US3632991A - Sensing coded periphery of objects - Google Patents

Sensing coded periphery of objects Download PDF

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Publication number
US3632991A
US3632991A US12684A US3632991DA US3632991A US 3632991 A US3632991 A US 3632991A US 12684 A US12684 A US 12684A US 3632991D A US3632991D A US 3632991DA US 3632991 A US3632991 A US 3632991A
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coded
path
lever
sensing
travel
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US12684A
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Earl E Brinning
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Unisys Corp
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Burroughs Corp
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
    • G06K7/04—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by mechanical means, e.g. by pins operating electric contacts

Definitions

  • PATENTEB JAN 4 I972 SHEET 3 [1F 5 mvnmon EARL E. BRINNING AGENT PATENTEU JAN 41912 SHEET U [1F 5 mvmwoa EARL E. BRINNING AGENT PATENTEB JAN 4m:
  • SHEET 5 OF 5 INVENTOR EARL E. BRINNING AGENT SENSING CODED PERIPHERY OF OBJECTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to sensing notches in the periphery of objects. It is particularly useful when the object is a document and when the apparatus is employed in conjunction with a machine for reading the information on the document.
  • the document may have a plurality of notches in the leading edge or the document may have one or more notched or chamfered comers. Where the document has one or more chamfered corners, the apparatus can be used to determine the orientation of the document.
  • the invention will be described as being incorporated in one species of such a machine machine-a machine for sensing the orientation of a document based on the presence or absence of notched corners (chamfered comers) prior to the input to a document reader.
  • the documents have a notched or chamfered comer.
  • the machine operator takes the stack of documents and visually orients them so that all the chamfered comers are aligned. Then the stack is inserted into the hopper of the document reader.
  • this manual operation is subject to the inefficiency of the operator and a document will still be inserted incorrectly causing the aforementioned problems.
  • the invention contemplates the solution of these problems by providing a new and improved document orientation sensing apparatus.
  • an apparatus including a detent frame for stopping the leading edge of the object and feeler arms mounted for independent rotation.
  • a coded slot which defines an operative and an inoperative position. These positions cooperate with permanent stops and each feeler arm is responsive to the presence or absence of a notch in the leading edge of the object.
  • the coded operative positions are properly aligned with respect to the stops and, upon application of a testing signal, the feeler arms and detent frame will drop out of the path of travel of the object.
  • the object is a document and the notches are in the comers of the document which creates a chamfered comer.
  • the apparatus is electronically equivalent to a two input AND gate having one input line inverted.
  • FIG. 1 is a partial top view illustrating the rest position of the sensing apparatus
  • FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating a portion of the sensing apparatus when a document is inserted correctly
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged illustration of the feeler arms of the sensing apparatus
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus when a document is inserted correctly
  • FIG. 5 is a front elevation of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus allowing a document to be fed past the sensing station
  • FIG. 7 is a front elevation of FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus when a document is inserted incorrectly
  • FIG. 9 is a partial front elevation of FIG. 8 taken just behind feeler arm 15;
  • FIG. I0 is a partial top view of the apparatus when a document is inserted incorrectly.
  • FIG. 11 is another partial top view of the apparatus when a document is inserted incorrectly.
  • FIG. 1 a top view illustrating the linear relationship between portions of the sensing apparatus at rest will be explained.
  • the apparatus includes a platform or table 11 upon which a punched card, badge, credit card or other document is placed.
  • Several openings or apertures are provided in the table 11. protruding up through these apertures are the tops of two arcuate independently rotatable feeler arms 15, 15 and the tops l7, 19 of a detent frame 21 (shown in detail in FIG. 4).
  • a guide rail 23 may be provided on one side of the table for aligning the document.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the top view of the sensing apparatus when a document 25 is correctly inserted.
  • the document is inserted from right to left.
  • the supply of documents (not shown)
  • the left end is a document reader (not shown).
  • the terminology right side and left side, when used in referring to various elements of the apparatus, is to be construed relative to the aforementioned direction of insertion of a document.
  • the notched or chamfered comer 31 of document 25 does not contact feeler arm 15. The tolerance of the apparatus is such that a slight contact would not defeat the operation of the apparatus.
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the feeler arms 15, 15 which may be considered sensing means.
  • Each sensing means includes an arcuate portion 33, 33' and a base 35, 35.
  • the feeler arms are mounted for independent rotation on shaft 37.
  • Each feeler arm may be an integral unit with arcuate portion 33 counterbalanced by base 35.
  • Each base 35, 35' includes a slot 39, 39 having an interior shoulder 41, 41'.
  • the orientation of shoulder 41 with respect to slot 39 is opposite to the orientation of shoulder 41 with respect to slot 39.
  • Each base may be thought of as being coded, i.e., having multiple positions. Referring to feeler arm 15 the long side 43 of slot 39 together with the opposite interior shoulder 41 define a long or operative position 45.
