Patent ID: 6024921
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: B01L,G01N,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A card detection device for an instrument for processing a plurality of cards, said cards moved through said instrument along a pathway, comprising:a housing mounted within said instrument in proximity to said pathway said cards are moved along within said instrument;an actuator reciprocating relative to said housing between first and second positions and having a head portion with a card contact surface, said actuator carrying an optical interrupt flag, wherein each of said cards contacts said card contact surface of said head portion to move said head portion relative to said housing from said first position to said second position when each of said cards is moved along said pathway;an optical sensor in close proximity to said actuator, anda means for restoring said head portion from said second position to said first position after each of said cards has moved past said card contact surface;wherein when said actuator is moved from said first position to said second position, said optical interrupt flag is moved in to a position relative to said optical sensor whereby said optical sensor is triggered, resulting in the detection of each of said cards.