FINGERPRINTING MACHINE

• US 3,824,951 A
• Filed: 12/17/1973
• Issued: 07/23/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allan D. Le Vantine, Daniel L. Curtis
• Original Assignee: Allan D. Le Vantine, Daniel L. Curtis
• Inventors: Le Vantine, Allan D., Curtis, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaplan, Morris
• Application Number:
  US05/425,287
• Time in Patent Office: 218 Days
• Field of Search: 118/31.5,253,242,232,240 117/.5,1,1.5
• US Class Current: 118/31.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting

Abstract

Apparatus for taking fingerprint impressions onto a fingerprint card is disclosed which includes a platen and means for retaining a fingerprint card on the platen. Drive means are provided for engaging the platen with the surface of a finger whose fingerprint is to be impressed upon the fingerprint card and for moving the platen in a path such that the platen contacts all portions of the surface of the finger which are to be impressed upon the fingerprint card and there is no slippage between the surface of the finger and the platen.

Claims

1. Apparatus for taking fingerprint impressions onto a fingerprint card or the like, comprising:

a platen, means for retaining a fingerprint card on the platen, drive means for engaging the platen with the surface of a finger whose fingerprint is to be impressed upon the fingerprint card and for moving the platen in a path such that the platen contacts all portions of the surface of the finger which are to be impressed upon the fingerprint card and there is no slippage between the surface of the finger and the platen means for holding a finger in a fixed predetermined position in which the surface of the finger approximately conforms to an imaginary cylindrical surface of predetermined diameter and the drive means including means for moving the platen in an epicyclical path about the imaginary cylindrical surface, and said drive means comprising a circular member which is coaxial with and equal in diameter to the imaginary cylindrical surface and means for rolling the platen around the perimeter of the circular member with no slippage between the perimeter of the circular member and the platen.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the circular member is a toothed gear member and in which the platen includes a mating rack which engages the gear member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which further comprises:

a fixed support member, means for mounting the gear member on the fixed support member, a rotatable support member, means for mounting the rotatable support member on the fixed support member for rotation coaxially around the gear member, and platen support means secured to the rotatable support member for supporting the platen with its rack in engagement with the gear member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the platen support means includes first and second roller members mounted on opposed, symmetrical portions relative to the gear member which support the platen on its side beneath its rack and which, with the gear member, form a three point suspension system for the platen.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 which further includes means for rotating the rotatable support member relative to the gear member, whereby the platen support means drives the rack around the perimeter of the gear member and the platen is moved in an epicyclical path about the imaginary cylindrical surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 which further includes controllable means for rotating the gear member, whereby the platen can be driven to a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the means for holding the finger.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 which further includes motor means mounted on the rotatable support member for positioning a fingerprint card relative to the platen.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 which further includes means for raising and lowering the platen to bring it into and out of engagement with the surface of the finger.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 which further includes means supported from the rotatable support member for holding the finger firmly against the platen when the platen is raised into engagement with the surface of the finger.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the platen includes an inking pad section for inking the finger pRior to the fingerprint being impressed on the fingerprint card.