Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for detecting the presence of shiny tape on a printed note, for example a banknote. An optical fibre fishtail array supplies visible light from a source (A) to a lengthwise strip of the banknote. A first array of photodetectors (D) detects light specularly reflected from a plurality of adjacent regions of the said strip, while a second array (B) arranged parallel to the first array (D) detects light reflected diffusely from corresponding ones of the said regions. An analyzing circuit receives signals from the photodetectors and indicates when the ratio of specularly reflected light from an illuminated element of the banknote to diffusely reflected light from the same element exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: In a sheet stacking system employing a spirally slotted wheel and a stripping plate to remote sheets from the wheel and form them into a stack, the sheets are conveyed to the stacking wheel by a vacuum drum having a slot around its circumference into which extends the extremity of the stacking wheel. The sheet continues to be held on the drum surface by the vacuum until it encounters the stacking wheel extremity which, by virtue of the lower peripheral speed of the stacking wheel, acts against the vacuum to strip the sheet from the drum. The stacking wheel axis may be mounted for pivotal movement about the vacuum drum axis to accommodate different output stack sizes, permitting the formation of a sheet store buffer.

Abstract: A machine for washing and/or filling containers such as beer kegs has a walking beam conveyor for moving the containers through the machine from one station to another. The walking beam is raised and lowered by two spaced-apart upright pneumatic rams and to maintain the walking beam in its correct attitude regardless of variations with loads upon it, a spaced-apart pair of double-acting hydraulic pistons and cylinders are arranged to act between the walking beam and a base frame of the machine, the cylinders being cross-connected so that the pistons are constrained to move in unison by the movement of hydraulic liquid between the cylinders. Preferably, each of the hydraulic pistons and cylinders is incorporated co-axially as a unit with one of the pneumatic rams.