US3789193A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Price setting keys and method of transferring price to printer
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
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Filing: 1972-01-07
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1992-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A programmable automatic price setting key for use with a reader to transfer the price to a computer controlled printer for printing the proper base multiple of a commodity. A plurality of price setting tabs have slots therein for insertion on the key, the tabs including two rows of holes, one for clock-pulse generation and the other for supplying coded data. The reader unit incorporates a slot for the key and includes a light source and diffusing lens system along with a slide head with photodiodes positioned to pass over the rows of holes and thereby generate a series of pulses in binary code, corresponding to human readable characters on the key tabs, for transfer of the code to the computer.
Inventors
- 👤 D Bremner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:49
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/04; G06K7/00; G06K7/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
Apparatus for transferring selected commodity pricing information comprising a commodity pricing key having a reading portion, a plurality of tabs slidable onto the reading portion, said tabs including a first section having human readable characters thereon for selection of desired prices to be transferred and a second section adjacent the first section and having machine readable indicators therein corresponding to said human readable characters, and means for reading the machine readable indicators, said reading means including means movable across the Plurality of tabs for observing the positions of the machine readable indicators and for transmitting pulses corresponding to said positions in a cycle along one direction of travel of the movable means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
Apparatus for transferring selected commodity pricing information comprising a commodity pricing key having a reading portion, a plurality of tabs slidable onto the reading portion, said tabs including a first section having human readable characters thereon for selection of desired prices to be transferred and a second section adjacent the first section and having machine readable indicators therein corresponding to said human readable characters, and means for reading the machine readable indicators, said reading means including means movable across the Plurality of tabs for observing the positions of the machine readable indicators and for transmitting pulses corresponding to said positions in a cycle along one direction of travel of the movable means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of apertures in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable characters, the reading means includes a light source, and the movable means includes photosensitive elements for detecting light emitting through the apertures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of magnets embedded in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable characters, and the reading means include elements actuated by the magnets for transmitting said pulses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of slots in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable characters, and the reading means include spring-loaded elements actuated by sensing of the slots for transmitting said pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
112 words
In commodity pricing apparatus, means for transferring the price of a commodity from said apparatus to a computer-controlled printer, said means comprising a commodity pricing key having a plurality of tabs with human readable numerals and machine readable indicators thereon, each of said tabs being slidable onto the pricing key, means for locking the tabs in position of the key, and means for reading the machine readable indicators, said reading means including means movable across the plurality of tabs for observing the positions of the indicators and for transmitting pulses to the computer in binary code corresponding to said positions in a cycle along one direction of travel of the movable means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
112 words
In commodity pricing apparatus, means for transferring the price of a commodity from said apparatus to a computer-controlled printer, said means comprising a commodity pricing key having a plurality of tabs with human readable numerals and machine readable indicators thereon, each of said tabs being slidable onto the pricing key, means for locking the tabs in position of the key, and means for reading the machine readable indicators, said reading means including means movable across the plurality of tabs for observing the positions of the indicators and for transmitting pulses to the computer in binary code corresponding to said positions in a cycle along one direction of travel of the movable means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
In the apparatus of claim 5 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of apertures in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable numerals, the reading means includes a light source, and the movable means includes photosensitive elements for detecting light emitting through the apertures.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
In the apparatus of claim 5 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of magnets embedded in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable numerals, and the reading means include elements actuated by the magnets for transmitting said pulses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
In the apparatus of claim 5 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of slots in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable characters, and the reading means include spring-loaded elements actuated by sensing of the slots for tarnsmitting said pulses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for transferring selected commodity pricing information comprising a commodity pricing key having a reading portion and movable in at least one direction of travel, a plurality of tabs slidable onto the reading portion, said tabs including a first section having human readable characters thereon for selection of desired prices to be transferred and a second section adjacent the first section and having machine readable indicators therein corresponding to said human readable characters, and means for reading the machine readable indicators, said reading means including means for observing the positions of the machine readable indicators and for transmitting pulses corresponding to said positions in a cycle along one direction of travel of the pricing key.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
115 words
Apparatus for transferring selected commodity pricing information comprising a commodity pricing key having a reading portion and movable in at least one direction of travel, a plurality of tabs slidable onto the reading portion, said tabs including a first section having human readable characters thereon for selection of desired prices to be transferred and a second section adjacent the first section and having machine readable indicators therein corresponding to said human readable characters, and means for reading the machine readable indicators, said reading means including means for observing the positions of the machine readable indicators and for transmitting pulses corresponding to said positions in a cycle along one direction of travel of the pricing key.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of apertures in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable characters, the reading means includes a light source, and the means for observing includes photosensitive elements for detecting light emitting through the apertures.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the machine readable indicaTors comprise a plurality of magnets embedded in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable characters, and the reading means include elements actuated by the magnets for transmitting said pulses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of slots in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable characters, and the reading means include spring-loaded elements actuated by sensing of the slots for transmitting said pulses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
In commodity pricing apparatus, means for transferring the price of a commodity from said apparatus to a computer-controlled printer, said means comprising a commodity pricing key having a plurality of tabs with human readable numerals and machine readable indicators thereon, each of said tabs being slidable onto the pricing key, said pricing key being movable in at least one direction of travel, means for locking the tabs in position on the key, and means for reading the machine readable indicators, said reading means including means for observing the positions of the indicators and for transmitting pulses to the computer in binary code corresponding to said positions in a cycle along one direction of travel of the pricing key.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
In commodity pricing apparatus, means for transferring the price of a commodity from said apparatus to a computer-controlled printer, said means comprising a commodity pricing key having a plurality of tabs with human readable numerals and machine readable indicators thereon, each of said tabs being slidable onto the pricing key, said pricing key being movable in at least one direction of travel, means for locking the tabs in position on the key, and means for reading the machine readable indicators, said reading means including means for observing the positions of the indicators and for transmitting pulses to the computer in binary code corresponding to said positions in a cycle along one direction of travel of the pricing key.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
In the apparatus of claim 13 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of apertures in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable numerals, the reading means includes a light source, and the means for observing includes photosensitive elements for detecting light emitting through the apertures.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
In the apparatus of claim 13 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of magnets embedded in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable numerals, and the reading means include elements actuated by the magnets for transmitting said pulses.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
In the apparatus of claim 13 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of slots in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable characters, and the reading means include spring-loaded elements actuated by sensing of the slots for transmitting said pulses.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for transferring selected commodity pricing information comprising a commodity pricing key having a reading portion, a plurality of tabs slidable onto the reading portion, said tabs including a first section having human readable characters thereon for selection of desired prices to be transferred and a second section adjacent the first section and having machine readable indicators therein corresponding to said human readable characters, and means for reading the machine readable indicators, said reading means including means spanning the plurality of tabs for observing the positions of the machine readable indicators and for transmitting pulses corresponding to said positions along the tabs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for transferring selected commodity pricing information comprising a commodity pricing key having a reading portion, a plurality of tabs slidable onto the reading portion, said tabs including a first section having human readable characters thereon for selection of desired prices to be transferred and a second section adjacent the first section and having machine readable indicators therein corresponding to said human readable characters, and means for reading the machine readable indicators, said reading means including means spanning the plurality of tabs for observing the positions of the machine readable indicators and for transmitting pulses corresponding to said positions along the tabs.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of apertures in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable characters, the reading means includes a light source, and the means for observing includes photosensitive elements for detecting light emitting through the apertures.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of magnets embedded in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable characters, and the reading means include elements actuated by the magnets for transmitting said pulses.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of slots in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable characters, and the reading means include spring-loaded elements actuated by sensing of the slots for transmitting said pulses.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
102 words
In commodity pricing apparatus, means for transferring the price of a commodity from said apparAtus to a computer-controlled printer, said means comprising a commodity pricing key having a plurality of tabs with human readable numerals and machine readable indicators thereon, each of said tabs being slidable onto the pricing key, means for locking the tabs in position on the key, and means for reading the machine readable indicators, said reading means including means spanning the plurality of tabs for observing the positions of the indicators and for transmitting pulses to the computer in binary code corresponding to said positions along the tabs.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
102 words
In commodity pricing apparatus, means for transferring the price of a commodity from said apparAtus to a computer-controlled printer, said means comprising a commodity pricing key having a plurality of tabs with human readable numerals and machine readable indicators thereon, each of said tabs being slidable onto the pricing key, means for locking the tabs in position on the key, and means for reading the machine readable indicators, said reading means including means spanning the plurality of tabs for observing the positions of the indicators and for transmitting pulses to the computer in binary code corresponding to said positions along the tabs.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
52 words
In the apparatus of claim 21 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of apertures in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable numerals, the reading means includes a light source, and the means for observing includes photosensitive elements for detecting light emitting through the apertures.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
45 words
In the apparatus of claim 21 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of magnets embedded in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable numerals, and the reading means include elements actuated by the magnets for transmitting said pulses.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
47 words
In the apparatus of claim 21 wherein the machine readable indicators comprise a plurality of slots in the tabs and spaced in binary coded relationship with the human readable characters, and the reading means include spring-loaded elements actuated by sensing of the slots for transmitting said pulses.
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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) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |