US3760161A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for automatically retrieving information from a succession of luminescent coded documents with means for segregating documents according to their characteristics
Assignee: Wyeth Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1971-05-19
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1991-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and device are provided of the type arranged to accept documents bearing a code, to retrieve the coded information from the documents for subsequent use as electric signals, and to deliver the documents to an output station where they are periodically removed for storage, for mailing, or for other purposes. The device is arranged to retrieve information from documents typically bearing standard typographic information (e.g., typewriter characters formed with carbon-based inks) and, in addition, bearing a corresponding code, such as a bar code, formed with a photoluminescent material which is invisible until stimulated with ultraviolet radiation. To retrieve information from such documents, the device feeds the documents through a scanning stage which detects the luminescent code and supplies a corresponding electrical signal, and then through a stacking stage which segregates the documents according to information contained thereon or according to a determination that the documents have been processed either acceptably or unacceptably. The scanning stage retrieves information by guiding the document through a region illuminated only with ultraviolet light, causing only the luminescent areas to emit radiation, and stationing in this region a scanning wheel which successively passes a scanning field, optically coupled to a photodetector, across the document. The scanning wheel is preferably provided with a plurality of peripheral lenses which focus an image of the document, which is held in a arcuate guide, to a central fixed photodetector. After scanning, the document feed carries the document to a stacking stage which has a document ejection station with selectively engageable constantly moving feed means for delivering documents with one characteristic to one location and documents with another characteristic to a second location. Documents bearing visible characters as well as an invisible luminescent code are thus automatically processed in succession by a continuously operating device receiving coded documents, accurately retrieving the coded information therefrom, and conveniently segregating the documents into a plurality of output bins according to their characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 J Carley
- 👤 Vaniz W Smith
- 👤 W Lohne
- 👤 J Montgomery
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/08; G06F; G06F7/00; G06F7/06; G06F7/10; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
393 words
An apparatus for automatically retrieving coded information from documents of the type bearing rows of alphanumeric characters imprinted with a visible material, and for each such character a group of adjacent code symbols imprinted with a photoluminescent material which is essentially invisible but can be stimulated with ultraviolet radiation to emit visible radiation, the code symbols being arranged in rows between and parallel to said character rows and being formed as bars extending in a direction normal to said rows, comprising: means for feeding said documents at uniform speed along a path past a scanning station with said code symbol rows oriented transverse to said path; including means guiding and holding said documents in an arcuate shape as they are fed along said path, the arc axis being parallel to said path, means located at said scanning station for illuminating the face of the documents with stimulating ultraviolet radiation thereby causing said code symbols to emit radiation; means at said scanning station for continuously scanning across said documents in a direction transverse to said path and parallel to said code symbol rows, said scanning means comprising an apertured scanning wheel rotating at uniform speed, having an axis of rotation coaxial with said arc axis, the radius of curvature of said arc coinciding with that of said scanning wheel a photodetector positioned at said axis for viewing said documents through said apertured wheel, said apertured scanning wheel comprising a plurality of peripheral apertures each having lens means said lens means providing an optical path between said documents and said photodetector for scanning across the documents, thereby focussing an image of said document face on said photodetector, said photodetector being responsive to the radiation emitted by said stimulated code symbols, and said photodetector having a field of view which extends along said path direction a distance greater than the height of the code symbol bars; means correlating the speed of documents along said path with the scanning rate such that each row of code symbols is scanned at least twice; and the entire face of the document is scanned; whereby the information derived from successive scans can be compared to check accuracy and completeness of detection; means for limiting the photodetector response to the radiation emitted by said stimulated code symbols; whereby only said code symbols are detected notwithstanding the presence of said alphanumeric characters.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
393 words
An apparatus for automatically retrieving coded information from documents of the type bearing rows of alphanumeric characters imprinted with a visible material, and for each such character a group of adjacent code symbols imprinted with a photoluminescent material which is essentially invisible but can be stimulated with ultraviolet radiation to emit visible radiation, the code symbols being arranged in rows between and parallel to said character rows and being formed as bars extending in a direction normal to said rows, comprising: means for feeding said documents at uniform speed along a path past a scanning station with said code symbol rows oriented transverse to said path; including means guiding and holding said documents in an arcuate shape as they are fed along said path, the arc axis being parallel to said path, means located at said scanning station for illuminating the face of the documents with stimulating ultraviolet radiation thereby causing said code symbols to emit radiation; means at said scanning station for continuously scanning across said documents in a direction transverse to said path and parallel to said code symbol rows, said scanning means comprising an apertured scanning wheel rotating at uniform speed, having an axis of rotation coaxial with said arc axis, the radius of curvature of said arc coinciding with that of said scanning wheel a photodetector positioned at said axis for viewing said documents through said apertured wheel, said apertured scanning wheel comprising a plurality of peripheral apertures each having lens means said lens means providing an optical path between said documents and said photodetector for scanning across the documents, thereby focussing an image of said document face on said photodetector, said photodetector being responsive to the radiation emitted by said stimulated code symbols, and said photodetector having a field of view which extends along said path direction a distance greater than the height of the code symbol bars; means correlating the speed of documents along said path with the scanning rate such that each row of code symbols is scanned at least twice; and the entire face of the document is scanned; whereby the information derived from successive scans can be compared to check accuracy and completeness of detection; means for limiting the photodetector response to the radiation emitted by said stimulated code symbols; whereby only said code symbols are detected notwithstanding the presence of said alphanumeric characters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for blocking other than said stimulating radiation from reaching the face of the documents at said scanning station whereby said alphanumeric characters are substantially invisible to said photodetector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means limiting the response to the photodetector comprises threshhold means accepting electrical signals from the photodetector and eliminating from said signals all responses below a specified signal level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lens means comprises a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced lens apertures in said peripheral portion, whereby said documents are scanned a plurality of times for each rotation of the scanning wheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said photodetector is provided with optical masking means for limiting the photodetector field of view to a single one of said lens apertures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said correlating means provides scanning of each row of code symbols at least three times, and further comprising means for comparing the responses of said photodetector during successive scans of a row of code symbols, for issuing a response to row of code symbols only if a redundancy exists, and for disabling said photodetector for at least the first scan following said reduncancy, information processing means receiving the issued response of said comparing means and having output means for indicating a characteristic of said documents, and means responsive to said output means for segregating documents according to said characteristic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising in said segregating means, means for feeding documents from said scanning station to an ejection station; first transverse feed means at said ejection station for feeding documents of one characteristic therefrom along a first path; and second transverse feed means at said ejection station for feeding documents of another characteristic therefrom along a second path, said first and second feed means each comprising a constantly moving transverse feed device and a corresponding selectively operable means for engaging a document at the ejection station with the feed device, means for detecting the arrival of a document trailing edge within said ejection station, and wherein said engaging means being responsive to said detecting means, and means for stacking documents fed along said first and second paths.
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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) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |