Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MA~ING CHECKS
Technical Field
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- This invention relates generally t~ methods
and apparatuses for making negotiable instrum~nts such
as checks in payment for merchandise purchased.
Background of the Invention
Today, merchandise purchased at stores and
other type business establishment~ is of~en paid for by
making out and tendering a personal checkO The check
orders a bank to withdraw a sum of money from the
maker's account and pay it or credit i~ to the account
of- the payee or store. Typically, this transaction
occurs as follows. Firstly,- a cashier at a check-~ut
counter will colleck the merchandise bein~ purchased
and sum up the ~otal amoun~ of the i~ems purchased
as with khe use of a cash register or calculatorO Once
the sum total of the purchases is derived the customer
is informed of the amount due and then pays the cashier
that amount. Payment may be made with currency, with
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1 ~ ~$~
_ the use of a credit card, or by the making o1 a check.
The acceptance by the store of a check, howev~r, incurs
certain risks. For example, the check ma~J bear an
account number other than that of the purchaser, as in
the case of a purchaser attempting to defraud the
store. On the other hand the account number may be
valid but the purchaser may have had a history of
making out checks against the account when there are
insufficient unds in the account available to cover
the check. The check may be made out erroneously as by
the use of an improper date or improper amount, either
in written or numerica' form, or both. In some cases
the ~ustomer will forget to sign the check, which
omission may go undetected by the cashier.
As a result of these various risks and
potentials for error, most stores have adopted
safeguards for these transactions such as requiring
check approval by store management, a check review by
coworkers, check verification with a computerized
veri~ication center, and the requirement of
identification in addition to that printed oi~ the check
such as the showing of a credit card and automobile
driver's license. Although these procedures do provide
safeguards they do so at a substantial cost in the time
required in making payment at check-out counters.
Hereto~ore, machines have been devised for
use with cash registers in printing cash receipts and
itemizing purchased amounts such as are disclosed in
U.S. Patent Numbers 2,210,021~ 2,923,234 and 4,142,235.
Machines have also been developed for imprinting
magnetic characters on checks as is disclosed in
U.S. Patent 3r202~091~ and for printing money amounts
on checks~ These machines, however, have possessed
only limited capabilities that can be put to use in
expediting the making of checks in payment for
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merchandise with safeguards of the t~pe previousl~ desc~i~ed.
The present invention thus provides a method and apparatus for
making a check for payment of merchandise ~hich overcomes these
limitations.
Summary of the Invention
The invention in one aspect pertains to a method
of making a check for payment of merchandise with a prlnter
of the type having a housing formed with first and second sides
that are respectively formed with first and second slots, and
with character reading means located along a path of travel
extending between the first and second slots for reading account
number information appearing on a check. Means are provided
for verifying a check by comparing a check account number read
by the character reading means and there are data process and
system control means, and keyboard means for inputting data to
the data process and system control means. Drive means are
provided for driving a check along the path of travel with means
for printing information on a check as it is driven along the
path of travel. The method comprises the steps of inserting
a check from ambience into the first slot and driving it with
the drive means past the charac-ter reader means and entering
a personal identification number via the keyboard into the data
process and system control means, upon verification by the
verification means holding the check in a position e~tending
out of the second slot to provide visually observable
verification, entering a money sum via the keyboard means into
the data process and system con-trol means, and moving the check
from the second slot to the first slot while printing a money
sum with the printing means on the moving check.
The invention in another aspect comprehends apparatus for
making checks comprising a housing having an opening through
which a check may be inserted from ambience with data means for
inpu-tting money sum information. Means drive a check inserted
through -the opening along a path of travel within the housing
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and character reading means is mounted within the housing along
the path of travel for reading a check account number printed
on a check as it moves along the path. Means are provided for
verifying a check by comparing a check account number read by
the character reading means with numbers in a compilation of
check account numbers, and means print a money sum on a check
as it moves along the path of travel. Data process and control
means are connected w1th the data input means and the character
reading means for controlling the check driving means, the check
-verifying means and the check printing means. Preferably, the
printing means includes a plurality of print heads located along
the path of travel at staggered longitudinal and elevational
positions for printing information upon check lines offset from
one another.
In another form of the invention apparatus for making
checks comprises a housing having an opening through which a
check may be inserted and means for driving a check inserted
through the opening along a path of travel within the housing.
The apparatus has data process and control means -that include
memory means for storing numerical data. Charac-ter reading means
are mounted within the housing along the path of travel for
reading a check account number printed on a check as it moves
along -the path of travel and for entering the read account number
into the memory means. Keyboard means are provided for entering
a personal identification number and a money sum into the memory
means. Verify modem means are provided for transmitting a read
account number and an entered personal identification number
to an extrinsic verification center and for receiving verification
therefrom while bank modem means is also provided for trans-
mitting a verified account number and an entered money sum to
an extrinsic bank and for receiving a bank acceptance
acknowledgement therefrom. The apparatus also has means for
printing a money sum and a bank acceptance acknowledgement on
a check as it is driven by said check driving means along said
path of travel in response to the receipt of -the bank acceptance
acknowledgement.
A still further embodiment of the invention comprehends
a check printer having data input means for inputting money sum
information, access means for receiving a check from ambience,
means for driving a check along a path of travel, and character
reading means located along the path of travel for reading an
account number appearing on a check being driven thereby. Means
are provided for verifying a check by comparing an account number
read by the character reading means with numbers in a compilation
of account numbers, and means print a money sum on a check as
it moves along the path of travel. Data processing and system
control means are connected with the check driving means, the
character reading means, the check verifying means and the
printing means for controlling the printing means responsive
to check validation by the verifying means and the input there-
into of money sum information. Preferably the printing means
includes a plurality of print heads located along the path of
travel at staggered longitudinal and elevational positions for
printing information upon two check lines offset from one another
in height.
A still further aspect of the invention pertains to a
check printer comprising a housing having first and second sides
respectively formed wi-th first and second slots through which
a check may pass to and from ambience, with a keyboard mounted
to the housing and means for reciprocally driving a check along
a path of travel extending between the first and second slots
and for ternporarily holding the check in a position extending
partially out of the second slot. Character reading means is
located along the path of travel for reading an account number
appearing on a check driven thereby, and printing means is located
along the path of travel. Data processing and system control
means are provided for processing data received from the
character reading means and the keyboard and for controlling
the check driving means and the printing means.
4a
In yet another form of the invention a check prinier
has data process and control means that includes memory, means
for reading and inputting into the memory an account number
appearing on a check inserted into the printer, also keyboard
means for entering a personal identification number and a money
sum into the memory. Verify modem means are provided for
transmitting an account number and a personal identification
number to a verification center and for receiving verification
data therefrom. Bank modem means are also provided for trans-
mitting an account number and a money sum to a banking facilityand for receiving acceptance data therefor. The check printer
also has means for printing the money sum entered into memory
onto a check inserted into the printer in response to receipt
by the data process and control means of the bank acceptance
data through the bank modem.
Brief Description of the Drawing
_ Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a check
printer embodying principles of the present inventio~;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the checX printer
illustrated in Fig. 1 shown with a portion of its
housing cover removed to reveal internal components of
the printer;
Fig. 3 is a front-elevational view taken in
- cross-section along cut 3-3 in Fig. 2 with the housing
cover in place;
10Fig. 4 is a block diagram of ~he da~a
processing and control system of the check printer
shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the check
printer component of the block diagram shown in
Fig~ 4;
Fig. 6 is a block diagram of systems
as~ociated with the check printer illustrated in
~ig. 1, appearing with Fig. l;
Fig. 7 is a block diagram of the verifier
checX account block of the block diagram of Fig. 4;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a check
printer shown in association with a personal computer;
Fig. 9 is a block diagram of a data
process and control system of a check printer embodying
principles of the invention in an alternate form which
possesses funds transfer capabilities;
Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing a group of
check printers of the invention in association with a
group of cash registers and in communication with a
verification center and a customer and host b~ k; and
Fig. 11 is a plan view of a check printer
having a fourth print head shown with a portic~ of its
housing cover removed to reveal internal components of
the printer.
De~aile.d Description
_ Referring now in more detail to the drawing,
there is shown in Figs. 1-3 apparatus 10 having a
housing that includes a covPr 12 mounted atop a base 13
as by unshown screws threaded through the cover into
four base flange tabs 14. A keyboard 15 is provided
wi~h the top cover 12 that includes a button for each
numeri~al digit 0-9, a button "E" for entry, a
button "C" for clear, and a set of four informational
buttons. A display panel 16 is mounted on the cov2r 12
lO which preferably is of the liquid crystal ty~e using
nematic mesomorphic compounds, or a light~emitting
diode (LED) typeO The right-hand side of the cover is
also provided with a slot 18 through which a negotiable
instrument such as a bank draft or check may be
15 inserted into the housing while the left-hand side is
formed with an open receptacle 19 for pens and
pencils.
