US3731060A — Document storage and retrieval system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 155 words

Apparatus for selecting one or more of a plurality of continuously rotating documents wherein said documents are arranged in drum configuration such that first and second edges of said documents define first and second concentric cylindrical planes having a common axis, comprising: an optical sensing station or sensing optical patterns recorded on said documents and for providing distinct electrical representations of said optical patterns, each of said optical patterns identifying a particular one of said documents; means for enabling said optical sensing station to successively sense the optical pattern recorded on each of said documents as each said document rotates to said sensing station; comparison means coupled to said optical sensing station for comparing said electrical representations with a predetermined signal; and selecting means coupled to said comparison means for mechanically withdrawing a document from said drum configuration when the electrical representations of the optical pattern recorded on said document correspond to said predetermined signal.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 155 words

Apparatus for selecting one or more of a plurality of continuously rotating documents wherein said documents are arranged in drum configuration such that first and second edges of said documents define first and second concentric cylindrical planes having a common axis, comprising: an optical sensing station or sensing optical patterns recorded on said documents and for providing distinct electrical representations of said optical patterns, each of said optical patterns identifying a particular one of said documents; means for enabling said optical sensing station to successively sense the optical pattern recorded on each of said documents as each said document rotates to said sensing station; comparison means coupled to said optical sensing station for comparing said electrical representations with a predetermined signal; and selecting means coupled to said comparison means for mechanically withdrawing a document from said drum configuration when the electrical representations of the optical pattern recorded on said document correspond to said predetermined signal.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 81 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said comparison means comprises: first storage register means including a plurality of stages for storing digital signals comprising said predetermined signal; second storage register means including a plurality of stages for storing digital signals comprising said electrical representations; and detecting means coupled to said first and second storage register means for detecting when a digital signal stored in said first storage register means corresponds to a digital signal stored in said second storage register means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said comparison means further includes group selecting register means for storing digital signals identifying a group of documents to be selected and for determining the number of documents included in said group.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 151 words

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said detecting means comprises: a plurality of gating means, each of said gating means including a first input coupled to an associated edge of said first storage register means and a second input coupled to an associated stage of said second storage register means whereby said gating means provides an output signal when the digital signals applied to said first and second inputs thereof admit of a correlating relationship; each of said gating means including a third input coupled to an associated stage of said group selecting register means whereby said gating means provides said output signal irrespective of said digital signals applied to said first and second inputs thereof when a predetermined digital signal is applied to said third input thereof; and coincidence means coupled to said selecting means for actuating said selecting means when each of said gating means provides an output signal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 54 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said optical sensing station comprises: light projecting means for projecting light to a predetermined area; and light sensitive means in optical communication with said predetermined area and responsive to the intensity of light transmitted to said light sensitive means from said predetermined area for providing said electrical representations.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said optical patterns comprise sense markings disposed longitudinally on said document to form an identifying code, said sense markings being adapted to modulate the intensity of light transmitted thereto.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 119 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for enabling comprises: reciprocating support means disposed at a cooperating location with respect to said sensing station and adapted to be interposed in the rotational path of said documents upon the actuation Thereof, whereby a document is displaced from said drum configuration and supported by said reciprocating support means such that the sense markings disposed longitudinally on said document are positioned in said predetermined area; and actuating means for actuating and de-actuating said reciprocating support means in timed relation with the rotation of said documents, whereby said reciprocating support means is removed from said rotational path upon the de-actuation thereof such that the displaced document is returned to said drum configuration.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 66 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said reciprocating support means comprises a shaft adapted for reciprocating movement along the longitudinal axis thereof; said shaft including a plurality of spaced shoulders along the length thereof such that individual documents are supported on said shoulders when said shaft is interposed in said rotational path, and including tapered portions adapted to be interposed between adjacent ones of said documents.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 90 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said sense markings comprise apertures through which light is transmitted and each of said documents further includes a strip of light reflective material disposed longitudinally on said document and adjacent to said apertures whereby the light projected by said projecting means is selectively transmitted through the apertures of a first document supported on a first shoulder of said shaft and reflected by the strip of reflective material on a second document supported on a second shoulder of said shaft to said light sensitive means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said selecting means comprises gripping means adapted to seize a document supported on a shoulder of said shaft whereby said seized document is restrained from returning to said drum configuration.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 62 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for enabling comprises deflecting means fixedly disposed in the rotational path of said documents and including a surface adapted for slidable contact with said documents whereby a portion of a document in contact with said surface is restrained from rotating, thereby causing deformation of said document and exposing said sense markings to projected light.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 53 words

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said deflecting means includes: first optic fiber means for providing a first optical path from said light projecting means to the sense markings of a deformed document; and second optic fiber means for providing a second optical path from said sense markings to said light sensitive means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 228 words

A document storage and retrieval system for selecting a document whose identity is represented by a punched code, comprising: a plurality of rotating documents, said documents being arranged in drum configuration such that first and second edges of said documents define first and second concentric cylindrical planes having a common axis; optical scanning means for scanning the punched code of each document when said document rotates into a predetermined position; said optical scanning means including: light projecting means for projecting light along a first optical path; light reflecting means optically coupled to said light projecting means via said first optical path for reflecting projected light; light sensitive means optically coupled to said light reflecting means via a second optical path for providing electrical representations of the light reflected by said light reflecting means; and document displacing means for displacing documents from said drum configuration such that the punched code of a displaced document intercepts said first optical path whereby the light reflected by said light reflecting means is modulated in accordance with said punched code; comparison means coupled to said light sensitive means for comparing said electrical representations with a predetermined electrical signal representative of a selected one or more of said rotating documents; and selecting means coupled to saiD comparison means for mechanically removing a displaced document when said electrical representations correspond to said predetermined electrical signal.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 228 words

