US3874653A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Document sorting system
Assignee: Optical Recognition Systems Inc
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Filing: 1973-04-30
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1993-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A document sorting system employing a plurality of elongated flexible strips which form document transport channels therebetween and which terminate at a plurality of sorting areas. A magnetic apparatus is provided for selectively deflecting the ends of the flexible strips to form an appropriate channel entrance for the document to be sorted. A coil member is attached to the said end of such flexible strip and current is sent through the coil of the coil members. The coil members are disposed for movement on a piece of the magnetic apparatus and current through the coils of the coil members cooperate with the magnetic field produced by the magnetic apparatus to selectively deflect the coil members and the ends of the flexible strips. The coils of the coil members are connected in a circuit which determines the direction of the current flow in each of the coils. An electronic system is provided for selectively activating activatable document receiving means which are located at the end of each channel and for indicating when missort errors have occurred.
Inventors
- 👤 Rolland Welch
- 👤 Robert Springer
- 👤 Brian Mayberry
- 👤 Robert Sheppard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:21
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/04; B; B65; B65H; B65H29/00; B65H29/58; B65H29/60; G06F; G06F7/00; G06F7/06; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/10; B65H2701/19; B65H2701/1912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A sorting system comprising a document transport path, means for transporting a document along said path, a plurality of elongated flexible strips forming a plurality of document transport channels there between, each said channel terminating at a different sorting area at one end thereof and at a channel selection station adjacent said document transport path at the other end thereof, said strips at said other end being laterally displaceable to join a selected one of said channels with said transport path, and means attached to said strips at the other end thereof for securing said strips to coil members which are mounted on a magnetic apparatus comprising two pairs of magnets which are separated from each other by an air gap, the magnets of each pair of magnets sandwiching a center piece of high permeability material between them, with the same pole of each magnet facing said center piece, said center piece extending from one pair of magnets to the other in said air gap, said coil members being mounted for movement on said center piece, whereby said coils will be deflected towards one pair of magnets when current is sent through the coils in one direction and towards the other pair of magnets when current is sent through in the other direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A sorting system comprising a document transport path, means for transporting a document along said path, a plurality of elongated flexible strips forming a plurality of document transport channels there between, each said channel terminating at a different sorting area at one end thereof and at a channel selection station adjacent said document transport path at the other end thereof, said strips at said other end being laterally displaceable to join a selected one of said channels with said transport path, and means attached to said strips at the other end thereof for securing said strips to coil members which are mounted on a magnetic apparatus comprising two pairs of magnets which are separated from each other by an air gap, the magnets of each pair of magnets sandwiching a center piece of high permeability material between them, with the same pole of each magnet facing said center piece, said center piece extending from one pair of magnets to the other in said air gap, said coil members being mounted for movement on said center piece, whereby said coils will be deflected towards one pair of magnets when current is sent through the coils in one direction and towards the other pair of magnets when current is sent through in the other direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including connecting pieces of high permeability material for connecting the poles opposite to said same pole of said first and second pairs of magnets to each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said connecting pieces comprise one piece which connects a pole of one magnet of one pair and a pole of the corresponding magnet of the other pair and another piece which connects a pole of the other magnet of said one pair and a pole of the corresponding magnet of said other pair.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least part of one edge of said center piece is in the shape of a circular arc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the cross-section of said magnets and said center piece is substantially rectangular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each coil member comprises an electrically conducting coil mounted on a supporting means and wherein the turns of said coils are substantially rectangular in shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the magnets are wider at one than at the other end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein at least part of two concentric edges of said center piece are in the shape of a circular arc, one edge being longer than the other edge, the longer edge connecting a first pair of two magnets of said two pairs together and the shorter edge connecting a second part of two magnets of said two pairs together, said second part being closer to the wider end of said magnets than said first part.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said connecting pieces have recessed areas of contacting said magnets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said center piece is comprised of a plurality of separable parts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein a stacker means is located at each sorting area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for securing said strips to said coil members comprise post means extending between said strips and said coil members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
99 words
The system of claim 12 wherein each of said coil members comprises two flat parallel conducting elements sepaRated from each other on which an insulated conducting coil is wound, the outside end of said conducting coil being soldered to one of said elements and the inside end of said conducting coil being soldered to the other of said elements, each of said conducting elements having portions which extend beyond the area of said coil for connection to an external circuit, and a means which is insulated from said elements for holding said elements in rigid relationship to each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 13 wherein part of each turn of said coil is disposed on one of said elements, part of each turn is disposed on the other of said elements, part of each turn is disposed between said elements and the shape of the turns is substantially rectangular.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |