US3750828A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Access-control equipment and item dispensing systems including such equipment
Assignee: Smiths Group PLC
•
Filing: 1970-08-24
•
Granted: 1973-08-07
•
Expires: 1990-08-24
Abstract
Abstract A money-dispensing system is operative to dispense money in response to a bank customer''s credit card and keyed-entry of his personal-identification number, only if this number accords with the customer''s account number on the card and the card carries a magnetic recording having a crooked pattern of magnetization. The recording is detected by a magnetic head having a sensing gap of zigzag configuration, and contains data relating to the rate of permissible use of the token. The sensing gap may alternatively be of V configuration and may be defined by two obliquely set straight-gap heads. Recorded data relating to the extent of permissible use of the token may be detected using another crooked gap, and up-dated by erasure using a straight gap.
Inventors
- 👤 G Constable
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:29
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/10; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G06Q20/4012; G07F19/00; G07F19/20; G07F19/202; G07F7/086; G07F7/1025; G07F7/1058; G07F7/1066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
Access-control equipment for selectively enabling access to a facility, comprising means for receiving a token presented to the equipment, security means for inhibiting unauthorized access to the equipment comprising magnetic detector means that includes means defining a magnetic sensing gap of non-straight configuration over its width, said detector means being operative to detect whether the received token carries a magnetic recording having a non-straight pattern of magnetization corresponding to said gap-configuration, release means that is operable to enable access to said facility only in the event that said non-straight pattern of magnetic recording is detected by said detector means, said sensing gap having successive parts across its width that are angularly inclined one to the other, means for transporting the received token along a path past the gap-defining means, and means mounting said gap-defining means to present said gap with at least some of said parts oblique to said path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
Access-control equipment for selectively enabling access to a facility, comprising means for receiving a token presented to the equipment, security means for inhibiting unauthorized access to the equipment comprising magnetic detector means that includes means defining a magnetic sensing gap of non-straight configuration over its width, said detector means being operative to detect whether the received token carries a magnetic recording having a non-straight pattern of magnetization corresponding to said gap-configuration, release means that is operable to enable access to said facility only in the event that said non-straight pattern of magnetic recording is detected by said detector means, said sensing gap having successive parts across its width that are angularly inclined one to the other, means for transporting the received token along a path past the gap-defining means, and means mounting said gap-defining means to present said gap with at least some of said parts oblique to said path.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of enabling access to a facility by the use of a token bearing magnetically coded data thereon said method inhibiting unauthorized access to the facility and comprising the steps of: moving a magnetizable medium and a recording-head means having a gap of non-straight configuration over its width relative to one another, energizing said recording-head means with distinctive electrical signals to record on said medium magnetic signals whose characteristics are dependent not only on the character of said electrical signals but also on the configuration of the non-straight gap and its predetermined orientation to the direction of said relative movement between said magnetizable medium and said recording-head means, presenting said magnetizable medium to an access facility, in said facility moving relative to one another the magnetizable medium bearing the magnetic signals and a reading-head means having a gap with the same non-straight configuration and the same predetermined orientation as said recording-head means. and responding only to signals generated by said reading-head means which have an amplitude above a predetermined minimum for enabling access to said facility, whereby access to said facility is only granted in response to a magnetizable medium whose magnetic signals recorded thereon have been recorded by a recording-head means having the same non-straight gap configuration and predetermined orientation as does the reading-head means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of enabling access to a facility by the use of a token bearing magnetically coded data thereon said method inhibiting unauthorized access to the facility and comprising the steps of: moving a magnetizable medium and a recording-head means having a gap of non-straight configuration over its width relative to one another, energizing said recording-head means with distinctive electrical signals to record on said medium magnetic signals whose characteristics are dependent not only on the character of said electrical signals but also on the configuration of the non-straight gap and its predetermined orientation to the direction of said relative movement between said magnetizable medium and said recording-head means, presenting said magnetizable medium to an access facility, in said facility moving relative to one another the magnetizable medium bearing the magnetic signals and a reading-head means having a gap with the same non-straight configuration and the same predetermined orientation as said recording-head means. and responding only to signals generated by said reading-head means which have an amplitude above a predetermined minimum for enabling access to said facility, whereby access to said facility is only granted in response to a magnetizable medium whose magnetic signals recorded thereon have been recorded by a recording-head means having the same non-straight gap configuration and predetermined orientation as does the reading-head means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
104 words
Access-control equipment for selectively enabling access to a facility, comprising means for receiving a token presented to the equipment, security means for inhibiting unauthorized access to the equipment comprising magnetic detector means that includes means defining a magnetic sensing gap of non-straight configuration over its width, said detector means being operative to detect whether the received token carries a magnetic recording having a non-straight pattern of magnetization corresponding to said gap-configuration, release means that is operable to enable access to said facility only in the event that the said non-straight pattern recording is detected by said detector means, said sensing gap being of V-configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
Access-control equipment for selectively enabling access to a facility, comprising means for receiving a token presented to the equipment, security means for inhibiting unauthorized access to the equipment comprising magnetic detector means that includes means defining a magnetic sensing gap of non-straight configuration over its width, said detector means being operative to detect whether the received token carries a magnetic recording having a non-straight pattern of magnetization corresponding to said gap-configuration, release means that is operable to enable access to said facility only in the event that the said non-straight pattern recording is detected by said detector means, said sensing gap being of V-configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Access-control equipment according to claim 3 wherein said detector means includes two straight-gap magnetic heads, and means mounting the two heads obliquely to one another to define the V-configuration gap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
175 words
An item-dispensing system comprising means providing an entrance for admitting an information bearing token to the system, token-reading means spaced from said entrance, token-transporting means for transporting the admitted token along a path to the token-reading means, said token-reading means being operative to read information from the token transported thereto, security means inhibiting unauthorized access to said facility comprising detector means which includes means defining a magnetic-sensing gap of non-straight configuration at a point along said path and which is operative to detect whether the token transported past said point to the token-reading means carries a magnetic recording having a non-straight pattern of magnetization corresponding to the non-straight gap-configuration, item-dispensing means that is operable to dispense from a reserve of items at least one such item upon each operation of the item-dispensing means, and means for enabling operation of the item-dispensing means in dependence upon the information read from the token by the token-reading means and then only if the non-straight pattern recording is detected by said detector means, said sensing gap being of V-configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
175 words
An item-dispensing system comprising means providing an entrance for admitting an information bearing token to the system, token-reading means spaced from said entrance, token-transporting means for transporting the admitted token along a path to the token-reading means, said token-reading means being operative to read information from the token transported thereto, security means inhibiting unauthorized access to said facility comprising detector means which includes means defining a magnetic-sensing gap of non-straight configuration at a point along said path and which is operative to detect whether the token transported past said point to the token-reading means carries a magnetic recording having a non-straight pattern of magnetization corresponding to the non-straight gap-configuration, item-dispensing means that is operable to dispense from a reserve of items at least one such item upon each operation of the item-dispensing means, and means for enabling operation of the item-dispensing means in dependence upon the information read from the token by the token-reading means and then only if the non-straight pattern recording is detected by said detector means, said sensing gap being of V-configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An item-dispensing system according to claim 5 including two straight-gap magnetic heads, and means mounting the two heads with their gaps oblique to one another to define the said V-configuration gap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
192 words
An item-dispensing system comprising means providing an entrance for admitting an information-bearing token to the system, token-reading means spaced from said entrance, token-transporting means for transporting the admitted token along a path to the token-reading means, said token-reading means being operative to read information from the token transported thereto, security means for inhibiting unauthorized access to said facility comprising detector means which includes means defining a magnetic-sensing gap of non-straight configuration over its width extending transversely of said path at a point therealong, said gap having successive mutually inclined portions that are obliquely inclined to the path length, and said detector means being operative to detect whether the token transported past said point to the token-reading means carries a magnetic recording having a non-straight pattern of magnetization corresponding to the non-straight gap-configuration, item-dispensing means that is operable to dispense from a reserve of items at least one such item upon each operation of the item-dispensing means, and means for enabling operation of the item-dispensing means in dependence upon the information read from the token by the token-reading means and then only if the non-straight pattern recording is detected by said detector means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
192 words
An item-dispensing system comprising means providing an entrance for admitting an information-bearing token to the system, token-reading means spaced from said entrance, token-transporting means for transporting the admitted token along a path to the token-reading means, said token-reading means being operative to read information from the token transported thereto, security means for inhibiting unauthorized access to said facility comprising detector means which includes means defining a magnetic-sensing gap of non-straight configuration over its width extending transversely of said path at a point therealong, said gap having successive mutually inclined portions that are obliquely inclined to the path length, and said detector means being operative to detect whether the token transported past said point to the token-reading means carries a magnetic recording having a non-straight pattern of magnetization corresponding to the non-straight gap-configuration, item-dispensing means that is operable to dispense from a reserve of items at least one such item upon each operation of the item-dispensing means, and means for enabling operation of the item-dispensing means in dependence upon the information read from the token by the token-reading means and then only if the non-straight pattern recording is detected by said detector means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
An item-dispensing system according to claim 7 wherein the sensing gap is of zigzag configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An item-dispensing system according to claim 7 wherein said item-dispensing means is means for dispensing money at a bank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
An item-dispensiNg system according to claim 7 wherein the token-transporting means is also operable to return the token along said path from the token-reading means to said entrance only in the event that the crooked-pattern recording is detected by the detector means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
An item-dispensing system according to claim 10 wherein said detector means includes means for energizing said gap-defining means to record magnetically on the token from said gap during return of the token to said entrance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
148 words
Access-control equipment for selectively enabling access to a facility, comprising means for receiving a token presented to the equipment and bearing a magnetic recording track, security means for inhibiting unauthorized access to said facility comprising magnetic detector means for detecting magnetic recording in said track, said detector means including means defining a magnetic sensing gap having a non-straight configuration over its width which extends generally transversely of said track length, said gap having successive mutually inclined parts thereof obliquely inclined to the track length, and said detector means being operative to detect whether the received token carries in said track a magnetic recording having a non-straight pattern of magnetization over its length corresponding to said gap-configuration of said detector means, and release means that is operable to enable access to said facility only in the event that the said non-straight pattern recording is detected by said detector means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
148 words
Access-control equipment for selectively enabling access to a facility, comprising means for receiving a token presented to the equipment and bearing a magnetic recording track, security means for inhibiting unauthorized access to said facility comprising magnetic detector means for detecting magnetic recording in said track, said detector means including means defining a magnetic sensing gap having a non-straight configuration over its width which extends generally transversely of said track length, said gap having successive mutually inclined parts thereof obliquely inclined to the track length, and said detector means being operative to detect whether the received token carries in said track a magnetic recording having a non-straight pattern of magnetization over its length corresponding to said gap-configuration of said detector means, and release means that is operable to enable access to said facility only in the event that the said non-straight pattern recording is detected by said detector means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
Access-control equipment according to claim 12 wherein the token-receiving means includes means providing an entrance for admitting the presented token to the equipment, and means operable to return the token through said entrance only in the event that the detector means detects the existence of the crooked-pattern recording on that token.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
Access-control equipment according to claim 12 wherein the sensing gap is of zigzag configuration.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
Access-control equipment according to claim 12 in combination with dispensing means that is responsive to operation of said release means to perform a dispensing function.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
84 words
Access-control equipment according to claim 12 including means for reading information borne by the received token, means for entering a plural-character word into the equipment, and comparator means for detecting whether a predetermined correspondence exists between the said information read from the token and the plural-character word, and wherein said release means is means operable to enable access to said facility only in the event that both said predetermined correspondence and said crooked pattern recording are detected by said comparator and detector means respectively.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
Access-control equipment according to claim 16 wherein said means for reading information from the received token, comprises means for making a record of information borne by the token, and means for reading from said record part at least of the information recorded thereon.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
Access-control equipment according to claim 12 wherein said detector means is operative to read out from the token data recorded magnetically in crooked pattern on the token.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
Access-control equipment according to claim 18 wherein said release means is operable to enable access to said facility only in the event that the data-content of the read-out satisfies a predetermined criterion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
Access-control equipment according to claim 19 wherein at least part of the data read out relates to the extent of permitted use of the token, and said detector means includes means to erase from the token at least part of the detected extent-of-use data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
50 words
Access-control equipment according to claim 19 wherein at least part of the data read out relates to rate of use of the token, and said detector means is operative to inhibit operation of said release means in the event that a predetermined permitted rate of use would otherwise be exceeded.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
Access-control equipment according to claim 21 wherein said detector means includes means to energize said gap-defining means in accordance with up-dated rate-of-use data to record this data magnetically on the token from said gap.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2653189A
Cited
US2832839A
Cited
US2938962A
Cited
US3039582A
Cited
US3239824A
Cited
US3401830A
Cited
US3560715A
Cited
US3559175A
Cited
US3611293A
Cited
US3570643A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-06 | 1977-02-05 | 1977-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-06 | 1981-02-05 | 1981-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-06 | 1985-02-05 | 1985-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |