Peripheral Dynamics, Inc.

John C Schisselbauer

John S Garczynski

John J Dobson

Richard J Auchinleck

Robert A Hollinger

Charles C Jablanofsky

Charles J Dobson

Henry J LoFurno

James E Gerhart

Daniel Rosenberg

An apparatus and method are provided for detecting malfunctions in an automatic card shuffler device of the type which randomly extracts cards from two or more storage wells. Detection is accomplished by sensing the failure of a card to be extracted for a storage well and counting the number of successive failures from each storage well. When the number of successive extraction failures associated with any one storage well reaches a predetermined value, an alarm is activated.

Apparatus and method for automatically shuffling cards

A badge reader adapted to communicate with remotely located data processing equipment, said badge reader having data processing circuitry controlled by a rate clock which in turn is enabled and disabled by internal and external signals to provide clock signals only when and as required for carrying out selected data processing operations.

Card reader with improved data processing timing control

Apparatus is disclosed for reading a data encoded badge or document, wherein the operator manually inserts the badge into the reader. In the preferred embodiment, there is provided a movable slide element having clock holes thereon and means for ensuring that such slide moves in synchronism with the badge as it is inserted into and withdrawn from the reader by the operator. Suitable sensors and accompanying electronics are provided to synchronize the reading of data from the card with the detection of the passage of slide clock holes past a predetermined point in the reader. Special reader electronics is provided to ensure reliable clock detection, and to inhibit false generation of clock signals which could result from sensor ringing.

Badge reader with reliable data clocking means

A card reader is disclosed for reading cards and like materials one at a time, the card reader having a transport mechanism and special control circuitry for control of same so as to provide single feed card transport over a predetermined transport cycle. The reader controls provide means for selecting the amount of data to be read from the transported card and for controlling the transport cycle in accordance with the selected portion of the card which is to be read. The reader of this invention is suitably a subcombination of an addressable system comprising a plurality of like devices which are addressably controlled by a central processing unit.

One-at-a-time card reader

A card reader having means for receiving cards and transporting them past a read station and into an output hopper, the output hopper being modified to embrace means whereby cards can be unloaded from the output hopper while the machine remains in operation and is feeding cards through the reader and into the output hopper. The primary feature of the embodiment for unloading on the fly is a solenoid-actuated lever mounted on top of the output hopper, having a lever head at one end which when actuated presses against the side of cards in the hopper and clamps at least some of the cards in the hopper between the lever head and a cooperating indentation formed in the opposite side of the hopper, whereby the clamped cards are held in place. A manually operable elevator contains a pressure switch located so that as the operator draws the elevator downward the solenoid is actuated and the cards between the elevator and the lever-clamped cards are freed for easy removal while the cards which are being read during the removal operation are accumulated above the clamped cards.

Card reader with means for unloading output hopper on the fly

In card reading apparatus of the type for reading data processing type cards, an improved picking arrangement for picking and feeding cards from a contained stack in a predetermined manner. The picking arrangement comprises a throat through which the picked cards pass, the throat having an improved toothing design to optimize picking bad cards thereto. The apparatus incorporates an integrated system design for minimizing contact with the information bearing portions of the cards as they are picked and processed.

Growing community of inventors

Southampton, PA, United States of America

John C Schisselbauer