Data collection system

• US 3,996,448 A
• Filed: 04/10/1975
• Issued: 12/07/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dennison Manufacturing Company (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dennison Manufacturing Company (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Inventors: King, James E., Napoleone, Nunzio, Anderson, Jarl A., Blumenthal, Victor, Kusekoski, Eugene F., Bate, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cook, Daryl W.
• Application Number:
  US05/566,837
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 235/61.7 B, 235/61.7 R, 235/61.6 R, 235/61.11 D, 235/61.11 E, 360/101
• US Class Current: 235/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/084 sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state

Abstract

A data collection system comprises magnetically encoded tickets and reading/writing/data collection elements -- one or more magnetic transducers -- for reading from (and/or writing on) the tickets together with means for manual input of data onto storage media while selectively maintaining running totals. The tickets are fed into a reading/writing apparatus comprising a self-aligning means, a pivotal platform movable between loading and read/write positions and further comprising a motor driven capture and eject mechanism. The tickets are either automatically ejected by the motor after reading/writing or manually releasable if not capable of reading/writing or eject. The ticket is maintained in effective, reliable reading contact with the transducer(s) during reading/writing.

Claims

1. A data collection system comprising

a ticket carrying encoded information in at least one rotary track;

means for loading said ticket into said system;

means for shifting said ticket from its loading position into an operative position;

means, including a transducer with a rotary head coupled to a rotary transformer, for reading information from said ticket;

means for shifting said ticket out of said operative position;

means for automatically ejecting said ticket;

means for processing information read from said ticket for transmission to a storage medium in accordance with a stored program;

means for keying information into the processing means in accordance with a preselected function;

means for selecting functions;

means for shifting the ticket out of said operative position; and

means for automatically ejecting said ticket.

2. A data collection system comprising

a ticket carrying encoded information in at least one rotary track;

a cumulative data storage medium for storing information in said rotary track;

means for reading information from said ticket in accordance with a preselected function;

means for processing information read from said ticket for transmission to said storage medium in accordance with a stored program;

means for keying information into the processing means in accordance with a preselected function;

means for selecting functions for the reading and keying of information;

means for displaying notices for the prompting of functions in response to said stored program;

means for interactively displaying information read from said ticket and keyed into said processing means;

the reading means comprising a transducer for reading information while the transducer and said track are in close proximity and undergoing rapid relative movement;

means for loading said ticket including resilient ticket locating means;

means for shifting said ticket from an initial loading position into an operative position relative to said transducer;

means for shifting the ticket out of said operative position;

means in the form of a motor driven mechanism for automatically ejecting said ticket;

means responsive to the movement of said platform for initiating reading and display functions; and

means responsive to completion of said functions to move said platform in a reverse direction and initiate the motor driven ticket ejection.

3. A data collection system comprising

a ticket carrying encoded information in at least a single track thereon;

a cumulative data storage medium for information in said track;

means for reading information from said ticket in accordance with a preselected function;

means for processing information read from said ticket for transmission to said storage medium in accordance with a stored program;

means for keying information into the processing means in accordance with a preselected function;

means for selecting functions for the reading and keying of information;

means for interactively displaying information read from said ticket and keyed into said processing means;

the reading means comprising

a transducer for reading information while the transducer and said track are in close proximity and undergoing rapid relative movement and signal processing input and/or output means for said transducer means;

means in the form of a movable platform and including resilient ticket locating means for loading said ticket;

means for shifting said ticket from an initial loading position into an operative position relative to said transducer;

means for displaying notices for the prompting of functions; and

means for interactively displaying information read from said ticket and information keyed into said processing means.

4. A data collection system comprising

means for moving a data card into an operative position;

means for reading information carried by said data card at said operative position;

means for displaying the information read from said data card;

means responsive to the movement of said data card for initiating the reading of said card and the display of information read therefrom; and

means responsive to the completion of the reading of said data card and the display of information read therefrom for ejecting said card from the system.