American Hospital Supply Corporation

Vincent E Eitzen

Robert R Moore

Clifford C Johnson

Apparatus for reading a plurality of apertured cards in sequence in response to a series of command signals includes a supply hopper for storing a vertical stack of cards. The apertures of the cards are located in a matrix of columns and rows. A solenoid-actuated plunger moves the bottom card from beneath the stack and into engagement with a card drive mechanism. The card drive mechanism includes a floating transport equipped with endless tracks for riding on top of cards passed from the bottom of the stack and exerting a substantially constant downward and forward force on the cards while continuously moving each card in sequence across an array of optical detectors in register with the columns on the cards. A line source of light is carried by the transport for illuminating a card along a line parallel to the rows of apertures on the card. As the detectors beneath the cards are illuminated by light passing through the apertures in the cards, binary electrical signals are generated, representative of the information on the cards.

Optical card reader apparatus

Punched cards, used to identify items to be ordered from a central location, are selected and placed in a card reader which is located at the subscriber. Information may also be entered manually by a keyboard. In either case, the information is encoded into tone signals which are transmitted to the central location for recording and verification. When an 'accept' tone signal is returned to the subscriber, indicating that the previously transmitted block of data has been received and found to be acceptable, a card feed signal actuates the card reader to feed the next card. If a 'reject' tone is returned, indicating that the data received was unacceptable, the operator may enter data manually via the keyboard, re-run the card that had not been accepted, or simply skip the rejected card. The system is compatible with existing telephone communication equipment.

Electronic order placement system using signals over telephone line

A platform or tray for holding laboratory containers such as test tubes is driven in orbital motion by an eccentric drive mechanism housed in a cabinet. First and second pairs of tracks are mounted respectively beneath the tray and to the top of the cabinet. An intermediate plate holds four disc-shaped, low-friction bearing elements, each coupled to and guided by an upper and a lower track to maintain said tray in the same disposition during its orbital motion. An electronic circuit controls orbital speed in a continuous manner over the operating range, even at low speeds. The system operates in either a continuous mode or timed mode under control of a switch. The motor which drives the platform also drives a dc motor, the terminal voltage of which is displayed as a signal representing the speed of operation. Both the speed and the time (in timed mode of operation) may be controlled by the operator. A vibration-free mounting system is used to secure the main motor and drive train within the cabinet.

Orbital platform stirring system

A generally upright cylinder is secured at its upper neck by means of a gimbal mount; and its base is driven in circular motion at a substantially constant angular velocity. As a tube of fluid is inserted into the cylinder, the fluid is stirred by the motion of the cylinder; and the intensity of the stirring action increases with the depth to which the tube is inserted into the cylinder. An appliance removably attaches to the apparatus to provide a vibrating platform.

Apparatus for mixing fluids held in tubes

An electronic system employs a calculator as an arithmetic unit and accumulator. A mode switch enables operation as a timer (decrementing from a preset value) or a stopclock (incrementing time). Initial or preset values of time are entered manually through a keyboard in either mode. Sequencing circuitry controls execution of the arithmetic functions of the calculator in proper order and function, depending on the selected mode. The sequencing circuitry also gates the output of an oscillator to provide time increment pulses. A display unit generates a visual display of the accumulated time in both modes. In the timer mode, sensing circuitry senses when a preset time has elapsed and generates an audible signal.

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Evanston, IL, United States of America

Vincent E Eitzen