The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 18, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 04, 1996
Dean Alan Seifert, Aurora, CO (US);
Earney Stoutenburg, Highlands Ranch, CO (US);
Paul J Vogt, Highlands Ranch, CO (US);
First Data Corporation, Hackensack, NJ (US);
Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for issuing documents of value such as money orders, gift certificates, utility remittances, phone card, payroll, etc. An apparatus according to the disclosure may include a compartment for receiving substrates on which information associated with a document of value is printed, a code reader which reads codes uniquely associated with each substrate from the substrates, a printer that prints information on the substrates, and a control terminal for controlling the code reader and printer. The control terminal is configured for communication with the code reader and for detection and recordation of the codes uniquely associated with each substrate. The control terminal may detect and record deviations from an expected order of the codes uniquely associated with the substrates upon the substrates being received in the apparatus. An additionally disclosed aspect of the control terminal is as a print access controller permitting physical access to a portion of the printer upon receipt of an access code. A further aspect of the control terminal includes connecting with a system for modification of a portion of the apparatus. A further disclosed aspect of the apparatus is voiding substrates. Additionally disclosed are methods for issuing documents of value. The disclosed methods may include receiving substrates having associated codes, reading the codes; dectecting and recording deviations froman expected order of the codes uniquely associated with the substrates before receiving a request to issue a document of value, receiving a request to issue a document of value, and printing information on a substrate to issue a document of value.