| 摘要 |
The present invention provides an apparatus for processing of cheques and includes a closed casing (1) having an opening defining a feed path (5) for the insertion of a cheque, and a scanner (3) eg optical and/or magnetic for receiving a cheque fed into the casing (1) and recording data representing information on the face of the cheque. The apparatus includes a cancellation device (4) to cancel the cheque concurrently with the scanning and a communications device (2,9) for transmitting recorded data to a remote location. The invention is intended for distribution to end users, the drawees of cheques, or as a component part of an automatic teller machine, such that a bank can trust that a digital cheque received from the apparatus via a communications network is as secure against being fraudulently deposited as if the cheque had been physically delivered in the conventional manner. Preferably, means of verifying operation of the cancelling means is provided eg checking the capacitance between a perforating roller 4 and a plate 8. Preferably a tamper preventing security device 10 is proved which ensures eg that a cryptographic module 18 has its memory erased if the casing is removed by unauthorised personnel. The device 10 can be pressure operated on removal of the secured casing and eg allow UV light onto an EPROM 18. Alternatively, a pressure sensitive switch can cut the battery power to dynamic ram to loose the memory. The cancellation can be by puncturing, embossing, watermarking, shredding, cutting, scorching, printing, etc. |
