CH653157A5 - DEVICE FOR CUSTOMIZING CHECK FORMULAS. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for personalizing check formulas by means of particular information concerning a consumer, the personalization serving for identification when the personalized check is presented to be touched.

More particularly, the device according to the invention allows the production of pre-signed travelers checks with a replica, under

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digital form, of a consumer's signature. With the device according to the invention, the consumer or customer does not have to be physically present to order the travelers checks, nor does he have to sign each travelers check personally.

Currently, travelers 'checks are normally purchased by a consumer who physically goes to a retail location where travelers' checks are sold, and purchases the checks at the counter. For example, traveller's checks can be purchased from a bank or savings bank and from loan funds and other sales agencies, but purchasing traveller's checks requires the presence of the consumer. More particularly, the presence of this consumer or client is necessary because each traveller's check must be signed by him at the time of purchase. In addition, when purchasing traveler's checks, the serial numbers of individual checks purchased by the consumer are recorded, so that they can be identified with a purchase of traveler's checks from the individual customer. Unfortunately, it takes a while for these serial numbers to be registered at a central location, making it difficult to refund or replace lost checks.

The present system for buying and distributing traveller's checks is time consuming and tedious, both for the consumer and for the sales agent such as the bank or the savings bank or the loan fund, which sells the checks. of travel. The present system takes time because the consumer must come in person and because each purchase of traveller's checks by a consumer is an individual transaction which must be dealt with on a one-to-one basis between the consumer and a person from the agency selling traveller's checks. As the present system is time consuming and tedious, travelers' checks could not be used as a general replacement for money.

The present travel voucher purchase system cannot be established on a production basis from a centralized establishment because a key factor when purchasing travel vouchers is the signature of each individual check by the consumer. The present invention provides a device where the purchase of traveller's checks is processed from a centralized establishment, the present invention eliminating the need for the physical presence of the consumer to sign each traveller's check. In addition, the present invention does not require the presence of the consumer for the purchase of traveler's checks, but allows the purchase of checks by telephone or by post. Similarly, the distribution of checks to the consumer is also accomplished by post or other system, again to eliminate the need for the physical presence of the consumer.

The present invention relates to a device for the processing and distribution of traveler's checks, these checks being personalized by being at least signed by a digital replica of the consumer's signature. Personalization occurs at the central establishment, the checks then being distributed to the consumer. Personalizing checks before distribution not only eliminates the need for consumers to sign each check, but is also a security factor. The present invention also allows much greater flexibility for the issue of traveler's checks to the consumer of a particular account. For example, a particular order for traveller's checks may have some signed with a first signature, such as that of the husband, and others signed with a second signature, such as that of the wife. There may be a common account with a number of authorized signatures. Travelers checks can be issued periodically to replenish them automatically.

In a specific example, the consumer or customer can register beforehand by filling in a request form, this form including a space for at least one signature. Preferably, the form includes spaces for more than one signature in order to increase the variety of possible uses of the present invention, as indicated above. When the consumer has been registered or registered, he can order travelers checks either by telephone or by post. Of course, the initial registration and the first order can occur at the same time. When the consumer has been registered and an account is opened, the data concerning the consumer is kept permanently so that future orders can be easily fulfilled. Note also that the consumer can of course appear personally to order traveler's checks, but since the present invention allows personalization of traveler's checks by at least one digital replica of the consumer's signature, the consumer should not individually sign each traveller's check.

When an order for traveller's checks has been received, these checks can be processed in a central establishment, the processing being carried out by automated equipment. More particularly, it is possible to use formulas for traveller's checks, an individual order being filled with the particular denominations of the formulas. Travelers Check Forms may or may not have preprinted serial numbers and the forms may contain preprinted codes to identify the denomination of Traveler Check Forms.

The signature of the customer or consumer is stored in digital form by exploring the signature spaces of the request forms. Normally, a specific order from the client includes a request for specific names for traveler's checks and the check forms are brought to a personalization area. Each formula is then personalized with at least the digital replica of the signature of the customer or consumer. As indicated above, the serial number of each formula can be pre-printed and each serial number is read and stored with the customer's order to give a complete order record. If the serial numbers are not pre-printed, they can be printed at the same time as the digital replica of the customer's signature and with the serial numbers of the checks forming the customer's order stored to obtain a record of the order. The naming codes of individual traveller's checks can be read before personalization in order to allow verification of the denomination of traveler checks used to fill the order.

Payment for individual orders from the customer or consumer can be made by debiting their account, for example by a bank card or a checking account or a savings bank account. The system therefore allows a complete accounting audit as well as complete order records; thus, if traveller's checks are lost or stolen, the registrations facilitate timely refunds to the consumer. In addition, since the complete information is in a central file before the checks are sent to the consumer, this prevents various methods of unauthorized cashing of checks.

When a particular order for traveller's checks is processed at the central establishment, the order may be issued to the consumer by post or other means. As the checks have been pre-printed with at least one replica of the consumer's signature, this improves the security factor if the checks are stolen during delivery. Likewise, the present invention can allow the pre-printing of additional means of identification on individual traveler's checks in order to prevent the unauthorized cashing of these checks by someone other than the consumer or customer. For example, the customer's driver's license number or passport number can also be printed on each travelers check, this additional number being used as other identification when cashing the check.

Since, thanks to the present invention, the presence of the consumer is not necessary to sign individual traveller's checks, even the existing system of purchasing traveller's checks can be improved. For example, the customer can place an order at his bank or savings bank or loan fund, either by phone or in person and then take the

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traveller's checks which have been signed by means of his signature. According to another way of implementing the invention, the customer can order his traveller's checks at the same time as he makes airplane reservations. When the customer picks up his plane tickets, he can at the same time receive the order for traveller's checks. The various systems for ordering and delivering travelers checks are numerous, but since the presence of the customer is not necessary for the signature of each travelers check, the handling and processing of travelers checks are improved and there is elimination of the time-consuming part of the client and the sales agent.

It can also be noted that the device according to the invention can be incorporated into automated and existing checkout equipment. The automated checkout will be modified to incorporate the equipment for printing traveler's checks by means of replicas or reproductions of the signature of the client or consumer, and the automated checkout will distribute the pre-signed traveler's checks of the reproduction of the client's signature . The customer will go to the location of such an automated checkout and order traveler's checks directly at this checkout.

In the device according to the invention can also be incorporated all the numerous advantages of a centralized system. For example, the client's account may allow more than one person to order traveler's checks and more than one signature to be pre-printed on these checks. The customer or consumer file may contain other personal data, so even if this customer forgets his account number, he can identify himself appropriately and thus order travelers checks. The system may use secret passwords and other means of identification to prevent the ordering or cashing of travelers checks by unauthorized persons.

In connection with this system, the client signs the request form in a specific location on this form. The signature on the request form is explored optically and a digital representation of this signature is stored in a central data file, along with other data concerning the consumer. The stored data is then used as input to a printing system, such as an inkjet printing system, to print at least the replica or reproduction in digital form of the customer's signature in a particular location on the travellers cheques. The inkjet printing system can be used to print other data such as the serial number of the individual traveller's check. The inkjet printing system can also be used to print the cover of a traveler's check book, this cover being able to form an envelope to facilitate the mailing of traveler's checks to the consumer.

In order to ensure that the inkjet printing system has correctly printed the desired data, provision is made, in a particular embodiment of the present invention, for checking that the data has been correctly printed on each traveller's check. . The present invention therefore guarantees that all the desired information will be printed on each individual traveller's check and on the cover. This ensures that incomplete or imprecise traveler's checks will not be sent to the consumer. The operation of a particular device for producing personalized traveler's checks will become clearer on reading the description which follows.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly from the explanatory description which follows, made with reference to the appended schematic drawings given solely by way of example illustrating a embodiment of the invention and in which:

- fig. 1 illustrates a specimen of a personalized traveler's check having a replica or reproduction pre-printed in digital form of the signature of a consumer,

- fig. 2 illustrates a specimen of a traveller's check form, this form containing preprinted bank identification and document serial numbers,

- fig. 3 illustrates a specimen of a traveller's check form without a pre-printed bank identification number and document serial number,

- fig. 4 shows a first embodiment of a traveller's check containing a first denomination code,

- fig. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of a traveller's check containing a second type of denomination code,

- fig. 6 illustrates a cover of a traveler's check book, this cover giving the order information and forming part of a shipping envelope for the travel check book,

- fig. 7 illustrates a verification reason which can be used to verify the printing of the signature and other data on the travelers checks and the cover,

- fig. 8 gives a block diagram of a general system for producing personalized traveler's checks,

- fig. 9 gives a block diagram of a system for taking the consumer's signature and other data in his file,

- fig. 10 shows a flowchart illustrating how to order travelers checks by telephone,

- fig. 11 shows a physical arrangement of a system for producing personalized traveler's checks,

- figs. 12 (a) and 12 (b) illustrate an inkjet printing system for producing the impression of a particular item of data on traveller's checks, comprising the replica or reproduction in digital form of the consumer's signature,

- fig. 13 illustrates an enlarged view and a full-scale view of a reproduction in digital form of a consumer's signature,

- fig. 14 gives a block diagram of the production system of FIG. 11, and

- figs. 15 (a) and 15 (b) show a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the production system of FIG. 11.

Fig. 1 illustrates a specimen of a personalized traveler's check 10 produced with the device of the present invention. More particularly, the traveller's check 10 comprises at least one replica or reproduction 12 in digital form of the signature of the client or consumer, in the normal position of the signature. In the prior art, the customer, when he bought traveller's checks, had to sign each of them, at the signing position, in the presence of the sales agent. In the present invention, the reproduction 12 in digital form of the customer's signature is produced by automated equipment from stored information and the presence of the customer is not necessary to accomplish the personalization of travelers' checks.

Traveller's check 10 also contains identification data such as a document serial number 14 and a printing line coded in magnetic ink 16. Line 16 typically contains a bank identification number followed by the serial number of document and it may also contain a naming code as part of the serial number. The travelers check 10 may also contain a separate denomination code 18 which can help eliminate errors in the filling, by the customer, of orders or orders of travelers checks, in particular if the printing line coded in magnetic ink 16 is not preprinted.

The personalized traveller's check 10 can be touched in the normal way where the check is presented and countersigned at position 20 in the presence of the person touching the traveller's check. The digital reproduction 12 and the countersignature at position 20 can then be compared to ensure that the correct person is touching the travelers check. The check 10 may also contain another means of identification 22 which, for example, may be the driver's license number or the client's passport number in order to serve as other personal identification when the check is touched.

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Note that although the present invention is described with reference to a personalized travel check, the term "travel" is simply given by way of example and the personalized check can be used for purposes other than travel. For example, there are many companies that pay their employees in cash. This practice is quite dangerous because, every payday, you have to have a large amount of cash on hand. The personalized checks produced by the device according to the present invention can be used in place of cash payment. For example, each employee will receive their pay in the form of checks of various denominations, personalized by means of reproductions in digital form of the employee's own signature. In this way, the employee will receive a number of personalized checks that are easy to negotiate, but more secure than cash.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate specimens of traveller's check formulas which can be used as formulas before personalization of the checks, at least by the reproduction or replica of the client's signature. In fig. 2, a form 30 is preprinted with the document serial number 14 and the coded line of magnetic ink 16, as well as the denomination code 18. With the form 30 in FIG. 2, the production equipment allows the reproduction of the customer's signature in order to personalize the traveller's check, and also any other means of identification such as the number 22. In fig. 3, a travelers check form 32 only includes the denomination code 18. With the travelers check form 32 of FIG. 3, the production equipment allows the printing of all identification numbers in addition to the reproduction of the client's signature.

With the common method of printing traveler's check forms, the various identification numbers 14 and 16 are printed at the last step in the general printing process, and while the checks are still in sheet form. The sheets pass through a numbering press, the sequences of the printed numbers descending through a stack of sheets; so when the stack of sheets is cut, the numbering sequence is in order. This printing technique requires that all checks be perfectly printed from the printing line coded in magnetic ink so that all checks can be read by a machine in a later time. The common practice is to inspect each check individually, which is obviously an expensive process. In addition, in the prior art methods, a poorly printed check must be replaced in order to maintain a complete sequence of serial numbers.

Use the traveller's check formulas 32 in fig. 3 allows the printing of the serial number 14 and the printing line coded in magnetic ink 16. This eliminates the previous step of individual inspection because the printing is verified as part of the production process. In addition, when one of the formulas in fig. 2 or 3, the serial arrangement of traveler's checks is read at the same time as the customer's order is filled in order to allow an immediate connection between the customer's order and the serial arrangement of the traveler's check. This gives a complete record which greatly facilitates the repair of any claim concerning lost or stolen travelers checks.

As another check, check forms 30 or 32 may also contain the denomination code 18. FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of the establishment of the denomination code 18 and, as can be seen in FIG. 4, the code may consist of a certain number of bars, the particular number of bars representing the denomination of travelers checks. For example, in the case of dollars, a single bar can represent $ 10.00, two bars $ 20.00, three bars $ 50.00, four bars $ 100.00 and five bars $ 500.00. Note that the naming code can take other forms such as a binary code and can be in other positions on travelers checks.

For example, fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a denomination code comprising combinations of bars 33 representing the denomination with a binary code and with a second redundant group of bars 34 having the same denomination in order to offer yet another control. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the denomination code is on the stub part of the traveller's check and represents a denomination of $ 20.00. The dotted parts can also contain bars and, with the combinations of bars, give a binary coding of the name. The use of the denomination code guarantees that the correct denomination for the check form will be used at the entry of the check form in the equipment to allow additional personalization of the traveller's check.

Fig. 6 illustrates an additional personalization feature where a cover of a traveler's check book is provided to contain various personalized information. More particularly, the cover 40 includes the reproduction or replica 12 in digital form and the signature of the client. In addition, part 42 of the cover 40 gives a summary of the customer's order and specific information is printed thereon, to allow the customer to check the order and have an easy summary on hand. A shipping portion 44 of the cover 40 is used to print the name and address of the customer, and can be used, with an envelope having a window, to allow the shipment of a traveler's check book to the consumer or customer. An area 46 of the cover sheet 40 indicates to the client the number of notebooks it took to fulfill the order or fill the order.

During personalization of travelers checks and cover sheet, check patterns 48 and 50 may be printed to verify that the printing system is operating properly. As can be seen in fig. 5, the verification patterns in bars are illustrated as being printed on travelers checks while each individual check is personalized. Fig. 6 illustrates the same verification patterns 48 and 50 on the cover sheet 40.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, printing is accomplished using an inkjet system and the check patterns in bars 48 and 50 are produced by the inkjet system to verify that each inkjet works. The bar check patterns are printed when all of the other print has been printed in one position according to the other printed information. The verification patterns in bars are then explored after personalization of the cover sheet 40 and the traveller's checks, and if this verification pattern has been correctly printed, it is then assumed that all of the information previously printed has been correctly printed.

Fig. 7 shows more particularly an enlarged view of the verification pattern in bars 48, and it will be noted that the pattern 50 will be the same. Traveller's checks will be brought for printing, in the particular direction as indicated in fig. 7. The verification pattern 48 comprises four columns of dots 52 to 56, each column being offset by one row with respect to the next column. Each column contains fifteen pairs of points. The check pattern in bars also contains a portion 60 which forms a single column of dots. More particularly, the verification pattern is formed by a part of the ink jet system which contains sixty dots in total which are spaced from each other over a distance of 12.7 mm. This gives a resolution of 47 to 48 points per cm in the vertical direction, and the system has the same resolution along the horizontal directions. As can be seen in fig. 7, the verification pattern 48 allows precise verification of the printing of data because the pattern represents the correct operation of all the ink jets in particular zones or spaces.

Fig. 8 gives a block diagram of a system for the production of personalized traveller's checks. As can be seen in fig. 8, the client will initially fill out a request form 80, which may contain specific identification material. In addition, the form 80 will contain at least the signature 82 of the client in a particular location of this form. Additional signatures 83, for example for the client's wife, children, employees and others, may also be incorporated on the form.

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area 80 and block 101 can be checked if more than one signature appears on form 80. Other information such as residence and work addresses, method of payment, personal identifications such as maiden name of the mother and the first school attended, can also be incorporated. A password can also be chosen by the client and entered on form 80. Form 80 can also contain a preprinted number 103 which serves as a control number during initial processing.

Each request form 80 can be processed to determine whether an account should be opened and in this case, the form 80 containing the signatures 82 and 83 can be processed through a means of exploration and capture of signature 84 to produce information. in digital form, representative of the signatures. The preprinted number 103 serves as a control number during the initial stages. In addition, the other information and the credit information can be entered as illustrated by block 86, all the information being stored in a database file memory relating to the client 88. Each client account can receive a account number and the customer receives this number for future use.

The database file memory 88 serves as an information base repository in order to allow the discontinuous processing of client orders for travelers checks. For example, requests for traveller's checks may be made directly by telephone or mail by the customer, or may be made indirectly by various agents on behalf of the customer. These requests for travelers checks will come to the central establishment and will be processed by a controller 90. If the order for travelers checks is to be charged to an account, then the controller can request authorization for charging, an existing credit authorization.

In addition, if the identity of the customer must be verified, this can happen using memory 88. If the order is authorized and the customer is properly identified, then the order or the particular order of travelers checks is memorized on a disk memory 92 for memorizing the orders in the file.

The order is also recorded on a tape 94, each tape 94 allowing the storage of a batch of orders. The information recorded on the tape 94 may contain the information in digital form representing the signature of the client, but it will not be necessary to incorporate this information on the disk memory. Band 94 can be removed and replaced with a new band when a complete series of commands has been stored there. Tape 94 can then be transferred for use as part of a production system containing a controller 96 for producing travelers checks. Controller 96 uses information on band 94 during order processing for travelers checks. While the orders or orders are processed, the controller 96 also forms a band of the various completed transactions 98 to form a transaction log. This tape can be used to allow complete closure of client files so that a complete record is maintained of each client order.

In general, the production controller 96 controls a production unit which contains a distribution section 100 for distributing different denominations of travelers checks. These traveller's checks are then processed by a personalization and printing section 102 so that the checks are personalized at least by the client's signature and possibly the serial numbers and other identifying information. Finally, the various orders are packaged for transport by a section 104. At this point, the checks are ready to be sent to the customer.

In fig. 8, we have: address, b: mother's maiden name, c: first school attended, d: password, e: visa request, main charge authorization, f: telephone, post (live), g : travel agency, company, airlines (indirect).

Fig. 9 illustrates an optical exploration system to be used to capture or take the client's signature which has been written on the request form 80 illustrated in FIG. 8. As described above, the request form 80 contains locations for a number of signatures, such as signatures 82 and 83. In addition, the request form contains block 101 which is checked if this form contains more than one signature. The request form 80 also contains a pre-printed number 103 which serves as a check until the account has been emptied and has received a specific account number.

Using a number of signatures as part of a single account allows the system to generate travelers checks with different signatures depending on the customer's need. For example, the application form 80 can allow the signature of the husband and the wife; thus, when an order for travelers checks is made, the client can specify that a particular group of travelers checks must contain the replica in digital form of the signature of the husband while another group of travelers checks must contain the digital replica of the woman's signature. The account may be a joint account with a number of different employee signatures stored so that travelers' checks can be made payable to individual employees.

The various order forms are stacked in an inlet hopper 105, each form 80 being brought individually from the inlet hopper 105 to an exploration tower 106. The tower 106 can be of any type of standard exploration device like an image dissecting tube to give a high resolution reading of the information contained in particular positions of the request form. For example, the tower 106 can allow the preprinted number to be read in addition to the individual signatures such as the signatures at positions 82 and 83. The tower therefore offers a high resolution reading of particular information on the request form.

When each request form 80 has been read, it is transported to an output hopper 107. The control of the movement of the request forms through the exploration and information reading tower is obtained by a control 108. The information read when each request form is in tower 106 is also applied to control 108. Typically, the information at this point will be in an uncompressed form and will consist of the signature data and the preprinted number data. . The uncompressed information at the output of the tower is applied by a computer 110 to produce a compression of the data to a more compact form, the compressed data then being recorded on a tape 112.

In order to guarantee that the signatures will have been accurately put in digital form by the optical reading of the tower 106, the information on the tape is reproduced and verified by the verification part 114. More particularly, the data is read from the tape 112 and is presented to a terminal 116 containing a visual display such as a cathode ray tube. An operator 118 explores, by eye, the representation of the signatures and checks the preprinted numbers. Signatures and numbers that are properly recorded are then still recorded on an additional tape 120.

Application forms may also contain other identifying information such as the client's home and work addresses, date of birth, mother's maiden name, name of first school attended, information credit and others. The request forms are therefore taken from the exit hopper 107 and read by an operator. The operator will then perforate the information, as indicated in position 122, and after verification as indicated in section 124, the additional information is recorded on a tape 126.

The two bands 120 and 126 then contain the information relating to a particular client, this information being correlated by a preprinted number 103 on the request form 80. The information on the bands 120 and 126 is then stored in the client file 88 and used as part of the production system of fig. 8. The preprinted number can be used

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as the account number or when the information is stored in the client file 88, a new account number can be given to the particular client. In each case, the client will have a specific account number used as identification when travelers' check orders are made in the future.

The letters a, b, c and d have the same meanings as in "fig. 8, and h indicates a method of payment, as in fig. 8.

Fig. 10 illustrates a typical flowchart for placing an order for travelers checks. For example, the order is illustrated by telephone to a central station. Note that the order can also be processed by a terminal such as the type now commonly used in banks. In each case, whether by direct telephone contact with an operator or by a terminal, two-way communication is established between the client and the central processing station. It should also be noted that the order can be made by post.

As can be seen in fig. 10, a client 150 establishes, by a telephone link 152, a communication with the central station. In general, the client previously opened an account and stored, in the memory 88 of the client database file of FIG. 8, various identification information. This ensures that the customer will be properly identified when placing a telephone order for travelers checks. Specific examples of the use of particular identification information are shown in the flow diagram of FIG. 10, but note that other identifying information may be used.

In a first step, the customer can give an identification by providing his particular account number. This step is represented by block 154. If the client knows his particular account number, then the operation proceeds to the next step. If the customer does not know his account number, the operator then asks him to identify himself by name and date of birth as indicated by block 156. If the customer knows this information, then he goes to 'next step. If he does not know it, the customer is told that the order cannot be placed. The operator, of course, restores the information from memory 88 and determines that the information is correct at appropriate points in the passage of the order or command.

Assuming the customer can provide either their particular account number or their name and date of birth, then the operator checks whether the customer can purchase travelers checks at that time. For example, when the customer originally sent a request form, some time must pass to ensure that the credit has been authorized. Likewise, the system can be checked to determine if there is a seizure or a stop on the particular account. These steps are indicated by blocks 157 and 158.

If the various preconditions are fulfilled, then the client is asked for his secret password. This is represented by block 160. If the password is not known, then the client can always verify his identification by giving further information such as his mother's maiden name and the name of the first school that 'he frequented. This verification step is represented by block 162. If the client is verified by the additional information, the order can be placed but the client cannot make any data change. For example, he cannot request the use of another shipping address.

If, moreover, the customer does not know his secret password, he can request another shipping address as indicated by block 164. However, the customer must then identify himself again, for example by giving the name of his mother's young daughter and the name of the first school he attended. This step is represented by block 166.

If the client does not know his password but has identified himself as indicated by block 162, he can at this time request the forgotten password. This step is represented by block 168. However, the password information is not given to the client by telephone but is sent to him at his home address (168 '). In addition, if the client requests a password change, which step is indicated in block 170, this request is transferred

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to a customer service branch after the order is taken, at which time specific arrangements are made for a change of the password (170 ').

When the identification of the customer has been established, the operator requests the total number of travelers checks and requests the method of payment. This step is represented by block 172. The customer can also request specific names of travelers checks to fill the order. The payment method can be made by credit cards as by blocks 174 and 176 representing the main charges and Visa. In addition, payment can be made by other methods as indicated by block 178 representing an account established directly with the seller of travelers checks.

Note that the client can also request that the order be divided into a number of separate orders, these orders being paid by different payment methods. Likewise, separate orders can be sent to different addresses or to different people. All of the above can be easily accomplished from the central station.

The operator can also request that the customer specify an additional means of cash identification which can be printed on all traveller's checks. For example, the customer can use their driver's license number, passport number, credit card number and the like as another form of identification to print on travelers checks. When the travelers checks are touched at a later time, the additional means of identification will allow the person receiving the travelers checks to have another means of identification.

As can be seen in fig. 8, the various orders are recorded on a tape 94 and also stored in a disk memory 92. When a sufficient number of orders has been stored on the tape 94, it is transmitted to the production system in order to be used during the production of travelers' checks orders on a discontinuous basis. Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of various sections making up the production system generally shown in FIG. 8. In particular, the production system comprises a production controller 96 operating in conjunction with bands 94 and 98. The section for distributing travelers checks with several names is formed by a unit 100 for feeding paper. All customization and printing is produced in section 102. Packaging and transportation is produced in section 104. In addition to the sections generally described above, various control or command units control the various sections of the system of production.

As indicated above, the production controller 96 allows general control of the system, and more particularly allows this control according to a batch of orders stored on the tape 94. While the various orders are produced by the sections Particular of the production system, a log of various filled orders is stored on the additional tape 98. The tape 98 can then be used to update the customer files and thus form a complete record of the client's orders.

While each order is filled, the various names of the check forms are brought from the paper feeding section 100. More particularly, the section 100 contains, in total, six dispensers allowing the storage and distribution of five check names of travel, which can be seen in figs. 2 to 5, and the cover shown in fig. 6. As indicated above, the various names for the United States of America may be $ 10.00, $ 20.00, $ 50.00, $ 100.00 and 500.00 $. The individual traveller's checks in the particular denominations necessary to fill each order are distributed by the section 100 and are brought through the personalization and printing section 102. The controller 96 allows general control but a separate controller 200 allows control individual of the paper feeding section 100 and of the printing and personalization section 102. While individual formulas, including traveller's checks and the cover member, are transported

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along the length of the personalization and printing section 102, the formulas pass through a number of separate stations. Each station can have a specific function to produce the personalization and printing of check forms and the cover member.

More particularly, a first station 202 can allow the reading of the denomination code 18 which can be present on each traveller's check. This naming code has been described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. Reading the denomination code guarantees that the traveller's check with the correct denomination will be brought from the paper feeding part 100. A station 204 allows the printing of the coded line of magnetic ink 16 of the fig. 1. If this magnetic ink line has been pre-printed, then station 204 allows the coded magnetic ink line to be read. This ensures that the coded magnetic ink line will be printed correctly and also allows a correlation between the particular serial number of the travelers check and the specific order of the customer. The serial number for each traveller's check is therefore fully identified with an individual customer order.

At the next station 208, an inkjet mechanism allows the printing of a digital replica of the client's signature. The inkjet equipment is housed in a cabinet 210 and the inkjet control is obtained by a controller 212. In addition to printing a digital replica of the client's signature, the system can also allow the printing of the serial number 14 in Gothic characters as can be seen in fig. 1. Likewise, the inkjet system can print the additional information such as customer name and address and other information on the cover sheet 40, as shown in fig. 6. Note that the serial number 14 can be pre-printed on the traveller's check as shown in fig. 3.

A station 214 can allow personalization of the travelers check by identifying the particular bank, so that many different banks or other entities can be identified as the issuer of travelers checks. The serial number 14 is checked by an optical reader at the station 216. This again guarantees that the correct serial number for the traveller's check has been printed and can also be linked to the specific serial number in the order of customer.

In addition to reading the serial number at station 216, the replica or reproduction of the client's signature and address can be verified by an optical reader at station 218. This gives a final check to ensure that the traveller's check completed was well personalized with the client's signature. The travelers check can then be perforated at station 220 to form a check part and a heel part and the travelers check is then transferred to the transport and packaging station 104.

More particularly, a group of traveller's checks is gathered into an individual notebook or a certain number of notebooks by the collector 222 to form the order. If there are rejections, they will be rejected at the outlet of the collector 222 towards a rejection bin 308. Each book of traveller's checks includes a cover sheet as shown in FIG. 6. The individual notebooks are sewn and bound by a binder 224. When each package has been sewn and bound, it is then introduced by means 226 into an envelope having a window allowing the part of name and address to be seen on the cover sheet. The individual traveller's check book forming the customer's order is then ready to be sent or otherwise delivered to the customer.

Fig. 14 shows a block diagram of the production system of FIG. 11, and more particularly illustrates the correlation of the controllers and other components of the system. The controller 96 allows general control of the system. The controller 200 allows specific control of the paper supply and paper transport section 100, including traveller's checks and cover sheets, through the various stations. The inkjet control 212 is illustrated as being adjacent to the inkjet station and allows the inkjet control to print information on travelers checks and cover sheets.

Figs. 12 (a) and 12 (b) illustrate in more detail the operation of the ink jet printing means at station 208 and more particularly the ink jet printing means allowing the printing of a specific information on a traveller's check. As can be seen in fig. 12 (a) and 12 (b), the particular traveler's check 10 is transported by the station 208 in the direction represented by an arrow 230. An ink supply is brought by a tube 232 to a drop generator 234. The generator of drops produces individual drops of ink brought along a line perpendicular to arrow 230. As can be seen in FIG. 7, there may be 47 or 48 drops of ink per centimeter. The ink drops can extend substantially over the entire height of the traveler's check and, for example, can extend a distance of 6.35 cm for a total of 300 individual ink drops. As can be seen in fig. 12a, a group of individual drops like 60 drops of ink extending over 12.7 mm, can allow printing along the signature part of the traveller's check and a group of individual drops like 30 drops of ink extending over a distance of 6.4 mm may allow printing along the identification number portion 22 of the traveller's check.

As can be seen in fig. 12a, the individual drops are directed to the traveler's check 10 and, by providing good control of the passage of a drop to the paper, the drops form the reproduction 12 in digital form of the client's signature. The drops can also form the document serial number 14, the identification number 22 and other information printed on the traveller's check and the cover sheet. The particular control of the individual drops is applied by means of inkjet printing by a bundle of control or command cables 236, the actual control of the individual drops being obtained by the controller 212 of FIGS. 11 and 14. As can be seen in fig. 12b, the individual drops 240 fall through an individual tunnel 238. Each drop 240 can be either charged or uncharged as it passes through each tunnel 238 depending on the control applied to each tunnel 238 by the controller 212 by means of the one of the cables in harness 236.

The drops 240 also pass through a deflection tunnel 242 which contains a deflection plate 244 having a strong negative potential on one side and a gutter and an ink return 246 on the other side. If a load is placed on a particular drop 240, the charged drop is repelled by the plate 244 and directed towards the gutter and the ink return 246. The charged drops will fall into the gutter and the ink return 246 to be brought back to the ink supply by an ink return 248. If it is desired that an individual drop of ink 240 continue towards the paper, like the traveller's check 10, then the particular drop 240 is not charged and therefore is not affected by the deflection plate 244 and the uncharged drop drops freely through the deflection tunnel 242 to contact the travelers check 10. Therefore, individual drops of ink 240 may not be loaded if it is desired that they fall on the traveller's check 10 or the cover sheet in order to allow the correct printing of the information on the traveller's check 10 or the cover sheet.

It will also be noted that, as illustrated in FIG. 12a, a first particular group of ink drops is illustrated as producing the impression of the serial number 14 and the digital replica of the signature 12, and a second particular group of ink drops is illustrated as forming the printing of the identification number 22. Other groups of ink drops are provided for printing other information such as name and address and other information on the cover sheet,

as shown in fig. 6. It will also be noted that it is possible to form all the information on the traveller's check or the cover sheet by using other types of printing systems such as a single-jet inkjet system with a con

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jet stream to form the particular impression. Likewise, the printing system may use only one group of ink drops and transport the traveller's check or cover sheet a number of times through the station. A particular advantage presented by the inkjet system stems from the fact that the ink penetrates into the paper and that it is virtually impossible to remove it without detection. This significantly eliminates the possibility of tampering with the signature if the checks are lost or stolen.

Fig. 13 shows a particular example of a signature which has been printed using the ink drop system of Figs. 12a and 12b, and it more particularly illustrates the resolution of the signature. In fig. 13, the printed signature is illustrated at its real dimension and enlarged to four times its real dimension. You can see,

in the enlarged version of the signature, that it is formed of a number of individual dots produced by the individual drops of ink. The resolution of the signature is, in a particular example, from 47 to 48 points per centimeter in horizontal and vertical directions. It will of course be noted that the resolution may be increased or decreased, depending on the resolution desired, but the particular resolution illustrated has been found to give an appropriate reproduction of the signature of a customer or consumer.

In the full-size version of the signature of fig. 13, it can be seen that the digital nature of the signature can be difficult to discern. Reproducing the signature in digital form is very similar to a real signature for someone touching the traveller's check. What is very important, the signature gives a precise reproduction of the real signature, so the person touching the traveller's check can make a comparison between the signature on the traveller's check and the countersigning that the consumer signs in the presence of the touching person. the traveller's check.

Figs. 15a and 15b show a flow diagram of the operation of the production system and more particularly of the production system of FIGS. 11 and 14. The organization chart is illustrated in the form of a series of blocks representing the various stages. In the right corner of each block is placed a number representing the particular part of the system of figs. 11 and 14 which controls the particular stage. For example, the majority of the blocks contain either the benchmark 96 or 200, which represent the two main controllers in the production system. More specifically, controller 96 allows general control of the system, including information manipulation and printing and verification, while controller 200 allows specific control of individual parts of system hardware, such as section d paper supply designated by reference 100, and the packaging and shipping section represented by reference 104.

In general, the operation of the production system is initiated by an operator, as represented by 0 in the upper right corner of blocks 250, 252 and 254. Block 250 represents the step of loading, by the operator, of the strips 94 and 98 in the controller 96. On tape 94 is stored the information representative of a batch of customer orders and on tape 98 is recorded the filling of these orders by the particular system. The operator also turns on the inkjet system, as shown by block 252. Finally, the operator loads all hoppers from the paper supply section 100, as shown by block 254.

When the tapes 94 and 98 are fully loaded, the controller 96 is ready to monitor the tape packets, as illustrated by block 256. Likewise, when the inkjet system is properly turned on, the controller 96 applies a “ready” signal to the controller 200 to indicate that the paper is ready to be fed, as represented by block 258. Concurrently, the controller 200 initially controls the paper in the various hoppers at the feed position and indicates to the controller 96 that the paper is ready to be brought and transported through the stations. This step is represented by block 260. At this point, the system is ready to process a batch of travelers check orders. The operator can then enter in the controller 96 the initial serial number which must be used for the first order of traveller's checks and he also introduces a run order into the system. This step is represented by block 262.

At this point, the system is ready to fulfill customer orders. The first step, as shown in block 264, consists in reading the data concerning the client on the tape 94. This is under the control of the controller 96. If the controller 96 has received a “paper ready” signal from the controller 200, then he orders this controller 200 to arrange the next traveler's check book to be produced. This step is represented by block 266. If the controller 200 indicates that the paper supply is not ready, then a “not ready” signal is reapplied to the controller 96, as represented by block 268, and the system is stopped and the operator is informed. As can be seen in fig. 11, the production system can contain a console 270 and a display 272 in order to form a central station from which the operator can give commands to the system and allowing the operator to receive information signals from the system. For example, as shown in step 268, the operator can be informed, on display 272, that the paper feeding section 100 is not ready.

In the next step of the operation, represented by block 274, the controller 200 responds to a “ready to feed” signal from the controller 96. Steps 266 and 274 consequently allow that the paper cannot be brought to the part 102 for printing and personalizing the system of FIG. 11 until controller 96 and controller 200 are ready to process. When the two controllers are ready to process, the next step, indicated by block 276, allows the controller 200 to control the paper supply to section 100 for a traveller's check book. The position of each paper is checked on the channel before it leaves the paper feeding section 100 and if the paper is out of position, the controller 200 allows the feeding to stop. This step is represented by block 278.

If the paper supply is stopped, a “paper error” signal is applied to the controller 96 and this gives the operator a display of “paper error” on the display 272. This step is shown by block 280. Block 280 represents the step where the operator empties the channel and establishes a manual rejection in the system. Manual rejection allows rejection of individual traveller's checks out of position on the track. This manual rejection operation is controlled by the controller 200 as represented by block 284. The actual rejection of the traveler's check book is represented by step 286 and occurs in a later part of the operation of the system.

If the papers, including the traveller's checks and the cover sheet, are correctly placed on the track or track, then the denomination of each traveller's check is checked according to the denomination code represented in figs. 4 and 5 or as part of the line coded in magnetic ink. The denomination verification step is represented by block 288. If the denomination of the travelers check is not correct, then a “false denomination” signal is applied to the controller 200, as represented by step 278 and the paper is rejected by steps 280, 282, 284 and 286.

If the papers, including the travelers checks and the cover sheet, are correctly placed and if the travelers checks have the correct denomination, then each paper goes through a series of stations 204, 208 and 214 as can be seen on the fig. 11 and 14. The controller 96 controls the printing of various information on the paper at the different stations. Station 204 prints coded magnetic ink information. The inkjet station 208 prints the digital replica of the signature, the serial number in Gothic characters and other information on the cover sheet 40. The station 214 produces an impression of bank personalization or personalization of the bank. 'particular organization issuing the travelers check.

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The various printing steps are together represented by block 290. If there is a printing fault at one of the printing stations, a “printing fault” signal is produced. As shown in the step represented by block 292, the controller 96 allows the printing to stop and applies a “printing error” signal to the controller 200. When the controller 200 receives the “printing error” signal , which is represented by block 294, the controller 200 allows an automatic rejection of the printing routine and stops the paper feeding of the feeding section. In addition, the controller 200 allows the rejection of all traveler's check books, which contains those which are badly printed. This step is represented by block 286.

If the printing at stations 204, 208 and 214 is physically accomplished, the production system also allows a verification of the quality of the printing by verifying the data concerning the customer. This step is generally represented by block 296. In particular, as shown in blocks 298, 300 and 302, all applying input signals to block 296, the impression is read at stations 206, 216 and 218 that the we can see in fig. 11 and 14. At station 206, represented by block 298, the information encoded with magnetic ink is read. At station 216, represented by block 300, the serial number is read optically. Finally, at station 218, represented by block 302, the signature is verified by optical scanning. If one of the printed data is improperly printed, as represented by block 296, a “data fault” signal is produced and this signal is applied to the controller 96 to allow rejection of the travelers check book.

If the data is correctly printed, then in the next step, represented by block 304, the controller 96 allows the writing of various data concerning the client, such as the serial numbers of the travelers checks issued, on the tape. record 98 of fig. 11. Personalized traveller's checks and the cover sheet then pass to the collector, as shown in block 306.

If there has been a rejection signal generated in the system, then the traveller's check will be rejected at this point. More particularly, as can be seen in FIG. 11, the rejection bin 308 is illustrated as being provided at one of the exit positions of the collector 222. If there is no rejection, then the traveler's check book passes to the binding machine and then to the tamper envelope, as represented by block 310. At this point, the production system has produced a particular notebook of traveller's checks representing either a complete order or part of an order. The controller 200 therefore indicates that the book is complete, as shown by block 312.

If the traveller's check book is complete and there has been no paper error, as shown by block 314, then controller 96 allows reading of other consumer data or client, as shown in step 264, and the operation begins again. If there has been a paper error or a printing error, as represented by the entries in block 316, then the system is stopped and the operator is informed in order to correct the error before printing the following traveler's check book. Note that the system may not actually be shutdown for every error that is detected, but some errors may simply require that an individual check or checkbook be thrown away while preparing a replacement. The replacement book may have serial numbers replacing those previously used to allow continuity of the serial numbers. In the foregoing, this is described as being done by hand by the operator but as noted above, this can be accomplished automatically, with only repetitive errors that can shut down the system.

Consequently, the present invention makes it possible to personalize a check with at least one replica in digital form of the client's signature. This check can be in the form of a traveller's check, the check being affected as are normally traveller's checks. However, the client or consumer does not have to appear personally in order to obtain the checks, since these must not be signed by the client at the time they are issued. Checks can be ordered by phone or mail or can be automatically sent on an automatic replenishment basis. For example, personalized checks can be used to produce payrolls for businesses, in lieu of paying employees in cash or with a company check.

The present invention provides a number of signatures stored on a single account number, so checks can be ordered to be sent with different signatures. For example, both the husband's and the wife's signature can be saved and when checks are ordered or ordered, they can be personalized with a particular number of checks pre-signed with the digital replica of the husband's signature, and a number particular of pre-signed checks of the digital replica of the woman's signature.

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Claims (22)

653,157 2 1. Device for personalizing check formulas by means of particular information concerning a consumer, personalization serving for identification when the personalized check is presented for being touched, characterized in that it comprises: A means (92) for storing the information representative of a replica of a signature of a particular client, - a means (100) for storing a certain number of check formulas to be used for personalization with the signature of the particular consumer, - a printing station (102) for printing information on check forms, A means (104) connected to the means for storing the check forms and to the printing station for transporting individual check forms stored at the printing station, and - Means (96) connected to the printing station and sensitive to the stored information to control the printing, at the printing station, of the replica of the signature of the private customer on individual check forms. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises additional means (218) for verifying the printing of the replica of the client's signature and allowing the rejection of the check if there is no verification that the check is properly printed with the replica of the client's signature. 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means (204) for printing a coded line of magnetic ink (16) on the individual check formulas. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises means (206) for reading the coded line of magnetic ink printed on the check formula and producing a rejection of the check if it is improperly printed of the coded line. 5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the printing station (102) comprises means (208) for printing the information of the serial number for the individual check forms and in that the means Control (212) receives the serial number information to control the printing of the serial number on individual check forms. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises means (216) for reading the serial number information on the individual check forms and for producing a rejection of the check if the number information is improperly printed. 7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the printing station (102) comprises means (208) for also printing additional information on individual check forms and in that the control means (212) receives said additional information to control the printing of additional information on individual check forms. 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises means (218) for reading the additional information on the individual check forms and for producing a rejection of the check if the additional information is improperly printed therein. . 9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the printing station (102) comprises means (214) for printing on the individual check forms the information identifying the organization issuing the personalized checks. 10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means (288) for reading a preprinted denomination code (18) on each check formula and representative of the particular denomination value of the particular formula of check, and to produce a rejection of the check if a wrong denomination check form is carried for personalization. 11. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means for producing information representative of a print verification pattern, the means (212) for controlling the print receiving the information representative of the print verification reason to print the verification reason on the individual check forms following the printing of the replica of the aforementioned special signature of the consumer. 12. Device according to claim 5 or 7, characterized in that the printing station (208) comprises an ink jet system for printing the information on the check formulas. 13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the ink jet system comprises a number of separate ink jets placed adjacent to each other to direct individual drops (240) of ink towards the formulas of check, the means (212) for controlling printing controlling the passage of the individual ink drops to the check formulas. 14. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned storage means also stores information representative of a certain number of different signatures as being part of a single account or of a common account, and in that the printing station prints each of the different signatures with control of the printing by the abovementioned control means. 15. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (100) storing the check formulas also makes it possible to store cover sheets, in that the means for transporting the check formulas also makes it possible to transport the covers to the printing station, in that the means for storing the information also makes it possible to store particular information concerning the consumer in addition to the information representative of the replica of his particular signature, and in that the means for controlling the printing also makes it possible to print the particular information relating to the consumer on the sheet forming the cover. 16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the means for transporting allows the transport of a cover sheet which can serve as cover for a number of personalized checks. 17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the aforementioned cover sheet forms a shipping envelope for personalized checks. 18. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the aforementioned cover sheet gives a summary of the particular order of the client. 19. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a means for storing a certain number of customer orders relating to the personalization of the check formulas. 20. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means for assembling the personalized checks into a book (222). 21. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that it further comprises a means (224) for sewing and binding the check book. 22. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for storing the information representative of a signature of a particular client stores the information on a digital basis, the means for controlling the printing allowing the printing of the replica of the client's signature on a digital basis.