PHOTOGRAPHIC CREDIT CARD SYSTEM

• US 3,725,647 A
• Filed: 10/19/1970
• Issued: 04/03/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clarence M. Retzky
• Original Assignee: Clarence M. Retzky
• Inventors: Retzky, Clarence M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cook, Daryl W.
• Application Number:
  US05/081,698
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.12R,61.12N,61.11E,61.7B
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/08 Photoprinting G03C5/18 takes precedence; Processes and means for preventing photoprinting
• CPC Class Codes: G03D 9/00 Diffusion development apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/083 Constructional details

Abstract

A credit card system which includes a transparent credit card bearing information identifying the credit card holder both in alphanumeric and digital notation. The card is used in conjunction with a conventional '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'IBM'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' record card which has been coated with a self-developing and self-fixing light sensitive film. In use, as at a retail sales location, the digital information portion of the credit card is aligned with a predetermined photosensitized portion of the record card. Information relating to the amount and/or character of the transaction is carried by an input device which may consist of a transparent card bearing the sales information both in alphanumeric and digital form. The input card is overlaid on the aligned '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'IBM'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' record card and credit card so that the digital information relating to the transaction is in alignment with another photosensitized segment of the record card. The cards are retained in their properly aligned configuration by a jig incorporated into a printer box which exposes the photosensitized record cards through the overlapping digital portions of the credit card and transaction card. After exposure and selfdevelopment, the imprinted record card then may be processed directly in commercially available data processing machines avoiding many of the manual conversion steps inherent in prior techniques. A sales receipt is provided for the customer and a sales stub is provided for the sales outlet simultaneously with exposure of the record card by providing a pair of similarly photosensitized, smaller tabs which underlie those overlapping portions of the credit card and transaction card bearing the alphanumeric, humanly readable information. The tabs may be formed integrally with and as a removable extension of the record card or, alternatively, may be separate from the record card.

Claims

1. A record card for storing information in digital, coded form, said card being dimensioned and adapted to be handled and processed directly by card handling apparatus, said card further comprising:

at least a portion of said card being coated with a selfdeveloping, photosensitive material adapted to form a permanent, visible image when exposed to radiation of predetermined characteristics; and

a tab detachably connected to said card, said tab being coated with said photosensitive material.

2. A record card for storing information in digital coded form, said card being dimensioned and adapted to be handled and processed by card handling apparatus, said card furtheR comprising:

at least a portion of said card being coated with a self-developing, photosensitive material adapted to form a permanent, visible image when exposed to radiation of predetermined characteristics;

said card including three segments, the first segment thereof having coded information prerecorded in computer-comprehendible code, said second and third segments being free of recorded data and being coated with said photosensitive material.

3. A system for recording information both in a coded form capable of direct comprehension by a computer card handling machine and in a visually readable form comprising:

p1 A credit card having a radiation transparent portion and a radiation opaque portion, said radiation transparent portion having opaque visually readable information thereof and said radiation-opaque portion having a plurality of transparent windows formed therein and arranged in a coded array of digital information corresponding to said visually readable information;

a record card having at least a portion thereof coated with a photosensitive material adapted to form a permanent visible image upon exposure to said radiation of predetermined characteristics;

a tab coated with said photosensitive material;

means for retaining said record card and said tab in fixed predetermined position in relation to each other;

means for retaining said credit card in overlapping engagement with said coated portions of said record card and said tab, said retaining means for said record card, tab and credit card being so constructed and arranged as to effect registration of the digital portion of said credit card with said photosensitized portion of said record card and to effect registration of said substantially transparent portion of said credit with said photosensitive tab; and

means for exposing simultaneously said record card and tab to said radiation.

4. A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said coated portion of said record card occupies two adjacent regions of said record card, said digital portion of said credit card overlying one of said regions and further comprising means for recording variable information on said record card and tab comprising:

means for simultaneously overlapping the other of said coated regions on said record card with a substantially radiation-opaque member having radiation transparent windows arranged in coded digital form and for overlapping the transparent region of said credit card and tab with a substantially radiation transparent region having visually readable notation thereof in radiation opaque form.

5. A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for recording said variable information further comprises:

a transaction card having a portion substantially transparent to radiation and a portion substantially opaque to radiation, said transparent portion defining a region which is substantially coextensive with the dimensions of said credit card, said opaque region of said data card extending beyond the edge of said credit card and over the other of said photosensitized regions of said record card.

6. A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said visually readable information on said substantially transparent region of said data card is so located as to be in proximity to but in non-interferring position with the readable information on said credit card when said cards are juxtaposed in said predetermined position.

7. A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for retaining said cards in position comprises:

a member;

a frame including a pair of parallel gibs receptive to the longitudinal edges of said record card;

abutting means secured to said member for engaging an end of said record card to position said record card longitudinally with one end of said record card extending longitudinally beyond an end of said gibs;

a second pair of parallel gibs located at one end of said first pair of gibs, said second pair of gibs being spaced in an amoUnt greater than the spacing of said first pair of gibs;

said credit card having longitudinal dimensions greater than the heightwise dimension of said record card, the edges of said credit card being receivable within said second pair of gibs with an edge of said credit card being in abuttment with the ends of said first pair of gibs.

8. A system as defined in claim 7 further comprising:

a transaction card having a substantially transparent portion and a substantially opaque portion, said transparent portion defining a region which is substantially coextensive with the dimensions of said credit card, said opaque region of said transaction card extending beyond the edge of said credit card, said opaque region of said transaction card comprising a tab of reduced heightwise dimension adapted to fit between said first pair of gibs in overlapping relation with a portion of said photosensitized record cards, said transaction card being positioned properly in relation to said credit card and said record card by reason of engagement of heightwise extending surfaces thereof abuttable with the ends of said first pair of gibs.

9. A system as defined in claim 7 further comprising:

a housing;

said member comprising a flat cover hinged to said housing for pivotal movement toward and away from a wall of said housing;

said housing including an internal source of radiation; and

a transparent flat pressure window in said wall of said housing to press said retained cards and tab into firm, flat overlapping engagement with each other to permit exposure of said record card and tab.

10. A system as defined in claim 9 wherein said housing further comprises:

switch means responsive to closure of said cover for actuating said radiation source.

11. A technique for producing identification cards and the like comprising:

providing a master record card of dimensions suitable for use in association with card sorting and handling devices;

said master record card having a first region bearing identifying information in digital form and a second region bearing a photographable image of said identification card, said photographable image in said second region of said master record card including identifying information in digital form corresponding to said digital identifying information on said first region of said master record card;

photographing said photographable image of said identification card, and;

photographically reproducing said photographed image on a thin, flexible durable base.

12. A technique for producing identification cards as defined in claim 11 wherein said step of providing said master record card comprises retrieving a plurality of said master record cards from a master file thereof in a selected sequence and by reference to said identifying information on said first region of said master record cards, said step of photographing said photographable image of said identification cards comprising:

photographing the photographable image on each of said master record cards in said selected sequence and in succession on a film strip; and

severing said photographically reproduced images on said thin, flexible and durable base from each other to provide a plurality of distinct identification cards.

13. A technique as defined in claim 11 wherein said photographically reproduced image on said thin, flexible durable base is embodied in a photographic emulsion coating on one surface of said base and further comprising applying a thin, transparent protective plastic layer to said emulsion surface of said base to protect said emulsion surface.