Patents by Inventor Laird Campbell

Laird Campbell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6042285
    Abstract: An airline ticket printer includes a magnetic reading and writing station that has a read/write head for recording information on, or reproducing information from, a magnetic stripe carried on the ticket. The ticket is driven past the read/write head by a drive mechanism that contacts the ticket at a substantial distance from the read/write head so that the magnetic stripe is free to flex independently of the portion of the ticket that is in contact with the drive mechanism. More satisfactory contact between the read/write head and the magnetic stripe is thereby achieved.The ticket printer also has a second reading/writing station in series with the first station along a ticket feed path, so that errors in reading or writing by the first station may be detected and/or corrected at the second station.A ticket feed path is constructed using feed modules that are mounted on pins extending from a vertical mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: SCI Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Faes, Alfred L. Fulton, Martin J. Hnetynka, Laird Campbell, David Preston, Michael Missios, Scott D. Sampson
  • Patent number: 5818022
    Abstract: An airline ticket printer includes a magnetic reading and writing station that has a read/write head for recording information on, or reproducing information from, a magnetic stripe carried on the ticket. The ticket is driven past the read/write head by a drive mechanism that contacts the ticket at a substantial distance from the read/write head so that the magnetic stripe is free to flex independently of the portion of the ticket that is in contact with the drive mechanism. More satisfactory contact between the read/write head and the magnetic stripe is thereby achieved. The ticket printer also has a second reading/writing station in series with the first station along a ticket feed path, so that errors in reading or writing by the first station may be detected and/or corrected at the second station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: SCI Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Faes, Alfred L. Fulton, Martin J. Hnetynka, Laird Campbell, David Preston, Michael Missios, Scott D. Sampson
  • Patent number: 5692845
    Abstract: An airline ticket printer includes a magnetic reading and writing station that has a read/write head for recording information on, or reproducing information from, a magnetic stripe carried on the ticket. The ticket is driven past the read/write head by a drive mechanism that contacts the ticket at a substantial distance from the read/write head so that the magnetic stripe is free to flex independently of the portion of the ticket that is in contact with the drive mechanism. More satisfactory contact between the read/write head and the magnetic stripe is thereby achieved. The ticket printer also has a second reading/writing station in series with the first station along a ticket feed path, so that errors in reading or writing by the first station may be detected and/or corrected at the second station. A ticket feed path is constructed using feed modules that are mounted on pins extending from a vertical mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: SCI Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Faes, Alfred L. Fulton, Martin J. Hnetynka, Laird Campbell, David Preston, Michael Missios, Scott D. Sampson
  • Patent number: 5684285
    Abstract: An airline ticket printer includes a magnetic reading and writing station that has a read/write head for recording information on, or reproducing information from, a magnetic stripe carried on the ticket. The ticket is driven past the read/write head by a drive mechanism. The ticket printer also has a second reading/writing station in series with the first station along a ticket feed path, so that errors in reading or writing by the first station may be detected and/or corrected at the second station. Tickets are pre-staged from a ticket storage bin to a staging point to reduce print-cycle time. Ticket errors can be corrected and changes can be made by re-inserting the old ticket into the machine, reading the information that had been magnetically recorded on the old ticket and either printing a new ticket or over-printing the old ticket. If a new ticket is printed, the old ticket is deposited in a safe receptacle inside the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: SCI Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Faes, Alfred L. Fulton, Martin J. Hnetynka, Laird Campbell, David Preston, Scott D. Sampson
  • Patent number: 5664073
    Abstract: An airline ticket printer includes a magnetic reading and writing station that has a read/write head for recording information on, or reproducing information from, a magnetic stripe carried on the ticket. The ticket is driven past the read/write head by a drive mechanism that contacts the ticket at a substantial distance from the read/write head so that the magnetic stripe is free to flex independently of the portion of the ticket that is in contact with the drive mechanism. More satisfactory contact between the read/write head and the magnetic stripe is thereby achieved.The printer's control system includes a printer electronics board and one or more single-slot PC/AT (ISA bus) microcomputers that are plugged into respective slots of a mother board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: SCI Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Faes, Alfred L. Fulton, Martin J. Hnetynka, Laird Campbell, David Preston, Michael Missios, Scott D. Sampson
  • Patent number: 5599117
    Abstract: An airline ticket printer includes a magnetic reading and writing station that has a read/write head for recording information on, or reproducing information from, a magnetic stripe carried on a ticket. The printer also includes a printing station located after the magnetic read/write head. A plurality of separate storage bins are provided for storing different ticket blanks; each bin has its own feed device. The ticket blanks are prefed from the storage bins along separate guide paths to separate staging areas prior to these paths joining to form a common path. The magnetic read/write head and the printer are located along this common path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Sci Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Faes, Alfred L. Fulton, Martin J. Hnetynka, Laird Campbell, David Preston, Michael Missios, Scott D. Sampson
  • Patent number: 5309176
    Abstract: An airline ticket printer includes a thermal printer engine with a platen and a print head. A gap is maintained between the platen and the print head except when a ticket is present for printing. A ticket is fed toward the gap and the feeding of the ticket is sensed. At a timed interval after sensing the feeding of the ticket, the print head is moved toward the platen by a stepper motor so that the ticket is engaged between the print head and the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: SCI Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Faes, Alfred L. Fulton, Martin J. Hnetynka, Laird Campbell, David Preston, Michael Missios, Scott D. Sampson
  • Patent number: 4982337
    Abstract: A system and method for distributing lottery tickets includes a large number of remote, ticket-dispensing units which are connected intermittently, e.g., once each day or week to a central computer. The units record the numbers of tickets sold and transmit the sales data to the central computer, which in turn performs all the necessary accounting functions. Sales reports and invoice data may be sent by the central computer to each unit for printing, which avoids the need to mail the reports/invoices. The tickets are stored in fan-fold form and are burst, rather than cut, apart for dispensing. The tickets are dispensed at one end of the unit which faces the customer. A control panel for the vendor is located at the opposite end. Tickets of different length may be dispensed with an imprint of the vendor's name.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Inventors: Robert L. Burr, Laird A. Campbell, Donald H. Keagle, Alfred L. Fulton