US2390439A

US2390439A - Optical record interpreter

Info

Publication number: US2390439A
Application number: US474441A
Authority: US
Inventors: Reynold B Johnson
Original assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Current assignee: International Business Machines Corp
Priority date: 1943-02-02
Filing date: 1943-02-02
Publication date: 1945-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1962-12-04

Description

Dec. 4, 1945. R B. JOHNSON 2,390,439

OPTICAL RECORD INTERPRETER Filed Feb 2, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ.

'ATTQRNEY Dec. 4, 1945. RB. JOHNSON OPTICAL RECORD INTERPRETER Filed Feb. 2, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS.

ff 'givmgn A TTORNE Y R. B. JOHNSON OPTICAL RECORD INTERPRETER Filed Feb. 2, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q Q u.

, IN VEN OR 4? ATTORNEY Dec. 4, 1945. R. B. JOHNSON OPTICAL RECORD INTERPRETER Filed Feb. 2, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 f aw/22ml? AJ AJ BKS AJ BKS CLT ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 4, 1945 OPTICAL RECORD INTERPRETER Reynold B. Johnson, Blnghamton, N. Y., asslgnor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 2, 1943, Serial No. 474,441

- 9 Claims.

This invention concerns optical reading, recording, or interpreting means for records.

Such records bear coded designations of data. Each record has columns of difierential index or designation positions selectively perforated to designate data by a suitable code. Numeric data are here designated by the Hollerith single-point code; i. e.. a single perforation in a column designates a digit. Alphabetic data are designated here by the combin ational two-point code; i. e., a combination of two perforations in a column des ignates a letter. According to present practice, there are twelve positions in a column of a record These are termed here the positions 9, ii, 7-4, h, and if, Thus, digits 9 to (l are represented by a perforation in one of the 9 to ll positions, respectively. The X and Y perforations be per iorated to provide control designations, Alpha betic items are designated by perforations in one of the 9 to 1 positions of columns combined with perforations in one of the ii, X, and 51 positions. Obviously. other designation codes may be used, the record columns may have more or less ind-ea positions, and numbers as well as other characters than alphabetic characters may be designated in a combinational hole code. Further, it is evi= dent that graphic points instead of perforations may be used as code marks. The essential thing as far as this invention is concerned is that the code marks and the unmarked surface of the rec- 0rd have contrasting light-affecting properties.

The conventional significance of code marks on a record is not apparent. Even a trained operator cannot immediately understand the conventional significance of the code marks. Accordingly, heretofore, a printed interpretation of the code marks has often been placed on the record. F'irther, the code marks on records have been used to control the printing of the represented characters on a remote sheet; for accounting purposes. In either case, whether the characters be recorded on the record itself or on a remote sheet, such recording may be referred to as an interpretation of the coded data.

With this explanation in mind, the purport of the following objects will be clear.

An object of the invention is to provide an optical interpretation of the code marks on a record, whereby such interpretation will be visually displayed to an observer.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved optical means for providing a graphic interpretation of code marks on a record.

Another object is to provide improved optical reading and interpreting means for code marks on a record.

Another object is to provide improved optical means for affording a single-line interpretation of code marks which are scattered among difierent rows or lines and columns of a record.

Another object is to provide a single-line interpretation without parallax error,

Another object is to prevent parallax error by bringing images of characters, codally designated on a record, into a common focal plane. Not only will this avoid parallax, but it will also eliminate eye fatigue if the interpretation is to be viewed by the eye and will also enable a camera to be sharply focused on all images, and will further,

enable the images to be filmed with equal sharp ness.

A main object of the invention is to provide means for optically interpreting combinational designations on a record, Such designations may represent alphabetic or other data.

An incidental object is to provide means for optically displaying the face of a record together with the optical interpretation of code marks on the record.

Specifically, it is an object to provide an optical interpreting system in which parallel reflecting elements display character images selected by code marks in different rows of arecord, with at least those elements in front of any other being partially transparent to enable images behind the front element to be viewed,

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been con teinplated, of applying that principle.

Three embodiments of the invention will be described. The first embodiment is a simple, novel form of numerical data interpreter. The second embodiment is the preferred form of numerical data interpreter which provides for elimination of parallax. The third embodiment is an optical interpreter for combinational code marks, specifically, an alphabetic interpreter. The second embodiment contains the inventive features of the first embodiment, and the third embodiment contains the inventive features of the first and second embodiments.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of the first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a front, partly sectioned, view of the first embodiment.

\ third embodiment, and

Fig. shows a fragment of a pattern plate used in the third embodiment, the dot and dash lines forming no part of the pattern plate but indicating the relation of perforations in a card column to a column of the pattern plate.

Hereinafter, it is to be understood that in referring to the optical means as displaying or bringing characters into view, it is meant that such display is to the eye of an observer or to the objective of a camera or to some other imageperceiving means which may, itself be an optical element for modifying the d rection of the image. The term objective is to be taken broadly as applying either to the objective of a camera, the eye of an observer, or another optical element.

TheJirs-t embodiment Figs. 1 to 3 and 4) The card t has singly perforated columns. 1

When such card is to be interpreted, it is inserted in position on a frame f. In this pos tion, the card is superimposed on a flat member ID suitably mounted on the frame 1 in fixed position.

The member II] which may be a film or a glas plate is provided with columns and rows 0 character pattern-bearing areas. Preferably, the character patterns are transparent or translucent and the surface of the member in is otherwise opaque. so that light may pass through the character patternsonly. For simplicity of illustration, the character patterns are shown in all figures, except Fig. 4, as opaque against a seemingly transparent background, but it is to be understood that in this case, the reverse is actually true; that is, the background s opaque and the characters are transparent. The character patterns are arranged in columns and rows similarly to the arrangement of index positions of the record. Each column of character patterns is similar to the other columns'and includes characters 9, 8O, X, and Y, and the like patterns of the several columns are alined in a common row perpendicular to the disposition of the columns. When the record card is superimposed on the member Ill, each index position of the card registers with a character pattern on the member. Thus, each column of index positions on the card registers with a column of character patterns.

The card t which it is desired to interpret is inserted in frame f and there rests upon pattern plate III. In practice, a diffusing sheet may be superimposed on the upper surface of the plate III or the character patterns themselves may be Each mirror l4 may further be identified by appending the symbol of its related pattern row to the common designation l4; e. g., mirror I l-2 underlies the 2 pattern row on plate Ill. The mirrors M are disposed parallel to each other and lie at an angle of 45 degrees to plate 10. The mirrors [4 are so constructed as to be partially light transmitting and partially light reflecting in various degrees depending on their positions with respect to the eye in front of the frame. Thus, the rear or right hand mirror H! (as viewed in Fig. 3) may be completely light reflecting and its light transmitting characteristic may be substantially zero. The next mirror will be a light transmitting as well as light reflecting mirror. The third mirror from the right will have a greater light transmitting potentiality and so on to the first or front mirror M which will have maximum light transmitting and less light refleeting potentality.

When .a card t is superimposed on pattern plate ID, the code holes on the card expose the character patterns underneath to light. The other character patterns, not lying underneath holes images of all such character patterns exposed to light through code holes in a plurality of columns of the card will be visible, from in front of mirrors M, in alinement along a single row. Thus, thefirst column of the card has a perforation in the 5 index position. designating digit 5. This perforation exposes the 5 character pattern on the first column of plate ID. The image of this character pattern 5 appears in mirror Ill-5 which reflects the image forwardly. Since mirrors I46, l, 8 and 9 are partially transparent, the image will be in view from in front of mirror l49. In card column 2. the X index position is perforated, exposing the X character pattern in the second column of plate ID. The image of this X pattern is received by mirror l4--X which reflects the image through the mirrors 14-0 to i l-9, so that the image of the X pattern is visible from in front of mirror l4-9 alongside the image of character pattern 5 derived from the first card column. Similarly, images of the character patterns of the other columns and rows upon plate III which are exposed through code perforations in the card are displayed alongside one another to an objective in front of mirror M--9. Thus, Fig. 2 shows the row of displayed character images derived from the exposed character patterns underlying the perforations in column 1 to 18. It should be noted that

columns

7 and 12 of the card are unpunched, accounting for the spaces between the groups of displayed images shown in Fig. 2. It may be understood now why it is preferred to progressively increase the light transmitting characteristics of the mirrors in accordance with their distance from the rear 'of the frame. No light need be transmitted through mirror I l-Y. Images derived only from one row, the Y row, need be seen through mirror l4X, images from two rows, the X and Y rows, must be seen through mirror |4--0, and so on. Conversely, mirrors, I4-Y to "-9 have progressively decreasing light refiecting potentialities. manner, by graduating'the light reflecting and light transmitting potentialities of the mirrors M, the brilliance of the images displayed to an In this objective in front of mirror "-9 and derived Ifrom diflerent pattern rows is substantially equalized. The characters thus displayed on mirrors I4 comprise an optical interpretation of the coded designations perforated in the card t. Such interpretation may be viewed by the eye or photographed on a film.

In the simple form of optical interpreter described above, the diiTerent-mirrors display images at differential distances from an objective. The effort of the eye to view such images concurrently may result in eye fatigue. Further, parallax errors may arise unless the sighting position is substantially directly in front of the group of character pattern columns from different points of which the images are derived. If the sighting position is too far to one side of the correct sighting position, some of the images, displayed by the different mirrors, may appear superimposed or in reverse order; that is, parallax error will result.

The basic reason why such parallax errors mayv The second embodiment (Figs. 4, 5, one o,

In general, the second embodiment provides for display of images, derived from different rows of character patterns, within a common focal plane. Such common plane will extend parallel to the direction oi a pattern row and be perpendicular to the plane of the pattern plate. With all the images, even though derived from character patterns at different distances from an objective, brought to positions within a common focal plane, it follows that the images will be displayed in their correct order, that eye strain will be avoided, and that a camera may be properly focused on the images and film the images with equal sharpness and in correct order.

An incidental feature of the second embodiment comprises means to display to an objective the face of the record at the same time that the optical interpretation of data on the record is displayed to the objective. Thus, the face of the record and its interpretation may be photographed in juxtaposition on a film, providing a check. against the interpretation and providing a photographed record of other data, than the coded data, which may be present on the record.

In detail, referring to Figs. 5 and 6, a card t to be interpreted is placed, as in the first form, in position within a frame 17 and rests on the character pattern plate Ill which is the same as the character pattern plate of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4. Below each row of character patrow is one 05 a set of twelve mirrors Ila. Mirbers the indication of the row of character patterns below which they are positioned; e. g.,

mirror Ila-X relates to the row of character patterns "1! and the mirror lib-X relates tothe same row of character patterns.

When a character pattern is exposed, light passes therethrough and through the translucent mirror Ila underneath the pattern. The light thus passed through forms an image of the pattern in the companion mirror 20. This image is reflected by the mirror upwardly to the front of the companionmirror Ila which, in turn, reflects the image forwardly. Since all the mirrors I la are partially transparent, such image displayed by a mirror Ha will be exposed to a viewing device which is here shown as the objective of a camera 25. For example, if a pattern Y is exposed, the light passing therethrough and through mirror lla-"Y causes an image to form camera.

rors Ha are disposed parallel to one another at an inclination of 45 to pattern plate II), but it will be noted that such inclination is opposite I by appending to their common reference num- As shown in Fig. &, mirrors 29-4; to 26-35 are at differential distances from companion mirrors I to. The differential distances of the mirrors Ell from companion mirrors Ma are inversely proportional to the differential distances of the character rows from the objective. Thus, mirrors ltdi! and lit-Y are spaced apart the least while mirrors i4a-9 and Till-4i are spaced apart the most. By such differential spacing of companion mirrors, the optical paths of exposed characters, in different rows of the pattern plate, to an objective are equalized. Stated diiierently, the optical illusion is given that all character images are in a common plane. Regardless of the laterally offset position of columns of the pattern plate with respect to the objective, the diflerential optical system displays the images of characters from these columns in one common plane. Since virtual images will be formed, such plane will be behind the farthest mirror Ma--Y.

- Further, the disposition of the mirrors I 4g and 2c is such that the common image plane will be perpendicular to the pattern plate and parallel to the direction in which a character pattern row extends. It follows, since all the images are in a common plane, that there is no possibility of parallax error and the images will be shown in the same, correct order in a single line along said plane as the order of appearance of the columns which contain the optically interpreted code marks. Further, since all the images are displayed in a common plane, eye fatigue, when visual observation is to be made, is avoided. Still further, with all the character images in one plane, a'camera may be sharply focused thereon and all the images filmed with equal brilliance.

The foregoing has described the second embodiment which is the preferred form of numerical interpreter.

A camera 25 is diagrammatically shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to photograph the displayed images, so that film 26 when developed will show an interpretation of the code marks found on the record card.

terpretation of the coded designations. Thus, the

him, after development, will show the card and its interpretation adjacent to each other. In Figs.

. '5 andfi'anelongatedlamp 21 serves as the source of light. The lan gmay be provided with a suitable glazed or translucent front surface to cast an even and dispersed light upon the card. The frame If is provided with a mirror 28 which mirrors the lighted face of the card and reflects the image thereof towards the camera. Thus, the camera will photograph the face of the card and its optical interpretation upon adjacent portions of the fllm.

Suitable known means may be provided to feed the film and trip the shutter of the camera.

The third embodiment (Figs. 7 to 10) The third embodiment of the invention affords means whereby items designated by a combination of markings on a record may be optically interpreted. Such combinationally designated items may be alphabetic characters. In the example shown here, the alphabetic characters are designated by a combination of two perforations. Each letter is designated by two perforations in a card column. One perforation of the combinational pair is in one of the 0, X, and Y index positions. The other perforation of the combinational pair is in one of the positions 1 to 9. The 0, X, and Y index positions may be considered as one zone of index positions, and positions 1 to 9 may be regarded as the other zone of index positions. It will be understood that the principle of the invention is applicable to other code combinations and to other characters than letters. According to the selected code, as will be understood from Figs. '7 to 10, characters A to I are respectively represented by a'common Y hole combined with individual holes 1 to 9. Characters J to R. are respectively designated by an X hole combined individually with holes 1 to 9. Characters S to Z are designated by a 0 hole plus one of the holes 2 to 9, respectively.

The alphabetic optical interpreting device comprises a suitable frame and easing generally designated 35. The card TT to be interpreted is placed on top of a plate 36 of translucent material. This plate is suitably confined in the frame and rests on top of a honyecomb structure. The honeycomb comprises eighty-one strips 31 extending in the direction of the card columns and spaced apart similarly to the-spacing of the card columns. Cross ng the strips 31, at right angles thereto, are thirteen strips 38, spaced apart similarly to the spacing of the rows of index positions of the card. The honeycomb structure comprised of strips 31 and 38 is suitably confined in the frame. Underlying the honeycomb structure is a character pattern plate or film 40. Film 40 is opaque except where the characters and the exposing spots 4l-0, X, and Y appear. The film 40 lies flat on top of a glass plate 42, Underneath the glass plate 42, the frame supports nine mirrors 43 disposed at angles of forty five degrees. The mirrors 43 are similar to mirrors l4a of Fig. 6, being partially transparent and partially reflecting. Each mirror 43 underlies one of the index positions 1 to 9 of a card when the card is in position to be interpreted. For convenience, the mirrors 43 may be distinguished by designating them with the index positio-ns'to which they relate. Below mirrors 43, the. frame supports nine horizontal mirrors 44' similar to mirrors of Fig. 6. Mirrors 44 also may be designated with reference to index positions 1 to 9 to which they relate. The companion mirrors 43 and 44 related to the same index position are differentially distant from each other in the same manner as the mirrors Ma and 20 of Fig. 6. Vertical baille plates 45 ar mounted inside the device. These baifle plates are spaced apart similarly to the spacing of strips 31 of the honeycomb. Suitably attached to the device is a light reflector 46 carrying a lamp 41. The portion of the card having index positions 1 to 9 is illuminated by the lamp. The remainder of the card is concealed from the lamp by a partition plate 48 fastened to'a casin 49 provided with a sight window 49a. Carried by the frame and inside casing 49 are three mirrors 50 lying at an angle of forty five degrees to the card. The rear mirror 50-0 is above the 0 index position row, mirror 50-X is above the X index position row, and mirror 50-Y is above the Y index position row. Mirror 50-0 may be completely light reflecting; mirrors 50-X and 50-Y are partially reflecting and partially transparent. Carried by the frame below the pattern plate 40 are three reflectors 52. Each reflector has a reflecting face atan angle of forty five degrees, and each reflecting face is vertically below one of themirrors 50. Thus, the faces of reflectors 52-0, X, and Y are below mirrors 50-0, X, and Y, respectively.

Each of

mirrors

43, 44, 50, and 52 spans one entire row of the index positions of a card. The illustrated card is of the -column type and, accordingly, pattern plate 40 has eighty columns of characters and exposing spots 4l. When the card is located in interpretin position on the 'device, the columns of index positions of the card register with the columns of the pattern plate. As indicated in Fig. 10, the characters in each column of the pattern plate are in groups of three, except for characters A and J. Index position 9 of a card column, when perforated, exposes to light the bottom group of three characters IRZ. Index position 8, when perforated, exposes to light the characters HQY, and so on as indicated in Fig. 10. The top group of two characters A and J of a column of the pattern plate are exposed by a perforation in the index position 1 of a card column. The transparent or translucent exposing spots 4l-0, X, and Y register with the index positions 0, X, and Y of the card in interpreting position.

