Method and apparatus for discriminating and counting document

A currency denominating device comprising:

• a bill input receptacle;
• at least one output receptacle;
• a bill transport defining a transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle;
• a sensor positioned adjacent to the transport path;
• a control panel having an input device adapted to receive input from an operator of the device;
• and
• a processor electrically coupled to the sensor and the control panel and programmed to:
• (a) denominate bills;
• (b) keep track of the value of bills processed;
• (c) set a flag when the denominating processor is unable to identify the denomination of a bill;
• (d) suspend the operation of the device when the flag is set;
• (e) enable the operator, upon suspension of the operation of the device, to designate via the control panel the denomination of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the processor;
• and
• (f) enable the operator, upon suspension of the operation of the device, to restart the operation of the device without designating the denomination of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the processor.

Currency denominating apparatus comprising:

• a bill input receptacle;
• at least one output receptacle;
• a bill transport adapted to transfer bills between the input receptacle and the output receptacle;
• one or more sensors positioned proximate the bill transport and operable to generate signals indicative of denominational characteristics of bills transported by the transport;
• a plurality of denomination keys corresponding to a plurality of denominations;
• a continuation key;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• (a) denominate bills transported by the bill transport in response to the signals generated by the one or more sensors,
• (b) keep track of the denominations of the bills in one or more counters;
• (c) suspend operation of the transport when the processor is unable to denominate a bill based on the signals;
• (d) reflect, upon selection of one of the denomination keys after the operation of the transport has been suspended, the denomination corresponding to the selected denomination key in the one or more counters;
• and
• (e) restart the operation of the transport without adversely affecting the one or more counters upon selection of the continuation key after the operation of the transport has been suspended.

Currency denominating apparatus comprising:

• a bill input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills;
• at least one output receptacle;
• a bill transport adapted to transfer bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle;
• one or more sensors positioned proximate the bill transport and operable to generate signals indicative of denominational characteristics of bills transported by the transport;
• a plurality of denomination keys corresponding to a plurality of denominations;
• a continuation key;
• a denomination counter corresponding to each of the plurality of denominations;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• (a) denominate bills transported by the bill transport in response to the signals generated by the one or more sensors,
• (b) keep track of the number of bills of each of the plurality of denominations by incrementing the corresponding denomination counter each time the processor denominates a bill;
• (c) suspend operation of the transport when the processor is unable to denominate a bill based on the signals with the bill which the processor was unable to denominate being located at a position where it can be conveniently examined and if desired removed from the device;
• (d) upon a single depression of one of the denomination keys after the operation of the transport has been suspended, increment the denomination counter corresponding to the denomination of the depressed denomination key and restart the operation of the transport;
• and
• (e) restart the operation of the transport without adversely affecting the denomination counters upon depression of the continuation key after the operation of the transport has been suspended.

Currency denominating apparatus comprising:

• a bill input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills;
• at least one output receptacle;
• a bill transport adapted to transfer bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle;
• one or more sensors positioned proximate the bill transport and operable to generate signals indicative of denominational characteristics of bills transported by the transport;
• a plurality of denomination keys corresponding to a plurality of denominations;
• a continuation key;
• a denomination counter corresponding to each of the plurality of denominations;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• (a) denominate bills transported by the bill transport in response to the signals generated by the one or more sensors,
• (b) keep track of the number of bills of each of the plurality of denominations by incrementing the corresponding denomination counter each time the processor denominates a bill;
• (c) suspend operation of the transport when the processor is unable to denominate a bill based on the signals with the bill which the processor was unable to denominate being located in the output receptacle where it can be conveniently examined and if desired removed from the device;
• (d) upon a single depression of one of the denomination keys after the operation of the transport has been suspended, increment the denomination counter corresponding to the denomination of the depressed denomination key and restart the operation of the transport;
• and
• (e) restart the operation of the transport without adversely affecting the denomination counters upon depression of the continuation key after the operation of the transport has been suspended.

Currency denominating apparatus comprising:

• a bill input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills;
• at least one output receptacle;
• a bill transport adapted to transfer bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle;
• one or more sensors positioned proximate the bill transport and operable to generate signals indicative of denominational characteristics of bills transported by the transport;
• a plurality of denomination keys corresponding to a plurality of denominations;
• a continuation key;
• a denomination counter corresponding to each of the plurality of denominations;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• (a) denominate bills transported by the bill transport in response to the signals generated by the one or more sensors,
• (b) keep track of the number of bills of each of the plurality of denominations by incrementing the corresponding denomination counter each time the processor denominates a bill;
• (c) suspend operation of the transport when the processor is unable to denominate a bill based on the signals with the bill which the processor was unable to denominate being located as the last bill delivered to the output receptacle where it can be conveniently examined and if desired removed from the device;
• (d) upon a single depression of one of the denomination keys after the operation of the transport has been suspended, increment the denomination counter corresponding to the denomination of the depressed denomination key and restart the operation of the transport;
• and
• (e) restart the operation of the transport without adversely affecting the denomination counters upon depression of the continuation key after the operation of the transport has been suspended.

A compact, high-speed currency denominating apparatus comprising:

• a bill input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills;
• a single one output receptacle;
• a bill transport adapted to transfer bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacle at rate of at least 1000 bills per minute;
• one or more sensors positioned proximate the bill transport and operable to generate signals indicative of denominational characteristics of bills transported by the transport;
• a plurality of denomination keys corresponding to a plurality of denominations;
• a continuation key;
• a denomination counter corresponding to each of the plurality of denominations;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• (a) denominate bills transported by the bill transport in response to the signals generated by the one or more sensors,
• (b) keep track of the number of bills of each of the plurality of denominations by incrementing the corresponding denomination counter each time the processor denominates a bill;
• (c) suspend operation of the transport when the processor is unable to denominate a bill based on the signals with the bill which the processor was unable to denominate being located as the last bill delivered to the output receptacle where it can be conveniently examined and if desired removed from the device;
• (d) upon a single depression of one of the denomination keys after the operation of the transport has been suspended, increment the denomination counter corresponding to the denomination of the depressed denomination key and restart the operation of the transport;
• and
• (e) restart the operation of the transport without adversely affecting the denomination counters upon depression of the continuation key after the operation of the transport has been suspended.

A high-speed currency denominating apparatus comprising:

• a bill input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills;
• exactly two output receptacles;
• a bill transport adapted to transfer bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to one of the output receptacles at rate of at least 1000 bills per minute;
• one or more sensors positioned proximate the bill transport and operable to generate signals indicative of denominational characteristics of bills transported by the transport;
• a plurality of denomination keys corresponding to a plurality of denominations;
• a continuation key;
• a denomination counter corresponding to each of the plurality of denominations;
• and
• a processor programmed to:
• (a) denominate bills transported by the bill transport in response to the signals generated by the one or more sensors,
• (b) keep track of the number of bills of each of the plurality of denominations by incrementing the corresponding denomination counter each time the processor denominates a bill;
• (c) suspend operation of the transport when the processor is unable to denominate a bill based on the signals with the bill which the processor was unable to denominate being located as the last bill delivered to one of the output receptacles where it can be conveniently examined and if desired removed from the device;
• (d) upon a single depression of one of the denomination keys after the operation of the transport has been suspended, increment the denomination counter corresponding to the denomination of the depressed denomination key and restart the operation of the transport;
• and
• (e) restart the operation of the transport without adversely affecting the denomination counters upon depression of the continuation key after the operation of the transport has been suspended.

A currency denominating device comprising:

• a bill input receptacle;
• at least one output receptacle;
• a bill transport defining a transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle;
• at least one sensor positioned adjacent to the transport path;
• a bill denominating processor electrically coupled to the sensor;
• one or more counters keeping track of the value of bills processed;
• a controller programmed to suspend the operation of the device when the denominating processor is unable to identify the denomination of a bill;
• a plurality of denomination keys associated with different bill denominations, the denomination keys enabling the operator to designate the value of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the processor upon suspension of the operation of the device;
• and
• a continuation key enabling the operator, upon suspension of the operation of the device, to restart the operation of the device without designating the value of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the processor.

A currency counting and discrimination device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly counting and discriminating the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills comprising:

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills to be discriminated;
• a discriminating unit adapted to discriminate the denomination of the currency bills;
• one or more output receptacles adapted to receive the currency bills after being discriminated by the discriminating unit;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the currency bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle past a sensor of the discriminating unit and to the one or more output receptacles;
• one or more counters adapted to keep track of the value of bills discriminated;
• a controller programmed to suspend the operation of the transport mechanism when the discriminating unit is unable to identify the denomination of a bill;
• and
• an operator interface capable of receiving input from an operator of the device, the interface enabling, upon suspension of the operation of the device, the operator to either (a) indicate the value of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the discriminating unit and restart the operation of the device or (b) restart the operation of the device without indicating the value of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the discriminating unit.

A currency denominating device comprising:

• an input receptacle;
• one or more output receptacles;
• a bill transport defining a transport path between the input receptacle and the one or more output receptacles;
• a sensor positioned adjacent to the transport path;
• a bill denominating processor electrically coupled to the sensor;
• one or more counters keeping track of the value of bills processed;
• the processor being programmed to denominate bills and flag bills meeting or failing to meet predetermined criteria;
• value indicating means for an operator of said device to designate the value of any flagged bills, the means appropriately affecting the one or more counters;
• wherein the predetermined criteria is the denominating processor identifying the denomination of a bill and wherein the processor flags a bill failing to be identified by the processor by suspending the operation of the device, the device being halted so that the flagged bill is located at an identifiable location within the output receptacle when the bill transport stops.

An apparatus for processing paper currency having selected denominations which comprises:

• a bill input receptacle;
• a bill discrimination unit capable of denominating bills including bills of a plurality of denominations;
• counters operable to count bills of each denomination denominated by the bill discrimination unit or by the visual discrimination;
• one or more bill output receptacles;
• a bill transport operable to transport bills from the input receptacle past the bill discrimination unit to the bill output receptacles;
• a plurality of denomination keys corresponding to the plurality of denominations;
• a continuation key;
• and
• a programmable controller operable to actuate and coordinate operation of the bill transport and the bill discrimination unit, and to suspend operation of the transport in a manner that a bill that the discrimination unit can not denominate is positioned so as to enable visual discrimination of the bill, and to increment an appropriate counter upon selection of one of the denomination keys following suspension of the operation of the transport, and to restart the operation of the transport without incrementing one of the counters upon selection of the continuation key following suspension of the operation of the transport.

A currency denominating device comprising:

• a bill input receptacle;
• at least one output receptacle;
• a bill transport defining a transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle;
• a sensor positioned adjacent to the transport path;
• a bill denominating processor electrically coupled to the sensor;
• one or more counters electrically coupled to the processor keeping track of the value of bills processed;
• the processor being programmed to suspend the operation of the device when the processor is unable to identify the denomination of a bill;
• and
• a control panel enabling the operator to designate the value of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the processor, the bill whose denomination is not determined by the processor being a no call bill, the control panel alternatively enabling the operator to restart the operation of the device without designating the value of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the processor.

A currency denominating device comprising:

• a bill input receptacle;
• at least one output receptacle;
• a bill transport defining a transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle;
• a sensor positioned adjacent to the transport path;
• a bill denominating processor electrically coupled to the sensor;
• one or more counters keeping track of the value of bills processed;
• a flag associated with the processor that is set when the denominating processor is unable to identify the denomination of a bill, wherein the operation of the device is suspended when the flag is set;
• and
• a control panel having an input device to receive input from an operator of the device, the control panel enabling the operator to designate the denomination of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the processor, the bill whose denomination is not determined by the processor being a no call bill, the control panel additionally enabling the operator to restart the operation of the device without designating the denomination of a no call bill.

A currency counting and discrimination device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly counting and discriminating the bills in the stack comprising:

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills to be discriminated;
• a denomination discriminating unit adapted to discriminate the denomination of the currency bills;
• one or more output receptacles adapted to receive the currency bills after being discriminated by the discriminating unit;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the currency bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle past a sensor of the discriminating unit and to the one or more output receptacles;
• and
• one or more counters adapted to keep track of the value of bills discriminated;
• and
• a plurality of denomination keys, each key being associated with a given denomination;
• and
• a continuation key;
• wherein the operation of the device is suspended when the discriminating unit is unable to identify the denomination of a bill and wherein the selection of one of the plurality of denomination keys appropriately increments the one or more counters based on the denomination associated with the denomination key that is selected and wherein the selection of the continuation key restarts the operation of the device without adding the value of the unidentified bill to the one or more counters.

A bill counting and discrimination device for receiving a stack of bills, rapidly counting and discriminating the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills comprising:

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of bills to be discriminated;
• a denomination discriminating unit adapted to denominate the bills;
• an output receptacle adapted to receive the bills after being denominated by the discriminating unit;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle past a sensor of the discriminating unit to the output receptacle;
• either
• (a) one or more denomination counters;
• each counter keeping track of the number of denominated bills having to the associated denomination as determined by the discrimination unit;
• or
• (b) a total value counter maintaining the total value of the denominated bills as they are denominated by the discrimination unit;
• or
• (c) both one or more denomination counters and a total value counter;
• wherein the operation of the discrimination device is suspended when the discriminating unit is unable to identify the denomination of a bill;
• the operation of the device being stopped so that the unidentified bill is the last bill transported to the output receptacle before the operation of the device is suspended, thereby permitting an operator to conveniently examine the unidentified bill;
• denomination selection elements corresponding to one or more denominations whereby selection of one of the denomination selection elements increases either (i) a denomination counter corresponding to the unidentified bill, (ii) the total value counter by the value of the unidentified bill, or (iii) both and whereby the discrimination device resumes operation;
• the denomination selection elements enabling the operator to thereby conveniently increment a respective denomination counter and/or total value counter and to restart the operation of the device when the operator determines the unidentified bill is acceptable;
• and
• a continuation element the selection of which resumes operation of the discrimination device without increasing one of the denomination counters or the total value counter, thereby permitting the operator to remove the unidentified bill from the output receptacle before the discriminator resumes operation when the operator determines the unidentified bill is not acceptable.

A currency counting and denominating device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly counting and denominating the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills comprising:

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills to be discriminated;
• a discriminating unit adapted to discriminate the denomination of the currency bills;
• one or more output receptacles adapted to receive the currency bills after being denominated by the discriminating unit;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the currency bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle past a sensor of the discriminating unit and to the one or more output receptacles;
• one or more counters adapted to keep track of the bills discriminated;
• and
• wherein the operation of the device is suspended when the discriminating unit is unable to identify the denomination of a bill;
• denomination keys enabling an operator of the device to designate the denomination of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the discriminating unit;
• and
• a continuation key enabling an operator of the device to restart the device after the operation of the device has been suspended without adversely affecting the counters.

A currency counting and discrimination device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly counting and discriminating the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills comprising:

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills to be discriminated;
• a discriminating unit adapted to discriminate the denomination of the currency bills;
• one or more output receptacles adapted to receive the currency bills after being discriminated by the discriminating unit;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the currency bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle past a sensor of the discriminating unit and to the one or more output receptacles;
• and
• one or more counters keeping track of the bills discriminated;
• and
• a plurality of denomination keys, each key being associated with a given denomination;
• and
• a continuation key;
• wherein the operation of the device is suspended when the discriminating unit is unable to identify the denomination of a bill and wherein the depression of one of the plurality of denomination keys causes the corresponding denomination to be selected and wherein the depression of the continuation key causes the operation of the device to be resumed.

A currency counting and discrimination device for receiving a stack of currency bills, rapidly counting and discriminating the bills in the stack, and then re-stacking the bills comprising:

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of currency bills to be discriminated;
• a discriminating unit adapted to discriminate the denomination of the currency bills;
• one or more output receptacles adapted to receive the currency bills after being discriminated by the discriminating unit;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the currency bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle past a sensor of the discriminating unit and to the one or more output receptacles;
• and
• one or more counters keeping track of the bills discriminated;
• and
• a plurality of denomination keys, each key being associated with a given denomination;
• and
• one or more additional keys;
• wherein the operation of the device is suspended when the discriminating unit is unable to identify the denomination of a bill and wherein the depression of one of the plurality of denomination keys causes the corresponding denomination to be selected and wherein the depression of one of the additional keys causes the operation of the device to be resumed without adversely affecting the one or more counters.

A currency denominating device comprising:

• first means for receiving bills to be denominated;
• second means for receiving bills after they have been processed;
• means for transporting bills from the first means to the second means;
• means for denominating bills;
• means for keeping track of the value of bills processed;
• means for suspending the operation of the device when the means for denominating bills fails to identify the denomination of a bill;
• means for the operator to input the denomination of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the means for denominating, the bill whose denomination is not determined by the means for denominating being a no call bill;
• and
• means for the operator to cause the operation of the device to be resumed without adversely affecting the means for keeping track of the value of the bills.

A method of discriminating and counting currency bills comprising:

• receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle of a currency evaluation device;
• transferring the bills, under the control of the evaluation device, one at a time from the input receptacle, past a sensor of a discriminating unit, to an output receptacle;
• determining, under control of the evaluation device, the denomination of each passing bill;
• incrementing, under the control of the evaluation device, a count corresponding to one of a plurality of denominations based on the determined denomination of each passing bill when the device determines the denomination of a bill;
• stopping, under the control of the evaluation device, the transferring when the device is unable to determine the denomination of a bill so that the bill whose denomination is not determined is located at a predetermined position within the output receptacle, the bill whose denomination is not determined being termed a no call bill;
• an operator of the evaluation device examining the no call bill;
• and the operator either
• (a) depressing a key corresponding to the denomination of the no call bill when examining results in a determination that the bill is acceptable, whereby, under the control of the discrimination device, the corresponding count associated with the denomination of the no call bill is incremented and the transferring is continued;
• or
• (b) removing the no call bill without replacement when the examining does not result in a determination that the no call bill is acceptable and depressing a continuation key whereby, under the control of the bill evaluation device, the transferring is continued.

A method of discriminating and counting currency bills comprising:

• receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle of a currency denominating device;
• transferring, under the control of the device, the bills in the input receptacle one at a time past a denominating sensor to an output receptacle;
• denominating, under the control of the device, the bills based on a predetermined criterion;
• incrementing, under the control of the device, a count corresponding to one of a plurality of denominations of bills the device is capable of denominating when the device identifies a bill as satisfying the predetermined criterion;
• stopping, under the control of the device, the transferring when a bill fails to satisfy the predetermined criterion or when the device is unable to determine whether a bill satisfies the predetermined criterion, the transferring stopping so that the bill that triggered the stopping is located at a predetermined (an identifiable) position within the output receptacle;
• an operator of the device examining the triggering bill;
• and the operator either
• (a) depressing a key corresponding to the denomination of the triggering bill when the examining results in a determination that the bill is acceptable, whereby, under the control of the device, the corresponding count associated with the denomination of the triggering bill is incremented and the transferring is continued;
• or
• (b) removing the triggering bill without replacement when the examining does not result in a determination that the triggering bill is acceptable and depressing a continuation key whereby, under the control of the device, the transferring is continued.

