US3851580A

US3851580A - Credit card voucher imprinter

Info

Publication number: US3851580A
Application number: US00336806A
Authority: US
Inventors: Q Correll; A Swain; T Oudijk; L Chamness; M Rudin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-02-28
Filing date: 1973-02-28
Publication date: 1974-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-03

Abstract

A sales voucher imprinter for an on-line credit card verification terminal includes a series of aligned imprinting wheels selectively adjustable through pinion and idler wheels by rack-like slides to manually index the imprinting wheels to print appropriate numbers on a voucher. Imprinting wheels are provided for a permanent indication of the amount of a transaction, the date of the transaction, the identity of the credit card employed in the transaction, and the number of the transaction performed by the terminal. A code wheel associated with each pinion wheel has radial pins circumferentially spaced therearound which are arranged to be detected by a pick-off sensor as it passes over the code wheels. The pins are spaced around the code wheel pursuant to a cyclic code whereby progressive incremental rotations of the code wheel with respect to the sensor will present signal patterns to the sensor corresponding to the numerals zero through nine. The pick-off sensor is attached to a nut disposed on a threaded shaft for advancing the sensor over the code wheels upon rotation of the shaft, and comprises an arcuate segment adapted to concentrically encompass an arcuate segment of each code wheel. The sensor has four photo pairs provided therein which read four data points on the code wheel as the sensor passes over the wheel.

Description

United States Patent [191 Correll et al.

[111 3,851,580 [451 Dec. 3, 1974 1 1 CREDIT CARD VOUCHER IMPRINTER [75] Inventors: Quentin E. Correll, Mountain View;

Allan L. Swain; Tommy A. Oudijk, both of Palo Alto; Leland D. Chamness, Mountain View; Melvin Rudin, Los Altos, all of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Albert J. Day, San Mateo, Calif.

[22] Filed: Feb. 28, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 336,806

[52] US. Cl. 101/45, 101/56 [51] Int. Cl B411 47/46 [58] Field of Search 101/45, 56, 269, 95, 99-101, 101/110 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,138,091 6/1964 Maul 101/45 3,334,582 8/1967 Mahoney 101/45 3,363,547 1/1968 Thut et al. 101/1 10X 3,405,634 10/1968 Maul et al..... 101/45 3,469,240 9/1969 Ryden 101/45 X 3,504,622 2/1970 Morrison 101/110 X 3,515,060 6/1970 Barbour 101/45 3,563,171 2/1971 Heisner l0l/45 3,704,667 12/1972 Moss 101/93 C 3,730,085 5/1973 Beck 101/110 Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerEdward M, Coven Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Naylor, Neal & Uilkema [57] ABSTRACT A sales voucher imprinter for an on-line credit card verification terminal includes a series of aligned imprinting wheels selectively adjustable through pinion and idler wheels by rack-like slides to manually index the imprinting wheels to print appropriate numbers on a voucher. Imprinting wheels are provided for a permanent indication of the amount of a transaction, the date of the transaction, the identity of the credit card employed in the transaction, and the number of the transaction performed by the terminal. A code wheel associated with each pinion wheel has radial pins circumferentially spaced therearound which are arranged to be detected by a pick-off sensor as it passes over the codewheels. The pins are spaced around the code wheel pursuant to a cyclic code whereby progressive incremental rotations of the code wheel with respect to the sensor will present signal patterns to the sensor corresponding to the numerals zero through nine.

The pick-off sensor is attached to a nut disposed on a threaded shaft for advancing the sensor over the code wheels upon rotation of the shaft, and comprises an arcuate segment adapted to concentrically encompass an arcuate segment of each code wheel. The sensor has four photo pairs provided therein which read four data points on the code wheel as the sensor passes over the wheel.

12 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 74 SHEU 10F 7 F I E- l CONCENTRATOR" CESSOR 28 CENTRAL DATA PRO PATENFELBEE 3W4 sum nor 1 PATENTEL UEC 31974 SHEEI' 70$ .7

FIE--21 FIE:- -22 CREDIT CARD VOUCHER IMPRINTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system for imprinting a sales voucher with indicia embossed on a credit card or the like, together with information concerning a particular transaction at hand. More specifically, it provides a mechanism for entering the amount of a transaction together with other information such as the date and identity of the sales agent, into a printing mechanism for imprinting on a sales voucher, while at the same time generating coded signals by means of which the amount of the transaction may be checked with an on-line computer. 7

In the past, many mechanisms have been developed for imprinting a sales voucher with indicia embossed upon a credit card together with information relating to the particular transaction represented by the voucher. Such mechanisms typically comprise an amount entry mechanism which indexes printing wheels whereby selected numerals will be imprinted on the voucher when the voucher is pressed against the printing wheels. However modern commercial transactions present an increasing need for instantaneous rechecking of a debt ors account to determine whether the requested credit is available at the moment of the proposed transaction. Such needs require a terminal which is capable of communicating information regarding a proposed credit transaction with a centralized data bank for verification and clearance of the transaction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a mechanism for imprinting a credit card voucher with information regarding a credit transaction, such as the amount of the transaction, and at the same time providing a data signal for transmitting such information to a centralized on-Iine computer for verification and clearance. Such a mechanism may be used most advantageously in conjunction with a credit card reading mechanism such as that disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 336,736, filed Feb. 28, I973, assigned to the assignee of this application.

The voucher imprinting mechanism of the present invention comprises a series of imprinting wheels for imprinting a voucher with the desired information, which may be selectively indexed by slides operable by sales personnel to enter information regarding the credit card presented by the debtor, and the amount of the transaction into the printing mechanism. Additional entry and printing means are provided for prese- Iectively entering other information such as the data and the identity of the sales agent making the transaction.

Mechanically coupled to each imprinting wheel is a code wheel which is coded with a cyclic code, and will be indexed along with its associated imprinting wheel by operation of the entry slides. Associated with the code wheels is a pick-off sensor capable of reading the code wheel entries and converting them to electronic signals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a credit card terminal equipped with the voucher imprinter of the present invention, and diagrammatically showing the terminal associated with a verification system,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the imprinter shown in FIG. I,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the imprinter of the present invention with a portion of the housing broken away,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the amount entry mechanism of the present invention, with parts thereof broken away for purposes of illustration,

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the amount entry mechanism shown in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the plane designated by the line 66 in FIG. 4,

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the return mechanism for the amount entry mechanism .of the present invention,

FIG. 8 is an end view of the return mechanism shown in FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 is a view of the detent mechanism of the return mechanism shown in FIG. 7,

FIG. 10 is a view of the door control mechanism of the present invention,

FIG. 11 is another view of the door control mechanism shown in FIG. 10,

FIG. 12 is a view of an interlock employed in the present invention to lock the input slides while the door is closed,

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the interlock shown in FIG. 12,

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the imprinter station of the present invention,

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the counter mechanism of the present invention,

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the counter mechanism shown in FIG. 15,

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a code wheel and pick-off sensor of the present invention,

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a code wheel and pick-off sensor. of the present invention,

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic plan view of several code wheels and the pick-off sensor of thepresent invention,

FIG. 20 shows the cyclic code employed in the present invention,

FIG. 21 shows how various numerals may be read from a code wheel of the present invention, and

FIG. 22 is a linear diagram of the code wheel and associated numerals shown in FIG. 21.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a credit card verification terminal embodying the imprinting mechanism of the present invention is shown generally at 24 in communication with a concentrator 26 which in turn is connected to a central data processor 28. Other card terminals 24a similar to card terminal 24 may also be connected to the concentrator for communication with the central data processor.

The credit card terminal 24 includes a housing 30 which is provided with a credit card entry area 32 for receiving a credit card 34, a door 36 in the housing for inserting a sales voucher into the terminal and for retracting the credit card therefrom, an amount entry panel 38 equipped with a series of thumb buttons 40 and associated numeral display windows 42 for displaying the input on each thumb button, and a function control panel 44 including at least one control switch 46 and a series of function lights 48 for indicating various operations of the terminal. The terminal housing also includes an elongated slot 50 having a hinged handle 52 extending therefrom for manual operation of the voucher imprinter mechanism disposed therein.

Referring to FIG. 2, door 36 is provided with a handle 54 and slides on guides 56 attached to housing 30. Attached to the rearward edge of the door at each side thereof are slotted links 58 provided with elongated slots 60 therein. Cranks 64 are secured to a door hinge bar 66 rotatably mounted on housing 30, and have pegs 67 provided therein which ride in slots 60. A depending and projecting lip 68 on the forward edge of the door projects under housing 30 when the door is in the closed position to effect a complete closure of the housing.

Referring to FIG. 3, the card terminal may include a drive mechanism 70 including a push block72 for advancing credit card 34 through the terminal, a card debossment reader indicated generally at 74 and guide means 76 for guiding embossed numerals on the card over debossment reader 74, all of which are disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 336,736, filed Feb. 28, 1973 assigned to the assignee of this application.

After the account number embossed on credit card 34 has been read by the'debossment reader, as fully described in the above mentioned application, the credit card is advanced by push block 72 to an imprinting area 78, where the card is disposed proximate a series of adjustable imprinting wheels 80 and one or more fixed imprinting blocks 82 for imprinting the name of the store, etc. on a sales voucher. A guide member 84 disposed along a margin of the imprinting area 78 is adapted to receive a sales voucher immediately above card 34, imprinting wheels 80 and imprinting block 82 in proper orientation for imprinting of the voucher.

Each imprinting wheel 80 has numerals through 9 disposed around the circumference thereof and may be rotated by means of thumb buttons 40 as described hereinbelow, to indicate the amount of the transaction, the data of the transaction, the issuer of the credit card being used, and other desired data. The mechanism for setting each printing wheel to print the desired numeral is identical for each wheel, and accordingly only one such mechanism will be described.

Referring again to FIG. 2, imprinting wheel 80 is mounted rotatably upon an imprinter frame 86 and is rotatably driven by a pinion wheel 88 through an idler wheel 90. Pinion wheel 88 is in turn driven by a racklike slide 92 having teeth 94 formed along an upper edge thereof.

Referring to FIG. 5, each slide 92 includes an upwardly extending end portion 96 which projects through a slot 98 in housing 30 and is connected to an associated thumb button 40. Attached to end portion 96 of slide 92 below slot 98 is a tape 100 which extends along slot 98 parallel thereto and up over a guide member 102 past a display window 42. The numerals 0 through 9 are marked on each tape and arranged thereon so as to register with display window 42 when the corresponding numeral on the imprinting wheel 80 is in position to print on a voucher disposed in the terminal imprinting area. Each tape is then allowed to loop loosely within a tape chamber defined by an angled tape guard 104, depending upon the position of the slide associated with each tape, and has its distal end secured to the terminal frame below guide member 102.

Referring to FIG. 4 each slide and associated pinion, idler and imprinting wheel are disposed in close proximate relationship with each adjacent slide and imprinting wheel assembly, whereas each thumb button and associated tape and display window require greater spacing with respect to adjacent thumb buttons for easy manual manipulation thereof. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, the upwardly extending end portions 96 of each slide include progressively longer horizontal sections to offset the associated thumb buttons the required distance from each other for ease of operation. Also, the end portions of each slide ride on a support member 106 by means of spaced guide buttons 108 attached to end portion 96 on each side of support member 106. A detent 110 engages teeth on imprinting wheel 80 to define descreet orientations of imprinting wheel 80 and slide 92 with respect to each numeral thereon.

A return mechanism 112 is provided to return the slides, associated imprinting wheels and thumb buttons to a zero position after each imprinting operation. However it may be desirable not to provide for automatic return of those slides which are used to imprint the date of the transaction on the voucher. Accordingly, it will e understood that the return mechanism described hereinafter is employed in conjunction with the transaction amount and credit card identification entry slides only.

The return mechanism includes a rack 114 longitudinally aligned with slides 92 and having a transverse bar 1 15 attached thereto which abuts the distal end of each slide to be returned. The return mechanism also includes a frame 116, a sprocket wheel 118 rotatably mounted on the frame above the rack and spaced therefrom, a pinion wheel 120 associated with the sprocket wheel, a bogey 122 rotatably mounted on the frame coaxial with the sprocket wheel, and a second pinion wheel 124 rotatably mounted on the bogey in engagement with the sprocket wheel, and engagable by the rack. An arcuate rack member 126 is mounted on door hinge bar 66 for rotation therewith and has teeth 128 provided along the periphery thereof which engage pinion 120.

Also mounted on door hinge bar 66 for rotation therewith is a pick-up arm 130 having a peg 132 provided in the distal end thereof which is adapted to engage a tab 134 on bogey 122 upon upward rotation of the pick-up arm with the door hinge bar. A spring 136, biases bogey 122 and pinion 124 downward against rack-'l14, and a spring 138 biases rack 114 and transverse bar 115 against slides 92.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a detent 140 is pivotally mounted on a portion of frame 116 and includes a distal end 142 having a notch 144 provided therein adapted to engage bogey 122 to support the bogey whereby pinion 124 will be supported above and in disengagement with rack 114. The detent is spring biased against bogey 122 by a torsion spring 146. A bumper 148 is attached to the detent and extends past the bogey and as shown in FIG. 9. The bumper is positioned whereby it will be contacted with the distal end of pick-up arm 130 as the arm swings past the detent when door 36 is opened, releasing the bogey and allowing pinion 124 to drop down and engage rack 114.

Thus when door 36 is opened after an imprinting operation to remove the sales voucher and the credit card disposed within the terminal, door hinge bar 66 and arcuate rack 126 will rotate counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7. Rack 126 will drive sprocket 118 clockwise which in turn will drive pinion 124 counterclockwise, driving rack 114 and transverse bar 115 rightward as viewed in FIG. 5 until pinion 124 reaches the extreme left end of rack 114 whereupon slides 92 and the associated imprinting wheel and thumb button will be returned to the zero position. At the same time pick-up arm 130 will also rotate with door hinge bar 66 until it contacts tab 134 on the bogey when slides 92 are returned to their zero position, whereupon the bogey will be rotated upwardly until pinion 124 has disengaged rack 114, at which time detent 140 will snap in against the bogey under the urging of spring 146. At this time the voucher and the credit card will be removed from the terminal and a blank voucher will be placed therein in preparation for the next transaction. When the next transaction transpires, the amount entry slides are again moved leftward as viewed in FIG. 5 in accordance with appropriate data concerning the transaction. Rack 114 and transverse bar 115 are free to move leftward with the slides due to the disengagement therefrom of pinion 124 which is maintained above the rack by detent I40 engaged with bogey 122. After the amount entry thumb buttons are appropriately oriented, door 36 is closed, rotating door hinge bar 66 clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 7. Pick-up arm 130 will also rotate clockwise down past detent 140 striking bumper 148 which rotates the detent to release bogey 122. Thereupon pinion 124 will drop down and engage with rack 114, driving the rack leftward as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 7, until pinion 124 reaches the rightward end of the rack. At the end of the next imprinting operation, door 36 is again opened, driving rack 114 and slide 92 rightward to the zero position as previously described.

The present invention also includes an anti-reversing mechanism that prevents partial opening or closing of door 36, which would prevent the return mechanism from fully returning slides to the zero position. As shown in FIG. a cam 150 having a notch 152 in one corner thereof is mounted on door hinge bar 66 for rotation therewith, and is arranged to rotate against a toggle 154 pivotally mounted on a shaft 156 and having a rounded bearing edge 158. A spring 160 is attached to the toggle to urge it to a position whereby bearing edge 158 extends toward the pivot axis of cam 150 and interfers with the cam as it rotates past the toggle. Thus, when door 36 is opened cam 150 rotates upwardly past the toggle as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 10, rotating the toggle against the force of spring 160 until bearing edge 158 is moved to allow the cam to pass by. The toggle will then be in a cocked position as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 10. If an attempt is now made to close the door, door hinge bar 66 will attempt to rotate clockwise as viewed in FIG. 10, rotating cam 150 downward against the cocked toggle, which will jam the cam and prevent the door hinge bar from rotating. Thus the door may not be reclosed until it is moved to a full open position wherein notch 152 in cam 150 registers with the cocked toggle, allowing the toggle to return to its normal position. When the door is now closed, the cam will rotate downwardly as shown in FIG. 11 cocking the toggle in the opposite direction. If

an attempt is made to reopen the door before it is fully closed, the toggle will again jam the cam to prevent the door hinge bar from. rotating in the opposite direction. Thus the door must be fully closed whereby the cam fully disengages the toggle and allows it to return to its normal position, as shown in FIG. 10, before the door may again be opened.

The present invention also provides a mechanism for locking the slides 92 when door 36 is closed, to prevent resetting of the amount entry after approval of the proposed transaction is obtained from the central data processor. This mechanism, which is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, comprises adjacent

parallel links

162 and 164 mounted for reciprocating sliding motion on a portion of terminal frame 30. The links have overlapping

slots

166 and 168 provided therein which have a spring 170 disposed therein for resilient lost motion movement of the links with respect to each other. Link 164 includes an elongated bar 172 attached to one end thereof which is arranged to engage detents 110 associated with each imprinting wheel 80 when link 164 is shifted to its rightward position as viewed in FIG. 13. A lever 174 is attached to door hinge bar 66 for rotation therewith, and arranged to engage link 162 and shift it rightward as viewed in FIG. 13 when door 36 is closed, shifting link 164 rightward against detents 110. The detents are then held against their associated imprinting wheels to prevent movement of the imprinting wheels and the associated slides while door 36 is closed.

The imprinting device of the present invention provides for imprinting and electronically coding, not only the date and amount of the transaction and the identification of the credit card being used in the transaction, but also the number of transactions completed at a particular terminal. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, imprinting wheels 176 are provided for recording the transaction number for the particular terminal in use. Each of the imprinting wheels 176 is driven by an idler wheel 180 which also engages a code wheel 182. One idler wheel is driven by a drive wheel 181 mounted on a shaft 183 which is driven by a cog wheel 184 having teeth 186 disposed around the circumference thereof. The cog wheel is driven by an escapement link 188 which in turn is driven by a crank 190 attached to door hinge bar 66. Escapement link 188 has

slots

192 and 194 provided therein which are disposed on guide pegs 196 and 198 respectively, whereby escapement link 188 may slidably reciprocate on the guide pegs as crank 190 and door hinge bar 66 rotate when the door 36 is opened and closed. Attached to escapement link 188 is a yoke 200 adapted to capture a tooth on cog wheel 184, and a pin 202 adapted to engage a tooth on the cog wheel as it moves past the cog wheel.

Thus, when door 36 is closed, door hinge bar 66 and crank 190 will rotate clockwise as shown in FIG. 16, sliding escapement link 188 rightward, whereupon yoke 200 will be moved out of engagement with a tooth, and pin 202 will engage a tooth, which will then move with the pin, rotating cog wheel 184, which in turn will advance drive wheel 178, idler 180 and imprinting wheel 176.

When the door is opened, door hinge bar 66 and crank 190 will rotate counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 16, sliding escapement link 188 leftward, whereupon pin 202 will move out of engagement with cog wheel 184 to the position shown in FIG. 16, and yoke 200 will captively engage the next tooth. When the cover is again closed during the next transaction the same sequence will occur, and the transaction will be counted by the imprinter wheel 176 and code wheel 182 driven by idler wheel 180. It will be understood that adjacent imprinter and code wheels for tens and hundreds digets of the counter may have their idlers sequentially driven by idler 180 in the conventional manner employed in counting mechanisms.

As previously mentioned, after appropriate data regarding the proposed transaction have been entered in the terminal as described above, such data is read by the terminal and coverted into electronic signals for communication with an on-line data processing computer by means of a mechanism described hereinbelow.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 5 it will be recalled that imprinting wheel 80 is driven through idler wheel 90 by a pinion wheel 88, which in turn is driven by slide 92. Rotatably associated with pinion wheel 88 and im mediately adjacent thereto is a code wheel 210 having a series of pins 212 extending radially outward from the circumference thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 17, a nut 214 is disposed on a threaded shaft 216 which is also employed to advance the credit card through the terminal as described in the co-pending application mentioned above. Attached to nut 214 is an arcuate pick-off sensor 218 having a series of photo pairs 220 comprising light emitting diodes 222 and photoelectric cells 224, equally spaced thereon. Pick-off sensor 218 is arranged to encompass an arcuate portion of

code wheels

182 and 210 in close proximity thereto as it passes by the code wheel while traveling along the threaded shaft 216.

Each photo pair 220 defines a read point with respect to the circumference of the code wheel. Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, as nut 214 and arcuate sensor 218 travel along threaded shaft 216, the sensor will sequentially pass over each code wheel. As the sensor passes over a code wheel, each photo paid will detect any code wheel pin disposed at the read point associated therewith, producing an appropriate electronic signal. Thus the sensor will develop a series of signal patterns as it passes over the code wheels. As shown in FIG. 18 each code wheel has a series of IO equally spaced data points defined on the circumference thereof, indicated a through j on the drawing. The first four data points, a through d, are occupied by pins 212. The next three data points, e through g, are unoccupied. The eighth data point 11 is also occupied by a pin 212. The ninth and th data points, i and j, are again unoccupied. FIG. 20 indicates how this arrangement is used to produce signals on the sensor photo pairs which may be employed to indicate the numerals 0 through 9, respectively, as a code wheel is rotated with respect to the sensor. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, this arrangement represents a cyclic code which may be employed whereby the sensor will read numerals zero through nine as the code wheel is incrementally rotated with imprinting wheel 80.

It is to be noted that in any rotated position of the code wheels 182 at least one pin 212 will coincide with at least one of the sensor photo pairs 220 on the arcuate sensor 218, thereby providing at least one information code bit to allow clocking the data into an appropriate holding register.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to these embodiments, but rather is defined by the accompanying claims.

We claim:

5 1. In a credit card sales voucher imprinting device comprising: a frame; a housing mounted on the frame; means attached to the frame providing a voucher imprinting area for holding a sales voucher for imprinting; a plurality of imprinting wheels arranged adjacent to the imprinting area; means for selectively indexing the imprinting wheels with respect to the imprinting area, the improvement comprising: a code wheel associated with each imprinting wheel, said code wheels comprising a series of wheels mounted on a common axis for rotation independent of one another; means coupling the code wheels to the imprinting wheels to rotate the code wheels about said axis so as to index each code wheel in coordination with the imprinting wheel associated therewith; encoding means mounted on each'of said code wheels to indicate the indexed position of the code wheel and, thus, the indexed position of the imprinting wheel associated therewith said means extending from the circumference of the code wheels; and, a pick-off sensor mounted relative to the frame to move in a path parallel to the common axis of rotation of the code wheels to move past the respective code wheels and sense the position of the encoding means thereon.

2. In a device as described in claim 1, the improvement further comprising a return mechanism for returning the imprinting wheels to a zero position on completion of an imprinting operation.

3. In a device as described in claim 2 wherein the voucher imprinting area is disposed within the housing, wherein the return mechanism comprises, a door provided in the housing for access to the imprinting area, hinge means mounting the door on the frame. and return means associated with the hinge means whereby upon opening of the door each imprinting wheel will be returned to its zero position.

4. A device, according to claim 1, wherein:

a. said code wheels are mounted for rotation about a common axis and indexed by selective rotation about said axis;

b. said encoding means are mounted so as to extend from the circumference of the code wheels; and,

c. said sensor means comprises a pick-off sensor mounted to move in a path parallel to the common axis of rotation of the code wheels to move past the respective code wheels and sense the position of the encoding means thereon.

