Abstract: A data received is provided with DC restoration circuitry for correcting the DC level of received multi-level data signals. A DC shift detection circuit detects whether the received DC level multi-level signals has shifted due to a predominance of one of the data levels in the data stream. A correction circuit responds to the shift detection circuit by applying a corrective bias to an isolation transformer. Alternatively, the correction circuit applies a corrective bias to the received signals within the receiver circuit.

Abstract: A data transmitter circuit includes a pseudoternary conversion circuit for converting a binary logic signal to a differential pseudoternary signal having symmetric rise and fall characteristics. The output of the pseudoternary conversion circuit is filtered and passed to an electrically conductive medium via an isolation transformer. The conversion circuit includes a symmetric arrangement of toggle circuits which respond to transitions in respective complementary binary signals constituting a differential binary input signal. Voltage dividers are connected to the output terminals of the toggle circuits for providing three levels of output voltages in response to the logical states of the toggle circuits.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a specified quantity of bills of a single denomination has a feed mechanism for feeding bills into a first guide path, and a transport mechanism for receiving bills within a second guide path. The first and second guide paths are arranged so that reversal of the transport mechanism causes a single bill to be dispensed from the apparatus via a gap between the two guide paths. If a misfeed is detected, the transport mechanism is maintained in forward operation to collect misfed bills within an internal rejected bill receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus for counting and verifying documents is provided with a digital control network. The digital control network coordinates the operations of counting and verifying documents. A transport mechanism moves documents along a guide path through the apparatus. Sensors are located along the guide path for determining optical and magnetic characteristics of the documents and producing signals relative thereto. The measured signals are sampled and digitized by an analog-to-digital converter under the control of a microprocessor. Multiple samples of the sensor signals are accumulated within memory as each document passes adjacent to the sensors. The accumulated values are compared with reference values in order to verify each document which passes adjacent to the sensors. Documents are counted after verification. Individual piece counts and monetary values of such piece counts are provided and counterfeit documents, such as passed for United States currency, can be detected.

Abstract: A document size detection device for detecting the size of documents such as non-U.S. currency comprises a housing, a plate mounted in the housing past which each document is moved, and detectors positioned along the plate for sensing the size of each document and for initiating a signal indicating the size of each document.

Abstract: A document imprinting device for imprinting on documents such as checks, and its method of use, comprising a frame, a document feeding mechanism mounted on the frame for sequentially feeding documents, a conveying mechanism for conveying a document from the document feeding mechanism along a document conveyance path, an imprinting mechanism for imprinting the documents conveyed along the document conveyance path, said imprinting mechanism including a print drum mounted on a rotatable shaft having a generally round surface with a flat segment, a sensing mechanism positioned along the document conveyance path for sensing the position of the documents and for triggering the imprinting mechanism such that the document is imprinted at a desired location on the document, and rotation detecting means for detecting whether said shaft makes a rotation.

Abstract: A document delivery and abort mechanism 11 for an automatic document dispensing machine 13 for dispensing currency comprises an accept door 15 for dispensing documents from automatic document dispensing machine 13, a power shaft 17 which operates in response to signals from the automatic document dispensing machine to open the accept door 15 or abort delivery of the currency, an accept door opening mechanism connected between power shaft 17 and accept door 15 for opening accept door 15, a locking mechanism for preventing rotation of the power shaft in a direction that opens the accept door 15 for locking accept door 15 in a closed position, when desired, and an abort door connected to power shaft 17 for aborting delivery of the currency when it has been processed incorrectly.

Abstract: A document imprinting device for imprinting on documents such as checks comprises a frame, a document feeding mechanism mounted on the frame for sequentially feeding documents, a conveying mechanism for conveying a document from the document feeding mechanism along a document conveyance path, an imprinting mechanism for imprinting the documents conveyed along the document conveyance path, and a sensing mechanism positioned along the document conveyance path for sensing the position of the documents and for triggering the imprinting mechanism such that the document is imprinted at a desired location on the document.