A method of discriminating and counting currency bills using a currency discriminating device having denomination keys and a continuation key and one or more counters keeping track of bills processed by the device comprising:

• receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle of the currency discriminating device;
• feeding the bills in the input receptacle one at a time past a sensor to one or more output receptacles,
• generating a signal from the sensor;
• determining automatically the denomination of bills fed past the sensor using the signal from the sensor;
• incrementing an appropriate counter when the denomination of a bill is determined automatically;
• suspending the feeding when the denomination of a bill is not automatically determined;
• and either
• manually designating the denomination of a bill whose denomination is not automatically determined by depressing an appropriate denomination key or
• manually depressing the continuation key on the device to cause the feeding to be resumed without designating the denomination of a bill whose denomination is not automatically determined.

A method of discriminating and counting currency bills using a currency discriminating device having keys including denomination keys and a continuation key and one or more counters keeping track of bills processed by the device comprising:

• receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle of the currency discriminating device;
• feeding the bills in the input receptacle one at a time past a sensor of a discriminating unit to one or more output receptacles, the discriminating unit determining the denomination of bills fed past the sensor;
• incrementing an appropriate counter when the discriminating unit determines the denomination of a bill;
• suspending operation of the device when the discriminating unit fails to determine the denomination of a bill;
• and either
• (i) manually selecting the denomination of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the discriminating unit by depressing an appropriate denomination key or
• (ii) manually selecting a continuation key.

A method of discriminating and counting currency bills using a currency discriminating device having keys including denomination keys and one or more counters keeping track of bills processed by the device comprising:

• receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle of the currency discriminating device;
• feeding the bills in the input receptacle one at a time past a sensor of a discriminating unit to one or more output receptacles, the discriminating unit determining the denomination of passing bills;
• incrementing an appropriate counter when the discriminating unit determines the denomination of a bill;
• suspending operation of the device when the discriminating unit fails to determine the denomination of a bill;
• and either
• (i) manually selecting an appropriate denomination key corresponding to the denomination of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the discriminating unit;
• (ii) manually selecting a continuation key.

A method of discriminating and counting currency bills using a currency discriminating device having a control panel and one or more counters keeping track of bills processed by the device comprising:

• receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle of the currency discriminating device;
• the discriminating device feeding the bills in the input receptacle one at a time past a sensor of a discriminating unit to one or more output receptacles, the discriminating unit determining the denomination of passing bills;
• the discriminating device incrementing an appropriate counter when the discriminating unit determines the denomination of a bill;
• the discriminating device suspending operation when the discriminating unit fails to determine the denomination of a bill;
• and
• an operator of the device either
• (a) using the control panel to manually communicate the denomination of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the discriminating unit to the discriminating unit or
• (b) using the control panel to manually restart the operation of the device without communicating the denomination of a bill whose denomination is not determined by the discriminating unit to the discriminating unit.

A method of discriminating and counting currency bills using a currency discriminating device having a control panel and one or more counters keeping track of bills processed by the device comprising:

• receiving a stack of currency bills in an input receptacle of the currency discriminating device;
• feeding the bills in the input receptacle one at a time past a sensor of a discriminating unit to one or more output receptacles, the discriminating unit determining the denomination of passing bills;
• incrementing an appropriate counter when the discriminating unit determines the denomination of a bill;
• suspending the feeding when the discriminating unit fails to determine the denomination of a bill with the bill whose denomination the discriminating unit failed to determine being located in an output receptacle;
• and
• after suspending the feeding either:
• (a) manually using the control panel to indicate the denomination of the bill whose denomination is not determined by the discriminating unit or
• (b) manually removing from the output receptacle the bill whose denomination the discriminating unit failed to determine and then using the control panel to restart the feeding without indicating the denomination of the bill whose denomination is not determined by the discriminating unit.