FR2579345A1 - Device for processing bank cheques in order to credit them - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device arranged to facilitate processing of bank cheques with a view to crediting them. According to the invention, a housing 10 includes a passage for a bank cheque provided with drive means, a keyboard 12, a display 14, processing means and connectors 59, 66 for linking with a conventional electronic recording cash register and a printer. Each time a payment is made by cheque, the cashier inserts the cheque, filled in and signed by its issuer, into the device. The identification data "CMC7" code of the cheque are read and decoded in order to be loaded into a memory. Simultaneously, means act to endorse the cheque in the name of the payee. In the course of this operation, the cashier can either enter the corresponding total into the memory, with the aid of the keyboard 12, or, more simply, transfer it electronically from the recording cash register to the said memory, simply by pressing a "transfer" key. The data thus contained in the memory may undergo various processing and/or sorting in order to be printed later on an appropriate cheque credit slip. The invention thus provides an economical solution for considerably reducing the time usually given over to these tedious administrative operations.

Description

 The present invention relates generally to devices and apparatus for processing bank checks, and more particularly a device capable of facilitating the preparation of documents generally associated with said bank checks when they are delivered for collection.

Various automated devices are already known in the field for processing bank checks at the point of sale. We know in particular by the French patent N 2 482 334 and by its certificate of addition No. 2 508 678 a device for the global management of any kind of transaction by bank check, aiming to carry out the following steps
- printing, endorsement, post-marking and post-coding of checks received as payment,
- verification of the identity of the payers and of the validity of the titles (bank identity statements, possible existence of oppositions) by remote transmission with a remote centralized body, bank or the like,
- update of the various accounts with each transaction, with optionally an immediate electronic transfer of the corresponding funds.

The various forms of devices described in these patents have several drawbacks, however. First of all, if these devices actually facilitate the processing of checks at the time of their cashing, they are however, by definition, of quite less interest for the treatments as they are necessary nowadays in association with conventional banking structures. For example, the technical solution of electronic funds transfer at the same time of the transaction, if it is on the right track with payment methods such as credit cards, is however both inappropriate, and consequently neglected in practice in banking structures as they exist today. More specifically, the type of device taught in the documents indicated above is in no way capable of facilitating or automating the collective processing of bank checks for their delivery to collection. , in association with conventional check delivery slips for common use today and probably for a few more years.

 The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks and to propose a device which greatly facilitates and simplifies the administrative operations of preparing and editing documents (generally check delivery slips) which are imperatively associated with bank checks for their delivery to the bank. 'collection.

 Another object of the invention is to propose a device which allows, at the very instant of each individual payment by bank check, to immediately prepare, automatically, the data necessary for a subsequent edition of such slips.

 Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for processing bank checks in the context of their delivery to collection which considerably minimizes the risk of errors (of identification, amount, etc.).

To this end, the present invention relates to a device for processing bank checks for the preparation of documents associated with a plurality of these during their delivery to collection, characterized in that it comprises, in combination:
- a box in which a passage for bank check is formed,
means for driving the bank check in said passage,
means of magnetic reading of identification data present on said bank check,
means for decoding said data supplied by the reading means,
means for introducing into the device data of the amount of said check,
a central processing unit having a random access memory unit and whose inputs are connected to said decoding means and to said introductlon means, and arranged to store in said random access memory unit said identification data and, in an associated manner, said amount data, and
- Printing means connected to the output of the central processing unit and arranged to print on a suitable document a set of identification data and amount data relating to a predetermined number of bank checks.

The invention also relates to a method of using a device as envisaged above, characterized in that it comprises the
stages consisting of:
- when paying by bank check, introduce said check,
after filling by its owner, in the device, so
read and store identification data thereof,
- enter in the device a data item of the amount of said check, thus stored in association with said identification data, and
- periodically, print on a suitable document a set of identification data and amount data concerning a predetermined number of checks.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a device according to the invention,
FIG. 2 is a detail view partially cut away of part of the device in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a side view in section of the device in FIGS. 1 and 2, and
- Figure 4 is a block diagram of the internal structure of the device shown in the figures there 3.

 With reference to the figures, a device for processing bank checks for the automatic edition of remittance slips firstly comprises a box, generally indicated at 10, of substantially parallelepipedal and flat shape. On the upper surface of the housing is provided a keyboard 12 which has numeric keys (from 0 to 9) indicated in 12a and function keys, indicated in 12b and described in detail below.

