Abstract: An improved document feeder employs sets of rollers between which it feeds documents of different lengths to generate and maintain gaps of equal length between the documents while transporting them at a constant speed. A first group of rollers separate stacked documents and start the documents moving at a low speed along the track. A second group of rollers, operated at a higher speed, receive documents from the first group of rollers and increase the speed of the first document relative to a second document, still in contact with the first group of rollers, thereby providing an initial gap which continues to lengthen until the second document reaches the second group of rollers. A third group of rollers receives the documents after they leave the second group, imparting a constant system transport speed to them.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for preventing dust, which developes in document handling machines, from accumulating in the orifices of associated ink jet printers and clogging them, includes disrupting the path of dust laden air to prevent it from flowing near the orifices where dust would be deposited. In a preferred embodiment, a counterflow of air from a fan is directed against the dust laden air to disrupt its flow and cause the dust to be carried away from the orifices.

Abstract: A system is shown for enhancing signals produced by the scanning components of an optical character reader. Analog video signals produced by a scanner are converted to digital video signals representing a plurality of pixels. Digital video signals representing a matrix of pixels where the matrix is smaller than the individual characters are summed together to provide a reference base of brightness. A digital video signal located at the center of the matrix of interest is scaled to a value corresponding to the number of pixels in the matrix times its brightness level. The scaled center signal is then compared with the summed signals. The scaled center signal is made to read "white" if it is brighter than the summed signals and made to read "black" if it is darker than the summed signals.

Abstract: An endorser for document processing machines is provided with means for controlling the application of an endorsement in a manner which reduces the deleterious effects of impaction previously encountered when printing endorsements and at the same time affords certain other advantages. The system employs camming means operating through lever means to control the impact in a manner which converts a point load to a shear load while reducing power requirements to a driving motor and making it possible to cope with documents of varied thicknesses. The system makes it possible to convert some of the energy otherwise wasted in the system to accelerate the platen and thus reduce motor power requirements.

Abstract: A controller monitors and controls the operation of the document transporting portions of a document processor. It employs sensors which detect the passage of the trailing edges of documents and timers which measure the time taken for a document to pass successive sensors. Whenever this time period is too long, the controller determines that the document being timed has jammed and provides signals to stop the operation of sections of the system in an orderly fashion designed to minimize the effects of jamming.

Abstract: System for determining whether magnetic ink is present on specific areas of a document bearing magnetic ink characters. Signals are produced as a magnetic read head passes over the area in question on the face of the document. These signals are routed to apparatus which operates in response to the signals by providing outputs of a first kind when magnetic ink is present and outputs of another kind when ink is not present or is not present in sufficient amount to produce a signal exceeding a threshold value. Logic means responsive to the signals of the first and second kinds establish the presence or absence of magnetic material.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the presence of documents in a document pathway employing a light source and a light sensor positioned to function in cooperation with a drum. The drum employs a peripheral surface for support of documents as they are transported across a cylindrical surface which is recessed below the peripheral surface for reflecting light. The positions of the light source and the sensor are selected so that, when no document is present, light from the light source will be reflected from the recessed cylindrical surface onto the sensor enabling the sensor to provide an output indicating no document is present. When a document is present, light from the light source will be reflected from the surface of the document along a path which will substantially miss the sensor and not energize it, thereby enabling associated circuitry to determine that a document is present.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing dust and trapped air from the orifices of an ink jet printer employed in a document handling machine. A vacuum is applied periodically to clean the ink jet head of dust, entrapped air and excess ink. The period is established in accordance with predetermined requirements and is measured by a count of documents or other measurements of time relating to the passage of documents.

Abstract: Document sorting apparatus for sorting documents having data characters recorded thereon into a selected one of a plurality of storage pockets depending upon the data characters. Sorter controllers, each associated with a pre-determined number of the storage pockets, are provided for controlling the gate mechanisms of the storage pockets within their respective control areas so as to direct the document into the selected one of the pockets. The sorter controllers comprise single cycle processors which execute program instructions stored in memory in implementing document tracking functions. Further, the sorter controllers are responsive to destination and sequential tracking numbers assigned to each document by a central processor for recognizing a document as being intended for a pocket within its control area.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is shown for use as a controller for a track sensor used with document processors. The track sensor includes a light source and a light detector. The circuit monitors the signal from the light sensing portion of the sensor, comparing the signal with a standard value and providing a feedback signal to the light source to adjust the intensity of the light to compensate for the effects of aging, holes in a document, the accumulation of dirt on sensor lenses and the like. The circuit determines when the leading edge of a document arrives and when the trailing edges pass by. It includes elements which prevent false indications that the trailing edge has passed when holes go by the sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting black band separator documents placed as markers between batches of documents. The apparatus is responsive to four measurements which enable it to determine when a black band document has passed. These measurements relate to changes in the intensity of light transmitted through the document, the length of a black band, length of the document, and the position of the black band on the document.

