US3658163A - Variable format control from pre-printed line marks - Google Patents

Variable format control from pre-printed line marks Download PDF

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Publication number
US3658163A
US3658163A US844560A US3658163DA US3658163A US 3658163 A US3658163 A US 3658163A US 844560 A US844560 A US 844560A US 3658163D A US3658163D A US 3658163DA US 3658163 A US3658163 A US 3658163A
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line
web paper
effective
coded information
category
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Albert Sniderman
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Unisys Corp
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Burroughs Corp
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Assigned to BURROUGHS CORPORATION reassignment BURROUGHS CORPORATION MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). DELAWARE EFFECTIVE MAY 30, 1982. Assignors: BURROUGHS CORPORATION A CORP OF MI (MERGED INTO), BURROUGHS DELAWARE INCORPORATED A DE CORP. (CHANGED TO)
Assigned to UNISYS CORPORATION reassignment UNISYS CORPORATION MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BURROUGHS CORPORATION
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/36—Blanking or long feeds; Feeding to a particular line, e.g. by rotation of platen or feed roller
    • B41J11/42—Controlling printing material conveyance for accurate alignment of the printing material with the printhead; Print registering
    • B41J11/46—Controlling printing material conveyance for accurate alignment of the printing material with the printhead; Print registering by marks or formations on the paper being fed

Definitions

  • a line printer of a data processing system uses continuous web paper that has been pre-printed or pre-marked with two vertical rows of line marks disposed along one edge thereof, each line mark representing a selectable printing line thereon.
  • a binary code representing a selected printing line on a separatable page form of the web paper is transmitted by the computer of the system and received and stored by the line printer, such receipt and storage serving to advance the web paper from the printing line on which the preceding line of information was recorded.
  • scanning means associated with the line printer in cooperation with the ad vancing pre-printed line marks, serves to detect the arrival of the selected printing line in printing position and to stop the web paper and page form commensurate therewith for the performance of the printing function.
  • the arrangement or formatting of the printed data in preselected fields and on lines arranged therewithin according to the nature of the document being printed is generally accommodated through the cooperation of a selected one of a plurality of format tapes with spacing means within the line printer, the latter means being restrictively qualified to produce printing lines of predetermined spaced-apart distance, such distance providing a predetermined number of lines per vertical inch, the selected format tape serving to control the spacing means in such manner as to produce printing lines according to said predetermined spaced-apart distance or multiples thereof.
  • the procedure for installing a selected tape in the special tape feed means has generally proven to be cumbersome and time-consuming, entailing as it oftentimes does the trial and error experience of installing the tape, printing a line of information on the web paper, measuring the distance of the printed line from the perforations, re-installing the tape, reprinting and re-measuring.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a high speed line printer comprising format control means which is operable independently of format tapes, thereby eliminating the cost and inconvenience incidental to their storage and timeconsuming installation.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide format control means wherein the separate feed means for synchronously advancing the format tape with the web paper is eliminated, thereby realizing economies in the manufacture and maintenance ofline printers.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide format control means that is instantly operable to produce any desired printing format without the need of first selecting and installing a corresponding format tape.
  • An additional object of the present invention is to provide a highly flexible line printer that comprises a single paper feed device into which an all-purpose format tape, if desired, may be inserted with ease and convenience and fed in synchronism with the web paper, such format tape serving in lieu of the preprinted line marks on the web paper.
  • a requirement of the invention is that either the web paper used thereon or an all-purpose format tape be pre-printedor pre-marked with vertically arranged line marks adjacent a longitudinally disposed row of paper feed apertures formed therein, each line mark representing a selectable printing position on a separatable page form of the web paper.
  • An important aspect of the invention is the use of binary codes transmitted from the computer of the data processing system to the line printer, such codes in selective cooperation with the pre-printed line marks and with web paper advancing and stopping means serving to locate pre-selected printing lines in printing position.
  • Another aspect of the invention is the use of scanning means mounted on one of the paper feed sprockets or tractors in sensing relationship with the pre-printed line marks, such scanning means being effective to differentiate as between line marks advancably passing therebeneath and to emit pulse signals corresponding thereto.
  • a still further aspect of the invention is the use of electronic means responsive to the pulse signals emitting from the scanning means to stop the web paper when the printing line represented by the transmitted binary code is located in printing position.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a section of the continuous web paper showing right and left paper feed apertures and two vertical rows of typical pre-printed line marks;
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a line printer wherein the web paper is shown both in relationship to a left and right feed sprocket and to scanning means mounted in contiguous relationship to the right sprocket in scanning relationship to the pre-printed line marks;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the line printer wherein the scanning means is shown in greater detail;
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary right side view of the head member of the scanning means of FIG. 3 showing a light emitting element and a light sensing element both angularly directed at a single pre-printed line mark on the web paper;
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram representing the functional relationship ofthe various electronic components of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an all-purpose format tape mounted underneath the guide member of the scanning means, said tape having pre-marked lines disposed on the inner surface thereof, and
  • FIG. 7 is a partial block diagram showing means for blocking the passage of Control Pulses-B in excess of ll to the counter.
  • the preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a data processing system that includes at least a data input unit such as a card reader, a computer, and an output line printer, the invention serving to control the formatting of the output data on continuous web paper. Formatting of the type provided involves the pre-selection of printing lines under the control of the computer and without benefit of format tapes or special hardware for their synchronous advancement with the advancement of the web paper.
  • Line printers used in data processing configurations are generally provided with web paper advancing means and with means for stopping the advancement of the paper to thereby locate the various printing lines in printing position.
  • the paper advancing means of the preferred embodiment comprises an electric motor as designated at 21 in FIG. 2, a constantly rotating driving shaft 23, a solenoid-operated clutch member generally designated at 25, and, at least one driven shaft 27 journaled within a pair of side frames 29.
  • the driven shaft 27 is couplable with anddecouplable from the driving shaft 23 by means of the clutc' hmember 25.
  • At least a pair of sprockets 31 and 33 are fixed to the driven shaft 27 for unitary rotation therewith, the peripherally disposed teeth of the sprockets 31 and 33 being drivingly insertable into corresponding vertically arranged rows of apertures 35 formed in the web paper 37, the driven rotation of the shaft 27 being effective to advance the paper 37 such as in an upward direction as shown in FIG. 2.
  • Means for stopping the advancement of the paper 37 generally comprise a solenoid-operated brake member which is effective, in cooperation with the disengagement of the clutch member 15, to terminate the rotation of the driven shaft 27, such brake member being also generally designated at 25 in FIG. 2.
  • variable and flexible means In order to arrange printed output data according to a variety of predetermined formats, variable and flexible means must be provided for activating the clutch and brake solenoids in such manner as to advance the web paper 37 from a previous printing line and to stop the paper 37 when the succeeding preselected printing line is brought into printing position.
  • this variable requirement is provided by the transmission of binary codes from a computer designated at 39 in FIG. to the line printer,
  • initiation of paper feeding occurs when a binary code is received by a register of the line printer, such register being designated 47 in FIG. 5, and termination of paper feeding, to thereby locate a selected printing line in printing position, occurs when the line mark 43 and 45 corresponding to or otherwise designated by the binary code is read by the scanner 41.
  • the scanner 41 By pre-printing the web paper 37 with line marks 43 and 45 as shown in FIG. 1, the scanner 41, under the influence of the transmitted binary code and in cooperation with hereinafter described electronic components, is effective to stop the web paper 37 on a selected printing line for printing a line of output information.
  • the web paper 37 also comprises spaced-apart rows of horizontal perforations 49 which serve to sectionalize the paper 37 into separable page forms, the line marks 43 and 45 representing a plurality of selectable printing lines on each page.
  • a line mark 43 appearing only in the left vertical row of line marks, represents the last printing line on a page and is herein defined as the End of Page" mark.
  • the firstdouble line marks 43 and 45 appearing at the top of each page represent the first selectable printing line on the page and are herein defined as the Heading mark. Between these Heading marks and the End of Page" marks, a plurality of double line marks 43 and 45 and single line marks 45 serve to represent selectable printing lines on the individual page forms. It should be noted that the printing lines'represented by the various line marks 43 and/or 45 will be spaced apart vertically from their corresponding line marks 43 and/or 45 an equivalent distance to the distance between the scanner 41 and the printing position of the line printer, the line marks 43 and 45 being disposed in advance ofthe printing lines represented thereby.
  • a binary code is transmitted from the computer 39 to the register 47, as previously mentioned, such code having been selected from program memory or generated from ancillary information recorded on the input media.
  • Sixteen of these binary codes are used by the preferred embodiment, ranging from binary 0 to binary l5.
  • the line of information corresponding therewith would be printed on the printing line hereinafter designated, after the paper 37 has advanced to such line:
  • the scanner 41 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is comprised of a hinged guide member 51 (FIG. 3) which is pivotally connected to a support arm 53 fixed to a semicircular support member 55.
  • the support member 55 is anchored to a cross member 57 disposed between the side frames 29 of the line printer.
  • Fixed to this hinged guide member 51 is a vertically displaceable housing 59 comprising interconnected upper and lower retainer members 61 and 63.
  • a pick-up head member 65 (FIG. 4) that is qualified to perform various hereinafter described pulse emitting functions by way of a cable 66 connected thereto and to various other components of the embodiment which are also described in a later section.
  • the support arm 53 and semicircular member 55 are provided with formed apertures into which the driven shaft 27 is rotatably fitted.
  • the guide member 51 is provided with an elongated slot 67, the uppermost portion of which serves to accommodate the peripherally disposed teeth of the sprocket 33 during a paper feed operation, and an enlarged lower most portion serves to accommodate the scanning function of the pick-up head member 65.
  • the hinged guide member 51 including the housing 59 and the head member 65, is rotatable to a 90 open" position relative to the web paper 37 on the support arm 53 in order to accommodate the installation of a new supply of web paper 37 in the line printer, and in particular to facilitate the placement of the right side apertures 35 over the teeth of the sprocket 33.
  • An adjustment screw 69 is threadably connected to the upper retainer member 61 and rotatably connected to the lower retainer member 63, such adjustment screw 69 being effective, upon rotation thereof, to establish proper registration between the head member 65 and the line marks 43 and 45 when a new supply of web paper 37 is installed.
  • the head member 65 is provided with a pair of light emitting elements 71 and a pair of light sensing elements 73, such elements 71 and 73 being so arranged that a light emitting element 71 and an associated light sensing element 73 are disposed in vertical alignment with each row of line marks 43 and 45 and are angularly directed for convergence on each individual line mark 43 or 45 in its respective row marks as the latter 43 and 45 are moved into scanning view during advancement of the web paper 37.
  • Any suitable light emitting and light sensing elements may be used, including infra-red emitting photodiodes and infra-red sensing photo transistors.
  • the light sensing elements 73 may be conditioned to conduct through reflectance from the web paper 37 when a line mark 43 or 45 is not present within its scanning view, and to emit a pulse when the light emitted by the light emitting element 71 is absorbed or interrupted by the presence of a line mark 43 or 45 within such view.
  • the pulses emitting from the vertical row of line marks 45 are channeled along a line 75 through an amplifier 77 to a One-Shot 79, and pulses emitting from the vertical row of line marks 43 are channeled along a line 81 through an amplifier 83 to a One-Shot 85.
  • Output pulses from the One-Shots 79 and 85 are variously gated, as hereinafter described, to produce three separate control pulses which in turn cooperate with several electronic components to effectuate the required activation of the clutch and brake solenoids 25, and to thereby stop the web paper 37 with the pre-selected printing line located in printing position, such line corresponding to the binary code which was transmitted from the computer 39 to the register 47.
  • These control pulses may be identified, for convenience in understanding, as Control Pulse-A, Control Pulse-B, and Control Pulse-C, the functions ofwhich are described in the following section.
  • an output pulse from the AND gate 87 is produced whenever an End Of Page" line mark 43' is detected by the scanner 41, such output pulse being identified as the Control Pulse-A.
  • an output pulse is produced by the AND gate 97 whenever a double line mark 43 and 45 is read by the scanner 41, such output pulse being identified as the Control Pulse-B.
  • an output pulse is produced by the OR gate 105 whenever a line mark 45 or 43 only, or a double line mark 43 and 45 is read by the scanner 41, such output pulse being identified as the Control Pulse-C.
  • the register 47 may be comprised of four suitable bi-stable elements such as flip-flops to represent the binary decimal codes 1, 2, 4 and 8, such elements being operable in parallel to receive preselected binary codes 1 through 15 from the computer 39, and to produce an output to the clutch and brake solenoids 25 along the line 107 whenever such a preselected code is received.
  • a first count decoder 109 comprising an array of AND gates is connected to the register 47, such decoder 109 being effective to recognize the presence of a binary code ranging from 1 through 12 in the register 47, and to produce an output along a line 111 whenever such a code is recognized.
  • a counter 113 into which Control Pulses A and B are channeled by way of lines 115 and 117, respectively, may also be comprised of four suitable bi-stable elements such as flip-flops, such elements being cross-coupled and arranged in cascaded fashion such as to permit the counting of pulses.
  • Each Control Pulse-A that is channeled to the Counter 113 along the line 115 serves to force or reset the counter 113 to a count of 12, such Control Pulse-A having been generated through the reading of an End Of Page line mark 43, and each Control Pulse-B that is channeled to the counter 113 along the line 117 serves to advance the counter 113 by a count of one, such Control Pulse-B having been generated through the reading of a double line mark 43 and 45, the first of said double line marks 43 and 45 following an End Of Page line mark 43' being effective to advance the counter 113 from its reset count of 12 to a count of l.
  • a comparator 121 is comprised of an array ofinput and output AND gates, the input gates being coupled, as represented by a line 119, to the flip-flops of the counter 113 in such manner as to recognize the pulse count thereof, and the out put gates being coupled to associated ones of the input gates and to corresponding ones of the AND gates of the count decoder 109, the latter coupling being represented by the line 111 in FIG. 5.
  • Each ofthe output gates ofthe comparator 121 serves to produce an output to the clutch and brake solenoids 25 along a line 123 when an input is received from its associated input gate and from its corresponding AND gate of the count decoder 109.
  • the operational effect of the count decoder 109, the counter 113, and the comparator 121 is to stop the advancement of the web paper 37 when the accumulated count of the counter 113 is equal to the preselected binary code stored in the register 47, assuming that such stored code ranges from one to 12.
  • a second count decoder 125 is coupled to the register 47 as represented by a line 127 in FIG. 5, such decoder 125 comprising an AND gate effective for recognizing a binary code 13 stored in the register 47.
  • This count decoder 125 is effective to produce an output to the clutch and brake solenoids 25, along a line 129, upon the coincidence of a binary 13 input from the register 47 and a Control Pulse-B channeled along a line 131.
  • the effect of count decoder 125, when a binary code 13 is stored in the register 47, is to stop the advancement of the web paper 37 at the printing line represented by the next succeeding double line mark 43 and 45.
  • a third count decoder 133 is coupled to the register 47 as represented by a line 135 in FIG. 5, such count decoder 133 comprising an AND gate effective for recognizing a binary code 14 stored in the register 47.
  • This count decoder 133 is effective to produce an output to the clutch and brake solenoids 25 upon the coincidence of a binary 14 input from the register 47 and a Control Pulse-C channeled along a line 137.
  • the effect of count decoder 133, when a binary code 14 is stored in the register 47, is to stop the advancement of the web paper 37 at the printing line represented by the next succeeding double line mark 43 and 45 or the next succeeding single line mark 45 or 43, whichever comes first.
  • a fourth count decoder 139 is coupled to the register 47 as represented by a line 141, such count decoder 139 comprising an AND gate efiective for recognizing a binary code 15 stored in the register 47.
  • This count decoder 139 is effective to produce an output to the clutch and brake solenoids 25 upon the coincidence of a binary 15 input from the register 47 and a Control Pulse-C channeled along a line 143.
  • a flip-flop 145 is disposed between the line 143 and a line 147 along which each Control Pulse-C is channeled, the flip-flop 145 being set by a first Control Pulse-C to produce an output along the line 143 upon the occurrenceof a second Control PulseC.
  • count decoder 139 and the flip-flop 145 when a binary code 15 is stored in the register 47, is to stop the advancement of the web paper 37 at the printing line represented by the second succeeding double line mark 43 and 45 or single line marks 45 or 43,'whichever one is the second line mark.
  • the counter 113 is reset to a starting count of 12 by a Control Pulse-A generated by the End Of Page" line mark 43 of the preceding page, is advanced from the count of 12 to a count of 1 by the Heading double line mark 43 and 45, and is advanced thereafter by each succeeding double line mark 43 and 45 until a maximum count of 11 is reached. 1n the event the individual page forms of the web paper 37 are provided with less than 11 double line marks 43 and 45, as illustrated in FIG.
  • the counter 113 will advance to a count corresponding to the number of double line marks 43 and 45 thereon provided, and will thereafter be advanced or reset from such count to a count of 12 as the ,End Of Page" line mark 43' is read by the scanner 41, the latter count being required in conjunction with a binary code 12 in the register 47 in order to advance the web paper 37 from the line on which information was last printed to the End Of Page line.
  • the counter 113 will advance to a maximum count of 11 as the first l 1 double line marks 43 and 45 on the page form are read by the scanner 41, and will thereafter remain at the count of 11, irrespective of the Control Pulses-B generated by the remaining double line marks 43 and 45 on the page, until the End Of Page line mark 43' is read by the scanner 41 and the counter 113 is advanced or reset to a count of 12.
  • a fifth count decoder 150 comprising an AND gate effective for recognizing a count of 11 is coupled to the counter 113 and to a flip-flop 151, the latter flip-flop 151 being coupled also to the line 115 of FIG. and to an AND gate 153 interposed between the line 117 of FIG. 5 and the counter 113.
  • the flip-flop 151 is set to a conducting state by each Control Pulse-A produced by the AND gate 87, such Control Pulse-A, as previously stated, serving also to set the counter 113 to a starting count of 12. With the flip-flop 151 set to said conducting state, an output to the AND gate 153 along the line 155 serves to permit the passage of Control Pulses-B from the AND gate 97 to the counter 113, to thereby advance the counter 113 up to said maximum count of 11. When such maximum count is reached, the count decoder 150 produces an output along.
  • the register 47 is reset by the operation of the clutch and brake solenoids 25 as the web paper 37 is stopped on the End Of Page printing line of the preceding page, the corresponding line mark 43' having also served to set the counter 113 to a count of 12 by means of a Control Pulse-A. If the first line of information to be printed on the succeeding page is to be printed on the Heading line of such page, a binary code 1 is transmitted from the computer .39 to the register 47 and is recognized by the count decoder 109. Upon arrival of this code in the register 47, an output along the line 107 serves to operate the clutch and brake solenoids 25 to initiate the advancement of the web paper 37.
  • a Control Pulse-B produced by the One-Shots and 79 and the AND gate 97 serves to advance the counter 113 from the count of l2 to a count of 1. Since at this point the binary 1 AND gate of the count decoder 109 and the input AND gate of the comparator 121 are in a compare state, the corresponding output gate of the comparator 121 produces an output pulse to the clutch and brake solenoids 25 along the line 123 to thereby stop the paper 37 on the Heading" line where the line of information is printed.
  • the register 47 is reset to zero through the operation of the clutch and brake solenoids 25, the counter 113 remaining at the count of 1.
  • a binary code 3 is transmitted from the computer 39 to the register 47 and is recognized by the count decoder 109, whereupon the clutch and brake solenoids 25 are operated to initiate the advancement of the web paper 37.
  • Control Pulses-B produced by the second and third double line marks 43 and 45 serve to advance the counter 113 from a count of l to a count of 3, whereupon a comparison between the count decoder 109 and the input gates of the comparator 121 serves to produce an output pulse to the clutch and brake solenoids 25 to thereby stop the paper 37 at a printing line represented by the third double line marks 43 and 45, where the line of information is printed.
  • a binary code 14 is transmitted from the computer 39 to the register 47 and is recognized by the count decoder 133, whereupon the clutch and brake solenoids 25 are again operated to initiate the advancement of the paper 37.
  • a Control Pulse-C produced by such line mark 45 cooperates with the binary code 14 recognition in count decoder 133 to produce an output therefrom to stop the paper 37 at the printing line next following the third double line marks 43 and 45, where the line of information is printed.
  • a binary code 15 is transmitted to the register 47 and is recognized by the count decoder 139, whereupon the clutch and brake solenoids 25 are again operated to initiate the advancement of the paper 37.
  • a first Control Pulse-C generated by the second single line mark 45 is channeled along the line 147 tothe flip-flop to change the state of the flip-flop 145 from a nonconducting to a conducting state.
  • a Control Pulse-C generated thereby is passed through the flip-flop 145 to the count decoder 139, said latter Control Pulse-C cooperating with a binary code recognition in the decoder 139 to produce an output therefrom to stop the paper 37 at the printing line represented by said third single line mark 45.
  • a binary code 12 is transmitted from the computer 39 to the register 47 and is recognized by the corresponding AND gate of the count decoder 109.
  • a Control Pulse-A generated by the End Of Page line mark 43 will advance the counter 113 to a count of 12, after the counter 113 has first been advanced from a count of 3 to a count of 4 by a Control Pulse-B generated by the fourth double line marks 43 and 45 (as represented in FIG. 1), whereupon an output pulse from the comparator 121 is transmitted to the clutch and brake solenoids 25 to stop the paper 37 at the End Of Page" printing line where the line of information is printed.
  • the preferred embodiment of the invention lends itself to the use of an all-purpose endless loop format tape 149 (FIG. 6) in conjunction with web paper 37 that has not been preprinted with line marks 43 and 45.
  • Such format tape 149 with line marks corresponding to those shown in FIG. I printed or marked on the inner surface thereof may be conveniently inserted underneath the hinged guide member 51, with a registering arrow (not shown) axially aligned with a horizontal row of perforations 49 in the web paper 37, such tape 149 being advanceable in synchronism with the advancement of the web paper 37 by the peripherally disposed teeth of the sprocket 33.
  • Such synchronous advancement is made possible by the contour of the guide member 51 without the need for additional hardware.
  • Line marks 43 and 45 printed or marked on this format tape 149 are read by the pick-up head member 65 of the scanner 41 in like manner to the reading of such line marks 43 and 45 printed on the web paper 37, the effect being the production of the previously described Control Pulses-A, B and -C.
  • format control apparatus in a computer responsive line printer having web paper advancing and stopping means and which utilizes web paper that is separable into page forms and provided with preprinted line marks arranged in two vertical rows, each of said line marks representing a printing position where data may be selectively printed, format control apparatus comprising:
  • pulse generating means cooperating with said line mark differentiating means and effective for producing first, second and third type control pulses according to the arrangement of said pre-printed line marks in said two vertical rows,
  • first code recognizing means associated with said storing means and effective for recognizing said first category of coded information
  • a counter resettable to a starting count of l2 by each of said first type control pulses and advanceable to a maximum predetermined count ofeleven by said second type control pulses, a first of said second type control pulse following a first type control pulse being effective to advance the counter from the starting count of 12 to a count of one,
  • comparator means cooperably associated with said counter and with said first code recognizing means, said comparator means being effective to activate said web paper stopping means when the count of said counter corresponds with said first category of coded information received by said storing means and recognized by said first code recognizing means,
  • second code recognizing means associated with said storing means and effective for recognizing said second category of coded information, said second code recognizing means upon recognizing said second category of coded information being effective to activate said web paper stopping means in response to the receipt of a said second type control pulse,
  • third code recognizing means associated with said storing means and effective for recognizing said third category of coded information, said third code recognizing means being effective to activate said web paper stopping means in response to the receipt of a said third type control pulse following the recognition of said third category of coded information, and
  • fourth code recognizing means associated with said storing means and effective for recognizing said fourth category of coded information, said fourth code recognizing means being effective to activate said web paper stopping means in response to the receipt of a second of said third type control pulses following the recognition of said fourth category of coded information, the combination of all of said means rendering said line printer capable of selectively printing data on variably spaced printing lines on said page forms of said web paper, the variable spacing resulting from said variably spaced lines being restricted only by the placement of said pre-printed line marks thereon.
