master characteristic information associated with genuine bills from said designated one or more currency systems.

A currency identification method for identifying currency bills of different denominations using a currency evaluation device, the device performing the method comprising the steps of:

• retrieving a given type of characteristic information from a bill by scanning said bill along at least three laterally displaced segments, and generating laterally displaced scanned patterns for the laterally displaced segments;
• comparing laterally displaced scanned patterns with laterally displaced master patterns associated with corresponding laterally displaced scans of at least one genuine bill, the master patterns being stored in a memory of the device, the memory having stored therein master characteristic information of said given type associated with each genuine bill which the method is capable of identifying;
• said master characteristic information including master patterns associated with genuine bills of a plurality of denominations, and laterally displaced master patterns associated with laterally displaced scans of at least one genuine bill of at least one of said denominations;
• and
• generating an indication of the identity of said bill based on said comparison when said scanned patterns sufficiently match said master patterns.

A currency evaluation method for identifying currency bills of a plurality of denominations and a plurality of widths using a currency evaluation device, said method comprising the steps of the device:

• transporting bills having a plurality of widths, one at a time, along a transport path past a discriminating unit, said transport path being at least as wide as the widest type of bill that the method is designed to identify;
• retrieving characteristic information from a bill to be identified by using a scanhead located near a center of said transport path;
• generating a scanned pattern corresponding to said characteristic information from said retrieving step;
• comparing the scanned pattern generated from using said scanhead with first and second master patterns associated with laterally displaced scans, the first and second master patterns being stored in a memory of the device, the memory having stored therein at least one master pattern associated with each genuine bill which the system is designed to discriminate including master patterns associated with genuine bills having a plurality of widths, wherein the first master pattern is generated by retrieving characteristic information from a genuine bill having a first denomination along a first segment of the genuine bill and the second master pattern is generated by retrieving characteristic information from a genuine bill having the first denomination along a second segment of the genuine bill that is laterally displaced from the first segment, a genuine bill having the first denomination having a width shorter than the widest type bill;
• the master patterns associated with laterally displaced scans assisting in compensating for lateral displacement of a bill relative to the center of the transport path so that if a bill to be discriminated having the first denomination is transported past the discriminating unit in manner whereby a segment corresponding to the first segment is scanned then the resulting scanned pattern will sufficiently match the first master pattern and if a bill to be discriminated having the first denomination is transported past the discriminating unit in manner whereby a segment corresponding to the second segment is scanned then the resulting scanned pattern will sufficiently match the second master pattern;
• and
• generating an indication of the identity of said bill based on said comparing when said scanned pattern sufficiently matches a stored master pattern.

A currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of different denominations of a plurality of currency systems comprising:

• a discriminating unit for retrieving characteristic information from bills;
• a memory for storing master characteristic information associated with each genuine bill which the system is capable of identifying;
• said memory storing master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill from at least two currency systems;
• and
• a signal processor for comparing said retrieved characteristic information with master characteristic information associated with at least one genuine bill;
• said signal processor generating an indication of the identity of said bill based on said comparison when said retrieved characteristic information sufficiently matches said master characteristic information;
• wherein said signal processor compares retrieved characteristic information from a first bill with master characteristic information from a plurality of currency systems, said signal processor identifying which one of said plurality of currency systems said first bill is associated with and designating said identified one of said plurality of currency systems whereby said processor thereafter compares retrieved characteristic information from subsequent bills only with master characteristic information associated with genuine bills from said designated one of said plurality of currency systems.

A currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of a plurality of denominations and a plurality of sizes comprising:

• an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be processed, the bills being of different sizes, the input receptacle having alignment guides being approximately as wide as the widest type of bill that the device is to accommodate;
• a transport mechanism for transporting bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle along a transport path having a center past a discriminating unit;
• the alignment guides aligning bills of the widest type with the transport path so that the center of the widest type bills is aligned with the center of the transport path, the alignment guides however not necessarily aligning bills that are not as wide as the widest type bills with the center of the transport path but rather permitting the center of shorter bills to be shifted laterally respect to the center of the transport path;
• the discriminating unit retrieving characteristic information from a bill to be discriminated using a scanhead located near the center of the transport path and generating a scanned pattern;
• a memory for storing at least one master characteristic pattern associated with each genuine bill which the system is designed to discriminate;
• the memory storing master characteristic patterns associated with genuine bills of a plurality of denominations, some of the genuine bills being of different sizes, the memory storing a first master characteristic pattern generated by scanning a genuine bill having a first denomination along a first segment located near the center of the genuine bill and a second master characteristic pattern generated by scanning a genuine bill having the first denomination along a second segment that is slightly laterally displaced from the first segment, a genuine bill having the first denomination being shorter than the widest type bill;
• the master characteristic patterns associated with laterally displaced scans assisting in compensating for the lateral displacement of a bill having the first denomination relative to the center of the transport path so that if a bill having the first denomination is transported past the discriminating unit with its center aligned with the center of the transport path then the resulting scanned pattern will sufficiently match the first master pattern, and so that if a bill having the first denomination is transported past the discriminating unit with its center slightly laterally displaced from the center of the transport path in a manner corresponding to the displacement associated with the second master pattern then the resulting scanned pattern will sufficiently match the second master pattern;
• and
• a signal processor for comparing the scanned pattern generated from using the scanhead to scan the bill to be discriminated with stored master patterns including the first and second master characteristic patterns associated with laterally displaced scans;
• the signal processing means generating an indication of the identity of the bill to be discriminated based on the comparison when the scanned pattern sufficiently matches a stored master pattern, the indication of identity including an indication of the denomination of the bill.

A currency evaluation device for identifying currency bills of a plurality of widths comprising:

• an input receptacle for receiving a stack of bills to be processed, the bills being of different widths, the input receptacle having alignment guides being approximately as wide as the widest type of bill that the device is to accommodate;
• a transport mechanism for transporting bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle along a transport path past a discriminating unit;
• the alignment guides aligning bills of the widest type with the transport path so that bills of widest type are transported past the discriminating unit in an aligned manner, the alignment guides however not necessarily aligning bills that are not as wide as the widest type bills with discriminating unit but rather permitting shorter bills to be shifted laterally respect to the discriminating unit;
• the discriminating unit retrieving characteristic information from a bill to be discriminated using a detector having a given lateral position relative to the width of the transport path to scan a segment of the bill and generating a scanned pattern;
• a memory for storing at least one master characteristic pattern associated with each genuine bill which the system is designed to discriminate;
• the memory storing master characteristic patterns associated with genuine bills of a plurality of widths, the memory storing a first master characteristic pattern generated by scanning a genuine bill having a first denomination along a first segment and a second master characteristic pattern generated by scanning a genuine bill having the first denomination along a second segment that is laterally displaced from the first segment, a genuine bill having the first denomination being shorter than the widest type bill;
• the master characteristic patterns associated with laterally displaced scans assisting in compensating for the lateral displacement of a bill having the first denomination relative to the given lateral position of the transport path so that if a bill having the first denomination is transported past the discriminating unit in a manner that a segment corresponding to the first segment is aligned with the detector then the resulting scanned pattern will sufficiently match the first master pattern, and so that if a bill having the first denomination is transported past the discriminating unit in a manner that a segment corresponding to the second segment is aligned with the detector then the resulting scanned pattern will sufficiently match the second master pattern;
• and
• a signal processor for comparing the scanned pattern generated from using the detector to scan the bill to be discriminated with stored master patterns including the first and second master characteristic patterns associated with laterally displaced scans;
• the signal processing means generating an indication of the identity of the bill to be discriminated based on the comparison when the scanned pattern sufficiently matches a stored master pattern.