With reference next particularly to Figs. 2
and 3 r the apparatus is seen to be provided with a
20 muffin fan 21 and also with an electrical stepper
motor 20 which drives a shaft 50 by means of a belt 52
looped over the motor drive shaf~. When a magnetic
clutch 57 is energized a vertical shaEt 51 is
magnetically coupled with the shaft 50 and rotates.
25 Its rotation drives another, vertical shaft 53 by means
of an endless belt 55. The two shafts 51 and 53 serve
to drive a pair of endless belts 23 and 24 routed over
pulleys secured thereto adjacent a guide 25. Another
guide 59 is provided beside the left-hand er.~ portion
3~ of guide 25. The guides 25 and 59, belts 23 and 24,
and a pair of idlers 22 define a linear path of travel
for a check that has been introduced into the check
printer housing through slot 18.
The motor 20 is mounted atop a bracket 31
while carbon ribbon spools 26 and 27 are rotatably
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_ mounted atop two brackets 28 and 29 respectively, that
extend upwardly from the bracket 31. A ribbon 30 is
reeled upon and between the two spools so as to pass
over ribbon guides 32 beside the path of checX travel.
The spool 26 is driven, in response to the actuation of
a clutch 60, by a belt 61 that is coupled with the
spool shaft and the shaft 51. The spool 27 is mounted
for free wheeling. The apparatus is furthe~: provided
with a first check edge detector located adjacent the
slot 18 which includes a light emitting diode 36
mounted to a power board 40, and a photoce-ll 37 mounted
to a bracXet 41. A second check edge detector
comprises another LED 38 mounted to the power board and
a photocell 39.
A character reader 65 such as an integrated
optical character reader (OCR) read head module sold by
Recoqnition Equipment Incorporated of Dallas, Texas, is
mounted adjacent the path of check travel. Character
printing means are provided having three dot-matrix
print heads 42, 43 and 44 such as those made by Alps
Electric, Inc. of Rockville Centerl New YorkO Each
print head has a vertical array of needle-like fonts
r~ciprocally housed within slotted pin caps 4~ located
adjacent the path of check travel as schematically
lllustrated at 46 in the center of the print heads. The
three print-heads are mounted to a bracket 47 in a
vertically-staggered ~ormation as shown in Fig. 3 so
that th~y may form three lines of print that are
vertically offset from one another compatib~ 2 with the
current format of Ame~ican checks and drafts. Finally,
the apparatus includes data processing and control
means which are shown at the array of boards 497
With reference next to Fig. 4, the data
processing and system control circui~ry generally
3S indicated at 43 in Fig~ ~ is seen to include an
d ~ 3
_ Intel 8051 microcomputer 70 which, as is well known in
the art, has a central processing unit (CP~) to which a
time base oscillator is coupled to function as a clock,
a read-only program memory, a random access data
memory, and counters and timers. All of these
subsystems are connected with the CPU by means of an
internal data and instruction bus. The micl-ocomputer
also includes a universal asynchronous receiver
transmitter (UART), a programmable input and output,
10 and an expansion control for exterior in~erfacing
purposes, again, all of which are coupled with the CPU
via the interhal data and instruction bus. An external
control bus extends from the expansion control portion
of the microcomputer to the chara~ter reader identified
15 at 65 in Fig. 2 and to an identification memory. This
memory contains verification information in the form of
a compilation of check account numbers which may be
either valid or invalid account numbers, depending on
the design of the verification system employed. The
20 external control bus is coupled with a verifier check
account system which is shown as a single block in
Fig. 4 but which is shown in more detail in Fig. 7.
The expansion control is also coupled with the check
printer which includes the print heads 42, 43 and 44.
25 The system has an external bus for data and address
which couples the microcomputer programmable input and
output with the check printer, the verifier check
account, the identification memory and the character
reader. The programmable input and OUtpUI of the
Intel 8051 is also coupled with the first and second
check edge detectors that are provided by LE~ 36 and
photodetector 37 and by LED 38 and photodetector 39,
respectively~ The stepper motor 20 is connected with
the microcomputer programmable input and output.
