Automatic reading system for record media having encoded data

Claim 2

A data processing system for automatically reading characters represented by indicia in prescribed fields on record media in any of a plurality of different codes, said system comprising the combination of reading means for producing output signals representing said characters in response to the indicia representing said characters, said reading means including at least one matrix of sensing elements and code selection means for rendering said sensing elements operative and inoperative in different combinations so as to provide said matrix with a plurality of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different codes, means for advancing the indicia for successive characters relatively past said reading means, means responsive to predetermined increments of advancing movement of said record media for continuously tracking the progress of the advancement of said record media relatively past said reading means, and automatic control means operatively connected to said reading means and said tracking means and including means responsive to said tracking means for automatically actuating said reading means at a prescribed first limit of a preselected field on the record media and automatically deactuating said reading means at a prescribed second limit of said preselected field, said automatic control means also including means responsive to said tracking means for rendering only a prescribed combination of said sensing elements operative during the interval when said reading means is actuated whereby said reading means is actuated in a selected operative state to read a corresponding selected code in said preselected field.

Claim 3

A data processing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said reading means has a first matrix of sensing elements having a first series of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different perforated codes, and a second matrix of sensing elements having a second series of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different printed or marked codes.

Claim 4

A data processing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said automatic control means includes means for actuating said reading means to automatically read the indicia in fields prescribed by limits both in the direction of movement of said indicia relative to said reading means and in the direction transverse to such movement.

Claim 5

A data processing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said matrix of sensing elements in said reading means includes a plurality of photoelectric sensing elements spaced along an axis extending transversely to the direction of movement of said indicia relative to said reading means, and said automatic control means includes means for automatically actuating selected combinations of said sensing elements when said reading means is actuated to read the indicia in certain prescribed fields.

Claim 6

A data processing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said reading means includes a first matrix of photoelectric sensing elements for responding to perforated indicia and a second matrix of photoelectric sensing elements for responding to printed or marked indicia, each of said first and second matrices having a plurality of different operative states for responding to the respective indicia in different codes, and said automatic control means also includes means for automatically selecting one of said first and second matrices and a prescribed operative state for the selected matrix in response to the actuation of said reading means by said tracking means to read the indicia in a prescribed field.

Claim 7

A data processing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said automatic control means also includes record format selection means operatively connected to said tracking means for automatically selecting different prescribed first and second limits for different record formats whereby said reading means is automatically actuated to read the code indicia in different preselected fields for different record formats.

Claim 8

A data processing system for automatically reading characters represented by indicia in prescribed fields on record media in any of a plurality of different codes, said system comprising the combination of reading means for producing output signals representing said characters in response to the indicia representing said characters, said reading means including at least one matrix of sensing elements and code selection means for rendering said sensing elements operative and inoperative in different combinations so as to provide said matrix with a plurality of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different codes, means for advancing the record media relatively past said reading means, means responsive to predetermined increments of advancing movement of said record media for continuously tracking the progress of the advancement of said record media relatively past said reading means, and automatic control means operatively connected to said reading means and said tracking means and including means responsive to said tracking means for automatically actuating said reading means at a prescribed first limit of a preselected field on the record media and automatically deactuating said reading means at a prescribed second limit of said preselected field, said automatic control means also including means responsive to said tracking means for rendering only a prescribed combination of said sensing elements operative during the interval when said reading means is situated whereby said reading means is actuated in a selected operative state to read a corresponding selected code in said preselected field, and programming means operatively connected to said automatic control means for preselecting said reading means is actuated, and for preselecting said prescribed combination of sensing elements which are rendered operative for each preselected field, said automatic control means being responsive to both said tracking means and said programming means.

Claim 9

A data processing system for automatically reading characters represented by indicia in prescribed fields on record media in any of a plurality of different codes, said system comprising the combination of reading means for producing output signals representing said characters in response to the indicia representing said characters, said reading means including at least one matrix of sensing elements and code selection means for rendering said sensing elements operative and inoperative in different combinations so as to provide said matrix with a plurality of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different codes, means for advancing the record media relatively past said reading means, means responsive to predetermined increments of advancing movement of said record media for continuously tracking the progress of the advancement of said record media relatively past said reading means, and automatic control means operatively connected to said reading means and said tracking means and including means responsive to said tracking means for automatically actuating said reading means at a prescribed first limit of a preselected field on the record media and automatically deactuating said reading means at a prescribed second limit of said preselected field, said automatic control means also including means responsive to said tracking means for rendering only a prescribed combination of said sensing elements operative during the interval when said reading means is situated whereby said reading means is actuated in a selected operative state to read a corresponding selected code in said preselected field, and programming means operatively connected to said automatic control means for preselecting said reading means is actuated, and for preselecting said prescribed combination of sensing elements which are rendered operative for each preselected field, said automatic control means being responsive to both said tracking means and said programming means.

