US3678465A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control means for an optical bar code serial printer
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
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Filing: 1970-06-30
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1990-06-30
Abstract
Abstract Control logic circuitry for a printing apparatus which records data according to a predetermined color bar code on a moving record medium. The apparatus includes first and second recording stations and a feed mechanism for successively feeding the record medium thereto in equal increments, so as to provide equallyspaced recording locations on the record medium. First and second indicia (parallel bars printed in first and second colors) are recorded on the record medium at the appropriate recording locations in conformity with the code. The surface of the record medium is used for a third indicium, which likewise is recorded thereon in the form of a parallel bar. Data to be recorded on the record medium is entered through a keyboard and converted by the logic into a bar code which is fed to logic circuitry which controls printing apparatus at the first and second recording stations and the record medium feed mechanism, thereby determining the color printed on the recording medium. The code used is of the transition type, which utilizes three different indicia. Each succeeding indicium printed on the record medium is always different from the adjacent indicium, thus eliminating the need for a separate clocking pulse on the record medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard E Graham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K1/00; G06K1/12; G06K1/121; G06K1/123; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
A printer system for printing a plurality of indicia on a record medium according to a predetermined coded signal, each indicium being selected from a group of three or more indicia and each printed indicium being different from a neighboring indicium, said printer system comprising: a plurality of printing stations each responsive to a print signal applied thereto for printing one of said indicia on said medium; a first gating network operable in response to said coded signal for providing a signal having a first or a second value; a second gating network operable in response to said coded signal for providing a signal having a first or a second value, said first and second gating networks being so constructed that said first signal value is not provided simultaneously by both; first memory means responsive to said first gating network signal being said first value for generating and transmitting a print signal to at least one of said printing stations, and for remembering a previous generated print signal value to prevent the consecutive generation and transmission of a print signal to said one printing station; and second memory means responsive to said second gating network signal being said first value for generating and transmitting a print signal to at least one other one of said printing stations, and for remembering a previous generated print signal value to prevent the consecutive generation and transmission of a print signal to said other printing station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
A printer system for printing a plurality of indicia on a record medium according to a predetermined coded signal, each indicium being selected from a group of three or more indicia and each printed indicium being different from a neighboring indicium, said printer system comprising: a plurality of printing stations each responsive to a print signal applied thereto for printing one of said indicia on said medium; a first gating network operable in response to said coded signal for providing a signal having a first or a second value; a second gating network operable in response to said coded signal for providing a signal having a first or a second value, said first and second gating networks being so constructed that said first signal value is not provided simultaneously by both; first memory means responsive to said first gating network signal being said first value for generating and transmitting a print signal to at least one of said printing stations, and for remembering a previous generated print signal value to prevent the consecutive generation and transmission of a print signal to said one printing station; and second memory means responsive to said second gating network signal being said first value for generating and transmitting a print signal to at least one other one of said printing stations, and for remembering a previous generated print signal value to prevent the consecutive generation and transmission of a print signal to said other printing station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein said first and second gating networks each include first and second gates, each capable of providing a signal having a first or a second value dependent upon said previously generated signals of said first and second memory means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention according to claim 2 wherein each of said first and second gating networks further includes a third gate which has inputs connected to the outputs of each of said first and second gateS and an output connected to the corresponding first and second memory means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein a print hammer and a ribbon drive for a first color are operable in response to said first memory means generating a print signal, thereby resulting in the printing of an indicium of said first color on said record medium and wherein a print hammer and ribbon drive for a second color are operable in response to said second memory means generating a print signal, thereby resulting in the printing of an indicium of said second color on said record medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention according to claim 4 in which said first color is green and said second color is black.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention according to claim 5 further including a source of pulses and a record medium transport for moving said record medium one printing space in response to each of said pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention according to claim 6 further including means for controlling the transmission of said pulses on a predetermined timing schedule to move the record medium to permit serial printing thereon, said record medium transport being pulsed even though neither of said print hammers for said first and second colors is operated, thereby resulting in a third color on said record medium which is the color of said record medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
174 words
A printing system responsive to a binary signal of first and second bit values manifesting given data for providing signals to a plurality of printing stations to cause the recording of said data according to a generated trinary-based color code on a moving record medium, said system comprising: first and second bistable means each capable of assuming either a first or a second state; means responsive to said binary signal for providing logic signals to said first and second bistable means to cause said first and second bistable means to assume states according to the logical equations PBLK DATA + PBLK PGRN DATA and PBLK PGRN DATA + PGRN DATA, where PGRN and PGRN are respectively the first and second states of said first bistable means, PBLK and PBLK are respectively the first and second states of said second bistable means, and DATA and DATA are respectively said first and second bit values; and means responsive to the states of said first and second bistable devices for providing said signals to said printing stations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
174 words
A printing system responsive to a binary signal of first and second bit values manifesting given data for providing signals to a plurality of printing stations to cause the recording of said data according to a generated trinary-based color code on a moving record medium, said system comprising: first and second bistable means each capable of assuming either a first or a second state; means responsive to said binary signal for providing logic signals to said first and second bistable means to cause said first and second bistable means to assume states according to the logical equations PBLK DATA + PBLK PGRN DATA and PBLK PGRN DATA + PGRN DATA, where PGRN and PGRN are respectively the first and second states of said first bistable means, PBLK and PBLK are respectively the first and second states of said second bistable means, and DATA and DATA are respectively said first and second bit values; and means responsive to the states of said first and second bistable devices for providing said signals to said printing stations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 8 in which said means for providing said logical signals includes first and second gating means, wherein the output signal of said first gating means is PBLK DATA + PBLK PGRN DATA and the output signal of said second gating means is PBLK PGRN DATA + PGRN DATA, said first and second gating means output signals not occurring simultaneously.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said bistable means includes first and second flip-flops and wherein a first one of said printing stations is operably connected to one output of said first flip-flop and a second one of said printing stations is operably connected to one output of said second flip-flop, said flip-flops remembering a previous generated output signal for preventing the consecutive printing of the same indicium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 10 including a first print hammer and a first ribbon drive for a first color which are operable in response to said one output of said first flip-flop and further including a second print hammer and a second ribbon drive for a second color which are operable in response to said one output of said second flip-flop.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 11 further including a record medium transport system for moving said record medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 12 in which a source of pulses is connected to said record medium transport system, said record medium transport system being operable to move the record medium one print space in response to each of said pulSes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 13 further including means for controlling transmission of said pulses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A printing system in accordance with claim 14 in which said record medium transport system is pulsed in the absence of the defined output signals from said first and second flip-flops for said first and second colors, thereby resulting in a print space on said record medium which is the color of said record medium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
199 words
A printing system for controlling a plurality of printing stations for the recording of data in the form of colored stripes on a moving record medium, according to a predetermined color code, comprising: a data source; a record medium transport system for moving a record medium past said printing stations; means for coding said data into binary-coded decimal data; an input data buffer for storing said converted data; a recirculating shift register for receiving binary-coded decimal data from said input data buffer; means for controlling the output of said input data buffer for introduction of said binary-coded decimal data into said recirculating shift register; means for sensing the binary-coded decimal data stored in said recirculating register; means responsive to said sensing means for determining parity code data, said means further generating signals representative of a trinary-based transition code which manifests both said binary code data and said parity code data; printing means responsive to said generated signals for imprinting colored stripes on said record medium, said generated signals being such that no two consecutive colored stripes are of the same color; and a source of pulses connected to said record transport system for incrementally advancing said record transport system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
199 words
