CA1048972A - Encodable strip attachment apparatus - Google Patents
Encodable strip attachment apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1048972A CA1048972A CA77290455A CA290455A CA1048972A CA 1048972 A CA1048972 A CA 1048972A CA 77290455 A CA77290455 A CA 77290455A CA 290455 A CA290455 A CA 290455A CA 1048972 A CA1048972 A CA 1048972A
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- document
- encodable
- strip
- assembly
- station
- Prior art date
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Abstract
ENCODABLE STRIP ATTACHMENT APPARATUS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for adhesively attaching a strip of encodable material adapted to receive machine decodable indicia to, and along the edge of, a document such as a check or the like, means being provided for retaining and feeding a continuous supply of the encodable material to an alignment station where the documents are aligned and tacked thereto, thereafter the material is cut into strips which are heat sealed to the document, the strip modified documents being transported into a storage bin. The entire operation is automatic, employing a sensor actuated assembly responsive to the location of the document to effect the transport, sealing, and cutting. Rotatably driven, sensor controlled, feed wheels automatically input the documents to the alignment station.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for adhesively attaching a strip of encodable material adapted to receive machine decodable indicia to, and along the edge of, a document such as a check or the like, means being provided for retaining and feeding a continuous supply of the encodable material to an alignment station where the documents are aligned and tacked thereto, thereafter the material is cut into strips which are heat sealed to the document, the strip modified documents being transported into a storage bin. The entire operation is automatic, employing a sensor actuated assembly responsive to the location of the document to effect the transport, sealing, and cutting. Rotatably driven, sensor controlled, feed wheels automatically input the documents to the alignment station.
Description
~048972 This patent application is a division of copending patent application Serial No. 232,239 filed July 25, 1975.
The present inVentiOn relates generally to the automatic processing of commercial instruments, more particularly to the automatic processing of transfer of fund type instruments such as checks, credit card receipts, and the like havin~ machine readable indicia thereon, and even more particularly to a method and apparatus for attaching a discrete strip of encodable material to such instrumentS to enable their automatic processing.
It is well known that the last several years have witnessed a vast proliferation of transfer and fund in-struments, such as checks, drafts, credit card receipts, and other commercial documents and the like, employed by banks and other large commercial institutions. In order to keep pace with this increase, encoded indicia has been disposed upon a face of these documents; and sophisticated equipment implemented to decode the indicia and automatically handle, sort, and process these documents, in accordance with the decoded informa-tion.
Although this approach has gene~ally served the purpose of increasing the efficiency of handling and pro-cessing these documents, it has not been entirely without dif-ficulty. For example, despite the best efforts of those handling the instruments, many of the documents are often defaced, mutilated, improperly encoded, or otherwise rendered unsuitablefor processing, and will consequently be rejected by the auto-matic equipment. To overcome these difficulties various solutions have been devised for repairing or modifying the instruments to enable their automatic processing, one such solu-tion being the attachment of a strip of-encoda~le material to the unprocessable document, the new encodable strip then pro-viding an additional area for receiving new encoded
The present inVentiOn relates generally to the automatic processing of commercial instruments, more particularly to the automatic processing of transfer of fund type instruments such as checks, credit card receipts, and the like havin~ machine readable indicia thereon, and even more particularly to a method and apparatus for attaching a discrete strip of encodable material to such instrumentS to enable their automatic processing.
It is well known that the last several years have witnessed a vast proliferation of transfer and fund in-struments, such as checks, drafts, credit card receipts, and other commercial documents and the like, employed by banks and other large commercial institutions. In order to keep pace with this increase, encoded indicia has been disposed upon a face of these documents; and sophisticated equipment implemented to decode the indicia and automatically handle, sort, and process these documents, in accordance with the decoded informa-tion.
Although this approach has gene~ally served the purpose of increasing the efficiency of handling and pro-cessing these documents, it has not been entirely without dif-ficulty. For example, despite the best efforts of those handling the instruments, many of the documents are often defaced, mutilated, improperly encoded, or otherwise rendered unsuitablefor processing, and will consequently be rejected by the auto-matic equipment. To overcome these difficulties various solutions have been devised for repairing or modifying the instruments to enable their automatic processing, one such solu-tion being the attachment of a strip of-encoda~le material to the unprocessable document, the new encodable strip then pro-viding an additional area for receiving new encoded
- 2 - ~
1t)48972 indicia identical to the mutilated or otherwise undecodable indicia on the document. The so modified document can be then processed by the automatic equipment. Additionally, the attach-ed strip provides an area for receiving encoded indicia i-n addition to, or dissimilar from, the encoded indicia on the document. Prior to the present invention, however, the encod-able strip had to be manually applied to the document or by means of apparatus which is cumbersome or does not afford the requisite alignment of the encodable strip with the document.
It is therefore a primary object of the present in-vention to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for attaching encodable material to a document.
It is another object of the present invention to pro-vide apparatus which automatically aliyns and attaches a strip lS Of encodable material with a transfer of fund type instrument in a manner that enables the subsequent automatic processing of the instrument in accordance with machine decodable indicia upon the strip.-It is even still a further object of the invention to provide new and improved encodable strip attachment apparatusincluding uniquely designed assemblies for aligning and attach-ing a heat activatable thermoplastic adhesive bearing strip to defaced, mutilated, improperly encoded, or otherwise unprocess-able checks, as well as for transporting the encodable material, checks, and strip modified checks through the overall apparatus.
Broadly stated, the invention is an encodable stripattachment apparatus for attaching discrete strips of encod-able material along the longitudinal edge of a generally rectangular shaped document, said apparatus comprising: (a) a roll of said encodable material of the type having an encodable band portion and a heat activatable adhesive bearing ~48972 portion ad~acent to said encodable band portion, (b) means disposed at a supply station for retaining said roll, (c) alignment guide means at an alignment station for aligning said document with said encodable material so that the heat activat-able adhesive bearing portion overlaps said document at saidlongitudinal edge and the encodable band portion extends below the longitudinal edge, (d) heat sealing means for heating said heat activatable adhesive bearing portion solely at the location of overlap of said adhesive bearing portion with said document, and (e) means for severing said encodable material from said roll, thereby to provide said discrete strips.
In accordance with these and other objects, the following is a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, including specific features thereof, the description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts, and in which:
Figures 1 and 2 are illustrations of a check type document with a discrete strip of encodable material having been attached thereto in accordance with the process and apparatus of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a pictorial illustration of the front view of the encodable strip attachment apparatus of the pre-sent invention;
Figure 4 is a pictorial illustration of the rear view of the encodable strip attachment apparatus of the pre-sent invention;
Figure 5 is an orthographic view of the front com-partment of the apparatus depicted in Figures 3 and 4, illus-trating the principal functions of the apparatus;
Figure 6A and 6B illustrate the specific details of the subassembly disposed at the encodable material supply station;
1()48972 Figure 7 illustrates, in detail, the unique features of the document alignment assembly of the apparatus of the present invention;
Figure 8 illustrates, in detail, the unique features of the final sealing assembly of the apparatus of the present invention;
Figures 9 and 9A illustrate, in detail, the unique features of the cutter assembly of the apparatus of the pre-sent invention;
Figures 10 and lOA illustrate, in detail, the unique features of the output assembly of the apparatus of the present invention;
Figure 11 illustrates the advancement of the encodable material and the documents through the overall encodable strip attachment apparatus of the present invention by the respective encodable material and document transport assemblies;
Figure 12 is an isometric view of a uniquely designed cam shaft assembly, and related parts, for effecting the de-sired operation of the apparatus;
Figure 13 is a representation of the summary of the operation of the cam shaft assembly; and Figure 14 is a preerred embodiment of an automatic document feeder to be employed in conjunction with the encodable strip attachment apparatus of the present invention.
1~4897Z
Referring now to the drawings, and initially to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, a document 25 is depicted with a discrete strip 5 of encodable material having been attached thereto by the apparatus of the present invention. For convenience of illustration, the document 25 is depicted as a conventional bank check, but it is to be understood that the document may also be any type of commercial instrument used in the transfer of funds, for example deposit slips, credit card receipts, bil-ling slips, etc. As used throughout the following description, the term "document" means and refers to an instrument generallyrectangular shaped, normally having a set of encoded indicia disposed on the face of the instrument along an edge thereof, which encoded indicia is employed in the automatic handling and processing of the instrument for such operations as reading, sorting, data processing, etc.
The check 25 includes a front face 1 upon which is normally disposed characteristic information such as the bank name, account style, check number, etc. Disposed adjacent a longitudinal edge 4 of the document is a set of encoded indicia 2 normally representing the routing symbol, transit number, account number, check amount, or the like. This encoded indicia, ordinarily in the form of magnetic ink characters referred to as MICR, is adapted to be scanned or "read" by apparatus presently on the market and designed for this purpose.
Frequently, the encoded indicia 2 is defectively printed, or the check itself so mutilated or damaged at this area, that the check cannot be automatically processed~ Thus, in this instance, the strip 5 of encodable material provides an additional area for receiving a second set of encoded indicia 3 identical to that of the defective or unprocessable indicia 2 but in a form suitable to enable the automatic processing of the check.
16)48972 Alternatively, irrespective of the condition of the check indicia 2, the strip 5 may provide an area for receiving encoded indicia in addition to, or dissimilar from, the check indicia.
Various types of encodable strips 5 may be utilized for attachment to the document 25 by the strip attachment ap-paratus of the present invention. In accordance with a pre-ferred form of construction, however, the strip is formed as an essentially rectangular band portion 6 for receiving the encoded indicia 3, and a laminated layer 7 for attaching the band 6 to the document. The layer 7 has a thickness (desirably l/lOOOth of an inch or less) substantially less than the thickness of the portion 6 (normally 3/lOOOths of an inch1 and includes a segment 7a which extends beyond the longitudinal edge 6a of the band 6. The surface 7a contains a heat acti-vatable thermoplastic adhesive 8 which, when heated, enables the adhesion of this surface to the back 9 of the check. The use of this heat activatable adhesive, therefore, provides a completely tack-free surface until subjected to the requisite heat which thus not only avoids the premature adhesion of the strip, but provides an encodable attachment which is essential-ly impervious to humidity.
