WO1984002212A1

WO1984002212A1 - Check verifying and printing terminal

Info

Publication number: WO1984002212A1
Application number: PCT/US1983/001852
Authority: WO
Inventors: M Dan Rd Siler; Rickey D Burns; L Patrick Rd Elam
Original assignee: Siler M Dan 3Rd
Priority date: 1982-11-22
Filing date: 1983-11-22
Publication date: 1984-06-07
Also published as: CA1230423A

Abstract

Apparatus for printing checks has means for reading a check account number (65) and receiving a personal identification number (15) and for transmitting the number (Fig. 10 bank modem) to an extrinsic verification center (Fig. 10 verification center). The apparatus also has means for receiving a money sum (15) and for transmitting the account number and money sum (Fig. 10 bank modem) to an extrinsic banking facility (Fig. 10 host bank) and for receiving an acceptance acknowledgement therefrom (Fig. 4 verifier check account). The apparatus further as means for printing a money sum on the check (43, 44) in response to the receipt of the bank acceptance acknowledgement.

Description

Check verifying and printing terminal.

Referenced to Related Application

This is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 443,203 filed November 22, 1982.

Technical Field

This invention relates generally to methods and apparatuses for making negotiable instrum jnts such as checks in payment for merchandise purchased.

Background of the Invention

Today, merchandise purchased at stores and other type business establishments is often paid for by making out and tendering a personal check. The check orders a bank to withdraw a sum of money from the maker's account and pay it or credit it to the account of the payee or store. Typically, this transaction occurs as follows. Firstly, a cashier at a check-out counter will collect the merchandise being purchased and sum up the total amount of the items purchased as with the use of a cash register or calculator. 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 the use of a credit card, or by the making of a check. The acceptance by the store of a check, however, incurs certain risks. For example, the check may 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 funds 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 numerical form, or both. In some cases the customer 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 verification center, and the requirement of identification in addition to that printed of the check such as the showing of a credit card and mtomobile 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.

Heretofore, 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 3,202,091, 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 merchandise with safeguards of the type previously described. The present invention thus provides a method and apparatus for making a check for payment of merchandise which overcomes these limitations.

Summary of the Invention

In one form of the invention a method of making a check for payment of merchandise or services comprises the steps of reading a check account number of a purchaser by passing a check bearing account number information by a character reader and entering the read account number into a data memory. A personal identification number of the purchaser is entered into memory in association with the account number. The transaction is verified by communicating to a verification facility the read account number and the entered personal identification number and receiving verification therefrom. A money sum is entered into memory associated with the cost of the merchandise or services. The read account number and entered money sum is then communicated to a banking facility and upon receipt of an acknowlegement from the banking facility the money sum is printed on the check by passing the check by a character printer. 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 apperatus has data process and control means that incluue memory means for storing numerical data. Character 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 transmitting 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 .

In yet another form of the invention a check printer 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 ar.i 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 transmitting an account number and a money sum to a banking facility and 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 invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the check 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; Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the data 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 associated with the check printer illustrated in

Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a block diagram of the verifier check 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 ba k; and

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a check printer having a fourth print head shown with a portion .of its housing cover removed to reveal internal components of the printer. Detailed Description Referring now in more detail to the drawing, there is shown in Figs. 1-3 apparatus 10 having a housing that includes a cover 1 2 mounted atop a base 1 3 as by unshown screws threaded through the cover into four base flange tabs 14. A keyboard 15 is provided with the top cover 12 that includes a button for each numerical 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 cover 12 which preferably is of the liquid crystal type using nematic mesomorphic compounds, or a light-emitting diode (LED) type. 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 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, the apparatus is seen to be provided with a 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 shaft. When a magnetic clutch 57 is energized a vertical shaft 51 is magnetically coupled with the shaft 50 and rotates . 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 end portion 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 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 check 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 further 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 photocell 37 mounted to a bracket 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

Recognition 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 Center, New York. Each print head has a vertical array of needle-like fonts reciprocally housed within slotted pin caps 45 located adjacent the path of check travel as schematically illustrated at 46 in the center of the print heads. The three print-heads are mounted to a bracket 47 in a vertically-staggered formation as shown in Fig. 3 so that they may form three lines of print that are vertically offset from one another compatible with the current format of American checks and drafts. Finally, the apparatus includes data processing and control means which are shown at the array of boards 49.

