US3555246A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Document reading apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1967-03-13
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1987-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A document reading device for reading a selected line of characters or coded information provided on a document such as a card or sheet of paper. Documents are individually fed to the upper surface of a platform and are driven in a first direction therealong by controlled roller means until a selected line of characters becomes aligned with a scanner which is operative thereafter to scan lateral to said first direction. The means for controlling the driving means includes a detection means for detecting the leading edge of the document or a mark which is predeterminately printed on the document with respect to the line of the document to be scanned and read. The apparatus includes adjustable means for the detecting means or delay means for the output signal thereof which is adjustable in time so as to provide means for stopping the document at different locations along the upper surface of said platform so as to bring a selected lateral line of characters into alignment with the reading scanner. The detecting means may also be operative to scan marks or edge notches in the document aligned with each line of characters or recording area therefore so as to permit the immediate reading of any selected line of the document. In addition to providing means for predeterminately stopping and locating documents with respect to a scanning device for reading selected recording areas of a document, the detecting means is also operative to directly or indirectly control scanning of said selected recording area.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome H Lemelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 02:27
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/01; G06K7/015; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/10; G06V10/12; G06V10/20; G06V10/24; G06V10/88
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
342 words
Apparatus for reading documents having a plurality of parallel lines of recorded information disposed adjacent each other along substantially predetermined band areas of said documents, said apparatus comprising: a. a base including a surface for prepositioning documents individually on said base; b. means for guiding individual documentS in a first direction across said surface substantially normal to the parallel lines of information of said documents; c. receiving means for receiving individual documents and guiding said documents to said first direction guiding means; d. first drive means including a motor for power driving each document received by said receiving means in said first direction across said surface of said base; e. scanning means supported by said base for reading individual lines of a document and transducing the information read into electrical signals; f. means for guiding said scanning means in a second path substantially normal to said first direction to permit said scanning means to scan individual lines of information on a document; g. first control means for controlling operation of said first drive means to preposition and stop a document so that said document is predeterminately located on said surface; h. adjustable control means for varying the operation of said first control means whereby a document may be variably located stopped on said surface so as to selectively position any line of recorded information in alignment with said second path of travel of said scanning means; i. second drive means for driving said scanning means along said second path; j. second control means for controlling operation of said second drive means; k. means for operating said second control means when a document is predeterminately located and stopped on said surface to cause operation of said second drive means to urge movement of said means MEANS across a document and to cause it to scan a selected line of said document; and l. means operative after completion of scanning a line of a document by said scanning means to cause said first drive means to effect movement of said document off said base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
342 words
Apparatus for reading documents having a plurality of parallel lines of recorded information disposed adjacent each other along substantially predetermined band areas of said documents, said apparatus comprising: a. a base including a surface for prepositioning documents individually on said base; b. means for guiding individual documentS in a first direction across said surface substantially normal to the parallel lines of information of said documents; c. receiving means for receiving individual documents and guiding said documents to said first direction guiding means; d. first drive means including a motor for power driving each document received by said receiving means in said first direction across said surface of said base; e. scanning means supported by said base for reading individual lines of a document and transducing the information read into electrical signals; f. means for guiding said scanning means in a second path substantially normal to said first direction to permit said scanning means to scan individual lines of information on a document; g. first control means for controlling operation of said first drive means to preposition and stop a document so that said document is predeterminately located on said surface; h. adjustable control means for varying the operation of said first control means whereby a document may be variably located stopped on said surface so as to selectively position any line of recorded information in alignment with said second path of travel of said scanning means; i. second drive means for driving said scanning means along said second path; j. second control means for controlling operation of said second drive means; k. means for operating said second control means when a document is predeterminately located and stopped on said surface to cause operation of said second drive means to urge movement of said means MEANS across a document and to cause it to scan a selected line of said document; and l. means operative after completion of scanning a line of a document by said scanning means to cause said first drive means to effect movement of said document off said base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said adjustable control means including means for sensing a selected portion of a document as it moves across said surface and for generating a control signal upon sensing said selected document portion, said sensing means being operatively connected to said means for controlling said first drive means and operative to effect stoppage of said first drive means to predeterminately locate a document on said surface with a selected line thereof aligned with said scanning means, said sensing means being also operatively connected to said control means for said second drive means for initiating operation thereof upon sensing said selected portion of a document.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including further control means interlocked to the operation of said reading means for operating said power means to drive a document from said base after a line of information is read.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 whereby said sensing means comprises scanning means adjustably positionable along said base and operative to detect a locating mark on each document as it moves across said surface, said scanning means being operatively connected to said control means for stopping said first drive means when a document has reached a selected position on said surface whereby said document is stopped with a selected line of information recorded on said document being aligned with said scanning means and means operative upon the selective positioning of a document on said surface for causing said reading means to initiate scanning said selected line of information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 whereby said sensing means comprises scanning means adjustably positionable along said base and operative to detect a predetermined portion of each document as it moves across said surface, said scanning means being operatively connected to said control means for stopping said first drive means when a document has reached a selected position on said surface whereby said document is stopped with a selected line of information recorded on said document being aligned with said reading means and means operatiVe upon the selective positioning of a document on said surface for causing said reading means to initiate scanning said selected line of information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 whereby said sensing means comprises a photoelectric cell and control for generating a pulse upon detecting a document, and means for feeding said pulse to said control for said first drive means to effect stoppage of a document in a predetermined location on said base.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
220 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said third control means includes a predeterminately located detection means for detecting a predetermined portion of a document, said detection means being operative to generate a control pulse upon detecting a document, a carriage, reading means being supported by said carriage, guide means for said carriage supported by said base, reversible drive means for said carriage operative to move said carriage along said guide means selectively in both directions during the act of reading information, said control means for said power means comprising first control means for initiating operation of said carriage drive means, second control means for reversing the direction of said drive means when said carriage has finished scanning a band area and has reached the end of its travel along said guide means and third control means for said drive means operative to stop said carriage at a home position, said first control means being operatively connected to said detection means whereby scanning is initiated when a document is predeterminately located on said base, said second control means comprising limit switch means operative to generate a pulse when said carriage reaches the end of its travel along said guide means, said third control means comprising limit switch means operative to stop said carriage when it has returned to home position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
Document reading apparatus in accordance with claim 1, whereby said sensing means comprises a photoelectric detector operative to generate a control signal upon detecting the leading edge of a document, means for applying said control signal to stop said first drive means with a selected line of the document aligned with said scanning means and starting said second drive means to cause said scanning means to scan said selected line of said document.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, said sensing means being operative to sense the presence of individual lines of characters of a document, said apparatus including means connected to said sensing means for generating a control signal when said sensing means fails to sense a line of characters of a document, and means for applying said control signals to effect the stoppage of said first drive means to stop said document with the last line thereof aligned with said scanning means and to initiate operation of said second drive means whereby said scanning means scans said last line of said document.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said sensing means being operative to scan the leading edge of a document, means for adjustably locating said sensing means longitudinally on said base whereby the control signals generated by said sensing means may be operative to stop said document at different locations along said surface with different lines of the document aligned with said scanning means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |