Apparatus for sensing embossed indicia

Claim 2

A sensing element for use in a device for sensing embossed numerals utilizing the Farington Font, said sensing element comprising, a member having embossed numerals of substantially the same size as the numeral size of the members to be sensed in spaced linear relationship, wherein the numeral 8 preceeds the numeral 3, the numeral 9 preceeds the numeral 7, the numeral 5 preceeds the numeral 2, the numerals 8 and 9 preceed the numeral 0 and the numeral 4 preceeds the numeral 1.

Claim 3

Apparatus for sensing the presence of indicia comprising: article holder means for positioning an article having at least one indicia bit to be sensed, sensing means having a plurality of comparison indicia in a linear spaced arrangement along a surface of said sensing means, said comparison indicia comprising discrete configurations of said surface of said sensing means, bias means for maintaining said sensing means in contact with said article, drive means for creating relative movement between said article and said sensing means, and, means for permitting said article and said sensing means to remain in a fixed relationship after matching comparison and article indicia are brought into contact.

Claim 4

Apparatus for sensing the presence of indicia comprising: article holder means for positioning an article having at least one indicia bit to be sensed, sensing means having a plurality of comparison indicia in a linear spaced arrangement along a surface of said sensing means, said comparison indicia comprising discrete configurations of said surface of said sensing means, bias means for maintaining said sensing means in contact with said article, drive means for creating relative movement between said article and said sensing means, and, means for permitting said article and said sensing means to remain in a fixed relationship after matching comparison and article indicia are brought into contact.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein, said sensing means comprises a belt having a plurality of spaced comparison indicia along one surface thereof, and wherein said drive means moves said belt in a contacting relationship to said article.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein, said means for permitting a fixed relationship comprises a clutch means associated with said drive means for limiting the drive force delivered to said belt.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein, said belt includes a plurality of spaced visible indicia on a surface thereof comprising indicator means for providing a visual indication of the indicia being sensed.

Claim 8

Apparatus for sensing the embossed indicia on a credit card or similar article comprising: article holder means for positioning an article having a plurality of embossed indicia over a plurality of sensing belt means, said sensing belt means having a plurality of embossed indicia on a surface thereof, and positioned by said holder means for contact with a single one of said embossed indicia of said belt means, said article holder means including alignment means for aligning an individual indicia bit on said article with one of said belt means, output means for providing a distinct electrical ouput for each of a plurality of different indicia, said output means comprising electrical contact means for contact with an output element on said tape means, said electrical contact means comprising a plurality of circuit conductors positioned to be electrically completed by discrete positions of said electrical contact means, drive means for moving said belt means, said drive means comprising a motor operatively connected to friction clutch means for transferring force up to a predetermined maximum to said belt means, said friction clutch means comprising a plurality of belt disc means for receiving and driving the belts of said belt means, drive disc means for rotating under the influence of said motor, and said drive disc means being frictionally connected to said belt disc to transfer force to said belt discs and belts.

Claim 9

Apparatus for sensing the embossed indicia on a credit card or similar article comprising: article holder means for positioning an article having a plurality of embossed indicia over a plurality of sensing belt means, said sensing belt means having a plurality of embossed indicia on a surface thereof, and positioned by said holder means for contact with a single one of said embossed indicia of said belt means, said article holder means including alignment means for aligning an individual indicia bit on said article with one of said belt means, output means for providing a distinct electrical ouput for each of a plurality of different indicia, said output means comprising electrical contact means for contact with an output element on said tape means, said electrical contact means comprising a plurality of circuit conductors positioned to be electrically completed by discrete positions of said electrical contact means, drive means for moving said belt means, said drive means comprising a motor operatively connected to friction clutch means for transferring force up to a predetermined maximum to said belt means, said friction clutch means comprising a plurality of belt disc means for receiving and driving the belts of said belt means, drive disc means for rotating under the influence of said motor, and said drive disc means being frictionally connected to said belt disc to transfer force to said belt discs and belts.