Abstract: A document handling apparatus is disclosed which is particularly well adapted for counting documents of value, such as banknotes. The document handling apparatus comprises an input module for receiving a stack of documents and feeding them one by one into the apparatus, a detector box which houses a series of detectors for detecting characteristics of the documents, a transport system for conveying documents within the apparatus, a doubles detector for sensing the passage of each document therethrough and a stacker module for stacking the output documents and presenting them to the user. The apparatus is based on a metal framework in a plastics housing.

Abstract: An intaglio plate wiping system includes a wiping member which forms a nip with the intaglio plate in use and onto which excess intaglio ink is transferred during relative movement between the wiping member and the intaglio plate. A heated doctor blade unit is located downstream of the nip and cooperates with the wiping member to remove intaglio ink from the wiping member. A heated ink collecting container is provided into which ink removed from the wiping member passes.

Abstract: Document inspection system comprising a transport system for transporting documents along a transport path (12) through an inspection station. At least one ultrasonic inspection apparatus at the inspection station, the apparatus including ultrasonic transmitting and receiving transducers (42,44) arranged on opposite sides of the transport path, and a processing system for monitoring ultrasonic signals received by the receiving transducer. An ultrasonic absorbing material (300) is provided around the transducers and facing the transport path for absorbing Document guide apparatus (312,314), having a lower coefficient of friction than the absorbing material, extends partially over the absorbing material (300) so as to prevent documents contacting the absorbing material in use while leaving the absorbing material exposed to the transport path at least adjacent the transducers.

Abstract: A security device comprises a substrate having a transparent region (1). At least one optical element (2, 3) is provided in part of the transparent region, the optical element causing an incident off-axis light beam transmitted through the optical element to be redirected away from a line parallel with the incident light beam whereby when the device is viewed in transmission directly against a backlight, the presence of the optical element cannot be discerned but when the device is moved relative to the backlight such that lines of sight from the viewer to the transparent region and from the transparent region to the backlight form an obtuse angle (?) at which redirected light is visible to the viewer, a contrast is viewed between the part of the transparent region including the optical element and another part of the transparent region.

Abstract: A document monitoring device comprises an ultrasonic transmitter (20) and an ultrasonic receiver (22) positioned on opposite sides of a document inspection position. A control system (5) is coupled to the ultrasonic transmitter (20) and receiver (22) for causing ultrasonic signals to be transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver through the inspection position and for monitoring the ultrasonic signals received by the receiver. At least one of the receiver (22) and transmitter (20) comprises a piezoelectric polymer film (32, 34).

Abstract: A roll storage module comprises a storage roll (4) and a band roll (1). A band (3) extends between the storage and band rolls, the rolls being rotatable so that the band can be rolled around and unrolled from each roll. A storage roll motor (5) applies a rotational torque directly to the storage roll (4), a band roll motor (2) applies a rotational torque directly to the band roll (1). A control system (6) controls the motors (2,5) so as to cause the band (3) to roll on and unroll from the storage and band rolls (1,4) respectively in a determined manner. The control system includes a processor (6) for monitoring rotation of the band roll (1), and for calculating one or more parameters relating to the band (3) based on the monitored band roll rotation thereby to control the band and storage roll motors to rotate their respective rolls in the determined manner.

Abstract: A method of electronically managing payment media, includes the steps of: (i) determining an amount of payment media dispensed from a payment media dispensing device, based on electronic point-of-sale data received from a point-of-sale register associated with the payment media dispensing device; and (ii) determining an inventory amount of the payment media remaining in the payment media dispensing device based on the determined amount of payment media dispensed from the payment media dispensing device. A computer program product can store a computer executable program that includes instructions to cause a controller of a transactions processing system to perform the above steps.

Abstract: A method of depositing items of value, the method comprising 1) receiving a tamper evident and coded container holding the items of value, the code relating to the content of the container; 2) verifying that the package has been received in an acceptable manner, and, if it has, 3) either incrementing an account with the value of the items of value in the container by reference to the code and without opening the container, or, if the account has previously been incremented, leaving the account unchanged.

Abstract: A security document has a first region and an adjacent second region, the regions defining a security device. Opposite sides of the first region are provided with first and second, complementary indicia registered with respect to one another, the first region being sufficiently transparent that both the first and second indicia are viewable from either side of the document under reflected light. Third indicia are provided on the second region on the same side of the document, registered with, and complementary to, the first indicia, and fourth indicia are provided on the second region on the same side of the document, registered with, and complementary to, the second indicia, the third and fourth indicia also being complementary to and registered with respect to one another.

Abstract: A document storage container assembly (100) comprises a storage container (102), a first tray (330) mounted to the container so as to receive documents to be stacked, the bottom of said tray including an elongate aperture (331) opening into the storage container, and a pusher member (103) mounted on and laterally extending from at least one elongate supporting member (104, 204) which is coupled to an operating mechanism (150, 250) located within the storage container; wherein the operating mechanism is adapted to first move the pusher member through the aperture from a retracted position to an extended position above the first tray and then to move the pusher member from the extended position laterally over the first tray , before moving the pushing member from the extended position to the retracted position orthogonally to the first tray so as to push any documents on the said first tray into the container through the aperture .

Abstract: A method of sorting documents of value includes a) forming a stack of documents of value, the including two or more batches of documents of value, each batch of documents of value being provided with first and second separators to separate the batch from an adjacent batch; and, b) sequentially feeding all the documents in the stack through a sorting machine to inspect the documents and to sort the documents into one or more output stations in dependence upon the results of the inspection, and sorting all first separators to a separator output station.

Abstract: A security device comprises a holographic or diffractive optically variable effect generating structure which, when viewed normally i.e. perpendicularly to the plane of the device, replays at least one composite image, the composite image being defined by at least a pair of discrete image elements, the structure being such that at least two of the discrete image elements of the composite image have different optimal replay angles.

Abstract: A method of sorting documents of value comprises: a) forming a stack of documents of value, the stack including two or more batches of documents of value, each batch of documents of value being provided with first and second separators to separate the batch from an adjacent batch; and, b) sequentially feeding all the documents in the stack through a sorting machine to inspect the documents and to sort the documents into one or more output stations in dependence upon the results of the inspection, and sorting all first separators to a separator output station.

Abstract: A check processing system and method comprising utilizes an image scanner that produces an electronic image of a check upon scanning of the check. The system and method receive the electronic image of the check from the image scanner, receive point-of-sale data generated at a point-of-sale, determine a monetary value of the check from the electronic image of the check, and reconcile the determined monetary value of the check with the point-of-sale data so that the check is correlated with a transaction that occurred at the point-of-sale.

Abstract: A method of forming a security device comprises: a) providing an undeveloped photoresist layer on an electrically conductive layer; b) forming a first diffractive pattern in the undeveloped photoresist layer using optical-interferometry; c) forming a second diffractive pattern in the undeveloped photoresist layer using electron beam lithography; and d) thereafter developing the photoresist layer.

Abstract: A diffuse reflector comprises a substrate (20) having an asymmetric, reflective, periodic surface relief microstructure formed such that, under illumination by a multiplicity of wavelengths in a plane of incidence or illumination lying along the axis of asymmetry, substantially all the said wavelengths are preferentially scattered or guided into a single, common viewing zone offset from the direction of specular reflection hereinbefore defined.

Abstract: An optically variable magnetic stripe assembly includes a magnetic layer, an optically variable effect generating layer over the magnetic layer, and an electrically non-conductive reflective layer between the magnetic layer and the optically variable effect generating layer.