Unisys Corporation

Unisys Corporation (formerly Burroughs Corp.)

Thomas Dragon

John Hylan

Kenneth Richard Berkoben

Paul John McCarthy

Robert Reynolds

Paul Merchant

Disclosed are Power Encoder means for imprinting MICR characters on checks, with optical check-sensing means disposed along a check-transport path, including optical skew-sensor means.

Ribbon tracking technique with low-ribbon detection

Print drums are described wherein a special 'alignment character' is placed, along with print-symbols, on the surface of the print drum, mixed-in with at least one of the character sets.

Ribbon advance monitor

Disclosed are Power Encoder means for imprinting MICR characters on checks, with optical check-sensing means disposed along a check-transport path, including optical skew-sensor means and a transport control arrangement for advancing checks past processing stations according to one or several 'velocity-profiles', depending upon the type and/or condition of the check.

Selectible transport-servo velocity profile for document transport

Document transport control including document velocity profiles

Servo methods and apparatus whereby unit-record documents are transported past a process-station according to one of several 'velocity-profiles', depending upon document type and/or condition, the methods involving: using a microprocessor whereby the documents are transported past one or more process-stations according to one of several 'velocity-profiles', depending upon document type and/or condition. The methods involve arranging the microprocessor to store at least two different velocity-profiles and to store prescribed characteristics of each contemplated document and deploying passage-sensors along the path in prescribed spaced-relation with the process stations, whereby a given velocity-profile is automatically selected, in real time, and on-the-fly, by the microprocessor for each said document transported.

Servo means for document-transport

Disclosed are 'anti-wander' web-transport arrangements wherein web-means are intermittently advanced, while being monitored for misalignment along the transport-path, and also being automatically urged back into proper alignment along this path.

Servo for controlling document transport

Print drum with alignment marks

Disclosed are Power Encoder means for imprinting MICR characters on checks, with optical check-sensing means disposed along a check-transport path, including optical skew-sensor means including a pair of area-photo-sensor means, one on each side of the check whereby the differential output thereof indicates 'degree of skew'.

Document-skew detection with photosensors

'Anti-wander' web-transport arrangements wherein web-means are intermittently advanced, while being monitored for misalignment along the transport-path, and also being automatically urged back into proper alignment along this path. Preferably, this is done with left and right roll means, one of which is selectively urged more tightly against the web to impart superior advance-thrust and so urge the web back into proper alignment.

Growing community of inventors

Northville, MI, United States of America

Thomas Dragon