Optical embossing reader

A device for detecting an embossment projecting from a portion of a reflective surface at a predetermined location on said surface comprising means for illuminating a region of said predetermined location including a first light transmitting fiber optic element having an illuminating end face;

• light sensing means for receiving light originating from said illuminating means reflected from said reflective surface including a second light transmitting fiber optic element having a sensing end face;
• and means for positioning said sensing means relative to said illuminating means and predetermined location for the limiting, by said portion of said reflective surface, of the quantity of such reflected light actually received by said sensing means if said portion projects beyond said surface, said positioning means positioning said reflective surface so that said illuminating end face and said sensing end face are both positioned spaced relative to said reflective surface a distance slightly greater than the projection of said embossed portion, and so that one of said illuminating or sensing end faces is positioned for facing relation to a region of said reflective surface on one side of said portion thereof, the other of said illuminating or sensing end faces being positioned in facing relation to said portion of said reflective surface or to a region of said reflective surface on a side of said portion substantially opposed to said one side thereof, so that light from said illuminating end face and reflected from said reflective surface is cut off from said sensing end face by an intervening embossment at said portion of said reflective surface, said sensing means producing first and second characteristic output signals in response to the quantity of light received thereby, said signals being representative respectively of the presence or absence of an embossment at said portion of said reflective surface.