Th operation is as follows:

Assume a card column has perforations in index positions Y and 5. This combination of perforations designates letter E. Light passing through the 5 perforation in the card column illuminates the group of three characters ENV of the alined column of the pattern plate 40. The light transmitted by this group of characters passes through partially transparent and partially reflecting mirror 43-5 and impinges on mirror 44-5. Mirror 44-5 forms an image of all three characters ENV and reflects the image to the mirror 43-5. Mirror 43-5, in turn, reflects the image forwardly, in a horizontal direction. The latter image is displayed, through the partially transparent mirrors 43-4, 3, 2, and l, to the reflectors 52-0, X, and Y. The reflectors 52-0, X, and Y are so located vertically in relation to the image of a group of three characters reflected towards them by a mirror 43 that they respectively view the bottom third, middle third, and top third of the image. Thus, the reflector 52-0 forms an image of letter V reflected by mirror 43-5, reflector 52-X forms an image of letter N, and reflector 52-Y forms the image of letter E. The reflectors 52 reflect the character images upwardly in a vertical direction. The active faces of reflectors 52 are so spaced in a horizontal direction that the upwardly, vertically reflected character images are spread horizontally in accordance with the sp cing of index positions 0, X, and Y. Thus, the images reflected by reflectors 52-0, X, and Y are respectively directed towards the index positions 0, X, and Y passing intermediately through exposing spots 41-0, X, and Y, respectively, of the pattern plate 40. Considering the group of three characters ENV, the image of character V is reflected by reflector 52-0 through exposing spot and to the index position 0 of the card. The images of character N and E are reflected by reflectors 52--X and Y, respectively, through spots "-1; and Y and to index positions X and Y. The card column taken as an example has only the Y index position perforated. Hence, --only the image of character E, reflected upwardly by reflector 52-Y will appear through the perforated index position Y, while view of the remaining character images will be blocked by the opaque card material. The character image E will appear in the mirror 50--Y and be displayed thereby through the sight window 49a. In this manner, the combination of perforations Y and 5 in a card column are optically interpreted and the letter E designated by this combination of perforations will be displayed to an objective. If the index position X, instead of Y, were perforated, character image N would be exposed by this perforation and shown in the mirror Ell-X. The image N would be visible to the objective since the mirror iii-Y, in front of mirror till-X, is partially transparent. If the index position 0 were perforated, character V would be displayed by mirror 50--ll, mirrors fill-Y and X both being partially transparent. In the same manner, other combinationally designated characters will be optically interpreted, and their images displayed by mirrors 50.

The honeycomb structure comprised of strips 31 and 38 isolates each of the index positions of each column and row of a card and the corresponding index portions of the pattern plate from every other such position. In this Way, light passing through a perforation in an index position of the card is prevented from striking any other portion of the pattern plate but the portion registering with the index, position. The baffle plates 45 isolate the images reflected by each column span of mirrors 43 and 44 from every other column span, so that only images of one column of character patterns may be reflected 'by related column spans of mirrors 43 and 44.

The optical path of each exposed character to an objective is substantially equalized by the differential spacing of mirrors 44 from mirrors 43, in the same way as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Thus, all the character images, regardless of their derivation from different parts of a column of the pattern plate will be, in effect, displayed by mirrors 50 in a substantially common, focal plane.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to several embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for optically interpreting character designating code marks disposed in columns and rows of index positions of a record, comprising a series of parallel reflecting elements, arranged one behind another, a pattern sheet bearing columns and rows of character pattern areas corresponding to the index positions of the record and selectively exposable under control of the marks in said positions, means supporting the elements in operative relation to one another and in such operative relation to the pattern sheet that each element is located to receive exposure'of the areas of one said row of areas and to reflect images of such exposed areas in the same direction as images of other areas are reflected by the other elements, and at least those elements in front of ,the rear element being partially transparent to enable anyimage, including one reflectedby an element behind the leading element, to be exposed to a viewing position in front of all the elements.

2. Apparatus for optically interpreting a record perforated in index positions of a column to designate characters, comprising a column of character pattern elements selectively exposable to illumination through perforations in the record column, a series of reflecting elements arranged, in parallel, one behind another, each to receive and reflect an image of one said pattern element, when illuminated, all said. reflecting elements reflecting images in the same direction to a location in front of the leading reflecting element, those reflecting elements in front of the rear reflecting element being partially transparent to enable any image, including one reflected by a reflecting element behind the leading reflecting element, to be exposed to a position in front of the leading reflecting element, and means for supporting the reflecting elements, pattern elements, and record in operative relation to one another.

