DOCUMENT TRACK WORK STATION

Abstract: A document track (10) for use in a cheque encoding machine or typewriter comprises a workhead (12) positioned transversely to the direction of movement of a document in a slot (14) in a wall (18) in the track (10) closed off by a flexible strip (22) held flush with the inner surface (32) of the wall (18) by means of first (26) and second (30) support brackets and first (34) and second (36) support arms. As the workhead (12) moves up and down the slot (14) the flexible strip (22) passes around the workhead (12) such that only a working surface (44) of the workhead (12) is exposed in the slot (14), the rest of the slot (14) being screened off flush with the inner surface (32) of the wall (18) by the flexible strip (22).

Description: The present invention relates to a work station in a document track. More particularly the present invention relates to such a work station where a workhead is presented through the wall of the document track at a selectable height in the track to interact with a selectable position on a document passing along the track. Most particularly the present invention relates to such a work station where the leading edge of the document is prevented from fouling any part of the work station. Document tracks are variously used in document processing or printing apparatus for leading documents through the apparatus to interact with work stations. For example, in cheque encoding equipment cheques are moved from an input bin along one or more document tracks and, after processing, are deposited in selected output bins. In passing along the tracks the documents or cheques are subjected to various operations at work stations. At some work stations data will be read from the cheque. At other work stations data will be printed upon the cheque. At yet other work stations an image of the cheque may be captured for later use. In order to obtain maximum versatility from such a cheque coding apparatus it is necessary to allow the apparatus to process as many different kinds and sizes of cheques from as many different banks as possible. To this end it thus becomes necessary to be able to adjust the height of interaction of the various workheads in the various work stations to accommodate the type of cheque actually being processed. The workhead is presented through a slot substantially transversed to the direction of movement of the document or cheque along the track such that its working surface lies flush with (that is, substantially parallel to and level with) the inner surface of a wall in a document track. The height of the workhead is adjusted to read or print upon selected tracks on the cheque as it passes by. Whilst the working surface of the workhead is maintained flush with the inner surface of the track wall, the slot itself in which the workhead is positioned presents an obstacle wherein the leading edge of the cheque or document can catch causing a jam which requires cessation of operation of the cheque encoder, a clearance of the jam and later manual recovery and processing of the cheque or document which caused the jam. It therefore becomes desirable to provide a work station wherein jamming of the leading edge of a document is prevented. French Patent No. 2 218 200 describes an arrangement of a workhead movable longitudinally along a slot arranged in the wall of a document track, the slot being arranged transversely to the direction of travel of the documents passing along the track. The parts of the slot not filled by the workhead are covered by flexible strips attached to the workhead and movable along the length of the slot as the workhead moves. According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for presenting a working surface of a workhead through a slot in a wall of a document track to lie flush with an inner surface of said wall, said slot being transverse to the direction of said track and said workhead being selectably poositionable along said slot to interact with a selectable position on a surface of a document in said track; said apparatus including a flexible strip supported flush with said inner surface; said strip including a first portion closing-off a first portion of said slot adjacent a first side of said working surface and a second portion closing-off a second portion of said slot adjacent a second side of said working surface; characterised in that the strip is fixed at its ends relative to the slot and the workhead is movable relative to the strip, said workhead including a flexible strip path operative to displace said first portion of said strip through said slot proximate to said first side of said working surface and operative to displace said second portion of said strip through said slot proximate to said second side of said working surface; said first portion of said strip being operative to move into said path and said second portion of said strip being operative to move out of said path when said workhead is moved towards said first side; and said first portion of said strip being operative to move out of said path and said second portion of said strip being operative to move into said path when said workhead is moved towards said second side. The present invention is hereinafter described for use in a document track in equipment such as a cheque encoder. It is to be appreciated that this is simply one exemplary use of the present invention which may equally be employed in any apparatus wherein a workhead is required to move transversely to the path of a document. The term "transverse to" is hereinbefore and hereinafter defined as "having a component of direction at 90° to". In a preferred embodiment a document track in a cheque encoding machine comprises a workhead having an optical character reader selectably positionable in a slot transverse to the direction of movement of the cheque to scan selectable tracks along the cheque dependently upon which track is to be read and what kind of cheque is being processed. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention a shutter is provided in the form of a flexible strip forming a first screen in that portion of the slot above the workhead and a second screen in that portion of the slot below that workhead by being maintained flush with the inner surface of the wall of the document track wherein the slot is provided and filling the slot. In the preferred embodiment the flexible strip passes around the workhead in a flexible strip path and the workhead comprises first and second support arms for maintaining those portions of the flexible strip respectively forming said first and second screens flush with the inner surface of the document track wall. In the preferred embodiment the workhead is positioned using a lead screw which is manually rotatable to raise and lower the workhead. Also in the preferred embodiment the workhead is maintained with a working surface flush with the inner surface of the document track wall by means of a through-passing support pillar. As the lead screw is rotated and the workhead is raised or lowered so the flexible strip slides around the workhead in the flexible strip path such that the first and second screens serve always to close off the slot and provide a substantially smooth and continuous surface for any document passing along the track. The present invention is further explained, by way of an example, by the following description read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which; FIG.1 shows an isometric projected view of a document track incorporating the present invention. FIG.2 shows a cross-sectional view of the workhead and flexible strip cut along the line X-X' of FIG.1 in the plane of the arrows. FIG.3 shows a view of the closed-off slot of FIG.1 looking on the inner surface of the document track wall in the direction indicated by the arrows on the line X-X'. FIG. 1 shows a document track 10 wherein a workhead 12 is positioned in a slot 14 lying transverse to the direction of a document in the track 10 indicated by the arrow 16. The document track 10 is of any type well known in the art and comprises first 18 and second 20 track walls. The slot 14 is provided in the first track wall 18. The second track wall and/or the first track wall may incorporate means for driving the document or cheque along the track 10 in any way known in the art. Whilst the slot 14 is here shown as being at 90° to the direction 16 of a cheque or document along the track 10 it is to be appreciated that the present invention will also function where the slot 14 lies diagonally to the track. A flexible strip 22 has a first end held by a first fixing 24 such as a screw or stud on a first support bracket 26 at a first extremity of the slot 14. The flexible strip 22 has a second end attached by a second fixing 28 to a second support bracket 30 at a second extremity of the slot 14. The first support bracket 26 supports the flexible strip 22 flush with the inner surface 32 of the first track wall 18 and the workhead 1 2 comprises a first support arm 34 on the side thereof proximate to the first support bracket 26 which serves to support that portion of the flexible strip 22 between the workhead 12 and the first bracket 26 flush with the inner surface 32 of the first track wall 18. Not shown in FIG. 1 is a second support arm 36 on that side of the workhead 12 proximate to the second support bracket 30 and also serving to support the flexible strip 22 flush with the inner surface 32 of the first track wall 18. The width of the flexible strip 22 is made substantially equal to the width of the slot 14 for the flexible strip 22 to fill the slot 14. A lead screw 38 is supported between the first support bracket 26 and the second support bracket 30 and passes through the body of the workhead 12. A manually turnable knob 40 rotates the lead screw 38 to position the workhead 12 at a selectable point along the slot 14. A support pillar 42 also passes through the body of the workhead 12 to prevent rotation of the workhead 12 as the lead screw 38 is turned and to support a working surface 44 (not shown in FIG. 1 but shown in FIGS. 2 & 3) of the workhead flush with the inner surface 32 of the first track wall 18. The first support arm 34 and the second support arm 36 (shown in FIG.2) co-operate to duct the flexible strip 22 into and around a flexible strip path 46 slightly recessed into the body of the workhead 12. As the lead screw 38 rotates so the workhead 12 is raised and lowered to a selectable position along the slot 14. That portion of the flexible strip 22 in the flexible strip path 46 moves around the workhead 12 as the workhead 12 moves in the slot. FIG.2 more clearly shows the manner of co-operation between the workhead 12 and the flexible strip 22. The leading edge 48 of the support bracket 26 supports the flexible strip 22 flush with the inner surface 32 of the first track wall 18. The leading edge 50 of the first support arm 34 similarly supports the flexible strip 22 flush with the inner surface 32 of the first track wall 18. That portion of the flexible strip 22 between the leading edge 48 of the first support bracket 26 and the leading edge 50 of the first support arm 34 forms a first screen 52 closing off that portion of the slot 14 between the workhead 12 and the first support bracket 26. The leading edge 54 of the second support bracket 30 supports the flexible strip flush with the inner surface 32 of the first track wall 18. The leading edge 56 of the second support arm 36 similarly supports the flexible strip 22 flush with the inner surface 32 of the first track wall 18. The portion of the flexible strip 22 between the leading edge 54 of the second support bracket 30 and the leading edge 56 of the second support arm 36 thus forms a second screen 58 operative to close off the slot 14 in that portion thereof lying between the workhead 12 and the second support bracket 30. The first support arm 34 and second support arm 36 co-operate with the flexible strip path 46 such that, as the workhead 12 is moved, so the flexible strip 22 in the first screen 52 and the second screen 58 slides around the flexible strip path 46 allowing the workhead 12 to assume a new position in the slot with the first screen 52 and the second screen 58 still entirely closing that portion of the slot 14 not occupied by the working surface 44 of the workhead 12. For example, if the workhead 12 were to rise as shown in FIG.2, a portion of the flexible strip 22 in the first screen 52 would pass onto the workhead 12 along the flexible strip path 46 under guidance from the first support arm 34 and some of the flexible strip 22 already in the flexible strip path 46 would pass under guidance from the second support arm 36 to form a new portion of the second screen 58. The flexible strip 22, the first 26 and second 30 support brackets and the first 34 and second 36 support arms co-operate to provid shutter having first 52 and second 58 screens operative to close off the slot 14 regardless of the position of the workhead 12 in the slot. FIG.3 shows a view of the slot 14 looking towards the inner surface 32 of the first track wall 18 in the direction indicated by the arrows on the line X-X' of FIG.1. The slot 14 is entirely filled except for a very small first gap 60 and second gap 62 on either side of the flexible strip 22 and except for a very small third gap 64 and fourth gap 66 lying above and below the working surface 44 where the first 34 and second 36 support arms respectively duct the flexible strip 22 around the workhead 12. These gaps may be made as small as is desired by appropriate selection of dimensions of the width of the slot 14 and the width of the flexible strip 22. At one extreme of design the third gap 64 and the fourth gap 66 may be reduced to nothing if the first 34 and second 36 support arms are caused to urge the flexible strip 22 against respective edges of the working surface 44. In FIG.3 the working surface 44 of the workhead 12 is shown as comprising an optical scanner array 68 for reading characters from a passing cheque or document. This use of the workhead 12 is exemplary and the workhead 12 may be used for almost any purpose in document processing. For example, the workhead 12 may comprise a dot matrix printer or impact printer or may comprise a magnetic character reader or block printing apparatus. Similarly the workhead 12 may incorporate a daisy-wheel printer or a more sophisticated optical scanner designed to capture a real-time image of a portion of the cheque or document as it passes by. Returning to FIG.1 it is to be appreciated that the lead screw 38 may be turned by an electric motor rather than by a knob 40 for the positioning of the work head 12 automatically to be achieved without manual intervention. The workhead 12 may equally well be positioned using stepper motors and belt drives rather than the lead screw 38. The present invention is particularly applicable to typewriting and computer controlled apparatus where the workhead 12 comprises a printer moved across a document to be printed. The flexible strip 22 may thus be employed to close off a possible hazzard in the paper path of a typewriter or similar printing apparatus in a manner hitherto unknown in the art, the flexibility of the strip 22 allowing the workhead 12 in this instance to move to and fro along its line of printing whilst maintaining a substantially smooth and flush inner surface of the track wall (in this instance proximate to a platen or other printing support) to the leading edge of any document. Once again with reference to FIG.1, the workhead 12 comprises an electrical connection 70 leading to the working surface 44 of the workhead 12 which passes beneath that portion of the flexible strip 22 in the flexible strip path 46 passing there-around. The present invention thereby permits of ready electrical connection to a workhead by virtue of the first and second screens 52, 58 automatically adjusting without fouling of any electrical cable 70 to the workhead 12. Whilst the flexible strip 22 has hereinbefore been shown as passing right around the workhead 12 in a flexible strip path 46 it is to be appreciated that a separate recessed path 46 is not a necessary feature of the present invention and the flexible strip 22 may pass around the workhead 12 without use of a separate path 46. Yet further, it is not necessary for the flexible strip 22 to pass right around the outside of the workhead 12. All that is necessary is that a portion of the flexible strip 22 be displaced away from the inner surface 32 of the first track wall 18 to allow access to the track of the working surface 44 of the workhead 12. To this end the flexible strip 22 having been deflected away from the inner surface 22 may be passed through the workhead 12 in a slot rather than by passage around the outside of the workhead 12. With reference again to FIG.2 the leading edge 50 of the first support arm 34 and the leading edge 56 of the second support arm 36 are here shown as having a slightly rounded surface allowing the flexible strip 22 to slide without opposition thereagainst. It is to be appreciated that the leading edges 50, 56 of the first and second support arms 34, 36 may comprise rollers for low-friction ducting of the flexible strip 22 and that the flexible strip path 46, where provided, may also comprise rollers for the support of the flexible strip 22. The flexible strip 22 may be made of any flexible strip material capable of sustaining a slight tension to remain taut in the slot 14 and capable of being flexibly ducted around or through the workhead 12. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the material used is a poly-ester. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art may employ the present invention adapting many fabric and polymer based sheet materials for use as the flexible strip 22. While the strip 22 and slot 14 have hereinbefore been shown and described as having substantially parallel sides, the present invention may function equally well in a slot having shaped, tapered or sloping sides and employing a similarly shaped, tapered or sloping flexible strip. It is to be appreciated that the apparatus hereinbefore described can function as the terminal portion of a document track in which case it is not required that the slot comprises two edges, the shutter providing the trailing terminal edge of the document track. Accordingly a slot is hereinbefore and hereinafter defined as a void in a track wall either in a central portion of the wall or representing a terminal portion of the wall and having at least one edge.

Claims: An apparatus for presenting a working surface of a workhead (12) through a slot (14) in a wall (18) of a document track (10) to lie flush with an inner surface of said wall, said slot (14) being transverse to the direction of said track (10) and said workhead (12) being selectably positionable along said slot (14) to interact with a selectable position on a surface of a document in said track; said apparatus including a flexible strip (22) supported flush with said inner surface; said strip (22) including a first portion (52) closing-off a first portion of said slot adjacent a first side of said working surface and a second portion (58) closing-off a second portion of said slot adjacent a second side of said working surface; characterised in that the strip (22) is fixed at its ends relative to the slot (14) and the workhead (12) is movable relative to the strip (22), said workhead (12) including a flexible strip path (46) operative to displace said first portion (52) of said strip (21) through said slot (14) proximate to said first side of said working surface and operative to displace said second portion (58) of said strip (22) through said slot (14) proximate to said second side of said working surface; said first portion (52) of said strip (22) being operative to move into said path (46) and said second portion (58) of said strip (22) being operative to move out of said path (46) when said workhead (12) is moved towards said first side; and said first portion (52) of said strip (22) being operative to move out of said path (46) and said second portion (58) of said strip (22) being operative to move into said path (46) when said workhead (12) is moved towards said second side. An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that said flexible strip (22), displaced through said slot (14), passes around said workhead (12). An apparatus according to Claim 2, characterised in that said workhead (12) includes a first support arm (34) on said first side of said working surface (44) operative to support said first portion (52) of said strip (22) flush with said inner surface and a second support arm (36) on said second side of said working surface (44) operative to support said second portion (58) of said strip (22) flush with said inner surface. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by including a first support bracket (26) at a first extreme end of said slot (14) supportive of a first end of said flexible strip (22) and a second support bracket (30) at a second extreme end of said slot (14) supportive of a second end of said flexible strip (22). An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said slot (14) has parallel sides and wherein said flexible strip (22) has the same width as said slot (14). An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said workhead (12) includes an electrical connection and the flexible strip (22), displaced through said slot (14), passes therearound. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said working surface (44) includes an optical character reader. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by including a positioner (38,40) for selectably positioning said workhead (12) along said slot (14). An apparatus according to Claim 8, characterised in that said positioner (32,40) includes a selectably rotatable lead screw (38).

Inventors: BRADFORD, ROBERT GRACIE, STEELE, DAVID
Applicants: UNISYS CORPORATION
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G06K7
IPC codes: G06K13, G06K1, B41J25, B41J2, B41J13, G06K7, B65H5