5. In a device, according to claim 1, the improvement wherein:

a. the code wheels each have 10 data points equally spaced around the circumference thereof;

b. the encoding means comprise pins extending radially from the circumference of each code wheel at the first, second, third, fourth and eighth data points; and,

c. the pick-off sensor is adapted to encompass a portion of the code wheels and comprises four photo pairs equally spaced circumferentially around the code wheels to register with four data points on each code wheel as they move past the code wheels, whereby any pins in such data points will be detected by the photo pairs.

6. A credit card sales voucher imprinting device comprising: a frame; a housing mounted on the frame; means attached to the frame providing a voucher imprinting area for holding a sales voucher for imprinting; a plurality of imprinting wheels arranged adjacent the imprinting area for imprinting vouchers disposed therein; means for selectively indexing the imprinting wheels with respect to the imprinting area; a code wheel associated with each imprinting wheel, said code wheels comprising a series of wheels mounted for rotation independent of one another and each having 10 data points equally spaced around the circumference thereof wherein the first, second, third, fourth and eighth data points are occupied by pins extending radially from the circumference of the code wheels; means coupling the code wheels to the imprinting wheels so as to index each code wheel in coordination with the imprinting wheel associated therewith; a pick-off sensor movable past the code wheels, said sensor being adapted to encompass a portion of the code wheels and comprising four photo pairs equally spaced circumferentially around the code wheels to register with four data points on each code wheel as the sensor passes over the code wheels, whereby any pins in such data points will be detected by the photo pairs; a threaded shaft mounted for rotation on the frame; and a nut disposed on the threaded shaft for linear movement therealong upon rotation of the shaft, and wherein the sensor is attached to the nut whereby upon rotation of the threaded shaft the sensor will move past each code wheel sequentially to read the inputs to each code wheel and the imprinting wheel associated therewith.

7. A credit card sales voucher imprinting device comprising: a frame, a housing mounted on the frame; means attached to the frame providing a voucher imprinting area disposed within the housing for holding a sales voucher for imprinting; a plurality of imprinting wheels arranged adjacent the imprinting area for im printing vouchers disposed therein; means comprising manually operable slides for selectively indexing the imprintng wheels with respect to the imprinting area; a code wheel associated with each imprinting wheel, said code wheels comprising a series of wheels mounted for rotation independent of one another and being encoded with a cyclic code representing numerals zero through nine as the code wheel is rotated; means coupling the code wheels to the imprinting wheels so as to index each code wheel in coordination with the imprinting wheel associated therewith; a pick-off sensor movable past the code wheels and adapted to read the encoding thereon; and, a return mechanism for returning the imprinting wheels to a zero position upon completion of an imprinting operation, said mechanism comprising a door provided in the housing for access to the imprinting area, hinge means mounting the door on the frame, an arcuate rack mounted on said hinge means for rotation therewith upon movement of the door, a first pinion rotatably mounted on the frame in driven engagement with the arcuate rack, a sprocket wheel rotatably mounted on the frame coaxial with the first pinion for rotation therewith, a bogey pivotally mounted on the frame and pivotable about the axis of the sprocket wheel, a second pinion rotatably mounted on the bogey in driven engagement with the sprocket wheel, a linear rack longitudinally aligned with the slides and adapted to be driven by the second pinion, a transverse bar attached to the linear rack and adapted to engage the slides, a pick-up arm rotatably mounted on said hinge means for rotation therewith and adapted to engage the bogey upon opening of the door to lift the bogey and the second pinion whereby the second pinion will be disengaged from the linear rack, spring biased detent means for engaging the bogey and holding the second pinion out of engagement with the rack, said detent means including a bumper arranged to be engaged by the pick-up arm as the pick-up arm rotates past the detent means, whereby upon closing of the door, the pick-up arm will rotate past the detent means and disengage the detent means from the bogey, allowing the bogey to drop to a position wherein the second pinion engages the linear rack.

8. A credit card sales voucher imprinting device comprising: a frame; a housing mounted on the frame; means attached to the frame providing a voucher imprinting area disposed within the housing for holding a sales voucher for imprinting; a plurality of imprinting wheels arranged adjacent the imprinting area for imprinting vouchers disposed therein; means for selectively indexing the imprinting wheels with respect to the imprinting area; a code wheel associated with each imprinting wheel, said code wheels comprising a series of wheels mounted for rotation independent of one another and each being encoded with a cyclic code representing numerals zero through nine as the code wheel is rotated; means coupling the code wheels to the imprinting wheels so as to index each code wheel in coordination with the imprinting wheel associated therewith; a pick off sensor movable past the code wheels and adapted to read the encoding thereon; a movable door provided within the housing for access to the voucher imprinting area, hinge means mounting said movable door on the frame; and anti-reversing means associated with such hinge means to prevent only partial opening and closing of the door, said means comprising -an-arcuate cam mounted on said hinge means for rotation therewith, and a toggle pivotally mounted on the frame, and spring means biasing said toggle to a position wherein a portion of the toggle will be contacted by the cam as the cam rotates past the toggle whereby upon partial opening and closing of the door the cam will engage the toggle and pivot it from its normal position to a position where it will jam the cam if the direction of rotation of the cam is reversed.

9. A credit card sales voucher imprinting device comprising: a housing; a voucher imprinting area disposed within the housing; a plurality of imprinting wheels arranged adjacent the imprinting area for imprinting vouchers disposed therein; manually operable slides for selectively indexing the imprinting wheels with respect to the imprinting area; a door provided in the housing for access to the imprinting area; hinge means mounting the door on the frame; and return means to return the slides to a zero position upon opening of the door, said means comprising an arcuate rack mounted on said hinge means for rotation therewith upon movement of the door, a first pinion rotatably mounted on the frame in driven engagement with the arcuate rack, a sprocket wheel rotatably mounted on the frame coaxial with the first pinion for rotation therewith, a bogey pivotally mounted on the frame and pivotable about the axis of the sprocket wheel, a second pinion rotatably mounted on the bogey in driven engagement with the sprocket wheel, a linear rack longitudinally aligned with the slides and adapted to be driven by the second pinion, a transverse bar attached to the linear rack and adapted to engage the slides, a pick-up arm rotatably mounted on said hinge means for rotation therewith and adapted to engage the bogey upon opening of the door to lift the bogey and the second pinion whereby the second pinion will be disengaged from the linear rack, spring biased detent means for engaging the bogey and holding the second pinion out of engagement with the rack, said detent means including a bumper arranged to be engaged by the pick-up arm as the pick-up arm rotates past the detent means, whereby upon closing of the door, the pick-up arm will rotate past the detent means and disengage the detent means from the bogey, allowing the bogey to drop to a position wherein the second pinion engages the linear rack.

10. A credit card sales voucher imprinting device comprising: a housing; a voucher imprinting area disposed within the housing; a plurality of imprinting wheels arranged adjacent the imprinting area for imprinting vouchers disposed therein; manually operable slides for selectively indexing the imprinting wheels with respect to the imprinting area; a door provided in the housing for access to the imprinting area; hinge means mounting the door on the frame; return means connected to the hinge means and the slide to return the slides to a zero position upon opening of the door; and, anti-reversing means to prevent only partial opening and closing of the door, said means comprising an arcuate cam mounted on said hinge means for rotation therewith, and a toggle pivotally mounted on the frame, and spring means biasing said toggle to a position wherein a portion of the toggle will be contacted by the cam as the cam rotates past the toggle whereby upon partial opening and closing of the door the cam will engage the toggle and pivot it from its normal position to the position where it will jam the cam if the direction of rotation of the cam is reversed.

11. In combination with a plurality of rotatable imprinting wheels, each of which has a series of characters around the circumference thereof and is rotatable to discrete orientations corresponding to each character for imprinting thereof, the improvement comprising: a plurality of code wheels mounted on a common axis for rotation relative to one another, each of said code wheels being rotatable with one of the imprinting wheels and having data points on the periphery thereof corresponding to each character of the imprinting wheel rotatable therewith; encoding means on each of said code wheels for indicating the character oriented for printing on the imprinting wheel rotatable with the code wheel, said means comprising pins extending radially from select data points on the circumference of the code wheels; a pick-off sensor mounted for selective movement in a path parallel to the common axis of rotation of the code wheels to sequentially move past the respective code wheels and read the encoding thereon, said sensor comprising four photo pairs spaced to register with data points on the code wheels whereby any pins in the data points which register with the photo pairs will pass between the photo pairs and produce an electronic signal therein coded for the character read.

Claims

1. In a credit card sales voucher imprinting device comprising: a frame; a housing mounted on the frame; means attached to the frame providing a voucher imprinting area for holding a sales voucher for imprinting; a plurality of imprinting wheels arranged adjacent to the imprinting area; means for selectively indexing the imprinting wheels with respect to the imprinting area, the improvement comprising: a code wheel associated with each imprinting wheel, said code wheels comprising a series of wheels mounted on a common axis for rotation independent of one another; means coupling the code wheels to the imprinting wheels to rotate the code wheels about said axis so as to index each code wheel in coordination with the imprinting wheel associated therewith; encoding means mounted on each of said code wheels to indicate the indexed position of the code wheel and, thus, the indexed position of the imprinting wheel associated therewith said means extending from the circumference of the code wheels; and, a pickoff sensor mounted relative to the frame to move in a path parallel to the common axis of rotation of the code wheels to move past the respective code wheels and sense the position of the encoding means thereon.

3. In a device as described in claim 2 wherein the voucher imprinting area is disposed within the housing, wherein the return mechanism comprises, a door provided in the housing for access to the imprinting area, hinge means mounting the door on the frame, and return means associated with the hinge means whereby upon opening of the door each imprinting wheel will be returned to its zero position.

4. A device, according to claim 1, wherein: a. said code wheels are mounted for rotation about a common axis and indexed by selective rotation about said axis; b. said encoding means are mounted so as to extend from the circumference of the code wheels; and, c. said sensor means comprises a pick-off sensor mounted to move in a path parallel to the common axis of rotation of the code wheels to move past the respective code wheels and sense the position of the encoding means thereon.

5. In a device, according to claim 1, the improvement wherein: a. the code wheels each have 10 data points equally spaced around the circumference thereof; b. the encoding means comprise pins extending radially from the circumference of each code wheel at the first, second, third, fourth and eighth data points; and, c. the pick-off sensor is adapted to encompass a portion of the code wheels and comprises four photo pairs equally spaced circumferentially around the code wheels to register with four data points on each code wheel as they move past the code wheels, whereby any pins in such data points will be detected by the photo pairs.

7. A credit card sales voucher imprinting device comprising: a frame, a housing mounted on the frame; means attached to the frame providing a voucher imprinting area disposed within the housing for holding a sales voucher for imprinting; a plurality of imprinting wheels arranged adjacent the imprinting area for imprinting vouchers disposed therein; means comprising manually operable slides for selectively indexing the imprintng wheels with respect to the imprinting area; a code wheel associated with each imprinting wheel, said code wheels comprising a series of wheels mounted for rotation independent of one another and being encoded with a cyclic code representing numerals zero through nine as the code wheel is rotated; means coupling the code wheels to the imprinting wheels so as to index each code wheel in coordination with the imprinting wheel associated therewith; a pick-off sensor movable past the code wheels and adapted to read the encoding thereon; and, a return mechanism for returning the imprinting wheels to a zero position upon completion of an imprinting operation, said mechanism comprising a door provided in the housing for access to the imprinting area, hinge means mounting the door on the frame, an arcuate rack mounted on said hinge means for rotation therewith upon movement of the door, a first pinion rotatably mounted on the frame in driven engagement with the arcuate rack, a sprocket wheel rotatably mounted on the frame coaxial with the first pinion for rotation therewith, a bogey pivotally mounted on The frame and pivotable about the axis of the sprocket wheel, a second pinion rotatably mounted on the bogey in driven engagement with the sprocket wheel, a linear rack longitudinally aligned with the slides and adapted to be driven by the second pinion, a transverse bar attached to the linear rack and adapted to engage the slides, a pick-up arm rotatably mounted on said hinge means for rotation therewith and adapted to engage the bogey upon opening of the door to lift the bogey and the second pinion whereby the second pinion will be disengaged from the linear rack, spring biased detent means for engaging the bogey and holding the second pinion out of engagement with the rack, said detent means including a bumper arranged to be engaged by the pick-up arm as the pick-up arm rotates past the detent means, whereby upon closing of the door, the pick-up arm will rotate past the detent means and disengage the detent means from the bogey, allowing the bogey to drop to a position wherein the second pinion engages the linear rack.

8. A credit card sales voucher imprinting device comprising: a frame; a housing mounted on the frame; means attached to the frame providing a voucher imprinting area disposed within the housing for holding a sales voucher for imprinting; a plurality of imprinting wheels arranged adjacent the imprinting area for imprinting vouchers disposed therein; means for selectively indexing the imprinting wheels with respect to the imprinting area; a code wheel associated with each imprinting wheel, said code wheels comprising a series of wheels mounted for rotation independent of one another and each being encoded with a cyclic code representing numerals zero through nine as the code wheel is rotated; means coupling the code wheels to the imprinting wheels so as to index each code wheel in coordination with the imprinting wheel associated therewith; a pick-off sensor movable past the code wheels and adapted to read the encoding thereon; a movable door provided within the housing for access to the voucher imprinting area, hinge means mounting said movable door on the frame; and anti-reversing means associated with such hinge means to prevent only partial opening and closing of the door, said means comprising an arcuate cam mounted on said hinge means for rotation therewith, and a toggle pivotally mounted on the frame, and spring means biasing said toggle to a position wherein a portion of the toggle will be contacted by the cam as the cam rotates past the toggle whereby upon partial opening and closing of the door the cam will engage the toggle and pivot it from its normal position to a position where it will jam the cam if the direction of rotation of the cam is reversed.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the data points on the code wheels and the positioning of the pins at certain of these data points provide a self-clocking code with at least one information bit encoded by the photo pairs.