Abstract: A printing system including three print engines. One of the print engines is non-operational while the other two print engines are operational. The non-operational print engine is redundant and only actuated in the event that one of the operational print engines develops a malfunction causing it to be non-operational. At that time, the previously non-operational print engine becomes operational. In this way, two print engines are continually in operation with one print engine being non-operational. This printing system significantly improves reliability and minimizes maintenance requirements.

Abstract: A security module is operatively disposed at the hardware/software interface within a printing apparatus. The module is disposed along a connection which acts as a medium for command signals to operate the printer hardware, and for status signals to indicate physical conditions within the hardware. The security module facilitates security procedures which control aspects of printer operation, particularly the creation of MICR characters.

Abstract: A magnetic ink monitoring system is provided including a reader which outputs an electrical signal representative of a magnetic flux, a storage mechanism which stores an integral representation of a signal from a standard magnetic ink display, and a comparator operatively connected to the read means and the storage means to compare an integral signal of the electrical signal of the magnetic ink display to the integral representation of a signal from a standard magnetic ink character.

Abstract: A fraud prevention system for magnetic ink character recognition includes providing a colored, highly reflective media and magnetic media over a non-magnetic toned image which can be an on-line or off-line component of an imaging apparatus. Colored media and magnetic ink are applied to selected characters from a thin film that includes a layer of colored media and a layer of magnetic media by utilizing a heater member to promote release of the colored and magnetic media to the previously toned characters.

Abstract: An electrophotographic process which comprises the generation of latent image; developing the image with a toner composition comprised of resin particles, magnetite particles, and an additive component comprised of an aliphatic hydrocarbon or a polymeric alcohol of the formulaCH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.n CH.sub.2 OHwherein n is a number of from about 30 to about 500; and subsequently providing the developed image with magnetic ink characters thereon to a reader/sorter device whereby toner offsetting and image smearing is minimized in said device.