Abstract: There is disclosed a bar code processing system in which a plurality of vertically aligned sensing devices are positioned adjacent a moving document on which is located a plurality of dot matrix printed coded bars. Each of the sensing devices is positioned so as to sense one of the matrix dots which form the coded bar and output an analog signal whose signal level varies directly in accordance with the ink intensity of the sensed dot. Signals are then amplified, filtered and converted to digital signals which are then examined. If a predetermined number of dots in the bar have been sensed and of the dots sense, no more than two dots are found to be separated by more than one blank space where a dot would normally be located, a signal is generated indicating that a valid bar has been sensed. These signals are then used in decoding the bars sensed.

Abstract: An apparatus having a track for guiding a sheet therealong and means for feeding a sheet along the track. The feeding means includes a rotatable member having a shaft mounted for rotation, with the rotatable member having a driving periphery extending into the track. The feeding means also includes a coupling unit and means for rotatably mounting the coupling unit at the track, with the coupling unit having an expansible periphery. Also provided is a means including an endless coiled spring for selectively moving the expansible periphery between a first position in which the expansible periphery is uncoupled from the driving periphery and a second position in which the expansible periphery is expanded to form a driving coupling with the driving periphery of the rotatable member to feed a sheet positioned therebetween along the track when the rotatable member is rotated.

Abstract: A recording apparatus having multiple recording devices, each recording device being associated with a separate document feed path, in order to provide simultaneous recording on more than one document for the purpose of increasing effective document recording speed. The recording apparatus also includes driving mechanism for driving the documents along the feed paths, selection means for selecting an appropriate document feed path for each document which is introduced to the recording apparatus, and control means for controlling the recording devices, the driving mechanism and the selection means.

Abstract: A system for improving the processing of financial transactions using direct customer entry of the transaction data and automatic verification of this data during proof operations. Each customer prepares his own transaction slip via a remote terminal, which slip is delivered to a teller for verification. During proof and encoding operations, the amount field of each document is read and composed with the data entered by the customer for correspondence; any errors may be corrected at this stage for reconciliation, saving time and labor costs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally printing on plain paper high resolution fonts such as the ABA's E13B font. In one embodiment, the thermal print head is held stationary while the record medium (like a bank check) and ribbon (containing heat-transferrable ink) are moved, and in a second embodiment, the record medium and the ribbon are held stationary while the printing head is moved. The print head is comprised of printing units with each printing unit having a printing face having resistive heating elements therein. The heating elements are arranged in rows and columns in the associated face to produce a printed dot density of 6.05 N dots per millimeter, wherein N is equal to 1, 2, or 3. Loading of the next pattern of data to be printed is effected while the prior pattern is being "burned" or printed. An R-C circuit is included in the energizing circuit to minimize overheating of the heating elements during repeated energization thereof. Characters or bar codes may be printed by the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing erroneous data elements from digital images by systemically moving a window memory over the entire area of an image. Each data element in the image is examined with respect to neighboring elements by comparing the contents of the window with a set of masks to determine if a certain data element should be altered.

Abstract: A printing system for printing coded bar elements on a record member include a rotatable drum member having slidably mounted print elements disposed about its periphery. An actuator member positioned adjacent the drum member engages one of the print elements upon movement of the drum member to position a print element adjacent a record member. The actuator member is operated to slide the engaged print element to a printing position enabling the print element to print a coded bar on the record member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing digital data derived from an image using non-adaptive predictive techniques. A prediction table, which is pre-generated based on a number of sample images, generates a predicted pixel and source state for each pixel of the original image, as the original image is scanned. The predicted pixel is the expected value of the pixel when considering the values of a group of adjoining pixels, while the source state is indicative of the probability that the predicted pixel is in error. Prediction error pixels are then generated and grouped according to their respective source states to form a plurality of run length symbols with each symbol comprising a white portion and a black portion, which symbols are stored sequentially in order of formation in a memory device according to their respective source states.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting errors in a data word and for correcting up to two error bits therein through using Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) codes. A Galois field table is arranged in an anti-log and log format to facilitate the calculation of certain values such as ##EQU1## associated with the BCH codes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the gray scale resolution of a document. The apparatus includes a scanning module for scanning a document along x and y coordinates with regard thereto for generating pixels representing gray scale values for discrete areas of the document along the x and y coordinates, with each pixel having a predetermined number of bits. A high pass filter module is also included for summing the associated pixels within a window to produce a window sum as the window is moved relatively along coordinates corresponding to the x and y coordinates, and the high pass filter module also includes means for comparing a selected pixel within a window with the associated window sum and predetermined criteria and for generating first and second output values in accordance therewith. The first and second output values have a fewer number of bits than the asssociated selected pixel.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprising an array having a central axis and a predetermined number of light responsive elements positioned in the array, with each light responsive element producing an output in response to light impinging thereon and an optical system including a lens for directing light from an image of a predetermined size onto a first number of said light responsive elements which said first number is less than said predetermined number. The apparatus also includes a selection unit for selecting a said first number of said light responsive elements which are positioned with regard to said central axis, means for receiving the outputs of said selected first number of light responsive members and also for producing a stream of data therefrom; and a switch unit for adjustably selecting the particular said first number of light responsive elements upon which light from said image impinges.

Abstract: A digital image data compression system which generates a plurality of run length symbols, with each symbol comprising a white portion and a black portion. The white portion may contain up to a specified maximum number of white pixels, while the black portion may contain up to a second specified maximum number of black pixels. A symbol may be composed of a black portion followed by a white portion (a BW type run), or a white portion followed by a black portion (a WB type run). If the second portion of any run length of a particular type run exceeds the maximum number of pixels allowed for that color, that run length is terminated at the maximum number, the corresponding symbol is generated, and a special symbol, indicating a change in the type of run, is inserted. The symbol following the special symbol, which is the opposite type from the original symbol, is generated using the remaining pixels from the last run length and the following run length of the opposite color.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading data printed on a flexible document in which the document is orientated in a vertical direction during the reading operation. The document is initially positioned on a movable support member located in the path of movement of a scanning head. Movement of the document against the support member enables a clamping member to clamp the document in a sensing position, an actuator member for moving the support member out of the path of movement of the scanner head and moving the scanning head in a longitudinal direction to read the data on the document.

Abstract: A document sorting process utilizes existing or natural incoming sequences of documents each of which includes a sort key code thereon and which are sequentially arranged in accordance with a trace, locate and retrieve number (TLR). The documents are machine-sorted by the sort key code in numerical sequence and the corresponding trace, locate and retrieve number is checked for ascending or descending order. Whenever the trace, locate and retrieve number is seen in ascending order, the created sort number remains the same, whereas on a descending record the sort number is incremented by one digit. A reduction in the number of sort numbers reduces the passes required for physically sorting the documents.

Abstract: Method and means are disclosed for detection of overlapped sheets transported along a path. A plurality of detection means are aligned substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of said sheets, each detection means including one or more radiation sources and one or more radiation detectors. The overlapping of one sheet by another produces a shadow on the surface of the overlapped sheet along the edge of the overlapping sheet when radiation is directed obliquely on to the sheets from one of said radiation sources, the direction of such radiation necessary to produce a shadow being dependent on the direction of the overlap of one sheet by another. Reflected radiation from the sheets is received by one or more of the radiation detectors, and shadows or marks on the sheets are detected by reason of their lower reflectivity.

Abstract: A printing device is provided for printing bar code or other indicia on record media such as bank checks and similar documents. The bar code indicia consists of a series of symbols which may be "01" or "10", in which "1" is represented by the presence of a bar and "0" is represented by the absence of a bar in a possible bar position on the record media. The printing device includes a platen having two angled printing surfaces, each of which may be in the configuration of a bar, on one end and being rockable between two positions in each of which one of the printing surfaces is parallel to the path of movement of the record media, and the other of said surfaces is not. A hammer driven by a constant-speed cam coacts with the printing surfaces on the platen to print on the record media during each cycle of cam rotation, and suitable controls position the platen by means of a solenoid during each cycle to determine whether a first symbol or a second symbol will be printed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing data used in a character recognition system in which a threshold voltage value is developed to be applied to an analog waveform representing an unknown character to determine the start of the character waveform. Samples of the first peak of the waveform are generated and a value representing the area under the first peak is developed. Data processing means divides the area by the number of samples taken to arrive at a threshold voltage value which, when applied to the samples taken, determines the start of the character waveform. The voltage amplitudes of adjacent samples of the character waveform are then averaged and the number of samples reduced by one half. A predetermined number of samples having the maximum voltage amplitudes located within peak areas of the waveform are normalized for use by a utilization device in recognizing the unknown character.

Abstract: A character recognition system is disclosed in which feature characteristics of an analog waveform representing an unknown character are applied to a plurality of templates each representing a known character and consisting of a number of windows in which the feature characteristics of the known character are to be located. Hardware implemented circuits compare each feature characteristic of the unknown character with each window of the template. If a feature characteristic is found outside the window, the distance between the location of the feature characteristic from the location of the window is found. The sum of the distances for each template is generated and the templates having the two minimum distances are selected and evaluated to determine if a character can be recognized from the value of the two minimum distances.

Abstract: A system for detecting the presence of more than one document along a path during the processing of the documents. A capacitance is introduced by the plural documents in contact with each other and wherein a delay signal is combined with an original signal to generate a multiple document detect signal for indicating the presence of the multiple documents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a multiple-feed situation with regard to documents having encoding arranged thereon in a predetermined manner and with the documents being moved along a transport path. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the documents are encoded with magnetic ink. A sensing member is positioned along the transport path in operative relationship with the encoding on the documents for generating a first signal in response to a character of the encoding being in moving relationship with the sensing means. A first circuit is used for receiving the first signal and for generating a first time frame. A second circuit is used for generating a second time frame beginning upon the expiration of the first time frame; and a third circuit is used for generating an output signal indicative of a multiple-feed situation when a subsequent signal from the sensing means occurs during the second time frame.