The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 13, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 29, 2003
R. Kenneth Cotten, Raleigh, NC (US);
Robert J. Heider, Durham, NC (US);
Herbert G. Leonard, Louisburg, NC (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An automated insertion/retrieval device for card reading device testing includes a housing assembly whose back face is coupled to a shaft of an air cylinder. Coupled to the side faces of the housing assembly are upper and lower gripper roller assemblies. As the test card is expelled from a card reading device, it is gripped by the gripper roller assemblies, activating a microswitch and supplying air to the air cylinder. The shaft retracts and moves the housing assembly away from the card reading device until the test card abuts a stationary card bumper, causing the test card to shift in position toward the card reading device, deactivating the microswitch and turning off the air supply to the air cylinder. An internal return spring of the air cylinder extends the shaft and returns the housing assembly to its original position, reinserting the test card into the card reading device