Abstract: An antiviral coating agent includes a tannic acid derivative including at least one organic group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms and a binder resin having a number-average molecular weight of 1,000 or more. The average number of the organic groups included in a molecule of the tannic acid derivative is, for example, 1 to 19.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for renewing software in a software-controlled machine is provided wherein a sensor 16 detects external command information to shift an operation control circuit 50 from an operating mode to a renewal mode, and then detects external operating data on software to store same from the sensor 16 in a program memory 53 of the renewal mode for easy renewal of the software in accordance with renewal control program. Then, the operation control circuit 50 is shifted from the renewal mode to the operating mode to operate the machine with the renewed operating data.

Abstract: A valuable paper is provided which comprises on a surface of the paper 50 a characteristic pattern 51 detectable by a sensor 16 of a validator 10 to discriminate authenticity of a bill inserted into the validator 10. The bill has at least a distinctive portion detectable by the sensor 16. The paper 50 has its width W substantially same as the width of the bill. The characteristic pattern 51 of the paper 50 is formed on substantially same position in width W as that of the distinctive portion in the bill. The paper 50 is inserted into the validator 10 to detect the characteristic pattern 51 of the paper 50 by the sensor 16 for discrimination of the paper 50 by the validator 10.

Abstract: A bill handling apparatus 1 is provided which comprises validator 2 provided with validating sensor 22 for validating a bill inserted into the apparatus 1; stacker 3 for storing a bill in response to an output from the validator 2 when the bill is considered genuine by the validator 2; a frame 4 for supporting the stacker 3; coupling device 10 for detachably supporting the validator 2 to align a passageway 21 of the validator 2 with a passageway 31 of the stacker means 3, the coupling device 10 being provided between the validator 2 and frame 4; and connector 60 for electrically connecting the validating sensor 22 in the validator 2 with validator control device 8 in the frame 4.

Abstract: A chromium blank for forming a black matrix-screen to be used as a color filter for a liquid crystal display is formed by forming at least a first antireflection film, a second antireflection film and a screening film sequentially in that order on one major surface of a transparent substrate. Each of the first and the second antireflection film is a semitransparent film formed of a chromium compound or a chromium mixture, containing chromium as a principal component, and the screening film is formed of chromium, a chromium compound containing chromium as a principal component. The transparent substrate, the first antireflection film, the second antireflection film and the screening film meet an inequality: n.sub.s <n.sub.1 <n.sub.2 <n.sub.3, where n.sub.s is the refractive index of the transparent substrate, n.sub.1 is the real part of the complex index of refraction of the first antireflection film, n.sub.2 is the real part of the complex index of refraction of the second antireflection film, and n.

Abstract: A bill validator which may validate bills and bar coded documents is provided. A central processing unit of the bill validator comprises discriminator means for receiving outputs of sensor means for detecting magnetic or optical feature of the bills; and bar code detector for photoelectrically converting bar code pattern printed on a document. The discriminator means comprise an bar code comparator for receiving outputs of the optical sensors to detect bar code printed on a document; a magentic pattern memory for storing predetermined magnetic patterns; and bar code memory for storing predetermined bar code patterns. The bar code comparator compares bar code signals read out through optical sensors from the document with bar code signals stored in the bar code memory after or before the discriminator means decides whether the document is a genuine bill or not.

Abstract: A casing of a stacker is provided with an opening and a chamber for disposing a pusher within the casing adjacent to the opening so that the pusher can be removably attached within the stacker. Also provided in the pusher is a slit-shaped inlet connected with an exit of a passageway within a transporter. By removing the pusher from the stacker and attaching same to another stacker having its compartment of different capacity, bill storing capacity may easily be changed. In malfunction of the pusher, it may easily be exchanged with new one for easy maintenance.