WO1990000979A1

WO1990000979A1 - System whereby any bank branch office can itself produce personalized current account cheque books

Info

Publication number: WO1990000979A1
Application number: PCT/IT1988/000070
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giovanni Sereni
Original assignee: DATA B Srl
Current assignee: DATA B Srl
Priority date: 1988-07-19
Filing date: 1988-09-30
Publication date: 1990-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-19
Also published as: EP0425483A1; PT88845A; ES2012864A6; AU2488288A; IT8821416A0

Abstract

System whereby any bank branch office can itself produce personalized current account cheque books as and when required by means of an electronic apparatus (10) comprising a printer (16) connected to an electronic calculator provided with memory storage circuits, a keyboard (17) and a display (18), utilizing continuous forms (22) with transversal lines made for tearing off strips (24, 25), each strip corresponding to a cheque already printed with the ''general fixed data'' relating to the bank's head office, such as its name, figures, straight lines, symbols, said calculator causing the printer to print on each of said strips (24, 25) both the ''specific fixed data'' relating to the branch office such as its heading, the progressive numbering of cheques, the bank's code number, the branch office's code number already stored in the memory, and also the ''specific variable data'' relating to the client, such as his name on the current account cheque book, the account number in ordinary figures and in characters for magnetic reading (CMC-7/OCR-B/E 13 B).

Description

SYSTEM WHEREBY ANY BANK BRANCH OFFICE CAN ITSELF PRODUCE PERSONALIZED CURRENT ACCOUNT CHEQUE BOOKS

At present, when a bank has^' decided the details of the cheques it will supply for current accounts, it arranges for a printing firm to print all the permanent parts and fixed data such the name of the bank, background designs, the various sections, straight lines, symbols as well as the fixed data specific to each branch office, such as its address, progressive numbering for the beginning and end of each book in ordinary figures and in those for magnetic reading (CMC-7/OCR-B/E 13 B), the bank's code number, the branch's code number, and then the making up of each book.

This system compels a bank to plan the quantity of cheque books it will require for each branch office. When a branch hands out a current account cheque book to one of its clients it has to mark each cheque with the ac¬ count number .

Overall cost of a cheque book, is therefore considerable especially as a bank must each year prepare quantities se- parately for each of its branches with all the attendant storage problems.

If new branches are opened the head office must quickly prepare cheque books specially for them. It also has to keep a stock of non-specific cheques to be used for emergencies if there is a delay over availability of the regular ones, handling and production . of which rep¬ resent a further cost.

Should some internal need arise, it is difficult to alter numbering, or if a new design is introduced, this too in- volves considerable expense.

Application of personal customer data to cheque books is good for the bank's image bμt costs of doing so are often extremely high.

The above invention avoids the drawbacks described as well as offering considerable advantages as will be explained below.

The invention consists of a system for independent produc¬ tion, as required, of personalized current account cheque books by each bank branch office by means of an electronic apparatus comprising a printer connected to a computer with memory, keyboard and a display.

The printer works on continuous forms made to tear off in strips, each strip corresponding to a cheque, already prin¬ ted with the head office's permanent data such as its name, background designs, various sections, straight lines and symbols common to all that bank's cheques.

Fixed data specific to the branch are typed into the com¬ puter, such as its address, progressive numbering for that cheque book, head office and branch code numbers and all the rest . When a client needs a new current account cheque book the computer, with its memorized data, prints out onto the con¬ tinuous strips the branch's permanent data and the client's specific variable data such as the cheque book owner's name, account number, and progressive cheque numbering. Both the fixed data specific to the branch and the variable data specific to the current account holder can be person¬ alized as preferred by positions of the various spaces, by centering, by boldness of lettering, by proportional spa¬ cing, by adding or removing noughts,by the magnetically read characters (CMC-7/0CR-B : E 13 B) with beginning and end signs, in changing figures into letters, and suchlike. The continuous form comprises two final strips for each set of strips forming a chequebook. The first is designed like a normal application form for a new book. The second is ruled up for summarising the cheques as and when issued by the holder, with a column giving the numbers identifying each cheque, and other columns to show the pre¬ vious balance, sum withdrawn, date of issue and anything else useful.

The set of strips making up a chequebook are folded concer- tinawise with the strip for requesting a new book at the end.

All the apparatus is placed on a small table-like stand, the printer on the top and a space below housing the com¬ puter with the keyboard on an inclined front section. Below the computer chamber there is storage space for the continuous strips, protected by a lock, said continuous strips passing through a slit up into the printer direct. The keyboard includes certain specific keys; one of these is for"positioning the form" to make sure that the contin¬ uous strips are in the correct position in the printer. Another key is the "cheque printer".

Another key is for printing a "summary of chequebooks pro¬ duced"; with this a summary is printed, on a plan sheet put into the printer, of all the chequebooks produced and all data relating to them. By pressing the "cheque printer" key, the display shows a request to the operator to check the position of the continuous strip form; then, when the operator has given an affirmative answer or has pressed the "form positioning" key, the display asks for the branch client's variable specific data and,having received them, makes the printer print one or more chequebooks with the branch's permanent data, already in the computer, and with the specific va¬ riable data just received.

All the operator has to do is to tear off the set of prin¬ ted cheques forming the book. In an alternative version of the present invention, the above computer is connected to a central computer installed, for example, at the bank's headquarters which receives the data specific to the branch office such as its address, progressive cheque number, headquarters and branch code numbers.

When a client asks for a current account chequebook, the branch forwards the request to the central computer which, through the local computer, has the branch's printer print the requested chequebooks onto continuous forms. In detail this process means that, on receiving the re¬ quest from the branch, the central computer asks the branch operator to check the positioning of the continuous forms; when the operator indicates that this has been done, the display shows a request from the central computer for the branch client's specific variable data and, on receiving these, passes the order to the printing machine to print one or more chequebooks with the already memorized specific permanent data belonging to the branch and with the last variable specific data received, after which the operator need only tear off the printed cheques.

In one type of execution the branch's computer has a spe¬ cial four-key keyboard, one being a connecting key to con¬ nect the branch computer to the central one, another being the positioning key to position the forms correctly, a third being the summarizing key by pressing which the prin^¬ ter prints a summary of all the chequebooks produced, and a fourth for reprinting any chequebooks found to be faulty or incomplete.

The features and way of using these chequebooks are prac¬ tically the same as those at present supplied by banks ex- cept that the single cheques are connected top and bottom in the continuous form and are torn off lengthwise. The advantages of the invention are evident. The continuous strip forms can be prepared as at present by a firm of printers without any individual branch details. Therefore, by starting with forms which only have the permanen printing common to all branches of a bank, each branch can independen ly print all the other personal data completing the cheque, such as branch address, headquarters and branch code numbers, cheque number, holder's name and number of his current account, the characters for magnetic reading (CMC-7/0CR-B/E) and the rest.

The cost of making up chequebooks is eliminated. The cost of purchasing cheques from the printing firm would be far lower than with the present system. Less capital is tied up and bank staff spend much less time on this work. There is no need to calculate annual chequebook needs by individual branches.

Opening of new branches presents no problems as regards supplying them with cheques. There is no longer need to make use of non-specific cheques. Cheque numbering can be varied at any time at no extra cost. Cheque books can be issued to clients bearing their per¬ sonal data, improving the bank's image, but quite simply and at no additional expense. Document numbering put into the computer can never be can¬ celled. Summing up the advantages o^'ffered by the invention, cheque books can be produced at the time required not only quick¬ ly and simply but also of original appearance ' specifie to a particular branch office and at appreciably lower cost than that associated with ordinary current account cheque books .

Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made still clearer by the following example of its execution illustrated by diagrammatical drawings. Example of execution

Fig.1 The apparatus subject of the invention comprising an electronic calculator, a keyboard and the prin¬ ter, perspective view. Fig.2 A piece of the continuous form used to make the chequebook.

Fig.3 End strip of the chequebook. Fig. A partially used chequebook.

Fig.5 Diagrammatic layout of the electronic complex. Fig.6 Diagrammatic layout of the electronic calculator. Fig.7 Topography of the electronic calculator's components Figs.8-11 Diagram showing the electronic circuits of the electronic calculator. Fig.12 Topography of components of the buffer battery's electronic circuits. Fig.13 Diagram of the buffer battery's electronic circuits. Fig.14 Topography of components of the keyboard's elec¬ tronic circuits. Figs.15-16 Diagram of the keyboard's electronic circuits.

In the apparatus ( 10) seen in Fig. l, there is the stand(l l) consisting of the box part (12) with its upper shelf (13) and inclined front (14), with side pieces ( 15). The printer ( 16) stands on the top ( 13) and the keyboard ( 17),on the inclined front ( 14), with display ( 18) above. Details of how the electronic calculator parts* and the circuits for keyboard and display are set out inside the box can be seen in Figs. 5-16.

The printer has a daisy wheel type face. The key ( 19) on the left of the stand is used to turn the whole apparatus on and off.

The chamber (20) under the box part ( 12) holds the contin- uous forms (22) which pass through a slit in the top ( 13), enter the printer and appear above through an aperture (21).

Fig. 2 shows a piece (23) of the continuous form comprising the strip (24) and a part of both strips (25) and (26) sep¬ arated by the tear-off lines (27) and (28), each strip cor- responding to a cheque.

The three sets of parts and data can be clearly seen. The first set comprises "general fixed data" such as the background design (29), the ruled lines (30) for the date and amount, the heading (31) and pattern (32) of the bank's head office, the further lines (33) and (34) for the amount written in letters and the bearer's name.

This first set is printed by a firm of printers and is com¬ mon to all the current account cheques issued by headquarters,

The second set comprises the specific data relating to each branch office such as the name (39) of the branch, the code number of head office (40) and of the branch (41), the num^¬ ber (42) of the individual cheque, and these same numbers printed in figures readable magnetically (CMC-7/OCR-B/E 13B) respectively indicated by (44), (45), (43). All these specific branch details are typed into the com¬ puter as soon as it is installed at the branch office or at any other convenient time.

The third set comprises the client's variable data such as the name (50) of the account holder, the number (51) of the current account, and the same number printed in figures for magnetic reading (CMC-7/0CR-B/E 13 B) (46).

This lot of data is typed into the computer whenever, at the client's request, one or more chequebooks have to be made ready for him. The automatic devices in the apparatus will print all the cheques on continuous forms for making up one or more books .

At the end of each series of cheque-forming strips, the two strips (60) and (66) are included in each book, see Fig. 3. In the case of strip (60), in addition to what is already printed on the cheques as regards fixed data for the head office (61), specific fixed data for the branch such as its name (62) and specific variable data for the client such as (63) and (64), there is also the wording (65) REQUEST FOR A NEW CHEQUEBOOK.

This strip is equivalent to the normal request strip in an ordinary chequebook.

In the case of strip (66) there is a "table of variations" (67) for noting down cheques issued showing (68) the first and last numbers of cheques in the book, column (69) for the last three digits of said numbers, and columns (70), (71) and others for 'previous balance' 'present withdrawal' 'date of cheque' and suchlike. This tabled information replaces that on stubs left in the book after cheques are torn out.

Fig. 4 illustrates and cheque book printed by the apparatus with some of the cheques already used. The next cheque to be used (75) can be seen. The concertinawise folding (76) of the continuous form, along the tear-off lines (77), means that these chequebooks are no more bulky than ordinary ones.

The keyboard ( 17) used by this apparatus is substantially similar to normal ones, with addition of specific keys, like key (36) for making the machine produce chequebooks, or key (37) for correctly positioning the continuous form, and key (38) for printing a summary of all chequebooks made with all their data.

Fig.5 is a block diagram of the main parts such as elec¬ tric current input (80)for theelectronic calculator (81), com¬ prising the electronic circuits for the buffer battery (82), operated by data from the keyboard ( 17) received through said keyboard's electronic circuits (83) .

Through circuits (84) said electronic calculator operates the display ( 18). and the printer ( 16). In Fig. 6 another block diagram illustrates the circuits of the calculator (81), namely the following:

(90) SCSI INTERFACE, (91) CPU Z 80, (92) EPROM I6K, (93) CMOS STATIC RAM 32K, (94) POWER-FAIL CIRCUIT BATTERY BACK- -UP, (95) 2-CHANNEL SERIAL I/O, (96) COUNTER/TIMER CIRCUIT, (97) CHANNEL SERIAL I/O, (98) KEYBOARD PARALLEL INTERFACE, (99) DISPLAY PARALLEL INTERFACE ( 100) SBX EXPANSION, ( 101) SBX EXPANSION.

