Apparatus and system for processing currency bills and financial documents and method for using the same

1. A method of processing documents in a convertible document processing device having a convertible output area, the convertible output area being configured to be selectively coupled with either a first detachable output assembly or a second detachable output assembly at a time, the first and the second detachable output assemblies being physically unconnected to the convertible document processing device when detached therefrom, the method comprising:

receiving documents including currency bills in an input receptacle of the convertible document processing device;

transporting, using a transport mechanism of the convertible document processing device, the documents along a transport path from the input receptacle past a scanner;

scanning, using the scanner, at least a portion of each of the documents transported past the scanner to generate data associated with each document; and

transporting, using the transport mechanism of the convertible document processing device, the documents along the transport path from the scanner to the convertible output area; and

selectively coupling either the first detachable output assembly or the second detachable output assembly to the convertible output area, the first and the second detachable output assemblies being physically unconnected to the convertible document processing device when detached therefrom.

2. A method of processing documents in a convertible document processing device, the method comprising:

selectively coupling either a first detachable output assembly or a second detachable output assembly to a convertible output area of the convertible document processing device, the first and the second detachable output assemblies being physically unconnected to the convertible document processing device when detached therefrom,

wherein the first detachable output assembly includes a stacker wheel,

wherein the second detachable output assembly includes a removable output container for storing documents and a spring loaded door operable to close when the second detachable output assembly is detached from the convertible output area; and

transporting, using a transport mechanism of the convertible document processing device, the documents along a transport path to the convertible output area.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising holding, in an unsecured fashion, at least a portion of the documents in the stacker wheel of the first detachable output assembly.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising holding, in a secured fashion, at least another portion of the documents in the removable output container coupled to an output port of the second detachable output assembly.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising holding, in a secured fashion, at least a portion of the documents in the removable output container coupled to an output port of the second detachable output assembly.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the documents include U.S. currency bills of two or more denominations.

7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising selectively coupling, on a one at a time basis, either a third detachable output assembly or a fourth detachable output assembly to a second convertible output area of the convertible document processing device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the third detachable output assembly is substantially identical to the first detachable output assembly, and wherein the fourth detachable output assembly is substantially identical to the second detachable output assembly.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the convertible document processing device has a footprint of less than about two square feet and a weight of less than about thirty pounds.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the transporting includes transporting the documents along the transport path at a rate of at least about 200 documents per minute.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the transporting includes transporting the documents along the transport path at a rate of at least about 600 documents per minute.

12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the transporting includes transporting the documents along the transport path at a rate of at least about 1000 documents per minute.

13. The method of claim 2 , wherein the transporting includes transporting the documents along the transport path at a rate of at least about 1500 documents per minute.

14. The method of claim 2 , wherein each of the documents has a wide edge, and wherein the transporting includes transporting the documents in a wide-edge leading manner.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the transporting further includes transporting the documents along the transport path at a rate of at least about 500 documents per minute.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the transporting further includes transporting the documents along the transport path at a rate of at least about 800 documents per minute.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the transporting further includes transporting the documents along the transport path at a rate of at least about 1200 documents per minute.

18. The method of claim 2 , wherein the convertible document processing device includes:

an input receptacle for receiving documents including currency bills therein, wherein the transporting includes transporting the documents along the transport path from the input receptacle to the convertible output area; and

a scanner positioned along the transport path for scanning at least a portion of each of the documents transported to generate data associated therewith,

wherein documents transported to the convertible output area are delivered to either the first detachable output assembly or the second detachable output assembly depending on which of the first detachable output assembly or the second detachable output assembly is coupled to the convertible output area at a time the documents are transported to the convertible output area, wherein documents delivered to the first detachable output assembly are held in an unsecured fashion, and wherein documents delivered to the second detachable output assembly are held in a secured fashion.

19. A method of processing documents in a convertible document processing device, the method comprising:

selectively coupling either a first detachable output assembly including stacker wheel and an output receptacle or a second detachable output assembly including an output port to a convertible output area of the convertible document processing device, the first and the second detachable output assemblies being physically unconnected to the convertible document processing device when detached therefrom,

wherein the first detachable output assembly includes a stacker wheel,

wherein the second detachable output assembly including the output port includes internally a removable output container for storing documents and a spring loaded door operable to close when the second detachable output assembly is detached from the convertible output area; and

transporting, using a transport mechanism of the convertible document processing device, the documents along a transport path to the convertible output area.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the documents include U.S. currency bills of two or more denominations.

21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising holding, when the first detachable output assembly is coupled to the convertible output area, any documents received in the first detachable output assembly in an unsecured fashion.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the documents include U.S. currency bills of two or more denominations.

23. The method of claim 21 , further comprising holding, when the second detachable output assembly is coupled to the convertible output area and when the removable output container is coupled to the output port, at least a portion of any documents received in the second detachable output assembly in a secured fashion within the removable output container.

24. The method of claim 19 , further comprising holding, when the second detachable output assembly is coupled to the convertible output area and when the removable output container is coupled to the output port, at least a portion of any documents received in the second detachable output assembly in a secured fashion within the removable output container.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the documents include U.S. currency bills of two or more denominations.

26. The method of claim 19 , further comprising selectively coupling either a third detachable output assembly or a fourth detachable output assembly to a second convertible output area of the convertible document processing device.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the third detachable output assembly is substantially identical to the first detachable output assembly, and wherein the fourth detachable output assembly is substantially identical to the second detachable output assembly.

28. The method of claim 19 , wherein the convertible document processing device has a footprint of less than about two square feet and a weight of less than about thirty pounds.

29. The method of claim 19 , wherein the transporting includes transporting the documents along the transport path at a rate of at least about 1000 documents per minute.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the documents include U.S. currency bills of two or more denominations.

31. The method of claim 19 , wherein each of the documents has a wide edge, and wherein the transporting includes transporting the documents in a wide-edge leading manner.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the transporting further includes transporting the documents along the transport path at a rate of at least about 800 documents per minute.

33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the documents include U.S. currency bills of two or more denominations.

34. The method of claim 19 , wherein the convertible document processing device includes:

an input receptacle for receiving documents including currency bills therein; and

a scanner positioned along the transport path for scanning at least a portion of each of the documents transported to generate data associated therewith,

wherein documents transported to the convertible output area are received in either the first detachable output assembly or the second detachable output assembly depending on which of the first detachable output assembly or the second detachable output assembly is coupled to the convertible output area at a time the documents are transported to the convertible output area.