Abstract: The check positioning system includes a guide tray (12) which in turn includes a guiding edge (31). Roller assemblies (18,20,22) in combination with associated lower gripping wheels (40,42,44) and a system (16) for driving the roller assemblies (18,20,22) move the check longitudinally in both directions along the guide tray (12). A clamping apparatus (48) controls the clamping of the check. A deskewing roller (28) on each of the roller assemblies moves the check laterally as well as longitudinally when the check is not clamped. A laterally movable edge detector (14) detects the edges of the check so it can be located relative to the guide tray (12) for accurate printing/encoding of the check.

Abstract: In commercial transactions, settlement is conventionally made by cash and by checks drawn on a current account in a bank, etc. Users of such checking system enjoy its advantages. From the standpoint of banking business, however, such system involves a vast amont of complicated clerical procedures, and a number of negotiation checks pose a bottleneck in rationalizing the banking business. According to the present invention, there is provided a safe and secure check negotiating system which enables checks to be cashed with a minimum manual handling once check has been received by a financial institution such as a bank. The present invention also aims to provide a novel check card and an apparatus for drawing check cards to prevent illicit use of such a card when lost or stolen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for issuing negotiable instruments such as checks from a terminal comprising: first means (identification card reader) for identifying an account number against which a monetary amount of a check to be issued by the terminal is to be charged; second means (handwriting transducer) for inputting into the terminal identification data which will be used in determining whether to accept or reject a user of the terminal as authorized to issue a check against the account number; third means (bank data system) for supplying authorized identification data to the terminal and also for supplying evaluation criteria, such as a current monetary balance, for the account number; entry means (keyboard) for entering check data including the monetary amount; means for comparing (processor) the identification data with the authorized identification data and for generating an accept signal or a reject signal as a result of the comparing; the comparing means also comparing the monetary amount with the evalu