3. Optical means for interpreting character representing code marks in columns and rows of index positions of a record, comprising a character pattern plate having corresponding columns and rows of light-pervious characters, means for locating the record in front of the pattern plate so that the index positions of the record will register with the light-pervious characters and will enable the characters to be transilluminated through the code marks, and a series of mirrorsdisposed inparallel, at equal angles to the pattern plate, means supporting the mirrors in operative relation to one another and in such operative relation to the pattern plate that each mirror is located behind one row of the characters on the pattern plate so as to receive images of trans-illuminated characters of the related row, all said mirrors reflecting the images, received thereby, in the same general direction to a location in front of the foremost mirror, and at least those mirrors in front of the rear mirror being partially transparent to enable the images reflected by all the mirrors to be exposed at said location.

4. Apparatus for optically interpreting combinational representations of characters on a record member having a column of index positions divided into two zones and selectively perforated in a position in each zone .to designate by the combination of perforations a desired one of the characters, comprising a column of groups 01" character patterns, means to locate the record member and pattern groups so as to optically register the groups of patterns and one zone of said index positions of the record column, thereby to expose, through the perforation in this zone of the record column, the registering group of patterns, optical means for receiving images of the patterns of the group exposed through said perforation and coacting optical means for redirecting the image of each different exposed pattern to a separate one of the index positions of the other zone of the record column, whereby the perforation in an index position of the latter zone passes only an image of the pattern delineating the character corresponding to the combinational perforations in the two zones of the record column, and means supporting the first and second named optical means in operative relationship to one another and to said groups of character patterns.

the same direction as images may be reflected by the elements related to the other patterns, at least those elements in front of the rear element being light-pervious to enable a pattern image reflected by each element, including any element behind the leading element, to be brought into display at a position in front of the leading element, and means for supporting the reflecting elements and patterns in operative relation to one another.

6. Apparatus for optically interpreting combinational hole representations of characters on a record, comprising means provided with a plurality of groups of character patterns, an optical structure including reflecting means at one side of the record to which the groups may be selectively exposed, each through a related one of the holes of the combinational representation and which reflects an image of any exposed group of patterns towards the record for selective exposure of the image of one said pattern in the exposed group through another of the holes of the combinational representation, and means for supporting the record, pattern bearing member, and optical structure in operative relation to one another.

7. Apparatus for optically interpreting combinational character representations on a record, comprising a pattern sheet bearing groups of character patterns, means to illuminate one said group under control of a portion of a representation on the record, optical means to form images of the patterns of the illuminated group, coacting optical means to which the flrst named means directs said images and which re-directs said images towards the part of the record bearing the remaining portion of the character representation, image receiving means at the side of the record opposite the side at which the second named optical means is located and to which one of the images re-directed by said second named optical means is transmittedthrough a remaining portion of the character representation on the record, and means for supporting the record, the first and second named optical means, the image receiving means, and the pattern sheet in operative relation to one another.

8. Apparatus for optically interpreting characters represented by combinations of light passing areas in index positions of a record, comprising a pattern sheet with groups of character patterns, reflecting means at one side of the pattern sheet, means locating the record with certain of the index positions in registration with said pattern groups, whereby light transmitted through a light passing area in an index position carries an image of the registering group of patterns to the reflecting means, other reflecting means for receiving the reflection of the images of the group of patterns from the first named reflecting means and re-directing said images towards other index positions of the record, whereby a light passing area in one of said other positions transmits one of the re-directed images,

and means for supporting the record, pattern sheet, and the first and second named reflecting means in operative relationship to one another.

9. Apparatus comprising columns and rows of character patterns delineating characters which may be represented by perforations in a record, means for positioning the record relative to the patterns so as to expose the character patterns selectively through the perforations in the record, an optical system for displaying images of the patterns, exposed from different rows, in a single line to a suitable objective and including reflecting means behind the record and patterns to which the patterns are selectively exposed through the perforations and which reflect the images to the objective, and another optical system supported in front of the record and comprising reflecting means confronting the face of the record for reflecting an image of the face of the record to the objective to be viewed thereby simultaneously with and in contiguity to the line of images of the character patterns displayed to the objective by the first named optical system.

REYNOLD B. JOHNSON.