Checking Arrangement for Value-Document Check

A checking arrangement for checking a value document having a security element, wherein the checking arrangement comprises the following along a transport path of the value document:

• a magnetization device for magnetizing the security element, which comprises a first magnet-pair device and a second magnet-pair device along the transport path;
• and
• a detector device for the detection of magnetic signals that emanate from the security element;
• wherein the first and second magnet-pair devices are arranged along the transport path adjacent to each other so close that through the interaction of the first magnet-pair device and the second magnet-pair device there is provided in a first section along the transport path a first magnetic field of a first magnetic field strength which is greater than the magnetic field strength provided in the first section by the first magnet-pair device alone and which is greater than the magnetic field strength provided in the first section by the second magnet-pair device alone.

A checking method for checking a value document having a security element that comprises a high-coercive magnetic material of a first coercive field strength and, where applicable, a low-coercive magnetic material of a second coercive field strength, having the steps:

• providing a first magnetic field of a first magnetic field strength which is greater than the first coercive field strength in a first section along the transport path through interaction of a first magnet-pair device and a second magnet-pair device that are arranged along the transport path adjacent to each other so close that the first magnetic field strength is greater than the magnetic field strength provided in the first section by the first magnet-pair device alone and is greater than the magnetic field strength provided in the first section by the second magnet-pair device alone;
• first magnetizing of the security element by the first magnetic field in such a way that the high-coercive magnetic material, and the low-coercive magnetic material that might be present, are aligned in a first magnetization direction;
• second magnetizing of the security element by a second magnetic field that is provided substantially by the second magnet-pair device, in order to align the low-coercive magnetic material that might be present into a second magnetization direction, wherein the second magnetic field has a second magnetic field strength that is smaller than the first coercive field strength and greater than the second coercive field strength;
• and
• detecting of magnetic signals that emanate from the security element after the first and second magnetizing.