Automatic date-stamping system for vehicles entering parking areas

Claim 2

In a toll-operated parking area, in combination with blocking means against entry of an incoming automotive vehicle thereinto, a. means for stamping the date of entry on the side-wall of a tire of the vehicle body in invisible ink, and b. means for releasing said blocking means in response to the completion of the operation of said stamping means.

Claim 3

An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said blocking means comprises a. a guide channel for the aligned front and rear wheels of a vehicle, b. a pivoted upstanding plate at the forward end of said channel, c. means for locking said plate against movement, and d. means for withdrawing said blocking means upon completion of the cycle of operation of said stamping means.

Claim 4

An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, including signalling means operating simultaneously with said last-mentioned withdrawing means to indicate the inoperative condition of the blocking means.

Claim 5

An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, including displaced positioning devices in said channel to indicate the alignment of the tire with the date-stamping means.

Claim 6

An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, including supplemental blocking means adjacent to the rear inlet of the channel to prevent a reversal of movement of the vehicle following the initiation of the cycle of operation.

Claim 7

In a toll-operated parking area, in combination with blocking means against entry of an incoming automobile vehicle thereinto, a. said blocking means comprising a guide channel for the aligned front and rear wheels of the vehicle, a pivoted upstanding plate at the forward end of said channel, and means for locking said plate against movement, b. means for stamping on the bottom portion of the side-wall of a tire of the vehicle, in invisible ink, the date of entry of the vehicle into the parking area, c. displaced positioning devices in said channel to indicate the alignment of the tire with the date-stamping means, d. means for withdrawing said blocking means and releasing said upstanding plate upon the completion of the cycle of operation of said stamping means, e. signalling means operating simultaneously with said withdrawing means to indicate the inoperative condition of said blocking means, f. supplemental blocking means adjacent to the rear inlet of said channel to prevent a reversal of movement of the vehicle following the initiation of the cycle of operation, and g. a plurality of electrical switches at displaced points along the guide channel for controlling sequentially the inking of the date stamping means with the invisible ink, the movement of the date stamp against the side-wall of the tire and said withdrawal of the locking means.

Claim 8

In a toll-operated parking area, in combination with blocking means against entry of an incoming automobile vehicle thereinto, a. said blocking means comprising a guide channel for the aligned front and rear wheels of the vehicle, a pivoted upstanding plate at the forward end of said channel, and means for locking said plate against movement, b. means for stamping on the bottom portion of the side-wall of a tire of the vehicle, in invisible ink, the date of entry of the vehicle into the parking area, c. displaced positioning devices in said channel to indicate the alignment of the tire with the date-stamping means, d. means for withdrawing said blocking means and releasing said upstanding plate upon the completion of the cycle of operation of said stamping means, e. signalling means operating simultaneously with said withdrawing means to indicate the inoperative condition of said blocking means, f. supplemental blocking means adjacent to the rear inlet of said channel to prevent a reversal of movement of the vehicle following the initiation of the cycle of operation, and g. a plurality of electrical switches at displaced points along the guide channel for controlling sequentially the inking of the date stamping means with the invisible ink, the movement of the date stamp against the side-wall of the tire and said withdrawal of the locking means.

Claim 9

An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said switches comprise a photo-electric switch operated by the interruption of a light-ray when the tire is in position for the stamping of the date thereon.

Claim 10

An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, including a housing on the side of said guide channel, and electromechanical means within said housing for operating said inking and date-stamping means.

Claim 11

An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said signalling means includes lamp indicators on said housing.

Claim 12

An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said inking means comprises a reservoir for the invisible ink with a continuously operating motor for stirring the ink within the reservoir.

Claim 13

An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, including cyclically operating electric motors for inking the date stamp and for actuating the date stamp to and from the tire of the vehicle.

Claim 14

An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said electric motor for actuating the date stamp is reversible, with a reciprocating actuator geared thereto.

Claim 15

An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, including a plurality of limit switches cooperating with said actuator for controlling said reversible motor.

Claim 16

An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein one of said switches is operable at the conclusion of the date-stamping operation to initiate the reversal of the motor, and a second one of said switches is operable to stop said motor at the end of the stamping operation.

Claim 17

An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, including an additional limit switch on said actuator for reversing said electric motor in response to an extended travel of said actuator without encountering a tire in its path.