Abstract: This invention relates to a device adapted to read and erase magnetically encoded information on a ticket or card. A compact self-contained device is provided for attachment to a local utility meter (e.g. electricity meter) or a gas meter. The device comprises a compact casing 10 which is attached to an electrical drive motor 11 which, via roller 9, drives a drive roller 13. The casing 10 includes an entry mouth 18 which leads to a flow path 19 passing between the drive roller 13 and a pinch roller 15 and terminating in an exit mouth 20. Adjacent the entry mouth 18 are sensors 21, adapted to energize the motor 11 when a card is pushed into the entry mouth 18. Similarly adjacent the exit mouth 20 are sensors incorporating switches 22 which may be used to de-energize or reverse the motor. A magnetic read-head 25 is located within the casing 10 and is adapted to read information magnetically recorded on the card or ticket as it flows along the flow path 19. An erase head 23 may also be provided.

Abstract: Magnetic stripe media reader/encoders include reader/encoder body modules made of two complementary body elements that provide a track or path for guiding a magnetic stripe-carrying medium over a magnetic reader head, and magnetic head-carrying devices for magnetic stripe medium reader/encoder magnetic heads including a magnetic head-holding frame linked to a gimbaling frame-and-shaft combination linked, in turn, to a springy mounting mechanism.

Abstract: A hand-fed data-card reader compatible with cards of different widths and having a selectively actuable perforator for conveying cards past a reader head and for selectively cancelling desired cards via the perforation thereof. Cards are conveyed via a belt/pulley drive train that is operably coupled to a spiked perforator that engages each card at a preset one of two pressures so as to selectively convey the card with or without embossing the surface in a chadless fashion and whereby cancellation is achieved. Data media of differing widths are accommodated via an adjustable, lower, spring loaded guide assembly.

Abstract: Guide arrangement for assuring predetermined orientation for electronic key relative to an electrical receptacle into which it is to be inserted.

Abstract: A key card receiver has a key card slideway facial insert and upper and lower body halves. The insert has a tapered guideway and a flat slideway with opposite parallel walls and side walls which extend perpendicularly from the guideway walls. Abutments are connected to the side walls, and the abutments include elongated hooks which extend around pedestals of the upper and lower body halves and lugs which extend into recesses in a jack in the lower body half. The upper and lower body halves are joined together by pedestals which have complementary knobs and depressions. Larger pedestals have aligned openings for mounting. A front vestibule formed between the body halves receives the key card slideway insert, and a rear chamber provides space for mounting an electronic circuit for converting identification data on the card to a pulse train.

Abstract: A magnetic card reader for reading signals recorded on the magnetic track of a card. The magnetic reading head is mounted on a supporting body contained within a housing, and the card is inserted through a slot in the housing to engage a stop on the supporting body. The stop and the supporting body is moved against the force of a spiral spring until the supporting body reaches an end-position within the housing, whereat the stop engages a counterstop to lower the stop beneath the magnetic card. The supporting body thereby is released for return movement in response to the force of the spring, and the magnetic track on the card is read during this return movement. The spring in one embodiment is a spring band spiral spring wound on a support roller rotatably carried by the reading head supporting body, providing a uniform return velocity of the supporting body for a uniform scanning rate of the magnetic card.

Abstract: An Automatic Teller Machine is adapted to block the acceptance of foreign objects. A blocking member is misaligned with an entrance slot except when sensors signal the presence of an object which meets established criteria. In the presence of the signals, the blocking member is moved into alignment with the slot permitting passage of the conforming objects.

Abstract: The method of aligning generally flat data supports of flexible sheet material such as credit cards, identity cards, check cards and similar documents includes the steps of engaging at least one edge of the data support and exerting an alignment force thereon; prior to exerting the alignment force on the data support edge, an arching force is exerted substantially normally on at least one main surface of the data support to deform the latter into a generally arched state. Preferably, the data support is deformed into a shape having a generally waved cross-section in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the arching force. At the end of the alignment operation, the data support is restored into its flat shape by a pressure plate urging the data support against a flat supporting face of a receiving member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manually controlled wand which is particularly suited for use in a file control system in which the files are provided with machine readable codes located along an edge of the file. The wand is adapted by the provision of a jig used to bear against the edge of the file for locating the wand in a read position over the code and riding along the file edge to guide and steady the manual movement of the wand to provide an accurate reading of the code.

Abstract: An optical punched badge reader is provided for slidably receiving a data badge, and reading data holes punched therein. The badge reader includes a row of pairs of registered data sensing apertures arranged perpendicular to the axis along which the data badge is received. The slidable movement of the badge into the badge reader actuates the slidable movement of an electro-optical strobe pair along a stationary strobe strip. In operation, the row of data sensing apertures reads the row component of each punched hole on the data badge while the electro-optical strobe pair and the stationary strobe strip read the column component.

Abstract: A card reading assembly includes a drive for driving a card carrying recordings on one or more entry regions thereon along the course of travel typically due to the force of gravity on the card. A plurality of stops force the card to a temporary stop during the course of its travel and a pickup head disposed in the course of travel of said card scans said entry regions of the card arrested by the stops for reading the recordings on the entry regions.

Abstract: A magnetic detection device for use in a bank note discriminating apparatus is proposed. A magnetic pattern which has been already formed on each bank note by applying the magnetizable printing ink thereon is detected by a magnetic detecting head of the device. The device further includes a conveyer driven at a conveying speed of V.sub.1, and a positioning roller rotated at a circumferential speed of V.sub.2. According to this invention, the speed V.sub.2 is adjusted to be approximately equal to or only slightly higher than the speed V.sub.1. According to another feature of this invention, the detection face of the magnetic head is spaced from the opposing peripheral face of the positioning roller by a gap D which is greater than the thickness T of the bank notes to be handled.

Abstract: Encoded magnetic strip cards are fed into apparatus which reads encoded data on the card. The card is fed into and out of the apparatus through a passageway defined by a guide which also serves as a mount for mechanical and electronic components. The guide is precisely constructed so that the thickness and width of the passageway are slightly greater than the corresponding dimensions of the card and the card does not jam in the passageway. In one form of the invention the guide is formed of two generally T-shaped, overlapping, interfitting members. In a second form of the invention the guide is formed of two opposed T-shaped side members and two plates relieved at their edges to receive the legs of the side members.

Abstract: An optics frame for use in optical character reading devices has a reflector and lens tube assembly packaged to permit the integration of the optics system and the electronic components so that they become one unit. The reflector and lens tube assembly is mounted on a frame which is in turn secured to a circuit board and connected therewith utilizing a flex circuit.

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.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus may automatically cook according to a cooking program fed from a recording card. The apparatus includes a cooking program feeding mechanism detachably holding the recording card and reading a cooking program from the recording and by moving a detection bar with microswitches along the recording card.

Abstract: An optical character reader for conversion of information to a machine readable code from a strip of aplha-numeric characters on the face of a document. It includes an elongated document slot along which the document may be hand guided through a predetermined path. Optical viewing means is provided across a scan line intersecting the path of the alpha-numeric characters. A character scanning assembly electronically generates images of each character. Recognition processing means encodes these images into a machine readable code. All of the physical, optical and electronic components are contained within a compact single enclosure. Optical viewing is accomplished on a separable frame assembly having a surface area adapted to engage the document. The frame includes at least one light guiding slot and an intersecting view slot or aperture. An upright ventilation duct intersects the light guiding slot.

Abstract: A bar code scanner for scanning a bar code or bar codes having a plurality of parallel bar symbols recorded in contrastive light reflection colors on a record medium. The scanner has an image sensor comprising a plurality of light responsive elements which are arranged in a straight line and activated one by one. The image sensor is supported within a casing which is carried close to the record medium. The casing is provided with a pair of parallel side guide members which extends orthogonally relative to the light responsive elements to define a scanning region. The parallel side guide members are connected by a transversal guide member which defines a scanning line at the end portions of the parallel side guide members.

Abstract: A pattern reading device comprises feed mechanism for storing a sheaf of cards carrying patterns and feeding said cards one by one, a conveying mechanism having a plurality of pinch members at regular intervals to pinch the forward edge of each fed card and convey said card to a reading section, and an optical reader provided in said reading section for reading patterns on said cards.

Abstract: A card handling device, which includes a card inserting aperture for inserting a card therethrough, a card reader for reading information data from an inserted card and means for carrying the card from the inserting aperture to the reader, in which there is provided a detector for detecting a deformed or curved card disposed at a position between the card inserting aperture and the card reader, whereby the deformed card is fed back through the card inserting aperture while a non-deformed card is fed to said card reader by the card carrying means.

Abstract: A system for repeatedly reproducing recorded information of a limited duration, suitable for use as a learning medium, using a multiplicity of recording tapes of a predetermined length, each having respective information recorded thereon, and a special playback unit. The playback unit comprises a circulating path having an inlet and an outlet for the tape. When the tape is inserted through the inlet into the circulating path, it is circulated about the path a desired number of times so as to repeatedly reproduce the information recorded thereon and when ejection means is operated, the circulating tape is inserted from the path into the outlet to be ejected outside the unit. The tapes which are not in use may be conveniently sorted or stored by means in accordance with the invention.