Reader independent of variations in feed

Claim 2

In an information storage medium reader system having output means and readout means for reading infOrmation stored in the medium in predetermined plural spatial positions and providing information signals indicative thereof, the combination comprising: carrier means for carrying said storage medium in operative relationship with said readout means, said carrier means having indicia thereon indicative of the direction of movement of said carrier, said indicia being in a predetermined spatial correlated relationship with said plural spatial positions of the storage medium being carried by said carrier means, detection means for detecting said indicia and providing output signals in response thereto, and control circuit means responsive to said output signals for passing said information signals from said readout means to said output means in sequence as the carrier means is fed in a forward direction and preventing the passage of said information signals from said readout means to said output means whenever said carrier means temporarily reverses direction and until said carrier means resumes being fed in said forward direction and the indicia associated with the next data position not previously read out by said readout means is detected by said detection means.

Claim 3

A reader system according to claim 1 wherein said medium and said carrier means are separable members.

Claim 4

A reader system according to claim 2 wherein said medium is a punched hole data card.

Claim 5

A reader system according to claim 1 wherein said control circuit comprises: gating means coupled between said readout means and said output means for passing said information signals thereto.

Claim 6

A reader system according to claim 4 wherein said control circuit means further comprises: sample signal generating means responsive to said output signals for providing a sampling signal, first control signal generating circuit means for generating a first control signal for controlling said gating means, said first control signal generating means being responsive to said sampling signal; second control signal generating means for generating a second control signal for controlling said gating means, said second control signal generating means being responsive to said output signals, said first control signal, and such sampling signal; third control signal generating means for generating a third control signal for controlling said gating means, said third control signal generating means being responsive to said second control signal; and fourth control signal generating means for generating a fourth control signal for controlling said gating means, said third control signal generating means being responsive to said sampling signal, said first control signal, and said output signals.

Claim 7

A reader system according to claim 5 wherein said sample signal generating means comprises a single shot multivibrator.

Claim 8

A reader system according to claim 5 wherein said first control signal generating means comprises a single shot multivibrator.

Claim 9

A reader system according to claim 5 wherein said second control signal generating means comprises a reversible counter.

Claim 10

A reader system according to claim 5 wherein said third control signal generating means comprises a single shot multivibrator.

Claim 11

A reader system according to claim 5 wherein said fourth control signal generating means comprises a single shot multivibrator.

Claim 12

An information storage medium reader system having output means and readout means for reading information stored in the medium in predetermined plural spatial positions and providing information signals indicative thereof, the combination comprising: carrier means for carrying said storage medium in operative relationship with said readout means, said carrier means having indicia thereon indicative of the direction of movement of said carrier, said indicia being in a predetermined spatial correlated relationship with said plural spatial positions of the storage medium being carried by said carrier means, detection means for detecTing said indicia and providing predetermined output signals in response thereto, gate means coupled between said readout means and said output means; and means for controlling signal gate means responsive to said output signals for passing said information signals from said readout means to said output means in sequence as the carrier means is fed in a forward direction and preventing the passage of said information signals from said readout means to said output means whenever said carrier means temporarily reverses direction and until said carrier means resumes being fed in said forward direction and the indicia associated with the next data position not previously read out by said readout means is detected by said detection means.

Claim 13

An information storage medium reader system having output means and readout means for reading information stored in the medium in predetermined plural spatial positions and providing information signals indicative thereof, the combination comprising: carrier means for carrying said storage medium in operative relationship with said readout means, said carrier means having indicia thereon indicative of the direction of movement of said carrier, said indicia being in a predetermined spatial correlated relationship with said plural spatial positions of the storage medium being carried by said carrier means, detection means for detecTing said indicia and providing predetermined output signals in response thereto, gate means coupled between said readout means and said output means; and means for controlling signal gate means responsive to said output signals for passing said information signals from said readout means to said output means in sequence as the carrier means is fed in a forward direction and preventing the passage of said information signals from said readout means to said output means whenever said carrier means temporarily reverses direction and until said carrier means resumes being fed in said forward direction and the indicia associated with the next data position not previously read out by said readout means is detected by said detection means.

Claim 14

An information storage medium reader system according to claim 11 wherein said means for controlling further comprises: sample signal generator means responsive to said output signals for providing a sample pulse of a predetermined first time duration each time the indicia correlated with each of said plural positions is detected by said detection means, first signal generator means responsive to each of said sample pulses for providing a first control signal pulse of a predetermined second time duration after each of said sample pulses, storage means being set by each of said first control pulses to store therein the output signals associated with the particular one of said plural positions being detected at the time, comparison means for comparing the output signals stored in said storage means with said output signals of said detection means, said comparison means including logic circuitry for decoding each of three conditions, to wit: movement of the carrier in a given direction, movement of the carrier means in the reverse direction and movements of the carrier means which cause the detection means to detect consecutively the indicia associated with the same spatial position, said logic circuitry providing mutually exclusive output control signals for each of said three conditions, and second signal generator means responsive to said mutually exclusive output control signals of each logic circuitry and providing other control signals for said controlling of said gating means in co-action with said first control pulse.

Claim 15

An information storage medium reader system according to claim 11 wherein said carrier means is manually operated.