Automated document processing system using full image scanning

Abstract

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.

1 . A document counting and discrimination device for receiving a stack of documents, rapidly counting and discriminating the documents in the stack, and then re-stacking the documents comprising: 
 an input receptacle for receiving a stack of documents to be discriminated;    a full image scanner for obtaining a full image of the documents and for discriminating the value of the documents using the image or portions of the image;    one or more output receptacles for receiving the documents after being discriminated by the full image scanner;    a transport mechanism for transporting the documents, one at a time, from the input receptacle past a sensor of the full image scanner, and to the one or more output receptacles;    one or more counters keeping track of the value of documents discriminated;    value indicating means for an operator of the device to indicate the value of any documents whose value is not determined by the full image scanner, the documents whose value has not determined by the full image scanner being no call documents, the means appropriately effecting the one or more counters; and    a housing for the input receptacle, the full image scanner, the one or more output receptacles, and the transport mechanism; wherein the value indicating means are affixed to the housing.    
     
     
         2 . The discrimination device of  claim 1 , wherein the value indicating means comprise denomination selection elements.  
     
     
         3 . The discrimination device of  claim 1  having a single output receptacle.  
     
     
         4 . The discrimination device of  claim 1  having exactly two output receptacles.  
     
     
         5 . The discrimination device of  claim 1 , comprising two or more output receptacles and wherein no call documents are delivered to a different one of the output receptacles than documents whose denominations are determined by the full image scanner.