Abstract: A system for recognizing characters printed in magnetic ink on a document has a write head including a permanent magnet and soft iron pole pieces curving arcuately from opposite poles of the magnet to juxtaposed ends forming a gap underlying a curved, nonmagnetic cap along which a document is moved. The pole pieces are unequally magnetized to provide a component of magnetic induction normal to the upper surface of the cap that has opposite signs on opposite sides of the gap and differing peak values, the peak value to one side of the gap being in the range from 450 gauss to 650 gauss and the peak value on the other side of the gap being in the range from 200 gauss to 340 gauss.

Abstract: A method and device for reading and recognizing an unknown character on a document, the device measuring the character's waveform amplitude along timed intervals and determining that each measurement is within a predetermined acceptable amplitude range at each interval for an ideal character. If all of the measurements of the amplitude are within the acceptable ranges, a recognition signal of the character is generated.

Abstract: A character recognition system for selectively reading and identifying a plurality of characters printed in magnetic ink on a first document and a second document. The documents being bank checks and the like. The system used with reader/sorter equipment for delivering data to an on-line computer. The system characterized by the ability to store all of the character codes of the magnetic ink characters on the documents, compare the character codes and logically edit the codes. The result of the system provides the reader/sorter equipment with a superior performance due to fewer rejects and misread characters.