 There is also a display unit 14, which can of course be of any type, such as light emitting diodes or liquid crystal.

 In a lateral region of the housing (on the right in FIGS. 1 and 2) is provided a set for processing bank checks. This assembly comprises a cavity 16 which extends horizontally between two recessed regions 18, 19 respectively front and rear of the housing 10. The cavity 16 is open to the outside by two horizontal front and rear slots (only the front slot 21 being visible in Figures 1 and 2) thin and wide substantially equal to the height of a standardized bank check.

 As shown in particular in FIGS. 2 and 3, the processing device comprises means for driving and guiding a bank check to be processed (not shown in FIG. 1 and indicated at 25 in FIGS. 2 and 3), More specifically, these means comprise a first set of two rollers 20a, 20b superimposed vertically. The rollers 20a, 20b extend horizontally transversely to the cavity 15, in the entry region (anterior region) thereof. The assembly also comprises two other rollers 22a, 22b, similar to the first but arranged transversely in the exit region (posterior region) of the cavity 16.

 Drive means (not shown) are further provided for selectively driving in synchronism at an appropriate speed in the direction of the arrows 23 (FIG. 3) the upper rollers 20a and 22a, the lower rollers 20b and 22b taking the place of rollers of support and being mounted crazy. The drive means may suitably comprise a miniature electric motor of sufficient power (not shown), the drive being able to be provided by means of a set of toothed wheels (also not shown). Lateral guide grooves 24, 26 are also provided to ensure correct transport of the bank check in passage t6. The upper and lower edges (large edges) of the bank check are guided in these grooves during manual insertion of this the latter through the entry slot 2t, with the lateral edges of which they are aligned.

 The processing unit further comprises a detector for introducing a bank check, in the present case in the form of a photodetector, diagrammatically indicated at 28, associated with a light source indicated at 30. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the detector 28 and its light source 30 are arranged at the entry end of the cavity 16. Likewise, an exit detector with photodetector 32 and light source 34 is provided in the posterior region or exit from the cavity 16 and is arranged to interrupt the drive of the rollers 20a, 22a when the check is no longer subjected to the action of these and is available on the rear offset 19.

 Means of identification of the bank check introduced are also provided. These means include a magnetic reader, conventionally arranged to read the identification data present on the bank check in the standardized form of digital characters known as WCMC 7 (Magnetic Coding with 7 bars per character). This magnetic reader, of a type well known to those skilled in the art, is schematically indicated at 36 in FIGS. 2 and 3 and fixed to the lower surface of the upper wall of the housing 10 of the device.

 The processing unit further comprises means of endorsing the processed bank check 25, in order to affix on the back of the check (underside) the signature of the collecting agency, conventionally required with banking structures such as currently exist. These means are provided in the lower part of the cavity 16 and comprise, in the present embodiment, a belt-shaped stamp 38 able to be driven around two rollers 40, 42. The roller 42 is able to be driven in synchronism with the rollers 20a, 22a for driving the bank check, by appropriate and well known means such as cogwheels or the like. The roller 42 cooperates with an upper support roller 44 mounted idly. Stamp 38, for example made of rubber, has a relief or hollow pattern suitable for the name of the collecting body. Said stamp is able to circulate, as shown in FIG. 3, between the rollers 42 and 44, to thus be pressed with satisfactory force against the back of the bank check 25. An inking device (not shown) installed for example against the bottom wall of the cavity 16 will be associated with these means.

Finally, the device according to the invention comprises, with reference to FIG. 4, a computer 50, such as a programmed microprocessor, which is connected to a RAM circuit 52 (preferably saved by battery or the like in the event of a power cut. power supply) and to interface circuits. Interface circuits include a first
Interface 54 with the magnetic reader 36 for identifying the check, so that the identification data thus obtained are transferred, under the control of the microprocessor 50, to the RAM 52. There is also an interface 56 with the entry detector 28, in order to provide the microprocessor with a signal representative of the start of check processing. There is also an Interface 58 for a printing device, such as a conventional printer 60. The printer can be removably connected to the device using an appropriate connector 59 provided in a wall of the housing 10 .Finally, an interface 62 connects the central unit 50 to a device of the electronic cash register type, indicated at 64, by means of a connector 66. Furthermore, in the random access memory 52 are frozen data identification (name of the holder and references of the bank account on which the processed checks must be cashed), for the purposes explained below. Means may be provided in this regard (such as a connector (not shown for a standard alphanumeric keyboard) to modify said identification data as desired.

 The use and operation of the device as described above are as follows.

 The device as described above is first of all connected, by the connector 66, to a digital data output of a conventional electronic cash register 64 of a store, etc.

 When a customer or other makes payment using a bank check for a total amount to be paid as written on the display of the cash register, then said customer completes his check in the normal way. The cashier (or other operator), noting at this time that the payment is made by check, transfers the amount to be paid to the processing device, corresponding to that which is written on the check. In the present embodiment, this transfer can be performed in two ways. If the configuration allows, it suffices to press one of the keys 12b called "transfer" to automatically bring the value of the amount into the device, this value being conventionally stored electronically in the cash register .

 According to another procedure, and in particular in the case where the interfacing between the cash register and the processing device is not ensured, or even when the amount, for one reason or another, is no longer memorized in the cash register or does not correspond to the amount stored therein, the operator enters the amount paid into the device using the keys 12a on the keyboard.

Following this (or beforehand, as the case may be), the cashier (or other operator) then introduces the check, indicated at 25, in a predetermined orientation in the entry slot 21 of the cavity 16, of
so that the identification characters ZCMC7 'mentioned above
are located opposite the optical drive 36. The detector
introduction photoelectric 28 then detects the presence of the edge of the
check at the entrance to the cavity 16 and triggers the rotation of the drive rollers 20a, 20b, 22a, 22b in the directions indicated by the arrows 23, as well as the initialization of the processing by the central unit 50.

The bank check being in the same movement brought into the clamp defined by the pair of first rollers 20a, 20b, this is driven along the passage 16, in the direction of the arrow 68 (figureZ), entering guided between the grooves side 24, 26. The numbers in code "CMC7" (indicated in 25a in FIG. 2) written on the check 25 are then read sequentially by the optical reader 36 and transferred via the interface 54 to the memory 52 of the device. for this operation, the endorsement of the check in the name of the collecting body is carried out using the belt stamp 38 as described above, the latter being, as said, driven in synchronism with the moving the check and applied up against the back of the check.

 After reading the identification data of the bank check (check number, bank and ATM identification numbers, clearing codes, etc.) and the simultaneous endorsement thereof, the check is available at the exit of the device, in the posterior region of it. it can be delivered directly in a tamper-evident box or the like (not shown), or can be simply stored by the operator, for example in the drawer of the cash register 64. Note here that the photodetector 32 allows the mechanism to stop? training and endorsement at the end of the treatment. This stopping could in another way be carried out using an appropriate delay triggered at the moment of the detection of presence by the detector 28 in which case we can do without of the output detection assembly 32, 34.

 Thus, for example at the end of a day, a certain number of identification and amount data relating to the checks processed are present in the memory 52 of the device. The device is then connected by the connector 59 to the printer 60, thereby printing one or more check delivery slips. The identification data mentioned above will also be printed on each slip.

The central unit 50 will also be designed to perform and control the printing of the sum of the amounts of bank checks carried on the same slip, as well as to date each slip.

 It is also possible to envisage grouping the identification and amount data of the checks by issuing banks, by means of appropriate programming of the central processing unit 50. Furthermore, it is also possible to integrate into the central unit 50 a function sorting of check data according to whether they must be delivered on site "or off site". The unit 50 will use for this purpose the compensation code conventionally provided for on any bank check among the characters "CMC7", to compare it with a given geographic reference code, which may be introduced once for all into the RAM 52 in same time as the bank identification data of the cashier. To facilitate the physical sorting of the corresponding bank checks, provision may be made in the device of the invention, not shown, for means for printing, for example, the letter ZH- on the back of the check during its processing, if the electronic sorting function has classified it in the "out of place" category. The technical solution adopted may take the form of a rubber stamp of very small dimensions fixed to the end of the movable rod of an electromagnet.

 In the same spirit, the information frozen in the random access memory 52 concerning the cashing machine may include the references of two or more bank accounts, the operator indicating, for example using the numeric keys t2a, which of the accounts must be credited the total amount of a given remittance slip.

 Of course, for example in the case of a store comprising several cash registers, there will be as many processing devices as there are cash registers, but it will advantageously be possible, to limit the cost of the assembly, to provide a single printer which will be successively connected standalone treatment devices, which are easily transportable.

