Patent US201488A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5115918A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5115918A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for the automated processing of bulk mail and the like
Assignee: Opex Corp
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Filing: 1989-06-08
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Granted: 1992-05-26
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Expires: 2009-06-08
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for orienting a plurality of documents received in differing orientations relative to the apparatus, for delivery from the apparatus in a uniform orientation, generally comprises a device for determining the orientation of a document according to characteristic features of that document, and devices for orienting the document in accordance with signals received from the orientation determining device. The orientation determining device can operate upon the magnetic ink markings on a check to determine its orientation according to prescribed criteria representative of the anticipated locations for such markings. The orienting devices can then operate to invert the checks from end to end and/or from top to bottom and bottom to top, responsive to signals received from the orientation determining device.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert N. DeWitt
- 👤 William R. Lile
- 👤 Stephen Tentarelli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:34
CPC Classifications
B; B43; B43M; B43M7/00; B43M7/02; B07; B07C; B07C1/00; B07C3/00; B07C3/02; B65; B65H; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/30; B65H2301/33; B65H2301/332; B65H2553/00; B65H2553/40; B65H2553/41; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/90; Y10S83/00; Y10S83/912; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0505; Y10T83/647; Y10T83/6476; Y10T83/6489; Y10T83/6572; Y10T83/6577; Y10T83/6584; Y10T83/6592; Y10T83/6598
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for orienting a plurality of documents received in differing orientations relative to said apparatus, for delivery from said apparatus in a uniform orientation, comprising: means for determining the orientation of a document according to characteristic features of said document including means for magnetizing magnetic ink markings provided on said document, means for detecting magnetized ink markings on said document, and means for determining the orientation of said document based upon the location of detected magnetic ink markings on said document; and means for orienting said document in accordance with signals received from said orientation determining means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus for orienting a plurality of documents received in differing orientations relative to said apparatus, for delivery from said apparatus in a uniform orientation, comprising: means for determining the orientation of a document according to characteristic features of said document including means for magnetizing magnetic ink markings provided on said document, means for detecting magnetized ink markings on said document, and means for determining the orientation of said document based upon the location of detected magnetic ink markings on said document; and means for orienting said document in accordance with signals received from said orientation determining means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said orientation determining means and said orienting means cooperate to provide uniformly oriented documents on a fully automated and continuous basis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said document is an invoice.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said document is a check.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said magnetizing means and said detecting means are magnetic heads associated with fixtures positioned in alignment with the passage of checks through said orientation determining means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a pair of magnetizing heads are coupled with a pair of detecting heads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a paired couple of magnetizing and detecting heads are positioned in alignment with lower portion of said checks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the lower portions of said checks include a magnetic ink character recognition data line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a paired couple of magnetizing and detecting heads are positioned in alignment with upper portions of said checks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the upper portions of said checks include account identifying indicia.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said checks are symmetrically received by said paired couples of magnetizing and detecting heads.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said detecting heads separately provide electrical signals to a circuit for interpreting said signals and for providing an indication of the orientation of said checks in accordance with said electrical signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said electrical circuit includes means for determining indicia-defined features located on said checks.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said indicia-defined features include continuous groups of markings, and gaps separating said marking groups.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said gaps include spacings which exceed a defined length, and wherein said marking groups include spacings which do not exceed said defined length.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein a separate count of marking groups and gaps is maintained for the signals received from each of said reading heads.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said indicia-defined features further include gaps separating edges of said checks and said marking groups.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said indicia are monitored responsive to passage of the leading edge of a check to said detecting heads.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said electrical circuit includes microprocessor means for receiving said electrical signals, and for determining the orientation of said checks based upon defined criteria selected according to the normal location of the indicia-defined features on said checks.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said orienting means is an apparatus for inverting documents form end to end.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said inverting apparatus includes means for delivering a document to a receiver with the leading edge of said document leading, and means for withdrawing said document from said receiver with the leading edge of said document trailing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said inverting apparatus includes a first conveyor belt for delivering said document to said receiver, and a second conveyor belt for withdrawing said document from said receiver.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said first conveyor belt is positioned adjacent to said second conveyor belt.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said receiver is a curved guide which curves away from said second conveyor belt.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said curved guide operates to urge the trailing edge of said document toward said second conveyor belt.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said urging is assisted by vacuum means coupled with said second conveyor belt.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein means are provided for assisting the document in passing from the first conveyor belt to said curved guide without interfering with said second conveyor belt.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said assisting means includes means for curling said document to prevent contact with said second conveyor belt.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said curling means is a guide disposed in line with the documents being passed along said first conveyor belt.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said inverting apparatus includes two transport paths including a first path for inverting documents and a second path for by-passing said inversion, which are selectable according to signals received from said orientation determining means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said first and second paths are traversable in approximately the same amount of time.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said orienting means is an apparatus for inverting documents from top to bottom and bottom to top.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said inverting apparatus includes an opposed pair of conveyor belts which correspondingly progress through a 180° twist along their longitudinal axes.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said inverting apparatus includes two transport paths including a first path for inverting documents and a second path for by-passing said inversion, which are selectable according to signals received from said orientation determining means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said first and second paths are traversable in approximately the same amount of time.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for determining the orientation of a document receivable in differing orientations relative to said apparatus, wherein said document is a check including magnetic ink markings on a surface thereof, and wherein said apparatus comprises: means for magnetizing the magnetic ink markings on said document; means for detecting magnetized ink markings on said document; and means for determining the orientation of said document based upon the location of detected magnetic ink markings on said document.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for determining the orientation of a document receivable in differing orientations relative to said apparatus, wherein said document is a check including magnetic ink markings on a surface thereof, and wherein said apparatus comprises: means for magnetizing the magnetic ink markings on said document; means for detecting magnetized ink markings on said document; and means for determining the orientation of said document based upon the location of detected magnetic ink markings on said document.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said apparatus additionally operates to magnetize ink markings on an invoice associated with said check, to detect magnetized ink markings on said invoice, and to determine the orientation of said invoices based upon the location of detected magnetic ink markings on said invoice.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said magnetizing means and said detecting means are magnetic heads associated with fixtures positioned in alignment with the passage of documents through said orientation determining apparatus.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 38 wherein a pair of magnetizing heads are coupled with a pair of detecting heads.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 39 wherein a paired couple of magnetizing and detecting heads are positioned in alignment with lower portions of said documents.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the lower portions of said document include a magnetic ink character recognition data line.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 40 wherein a paired couple of magnetizing and detecting heads are positioned in alignment with upper portions of said documents.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the upper portions of said documents include account identifying indicia.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said documents are symmetrically received by said paired couples of magnetizing and detecting heads.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said detecting heads separately provide electrical signals to a circuit for interpreting said signals and for providing an indication of the orientation of said documents in accordance with said electrical signals.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 45 wherein said electrical circuit includes means for determining indicia-defined features located on said documents.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said indicia-defined featuers include continuous groups of markings, and gaps separating said marking groups.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparartus of claim 47 wherein said gaps include spacings which exceed a defined length, and wherein said marking groups include spacings which do not exceed said defined length.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 47 wherein a separate count of marking groups and gaps is maintained for the signals received from each of said detecting heads.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 47 wherein said indicia-defined features further include gaps separating edges of said documents and said marking groups.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 47 wherein said indicia are monitored responsive to passage of a leading edge of a document to said detecting heads.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 47 wherein said electrical circuit includes microprocessor means for receiving said electrical signals, and for determining the orientation of said documents based upon defined criteria selected according to the normal location of the indicia-defined features on said documents.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
143 words
An apparatus for orienting a plurality of documents received in differing orientations relative to said apparatus, for delivery from said apparatus in a uniform orientation, by inverting documents in one of said differing orientations from end to end, to correspond to the orientation of other documents in another of said differing orientations, comprising a first conveyor belt for delivering a document to a receiver positioned with the leading edge of said document leading, and a second conveyor belt positioned adjacent to said first conveyor belt for withdrawing said document from said receiver with the leading edge of said document trailing, wherein said receiver is a curved guide which curves away from said second conveyor belt, to urge the trailing edge of said document toward said second conveyor belt, and wherein said urging is assisted by vacuum means coupled with said second conveyor belt.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
143 words
An apparatus for orienting a plurality of documents received in differing orientations relative to said apparatus, for delivery from said apparatus in a uniform orientation, by inverting documents in one of said differing orientations from end to end, to correspond to the orientation of other documents in another of said differing orientations, comprising a first conveyor belt for delivering a document to a receiver positioned with the leading edge of said document leading, and a second conveyor belt positioned adjacent to said first conveyor belt for withdrawing said document from said receiver with the leading edge of said document trailing, wherein said receiver is a curved guide which curves away from said second conveyor belt, to urge the trailing edge of said document toward said second conveyor belt, and wherein said urging is assisted by vacuum means coupled with said second conveyor belt.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 53 wherein means are provided for assisting the document in passing from the first conveyor belt to said curved guide without intefering with said second conveyor belt.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 54 wherein said assisting means includes means for curling said document to prevent contact with said second conveyor belt.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said curling means is a guide disposed in line with the documents being passed along said first conveyor belt.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said inverting apparatus includes two transport paths including a firsth path for inverting documents and a second path for by-passing said inversion, which are selectable according to signals received from a document orientation determining means.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 57 wherein said first and second paths are traversable in approximately the same amount of time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-05-26 | 1995-11-25 | 1996-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-05-26 | 1999-11-25 | 2000-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-05-26 | 2003-11-25 | 2004-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |