Feed Mechanisms Patents (Class 235/475)
  • Patent number: 4914279
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for reading information stored on a card. The card is introduced through a slot in the fascia and moved along an adjacent guide path by the user. A slider, coupled to the guide path, interrupts the leading edge of the card as the card is moved into the slot and along the guide path. One or more springs, coupled between the slider and a fixed position, store elastic energy as the card is moved into the apparatus and along the guide path. Upon the user releasing the card, the stored elastic energy is applied to the slider to move the card back along the guide path and expel the card through the slot. A speed controlled comprised of a passive D.C. generator/diode under configuration, coupled between the slider and the guide path, maintains the velocity of the card constant as the card moves in either or both directions along the guide path, thereby allowing a fixed position optical or magnetic transducer to read the stored information from the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventor: James C. R. Massey
  • Patent number: 4912312
    Abstract: A data card recording system having a rotatable drum for supporting a plurality of data cards on its circumferential surface. A light source emits a beam which is modulated in response to data and directed to the cards on the rotating drum. The beam produces data spots in a plurality of parallel tracks aligned in the direction of drum rotation on a recording strip whose length is parallel to the drum axis. The focusing optics may be moved transversely to record in adjacent tracks. A data segment accessed from a data source and stored in a register of a microprocessor is recorded on a track on each card on the drum. A data control, controlling modulation rate, and a position detector unit are provided to synchronize the light beam modulation with the drum rotation rate. Drums and optical system embodiments are described for both reflectively and transmissively read data cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Drexler Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Haddock
  • Patent number: 4900908
    Abstract: A card accessing apparatus is provided which includes a stage unit for supporting a data storage card with a data storage area of the card facing downwardly, a housing including a bottom plate, for housing the stage unit, and a stage feeding unit supported on the bottom plate for reciprocating the stage unit. A read/write head is disposed under the stage unit, to read and write data on the data storage area of the card. A head feeding unit is supported on the bottom plate to drive the head unit to a position under the stage unit to access the data storage area of the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 4889240
    Abstract: A circulation-type bill deposit and dispensing apparatus, is provided with a shift mechanism which moves the bills to a predetermined position to the left or right side with respect to their feed direction so as to eliminate dispersion of bills in the lateral direction. Thus errors in discrimination of truth or falsehood or in discrimination of denominations and feed jams are prevented. An inverse shifting mechanism is also provided for moving bills to the opposite side from the initial shift (with respect to the feed direction) by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: International Business Machines
    Inventors: Koichi Sato, Tsutomu Sawa
  • Patent number: 4886957
    Abstract: A card reader for reading data strips carried on cards, the reader having a housing with an input slot carrying a removable card alignment tray to receive the cards. A sensor is used to detect the presence of an inserted card and cause the card, once sensed, to be drawn in by card driving mechanisms and forced into, and held, in alignment. Alignment is three dimensional in that the card is held against two perpendicular guides and flat against a window. A detector senses when the card is in its aligned position and actuates an optical scanner to scan the data strip on the card. Scanning is through the window, assuring that the plane of the card is correct. When scanning is completed, the input mechanism is reversed to eject the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Cauzin Systems, Incorporated
    Inventors: John Glaberson, Scott Santulli
  • Patent number: 4871905
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus of an IC card which is assembled in an IC card reader/writer includes upper and lower conveying belts to convey the IC card by sandwiching it. The upper and lower conveying belts are arranged so as to be deviated in the card conveying direction. A connector having contact members adapted to be come into contact with the contacts of the IC card is arranged in at least one of the spaces which are formed in both edge portions of the upper and lower conveying belts by the deviation of the positions of the conveying belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co.
    Inventors: Katsuya Mita, Yutaka Machida, Muneki Morishita
  • Patent number: 4868373
    Abstract: Apparatus for transferring data and other information between a data processing unit and a rectangular memory card which includes an optically readable data memory unit having a succession of substantially concentric data storage tracks thereon, the card also including at least one microelectronic component which stores further information. Such component is connected to connection points on the surface of the card. Data is read from the tracks of the memory unit by optical scanning during rotation of the card about the axis of symmetry of the memory unit, and information is transferred between the microelectronic component and the data processing unit by an information transfer unit which is coupled to the connection points on the card and to the data processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Willem G. Opheij, Arie Huijser, Gary E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4866259
    Abstract: The invention relates to a card-personalizing apparatus comprising at least one device for treating the cards and one handling robot. The treating device comprises a plurality of personalizing units associated with a control unit. The handling robot includes a feeding hopper (1), a stacking hopper (6), a scrapping hopper (7) and gripper device for gripping the cards (3) mounted on a 2-way shift device (4), a control logic (L) being connected to the control unit to manage the personalizing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Inventor: Marc A. Bonnemoy
  • Patent number: 4861974
    Abstract: A card conveying appartaus is arranged between the right and left frames. A card one-sided setting member is swingably attached to one of the frames. This card one-sided setting member is obliquely held by a spring toward the side of the other frame. When a card is conveyed by the conveying apparatus, the card is pressed to the side of the other frame by the one-sided setting member, so that the position is restricted. The one-sided setting member is returned to the side of one frame by the card. The returned one-sided setting member is detected by one sensor. A detection signal of this sensor functions as a card detection signal indicating that the card is being conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kondo, Muneki Morishita
  • Patent number: 4851651
    Abstract: A disk (110) carries containers (such as 120) each containing a stack of cards capable of being extracted one-by-one via an orifice (126) when a wheel (151) is moved to an extraction position (151A). A first conveyor (140A) then conveys the extracted card to a programming unit (1) which is capable of being moved to a position enabling a card to be inserted therein without friction, and thereafter lowers a connector (6) onto the card. After the card has been validated and inspected, it is conveyed to a user along the first conveyor (140A) and then along a second conveyor (140B) terminating at a delivery slot (105). An invalid card may be directly rejected into a reject box (180) placed beneath the programming unit (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Electronique Serge Dassault
    Inventor: Michel M. Gaucher
  • Patent number: 4825059
    Abstract: In an apparatus for recording and reproducing information, an information recording medium is reciprocated relative to a head for effecting information recording and reproduction, under such conditions that one end of the recording medium is urged against a guide member extending in a direction of the reciprocation of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Canon Denshi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kurihara, Kenichi Suzuki, Kazuo Minoura
  • Patent number: 4820913
    Abstract: A data card recording system having a rotatable drum for supporting a plurality of data cards on its circumferential surface. A laser light source emits a beam which is modulated in response to data and directed to the cards on the rotating drum. The beam produces data spots in a plurality of parallel tracks aligned in the direction of drum rotation. The focussing optics may be moved transversely to record in adjacent tracks. A data segment accessed from a data source and stored in a register of a microprocessor is recorded on a track on each card on the drum. A data control, controlling modulation rate, and a position detector unit are provided to synchronize the light beam modulation with the drum rotation rate. Drums and optical system embodiments are described for both reflectively and transmissively read data cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Drexler Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Haddock
  • Patent number: 4803349
    Abstract: A card read/write device of the type comprising an inlet sensor disposed at a card insertion inlet, a shutter which opens in response to the detection signal from the inlet sensor, a transportation mechanism driving sensor disposed backwardly of the shutter, a card transportation mechanism disposed backwardly of the second-mentioned sensor for transporting the inserted card backwardly and a card information read/write means disposed within the card transportation mechanism, characterized in that when the trailing end of the card passes past the transportation mechanism sensor in the case of returning the card, the card transporting mechanism is deactivated and when the transportation mechanism driving sensor is turned on again under these conditions, the card transportation mechanism is activated again to transport the card backwardly so that the read/write operation of the card is accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Coinco
    Inventors: Osamu Sugimoto, Masayuki Watabe
  • Patent number: 4800258
    Abstract: An information recording-reproducing apparatus, in which an information recording medium is held on a supporting table and the supporting table is reciprocally moved relative to a recording and/or reproducing head thereby to accomplish recording and/or reproduction of information, has means for feeding the information recording medium onto the supporting table and/or means for taking out the information recording medium from the supporting table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Kazuo Minoura
  • Patent number: 4798944
    Abstract: The invention describes a document encoder which, in addition to the printing devices for imprinting the document (43) with the encoded values, is also combined with a stack feed (1) and a reading station (44) for already encoded values. The reading station (44) for automatically reading pre-encoded values and the viewing station (45) for visually reading data which are to be keyed in manually are arranged one behind the other, and the documents (43) are driven transversely relative to the normal transporting direction for shifting them from the reading station (44) into the viewing station (45) by means of separate transporting means (32 to 42). The viewing station (45) is arranged in front of the reading station (44) and, together with the reading station (44) and the document single feed (1), forms an additional module which can be employed as a front and lower construction, respectively, of the actual encoding printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Mannesmann Kienzle GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Gorner, Horst Dyma
  • Patent number: 4798945
    Abstract: A grabber mechanism for use in a badge rader having a pivoted lever bar with a solenoid attached to one end and a grabber foot assembly attached to the other. When the solenoid is energized, the lever bar is pivoted such that the grabber foot assembly is moved away from a fixed partition which defines a throat in the badge reader, allowing a card to be inserted into the throat. When the solenoid is de-energized, the grabber foot assembly is urged by a spring into contact with the card, trapping the card between a rubber foot of the grabber assembly and the fixed partition sot that the card may be read by the badge reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald L. Bruckner, James W. Driscoll
  • Patent number: 4791282
    Abstract: An X-ray film cassette has on its top a triangular bar code field readable by a bar code reader of an automatic film sheet charging and discharging apparatus. The bar code field is in the form of an isosceles right triangle whose hypothenuse faces a reference corner and whose legs extend parallel to edges of the cassettes. The bars of the code extend parallel to the hypothenuse. An optical axis of the bar code reader, when the cassette is in its end position in the apparatus, intersects a vertex area formed by the legs of the triangle. This arrangement guarantees that its bar codes on cassettes of small format, even if misaligned in the feeding direction, are reliably read by the reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: AGFA- GEVAERT AG
    Inventors: Manfred Schmidt, Herbert Gebele
  • Patent number: 4717026
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided to rapidly and automatically scan the UPC, or bar code, from a series of containers and maintain tallies of the brands and types of containers processed. The containers are fed in end-to-end orientation onto the upper end of the trough between an inclined pair of parallel rollers. Both rollers are rotated in the same direction, causing each container to spin as it slides down the length of the rollers. The inclination of the rollers causes the containers to accelerate, increasing the spacing between containers as they reach the lower end of the rollers. A number of scanners are positioned above the lower end of the rollers to read the UPC from each container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Golden Aluminum Company
    Inventors: Gregory J. Fischer, Larry Hopkins
  • Patent number: 4677682
    Abstract: A bill counting machine includes a holder for supporting bills thereon and suction heads for turning over the bills, one at a time, to count them. A projector is provided for emitting a ray of light onto the surface of each bill. A receptor is provided for detecting a ray of light reflected from the surface of the bill and for rectilinearly reading the surface pattern of the bill. The rectilinear reading allow judgments as to the denomination and obverse/reverse side of the bills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Laurel Bank Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tuyoshi Miyagawa, Eiko Hibari, Mitsuharu Kagami
  • Patent number: 4670643
    Abstract: A currency cassette has removably attached to one side thereof an identification means in the form of a card having a magnetic stripe. Data concerning the cassette, such as the quantity and denomination of the notes stored therein, is recorded on the stripe. Such data is arranged to be read by a read head attached to a carrier which is slidably mounted on support means forming part of a cassette receiving compartment of an ATM into which the cassette is arranged to be inserted. Upon completion of the insertion of the cassette into said compartment, the carrier is arranged to be moved in a controlled manner along said support means by a spring against the action of a dash pot, thereby causing the head to move in a controlled manner along the magnetic stripe and read the data recorded thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Hain, Edward Husband, Brian Hutchison
  • Patent number: 4626672
    Abstract: A bar coded or user marked document is moved along a first transport path, where it is read. A portion of the document is situated in a curved retaining section. If validated, the document is moved completely into the retaining section and then into a second transport path, past a head for imprinting bar codes and text, to an output hopper. If invalid, the document is returned along a portion of the first transport path, along a reject transport path, to a hopper designated for this purpose. Blank documents may be fed from an internal stack into the second transport path for printing and then to an output hopper. First, second, and third frame sections define the first and second transport paths and are pivotally interconnected. Correspondingly curved portions of the first and second frame sections define the retaining section. The first frame section is mounted to the second frame section and can be pivoted relative thereto to provide access to the first path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Sapitowicz, Mark T. MacLean-Blevins
  • Patent number: 4616128
    Abstract: A modularized roller assembly for holding a flexible, magnetically encoded card moving in a feeding direction through a channel against a curved transducer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Cubic Western Data
    Inventor: Robert F. Case
  • Patent number: 4610359
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for recognizing and sorting articles. The apparatus includes at least one reading station having an optoelectronic sensor for forming an image pattern of each article, an evaluation device connected to the optoelectronic sensor and a transporting device which transports the articles underneath the optoelectronic sensor. The transporting device includes an endless transporting belt having a conveying surface with transversely disposed ribs for subdividing the surface into a plurality of sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH
    Inventor: Ernst-August Muller
  • Patent number: 4605843
    Abstract: A fare collection ticket transport that moves fare tickets through a closed alignment entry into an open longitudinal slot with a portion of the ticket projecting from the slot, and the portion of the ticket in the slot having the information processed by read, write, and verify components, so that the patron rider has to release the fare ticket, and the transport mechanism moves the fare ticket in the slot in a manner that the patron rider sees the fare ticket moving through the slot and can grab it at anytime he wants, with the transport mechanism moving the ticket at a determined speed and with the open longitudinal slot having protection against vertical entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Cubic Western Data
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Aubrey
  • Patent number: 4596332
    Abstract: A transfer system is utilized for automatically transporting a master microfiche from a computer output microfiche unit to a duplicator unit, thereby avoiding the physical handling of the microfiche by operating personnel. In addition to effecting the transfer of the microfiche, the transfer system further diverts those microfiche with errors in their bar code instructions to an error hopper so that optimum use of the duplicator time in making copies is assured. Appropriate switches are provided for diverting all microfiche to the error hopper when the duplicator is being serviced. Also, switches are provided for bypassing the bar code reader so that all microfiche will go to the feed hopper for the duplicator regardless of whether or not an error in the bar code exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: Photomatrix Corporation
    Inventors: Karl H. Gensike, Robert C. Marsh
  • Patent number: 4593185
    Abstract: The present invention provides a safety lock actuatable with a flat key carrying a code. The code is digitally generated by a laser beam and is sensed by detector laser beam upon or after the introduction of the key into the lock. The digital coding is produced by means of burning discrete depressions into a suitable layer on the key with a sufficiently strong laser beam and the sensing of the coding is done by means of a weaker laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Zeiss Ikon AG
    Inventors: Ingeborg Patzelt, Werner Horn
  • Patent number: 4592042
    Abstract: A record card transducing apparatus and method employing a rotational support, such as a turntable for supporting a record card, to cause the card to be driven in a circular path when the turntable rotates, wherein one or more circular tracks of the card may be recorded on or reproduced from as the card is so rotated. In one form, the card is so positioned on the turntable, and its concentric circular tracks are configured to center at center of rotation of the turntable so that as the card is rotated, a magnetic recording and/or reproduction transducer may be moved across the turntable into alignment with a selected circular track and may scan such selected circular track as the turntable rotates. In a particular form, a magnetic record card or a card having a wide magnetic record strip, is manually or automatically placed in a cavity formed in the top wall of a circular turntable, disposing its magnetic recording surface or strip in the plane of or above the plane of the upper surface of the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Inventors: Jerome H. Lemelson, Christian Grund
  • Patent number: 4587411
    Abstract: A method of printing and checking a printing image, e.g., bar codes, of a thermoprinter. The just-printed printing image is scanned after printout of a portion of the printing image on the paper web by means of an opto-electronic sensor which can move relative to the paper web, reading the just-printed printing image in the process. The read result is compared and checked with the originally entered data and, if an error is detected, the remainder of the printing image still to be printed or the just-printed printing image is marked by the printer as unusable, e.g., blackened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: F & O Electronic Systems GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Gunther Obstfelder, Gerhard Kreutze, Winfried Luttig
  • Patent number: 4587412
    Abstract: A magnetic reading head is provided in a tray acceptor for determining the presence of magnetic characteristics in a paper tendered as a valid currency or note. Fundamentally, the invention comprises a spring assembly, receiving a magnetic reading head, which is adjustable to position the reading head in sensing engagement with the paper maintained in the tray and offered for validation. The magnetic reading head provides a series of pulses corresponding to the presence of magnetic characteristics in the paper to a capacitor which charges upon the receipt of each pulse. When the tray reaches a set position, the charge on the capacitor is sensed, and a determination is made as to whether the paper has sufficient magnetic characteristics to constitute a valid note or currency. A time delay circuit is provided such that the magnetic sensing function can be performed only once during a preset time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: Ardac, Inc.
    Inventor: Yair Apisdorf
  • Patent number: 4527052
    Abstract: In an autoteller, where a card is inserted into a slot to be read by the autoteller, and remains visible at all times by means of an indentation in the slot whereby the card can also be grasped, a cam operated bale arm assembly prevents the card from being removed from the slot by interposing the tips of bale arm behind the fascia of the autoteller between the card and the slot. A bale arm clamp is provided for holding the bale arm assembly closed for the card to be pushed into a retention bin transversely to its direction of insertion into the autoteller by means of a drive wheel driven card ejection pin in the event of the autoteller desiring to retain the card. The bale arm assembly performs a dual action, both preventing the removal of the card and drawing the card into a predetermined position prior to the card being read. The clamp maintains the bale arm assembly in a removal-preventing position even although the cam operating mechanism is de-activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Assignee: Burroughs Corporation
    Inventor: Hilary M. H. Kilborn
  • Patent number: 4513439
    Abstract: In the field of security validators, slot acceptors have been known which transport paper offered as a valid security past a testing station. Previously known acceptors have been susceptible to defeat by mosaics, stringing, shocking, photocopy duplication, and the like. Additionally, known acceptors have operated in an analog mode, relying upon rudimentary test functions. The invention herein overcomes the problems of the prior art by presenting an acceptor having a note path (18) characterized by changes of direction (22,24), and which is secured at each end by means of unique gate assemblies (78,98). A plurality of sensors (148-152) are positioned along the note path and are controlled to take a multitude of data samples from the paper as it passes along the path. The data is digitized (236) and used for solving complex transforms, the results of which are compared against results obtained from known valid securities to determine the authenticity of the paper offered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Ardac, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Gorgone, Gerald M. Iannadrea, Anthony H. Dolejs, Bruce R. Knox, Alan J. Kovach
  • Patent number: 4510619
