Method of processing misoriented items in an image-based item processing system and an apparatus therefor

Abstract

A check processing system comprises an image lift device which is provided for lifting an image of a check as the check is being transported along a check feed path. A MICR reader is provided for reading a MICR codeline from the check as the check is transported along the check feed path past the MICR reader. The image of the check is reoriented when the MICR reader is unable to read a MICR codeline from the image of the check due to misorientation of the check along the check feed path.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to processing items in an image-based item processing system, and is particularly directed to processing images of misoriented items in an image-based item processing system, such as an image-based check processing system, to provide assistance to an operator of the image-based check processing system.[0002]A typical image-based check processing system includes a number of different types of workstations. The different types of workstations may include a document preparation workstation, an image capture workstation, a recognition workstation, a keying and balancing workstation, and an encoding workstation. Items such as bank checks are initially prepared at the document preparation workstation (e.g., removing staples, paper clips, and the like) for further processing at workstations downstream from the document preparation workstation. Each prepared item is fed along a document feed path of the image capture workstation...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a method and system for processing misoriented documents in an image-based document processing system. The method involves capturing an image of a document as it is being transported along a feed path, and then reorienting the image when the codeline is unable to be read. This allows for accurate processing of the document, even if it is not perfectly aligned. The system includes a check processing system with an image lift device for lifting the image of a check, a reader for reading the codeline, and a processor for executing a program to reorient the image of the check when the reader is unable to read the codeline. This system ensures accurate processing of checks, even if they are not perfectly aligned."

Problems solved by technology

If the OCR reader is unable to read the codeline of an item (i.e., check or envelope, for example) which is moving along the document feed path, then a possibility exists that the item is physically misoriented along the document feed path.

Depending upon the number of items actually rejected due to misorientation problems, the amount of time and labor required by the human operator to correct orientation of misoriented items and then to manually key in codelines could be significant and, therefore, relatively costly.

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