Claim 10

A data processing system as defined in claim 7 wherein said programming means also includes field programming means for preselecting said prescribed first and second limits for selected record formats.

Claim 11

A data processing system for automatically reading characters represented by indicia in prescribed fields on record media in any of a plurality of different codes, said system comprising the combination of reading means for producing output signals representing said characters in response to the indicia representing said characters, said reading means including a first matrix of sensing elements having a first series of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different perforated codes, and a second matrix of sensing elements having a second series of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different printed or marked codes, means for advancing the indicia for successive characters relatively past said reading means, means responsive to predetermined increments of advancing movement of said record media for continuously tracking the progress of the advancement of said record media relatively past said reading means, and automatic control means operatively connected to said reading means and said tracking means and including means responsive to said tracking means for automatically actuating said reading means at a prescribed first limit of a preselected field on the record media and automatically deactuating said reading means at a prescribed second limit of said preselected field, said automatic control means also including means responsive to said tracking means for rendering only a preScribed combination of said sensing elements operative during the interval when said reading means is actuated whereby said reading means is actuated in a selected operative state to read a corresponding selected code in said preselected field, and record format selection means operatively connected to said tracking means for automatically selecting different prescribed first and second limits for different record formats whereby said reading means is automatically actuated to read the code indicia in different preselected fields for different record formats. 10 A data processing system as defined in claim 9 wherein said reading means includes a first matrix of photoelectric sensing elements for responding to perforated indicia and a second matrix of photoelectric sensing elements for responding to printed or marked indicia, each of said first and second matrices having a plurality of different operative states for responding to the respective indicia in different codes.

Claim 12

A data processing system as defined in claim 9 which includes programming means operatively connected to the automatic control means for preselecting said prescribed first and second limits of the preselected field in which said reading means is actuated, and for preselecting said prescribed combination of sensing elements which are rendered operative for each preselected field, said automatic control means being responsive to both said tracking means and said programming means.

Claim 13

A data processing method for reading characters represented by indicia in prescribed fields on record media in any of a plurality of different codes, said method comprising the steps of providing a reading station for producing output signals representing said characters in response to the indicia representing such characters, said reading station including at least one matrix of sensing elements and code selection means for rendering said sensing elements operative and inoperative in different combinations so as to provide said matrix with a plurality of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different codes, advancing the indicia for successive characters relatively past said reading station, continuously tracking the advancement of said record media relatively past said reading station in response to predetermined increments of advancing movement of said record media and producing tracking signals representing the progress of said record media, actuating said reading station in response to said tracking signals at a prescribed first limit of a preselected field on the record media and deactuating said reading station in response to said tracking signals at a prescribed second limit of said preselected field, and rendering only a prescribed combination of said sensing elements operative during the interval when said reading means is actuated in a selected operative state to read a corresponding selected code in said preselected field.

Claim 14

A data processing method for reading characters represented by indicia in prescribed fields on record media in any of a plurality of different codes, said method comprising the steps of providing a reading station for producing output signals representing said characters in response to the indicia representing such characters, said reading station including at least one matrix of sensing elements and code selection means for rendering said sensing elements operative and inoperative in different combinations so as to provide said matrix with a plurality of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different codes, advancing the indicia for successive characters relatively past said reading station, continuously tracking the advancement of said record media relatively past said reading station in response to predetermined increments of advancing movement of said record media and producing tracking signals representing the progress of said record media, actuating said reading station in response to said tracking signals at a prescribed first limit of a preselected field on the record media and deactuating said reading station in response to said tracking signals at a prescribed second limit of said preselected field, and rendering only a prescribed combination of said sensing elements operative during the interval when said reading means is actuated in a selected operative state to read a corresponding selected code in said preselected field.

Claim 15

A data processing method for reading characters represented by indicia in prescribed fields on record media in any of a plurality of different codes, said method comprising the steps of providing a reading station for producing output signals representing said characters in response to the indicia representing such characters, said reading station including at least one matrix of sensing elements and code selection means for rendering said sensing elements operative and inoperative in different combinations so as to provide said matrix with a first series of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different perforated codes, and a second series of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different printed or marked codes, continuously tracking the advancement of said record media relatively past said reading station in response to predetermined increments of advancing movement of said record media and producing tracking signals representing the progress of said record media, actuating said reading station in responsE to said tracking signals at a prescribed first limit of a preselected field on the record media and deactuating said reading station in response to said tracking signals at a prescribed second limit of said preselected field, and rendering only a prescribed combination of said sensing elements operative during the interval when said reading station is actuated so that the reading station is actuated in a selected operative state to read a corresponding selected code in said preselected field.

Claim 16

A data processing method for reading characters represented by indicia in prescribed fields on record media in any of a plurality of different codes, said method comprising the steps of providing a reading station for producing output signals representing said characters in response to the indicia representing such characters, said reading station including at least one matrix of sensing elements and code selection means for rendering said sensing elements operative and inoperative in different combinations so as to provide said matrix with a first series of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different perforated codes, and a second series of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different printed or marked codes, continuously tracking the advancement of said record media relatively past said reading station in response to predetermined increments of advancing movement of said record media and producing tracking signals representing the progress of said record media, actuating said reading station in responsE to said tracking signals at a prescribed first limit of a preselected field on the record media and deactuating said reading station in response to said tracking signals at a prescribed second limit of said preselected field, and rendering only a prescribed combination of said sensing elements operative during the interval when said reading station is actuated so that the reading station is actuated in a selected operative state to read a corresponding selected code in said preselected field.

Claim 17

A data processing method for reading characters represented by indicia in prescribed fields on record media in any of a plurality of different codes, said method comprising the steps of providing a reading station for producing output signals representing said characters in response to the indicia representing such characters, said reading station including at least one matrix of sensing elements and code selection means for rendering said sensing elements operative and inoperative in different combinations so as to provide said matrix with a plurality of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different codes, programming said reading station to preselect prescribed first and second limits of a preselected field in which the reading station is to be actuated, and to preselect a prescribed combination of sensing elements to be rendered operative for each preselected field, advancing the indicia for successive characters relatively past said reading station, and continuously tracking the advancement of said record media relatively past said reading station in response to predetermined increments of advancing movement of said record media and producing tracking signals representing the progress of said record media, actuating said reading station in response to said tracking signals at the prescribed first limit of the preselected field on the record media and deactuating said reading station in response to said tracking signals at the prescribed second limit of said preselected fields, and rendering only the prescribed combination of said sensing elements operative during the interval when said reading station is actuated so that the reading station is actuated in a selected operative state to read a corresponding selected code in said preselected field.

Claim 18

A data processing method for reading characters represented by indicia in prescribed fields on record media in any of a plurality of different codes, said method comprising the steps of providing a reading station for producing output signals representing said characters in response to the indicia representing such characters, said reading station including at least one matrix of sensing elements and code selection means for rendering said sensing elements operative and inoperative in different combinations so as to provide said matrix with a plurality of different operative states for responding to said indicia in different codes, programming said reading station to preselect prescribed first and second limits of a preselected field in which the reading station is to be actuated, and to preselect a prescribed combination of sensing elements to be rendered operative for each preselected field, advancing the indicia for successive characters relatively past said reading station, and continuously tracking the advancement of said record media relatively past said reading station in response to predetermined increments of advancing movement of said record media and producing tracking signals representing the progress of said record media, actuating said reading station in response to said tracking signals at the prescribed first limit of the preselected field on the record media and deactuating said reading station in response to said tracking signals at the prescribed second limit of said preselected fields, and rendering only the prescribed combination of said sensing elements operative during the interval when said reading station is actuated so that the reading station is actuated in a selected operative state to read a corresponding selected code in said preselected field.

Claim 19

A data processing method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said reading station is also programmed to preselect different prescribed first and second limits for different record formats so that the reading station is automatically actuated to read the code indicia in different preselected fields for different record formats.