Station document reader

Claim 2

A remote station document reader comprising: a housing including a reading area and an opening for receiving a coded document; a light source in said housing to illuminate the coded document inserted therein; a plurality of light responsive means positioned in said housing from said light source opposite the coded document inserted in said housing; a carriage movable in said housing from a home position to a second position having said light responsive means attached thereto; means for positioning the coded document inserted in said housing to be properly oriented between said light source and said light responsive means in the reading area; means for detecting when the coded document is properly oriented between said light source and said light responsive means in the reading area; and means for causing said carriage to traverse the reading area from its home position to its second position when the document is properly oriented, said light responsive means generating electrical signals when illuminated by light passing through the document from said light source.

Claim 3

A remote station document reader as set forth in Claim 1 including control means for sequencing the operation of said light source and said light responsive means with the orientation of the coded document in the reading area.

Claim 4

A remote station document reader as set forth in Claim 2 including a latch for holding the coded document in the reading area of said housing during the operation of said light responsive means.

Claim 5

A remote station document reader as set forth in Claim 1 including means for rejecting a document that is incorrectly inserted into said housing.

Claim 6

A remote station document reader as set forth in Claim 3 wherein said light responsive means are phototransistors.

Claim 7

A remote station document reader as set forth in Claim 5 wherein said orientation detecting means is a phototransistor.

Claim 8

A remote station reader for an identification badge having a punched hole code and a location aperture comprising: a housing having a reading area and an opening for receiving said coded identification badge; a light source positioned above the reading area to illuminate said area; a carriage movable in said housing from a home position to a second position and back to the home position; said carriage mounted below the reading area opposite said light source; a plurality of photodetectors attached to said carriage and movable therewith and responsive to light from said source; means for detecting when a badge has been fully inserted into the reading area of said housing through the opening; latch means responsive to a signal from said detecting means and including a latch arm for engaging the location aperture of said identification badge to hold said badge in the reading area; and drive means coupled to said carriage to activate said carriage to traverse the reading area from its home position to its second position after the identification badge has been latched in a reading position, said photodetectors attached to said carriage generating electrical signals when illuminated by light passing through the punched hole code on said identification badge from said light source.

Claim 9

A remote station reader for an identification badge having a punched hole code and a location aperture comprising: a housing having a reading area and an opening for receiving said coded identification badge; a light source positioned above the reading area to illuminate said area; a carriage movable in said housing from a home position to a second position and back to the home position; said carriage mounted below the reading area opposite said light source; a plurality of photodetectors attached to said carriage and movable therewith and responsive to light from said source; means for detecting when a badge has been fully inserted into the reading area of said housing through the opening; latch means responsive to a signal from said detecting means and including a latch arm for engaging the location aperture of said identification badge to hold said badge in the reading area; and drive means coupled to said carriage to activate said carriage to traverse the reading area from its home position to its second position after the identification badge has been latched in a reading position, said photodetectors attached to said carriage generating electrical signals when illuminated by light passing through the punched hole code on said identification badge from said light source.

Claim 10

A remote station identification badge reader as set forth in claim 7 including means for detecting when the latch arm of said latch means has fully engaged the location aperture of said identification badge.

Claim 11

A remote station identification badge reader as set forth in claim 8 including an electronic control circuit responsive to a signal from said detecting means to generate a signal to energize said latch means, and a second control circuit responsive to a signal from said latch arm detecting means to energize said drive means.

Claim 12

A remote station identification badge reader as set forth in claim 9 wherein said drive means includes an electric motor and a flexible belt for coupling said motor to said carriage.

Claim 13

A remote station identification badge reader as set forth in claim 10 including a first microswitch actuated when said carriage reaches its second position to change the direction of rotation of said electric motor, and a second microswitch actuated when said carriage returns to its home position to deenergize said electric motor.

Claim 14

A remote station card/badge reader for a punched hole coded card and an identification badge having a punched hole code and a location aperture comprising: a housing having a card reading area and a badge reading area and including a first opening to the badge reading area and a second opening to the card reading area; a light source located above the reading areas for illuminating said card and badge reading areas; a carriage mounted below the card and badge reading areas in said housing and movable from a home position to a second position and back to the home position; a plurality of light responsive means attached to said carriage and movable therewith; a badge detecting means for generating a signal when an identification badge is inserted into the badge reading area; a badge latch responsive to a signal from said badge detecting means and including a latch arm for engaging the location aperture in said identification badge; a card orientation means for properly orienting a coded card inserted through the opening to the card reading area between said light source and said light responsive means; a card detecting means for generating a signal when a coded card is properly oriented between said light source and said light responsive means in the card reading area; and drive means for causing said carriage to traverse the card and badge reading areas from the home position to the second position and back to the home position, said light responsive means generating electrical signals when illuminated by light passing through the reading areas.

Claim 15

A remote station card/badge reader for a punched hole coded card and an identification badge having a punched hole code and a location aperture comprising: a housing having a card reading area and a badge reading area and including a first opening to the badge reading area and a second opening to the card reading area; a light source located above the reading areas for illuminating said card and badge reading areas; a carriage mounted below the card and badge reading areas in said housing and movable from a home position to a second position and back to the home position; a plurality of light responsive means attached to said carriage and movable therewith; a badge detecting means for generating a signal when an identification badge is inserted into the badge reading area; a badge latch responsive to a signal from said badge detecting means and including a latch arm for engaging the location aperture in said identification badge; a card orientation means for properly orienting a coded card inserted through the opening to the card reading area between said light source and said light responsive means; a card detecting means for generating a signal when a coded card is properly oriented between said light source and said light responsive means in the card reading area; and drive means for causing said carriage to traverse the card and badge reading areas from the home position to the second position and back to the home position, said light responsive means generating electrical signals when illuminated by light passing through the reading areas.

Claim 16

A remote station card/badge reader as set forth in claim 12 wherein said badge latch includes means for detecting when the latch arm has engaged the location aperture of an identification badge.

Claim 17

A remote station card/badge reader as set forth in claim 13 wherein said card detecting means includes a first photodetector for generating a signal when a card is fully inserted into the card reading area and a second photodetector for generating a signal when a card has been improperly inserted into said reading area.

Claim 18

A remote station card/badge reader as set forth in claim 14 wherein said card orientation means includes an electric motor coupled to a drive wheel in engagement with a coded card in the card reading area.

Claim 19

A remote station card/badge reader as set forth in claim 15 further including: a first control means and generating a signal to energize said badge latch; a second control circuit responsive to a signal from said latch arm detecting means and generating a signal to energize said drive means when a badge has been properly inserted into the badge reading area; a third control circuit responsive to a signal from said second photodetector to generate a signal to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor coupled to said drive wheel to eject an improperly inserted card; and a fourth control circuit responsive to a signal from said first photodetector to generate a signal to said drive means when a card has been properly oriented into the card reading area.

Claim 20

A remote station card/badge reader as set forth in claim 12 wherein said light responsive means include a plurality of phototransistors.

Claim 21

A remote station card/badge reader as set forth in claim 17 including a clock track extending the length of said card and badge reading areas in alignment with one of said phototransistors.