Banctec, Incorporated

Bantec, Inc.

Thomas J Norman, Jr

James R Ingram, Jr

Charles K Eaton

Eugene C Nolting

Rex W Shores

Ronald E Robins

Joel Y Lin

John P Miller

Chanh C Vo

An apparatus and method for applying correction strips with encodable indicia to bank checks and similar documents and for removing previously applied correction strips from checks and reapplying a new correction strip to such a check. The apparatus includes feed mechanism for feeding checks without previously applied correction strips and with previously applied correction strips along parallel feed paths which merge to a common feed path provided by plural endless flexible belts. A rotatable drum is interposed in the common feedpath and is disposed in proximity to a heater element engageable with a heat activatable adhesive band portion of the correction strip for applying the adhesive band to the front lower face of bank checks and similar documents. A rotary cutter is disposed in one of the parallel feed paths for cutting a previously applied correction strip from the lower edge of a check. Feed mechanism associated with the apparatus includes parallel feed slots and endless transport belts for receiving respectively a check without a previously applied correction strip and a check with a previously applied correction strip. An operator actuable switch is provided to select an operating mode wherein a check may have a correction strip applied thereto, be transported through the apparatus without application of a correction strip, and have an old correction strip removed from a check and a new correction strip applied to that check.

Encodable strip attachment and removal apparatus

A ribbon control mechanism for a serial encoding device is provided to conserve the usage of single-strike ribbon consumed during printing. The mechanism includes a ribbon transport mechanism and means for signaling the transport mechanism to reverse the ribbon between documents to position the ribbon for printing in unspent ribbon.

Ribbon saving control mechanism

A document sorter/stacker apparatus includes a plurality of slotted disk assemblies respectively associated with bins or pockets in which high-speed transported documents are to be sorted and stacked. Each of the disk assemblies is selectively rotated to position its document capture slot either into or out of the transport path documents, thereby to enable either the routing of the document through that particular pocket or its passage to another pocket. When the leading end of a document is captured within the slot, the slotted disk assembly is rotated to feed the document into the corresponding pocket. The rim of the slotted disk assembly is in contact with a document transport belt and with an endless belt driven by the slotted disk assembly to urge the document into the pocket. After the document has been fed into the pocket, the endless belt urges the tail end of the document away from the slotted disk assembly and toward a backing plate where the documents are accumulated in a stacked configuration.

Document sorter and stacker, particularly for document processors

A correction strip assembly attachable to a check or similar document for providing an auxiliary encodable band for receiving encoded indicia to replace or supplement the encoded indicia on the check. The correction strip assembly is attached at the front of the check by way of a thin, tearable heat activatable adhesive bearing strip which width is maintained to avoid extension into either the encoded data field on the check or the encoding zone on the auxiliary band. A weakening device is provided to facilitate the removal of the band after processing.

Encodable strip assembly with unobstructed encodable band portion

Improved method and apparatus for heat sealing strips of encodable material to documents, a continuous supply of the encodable material being fed, by way of a discrete loop feed assembly, to an alignment station where defined lengths thereof are aligned along the edge of documents transported thereto. A heater-drum assembly effects the heat-sealing of the aligned combination which is then transported, by way of a stacker-deflector assembly, to an output station. The transport of the documents and encodable material are assisted by a continuously running friction belt drive assembly with the severing of the encodable material into strips equal to the length of each document effected in response to photosensor actuated controls responding to the transport location of the documents and material.

Growing community of inventors

Richardson, TX, United States of America

Thomas J Norman, Jr