Photoelectric tabulating apparatus

Claim 2

Tabulator apparatus for use in a printer having relative movement in fixed increments between a printing mechanism and a recording medium, said apparatus comprising a cylindrical shell connected for rotation in synchronism with said relative movement, said shell having a plurality of apertures along a line of rotation of said shell, said apertures being spaced along said line to correspond to said fixed increments, a plurality of shutters slidably mounted on said shell, each of said shutters being associated with a respective one of said apertures and having an opening therein selectively alignable with a respective aperture, a light source mounted to transmit light to said apertures, and a phototransducer having an output terminal for providing a signal thereon when light from said light source impinges on said phototransducer, said phototransducer being mounted in spatial relation to said shell so that said apertures pass said phototransducer in correspondence with the relative movement of said printing mechanism and said recording medium, light from said light source impinging on said phototransducer only when a shutter opening is aligned with a respective aperture passing said phototransducer.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 further including a first selectively actuatable hammer mounted relative said shell so as to be adjacent a first end of the shutter associated with the aperture passing said phototransducer, a second selectively actuatable hammer mounted relative said shell so as to be adjacent the second end of the shutter associated with the aperture passing said phototransducer, first means responsive to a first signal for actuating said first hammer to position said adjacent shutter so as to align the opening of said adjacent shutter with said passing aperture, and second means responsive to a second signal for actuating said second hammer to position said adjacent shutter so as to block said passing aperture.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 further including driving means energizable in response to a third signal for causing relative movement between said printing mechanism and said recording medium, and means responsive to said third signal and said phototransducer signal for deenergizing said driving means.

Claim 5

In a printer wherein a printing mechanism and a recording medium move relative to each other in fixed increments along a printing line to define columns, tabulator apparatus comprising a cylinder arranged to rotate in synchronism with said relative movement, said cylinder having a plurality of apertures along a line of rotation thereof, each of said apertures corresponding to a respective one of said defined columns and being at a fixed point as the printing mechanism and recording medium define the respective column, a plurality of shutters each movably mounted between a first position and a second position on said cylinder, each of said shutters being associated with a respective one of said apertures and having an opening therein aligned with a respective aperture when said shutter is in said first position and blocking said aperture when said shutter is in said second position, a light source mounted to transmit light to the aperture at said fixed point, an optical detector mounted adjacent said fixed point, said detector providing a signal when light from said light source impinges thereon, said light impinging on said detector only when the shutter associated with an aperture at said fixed point is in said first position, first means mounted adjacent a first end of the shutter associated with the aperture at said fixed point, said first means being responsive to a first signal for moving said adjacent shutter to said first position, second means mounted adjacent the second end of the shutter associated with the aperture at said fixed point, said second means being responsive to a second signal for moving said adjacent shutter to said second position, driving means energizable in response to a third signal for causing relative movement between said printing mechanism and said recording medium along said printing line, and means responsive to said third signal and said optical detector signal for deenergizing said driving means.

Claim 6

In a printer wherein a printing mechanism and a recording medium move relative to each other in fixed increments along a printing line to define columns, tabulator apparatus comprising a cylinder arranged to rotate in synchronism with said relative movement, said cylinder having a plurality of apertures along a line of rotation thereof, each of said apertures corresponding to a respective one of said defined columns and being at a fixed point as the printing mechanism and recording medium define the respective column, a plurality of shutters each movably mounted between a first position and a second position on said cylinder, each of said shutters being associated with a respective one of said apertures and having an opening therein aligned with a respective aperture when said shutter is in said first position and blocking said aperture when said shutter is in said second position, a light source mounted to transmit light to the aperture at said fixed point, an optical detector mounted adjacent said fixed point, said detector providing a signal when light from said light source impinges thereon, said light impinging on said detector only when the shutter associated with an aperture at said fixed point is in said first position, first means mounted adjacent a first end of the shutter associated with the aperture at said fixed point, said first means being responsive to a first signal for moving said adjacent shutter to said first position, second means mounted adjacent the second end of the shutter associated with the aperture at said fixed point, said second means being responsive to a second signal for moving said adjacent shutter to said second position, driving means energizable in response to a third signal for causing relative movement between said printing mechanism and said recording medium along said printing line, and means responsive to said third signal and said optical detector signal for deenergizing said driving means.

Claim 7

In a printer wherein a printing mechanism and a recording medium move relative to each other in fixed increments along a column to define printing lines, tabulator apparatus comprising a cylinder arranged to rotate in synchronism with said relative movement, said cylinder having a plurality of apertures along a line of rotation thereof, each of said apertures corresponding to a respective one of said defined printing lines and being at a fixed point as the printing mechanism and recording medium define the respective printing line, a plurality of shutters each movably mounted between a first position and a second position on said cylinder, each of said shutters being associated with a respective one of said apertures and having an opening therein aligned with a respective aperture when said shutter is in said first position and blocking said aperture when said shutter is in said second position, a light source mounted to transmit light to the aperture at said fixed point, an optical detector mounted adjacent said fixed point, said detector providing a signal when light from said light source impinges thereon, said light impinging on said detector only when the shutter associated with an aperture at said fixed point is in said first position, first means mounted adjacent a first end of the shutter associated with the aperture at said fixed point, said first means being responsive to a first signal for moving said adjacent shutter to said first position, second means mounted adjacent the second end of the shutter associated with the aperture at said fixed point, said second means being responsive to a second signal for moving said adjacent shutter to said second position, driving means energizable in response to a third signal for causing relative movement between said printing mechanism and said recording medium along said column, and means responsive to said third signal and said optical detector signal for deenergizing said driving means.

Claim 8

In a printer wherein a printing mechanism and a recording medium move relative to each other in fixed increments along a column to define printing lines, tabulator apparatus comprising a cylinder arranged to rotate in synchronism with said relative movement, said cylinder having a plurality of apertures along a line of rotation thereof, each of said apertures corresponding to a respective one of said defined printing lines and being at a fixed point as the printing mechanism and recording medium define the respective printing line, a plurality of shutters each movably mounted between a first position and a second position on said cylinder, each of said shutters being associated with a respective one of said apertures and having an opening therein aligned with a respective aperture when said shutter is in said first position and blocking said aperture when said shutter is in said second position, a light source mounted to transmit light to the aperture at said fixed point, an optical detector mounted adjacent said fixed point, said detector providing a signal when light from said light source impinges thereon, said light impinging on said detector only when the shutter associated with an aperture at said fixed point is in said first position, first means mounted adjacent a first end of the shutter associated with the aperture at said fixed point, said first means being responsive to a first signal for moving said adjacent shutter to said first position, second means mounted adjacent the second end of the shutter associated with the aperture at said fixed point, said second means being responsive to a second signal for moving said adjacent shutter to said second position, driving means energizable in response to a third signal for causing relative movement between said printing mechanism and said recording medium along said column, and means responsive to said third signal and said optical detector signal for deenergizing said driving means.