Typewriting machines – Including selection of type-face by... – Including particular reader structure and operation
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-06
2001-09-25
Hilten, John S. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Including selection of type-face by...
Including particular reader structure and operation
C400S070000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293715
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a new point-of-sale printer and check processing method and, more particularly, to a new point of sale (POS) printer and method for printing magnetic ink characters on a check in the AMOUNT field, with subsequent verification that the magnetic characters were correctly printed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In retail establishments, it is often found that the retailer does not have the means to print (encode) MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) characters on a check. In such a case, the retailer typically pays the bank(s) a fee for printing and verifying these characters. In those cases where the retailer has purchased an encoding machine to encode the checks, the encoding is performed as a separate task, at a later time than the sale itself. In either case, the subsequent printing of MICR characters on ae check is wasteful both of time and money for the retailer. The present invention suggests that it is more useful to print these characters at the point of sale (POS), and actually provides a new method and apparatus for processing checks at the point of sale.
The present invention pertains to a point of sale (POS) printer capable of encoding and verifying MICR characters on checks. More particularly, the invention provides the retailer with the capability for printing MICR characters, and for printing these characters in the AMOUNT field of the check. (Hereinafter, the word “encode” shall be used to mean “to print the amount of the sale in magnetic ink characters in the AMOUNT field of the check.”)
This invention allows a retailer to save money and/or time in one of two ways:
(a) Having the POS printer of this invention, a retailer can print and verify these characters at the time of sale. This saves the retailer money, while saving banks the time to perform this procedure.
(b) A retailer having a POS printer need not purchase an encoding machine to encode the checks. Neither need he or she encode the checks as a separate task at a later time than that of the sale. The retailer having the POS printer of this invention saves the time and labor by performing this task at the point of sale, not as a separate function performed at a later time. In addition, the retailer can reconcile checks sooner allowing for earlier availability of funds (reduced “float” time ) than when the bank must encode the checks.
The POS printer of this invention includes an encoding module that magnetizes and reads the account and bank information from the existing magnetic characters on the check. The encoding module prints the characters according to ANSI
1
, ISO
2
, or other standards using an ink having magnetic particles embedded therein. The POS printer magnetizes and reads these characters after they are printed, in order to verify that the correct AMOUNT has been encoded onto the check. The encoding module may comprise a magnet to magnetize the characters; a read head to read the signal waveform from each character; electronic circuitry to analyze these waveforms; and a print mechanism with the capability of using magnetic ink for printing the characters. Certain read heads, such as DC-biased read heads, do not require a magnet to pre-magnetize the characters. In such a case, the encoding module may comprise a DC-biased read head, electronic circuitry and a magnetic ink printer.
Our copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 08/944,155, describes a check processing procedure, and is hereby incorporated by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a POS printer that includes an MICR reader that magnetizes and reads the account and bank information from preprinted magnetic characters on a check. An encoding module prints the characters in the AMOUNT field of the check, according to ANSI
1
, ISO
2
, or other standards. The characters are printed with an ink having magnetic particles embedded therein. The POS printer magnetizes and reads these characters after they are printed, in order to verify that the correct amount has been encoded onto the check.
The encoding module can comprise a magnet to magnetize the characters; a read head to read the signal waveform from each character; electronic circuitry to analyze these waveforms; and a print mechanism with the capability of using magnetic ink for printing the characters.
Currently, the AMOUNT field is printed by the retailer, or the customer's bank after the purchase transaction has occurred. The encoding module of the POS printer allows for the customer's check to have the AMOUNT field printed and verified, while the customer is still at the point of sale.
The method of the invention directs the POS printer to follow a certain sequence of actions in order to accomplish the printing and verification at the point of sale. First, the ROUTING and ON-US (see
FIG. 1
) fields of the check are magnetized, either by a fixed magnet, or within the read head itself. Next, the characters within the ROUTING and ON-US fields are read by the read head, and the signals analyzed by the electronics of the POS printer. This is followed by a validation, in which the printer sends this data to the POS host which electronically accesses a list of “bad” account numbers to determine if the check is good. The printer can continue either to endorse the check on the back, and/or to encode the check by printing MICR characters in the AMOUNT field on the face of the check, if the validation is successful. Check encoding can be effected by utilizing impact/ribbon, laser/toner, inkjet, or thermal transfer printing. Thermal transfer printing can be either parallel (full field width) printing, or serial (one character at a time) printing.
It is an object of this invention to provide a point of sale printer and method.
It is another object of the invention to provide a point of sale printer and method for reading, printing and verifying MICR characters upon a check.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved printer that allows for a customer's check to have the AMOUNT field printed and verified, while the customer is still at the point of sale.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4394092 (1983-07-01), Osmera et al.
patent: 4672377 (1987-06-01), Murphy et al.
patent: 5204811 (1993-04-01), Bednar et al.
patent: 5330275 (1994-07-01), Hasewinkle
patent: 5789727 (1998-08-01), Teradaira et al.
Print and Test Specifications for Magnetic Ink Printing (MICR), ANSI X9.27, IEEE EDI Support Services, Chardon, OH.
Information Processing—Magnetic Ink Character Recognition Print Specifications, ISO. 1004: 1995(E), International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland.
American National Standard Specifications for Placement and Location of MICR Printing, ANSI X9.13, 1990, American Bankers Association, Washington, D.C.
James Arthur
Jentoft Keith
Martinez Phillip M.
Walls Michael
Axiohm Transaction Solutions, Inc.
Hilten John S.
Nolan, Jr. Charles H
Salzman & Levy
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