With reference next to Fig. 4, the data processing and system control circuitry generally indicated at 49 in Fig. 2, is seen to include an Intel 8051 microcomputer 70 which, as is well known in the art, has a central processing unit (CPU) 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 microcomputer also includes a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) , a programmable input and output, and an expansion control for exterior interfacing purposes, again, all of which are coupled with the CPU via the internal data and instruction bus. An external control bus extends from the expansion control portion of the microcomputer to the character reader identified 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 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. 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 output of the Intel 8051 is also coupled with the first and second check edge detectors that are provided by LED 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 function is seen to include check printer interface circuitry of conventional design that renders 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 head 43. A fourth slave head print head control circuit, print head drive circuit and print head is also shown in this figure, which, though not shown in Figs. 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. The check print head shown in Fig. 5 is of conventional constuction and may be provided by Alps Electric, Inc.

Fig. 6 illustrates basic functions of the apparatus wherein it is seen that a cash register may be connected with the apparatus 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 the 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 verification center.

With reference to Fig. 7 the verif er check account block shown in the block diagram of Fig. 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 16 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 of standard American format is manually introduced into the apparatus through slot 18 until it breaks the light beam passing between the 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 clutch 57. The two drive belts thus grip the check located between them and guide 25 and pass it along a path of travel extending beside the guide 25, whereupon the character reader 65 reads the account number appearing on the check and inputs it into data memory. Once both the first and second edge detectors no longer detect the presence of the check, which now has passed through a slot 71 partially 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 compilation of numbers appearing in customer memory. A personal identification number (PIN) is entered by the customer with the keyboard and compared with another compilation of PIN numbers. If verification is not achieved with both account and PIN numbers, the drive belts are again activated so as to expel the check from the machine. On the other hand, if verification is achieved then the check remains at rest, observably protruding partially out of the left-hand side of the housing. A verification signal 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 the 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 the verification having been achieved and a total figure 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 check in both written and 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 until the first check edge detector circuit is reestablished. 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 for making out a number of successive checks as in paying business or household statements. The apparatus can also stand alone and also interface with a computer terminal which can be a source of data to be printed on a check.

Fig. 9 illustrates data processing and system control circuitry of 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, ready and reset capabilities. The microprocessor is coupled 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 receiver/transmitter (USART). A bank modem is connected to the USART through a RS232 interface. Multiple system expansion availability may also be provided through another RS232 interface.

The address and control lines al so 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 also to another dual channel USART to which a verify modem is 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 from the bus controller and interface to data memory and program memory, to the baud rate generator, to each of the two dual channel 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 connected with operating systems firmwear (OSF) while the address bus is connected through an address decoder to the firmwear. The firmwear itself 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 mc tor 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. The mechanical operation of the 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 acknowledgement on the check. 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 register ganged together as in one business establishment. 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, a verification signal may be dispayed on the display unit. Next, goods 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 bank modem. This is, however, conditioned on verification having been achieved and the check thus remaining in the apparatus. At the customer bank the account is tagged if sufficient funds are available to cover the purchase. If sufficient funds are available a bank identification code and tag time and date are transmitted back to the data process and control circuit whereas if insufficient funds are available the bank identification and a reject signal is sent. In either 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 Fig. 11, is employed to print the bank identification code and tag time and date or check rejection information on the check. Where clasired 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.

It 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.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows :

1. A method of making a check for payment of merchandise comprising the steps of:

(a) reading a check account number of a purchaser by passing a check having account number information printed thereon by a character reader;

(b) comparing the account number read by the character reader with account numbers in a compilation of check account numbers, and where a valid comparison is made,

(c) printing a money amount associated with the cost of the merchandise on the check by passing the check by a character printer.

2. The method of making a check of Claim 1 wherein prior to step (c) a personal identification number of the purchaser is entered into the memory of a computer and compared with a personal identification number previously associated with said check account number, and wherein step (c) is conditioned upon a valid comparison being made between said memory entered and preselected personal identification numbers.

3. The method of making a check of Claim 1 where in step (c) the money amount is printed on the check by the character printer in both word and numerical form.

4. The method of making a check of Claim 1 wherein contemporaneously with step (c) the check is printed by the character printer with the date of the transaction and the name of the payee.

5. An automated method of making a check of the type having an account number printed on a record medium such as paper comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting the check into a check writing machine having character reading means and character printing means;

(b) reading the check account number with the character reading means;

(c) verifying the check account number by comparing the read number with account numbers in a compilation of check account numbers and where verified;

(d) printing a money sum on the check with the character printing means.

6. The method of making a check of Claim 5 wherein a personal identification number is entered in a memory of computing means and compared with a personal identification number previously associated with said check account number, and wherein step (d) is conditioned upon the entered personal identification number matching the previously associated number.

