Abstract: In order to increase the protection of security documents such as ban notes, etc., against forgery, security threads are embedded in the document which have at least two areas extending in the longitudinal direction of the thread and differing in their physical properties. The thread is preferably a coextruded multicomponent synthetic thread whose individual components contain additives such as dyes or fluorescent substances and/or particles having electrical or magnetic properties. The testing of the authenticity of the security thread is directed toward the presence of these additives and their mutual geometrical distribution in certain areas of the security thread.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a strap from a packet of thin sheets, such as bank notes, bound by the strap includes a housing, a magazine disposed within the housing having a receptacle and a drawer-like member received in the receptacle. A plurality of the packets are disposed in the drawer-like member which can be moved by a mechanism in the housing so that a portion of the drawer having a packet is exposed to an ejector member in the housing. The ejector member is operative to eject the exposed packet. Means are provided for engaging the strap and stack of the exposed packet. The means are operated to separate the stack and the strap.