US3763352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-cleaning read head
Assignee: RCA Corp
•
Filing: 1971-06-21
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Granted: 1973-10-02
•
Expires: 1991-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A read head and record card guiding assembly arranged so that the leading edge of a unit record card wipes the surface of the read head and is then spaced away from the surface of the read head when the card is passed beneath the read head.
Inventors
- 👤 Rio E Del
- 👤 D Pothier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:00
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10831; G11; G11B; G11B7/00; G11B7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
Apparatus for reading unit records comprising, in combination: rotatable drum means; means for supplying indicia containing unit records serially to the surface of said drum means, whereby said unit records are moved as said drum is rotated, said unit records having a tendency to move away from the surface of said drum means and become tangential thereto; optical reading means including optical transducer means terminating in a planar surface, said planar surface spaced from and facing said drum means and forming an acute angle with a tangent to said drum means, said planar surface having a front portion first passed by a unit record and a rear portion spaced substantially closer to the drum than said front portion, the angle made by said planar surface being such that the leading edge of a unit record driven by the drum strikes said planar surface in front of said transducer termination, then scrapes along said surface until a point beyond said termination, then is guided back against the drum surface so that the unit record is spaced from said termination of said optical transducer means during the movement of the major portion of the unit record past said termination by said drum means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
Apparatus for reading unit records comprising, in combination: rotatable drum means; means for supplying indicia containing unit records serially to the surface of said drum means, whereby said unit records are moved as said drum is rotated, said unit records having a tendency to move away from the surface of said drum means and become tangential thereto; optical reading means including optical transducer means terminating in a planar surface, said planar surface spaced from and facing said drum means and forming an acute angle with a tangent to said drum means, said planar surface having a front portion first passed by a unit record and a rear portion spaced substantially closer to the drum than said front portion, the angle made by said planar surface being such that the leading edge of a unit record driven by the drum strikes said planar surface in front of said transducer termination, then scrapes along said surface until a point beyond said termination, then is guided back against the drum surface so that the unit record is spaced from said termination of said optical transducer means during the movement of the major portion of the unit record past said termination by said drum means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for sensing indicia containing documents comprising, in combination: transducer means having a surface through one restricted portion of which said document is read and which restricted portion tends to accumulate dirt; drive means including a rotatable drum for driving a document past said transducer means leading edge first, and including means for maintaining said document in contact with the surface of said drum; and guide means for causing the leading edge of said document first to engage a part of said surface in front of said restricted portion and then to scrape along said surface to a point beyond said restricted portion, removing accumulated dirt in the process.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for sensing indicia containing documents comprising, in combination: transducer means having a surface through one restricted portion of which said document is read and which restricted portion tends to accumulate dirt; drive means including a rotatable drum for driving a document past said transducer means leading edge first, and including means for maintaining said document in contact with the surface of said drum; and guide means for causing the leading edge of said document first to engage a part of said surface in front of said restricted portion and then to scrape along said surface to a point beyond said restricted portion, removing accumulated dirt in the process.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for sensing indicia containing documents comprising, in combination: transducer means having a surface through one restricted portion of which said document is read and which restricted portion tends to accumulate dirt; drive means for driving a document past said transducer means leading edge first; first guide means for causing the leading edge of said document first to engage a part of said surface in front of said restricted portion and then to scrape along said surface to a point beyond said restricted portion, removing accumulated dirt in the process; and second guide means positioned to engage the leading edge of said document after it has reached a point beyond said restricted portion of said surface of said transducer means, for causing said document to follow a path such that the surface of said document is spaced from said restricted portion of the surface of said transducer means during the reading of said document by said transducer means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for sensing indicia containing documents comprising, in combination: transducer means having a surface through one restricted portion of which said document is read and which restricted portion tends to accumulate dirt; drive means for driving a document past said transducer means leading edge first; first guide means for causing the leading edge of said document first to engage a part of said surface in front of said restricted portion and then to scrape along said surface to a point beyond said restricted portion, removing accumulated dirt in the process; and second guide means positioned to engage the leading edge of said document after it has reached a point beyond said restricted portion of said surface of said transducer means, for causing said document to follow a path such that the surface of said document is spaced from said restricted portion of the surface of said transducer means during the reading of said document by said transducer means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said transducer means comprises an optical read head, and said document to be sensed includes a medium which is sensed by said optical read head in a reflective operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second guide means and said optical read head are arranged in a physical combination to constrain said document in a controlled form such that said document initially wipes the surface of said optical read head and is subsequently spaced from said surface as said document is moved past said optical read head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second guide means comprises a portion of said transducer means.
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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) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |