Reading and writing machine using raised patterns

Claim 2

A machine using raised patterns to convey information, including in combination, an endless reading belt, a magnetic tape having a plurality of different information portions thereon with said tape information portions including pluralities of each of character portions, note portions and index portions, with said character portions, said note portions and said index portions being arranged on said tape in a desired sequence, each of said information portions of said tape include a bracket pulse section indicating the beginning of a particular information portion, an identification section for identifying the type of said particular information portion, and an information storage section, tape-reading means, drive means for moving said tape past said tape-reading means to read out the information stored in selected ones of said different information portions, beltimprinting means, said drive means also acting to move said reading belt past said belt-imprinting means, control means coupled to said drive means, said tape-reading means and said belt-imprinting means, said control means including means for selecting desired ones of said character portions, said note portions, and said index portions, said control means being responsive to said information read out of said selected tape information portion to develop data signals, said belt-imprinting means being responsive to said data signals to form raised patterns on said raising belt, said drive means further including means for removing said raised patterns from said reading belt, input writing means coupled to said control means and generating writing signals representative of desired raised patterns in response to the operation thereof, tape-writing means coupled to said control means and positioned adjacent said tape, said control means further having a writing mode, said control means in said writing mode acting in response to said writing signals to position said note portions of said tape in desired relationship to said tape-writing means, said tape-writing means being responsive to said writing signals to record signals on said tape in said information storage section of said note portion representative of said desired raised patterns.

Claim 3

A machine using raised patterns to convey information, including in combination, an endless reading belt, a magnetic tape having a plurality of different information portions thereon, with said tape information portions including pluralities of each of character portions, note portions and index portions with said character portions, said note portions and said index portions being arranged on said tape in a desired sequence, each of said information portions of said tape including a bracket pulsE section indicating the beginning of a particular information portion, an identification section for identifying the type of said particular information portion, and an information storage section, tape-reading means, drive means for moving said tape past said tape-reading means to read out the information stored in selected ones of said different information portions, belt-imprinting means, said drive means also acting to move said reading belt past said belt-imprinting means, control means coupled to said drive means, said tape reading means and said belt-imprinting means, said control means including means for selecting desired ones of said character portions, said note portions and said index portions, said control means being responsive to said information read out of said selected tape information portion to develop data signals, said belt-imprinting means being responsive to said data signals to form raised patterns on said reading belt, and said drive means further including means for removing said raised patterns from said reading belt, input writing means coupled to said control means and generating writing signals representative of desired raised patterns in response to the operation thereof, tape writing means coupled to said control means and positioned adjacent said tape, said control means further having a writing mode, said control means in said writing mode acting in response to said writing signals to position said note portions of said tape in desired relationship to said tape-writing means, said tape-writing means being responsive to said writing signals to record signals on said tape in said information storage section of said note portion representative of said desired raised patterns, said reading belt being formed of a plastic material with a timing portion positioned along one edge thereof, said timing portion having indexing marks located thereon, a reading head positioned adjacent said belt and coupled to said control means, said reading head being responsive to said indexing marks to develop control signal therefrom, said control means being responsive to said control signals to actuate said belt-imprinting means to cause said raised patterns to be imprinted on said belt in desired locations.

Claim 4

A machine using raised patterns to convey information, including in combination, an endless reading belt, a magnetic tape having a plurality of different information portions thereon, with said tape information portions including pluralities of each of character portions, note portions and index portions with said character portions, said note portions and said index portions being arranged on said tape in a desired sequence, each of said information portions of said tape including a bracket pulsE section indicating the beginning of a particular information portion, an identification section for identifying the type of said particular information portion, and an information storage section, tape-reading means, drive means for moving said tape past said tape-reading means to read out the information stored in selected ones of said different information portions, belt-imprinting means, said drive means also acting to move said reading belt past said belt-imprinting means, control means coupled to said drive means, said tape reading means and said belt-imprinting means, said control means including means for selecting desired ones of said character portions, said note portions and said index portions, said control means being responsive to said information read out of said selected tape information portion to develop data signals, said belt-imprinting means being responsive to said data signals to form raised patterns on said reading belt, and said drive means further including means for removing said raised patterns from said reading belt, input writing means coupled to said control means and generating writing signals representative of desired raised patterns in response to the operation thereof, tape writing means coupled to said control means and positioned adjacent said tape, said control means further having a writing mode, said control means in said writing mode acting in response to said writing signals to position said note portions of said tape in desired relationship to said tape-writing means, said tape-writing means being responsive to said writing signals to record signals on said tape in said information storage section of said note portion representative of said desired raised patterns, said reading belt being formed of a plastic material with a timing portion positioned along one edge thereof, said timing portion having indexing marks located thereon, a reading head positioned adjacent said belt and coupled to said control means, said reading head being responsive to said indexing marks to develop control signal therefrom, said control means being responsive to said control signals to actuate said belt-imprinting means to cause said raised patterns to be imprinted on said belt in desired locations.

Claim 5

A machine using raised patterns to convey braille information, including in combination, a endless plastic reading belt including a plurality of bubbles formed in a desired pattern on said reading belt, each of said bubbles being capable of being in a first position with said bubble extending from one side of said belt and a second position with said bubble extending from the other side of said belt, each of said bubbles being stable in each of said first and second positions, a magnetic tape having a plurality of different information portions thereon with said tape information portions including pluralities of each of character portions, note portions and index portions, with said character portions, said note portions and said index portions being arranged on said tape in a desired sequence each of said information portions of said magnetic tape including a bracket pulse section indicating the beginning of a particular information portion, an identification section for identifying the type of said particular information section, and an information storage section, tape reading means, drive means for moving said tape past said tape reading means to read out the information stored in selected ones of said different information portions, said drive means including a tape takeup reel and a tape supply reel for carrying said magnetic tape, a movable idler arm positioned between said takeup reel and said supply reel and having idler wheels mounted at each end thereof, braking wheels mounted on said idler arm between said idler wheels, a drive wheel mounted between said takeup reel and said supply reel, a resilient drivebelt positioned under tension around said drive wheel, said braking means and said idler wheels in a configuration such that said tension of said resilient drivebelt urges said resilient drivebelt against said magnetic tape on each of said takeup and supply reels, a motor coupled to said drive wheel for turning the same in a direction so that said resilient drive belt drives said tape supply reel in a direction to remove said magnetic tape therefrom and said tape takeup reel in a direction to receive said magnetic tape thereon, said braking means acting to impede the movement of said resilient drive means whereby a first portion of said resilient drivebelt in contact with said magnetic tape on said tape supply reel is under less tension than a second portion of said resilient drivebelt in contact with said magnetic tape on said tape takeup reel, said difference in tension of said first and second portions of said resilient drive means acting to drive said tape takeup reel at a rate slightly faster than said tape supply reel to remove slack from said tape, belt-imprinting means, said drive means also acting to move said reading belt past said belt-imprinting means, control means coupled to said drive means, said tape reading means, and said belt-imprinting means, said control means including means for selecting desired ones of said character portions, said note portions and said index portions, said control means being responsive to said information read out of said selected tape information portion to develop data signals, said belt-imprinting means being responsive to said data signals to form raised patterns on said reading belt, said drive means further including means for removing said raised patterns on said reading belt, input writing means coupled to said control means and generating writing signals representative of desired raised patterns in response to the operation thereof, tape-writing means coupled to said control means and positioned adjacent said tape, said control means further having a writing mode, said control means in said writing mode acting in response to said writing signals to position said note portion of said tape in desired relationship to said tape writing means, said tape writing means being responsive to said writing signals to record signals on said tape in said information storage section of said note portion representative of said desired raised patterns.

