Abstract: The invention concerns a method for protecting sensitive data against overflow in a stack, memory space reserved for part of a program. Said method comprises an operation which consists in assigning a stack to each program part, during which the most upstream stack relatively to the displacement direction of an indicator in a stack, is assigned a task for operating on said sensitive data. Preferably, said method comprises the execution of a single task operating on said sensitive data.

Abstract: A storage apparatus has a card-accommodating, vertically upright stack-storage cassette (1) and a card-input, -reading and control unit (3) arranged adjacent to the top cassette-border region (4). The stack-storage cassette (1) has a vertically running storage opening (5) arranged in a cassette side. The storage apparatus also has a lift unit (7) which can be displaced vertically in said opening (5) and has a lift housing (19a, 19b). The lift unit (7), for its part, has a depositing plate (9) for the cards, which comes to rest in the store interior (10). The lift unit can be removed in the lowermost region of the cassette (1), to be inserted into the cassette (1) at the top and, acting on the opening borders, to be displaced vertically, i.e. lowered, in each case preferably by the distance of a height over which a group of cards is deposited, in order for the cards to be deposited satisfactorily.

Abstract: The device has a base element (1) and a wing (5) arranged so as to be pivotable on the latter with a swivel joint (3). The swivel joint (3) has two fastening flanges (9, 10) which are pivotable about the swiveling axis (7) for fastening on the base element (1) or on the wing (5). At least one of the fastening flanges (9) has a snap on first holding element (21b, 23a) and second holding elements interacting with the first at least on one of the free rim sides of the base element (1) and/or of the wing provided for fastening the swivel joint. With these holding elements, the fastening flange is permanently connectable with the long side of the base element (1) and/or wing following the following fastening by pressing together.

Abstract: The device for examining securities, especially bank notes, includes a transport facility for conveying securities along a transport path and a recognition facility arranged on the transport path. The recognition facility has two integrated optical modules arranged alongside each other for scanning securities in two different wavelength ranges. The optical modules are arranged with their long axes basically parallel to each other, and at the same time slightly tipped toward each other. The optical module extends over an entire breadth of the transport path. It includes several light sources arranged at regular intervals, a larger number of optical imagining elements and several optical detectors, whereby the security is passed by a transparent front panel of the module.

Abstract: In the apparatus of the invention for loading and dispensing bills, the deposited bills are isolated and directly provisionally stored and tested by means of a deposit path (A, B, C), and the testing result, particularly with respect to the amount, is displayed. Depending on the customer's command and/or test result, the bills are returned after deposit from the intermediate storage (20) to the return path (E, F) that has one embranchment location (24b) only, so that the customer can personally test eventual or supposed inaccuracies in the automatic sum and/or value determination of the deposited bills. The bills can be guided into the end storage container by means of the only embranchment location (24b). A completely undisturbed bill loading system is therefore obtained, wherein the bills can be dispensed in the original order in which they were deposited for reverification by the depositing customer. In this manner, the greatest possible feeling of security is extended to the customer making the deposit.

Abstract: A computerized system is of the type that responds to imminent loss of power by storing crucial data to a safe storage area. In the system, lockup caused by the system entering a tight loop awaiting power loss, is avoided by a combination of stored program and hardware. A test performed in the tight loop checks repeatedly to see whether the power-failure signal comes no longer to be present, and if that condition occurs the stored program causes the meter to return to normal function. As a consequence momentary power losses and other brief interruptions, whether due to user manipulation of the power switch or otherwise, are much less likely to result in undesired lockup of the system.

Abstract: A cash vault (1) has vault control unit (7) to be operated alternately by two tellers (4a, 4b), with only a single banknote disbursement (11) and input unit (39). The disbursement opening of banknote disbursement unit (11) is closeable by a two-part cover (13a, 13b) with only that opening part which is adjacent to the pertinent teller (4a, 4b) being cleared at the time for currency disbursement. In this way, allocation of the amount of money made available to one of the two bank employees takes place without problems. The second bank employee cannot take the banknote bundle made available to the first bank employee even inadvertently. For path selection of banknotes from banknote input unit (39) to a banknote repository (35) or to banknote disbursement unit (11) or from the banknote repository to the banknote disbursement unit (11), a bar-shaped path selection element rotatable about its longitudinal axis is used. The path selection element is traversed by at least one longitudinal slot.

Abstract: In an electronic postage meter and external servicing system, a method and apparatus are disclosed for loading data in a universal format from the external servicing device to the postage meter. Data packets sent from the external servicing device to the postage meter contain an address in the memory address space of the processor as well as data to be loaded to that address. Optionally the data packet may include a data length value and a repetition value, the repetition value indicating how many times the data are to be copied into the memory of the processor. The system overcomes limitations of the prior art in which data packets may only be sent to the meter for loading to a limited set of selectable destinations.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a sheetlike object, especially a card with magnetic strip, from a stack has a storage compartment for the stack and an object removal unit on a lower side of the storage compartment. The object removal unit has a conveying element movable back and forth under control perpendicular to the stack, i.e., in dispensing direction (x). According to the invention, the conveying element has a supporting surface concave in dispensing direction (x) and/or convex in a transverse direction (y) which is orthogonal to dispensing direction (x). With an element thus shaped, cards already used and bent in various ways can be reused for automatic card dispensing.

Abstract: A data protection apparatus has chip select logic, a protection circuit and one or more memory devices. The chip select logic is designed so that when protected memory is addressed, more than one selection signal is generated. In this way, a protected memory area may encompass all, or a portion, of one or more memory devices. The additional selection signal is processed by a protection circuit which will interrupt the processor if protected memory is addressed during a write cycle in the absence of a request signal which the processor is programmed to generate just prior to its writing to a protected memory area.

Abstract: The process provides a staggered degree of security as a safety concept against unauthorized use of a transaction card for purchasing of items. The card has four memories memorizing an amount of money, a money installment and its limiting value, a number of usable transactions and its limiting value, further data for doing an identity check of the ownership of the cardholder and also an authenticity check. The card is usable at three different types of payment instruments with or without an identity check and/or an authenticity check.

Abstract: A rotor movement sensing system in a postage meter permits detection of the printing of postage even if power is lost during the printing cycle. A sensor senses a magnet on a disk when the rotor is substantially past its home position. A second sensor has a magnetic memory element. When the magnet on the disk passes near the memory element, that element is magnetized. A Hall-effect sensor at the memory element provides an interrupt to a processor to indicate magnetization of the memory element. A winding is provided around the memory element. The processor has an output which, when asserted, causes current flow through the winding, demagnetizing the memory element. Alternatively a reed switch senses rotor rotation, a flip-flop provides a bistable latch and its output provides a datum for the processor.

Abstract: The postage meter machine (11) comprises a stator part (12) and a print rotor (13). Two motors (41, 52), a drive (42), a motor switch (45), a battery (46), a logic unit (56), a clock module (58), and two position indicators (48, 54) are disposed in the stator part (12). A catch-stop actuator (24), a catch-stop row sequence (23) with three catch stops of different lengths as well as a date stamp (20) with four counter wheels (16-19) and a coordinated stop-catch device (26-29) are disposed in the print rotor (13). The counter wheels (16-19) are disposed coaxially next to each other and each counter wheel exhibits twelve print positions, which are rotatable stepwise by the catch-stop row sequence (23). Based on the kind of teeth and the length of the cams, either one, two or three counter wheels (16-18) are rotated simultaneously by one position. A coupler (32) connects the one motor (41) to the catch-stop actuator (24) in a certain angular setting of the print rotor (13).

Abstract: In a postage meter which has a meter section powered by house current in normal operation, but which requires auxiliary power source batteries while in transit, a circuit is provided which, in connection with a stored program, tests the auxiliary power source prior to the period away from the house current power, thus providing a warning if the auxiliary power is unlikely to sustain the device for the duration of the period away from house current power. The test circuit applies a test load approximating the load of the meter section to be powered. A loop in the program of a CPU determines the period of time during which the test load is applied to the batteries and then a voltage comparator assures that the battery output voltage is sufficiently high in the range of usable voltage therefrom to assure successful operation of the postage meter section during resetting at the post office. A post office switch for use by a postal worker can be closed only when a postal worker unlocks an associated lock.

Abstract: A system for remotely resetting a postage meter, by adding a variable amount of postage, includes a computerized central facility or "host", in telephone communication with the meter, which host verifies the meter's identity and ascertains the availability of funds, then sends to the meter an authorizing, unique, one-time-only combination, independent of the value of postage requested, and having a predetermined relation to a unique, one-time-only combination that the meter has generated and retained. The meter then compares the combination that it has generated with the combination received from the host. If the relationship is correct, for example, if the combination is the same, the meter introduces the additional postage requested.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises two levers (80, 81), which are rotatable around rigid axles (86, 87). Added to this is a third rigid axle (85), which carries the one lower infeed roller (21.2). The upper infeed roller (21.1) is supported at a lever (80) and is springingly pressed against the lower infeed roller (21.2). The apparatus permits letters to be postage metered run in direction of the arrow (52) and thereby press the two infeed rollers (21.1, 21.2) apart from each other up to a maximum width D.In operation one lever (80) carries a bolt (95) at an arm (94), where the bolt (95) engages into a curved slot (98) of the other lever (81). The bolt (95) freely moves in the curved slot (98) between zero and a with of, for example, 3 mm. In case of a larger width, the bolt (95) impacts at the edge of the slot and presses the other lever (81) in direction of the dashed illustrated deflection position. Other lever (81) has a release hole (99).

Abstract: The device, fashioned, for example, as a cashier's safe (3), has two openings (12) for the issuance of paper currency (2) and valuable objects, stored in strongboxes (1), from the interior (4) of the safe. A pivotable member equipped with conveying means takes over the strongboxes (1) and, respectively, the bills (2) from respectively one conveyor arranged in the interior (4) of the safe and pushes them through one of the openings (12). After having been emptied or loaded, the strongboxes (1) are again retracted by the member and transferred to the conveyor (23).

Abstract: Device for the storage, insertion, and removal of containers in and, respectively, from a secured space, with racks (14) exhibiting storage sites (16) for the containers, arranged in tiers in superposition. The containers are retained in the racks (14) by respectively one detent spring (35). During transporting of the racks (14), the detent springs (35) are locked by locking elements (44), and the containers are thereby secured in the racks (14). The unlocking of the containers takes place automatically, only after complete introduction of the racks (14) into the secured space, by an unlocking element (65) that is moved into a lock (47) by a bar (67) abutting against a stop (73).

Abstract: Objects (1) to be stored are fed between two rollers (9, 10) to a belt (2) taken off from a belt coil (5) of a belt reel (6) and wound up therewith (2), forming a storage coil (7), onto a storage reel (3). For the delivery of previously stored objects (1a), the belt (2) is taken off therewith (1a) from the storage coil (7), the objects separate from the belt (2) upon leaving the roller pair (9, 10), the belt (2) being rewound onto the belt coil (b 5). The reels (3, 6) are displaceably mounted; their coils (5, 7) are each supported on a fixedly mounted backing roller (12, 13).

Abstract: In order to accommodate a relatively large number of paper storage reels (11-17) with diameters of relatively large size in correspondence with a relatively large paper reservoir in a space of relatively small dimensions, storage reels (12-15) are also arranged in side-by-side relationship, i.e. laterally offset with respect to the paper feed slots (21-27) of the printer (20). The path segments of the paper webs (2-5) extending in this case in part skewed with respect to the paper feeding direction of the printer are made possible by rerouting members (52/62, 53/63, 54/64, 55/65, 42-45) at which the paper webs are guided on a rerouting path extending along part of a helical winding.