Automatic format, mode control and code conversion for data processing and printing apparatus

Claim 2

Data processing and printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: a source of data, such as a record medium and associated reading means, for supplying signals representative of characters to be printed or functions to be performed, including Return and Tab functions, said signals being arranged in successive information categories, such as paragraphs, with each information category including termination signals to indicate the end of one information category and the beginning of the next information category; printing means, such as a printer, interconnected with said source and operative in response to data signals from said source to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printer only in the first line of each information category on said document, such as said paragraphs, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line; indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category following said first line under control of said first line means; and means responsive to termination signals as supplied by said source at the end of each information category for resetting said first line means in readiness for the next succeeding information category.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said printing means includes conventional Return and Tab mechanisms, and wherein said indentation means includes means responsive to said first line means for controlling said printing means to perform at least one Return operation followed by at least one Tab operation in order to reach the indentation level established by said first line means.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a mechanical follower means in said first line means selectively settable responsive to each Tab operation during printing of a first line to retain the farthest indentation level reached in an individual paragraph, and mechanical elements associated with said indentation means, said elements carried in said printing means and responsive to the setting of said follower means to establish the indentation level required for each succeeding line of said individual paragraph.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said source of data signals is a magnetic tape and associated reader for supplying characters and function signals, and wherein said printing means includes a single element print head and a stationary platen with said print head being moved during printing in one direction and moved during Return operations in an opposite direction.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for recognizing information categories other than paragraphs, such as sentences, or blocks of information, during operation of said first line means and said indentation means for establishing appropriate indentation levels, as required.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for rendering said first line means responsive to a selected number of Tab operations less than the number actually performed by said printer in said first line in order to thereby establish a greater indentation level for the first line of an information category than for the succeeding lines in the same information category.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: each line in a paragraph is terminated by a single Return code, with the exception of the last line which is terminated by two Return codes in succession; and wherein said reset means includes means to reset said first line means upon recognition of said two Return Codes in succession.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein: said date source is operative to record coded combinations in a record medium in response to character signals supplied by said printing means; and wherein said printing means has a keyboard and associated circuitry for establishing character signals in response to key depressions on said keyboard, and including a key for initiating the single Return code or two Return codes in succession, as required.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: each line in a paragraph is terminated by a single Return code, with the exception of the last line which is terminated by a single Return code and a Paragraph Identification code in sequence; and wherein said reset means includes means to reset said first line means in response to recognition of said Return and Paragraph Identification code sequence.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: said data source has provision for recording coded combinations in response to character signals supplied from said printing means; and wherein said printing means has a keyboard and associated circuitry for establishing character signals in response to depression of keys thereon, including a key for establishing the single Return code, or the Return code and Paragraph Identification code, as required.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: utilization means controlled by said source and said printing means for storing data signals according to said desired format concurrently with printing operations.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: means in said data source for deriving code signals from a magnetic storage medium and for supplying said code signals to said printing means; and means in said utilization means responsive to signals from said printing means and said data source for recording code signals in a magnetic tape record medium.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: said utilization means includes means for processing a magnetic tape and means responsive to signals from said data source and said printing means for recording signals according to said desired format on said magnetic tape.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for establishing an Adjust mode of operation in said apparatus in which the response of said printing means is thereby dependent upon whether or not printing is in progress in a Region area or outside a Region area and including means for selecting Tab code signals from said source or Region Tab signals to maintain proper document format; tabulation means controlled by said selecting means for tabbing said printing means in response to conventional Tab code signals from said source and under control of Region Tab signals, as appropriate during printing; and means in said first line means and said indentation means responsive to conventional Tab signals and said Region Tab signals as appropriate, to control the indentation format of a document.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: utilization means for storing data signals concurrently with operation of said data source and said printing means; and means controlled by said tabulation means to store in said utilization means signals that accurately reflect the actions of said printing means during said Adjust mode, and the format of a printed document.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: means to terminate response of said first line means upon recognition of the termination of said first line according to signals stored in said data source, and also upon recognition of termination of said first line due to encountering said Region area, whichever occurs first.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein: each line in a paragraph is terminated by a single Return code, except the last line which is terminated by an Adjust On-Off code sequence; and wherein said reset means includes means to reset said first line means in response to said Adjust On-Off code sequence.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein: said data source is operative to record coded combinations in response to character signals from said printing means; and wherein said printing means includes a keyboard and associated circuitry for establishing said character signals, including, specifically, keys for initiating recording of the Return code and the Adjust On-Off code sequence, as required.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: means responsive to recognition of special character signals in the Region area to convert said character signals to a Return operation and a desired number of Tab operations of said printing means.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising: utilization means for recording signals on a medium concurrently with operation of said data source and said printing means, said utilization means for recording being operative to record coded signals representative of said Return and Tab operations, upon occurrence, rather than the character signals recognized in said Region area.

Claim 22

Data processing and printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: a source of data, such as a record medium and associated reading means, for supplying signals representative of characters to be printed or functions to be performed, including Return and Tab functions; printing means, interconnected with said source and operative in response to data signals from said source to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations, said printing means including a plurality of left margin means for establishing related different margin indentation levels for said document; first line means reponsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line; and indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category following said first line under control of said line means, with said indentation means being controlled by said first line means to select one of said left margin means prior to a Return operation, whereupon said printing means returns directly to said selected left margin means for each succeeding line in a paragraph without the necessity for intervening Tab operations.

Claim 23

Data processing and printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: a source of data, such as a record medium and associated reading means, for supplying signals representative of characters to be printed or functions to be performed, including Return and Tab functions; printing means, interconnected with said source and operative in response to data signals from said source to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations, said printing means including a plurality of left margin means for establishing related different margin indentation levels for said document; first line means reponsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line; and indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category following said first line under control of said line means, with said indentation means being controlled by said first line means to select one of said left margin means prior to a Return operation, whereupon said printing means returns directly to said selected left margin means for each succeeding line in a paragraph without the necessity for intervening Tab operations.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein: said first line means includes a counter means for retaining the number of Tab operations in the first line of an individual paragraph; and wherein said indentation means is responsive to setting of said counter means to select an individual left margin means.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein: said left margin means is divided into a plurality of sets of margin means; and wherein logical circuitry is provided for selecting one of said sets for operation under control of said counter means.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein: said indentation means further includes a whiffle-tree linkage arrangement and associated solenoids that are controlled by said counter means to select one of said left margin means.

Claim 27

Data processing and printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: a source of data, such as a record medium and associated reading means, for supplying signals representative of characters to be printed or functions to be performed, including Return and Tab functions; printing means interconnected with said source and operative in response to data signals from said source to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations; program tape sensing means associated with said printing means for sensing a program tape having a coded perforation for each possible indentation level; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line; and indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category following said first line under control of said first line means, said indentation means including circuitry responsive to said first line means for establishing the required indentation level for each succeeding line in a paragraph.

Claim 28

Data processing and printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: a source of data, such as a record medium and associated reading means, for supplying signals representative of characters to be printed or functions to be performed, including Return and Tab functions; printing means interconnected with said source and operative in response to data signals from said source to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations; program tape sensing means associated with said printing means for sensing a program tape having a coded perforation for each possible indentation level; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line; and indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category following said first line under control of said first line means, said indentation means including circuitry responsive to said first line means for establishing the required indentation level for each succeeding line in a paragraph.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein: said first line means includes a counter means that retains the number of Tab operations occurring in the first line of an individual paragraph and that supplies count signals representative of said retained number; and wherein said indentation means is responsive to the code perforations in said program tape and to count signals from said counter means to establish the required indentation level for succeeding lines in said individual paragraphs.

Claim 30

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein: said indentation means is effective to Return said printing means upon recognition of the termination of a line in a paragraph, to thereafter sense a perforation in said program tape, and thereafter stop said Return operation; and wherein means are provided that are subsequently operable in the event said printing means stops past the desired location in the Return direction to tab said printing means a sufficient number of times to return said printing means to the proper indentation level as determined by said program tape.

