Other

Bell + Howell Company

Bell & Howell Document Management Products Company

Kenneth L Hendrickson

Robert F Johnston

Thomas R Wells

John R Flint

Bruce A Rady

Gary B Videlock

John A Thiel

Dale Plum

John A Gallagher

Paul H Friedrich

Duane R Patuszynski

Herb Hausmann

Al Rabin

John Overman

David Briggs

Merv LaRue

Stuart F Schwalb

John J Carroll

Harold L Kabb

Gary S Slutsky

Paul Friedrich

Larry Turner

Leo DaPrato

Ishfaq A Niazi

Stuart Schwalb

Dan Solomon

A document processing system for performing multiple document processing tasks while the documents travel in a straight line document path is provided. The document processing system may include a transport system for transporting the documents in a straight line path, a sensing system for sensing the presence of the document, an optical system for projecting the image of the document, a camera module for receiving the projected image and storing it onto film, a film marking system for placing blips on the film adjacent the document image, a film numbering system for placing alphanumeric characters on the film adjacent the document image, an endorsing system for placing a printed endorsement on one side of the document, an electro-optical scanning system for scanning the image of the document processing the signal into a bit mapped image or for use with external communications devices, scanning for bar code symbology, and imprinting characters on the documents. A machine having a transport system to serially move documents in a straight line path and having one or more of the systems is provided and can be serially linked to another like machine so that the exit of a first machine is the inlet to the second machine.

Document processing system having a straight line document path

A distributed processor control system for use with a microimage recording apparatus includes a system control unit, a machine control unit and an operator control unit. The system control unit includes a microprocessor that provides supervisory or master control for the overall distributed control system. The machine control unit includes at least one microprocessor for controlling the operations of a plurality of electromechanical components within the microimage recording apparatus in response to commands and parameters provided by the system control unit and for providing status and error information and requests to the system control unit. The operator control unit includes a microprocessor for controlling the display of operational status and error indications and messages for viewing by an operator and for receiving manual operator entries for enabling normal operation of and diagnostics for the microimage recording apparatus. A shared memory device is utilized for bidirectional communications between the system control unit and the machine control unit. An asynchronous, bidirectional serial link enables bidirectional data transfer between the system control unit and the operator control unit.

Control system for microimage recorders

A single sensor system reads a traveling bar code comprising a plurality of marks separated by spaces. Each of the marks may have either of two durations and each of the spaces has a uniform duration. The bar codes are transported, relative to the sensor, at any of many different speeds so that the signals generated by the sensor may have unpredictable durations. The inventive reader determines the speed at which the bar code is being transported and interprets the signals generated by the bar code marks according to the determined speed. As used herein, the reference to 'any of many different speeds' recognizes that different bar code transport devices, owing to their own inherent characteristics, may operate at different speeds although the speed for any given code transport device will tend to be fairly uniform. In some embodiments, the invention accommodates speed fluctuations in the operation of a single transport device.

Bar code reader

This invention relates to photographic apparatus having means for automatically moving a lens along an axis for properly focusing on an object. The apparatus includes a light emitter for transmitting a train of light signals toward the object at a constant angle relative to the axis, and a pair of movable photoreceptors disposed in spaced relationship with the emitter in the apparatus. The photoreceptors are adapted to receive the light signals upon reflection thereof from the object, and are further adapted to produce electrical signals corresponding to the amount of light received. An operational amplifier is adapted to receive the electrical signals produced by the photoreceptors, and produce a difference signal corresponding to the difference in strength of the electrical signals. The apparatus further includes an electric motor, responsive to the difference signal, adapted to cause the movement of the lens along the axis, and further adapted to cause the movement of the photoreceptors until the amount of light received at each of the photoreceptors is equalized to produce an absolute minimal difference signal indicative of the object being properly focused by the lens. A gain change device is provided to increase the amplitude of the difference signal when relatively far objects are focused on.

Automatic focusing system

A photographic apparatus having a lens movable along an axis for automatically focusing an object to be photographed is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotatable sleeve controlled by electrical signals produced by photoreceptor means adapted to receive light emitted by the apparatus and reflected from the object. The sleeve effectuates the movement of the lens along an axis to bring the object into focus. The apparatus further includes assembly means, carrying the photoreceptor means, pivotably secured to the sleeve for adjusting the light received by the photoreceptor means by an amount corresponding to the rotation of the sleeve, thereby changing the electrical signals to maintain the object in focus.

Photoreceptor assembly for automatic focusing system

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Kenneth L Hendrickson