Compact remote-driven encoder

A compact, remotely-driven MICR encoder, comprising:

• a tray for storing documents to be encoded;
• a feed roller for moving documents from the tray into a document feed path;
• a first encoder roller assembly for receiving the document from the feed roller and moving the document through an encoder station;
• a first sensor assembly for detecting a document;
• means for controlling the feed roller to move a document to the first encoder roller assembly when the first sensor assembly no long detects a previous document;
• an encoder station for encoding documents;
• a second sensor assembly for detecting a leading edge of a document, the second sensor assembly being downstream of the first sensor assembly in the document feed path;
• means controlling the first encoder roller assembly for moving a document through the encoder station when the second sensor assembly no longer detects a previous document;
• a second encoder roller assembly positioned downstream of the encoder station in the document feed path;
• an eject roller located downstream of the second encoder roller assembly in the document feed path for moving a document away from the second encoder roller assembly;
• and
• a catch tray assembly for receiving documents from the eject roller.

A removable hammer for use in document encoders which have a document guide path along which a document is moved within the encoder, an encoder station which includes a font wheel having characters thereon, a ribbon which in operation moves between the document and the font wheel and a solenoid for striking the hammer such that it moves the document and the ribbon against the font wheel with sufficient force to produce encoding of the document, the removable hammer comprising:

• a frame member defining an open center area, the frame member adapted to be removably supported in a receiving slot in the encoder station;
• a hammer element connected to and extending from the frame member into the open center area thereof and movable relative thereto when struck by the solenoid;
• and
• an arm member extending from the frame member, said arm member being separate from the hammer element, such that the hammer element and the frame member may be inserted add removed as a unit from the receiving slot in the encoder station by the arm member.

A removable hammer for use in document encoders which have a document guide path along which a document is moved within the encoder, an encoder station which includes a font having characters thereon, a ribbon which in operation moves between the document and the font wheel and a solenoid for striking the hammer such that it moves the document and the ribbon against the font wheel with sufficient force to produce encoding of the document, the removable hammer comprising:

• a frame member adapted to be removably supported in a receiving slot in the encoder station;
• a hammer element connected to and extending from the frame member and movable relative thereto when struck by the solenoid;
• and
• an arm member extending from the frame member, said arm member being separate from the hammer element, such that the hammer element and the frame member may be inserted and removed as a unit from the receiving slot in the encoder station by the arm member.