A fuller description of the electronic calculator (81) is given in Fig.7 with its 'topography of components' and in Figs. 8-11 showing electronic circuit diagrams. Fig.12 is a 'topography' of components in the buffer bat¬ tery's electronic circuits, and Fig.13 is a diagram of said battery's electronic circuits.

Fig. 14 indicates the position of the keyboard (17) elec¬ tronic circuit components, and Figs. 15—16 give diagrams of said keyboard's electronic circuits. Whenever a branch client asks for a chequebook, the opera¬ tor presses key (36) "print cheques" and the cheques are printed.

If the word READY? appears on the display, the calculator is asking the operator if the position of the continuous forms has to be checked. When the operator has checked this point he can reply YES or else, guided by the display, he can press the position adjuster key (37). Again by means of the display, the calculator asks the op¬ erator for the client's specific variable data, such as the holder's name, his current account number and the quan¬ tity of chequebooks to be printed.

On receiving this data the calculator causes the printer to complete the forms, already prepared by an outside prin¬ ting firm and containing the permanent fixed data relating to head office, with the specific data already memorized for the branch and with the final variable data relating to the client .

All the operator need then do is tear off the book or books so completed. At the end of the day, or when required, by pressing key (8), the printer will print out a summary of chequebooks produced and the data they contained, on a plain sheet put into it. All these operations are worked and checked by the elec- tronic- circuits shown in block form in Figs. 5-6 and,. in greater detail, in Figs. 7 - 16. Everything that has been described is done locally, name¬ ly at the bank branch office.

If the calculator is connected to the head office computer procedures are still substan ially those described. When the apparatus is installed at a branch, or at any other time, the head office computer stores fixed data spe¬ cific to the branch.

When a branch office client wants a chequebook, ts produc¬ tion is started by pressing 'cheque printing' key (36) on the keyboard ( 17) .

The display then asks the operator to check the position of the continuous form and, by the same means, asks for the client's variable specific data. This having been typed in the head office computer, it tells the branch office printer to print out the book or books as already described.

Printing having been completed the operator tears off each book. Personalization of specific fixed data for the branch and specific variable data for the branch's client can be exe¬ cuted in the same way as done locally.

Claims

1. System whereby any bank branch office can itself pro¬ duce personalized current account chequebooks ' as and when required, characterized in that the current account cheque books (74) are produced by means of an electronic apparatus (10) comprising a printer (16), an electronic calculator with memory store, a keyboard (17) and a display (18),using continuous forms (22,23) with transversal tear-off lines (27,28,77) for separating them into strips (24,25,26,75), each strip forming a single cheque, already prepared with the 'general fixed data' of the Bank's head office such as its heading (31, 61), figures (32), straight lines (30,33, 34), symbols common to all cheques, memory circuits storing 'specific permanent data' of the branch office such as its heading (39,62), the number (42,43) of the cheque progres¬ sing from the first to the last, the code number (40,44) of the bank and the code number (41,45) of the branch office in ordinary figures and in those for magnetic reading (CMC- 7/OCR-B/E 13 B) with beginning and end signs, when neces- sary -the calculator producing clients' current account cheque books (74) following indications given through the keyboard (17) to the printer (16) to print out on the con¬ tinuous forms (22) both the stored 'specific fixed data' (39,40,41,42,43,44,45,62) relative to the branch office and the 'specific variable data' relating to the client such as his name (50,63) printed on each cheque of the current account cheque book (74), the number of the current account (51,46,64) in ordinary figures and in those for magnetic reading (CMC-7/0CR-B/E 13 B), to be repeated on a number of strips (24,25,26) making up one or more current account cheque books (74), it being possible to personalize in the

preferred manner both the branch office's 'fixed specific data' (39,40,41,42,43,44,45,62) and the'variable specific data ' (50,63,51 ,46,64)^' relating to the client, holder of the current account, consisting in the position in the various surface sections, in boldness of type, in proportioning of space, in punctua¬ tion, in removal or addition of noughts, in how the figures with their beginning and ending signs are printed for mag¬ netic reading (CMC-7/0CR-B/E 13 B) in transformation of digits into letters and any other preferences.

2. System for the production of current account* cheque books as in claim 1, characterized in that the continuous form comprises two final strips for each set of strips con¬ stituting a cheque book, one strip (60) bearing the words (65) 'Request for a new cheque book', when this (74) is needed, and the other strip (66) containing columns (67) with details of the cheques when issued by the user.

3. System for the production of current account cheque books as in claim 1, characterized in that all the strips (24,25,26) of a set forming a cheque book (74), when fol- ded back one against the other concertinawise along the tear-off lines (27,28,77), make up one cheque book (74) it being easy to tear a cheque (24,25,26,75) off along its tear-off line joining it to the continuous form (22,23).

4. System for the production of current account cheque books as in claim 1, characterized in that a small kind of table (ll)is needed to support the apparatus ( 10) on whose top ( 13) stands the printer ( 16) of the continuous form (22-23), with a box underneath ( 12) housing the electro¬ nic calculator ,with the keyboard ( 17) and display ( 18) on a front piece ( 14) of said box (12) below which box ( 12) is a store chamber (20) for the continuous form (22,23) protected by a lock, which form passes straight up into the printer (16) through a slit beneath it.

5. System for the production of current account cheque books as in claim 1, characterized in that the keyboard (17) has one key (37) for positioning the form, which pre¬ pares the printer (16) so that, by means of the other keys, the right position for the continuous form is ensured, a cheque-printing key (36) which, when pressed, causes the calculator to show a message on the display (18) ask- ing the operator to check the position of the continuous forms (22,23) and when the operator replies affirmatively or presses positioning key (37) guided by instructions ap¬ pearing on the display (18), asks the operator by another request on the display (18) for the 'specific variable data¹ (50,63,51,46,64) relating to the branch office's client, and, having received these, orders the printer to print one of more cheque books (74) with all 'specific fixed data' (39.,40,41 ,42,43,44 ,45, 62 ) relating to the branch and already stored in the calculator, and with client's 'specific variable data' (50,63,51,46,64), after which all the operator has to do is to tear off the printed cheque books (74) , the keyboard (17) also comprising a 'summari¬ sing' key (38) which, on being pressed, causes the printer (16) to print out on a clean sheet of paper put in for the purpose a summary of all the cheque books produced with all their details.

6. System for the production of current account cheque books as in claim 1, characterized in that the electronic system is connected to a computer, installed for example at the bank's head office, to which are transmitted the 'specific fixed data' of the branch such as its heading

(39, 42), the progressive number (42, 43) of the cheque, the code number of the bank (40,44) and the code number of the branch (41, 45), in ordinary digits and in those for magnetic reading (CMC-7/0CR-B/E 13 B), said head office computer, on receiving a request from the branch office, causing the branch's printer ( 16), through the local cal¬ culator, to print the requested current account cheque books (74) on the continuous forms (22), (23).

7. System for the production of current account cheque books as in claim 6, characterized in that, having received an order to print the current account cheque book (74), the head office computer asks the branch office operator, by means of the display (18) to check the position of the con¬ tinuous forms (22, 23) and, having received an affirmative answer, asks the operator, through display ( 18), for the

'specific variable data' (50, 63, 51, 46, 64) relating to the branch office client and, having received them, orders the printer (16)' to print one. or more books (74) with all the 'fixed specific data' (39, ^'40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 62) for the branch office, already stored, and with the'varia- ble specific data' (50, 63, 51, 46, 64) received, the branch operator then having merely to detach the printed cheque book (74).

8. System for the production of current account cheque books as in claim 6, charac erized in that the branch of¬ fice calculator is connected to a control keyboard having four keys, one a 'link-up'key connecting the branch calcu¬ lator to the head office computer, another a 'form posi¬ tioning' key for correctly positioning the continuous forms (22, 23) guided by signals appearing on the display ( 18), another a 'summary' key which has a summary printed of all the current account cheque books (74) produced, and ano¬ ther a 'reprint' key by pressing which any faulty or in¬ complete current account cheque books (74) can be reprinted.