Patent ID: 7182249

Claim:
An apparatus for obtaining data from a document related to at least one transaction, the apparatus comprising: a frame; a drive mechanism mounted on the frame, the drive mechanism being adapted to move the document along a document path in the apparatus between a home position, at which the document is inserted into the apparatus, and an exit position, at which the document is removable from the apparatus, the home position and the exit position being spaced apart; the drive mechanism comprising a roller rotatable about a roller axis for engaging a contact portion of the document extending along the width thereof, the roller having a substantially smooth surface for supporting the contact portion; at least one imaging sensor for obtaining document data as the document is moved by the drive mechanism along the document path, said document data comprising an image of the document; transaction data input means for inputting transaction data associated with said at least one transaction; communication means for transmitting said transaction data and a portion of said document data to a central data processor and for transmitting a transaction decision signal from the central data processor to a drive control means controlling the drive mechanism; said transaction data and said document data being analyzable by the central data processor during an analysis time period, to determine the transaction decision signal, the transaction decision signal being selected from the group consisting of an approved signal and a rejected signal; and the drive mechanism being adapted: to hold the document stationary during the analysis time period, to move the document along the document path to the exit position upon receipt of the approved signal, and to move the document along the document path to the home position upon receipt of the rejected signal.