US3754119A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lunch ticket tabulating mechanism
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-01-07
•
Granted: 1973-08-21
•
Expires: 1992-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A tabulating and cancelling machine reads information from a data card inserted into the machine, stores the information for periodic display, and severs one credit portion from the card to cancel such portion each time the card is inserted into the machine, until all of the credit portions of the card have been severed therefrom. Data stripes on the card present a code representation of a specific factual situation, and each stripe is printed on all of the credit portions of the card such that, by placing an identification number of the card holder on each credit portion, the severed credit portions may be retained and used for audit purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 E Scott
- 👤 M Sullivan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:52
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/343; G06Q20/3433
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
In combination with an article having tabulation information thereon and a series of severable cancellation portions, a machine for tabulating said information and successively cancelling said portions of the article including: means defining a tabulation and cancellation station for the article; sensing means adjacent said station for obtaining information from the article each time the latter is placed in the station; means for tabulating the information obtained by said sensing means to produce a count; and A cutter adjacent said station for cancelling successive portions in the series by severing one of such portions from the article each time the article is placed in said station until all of the portions in the series have been severed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
In combination with an article having tabulation information thereon and a series of severable cancellation portions, a machine for tabulating said information and successively cancelling said portions of the article including: means defining a tabulation and cancellation station for the article; sensing means adjacent said station for obtaining information from the article each time the latter is placed in the station; means for tabulating the information obtained by said sensing means to produce a count; and A cutter adjacent said station for cancelling successive portions in the series by severing one of such portions from the article each time the article is placed in said station until all of the portions in the series have been severed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1; and abutment means associated with said station for locating the article with respect to said cutter when the article is disposed in the station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention as claimed in claim 2, said machine being electrically powered; and a switch for controlling operation of said sensing means and said cutter, said switch being disposed for engagement with and actuation by the article when the latter is properly located in said station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as claimed in claim 3; and timing means responsive to actuation of said switch for delaying operation of said cutter until said information has been obtained by said sensing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, said tabulating means including means for storing said count; and means operably coupled with said storing means for displaying said stored count.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The invention as claimed in claim 5, there being a plurality of said articles each having information corresponding to any one of a set of predetermined factual situations, said storing means being operable to store a plurality of distinct counts corresponding to the number of times each of said situations is presented, said displaying means including means for selecting which of said counts is to be displayed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1; and a receptacle adapted to receive and accumulate severed portions from the cutter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, said articles having a pair of opposed ends with said series extending from one of said ends toward the opposite of said ends, there being identical data on each of said portions; and indicia on each of said portions identifying the article.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention as claimed in claim 8, said data including a plurality of stripes at laterally spaced locations on the article, said stripes extending from said one end of the article toward the opposite end thereof across said portions in the series, the information provided by said stripes being determined by the presence or absence of a stripe at each stripe location on the article.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention as claimed in claim 9, said stripes being light-absorptive in nature set against a light-reflective background.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention as claimed in claim 9, said article having a pair of opposed, flat sides, said stripes being disposed on one of said sides and said indicia being disposed on the other of said sides.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a tabulating and cancelling machine for use with a data article: means defining a tabulation and cancellation station for the article; sensing means adjacent said station for obtaining information from the article each time the article is placed in said station; means for tabulating the information obtained by said sensing means to produce a count; and a cutter adjacent said station for cancelling successive portions of the article by severing one of such portions from the article each time the latter is placed in the station until all of the available portions of the article have been severed therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a tabulating and cancelling machine for use with a data article: means defining a tabulation and cancellation station for the article; sensing means adjacent said station for obtaining information from the article each time the article is placed in said station; means for tabulating the information obtained by said sensing means to produce a count; and a cutter adjacent said station for cancelling successive portions of the article by severing one of such portions from the article each time the latter is placed in the station until all of the available portions of the article have been severed therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as claimed in claim 12; and abutment means associated with said station for locating the article with respect to said cutter when the article is disposed in the station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention as claimed in claim 13, said machine being electrically powered; and a switch for controlling operation of said sensing means and said cutter, said switch being disposed for engagement with and actuation by the article when the latter is properly located in said station.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as claimed in claim 14; and timing means responsive to actuation of said switch for delaying operation of sAid cutter until said information has been obtained by said sensing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention as claimed in claim 12, said tabulating means including means for storing said count; and means operably coupled with said storing means for displaying the stored count.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
68 words
The invention as claimed in claim 16, there being a plurality of said articles each having information corresponding to any one of a set of predetermined factual situations, said storing means being operable to store a plurality of distinct counts corresponding to the number of times each of said situations is presented, said displaying means including means for selecting which of said distinct counts is to be displayed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
158 words
A data article adapted for use with a tabulating and cancelling machine, said article comprising: a card having a pair of opposed ends and a series of severable cancellation portions, said series extending from one of said ends toward the other of said ends such that the portions in said series may be cancelled by severing successive end portions from the article until said series has been depleted; and tabulation data in code form on said card adapted to provide information which may be sensed and tabulated by said machine, said data including a plurality of stripes at laterally spaced locations on the card, said stripes extending from said one end of the card toward the other end thereof across said portions in the series, the information provided by said stripes being determined by the presence or absence of a stripe at each stripe location on the card; and indicia on each of said portions identifying the article.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
158 words
A data article adapted for use with a tabulating and cancelling machine, said article comprising: a card having a pair of opposed ends and a series of severable cancellation portions, said series extending from one of said ends toward the other of said ends such that the portions in said series may be cancelled by severing successive end portions from the article until said series has been depleted; and tabulation data in code form on said card adapted to provide information which may be sensed and tabulated by said machine, said data including a plurality of stripes at laterally spaced locations on the card, said stripes extending from said one end of the card toward the other end thereof across said portions in the series, the information provided by said stripes being determined by the presence or absence of a stripe at each stripe location on the card; and indicia on each of said portions identifying the article.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as claimed in claim 18, each of said stripes being light-absorptive in nature set against a light-reflective background.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
Th invention as claimed in claim 18, said card having a pair of opposed, flat sides, said stripes being disposed on one of said sides and said indicia being disposed on the other of said sides.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |