Record reading system

Claim 2

In a data handling system using a first data bearing record having synchronizing data and a second data bearing record without synchronizing data, data utilization means, a data register for supplying data stored in the register to the data utilization means, a record reader supplied with the first and second records and coupled to the register to store the data from the first and second records in the register, said record reader also supplying control signals under the control of the synchronizing data on the first record, an enabling circuit supplied with said control signals and operative to enable the transfer of data from the data register to the utilization means, a control means for controlling the transmission of data from the second record to the data register, and a signal generator coupled to the enabling circuit and controlled by the control means to provide signals to the enabling circuit in place of said control signals when data from the second record is being supplied to the data register.

Claim 3

The data handling system set forth in claim 1 including a counting means coupled to the signal generator and operable to control the number of signals supplied to the enabling circuit by the signal generator.

Claim 4

The data handling system set forth in claim 1 in which the control means includes counting means coupled to the record reader for controlling the reading of the second record by the record reader.

Claim 5

A data handling system for use with plural character records comprising a plurality N of record reading means, a circulating storage means with a given data recirculating period divided into N different time slots, each capable of storing a plurality of characters, said storage means including an input and an output, a shift register with a shift register input and a shift register output, first and second gate means, means connecting the first gate means between the output and the input of the circulating storage means, means connecting the second gate means between the output of the circulating storage means and the shift register input, gate control means having a first setting normally inhibiting the first gate means and enabling the second gate means and operable to a second setting to inhibit the second gate means and enable the first gate means, a plurality N of input circuits each coupled between one of the record reading means and the shift register input and controlled by the record reading means to supply character data derived from the records to the shift register, said input circuit including means controlled by said gate control means when said gate control means is in its second setting for supplying characters to be stored in the storage means to the shift register, and control circuit means connected to the N input circuits for permanently assigning a different time slot to each one of the record reading means and for enabling all of the record reading means to enter data into the circulating storage means during a single recirculating period.

Claim 6

A data handling system for use with plural character records comprising a plurality N of record reading means, a circulating storage means with a given data recirculating period divided into N different time slots, each capable of storing a plurality of characters, said storage means including an input and an output, a shift register with a shift register input and a shift register output, first and second gate means, means connecting the first gate means between the output and the input of the circulating storage means, means connecting the second gate means between the output of the circulating storage means and the shift register input, gate control means having a first setting normally inhibiting the first gate means and enabling the second gate means and operable to a second setting to inhibit the second gate means and enable the first gate means, a plurality N of input circuits each coupled between one of the record reading means and the shift register input and controlled by the record reading means to supply character data derived from the records to the shift register, said input circuit including means controlled by said gate control means when said gate control means is in its second setting for supplying characters to be stored in the storage means to the shift register, and control circuit means connected to the N input circuits for permanently assigning a different time slot to each one of the record reading means and for enabling all of the record reading means to enter data into the circulating storage means during a single recirculating period.

Claim 7

The data handling system set forth in claim 4 wherein the record includes synchronizing data, and the record reading means is controlled by the synchronizing data to operate the gate control means from its first setting to its second setting.

Claim 8

A data handling system for use with data records providing a variable number of characters followed by source identifying data comprising record reading means for reading the records and providing both character signals and identifying signals, a storage means coupled to the record reading means and supplied with the character signals and the identifying signals, said storage means including a recirculating storage means having a number of sequential storage locations defined by time slots and large enough in number to store the number of characters on the records and the source identifying data, and control means coupled to the storage means and the record reading means and responsive to the character signals and the identifying signals for storing the character signals in a variable number of time slots in the storaGe means determined by the number of characters and for then storing the source identifying data in subsequent time slots spaced from the time slots containing the characters by a number of time slots varying in number in dependence on the number of stored characters.

Claim 9

A data handling system for use with data records providing a variable number of characters followed by source identifying data comprising record reading means for reading the records and providing both character signals and identifying signals, a storage means coupled to the record reading means and supplied with the character signals and the identifying signals, said storage means including a recirculating storage means having a number of sequential storage locations defined by time slots and large enough in number to store the number of characters on the records and the source identifying data, and control means coupled to the storage means and the record reading means and responsive to the character signals and the identifying signals for storing the character signals in a variable number of time slots in the storaGe means determined by the number of characters and for then storing the source identifying data in subsequent time slots spaced from the time slots containing the characters by a number of time slots varying in number in dependence on the number of stored characters.