Abstract: An apparatus for moving a document towards the bottom of a document track as the document is moved in first and second directions within the track. The apparatus includes a feed unit positioned on one side of the document track and a cooperating unit positioned on the opposed side of the track. The cooperating unit has a rod which is pivotally supported in a support. A high friction roller is secured to the top end of the rod and a low friction roller is rotatably supported on the lower end of the rod. The feed unit has an idler roller positioned opposite to the high friction roller and also has a drive roller positioned opposite to the low friction roller in the cooperating unit. As the document is moved in a first direction in the document track, the high friction roller causes the rod to pivot slightly, thereby causing the low friction roller on the bottom of the rod to cant slightly, producing a downward component of force on the document as it is moved in the first direction.

Abstract: Front and rear printers for use with a document transport mechanism. The printers are identical in construction with each having a compact housing in which the associated print head is mounted. The housing has first and second side walls, a front wall which also functions as a guide for guiding documents to be printed upon therepast, and a rear wall which functions as a circuit board which houses the driver electronics assocated with the printer. The print head (ink jet) is mounted on a carriage which is moved within the housing in a first direction which is perpendicular to the direction in which the documents are moved in a document track past the printers. The front and rear printers are detachably mounted on opposed sides of the document track to enable the printing of alphanumerics or graphics on the front or the rear of a document moving thereby.

Abstract: A disconnectable, remountable, extension for a document track in a table-top, document processing machine. The extension has first and second fingers which fit into first and second openings in a coupling member which is resiliently biased towards the document track. The extension also has members which cooperate with the document track to keep the extension aligned in a vertical direction relative to the document track. When the extension contacts another member when the machine is moved on the table top, the extension "break away" or is uncoupled from the document track without damage to either of the members. The extension can then be remounted on the document track.

Abstract: A self-aligning inking roll for a printer which includes an inking roll, an ink transfer roll, a printer, and an endless ribbon mounted on the transfer roll and the printer so as to provide a fresh supply of ink thereto. The inking roll is mounted on an aligner member which is mounted on a support member, with the support member being mounted on an arm which is resiliently biased towards the transfer roll. The aligner member is mounted on the support member at the midpoint of the aligner member so as to provide a fulcrum area which enables the aligner member with the inking roll thereon to pivot and thereby establish a line contact with the transfer roll with the ribbon thereon.

Abstract: A method for locating the start of a MICR character in E13B font so as to facilitate character recognition. A Calculated Character Start Position (CCSP) is generated by using a predetermined number of voltage samples corresponding to a portion of MICR waveform generated by reading a MICR character on a document. The CCSP is generated by averaging the predetermined number of voltage samples within the window which tends to minimize the harmful effects of noise. Noise from magnetic ink spatter is sometimes wrongly interpreted as the start of a character. A process of "jiggling" is used to assist character recognition techniques by utilizing different character start positions to determine whether or not a template match in character recognition techniques occurs when the new or different character start position is used.

Abstract: A method of producing a printer so as to effect a low profile for sit/stand operations and to facilitate the removal of a jammed document from a print station in the printer. The printer is formed of a bottom portion and a top portion which are hinged together to enable these portions to be moved from an operative or assembled position and an open position which exposes the print station to facilitate the removal of a jammed document. The bottom portion has an overall height which is small relative to the overall height of the top portion so as to make the printer conducive to sit/stand operations. Latches are used to detachably latch the bottom and the top portions in the assembled and open positions mentioned.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in reading magnetic waveforms, like E13B, which are printed on a carrier like financial documents or checks. The waveforms include positive and negative peak values and substantially zero values occurring at predetermined times for a predetermined character. A shaft encoder is used to develop a nominal count which is correlated to the velocity of the carrier. Teh nominal count is used to generate a timing clock which is used to clock the positive and negative peak values and substantially zero values into registers for subsequent character recognition. The occurrence of the timing clock is adjusted by utilizing the occurrence of a positive or negative peak itself.

Abstract: A currency cassette (10) has a printed circuit board (80) secured to one of its side walls, the board (80) having mounted thereon a microprocessor, a RAM, a real time clock chip, and battery means for supplying power for the board (80). First (208) and second switches are respectively operatively associated with the lid (14) of the cassette (10) and with a shutter which, when opened, permits currency notes to be extracted in operation from the cassette (10). Opening of the lid (14) or the shutter causes the appropriate switch to be actuated. Each switch is connected to the printed circuit board (80), and the microprocessor is arranged, in response to actuation of either of the switches, to store in the RAM data indicating which switch was actuated and the date and time of day when the relevant switch was actuated. The switches and printed circuit board (80) provide an effective tamper indicating system for the cassette (10).

Abstract: A cable clip apparatus for routing connection cables out of a table top terminal, like a bank data entry machine, for example. The apparatus includes a coupling member which is located inside a cabinet of the terminal. Mating coupling members are coupled to the coupled member by inserting the mating coupling members in a vertical direction into the coupling member. Cables associated with the mating coupling members pass through slots in a perimeter portion of the cabinet, and thereafter, a cover which is part of the cabinet is closed to retain the cables in the side portion of the terminal. The coupling member is mounted above a circuit board within the terminal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a correction sticker to a document to cover incorrect data entered on a field on the document. Correction stickers on a carrier strip are fed to an application station where a document whose field to be covered is located. An ejector plate and a pressure plate located at the application station are used to partially separate a correction sticker from the carrier and to position the leading edge of the correction sticker in an application position with regard to the field on the document to be covered. An operating lever having a roller on one end thereof is used to move the leading edge of the correction sticker into adherence with the document. The roller is then held in contact with the correction sticker as the document is pulled out of the application station to press the remaining portion of the correction sticker into adherence with the field on the document.

Abstract: In a digital data receiver (80) for demodulating a direct sequence spread spectrum differential phase shift keyed data signal, the signal is applied to the input transducer (140) of a SAW device (100) which has first and second output transducers (142, 144) spaced apart on the SAW substrate (130) so as to produce first and second output signals on output lines (102, 104), which are relatively delayed by a time corresponding to a symbol period. The output transducers are of identical construction and are matched to the spread spectrum code utilized in the data signal. Thus, a single SAW device (100) effects both correlation and delay. The output signals on the output lines (102, 104) are processed by a circuit including multipliers (106, 110) and a phase shifter (108) to produce output data signals representing the received data.

Abstract: A data transfer system includes a currency cassette adapted to be inserted in a cassette receiving compartment of a cash dispenser mechanism, the cassette having a first printed circuit board on which are mounted a RAM, a microprocessor connected to the RAM, a photodiode adapted to receive data from an LED mounted on a second printed circuit board secured to the cassette receiving compartment, and LED adapted to transmit data to a photodiode mounted on the second board, and a first circuit including a first coil adapted to receive power from second circuit including a second coil mounted on the second board. In operation, data is transferred between the RAM and a microprocessor external to the cassette by means of the cooperating photodiodes and LEDs, with the first circuit serving to provide a dc power supply for the other components mounted on the board.

Abstract: A strain relief apparatus for relieving strain on a cable of an electrical device having a housing with a notched-out portion therein. The strain relief apparatus is generally planar and is mounted directly into the notched-out portion. The strain relief apparatus has a U-shaped channel which is dimensioned to provide an interference fit with the cable after the cable is mounted therein. The design of the strain relief apparatus introduces bends in the cable to further facilitate strain relief if, for example, the cable is accidentally jerked or pulled.

Abstract: A linear variable differential transformer (42) produces an output voltage which varies linearly with movement of the axis of a movable axis roller (14) relative to the axis of a fixed axis roller (12) brought about by the passage of a sheet between the rollers. Circuits (154, 189) store a reference voltage representative of a minimum value of the output voltage during one revolution of the fixed axis roller, and subtracting circuits (162, 172) subtract the reference voltage from the output voltage when a single or multiple sheet is passing between the rollers so as to produce a difference value representative of the thickness of this sheet. A processor (178) samples the difference value a plurality of times during one revolution of the fixed axis roller, and provides an indication that a multiple sheet has passed between the rollers if at least a predetermined number of consecutive samples of the difference value exceed a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a printer to print data beginning at a specified distance from the reference edge of a document. Several test documents are moved through a print station and a test symbol is printed on each of them with a preselected set of heating elements from a dot matrix thermal printer. The test documents are then processed through the same print station whereupon a sensor detects the reference edge of the document and the test symbol. A master controller then determines a test symbol distance between the reference edge and the midpoint of the test symbol for each test document. A plurality of test documents is processed in this manner, and the master controller determines an average test symbol distance for the plurality of test documents. Using an average test symbol distance, the master controller determines the distance between the sensor and a given hewating element of the thermal printer.

Abstract: A device for protecting a plastic tray wall of a compartment of a till tray when a user breaks a wrapper of a coin roll by impacting the coin roll against the tray wall. A generally U-shaped member, which is made of metal or plastic, is mounted on a tray wall of a plastic till tray while grippers located on opposed legs of the U-shaped member retain the member on the tray wall. A user then breaks the wrapper of the coin roll by impacting the coin roll against the U-shaped member, thereby releasing the coins for depositing into a compartment of the till tray. A second embodiment of the device includes a ridge formed thereon to facilitate breaking the wrapper of the coin roll.

Abstract: A platen-yoke apparatus for a printer using a "floating platen". The platen for a wire matrix printer is mounted in a U-shaped channel. When the printer is moved to one side of a document feeding surface, a ramp on one end of the platen cooperates with a roller secured to the print head to depress that end of the platen to cause it to be moved below the feeding surface. A yoke member pivotally secured to the underside of the feeding surface and coupled to the ends of the platen causes the platen to be moved parallel to the feeding surface to lower the platen below the feeding surface to facilitate the insertion of a document to a printing station associated with the printer.

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus includes first and second endless belts (38, 40) which are of resiliently stretchable material and parts of which are in cooperative relationship with respect to each other, a sheet (68) being fed through the apparatus while gripped between the cooperating parts of the belt drives (38, 40). One of the belt drives (40) passes around a pulley (60) associated with selectively operable actuating members (42, 46, 50, 52, 54). Operation of the actuating members (42, 46, 50, 52, 54) moves the associated pulley (60) so as to bring out a deformation of the cooperating parts of the belt drives (38, 40) and thereby change the length of the feed path for the sheet (68) through the apparatus. By operating the actuating members (42, 46, 50, 52, 54), the time at which the sheet (68) arrives at a certain location, such as a stacking wheel 75, may be adjusted.