Abstract: A system for use in generating characters in accordance with a special character font formed by a selected arrangement of dots. The system enables the production of characters at a higher rate than is possible, using particular equipment for characters having a conventional form. The system makes use of ink jet printers which are controlled electronically to project jets of ink to produce dots arranged in accordance with the new font.

Abstract: A system is shown for driving a drop-on-demand ink jet printer in a manner enabling the printer to produce symbols, such as those in the ASCII, on a moving surface at a much faster rate than it normally can. To this end, the system is arranged to produce characters of a selected font by driving ink jet nozzles in a manner such that each nozzle is fired to produce a drop of ink no more often than every other position at which ink is to be applied to print in a moving surface.

Abstract: A sensor retaining system includes a base having a recess in which the sensor is placed and a slideable, one-piece clip for pressing the sensor into the recess against the base. A slotted fulcrum restricts the lateral and forward movement of the clip through the slot and forms a backstop against which the clip may be deflected. Cams, adjacent to the sensor, deflect the clip to press the sensor against the base and stabilize the sensor in the recess of the base.

Abstract: A skip count clock generator yielding multiple frequencies of clock pulses for variably driving a scanner to produce a required resolution of scanned data includes a base frequency generator of clock pulses and a device for establishing a periodic clock pulse cycle. An electrical logic circuit is used to skip any chosen whole number of clock pulses in a period to yield a desired fraction of the clock pulse cycle.

Abstract: A continuous deaeration system for a fluid pump system includes a housing having an inlet port through which aerated fluid flows into the housing from a pump, an outlet port through which aerated fluid flows for recirculation in the fluid system, and a deaerated fluid outlet port through which virtually contaminant and air-free fluid flows to an ink jet printer apparatus. The housing encloses a filter element with appropriately sized interstices which continuously separates air and fluid contaminants from the flow of aerated fluid received from the inlet port of the housing. A reservoir, also within the housing, collects the contaminant free deaerated fluid and air separated from the deaerated fluid. The air-fluid mixture is transmitted to the outlet port of the housing while the virtually contaminant free deaerated fluid exits the housing through the deaerated fluid outlet port.

Abstract: System for controlling a document feeder which receives documents of various lengths one-at-a-time with their ends touching or overlapping and delivers them at a constant speed and with fixed spaces between their ends. The document feeder employs a variable speed servo, which drives a group of low-speed rollers and a group of high-speed rollers while maintaining a constant speed ratio between the two groups. A natural gap develops between first and second documents in a track of the feeder between the time the first document and the second document pass from control by the group of low-speed rollers into control by the group of high-speed rollers. Sensors are positioned along the track to detect passage of trailing and leading edges of successive documents.

Abstract: A fluid pump system for an ink jet printer apparatus includes a reservoir of printing fluid, a filter for removing contaminants from the printing fluid, and an apparatus for printing characters with the printing fluid. A gear pump delivering steady, stable fluid pressure pumps the virtually contaminant free printing fluid to the printing apparatus. The gear pump also circulates to the reservoir an amount of printing fluid in excess of the amount required by the printing apparatus. A device regulates when the virtually contaminant free printing fluid is supplied to the means for printing and an additional device supplies virtually contaminant and air-free printing fluid to the means for printing.

Abstract: Hopper for feeding documents automatically into a sorter. The hopper employs rotating eccentric rollers protruding through slots in the bottom of the hopper to drive documents in a direction perpendicular to the rollers across the hopper against front or first wall. A rotary roller extending through a slot along this wall is used to urge the ends of the documents downward and forward towards feeder nudger belts which feed them to the sorter. A spring biased flag pushes against one end of the stack of documents to urge them in the same direction against the feeder nudger belts.

Abstract: A cam operated document stop in an item sorter provides positive action to halt the passage of a document or other item, from a flow of documents in a mainstream pathway, when it arrives in an inspection station. The document is stopped in an open receptacle area for inspection and then released for return to the mainstream pathway. Stoppage is effected by rotation of cam members which position a stop arm to stop the flow of the document. After the document has been inspected and corrected, the stop arm is repositioned to release the document into the mainstream flow. After a suitable delay to allow the document to clear the receptacle area, the cam members rotate the stop arm into position to stop the next document.