Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20130134223A1/en
Timestamp: 2018-11-18 20:47:25
Document Index: 590880161

Matched Legal Cases: ['§120', '§119', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 31', 'art 311', 'art 312', 'art 311', 'art 313', 'art 312', 'art 31', 'art 311', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 321', 'art 32', 'art 31', 'art 32']

US20130134223A1 - Check Processing Device - Google Patents
US20130134223A1
US20130134223A1 US13746642 US201313746642A US2013134223A1 US 20130134223 A1 US20130134223 A1 US 20130134223A1 US 13746642 US13746642 US 13746642 US 201313746642 A US201313746642 A US 201313746642A US 2013134223 A1 US2013134223 A1 US 2013134223A1
US13746642
US8960553B2 (en )
This application is a continuation of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 on, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/223,477, filed on Sep. 1, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/960,066, filed on Dec. 19, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,020,771, issued on Sep. 20, 2011, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 on Japanese Patent application Nos. 2006-353821 and 2007-028848, filed on Dec. 28, 2006 and Feb. 8, 2007 respectively. Each of the above-identified applications is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a check or sheet media processing device such as a check reader that is used to scan sheet media and for reading magnetic ink characters from the sheet media on which information is printed using magnetic ink characters, such as checks, promissory notes, and invoice stubs.
A check processing device according to the present invention enables changing the check transportation path to an open position with a simple single-action operation without damaging internal parts and without soiling an operator's fingers when, for example, removing a check that is jammed in the check transportation path, and enables returning the check transportation path to the original position with a simple single-action operation without damaging internal parts after the task is completed.
A check processing device according to a first aspect of the invention has a check transportation path for conveying a check; a transportation path portion that is at least a part of the check transportation path; a device case that has a wall portion; an operating cover openably and closably attached to the device case; a support pivot that determines the opening and closing axis of the operating cover; a check supply unit that supplies checks to the check transportation path; and a check discharge unit that receives checks discharged from the check transportation path. The transportation path portion is formed between the wall portion of the device case and the operating cover in the closed position. Also, a direction of the opening and closing axis is perpendicular to a direction of the check transportation path.
When the operating cover of this check processing device opens pivoting on the support pivot, the transportation path part also opens. The transportation path part can therefore be opened with a simple operation and tasks such as removing jammed checks and maintenance of the scanner and other internal parts can be done easily. After the task is completed, the open transportation path portion can be easily returned to the original closed position by simply swinging the operating cover on the support pivot to the closed position. Because the operating cover can be opened and closed by touching only the operating cover, there is no damage to internal parts or concern about soiling the operator's fingers.
Preferably, the check transportation path has a prescribed width that extends and curves in a U-shaped configuration; the operating cover includes an upstream-side operating cover part that defines an upstream-side transportation path portion of the check transportation path, and a downstream-side operating cover part that defines a downstream-side transportation path portion of the check transportation path with the wall portion of the device case; and the upstream-side operating cover part and the downstream-side operating cover part open and close on the support pivot, which forms the open/close axis.
When the upstream-side operating cover part and the downstream-side operating cover part that define the U-shaped check transportation path open pivoting on a common support pivot, both the upstream-side transportation path portion and the downstream-side transportation path portion of the check transportation path change to an open position. The upstream-side and downstream-side transportation path portions can therefore be opened with a simple single-action operation, and a check that is jammed inside can be easily removed. When the task is completed, the upstream-side and downstream-side transportation path portions can also be returned to the original closed position by the simple single-action operation of pivoting the upstream-side operating cover part and the downstream-side operating cover part closed on the common support pivot. Furthermore, because the operation that changes the upstream-side and downstream-side transportation path portions to the open position and the operation that returns them to the closed position can be done by touching only the upstream-side operating cover part and the downstream-side operating cover part, there is no damage to internal parts or concern about soiling the operator's fingers.
Further preferably, the check processing device has one or a plurality of upstream-side transportation rollers and upstream-side pressure rollers for pressing the check to the upstream-side transportation rollers in order to convey the check along the upstream-side transportation path portion. The check processing device also has one or a plurality of downstream-side transportation rollers and downstream-side pressure rollers for pressing the check to the downstream-side transportation roller in order to convey the check along the downstream-side transportation path portion. The upstream-side transportation roller and the downstream-side transportation roller are positioned in the wall portion of the device case, the upstream-side pressure roller is positioned to the upstream-side operating cover part, and the downstream-side pressure roller is positioned to the downstream-side operating cover part. Opening the upstream-side and downstream-side operating cover parts separates and opens the transportation rollers and pressure rollers, and a check held between these rollers and stuck in the check transportation path can be easily removed.
Yet further preferably, a check processing device used in a check scanning apparatus also has a magnetic head positioned near the check transportation path for reading magnetic ink characters printed on the check, and opening the operating cover exposes the magnetic head. This arrangement enables simply opening the operating cover to easily remove a check or other sheet media that is jammed in the magnetic head area, and to easily clean or perform other maintenance on the magnetic head.
Yet further preferably, a check processing device used in a check scanning apparatus also has an image scanning apparatus positioned near the check transportation path for scanning the check, and opening the operating cover exposes the image scanning surface of the image scanning apparatus to the outside of the device case. This arrangement enables simply opening the operating cover to easily remove a check or other sheet media that is jammed in the image scanning apparatus area, and to easily clean or perform other maintenance on the image scanning apparatus.
If the check processing device is used in a check scanning apparatus, it preferably has a pair of image scanning apparatuses for scanning both sides of the processed checks. In this case a first image scanning device positioned on the device case side of the check transportation path, and a second image scanning device positioned on the operating cover.
If the check processing device is used in a check scanning apparatus, it preferably also has a print mechanism positioned near the check transportation path for printing on the check so that text such as PROCESSED or an endorsement can be printed on the check, and opening the operating cover exposes the print mechanism. This arrangement enables simply opening the operating cover to easily remove a check or other sheet media that is jammed in the print mechanism area, and to easily replace consumables or perform other maintenance on the print mechanism.
A check processing device according to another aspect of the invention has a check transportation path for conveying a check, a device case that forms the check transportation path; an operating cover openably and closably attached to the device case, and a support pivot that determines the opening and closing axis of the operating cover, and is arranged so that a transportation path portion that is at least a part of the check transportation path is formed between the device case and the operating cover in the closed position, and the transportation path portion changes to an open position when the operating cover opens from the closed position. The operating cover has an inside wall part that defines the transportation path portion, a support-pivot-side end-face part that is contiguous with the end of the inside wall part on the support pivot side, and an outside wall part that is contiguous with the support-pivot-side end-face part. The support-pivot-side end-face part is defined by a convex circular arc surface centered on the support position, and the inside wall part extends tangentially to the convex circular arc surface from an end of the convex circular arc surface.
Opening the operating cover of the check processing device according to this aspect of the invention opens at least a part of the transportation path. Because this part of the transportation path can be opened by the simple single-action operation of opening the operating cover, tasks such as removing a check jammed in the transportation path and maintenance of the image scanning apparatus can be done efficiently.
As described above, the contour of the end part of the operating cover on the support pivot side is defined by a convex circular arc surface centered on the support pivot. The inside wall part extends tangentially to the convex circular arc surface from one end of the convex circular arc surface, and defines the part of the transportation path on the operating cover side. When the operating cover is open, the support pivot end of the cover will therefore not protrude more to the inside than the same end when the cover is closed. In other words, the support pivot end of the operating cover will not protrude into the transportation path. The check will therefore not be pressed to the device case side as a result of the end of the operating cover protruding into the transportation path when the operating cover is opened to remove a check that is jammed in the transportation path. Installing an operating cover also does not impair the appearance of the device because the part of the cover that covers the support pivot is flush with the other parts of the case.
If the invention is applied to a check processing device that is constructed so that a U-shaped check transportation path can be opened via an upstream-side operating cover part and a downstream-side operating cover part that pivot open and closed on a common support pivot, the arrangement described next is desirable.
In the check processing device according to this aspect of the invention the upstream-side operating cover part has an inside wall part that defines the upstream-side transportation path portion, an upstream-side end-face part that is contiguous to the end of the inside wall part on the support pivot side, and an outside wall part that is contiguous to the upstream-side end-face part; the downstream-side operating cover part has an inside wall part that defines the downstream-side transportation path portion, a downstream-side end-face part that is contiguous with the end of the inside wall part on the support pivot side, and an outside wall part that is contiguous with the downstream-side end-face part; the upstream-side end-face part has positioned axially to the support pivot an upstream-side convex circular arc surface part that is centered on the support pivot, and an upstream-side concave circular arc surface part centered on the support position; the downstream-side end-face part has positioned axially to the support pivot a downstream-side concave circular arc surface part that is centered on the support pivot, and a downstream-side convex circular arc surface part centered on the support position; the downstream-side concave circular arc surface part opposes the upstream-side convex circular arc surface part, and the downstream-side convex circular arc surface part opposes the upstream-side concave circular arc surface part; the upstream-side convex circular arc surface and the downstream-side convex circular arc surface are identical convex circular arc surfaces; the upstream-side concave circular arc surface and the downstream-side concave circular arc surface are identical concave circular arc surfaces; the concave circular arc surfaces are circular arc surfaces with a larger radius than the convex circular arc surfaces; the inside wall part defining the upstream-side transportation path portion extends tangentially to the upstream-side convex circular arc surface part contiguously from an edge of the upstream-side convex circular arc surface part; and the inside wall part defining the downstream-side transportation path portion extends tangentially to the downstream-side convex circular arc surface part contiguously from an edge of the downstream-side convex circular arc surface part.
Furthermore, because the contours of the support pivot end parts of the upstream-side operating cover part and the downstream-side operating cover part are formed as described above, the ends of the covers on the support pivot side will not protrude into the transportation path when the covers are opened. The check will therefore not be pressed by these ends of the operating covers to the device case side when the covers are opened in order to remove checks jammed in the transportation path.
The check processing device according to the invention can also be used as a check scanning apparatus for reading and processing checks, promissory notes, and invoice stubs, for example.
A preferred embodiment of a check or sheet media processing device according to the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures.
The operable cover 3 includes an upstream-side cover part 31 on the side case portion 23 side and a downstream-side cover part 32 on the side case portion 24 side. The upstream-side portion 5 a of the check transportation path 5 is formed between the middle case portion 22 and the upstream-side cover part 31, and the downstream-side portion 5 b of the check transportation path 5 is formed between the middle case portion 22 and the downstream-side cover part 32.
The contours of the proximal end portions 31 a and 32 a of the upstream-side cover part 31 and the downstream-side cover part 32, that is, the contours of the ends at the support pivot 33, are described next with reference to FIG. 7. Note that the support pivot 33 is not shown in FIG. 7 to provide a better view of the shape of the proximal end portions 31 a and 32 a.
The upstream-side cover part 31 has an inside surface part 311 that defines part of the upstream-side transportation path portion 5 a, an upstream-side end-face part 312 (support-pivot-side end-face part) that continues from the support pivot 33 side end of the inside surface part 311, and a outside surface part 313 that continues from the upstream-side end-face part 312.
In addition, at the proximal end portion 31 a of the upstream-side cover part 31, the inside surface part 311 describing part of the upstream-side transportation path portion 5 a continues tangentially to the ends of the upstream-side convex surfaces 314 and 315. As a result, when the upstream-side convex surfaces 314 and 315 rotate to the inside centered on the support pivot 33, that is, when the upstream-side cover part 31 opens, these convex surfaces 314 and 315 do not protrude into the upstream-side transportation path portion 5 a.