Furthermore, the "stepped configuration" of the strip 5 enables its attachment to the document 25 so that the longitudinal edge 6a of the encodable band portion 6 is essentially in edge abutting relationship with the longitudinal edge 4 of the check, the extension 7a being in face-to~face sealing contact with the back 9 of the document. Thus, it can be observed that the add-on thickness to the document is essentially limited to the thickness of the adhesive bearing portion 7, the encodable band 6 being substantially coplanar with the face l of the document.
Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, the encodable strip attachment apparatus incorporating the features of the present invention is disposed within a housing 10 comprising front panel 11, end panels 12, upper rear panel 13, and lower rear panel 14.
Situated within the confines of this housing, and mounted generally parallel to the inclined edges 12a and panels 12, is a mounting plate 15 which divides the interior of the housing into front and rear compartments 16 and 17, respectively.
As indicated broadly in Figures 3 and 5, the front compartment 16 is functionally divided into areas respectively defining a supply station 18 in which a supply of encodable material in a continuous or ribbon form is disposed; an align-ment station 19 in which the documents 25 are uniquely alignedwith, and partially attached to, the encodable material; a final sealing station 20 in which the encodable material in its discrete strip form is adhesively sealed to each document;
and an output station 21 at which the strip modified documents are stacked.
Referring back to Figure 3, a door 22 having handle 22a is hingedly mounted at the front of the housing 10 for alternatively closing off, or allowing access to, the supply station 18, a transparent cover or window 23 enabling the viewing of this region when the door 22 is closed. Recessively mounted in the door 22 is a tray 24 for temporarily holding the documents 25 which are to be processed and modified by the encodable strip attachment apparatus.
The alignment region or station 19 is closed off by a panel 26 having an elongated slot 27 through which the docu-ments 25 are inserted. This insertion may be effected manually ~Q~89'72 or, in accordance with a subsequently described embodiment, automatically. Adjacent the panel 26 and hingedly mounted in anv suitable manner (not shown) at the top of the housing 10 is a door 28 having handle 28a to enable operator access to the area or station 20. A document storage bin 29, the unique de-tails of which are subsequently described, is disposed at the output station 21 and below a heating and transport assembly housing 30, a passageway 31 providing document transport com-munication between the slot 27 and the bin 29.
The rear compartment 17 (Figure 4) houses the elec-tronic controls and various mechanical drive assemblies for operating the strip attachment apparatus, the details of which will be subsequently described. Hingedly mounted adjacent the lower rear panel 14 is a door 33 (having locking means 34) to enable operator access to this rear compartment. The locking mechanism 34 is adapted to engage a portion of a frame as-sembly 35 to secure the door 33 adjacent the top rear panel 13, the panel 13 extending forward the mounting plate 15 adjacent panel 26 and door 28.
A conventional power cord 36 electrically connects with the apparatus through the panel 14. Control buttons 32 for the operation of the apparatus may be located on the front panel 11 for convenient operator access thereto.
Referring now to Figure 5, a continuous spool or roll 44 of the encodable strip material (which is wound about a cylindrical core 43 of plastic or the like) is disposed at the supply station 18 on a pay-out reel 40. The reel 40 has an integrally coupled axle 41 extending through the mounting plate 15 and journaled for rotation in a bearing 46 (Figure 6A), a hub 42 secured to the forwardly extending portion of the axle 41 adapted to receive and grip the roll core 43 in a manner ~0~8972 which prevents the latter's rotation thereon. As subsequently described, the reel 40 (and consequently spool 44), when freed for rotation, revolves in the direction illustrated by arrows 39 as the encodable material (designated in its continuous ribbon form by the reference numeral 45) is pulled off the spool.
Guide rollers 50 and 51 are mounted to the plate 15 by way of, and are adapted to freely turn about, shafts 50a and 51a, respectively. Additionally, an intermediate guide roller 53 is mounted by way of, and adapted to freely rotate about, a shaft 53a rigidly coupled through a slot 55 in plate 15 to the end portion of a pivotally mounted spring biased feed arm 54 (Figure 6A), the pivotal movement of arm 54, as subsequently described, translating the roller 53 along an arcuate path defined by the slot 55. As illustrated in Figure 5, the continuous ribbon 45 passes from the roll 44 over the guide roller 50, under the guide roller 53, and thereafter over the guide roller 51 to a document alignment assembly 60 located at the alignment station 19.
Th.e document alignment assembly 60 comprises a slot insertion assembly 61.(including friction wheels 65) for fully inserting into the slot 27 documents 25 which are initi~lly placed (manually or automatically) therein, each document being uniquely aligned with the ribbon 45; a first heater assembly 63 (including heater 68) for mateably securing a portion of the document 25 with the ribbon 45 for subsequent transport through the remainder of the strip attachment apparatus; and a document translation assembly 62 (including cooperating wheels 66 and 67) for translating the documents 25 into that portion of the transport passageway 31 adjacent the heater assembly 63.
~4~72 Disposed between the alignment station 19 and final sealing station 20 is a cutter assembly 70 which not only severs the ribbon 45 into discrete strips (the strips 5 depicted in Figures 1 and 2), but also provides selective blockage of the passageway 31 during the operating cycle of the apparatus.
Situated at the station 20 is a final sealing assembly 37 comprising a second heater assembly 75 (including heater 76) for securing each strip 5 to the document; and respective document guide and encodable strip guide assemblies 12Q and 125 (Figure 8), the document transport passageway 31 extending through the document guide assembly 120 over and in alignment with a strip transport passageway 128 (Figure 8) extending through the strip guide assembly 125.
Translation of the encodable material (and consequently the attached documents 25) from the document alignment assembly to and through the strip attachment assembly is effected by a transport assembly 80 comprising cooperating sets of rollers (81 and 81a), (82 and 82a), and (83 and 83a), the details and operation of which are subsequently described.
Situated at the output station 21 (Figure 5) is the storage bin 29 for receiving and stacking the encodable strip modified documents, an output transport assembly 95, including cooperating feed rollers 96 and 97, and a deflector assembly 98 cooperating to direct the encodable strip modified documents from the final sealing assembly 37 into the stacking bin 29.
There is now described, in greater detail, the uni~ue features of the various subassemblies of the overall encodable strip attachment apparatus. Accordingly, and with attention initially directed to the supply station 18, regulation of the feeding of the ribbon 45 of the encodable material to the docu-~48972 ment alignment assembly 60 is effected, in large part, by thefeed arm 54 which not only maintains the required tension on the loop 45, but additionally releases the reel 40 for rotation when additional encodable material is to be supplied or fed to the document alignment station.
The feed arm 54 (Figures 6A and 6B) is pivotally mounted at an end portion 54a to the plate 15, the intermediate guide roller 53 thus being constrained for movement along slot 55 between an upper position (depicted in Figure 6B and by the dashed line representation in Figure 5) and a lower position (depicted in Figure 6A and the solid line representation in Figure 5). The arm 54, having an extension 56, is biased toward the lower position by a spring 49, which thus maintains the required tension on the loop of material 45 passing about roller 53.
The reel 40 (and consequently spool 44) is normally restrained from rotation by a braking mechanism 47 (Figures 6A
and 6B). This brake mechanism includes disc 47a rigidly coupled to the end of the shaft 41; a bar 47c pivotally mounted at 48; a friction band 47b surrounding disc 47a and having its ends coupled to the bar 47c, the band 47b being frictionally engaged with, or disengaged from, the disc 47a in response to the pivotal movement of bar 47c; and a solenoid 47d having a plunger 47e selectively actuated to effect the pivotal move-ment of the bar 47c. Actuation of the solenoid is in response to the extension 56 being pivoted into engagement with a sensor 57 electrically coupled (by means not shown) to solenoid coil 47d.
Thus, it can be observed that when the solenoid plunger 47e is in its extended position (shown in Figure 6A), the bar 47c is pivoted by a spring 47f to tighten the band 47b 1~897Z
around the disc 47a, thereby restraining the reel 40 against rotation. When the reel 40 is in this so restrained condition, the arm 54 is disposed at the lower portion of the slot 55, as shown in Figure 6A. When the encodable material is advanced (by the transport assembly 80 in accordance with the operation subsequently described), the arm 54 is consequently pivoted by the pull of the material 45 toward the station 19 to the position illustrated in Figure 6B, the loop of material 45 assuming the shape and path shown by the dashed line configuration in Figure 5. As a consequence of this pivotal rotation of the arm 54, the extension 56 is caused to pivot into engagement with the sensor 57, energizing the solenoid to retract plunger 47e and pivot the bar 47c into the position shown in Figure 6B. The friction band 47b is thus released from the disc 47a, and the reel 40 (consequently roll 44) is free to rotate in the direction of arrows 39. A new supply of encodable material is consequent-ly pulled from the roll 44, the resulting slack allowing the arm 54 (and roller 53) to return to the position depicted in Figure 6A (and by the solid line depiction in Figure 5).
Throughout this operation, the tension is maintained in the material 45 as a consequence of the bïas on the arm 54 established by the spring 49.
The alignment of the encodable strip material with each document 25, and specifically the encodable band portion 6 (Figures 1 and 2) at, and in abutting relationship with, the document edge 4, is initially effected in the document align-ment assembly 60. Referring now to Figure 7, the document alignment assembly includes an alignment guide provided by upper and lower respective guide portions 101 and 102 for maintaining the documents and ribbon 45 in the required aligned relationship. Upper guide 101 is mounted flush with the plate 1(~48972 15 adjacent the alignment panel 26; and lower guide portion 102 is secured to the plate 15 by way of brackets 103, the upper and lower guides spaced from one another in a manner to define therebetween the insertion slot 27 and the up-stream portion 31a of the transport passageway 31 which is in communication with slot 27.
The upper guide portion 101 has a first ledge 104 defining the base of the slot 27; a second ledge 105 having a cut-out 106 in which the guide roller 51 is disposed; and a guide surface 107 coextensive with, and perpendicular to, the ledges 104 and 105. The ledges 104 and 105, and the transverse surface 107 extend the entire length of the upper guide 101, and thus provide the means for establishing the necessary align-ment of the document with the encodable material ribbon 45 as each document is translated from its location at the slot insertion assembly 61 to its location adjacent the heater assembly 63. The ledge 105 has a lip extension 109 adjacent the heater assembly 63 which defines a channel or passageway 112 through which the material 45 passes. The lower guide 20 portion 102 has an extension 119 providing a flat guide surface upon which the back surface 9 of document 25 is supported as the document is translated from the slot 27 into the portion 31a of passageway 31 adjacent the heater 68. The forward edge of this extension 119 rests upon the ledge 104.
As indicated in Figure 7, the ribbon 45 of encodable material is disposed within the alignment assembly 60 in such a manner that the main encodable band portion thereof (cor-responding to the portion 6 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) is positioned along the surface 107 and supported at its edge by the ledge 105, the adhesive bearing extension portion (corresponding to the portion 7a of Figures 1 and 2) facing lQ4897Z
the slot 27. In accordance with a unique feature thereof, the width of the surface 107 is essentially equal to the width of the encodable band portion 6, only the segment 7a thereby being positioned in face-to-face relationship with the surface 9 of the document 25 adjacent the lower edge 4 (Figure 11 there-of when the document is fully within the slot 27, its edge 4 being supported by ledge 104.
Openings 108 are provided within the upper guide 101 to enable the slot insertion assembly friction wheels 65 to 10 extend into slot 27, the rotation of these wheels effective to fully insert the documents 25 into slot 27 (in the direction of the arrows 64) against the ledge 104.
Respectively extending through aligned apertures 110 and 111 in the guide portions 101 and 102 at the slot 27 are rotating drive wheels 66 and cooperating idler roller 67 for translating the document 25 from its position at, and when it reaches, the base 104 of the slot 27 into the portion 31a of the passageway 31 adjacent the first heater assembly 63.
An axle or shaft 67' extending through an opening in the plate 20 15 pivots the idler roller 67 against the document 25 and drive wheel 66 to effect this translation. An extension 72 of the cutter assembly 70, when rotated into the blocking position shown in Figure 7, then halts the document's translation through the passageway 31 adjacent the heater assembly 63.
The heater assembly 63 includes an electrical heater body 68 having a heat conductive extension 68a extending for-ward of a holder 68b and a pair of shafts 68c extending through openings in the plate 15 and coupled to the holder 68b. The shafts 68c are effective, when actuated, to pivot the heater (specifically extension 68a) against the aligned document and heat activatable adhesive portion 7a and a platen 69 disposed 104~97Z
behind these aligned members. As a consequence thereof, a portion (corresponding to the length of the extension 68a) of the document 25 is heat sealed or tacked at the edge 4 to the ribbon 45. Thus, further advancement of the document through the strip attachment apparatus may now be achieved by advancing the encodable material (specifically the band portion 6) itself. This advancement is effected at the alignment station 19 by the cooperating drive and idler rollers 83 and 83a of the overall transport assembly 80 (Figure 5). It is again significant to note that due to the previously described alignment operation, only the adhesive extension portion 7a of the ribbon 45 is so secured or tacked to the back of the document, the main encodable band portion 6 being disposed in edge abutting relationship with the document. The cutter 71 is then rotated so that it severs the ribbon 45 at, and flush with, the leading edge of the docu-ment 25j a more detailed description of the structural features and operation of the cutter 71 (and entire cutter assembly 70) to follow.
Referring now to Figure 8, the final sealing as-sembly 37 is depicted in greater detail. Disposed immediately adjacent the cutter assembly 70 are aligned document guide and encodable strip guide assemblies 120 and 125, respectively.
The document guide 120 comprises an upper guide portion 121 and lower guide portion 122 (Figure 5) defining therebetween an elongated channel 31b through which each document 25 can pass. Similarly, the strip guide assembly 125 includes an upper guide portion 126 and a lower guide portion 127 de-fining therebetween an elongated passageway 128 having a base 128a through which the encodable strip 5 attached to the document may pass. The document passageway 31b and strip 1~48972 passageway 128 are thus mutually aligned with one another as well as with the corresponding document and strip passageways 31a and 112 of the document alignment assembly 60, the channel 31b thus providing, in effect, the down-stream portion of the overall document transport passageway 31.
The guide portions 126 and 127 have a pair of aligned cut-outs longitudinally spaced from one another to enable the two sets of rotating drive and idler rollers (81, 81a and 82, 82a) to engage the strip portion 5 for advancing the document 25 attached thereto through the assembly 37. For this purpose, each of the idler rollers 81a and 82a have their respective axles or shafts 81a' and 82a' (which extend through openings in the plate 15) adapted to pivot the wheels 81a and 82a against their respective cooperating drive wheels 81 and 82, thereby gripping and advancing the encodable strip and attached document.
Extending the entire length of the assembly 37 is a second heater assembly 75. This heater assembly includes an electrical heater body 76 having a heat conductive extension 76a extending forward of holder 76b and a pair of shafts 76c extending through openings in the p'ate 15 and coupled to the holder 76b. The shafts 76c are effective, when actuated, to pivot the heater, specifically extension 76a, against the aligned document and heat activatable adhesive portion 7a and a platen 77 extending the entire length of the alignment guides. As a consequence thereof, the encodable material which was previously tacked to the document 25 is now sealed along the entire length of the edge 4 thereof. Simultaneously with this final heat sealing operation, the cutter blade 71 of the cutter assembly 70 is rotated to sever the encodable material at the trailing edge of the document 25, thereby producing the the final strip modified document depicted in Figure 1.
Referring now to Figure 9 and 9A, the cutter assembly 70 is illustrated, the assembly including a rotatably driven shear cutter 71 mounted adjacent a rigidly held cutting support plate 74. Desirably, the cutter 71 and plate 74 are maintained (by means not shown) at an elevated temperature, for example 120F, to facilitate the cutting operation subsequently des-cribed. The cutter 71 has an integrally coupled axle 71b ex-tending through and journaled for rotation in a centrally defined opening in the plate 74, the cutter 71 being biased against the plate 74 during such rotation.
The cutter 71 has a circular shaped body portion with a cutting surface 71a defined at the interior portion of a gap 73 thereof. The body of the cutter 71 also includes an ex-tension 72 which, as previously described, can be rotatedinto blocking engagement with the channel 31a during the initial tacking of the document to the ribbon 45. The ledge 74a of the cutter support plate 74 supports the encodable material 45 extending thereacross, the cutter 71a being effective to sever or shear-cut the material at the edge 74c as the body 71 is rotated by pulley in the direction illustrated by the arrow.
Referring now to Figures 10 and lOA, the assemblies at the output station 21 are more specifically described.
Accordingly, the bin 29 for storing the strip modified docu-ments comprises end walls 84a and 84b and a rear wall 85 having a slot 86 defined therein. A platform 87 having a shelf-like extension 87a extending out from, and transverse to, the rear wall 85 is slidably mounted in, for translation along, the slot 86, a spring 88 biasing the platform 87 to-ward the top of the bin 29. As the strip modified documents 1~897Z
fall upon, and are thus stacked by, the shelf 87a, the weight of the documents counteracts the tension of the spring 88, the platform 87 thereby moving downward to receive additional strip modified documents. The shelf 87a therefore defines, in effect, the base of the storage bin 29, the height (or storage capacity) of the ~in thus being continuously adjusta~le in response to the number of documents being inserted therein.
The insertion of the strip modified documents is effected by cooperating rollers 96 and 97 which are con-tinuously rotated in the direction shown by the arrows thereon (Figures 10 and 11) and thus- translate the strip modified documents from the final sealing assembly 37 against the de~-flector assembly 98 into the bin 29. In accordance with a unique feature hereof, the deflector assembly 98 comprises a main body portion 89 having a guide extension 89a thereof, a deflector 90 pivota11y mounted to a bar 91 and biased in the forward direction depicted in Figure 10 by a spring 92. The purpose of the spring biased pivotal extension 90 is to impel the strip modified document exiting the assembly 95 in a direction toward the side wall 84b. Accordingly, as each document 25 begins to exit the rollers 96 and 97 , the leading edge of the document is guided by the guide extension 89a against the deflector 90, thereby urging the deflector 90 to the position shown in Figure lOA. As the trailing edge of the document 25 then clears the rollers 96 and 97, the resulting bias of the spring 92 drives the deflector 9Q (and consequently document 25~ back toward the side 84b of the bin, the document impinging thereagainst and falling upon the shelf 87a.
~48972 DESCRIPTION OF OVERALL OPERATION
Referring again to the drawings, and initially to Figure 11, there is now described the overall sequence of opera-tion of the encodable strip attachment apparatus. Throughout the entire operation cycle, shaft 100 is continuously driven by means (not shown) coupled thereto to rotate slot insertion wheels 65 in the direction of the arrows thereon. Similarly, document translation wheels 66 and 67; the drives 81 and 81a, 82 and 82a, 83 and 83a of the encodable material transport assembly 80; and output transport drive rollers 96 and 97 are continuously rotatably driven (in the direction of arrows thereon) by means (not shown) coupled to their shafts (66', 67', 81', 81a', etc.).
Prior to the insertion of a document within the slot 27, a sufficient length of encodable material 45 has been pulled from the reel 44 by the transport assembly 80 and disposed within assembly 60 at the alignment station 19, a portion of the material 45 extending through the cutter assembly 70 to the final sealing station 20. The cutter body 71 has been rotated to a stationary position with the extension 72 dis-posed in front of, and blocking, the passageway 31a (Figure 7), the material 45 extending through gap 73 thereof (against ledge 74a) from channel 112 into passageway 128 (Figure 8), the surface 128a supporting the material 45.
Additionally, the idler rollers 81a, 82a, and 83a of the encodable material transport assembly have been pivoted out of engagement with the encodable material (to the position depicted by solid lines in Figure 11); a brake 59 has been pivoted by means connected to its shaft 58 against the ribbon 45 (to the position depicted in phantom in Figure 11) toretain the material at the station 19; and document transport 1~489~2 idler 67 has been pivoted out of engagement with its cooperat-ing roller 66 (solid line representation in Figure 11).
