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US 6,439,463 B1Granted
Card feed and read mechanisms for time and attendance recorders
AssigneePyramid Technologies LLC
InventorGeorge Bucci
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A unitary guide and shield member (13) for use in guiding time cards (10) to a time and attendance recorder is provided. The guide and shield member serves to (1) guide the time card to feed rolls (16), (2) hold the time card at a substantially constant distance from a light source and a light sensor, and (3) protect the light sensor from ambient light.
Claims3
Apparatus for reading marks on a card, said card having a front surface and a back surface, said marks being on the front surface, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a light source for illuminating a portion of the front surface of the card;
- (b) a light sensor for detecting light reflected from the front surface of the card;
- (c) a base member for supporting the back surface of the card;
- and
- (d) a unitary guide and shield member spaced from the base member and defining a channel for receiving the card, said channel having an entrance end and an exit end, said unitary guide and shield member comprising:
- (i) an entrance guide at the entrance end of the channel for guiding the card into the channel and shielding the light sensor from ambient light;
- (ii) an aperture for receiving both the light source and the light sensor;
- and
- (iii) a guide surface for engaging the front surface of the card to maintain a substantially constant distance between said front surface and both said light source and said light sensor.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.