Likewise at the proximal end portion 32 a of the downstream-side cover part 32, the inside surface part 321 describing part of the downstream-side transportation path portion 5 b extends tangentially to the end of the convex surface 326. As a result, when the downstream-side convex surface 326 rotates to the inside centered on the support pivot 33, that is, when the downstream-side cover part 32 opens, the downstream-side convex surface 326 does not protrude into the downstream-side transportation path portion 5 b.
As described above, the proximal end portions 31 a and 32 a do not protrude into the transportation path portions 5 a and 5 b when the upstream-side cover part 31 and the downstream-side cover part 32 are open. Therefore, when the operable covers 31 and 32 are opened in order to remove a check 4 that is stuck in the transportation path portions 5 a or 5 b, the check 4 will not be pressed against the outside wall portion 21 on the case 2 side as a result of the proximal end portions 31 a and 32 a protruding into the transportation path portions 5 a and 5 b. The proximal end portions 31 a and 32 a will therefore not interfere with removing a jammed check 4.
1. A check processing device comprising:
a check transportation path through which the check is conveyed;
a transportation path portion that is at least a part of the check transportation path;
a device case that has a wall portion;
a check supply unit that supplies checks to the check transportation path; and
a check discharge unit that receives checks discharged from the check transportation path;
wherein the transportation path portion is formed between the wall portion of the device case and the operating cover in the closed position; and
a direction of the opening and closing axis is perpendicular to a direction of the check transportation path.
2. The check processing device described in claim 1, wherein:
the check transportation path has a prescribed width that extends and curves in a U-shaped configuration;
the operating cover comprises an upstream-side operating cover part that defines an upstream-side transportation path portion of the check transportation path with the wall portion of the device case, and a downstream-side operating cover part that defines a downstream-side transportation path portion of the check transportation path with the wall portion of the device case; and
3. The check processing device described in claim 2, further comprising:
an upstream-side transportation roller for conveying the check along the upstream-side transportation path portion;
an upstream-side pressure roller for pressing the check against the upstream-side transportation roller;
a downstream-side transportation roller for conveying the check along the downstream-side transportation path portion; and
a downstream-side pressure roller for pressing the check against the downstream-side transportation roller;
wherein the upstream-side transportation roller and the downstream-side transportation roller are positioned in the wall portion of the device case;
4. The check processing device described in claim 1, further comprising:
a magnetic head, positioned in the check transportation path, that reads magnetic ink characters printed on the check; and
5. The check processing device described in claim 1, further comprising:
an image scanning apparatus, positioned near the check transportation path, that scans the check;
6. The check processing device described in claim 5, wherein:
the image scanning apparatus includes a first image scanning device positioned on a device case side of the check transportation path, and a second image scanning device positioned on the operating cover.
7. The check processing device described in claim 1, further comprising:
a print mechanism, positioned near the check transportation path, that prints on the check;
8. The check processing device described in claim 2, further comprising:
9. The check processing device described in claim 1, wherein:
11. The check processing device described in claim 2, wherein:
US13746642 2006-12-28 2013-01-22 Check processing device Active 2028-05-26 US8960553B2 (en)
JP2007-028848 2007-02-08
US11960066 US8020771B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2007-12-19 Media processing device
US13223477 US8381986B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2011-09-01 Check processing device
US13746642 US8960553B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2013-01-22 Check processing device
US14595831 US9342761B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2015-01-13 Check processing device
US13223477 Continuation US8381986B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2011-09-01 Check processing device
US14595831 Continuation US9342761B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2015-01-13 Check processing device
US20130134223A1 true true US20130134223A1 (en) 2013-05-30
US8960553B2 US8960553B2 (en) 2015-02-24
US11960066 Active 2030-07-19 US8020771B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2007-12-19 Media processing device
US13223477 Active US8381986B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2011-09-01 Check processing device
US13746642 Active 2028-05-26 US8960553B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2013-01-22 Check processing device
US14595831 Active US9342761B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2015-01-13 Check processing device
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EP1939790B1 (en) 2009-07-22 grant
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US8381986B2 (en) 2013-02-26 grant
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