The insertion of a document 25 into slot 27 initiates the operating cycle of the apparatus. Specifically, the insertion of the document (position A of Figure 11) is detected by a sensor 180 which initiates a control signal to pivot the idler roller 67 into its document engaging position (illustrated in phantom) and the document 25 is translated to a position B
adjacent the heater assembly 63, the document being stopped by the extension 72 of assembly 70.
Advancement of the document to this position is detected by a sensor 181 which initiates the following sequence of events: the heater 68 (and particularly extension 68a) is pivoted to tack the document to the ribbon 45; thereafter, the cutter body 71 (particularly cutting surface 71a) is rotated to sever the material 45 flush with the leading edge of the document, the cutter body 71 continuing its rotation until its gap 73 is halted in alignment with the document and material transport passageways 31a and 112. As the gap 73 reaches its so aligned position, the brake 59 is pivoted out of engagement with the material 45, and simultaneously therewith, the trans-port assembly 80 is actuated (idler rollers 81a, 82a, and 83a pivoted to their engaging position depicted in phantom in Figure 11) to grip the encodable band 6 to transport the material 45 (and consequently the attached document 25) through the gap 73. During this sequence, the document transport assembly 62 (rollers 66 and 67) is again disengaged.
A sensor 182 disposed at the location shown in Figure 11 senses the trailing edge of the document as it advances 30 through the cutter assembly and initiates a control signal to again disengage the material transport assembly 80 and brake ~48972 59 from the ribbon 45, thereby positioning the document 25 at the second heater assembly 75 (position C in Figure 11).
Thereafter, and in response to the translation of a subsequently inserted document 25 to the position B, the second heater 76 is pivoted (which occurs simultaneously with the pivotal advancement of the first heater 68) to seal the heat acti-vatable thermoplastic adhesive extension 7a of the encodable strip 5 alone the entire edge of the document; the rotation of the cutter 71 severing the material 45 at the trailing edge 10 of the document. The subsequent actuation of the transport assembly 80 (as previously described) then transports the resulting strip modified document to the output transport assembly 95 (position D) where it exits the apparatus into the storage bin 29.
The overall operation of the encodable strip attach-ment apparatus for processing two documents can thus be sum-marized as follows:
FIRST DOCUMENT SECOND DOCUMENT
Document advanced to first heating assembly 63 Encodable material tacked along portion of docu-ment edge Encodable material cut at document leading edge Document advanced to second Document advanced to first heating assembly 75 heating assembly 63 Encodable material sealed Encodable material tacked along along entire document edge portion of document edge 30 Encodable material cut at Encodable material cut at document trailing edge document leading edge Strip modified document Document advanced to second advanced to output trans- heating assembly 75 port assembly 95 The actuation and deactuation (pivotal advancement ~4897Z
and retraction) of the first and second heater assemblies 63 and 75; document translation assembly 62, encodable material transport assembly 80; and brake mechanism 59 r- as well as the rotation of the cutter assembly 70, in accordance with the previously described sequence of operation, may be effected by any conventional means. In accordance with a unique feature of the present invention , however, this function is provided by a cam shaft assembly 150 as depicted in Figure 12.
Accordingly, the assembly comprises a cam shaft 151 adapted to be rotatably driven in the direction of the arrows 152 by a belt-driven assembly 153. Conventional clutch and brake assemblies 154 and 155 respectively provide for the shaft 151 to be so rotated or restrained from such rotation. The clutch and brake assemblies, in turn, are operated in response to 15 sensors 181, 182 (Figure 11), and a sensor 190 disposed at the cam shaft assembly.
The document translation idler wheel shaft 67';
first heater assembly shafts 68c; brake shaft 58; second heater assembly shafts 76c; and encodable material transport assembly idler wheel shafts 81a', 82a', and 83a' extend through the plate 15 and are respectively journaled for pivotal rotation by a plurality of journal members 160 around an elongated shaft 165 spaced from the cam shaft 151. Each of the shafts are respectively biased by spring means (not shown) in their retracted or "disengaged" position (shown in solid in Figure 121 .
Coupled to a journal member extension 161 is solenoid assembly 163 which, when energized in response to a signal received from sensor 180, as previously described, is effective to pivot the shaft 67' to its document engaging position. The de-energizing of the solenoid 163, in response to a signal received from sensor 181, then allows the shaft 67' (and idler 1~489'72 wheel 67) to return to its retracted position.
A plurality of cam plates 170 are rigidly coupled to the cam shaft 151 and have cam surfaces 171 adapted to engage the journal member extensions 162 to pivot the shafts 68c, 58, 83a', 76c, 82a', and 81' to their respective encodable strip engaged positions as the cam shaft 152 is rotated through its 360 revolution. The cam surfaces 171 are so shaped, and spaced around their cam plates with respect to one another, to effect this pivotal movement in the sequence corresponding to the previously described desired sequence of operation of the assemblies coupled to the shafts (heater assembly advance, strip translation, etc.). Additionally, pulley 78 coupled to the shaft 71b engages a cog 185 rigidly coupled to the cam shaft 151, the rotation of the cam shaft consequently resulting in the rotation of the cutter 71 in the manner previously described.
Thus, as the cam shaft 151 is driven through its 360 rotational cycle, and the solenoid 163 is energized and de-energized in response to the signals received from the sensors 20 180 and 181, the sequence of operation previously described is effected. Specifically, assume that the shaft 151 is in its initial (0) position. At this point in time, the cam surfaces 171 have engaged the journal extensions 162 coupled to shafts 81a', 82a', and 83a', and the cutter plate 71 has been rotated to its non-blocking position disposing the gap 73 in alignment with the document and encodable material passageways 31, 128, and 112. The remainder of the cam surfaces 171 are disengaged from the journal extensions coupled to the other shafts; and the solenoid 163 is de-energized.
As each document is thus transported through the gap 73, the sensor 182, upon sensing the trailing edge of the docu-16)48972 ment, generates a signal and the cam shaft is rotated to a stationary position (say 20) past the point where the surfaces are disengaged from the extensions 162 coupled to the material transport assembly shafts, and are engaged with the extension 162 coupled to the material brake shaft 58. Thus, the transport assembly 80 is deactivated, and the brake 5~ is pivoted into its engaging position. The insertion of a new document is then sensed by sensor 180 (Figure 11) which energizes solenoid 163, pivoting shaft 67' (and idler wheel 67), and the document is advanced to the position where it is detected by sensor 181. The resulting signal from sensor 181 then engages clutch 154, disengages brake 155, and the shaft 151 rotates through the remainder of its cycle (from 20 to 360), the cam sur-faces 171 pivoting the heater assembly shafts 68c and 76c, brake shaft 58, and material transport assembly shafts 81a', 82a', 83a' into and out of their respective engaged and retracted positions. A summary of this operation is depicted in Figure 13, which also shows the cutting operating (between the 45 and 75 positions, for example), as the shaft 151 rotates (in direction of arrows 152) through its cycle. The sensor 190 (Figure 12) detects the completion of this cycle (at 360) and generates a signal to disengage clutch 154, engage brake 155, to halt the rotation of cam shaft 151 at this point.
As previously described, each document 25 may be manually inserted into the slot 27. Alternatively, when a large volume of checks or other type documents are to be processed through the strip attachment apparatus, it is often desirable to have means for automatically feeding the docu-ments into the slot. Accordingly, and in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, reference is now to Figure 14, depicting an automatic document feeder generally referred to 1~4897Z
by reference designation 200. The automatic feeder 200 includes a supply bin 201 including side walls 202, rear wall 203, platform 204, and inclined front surface 205. The bin is mounted by any suitable means (not shown) upon the alignment panel 26 so that the inclined surface 205 is substantially aligned with a rear surface 27a of the slot 27.
A feed plate 206 is disposed within a compartment 207 defined by the rear wall 203, side walls 202, and platform 204, and has a guide block 20~ coupled thereto which is slide-ably mounted within a slot 209 in the platform 204. The plate206 is thus guidably translated along the platform 204, a spring 206 is guidably translated along the platform 204, a spring 210 biasing the plate toward the inclined front surface 205.
Disposed immediately adjacent, but slightly spaced from and parallel to, the front surface 205 is a guide 215 having cross members 21~a rigidly secured to the end panels 202.
The spacing between the guide 215 and surface 205 is such as to enable documents 25 to be translated through a passageway 225 defined therebetween.
Disposed upon rotatably mounted shafts 220 and 221 (journaled for rotation through end panels 202) are first and second respective sets of feed rollers 222 and 223. Both of these sets of rollers are adapted to rotate in the direction of the arrows for translating each document 25 from a stack 230 disposed in front of the feed plate 206 through the passageway 225 and into the slot 27. Additionally, another shaft 240 having a third set of feed wheels 241 is journaled for rotation through end panels 202, the set of wheels 241 extending into the passageway 225 through openings 245 in the front surface 205 and adapted for rotation in the direction of the arrows thereof.
~4f39~2 Rotation of the shafts 220, 221, and 240 (:and con-sequently the drive wheel sets 222, 223, and 245) is effected by a planetary gear arrangement comprising a main drive gear 260, and driven gears 261, 262, and 263 respectively coupled to the shafts 221, 220, and 240. In accordance with a unique feature thereof, the respective gear ratios between the drive gear 260 and driven gear 261 and that of the drive gear 260 and driven gear 263 is such that the speed of rotation of shaft 221 exceeds that of shaft 240. This fact, in combination with the respective directions of rotation of these shafts, prevents the simultaneous feed of more than one document 25 into the slot 27. Specifically, and as may be apparent, as a document 25' from the front of the stack 230 is fed by rollers 222 and 223 through the passageway, any documents 25"
directly behind this front document are urged by the wheels 245 in a direction toward the stack, the resulting separation enabling the single feeding of one document at a time into the slot 27.
The main drive gear 260 is driven by a belt 265 which extends through an opening 266 in the panel 26 to a clutch drive (not shown) coupled to the drive shaft 100 (Figure 11).
Engagement of the said clutch drive with the shaft 100 for driving the belt 265 is in response to a signal received from the sensor 180; a signal received from a sensor 270 which senses the end of each check as it passes through the passage-way 225 into the slot 27 disengaging the clutch. Thus, the insertion of each document into the slot 27 is coordinated with the overall operation of the strip attachment operation.
