Abstract: A highly efficient in-line fluid heater is suitable for heating ultra-pure fluids. Preferably, the heater can be used for heating various fluids, including water, as part of a "wet bench" system used in a wafer processing fabrication facility for the semi-conductor industry. Many other uses for this in-line heater can be envisioned; e.g., water industry, gas processing, and any other use requiring an ultra-clean, highly efficient, non-contact method of raising the temperature of various liquids and gases. The preferred in-line heater utilizes one or more elongated lamps that generate IR radiation as the heating elements. A vessel is provided through which the fluid to be heated is passed. Typically, the vessel is a tube. The tube is preferably a straight single diameter tube, but can be formed in any convenient shape. For ultra-pure fluids, the vessel is formed of an inert or non-reactive material such as quartz. Preferably, the vessel is transparent to the IR radiation generated by the lamps.

Abstract: Optical reader apparatus for reading data on a data carrier. A housing defines a data carrier slot having an optical data window at a prearranged position. An optical reading means is mounted within the housing for reading data scanned past the optical data window. A door assembly is mounted in a hinged relation to the housing means opposite the optical read window. The door has closed and open positions and permits access to the optical data window in the open position. The door assembly carries a resilient pressure spring. The resilient pressure spring urges a data carrier passing through the data carrier slot into optical reading contact with the optical data window. The door assembly mounts the resilient spring member within a frame for easy removability. The resilient pressure spring carries an optical compensation member on a forward surface thereof so that the optical compensation member is presented to the optical data window when a data carrier is not present.

Abstract: A point of sale terminal having a reader assembly for reading a data card having data stored on at least one data track thereon. The terminal includes a housing defining a guide slot location for the data carrier and a transducer for detecting data stored on the data track. A removable guide element is mounted to the housing at the data carrier slot location. This guide element has at least a bottom wall portion defining a bottom guide surface of a guide slot for the data card and one major side wall portion defining one side guide surface of a guide slot. An access window is formed in the major side wall portion. A mounting arrangement mounts the transducer at a prearranged location within the access window for accurate detection of data stored on the data track as the data card is manually swiped through the guide slot.

Abstract: A point of sale terminal having a reader assembly for reading a data carrier having data stored on at least one data track thereon. The terminal includes a housing defining a guide slot location for the data carrier and a transducer for detecting data stored on the data track. A removable guide element is mounted to the housing at the data carrier slot location. This guide element has a read head bracket which is snap mounted thereto. A registration arrangement permits mounting of the read head bracket in two registered positions for determining which of multiple data tracks will be read by the transducer.

Abstract: A point of sale terminal having a reader assembly for reading a data card having data stored on at least one data track thereon. The terminal includes a housing defining a guide slot location for the data carrier and a transducer for detecting data stored on the data track. A removable guide element is mounted to the housing at the data carrier slot location. This guide element has at least a bottom wall portion defining a bottom guide surface of a guide for the data card and one major side wall portion defining one side guide surface of a guide slot. An access window is formed in the major side wall portion. A mounting arrangement mounts the transducer at a prearranged location within the access window for accurate detection of data stored on the data track as the data card is manually swiped through the guide slot.

Abstract: Electronic circuit apparatus in the form of a transaction terminal and including a removable circuit component in the form of a portable memory cartridge. The terminal has a housing with a wall defining an opening for inserting the removable circuit component. A switch is mounted within the housing means substantially in the vicinity of the opening and is connected between a source of electric power and the removable circuit component to control application of power to the removable circuit component. A carrier arrangement carries the removable circuit component between a connected position within the housing and a disconnected position for removal from the housing through the opening. The carrier including a switch actuator and a cooperative interlock means. The switch actuator operates the switch to be ON and simultaneously locks the carrier within the housing. The switch actuator also functions to turn the switch OFF and simultaneously unlock the carrier for removal from the housing.

Abstract: A data terminal having a card reader assembly for reading a data card having at least a pair of magnetic stripes formed thereon at adjacent ones of at least three defined magnetic data track locations thereon. The terminal includes a read head having two magnetic pickup elements on a front face thereof, the pickup elements being separated by a distance corresponding generally to the distance between the separated magnetic data track locations on the data card. A housing assembly defines a card guide slot adapted to guide a data card during a manual swipe of the card through the card reader assembly. The card guide slot comprises first and second opposite side wall sections and a bottom wall section with one of the side wall sections defining an access aperture for admiting the read head into the card guide slot.