US 4,058,056 AGranted

Microprocessor controlled card reader/printer

AssigneeSensor Technology, Inc.

InventorIrwin Rubin

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Abstract

In this full duplex card reader/printer, a transport mechanism carries a card first past a read head at a constant rate and then incrementally past a printer. Under microprocessor control a message is printed on the card which is responsive to data read from the same card. A first transducer associated with the drive transport mechanism provides "read sprocket" pulses that are utilized by the microprocessor to ascertain the presence under the read head of a card data column. Stepping of the card past the printer is enabled by the microprocessor when a responsive message is ready for printing. As the card is stepped to each new print position, a "move sprocket" pulse is transmitted to the microprocessor. The microprocessor then compares the next message character with the character available for printing, as indicated by a set of pulses supplied from the printer. When these are the same, the microprocessor generates a command to print the character.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A card reader/printer system comprising:

a stationary read head for sensing marks on said card,
a printer for printing characters onto said card,
a transport mechanism including:
first transport means for transporting said card first past said read head at a uniform rate, said read head sensing said marks as said card is transported past said read head, and
second transport means for then transporting said card incrementally past said printer in steps equal to the distance between adjacent print positions so that consecutive print positions on said card are aligned with said printer, said printer comprising a motor driven, substantially continuously rotating type wheel containing a font of type, the rotational rate of said type wheel being sufficiently great so that an entire set of type characters in said font is successively available to be printed at each print position during the dwell time of said card between consecutive transport steps imparted by said second transport means, and
a processor for directing said printer to print on said card during said incremental transport a message that is responsive to data read from said, said processor including:
first processor means, coupled to said first transport means and to said read head, for entering data read from said card into a memory in storage locations corresponding to the locations of marks on said card,
second processor means for providing, in response to said stored read data, a set of write data to be printed onto said card, and for storing this write data in storage locations of a memory corresponding to the locations in which said write data is to be printed on said card, and
third processor means, conditioned for operation by each successive transport step of said second transport means, for comparing each type wheel character in position to be printed with the write data character stored in the memory location corresponding to the current print location of said card, and for directing printing of said character when the compared characters are the same.

6 more elements

A card reader/printer system comprising:

a stationary read head for sensing marks on said card,
a printer for printing characters onto said card,
a transport mechanism including:
first transport means for transporting said card first past said read head at a uniform rate, said read head sensing said marks as said card is transported past said read head, and
second transport means for then transporting said card incrementally past said printer in steps equal to the distance between adjacent print positions so that consecutive print positions on said card are aligned with said printer,
a processor including circuitry connected to said printer for directing said printer to print a message on said card during said incremental transport,
said printer comprising a motor driven, substantially continuously rotating type wheel containing a font of type, the rotational rate of said type wheel being sufficiently great so that an entire set of type characters in said font is successively available to be printed at each print position during the dwell time of said card between consecutive transport steps imparted by said second transport means, said rotating type wheel including:
first transducer means for providing a "home" pulse each time the beginning of said set of type characters in said font is in position to be printed,
second transducer means for providing a "character" pulse as each successive type character is in position to be printed, and wherein
said processor also has circuit means connected to said first and second transducer means for ascertaining which character is currently available to be printed in response to said "home" and "character" pulses.

7 more elements

A card reader/printer comprising:

a stationary read head for sensing marks on said card,
a printer for printing any of a set of characters on said card, and
a transport mechanism having:
first means for transporting a card continuously past said read head, said marks being sensed as said card is transported past said read head, and
second means, operative after said card has been transported completely past said read head, for stepping said card past said printer to successive stepped card locations, said printer being capable of printing any character in said set on said card at each stepped card location,
stop means for stopping the transport of said card when it has reached said printer and for disabling said second means so that said card is not stepped past said printer, and
print enable means for releasing said stop means and for enabling said second means so that said card can be stepped past said printer.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.