A document storage and retrieval system for selecting a document whose identity is represented by a punched code, comprising: a plurality of rotating documents, said documents being arranged in drum configuration such that first and second edges of said documents define first and second concentric cylindrical planes having a common axis; optical scanning means for scanning the punched code of each document when said document rotates into a predetermined position; said optical scanning means including: light projecting means for projecting light along a first optical path; light reflecting means optically coupled to said light projecting means via said first optical path for reflecting projected light; light sensitive means optically coupled to said light reflecting means via a second optical path for providing electrical representations of the light reflected by said light reflecting means; and document displacing means for displacing documents from said drum configuration such that the punched code of a displaced document intercepts said first optical path whereby the light reflected by said light reflecting means is modulated in accordance with said punched code; comparison means coupled to said light sensitive means for comparing said electrical representations with a predetermined electrical signal representative of a selected one or more of said rotating documents; and selecting means coupled to saiD comparison means for mechanically removing a displaced document when said electrical representations correspond to said predetermined electrical signal.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 41 words

A document storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said light reflecting means comprises a strip of light reflective material mounted on a document, said document bearing said strip of light reflective material being adjacent said displaced document.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 112 words

A document storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said document displacing means comprises: shaft means adapted to be interposed in the rotational path of said documents upon the actuation thereof, said shaft means including at least two spaced shoulders along the length thereof such that adjacent documents are individually supported on said shoulders when said shaft means is interposed in said rotational path; and actuating means for successively actuating and de-actuating said shaft means in timed relation with the rotation of said documents, whereby said shaft means is removed from said rotational path upon the de-actuation thereof such that the displaced documents are returned to said drum configuration.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 203 words

A document storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said comparison means comprises: first storage register means including a plurality of stages for storing digital signals comprising said predetermined electrical signal; second storage register means including a plurality of stages for storing digital signals comprising said electrical representations; group selecting register means for storing digital signals identifying a group of documents to be selected and for determining the number of documents included in said group; a plurality of gating means, each of said gating means being coupled to corresponding stages of said first and second storage register means and to a corresponding stage of said group selecting register means for providing an indicating signal when the digital signals stored in said corresponding stages of said first and second storage register means admit of a correlating relationship, and for providing an indicating signal when a predetermined digital signal is stored in said corresponding stage of said group selecting register means irrespective of said digital signals stored in said corresponding stages of said first and second storage register means; and coincidence means responsive to said gating means for energizing said selecting means when each of said gating means provides an indicating signal.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 229 words

A document storage and retrieval system for selecting a document whose identity is represented by coded sense markings, comprising: a plurality of rotating documents, said documents being arranged in drum configuration such that first and second edges of said documents define first and second concentric cylindrical planes having a common axis; optical scanning means for scanning the coded sense markings of each document when said document rotates into a predetermined position; said optical scanning means including: deflecting means fixedly disposed in the rotational path of said documents and including a surface adapted for slidable contact with said documents for deforming each said document rotating into said predetermined position; light projecting means for projecting light along a first optical path to the coded sense markings of a deformed document, said coded sense markings being adapted to modulate the intensity of light; and light sensitive means optically coupled to the coded sense markings of a deformed document via a second optical path for providing electrical representations of the intensity of light transmitted thereto from said coded sense markings; comparison means coupled to said light sensitive means for comparing said electrical representations with a predetermined electrical signal representative of a selected one or more of said rotating documents; and selectiNg means coupled to said comparison means for mechanically removing a scanned document when said electrical representations correspond to said predetermined electrical signal.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 229 words

A document storage and retrieval system for selecting a document whose identity is represented by coded sense markings, comprising: a plurality of rotating documents, said documents being arranged in drum configuration such that first and second edges of said documents define first and second concentric cylindrical planes having a common axis; optical scanning means for scanning the coded sense markings of each document when said document rotates into a predetermined position; said optical scanning means including: deflecting means fixedly disposed in the rotational path of said documents and including a surface adapted for slidable contact with said documents for deforming each said document rotating into said predetermined position; light projecting means for projecting light along a first optical path to the coded sense markings of a deformed document, said coded sense markings being adapted to modulate the intensity of light; and light sensitive means optically coupled to the coded sense markings of a deformed document via a second optical path for providing electrical representations of the intensity of light transmitted thereto from said coded sense markings; comparison means coupled to said light sensitive means for comparing said electrical representations with a predetermined electrical signal representative of a selected one or more of said rotating documents; and selectiNg means coupled to said comparison means for mechanically removing a scanned document when said electrical representations correspond to said predetermined electrical signal.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 51 words

A document storage and retrieval system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said light projecting means includes first optic fiber means coupled to a source of light and terminating at said surface; and said light sensitive means includes second optic fiber means coupled to photodetecting means and terminating at said surface.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-04-30	1976-10-30	1977-05-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-04-30	1980-10-30	1981-05-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-04-30	1984-10-30	1985-05-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Document storage and retrieval system

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag