Abstract: A magnetic head for reading or writing information magnetically encoded on a substrate is disclosed. Included in the head are a magnetic core and a boron carbide contact surface which the substrate rubs against during reading or writing. The boron carbide contact surface is electrically conductive and is resistent to wear. Grounding of the conductive boron carbide contact surface avoids static electric charge build up on the contact surface caused by rubbing of the substrate against the magnetic head.

Abstract: A modular-head endorser includes a plurality of mateable modules which form an ink jet printer. These modules cooperate to expel drops of printing fluid, direct them to a printing surface, and recirculate excess drops to a fluid supply. Some of the modules are joined together without tools so the user of the invention can quickly and easily clean, replace, and assemble certain modules without additional assistance.

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: 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: A drive system for processing passbook data includes a bi-directional stepper motor responsive to programmed input signals, cam sets rotated by the stepper motor for initiating data sensing, document positioning, and data transfer operations, and cam followers actuated by the contour of their associated rotating cam sets for moving their reacting components to perform those operations. Appropriate cam followers cause a pressure plate and sensor to move toward and sense coded data on a document, a gate to open and close to position the document for further processing, and a print platen to advance toward the document, provide a backing during data transfer, and then retract.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for reducing the number of undetected errors serially read along the length of a magnetic stripe containing binary information. The magnetic stripe is adhesively attached to a plastic card. A serial self-clocking data stream is developed from a manual magnetic stripe encoded card reader. The data stream comprises clock and data signals including a start signal, an end signal and a summation signal. A four-stage down counter counts a predetermined number of clock signals which occur in a predetermined portion of the stripe after the occurrence of the summation signal. State machine control circuitry delays the detection of the data signals occurring after the end signal for a predetermined time to prevent the detection of the summation signal. Control circuitry controls the down counter and provides a finish signal after the down counter has counted off the number of clock signals in the predetermined portion of the stripe.

Abstract: An amplifying device operative to sense changes in the speed of an encoded card as it is being read so as to be able to adjust the reading rate to compensateably follow said changes. The amplifying device is also able to differentially peak sense pulses read thereby disallowing noise transients.

Abstract: A digital rate compensator for accommodating a wide dynamic range of data speeds derived from a encoded card reader thereby allowing downstream logic to compensatably follow said derived data. The digital rate compensator additionally includes a start message check for conclusive determinations of beginning of card reads.