Patent ID: 6864990

Claim:
A machine for preparing and dispensing documents relating to financial transactions, said machine comprising: (a) a document dispenser, said dispenser having a housing; (b) a manually operable input unit for input of data and operating commands, said input unit being external to and coupled through said dispenser housing; (c) a document printer unit for printing readable information, including a monetary value, on document forms based on data inputted at said input unit, wherein said document printer unit is contained entirely within said dispenser housing and comprises: a document form storage receptacle for holding the document forms prior to being printed; a printer for printing the readable information on the documents to produce completed documents; a feed mechanism for feeding the document forms in succession from said receptacle to said printer and for dispensing said completed documents; and an optical reader for reading barcode information on said document forms, said reader being operative to verify proper functioning of said printer unit by reading a barcode that is printed on said document forms by said printer inside the dispenser prior to dispensing; (d) an internal control unit, wherein said control unit is contained entirely within said dispenser housing and is directly electrically coupled to said input unit and said printer unit for controlling operation of said printer unit in response to data and commands inputted at said input unit, and wherein the control unit comprises: a central processing unit containing a microprocessor operable in response to program instructions; input/output means connected for receiving the data and operating commands inputted at said input unit and for supplying data and control signals to said printer unit; and memory means for storing the program instructions for said microprocessor and for receiving and storing data received by said input/output means from said input unit and representing at least the monetary value of each document, as well as data received by said input/output means from said optical reader for the same document; (e) a communication interface for conducting communications with an off-site central location remote from said dispenser and operative to transmit the data stored in said memory means to said central location; and (f) a time keeping device, wherein said dispenser is a stand-alone, self-contained dispenser, said control unit is operative to receive authorization instructions from the central location via said interface, and said control unit is operative under control of said time keeping device for blocking dispensing of printed documents when no transmission of the data stored in said memory means to the central location has occurred for a predetermined period of time or when reception of an authorization instruction from the central location has not occurred for a predetermined period of time.