Scan control apparatus for validation device

Claim 2

In a validation device adapted to perform an authentication test on a test document by scanning at least a predetermined portion thereof, the improvement comprising: document carrier means for moving the test document from a first position to a test position, the document carrier being held stationary in the test position during the authentication test; scanning means movable between a first position and a second position in a first plane; cam follower means operatively associated with the scanning means; drive means adapted to cause the scanning means to move from its first to its second position in a predetermined manner to scan at least a predetermined portion of the test document at a predetermined uniform rate; first cam means operatively associated with the document carrier means and adapted to coact with the cam follower means, whereby the scanning means is normally maintained in its first position and is permitted to move from its first to its second position after the document carrier means reaches its test position; means adapted to urge the document carrier means toward its first position; and second cam means adapted to coact with the cam follower means, whereby movement of the document carrier means from its test position toward its first position causes the scanning means to move from its second position toward its first position.

Claim 3

An improvement, as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising means for rendering a test document inaccessible to an operator when the document is disposed on the document carrier means and the document carrier means is moved toward its second position.

Claim 4

An improvement, as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising control means for controlling the rate at which the drive means causes the scanning means to move from its first to its second position in the first plane.

Claim 5

An improvement, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the drive means comprises a spring and wherein the control means comprises a dashpot operatively associated with the scanning means for controlling the rate of movement thereof between its first and second positions in the first plane responsive to the urging of the spring.

Claim 6

In a validation device adapted to perform an authentication test on a test document by scanning at least a predetermined portion thereof, the improvement comprising: document carrier means for moving the test document from a first position to a second position; scanning means movable between a first position and a second position in a First plane and between the first plane and a second plane; cam follower means operatively associated with the scanning means; drive means adapted to cause the scanning means to move from its first to its second position in a predetermined manner; first cam means operatively associated with the document carrier means and adapted to coact with the cam follower means, whereby the scanning means is normally maintained in its first position and is permitted to move from its first to its second position after the document carrier means reaches its second position; means adapted to urge the document carrier means toward its first position; second cam means adapted to coact with the cam follower means, whereby movement of the document carrier means from its second position towards its first position causes the scanning means to move from its second position toward its first position; means normally urging the scanning means toward the first plane and away from the second plane; third cam means adapted to normally maintain the scanning means in the second plane and, responsive to movement of the document carrier means from its first position toward its second position, to permit the scanning means to move from the second plane to the first plane; and fourth cam means responsive to movement of the document carrier means from its second position toward its first position for causing the scanning means to move from the first plane to the second plane.

Claim 7

In a validation device adapted to perform an authentication test on a test document by scanning at least a predetermined portion thereof, the improvement comprising: document carrier means for moving the test document from a first position to a second position; scanning means movable between a first position and a second position in a First plane and between the first plane and a second plane; cam follower means operatively associated with the scanning means; drive means adapted to cause the scanning means to move from its first to its second position in a predetermined manner; first cam means operatively associated with the document carrier means and adapted to coact with the cam follower means, whereby the scanning means is normally maintained in its first position and is permitted to move from its first to its second position after the document carrier means reaches its second position; means adapted to urge the document carrier means toward its first position; second cam means adapted to coact with the cam follower means, whereby movement of the document carrier means from its second position towards its first position causes the scanning means to move from its second position toward its first position; means normally urging the scanning means toward the first plane and away from the second plane; third cam means adapted to normally maintain the scanning means in the second plane and, responsive to movement of the document carrier means from its first position toward its second position, to permit the scanning means to move from the second plane to the first plane; and fourth cam means responsive to movement of the document carrier means from its second position toward its first position for causing the scanning means to move from the first plane to the second plane.

Claim 8

An improvement, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the scanning means is movable from the first plane to the second plane along an arcuate path, the scanning means being movable from its first position to its second position in the first plane along a linear path.

Claim 9

An improvement, as claimed in claim 5, and further comprising means for preventing the scanning means from moving to a position beyond the second plane when the scanning means is moved from the first plane toward the second plane by the fourth cam means.

Claim 10

An improvement, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cam follower means includes side and end surfaces on a lever movable with the scanning means, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth cam means comprise respective surfaces of a unitary cam assembly operatively associated with the document carrier means.

Claim 11

An improvement, as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first cam means is defined by a plane generally parallel to the direction of movement of the document carrier means, the second cam means is defined by a plane which is generally skewed with respect to the direction of travel of the document carrier means, and the third and fourth cam means are defined by planes generally perpendicular to the plane of the first cam means and are located adjacent opposite ends of the first cam means.

Claim 12

In a validation device adapted to perform an authentication test on a test document by scanning at least a predetermined portion thereof, the improvement comprising: scanning means movable between a first position and a second position; a movable bracket; a slot located in the movable bracket, said slot having a first side and a second side; a drive member extending through the slot, said drive member being operatively connected to the scanning means; a resilient lever arm having first and second ends, said lever arm operatively connected adjacent its first end to the bracket and positioned adjacent its second end in contact with the drive member, whereby the bracket is biased so that the first side of the slot is positioned adjacent the drive member when the scanning means is at rest, and whereby the bracket is moved so that the second side of the slot is positioned adjacent the drive member when the scanning means is being moved from its first to its second position; and a switch contact positioned adjacent the resilient lever arm and operated by the movement of the lever arm as the drive member moves from its position adjacent thE first side of the slot to its position adjacent the second side of the slot, whereby the validation device is enabled to perform an authentication test only while the scanning means is moving from its first position to its second position.

Claim 13

In a validation device adapted to perform an authentication test on a test document by scanning at least a predetermined portion thereof, the improvement comprising: scanning means movable between a first position and a second position; a movable bracket; a slot located in the movable bracket, said slot having a first side and a second side; a drive member extending through the slot, said drive member being operatively connected to the scanning means; a resilient lever arm having first and second ends, said lever arm operatively connected adjacent its first end to the bracket and positioned adjacent its second end in contact with the drive member, whereby the bracket is biased so that the first side of the slot is positioned adjacent the drive member when the scanning means is at rest, and whereby the bracket is moved so that the second side of the slot is positioned adjacent the drive member when the scanning means is being moved from its first to its second position; and a switch contact positioned adjacent the resilient lever arm and operated by the movement of the lever arm as the drive member moves from its position adjacent thE first side of the slot to its position adjacent the second side of the slot, whereby the validation device is enabled to perform an authentication test only while the scanning means is moving from its first position to its second position.

Claim 14

In a validation device adapted to perform an authentication test on a test document submitted by an operator, the improvement comprising: document carrier means adapted to move the test document from a first position to a second position responsive to operator activation; detent means carried by the document carrier means and having an engaged position and a disengaged position; releasable latch means carried by the document carrier means, whereby the detent means is normally held in its engaged position; movable mass means positioned in the operating path of the detent means, whereby the detent means is moved from its engaged to its disengaged position by contact with the mass means when the document carrier means is moved from its first toward its second position at a speed exceeding a predetermined rate; and switch means adapted to prevent the completion of an authentication test when the latch means is moved to its disengaged position by contact with the mass means.

Claim 15

In a validation device adapted to perform an authentication test on a test document submitted by an operator, the improvement comprising: document carrier means adapted to move the test document from a first position to a second position responsive to operator activation; detent means carried by the document carrier means and having an engaged position and a disengaged position; releasable latch means carried by the document carrier means, whereby the detent means is normally held in its engaged position; movable mass means positioned in the operating path of the detent means, whereby the detent means is moved from its engaged to its disengaged position by contact with the mass means when the document carrier means is moved from its first toward its second position at a speed exceeding a predetermined rate; and switch means adapted to prevent the completion of an authentication test when the latch means is moved to its disengaged position by contact with the mass means.

Claim 16

An improvement, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the switch means is positioned so that the validation device is enabled to perform an authentication test when the detent means remains in its engaged position after said detent means has come in contact with the movable mass means in response to the movement of the document carrier means from its first toward its second position.

Claim 17

An improvement, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the releasable latch means comprises a permanent magnet, and the detent means comprises a ferromagnetic material.

Claim 18

In a validation device adapted to perform an authentication test on a test document received from an operator by scanning at least a predetermined portion thereof, the improvement comprising: document carrier means for moving the test document from a first position to a second position responsive to operator actuation; scanning means movable between a first position and a second position; cam follower means operatively associated with the scanning means; drive means adapted to cause the scanning means to move from its first to its second position in a predetermined manner; first cam means adapted to coact with the cam follower means, whereby the scanning means is normally maintained in its first position and is permitted to move from its first to its second position after the carrier means reaches its second position; means normally urging the carrier means toward its first position; second cam means adapted to coact with the cam follower means, whereby movement of the carrier means from its second toward its first position causes the scanning means to move from its second toward its first position; first switch means operatively associated with the scanning means, whereby the validation device is enabled to perform an authentication test only while the scanning means is moving from its first position to its second position; detent means carried by the document carrier means and having an engaged position and a disengaged position; releasable latch means carried by the document carrier means, whereby the detent means is normally held in its engaged position; movable mass means positioned in the operating path of the detent means, whereby the detent means is moved from its engaged to its disengaged position by contact with the mass means when the document carrier means is moved from its first toward its second position at a speed exceeding a predetermined rate; and second switch means adapted to prevent the completion of an authentication test when the latch means is moved to its disengaged position by contact with the mass means.

Claim 19

In a validation device adapted to perform an authentication test on a test document received from an operator by scanning at least a predetermined portion thereof, the improvement comprising: document carrier means for moving the test document from a first position to a second position responsive to operator actuation; scanning means movable between a first position and a second position; cam follower means operatively associated with the scanning means; drive means adapted to cause the scanning means to move from its first to its second position in a predetermined manner; first cam means adapted to coact with the cam follower means, whereby the scanning means is normally maintained in its first position and is permitted to move from its first to its second position after the carrier means reaches its second position; means normally urging the carrier means toward its first position; second cam means adapted to coact with the cam follower means, whereby movement of the carrier means from its second toward its first position causes the scanning means to move from its second toward its first position; first switch means operatively associated with the scanning means, whereby the validation device is enabled to perform an authentication test only while the scanning means is moving from its first position to its second position; detent means carried by the document carrier means and having an engaged position and a disengaged position; releasable latch means carried by the document carrier means, whereby the detent means is normally held in its engaged position; movable mass means positioned in the operating path of the detent means, whereby the detent means is moved from its engaged to its disengaged position by contact with the mass means when the document carrier means is moved from its first toward its second position at a speed exceeding a predetermined rate; and second switch means adapted to prevent the completion of an authentication test when the latch means is moved to its disengaged position by contact with the mass means.

Claim 20

An improvement, as claimed in claim 14 wherein the first switch meaNs comprises: a switch contact normally biased in a first position, said switch contact also being movable to a second position; a resilient switch lever operatively associated with the switch contact, whereby the switch contact is moved from its first to its second position in response to movement of the switch lever from its first to its second position; and a drive member operatively connected to the scanning means and positioned adjacent the resilient switch lever, whereby the resilient switch lever is moved from its first to its second position when the scanning means is moving from its first position to its second position.

Claim 21

In a validation device adapted to perform an authentication test on a test document by scanning at least a predetermined portion thereof, the improvement comprising: document carrier means for moving the test document from a first position to a test position said document carrier being held stationary in said test position during the authentication test; scanning means movable between a first position and a second position; drive means being actuated upon said document carrier means reaching its test position as a result of movement from its first position, said drive means causing said scanning means to move from its first to its second position in a predetermined manner to scan at least a predetermined portion of the test document at a predetermined uniform rate; means urging said document carrier means from its test position toward its first position; and means causing said scanning means to move from its second position toward its first position upon movement of said document carrier means from its test position toward its first position.

Claim 22

In a validation device adapted to perform an authentication test on a test document by scanning at least a predetermined portion thereof, the improvement comprising: document carrier means for moving the test document from a first position to a test position said document carrier being held stationary in said test position during the authentication test; scanning means movable between a first position and a second position; drive means being actuated upon said document carrier means reaching its test position as a result of movement from its first position, said drive means causing said scanning means to move from its first to its second position in a predetermined manner to scan at least a predetermined portion of the test document at a predetermined uniform rate; means urging said document carrier means from its test position toward its first position; and means causing said scanning means to move from its second position toward its first position upon movement of said document carrier means from its test position toward its first position.

Claim 23

An improvement, as claimed in claim 16, and further comprising switch means operatively associated with the scanning means, whereby the validation device is enabled to perform an authentication test only while the scanning means is moving from its first position to its second position.

Claim 24

An improvement, as claimed in claim 17, wherein the switch means comprises: a switch lever normally biased in a first position, said switch lever also being movable to a second position; a movable switch contact positioned adjacent the switch lever, whereby the switch contact is operated when the switch lever is moved between its first and second positions; and a drive member operatively connected to the scanning means and positioned adjacent the switch lever, whereby the switch lever is moved to its second position when the scanning means is moving from its first position to its second position, and the switch lever is thereafter returned to its first position.