Claim 6

A machine using raised patterns to convey braille information, including in combination, a endless plastic reading belt including a plurality of bubbles formed in a desired pattern on said reading belt, each of said bubbles being capable of being in a first position with said bubble extending from one side of said belt and a second position with said bubble extending from the other side of said belt, each of said bubbles being stable in each of said first and second positions, a magnetic tape having a plurality of different information portions thereon with said tape information portions including pluralities of each of character portions, note portions and index portions, with said character portions, said note portions and said index portions being arranged on said tape in a desired sequence each of said information portions of said magnetic tape including a bracket pulse section indicating the beginning of a particular information portion, an identification section for identifying the type of said particular information section, and an information storage section, tape reading means, drive means for moving said tape past said tape reading means to read out the information stored in selected ones of said different information portions, said drive means including a tape takeup reel and a tape supply reel for carrying said magnetic tape, a movable idler arm positioned between said takeup reel and said supply reel and having idler wheels mounted at each end thereof, braking wheels mounted on said idler arm between said idler wheels, a drive wheel mounted between said takeup reel and said supply reel, a resilient drivebelt positioned under tension around said drive wheel, said braking means and said idler wheels in a configuration such that said tension of said resilient drivebelt urges said resilient drivebelt against said magnetic tape on each of said takeup and supply reels, a motor coupled to said drive wheel for turning the same in a direction so that said resilient drive belt drives said tape supply reel in a direction to remove said magnetic tape therefrom and said tape takeup reel in a direction to receive said magnetic tape thereon, said braking means acting to impede the movement of said resilient drive means whereby a first portion of said resilient drivebelt in contact with said magnetic tape on said tape supply reel is under less tension than a second portion of said resilient drivebelt in contact with said magnetic tape on said tape takeup reel, said difference in tension of said first and second portions of said resilient drive means acting to drive said tape takeup reel at a rate slightly faster than said tape supply reel to remove slack from said tape, belt-imprinting means, said drive means also acting to move said reading belt past said belt-imprinting means, control means coupled to said drive means, said tape reading means, and said belt-imprinting means, said control means including means for selecting desired ones of said character portions, said note portions and said index portions, said control means being responsive to said information read out of said selected tape information portion to develop data signals, said belt-imprinting means being responsive to said data signals to form raised patterns on said reading belt, said drive means further including means for removing said raised patterns on said reading belt, input writing means coupled to said control means and generating writing signals representative of desired raised patterns in response to the operation thereof, tape-writing means coupled to said control means and positioned adjacent said tape, said control means further having a writing mode, said control means in said writing mode acting in response to said writing signals to position said note portion of said tape in desired relationship to said tape writing means, said tape writing means being responsive to said writing signals to record signals on said tape in said information storage section of said note portion representative of said desired raised patterns.

Claim 7

A tape drive mechanism, including in combination, a tape takeup reel and a tape supply reel for carrying magnetic tape, a movable idler arm positioned between said takeup reel and said supply reel and having idler wheels mounted at each end thereof, first braking means mounted in said idler arm between said idler wheels, a drive wheel mounted between said takeup reel and said supply reel, a resilient drivebelt positioned under tension around said drive wheel, said first braking means and said idler wheels in a configuration such that said tension of said resilient drivebelt urges said resilient drivebelt against said magnetic tape on each of said takeup and supply reels, a first motor coupled to said drive wheel for turning the same in a direction so that said resilient drivebelt drives said tape supply reel in a direction to remove said magnetic tape therefrom and said takeup reel in a direction to receive said magnetic tape thereon, said first braking means acting to impede the movement of said resilient drivebelt whereby a first portion of said resilient drivebelt in contact with said magnetic tape on said tape supply reel is under less tension than a second portion of said resilient drivebelt in contact with said magnetic tape on said takeup reel, said difference in tension of said first and second portions of said resilient drive belt acting to drive said takeup reel at a rate slightly faster than said tape supply reel to remove slack from said tape.

Claim 8

A tape drive mechanism, including in combination, a tape takeup reel and a tape supply reel for carrying magnetic tape, a movable idler arm positioned between said takeup reel and said supply reel and having idler wheels mounted at each end thereof, first braking means mounted in said idler arm between said idler wheels, a drive wheel mounted between said takeup reel and said supply reel, a resilient drivebelt positioned under tension around said drive wheel, said first braking means and said idler wheels in a configuration such that said tension of said resilient drivebelt urges said resilient drivebelt against said magnetic tape on each of said takeup and supply reels, a first motor coupled to said drive wheel for turning the same in a direction so that said resilient drivebelt drives said tape supply reel in a direction to remove said magnetic tape therefrom and said takeup reel in a direction to receive said magnetic tape thereon, said first braking means acting to impede the movement of said resilient drivebelt whereby a first portion of said resilient drivebelt in contact with said magnetic tape on said tape supply reel is under less tension than a second portion of said resilient drivebelt in contact with said magnetic tape on said takeup reel, said difference in tension of said first and second portions of said resilient drive belt acting to drive said takeup reel at a rate slightly faster than said tape supply reel to remove slack from said tape.

Claim 9

The tape drive mechanism of claim 4 wherein, said resilient drive means is a rubber belt.

Claim 10

The drive mechanism of claim 5 further including, a second motor, a capstan, a pinch wheel to force said magnetic tape against said capstan, second braking means coupled to saId capstan and clutch means coupling said capstan to said second motor, said second braking means and said clutch means being interconnected so that with said clutch means engaged said second braking means is released and with said clutch means disengaged said second braking means is engaged, means coupled to said second braking means and said clutch means for intermittent operation thereof whereby said movement of said magnetic tape is intermittent.