Patent US3731062A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3731062A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical card reader drive
Assignee: Binary Simplex Inc
•
Filing: 1971-05-21
•
Granted: 1973-05-01
•
Expires: 1991-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A card reader for optically scanning a field of machine-sensible numeric information imprinted on an identifying tag or card attached to an article of merchandise and generating therefrom electronic signals representative of the information. The card is translucent and the imprinting material is opaque with respect to illumination directed against the surface of the card from a light source on one side thereof. Photodetecting means are positioned in light receiving alignment with the light source on the opposite side of the card to record the presence of light passing through the blank areas of the card and the absence of light blocked by the imprinted areas. The photodetector output is connected to a suitable electronic signal generating circuit. Means are provided to move the aligned light source and photodetector unit along the card to scan across the machine readable data field and to return them to their initial position with respect to the card after the scan is completed.
Inventors
- 👤 J Reilly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
318 words
A scan drive for moving optical reading apparatus along a card bearing a longitudinal field of machine sensible information imprinted thereon, comprising: first switch means; a card holder including means responsive to the insertion of said card therein for actuating said first switch means; a carriage with trailing and leading ends and having its trailing end slideably and extendably mounted within said card holder, said carriage being moveable with respect to said card holder between a home position and a fully extended position; illumination means mounted on and carried by said carriage for sequentially illuminating successive segments of said data field in a continuous scan as said carriage is moved with respect to said card holder from said home position to said fully extended position; photodetector means mounted on and carried by said carriage in light receiving alignment with said illumination means for detecting the presence and absence of light passing through said card from said illumination means; a shoe mounted to the leading end of said carriage and having two orthogonal actuating surfaces; second switch means positioned to be actuated by a first one of said shoe surfaces as said carriage is moved from its home position to its fully extended position; third switch means positioned to be actuated by the second one of said shoe surfaces when said carriage reaches said fully extended position; means responsive to said first switch means for moving said carriage from said home position to said fully extended position; means responsive to said third switch means for returning said carriage from its fully extended position to its home position; means responsive to said second switch means for stopping said carriage after it returns to its home position; signal generating means for producing a continuous output signal; and, signal gating mans responsive to said photodetector output for gating said continuous signal to an output on occurrence of a preselected photodetector output condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
318 words
A scan drive for moving optical reading apparatus along a card bearing a longitudinal field of machine sensible information imprinted thereon, comprising: first switch means; a card holder including means responsive to the insertion of said card therein for actuating said first switch means; a carriage with trailing and leading ends and having its trailing end slideably and extendably mounted within said card holder, said carriage being moveable with respect to said card holder between a home position and a fully extended position; illumination means mounted on and carried by said carriage for sequentially illuminating successive segments of said data field in a continuous scan as said carriage is moved with respect to said card holder from said home position to said fully extended position; photodetector means mounted on and carried by said carriage in light receiving alignment with said illumination means for detecting the presence and absence of light passing through said card from said illumination means; a shoe mounted to the leading end of said carriage and having two orthogonal actuating surfaces; second switch means positioned to be actuated by a first one of said shoe surfaces as said carriage is moved from its home position to its fully extended position; third switch means positioned to be actuated by the second one of said shoe surfaces when said carriage reaches said fully extended position; means responsive to said first switch means for moving said carriage from said home position to said fully extended position; means responsive to said third switch means for returning said carriage from its fully extended position to its home position; means responsive to said second switch means for stopping said carriage after it returns to its home position; signal generating means for producing a continuous output signal; and, signal gating mans responsive to said photodetector output for gating said continuous signal to an output on occurrence of a preselected photodetector output condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2746679A
Cited
US3100834A
Cited
US3185776A
Cited
US3243776A
Cited
US3553435A
Cited
US3585590A
Cited
US3555247A
Cited
US3585366A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| 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 |