Patent US5397003A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5397003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for determining the orientation of a document
Assignee: Opex Corp
•
Filing: 1993-08-30
•
Granted: 1995-03-14
•
Expires: 2013-08-30
Abstract
Abstract To identify the orientation of specified documents, such as checks bearing magnetic ink markings, steps are taken to magnetize ink markings associated with the document, and to then detect magnetized ink markings on the document to develop electrical signals which can then be subjected to processing for identifying the orientation of the document based upon certain preestablished criteria. The result is a stand-alone device adapted to operate upon documents which are contained within envelopes to be subjected to an extraction procedure, prior to extraction from the envelopes, achieving a pre-processing of envelopes to identify those which contain the specified documents, and the orientation of the identified documents. The device is similarly adapted to operate upon the extracted documents, to identify those requiring special handling, and their orientation.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark A. Stevens
- 👤 William R. Lile
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:10
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C3/00; B07C3/02; B07C1/00; B07C1/20; B43; B43M; B43M7/00; B43M7/02; B65; B65H; B65H2553/00; B65H2553/40; B65H2553/41
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for determining the orientation of a document receivable in differing orientations relative to said apparatus, said document including magnetic ink markings on a surface of the document, and said apparatus comprising: means for magnetizing the magnetic ink markings on said document, and means for detecting magnetized ink markings on said document, wherein said magnetizing means and said detecting means are capable of magnetizing and detecting magnetic ink markings separated from said magnetizing means and said detecting means by at least one paper thickness; and means for determining that said document is in a first defined orientation, or that said document is in a second defined orientation different from the first orientation, and for identifying documents in said first orientation and documents in said second orientation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for determining the orientation of a document receivable in differing orientations relative to said apparatus, said document including magnetic ink markings on a surface of the document, and said apparatus comprising: means for magnetizing the magnetic ink markings on said document, and means for detecting magnetized ink markings on said document, wherein said magnetizing means and said detecting means are capable of magnetizing and detecting magnetic ink markings separated from said magnetizing means and said detecting means by at least one paper thickness; and means for determining that said document is in a first defined orientation, or that said document is in a second defined orientation different from the first orientation, and for identifying documents in said first orientation and documents in said second orientation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said document is a check.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said paper thickness comprises paper forming the check.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said paper thickness comprises paper forming an envelope containing said check.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said magnetizing means and said detecting means are magnetic heads associated with fixtures positioned in alignment with the passage of documents through said orientation determining apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a pair of magnetizing heads are coupled with a pair of detecting heads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a detecting head is positioned in alignment with lower portions of said documents.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the lower portions of said documents include a magnetic ink character recognition data line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a detecting head is positioned in alignment with upper portions of said documents.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the upper portions of said documents include account identifying indicia.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said documents are symmetrically received by a paired couple of detecting heads.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said detecting means includes a magnetic head for providing electrical signals to a circuit for interpreting said signals and for providing an indication of the orientation of said document in accordance with said electrical signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said circuit includes means for determining indicia-defined features located on said document.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said indicia-defined features include continuous groups of markings, and gaps separating said marking groups.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said gaps include spacings which exceed a defined length, and wherein said marking groups include spacings which do not exceed said defined length.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said detecting means includes a pair of magnetic heads, and wherein a separate count of marking groups and gaps is maintained for signals received from each of said magnetic heads.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said indicia-defined features further include gaps separating edges of said document and said marking groups.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said indicia are monitored responsive to passage of a leading edge of a document to said detecting means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said circuit includes microprocessor means for receiving said electrical signals, and for determining the orientation of said document based upon defined criteria selected according to the normal location of the indicia-defined features on said document.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises means for orienting said document responsive to signals received from said orientation determining means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said determining means and said identifying means operate responsive to the detection of magnetized ink markings on said document.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first orientation for said document is assumed by a document which is inverted and facing toward the magnetizing means and the detecting means, and the second orientation for said document is assumed by a document which is inverted and facing away from the magnetizing means and the detecting means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the document is a check which, in said first orientation and in said second orientation, has a magnetically encodable data line disposed along top portions of the check.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first orientation for said document is assumed by a document which is upright and facing toward the magnetizing means and the detecting means, and the second orientation for said document is assumed by a document which is upright and facing away from the magnetizing means and the detecting means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said apparatus further includes means for determining that said document is in a third defined orientation different from the first and second orientations, and for identifying documents in said third orientation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said determining means and said identifying means operate responsive to said means for detecting magnetized ink markings on said document.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said apparatus further includes means for determining that said document is in a fourth defined orientation different from the first, second and third orientations, and means for identifying documents in said fourth orientation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said determining means and said identifying means operate responsive to said means for detecting magnetized ink markings on said document.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the third orientation for said document is assumed by a document which is inverted and facing toward the magnetizing means and the detecting means, and the fourth orientation for said document is assumed by a document which is inverted and facing away from the magnetizing means and the detecting means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the document is a check which, in said first orientation and in said second orientation, has a magnetically encodable data line disposed along bottom portions of the check.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for determining the orientation of a document receivable in differing orientations, said document including magnetic ink markings on a surface of the document, and said method comprising the steps of: magnetizing the magnetic ink markings on said document; detecting magnetized ink markings on said document; wherein said magnetizing and said detecting are capable of operating through at least one paper thickness; and determining that said document is in a first defined orientation, or that said document is in a second defined orientation different from the first orientation, identifying documents in said first orientation and documents in said second orientation.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for determining the orientation of a document receivable in differing orientations, said document including magnetic ink markings on a surface of the document, and said method comprising the steps of: magnetizing the magnetic ink markings on said document; detecting magnetized ink markings on said document; wherein said magnetizing and said detecting are capable of operating through at least one paper thickness; and determining that said document is in a first defined orientation, or that said document is in a second defined orientation different from the first orientation, identifying documents in said first orientation and documents in said second orientation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 31 which further comprises the step of transporting a check along said longitudinal transport path.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said magnetizing and said detecting through said paper thickness includes magnetizing and detecting through paper forming the check.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said magnetizing and said detecting through said paper thickness includes magnetizing and detecting through paper forming an envelope containing said check.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 32 wherein lower portions of said check include a magnetic ink character recognition data line, for magnetizing and detecting.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 35 wherein upper portions of said check include account identifying indicia, for magnetizing and detecting.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 31 which further comprises the steps of: deriving electrical signals responsive to said detecting step; and interpreting said signals and providing an indication of the orientation of said document in accordance with said derived electrical signals.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 37 wherein said interpreting includes the step of determining indicia-defined features located on said document.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 38 wherein said indicia-defined features include continuous groups of markings, and gaps separating said marking groups.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 39 wherein said gaps include spacings which exceed a defined length, and wherein said marking groups include spacings which do not exceed said defined length.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 39 which further comprises the step of counting the marking groups and gaps of the derived electrical signal.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 39 which further comprises the step of counting gaps separating edges of said document and said marking groups.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 39 which further comprises the step of monitoring said indicia responsive to passage of a leading edge of a document.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 39 which further comprises the steps of introducing said electrical signals to microprocessor means; and determining the orientation of said document based upon defined criteria selected according to the normal location of the indicia-defined features on said document.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 31 which further comprises the step of orienting said document according to the orientation defined by said determining step.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said determining and said identifying are responsive to the detecting of magnetized ink markings on said document.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the first orientation for said document is assumed by a document which is inverted and facing toward means for magnetizing and means for detecting the magnetic ink markings on the document, and the second orientation for said document is assumed by a document which is inverted and facing away from the magnetizing means and the detecting means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the document is a check which, in said first orientation and in said second orientation, has a magnetically encodable data line disposed along top portions of the check.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the first orientation for said document is assumed by a document which is upright and facing toward means for magnetizing and means for detecting the magnetic ink markings on the document, and the second orientation for said document is assumed by a document which is upright and facing away from the magnetizing means and the detecting means.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 49 which further comprises the step of determining that said document is in a third defined orientation different from the first and second orientations, identifying documents in said third orientation.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 50 wherein said determining and said identifying are responsive to the detecting of magnetized ink markings on said document.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 50 which further comprises the step of determining that said document is in a fourth defined orientation different from the first, second and third orientations, identifying documents in said fourth orientation.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 52 wherein said determining and said identifying are responsive to the detecting of magnetized ink markings on said document.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 52 wherein the third orientation for said document is assumed by a document which is inverted and facing toward the magnetizing means and the detecting means, and the fourth orientation for said document is assumed by a document which is inverted and facing away from the magnetizing means and the detecting means.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 54 wherein the document is a check which, in said first orientation and in said second orientation, has a magnetically encodable data line disposed along bottom portions of the check.
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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) | 1998-03-13 | 1998-09-12 | 1999-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-13 | 2002-09-12 | 2003-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-13 | 2006-09-12 | 2007-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |