Data processing machine

Claim 2

A data reader for use with a printer having a movable print head comprising in conbination: a. a platen for receiving a recording medium having data recorded thereon, the position of said medium being controlled by said platen; b. a carriage having a shaft and being movable in a line direction, said shaft supporting said movable print head at times; c. read means mounted on the carriage shaft when said movable print head is removed, for converting recorded data on said recording medium into electrical signals, and being removed from said shaft when said print head is mounted thereon; d. switching means for activating said read means and deactivating said print head when reading the data from said recording medium; and e. utilization means for receiving and utilizing the electrical signals from said read means.

Claim 3

The data reader according to claim 1 wherein the data recorded on said recording medium takes the form of light and dark areas and wherein said read means is an optical detector comprised of a light source for illuminating the area of said recording medium adjacent said light source, said detector also comprised of photoelectric means for providing an electrical signal the condition of which indicates the amount of reflected light from the area illuminated by said light source.

Claim 4

The data reader according to claim 1 and further comprising: means for directing said read head to scan across each line of data rcorded on said recording medium and for indexing said platen to a new line at the end of each read head line scan.

Claim 5

The data reader according to claim 2 wherein said optical detector is further comprised of a first portion of optical fibers positioned between said light source and said recording medium for illuminating an area of said recording sheet, and a second portion of said optical fibers positioned between said photoelectric means and said recording medium for transmitting reflected light from said recording medium to said photoelectric means.

Claim 6

A data processing machine of the type having a carriage movable in a line direction; a printing device removably positioned on said carriage at times; a sensing means removably mounted on said carriage when said printing device is removed, and being removed from said carriage when said printing device is mounted thereon; a recording medium having a pattern of indicia disposed thereon positioned in sensing proximity to said carriage; means for disabling said printing device during the operation of said sensing means; means for indexing said sensing means to scan the pattern of indicia on said recording medium; and means for utilizing the output of said sensing means.

Claim 7

A data processing machine of the type having a carriage movable in a line direction; a printing device removably positioned on said carriage at times; a sensing means removably mounted on said carriage when said printing device is removed, and being removed from said carriage when said printing device is mounted thereon; a recording medium having a pattern of indicia disposed thereon positioned in sensing proximity to said carriage; means for disabling said printing device during the operation of said sensing means; means for indexing said sensing means to scan the pattern of indicia on said recording medium; and means for utilizing the output of said sensing means.

Claim 8

The data processing machine according to claim 5 wherein said sensing means is comprised of: a light source for illuminating an area corresponding to the area of one indicia; and photoelectric means for receiving the reflected illumination from said illuminated area and for providing an electrical signal proportional to the level of reflection.

Claim 9

The data processing machine according to claim 5 and further comprising: receptacle means affixed to the frame of said data processing machine for receiving and holding said sensing means during operation of said printing device.

Claim 10

The data processing machine according to claim 5 wherein said sensing means is comprised of: a light source; a photoelectric means; a first portion of optical fibers positioned between said light source and said recording medium for illumination of an area of said recording medium, and a second portion of said optical fibers positioned between said photoelectric means and said recording medium for transmitting reflected light from said recording medium to said photoelectric means.

Claim 11

A data reader for use with a printer having a movable print head comprising in combination: a. a platen for receiving a recording sheet having data recorded thereon, the position of said sheet being controlled by said platen; b. support means for removably supporting said print head; C. removable read means supported by said support means when said print head is removed from said support means, said read means when mounted on said support means being operative for converting recorded data on said recording sheet into electrical signals, said read means being removed from said support means when said print head is mounted thereon; d. utilization means for utilizing the electrical signals from said read means; and e. means for coupling the electrical signals from said read means to said utilization means.

Claim 12

A data reader for use with a printer having a movable print head comprising in combination: a. a platen for receiving a recording sheet having data recorded thereon, the position of said sheet being controlled by said platen; b. support means for removably supporting said print head; C. removable read means supported by said support means when said print head is removed from said support means, said read means when mounted on said support means being operative for converting recorded data on said recording sheet into electrical signals, said read means being removed from said support means when said print head is mounted thereon; d. utilization means for utilizing the electrical signals from said read means; and e. means for coupling the electrical signals from said read means to said utilization means.

Claim 13

The data reader according to claim 9 wherein the data recorded on said recording sheet takes the form of light and dark areas and wherein said read means is an optical detector comprised of a light source for illuminating the area of said recording sheet adjacent said light source and photoelectric means for providing an electrical signal the condition of which indicates the amount of reflected light from the area illuminated by said light source.

Claim 14

The data reader according to claim 9 and further comprising: means for directing said read head to scan across each line of data recorded on said recording sheet and for indexing said platen to a new line at the end of each read head line scan.

Claim 15

The data reader according to claim 10 wherein said optical detector is further comprised of a first portion of optical fibers positioned between said light source and recording sheet for illuminating an area of said recording sheet, and a second portion of said optical fibers positioned between said photoelectric means and said recording sheet for transmitting reflected light from said recording sheet to said photoelectric means.

Claim 16

A data processing machine of the type having a serial printing device movable in a line direction by a carriage comprising in combination: support means for removably affixing said printing device to said carriage; a removable sensing means mounted on said support means when said printing device is removed and being removed from said support means when said printing device is mounted on said support means; a recording medium having a pattern of indicia disposed thereon positioned in sensing proximity to said sensing means; means for indexing said sensing means to scan the pattern of indicia on said recording means; and means for utilizing the output of said sensing means.

Claim 17

A data processing machine of the type having a serial printing device movable in a line direction by a carriage comprising in combination: support means for removably affixing said printing device to said carriage; a removable sensing means mounted on said support means when said printing device is removed and being removed from said support means when said printing device is mounted on said support means; a recording medium having a pattern of indicia disposed thereon positioned in sensing proximity to said sensing means; means for indexing said sensing means to scan the pattern of indicia on said recording means; and means for utilizing the output of said sensing means.

Claim 18

The data processing machine according to claim 13 and further comprising: means for affixing said sensing means to a stationary portion of said data processing machine when said sensing means is not in use.

Claim 19

The data processing machine according to claim 13 wherein said sensing means is comprised of: a light source for illuminating an area corresponding to the area of one indicia; and photoelectric means for receiving the reflected illumination from said illuminated area and for providing an electrical signal proportional to the level of reflection.

Claim 20

A data reader for use with a printer having a movable print head comprising in combination: a. a platen for receiving a recording medium having data recorded thereon, the position of said medium being controlled by said platen; b. a carriage having a shaft and being movable in a line direction, said shaft removably supporting said removable print head at times; c. read means removably mounted on the carriage shaft when said movable print head is removed, for converting recorded data on said recording medium into electrical signals, said read means being removed from said carriage shaft when said print head is mounted thereon; and d. utilization means for receiving and utilizing the electrical signals from said read means.

Claim 21

A data reader for use with a printer having a movable print head comprising in combination: a. a platen for receiving a recording medium having data recorded thereon, the position of said medium being controlled by said platen; b. a carriage having a shaft and being movable in a line direction, said shaft removably supporting said removable print head at times; c. read means removably mounted on the carriage shaft when said movable print head is removed, for converting recorded data on said recording medium into electrical signals, said read means being removed from said carriage shaft when said print head is mounted thereon; and d. utilization means for receiving and utilizing the electrical signals from said read means.

Claim 22

A data reader for use with a printer having a movable print head comprising in combination: a. a platen for receiving a recording medium having data recorded thereon, the position of said medium being controlled by said platen; b. a carriage movable in a line direction and removably supporting said movable print head at times; c. read means removably mounted on the carriage when said movable print head is removed, said read means being operative for converting recorded data on said recording medium into electrical signals, said read means being removed from said carriage when said print head is mounted thereon; d. means for activating said read means and deactivating said print head when reading the data from said recording medium; and e. utilization means for receiving and utilizing the electrical signals from said read means.

Claim 23

A data reader for use with a printer having a movable print head comprising in combination: a. a platen for receiving a recording medium having data recorded thereon, the position of said medium being controlled by said platen; b. a carriage movable in a line direction and removably supporting said movable print head at times; c. read means removably mounted on the carriage when said movable print head is removed, said read means being operative for converting recorded data on said recording medium into electrical signals, said read means being removed from said carriage when said print head is mounted thereon; d. means for activating said read means and deactivating said print head when reading the data from said recording medium; and e. utilization means for receiving and utilizing the electrical signals from said read means.

Claim 24

The data processing machine according to claim 5 and further comprising: receptacle means affixed to the frame of said data processing machine for receiving and holding whichever of the printing device or sensing means is not in use at a given time.

Claim 25

A data processing machine of the type having a frame and a carriage movable in a line direction; a printing device removably positioned on said carriage at times; a sensing means removably mounted on said carriage when said printing device is removed and being removed from said carriage when said printing device is mounted thereon; a receptacle means affixed to the frame of said data processing machine for receiving and holding said sensing means during operation of said printing device; switching means for disabling said sensing means during the time that said sensing means is held in said receptacle means, including switch actuating means on said sensing means coacting with said switching means when the sensing means is placed in operative relation to said receptacle means; and means for utilizing the output of said sensing means.

Claim 26

A data processing machine of the type having a frame and a carriage movable in a line direction; a printing device removably positioned on said carriage at times; a sensing means removably mounted on said carriage when said printing device is removed and being removed from said carriage when said printing device is mounted thereon; a receptacle means affixed to the frame of said data processing machine for receiving and holding said sensing means during operation of said printing device; switching means for disabling said sensing means during the time that said sensing means is held in said receptacle means, including switch actuating means on said sensing means coacting with said switching means when the sensing means is placed in operative relation to said receptacle means; and means for utilizing the output of said sensing means.