Various other modifications of the disclosed embodi-30 ments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, may be-come apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing ~04~72 from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
1t)48972 indicia identical to the mutilated or otherwise undecodable indicia on the document. The so modified document can be then processed by the automatic equipment. Additionally, the attach-ed strip provides an area for receiving encoded indicia i-n addition to, or dissimilar from, the encoded indicia on the document. Prior to the present invention, however, the encod-able strip had to be manually applied to the document or by means of apparatus which is cumbersome or does not afford the requisite alignment of the encodable strip with the document.
It is therefore a primary object of the present in-vention to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for attaching encodable material to a document.
It is another object of the present invention to pro-vide apparatus which automatically aliyns and attaches a strip lS Of encodable material with a transfer of fund type instrument in a manner that enables the subsequent automatic processing of the instrument in accordance with machine decodable indicia upon the strip.-It is even still a further object of the invention to provide new and improved encodable strip attachment apparatusincluding uniquely designed assemblies for aligning and attach-ing a heat activatable thermoplastic adhesive bearing strip to defaced, mutilated, improperly encoded, or otherwise unprocess-able checks, as well as for transporting the encodable material, checks, and strip modified checks through the overall apparatus.
Broadly stated, the invention is an encodable stripattachment apparatus for attaching discrete strips of encod-able material along the longitudinal edge of a generally rectangular shaped document, said apparatus comprising: (a) a roll of said encodable material of the type having an encodable band portion and a heat activatable adhesive bearing ~48972 portion ad~acent to said encodable band portion, (b) means disposed at a supply station for retaining said roll, (c) alignment guide means at an alignment station for aligning said document with said encodable material so that the heat activat-able adhesive bearing portion overlaps said document at saidlongitudinal edge and the encodable band portion extends below the longitudinal edge, (d) heat sealing means for heating said heat activatable adhesive bearing portion solely at the location of overlap of said adhesive bearing portion with said document, and (e) means for severing said encodable material from said roll, thereby to provide said discrete strips.
In accordance with these and other objects, the following is a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, including specific features thereof, the description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts, and in which:
Figures 1 and 2 are illustrations of a check type document with a discrete strip of encodable material having been attached thereto in accordance with the process and apparatus of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a pictorial illustration of the front view of the encodable strip attachment apparatus of the pre-sent invention;
Figure 4 is a pictorial illustration of the rear view of the encodable strip attachment apparatus of the pre-sent invention;
Figure 5 is an orthographic view of the front com-partment of the apparatus depicted in Figures 3 and 4, illus-trating the principal functions of the apparatus;
Figure 6A and 6B illustrate the specific details of the subassembly disposed at the encodable material supply station;
1()48972 Figure 7 illustrates, in detail, the unique features of the document alignment assembly of the apparatus of the present invention;
Figure 8 illustrates, in detail, the unique features of the final sealing assembly of the apparatus of the present invention;
Figures 9 and 9A illustrate, in detail, the unique features of the cutter assembly of the apparatus of the pre-sent invention;
Figures 10 and lOA illustrate, in detail, the unique features of the output assembly of the apparatus of the present invention;
Figure 11 illustrates the advancement of the encodable material and the documents through the overall encodable strip attachment apparatus of the present invention by the respective encodable material and document transport assemblies;
Figure 12 is an isometric view of a uniquely designed cam shaft assembly, and related parts, for effecting the de-sired operation of the apparatus;
Figure 13 is a representation of the summary of the operation of the cam shaft assembly; and Figure 14 is a preerred embodiment of an automatic document feeder to be employed in conjunction with the encodable strip attachment apparatus of the present invention.
1~4897Z
Referring now to the drawings, and initially to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, a document 25 is depicted with a discrete strip 5 of encodable material having been attached thereto by the apparatus of the present invention. For convenience of illustration, the document 25 is depicted as a conventional bank check, but it is to be understood that the document may also be any type of commercial instrument used in the transfer of funds, for example deposit slips, credit card receipts, bil-ling slips, etc. As used throughout the following description, the term "document" means and refers to an instrument generallyrectangular shaped, normally having a set of encoded indicia disposed on the face of the instrument along an edge thereof, which encoded indicia is employed in the automatic handling and processing of the instrument for such operations as reading, sorting, data processing, etc.
The check 25 includes a front face 1 upon which is normally disposed characteristic information such as the bank name, account style, check number, etc. Disposed adjacent a longitudinal edge 4 of the document is a set of encoded indicia 2 normally representing the routing symbol, transit number, account number, check amount, or the like. This encoded indicia, ordinarily in the form of magnetic ink characters referred to as MICR, is adapted to be scanned or "read" by apparatus presently on the market and designed for this purpose.
Frequently, the encoded indicia 2 is defectively printed, or the check itself so mutilated or damaged at this area, that the check cannot be automatically processed~ Thus, in this instance, the strip 5 of encodable material provides an additional area for receiving a second set of encoded indicia 3 identical to that of the defective or unprocessable indicia 2 but in a form suitable to enable the automatic processing of the check.
16)48972 Alternatively, irrespective of the condition of the check indicia 2, the strip 5 may provide an area for receiving encoded indicia in addition to, or dissimilar from, the check indicia.
Various types of encodable strips 5 may be utilized for attachment to the document 25 by the strip attachment ap-paratus of the present invention. In accordance with a pre-ferred form of construction, however, the strip is formed as an essentially rectangular band portion 6 for receiving the encoded indicia 3, and a laminated layer 7 for attaching the band 6 to the document. The layer 7 has a thickness (desirably l/lOOOth of an inch or less) substantially less than the thickness of the portion 6 (normally 3/lOOOths of an inch1 and includes a segment 7a which extends beyond the longitudinal edge 6a of the band 6. The surface 7a contains a heat acti-vatable thermoplastic adhesive 8 which, when heated, enables the adhesion of this surface to the back 9 of the check. The use of this heat activatable adhesive, therefore, provides a completely tack-free surface until subjected to the requisite heat which thus not only avoids the premature adhesion of the strip, but provides an encodable attachment which is essential-ly impervious to humidity.
Furthermore, the "stepped configuration" of the strip 5 enables its attachment to the document 25 so that the longitudinal edge 6a of the encodable band portion 6 is essentially in edge abutting relationship with the longitudinal edge 4 of the check, the extension 7a being in face-to~face sealing contact with the back 9 of the document. Thus, it can be observed that the add-on thickness to the document is essentially limited to the thickness of the adhesive bearing portion 7, the encodable band 6 being substantially coplanar with the face l of the document.
Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, the encodable strip attachment apparatus incorporating the features of the present invention is disposed within a housing 10 comprising front panel 11, end panels 12, upper rear panel 13, and lower rear panel 14.
Situated within the confines of this housing, and mounted generally parallel to the inclined edges 12a and panels 12, is a mounting plate 15 which divides the interior of the housing into front and rear compartments 16 and 17, respectively.
As indicated broadly in Figures 3 and 5, the front compartment 16 is functionally divided into areas respectively defining a supply station 18 in which a supply of encodable material in a continuous or ribbon form is disposed; an align-ment station 19 in which the documents 25 are uniquely alignedwith, and partially attached to, the encodable material; a final sealing station 20 in which the encodable material in its discrete strip form is adhesively sealed to each document;
and an output station 21 at which the strip modified documents are stacked.
Referring back to Figure 3, a door 22 having handle 22a is hingedly mounted at the front of the housing 10 for alternatively closing off, or allowing access to, the supply station 18, a transparent cover or window 23 enabling the viewing of this region when the door 22 is closed. Recessively mounted in the door 22 is a tray 24 for temporarily holding the documents 25 which are to be processed and modified by the encodable strip attachment apparatus.
The alignment region or station 19 is closed off by a panel 26 having an elongated slot 27 through which the docu-ments 25 are inserted. This insertion may be effected manually ~Q~89'72 or, in accordance with a subsequently described embodiment, automatically. Adjacent the panel 26 and hingedly mounted in anv suitable manner (not shown) at the top of the housing 10 is a door 28 having handle 28a to enable operator access to the area or station 20. A document storage bin 29, the unique de-tails of which are subsequently described, is disposed at the output station 21 and below a heating and transport assembly housing 30, a passageway 31 providing document transport com-munication between the slot 27 and the bin 29.
The rear compartment 17 (Figure 4) houses the elec-tronic controls and various mechanical drive assemblies for operating the strip attachment apparatus, the details of which will be subsequently described. Hingedly mounted adjacent the lower rear panel 14 is a door 33 (having locking means 34) to enable operator access to this rear compartment. The locking mechanism 34 is adapted to engage a portion of a frame as-sembly 35 to secure the door 33 adjacent the top rear panel 13, the panel 13 extending forward the mounting plate 15 adjacent panel 26 and door 28.
A conventional power cord 36 electrically connects with the apparatus through the panel 14. Control buttons 32 for the operation of the apparatus may be located on the front panel 11 for convenient operator access thereto.
Referring now to Figure 5, a continuous spool or roll 44 of the encodable strip material (which is wound about a cylindrical core 43 of plastic or the like) is disposed at the supply station 18 on a pay-out reel 40. The reel 40 has an integrally coupled axle 41 extending through the mounting plate 15 and journaled for rotation in a bearing 46 (Figure 6A), a hub 42 secured to the forwardly extending portion of the axle 41 adapted to receive and grip the roll core 43 in a manner ~0~8972 which prevents the latter's rotation thereon. As subsequently described, the reel 40 (and consequently spool 44), when freed for rotation, revolves in the direction illustrated by arrows 39 as the encodable material (designated in its continuous ribbon form by the reference numeral 45) is pulled off the spool.