With reference next to Fig. 5, the printer
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_ function is seen to include check printer i;lterface
circuitry of conventional design that rend-rs the
control and data signals emitted by the Intel 8051
input and output compatible with the synchronization
system and the individual slave print head control
circuits for each of the print heads. The first slave
print head controls the print head drive circuit for
the print head 42 which prints date information on
checks. The second slave print head control circuit
controls the print head drive circuit for the print
head 43 which prints the name of the payee or store and
the dollar sum in numerical form on the check on a
check line beneath the date line. Similarly, the third
slave print head control circuit controls the print
head drive circuit for the print head 44 which prints a
dollar amount in written form for the whole dollars
figure but in numeric, fractional form for cents on the
dollar line beneath the payee and numerical dollar
amount line which is printed by the print hea.c 43. A
fourth slave head print head control circ~it, print
head drive circuit and print head is also shown in this
figure, which, though not shown in FigsO 2 and 3, may
be added as shown at 48 in Fig. 11 where the apparatus
and method is expanded to include funds transfer
capabilities~ ~he check print head shown in Fig. 5 is
of conventional constuction and may be provided by Alps
Elec~ric~ Inc.
Fig~ 6 illustrates basic functions of the
apparatus wherein it is seen that a cash register may
be connected with the apparatu~ 10 to input sum total
figures to be printed upon checks. For example, a
conventional cash register may be modified so that upon
the totalizer key being struck, a sum total figure not
only is displayed at the cash register and upon a
printout slip but also is inputted into the check
_ writer, as shown in Fig. 4, which then controls the
printer in a manner so as to print the sum total on ~he
check in both numerical and written form. Also as
shown in Fig. 6, the apparatus is coupled with a check
account verifier which is next described, in a manner
such that the check will not be printed without
verification having been made. The verifier itself is
in communication via conventional MODEM
(modulator/demodulator) means with a remote
l~ verification center.
With reference to Fig. 7 the verifier checX
account block shown in the block diagram of :?ig. 4 is
seen to include conventional interface circuitry to
which an external control bus and a data/address bus
are coupled. The verifier includes a program memory, a
customer memory, the keyboard 15, and a second Intel
8051 microcomputer which itself is coupled with the
MODEM shown in Fig. 6. The verifier also includes the
display l6 shown in Fig. 1. The customer memory
contains the check verification information while the
program memory contains instructions that control the
functionality of the verification circuitry.
In operation, a personal check o~ standard
American format is manually introduced into the
apparatus throu~h slot 18 until it breaks the liyht
beam passing between ~he LED 36 and the
photodetector 37 of the first check edge detector.
When this occurs the stepper motor 20 causes the check
drive belts 23 and 24 to revolve by actuation of the
3~ clutch 57. The two drive belts thus grip ~he check
located between them and guidP 25 and pass i~ along a
path of travel extending beside the guide 25~ whereupon
the charac~er reader 65 reads the account number
appearing on the check and inputs it into data memory.
Once both the first and second edgP detectors no longer
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_ detect the presence of the check, which now r~s pas~ed
through a slot 71 partial3y out of the apparatus
housing, check alignment is assured for printing. At
this point the check drive belts are brought to a halt
by deactivation~ of the stepper motor by the control
circuitry.
Next, the account number read by the
character reader is verified with the verifier check
account system shown in Fig. 7~ The read number is
~ compared with a compila~ion o numbers appearing in
customer memory. A personal identification number
(PIN) is entered by the customer with the kayboard and
compared with another compilation of PIN numbers. If
verification is not achieved with both account and PIN
lS numbers, the drive belts are again activated so as to
expel the check from the machine. On the other hand,
if verifi~ation is achieved then the check remains at
rest, observably protruding partially out of the
left-hand side of the housing. A verifica~ion slgnal
is also preferably displayed on display 16~ although
this is not necessary since the acceptance of the check
physically into the machinery is in itself an
indication of verification. At this point the user,
such as a cashier at a checkout counter, may now gather
the goods being purchased and total their prices as
with a cash register or a calculator. When this has
been completed a total figure is derived on the cash
register or on an auxiliary calculator. Where the cash
register has been electrically coupled with
apparatus 10, an activation of the totalizer on thP
cash register itself inputs a total sum into data
memory. Otherwise, as where such cash register
modification has not been made, the total figure is
inputted by means of the keyboard 15 and the keyboard
button E struck. With ~he verification having been
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_ achieved and a total fi~ure having been inputted into
the control circuitry, the check printer illustrated in
Fig. 5 is activated by the Intel 8051~ This causes the
check drive belts again to be energized to drive the
check from left to right direction past the three print
heads 42, 43, 44 and the spools to be driven by
actuation of clutch 60~ The total is then printed on
the chec~ in both written ~nd numerical form as is the
date of the transaction and the name of the pa~ee. The
check is continued to be driven by the belts ~Intil the
first check edge detector circuit is reestdblished.
