Method of processing misoriented items in an image-based item processing system and an apparatus therefor

Abstract

A check processing system comprises an image lift device which is provided for lifting an image of a check as the check is being transported along a check feed path. A MICR reader is provided for reading a MICR codeline from the check as the check is transported along the check feed path past the MICR reader. The image of the check is reoriented when the MICR reader is unable to read a MICR codeline from the image of the check due to misorientation of the check along the check feed path.

1. A check processing apparatus comprising:
 means defining  a check feed path along which a check having a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) codeline associated therewith can be transported from an upstream end to a downstream end;  
 ana first image lift device for capturing image data which is representative of an original image of the check as the check is transported from the upstream end of the check feed path to the downstream end of the check feed path;  
 a display for displaying the  an image of the check to allow an operator to view the image of the check;  
 a MICR reader for reading the MICR codeline of the check as the check is transported along the check feed path past the MICR reader; and  
 a processor including means for  which, without any operator intervention, processing  processes the image data which is representative of the original image of the check on the display  to reorient the  provide image data which is representative of a first reoriented image of the check to allow the operator to view at least one of the original image of the check or the first reoriented image of the check on the display when the MICR reader is unable to read the MICR codeline of the check due to misorientation of the check along the check feed path as the check is transported from the upstream end of the check feed path to the downstream end of the check feed path.  
 
     
     
       2. A check processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an optical character recognition (OCR) reader for reading the MICR codeline of the check based upon the captured  image data which is representative of the first reoriented image of the check after the image of the check on the display has been reoriented . 
     
     
       3. A check processing apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising an endorser for endorsing a check as the check is transported from the upstream end of the check feed path to the downstream end of the check feed path. 
     
     
       4. A check processing apparatus according to claim  1    2 , wherein the processing means of  the processor includes means for,  without any operator intervention, flipping the image of the check on the display from an upside down orientation of the image of the check to a rightside up orientation of the image of the check  processes either the image data which is representative of the original image of the check or the image data which is representative of the first reoriented image of the check to provide image data which is representative of a second reoriented image of the check which is different from the first reoriented image of the check to allow the operator to view at least one of the original image of the check, the first reoriented image of the check, or the second reoriented image of the check on the display when the OCR reader is unable to read the MICR codeline of the check based upon the image data which is representative of the first reoriented image of the check. 
     
     
       5. A check processing apparatus according to claim  1    2 , wherein the processing means of the processor includes means for, without any operator intervention, rotating the image of the check on the display from a reverse orientation of the image of the check to a forward orientation of the image of the check  further comprising a second image lift device for capturing image data which is representative of an original image of an opposite side of the check as the check is transported from the upstream end of the check feed path to the downstream end of the check feed path, and wherein the OCR reader attempts to read the MICR codeline of the check based upon the image data which is representative of the original image of the opposite side of the check when the OCR reader is unable to read the MICR codeline of the check based upon the image data which is representative of the first reoriented image of the check. 
     
     
       6. A check processing apparatus comprising:
 means defining  a check feed path along which a check having a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) codeline associated therewith can be transported from an upstream end to a downstream end;  
 ana first image lift device for capturing image data which is representative of an original image of the check as the check is transported from the upstream end of the check feed path to the downstream end of the check feed path;  
 a display for displaying the  an image of the check to allow an operator to view the image of the check;  
 a MICR reader for reading the MICR codeline of the check as the check is transported along the check feed path past the reader; and  
 a processor for executing a software program to automatically reorient the image of the check on the display  process the image data which is representative of the original image of the check to provide image data which is representative of a first reoriented image of the check when the MICR reader is unable to read the MICR codeline of the check due to misorientation of the check along the check feed path as the check is transported from the upstream end of the check feed path to the downstream end of the check feed path.  
 
     
     
       7. A check processing apparatus according to  claim 6 , further comprising an optical character recognition (OCR) reader for reading the MICR codeline of the check based upon the captured  image data which is representative of the first reoriented image of the check after the image of the check on the display has been reoriented . 
     
     
       8. A check processing apparatus according to  claim 7 , further comprising an endorser for endorsing a check as the check is transported from the upstream end of the check feed path to the downstream end of the check feed path. 
     
     
       9. A check processing apparatus according to claim  6    7 , wherein the processor includes means for , without any operator intervention, flipping the image of the check on the display from an upside down orientation of the image of the check to a rightside up orientation of the image of the check  processes either the image data which is representative of the original image of the check or the image data which is representative of the first reoriented image of the check to provide image data which is representative of a second reoriented image of the check which is different from the first reoriented image of the check. 
     
     
       10. A check processing apparatus according to claim  6    7 , wherein the processor includes means for, without any operator intervention, rotating the image of the check on the display from a reverse orientation of the image of the check to a forward orientation of the image of the check  further comprising a second image lift device for capturing image data which is representative of an original image of an opposite side of the check as the check is transported from the upstream end of the check feed path to the downstream end of the check feed path, and wherein the OCR reader attempts to read the MICR codeline of the check based upon the image data which is representative of the original image of the opposite side of the check when the OCR reader is unable to read the MICR codeline of the check based upon the image data which is representative of the first reoriented image of the check. 
     
     
       11. A computer- implemented  method of operating a check processing apparatus having a check feed path and a number of check processing devices disposed along the check feed path, the computer- implemented  method comprising the steps of:
 (a) electronically on an image lift device capturing image data which is representative of an original image of a check as the check is transported along the check feed path;  
 (b) electronically on a display displaying the  an image of the check on a display to allow an operator to view the image of the check;  
 (c) electronically actuating a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) reader to read a MICR codeline of the check as the check is transported along the check feed path; and  
 (d) using a processor unit without any human operator intervention to process the image data which is representative of the original image of the check to reorient the image of the check on the display  provide image data which is representative of a first reoriented image of the check to allow the operator to view at least one of the original image of the check or the reoriented image of the check on the display when the MICR codeline is unable to be read from the check in step (c).  
 
     
     
       12. A computer- implemented  method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of:
 (e) actuating an optical character recognition (OCR) reader to read the MICR codeline of the check based upon the captured  image data which is representative of the first reoriented image of the check after the image of the check on the display has been reoriented in step (d) .  
 
     
     
       13. A computer- implemented  method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of:
 (f) endorsing a check as the check is transported from the upstream end of the check feed path to the downstream end of the check feed path.  
 
     
     
       14. A computer- implemented  method according to claim  11 , wherein step (d) includes   12 , further comprising the step of:
 (d- 1 f ) using the processor unit without any human operator intervention to flip the image of the check on the display from an upside down orientation of the image of the check to a rightside up orientation of the image of the check  process either the image data which is representative of the original image of the check or the image data which is representative of the first reoriented image of the check to provide image data which is representative of a second reoriented image of the check which is different from the first reoriented image of the check to allow the operator to view at least one of the original image of the check, the first reoriented image of the check, or the second reoriented image of the check on the display when the OCR reader is unable to read the MICR codeline of the check based upon the image data which is representative of the first reoriented image of the check in step (e).  
 
     
     
       15. A computer- implemented  method according to claim  11 , wherein step (d) includes   12 , further comprising the steps of:
 (d-1) using the processor unit without any operator intervention to rotate the image of the check on the display from a reverse orientation of the image of the check to a forward orientation of the image of the check 
 (f) capturing image data which is representative of an original image of an opposite side of the check as the check is transported along the check feed path; and  
 ( g )  actuating the OCR reader to read the MICR codeline of the check based upon the image data which is representative of the original image of the opposite side of the check when the OCR reader is unable to read the MICR codeline of the check based upon the image data which is representative of the first reoriented image of the check .  
 
     
     
       16. A computer- implemented method according to    claim 15   , further comprising the step of:    ( h )  using the processor unit without any human operator intervention to process the image data which is representative of the original image of the opposite side of the check to provide image data which is representative of a reoriented image of the opposite side of the check to allow the operator to view at least one of the original image of the check, the first reoriented image of the check, or the reoriented image of the opposite side of the check on the display when the OCR reader is unable to read the MICR codeline of the check based upon the image data which is representative of the first reoriented image of the check.