Patent US3743359A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3743359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fluidic card handling device
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-16
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A card return device is provided for a random access mass memory system which utilizes a plurality of magnetic cards stored in a bin or magazine on a set of selector bars. The bin or magazine has adjacent thereto a return track along which the returning magnetic cards ride. A wall member confronting the return track and spaced therefrom forms a throat area through which the cards pass in returning to the bin. The selector bars are located just downstream from the throat area and a pair of pressurized elongated fluid ports located in the return track adjacent the throat tend to force the returning card away from the return track toward the selector bars. A card brake mechanism located in the return track operates to bring the card to a stop position at the point where the trailing edge portion of the card is acted upon by the jets issuing from the elongated ports. The returning card, however, is constrained from moving away from the return track by the wall member forming the throat. Shortly after the card is stopped the brake is turned off to premit the returning card to fall a short distance so that its trailing edge portion drops below the throat. At this time the fluid jets from the elongated ports force the card over onto the selector bars.
Inventors
- 👤 A Schonfeld
- 👤 E Phillips
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K17/00; G06K17/0003; G06K17/0006; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/08; G06K13/0843
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
In a device for handling documents of the type that have a notch coded edge; the combination which comprises, a document bin station for storing a multiplicity of said edge notched documents, a document return track disposed along one side of said bin station along which a document being returned to the bin rides, a set of code selector bars disposed within said bin station for holding a multiplicity of documents by their coded notches, said selector bars being disposed so that one set of their corresponding ends face the return track, said bin station further including a wall member disposed in confronting relation to the return track to form with said track a throat area through which a document passes on its return to the bin station, said wall member being located slightly upstream from said selector bars, means for loading a document on said return track so that said document returns through said throat area with its notched edge in a trailing position, an actuatable brake means positioned along the track operable to momentarily stop a returning document with its notched edge in said throat area and to thereafter release the document for further descent below said throat area, and fluid port means positioned at the throat area operable to hold the notched edge of the document against said wall member when said returning document is momentarily stopped and to blow the notched edge of the returning document to the selector bars after it has been released for further descent below the throat area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
In a device for handling documents of the type that have a notch coded edge; the combination which comprises, a document bin station for storing a multiplicity of said edge notched documents, a document return track disposed along one side of said bin station along which a document being returned to the bin rides, a set of code selector bars disposed within said bin station for holding a multiplicity of documents by their coded notches, said selector bars being disposed so that one set of their corresponding ends face the return track, said bin station further including a wall member disposed in confronting relation to the return track to form with said track a throat area through which a document passes on its return to the bin station, said wall member being located slightly upstream from said selector bars, means for loading a document on said return track so that said document returns through said throat area with its notched edge in a trailing position, an actuatable brake means positioned along the track operable to momentarily stop a returning document with its notched edge in said throat area and to thereafter release the document for further descent below said throat area, and fluid port means positioned at the throat area operable to hold the notched edge of the document against said wall member when said returning document is momentarily stopped and to blow the notched edge of the returning document to the selector bars after it has been released for further descent below the throat area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the fluid port means are located in the throat area and the track includes an offset immediately below the ports which is operable to urge the document toward the selector bars.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 1 which further comprises a document sensing station disposed along the track upstream from the throat for controlling the document brake.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the track operates to provide a fluid bearing for the documents, and wherein said track includes a chamber to which a vacuum may be applied to thereby form the document brake.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein the track operates to provide a fluid bearing for the documents, and said brake includes a chamber formed in the track and wherein a means including a valving mechanism is provided to admit either a negative or a positive pressure to said chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement of claim 5 wherein there is included a document sensing station located upstream from the throat for controlling the operation of the valving mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
262 words
In a device for handling documents of the type that have a notch coded edge; the combination which comprises, a document bin station for storing a multiplicity of said edge notched documents, a document return track disposed along one side of said bin station along which a document being returned to the bin rides, a set of code selector bars disposed within said bin station for holding a multiplicity of documents by their coded notches, said selector bars being disposed so that one set of their corresponding ends face the return track, said bin station further including a wall member disposed in confronting relation to the return track to form with said track a throat area through which a document passEs on its return to the bin station, said wall member being located slightly upstream from said selector bars, means for loading a document on said return track so that said document returns through said throat area with its notched edge in a trailing position, an actuatable brake means positioned along the return track, means for momentarily actuating said brake means to stop a returning document with its notched edge in said throat area and to thereafter release the document for further descent below said throat area, and fluid port means positioned at the throat area operable to hold the notched edge of the document against said wall member when said returning document is momentarily stopped and to blow the notched edge of the returning document to the selector bars after it has been released for further descent below the throat area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
262 words
In a device for handling documents of the type that have a notch coded edge; the combination which comprises, a document bin station for storing a multiplicity of said edge notched documents, a document return track disposed along one side of said bin station along which a document being returned to the bin rides, a set of code selector bars disposed within said bin station for holding a multiplicity of documents by their coded notches, said selector bars being disposed so that one set of their corresponding ends face the return track, said bin station further including a wall member disposed in confronting relation to the return track to form with said track a throat area through which a document passEs on its return to the bin station, said wall member being located slightly upstream from said selector bars, means for loading a document on said return track so that said document returns through said throat area with its notched edge in a trailing position, an actuatable brake means positioned along the return track, means for momentarily actuating said brake means to stop a returning document with its notched edge in said throat area and to thereafter release the document for further descent below said throat area, and fluid port means positioned at the throat area operable to hold the notched edge of the document against said wall member when said returning document is momentarily stopped and to blow the notched edge of the returning document to the selector bars after it has been released for further descent below the throat area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein the fluid port means are located in the throat area and the track includes an offset immediately below the ports which is operable to urge the document toward the selector bars.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein the track operates to provide a fluid bearing for the documents, and wherein said track includes a chamber to which a vacuum may be applied to thereby form the document brake.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein the track operates to provide a fluid bearing for the documents, and said brake includes a chamber formed in the track and wherein a means including a valving mechanism is provided to admit either a negative or a positive pressure to said chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein the brake means includes an air chamber formed in the track near the bottom of the bin station, and said means for actuating said brake means includes a pressure source for applying a vacuum to said chamber in response to the approach of a document to said throat area and a positive pressure to said chamber after said returning document has been stopped.
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) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |