Author: claimsbot

1. Apparatus comprising:
an automated banking machine,
wherein the automated banking machine includes:
a reader device operative to read user data that corresponds to a financial account,
a check acceptor,
wherein the check acceptor is configured to receive financial checks that include thereon visible characters that include magnetic ink character recognition (micr) symbols,
wherein the check acceptor includes:
\u2003at least one optical scanning sensor,
\u2003at least one magnetic sensor,
\u2003at least one transport, wherein the at least one transport is operative to move a check adjacent to the at least one optical scanning sensor and the at least one magnetic sensor,
at least one processor,
at least one data store,
wherein the at least one data store is in operative connection with the at least one processor,
wherein the at least one data store includes processor executable software instructions operative to identify a plurality of visible characters included on checks,
wherein the at least one data store includes processor executable software instructions corresponding to at least one template that corresponds to at least one area on a check in which visible characters may be located,
wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the reader device and the check acceptor,
wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause a financial transfer at least one of to and from a financial account corresponding to read user data,

wherein the at least one processor is operative to:
cause the at least one optical scanning sensor to scan at least one face of a check,
cause image data corresponding to visual appearance of at least a portion of the at least one face of the check to be generated,
cause modified image data to be generated, wherein the modified image data corresponds to an imposed coordinate system,
cause at least one portion of the image data to be selected responsive at least in part to the at least one template and the modified image data,
cause image data in the selected at least one portion to be analyzed to determine at least one visible character within the selected at least one portion, and
cause at least one message to be sent that includes data representative of a determined at least one visible character.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1
wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine corner image data, wherein the corner image data corresponds to at least one corner of the check,
wherein the at least one processor is operative to generate the modified image data responsive at least in part to the corner image data and the imposed coordinate system.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2
wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine boundary image data,
wherein the boundary image data corresponds to at least two sides of the check,
wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine the corner image data responsive at least in part to the boundary image data.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3
wherein the at least one processor is operative to select a first portion of the image data responsive at least in part to a first template,
wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine whether the first portion includes at least one determined character with at least a level of assurance.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to a determination that the first portion includes the at least one determined character with at least the level of assurance, to cause the machine to include the data representative of the determined at least one visible character in the at least one message sent from the machine.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the determined at least one visible character includes at least one of a micr routing symbol and a micr transfer symbol.
7. The apparatus according to claim 4
wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to a determination that the first portion does not include at least one determined character with at least the level of assurance, to select a second template,
wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to the second template to select a second portion of the image data,
wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine whether the second portion includes at least one determined character with at least the level of assurance.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to a determination that the second portion includes at least one determined character with at least the level of assurance, to cause the machine to include the data representative of the determined at least one visible character in the at least one message sent from the machine.
9. The apparatus according to claim 7
wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to a determination that the second portion does not include the determined at least one visible character with at least the level of assurance, to select a third template,
wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to the third template to select a third portion of the image data,
wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine whether the third portion includes the determined at least one visible character with at least the level of assurance.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to a determination that the third portion includes the determined at least one visible character with at least the level of assurance, to cause the machine to include the data representative of the determined at least one visible character in the at least one message sent from the machine.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to the at least one magnetic sensor, to produce data corresponding to a magnetic image map corresponding to at least an analyzed portion of the check.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the at least one processor is operative to compare magnetic image map data and the first, second, or third image portion determined to include the determined at least one visible character with at least the level of assurance.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine whether the determined at least one visible character has magnetic properties.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the at least one processor is operative to generate at least one signal indicative that the check is of suspect validity responsive at least in part to a determination that the determined at least one visible character does not have magnetic properties.
15. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the automated banking machine further includes a cash dispenser, wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the cash dispenser,
wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause cash to be dispensed from the machine,
wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause an amount corresponding to the dispensed cash to be transferred from the financial account corresponding to the read user data.
16. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to the at least one magnetic sensor to cause magnetic image data corresponding to magnetic properties to be generated, and wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to the image data and the magnetic image data to generate at least one signal corresponding to genuineness of the check.
17. Apparatus comprising:
an automated banking machine,
wherein the automated banking machine includes:
a reader device operative to read user data that corresponds to a financial account,
a check acceptor,
wherein the check acceptor is configured to receive financial checks that include thereon characters that include magnetic ink character recognition (micr) symbols,
wherein the check acceptor includes:
\u2003at least one optical scanning sensor,
\u2003at least one magnetic sensor,
\u2003at least one transport, wherein the at least one transport is operative to move a check adjacent to the at least one optical scanning sensor and the at least one magnetic sensor,
at least one processor,
at least one data store,
wherein the at least one data store is in operative connection with the at least one processor,
wherein the at least one data store includes processor executable software instructions operative to identify a plurality of characters included on checks,
wherein the at least one data store includes processor executable software instructions corresponding to at least one template that corresponds to at least one area on a check in which characters may be located,
wherein the at least one processor is in operative connection with the reader device and the check acceptor,
wherein the at least one processor inoperative to cause a financial transfer at least one of to and from a financial account corresponding to read user data,

wherein the at least one processor is operative to:
cause the at least one optical scanning sensor to scan at least one face of a check,
cause image data corresponding to visual appearance of at least a portion of the at least one face of the check to be generated,

wherein the at least one processor is operative to select a first template,
wherein the at least one processor is operative to select a first portion of the image data responsive at least in part to the first template,
wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine whether the first portion includes the at least one character with at least a level of assurance,
wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to a determination that the first portion includes at least one character with at least the level of assurance, to cause the machine to include data representative of the at least one character, in at least one message sent from the machine,
wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to a determination that the first portion does not include at least one character with at least the level of assurance, to select a second template different from the first template,
\u2003wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to the second template to select a second portion of the image data different from the first portion,
\u2003wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine whether the second portion includes at least one character with at least the level of assurance.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17
wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to the at least one magnetic sensor to further determine if the determined at least one character has magnetic properties,
and wherein the at least one processor is operative responsive at least in part to the further determination to generate at least one signal indicative of genuineness of the check.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1.-16. (canceled)
17. A flexible foam with an abrasive surface comprising:
1 to 90% by weight of a mixture, based on an uncoated substrate, the mixture comprising a condensation product of;
99.985 to 20% by weight of at least one precondensate of a heat-curable resin,
0 to 10% by weight of a polymeric thickener selected from the group consisting of a biopolymer, an associative thickener, a completely synthetic thickener, and any one mixture thereof,
0.01 to 10% by weight of a curing agent,
0 to 10% by weight of surface-active substances, surfactants or mixtures thereof,
0 to 15% by weight of dyes, pigments, or mixture thereof, and
0 to 75% by weight of water, and

10 to 70% by weight of one or more binders, based on the above mixture, selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyacrylonitriles, polyurethanes, melamine-formaldehyde resins, phenol-formaldehyde resins, urea-formaldehyde resins, melamine-urea-formaldehyde resins, melamine-urea-phenol-formaldehyde resins, urea-glyoxal resins, and any one copolymer of acrylic acid esters and acrylonitrile, styrene and acrylonitrile, acrylic acid esters and styrene and acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile and butadiene and styrene.
18. The flexible foam according to claim 17, wherein the flexible foam is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyamide, polyester, polyolefin and cellulose foams.
19. The flexible foam according to claim 17, wherein the flexible foam is a polyurethane foam.
20. The flexible foam according to claim 17, wherein the one or more binders are aqueous binders including any one of the polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyacrylonitriles, polyurethanes, melamine-formaldehyde resins, phenol-formaldehyde resins, urea-formaldehyde resins, melamine-urea-formaldehyde resins, melamine-urea-phenol-formaldehyde resins, urea-glyoxal resins, and any one copolymer of acrylic acid esters and acrylonitrile, styrene and acrylonitrile, acrylic acid esters and styrene and acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile and butadiene and styrene, or any one mixture thereof.
21. The flexible foam according to claim 17, wherein the at least one precondensate of the heat-curable resins are selected from the group consisting of melamineformaldehyde precondensates, methanol etherified melamineformaldehyde precondensates, ureaformaldehyde precondensates, melamineureaformaldehyde precondensates, melamineureaphenolformaldehyde precondensates, ureaglyoxal precondensates and phenolformaldehyde precondensates.
22. The flexible foam according to claim 17, wherein the at least one precondensate heat-curable resin used is a precondensate of melamine and formaldehyde in which the molar ratio of formaldehyde to melamine is 1:1 to 4:1.
23. The flexible foam according to claim 17, wherein a solution or dispersion of the precondensate comprises 0.1 to 10% by weight of the curing agent selected from a group of acids or salts thereof, and an aqueous solution of these salts.
24. The flexible foam according to claim 17, wherein a solution or dispersion of the precondensate comprises 0.001 to 5% by weight of the surfactant, the surface-active substance or the mixture thereof.
25. The flexible foam according to claim 17, wherein a solution or dispersion of the precondensate comprises 0 to 5% by weight of the biopolymer, the associative thickener, the completely synthetic thickener or the mixture thereof.
26. The flexible foam according to claim 17, wherein a solution or dispersion of the precondensate is applied to an entire surface of the substrate.
27. The flexible foam according to claim 17, wherein an aqueous solution or an aqueous dispersion of the precondensate is applied as a pattern to a surface of the substrate.
28. The flexible foam according to claim 17, wherein the foam treated with an aqueous solution of a precondensate is cured and dried at a temperature in a range from 20 to 250\xb0 C.
29. The flexible foam according to claim 17, wherein the dyes, pigments or mixture thereof is present from 0 to 10% by weight.
30. The flexible foam according to claim 17 as an abrasive foam for machine and manual floor cleaning.
31. A process for producing flexible foams with an abrasive surface, the process comprising:
applying an aqueous solution or dispersion of the mixture of at least one precondensate of a heat-curable resin to a top andor bottom surface of a flexible foam in an amount in the range from 0.1 to 90% by weight, based on an uncoated, dry foam;
crosslinking the applied precondensate; and drying the treated foam,
wherein the aqueous solution or dispersion comprises;
99.985 to 20% by weight of the at least one precondensate of a heat-curable resin,
0 to 10% by weight of a polymeric thickener selected from the group consisting of a biopolymer, an associative thickener, a completely synthetic thickener, and any one mixture thereof,
0.01 to 10% by weight of a curing agent,
0 to 10% by weight of surface-active substances, surfactants or mixtures thereof,
0 to 15% by weight of dyes, pigments, or mixture thereof, and
0 to 75% by weight of water, and

10 to 70% by weight of one or more binders, based on the above mixture, selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyacrylonitriles, polyurethanes, melamine-formaldehyde resins, phenol-formaldehyde resins, urea-formaldehyde resins, melamine-urea-formaldehyde resins, melamine-urea-phenol-formaldehyde resins, urea-glyoxal resins, and any one copolymer of acrylic acid esters and acrylonitrile, styrene and acrylonitrile, acrylic acid esters and styrene and acrylonitrile, acrylonitrile and butadiene and styrene.

1. A gaming system comprising:
an account card, said account card storing personal information and biometric data of an individual;
an input device, said input device including a card reader for receiving said account card and accessing said personal information and said biometric data on said account card, said input device also including a biometric reader for receiving biometric data from an individual; and
means associated with said account card for comparing said biometric data stored on said account card with said biometric data entered into said input device to determine if access to said personal information on said account card should be granted.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said personal information includes complimentary amenities.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said gaming unit is at least one of a slot, roulette, poker, blackjack, craps, baccarat, caribbean-poker, video poker, bingo, lottery, keno, fantasy sports game, and wireless gaming device.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said personal information includes access to a financial institution whereby said individual can use said account card to gain access to an authorized account to purchase items or pay for services.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said personal information is a combination selected from the group consisting of an authorization number used to approve play at said gaming unit, a Personal Identification Number, a transaction number that is used for all games of chance initiated using the account card, player identification information, player tracking information, a encrypted combination used by a door access device to unlock a door, complimentary amenities, an authorization number that is used to authorize wireless gaming, an authorization number that is used to authorize sports wagering, an authorization number that is used to authorize fantasy sports wagering.
6. In a gaming system comprising, a method of providing access to a gaming device, said method comprising:
establishing communications with said gaming device utilizing an account card, said account card storing personal information and biometric data of an individual;
accessing said personal information and said biometric data on said account card utilizing an input device, said input device including a card reader for receiving said account card and accessing said personal information and said biometric data on said account card, said input device also including a biometric reader for accessing biometric data from an individual; and
comparing said biometric data stored on said account card with said biometric data entered into said input device utilizing means on said account card to determine if access to said personal information on said account card should be granted.
7. The method of claim 6, including placing complimentary amenities in said personal information.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein said gaming unit is at least one of a slot, roulette, poker, blackjack, craps, baccarat, Caribbean poker, video poker, bingo, lottery, keno, fantasy sports game, and wireless gaming device.
9. The method of claim 6, including providing access to a financial institution whereby said individual can use said account card to access an authorized account to purchase items or pay for services.
10. The method of claim 6, wherein said personal information is a combination selected from the group consisting of an authorization number used to approve play at said gaming unit, a Personal Identification Number, a transaction number that is used for all games of chance initiated using the account card, player identification information, player tracking information, a encrypted combination used by a door access device to unlock a door, complimentary amenities, an authorization number that is used to authorize wireless gaming, an authorization number that is used to authorize sports wagering, an authorization number that is used to authorize fantasy sports wagering.
11. A method of issuing an authentication instrument for granting gaming privileges comprising:
establishing communications with a gaming device utilizing an authentication instrument, said authentication instrument storing personal information and biometric data of an individual;
accessing said personal information and said biometric data on said authentication instrument utilizing an input device, said input device including a card reader for receiving said authentication instrument and accessing said personal information and said biometric data on said authentication instrument, said input device also including a biometric reader for accessing biometric data from an individual; and
comparing said biometric data stored on said authentication instrument with said biometric data entered into said input device utilizing means on said authentication instrument to determine if access to said personal information on said account card should be granted.
12. The method of claim 11 including utilizing said authentication instrument to gain access to a locked door.
13. The method of claim 11, including configuring said authentication instrument to grant specific gaming privileges.
14. The method of claim 11, including placing complimentary amenities in said personal information.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein said gaming device is at least one of a slot, roulette, poker, blackjack, craps, baccarat, Caribbean poker, video poker, bingo, lottery, keno, fantasy sports game, and wireless gaming device.
16. The method of claim 11, including providing access to a financial institution whereby said individual can use said account card to access an authorized account to purchase items or pay for services.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein said personal information is a combination selected from the group consisting of an authorization number used to approve play at said gaming unit, a Personal Identification Number, a transaction number that is used for all games of chance initiated using the account card, player identification information, player tracking information, a encrypted combination used by a door access device to unlock a door, complimentary amenities, an authorization number that is used to authorize wireless gaming, an authorization number that is used to authorize sports wagering, an authorization number that is used to authorize fantasy sports wagering.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An independently mobile shopping cart, which is movable in a shop to collect and purchase one or more commodities, comprising:
a cart body for carrying the one or more commodities; and
a payment processor for handling a payment for the commodities with a prepaid card, having
a commodity code reader for reading a commodity code applied to the individual commodity,
a commodity price identifying section for identifying the price of the individual commodity based on the commodity code read by said commodity code reader,
a prepaid card reader for reading information about a current remainder of prepayment from the prepaid card, and
a registering section for subtracting the price of the individual commodity identified by said commodity price identifying section from the current remainder of prepayment read by said prepaid card reader, and registering the result of the subtraction on the prepaid card as a new remainder of prepayment without any communication with an external processor or computer.
2. An independently mobile shopping cart as defined in claim 1, wherein said payment processor further comprises a indicating section for indicating, if necessary, that the current remainder read by said prepaid card reader is insufficient for the price of the individual commodity identified by said commodity price identifying section.
3. An independently mobile shopping cart as defined in claim 2, wherein said payment processor further comprises:
a first selecting section for selecting, when the current remainder is insufficient for the individual price of the commodity, either (i) to carry out the payment with another prepaid card or (ii) to cancel the payment, and controlling said prepaid card reader and said remainder registering section accordingly.
4. An independently mobile shopping cart as defined in claim 3, wherein said payment processor further comprises a receipt issuing section for issuing a receipt upon completion of the payment.
5. An independently mobile shopping cart as defined in claim 4, wherein said payment processor further comprises:
a second selecting section for choosing whether or not to receive a receipt for the payment, and controlling said receipt issuing section accordingly.
6. An independently mobile shopping cart as defined in claim 2, wherein said payment processor further comprises:
a receipt issuing section for issuing a receipt upon completion of the payment.
7. An independently mobile shopping cart as defined in claim 6, wherein said payment processor further comprises:
a second selecting section for choosing whether or not to receive a receipt for the payment, and controlling said receipt issuing section accordingly.
8. An independently mobile shopping cart as defined in claim 1, wherein said payment processor further comprises:
a receipt issuing section for issuing a receipt upon completion of the payment.
9. An independently mobile shopping cart as defined in claim 8, wherein said payment processor further comprises:
a second selecting section for choosing whether or not to receive a receipt for the payment, and controlling said receipt issuing section accordingly.
10. An independently mobile shopping cart as defined in claim 1, wherein said payment processor further comprises:
an instruction receiver for receiving a power onoff instruction from an external management apparatus; and
a power onoff section for automatically turning onoff the power of said payment processor in response to the power onoff instruction received by said data reception section.
11. An independently mobile shopping cart as defined in claim 10, wherein said payment processor further comprises:
a measuring section for measuring the total weight of the commodities carried by said cart body;
a observing section for observing whether a change in the total weight measured by said measuring section accompanies the reading operation of the commodity code by said commodity code reader; and
an alarm generating section for generating an alarm when said observing section observes that any change in the total weight does not accompany the reading operation of the commodity code.
12. An independently mobile shopping cart as defined in claim 1, wherein said payment processor further comprises:
a measuring section for measuring the total weight of the commodities carried by said cart body;
an observing section for observing whether a change in the total weight measured by said measuring section accompanies the reading operation of the commodity code by said commodity code reader; and
an alarm generating section for generating an alarm when said observing section observes that any change in the total weight does not accompany the reading operation of the commodity code.