US 5,517,577 AGranted

Self aligning, low power character reading apparatus

AssigneeSoricon Corporation

InventorGregg A. Wagner

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Abstract

An apparatus for reading information off a document such as a check is herein disclosed. The apparatus includes an apparatus housing defining a specific path through which the document is intended to pass during normal operation of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes an arrangement including a read head positioned at a fixed point on the path and cooperating circuitry for reading specific information off of the document as the document is caused to move through the path and across the read head. And, the apparatus includes an arrangement for moving the document through the path and across the read head along with causing the document to engage against the read head as the document moves across the read head. This document moving arrangement includes an arrangement supporting a freely rotating idler roller which is positioned to engage the document against the read head. Also, this document moving arrangement is configured in a way which places a moment on the document as it moves through the path so as to insure that the document crosses the read head in a predetermined orientation with reset to the read head.

Claims11

Dependent claims

An apparatus for reading preprinted characters printed on a document such as a check, comprising:

(a) an apparatus housing defining a specific path through which said document is intended to pass during normal operation of said apparatus;
(b) means including a read head positioned at a fixed point on said path and cooperating circuitry for reading said characters printed on said document as the document is caused to move through said path and across said read head, said read head having a document engaging surface;
and
(c) a moving arrangement for moving said document through said specific path and across said read head in a way which places a moment on said document as the document moves through said specific path, said moment causing said document to automatically rotate into a predetermined orientation such that said preprinted characters on the document are moved past said read head at a predetermined orientation, said moving arrangement including;
(i) a drive axle, said drive axle's axis being substantially parallel to the document engaging surface of said read head and perpendicular to the intended movement of said document as the document crosses said read head,
(ii) a first pair of confronting document grip wheels located within said specific path and through which said document must pass as the document moves through said specific path, said first pair of confronting grip wheels having a first gripping drive wheel mounted for rotation to said drive axle adjacent to but out of engagement with said read head and a first gripping idler wheel supported for free rotation in confronting relationship to said first gripping drive wheel,
(iii) a second pair of confronting document grip wheels located within said specific path and through which said document must pass as the document moves through said specific path, said second pair of confronting document grip wheels having a second gripping drive wheel mounted for rotation to said drive axle adjacent to but out of engagement with said read head and a second gripping idler wheel supported for free rotation in confronting relationship to said second gripping drive wheel and
(iv) means for causing said drive axle and therefore said first and second gripping drive wheels to rotate in a way which moves said document along said specific path as the document passes through and is gripped by the confronting document grip wheels.

5 more elements

A document handling arrangement for use in an apparatus for reading preprinted characters printed on a document such as a check including a housing defining a specific path through which said document is intended to pass during normal operation of the apparatus and means including a read head and cooperating circuitry for reading said characters printed on said document as the document is caused to move through said path and across said read head, said document handling arrangement comprising a moving arrangement for moving said document through said specific path and across said read head in a way which places a moment on said document as the document moves through said specific path, said moment causing said document to automatically rotate into a predetermined orientation such that said preprinted characters on the document are moved past said read head at a predetermined orientation, said moving arrangement including:

(a) a drive axle, said drive axle's axis being substantially parallel to the document engaging surface of said read head and perpendicular to the intended movement of said document as the document crosses said read head;
(b) a first pair of confronting document grip wheels located within said specific path and through which said document must pass as the document moves through said specific path, said first pair of confronting grip wheels having a first gripping drive wheel mounted for rotation to said drive axle adjacent to but out of engagement with said read head and a first gripping idler wheel supported for free rotation in confronting relationship to said first gripping drive wheel;
(c) a second pair of confronting document grip wheels located within said specific path and through which said document must pass as the document moves through said specific path, said second pair of confronting document grip wheels having a second gripping drive wheel mounted for rotation to said drive axle adjacent to but out of engagement with said read head and a second gripping idler wheel supported for free rotation in confronting relationship to said second gripping drive wheel;
and
(d) means for causing said drive axle and therefore said first and second gripping drive wheels to rotate in a way which moves said document along said specific path as the document passes through and is gripped by the confronting document grip wheels.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.