US4082945A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Document processing device
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1977-05-23
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Granted: 1978-04-04
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Expires: 1997-05-23
Abstract
Abstract A document processing device for performing separate operations on at least two different kinds of documents, such as bills and associated vouchers, or orders for payment such as checks, provided with transport means for moving documents of a first kind, the bills, in a continuous movement along at least a reading station, and with transport means for moving documents of a second kind, the checks, stepwise along at least an encoding station.
Inventors
- 👤 Adrianus Johannes van de Goor
- 👤 Hans Pijlman
- 👤 Bernard Evert VAN DER Vleugel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 03:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A document processing device for performing individual operations on at least two different kinds of documents, such as bills, and associated vouchers or instructions for payment such as checks, provided with transport means for carrying documents of the first kind, the bills, continuously past at least a reading station, and with transport means for incrementally moving documents of the second kind, the checks, past at least an encoding station, characterized in that a single transport path for at least two kinds of documents is provided, which is equipped with a single transport drive for selectively, continuously or intermittently moving documents past processing stations disposed along the transport path, such as a reading station, an encoding station, a printing station and an endorsing station, and a control unit for selectively controlling, in dependence on the alternately different documents introduced, the various processing stations and the associated movement of the documents.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A document processing device for performing individual operations on at least two different kinds of documents, such as bills, and associated vouchers or instructions for payment such as checks, provided with transport means for carrying documents of the first kind, the bills, continuously past at least a reading station, and with transport means for incrementally moving documents of the second kind, the checks, past at least an encoding station, characterized in that a single transport path for at least two kinds of documents is provided, which is equipped with a single transport drive for selectively, continuously or intermittently moving documents past processing stations disposed along the transport path, such as a reading station, an encoding station, a printing station and an endorsing station, and a control unit for selectively controlling, in dependence on the alternately different documents introduced, the various processing stations and the associated movement of the documents.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
A document processing device as in claim 1, further characterized in that in definite places the transport path is provided with document sensors for signaling to the control unit that a document in the transport path has reached or leaves such a place, and the control unit comprises timing means and latch circuits which, controlled by the outputs of the document sensors and internal logical signals of the control unit, determine beginning and duration of the operation of the various processing stations and the movement of the documents in the transport path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A document processing device as in claim 2, further characterized in that the control unit comprises means indicating the kind of document, switching in response to the outputs of the relevant document sensors for signaling that a document of the other kind will follow after the document which has just passed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
A document processing device as in claim 3, provided with a keyboard, and characterized in that the keyboard comprises a function key, which, if actuated, delivers to the control unit a signal resetting at least the first of the means indicating the kind of document, if it has already been switched by the preceding document or blocking such switching if the preceding document had not yet effected the switching.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A document processing device as in claim 4, provided with a stacker for each kind of the documents to be processed, and characterized in that a stacker pocket selector is provided, the energization setting the selection thereof being controlled by the means indicating the kind of document so that only documents of one kind are deposited in the same stacker pocket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
101 words
A document processing device as in one of the foregoing claims, further characterized in that the control unit comprises a comparator for comparing the amount read by the reading station from a document of the first kind, such as a bill, with an amount which the operator has read from the associated document of the second kind, such as a check, and has entered into the control unit by means of the keyboard, the comparator output signaling agreement causing the control unit to feed the document of the second kind placed in the input of the transport path into the device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
A document processing device as in one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the single transport path comprises two portions which are in line, the first portion, driven by the single transport drive controlled by the control unit, comprising the input, said first portion of the transport path having arranged therealong at least the reading station and the encoding station past which, dependent of the setting of the means indicating the kind of document in the control unit, documents of the first kind (bills) are fed in continuous movement or documents of the second kind (checks) are fed incrementally.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A document processing device as in claim 7, further characterized in that for the first portion of the single transport path the single transport drive controlled by the control unit is a stepping motor, selectively imparting to the first portion of the transport path either a continuous or an intermittent movement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A document processing device as in claim 7, further characterized in that the single transport drive of the second portion of the single transport path, alongside which are disposed at least the printing station and the endorsing station and which ends, by way of the stacker pocket selector in the stacker pocket, is a continuously energized motor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A document processing device as in claim 7, 8 or 9, further characterized in that a document aligning station is disposed between the first and the second portion of the single transport path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A document processing device as in claim 10, further characterized in that the aligning station is driven by the continuously energized drive motor of the second portion of the single transport path.
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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) | 1981-04-03 | 1981-10-03 | 1982-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-03 | 1985-10-03 | 1986-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-03 | 1989-10-03 | 1990-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |