Method of reading coded records including magnetic indicia on checks deposited in an automated banking machine
View Patent ↗A system for sensing coded records and structures for sensing coded records are used to sense sheets including notes and checks. An automated banking machine includes a deposit accepting device. The deposit accepting device is operative to receive a stack of sheets and to separate each sheet from the stack through operation of a picker. Each sheet is aligned with the sheet path and analyzed by analysis devices including at least one magnetic read head, an imager and/or a validation device. Sheets determined not to have at least one property of a genuine sheet are returned to a user of the machine. Sheets determined to have at least one property of genuine sheets are processed and stored in the machine.
1. A method of sensing magnetic indicia on at least one financial check, comprising:
(a) receiving at least one check in an automated banking machine, wherein the at least one check includes a check comprising magnetic indicia encoded in a micr line thereon;
(b) sensing through operation of at least one sensor in the machine, a width associated with the check, wherein the at least one sensor is in operative connection with at least one processor in the machine;
(c) moving responsive at least in part to the width sensed in (b), at least one of two magnetic read heads in the machine, wherein the at least one magnetic read head is moved responsive at least in part to operation of the at least one processor, wherein the at least one magnetic read head is moved such that the micr line on the check is aligned with one of the magnetic read heads regardless of a facing position of the check;
(d) moving the check past the two magnetic read heads in the machine responsive at least in part to operation of the at least one processor;
(e) sensing micr line data on the check with one of the two magnetic read heads.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein (a) comprises receiving a plurality of checks in the machine, wherein the plurality of checks are received in a stack in a sheet access area of the machine, and further comprising:
(f) prior to (b) separating the check from the stack through operation of a picker.
3. The method according to claim 2 and further comprising:
(g) prior to (b) aligning the check with a transport path in which the check moves in the machine responsive at least in part to operation of the at least one processor.
4. The method according to claim 3 wherein (g) includes operatively engaging the check with at least one transverse transport, wherein the at least one transverse transport moves the check generally transverse of the transport path.
5. The method according to claim 4 wherein a first magnetic read head is mounted in a fixed position relative to the transport path, and wherein in (g) the at least one transverse transport is operative to align the micr line on the check on the first magnetic read head in two of four possible facing positions of the check.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein a second magnetic read head is movably mounted transversely relative to the transport path, and wherein in (c) the second magnetic read head is moved to align with the micr line on the check when the check is in two of four possible facing positions.
7. The method according to claim 6 and further comprising:
(h) subsequent to (e) interpreting the micr line data on the check through operation of the at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is operative to interpret the micr line data read by either the first or second magnetic read head in any of forward, backward, right side up or upside down orientations.
8. The method according to claim 7 and further comprising:
(i) subsequent to (a), repeating steps (b) through (h) for each of the plurality of checks in the stack.
9. The method according to claim 1 wherein (a) includes receiving a plurality of checks in a sheet access area of the machine, wherein the sheet access area includes a divider plate, and wherein in (a) the checks are received on a first side of the divider plate.
10. The method according to claim 9 and further comprising:
(f) returning at least one check to the sheet access area, wherein the at least one check is returned on a second side of the divider plate opposed of the first side.
11. The method according to claim 10 and further comprising:
(g) subsequent to (f), picking at least one check on the second side of the divider plate through operation of a picker.
12. The method according to claim 1 and further comprising:
(f) prior to (b), reading data from a user card through operation of a card reader in the machine;
(g) determining responsive at least in part to operation of the machine, that the data read in (f) corresponds to an authorized user;
(h) carrying out at least one of steps (b) through (e) responsive at least in part to the determination in (g).
13. The method according to claim 1 wherein (a) includes receiving a plurality of checks in the machine, and further comprising:
(f) determining a value associated with at least one check received in (a);
(g) crediting a machine user with the value responsive at least in part to operation of the machine.
14. The method according to claim 13 and further comprising:
(h) dispensing cash from the machine to the machine user.
15. The method according to claim 1 wherein (a) includes receiving a plurality of checks in a sheet access area of the machine, and further comprising:
(f) storing a plurality of the checks received in (a) in the machine in a first sheet storage and retrieval device;
(g) moving at least one check from the first sheet storage and retrieval device to the sheet access area.
16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the machine includes a second sheet storage and retrieval device, and further comprising:
moving at least one check from the first sheet storage and retrieval device to the second sheet storage and retrieval device.
17. A method of operation of a magnetic coded record sensing structure, comprising:
(a) sensing a width dimension associated with a magnetic coded record through operation of at least one width sensor in a machine operative to read magnetic indicia in a line on the coded record;
(b) moving at least one of two magnetic read heads through operation of the machine to cause at least one of the magnetic read heads to be aligned with the magnetic indicia regardless of a facing position of the coded record.
18. A method comprising:
(a) operating an automated banking machine to obtain at least one dimensional feature associated with a financial check including micr line magnetic data,
wherein the machine includes a check analysis area,
wherein the check analysis area includes a check transport path in which checks are movable in any of four facing positions,
wherein the check analysis area includes plural magnetic read heads,
wherein the plural magnetic read heads include a first magnetic read head and a second magnetic read head;
(b) operating the machine based at least in part on the at least one dimensional feature obtained in (a), to move the first magnetic read head relative to the second magnetic read head;
(c) subsequent to (b), operating the machine to move the check in the check transport path; and
(d) during at least a part of (c), operating the machine to cause magnetic read head reading of the micr line magnetic data regardless of the facing position of the check.
19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the first magnetic read head and the second magnetic read head are mounted adjacent the check transport path, wherein the first magnetic read head is movably mounted.
20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the second magnetic read head is fixedly mounted.