(19)
(11) EP 1 353 302 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
22.10.2003 Bulletin 2003/43

(43) Date of publication A2:
15.10.2003 Bulletin 2003/42

(21) Application number: 03015597.2

(22) Date of filing: 07.01.2002
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G07D 7/04
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 08.01.2001 GB 0100451
11.06.2001 GB 0114212

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
02250079.7 / 1221679

(71) Applicant: De La Rue International Limited
Basingstoke, Hants RG22 4BS (GB)

(72) Inventors:
  • Buttiant, John
    Ferring, West Sussex, BN12 6QR (GB)
  • Evans, Peter Dilwyn
    Emsworth, Hampshire, PO10 7PY (GB)
  • Skinner, John Alan
    Havant, Hampshire PO9 2QQ (GB)
  • Potter, Michael
    Nr Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 1RN (GB)
  • Pullan, Peter Alan
    Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 2EB (GB)
  • Scowen, Barry Clifford
    Woking, Surrey, GU21 5DW (GB)

(74) Representative: Skone James, Robert Edmund 
GILL JENNINGS & EVERY Broadgate House 7 Eldon Street
London EC2M 7LH
London EC2M 7LH (GB)

   


(54) Magnetic thread reader


(57) A method of detecting a magnetic thread comprises causing relative movement between the thread and an array of magnetic heads (2a-2l), each head (2a-2l) generates a signal upon detecting a portion of the thread. The arrival of a thread at one of the heads is detected, that head being denoted a primary head, and the head on each side a secondary head. Output signals from the primary and secondary heads are monitored to generate a representation of the thread, and the magnitude of the signals from the primary and secondary heads are compared such that if the magnitude of the output signal from a secondary head exceeds that from the primary head, the primary and secondary heads are reallocated accordingly.






Search report