Apertured card reader and digital data collection system

Claim 2

Apparatus for converting information stored in a punched card into digital electrical signals as said card is manually transported within said apparatus, said apparatus comprising start control means for generating a start signal when said card is manually selectively inserted a predetermined distance along a means defining a path within said apparatus; reading means including means for producing a light beam and photoelectric means aligned relative to said light producing means positioned along said means defining a path and responsive to said start signal for converting said stored information into a digital electrical signal having characteristics determined by the rate said card is manually transported therepast along said means defining a path; said start control means being operatively coupled to said reading means and further comprising means for enabling said light producing means in response to said start signal to generate said light beam as said punched card is manually transported by withdrawal from said card reader. a first photoresponsive means capable of generating said start signal as an electrical start signal when said punch card is in read position: first amplifying means operatively coupled to said first photoresponsive means for amplifying said electrical start signal: a flip-flop operatively coupled to said amplifying means for being driven into its set state when said amplified electrical start signal is applied thereto; an AND gate operatively coupled to said flip-flop and said stop control means and responsive to said flip-flop being set to enable said reading means; and wherein said step control means includes a second photoresponsibe means capable of generating said stop signal as an electrical stop signal when said punched card has been manually transported past said reading means; second amplifying means operatively connected to said second photoresponsive means for amplifying said electrical stop signal, said second amplifying means being operatively coupled to said AND gate and being capable of disabling said AND gate when said electrical stop signal is produced to disable said reading means and reset said flip-flop to its reset state when said punched card has been manually transported past said reading means; and stop control means including means for disabling said light producing means operatively coupled to said reading means for terminating said light beam and generation of said digital signal in response to said stop signal when the stored information portion of said card has been manually transported past said reading means.

Claim 3

An apertured card reader comprising a housing defining a passageway having an inlet and passageway having a dimension to enable an apertured card to be inserted therein: an inserted card detector adapted for determining when an apertured card having a predetermined orientation is inserted into said inlet: a start sensing detector located a predetermined distance within said passageway, said start sensing detector being capable of determining when said apertured card has been transported a predetermined distance into said passageway: a photoelectric reader located within said housing and along said passageway, said photoelectric reader being capable of roading said apertured card by converting stored information therein into electrical signals; and a terminating sensing detector located within said passageway and adjacent said inlet, said terminating sensing detector being capable of determining when a said apertured card has been transported along said predetermined distance past said photoelectric reader; and electrical control means operatively connected to said start sensing detector, said photoelectric reader and said terminating sensing detector, said electrical controls means including means responsive to signals generated from the presence and absence of apertures in said apertured card defining stored information contained therein for generating electrical timing signals having a period determined by the rate of removal of said apertured card from said reader, said electrical control means being responsive to said start sensing detector to enable said photoelectric reader to read a said apertured card as the stored information portion thereof is transported past said photoelectric reader producing electrical signals representing said stored information together with electrical timing signals generated from said electrical signals and for disabling said photoelectric reader in response to said terminating sensing detector after said apertured card has been transported past said photoelectric reader.

Claim 4

An apertured card reader comprising a housing defining a passageway having an inlet and passageway having a dimension to enable an apertured card to be inserted therein: an inserted card detector adapted for determining when an apertured card having a predetermined orientation is inserted into said inlet: a start sensing detector located a predetermined distance within said passageway, said start sensing detector being capable of determining when said apertured card has been transported a predetermined distance into said passageway: a photoelectric reader located within said housing and along said passageway, said photoelectric reader being capable of roading said apertured card by converting stored information therein into electrical signals; and a terminating sensing detector located within said passageway and adjacent said inlet, said terminating sensing detector being capable of determining when a said apertured card has been transported along said predetermined distance past said photoelectric reader; and electrical control means operatively connected to said start sensing detector, said photoelectric reader and said terminating sensing detector, said electrical controls means including means responsive to signals generated from the presence and absence of apertures in said apertured card defining stored information contained therein for generating electrical timing signals having a period determined by the rate of removal of said apertured card from said reader, said electrical control means being responsive to said start sensing detector to enable said photoelectric reader to read a said apertured card as the stored information portion thereof is transported past said photoelectric reader producing electrical signals representing said stored information together with electrical timing signals generated from said electrical signals and for disabling said photoelectric reader in response to said terminating sensing detector after said apertured card has been transported past said photoelectric reader.

Claim 5

The card reader of claim 2 wherein said photoelectric reader includes a light source; a parabolic reflective member positioned relative to said light source to produce a plurality of parallel light beams forming band of light; and a plurality of photosensitive means positioned in spaced alignment with said parabolic reflective member to have said light beams impinge thereon when the space therebetween is uninterrupted by a part of said apertured card.

