Abstract: Stop marks are printed on a document such as a bank passbook to indicate the position of the last data entry. The passbook is fed into the present apparatus until the lowermost stop mark is sensed. The passbook is stopped after a predetermined number of timing pulses have been counted after detection of the stop mark and another stop mark is printed on the passbook. The density of the new stop mark is sensed and, if insufficient, more stop marks are printed on top of the new stop mark until the sensed density becomes sufficient. Each stop mark may comprise two or more parallel lines which must be detected separately.

Abstract: A system for providing a low cost means for deterring the fraudulent use of lost or stolen credit cards, checks, or other instruments. The system employs low cost means for encoding documents, and a device for determining whether the document user has been issued a secret code corresponding encoding on the document. The device uses manually operated entering means thereby eliminating the need for large and costly document reading means. Further, the device is comprised of hidden switching pairs and is constructed so that the relationship between the switching pairs and the entering means is destroyed if the device is tampered with.

Abstract: A metering device, such as a postage meter, can be updated by a code bearing means which is provided with a first discernible code and a second obscured code, for instance, magnetic code. A computer stores a third code in association with the first code, however, the third code is correlated with the second code. Upon inserting the code bearing means in the metering device and obtaining the third code from the computer, the metering device is conditioned for updating responsive to said second code from the code bearing means and the third code from the computer being in predetermined correlation.

Abstract: A holographic scanning system for scanning a bar code indicia is disclosed in which the light beam of a laser is split into two segments, each directed through a plurality of holograms mounted on a single rotating disk for generating a scanning pattern comprising a plurality of intersecting lines on a target area through which passes a label or object bearing a bar code indicia. The light reflected from the bar code indicia is picked up by an optical detector for use in reading the bar code. A second embodiment includes a rotating disk having mounted thereon two holograms each offset to the other which generates a semicircular scan pattern used in generating an X scan pattern on the target area.

Abstract: A low cost, high performance bar code reader is required for reading the CFC-6 character font. The character is printed in fluorescent bars which are coded by different spacing between each bar so that it can be machine readable. A special recognition logic is developed to read the font when it is data lifted by the analog front end. An error correction capability is built in to correct certain correctable errors such as a missing bar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved magnetic marker and method for manufacturing same. The marker includes a ribbon of magnetic signal material of relatively low coercivity having coupled thereto at least two control elements of a ferro-magnetic material which may be permanently magnetized by a control signal in order to saturate the strip of first ferromagnetic material, thereby preventing the first ferromagnetic material from generating higher order harmonics when interrogated by a periodic magnetic signal of fundamental frequency.

Abstract: A standardized access card is formed of a single or a pair of bonded sheets f material including a cavity within which is disposed an integrated circuit assembly for processing electrical signals arranged within the card. The thickness of the assembly is relatively smaller than the thickness of the card and terminal areas of the assembly are accessible through cut-outs in the card which may be open or plugged with conductive material. The card may be formed in a continuous process from a plurality of strips of material which separately provide the card material, the integrated circuit assembly and a cover for the device of the circuit assembly.

Abstract: A circuit is disclosed for monitoring the output voltage of a magnetic pickup and for producing output signals representing the valid detection of bars of magnetized ink moved past the pickup. The circuit is capable of detecting and providing correct output data from input signals ranging from relatively weak signals of low amplitude to relatively strong signals which are of high amplitude and include overshoot pulses of substantial amplitude. The circuit is disclosed in association with a system for sorting envelopes containing inserts coded with bars of magnetic ink, the output of the signal detecting circuit being used as the input to a sorter logic controlling a sorter mechanism.

Abstract: After certain checks have been automatically made, and answer document is continuously scanned by successively and repeatedly switching the various phototransistors, one for each column of response positions or bubbles printed with ink visible to infrared energy, into a conductive or light-responsive state. In this way, between timing marks, each phototransistor is constantly employed to determine the light transmittivity of the document as far as that particular phototransistor is concerned. When an opaque timing mark is not passing by an additional phototransistor assigned to sense light passing through the document at that period, the data obtained is used to determine what the level of paper translucency is, an average paper level being stored for each cell that is subsequently compared with acquired data obtained between later arriving timing marks, the average being modified as required.

Abstract: A magnetic information carrier comprising two magnetic tracks. One track contains coded magnetic information and the other track is deposited in depressions formed in the carrier and filled with a magnetic liquid, for displaying some of the coded magnetic information of the first track.

Abstract: A tape and tape reader for industrial process programmable controller systems in which the I/O functions for process steps have been laid out in sequentially consecutive binary notation fashion computer data word form, in the order of sequence of the process steps, in accordance with which the tape is a ribbon that is delineated to have applied to same the computer data word indicia in modularized group or set form, in which groups or sets the computer data words for the consecutive process steps are sequentially arranged transversely of the tape, with succeeding groups or sets following in sequential order, wherein the computer data word indicia is manually marked on the tape binary notation system fashion, with electrically conductive marking material, and the reader is formed for pull through application of the tape therethrough and includes an electrical contact arrangement for electrically sensing the tape markings in consecutive word group or set form, with continuous manually induced movement of the ta

Abstract: A master card for use in a hectographic printing machine, comprises two layers of snythetic plastics material, having respective apertures therein which are aligned with each other to form a window, and a layer of carbon-receiving material between the synthetic plastics layers and closing the window. The card has an information-carrying zone including opaque areas into which holes can be punched to form transparent areas arranged in predetermined positions to provide information readable by light transmission, and a strip of magnetic material which is machine programmable by magnetization and machine readable.

Abstract: A method and device for identifying documents. A multiplicity of machine-readable markings which characteristically modify incident light by diffraction or refraction are applied to the documents, and selected markings are then cancelled out, the remaining markings representing coded information. The markings are of at least two different kinds causing different modification of incident light, and are arranged in a characteristic configuration on the documents. Information about said configuration is stored in an identification device to permit checking of the remaining markings.

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 batch reading system for automatically reading documents such as tags or tickets having data marked thereon in the form of human readable characters which are also automatically readable by suitable apparatus, the system being capable of feeding documents which are curled, wrinkled, bent, and otherwise deformed or mutilated. The documents are fed from an input hopper by first feed means, which may be a vacuum belt, from which they are fed to a second vacuum belt on whose underside the tags are held and fed past an underlying automatic reading device. The documents which are properly read are each stripped from the overlying vacuum belt by a flipper arm into a discharge chute, while other tickets are fed past the discharge chute to a reject stacker. To accurately laterally position the documents being fed, one of their longitudinal edges is pressed against a reference surface.

Abstract: Circuitry receives data information from a wand and decodes the same for duplicating a keyboard input to a display. The interface circuit includes a plurality of switches paralleling the keyboard input switches and generates autonomously a control signal indicative of a status of the display.

Abstract: The specification describes a label used for the codification of various articles such as files, tapes, cassettes, and the like. The labels are color-coded and each label bears to one side of its colored field a machine readable marking with a pair of visual readable indicium in the colored field. Each label is identifiable by color, by its machine readable marking, and by its visual indicium. When working with labels as described above, there is no need to provide additional labels to complete the code. The code on each article in the system is a unique one, so that each article is readily discernable from all other articles in the system by both visual and machine inspection.

Abstract: A data card wherein various data are recorded with a fluorescent material which emits infrared rays when excited by infrared rays is disclosed.The data card according to this invention has such merit that it is very effective for the preservation of secrecy and the prevention of forgery, that it is not affected by stains, that different information can be recorded thereon one over the other, and that it can be read by an extraordinarily compact reader.

Abstract: The identification of a mold in which a vessel made from an optically transparent material has been molded. The vessel is provided with a plurality of marks disposed about a path on the wall of the vessel. There is a first set of marks disposed above the path and a second set disposed below the path. One of the first or second sets contains code marks for providing an indication of the mold and the other set contains timing marks suitable for the sequential reading of the code marks. The marks are illuminated by a light path as the vessel is moved and the diffraction or reflection of the light caused by the marks is evaluated. Time impulses are generated in response to the evaluation of the timing marks for sequential reading of the code marks.

Abstract: An attendant-controlled terminal, operating under the control of a conventional microprocessor, monitors and controls remote fuel pumping units, combines fuel sale information with information concerning additional sales keyboarded by the attendant, accepts customer account information recorded on a credit card, verifies that the identified account is in good standing, and prints a credit card receipt for signature by the customer, the receipt being printed in an optically-readable format compatible with conventional automated invoice processing equipment.