    Abstract: A document processing system including a modular transport system which includes a digital image capture system, character recognition circuitry, document encoding systems, endorsers, audit trail printers and an in-line microfilm record system. Associated video terminals and non-impact printers are utilized to provide visual images of documents processed by the system. Selected documents may be read, endorsed, encoded, digitally imaged, filmed and sorted in a single continuous pass through the document processing system of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: BancTec, Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas Q. LeBrun, John Torkelson, Roy E. Dempster, Richard G. Van Tyne
  • Patent number: 4480180
    Abstract: A cartridge assembly of the type to receive a card with coded information designed to be retrieved or read so as to provide electrical signals corresponding to selected indicia (i.e., points) on the card. These signals are then used to operate any suitable read-out or print-out device to display the information originally defined by the code in the card. In one form the cartridge assembly may be inserted from the front of the terminal for plug-in application and in another form may form an integral part of the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Inventor: Charles R. Fisher
  • Patent number: 4480179
    Abstract: An apparatus for coding and/or decoding a document, comprising a light path (27,28,29) formed of optic fibres and capable to direct light from a lens for focusing the light from a document to be coded or decoded to a light-sensitive device for recording a coded and, respectively, decoded copy of an uncoded and, respectively, coded document. The light path (27,28,29) consists at least along a section of a coding and/or decoding unit (29) comprising a code disc (32) provided with optic fibres (62), the respective ends of which are connected to a first and, respectively, second light guide (27 and, respectively, 28), associated with the light path. The fibres (62) at one end surface of the code disc (32) have a different mutual order than at the other end surface of the code disc. The fibres (62) of the code disc (32) and the fibres (60,61) of the light guides (27, 28) at the end surfaces of the code disc (32) and, respectively, at the ends of the light guides ( 27,28) are located along a circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: Esselte Nordia AB
    Inventors: Louis F. Schaefer, Termpoon Kovattana, Tommy Henningson
  • Patent number: 4464687
    Abstract: Jitter, characteristic of gear trains used for precision movement of magnetic cards in gear driven card readers-writers, is eliminated by forming, in situ, a resilient material as a dampening arrangement in a recess in the gear to which a drive shaft is connected for driving that movement. Alternative dampening spring arrangements are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: American Magnetics Corporation
    Inventor: Rene Baus
  • Patent number: 4394568
    Abstract: A card reading apparatus having a hopper in which cards bearing digital information such as punched cards or marked cards are accommodated, a card drive unit for feeding the cards from the hopper and a reading station for reading the information recorded on the cards is disclosed. The hopper is provided with a first switch for detecting the presence or absence of the card and a second switch for detecting the presence or absence of a card weight. Different instructions are given to the card drive unit in accordance with the transition of the status of the first and second switches to feed the cards in the hopper to the reading station in different modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Nakatsu
  • Patent number: 4387296
    Abstract: A lightweight portable utility billing apparatus is described for enabling a utility (private or public) meter reader to: (1) read utility meters of a number of utility customers on a selected route and obtain current meter value information from each customer; (2) record the current meter value information; (3) automatically calculate the customer utility charges; (4) print customer bills containing the calculated charges thereon; and (5) deliver the customer bills to the customer. The apparatus includes a single input/output magnetic tape for mass data storage and an electronic alterable read only memory (EAROM) for storing the utility rate tables. The EAROMS may be readily updated by the magnetic tape. A keyboard, display and impact printer are included as I/O devices with respect to a microprocessor controller that is programmed by an instructional control program stored in a nonvolatile read only memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Assignee: I-Tron, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Newell, Lary A. Cross
  • Patent number: 4377828
    Abstract: A ticket transport which is capable of rapidly reciprocating a ticket to permit a single transducer to read, write and/or verify information on the ticket. Upper and lower ticket guide plates define a ticket channel through which a ticket is propelled past an adjacent transducer by a plurality of rollers driven by a stepper motor. The upper ticket guide plate is hingedly mounted to permit access to the ticket channel. The stepper motor is controlled by special circuitry adapted to overcome the inductive time constant of the stepper motor to permit rapid acceleration, for example 0 to 50 inches per second in 30 milliseconds, of the ticket with minimum power dissipation. Sensors in the transport provide ticket position information. A combined magnetic head and pressure shoe assembly is provided for adjusting the thickness of the ticket channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: Cubic Western Data