With an edge of the check extending out from the
slot 18 the system is reset for the next transaction.
The check is then manually obtained for signature.
Fig. 8 illustrates the apparatus 10 in a
different operative environment. Here, it is coupled
with a small modular computer having a keyboard 74 and
a display screen 75. This mode of operation is
suitable ~or making out a number of successive checks
as in paying business or household statements. ThP
apparatus can also stand alone and also interface with
a computer terminal which can be a source of data to be
printed on a checX.
Fig. 9 illustrates data processing and system
2$ control circuitry o another configuration which may be
employed in the check printer to provide electronic
funds transfer capability. Here, an Intel 8086
microprocessor is employed to which an Intel ;~84A time
base oscillator is coupled to provide clock, r:eady and
reset capabili~ies. The microprocessor is c~upled by
an address and data multiplexed bus with a bus
controller and interface from which address and control
lines extend through an address decoder to a dual
channel universal asynchronous recelver/transmitter
(USART)- A bank modem i5 connected to the USART
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_ through a RS232 interface. Multiple system expansion
availability may also be provided through another RS232
interface.
The address and control lines al~o extend
from the address decoder to a baud rate generator which
is connected with each channel of the USART to which
the verify modem is coupled, to the four printers, to
the keyboard and an optional display unit, and al~o to
another dual channel USART to which a veri~y modem is
1~ coupled through a RS232 interface. The character
reader is connected to other channels of this USART
- through another RS232 interface as may be a security
camera. A data bus extends ~rom the bus controller and
interface to data memory and program memory, to the
baud rate generator, to each of the two dual chann~l
USARTs and to the printers, the keyboard and display.
Both the address line from the bus controller
and interface and the data bus are connected with data
memory and program memory. The data bus is also
co~ected with operating systems firmwear (OSF3 while
the address bus is connected through an ~ddress decoder
to the firmwear. The firmwear itsel is connected to
the INT terminal of the microprocessor. Both the
address and data bus are also connected with an
input/output port to which the stepper motor M is
connected as are the light emitters and sensors. A
light emitter EMT and sensor SNR are coupled with the
sensor/actuator to provide for first and second check
edge detection. T~e mechanical operation of ~he
apparatus is much the same as that previously described
for the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-7 except that
here the fourth print head and head drive circuit shown
in Fig. 5 is utilized, which is identified as Printer 4
in Fig. 9, for printing a bank acceptance
~5 acknowledgement on the check.
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_ In operation a check is introduced into the
apparatus and driven past the character reader 65 which
reads and inputs the check account number into data
memory. A personal identification number is also put
into memory through the keyboard and the two numbers
transmitted to an extrinsic verification center through
the verify modem as shown in Fig. 10 which figure shows
a group of check writers and cash registeri ganged
together as in one business establfshment.
Alternatively, a series modem system could be employed
to connect the host bank directly with the verification
center. If verification is not made the check is
expelled from the apparatus whereas if verification is
achieved the check is held within its confines. Again,
lS a verification signal may be dispayed on the display
uni~. Next, qoods may be gathered and their prices
totalized on a cash register coupled with the apparatus
as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Actuation of a totalizer
key on the cash register causes the data process and
control circuit to communicate the account number and
money sum data to a customer bank through the banX
modem. This is, however, conditioned on verification
having been achiev d and the check thus remaining in
the apparatus. At the customer bank the account is
tagged i~ sufficient funds are available ~o cover the
purchase. If suficient funds are available a bank
identification code and tag time and date are
transmitted back to ~che data process and control
circuit whereas if insufficient funds are available the
30 ban~ identification and a reject signal is s~nt In
ei~her case receipt of the data from the customer bank
initiates the printing and check expulsion sequence, as
previously described. Here, however, the fourth print
head illustrated in Fig. 5, which is identified as 48
in ~ig. 11, is employed to print the bank
_ identification code and tag time and date or chec~
rejection information on the checkO Where c~esired the
bank account of the business establishment (host bank)
may also be placed on line outside of the bank modem
for full funds transfer capabilities in which case the
host bank credit information may also be printed by the
fourth print head on the check.
Xt should be understood that the
just-described embodiments merely illustrate principles
of the invention in preferred forms. Many
modifications, additions and deletions may, or course,
be made thereto without departure from the spirit and
scope of the invention set forth in the following
claims.
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