Abstract: A document imprinting device for imprinting on documents such as checks comprises a frame, a document feeding mechanism mounted on the frame for sequentially feeding documents, a conveying mechanism for conveying a document from the document feeding mechanism along a document conveyance path, an imprinting mechanism for imprinting the documents conveyed along the document conveyance path, and a sensing mechanism positioned along the document conveyance path for sensing the position of the documents and for triggering the imprinting mechanism such that the document is imprinted at a desired location on the document.

Abstract: A silver electrode comprises a layer of porous battery grade silver powder bonded to a metal substrate by means of an adhesive layer of fine silver powder and glass frit therebetween.

Abstract: An erosion resistant electrical contact material and a method of making the material is described. The material comprises from about 10 to about 20 volume percent of SnO.sub.2, from about 0.45 to about 1.2 volume percent of an oxide selected from the group consisting of TiO.sub.2, CeO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, HfO.sub.2, and combinations thereof and the balance being substantially silver.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a porous silver structure made by pressing and sintering silver powder prepared by ion substitution process, porosity of the structure is increased by heat treating the silver prior to pressing and sintering.

Abstract: A method of detecting the feeding of doubles in a high speed document counter is disclosed. Also, a method of detecting the feeding of a chain of documents as a batch of documents are fed through a feed path is disclosed.

Abstract: A document dispenser capable of dispensing documents from a plurality of separate bins is constructed of a modular design. The dispenser is constructed by assembling the modules, one for each bin, with each module including an input hopper and a document feeder. The modules are connected together to feed the documents along a common delivery feed path to a stacker which is provided on a module on the dispensing end of the device.

Abstract: A document printer in which a print drum is driven by a direct current electric motor whose voltage is controlled by a first voltage regulator circuit for supplying a first voltage to the motor during a non-printing operating condition and a voltage boost circuit for supplying a higher voltage to the motor during a printing operating condition so that the same document feed rate is maintained throughout the operation of the device.

Abstract: A document separation device for separating documents in a stack employs counter-rotating feed drum and friction belt members to strip away and hold back more than a single document trying to pass between them. The structure employs a pair of stripper idlers mounted for free-wheeling rotation adjacent the feed drum. The stripper idlers are constructed and arranged so as to be controlled by the documents passing between them and the adjacent feed drum so as to automatically speed up or slow down when required. The stripper idlers are designed to maintain the proper force against the drum or a document passing therebetween to feed the documents in the desired path through the apparatus and to straighten out severely curled leading edges of the documents to avoid jamming, tearing or skewing of the documents. In addition, the idler strippers serve to fan out the documents to hold them in a desirable condition for ease of separation.

Abstract: A document separation device for separating documents in a stack employs counter-rotating drum and friction belt members to strip away and hold back more than a single document trying to pass between them. The structure employs a pair of friction drums and a free-wheeling pulley between them of slightly smaller diameter but on the same axis. Counter-rotating friction stripper belt is supported between two pulleys one of which is driven and is wrapped over the pulley between the friction drum members. A third rotatable pulley between the two supporting the friction belt is located opposite the free-wheeling pulley and has flanges which bear upon the friction drum surfaces such that the friction belt will normally not contact the third pulley when the friction belt is in direct contact with the idler between the friction drums. The friction belt is slightly slack.

Abstract: A device for handling documents which operates to interleave or intermix documents from separate stacks in accordance with a predetermined pattern. The documents are fed through the machine preferably so as to be visible and retrievable throughout their travel. The machine includes an inspection station where the documents are overlapped to permit visual inspection of at least one edge portion of each separate document. The documents from separate stacks are fed one-by-one through separate feed paths with means for insuring single-document feed and means for counting prior to merger and discharge of the merged documents.

Abstract: Documents in a stack are loaded into a bin from which an endmost document is fed by some means to a generally cylindrical drum having a high friction surface which is rotationally driven about its cylindrical axis. A plurality of resilient continuous stretchable friction belts of lower friction than the high friction drum surface are arranged parallel to one another around pulley supports positioned such that non-friction circumferential areas around cylindrical drum surface stretch the path of the continuous belts between adjacent pulleys. The continuous belts are driven in the opposite direction from the high friction cylindrical surface of the drum. The opposed moving surfaces separate adjacent sheets while the belts apply a normal pressure to a document on the high friction surface so that it draws the endmost document from the stack and carries the separated single document through the mechanism by itself.