DESC:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970

(39 of 1970)

&

THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

[See Section 10 and Rule 13]

TITLE:

“INSTANT CHEQUE BOOK ASSEMBLING MACHINE AND PROCESS THEREOF”

APPLICANT:

MANIPAL TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
A company registered under Indian Companies Act, 1956 having address at
Press corner, Manipal-576104, Karnataka, India

PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an instant cheque book assembling machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a fully automatic, accurate and instant cheque book assembling machine and process thereof. More specifically, the invention provides a process to collate multiple cheque sheets using the unique barcode logic whilst inline inspection and pinning.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Every time an existing bank customer requires a cheque book and sends a request to do so to a bank. The bank places the order to a vendor who further processes it manually. A typical cheque book compilation process requires printing of MICR code band (Magnetic Ink Recognition Code) and name of the customer (incase of the customized request). Further, the cheque book compilation process requires assembling, collating, inspecting and pinning them. Although, the process seems to be simple enough, there may be complications even in case of slightest error.
A manual compilation of the check book assembly requires manual programming of a printer to print MICR code band on a cheque leaflet provided by the banks. A leaflet contains multiple cheques, therefore these cheques have to be accordingly printed with MICR code and the name of the customer that is programmed manually, then singled out manually, collated and pinned manually.
All these steps have the possibility of errors such as feeding incorrect number of cheques to be printed, feeding incorrect name, improper cutting during singling out and human error during collating. The major drawback in manual compilation of the check book assembly is the amount of time consumed, as precision requires slowing the process. Especially, the process of collating, even though reviewed is not error free.
There machines in the market to undertake such task, however these machines are expensive and moreover these machines are not integrated i.e. printing is done at separate place, so is cutting, so is pinning; which again poses the problem of time consumption, human error and the equipment cost. The collating in such system is again manual and is dispersed in various departments.
US 3692298 A Apparatus for preparing personalized checks from check stock bulk printed with constant information and background pattern comprising: a printing machine including a document feeding unit for checks and other documents to be inserted into check books, a reading device for reading input record means giving details of the required printing and format, a number of printing stations each including one or more print wheels, and means for setting up the print wheels in accordance with the variable data read from the record member, means for individually feeding the checks and other documents to be imprinted to each of a number of printing stations in succession, with the longitudinal axes of the documents parallel to the direction of feed movement, detector means for sensing the presence of a check or other document at a printing station and controlling the timing of the printing operation at that station, and. collating means for gathering the individual precut checks and other documents which have passed through the machine into the assembly required for the check book; and
In US 4085670 a check digit numbering mechanism for generating check digits in accordance with a check digit load setting utilizes a check digit printing mechanism for printing a check digit on a printing medium including serial reference numerals. The check digit printing mechanism is indexed by a check digit numerator device. A plurality of solenoids and a corresponding plurality of movable armatures, each associated with a particular one of the solenoids, are provided such that at least one of the armatures is movable to engage the check digit numerator device to actuate it in association with the relative motion between the check digit numerator device and the solenoids. The plurality of solenoids are selectively actuated by a control mechanism which is responsive to a signal generated each time a reference number is printed on the printing medium to index the check digit numerator device to print an appropriate check digit associated with a given reference number on the printing medium. Switching circuitry changes the setting of the check digit numerator device to enable selected solenoids to receive appropriate signals in accordance with the check digit load setting;
Therefore, there is a technological gap wherein there is a requirement of a machine implementing the process for fully automatic, accurate and instant cheque book assembly; in a cost effective manner.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the invention is to provide an instant cheque book assembling machine.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a process for fully automatic, accurate and instant cheque book assembling.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a process to utilize barcode for controlling multiple functions such as conducting checks on integrity, mismatch, duplicity and thus obviating manual checking.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a process to utilize the barcode on cheque leaflets to minimize errors while collating, by obviating the manual operation.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a process to utilize the barcode reading means to provide a complete machine operation at high speed.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide for an automatic, accurate and instant cheque book assembling machine comprising: multi–feeder assembly, barcode reading means, collating unit, conveyor unit, pinning unit and delivery unit.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a machine that is compact and modular.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a machine wherein the modules are connected mechanically and electrically to one another that makes it user friendly, economical, faster and reliable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an instant cheque book assembling machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a fully automatic, accurate and instant cheque book assembling machine and process thereof. More specifically, the invention provides a process to collate multiple cheque sheets using the unique barcode logic whilst inline inspection and pinning.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the machine comprises of multi – feeder assembly, barcode reading means, conveyor unit, collating unit, pinning unit and delivery unit.
In yet another embodiment the process for automatic, accurate and instant cheque book assembly, comprising the steps of feeding atleast one cheque sheet into the machine; scanning and relaying the barcode provided on the cheque sheet; collating, inspecting and diverting the collated sheets from the main conveyor to the pinning equipment; rejecting any mismatch or faulty records identified; sending the rejected sheets to a separate conveyor; isolating the rejected sheets; maintaining the log records of all faulty and good sets processed in the machine; pining the good sheets to compile cheque book; and delivering the cheque book.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A complete understanding of the system and method of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following drawings:

