Color bar printer

Claim 1

An apparatus for printing data in the form of coded indicia on a record medium having a plurality of print locations comprising: a. a plurality of settable indicator wheels positioned in a side-by-side relationship each indicator wheel having displayed on its edge a plurality of groups of character of data, each group of characters comprising the same character and wherein each character is bracketed by coded indicia, each of the indictor wheels being positioned to display the character representing the data to be printed on the record medium with each of the coded indicia that bracket the selected character on each indicator wheel matching the coded indicia on adjacent indicator wheels; b. a plurality of first settable code converting means operatively associated with each indicator wheel, said code converting means settable to a position commensurate with the position of its associated indicator wheel; c. a plurality of control surfaces positioned on each of said first code converting means; d. a plurality of printing elements having printing surfaces thereon for printing coded indicia on a record medium; e. sensing means positioned adjacent said first code converting means, said sensing means mounted for movement in the same plane as said control surfaces; f. movable means interconnecting said sensing means and said printing elements to position said printing elements commensurate with the length of movement of said sensing means; g. and drive means engaging said interconnecting means for moving, when operated, said interconnecting means, said sensing means and said printing elements whereby the printing elements are positioned commensurate with the movement of the sensing means in the sensing of a control surface on said code converting means.

Claim 2

An apparatus for printing data in the form of coded indicia on a record medium having a plurality of print locations comprising: a. a plurality of settable indicator wheels positioned in a side-by-side relationship each indicator wheel having displayed on its edge a plurality of groups of character of data, each group of characters comprising the same character and wherein each character is bracketed by coded indicia, each of the indictor wheels being positioned to display the character representing the data to be printed on the record medium with each of the coded indicia that bracket the selected character on each indicator wheel matching the coded indicia on adjacent indicator wheels; b. a plurality of first settable code converting means operatively associated with each indicator wheel, said code converting means settable to a position commensurate with the position of its associated indicator wheel; c. a plurality of control surfaces positioned on each of said first code converting means; d. a plurality of printing elements having printing surfaces thereon for printing coded indicia on a record medium; e. sensing means positioned adjacent said first code converting means, said sensing means mounted for movement in the same plane as said control surfaces; f. movable means interconnecting said sensing means and said printing elements to position said printing elements commensurate with the length of movement of said sensing means; g. and drive means engaging said interconnecting means for moving, when operated, said interconnecting means, said sensing means and said printing elements whereby the printing elements are positioned commensurate with the movement of the sensing means in the sensing of a control surface on said code converting means.

Claim 7

An apparatus for printing first and second coded indicia on a record medium; a. a plurality of rotatably-mounted, manually-settable coded data indicator wheels each settable to a position to display, in coded form, the data to be recorded on the record medium; b. a plurality of first movable code converting members associated with each of said indicator wheels, each of said code converting members having a plurality of predetermined located stop surfaces positioned thereon; c. transmission means interconnecting each of said indicator wheels and its associated first code converting member for moving said code converting members to a position commensurate with the positioning of its associated indicator wheel; d. rotatably mounted first and second printing elements having selectively positioned printing surfaces located thereon; e. means associated with each of said first and second printing elements for printing first and second coded indicia from said printing elements respectively during a printing operation. f. a plurality of first and second sensing members positioned adjacent each of said first code converting means, both of said sensing members being slidably mounted in the same plane as said stop surfaces, whereby movement of said sensing members will engage one of said stop surfaces; g. means interconnecting each of said first and second printing elements with said first and second sensing members respectively, said interconnecting means mounted for movement to rotate said printing elements and move said sensing members in a sensing direction when actuated; and drive means engaging said interconnecting means during a printing operation whereby said first and second sensing members are moved to sense a stop surface on their associated first code converting members thereby positioning said printing elements for a printing operation.

Claim 8

An apparatus for printing first and second coded indicia on a record medium; a. a plurality of rotatably-mounted, manually-settable coded data indicator wheels each settable to a position to display, in coded form, the data to be recorded on the record medium; b. a plurality of first movable code converting members associated with each of said indicator wheels, each of said code converting members having a plurality of predetermined located stop surfaces positioned thereon; c. transmission means interconnecting each of said indicator wheels and its associated first code converting member for moving said code converting members to a position commensurate with the positioning of its associated indicator wheel; d. rotatably mounted first and second printing elements having selectively positioned printing surfaces located thereon; e. means associated with each of said first and second printing elements for printing first and second coded indicia from said printing elements respectively during a printing operation. f. a plurality of first and second sensing members positioned adjacent each of said first code converting means, both of said sensing members being slidably mounted in the same plane as said stop surfaces, whereby movement of said sensing members will engage one of said stop surfaces; g. means interconnecting each of said first and second printing elements with said first and second sensing members respectively, said interconnecting means mounted for movement to rotate said printing elements and move said sensing members in a sensing direction when actuated; and drive means engaging said interconnecting means during a printing operation whereby said first and second sensing members are moved to sense a stop surface on their associated first code converting members thereby positioning said printing elements for a printing operation.

Claim 14

A method for conditioning a printing mechanism for printing on a record medium coded information in the form of colored indicia, the printing mechanism includes a plurality of indicator wheels rotatably mounted in a side-by-side relationship, each wheel having displayed on its edge a plurality of sets of characters of data, each character in each set being of the same denomination and bracketed by colored indicia, comprising the steps of a. positioning the first indicator wheel to display the first character of the information to be printed; and b. positioning each succeeding indicator wheel to display the remaining characters of the information, the displayed character on each wheel having a colored indicia which matches the colored indicia of the displayed character of the preceding indicator wheel.

Claim 15

A method for conditioning a printing mechanism for printing on a record medium coded information in the form of colored indicia, the printing mechanism includes a plurality of indicator wheels rotatably mounted in a side-by-side relationship, each wheel having displayed on its edge a plurality of sets of characters of data, each character in each set being of the same denomination and bracketed by colored indicia, comprising the steps of a. positioning the first indicator wheel to display the first character of the information to be printed; and b. positioning each succeeding indicator wheel to display the remaining characters of the information, the displayed character on each wheel having a colored indicia which matches the colored indicia of the displayed character of the preceding indicator wheel.

Claim 16

A method for positioning printing wheels of a printing mechanism for printing on a record medium colored indicia representing coded information comprising the steps of a. positioning indicator wheels having sets of the same character of information displayed on their edges, each character being bracketed by color indicia, the wheels being positioned to display the information to be printed with adjacent wheels having aligned matching color indicia; b. positioning control wheels commensurate with the position of the indicator wheels, said control wheels having predetermined positioned sensing surface located thereon; c. sensing the position of the adjusted control wheels by sensing a sensing surface on the control wheel; and d. positioning the printing wheels in a printing position according to the sensing surface sensed.

Claim 17

A method for positioning printing wheels of a printing mechanism for printing on a record medium colored indicia representing coded information comprising the steps of a. positioning indicator wheels having sets of the same character of information displayed on their edges, each character being bracketed by color indicia, the wheels being positioned to display the information to be printed with adjacent wheels having aligned matching color indicia; b. positioning control wheels commensurate with the position of the indicator wheels, said control wheels having predetermined positioned sensing surface located thereon; c. sensing the position of the adjusted control wheels by sensing a sensing surface on the control wheel; and d. positioning the printing wheels in a printing position according to the sensing surface sensed.