System and apparatus for automatic data collection

Claim 1

A DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A PLURALITY OF DATA TRANSMITTERS, A CENTRAL RECEIVER; AND COMMON COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS CONNECTING SAID DATA TRANSMITTERS TO SAID CENTRAL RECEIVER; (B) EACH OF SAID DATA TRANSMITTERS HAVING FIRST AND SECOND CONTROL TERMINALS; (C) A CHAIN CIRCUIT IN SAID COMMON COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL CONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONTROL TERMINALS OF SAID DATA TRANSMITTERS IN A SERIES CIRCUIT; (D) READY-TO-TRANSMIT CONDITION RESPONSIVE MEANS AT EACH DATA TRANSMITTER TO DISCONNECT THE SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONTROL TERMINALS THEREAT; (E) TRANSMISSION CONDITIONING MEANS AT EACH DATA TRANSMITTER CONDITIONED FOR OPERATION BY SAID READYTO-TRANSMIT CONDITION RESPONSIVE MEANS, AND DURING A READY-TO-TRANSMIT CONDITION AT THE DATA TRANSMITTER RESPONSIVE TO A FIRST SIGNAL AT SAID FIRST CONTROL TERMINAL; (F) TRANSMISSION INITIATING MEANS AT EACH DATA TRANSMITTER RESPONSIVE TO A START SIGNAL FROM SAID CENTRAL RECEIVER-RECORDER TO INITIATE TRANSMISSION FROM THE DATA TRANSMITTER; (G) MEANS AT EACH DATA TRANSMITTER FOR SUPPLYING SAID FIRST SIGNAL TO THE SECOND CONTROL TERMINAL OF THE DATA TRANSMITTER OF DATA THEREFROM;