Fig. 1 provides the plan view of the machine for automatic, accurate and instant cheque book assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, the embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
In Fig 1, the plan view of the machine for automatic, accurate and instant cheque book assembly is elucidated. The machine allows the feeding of cheque book sheets through front feeder 101 and side feeder 104 which is then placed on to the cheque book tray 103 and carried by the front conveyer 102. The front feeder 101 and side feeder 104 are integrated with scanner, which scans and relays the barcode provided on the cheque book sheet to a collator (not shown in the diagram). The collator inspects and diverts the collated sheets from the main conveyor to the pinning equipment while rejecting any mismatch or faulty records identified, sending the rejected sheets to a separate conveyor, isolating the rejected sheets and maintaining the log records of all faulty and good sets processed in the machine. The pusher assembly 105 pushes the tray and helps in moving the conveyor 102. Further, the jogger assembly 106 transfers the sheets from the cheque book tray 103 to the gripper assembly 107. The jogger assembly 106 constantly shakes the sheets to even out the sheet to make the collated sheets sit uniformly. Progressively, the gripper assembly 107 grips the sheets together, and transfers to the pinning machine 108. The pinning machine 108pins the sheets together compiling the cheque book to be dispensed via delivery conveyor 109.

Working of the Preferred Embodiment:
The preferred embodiment of the invention the machine comprises of multi – feeder assembly, barcode reading means, conveyor unit, collating unit, pinning unit and delivery unit. The functional details of the components are described below:
MULTI-FEEDER ASSEMBLY: The multi feeder assembly allows simultaneous feeding of multiple sheets into the machine wherein additional feeding assembly can also be integrated. Further, the feeder is integrated with a barcode reading means to scan and relay unique bar code of the cheque sheets. These unique codes are relayed to the collating unit.
CONVEYOR UNIT: The conveyor unit helps in transferring or carrying the cheque sheets from one unit to another.
COLLATING UNIT: The collating unit comprises of a processor that examines and compares data from the feeder unit and communicates with other processor based external or internal unit/devices. The main function of the collating unit is to implement the unique barcode logic, which is a multifunction code to control entire process. Based on the barcode logic the system collates, inspects and diverts collated sheets from the main conveyor to the pinning equipment and rejects in case of any mismatch or faulty records identified. The rejected sheets are collated and sent to a separate conveyor and isolated from good sets. The system also maintains the log records of all faulty and good sets processed in the machine.
PINNING UNIT: The pinning unit and delivery unit comprising of means for assembling the sheets together and holding them together in a non reversible engagement to compile it in the form of a book. Finally, the delivery unit comprising of a means to dispense the assembled cheque book, safely without any damage.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. ,CLAIMS:CLAIMS
We claim:
1. A cheque book printing, collating and pinning machine comprising of
atleast one multi-feeder assembly allowing simultaneous feeding of multiple sheets with unique bar code into the machine wherein the feeder is integrated with a barcode reading means to scan and relay unique bar code of the cheque sheets to a collating unit;
plurality of conveyor unit comprising of a conveyer assembly for carrying cheque sheets from one unit to another;
atleast one collating unit comprising of atleast one processor;
pinning unit comprising of means for assembling the sheets together and holding them together in a non reversible engagement to compile it in the form of a book; and
delivery unit comprising of a means to dispense the assembled cheque book, safely without any damage;
wherein:
the processor examines and compares data from the feeder unit, communicates with other processor based external or internal unit/devices to control entire process based on the barcode to collate, inspect and divert collated sheets from the main conveyor to the pinning equipment and rejects any mismatch or faulty records identified, and maintains the log records of all faulty and good sets of cheque sheets processed in the machine.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rejected sheets are collated and sent to a separate conveyor and isolated from good sets.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein plurality of conveyor units comprising of conveyer assembly for transferring or carrying cheque sheets from one unit to another.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein system pins the good sheets to compile cheque book and deliver the cheque book.