Apparatus for reading the strip of identification characters of

Details Apparatus for reading the strip of identification characters of Apparatus for reading the strip of identification characters of

1991-11-07

1993-08-10

Pitts, Harold

Registers

Coded record sensors

Guides

235479, 235485, 235486, G06K 1306, G06K 1324

Patent

active

052351718

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There already exist check printing apparatuses and machines which make it possible to print a transaction amount, generally in digits, on at least one place on a check. Once printed and turned over to its payee, the check, however, must be processed. In particular, as it has in its lower part a strip of identification characters, for instance CMC7 magnetic characters, representing the identity of the bank of the drawer, this strip must be read in order in this way to produce a "check image" and then process this image. It must be possible to effect this processing at a store, a bank or the like. There are devices which effect this processing. There are also devices which effect merely the noting and recording of the check image, recording being understood in the sense of the temporary or permanent storage of the data noted.
The need for such simplified apparatus is felt, in particular, in shops, particularly those where the volume of transactions is not considerable. Once the check image has been noted and recorded, it is easy to transmit it to a processing center by any means, either by sending the recording support or by transmission of the content of the recording support by any other suitable means of teletransmission, for instance, a modem and a telephone line of the public network, or a dedicated line.
These simplified apparatus are based on the principle of reading the identification strip of checks by relative linear drive of the check and a reading device along the strip, whether or not by motorized means, the check being displaced within a slot in the same manner as a bank card in a bank card machine. If the slot is too wide, the check may be bent or wrinkled and the reading may be erroneous. If the slot is too thin, it may be difficult to introduce the check into it.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed at overcoming these drawbacks of the simplified readers of the prior art.
For this purpose, the present invention concerns a reader for the strip of identification characters of a check which comprises a frame bearing: recording the data of the strips; the identification strip and, therefore, the reading of the strip, plate adapted to receive the check and, in reading position, to cooperate with a support of the reading device in order mechanically to hold the check between the plate and the reading support.
In one particularly simple embodiment, the reading device is fixed in linear displacement and the relative displacement drive means are manual means.
In this case, the receiving plate may be provided with a cutout for grasping the check, which makes it possible to grasp it manually and to free it from the plate in order to displace it with respect to the reading device.
The reading device may then be mounted in the frame and the plate mounted pivotally on the frame.
In other embodiments of the apparatus of the invention, the reading device is mounting movably in linear displacement under the action of mechanical drive means.
Then the reading device can be mounted in a cover which is pivotally mounted on the receiving plate and has an opening for the passage of the rod of an operating knob for the reading device.
The cover may be adapted to cover the entire receiving plate or only the part thereof which is intended to receive the portion of the check containing the identification strip.
However, the apparatus can also comprise an operating arm, a reading arm which bears the reading device, and means which transform a displacement of the operating arm, preferably towards the plate, into a displacement of the reading device along the reading arm.
The operating arm and the reading arm may then be rigidly connected to each other in displacement towards the plate up to a reading position of the reading arm, the continuation of the displacement of the operating arm towards the plate from its position corresponding to the reading position of the reading arm, resulting in the displacement in one direction of the reading device along the reading arm

REFERENCES:
patent: 3976858 (1976-08-01), Haun
patent: 4081131 (1978-03-01), Sand et al.
patent: 4480181 (1984-10-01), Fisher
patent: 4743746 (1988-05-01), Murschall
patent: 5055970 (1991-10-01), Wrihs

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