A printing system for controlling a plurality of printing stations for the recording of data in the form of colored stripes on a moving record medium, according to a predetermined color code, comprising: a data source; a record medium transport system for moving a record medium past said printing stations; means for coding said data into binary-coded decimal data; an input data buffer for storing said converted data; a recirculating shift register for receiving binary-coded decimal data from said input data buffer; means for controlling the output of said input data buffer for introduction of said binary-coded decimal data into said recirculating shift register; means for sensing the binary-coded decimal data stored in said recirculating register; means responsive to said sensing means for determining parity code data, said means further generating signals representative of a trinary-based transition code which manifests both said binary code data and said parity code data; printing means responsive to said generated signals for imprinting colored stripes on said record medium, said generated signals being such that no two consecutive colored stripes are of the same color; and a source of pulses connected to said record transport system for incrementally advancing said record transport system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
185 words
The invention in accordance with claim 16 wherein said means for generating said binary-coded decimal data into signals representative of a trinary-based binary transition code includes: a pair of flip-flops for respective first and second colors, each of said flip-flops being capable of assuming either a first or a second state; a first gate network coupled to said first color flip-flop, said first color flip-flop being responsive to the output of said first gate network, said output of said first gate network being represented by the logical equation PBLK DATA + PBLK PGRN DATA; and a second gate network coupled to said second color flip-flop, said second color flip-flop being responsive to the output of said second gate network, said output of said second gate network being represented by the logical equation PBLK PGRN DATA + PGRN DATA where PGRN and PGRN represent the respective first and second states of said first flip-flop, where PBLK and PBLK represent the respective first and second states of said second flip-flop, and where DATA and DATA represent respectively the bit values of the sensed binary coded decimal data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
75 words
The invention in accordance with claim 17 wherein said printing means includes first and second printing stations, said first printing station being responsive to said first color flip-flop being in said first state by printing a stripe of said first color on said record medium, and said second printing station being responsive to said second color flip-flop being in said first state by printing of a stripe of said second color on said record medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention in accordance with claim 18 in which said paper transport system is pulsed in the absence of said first and second color flip-flops being in said first state, thereby resulting in a print space on said record medium of a third color, said third color represented by the color of said record medium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
133 words
Printer logic for controlling a plurality of printing stations for the recording of data in the form of colored stripes on a moving record medium according to a predetermined color code, comprising: a source of input data; an input data bufFer for temporarily storing said input data; a recirculating shift register for permanently storing said input data; means for synchronizing the output of said date buffer for transmitting said input data into said recirculating shift register; code conversion means operable in response to said sensed data for converting said data into logical signals of the form: PBLK DATA + PBLK PGRN DATA and PBLK PGRN DATA + PGRN DATA for transmission to said printing stations; said printing stations being responsive to said logical signals to print corresponding colored stripes on said record medium.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
133 words
Printer logic for controlling a plurality of printing stations for the recording of data in the form of colored stripes on a moving record medium according to a predetermined color code, comprising: a source of input data; an input data bufFer for temporarily storing said input data; a recirculating shift register for permanently storing said input data; means for synchronizing the output of said date buffer for transmitting said input data into said recirculating shift register; code conversion means operable in response to said sensed data for converting said data into logical signals of the form: PBLK DATA + PBLK PGRN DATA and PBLK PGRN DATA + PGRN DATA for transmission to said printing stations; said printing stations being responsive to said logical signals to print corresponding colored stripes on said record medium.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
188 words
Printer control logic for controlling printing apparatus having first and second printing stations spaced apart a predetermined number of printing locations for recording first and second indicia on a record medium and also having a record medium transport system for incrementally feeding the record medium to the first and second printing stations, the printer control logic comprising: an input gating means for receiving decimal data in the form of a series of parallel bits; an input data buffer coupled to said input gating means for the temporary storage of said parallel bits; a shift register coupled to said input data buffer and adapted to serially receive said parallel bits stored therein; code conversion means coupled to said shift register for converting said series of parallel bits into logical signals for transmission to selected ones of said first and second printing stations for effecting the printing of adjacent color stripes on; record medium, said inhibiting means responsive to said logical signals for assuring said adjacent colored stripes are not of the same color; and pulse means coupled to said record medium transport system for incrementally moving said record medium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
188 words
Printer control logic for controlling printing apparatus having first and second printing stations spaced apart a predetermined number of printing locations for recording first and second indicia on a record medium and also having a record medium transport system for incrementally feeding the record medium to the first and second printing stations, the printer control logic comprising: an input gating means for receiving decimal data in the form of a series of parallel bits; an input data buffer coupled to said input gating means for the temporary storage of said parallel bits; a shift register coupled to said input data buffer and adapted to serially receive said parallel bits stored therein; code conversion means coupled to said shift register for converting said series of parallel bits into logical signals for transmission to selected ones of said first and second printing stations for effecting the printing of adjacent color stripes on; record medium, said inhibiting means responsive to said logical signals for assuring said adjacent colored stripes are not of the same color; and pulse means coupled to said record medium transport system for incrementally moving said record medium.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
200 words
Printer logic in accordance with claim 21 wherein said code conversion means includes: first, second and third NAND gates, the outputs of said first and second NAND gates being coupled to said third NAND gate, said third NAND gate producing an output signal of the form: PBLK DATA + PBLK PGRN DATA; a first bistable element controlled in response to the output of said third NAND gate to assume one of a first or a second state; fourth and fifth NAND gates, the outputs of said fourth, fifth and sixth NAND gates, the outputs of said fourth and fifth NAND gates being coupled to said sixth NAND gate, said sixth NAND gate producing an output signal of the form: PBLK PGRN DATA + PGRN DATA; and a second bistable element controlled in response to the output of said sixth NAND gate to assume one of a first or a second state, where PGRN and PGRN represent the respective first and second states of said first bistable element, where PBLK and PBLK represent the respective first and second states of said second bistable element, and where DATA and DATA represent the binary values of the bits stored in said shift register.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
Printer logic in accordance with claim 21 further including a size register responsive to said input gating means for registering the number of data fields to be printed.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
Printer logic in accordance with claim 23 further including a left end code register and a right end code register for storing the information in said size counter, in which said left end code register and said right end code register are the complement of each other.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
82 words
Printer logic in accordance with claim 24 further including pulse means for controlling the transmission of the information in said left end code register to said code conversion means prior to the transmission of said data stored in said shift register to said code conversion means and for controlling the transmission of the information in said right end code register to said code conversion means subsequent to the transmission of said data stored in said shift register to said code conversion means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
221 words
Printer control logic for controlling printing apparatus having first and second printing stations spaced apart a predetermined number of printing locations for recording first and second indicia on a record medium and also having a record medium transport system for incrementally feeding the record medium to the first and second printing stations, the printer control logic comprising: data input means; left and right end code registers; first and second NAND gates responsive to said data input means; a third NAND gate responsive to the outputs of said first and second NAND gates; a first bistable element controlled in response to a true signal from said third NAND gate; said first printing station responsive to a true signal from said first bistable element for initiating the printing of a first indicium on said record medium; fourth and fifth NAND gates, responsive to said data input means; a sixth NAND gate responsive to the outputs of said fourth and fifth NAND gates; and a second bistable element controlled in response to a true signal from said sixth NAND gate; said second printing station responsive to a true signal frOm said first bistable element for initiating the printing of a second indicium on said record medium, said first and second bistable devices so controlled that the consecutive printing of the same indicium is prevented.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
221 words
Printer control logic for controlling printing apparatus having first and second printing stations spaced apart a predetermined number of printing locations for recording first and second indicia on a record medium and also having a record medium transport system for incrementally feeding the record medium to the first and second printing stations, the printer control logic comprising: data input means; left and right end code registers; first and second NAND gates responsive to said data input means; a third NAND gate responsive to the outputs of said first and second NAND gates; a first bistable element controlled in response to a true signal from said third NAND gate; said first printing station responsive to a true signal from said first bistable element for initiating the printing of a first indicium on said record medium; fourth and fifth NAND gates, responsive to said data input means; a sixth NAND gate responsive to the outputs of said fourth and fifth NAND gates; and a second bistable element controlled in response to a true signal from said sixth NAND gate; said second printing station responsive to a true signal frOm said first bistable element for initiating the printing of a second indicium on said record medium, said first and second bistable devices so controlled that the consecutive printing of the same indicium is prevented.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device in accordance with claim 26 including a third indicium being presented on said record medium upon the simultaneous transmission of a false pulse to said third and sixth NAND gates.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |