High-speed camera operated feeding/reading unit for use with the SBG20/600 Cheque Book Finishing Line

The high-speed camera operated feeding unit has been developed to provide security printers with the ability to monitor the production of individual cheque books throughout the finishing process, as required by many major banks. The system can be either barcode operated or designed to read all the customer account details contained on individual cheque's including customer's name, account number and sort code.

Every document is identified by a single code symbol or field (OCR, BCR, Data matrix or any other). The reading systems will then identify this tracking reference throughout the finishing process. The system is computer controlled and all information gathered by the reading cameras is displayed to the operator. An ethernet link to the users IT system can also be provided.

The operation of the high-speed camera feeding unit is as follows.

1. A stack of pre-collated folios up to 30cm high is placed into the suction feeder (Module 1)
2. The first camera monitors the input sheet type e.g. address slip, top cover, cheque/document sheets, back cover etc. As soon as the camera identifies the cover of a cheque book, the system sends a signal to the control unit to activate the processing sequence and convey the book/document into the reading and transfer section (Module 2).
3. A second camera within Module 2 checks that all the details and numbering sequence on the cheque/document are correct. The cheque book/document is then conveyed into the collating/in feed section of the Stitcher-Binder-Guillotine.
4. Once a collated cheque book/document has been completed, the folio is then indexed to the Stitching Unit and the sequence recommences.