Angled currency processing system

A method for processing currency documents including currency bills utilizing a currency processing system having a currency processing unit, a first modular output unit, and a first angular transport unit, the method comprising the acts of:

• receiving a plurality of bills in an input receptacle of the currency processing unit;
• transporting individually the bills from the input receptacle to at least one of a plurality of output locations located within the currency processing unit and the first modular output unit;
• determining the denomination of the bills within the currency processing unit;
• sorting the bills into the plurality of output locations based on their denominations so that each output location receives bills of only one denomination;
• routing bills to be transported to one or more output locations located within the first modular output unit through the first angular transport unit from the currency processing unit;
• and
• rotating bills within the angular transport unit from about 45° to about 135° about a vertical axis, such that a bill entering the angular transport unit traveling in a first generally horizontal direction exits the angular transport unit traveling in a second generally horizontal direction that is from about 45° to about 135° from the first generally horizontal direction.

An angular transport unit for use with a U.S. currency processing system, the angular transport unit comprising:

• an input port;
• an output port;
• a first transport section configured to receive U.S. currency bills traveling one at a time in a first direction along a first axis from the input port;
• a second transport section configured to rotate the bills approximately 90° about the first axis as the bills move in the first direction, the second transport section comprising at least one guide configured to support a U.S. currency bill as the bill rotates about the first axis;
• a third transport section configured to rotate the bills from approximately 45° to approximately 135° about a second axis generally normal to the first axis causing the bills to move in a second direction along a third axis;
• a fourth transport section configured to rotate the bills approximately 90° about the third axis as the bills move in the second direction;
• and
• a fifth transport section configured to transport the bills in the second direction to the output port.

A currency document processing system comprising:

• a currency handling device having a cabinet comprising a front side, a left side and a right side, one or more detectors configured to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is used to make a judgment about the passing currency document, the one or more detectors being configured to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is a currency bill which is used to determine the denomination of the passing currency bill, and a transport mechanism defining one or more transport paths past the one or more detectors, the transport mechanism being configured to transport each currency document individually along the one or more transport paths, the currency handling device being configured to transport at least some of the currency documents out of the handling device, wherein the detectors and the transport mechanism reside in the cabinet, the front side of the cabinet lying generally in a first generally vertical plane;
• a first currency document receiving unit having a transport mechanism configured to transport currency documents individually along one or more transport paths, the first currency document receiving unit configured to receive at least some currency documents processed by the currency handling device and transport the received currency documents along the one or more transport paths of the first currency document receiving unit;
• the first currency document receiving unit having a front side, the front side of the first currency document receiving unit lying generally in a second generally vertical plane;
• wherein the first and second generally vertical planes are offset from each other by an angle α, wherein the angle α is between about ten degrees (10°) and about one hundred and seventy degrees (170°).

A currency document processing system comprising:

• a currency handling device having a cabinet comprising a front side, a back side, a left side and a right side, the front side lying generally in a first generally vertical plane and the back side lying in a second generally vertical plane which is generally parallel to the first generally vertical plane, the currency handling device having one or more detectors configured to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is used to make a judgment about the passing currency document, the one or more detectors being configured to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is a currency bill which is used to determine the denomination of the passing currency bill, a plurality of output receptacles configured to receive at least some of the currency documents, and a transport mechanism defining one or more transport paths past the one or more detectors, the transport mechanism being configured to transport each currency document individually along the one or more transport paths, the currency handling device being configured to transport at least some of the currency documents into the plurality of output receptacles and at least some of the currency documents out of the handling device, wherein the detectors, the output receptacles and the transport mechanism reside in the cabinet;
• a first modular unit having one or more output receptacles or strapping units, the first modular unit also having a transport mechanism configured to transport currency documents individually along one or more transport paths, the first modular unit configured to receive at least some currency documents processed by the currency handling device and transport the received currency documents along the one or more transport paths of the first modular unit to the one or more output receptacles or strapping units;
• the first modular unit having a front side, the front side of the first modular unit lying generally in a third generally vertical plane;
• wherein the first and third generally vertical planes are offset from each other by an angle α, wherein the angle α is between about ten degrees (10°) and about one hundred and seventy degrees (170°).

A currency document processing system comprising:

• a currency handling device having one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is used to make a judgment about the passing currency document, a plurality of output receptacles adapted to receive at least some of the currency documents, and a transport mechanism defining one or more transport paths past the one or more detectors, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each currency document individually along the one or more transport paths, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport at least some of the currency documents into the plurality of output receptacles or to a currency document receiving unit;
• and
• the currency document receiving unit having one or more output receptacles or strapping units, the receiving unit also having a transport mechanism adapted to transport currency documents individually along one or more transport paths, the currency document receiving unit adapted to receive at least some currency documents processed by the currency handling device and transport the received currency documents along the one or more transport paths of the currency document receiving unit to the one or more output receptacles or strapping units;
• wherein the currency handling device and the currency document receiving unit are configured in a generally L-shaped manner.

A currency document processing device comprising:

• one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is used to make a judgment about the passing currency document;
• a plurality of output receptacles adapted to receive at least some of the currency documents;
• a modular exit port;
• and
• a transport mechanism defining one or more transport paths past the one or more detectors, and to the plurality of output receptacles and the exit port;
• the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each currency document individually along the one or more transport paths;
• the currency document processing device having a cabinet;
• the exit port being positioned on a side of the cabinet;
• the currency document processing device being adapted to be optionally coupled to a currency document receiving unit, the currency document receiving unit having one or more output receptacles or strapping units, the receiving unit also having a transport mechanism adapted to transport currency documents individually along one or more transport paths, the currency document receiving unit being adapted to receive at least some currency documents processed by the currency document processing device when coupled to the currency document processing device and transport the received currency documents along the one or more transport paths of the currency document receiving unit to the one or more output receptacles or strapping units;
• wherein the currency document processing device is adapted to be coupled to the currency document receiving unit such that when coupled together the currency document processing device and the currency document receiving unit are configured in a generally L-shaped manner.

A currency document receiving unit comprising:

• a currency document input port;
• one or more output receptacles or strapping units;
• a transport mechanism adapted to receive currency documents from the input port and transport the currency documents individually along one or more transport paths;
• and
• a cabinet,
• wherein the cabinet is adapted to be coupled to a currency handling device such that when coupled together the currency handling device and the currency document receiving unit are configured in a generally L-shaped manner;
• the currency document receiving unit being adapted to receive at least some currency documents processed by the currency handling device when coupled to the currency document handling device and transport the received currency documents along the one or more transport paths of the currency document receiving unit to the one or more output receptacles or strapping units;
• wherein the currency handling device comprising one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is used to make a judgment about the passing currency document, an exit port, and a transport mechanism defining one or more transport paths past the one or more detectors to the exit port;
• the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each currency document individually along the one or more transport paths.

A modular U.S. currency bill connecting unit comprising:

• a cabinet configured to be coupled to a first U.S. currency bill unit and a second U.S. currency bill unit such that when coupled to the first and second units, the connecting unit and the first and second units are configured in a generally L-shaped manner;
• an input port configured to receive U.S. currency bills from the first currency bill unit when the first currency bill unit comprising one or more detectors configured to retrieve information from a passing currency bill is coupled to the cabinet;
• an output port configured to send permit U.S. currency bills to be transported to the second currency bill unit when the second currency bill unit is coupled to the cabinet;
• and
• a transport mechanism configured to receive U.S. currency bills from the input port and transport them serially to the output port.

A modular U.S. currency bill connecting unit comprising:

• a cabinet configured to be coupled to a first currency bill unit and a second currency bill unit such that when coupled to the first and second currency bill units, the first currency bill unit and the second bill unit are oriented at approximately ninety (90°) degrees from each other;
• an input port configured to receive U.S. currency bills from the first currency bill unit when the first currency bill unit is coupled to the cabinet;
• an output port configured to send permit U.S. currency bills to be transported to the second currency bill unit when the second currency bill unit is coupled to the cabinet;
• and
• a transport mechanism configured to receive U.S. currency bills from the input port and transport them serially to the output port.