Guide rollers 50 and 51 are mounted to the plate 15 by way of, and are adapted to freely turn about, shafts 50a and 51a, respectively. Additionally, an intermediate guide roller 53 is mounted by way of, and adapted to freely rotate about, a shaft 53a rigidly coupled through a slot 55 in plate 15 to the end portion of a pivotally mounted spring biased feed arm 54 (Figure 6A), the pivotal movement of arm 54, as subsequently described, translating the roller 53 along an arcuate path defined by the slot 55. As illustrated in Figure 5, the continuous ribbon 45 passes from the roll 44 over the guide roller 50, under the guide roller 53, and thereafter over the guide roller 51 to a document alignment assembly 60 located at the alignment station 19.
Th.e document alignment assembly 60 comprises a slot insertion assembly 61.(including friction wheels 65) for fully inserting into the slot 27 documents 25 which are initi~lly placed (manually or automatically) therein, each document being uniquely aligned with the ribbon 45; a first heater assembly 63 (including heater 68) for mateably securing a portion of the document 25 with the ribbon 45 for subsequent transport through the remainder of the strip attachment apparatus; and a document translation assembly 62 (including cooperating wheels 66 and 67) for translating the documents 25 into that portion of the transport passageway 31 adjacent the heater assembly 63.
~4~72 Disposed between the alignment station 19 and final sealing station 20 is a cutter assembly 70 which not only severs the ribbon 45 into discrete strips (the strips 5 depicted in Figures 1 and 2), but also provides selective blockage of the passageway 31 during the operating cycle of the apparatus.
Situated at the station 20 is a final sealing assembly 37 comprising a second heater assembly 75 (including heater 76) for securing each strip 5 to the document; and respective document guide and encodable strip guide assemblies 12Q and 125 (Figure 8), the document transport passageway 31 extending through the document guide assembly 120 over and in alignment with a strip transport passageway 128 (Figure 8) extending through the strip guide assembly 125.
Translation of the encodable material (and consequently the attached documents 25) from the document alignment assembly to and through the strip attachment assembly is effected by a transport assembly 80 comprising cooperating sets of rollers (81 and 81a), (82 and 82a), and (83 and 83a), the details and operation of which are subsequently described.
Situated at the output station 21 (Figure 5) is the storage bin 29 for receiving and stacking the encodable strip modified documents, an output transport assembly 95, including cooperating feed rollers 96 and 97, and a deflector assembly 98 cooperating to direct the encodable strip modified documents from the final sealing assembly 37 into the stacking bin 29.
There is now described, in greater detail, the uni~ue features of the various subassemblies of the overall encodable strip attachment apparatus. Accordingly, and with attention initially directed to the supply station 18, regulation of the feeding of the ribbon 45 of the encodable material to the docu-~48972 ment alignment assembly 60 is effected, in large part, by thefeed arm 54 which not only maintains the required tension on the loop 45, but additionally releases the reel 40 for rotation when additional encodable material is to be supplied or fed to the document alignment station.
The feed arm 54 (Figures 6A and 6B) is pivotally mounted at an end portion 54a to the plate 15, the intermediate guide roller 53 thus being constrained for movement along slot 55 between an upper position (depicted in Figure 6B and by the dashed line representation in Figure 5) and a lower position (depicted in Figure 6A and the solid line representation in Figure 5). The arm 54, having an extension 56, is biased toward the lower position by a spring 49, which thus maintains the required tension on the loop of material 45 passing about roller 53.
The reel 40 (and consequently spool 44) is normally restrained from rotation by a braking mechanism 47 (Figures 6A
and 6B). This brake mechanism includes disc 47a rigidly coupled to the end of the shaft 41; a bar 47c pivotally mounted at 48; a friction band 47b surrounding disc 47a and having its ends coupled to the bar 47c, the band 47b being frictionally engaged with, or disengaged from, the disc 47a in response to the pivotal movement of bar 47c; and a solenoid 47d having a plunger 47e selectively actuated to effect the pivotal move-ment of the bar 47c. Actuation of the solenoid is in response to the extension 56 being pivoted into engagement with a sensor 57 electrically coupled (by means not shown) to solenoid coil 47d.
Thus, it can be observed that when the solenoid plunger 47e is in its extended position (shown in Figure 6A), the bar 47c is pivoted by a spring 47f to tighten the band 47b 1~897Z
around the disc 47a, thereby restraining the reel 40 against rotation. When the reel 40 is in this so restrained condition, the arm 54 is disposed at the lower portion of the slot 55, as shown in Figure 6A. When the encodable material is advanced (by the transport assembly 80 in accordance with the operation subsequently described), the arm 54 is consequently pivoted by the pull of the material 45 toward the station 19 to the position illustrated in Figure 6B, the loop of material 45 assuming the shape and path shown by the dashed line configuration in Figure 5. As a consequence of this pivotal rotation of the arm 54, the extension 56 is caused to pivot into engagement with the sensor 57, energizing the solenoid to retract plunger 47e and pivot the bar 47c into the position shown in Figure 6B. The friction band 47b is thus released from the disc 47a, and the reel 40 (consequently roll 44) is free to rotate in the direction of arrows 39. A new supply of encodable material is consequent-ly pulled from the roll 44, the resulting slack allowing the arm 54 (and roller 53) to return to the position depicted in Figure 6A (and by the solid line depiction in Figure 5).
Throughout this operation, the tension is maintained in the material 45 as a consequence of the bïas on the arm 54 established by the spring 49.
The alignment of the encodable strip material with each document 25, and specifically the encodable band portion 6 (Figures 1 and 2) at, and in abutting relationship with, the document edge 4, is initially effected in the document align-ment assembly 60. Referring now to Figure 7, the document alignment assembly includes an alignment guide provided by upper and lower respective guide portions 101 and 102 for maintaining the documents and ribbon 45 in the required aligned relationship. Upper guide 101 is mounted flush with the plate 1(~48972 15 adjacent the alignment panel 26; and lower guide portion 102 is secured to the plate 15 by way of brackets 103, the upper and lower guides spaced from one another in a manner to define therebetween the insertion slot 27 and the up-stream portion 31a of the transport passageway 31 which is in communication with slot 27.
The upper guide portion 101 has a first ledge 104 defining the base of the slot 27; a second ledge 105 having a cut-out 106 in which the guide roller 51 is disposed; and a guide surface 107 coextensive with, and perpendicular to, the ledges 104 and 105. The ledges 104 and 105, and the transverse surface 107 extend the entire length of the upper guide 101, and thus provide the means for establishing the necessary align-ment of the document with the encodable material ribbon 45 as each document is translated from its location at the slot insertion assembly 61 to its location adjacent the heater assembly 63. The ledge 105 has a lip extension 109 adjacent the heater assembly 63 which defines a channel or passageway 112 through which the material 45 passes. The lower guide 20 portion 102 has an extension 119 providing a flat guide surface upon which the back surface 9 of document 25 is supported as the document is translated from the slot 27 into the portion 31a of passageway 31 adjacent the heater 68. The forward edge of this extension 119 rests upon the ledge 104.
As indicated in Figure 7, the ribbon 45 of encodable material is disposed within the alignment assembly 60 in such a manner that the main encodable band portion thereof (cor-responding to the portion 6 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) is positioned along the surface 107 and supported at its edge by the ledge 105, the adhesive bearing extension portion (corresponding to the portion 7a of Figures 1 and 2) facing lQ4897Z
the slot 27. In accordance with a unique feature thereof, the width of the surface 107 is essentially equal to the width of the encodable band portion 6, only the segment 7a thereby being positioned in face-to-face relationship with the surface 9 of the document 25 adjacent the lower edge 4 (Figure 11 there-of when the document is fully within the slot 27, its edge 4 being supported by ledge 104.
Openings 108 are provided within the upper guide 101 to enable the slot insertion assembly friction wheels 65 to 10 extend into slot 27, the rotation of these wheels effective to fully insert the documents 25 into slot 27 (in the direction of the arrows 64) against the ledge 104.
Respectively extending through aligned apertures 110 and 111 in the guide portions 101 and 102 at the slot 27 are rotating drive wheels 66 and cooperating idler roller 67 for translating the document 25 from its position at, and when it reaches, the base 104 of the slot 27 into the portion 31a of the passageway 31 adjacent the first heater assembly 63.
An axle or shaft 67' extending through an opening in the plate 20 15 pivots the idler roller 67 against the document 25 and drive wheel 66 to effect this translation. An extension 72 of the cutter assembly 70, when rotated into the blocking position shown in Figure 7, then halts the document's translation through the passageway 31 adjacent the heater assembly 63.
The heater assembly 63 includes an electrical heater body 68 having a heat conductive extension 68a extending for-ward of a holder 68b and a pair of shafts 68c extending through openings in the plate 15 and coupled to the holder 68b. The shafts 68c are effective, when actuated, to pivot the heater (specifically extension 68a) against the aligned document and heat activatable adhesive portion 7a and a platen 69 disposed 104~97Z
behind these aligned members. As a consequence thereof, a portion (corresponding to the length of the extension 68a) of the document 25 is heat sealed or tacked at the edge 4 to the ribbon 45. Thus, further advancement of the document through the strip attachment apparatus may now be achieved by advancing the encodable material (specifically the band portion 6) itself. This advancement is effected at the alignment station 19 by the cooperating drive and idler rollers 83 and 83a of the overall transport assembly 80 (Figure 5). It is again significant to note that due to the previously described alignment operation, only the adhesive extension portion 7a of the ribbon 45 is so secured or tacked to the back of the document, the main encodable band portion 6 being disposed in edge abutting relationship with the document. The cutter 71 is then rotated so that it severs the ribbon 45 at, and flush with, the leading edge of the docu-ment 25j a more detailed description of the structural features and operation of the cutter 71 (and entire cutter assembly 70) to follow.
Referring now to Figure 8, the final sealing as-sembly 37 is depicted in greater detail. Disposed immediately adjacent the cutter assembly 70 are aligned document guide and encodable strip guide assemblies 120 and 125, respectively.
The document guide 120 comprises an upper guide portion 121 and lower guide portion 122 (Figure 5) defining therebetween an elongated channel 31b through which each document 25 can pass. Similarly, the strip guide assembly 125 includes an upper guide portion 126 and a lower guide portion 127 de-fining therebetween an elongated passageway 128 having a base 128a through which the encodable strip 5 attached to the document may pass. The document passageway 31b and strip 1~48972 passageway 128 are thus mutually aligned with one another as well as with the corresponding document and strip passageways 31a and 112 of the document alignment assembly 60, the channel 31b thus providing, in effect, the down-stream portion of the overall document transport passageway 31.
The guide portions 126 and 127 have a pair of aligned cut-outs longitudinally spaced from one another to enable the two sets of rotating drive and idler rollers (81, 81a and 82, 82a) to engage the strip portion 5 for advancing the document 25 attached thereto through the assembly 37. For this purpose, each of the idler rollers 81a and 82a have their respective axles or shafts 81a' and 82a' (which extend through openings in the plate 15) adapted to pivot the wheels 81a and 82a against their respective cooperating drive wheels 81 and 82, thereby gripping and advancing the encodable strip and attached document.
Extending the entire length of the assembly 37 is a second heater assembly 75. This heater assembly includes an electrical heater body 76 having a heat conductive extension 76a extending forward of holder 76b and a pair of shafts 76c extending through openings in the p'ate 15 and coupled to the holder 76b. The shafts 76c are effective, when actuated, to pivot the heater, specifically extension 76a, against the aligned document and heat activatable adhesive portion 7a and a platen 77 extending the entire length of the alignment guides. As a consequence thereof, the encodable material which was previously tacked to the document 25 is now sealed along the entire length of the edge 4 thereof. Simultaneously with this final heat sealing operation, the cutter blade 71 of the cutter assembly 70 is rotated to sever the encodable material at the trailing edge of the document 25, thereby producing the the final strip modified document depicted in Figure 1.
Referring now to Figure 9 and 9A, the cutter assembly 70 is illustrated, the assembly including a rotatably driven shear cutter 71 mounted adjacent a rigidly held cutting support plate 74. Desirably, the cutter 71 and plate 74 are maintained (by means not shown) at an elevated temperature, for example 120F, to facilitate the cutting operation subsequently des-cribed. The cutter 71 has an integrally coupled axle 71b ex-tending through and journaled for rotation in a centrally defined opening in the plate 74, the cutter 71 being biased against the plate 74 during such rotation.
The cutter 71 has a circular shaped body portion with a cutting surface 71a defined at the interior portion of a gap 73 thereof. The body of the cutter 71 also includes an ex-tension 72 which, as previously described, can be rotatedinto blocking engagement with the channel 31a during the initial tacking of the document to the ribbon 45. The ledge 74a of the cutter support plate 74 supports the encodable material 45 extending thereacross, the cutter 71a being effective to sever or shear-cut the material at the edge 74c as the body 71 is rotated by pulley in the direction illustrated by the arrow.
Referring now to Figures 10 and lOA, the assemblies at the output station 21 are more specifically described.
Accordingly, the bin 29 for storing the strip modified docu-ments comprises end walls 84a and 84b and a rear wall 85 having a slot 86 defined therein. A platform 87 having a shelf-like extension 87a extending out from, and transverse to, the rear wall 85 is slidably mounted in, for translation along, the slot 86, a spring 88 biasing the platform 87 to-ward the top of the bin 29. As the strip modified documents 1~897Z
fall upon, and are thus stacked by, the shelf 87a, the weight of the documents counteracts the tension of the spring 88, the platform 87 thereby moving downward to receive additional strip modified documents. The shelf 87a therefore defines, in effect, the base of the storage bin 29, the height (or storage capacity) of the ~in thus being continuously adjusta~le in response to the number of documents being inserted therein.
The insertion of the strip modified documents is effected by cooperating rollers 96 and 97 which are con-tinuously rotated in the direction shown by the arrows thereon (Figures 10 and 11) and thus- translate the strip modified documents from the final sealing assembly 37 against the de~-flector assembly 98 into the bin 29. In accordance with a unique feature hereof, the deflector assembly 98 comprises a main body portion 89 having a guide extension 89a thereof, a deflector 90 pivota11y mounted to a bar 91 and biased in the forward direction depicted in Figure 10 by a spring 92. The purpose of the spring biased pivotal extension 90 is to impel the strip modified document exiting the assembly 95 in a direction toward the side wall 84b. Accordingly, as each document 25 begins to exit the rollers 96 and 97 , the leading edge of the document is guided by the guide extension 89a against the deflector 90, thereby urging the deflector 90 to the position shown in Figure lOA. As the trailing edge of the document 25 then clears the rollers 96 and 97, the resulting bias of the spring 92 drives the deflector 9Q (and consequently document 25~ back toward the side 84b of the bin, the document impinging thereagainst and falling upon the shelf 87a.
~48972 DESCRIPTION OF OVERALL OPERATION
Referring again to the drawings, and initially to Figure 11, there is now described the overall sequence of opera-tion of the encodable strip attachment apparatus. Throughout the entire operation cycle, shaft 100 is continuously driven by means (not shown) coupled thereto to rotate slot insertion wheels 65 in the direction of the arrows thereon. Similarly, document translation wheels 66 and 67; the drives 81 and 81a, 82 and 82a, 83 and 83a of the encodable material transport assembly 80; and output transport drive rollers 96 and 97 are continuously rotatably driven (in the direction of arrows thereon) by means (not shown) coupled to their shafts (66', 67', 81', 81a', etc.).
Prior to the insertion of a document within the slot 27, a sufficient length of encodable material 45 has been pulled from the reel 44 by the transport assembly 80 and disposed within assembly 60 at the alignment station 19, a portion of the material 45 extending through the cutter assembly 70 to the final sealing station 20. The cutter body 71 has been rotated to a stationary position with the extension 72 dis-posed in front of, and blocking, the passageway 31a (Figure 7), the material 45 extending through gap 73 thereof (against ledge 74a) from channel 112 into passageway 128 (Figure 8), the surface 128a supporting the material 45.
Additionally, the idler rollers 81a, 82a, and 83a of the encodable material transport assembly have been pivoted out of engagement with the encodable material (to the position depicted by solid lines in Figure 11); a brake 59 has been pivoted by means connected to its shaft 58 against the ribbon 45 (to the position depicted in phantom in Figure 11) toretain the material at the station 19; and document transport 1~489~2 idler 67 has been pivoted out of engagement with its cooperat-ing roller 66 (solid line representation in Figure 11).
The insertion of a document 25 into slot 27 initiates the operating cycle of the apparatus. Specifically, the insertion of the document (position A of Figure 11) is detected by a sensor 180 which initiates a control signal to pivot the idler roller 67 into its document engaging position (illustrated in phantom) and the document 25 is translated to a position B
adjacent the heater assembly 63, the document being stopped by the extension 72 of assembly 70.
Advancement of the document to this position is detected by a sensor 181 which initiates the following sequence of events: the heater 68 (and particularly extension 68a) is pivoted to tack the document to the ribbon 45; thereafter, the cutter body 71 (particularly cutting surface 71a) is rotated to sever the material 45 flush with the leading edge of the document, the cutter body 71 continuing its rotation until its gap 73 is halted in alignment with the document and material transport passageways 31a and 112. As the gap 73 reaches its so aligned position, the brake 59 is pivoted out of engagement with the material 45, and simultaneously therewith, the trans-port assembly 80 is actuated (idler rollers 81a, 82a, and 83a pivoted to their engaging position depicted in phantom in Figure 11) to grip the encodable band 6 to transport the material 45 (and consequently the attached document 25) through the gap 73. During this sequence, the document transport assembly 62 (rollers 66 and 67) is again disengaged.
A sensor 182 disposed at the location shown in Figure 11 senses the trailing edge of the document as it advances 30 through the cutter assembly and initiates a control signal to again disengage the material transport assembly 80 and brake ~48972 59 from the ribbon 45, thereby positioning the document 25 at the second heater assembly 75 (position C in Figure 11).
Thereafter, and in response to the translation of a subsequently inserted document 25 to the position B, the second heater 76 is pivoted (which occurs simultaneously with the pivotal advancement of the first heater 68) to seal the heat acti-vatable thermoplastic adhesive extension 7a of the encodable strip 5 alone the entire edge of the document; the rotation of the cutter 71 severing the material 45 at the trailing edge 10 of the document. The subsequent actuation of the transport assembly 80 (as previously described) then transports the resulting strip modified document to the output transport assembly 95 (position D) where it exits the apparatus into the storage bin 29.
The overall operation of the encodable strip attach-ment apparatus for processing two documents can thus be sum-marized as follows:
FIRST DOCUMENT SECOND DOCUMENT
Document advanced to first heating assembly 63 Encodable material tacked along portion of docu-ment edge Encodable material cut at document leading edge Document advanced to second Document advanced to first heating assembly 75 heating assembly 63 Encodable material sealed Encodable material tacked along along entire document edge portion of document edge 30 Encodable material cut at Encodable material cut at document trailing edge document leading edge Strip modified document Document advanced to second advanced to output trans- heating assembly 75 port assembly 95 The actuation and deactuation (pivotal advancement ~4897Z
and retraction) of the first and second heater assemblies 63 and 75; document translation assembly 62, encodable material transport assembly 80; and brake mechanism 59 r- as well as the rotation of the cutter assembly 70, in accordance with the previously described sequence of operation, may be effected by any conventional means. In accordance with a unique feature of the present invention , however, this function is provided by a cam shaft assembly 150 as depicted in Figure 12.
Accordingly, the assembly comprises a cam shaft 151 adapted to be rotatably driven in the direction of the arrows 152 by a belt-driven assembly 153. Conventional clutch and brake assemblies 154 and 155 respectively provide for the shaft 151 to be so rotated or restrained from such rotation. The clutch and brake assemblies, in turn, are operated in response to 15 sensors 181, 182 (Figure 11), and a sensor 190 disposed at the cam shaft assembly.
The document translation idler wheel shaft 67';
first heater assembly shafts 68c; brake shaft 58; second heater assembly shafts 76c; and encodable material transport assembly idler wheel shafts 81a', 82a', and 83a' extend through the plate 15 and are respectively journaled for pivotal rotation by a plurality of journal members 160 around an elongated shaft 165 spaced from the cam shaft 151. Each of the shafts are respectively biased by spring means (not shown) in their retracted or "disengaged" position (shown in solid in Figure 121 .
Coupled to a journal member extension 161 is solenoid assembly 163 which, when energized in response to a signal received from sensor 180, as previously described, is effective to pivot the shaft 67' to its document engaging position. The de-energizing of the solenoid 163, in response to a signal received from sensor 181, then allows the shaft 67' (and idler 1~489'72 wheel 67) to return to its retracted position.
A plurality of cam plates 170 are rigidly coupled to the cam shaft 151 and have cam surfaces 171 adapted to engage the journal member extensions 162 to pivot the shafts 68c, 58, 83a', 76c, 82a', and 81' to their respective encodable strip engaged positions as the cam shaft 152 is rotated through its 360 revolution. The cam surfaces 171 are so shaped, and spaced around their cam plates with respect to one another, to effect this pivotal movement in the sequence corresponding to the previously described desired sequence of operation of the assemblies coupled to the shafts (heater assembly advance, strip translation, etc.). Additionally, pulley 78 coupled to the shaft 71b engages a cog 185 rigidly coupled to the cam shaft 151, the rotation of the cam shaft consequently resulting in the rotation of the cutter 71 in the manner previously described.
Thus, as the cam shaft 151 is driven through its 360 rotational cycle, and the solenoid 163 is energized and de-energized in response to the signals received from the sensors 20 180 and 181, the sequence of operation previously described is effected. Specifically, assume that the shaft 151 is in its initial (0) position. At this point in time, the cam surfaces 171 have engaged the journal extensions 162 coupled to shafts 81a', 82a', and 83a', and the cutter plate 71 has been rotated to its non-blocking position disposing the gap 73 in alignment with the document and encodable material passageways 31, 128, and 112. The remainder of the cam surfaces 171 are disengaged from the journal extensions coupled to the other shafts; and the solenoid 163 is de-energized.
As each document is thus transported through the gap 73, the sensor 182, upon sensing the trailing edge of the docu-16)48972 ment, generates a signal and the cam shaft is rotated to a stationary position (say 20) past the point where the surfaces are disengaged from the extensions 162 coupled to the material transport assembly shafts, and are engaged with the extension 162 coupled to the material brake shaft 58. Thus, the transport assembly 80 is deactivated, and the brake 5~ is pivoted into its engaging position. The insertion of a new document is then sensed by sensor 180 (Figure 11) which energizes solenoid 163, pivoting shaft 67' (and idler wheel 67), and the document is advanced to the position where it is detected by sensor 181. The resulting signal from sensor 181 then engages clutch 154, disengages brake 155, and the shaft 151 rotates through the remainder of its cycle (from 20 to 360), the cam sur-faces 171 pivoting the heater assembly shafts 68c and 76c, brake shaft 58, and material transport assembly shafts 81a', 82a', 83a' into and out of their respective engaged and retracted positions. A summary of this operation is depicted in Figure 13, which also shows the cutting operating (between the 45 and 75 positions, for example), as the shaft 151 rotates (in direction of arrows 152) through its cycle. The sensor 190 (Figure 12) detects the completion of this cycle (at 360) and generates a signal to disengage clutch 154, engage brake 155, to halt the rotation of cam shaft 151 at this point.
As previously described, each document 25 may be manually inserted into the slot 27. Alternatively, when a large volume of checks or other type documents are to be processed through the strip attachment apparatus, it is often desirable to have means for automatically feeding the docu-ments into the slot. Accordingly, and in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, reference is now to Figure 14, depicting an automatic document feeder generally referred to 1~4897Z
by reference designation 200. The automatic feeder 200 includes a supply bin 201 including side walls 202, rear wall 203, platform 204, and inclined front surface 205. The bin is mounted by any suitable means (not shown) upon the alignment panel 26 so that the inclined surface 205 is substantially aligned with a rear surface 27a of the slot 27.
A feed plate 206 is disposed within a compartment 207 defined by the rear wall 203, side walls 202, and platform 204, and has a guide block 20~ coupled thereto which is slide-ably mounted within a slot 209 in the platform 204. The plate206 is thus guidably translated along the platform 204, a spring 206 is guidably translated along the platform 204, a spring 210 biasing the plate toward the inclined front surface 205.
Disposed immediately adjacent, but slightly spaced from and parallel to, the front surface 205 is a guide 215 having cross members 21~a rigidly secured to the end panels 202.
The spacing between the guide 215 and surface 205 is such as to enable documents 25 to be translated through a passageway 225 defined therebetween.
Disposed upon rotatably mounted shafts 220 and 221 (journaled for rotation through end panels 202) are first and second respective sets of feed rollers 222 and 223. Both of these sets of rollers are adapted to rotate in the direction of the arrows for translating each document 25 from a stack 230 disposed in front of the feed plate 206 through the passageway 225 and into the slot 27. Additionally, another shaft 240 having a third set of feed wheels 241 is journaled for rotation through end panels 202, the set of wheels 241 extending into the passageway 225 through openings 245 in the front surface 205 and adapted for rotation in the direction of the arrows thereof.
~4f39~2 Rotation of the shafts 220, 221, and 240 (:and con-sequently the drive wheel sets 222, 223, and 245) is effected by a planetary gear arrangement comprising a main drive gear 260, and driven gears 261, 262, and 263 respectively coupled to the shafts 221, 220, and 240. In accordance with a unique feature thereof, the respective gear ratios between the drive gear 260 and driven gear 261 and that of the drive gear 260 and driven gear 263 is such that the speed of rotation of shaft 221 exceeds that of shaft 240. This fact, in combination with the respective directions of rotation of these shafts, prevents the simultaneous feed of more than one document 25 into the slot 27. Specifically, and as may be apparent, as a document 25' from the front of the stack 230 is fed by rollers 222 and 223 through the passageway, any documents 25"
directly behind this front document are urged by the wheels 245 in a direction toward the stack, the resulting separation enabling the single feeding of one document at a time into the slot 27.
The main drive gear 260 is driven by a belt 265 which extends through an opening 266 in the panel 26 to a clutch drive (not shown) coupled to the drive shaft 100 (Figure 11).
Engagement of the said clutch drive with the shaft 100 for driving the belt 265 is in response to a signal received from the sensor 180; a signal received from a sensor 270 which senses the end of each check as it passes through the passage-way 225 into the slot 27 disengaging the clutch. Thus, the insertion of each document into the slot 27 is coordinated with the overall operation of the strip attachment operation.
Various other modifications of the disclosed embodi-30 ments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, may be-come apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing ~04~72 from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims (5)
1. Encodable strip attachment apparatus for attaching discrete strips of encodable material along the longitudinal edge of a generally rectangular shaped document, said apparatus comprising:
(a) a roll of said encodable material of the type having an encodable band portion and a heat activatable adhesive bearing portion adjacent to said encodable band portion, (b) means disposed at a supply station for retain-ing said roll, (c) alignment guide means at an alignment station for aligning said document with said encodable material so that the heat activatable adhesive bearing portion overlaps said document at said longitudinal edge and the encodable band portion extends below the longitudinal edge, (d) heat sealing means for heating said heat activatable adhesive bearing portion solely at the location of overlap of said adhesive bearing portion with said document, and (e) means for severing said encodable material from said roll, thereby to provide said discrete strips.
(a) a roll of said encodable material of the type having an encodable band portion and a heat activatable adhesive bearing portion adjacent to said encodable band portion, (b) means disposed at a supply station for retain-ing said roll, (c) alignment guide means at an alignment station for aligning said document with said encodable material so that the heat activatable adhesive bearing portion overlaps said document at said longitudinal edge and the encodable band portion extends below the longitudinal edge, (d) heat sealing means for heating said heat activatable adhesive bearing portion solely at the location of overlap of said adhesive bearing portion with said document, and (e) means for severing said encodable material from said roll, thereby to provide said discrete strips.
2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said heat sealing means is disposed at said alignment station.
3. The apparatus as defined by claim 2 further including second heat sealing means remote from said alignment station and transport means for transporting said document from said alignment station to said second heat sealing means, said transport means solely engaging said encodable material.
4. The apparatus as defined by claim 3 further including means for automatically supplying documents to said alignment station.
5. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said means disposed at said supply station comprises pay-out reel means for rotatably mounting said roll of said encodable material at said supply station.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA232,239A CA1027525A (en) | 1975-07-25 | 1975-07-25 | Encodable strip attachment apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1048972A true CA1048972A (en) | 1979-02-20 |
Family
ID=4103699
Family Applications (4)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA232,239A Expired CA1027525A (en) | 1975-07-25 | 1975-07-25 | Encodable strip attachment apparatus |
| CA77290454A Expired CA1048971A (en) | 1975-07-25 | 1977-11-08 | Encodable strip attachment apparatus |
| CA77290455A Expired CA1048972A (en) | 1975-07-25 | 1977-11-08 | Encodable strip attachment apparatus |
| CA77290456A Expired CA1048973A (en) | 1975-07-25 | 1977-11-08 | Encodable strip attachment apparatus |
Family Applications Before (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA232,239A Expired CA1027525A (en) | 1975-07-25 | 1975-07-25 | Encodable strip attachment apparatus |
| CA77290454A Expired CA1048971A (en) | 1975-07-25 | 1977-11-08 | Encodable strip attachment apparatus |
Family Applications After (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA77290456A Expired CA1048973A (en) | 1975-07-25 | 1977-11-08 | Encodable strip attachment apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (4) | CA1027525A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6063225A (en) * | 1990-09-17 | 2000-05-16 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Method of dispensing sheet marker tabs |
-
1975
- 1975-07-25 CA CA232,239A patent/CA1027525A/en not_active Expired
-
1977
- 1977-11-08 CA CA77290454A patent/CA1048971A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-11-08 CA CA77290455A patent/CA1048972A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-11-08 CA CA77290456A patent/CA1048973A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6063225A (en) * | 1990-09-17 | 2000-05-16 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Method of dispensing sheet marker tabs |
| US6129977A (en) * | 1990-09-17 | 2000-10-10 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Tape roll structure for use in making marginal edge tabs for sheets |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA1048973A (en) | 1979-02-20 |
| CA1048971A (en) | 1979-02-20 |
| CA1027525A (en) | 1978-03-07 |
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