7. The method of making a check of Claim 5 where in step (d) the money sum is printed on the check by the character printer in both word and numerical form.

8. The method of making a check of Claim 5 wherein contemporaneously with step (d) the check is printed by the character printer with the date of the transaction and the name of the payee.

9. A method of making a check for payment of merchandise comprising the steps of:

(a) reading a check account number of a purchaser by passing a check having account number information printed thereon by a character reader and entering the read account number into a data memory;

(b) entering a personal identification number of the purchaser into memory in association with the account number;

(c) verifying the transaction by communicating to a verification facility the read account number and the entered personal identification number and receiving verification therefrom;

(d) entering a money sum associated with the cost of merchandise into memory;

(e) communicating to a banking facility the read account number and entered money sum; and

(f) in response to the receipt of an acknowledgement from the banking facility printing the money sum on the check by passing the check by a character printer.

10. The method of making a check of Claim 9 wherein step (f) the time and date of verification is printed on the check.

11. The method of making a check of Claim 9 wherein step (f) the time and date of bank acknowledgement is printed on the check.

12. Apparatus for making checks comprises a housing having an opening through which a check may be inserted; means for driving a check inserted through said opening along a path of travel within said housing; character reading means mounted within said housing along said path of travel for reading a check account number printed on a check as it moves along said path; means for verifying a check by comparing a check account number read by said character reading means with numbers in a compilation of check account numbers; means for printing a money sum on a check as it moves along said path of travel; and data process and control means for controlling said check driving means, said check verifying means and said check printing means.

13. Apparatus for making checks in accordance with Claim 12 wherein said check driving means includes an endless belt coupled through a clutch with a motor.

14. Apparatus for making checks in accordance with Claim 12 wherein said printing means includes means for printing a money sum in both word and numerical form.

15. Apparatus for making checks in accordance with Claim 12 wherein said printing means includes means for printing a date and the name of the payee on a check.

16. Apparatus for making checks in accordance with Claim 12 wherein said printing means comprises a plurality of print heads located along said path of travel at staggered longitudinal and elevational positions for printing information upon check lines offset from one another.

17. A check printer having means for driving a check along a pat of travel; character reading means located along said path of travel for reading an account number appearing on a check being driven thereby; means for verifying a check by comparing an account number read by said character reading means with numbers in a compilation of account numbers; means for printing a money sum on a check as it moves along said path of travel; and data processing and system control means for controlling said printing means responsive to check validation by said verifying means and the input thereinto of money sum information.

18. A check printer in acordance with Claim 17 comprising first and second check presence detection means coupled with said computer means for detecting the presence of a check being moved along said path of travel, and with said first and second check presence means being located beside said path of travel at positions spaced apart a distance less than the length of a check whereby concurrent detection by the first and second check detecting means may provide s.aid data processing and system control means with check location information.

19. A check printer in accordance with Claim 17 wherein said check driving means is electrically coupled with said data processing and system control means and includes an endless belt coupled through a clutch with a motor.

20. A check printer in accordance with Claim 17 wherein said printing means includes means for printing a money sum in both word and numerical form.

21. A check printer in accordance with Claim 17 wherein said printing means comprises a plurality of print heads located along said path of travel at staggered longitudinal and elevational positions for printing information upon two check lines offset from one another in height.

22. Apparatus for making checks comprising a housing having an opening through which a check may be inserted; means for driving a check inserted through said opening along a path of travel within said housing; data process and control means including memory means for storing numerical data; character reading means mounted within said housing along said path of travel for reading a check account number printed on a check as it moves along said path of travel and for entering the read account number into said memory means; keyboard means for entering a personal identification number and a money sum into said memory means; verify modem means for transmitting a read account number and an entered personal identification number to an extrinsic verification center and for receiving verification therefrom; bank modem means for transmitting a verified account number and an entered money sum to an extrinsic bank and for receiving a bank acceptance acknowledgement therefrom; and 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 a bank acceptance acknowledgement.

23. A check printer having data process and control means that includes memory; means for reading and inputting into said memory an account number appearing on a check inserted into the printer; keyboard means for entering a personal identification number and a money sum into said memory; verify modem means for transmitting an account number and personal identification number to a verification center and for receiving verification data therefrom; bank modem means for transmitting an account number and money sum to a banking facility and for receiving bank acceptance data therefrom; and means for printing the money sum entered into memory onto a check inserted into said data process control means through said bank modem of the bank acceptance data in response to the receipt of bank acceptance data.