EP0430679A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Depository apparatus for envelopes and single sheets
Assignee: NCR International Inc
•
Filing: 1990-11-29
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2010-11-29
Abstract
Abstract A depository apparatus includes a common entry slot (14) for receiving both envelopes and single sheets, such as cheques, and thickness sensing means (216) for providing an output indicative of whether a deposit item is an envelope or a sheet. Transport means (38) transports deposit items along a common feed path to a printer (42) for printing data on envelopes and sheets, and to a read head (40) for reading data from sheets. Sheet alignment means are included in the common feed path and are operable to bring about alignment of a sheet relative to the read head (40) by moving the sheet into engagement with reference means (170). Operation of the transport means (38) is interrupted during operation of the alignment means. Envelopes are fed directly into a first container (146). After reading of data from a sheet, operation of the transport means (38) is reversed to feed the sheet into a selected one of two further containers (138, 140).
Inventors
- 👤 James David Swinton
- 👤 Gordon Burke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:48
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D11/00; G07D11/009; G07D11/0096; B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/58; E; E05; E05G; E05G7/00; E05G7/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A depository apparatus including a common entry aperture (14) for receiving both envelopes and sheets, and thickness sensing means (216) for providing an output indicative of whether a deposit item received by said depository apparatus through said entry aperture is an envelope or a sheet, characterized by transport means (38) for transporting deposit items from said entry aperture (14) along a common feed path to print means (42) for printing data on deposit items and to read means (40) for reading data from deposit items which are sheets, sheet alignment means (196) located in said common feed path and operable to bring about alignment of deposit items which are sheets in relation to said read means (40), and control means (228) responsive to the output of said sensing means (216) for controlling the operation of said transport means (38) and said alignment means such that, prior to a deposit item which is a sheet reaching said read means, said alignment means is operated to move this item into engagement with reference means (170) while the operation of said transport means is interrupted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A depository apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said read means (40) is movable between a first position in which said read means is operable to read data from a deposit item which is a sheet and a second position spaced from said feed path to permit the passage of a deposit item which is an envelope past said read means, said read means (40) being arranged to be moved to said second position in response to the sensing by said sensing means (216) of the entry of an envelope into said entry aperture (14).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A depository apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said read means (40) includes roller means (110) arranged to be in rolling contact with a deposit item during the reading of data from this item.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
161 words
A depository apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by diverter means (92) located in said common feed path and settable to a first position or a second position in response to the output of said read means (40), said control means (228) being arranged to control operation of said transport means (38) such that, if a deposit item is an envelope, this deposit item is transported by said transport means to first collecting means (146), and such that, if a deposit item is a sheet, the operation of said transport means (38) is reversed so as to drive this deposit item back along said common feed path to said diverter means (92) from where this deposit item is fed back to said entry aperture (14) if said diverter means is in said first position, or is diverted from said common feed path to second collection means (138, 140) if said diverter means is in said second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
A depository apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said second collection means includes a first container (138) and a second container (140), and in that there is provided further diverter means (122) settable to a first position or to a second position, a deposit item diverted towards said second collection means (138, 140) being fed to said first container (138) if said further diverter means is set to its said first position, and being fed to said second container (140) if said further diverter means is set to its said second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A depository apparatus according to either claim 4 or claim 5, characterized by further print means (145) arranged to print data on a surface of a deposit item diverted towards said second collection means (138, 140), said surface being opposite the surface of this item on which data is printed by the said print means (42) positioned in said common feed path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
A depository apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said transport means (38) includes first feed means (44, 46) and second feed means (50) arranged in cooperative relationship with respect to each other whereby, in operation, a deposit item is gripped between, and fed by, said first and second feed means, and in that there is provided actuation means (154, 156, 158) operable under the control of said control means (228) to move said second feed means (50) away from said first feed means (44, 46) prior to operation of said alignment means (196).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A depository apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that said alignment means (196) is arranged to carry a sheet into engagement with said reference means (170), in a direction transverse to said feed path, while said second feed means (50) is in a position spaced from said first feed means (44, 46)
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
A depository apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that said alignment means is formed by rotatably mounted friction means (196) arranged to rotate under the control of said control means (228), said friction means (196) having a configuration such that, during part only of one revolution of said friction means, said friction means engage with a sheet for the purpose of carrying the sheet into engagement with said reference means (170).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
A depository apparatus according to any one of claim 7 to 9, characterized in that said first feed means (44,46) is positioned below said second feed means (50), and in that said reference means is formed by plate means (170) movable under the control of said control means (228) between first and second positions in which said plate means projects and does not project, respectively, above said first feed means (44, 46), said plate means being arranged to project above said first feed means during operation of said alignment means (196)
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.