  • the short side 47 of slot 39 together with shoulder 41 define a short or inoperative position 49.
  • the long side 43 of slot 39 together with the opposite interior shoulder 41 define a long or operative position 45 and the short side 47 together with shoulder 41 define a short or inoperative position 49'
  • the location of the operative and inoperative positions in the base of feeler arm 15 is reversed relative to the location of the operative and inoperative positions in the base of feeler arm 15 providing a plurality of coded positions.
  • FIGS. 4 through 7 the various elements of the sensing apparatus along with their operation will be explained.
  • the document 25 is properly oriented, i.e., the desired arrangement or code of notches is the absence of a notch at corner 29 and the presence of a notch or chamfer at corner 31.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 show a perspective view and an elevation, respectively, of the apparatus as the document is being inserted. Guide rail 23 is omitted for clarity.
  • the base 35 of feeler arm 15 has its operative position 45 to the left of inoperative position 49.
  • Base 35 of feeler arm 15' has operative and inoperative positions which are reversed relative to those -of feeler arm 15. That is, the operative position 45 is to the right of the inoperative position for feeler arm 15' as shown in FIG. 4.
  • the tops 17, 19 of detent frame 21 are vertically disposed and connected together by a horizontally disposed member 51.
  • Lever 53 is horizontally disposed perpendicular to member 51 and the left end of lever 53 is connected to member 51.
  • Lever 53 is oriented parallel to the direction of movement of a document 25 and has its axis or fulcrum 55 intermediate its ends.
  • Middle lever 57 is joumaled at one end on shaft 37. The other end of lever 57 has an elbow portion 58.
  • Lever 57 is disposed below lever 53 and has its fulcrum or axis of rotation 59 intermediate its ends for acting on shaft 37 to lower arms 15 and 15'.
  • Beneath levers 53 and 57 is bottom lever 61 having its axis or fulcrum 63 intermediate its ends.
  • the relative location of the levers at rest is as follows.
  • Top lever 53 is offset behind middle lever 57 and has its right end in contact with elbow 58.
  • Bottom lever 61 is offset behind middle lever 57 and the left end of lever 61 is in contact with the elbow 58 of lever 57.
  • At the right end of lever 61 there is a key 65 and a switch 67 is disposed below the key.
  • Stop 71 is oriented to cooperate with the operative and inoperative positions 45, 49 of feeler arm 15 and stop 71 is similarly oriented to cooperate with the positions 45', 49' of feeler ann 15.
  • Spring 73 urges feeler arm 15 in a clockwise direction and stop 71 normally abuts shoulder 41 and short side 47 of slot 39 (FIG. 3). Therefore, the stop 71 normally abuts the inoperative position 49 which prevents feeler arm 15 from moving vertically downward.
  • a second spring 73 urges feeler arm 15 in a clockwise direction and stop 71 normally is vertically disposed below the long or operative position 45 of feeler arm 15 Therefore feeler arm 15 normally could move vertically downward.
  • Spring 75 is affixed to the right end of lever 57 and to the base 69 of the apparatus and urges the lever in a clockwise direction about its axis 59.
  • corner 29 contacts the protruding end of feeler arm 15 and rotates feeler arm 15 counterclockwise about shaft 37. This counterclockwise rotation aligns the long or operative position 45 above stop 71.
  • the chamfered corner 31 does not contact the top of feeler arm 15' and feeler arm 15' remains in its initial position with the long or operative position 45' disposed above stop 71'.
  • the leading edge 27 reaches the tops 17, 19 of detent frame 21 and the travel of the document stops.
  • a testing signal is applied to determine if the arrangement of notches in the leading edge of the document corresponds to the desired arrangement, i.e., the predetermined code as reflected in the arrangement of slots in the bases of the sensing arms.
  • this testing signal is applied by the partial depression of key end 65 of lever 61.
  • lever 61 when the key end 65 of lever 61 is partially depressed, lever 61 tends to rotate about its axis or fulcrum 63 in a clockwise direction. As lever 61 so rotates its left end pushes up on the elbow 58 of lever 57. Since lever 57 has its fulcrum 59 intermediate its ends, the upward or counterclockwise rotational force imparted at the right end (elbow 58) thereof creates a corresponding downward or counterclockwise movement at the left end. The left end of lever 57, as previously explained, is journaled on shaft 37. The counterclockwise motion at the left end of shaft 57 tends to move the shaft 37 downward and, as a consequence, tends to urge the feeler arms 15, 15 downward.
  • the switch is coupled to a motor (not shown) which initiates the rotation of a drive roller 77.
  • the rotation of drive roller 77 is in a clockwise direction and feeds the document 25 into the reader. (FIGS. 4 and 5). Once the detent frame is lowered the document may be fed manually if desired.
  • feeler arm 15' when a chamfered comer 31 is adjacent thereto (proper operation) has already been explained with respect to FIGS. 2, 4-7.
  • the other chamfered comer 31 would never contact the top of feeler arm 15. Therefore, feeler arm 15 would never rotate in counterclockwise direction, but would remain in its rest position and the short or inoperative position 49 would continue to abut the stop 71 (FIG. 3). Therefore, in response to the partial depression of key 65 the lever 57 will not be able to move the feeler arms 15, 15' vertically downward with respect to the stops 71, 71 because of the contact of stop 71 with shoulder 41 of feeler arm 15. Again tops 17, 19 remain in the path of travel, rotation of lever 61 is limited such that key 65 would not contact switch 67 and the card is not fed to the reader.