    Inventors: Charles L. Hayman, John B. Roes, Royal C. Moore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4357530
    Abstract: A ticket handling system for use in a ticket processing system that includes a transducer for reading an encoded ticket entered by a patron and for providing a read signal in response thereto and apparatus for subsequently passing the ticket to an exit position where the ticket is accessible for return to the patron. The ticket handling system includes a transport module including the transducer for reading the encoded ticket and for providing a read signal in response thereto; an entry module coupled to the transport module for entering the ticket into the transport module; and a third module mechanically interfaced with the transport module and including structure defining a return passage for passing the ticket from the transport module to an exit position where the ticket is accessible for return to the patron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Assignee: Cubic Western Data
    Inventors: John B. Roes, Guy M. Kelly, Robert F. Case, Chandler R. Deming
  • Patent number: 4349849
    Abstract: A tape tracking device for a tape recorder comprises first and second position detection heads disposed such that one of the first and second position detection heads is upwardly displaced by its one upper half from a track on which a signal is recorded and reproduced by a record/reproduce head and the other is downwardly displaced by its one lower half from the track, a DC reversible motor rotated according to a difference between the reproduced signals of said first and second position detection heads, and a post tiltable by an eccentric cam attached to a shaft of the motor and adapted to impart a pressure in the up and down directions to correct a deviation of the tape in the direction of the width of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1982
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ken Satoh
  • Patent number: 4348656
    Abstract: In the field of security validators, slot acceptors have been known which transport paper offered as a valid security past a testing station. Previously known acceptors have been susceptible to defeat by mosaics, stringing, shocking, photocopy duplication, and the like. Additionally, known acceptors have operated in an analog mode, relying uon rudimentary test functions. The invention herein overcomes the problems of the prior art by presenting an acceptor having a note path (18) characterized by changes of direction (22,24), and which is secured at each end by means of unique gate assemblies (78,98). A plurality of sensors (148-152) are positioned along the note path and are controlled to take a multitude of data samples from the paper as it passes along the path. The data is digitized (236) and used for solving complex transforms, the results of which are compared against results obtained from known valid securities to determine the authenticity of the paper offered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1982
    Assignee: Ardac, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Gorgone, Gerald M. Iannadrea, Anthony H. Dolejs, Bruce R. Knox, Alan J. Kovach
  • Patent number: 4322614
    Abstract: A lightweight, portable apparatus for rapidly reading continuously and sequentially a plurality of ticket records having specific data encoded thereon as the tickets are removed individually from a supply magazine and conveyed along a prescribed path by a ticket feed assembly, an escapement assembly and a transport drive wheel to a ticket data sensing station. Data encoded on each advancing ticket is read in timed relation with displacement of a ticket advancing through the apparatus by control means and transmitted to equipment for storing and/or reproducing of the data in another form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1982
    Assignee: Consolidated Foods Corporation
    Inventors: Donald A. Sloan, Carroll G. Perkins
  • Patent number: 4301361
    Abstract: A movable divider wall means is resiliently supported to extend through a slot opening in a bottom wall and into contact with the top wall so as to define between one of its faces and one of the edges of a channel guide for documents an effective guide for documents of a narrower width defined by the wall and the opposed channel wall. The movable wall has a tapered top edge which tapers from a widely spaced leading edge to the flat top of the movable wall which abuts the top wall and is held into the top wall by resilient means. Documents of greater width may be inserted over the movable wall and passing documents will urge the movable wall downward to displace it and allow their passage. Guide means is preferably provided to direct documents of the second narrower width into the channel at a position after the beginning of the movable wall and from above the movable wall so that they do not tend to move the wall out of its position as they are introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Assignee: Autotote, Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert Lees
  • Patent number: 4288825