  • pulse blocking means is provided for preventing the advancement of said counter beyond said predetermined count of eleven when more than 11 second type control pulses are generated by said pulse generating means relative to a single one of said page forms of said web paper, said second type control pulses in excess of 1 1 being generated by the reading of more than 11 line marks disposed in both of said vertical rows of line marks on said page form by said line mark differentiating means.
  • pulse blocking means comprises:
  • a. decoding means associated with said counter and effective for recognizing a count of l l therein
  • an AND gate associated with said bi-stable element, with said counter, and with said pulse generating means, said bi-stable element being effective to produce an output to said AND gate to permit the passage of said second type control pulses to said counter by the resetting effect of one of said first type control pulses, and effective to interrupt said output upon recognition of said count of eleven by said decoding means, said interruption of said output from said bi-stable element serving to prevent said passage of said second type control pulses from said pulse generating means to said counter.
  • Format control apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for storing said coded information is comprised of a register having four flip-flop circuits operable in parallel to represent the binary decimal codes 1,2, 4 and 8.
  • a. light emitting means effective for directing light on both of said two vertical rows of pre-printed line marks of said page forms of said web paper
  • said light emitted by said light emitting means is characteristically infra-red in nature
  • said blocking of said reflected light to said light sensing means by said presence of a pre-printed line mark reflectively intermediate said light emitting means and said light sensing means is characterized by the absorption of said infra-red light.
  • a hinged guide member to which said light emitting and light sensing means are fixed, said guide member being rotatably displaceable a predetermined distance from its operating position parallel to said web paper to facilitate the installation ofa new supply thereof, and
  • adjusting means effective for varying the longitudinal positioning of said light emitting and light sensing means on said guide member such that said light emitting and light sensing means may be placed in accurate registry with said pre-printed line marks upon said installation of a new supply of web paper.
  • said hinged guide member of said line mark differentiating means is additionally effective for operably supporting a pre-marked endless loop tape having line marks arranged in two vertical rows on the inner surface thereof, said pre-marked endless loop tape being readably advanceable in synchronism with said web paper by said feed sprocket associated with said line mark'differentiating means when said tape is used in lieu of pre-printed web paper.
  • a line printer having a non-incremental web paper advancing means and web paper stopping means, format control apparatus effective for selectively printing data on variably spaced printing lines on a web paper, said printer and said apparatus utilizing web paper which is provided with pre-printed line marks arranged in two vertical columns contiguous to one longitudinal edge thereof, said line marks consisting of double line marks comprising a mark in both columns and leftcolumn and right-column line marks comprising a single mark in one column only, said apparatus comprising:
  • a plurality of code recognizing means associated with said coded information receiving and storing means and effec tive for recognizing predetermined ones of said categories of coded information, said plurality of code recognizing means including a first, second, third and fourth code recognizing means,
  • a counter associated with said first code recognizing means said counter being resettable by each of said first type control pulses in response to the reading of a said left-column line mark and advanceable to a predetermined count by said second type control pulses in response to the reading of said double line marks, and
  • comparator means cooperably associated with said counter and with said first code recognizing means, said comparator means being effective to activate said web paper stopping means when the count of said counter corresponds with the coded information of said first category thereof received by said storing means and recognized by said first code recognizing means, whereby said web paper may be selectively advanced a variable predetermined distance according to the selection of a succeeding second type control pulse generated by said pulse generating means upon reading a selected succeeding double line mark on said web paper.
  • said second code recognizing means is effective for recognizing said second category of coded information, and upon recognizing said second category of coded information, for activating said web paper stopping means in response to the receipt of a said second type control pulse, whereby said web paper may be advanced a set distance according to the next succeeding second type control pulse generated by said pulse generating means upon reading the next succeeding double line mark on said web paper.
  • said third code recognizing means is effective for recognizing said third category of coded information and, upon recognizing said third category of coded information, for activating said web paper stopping means in response to the for activating said web paper stopping means in response to the receipt of a second of said third type control pulses, whereby said web paper may be advanced a set distance according to the second succeeding third type control pulse generated by said pulse generating means upon reading the second succeeding line mark on said web paper, said line marks being of a double line mark, left-column line mark or right-column line mark nature.

