FR2470644A1 - Handling system for grouping of e.g. bank cheques - separates records requiring manual or semi-automatic processing and processes them in parallel with automatic stream - Google Patents

Abstract

The handling of large numbers of physical records such as cheques or inter-bank settlements requires separation of the damaged or incomplete records which cannot be fully processed automatically, and later grouping according to various categories dependent on the operation. The physical records(S) are transported (9) to a presorting machine (10) which prepares or codes them ready for a sorting machine (11). The latter separates the records for automatic processing (2) from those requiring semi-automatic or manual processing (3) and also marks an identifying symbol on each record. The non-automatic processing requires another sorting and encoding machine (14) possibly requiring manual intervention. Once identified the records are placed together with the automatically sorted records. Data collected by the sorting machines is passed to a memory (6) and processor (7) to facilitate automatic control of the sorting process.

Description

Method for the autonomous treatment of physical supports and installation for the implementation of this method.

The present invention relates to a method and an installation for the autonomous processing of a plurality of physical media each provided with specific primary information with a view to grouping all of this information according to a determined distribution.

A particular and non-limiting application of the method and of the installation according to the present invention is the processing of checks in particular for the interbank clearing operation. However, the method and the installation are applicable in principle to other forms of physical media, provided with specific primary information such as packages or the like.

A problem to be solved when there is a plurality and in particular of a large number - of physical supports each provided with specific primary information, is to treat these supports to group them according to a determined distribution, the primary information of these supports are also grouped according to this distribution, particularly in the form of analytical and synthetic reports. Generally, this treatment must be carried out in the minimum of time.

This is particularly true with regard to checks which are issued by users in very large numbers and for which the primary information corresponds to information on the holder of the check, in particular the issuing bank, the recipient of the check, in particular his bank. and the amount of the check. In this case, it is already known to carry on the check codes in particular optical or magnetic, suscep tjles to be read automatically by machines with optical or magnetic reading. In this case, it is essential, for obvious reasons, that these checks can be processed as quickly as possible, on the one hand for interbank clearing and on the other hand, to carry the operations made on the accounts of the sender and receiver.

To this end, the processes and installations known to date use machines with optical or magnetic reading, the speed of which can be very high. However, the processing is generally affected on the one hand by the need for control of the information in the form of code read by the machine and on the other hand by the fact that the machine rejects a certain number of supports for reasons practical and physical, for example folded, crumpled, pierced checks, etc.

To resolve these difficulties, we are currently proceeding in two distinct successive phases, namely an initial and rapid phase of automatic processing of checks which allow such processing, i.e. those for which validation has taken place and those which have not have not been rejected. The other checks are subsequently processed in manual or semi-automatic form.

 It therefore follows that the known methods and installations do not make it possible to obtain, in a single treatment, a single and exhaustive product comprising on the one hand the checks physically grouped according to a defined distribution and on the other hand the primary information, in particular the accounting information, of these checks in the form of analytical statements associated with each group of checks and summaries for all the checks with a view in particular to their clearing.

The present invention therefore aims to remedy these drawbacks and for this purpose it provides an independent processing method cI'a plurality of physical media each provided with specific primary information for grouping all of this information according to a distribution determined, in which firstly a single physical grouping of all the initial physical supports is carried out according to a determined distribution and for this purpose at least part of this processing is carried out according to at least one of two possible modes in parallel respectively and in particular automatic and semi-automatic; secondly, each of the totality of initial physical supports such as processed and primary information are created, whether they comprise a symbolic image or secondary information; it is checked that each secondary information corresponds exactly to the main information then all of the secondary information is processed in a unique manner in order to group them according to the determined distribution of the physical media; in the third and last place, a physical media thus grouped and distributed is reconciled with secondary information which they also include grouped and distributed in a unique and complete manner.

In the process according to the invention, there is therefore carried out automatically and in an initial phase a physical breakdown and a reading of the primary information of all the supports, leading in particular to the constitution of a stock of rejected supports; at least semi-automatic and in a subsequent phase, physical ventilation and reading of the primary information from the media previously rejected is carried out; the rejected supports thus ventilated are then integrated into the other supports previously ventilated in a unique and complete manner. Also in the process according to the invention, all of the secondary information originating from the automatic and semi-automatic reading of the media is centralized and this information is stored; it is checked that each secondary information corresponds to the primary information by referring to the automatic and semi-automatic reading of the media; we enter the information previously stored and in particular we
IOXs affe the Inn the same distribution as the physical supports.

An installation for the autonomous processing of a plurality of physical supports each provided with specific primary information with a view to grouping all of this information according to a determined distribution, according to the invention, firstly comprises a physical grouping chain the entirety of the initial physical supports according to a determined distribution comprising on at least a portion, at least two specific processing chains in parallel, namely an automatic chain and a semi-automatic chain; secondly, the means for creating each of the totality of the initial supports as processed in the chain and the primary information which they comprise, a symbolic image or secondary information; means for checking the exact correspondence of each secondary information to the main information; means of single storage of all of the secondary information; means for processing all of the secondary information according to the determined distribution of the physical media; and thirdly, means for bringing together the physical media thus grouped and distributed and the secondary information also thus grouped and distributed.

The method and installation according to the invention therefore allow all of the physical media - in particular checks to be processed according to two parallel processing chains for the media allowing automatic processing and the media allowing automatic processing and the rejected media. . Also, the creation of secondary information makes it possible to obtain, at the end of the process, a single exhaustive product taking up all of the primary information of the supports. Consequently, the processing of the rejected supports and the information is not postponed over time. primary they entail. In the particular case where the method and the instllin according to the invention are intended for the processing of checks, these media processed are those received by a given bank and the distribution chosen is that corresponding to the other banks with which the receiving bank must carry out interbank clearing. The final product thus obtained is then made up of a plurality of packages comprising the shocks of interest to the various banks and the analytical slips for each package indicating the composition. of this and the corresponding total and synthetic statements
The present invention will be better understood from the description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating the process according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating a possible embodiment of an installation according to the invention.

According to the invention (FIG. 1) there is proposed a method for the autonomous processing of a plurality of physical media designated generically by S, such as checks or packages, etc. These physical media S are each provided with specific primary information Ip such as check details and amounts, contact details of the recipient of the package, etc.

The information Ip is affixed to the physical medium S in an appropriate form, in particular a code capable of being read in particular optically or magnetically. The method according to the invention is intended for grouping all of the information Ip according to a single determined distribution.

In the method according to the invention, a single physical grouping of all of the initial physical supports S is carried out according to a determined distribution and for this purpose at least part of this treatment is carried out according to at least one of two possible modes. parallel respectively and in particular automatic and semi-automatic.

On the other hand, we create from each of the totality of the initial physical supports S as processed and primary information Ip that it comprises a symbolic image or secondary information Is. We check that each secondary information Is corresponds exactly to the main information Tp. Then all of the secondary information Is is processed in a unique manner in order to group it according to the determined distribution of the physical media.

Finally, a reconciliation of the physical supports S thus grouped and distributed and secondary information Is also grouped and distributed in a unique and complete manner is carried out.

The physical supports S are first of all conditioned and prepared in A (FIG. 1). In particular, this phase consists in associating with each group of physical media S a control ticket showing analytically the content of this group and synthetically for example the sum of all or part of the primary information Ip that these media contain. This means that this phase may possibly include in D an addition of information considered necessary.

In a subsequent phase in C, there is automatically a physical breakdown of all of the supports S and a reading of the primary information Ip also of all of the supports S. The breakdown corresponds to the desired final distribution and allows the constitution progressive and simultaneous of several groups Gl, G2, etc. of physical supports S. Also a group Gr is made up comprising the physical supports rejected during phase C, that is to say not entering into one of the groups G1 , G2, etc or that should normally enter one of these groups but cannot enter it automatically.

In phase D, the Gr group is specially treated and for this purpose a physical ventilation and in particular a semi-automatic reading are carried out which could not be done during phase C. To this end, a external operator O. Phase D therefore also allows the constitution of groups G'1, G'2, etc., of physical supports
In a phase E subsequent to phases C and D, the groups G1, G2, C, '1, G'2, etc. are brought together, formed either directly at the end of phase C, or indirectly via phase D to constitute thus groups G''1, G''2, etc., which therefore include all of the physical supports Brought back initially in phase A.

Parallel to all this process which concerns the physical supports S one carries out a treatment relating to the information which these supports contain. To this end, phase C allows the creation of secondary information Is either validated Isv, or not validated Isnv.

Then, in a phase F, the information Isv and Isnv are centralized and stored sequentially. If necessary, accounting adjustments are made in this phase G. In phase F, the secondary information IS is also validated, that is to say that its correspondence with the primary information Ip is checked. This validation mainly takes place with regard to the support group Gr, and for this purpose when performing phase D, it allows the creation of valid secondary information Isv then processed in phase F as indicated. In phase D, we also use, in the opposite direction, the non-validated secondary information Isnv centralized and stored in phase F. Finally, do we stock? the secondary information IS all validated corresponding to the itqrlit of the primary information Ip therefore of the pI0yS ique supports S
In a later phase G we enter the information previously centralized and stored in phase F. Associated with this phase
G there is a phase H in which the supply of data corresponding to the secondary information IS therefore to the primary information Ip is allowed.

In a subsequent phase I, the secondary information IS entered in phase G is allocated and distributed according to the distribution chosen for the physical media S to the different groups G''1,
G''2, etc, made elsewhere.

I1 therefore follows the constitution of groups of products P1, P2, etc., respectively comprising on the one hand the supports S of the groups G1, G2, etc., and on the other hand the secondary information I'S1, I'S2, etc, corresponding.

Synthetic elements from phase H can be associated with these analytical elements.

An installation for implementing the method according to the invention firstly comprises a chain 1 for physical grouping of all of the initial physical supports S according to a determined distribution comprising on at least one part at least two chains 2, 3 of specific parallel processing, namely an automatic chain and a semi-automatic chain. Secondly, the installation comprises means 4 for creating each of all of the initial supports S as processed in chain 1 and primary information Ip -iu 'it includes a symbolic image or secondary information IS; means 5 for checking the exact correspondence of each secondary information IS to the main information Ip; means 6 for single storage of all of the secondary information (IS; n means 7 for processing all of the secondary information according to the determined distribution of the physical media S. Finally, the installation comprises thirdly, means 8 for bringing together the physical media S thus grouped and distributed and the secondary information IS also thus grouped and distributed.

To this end, the installation according to the invention comprises, upstream automatic, semi-automatic manual supply means 9 such as conveyors, conditioning and preparation means 10 placed downstream from the supply means 9 and means 11 for ventilation and reading, in particular a plurality of automatic machines for physical ventilation and optical or magnetic reading placed in parallel.

The means there constitute a node in the installation between the chain 1 and the means 4. Also, the means 11 constitute a node as regards the chain 1 between the two chains 2 and 3. The means 11 therefore fulfill a double function physical ventilation and reading and creation of a symbolic image IS. This symbolic image also includes elements corresponding to the particular machine having processed a determined physical medium S, which then makes it possible, by simple consultation of the secondary image IS, to know the historical, physical path of the media S through the installation.

The chain 2 essentially comprises transfer means 12 therefore placed downstream of the means 11, automatic, semi-automatic or manual such as conveyor, etc.

The chain 3 comprises transfer means 13 also automatic, semi-automatic or manual and between them means 14 for ventilation and reading, in particular semi-automatic, such as a plurality of semi-automatic machines for physical ventilation and optical reading or magnetic. The means 14 are associated with control means 14a allowing an action of a processor because of the semi-automatic nature of the machines constituting the means 14.

The downstream node of the two chains 2 and 3 is constituted by grouping means 15 making it possible to associate together the different supports of a group of the same kind originating from the two chains 2 and 3.

Downstream of the grouping means 15 are provided automatic, semi-automatic or manual transfer means 16.

The means 4 are constituted by the assembly formed by the means 11 and 14 as regards reading, as has been indicated above.

The storage means 6 are in the form of a memory and additional control and automatic means. Of course, there is a direct entry 17 into the storage means 6. The means 16 are therefore connected on the one hand to the means 11 by a link 18, on the other hand to the means 14 by a link 19 in particular a double link two-way allowing from the means 14a to enter information contained in the storage means 6 and then to introduce from the means 14a another information into the means 6.

The processing means 7 are placed downstream of the means 6 and include processors which make it possible to enter the information stored in the means 6 to process it according to scheduled and chosen programs. The means 7 include, where appropriate, outputs 18 by which the synthetic results are produced concerning the physical supports S processed by the installation. These processors provide automatic or semi-automatic control of means 11 and 14, as well as grouping means 15 and 18 depending on the nature of the information entered.

The means 8 are therefore associated on the one hand with the trans fcrt means 16 and. on the other hand to an output 19 of the means 7 corresponding to a processing of the secondary information according to the distribution of the supports S.

Claims (9)

1. A method of autonomous processing of a plurality of physical media each provided with specific primary information with a view to grouping all of this information according to a determined distribution, characterized in that ,. firstly, a single physical grouping of all the initial physical supports is carried out according to a determined distribution and for this purpose at least part of this processing is carried out according to at least one of two possible modes in parallel pa respectively and including automatic and semi-automatic; secondly, each of the totality of initial physical supports such as processed and primary information are created, whether they comprise a symbolic image or secondary information; we check that each secondary information corresponds exactly to the main information; all of the secondary information is then processed in a unique manner in order to group it according to the determined distribution of the physical media; in the third and last place, a physical media grouped together and distributed is then reconciled with secondary information also grouped and distributed in a unique and complete manner. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that one carries out automatically and in an initial phase a physical ventilation and a reading of the primary information of the whole of the supports leading in particular to the constitution of a stock of supports rejected; at least semi-automatically and in a subsequent phase, physical ventilation and reading of the primary information from the previously rejected medium are carried out; the rejected and thus ventilated supports are then integrated with the other supports previously ventilated in a unique and complete manner. 3. Method according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that centralizes all of the secondary information from the automatic and semi-automatic reading of the media and stores this information; it is checked that each secondary information corresponds to the primary information by referring to the automatic and semi-automatic reading of the supports; the previously stored information is entered and in particular it is assigned according to the same distribution as that of the physical media. 4. Installation for the autonomous processing of a plurality of physical media provided each with specific primary information with a view to grouping all of this information according to a determined distribution, characterized in that it comprises in the first place a physical grouping chain of all of the initial physical supports according to a determined distribution comprising on at least one part at least two specific processing chains in parallel, namely an automatic chain and a semi-automatic chain; secondly means for creating each of the totality of the initial supports as processed in the chain and primary information that they comprise a symbolic image or secondary information; means for checking the correspondence between each secondary information and the main information; unique means of storing all of the secondary information; means for processing all of the secondary information according to the determined distribution of the physical media; and thirdly, means for bringing together the physical media thus grouped and distributed and the secondary information also thus grouped and distributed. 5. InsLalla) .on according to claim 4, characterized by the supervision includes upstream conditioning means and parparAlion of the physical media to be treated and downstream thereof physical ventilation and reading physical media to be processed. 6. Installation according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that 1p semi-automatic chain comprises ventilation and semi-automatic reading means and control means allowing intervention by an outside operator. 7. Installation according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that it comprises at the downstream node of the automatic and semi-automatic chains grouping means. 8. Installation according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the storage means (6) comprise an inlet (17) and connections (18 and 19) with the ventilation and reading means respectively automatic and semi-automatic, the latter being in particular two-way. 9. Installation according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the means (7) include outputs 18 for the evacuation of synthetic results.