Independently adjustable multiple data recorder

Claim 1

A data recording device for effecting the transmittal of data from a plurality of printing elements to a form, said device comprising: a bed for holding the plurality of printing elements and the form; a platen carrige connected with said bed and movable back and forth relative to said bed along a path extending over the plurality of printing elements; a first roller platen connected with said platen carriage and rotatable about a first axis extending transversely to the path, said first roller platen being movable between a printing position in which said first roller platen is effective to effect the transmittal of data from a first one of the plurality of printing elements to the form during movement of said platen carriage in a first direction along the path and a nonprinting position in which said first roller platen is ineffective to effect the transmittal of data from the first one of the plurality of printing elements to the form during movement of said platen carriage in a second direction along the path; a second roller platen connected with said platen carriage in a transversely spaced-apart relationship with said first roller platen and rotatable about a second axis extending generally parallel to and transversely spaced apart from said first axis, said second roller platen being movable between a printing position in which said second roller platen is effective to effect the transmittal of data from a second one of the plurality of printing elements to the form during movement of said platen carriage in the second direction along the path and a nonprinting position in which said second roller platen is ineffective to effect the transmittal of data from the second one of the printing elements to the form during movement of said platen carriage in the first direction along the path, said first and second roller platens being disposed in a spaced-apart relationship along the path of movement of said platen carriage with one of said roller platens leading the other of said roller platens during movement of said platen carriage in the first direction along the path and with said other roller platen leading said one roller platen during movement of said platen carriage in the second direction along the path; means for supporting said first roller platen in its nonprinting position during movement of said platen carriage in the second direction across the first one of the plurality of printing elements and for subsequently enabling said first roller platen to move to its nonprinting position, said means for supporting said first roller platen including a first longitudinally extending support element connected with said first roller platen and said platen carriage and having a longitudinal axis extending parallel to said first and second axes, means for maintaining said first roller platen in its printing position during movement of said platen carriage in the first direction across the first one of the plurality of printing elements; means for supporting said second roller platen in its nonprinting position during movement of said platen carriage in the first direction across the second one of the plurality of printing elements and for subsequently enabling said second roller platen to move to its nonprinting position, said means for supporting said second roller platen including a second longitudinally extending support element spaced transversely apart from said first longitudinally extending support element and connected with said second roller platen and said platen carriage, said second longitudinally extending support element having a longitudinal axis extending parallel to said first and second axes; and means for maintaining said second roller platen in its printing position during movement of said platen carriage in the second direction across the second one of the printing elements.