Moving head reader mechanism
AssigneeNCR Canada Ltd - NCR Canada Ltee
InventorsRobert B. Nally, David J. Jackola
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for reading data printed on a flexible document in which the document is orientated in a vertical direction during the reading operation. The document is initially positioned on a movable support member located in the path of movement of a scanning head. Movement of the document against the support member enables a clamping member to clamp the document in a sensing position, an actuator member for moving the support member out of the path of movement of the scanner head and moving the scanning head in a longitudinal direction to read the data on the document.
Claims17
An apparatus for processing documents comprising:
- (a) scanning means;
- (b) a guide member;
- (c) means for supporting said scanning means for transverse movement relative to one side of said guide member;
- (d) drive means for reciprocating said scanning means of said supporting means when operated;
- (e) a document support member movably mounted adjacent said guide member, said support member having a supporting surface extending to a position in the path of movement of said scanning means;
- (f) means for orientating a document positioned on the supporting surface against said guide member when operative;
- (g) means for sensing the initial movement of the document support member upon the positioning and the movement of a document against the supporting surface;
- (h) means for moving said document support member to a position out of the path of movement of said scanning means when operated;
- (i) and control means coupled to said sensing means for operating in sequential order said orienting means, said moving means and said drive means in response to the sensing of the initial rotation of the document support member by said sensing member whereby said scanning means scans a document positioned by said clamping means against said guide member.
An apparatus for reading a document having magnetically printed data located thereon comprising;
- (a) a magnetic read head;
- (b) a horizontally extending vertically orientated guide member having a horizontally extending aperture located therein;
- (c) means for supporting said magnetic head for transverse movement along the front surface of said guide member;
- (d) drive means coupled to said head supporting means for reciprocately moving said magnetic head along the front surface of said guide member when operated;
- (e) a document support member rotatably mounted adjacent the rear surface of said guide member, said support member having a supporting surface extending through said aperture to a position adjacent the front surface of said guide member and in the path of movement of said magnetic head;
- (f) an elongated clamping member slideably mounted on said guide member adjacent the front surface of said guide member;
- (g) actuating means slidably positioned in said guide member area engaging said clamping member for moving said clamping member to a position clamping a document positioned on said supporting surface against said guide member;
- (h) means for sensing the initial rotation of said document support member upon the positioning and the movement of the document against the supporting surface;
- (i) means for rotating said document support member in a direction to move said supporting surface out of the path of movement of said magnetic head when operated;
- (j) and control means coupled to said sensing means for operating in sequence, said rotating means, said clamping means and said drive means in response to said sensing means sensing the initial rotation of said document support member whereby said magnetic head will scan a document positioned by said clamping member against said guide member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.