This report deals with the Patent of Invention request for a new "MACHINE

ACCOUNTANT OF CARDS BY OPTICAL READING", a machine designed to count of cards arranged in blocks, wherein the reading is made possible by an "encoder" generator of pulses, which, when moving, measures and converts that set of cards in units, thus there is no need to handle and/or prepare the cards for counting.

The claimed machine accountant provides a differentiated and secure counting process in the counting of cards in places where they are manufactured; ticket office in general (stadium, funny houses, events) and places which use this way of control and/or payment, where speed, reliability, accuracy and quality are fundamental.

It is known that the cards, to attend the growing demand, are manufactured in large scale, being applied in countless business processes, having a growing trend to use a card instead of ballot paper, a fact that requires a strict control of cards amount manufactured and/or available.

In the actual state of technique, there are lots of solutions and technologies for the counting of cards, using electromechanical resources, including some technical and operational limiting.

Regarding mechanical solutions which use friction, the biggest problem is the card damage (risks and marks) made by a contact with the driving ways, considering the need of passage of each card through the machine mechanism. The raw material from which card is manufactured is not resistant to abrasion, so that the friction itself not harms the appearance of the product only, but also its principal purpose, leading to high rate of discard, mainly of cards with chip. A technology which solve those contact problems are the optic systems wherein cards keep static for the whole counting process, therefore not suffer any kind of handling. However, one of the optic systems more used needs a laborious preparation of the blocs to be counted. These blocks must have a translucent blade inserted between the cards to allow the passage of light between the receiver sensor and transmitter sensor, thereby effecting the counting of the block. The addition of the blade besides is labor, raises the possibility of multiples mistakes, directly proportional to variations on thickness of blades. Other solution very used is a high definition photography, which image makes possible the counting of cards; this solution is too much costly, what makes impossible its use for most part of the potential user.

In order to remedy the drawbacks and technical limiting mentioned above, the inventor has proposed this patent, to simplify the manufacturing and the complexity of equipments such that, however, satisfying requirements of safety, functionality, operability and technical conditions with regard to the accuracy, robustness, practicality and performance, whether in manufacturing process or in operation, allied to this modern technology and lower costs of industrial production capable of attending the needs and demands of the consumer market. Thus the "MACHINE ACCOUNTANT OF CARDS BY OPTICAL READING" uses a head containing an "encoder" generator of pulse capable of making counting in blocks of cards in general with a hundred percent accuracy, simply inserting on the machine a known amount of cards so that the system effectives its calibration, fitting any dimensional and/or type of card. Basically, the counting of cards contained in the block occurs with the measurement of its thickness, thereby calculating the amount of cards by dividing the individual thickness predetermined by the calibration process previously. More specifically, the realization of calibration is given by a known amount of cards typed on the keyboard, making pulses in accordance with that cards block. The pulse generation provides an average based on the number of inserted cards. Next, for a completely vision of the requested patent, beyond the better elucidation of the specification, it is explained the machine with reference to the attached drawings, in which are represented in a illustrative and not limiting way:

Fig 1 : Perspective view of the machine accountant of cards by optical reading;

Fig 2: Perspective view of the machine accountant of cards by optical reading, shown with the lid open;

Fig 3: Superior view of the machine accountant of cards by optical reading, shown main components;

Fig 4: Side view of the machine accountant of cards by optical reading, shown mechanism; Fig 5: Perspective view of the machine accountant of cards by optical reading, simulating use;

Fig 6: Operational flowchart of the machine accountant of cards by optical reading. The "MACHINE ACCOUNTANT OF CARDS BY OPTICAL READING", object of this patent request, consists essentially of a machine (1) for counting of cards (C) in general of high performance and reliability, using an optical system made possible by "encoder" generator of pulses (2) properly attached to spindle (3) and mobile head (4), where they are the reception sensor (5) and transmission sensor (6), wherein the generation of pulses always occurs with the activation of the spindle (3) by motor (8), starting the counting when of the positioning of sensors (5 and 6) located on the mobile head (4) in the line of cards (C) block to be counted, which must be preceded by calibration for that type of card (C).

More particularly, the claimed machine (1) stands out for doing the counting of card (C) blocks, properly positioned in magazine (9) with mobile saddle (10) self-adjustable, by an "encoder" generator of pulses (2). To attend the purposes for which it was designed, the machine has a carcass (11) where are positioned and properly fixed the motor (8) starter of the spindle (3) which, in turn, receives the mobile measuring head (4), containing the receiver optical sensor (5) and transmitter optical sensor (6) responsible for gauging the size of cards (C) block to be counted. Thus, with the activation of the motor (8), the spindle (3) moves the head (4) of a smooth and constant way. In parallel, it is started the generation of pulses, releasing the measurement while the head (4) and their sensors (5 and 6) are in the line of the cards (4) block posted on the magazine (9). The machine has an accuracy of 100%, for this requires a pre-calibration where it is inserted in a minimum and known amount of cards in the magazine (9). In this calibration, it is measured the thickness of the individual card (9), which is designed for the total thickness of the block, thereby calculating the total quantity of pieces.

The machine under the operational aspect has its operation from a first step (El) with the feed of the magazine with a cards block. In a second step (E2), it asks if the head is in any of the initial positions, hi the negative case (N), it starts the motor until positioning the head in the left initial position in a third step (E3), to in a fourth step display the message of start of operation. In the second step (E2), if the inquiry is affirmative (S), it goes to the fifth step (E5), in which asks if there is value of previous calibration. In the negative case (N), in a sixth step (E6), it displays a message asking for calibration for, in the seventh step (E7), reading the keyboard. In the eighth step (E8), it asks if it was entered the calibration value, in other words, the amount of cards. In the negative case (N), it returns to the seventh step (E7), in affirmative case (S), in the ninth step (9), it displays a message of calibration, to in the tenth step (ElO), start the motor to measure the amount of pulses of the cards block. In the eleventh step (El 1), it asks if the sensor has detected the beginning of the cards block. In the negative case (N), it returns to the eleventh step (El 1). In affirmative case (S), it starts the counting of pulses of the encoder in the twelfth stage (E12). In the thirteenth step (E13), it asks if the sensor has detected the end of the cards block, in the negative case, it returns to the thirteenth step (El 3). In affirmative case (S), in the fourteenth step (E 14), it ends the counting of pulses to in the fifteenth step (E 15) calculate the amount of cards saved in the memory. In the sixteenth step (El 6), it turns off the motor when it reaches the final position. In the seventh step (El 7), it displays the message "ready" on the board to, in the eighteenth step, makes the reading of the keyboard. In the fifth step (E5), if the inquiry is affirmative (S), it goes to the eighteenth step (E18). In the nineteenth step (E19), it asks if the key is turned on, in affirmative case (S), it moves to the twentieth step (E20) and asks if there is a new request for calibration. In affirmative case, it moves to the twenty-first step (E21), wherein it displays a message asking for calibration to in the twenty-third step (E23) ask if it was entered the new value of amount of cards. In the negative case (N), it returns to the twenty-second step (E22) and, in affirmative case (S), in the twenty-fourth step (E24) displays the calibration message. In the twenty-fifth step (E25), it starts the motor to measure the amount of pulses of the block of calibration. In the twenty-sixth step (E26), it asks if the sensor has detected the beginning of the cards block, in the negative case, it returns to the twenty-sixth step (E26). In affirmative case (S), it moves to the twenty-seventh step (E27), initiating the counting of pulses. In the twenty-eighth step (E28), it asks if the sensor has detected the end of the block. In the negative case (N), it returns to the twenty-eighth step (E28) and, in affirmative case, it moves to the twenty-ninth step (E29), wherein it ends the counting o pulse to in the thirtieth step (E30) calculate the number of pulses/cards saved on the memory. In the thirty-first step (E31), it waits the head in the final position and turns off the motor to in the thirty-second step (E32) display the message "ready" on the board.

In the nineteenth and twentieth steps (El 9 and E20), if the question is negative (N), the flow goes to the thirty-third step (E33), in which asks if the start button is pressed. In the negative case (N), it returns to the eighteenth step (El 8). In affirmative case (S), it goes to the thirty-fourth step (E34) that acts the motor to measure the amount of cards to in the thirty-fifth step (E35) display message of operation. In the thirty-sixth step (E36), it asks if the sensor has detected the beginning of the block. In the negative case (N), it returns to the thirty-sixth step (E36) and, in affirmative case, it goes to the thirty-seventh step (E37), wherein it starts the counting of pulses to in the thirty-eighth step (E38), ask if the sensor has detected the end of the block; in the negative case (N), it returns to the thirty-eighth step (E38). In affirmative case (S) ₅ in the thirty-ninth step (E39), it completes the counting of pulses to in the fortieth step (E40) calculate the number of cards in the block to in the forty-first step (E41) display the amount of cards on the board and finally, in the forty-second step (E42), it waits for the head in the final position and turns off the motor.