Method and apparatus for processing documents to distinguish various types of documents
AssigneeOpex Corporation
InventorGeorge L. Hayduchok
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for processing mail. In particular a method and apparatus for distinguishing between different types of documents is disclosed. A document is conveyed past a magnetizing device that imparts a magnetic charge onto any magnetic ink markings that may be on the document. Subsequently, a read head scans the document to determine the presence of magnetic markings. The device then determines the document-type for the document in response to the presence and location of magnetic ink markings on the document. The length of the document is also detected, and the document-type determination is verified based on the length of the document.
Claims20
A method for determining whether a document is a first-type, a second-type, or a third-type, comprising the steps of:
- a. conveying documents along a document path;
- b. exposing two selected areas of the documents to a magnetic field as the documents are conveyed along the document path;
- c. measuring the length of the documents as they are conveyed along the document path;
- d. scanning the two selected areas to detect the presence of magnetic indicia in the two selected areas as the documents are conveyed along the document path;
- e. identifying documents having magnetic indicia in both selected areas and having a first length as being a first-type of document;
- f. identifying documents having magnetic indicia in only one of the areas and having the first length as being a second-type of document;
- g. identifying documents having magnetic indicia and having a second length as being a third-type of document;
- and
- h. processing the document according to the identified document-type.
A method for determining whether a document is of a first document-type, a second document-type, or a third document-type, comprising the steps of:
- a. conveying the document along a document path;
- b. exposing two selected areas of the document to a magnetic field as the document is conveyed along the document path;
- c. scanning the two selected areas to detect presence of magnetic indicia as the document is conveyed along the document path;
- d. detecting the length of the document;
- e. determining the document-type in response to the length of the document and the presence of magnetic indicia in at least one of the selected areas;
- and
- f. sorting the document in response to the determination of the document-type.
A method of determining whether a document is a first document-type having a first pattern of magnetic markings or a second document-type having a second pattern of magnetic markings, comprising the steps of:
- a. conveying the document along a document path;
- b. exposing two selected areas of the document to a magnetic field as the document is conveyed along the document path;
- c. scanning the two selected areas for magnetic indicia as the document is conveyed along the document path;
- d. detecting the length of the document;
- e. determining the document-type in response to the presence of magnetic indicia in at least one of the selected areas;
- and
- f. verifying the document-type determination if the length of the document is within a pre-determined range.
An apparatus for processing documents, comprising:
- a. a conveyor for transporting a document along a document path;
- b. a magnet positioned along the document path for imparting a magnetic charge on the document as the document is conveyed along the document path;
- c. a scanner positioned along the document path operable to scan two selected areas of the document to detect the presence of magnetic indicia;
- d. a measuring device for measuring the length of the document as the document is conveyed along the document path;
- and
- e. a controller for determining the document-type for the document in response to the length of the document and the presence of magnetic indicia in at least one of the selected areas.
An apparatus for processing documents having magnetic markings, comprising:
- a. a conveyor for transporting a document along a document path;
- b. a magnet positioned along the document path for imparting a magnetic charge on the document as the document is conveyed along the document path;
- c. a scanner positioned along the document path operable to scan two selected areas of the document for magnetic indicia;
- d. a length detector for detecting the length of the document;
- and
- e. a controller for determining the document-type for the document in response to the detected length of the document, the number of magnetic indicia identified and the location of the identified magnetic indicia.
A method for processing documents, comprising the steps of:
- conveying documents along a document path;
- exposing two selected areas of each document to a magnetic field as the document is conveyed along the document path;
- scanning each document to detect magnetic indicia on the document;
- measuring the length of each document;
- analyzing the detected magnetic indicia to determine whether the document has a first pattern of magnetic markings, a second pattern of magnetic markings or a third pattern of magnetic markings;
- directing documents having the first pattern of magnetic markings to a first area;
- directing documents having the second pattern of magnetic markings to a second area;
- directing documents having the third pattern of magnetic markings to a third area;
- a
- directing documents having a pattern of magnetic markings other than the first, second or third patterns of magnetic markings to a fourth area;
- and
- directing a document to the fourth area if the document has the first magnetic markings pattern and a length outside a predetermined range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.