This invention features a machine for both validating checks and authenticating paper currency. The check validating apparatus of the machine is made up of a photo-sensor, a magnetizing unit, a magnetic head reader, a pair of feed rollers and a stepper motor drive for rotatively driving the feed rollers. The machine uses the same internal apparatus for authenticating paper currency bills. A currency bill is introduced to the nip of the feed rollers. The photo-sensor senses the presence of the currency bill and activates the stepper motor drive. The stepper motor drive then causes the feed rollers to rotate, drawing the bill into the machine. The microprocessor program initially instructs the stepper motor to rotate the feed rollers for forward drive, utilizing half-step pulsing. As the currency bill moves past the magnetizing unit and magnetic head reader on forward motion into the machine, a strip of the bill is magnetized. After a calculated number of pulses required for the bill to pass the magnetizing unit and the magnetic head reader, the program instructs a reverse drive direction for the stepper motor, and a simultaneous change of drive phase to wave-drive stepping. The magnetized strip is read as it is discharged from the machine at constant speed. A program in the microprocessor compares the signature on the bill with genuine currency signatures for bills of denominations. If there is a match, the bill is then authenticated.
An apparatus for recognizing the authenticity of paper currency, credit cards, and the like, which includes a casing, a mat mounted inside the casing for holding a paper currency, credit card, or the like for recognition, the mat having a semitransparent center area, incandescent lamp means mounted inside the casing and controlled to emit light through the semitransparent center area at the mat from the bottom, a lift cover covered on the casing, an ultraviolet lamp mounted inside the lift cover, a calculator mounted outside the lift cover, and a reflector mounted inside the lift cover to reflect light from the ultraviolet lamp toward the mat.
A document handling system is adapted to accommodate a plurality of different currency types. The system includes a sensor for counting the number of bills in a stack of bills. An operator interface panel includes a display for displaying information to an operator. An input device specifies the type of currency and the denomination of currency to be processed. The system may further include an authenticating unit for authenticating each of the bills based on one or more attributes detected from each bill. Based on the designated currency type and denomination, the system appropriately adjusts the display and/or selects which attributes are used to authenticate bills.
A document handling system is adapted to accommodate a plurality of different currency types. The system includes a sensor for counting the number of bills in a stack of bills. An operator interface panel includes a display for displaying information to an operator. An input device specifies the type of currency and the denomination of currency to be processed. The system may further include an authenticating unit for authenticating each of the bills based on one or more attributes detected from each bill. Based on the designated currency type and denomination, the system appropriately adjusts the display and/or selects which attributes are used to authenticate bills.
A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past a full image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the full image scanner and the discrimination unit. The full image scanner includes means for obtaining a full video image of said documents, means for obtaining a image of a selected area of said documents, and means for obtaining information contained in said selected area of said document. The discrimination unit includes means for determining the authenticity of said document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.
An automated check processing system for accepting and processing checks from a customer, having a plurality of document scanners. The document scanners are adapted to obtain full images of checks fed into the document scanners and to obtain images of selected portions of the checks. A printer may be included for printing an authorization agreement on the checks and for inscribing a transaction amount on the checks. The system also utilizes a conveyor for returning the checks with the agreement to the customer for signing. The image scanned is then communicated to a central clearinghouse via a communication link.