A currency document processing system comprising:

• a currency handling device having one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is used to make a judgment about the passing currency document, the one or more detectors being configured to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is a currency bill which is used to determine the denomination of the passing currency bill, a plurality of output receptacles adapted to receive at least some of the currency documents, and a transport mechanism defining one or more transport paths past the one or more detectors, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each currency document individually along the one or more transport paths, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport at least some of the currency documents into the plurality of output receptacles or to one or more currency document receiving units;
• and
• the one or more currency document receiving units having one or more output receptacles or strapping units, each receiving unit also having a transport mechanism adapted to transport currency documents individually along one or more transport paths, each currency document receiving unit adapted to receive at least some currency documents processed by the currency handling device and transport the received currency documents along the one or more transport paths of the currency document receiving unit to the one or more output receptacles or strapping units;
• wherein the currency handling device and the one or more currency document receiving units are configured in a generally U-shaped manner.

A currency document processing device comprising:

• one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is used to make a judgment about the passing currency document;
• a plurality of output receptacles adapted to receive at least some of the currency documents;
• a modular exit port;
• and
• a transport mechanism defining one or more transport paths past the one or more detectors, and to the plurality of output receptacles and the exit port;
• the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each currency document individually along the one or more transport paths;
• the currency document processing device having a cabinet;
• the exit port being positioned on a side of the cabinet;
• the currency document processing device being adapted to be optionally coupled to one or more currency document receiving units, each currency document receiving unit having one or more output receptacles or strapping units, each receiving unit also having a transport mechanism adapted to transport currency documents individually along one or more transport paths, each currency document receiving unit being adapted to receive at least some currency documents processed by the currency document processing device when coupled to the currency document processing device and transport the received currency documents along the one or more transport paths of the currency document receiving unit to the one or more output receptacles or strapping units;
• wherein the currency document processing device is adapted to be coupled to the one or more currency document receiving units such that when coupled together the currency document processing device and the one or more currency document receiving units are configured in a generally U-shaped manner.

A currency document processing system comprising:

• a currency handling device having one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is used to make a judgment about the passing currency document, a plurality of output receptacles adapted to receive at least some of the currency documents, and a transport mechanism defining one or more transport paths past the one or more detectors, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each currency document individually along the one or more transport paths, the transport mechanism being adapted to transport at least some of the currency documents into the plurality of output receptacles or to one or more currency document receiving units;
• and
• the one or more currency document receiving units having one or more output receptacles or strapping units, each receiving unit also having a transport mechanism adapted to transport currency documents individually along one or more transport paths, each currency document receiving unit adapted to receive at least some currency documents processed by the currency handling device and transport the received currency documents along the one or more transport paths of the currency document receiving unit to the one or more output receptacles or strapping units;
• wherein the currency handling device and the one or more currency document receiving units are configured in a generally S-shaped manner.

A currency document processing device comprising:

• one or more detectors adapted to retrieve information from a passing currency document which is used to make a judgment about the passing currency document;
• a plurality of output receptacles adapted to receive at least some of the currency documents;
• a modular exit port;
• and
• a transport mechanism defining one or more transport paths past the one or more detectors, and to the plurality of output receptacles and the exit port;
• the transport mechanism being adapted to transport each currency document individually along the one or more transport paths;
• the currency document processing device having a cabinet;
• the exit port being positioned on a side of the cabinet;
• the currency document processing device being adapted to be optionally coupled to one or more currency document receiving units, each currency document receiving unit having one or more output receptacles or strapping units, each receiving unit also having a transport mechanism adapted to transport currency documents individually along one or more transport paths, each currency document receiving unit being adapted to receive at least some currency documents processed by the currency document processing device when coupled to the currency document processing device and transport the received currency documents along the one or more transport paths of the currency document receiving unit to the one or more output receptacles or strapping units;
• wherein the currency document processing device is adapted to be coupled to the one or more currency document receiving units such that when coupled together the currency document processing device and the one or more currency document receiving units are configured in a generally S-shaped manner.

A method of transporting currency in an angular transport unit comprising, in order, the acts of:

• receiving U.S. currency bills traveling one at a time in a first direction along a first axis at an input port of the angular transport unit;
• rotating the bills approximately 90° about the first axis as the bills move in the first direction;
• rotating the bills from approximately 45° to approximately 135° about a second axis generally normal to the first axis causing the bills to move in a second direction along a third axis;
• rotating the bills approximately 90° about the third axis as the bills move in the second direction;
• and
• transporting the bills in the second direction to an output port of the angular transport unit.