 It should be noted that the configuration described above concerning the connection of a standard alphanumeric keyboard, usable with all the devices, will advantageously allow either to introduce for the first time the identification data of the encalsseur, at the time of the commissioning of the devices, or to modify this data, for example in the case of a change of name or bank references of the collector. Such a solution makes it possible to reduce the cost of the assembly, the alphanumeric keyboard being necessary only in a single copy and only when entering or modifying the data.

 Furthermore, it is possible to provide on the keyboard 12 preprogrammed keys, for example when predetermined amounts are frequently found (for example in the case of the order and payment by check of products and / or services of the same type ).

 Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described, but includes any variant or modification that may be made by those skilled in the art. In particular, the mechanical structure of the device can be widely modified. For example, in order to facilitate the maintenance of the mechanism for transporting and processing bank checks, it can be envisaged that the part of the housing 10 in which this transport is carried out and this treatment is in two parts, namely an upper part secured to the main body of the housing, receiving all the organs described above located above the check, and a lower part removably mounted on the upper part and receiving all the organs located above the check during its processing. Means of electrical connection and mechanical transmission will of course be provided between two parts.

 It is also possible to provide in the device an appropriate interface with a computer, for example for the purposes of simultaneous accounting processing of the checks processed.

 Means for sound and / or visual signaling may also be present, for example to help the operator to carry out the operations mentioned above correctly and without forgetting. In the same spirit, it is possible to provide in the central unit 50 a comparator module making it possible to prevent the same check from being accidentally introduced and processed twice by the device.

Claims (14)

RESELL ICAT IONS  1. Device for processing bank checks for the preparation of documents associated with a plurality of these when they are handed over for collection, characterized in that it comprises, in combination:  - a boltier (10) in which a passage (16) is formed for a bank check (25),  - drive means (20a, 20b, 22a, 22b) of the bank check in said passage,  means of magnetic reading (36) of identification data (25a) present on said bank check,  means for decoding (54) said data supplied by the reading means,  means of introduction (12a, 12b) into the device of a data item of the amount of said check,  - a central processing unit (50) having a random access memory unit (52) and whose inputs are connected to said decoding means and to said input means, and arranged to store in said random access memory unit said identification data and, in an associated manner, said amount data, and  - Printing means (60) connected to the output of the central processing unit and arranged to print on a suitable document a set of identification data and amount data relating to a predetermined number of bank checks.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive means comprise pressure rollers (20a, 20b, 22a, 22b), at least some of which are motorized, between which the bank check is arranged to be pinched and driven .  3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive means further comprise grooves (24, 26) for guiding the check.  4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drive means are controlled by detection means (28, 30) arranged to detect the presence of a check in an entry region of said passage (16).  5. Device according to any one of claims t to 4,  characterized in that the identification data (25a) present on the  check (25) consist of characters coded according to the so-called Ct1C7Ws standard  6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is connected to an apparatus of the electronic cash register type and in that the means for introducing the amount data comprise a numerical keyboard (12a) and means for controlling the transfer of an amount value contained in a memory of said cash register to said random access memory unit (52).  7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises means for automatic endorsement (38, 40, 42, 44) of the check.  8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the endorsement means comprise a flexible belt-shaped stamp (38) and means (42, 44) for driving said stamp at a linear speed substantially equal to that of the check during the action of the drive means and for pressing said stamp against a face of the check, as well as means for inking the stamp.  9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said random access memory unit also contains identification data of an organization collecting checks processed.  10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises connection means for the connection of means for altering said identification data.  11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the central processing unit (50) comprises means for comparing the identification data of a processed check with identification data already contained in the random access memory unit (52).  12. Device according to any one of claims there 11, characterized in that the central unit (50) comprises means for totaling the amount data intended to be printed on the same document and for controlling the printing of the total amount .  13. A method of using a device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in:  - during a payment by bank check, introduce said check, after its filling by its owner, in the device 1 so as to read and memorize identification data of the latter,  - enter into the device a data item of the amount of said check, thereby memorizing it in association with said identification data, and  - periodically, print on a suitable document a set of identification data and amount data concerning a predetermined number of checks.  14. installation for processing bank checks for the preparation of documents associated with a plurality of these during their delivery to collection, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of devices according to any one of claims I to 12, respectively associated with a plurality of cash registers, and a printing device capable of being selectively connected to each of the devices.