Interlock means for printing devices in data recorders and transmitters

Claim 2

A data collecting machine comprising: a bed affording a support for a printing device bearing data and for a form in superposed relation therewith on which data is to be printed; movable obstructing means releasably latchable on said bed for obstructing access to said printing device on said bed to prevent operator removal; platen means operable in a printing cycle for imprinting of data from the printing device onto the form; means for scanning said printing device in its supported position and producing output signals corresponding to the data thereon; means for initiating a printing cycle and means for initiating a scanning cycle; and means responsive to the completion of the printing and scanning cycles to unlatch said obstructing means and permit removal of said obstructing means for permitting access to said printing device for operator removal.

Claim 3

The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said printing cycle precedes the scanning cycle.

Claim 4

a printing head movable between a printing position with respect to said bed, and an open nonprinting position making said bed available for installation of removable printing members;

Claim 5

a printing head movable between a printing position with respect to said bed, and an open nonprinting position making said bed available for installation of removable printing members;

Claim 6

operator controlled switch means for causing said bed to carry said printing member plates in a reading relationship with respect to said reader and return to said printing position.

Claim 7

operator controlled switch means for causing said bed to carry said printing member plates in a reading relationship with respect to said reader and return to said printing position.

Claim 8

lock means for holding said head to a limited opening position wherein paper printing forms may be removed from said bed, but closed to facile removal of said printing members;

Claim 9

lock means for holding said head to a limited opening position wherein paper printing forms may be removed from said bed, but closed to facile removal of said printing members;

Claim 10

In a data collecting system, a remote transmitting recorder comprised of:

Claim 11

In a data collecting system, a remote transmitting recorder comprised of:

Claim 12

a reader for said printing members, said reader structured to sense data on said members and to put out electrical code signals corresponding to said data; a collecting means for collecting electrical code signals from said remote transmitting recorder and recording said signals as usable data; and a transmission control operated conjointly by said recorder and collecting means, said control having:

Claim 13

a reader for said printing members, said reader structured to sense data on said members and to put out electrical code signals corresponding to said data; a collecting means for collecting electrical code signals from said remote transmitting recorder and recording said signals as usable data; and a transmission control operated conjointly by said recorder and collecting means, said control having:

Claim 14

In the data collecting system as defined in claim 3, the provision of means to release said printing head to a fully open position upon return of said carriage to said printing position.

Claim 15

In the data collecting system as defined in claim 3, the provision of settable data wheels mounted in alignment with said bed for encoding variable data, said wheels having a plurality of selectable imprintable data around the periphery thereof, and means for directing electrical code signals corresponding to said wheel position along with signals from said reader.

Claim 16

A data collecting machine comprising: a bed carriage providing a support for a printing device with embossed data thereon providing a print type function; platen means mounted for relative movement with respect to the surface of said printing device for imprinting such data on a form interposed over said printing device; first latch means for holding said platen means in a first position with respect to said bed carriage, said platen means in said first position producing a printed pressure with respect to said bed carriage which will clamp a printing device and a form to prevent removal of either from the machine; second latch means for holding said platen means in a second position which does not clamp the form and printing device, said platen means in said second position being retracted from said bed carriage with respect to the first position a distance less than sufficient to permit facile removal of the printing device; means for scanning said printing device, said means and said bed carriage mounted for relative movement with respect to one another and producing output electrical signals corresponding to the data carried by said printing device; means for uniting said platen means, the means for scanning, and said bed carriage into a cooperative machine wherein a printing device may be used as a data source for actuating the means for scanning the device and as a printing element in sequential relationship; and means for causing said first latch to engage as a function of platen means movement to said first position, means for causing said second latch to engage as a function of first latch release, and means to cause said second latch to release as a function of completion of both a printing and scanning operation.

Claim 17

A data collecting machine comprising: a bed carriage providing a support for a printing device with embossed data thereon providing a print type function; platen means mounted for relative movement with respect to the surface of said printing device for imprinting such data on a form interposed over said printing device; first latch means for holding said platen means in a first position with respect to said bed carriage, said platen means in said first position producing a printed pressure with respect to said bed carriage which will clamp a printing device and a form to prevent removal of either from the machine; second latch means for holding said platen means in a second position which does not clamp the form and printing device, said platen means in said second position being retracted from said bed carriage with respect to the first position a distance less than sufficient to permit facile removal of the printing device; means for scanning said printing device, said means and said bed carriage mounted for relative movement with respect to one another and producing output electrical signals corresponding to the data carried by said printing device; means for uniting said platen means, the means for scanning, and said bed carriage into a cooperative machine wherein a printing device may be used as a data source for actuating the means for scanning the device and as a printing element in sequential relationship; and means for causing said first latch to engage as a function of platen means movement to said first position, means for causing said second latch to engage as a function of first latch release, and means to cause said second latch to release as a function of completion of both a printing and scanning operation.

Claim 18

In the improvement to a data collecting machine as defined in claim 6, a pivotally mounted printing head having a platen track, said platen adapted to travel between limits on said track, the printing head closable to place the platen in printing relationship to the base and said platen movable along said track for causing said imprinting; said printing head configured to enclose said bed to the extent that a printing device is enclosed and cannot be removed, and having a first lock which clamps the head in the printing relationship, said first lock releasable by being forced out of lock position as a function of platen travel to the end of a printing traverse of said track; a second lock which holds the head after said first lock is released, said second lock allowing the head to pivot open only an amount sufficient to release a form after said imprinting and not sufficient to remove said printing device.

Claim 19

In the improvement to a data collecting machine as defined in claim 7, a sensing device located adjacent said head for producing electrical signals corresponding to data carried by said bed, said bed shiftable away from said head into the scan field of the sensing device and return to said head, and means to release said second lock in response to said return movement.

Claim 20

A data collecting device comprising: a bed carriage for holding an embossed printing device, said carriage having first and second terminal positions and means to drive the carriage in a path therebetween; a printing head including a platen, means holding said head in a first position with said platen adjacent to said bed carriage path for producing a printing pressure upon a printing device of said bed carriage as the device passes thereby; a plurality of switch fingers, means holding each finger adjacent to said bed carriage path positioned to be contacted by embossed areas on the surface of said printing device; means for uniting said printing head, the means that hold said fingers, and said bed carriage into a cooperative machine wherein a printing device may be used as a data source for actuating the switch fingers and as a printing element in sequential relationship; and means for withdrawing either of both said head to a second position and switch fingers away from said bed carriage to an inoperative position.

Claim 21

A data collecting device comprising: a bed carriage for holding an embossed printing device, said carriage having first and second terminal positions and means to drive the carriage in a path therebetween; a printing head including a platen, means holding said head in a first position with said platen adjacent to said bed carriage path for producing a printing pressure upon a printing device of said bed carriage as the device passes thereby; a plurality of switch fingers, means holding each finger adjacent to said bed carriage path positioned to be contacted by embossed areas on the surface of said printing device; means for uniting said printing head, the means that hold said fingers, and said bed carriage into a cooperative machine wherein a printing device may be used as a data source for actuating the switch fingers and as a printing element in sequential relationship; and means for withdrawing either of both said head to a second position and switch fingers away from said bed carriage to an inoperative position.

Claim 22

A data collecting device as defined in claim 9, further characterized in that: a first lock means if provided for holding said printing head in said first position; a second lock means is provided to allow said printing head to open after release by said first lock means only enough to space the platen from the printing device but not far enough to permit facile removal of said printing device; and means operable as a function of bed carriage travel out of said first terminal position and return for releasing said second lock and to permit said printing head to move to said second position.