Landscapes

  • Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
  • Controlling Rewinding, Feeding, Winding, Or Abnormalities Of Webs (AREA)
  • Handling Of Continuous Sheets Of Paper (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
US844560A 1969-07-24 1969-07-24 Variable format control from pre-printed line marks Expired - Lifetime US3658163A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US84456069A 1969-07-24 1969-07-24

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Country Link
US (1) US3658163A (US06521211-20030218-C00004.png)
JP (1) JPS508895B1 (US06521211-20030218-C00004.png)
BE (1) BE752100A (US06521211-20030218-C00004.png)
DE (1) DE2036614C3 (US06521211-20030218-C00004.png)
FR (1) FR2056194A5 (US06521211-20030218-C00004.png)
GB (1) GB1265253A (US06521211-20030218-C00004.png)

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3963110A (en) * 1974-06-26 1976-06-15 Hy Grip Products Co. Storage magazine and sheet feeder for typing apparatus
US3998313A (en) * 1973-04-16 1976-12-21 Docutel Corporation Paper web and ink ribbon feed control for character printer
US4026405A (en) * 1972-11-09 1977-05-31 Compagnie Honeywell Bull (Societe Anonyme) Process and apparatus for determining the magnitude of the paper advance commanded in a printing machine
US4066015A (en) * 1975-07-11 1978-01-03 Uarco Incorporated Stationery printing apparatus for continuous business forms stationery assemblies
US4147440A (en) * 1977-02-24 1979-04-03 Computer Peripherals, Inc. Sliding code disc reader and detent therefor for dual pitch web feeding
FR2409155A1 (fr) * 1977-11-22 1979-06-15 Wordplex Ltd A E S Perfectionnements apportes a des dispositifs d'impression
US4328749A (en) * 1978-10-26 1982-05-11 Toray Industries, Inc. Information recording method and apparatus, and a half-product obtained thereby
US4636099A (en) * 1982-09-30 1987-01-13 Goldstone Ted A Document holder with preprinted locating aid
US4725156A (en) * 1984-12-21 1988-02-16 Intuit Method and structure for properly aligning forms in a printer
USRE33498E (en) * 1984-12-21 1990-12-18 Intuit Method and structure for properly aligning forms in a printer
US5125562A (en) * 1990-08-20 1992-06-30 Bruce Bendel Multi-panel mailer
FR2700298A1 (fr) * 1993-01-12 1994-07-13 Sextant Avionique Procédé et dispositif pour le contrôle de l'avance papier dans une imprimante pilotée par un processeur.
US5765481A (en) * 1997-03-11 1998-06-16 Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. Apparatus and method for working on a length of web material
US20090059293A1 (en) * 2000-05-23 2009-03-05 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Print engine controller for double-buffered processing
US20120255540A1 (en) * 2011-04-07 2012-10-11 Hutchin Richard A Sun tracking solar concentrator

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2157039B (en) * 1984-04-03 1988-11-30 Monarch Marking Systems Inc System for controlling the advancement of a web of sheet stock containing a plurality of labels
US4584047A (en) * 1984-04-03 1986-04-22 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. Hand-held labeler having improved web position sensing and print head control
US4578138A (en) * 1984-04-03 1986-03-25 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. Hand-held labeler having adjustable web positioning system

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US2424073A (en) * 1939-12-15 1947-07-15 Ibm Record feeding device
US2747717A (en) * 1954-12-23 1956-05-29 Ibm Paper feeding device
US2884852A (en) * 1956-05-22 1959-05-05 Ibm Printer carriage control means
US2944651A (en) * 1958-05-07 1960-07-12 Sperry Rand Corp Format control
US2981396A (en) * 1959-05-08 1961-04-25 Graphic Technology Ltd Feed device for record controlled addressing machines and like machines
US2983356A (en) * 1959-10-22 1961-05-09 Ibm Control apparatus for record feeding devices
US2983357A (en) * 1958-12-31 1961-05-09 Ibm Electronic counter control for continuous forms feeding
US3020996A (en) * 1959-09-01 1962-02-13 Royal Mcbee Corp Systems for automatically controlling line feeding and tabulating mechanisms in typewriters of like machines
US3042178A (en) * 1959-10-02 1962-07-03 Ibm Carriage control
US3159263A (en) * 1960-03-16 1964-12-01 Moore Business Forms Inc Apparatus for feeding continuous webs of stationery
US3185283A (en) * 1961-09-25 1965-05-25 Control Data Corp Paper advance control circuit in high speed printers
US3323700A (en) * 1965-06-22 1967-06-06 Borg Warner Web driving system with driving, braking and motion sensing units adjacent each margin of the web
US3420166A (en) * 1966-07-30 1969-01-07 Int Computers & Tabulators Ltd Paper carriage shifting means in high speed line printers
US3452853A (en) * 1966-10-10 1969-07-01 Data Products Corp Paper drive system
US3499516A (en) * 1967-08-21 1970-03-10 Ibm Tapeless carriage control

Patent Citations (16)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2131895A (en) * 1934-03-27 1938-10-04 Ibm Paper feeding device
US2424073A (en) * 1939-12-15 1947-07-15 Ibm Record feeding device
US2747717A (en) * 1954-12-23 1956-05-29 Ibm Paper feeding device
US2884852A (en) * 1956-05-22 1959-05-05 Ibm Printer carriage control means
US2944651A (en) * 1958-05-07 1960-07-12 Sperry Rand Corp Format control
US2983357A (en) * 1958-12-31 1961-05-09 Ibm Electronic counter control for continuous forms feeding
US2981396A (en) * 1959-05-08 1961-04-25 Graphic Technology Ltd Feed device for record controlled addressing machines and like machines
US3020996A (en) * 1959-09-01 1962-02-13 Royal Mcbee Corp Systems for automatically controlling line feeding and tabulating mechanisms in typewriters of like machines
US3042178A (en) * 1959-10-02 1962-07-03 Ibm Carriage control
US2983356A (en) * 1959-10-22 1961-05-09 Ibm Control apparatus for record feeding devices
US3159263A (en) * 1960-03-16 1964-12-01 Moore Business Forms Inc Apparatus for feeding continuous webs of stationery
US3185283A (en) * 1961-09-25 1965-05-25 Control Data Corp Paper advance control circuit in high speed printers
US3323700A (en) * 1965-06-22 1967-06-06 Borg Warner Web driving system with driving, braking and motion sensing units adjacent each margin of the web
US3420166A (en) * 1966-07-30 1969-01-07 Int Computers & Tabulators Ltd Paper carriage shifting means in high speed line printers
US3452853A (en) * 1966-10-10 1969-07-01 Data Products Corp Paper drive system
US3499516A (en) * 1967-08-21 1970-03-10 Ibm Tapeless carriage control

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4026405A (en) * 1972-11-09 1977-05-31 Compagnie Honeywell Bull (Societe Anonyme) Process and apparatus for determining the magnitude of the paper advance commanded in a printing machine
US3998313A (en) * 1973-04-16 1976-12-21 Docutel Corporation Paper web and ink ribbon feed control for character printer
US3963110A (en) * 1974-06-26 1976-06-15 Hy Grip Products Co. Storage magazine and sheet feeder for typing apparatus
US4066015A (en) * 1975-07-11 1978-01-03 Uarco Incorporated Stationery printing apparatus for continuous business forms stationery assemblies
US4147440A (en) * 1977-02-24 1979-04-03 Computer Peripherals, Inc. Sliding code disc reader and detent therefor for dual pitch web feeding
FR2409155A1 (fr) * 1977-11-22 1979-06-15 Wordplex Ltd A E S Perfectionnements apportes a des dispositifs d'impression
US4255064A (en) * 1977-11-22 1981-03-10 A.E.S. Wordplex Limited Printing device with paper edge sensing
US4328749A (en) * 1978-10-26 1982-05-11 Toray Industries, Inc. Information recording method and apparatus, and a half-product obtained thereby
US4636099A (en) * 1982-09-30 1987-01-13 Goldstone Ted A Document holder with preprinted locating aid
US4725156A (en) * 1984-12-21 1988-02-16 Intuit Method and structure for properly aligning forms in a printer
USRE33498E (en) * 1984-12-21 1990-12-18 Intuit Method and structure for properly aligning forms in a printer
US5125562A (en) * 1990-08-20 1992-06-30 Bruce Bendel Multi-panel mailer
FR2700298A1 (fr) * 1993-01-12 1994-07-13 Sextant Avionique Procédé et dispositif pour le contrôle de l'avance papier dans une imprimante pilotée par un processeur.
US5515088A (en) * 1993-01-12 1996-05-07 Sextant Avionique Method and device for controlling the paper feed in a processor-driven printer
US5765481A (en) * 1997-03-11 1998-06-16 Gerber Scientific Products, Inc. Apparatus and method for working on a length of web material
US20090059293A1 (en) * 2000-05-23 2009-03-05 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Print engine controller for double-buffered processing
US8270023B2 (en) * 2000-05-23 2012-09-18 Zamtec Limited Print engine controller for double-buffered processing
US20120255540A1 (en) * 2011-04-07 2012-10-11 Hutchin Richard A Sun tracking solar concentrator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2036614A1 (US06521211-20030218-C00004.png) 1971-02-11
DE2036614B2 (de) 1978-04-27
JPS508895B1 (US06521211-20030218-C00004.png) 1975-04-08
DE2036614C3 (de) 1979-01-04
BE752100A (fr) 1970-12-01
FR2056194A5 (US06521211-20030218-C00004.png) 1971-05-14
GB1265253A (US06521211-20030218-C00004.png) 1972-03-01

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