Claim 31

Data processing and printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: a source of data, such as a record medium and associated reading means, for supplying signals representative of characters to be printed or functions to be performed including Return and Tab functions; printing means interconnected with said source and operative in response to data signals from said source to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, said printing means including conventional Return and Tab mechanisms to perform Return and Tab operations; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, said first line means including a primary counter that is operated to store the number of Tab operations during the printing of the first line of an individual paragraph for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line; indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category following said first line under control of said first line means, said indentation means including a secondary counter and compare logic for establishing indentation levels for succeeding lines in said individual paragraph by count comparison of said primary and secondary counters, and said indentation means being operative to establish at least one Return operation followed by as many Tab operations as to reach the indentation level established by said first line means; said primary counter further being operated to store the number of Tab operations during the printing of the first line of an individual paragraph; said secondary counter and compare logic establishing indentation levels for succeeding lines in said individual paragraph by count comparison of said primary and secondary counters.

Claim 32

Data processing and printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: a source of data, such as a record medium and associated reading means, for supplying signals representative of characters to be printed or functions to be performed including Return and Tab functions; printing means interconnected with said source and operative in response to data signals from said source to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, said printing means including conventional Return and Tab mechanisms to perform Return and Tab operations; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, said first line means including a primary counter that is operated to store the number of Tab operations during the printing of the first line of an individual paragraph for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line; indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category following said first line under control of said first line means, said indentation means including a secondary counter and compare logic for establishing indentation levels for succeeding lines in said individual paragraph by count comparison of said primary and secondary counters, and said indentation means being operative to establish at least one Return operation followed by as many Tab operations as to reach the indentation level established by said first line means; said primary counter further being operated to store the number of Tab operations during the printing of the first line of an individual paragraph; said secondary counter and compare logic establishing indentation levels for succeeding lines in said individual paragraph by count comparison of said primary and secondary counters.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising: means for resetting said primary counter upon recognition of the termination of each paragraph and for resetting said secondary counter upon recognition of termination of each line in an individual paragraph.

Claim 34

Data processing and printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: a source of data, such as a record medium and associated reading means, for supplying signals representative of characters to be printed or functions to be performed, including Return and Tab functions; printing means interconnected with said source and operative in response to data signals from said source to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations; means for establishing an Adjust mode of operation in said apparatus according to Table C in the specification with the response of said printing means thereby being dependent upon whether or not printing is in progress in a Region area or outside a Region area; tabulation means for tabbing said printing means in response to conventional Tab code signals from said source and under control of Region Tab signals, as appropriate during printing; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line, each line in a paragraph being terminated by a single Return code, except the last line which is terminated by an Adjust On-Off code sequence; means responsive to Tab codes recognized during a non-Adjust mode of operation to render said first line means non-responsive to Tab operations of said printing means in order to thereby establish a greater indentation level for the first line of a data category than for the succeeding lines in the same data category; indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category following said first line under control of said first line means; means in said first line means and said indentation means responsive to conventional Tab signals and said Region Tab signals, as appropriate, to control the indentation format of a document; and means to reset said first line means in response to said Adjust On-Off code sequence.

Claim 35

Data processing and printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: a source of data, such as a record medium and associated reading means, for supplying signals representative of characters to be printed or functions to be performed, including Return and Tab functions; printing means interconnected with said source and operative in response to data signals from said source to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations; means for establishing an Adjust mode of operation in said apparatus according to Table C in the specification with the response of said printing means thereby being dependent upon whether or not printing is in progress in a Region area or outside a Region area; tabulation means for tabbing said printing means in response to conventional Tab code signals from said source and under control of Region Tab signals, as appropriate during printing; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line, each line in a paragraph being terminated by a single Return code, except the last line which is terminated by an Adjust On-Off code sequence; means responsive to Tab codes recognized during a non-Adjust mode of operation to render said first line means non-responsive to Tab operations of said printing means in order to thereby establish a greater indentation level for the first line of a data category than for the succeeding lines in the same data category; indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category following said first line under control of said first line means; means in said first line means and said indentation means responsive to conventional Tab signals and said Region Tab signals, as appropriate, to control the indentation format of a document; and means to reset said first line means in response to said Adjust On-Off code sequence.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising: means to establish said greater indentation level by recognition of the code sequence Adjust On-Off, Tab, Adjust On-Off.

Claim 37

Data processing and printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: a source of data, such as a record medium and associated reading means, for supplying signals representative of characters to be printed or functions to be performed, including Return and Tab functions; printing means interconnected with said source and operative in response to data signals from said source to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations, said printing means having a margin rack; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line, said first line means including a mechanical follower means selectively movable during printing of a first line to the farthest indentation level reached, said follower means being mounted for selective movement along said margin rack in the tab direction; indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of said information category following said first line under control of said first line means; mechanical elements associated with said indentation means, said elements carried in said printing means and responsive to the setting of said follower means to establish the indentation level required for each succeeding line of said paragraph; and latch means associated with said follower means and said margin rack to enable said follower means to follow said printing means as tabbing occurs during a first line, said latch means being reset by said follower means upon the termination of each Tab operation in said tab direction.

Claim 38

Data processing and printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: a source of data, such as a record medium and associated reading means, for supplying signals representative of characters to be printed or functions to be performed, including Return and Tab functions; printing means interconnected with said source and operative in response to data signals from said source to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations, said printing means having a margin rack; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line, said first line means including a mechanical follower means selectively movable during printing of a first line to the farthest indentation level reached, said follower means being mounted for selective movement along said margin rack in the tab direction; indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of said information category following said first line under control of said first line means; mechanical elements associated with said indentation means, said elements carried in said printing means and responsive to the setting of said follower means to establish the indentation level required for each succeeding line of said paragraph; and latch means associated with said follower means and said margin rack to enable said follower means to follow said printing means as tabbing occurs during a first line, said latch means being reset by said follower means upon the termination of each Tab operation in said tab direction.

Claim 39

Printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: printing means operative to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations, said printing means including a plurality of left margin means for establishing related different margin indentation levels for said document; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line; and indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category other than said first line under control of said first line means, said indentation means being controlled by said first line means to select one of said left margin means prior to a Return operation, whereupon said printing means returns directly to said left margin means selected for each succeeding line in a paragraph without the necessity for intervening Tab operations.

Claim 40

Printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: printing means operative to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations, said printing means including a plurality of left margin means for establishing related different margin indentation levels for said document; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line; and indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category other than said first line under control of said first line means, said indentation means being controlled by said first line means to select one of said left margin means prior to a Return operation, whereupon said printing means returns directly to said left margin means selected for each succeeding line in a paragraph without the necessity for intervening Tab operations.

Claim 41

The apparatus of claim 33 wherein: said first line means includes a counter means for retaining the number of Tab operations in the first line of an individual paragraph; and wherein said indentation means is responsive to setting of said counter means to select an individual left margin means.

Claim 42

Printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: printing means operative to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations; program tape sensing means associated with said printing means for sensing a program tape having a coded perforation for each possible indentation level; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line; and indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category other than said first line under control of said first line means, said indentation means including circuitry responsive to said first line means and to said program tape sensing means for establishing the required indentation level for each succeeding line in a paragraph.

Claim 43

Printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: printing means operative to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations; program tape sensing means associated with said printing means for sensing a program tape having a coded perforation for each possible indentation level; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line; and indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category other than said first line under control of said first line means, said indentation means including circuitry responsive to said first line means and to said program tape sensing means for establishing the required indentation level for each succeeding line in a paragraph.

Claim 44

The apparatus of claim 35 wherein: said first line means includes a counter means for retaining the number of Tab operations occurring in the first line of an individual paragraph; and wherein said indentation means is responsive to the code perforations in said program tape and to said counter means to establish the required indentation level for succeeding lines in said individual paragraphs.

Claim 45

Printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: printing means operative to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including conventional Return and Tab mechanisms to perform Return and Tab operations; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line, said first line means including a primary counter that is operated to store the number of Tab operations during the printing of the first line of an individual paragraph; and indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category other than said first line under control of said first line means, said indentation means including a secondary counter and compare logic for establishing indentation levels for succeeding lines in said individual paragraph by count comparisons of said primary and secondary counters, and said indentation means being operative to establish at least one Return operation followed by as many Tab operations as necessary to reach the indentation level established by said first line means.

Claim 46

Printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: printing means operative to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including conventional Return and Tab mechanisms to perform Return and Tab operations; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line, said first line means including a primary counter that is operated to store the number of Tab operations during the printing of the first line of an individual paragraph; and indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category other than said first line under control of said first line means, said indentation means including a secondary counter and compare logic for establishing indentation levels for succeeding lines in said individual paragraph by count comparisons of said primary and secondary counters, and said indentation means being operative to establish at least one Return operation followed by as many Tab operations as necessary to reach the indentation level established by said first line means.

Claim 47

The apparatus of claim 37 further comprising: means to reset said primary counter upon recognition of the termination of each paragraph and to reset said secondary counter upon recognition of termination of each line in an individual paragraph.

Claim 48

Printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: printing means operative to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line, each line in a paragraph being terminated by a single Return operation, with the exception of the last line which is terminated by two Return operations in succession; indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category other than said first line under control of said first line means; and means to reset said first line means upon recognition of said two Return operations in succession.

Claim 49

Printing apparatus for printing a document according to a desired format, comprising: printing means operative to print characters on a document and to perform functional operations in relation to said document, including Return and Tab operations; first line means responsive to Tab operations in said printing means only in the first line of an information category on said document, such as a paragraph, for retaining the indentation level reached during printing of said first line, each line in a paragraph being terminated by a single Return operation, with the exception of the last line which is terminated by two Return operations in succession; indentation means for establishing an indentation level for each succeeding line of a said information category other than said first line under control of said first line means; and means to reset said first line means upon recognition of said two Return operations in succession.

Claim 50

The apparatus of claim 39 wherein: said printing means has a keyboard for data to be printed and functions to be performed, associated circuitry for establishing character signals in response to key depressions on said keyboard, and including a key for initiating the single Return operation or two Return operations in succession, as required.

Claim 51

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a data processing system printer having printing mechanism for printing characters and functional mechanism for selecting the location of printing of characters, first means for sensing a first characteristic operation of the printer, second means enabled in response to the sensing of said first characteristic operation for counting a first succession of second characteristic functional operations including first storage means for storing the count of said second characteristic functional operation, comparison circuit means for counting a second succession of said second characteristic functional operations, and means limiting said second succession of second characteristics functional operations when the count of said second succession bears a preselected relationship to the count of said first succession of second characteristic functional operations.

Claim 52

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a data processing system printer having printing mechanism for printing characters and functional mechanism for selecting the location of printing of characters, first means for sensing a first characteristic operation of the printer, second means enabled in response to the sensing of said first characteristic operation for counting a first succession of second characteristic functional operations including first storage means for storing the count of said second characteristic functional operation, comparison circuit means for counting a second succession of said second characteristic functional operations, and means limiting said second succession of second characteristics functional operations when the count of said second succession bears a preselected relationship to the count of said first succession of second characteristic functional operations.

Claim 53

The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said first characteristic is an indication of the start of a block of data having successive lines.

Claim 54

The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said first characteristic is a double carriage return.

Claim 55

The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said first means includes bistable storage means having a set state and a reset state, said storage means being switched to said set state in response to the sensing of said second carriage return.

Claim 56

The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said second means includes gate means having an input circuit connected to said bistable storage means, said gate means being enabled in response to the set state of said bistable storage means.

Claim 57

The apparatus of claim 45 wherein said bistable storage means is switched to the reset state in response to the sensing of a carriage return, said gate means being disabled in response to said reset state.

Claim 58

The system of claim 41 wherein said first storage means includes a first binary counter circuit and said comparison circuit includes a second binary counter circuit, the outputs of said first and second binary counters being compared during the generation of certain successive lines of data.

Claim 59

The apparatus of claim 47 wherein said comparison circuit means includes a plurality of gate circuits, each of said gate circuits having input circuits for receiving selected combinations of output configurations of each of said first and second counters.

Claim 60

The apparatus of claim 48 wherein said limiting means includes a skip circuit for skipping subsequent second characteristic operations after achieving coincidence of the outputs of said first and second counters.

Claim 61

The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said second characteristic operation includes tab operations.

Claim 62

The apparatus of claim 50 wherein said first characteristic is double carriage return.

Claim 63

The apparatus of claim 51 wherein said first means includes bistable storage means having a set state and a reset state, said storage means being switched to said set state in response to the sensing of said second carrige return.

Claim 64

The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said first storage means includes a first binary counter circuit and said comparison circuit includes a second binary counter circuit, the outputs of said first and second binary counters being compared during the generation of certain successive lines of data, and wherein said comparison circuit means includes a plurality of gate circuits, each of said gate circuits having input circuits for receiving selected combinations of output configurations of each of said first and second counters.