Method and apparatus for document processing

A compact, high-speed United States currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of United States currency bills of a plurality of denominations to be processed;
• two or more output receptacles adapted to receive the bills after the bills have been processed;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, along a transport path from the input receptacle to the output receptacles at a rate of at least 800 bills per minute;
• a discriminating unit adapted to count and denominate the bills including United States bills of a plurality of denominations at a rate of at least 800 bills per minute, the discriminating unit including a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles;
• a processor programmed to flag bills meeting or failing to meet any of certain non-piece count related criteria, a bill meeting or failing to meet any of the criteria being termed a flagged bill, the processor being adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt in response to a determination that a bill meets or fails to meet at least one of the criteria, and
• wherein the certain criteria include the discriminating unit determining the denomination of a bill and wherein the processor is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt when a bill fails to meet a criterion of having its denomination determined by the discriminating unit, a bill failing to meet the criterion of having its denomination determined by the discriminating unit being termed a no call bill,
• wherein bills meeting the certain criteria of having their denomination determined by the discriminating unit are delivered to a first set of at least one or more of the output receptacles and wherein no call bills are directed to a second set of at least one or more of the output receptacles, the output receptacles of the second set being different from the output receptacles of the first set.

A compact, high-speed United States currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of United States currency bills of a plurality of denominations to be processed;
• two or more output receptacles adapted to receive the bills after the bills have been processed;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, along a transport path from the input receptacle to the output receptacles at a rate of at least 800 bills per minute;
• a discriminating unit adapted to count and denominate the bills including United States bills of a plurality of denominations at a rate of at least 800 bills per minute, the discriminating unit including a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles;
• and
• a processor programmed to flag bills meeting or failing to meet any of certain non-piece count related criteria, a bill meeting or failing to meet any of the criteria being termed a flagged bill, the processor being adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt in response to a determination that a bill meets or fails to meet at least one of the criteria,
• wherein the discriminating unit is further adapted to determine whether bills are suspect and wherein the certain criteria include the discriminating unit determining whether a bill is suspect and wherein the processor is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt when a bill meets a criterion of being determined to be suspect by the discriminating unit, a bill being determined to be suspect being termed a suspect bill.

A compact, high-speed United States currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of United States currency bills of a plurality of denominations to be processed;
• two or more output receptacles adapted to receive the bills after the bills have been processed;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, along a transport path from the input receptacle to the output receptacles at a rate of at least 800 bills per minute;
• a discriminating unit adapted to count and denominate the bills including United States bills of a plurality of denominations at a rate of at least 800 bills per minute, the discriminating unit including a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles;
• and
• a processor programmed to flag bills meeting or failing to meet any of certain non-piece count related criteria, a bill meeting or failing to meet any of the criteria being termed a flagged bill, the processor being adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt in response to a determination that a bill meets or fails to meet at least one of the criteria,
• wherein the certain criteria include the discriminating unit determining the denomination of a bill and wherein the processor is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt when a bill fails to meet a criterion of having its denomination determined by the discriminating unit, a bill failing to meet a criterion of having its denomination determined by the discriminating unit being termed a no call bill, and wherein the discriminating unit further determines whether bills are suspect,
• wherein the processor is also adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt when a bill meets a second criterion of being determined to be suspect by the discriminating unit.

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

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of bills to be processed;
• two or more output receptacles adapted to receive the bills after the bills have been processed;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, along a transport path from the input receptacle to the output receptacles;
• a discriminating unit adapted to count and denominate the bills including bills of a plurality of denominations, the discriminating unit including at least one detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles;
• and
• means for flagging a bill when the denomination of the bill is not determined by the discriminating unit, wherein the means for flagging is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt when a bill whose denomination has not been determined is encountered,
• wherein the device is adapted to transport bills that have been denominated including bills of a plurality of denominations to a first set of one or more of the output receptacles
• wherein the device is adapted to transport bills that have not been denominated to a second set of one or more of the output receptacles, the second set of the output receptacles being different than the first set of the output receptacles receiving bills that have been denominated.

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

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of bills to be processed;
• two or more output receptacles adapted to receive the bills after the bills have been processed;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, along a transport path from the input receptacle to the output receptacles;
• a discriminating unit including at least one detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and output receptacle, the discriminating unit being adapted to count and determine the denomination of the bills and determine whether the bills are suspect;
• and
• means for flagging a bill when the bill is determined to be suspect by the discriminating unit;
• wherein the means for flagging is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt when the discriminating unit determines that a bill is suspect.

A high-speed, United States currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of bills to be processed;
• two or more output receptacles adapted to receive the bills after the bills have been processed, at least one of the output receptacles being adapted to receive more than one denomination of bills;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, along a transport path from the input receptacle to the output receptacles at a rate in excess of 800 bills per minute;
• a discriminating unit adapted to count and denominate the bills including United States currency bills of a plurality of denominations at a rate in excess of 800 bills per minute, the discriminating unit including a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles;
• and
• a processor programmed to flag bills meeting or failing to meet any of certain non-piece count criteria, a bill meeting or failing to meet any of the criteria being termed a flagged bill;
• wherein the processor is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt in response to a determination that a bill meets or fails to meet a given one or ones of the criteria,
• wherein the processor is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt with a flagged bill meeting or failing to meet at least a given set of the criteria being positioned in one of the output receptacles,
• wherein the certain criteria include the discriminating unit determining the denomination of a bill, a bill failing to meet a criterion of having its denomination determined by the discriminating unit being termed a no call bill,
• wherein the discriminating unit is further adapted to determine whether a bill has a denomination other than a target denomination, a bill having a denomination other than the target denomination being termed a stranger bill and wherein the certain criteria include the discriminating unit determining whether a bill is a stranger bill.

A high-speed, United States currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of bills to be processed;
• two or more output receptacles adapted to receive the bills after the bills have been processed, at least one of the output receptacles being adapted to receive more than one denomination of bills;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, along a transport path from the input receptacle to the output receptacles at a rate in excess of 800 bills per minute;
• a discriminating unit adapted to count and denominate the bills including United States currency bills of a plurality of denominations at a rate in excess of 800 bills per minute, the discriminating unit including a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles;
• and
• a processor programmed to flag bills meeting or failing to meet any of certain non-piece count criteria, a bill meeting or failing to meet any of the criteria being termed a flagged bill;
• wherein the processor is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt in response to a determination that a bill meets or fails to meet a given one or ones of the criteria,
• wherein the processor is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt with a flagged bill meeting or failing to meet at least a given set of the criteria being positioned in one of the output receptacles,
• wherein the output receptacles include a third receptacle, and wherein the processor is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to deliver flagged bills to the third receptacle.

A high-speed, United States currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of bills to be processed;
• two or more output receptacles adapted to receive the bills after the bills have been processed, at least one of the output receptacles being adapted to receive more than one denomination of bills;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, along a transport path from the input receptacle to the output receptacles at a rate in excess of 800 bills per minute;
• a discriminating unit adapted to count and denominate the bills including United States currency bills of a plurality of denominations at a rate in excess of 800 bills per minute, the discriminating unit including a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles;
• and
• a processor programmed to flag bills meeting or failing to meet any of certain non-piece count criteria, a bill meeting or failing to meet any of the criteria being termed a flagged bill;
• wherein the processor is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt in response to a determination that a bill meets or fails to meet a given one or ones of the criteria,
• wherein the processor is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt with a flagged bill meeting or failing to meet at least a given set of the criteria being positioned in one of the output receptacles,
• wherein the discriminating unit is further adapted to determine whether a bill has a denomination other than a target denomination, a bill having a denomination other than the target denomination being termed a stranger bill and wherein the certain criteria include the discriminating unit determining whether a bill is a stranger bill.

A high-speed, United States currency evaluation device for receiving a stack of currency bills and rapidly processing all the bills in the stack, the device comprising:

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of bills to be processed;
• two or more output receptacles adapted to receive the bills after the bills have been processed, at least one of the output receptacles being adapted to receive more than one denomination of bills;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, along a transport path from the input receptacle to the output receptacles at a rate in excess of 800 bills per minute;
• a discriminating unit adapted to count and denominate the bills including United States currency bills of a plurality of denominations at a rate in excess of 800 bills per minute, the discriminating unit including a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles;
• and
• a processor programmed to flag bills meeting or failing to meet any of certain non-piece count criteria, a bill meeting or failing to meet any of the criteria being termed a flagged bill;
• wherein the processor is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt in response to a determination that a bill meets or fails to meet a given one or ones of the criteria,
• wherein the processor is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to halt with a flagged bill meeting or failing to meet at least a given set of the criteria being positioned in one of the output receptacles,
• wherein the discriminating unit is further adapted to determine whether a bill is suspect and wherein the certain criteria include, the discriminating unit determining whether a bill is suspect, a bill determined to be suspect being termed a suspect bill.

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

• an input receptacle positioned to receive a stack of bills to be processed;
• two or more output receptacles positioned to receive the bills after the bills have been processed;
• a transport mechanism comprising a transport drive motor and transport rollers, the transport mechanism located between the input receptacle and the output receptacles to transport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacles along a transport path;
• a discriminating unit comprising a processor and at least one detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles, the detector being adapted to generate a characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor being adapted to receive the characteristic information output signal and generate a denomination signal in response thereto;
• and
• a flagging device comprising a processor and an encoder linked to the transport mechanism, the encoder being adapted to produce tracking signals in response to the physical movement of the bills, the processor being adapted to generate a no call signal when the denomination of a bill is not determined by the processor, the flagging device being adapted to generate a stopping signal in response to the no call signal and wherein the transport drive motor is adapted to stop in response to the stopping signal,
• wherein the device is adapted to transport bills that have been denominated to a first set of one or more of the output receptacles, and
• wherein the flagging device is adapted to cause the transport mechanism to stop with the bill whose denomination has not been determined being the last bill transported to a second set of one or more of the output receptacles, the output receptacles of the second set being different from the output receptacles of the first set.

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

• an input receptacle positioned to receive a stack of bills to be processed;
• two or more output receptacles positioned to receive, the bills after the bills have been processed;
• a transport mechanism comprising a transport drive motor and transport rollers, the transport mechanism located between the input receptacle and the output receptacles to transport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacles along a transport path;
• a discriminating unit comprising a processor and at least one detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles, the detector being adapted to generate a characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor being adapted to receive the characteristic information output signal and generate a denomination signal in response thereto;
• and
• a flagging device comprising a processor and an encoder linked to the transport mechanism, the encoder being adapted to produce tracking signals in response to the physical movement of the bills, the processor being adapted to generate a no call signal when the denomination of a bill is not determined by the processor, the flagging device being adapted to generate a stopping signal in response to the no call signal and wherein the transport drive motor is adapted to stop in response to the stopping signal,
• wherein the device is adapted to transport bills that have been denominated to a first set of one or more of the output receptacles,
• wherein the device is adapted to transport bills that have not been denominated to a second set of one or more of the output receptacles, the output receptacles of the second set being different from the output receptacles of the first set.

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

• an input receptacle positioned to receive a stack of bills to be processed;
• two or more output receptacles positioned to receive the bills after the bills have been processed;
• a transport mechanism comprising a transport drive motor and transport rollers, the transport mechanism located between the input receptacle and the output receptacle to transport the bills, one at a time, from the input receptacle to the output receptacles along a transport path;
• a discriminating unit comprising a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacle and comprising a processor, the detector generating a characteristic information output signal in response to detected characteristic information, the characteristic information output signal being electrically coupled to the processor, the processor being adapted to receive the characteristic information output signal and generate a denomination signal in response thereto;
• the processor also being adapted to generate a suspect signal when a bill is determined to be suspect by the processor;
• and
• a flagging device comprising a processor and an encoder linked to the transport mechanism, the encoder producing tracking signals in response to the physical movement of the bills, wherein the flagging device is adapted to generate a stopping signal in response to the suspect signal and wherein the transport drive motor is adapted to stop in response to the stopping signal.

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

• an input receptacle adapted to receive a stack of bills to be processed;
• two or more output receptacles adapted to receive the bills after the bills have been processed;
• a transport mechanism adapted to transport the bills, one at a time, along a transport path from the input receptacle to the output receptacles;
• a discriminating unit adapted to count and denominate the bills, the discriminating unit including a detector positioned along the transport path between the input receptacle and the output receptacles;
• and
• a processor programmed to cause the transport mechanism to halt in a predetermined manner in response to a determination that a bill meets a stranger bill criterion and in response to a determination that a bill meets a no call bill criterion, and wherein a bill that meets the stranger bill criterion is termed a stranger bill, and wherein a bill that meets the no call bill criterion is termed a no call bill,
• wherein the device is adapted to permit manual removal of a no call or a stranger bill after the transport mechanism has halted.