Ncr Corporation

Fredrik L Kallin

Graham Luckhurst

Raymond L Higgins

Bruce A Reid

Edward R Evans

Robert W Phillips

Ralf M Brooks

Gary R Marshall

Miroslav S Osmera

Alistair R Hamilton

Marek W Czesnik

Peter D Hanna

Frederick W Brouwer

David G Lant

Anton Bella

William B Montague

Mark M Mach

Guy J Fries

Jerry D James

Richard T Pierce

A table top image based document processing machine and methods of using it. The machine is used in conjunction with a host computer like a PC. The machine includes a document track, a programmable transport mechanism for moving the document bi-directionally within the track, front and back imagers for imaging the front and rear of the document, front and back printers for endorsing data on the front and the back of the document, a magnetic card reader module, an encryption module and a MICR printer for encoding MICR data on the front of the document, for example. The machine in conjunction with the PC can be used for generating Logos, creating checks, performing remittance processing, imaging and reading checks, truncation processing, lockbox operations, and the usual bank teller operations.

Table top image based document processing machine and methods of

An optical reader head with a video compensation circuit for use in high speed document reading. The reader head utilizes small focussed bulbs to illuminate the scanning line, with the head being comprised of first and second body sections housing a lens which focusses the light reflected from a document at the scanning line to a light array comprised of 256 sensors. Light from four adjacent sensors along the scanning line is integrated to produce a composite pixel which becomes one of 64 such composite pixels for a scanning line of data permitting the use of low wattage bulbs and also eliminating the possibility of burning a jammed document. A peak comparison EPROM is used for adjusting document background levels, for example, for use in thresholding the pixel data. The peak comparison PROM is used as a 14 bit address table with six bits being used for the gray level signal of the incoming composite signal, with three bits being used for a 'Mode Value', and with five bits being used for a 'Peak Gray Scale Value ' from a prior scan. A special test circuit is used to insure accurate focussing of the lens.

Optical reader head with video compensation method and circuit which

An apparatus for moving a document towards the bottom of a document track as the document is moved in first and second directions within the track. The apparatus includes a feed unit positioned on one side of the document track and a cooperating unit positioned on the opposed side of the track. The cooperating unit has a rod which is pivotally supported in a support. A high friction roller is secured to the top end of the rod and a low friction roller is rotatably supported on the lower end of the rod. The feed unit has an idler roller positioned opposite to the high friction roller and also has a drive roller positioned opposite to the low friction roller in the cooperating unit. As the document is moved in a first direction in the document track, the high friction roller causes the rod to pivot slightly, thereby causing the low friction roller on the bottom of the rod to cant slightly, producing a downward component of force on the document as it is moved in the first direction. When the document is moved in the opposite direction, the low friction roller is canted slightly in the opposite direction to produce a downward component of force on the document as it is moved in the second direction.

Bi-directional down drive assembly for a document track

Front and rear printers for use with a document transport mechanism. The printers are identical in construction with each having a compact housing in which the associated print head is mounted. The housing has first and second side walls, a front wall which also functions as a guide for guiding documents to be printed upon therepast, and a rear wall which functions as a circuit board which houses the driver electronics assocated with the printer. The print head (ink jet) is mounted on a carriage which is moved within the housing in a first direction which is perpendicular to the direction in which the documents are moved in a document track past the printers. The front and rear printers are detachably mounted on opposed sides of the document track to enable the printing of alphanumerics or graphics on the front or the rear of a document moving thereby.

Printer mechanism with vertically displaceable printing means for use

A cable clip apparatus for routing connection cables out of a table top terminal, like a bank data entry machine, for example. The apparatus includes a coupling member which is located inside a cabinet of the terminal. Mating coupling members are coupled to the coupled member by inserting the mating coupling members in a vertical direction into the coupling member. Cables associated with the mating coupling members pass through slots in a perimeter portion of the cabinet, and thereafter, a cover which is part of the cabinet is closed to retain the cables in the side portion of the terminal. The coupling member is mounted above a circuit board within the terminal.

Means for routing connection cables out of a table top terminal

A method for calibrating a printer to print data beginning at a specified distance from the reference edge of a document. Several test documents are moved through a print station and a test symbol is printed on each of them with a preselected set of heating elements from a dot matrix thermal printer. The test documents are then processed through the same print station whereupon a sensor detects the reference edge of the document and the test symbol. A master controller then determines a test symbol distance between the reference edge and the midpoint of the test symbol for each test document. A plurality of test documents is processed in this manner, and the master controller determines an average test symbol distance for the plurality of test documents. Using an average test symbol distance, the master controller determines the distance between the sensor and a given hewating element of the thermal printer. The master controller than calculates a calibration distance which is based on a comparison of actual distance between the reference edge and the preselected heating elements versus average test symbol distance. In order to calibrate the printer to account for the calibration distance so that the printer prints data beginning at substantially the specified distance from the reference edge of the document, the master controller utilizes a stepping motor to make coarse calibration adjustments by advancing the document in full and/or half steps. Fine calibration adjustments are made by selectively energizing heating elements of the thermal printer.

Apparatus and method for calibrating printing at a specified distance

An optical reader head with a video compensation circuit for use in high speed document reading. The reader head utilizes small focussed bulbs to illuminate the scanning line, with the head being comprised of first and second body sections housing a lens which focusses the light reflected from a document at the scanning line to a light array comprised of 256 sensors. Light from four adjacent sensors along the scanning line is integrated to produce a composite pixel which becomes one of 64 such composite pixels for a scanning line of data permitting the use of low wattage bulbs and also eliminating the possibility of burning a jammed document. A peak comparison PROM is used for adjusting document background levels, for example, for use in thresholding the pixel data. The peak comparison PROM is used as a 14 bit address table with six bits being used for the gray level signal of the incoming composite signal, with three bits being used for a 'Mode Value', and with five bits being used for a 'Peak Gray Scale Value' from a prior scan. A special test circuit is used to insure accurate focussing of the lens.

An aligning and protective apparatus for a stepping motor which includes a sensor housing having first and second sensor pairs located therein. An aligning cover has a receiving area therein to receive the sensor housing. The first and second sensor pairs are placed apart a predetermined distance in the housing which is positioned on the motor to coact with a timing disk used in controlling the operation of the stepping motor. The cover with the sensor pairs therein is rotated on the motor until the sensor pairs are properly located on the motor to effect the desired lead angle for the motor. The cover is also shaped to protect the sensor pairs and the timing disk from dust.

Aligning and protective cover for a motor

A quickly assembled apparatus for moving documents, like checks, along a document track. The apparatus includes a drive roller assembly having a first shaft extending therefrom and an idler roller assembly having a second shaft extending therefrom, with the idler roller assembly being biased into engagement with the drive roller assembly to drive a document therebetween. The drive roller assembly has a two piece housing which seats two ball bearings which support the drive roller assembly which also has first and second elastomeric members positioned on the periphery thereof to function as first and second drive rollers. The idler roller assembly has first and second ball bearings whose outer races function as first and second idler rollers for engagement with the first and second drive rollers.

Quickly assembled apparatus for moving documents

A document reader module which provides precise alignment for the document being read and the associated reader, like an optical reader. An integrated frame member provides accurate control surfaces for the precise alignment mentioned. An elevator mechanism mounted on the frame member provides an apparatus for adjusting the read head relative to the line of data on the documents being read. A special pinch roller construction, which can be locked in a retracted position, facilitates the removal of jammed documents from the associated document track.

Document reader module

A printing apparatus which includes a single revolution clutch. The clutch includes first and second cam sections which comprise the output member of the clutch. When the clutch is released, a spring accelerates the output member to bring a control surface on the second cam section into operative engagement with a cylindrically-shaped, rotating, input member. An abutment member on the first cam section cooperates with a follower arm to stop the rotation of the output member after a single revolution. A solenoid and linkage are used to raise the follower above the abutment stop to release the clutch for another single revolution of the output member.

Printing apparatus including a single revolution clutch

A printing apparatus including a support body and a printer. The support body has a first area for storing media to be supplied to the printer, and a second area for receiving media from the printer which is mounted on the support body. The support body has a linkage mechanism to enable the support body to be moved from a home position to an accessing position where the accessing of media in the support body is facilitated.

Thermal printing apparatus

An apparatus for pocketing documents in vertically-aligned pockets. The apparatus includes a frame and slides for mounting the frame for reciprocal movement between a home position and an extended position relative to the apparatus. A plurality of vertically-aligned, pocket members is mounted on the frame for selectively receiving documents to be pocketed. A transfer station, having first and second track members, receives a document therebetween, with the first track member being mounted on the frame for movement therewith. A first transport apparatus is used to move a document in a first direction to said transfer station, and a second transport apparatus is used to move a document in a second direction from the transfer station to the plurality of pocket members. A transfer apparatus is used to transfer a document at the transfer station from the first transport apparatus to said second transport apparatus. The first track member is moveable in the first direction when the frame is moved from said home position to the extended position to enable a document which may jam at the transfer station to be removed therefrom.

Apparatus for pocketing documents in vertically aligned pockets

A sheet feeding apparatus having a track for guiding a sheet therein, with the track having an upstream end and a downstream end, and with a staging area located therebetween. Transport rollers are used for moving a sheet from the upstream end towards the downstream end. The apparatus also comprises control means including a stationary member and a moveable member located at the staging area; the moveable member is moveable between first and second positions with regard to said stationary member and one of the transport rollers. The moveable member, when in the first position, is operatively uncoupled from a transport roller and is operatively coupled to said stationary member to stop a sheet therebetween at the staging area, and the moveable member, when in the second position, is operatively uncoupled from the stationary member and is operatively coupled to one of the transport rollers to move the sheet from the staging area towards the downstream end. The control means also includes actuators for moving the moveable member between the first and second positions.

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Kitchener, Canada

Fredrik L Kallin