    Abstract: A magnetic card handling apparatus has a rotatable capstan and a magnetic head spaced apart a distance exceeding the thickness of a magnetic card on appropriate sides of a card running groove until the presence of a magnetic card therebetween is detected. The distance between the capstan and the magnetic head is thereupon decreased whereby the magnetic card is pinched between the magnetic head and the capstan and is driven past the magnetic head for recording/or reproduction of signals. Separate card running grooves with associated reproduce and record heads and separate card detecting apparatus may be provided for reproduction and recording to permit dubbing signals reproduced from one magnetic card onto another magnetic card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Hasuo, Jungo Tsuji
  • Patent number: 4288688
    Abstract: A toll road terminal machine having dual functions as a transit ticket issuing machine at an entrance gate and as a transit ticket verifying machine at an exit gate includes: a main conveyor section provided with a magnetic read/write head assembly for writing on and reading from a magnetic recording zone of a transit ticket and a printer for printing on a printing zone of the same transit ticket; the machine also includes a joining conveyor section for conveying either a transit ticket fed from a transit ticket hopper or a transit ticket inserted into an insertion port to the main conveyor section, and a separating conveyor section for conveying a transit ticket fed from said main conveyor section either to a stacker or to an ejection port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Matsushita Tsushin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosito Kiyama, Shinichi Tachibana, Riichiro Yamashita, Takeshi Horino
  • Patent number: 4287409
    Abstract: A reader for reading encoded data on cards, badges and the like, which cards and badges can be of differing thicknesses, having specially adapted drive roller pairs each comprising a drive roller of a first durometer and a pinch roller of a second durometer, arranged to efficiently capture the badge or card and apply a positive drive force to it. The drive roller is fixed in position and of a relatively high durometer, while the pinch roller is at contact with the drive roller in the absence of a transported card or badge, but is adapted to be displaced against a spring force to accommodate the thickness of the badge or card being read. The efficiency of capture is a function of the relative durometers of the two respective rollers of the drive roller/pinch roller pair, as well as the degree of spring force provided on the pinch roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: Peripheral Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Auchinleck
  • Patent number: 4278879
    Abstract: A switching arrangement for the recording of value balance information on a magnetic track disposed on a charge card. The arrangement is characterized in that a balancing circuit is connected to a reading-writing device with reading and writing heads and to a debiting circuit as well as to a balance recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: Tele-Alarm, Nachrichtentechntehe Gerate GmbH
    Inventors: Otto Hofmann, Georg Nagler
  • Patent number: 4266121
    Abstract: Disclosed is a receipt slip issuing apparatus for an automatic transaction system in which an identification card path crosses a blank path through which a two-ply details slip blank is fed, and a transcription mechanism for transferring card-borne information onto the blank is located in the position of such crossing. In a positional state for transcription on the blank, a printing mechanism corresponds to a first line to be printed of the blank, and a cutter is so located as to correspond to a position where a lower sheet of the blank is to be cut for each slip. A receipt slip outlet is disposed right under an I.D. card inlet-outlet, whereby a user may catch and draw out both his I.D. card and an issued receipt slip one-handed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1981
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Hirose
  • Patent number: 4260879
    Abstract: A power driven belt provides back-up pressure for a check or similar document bearing magnetic information as the document moves past a reading transducer. The belt is resiliently urged against cylindrical bearing surfaces adjacent the transducer to provide a non-critical geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Galatha, Gene D. Rohrer, John J. Squires
  • Patent number: 4253016
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dispensing-receiving apparatus for bank notes in which bank notes issued in accordance with an operator's designating operation and rejectable bank notes among ones received in the apparatus are both delivered through a single paying outlet formed in a control panel surface. A receiving device and a dispensing device of unit construction are piled up inside an apparatus casing. A return path system for rejectable note return, which is connected between a bank note intake conveyor system in the receiving device and a bank note takeout conveyor system in the dispensing device, is completed when both these devices are brought to respective setting positions in the apparatus casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Hirose