Machine for preparing documents

Claim 2

Apparatus for preparing a succession of documents having background data content and variable data content and wherein said variable data content and said background data content of successive documents may differ, including: a. record controlled printing means for printing said variable data content for each succEssive document, said variable data content being in the required format together with coded control symbols individual to each document for identification of a corresponding data instrumentality which contains desired background data content; b. means for successively reading said coded symbols from successive documents and producing outputs representative of said coded symbols; c. means responsive to said outputs for selecting background data instrumentalities corresponding to said symbols which have been read; and d. printing means for employing each selected background data instrumentality for overprinting each said variable data content of each said document with desired background data content.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said printing means for employing each selected background data instrumentality for overprinting operates in accordance with the electrophotographic process.

Claim 4

A document originating machine comprising: a. a record controlled printer operable to print variable data entries in assigned relative spaces on a blank stationery web to produce a succession of information bearing documents, and for printing a set of control symbols on each document manifestive of the forms background to be overprinted thereon; b. loop forming means following said printer for forming a loop in said web, and providing signals when said loop exceeds a predetermined minimum and maximum length; c. an electrophotographic printer of the type having a photosensitive printing member, means for applying an electrostatic charge pattern to the printing member manifestive of an optical image, means for inking the printing member to adhere ink to the charged areas to develop the electrostatic image, and means for transferring the ink to a record member, including a pair of projectors having identical stored images of all the forms backgrounds and operable to select any given one of the images and to project it upon the photosensitive printing member; d. web feeding means for selectively feeding said web from said loop forming means to said electrophotographic printer; e. a shear for cutting said web; f. sensing means for sensing the preprinted control symbols on said web; g. means under control of said sensing means for alternately operating said projectors to index the stored image corresponding to the sensed control symbols and for projecting it upon the said photosensitive printing member; h. means under control of said sensing means for operating said shear to cut the web slightly in advance of the control symbols; and i. sheet feeding means following said shear for advancing the document severed from said web by said shear through said ink transferring station in registration with the movement of the inked printing member.

Claim 5

A document originating machine comprising: a. a record controlled printer operable to print variable data entries in assigned relative spaces on a blank stationery web to produce a succession of information bearing documents, and for printing a set of control symbols on each document manifestive of the forms background to be overprinted thereon; b. loop forming means following said printer for forming a loop in said web, and providing signals when said loop exceeds a predetermined minimum and maximum length; c. an electrophotographic printer of the type having a photosensitive printing member, means for applying an electrostatic charge pattern to the printing member manifestive of an optical image, means for inking the printing member to adhere ink to the charged areas to develop the electrostatic image, and means for transferring the ink to a record member, including a pair of projectors having identical stored images of all the forms backgrounds and operable to select any given one of the images and to project it upon the photosensitive printing member; d. web feeding means for selectively feeding said web from said loop forming means to said electrophotographic printer; e. a shear for cutting said web; f. sensing means for sensing the preprinted control symbols on said web; g. means under control of said sensing means for alternately operating said projectors to index the stored image corresponding to the sensed control symbols and for projecting it upon the said photosensitive printing member; h. means under control of said sensing means for operating said shear to cut the web slightly in advance of the control symbols; and i. sheet feeding means following said shear for advancing the document severed from said web by said shear through said ink transferring station in registration with the movement of the inked printing member.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said web feeding means includes a clutch operable responsive to the signal produced by said loop forming means when said loop exceeds the minimum predetermined length and to the successive operation of said shear for interrupting said web feed.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: a. sheet detection means are provided in the path of said sheet feeding means for detecting the absence of a document sheet therein; b. said projectors are provided with a blank background image storage in one selected position thereof operable responsive to the sheet detection means for imaging uninterrupted light upon said photosensitive printing member to discharge the electrostatic charge thereon for the duration of the absence of sheets in said sheet feeding means.

Claim 8

Apparatus for overprinting respectively compatible form backgrounds upon each of a succession of documents containing preprinted variable data in given formats and control symbols associated with each document manifestive of the respective form background to be overprinted comprising: a. sensing means for sensing the preprinted control symbols; b. a printer Having a plurality of printing control instrumentalities one for each different form background, each selectively operable to control the printer to print a form background corresponding to the selected one of the control instrumentalities; c. means for feeding each of said documents to said sensing means and to said printer; d. means under control of said sensing means for selecting the control instrumentality corresponding to the sensed control symbols and for controlling the means for feeding said documents to said printer to register each document with its corresponding background printing.

Claim 9

Apparatus for overprinting respectively compatible form backgrounds upon each of a succession of documents containing preprinted variable data in given formats and control symbols associated with each document manifestive of the respective form background to be overprinted comprising: a. sensing means for sensing the preprinted control symbols; b. a printer Having a plurality of printing control instrumentalities one for each different form background, each selectively operable to control the printer to print a form background corresponding to the selected one of the control instrumentalities; c. means for feeding each of said documents to said sensing means and to said printer; d. means under control of said sensing means for selecting the control instrumentality corresponding to the sensed control symbols and for controlling the means for feeding said documents to said printer to register each document with its corresponding background printing.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said printer is an electrostatic printer and said printing control instrumentalities comprise alternately operated photographic film projectors each having a library of indexable film frames containing photographic images of the forms backgrounds, and the means under control of said sensing means for selecting the control instrumentality comprises means for feeding the requisite film frame into projection position in the projector.

Claim 11

A document originating machine comprising: a. first printing means for printing variable data upon blank stationery in a predetermined format, together with coded control symbols manifestive of the format of the document thus prepared; b. a second printing means having a plurality of printing control instrumentalities, each selectively operable to control the second printer to print a different form background upon stationery fed therethrough; c. means for feeding the document printed in said first printing means to and through said second printing means; d. sensing means for sensing the coded control symbols printed by said first printing means; e. and means operable under the control of said sensing means for selecting one of said control instrumentalities corresponding to the sensed control symbols, and for controlling said second printer to print the selected form background upon said document in registration with the variable data printed thereon by said first printer.

Claim 12

A document originating machine comprising: a. first printing means for printing variable data upon blank stationery in a predetermined format, together with coded control symbols manifestive of the format of the document thus prepared; b. a second printing means having a plurality of printing control instrumentalities, each selectively operable to control the second printer to print a different form background upon stationery fed therethrough; c. means for feeding the document printed in said first printing means to and through said second printing means; d. sensing means for sensing the coded control symbols printed by said first printing means; e. and means operable under the control of said sensing means for selecting one of said control instrumentalities corresponding to the sensed control symbols, and for controlling said second printer to print the selected form background upon said document in registration with the variable data printed thereon by said first printer.