Claim 6

Apparatus for reading information on a first encoded card and a second encoded card manually transported therein comprising a first housing having a first inlet adapted to receive a first encoded card which is manually transported therein: first starting control means positioned within said first housing for generating a first start signal in response to said first encoded card being inserted a first direction a predetermined distance in said first housing: first gating means operatively coupled to said first starting control means and responsive to said first start signal for generating a first read signal: first reading means operatively coupled to said first gating means and responsive to said first read signal for converting information from said first encoded card to a first digital signal having time spatial characteristics determined by the rate said first encoded card is manually transported thereacross; first dynamic clocking means operatively coupled to said first reading means for generating timing signals from said first digital signal; first terminating control means positioned in said first housing adjacent said first inlet for disabling said first reading means in response to said first encoded card traversing past said first reading means a distance equal to the length of that portion of the first encoded card containing said information: a second housing having a second inlet to receive a second encoded card which is manually transported therein: a second starting control means positioned within said second housing for generating a second start signal in response to said second encoded card being inserted in a first direction a predetermined distance in said second housing; a second gating means operatively coupled to said first terminating control means and said second starting control means and responsive to said first terminating control means terminating said first reading means and said second start signal for generating a second road signal; a second reading means operatively coupled to said second gating means and responsive to said second reading signal for converting information from said second encoded card to a second digital signal having time spatial characteristics determined by the rate said second encoded card is manually transported thereacross; second dynamic clocking means operatively coupled to said first reading means for generating timing signals from said first digital signal: and second terminating control means positioned in said second housing adjacent said second inlet for disabling said second reading means in response to said second encoded card transversing past said second reading means a distance equal to the length of that portion of the second encoded card containing said information.

Claim 7

Apparatus for reading information on a first encoded card and a second encoded card manually transported therein comprising a first housing having a first inlet adapted to receive a first encoded card which is manually transported therein: first starting control means positioned within said first housing for generating a first start signal in response to said first encoded card being inserted a first direction a predetermined distance in said first housing: first gating means operatively coupled to said first starting control means and responsive to said first start signal for generating a first read signal: first reading means operatively coupled to said first gating means and responsive to said first read signal for converting information from said first encoded card to a first digital signal having time spatial characteristics determined by the rate said first encoded card is manually transported thereacross; first dynamic clocking means operatively coupled to said first reading means for generating timing signals from said first digital signal; first terminating control means positioned in said first housing adjacent said first inlet for disabling said first reading means in response to said first encoded card traversing past said first reading means a distance equal to the length of that portion of the first encoded card containing said information: a second housing having a second inlet to receive a second encoded card which is manually transported therein: a second starting control means positioned within said second housing for generating a second start signal in response to said second encoded card being inserted in a first direction a predetermined distance in said second housing; a second gating means operatively coupled to said first terminating control means and said second starting control means and responsive to said first terminating control means terminating said first reading means and said second start signal for generating a second road signal; a second reading means operatively coupled to said second gating means and responsive to said second reading signal for converting information from said second encoded card to a second digital signal having time spatial characteristics determined by the rate said second encoded card is manually transported thereacross; second dynamic clocking means operatively coupled to said first reading means for generating timing signals from said first digital signal: and second terminating control means positioned in said second housing adjacent said second inlet for disabling said second reading means in response to said second encoded card transversing past said second reading means a distance equal to the length of that portion of the second encoded card containing said information.

Claim 8

A digital data collection system capable of converting information stored on apertured cards into digital signals representing said information, said storage system storing said digital signals as digital data on a strip member, said system comprising a first card reader cpable of converting and transmitting information stored on a first set of apertured cards as digital signals as each of said cards is manually transported therein in a predetermined sequence, said first card reader including means for generating a first inhibit signal until said information stored on said first set of apertured cards has been converted into digital signals and said cards are removed from said first card reader; a second card reader capable of converting and transmitting information stored on a second set of apertured cards as digital signals as each of said cards is manually transported therein in a predetermined sequence, said second card reader including means for generating a second inhibit signal until said information stored on said set of apertured cards has been converted into second digital signals and said cards are removed from said second card reader; a counter scanning unit operatively coupled to said first card reader and said second card reader capable of receiving said transmitted digital signals and selectively responding to said first and second inhibit signals from said card readers, said counter scanning unit being capable of sampling each of said card units for digital signals in a scanning sequence until an inhibit signal is generated by a said card reader causing said counter scanning unit to stop its scanning sequence and permit digital signals from the card reader generating said inhibit signals to be transmitted to and received by said counter scanner unit; a digital recorder operatively connected to said counter scanning unit and capable of recording said digital signals as digital data on a strip member; a recorder counter unit operatively connected to said counter scanning unit and said digital recoder for controlling transmission of digital signals between said counter scanning unit and said digital recorder said recorder counter unit including means for determining an end of a digital signal transmission for a said card reader; a digital clock for generating digital signals repreSenting time and date; and clock gating means operatively coupled to said recorder counter unit and said digital clock for transmitting said digital signals representing time and date to said digital recorder for recording as digital data on said strip member in cooperation with the digital data recorder on said strip member by said digital recorder representing information stored on said apertured cards; said digital recorder at the end of each transmission of digital signals from a card reader having recorded on said strip member digital data representing information stored on at least one of said apertured cards read by a card reader and information representing the time and date said stored information was recorded on said strip member.

Claim 9

A digital data collection system capable of converting information stored on apertured cards into digital signals representing said information, said storage system storing said digital signals as digital data on a strip member, said system comprising a first card reader cpable of converting and transmitting information stored on a first set of apertured cards as digital signals as each of said cards is manually transported therein in a predetermined sequence, said first card reader including means for generating a first inhibit signal until said information stored on said first set of apertured cards has been converted into digital signals and said cards are removed from said first card reader; a second card reader capable of converting and transmitting information stored on a second set of apertured cards as digital signals as each of said cards is manually transported therein in a predetermined sequence, said second card reader including means for generating a second inhibit signal until said information stored on said set of apertured cards has been converted into second digital signals and said cards are removed from said second card reader; a counter scanning unit operatively coupled to said first card reader and said second card reader capable of receiving said transmitted digital signals and selectively responding to said first and second inhibit signals from said card readers, said counter scanning unit being capable of sampling each of said card units for digital signals in a scanning sequence until an inhibit signal is generated by a said card reader causing said counter scanning unit to stop its scanning sequence and permit digital signals from the card reader generating said inhibit signals to be transmitted to and received by said counter scanner unit; a digital recorder operatively connected to said counter scanning unit and capable of recording said digital signals as digital data on a strip member; a recorder counter unit operatively connected to said counter scanning unit and said digital recoder for controlling transmission of digital signals between said counter scanning unit and said digital recorder said recorder counter unit including means for determining an end of a digital signal transmission for a said card reader; a digital clock for generating digital signals repreSenting time and date; and clock gating means operatively coupled to said recorder counter unit and said digital clock for transmitting said digital signals representing time and date to said digital recorder for recording as digital data on said strip member in cooperation with the digital data recorder on said strip member by said digital recorder representing information stored on said apertured cards; said digital recorder at the end of each transmission of digital signals from a card reader having recorded on said strip member digital data representing information stored on at least one of said apertured cards read by a card reader and information representing the time and date said stored information was recorded on said strip member.

Claim 10

The digital data collection system of claim 5 wherein each of said card readers includes a first generating means for producing a first electrical start signal as one of said set of apertured cards is manually removed from said first card reader; a first stop generating means for producing a first stop signal after said one card has been read by said card reader; a first reading means located within said reader and positioned to have the information portion of said one card pass thereby as said one card is manually transported along a predetermined path therein, said first reading means being capable of being enabled to convert stored information in said one card into said first digital signal having characteristics determined by the rate said one card is manually transported therepast and being capable of being disabled when said information has been read from said one card; a first flip-flop operatively connected to said first start generating means and said first stop generating means and being driven into its set state by said first electrical start signal and into its reset state by said first electrical stop signal; a first AND gate operatively connected to said first flip-flop and said first stop means enabling first reading means upon said first electrical start signal being generated and for disabling said first reading means when said first electrical stop signal is generated; a second AND gate operatively connected to said first flip-flop and said first stop means enabling first reading means upon said first electrical start signal being generated and for disabling said first reading means when said first electrical stop signal is generated; a second AND gate operatively coupled to said first flip-flop for producing said first inhibit signal; a second control means comprising a second start generator means for producing a second start signal as the other of said set of apertured cards is manually removed from said card reader; a second stop generating means for producing a second stop signal after said other card has been read by said card reader; a second reading means located within said reader and positioned to have the information portion of said other card pass thereby as said one card is manually transported along a predetermined path therein, said second reading means being capable of being enabled to convert stored information in said other card into said second digital signal having characteristics determined by the rate said one card is manually transported therepast and being capable of being disabled when said information has been read from said other card; a second flip-flop operatively connected to said second start generating means and said second stop generating means and being driven into its set state by said second electrical start signal and into its reset state by said second electrical stop signal; and a third control means comprising a third and fourth AND gate operatively connected to said first flip-flop and said second flip-flop responsive to said first flip-flop being driven into its set state and said second flip-flop being driven into its set state, said third and fourth AND gate being responsive to said first Flip-flop to generate a first control signal representing a reading said one card only and responsive to said first flip-flop and said second flip-flop to generater a second control signal representing reading of both said one card and said other card.

Claim 11

The digital data collection system of claim 6 wherein said third control means includes a first one shot multivibrator responsive to said third AND gate being enabled for generating a partial pulse which is capable of being recorded by said digital recorder; and a second one shot multivibrator responsive to said fourth AND gate being enabled for generating a full pulse which is capable of being recorded by said digital recorder.

Claim 12

The digital data collection system of claim 5 wherein said digital recorder is a magnetic tape recorder which includes means for recording six bits of digital information and a parity bit per track on a magnetic tape in a formatcapable of use as an input to a digital computer.