  • the third erroneous condition would be the location of the chamfered corner reversed. If the card shown in FIG. 2 was inverted so that the chamfered corner 31 was opposite feeler arm 15, (the chamfered corner is now identified as 31 for clarity) the operation would be as follows. As seen in FIG. 11, feeler arm 15 would not be contacted by the chamfered corner 31', therefore it would not be rotated and the inoperative position 49 would remain aligned with stop 71. Corner 29' would contact and rotate feeler arm 15 and the short or inoperative position 49 would thus become aligned with stop 71. Therefore, upon depression of key 65, vertically downward motion of the feeler arms would be resisted by both stops.
  • feeler arms the short and long (inoperative and operative) positions of the slot and the stops may be considered as the mechanical equivalent of an electronic AND gate with an inverted input line.
  • an AND gate so configured with an inverter responds to the simultaneous presence of a first condition and absence of a second condition. The configuration will not respond to any other set of conditions.
  • the AND gate inverter configuration responds to the first condition (that is, the presence of the corner 29 opposite feeler arm 15) and the absence of a second condition (that is the absence of a corner which is the presence of a chamfered or notched comer 31 opposite feeler arm 15 DESCRIPTION OF THE ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS Referring back to the correct operation of the sensing apparatus as discussed with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4, the correct code of notches in the periphery of the document was the absence of a notch at corner 29 and the presence of a notch or chamfer at corner 31.
  • the corresponding feeler arm In the absence of one or the other or both chamfered corners, the corresponding feeler arm would be rotated such that the short or inoperative position 49 would be aligned above the stop. Hence, only a document having two notches or two chamfered comers would create the appropriate condition and be fed to the card reader.
  • the feeler arms can be selected for any predetermined arrangement of notches.
  • a feeler arm 15 should be used where the absence of a notch is required and a feeler arm 15 should be used where the presence of a notch is required.
  • the feeler arms provide a plurality of coded means for sensing the coded periphery of objects.
  • this apparatus is not restricted to the use of a document sensing device but can be used to sense the code or arrangement of notches in the leading edge of any object.
  • the object need not have a straight leading edge but could take any predetermined shape. However, for ease in operation, it is preferred that shaft 37 correspond to the shape of the leading edge of the object such that each feeler am will be in the proper relative position to sense the coded notches in the leading edge of the object.
  • a microswitch of conventional nature could be placed on one or both of the tops 17, 19 of detent frame 21 in a position such that leading edge 27 of the object will contact (close) the microswitches. Contracting or closing the microswitches would operate a mechanical linkage to depress key 65 to provide the testing signal. Therefore, it is clear that various modifications can be made to the apparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein described.
  • a device for sensing the condition of the advancing edge of an object in a path of travel comprising:
  • detent means for normally blocking said path of travel
  • sensing means normally extending into positions in said path of travel in advance of said detent means and being movable by individual portions of the advancing edge of said object, said advancing edge at said detent means defining a coded arrangement of said sensing means
  • said sensing means is generally arcuate in shape, and each of said coded means counterbalances one of said sensing means.
  • each of said sensing means is mounted for independent rotation and is resiliently urged to said normally extended position.
  • each of said sensing means is moved out of said path of travel by the presence of corresponding portions of said advancing edge.
  • said predetermined arrangement of positions corresponds to no notched corners on the advancing edge of said object.
  • said predetermined arrangement of positions corresponds to a specified notched comer on the advancing edge of said object.
  • said predetermined arrangement of positions corresponds to two notched corners on the advancing edge of said object.
  • each of said coded means has a rest state and an activated state
  • each of said coded means is moved from its rest state to its activated state by the movement of its corresponding sensing means.
  • said coded means has operative and inoperative positions
  • said permitting means includes a plurality of permanent stops, each of said stops being associated with one of said coded means
  • said arrangement of positions is defined as the location of the operative position of each coded means relative to its associated stop when said advancing edge is at said detent means.
  • each of said coded means includes a slot having an interior shoulder, said shoulder cooperating with the adjacent side of said slot to define said inoperative position, and said shoulder cooperating with the opposite side of said slot to define said operative position.
  • said permitting means includes:
  • testing means being operable for moving all of said sensing means out of said path of travel and for retracting said detent means from said path of travel if but only if said coded means is in said predetermined arrangement of positions.
  • testing means includes:
  • said first lever for receiving a testing signal and transmitting said testing signal to said second lever
  • said second lever for simultaneously moving all of said sensing means out of said path of travel unless resisted by said inoperative position of at least one of said coded means
  • said second lever for further transferring a force to said third lever if but only if said second lever is not resisted by said coded means
  • said third lever for retracting said detent means out of said path of travel.
  • testing means includes:
  • testing means further includes:

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Controlling Sheets Or Webs (AREA)
  • Conveying Record Carriers (AREA)
  • Registering Or Overturning Sheets (AREA)
  • A Measuring Device Byusing Mechanical Method (AREA)
US12684A 1970-02-19 1970-02-19 Sensing coded periphery of objects Expired - Lifetime US3632991A (en)

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US1268470A 1970-02-19 1970-02-19

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US (1) US3632991A (enExample)
BR (1) BR7100865D0 (enExample)
DE (1) DE2104290C3 (enExample)
FR (1) FR2078003A5 (enExample)
GB (1) GB1295577A (enExample)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3777120A (en) * 1972-06-23 1973-12-04 Addressograph Multigraph Device for selectively passing and blocking sheets of planar material depending upon the orientation thereof
US4337659A (en) * 1979-06-29 1982-07-06 Burroughs Corporation Computer tape and reel signature for computer data file security
US4562342A (en) * 1983-09-15 1985-12-31 Solo Alan J Credit card provided with coded security means
US4801790A (en) * 1987-01-12 1989-01-31 Valid Technologies, Ltd. Access card provided with coded security means
US5101473A (en) * 1987-08-26 1992-03-31 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Data printing system with printing position correction function

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5113994A (en) * 1990-11-26 1992-05-19 Mueck Edward A Conveyer line straightener

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3239217A (en) * 1963-09-30 1966-03-08 Ibm Transport control device
US3322261A (en) * 1966-02-14 1967-05-30 Monroe Int Article sensing apparatus
US3356364A (en) * 1965-07-12 1967-12-05 Ciba Ltd Feed catch for apparatus handling sheet material
US3511975A (en) * 1966-03-14 1970-05-12 Amp Inc Locking system for a card reader

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3239217A (en) * 1963-09-30 1966-03-08 Ibm Transport control device
US3356364A (en) * 1965-07-12 1967-12-05 Ciba Ltd Feed catch for apparatus handling sheet material
US3322261A (en) * 1966-02-14 1967-05-30 Monroe Int Article sensing apparatus
US3511975A (en) * 1966-03-14 1970-05-12 Amp Inc Locking system for a card reader

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3777120A (en) * 1972-06-23 1973-12-04 Addressograph Multigraph Device for selectively passing and blocking sheets of planar material depending upon the orientation thereof
US4337659A (en) * 1979-06-29 1982-07-06 Burroughs Corporation Computer tape and reel signature for computer data file security
US4562342A (en) * 1983-09-15 1985-12-31 Solo Alan J Credit card provided with coded security means
US4801790A (en) * 1987-01-12 1989-01-31 Valid Technologies, Ltd. Access card provided with coded security means
US5101473A (en) * 1987-08-26 1992-03-31 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Data printing system with printing position correction function

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Publication number Publication date
BR7100865D0 (pt) 1973-03-13
DE2104290C3 (de) 1980-03-06
FR2078003A5 (enExample) 1971-11-05
DE2104290A1 (de) 1971-09-09
GB1295577A (enExample) 1972-11-08
DE2104290B2 (de) 1979-06-28

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Owner name: BURROUGHS CORPORATION

Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNORS:BURROUGHS CORPORATION A CORP OF MI (MERGED INTO);BURROUGHS DELAWARE INCORPORATEDA DE CORP. (CHANGED TO);REEL/FRAME:004312/0324

Effective date: 19840530

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