Duplicator control by area scanned coded master

A duplicating machine for providing copies of an original comprising:

• a rotatable cylinder supporting the original having at least one group of numerical identification data in the form of separate marks arrayed on the original so as to be disposed generally along a path running peripherally of the cylinder when the original is in place thereon;
• a reading station including sensing means disposed adjacent said cylinder, for sensing each mark in turn during rotation of said cylinder with the original thereon and for providing unit value data signals, one for each mark sensed;
• summing means comprising register means connected with said sensing means for progressively summing the unit value data signals emanating therefrom, for expressing the total number of such unit value data signals received from said sensing means according to a number system having a base greater than one, and for storing the thus expressed total in signal form;
• and
• means responsive to the signals stored by said summing means for controlling a function of the duplicating machine.

The method of duplicating copies of an original using a duplicating machine which comprises:

• preparing coded information on the face of the original, said information comprising a group of spaced marks arranged in a line generally parallel to one edge of the original but without regard to uniformity of spacing between marks, said marks, solely by virtue of the number of marks present, being representative of a predetermined decimal system value;
• sensing the marks in series by relatively moving said original and a read head in a direction generally parallel to the line of marks;
• electrically progressively summing the sensed marks and interpreting their total as a decimal system numerical value, and generating a signal indicative of said value;
• and
• in response to said signal controlling the operation of said duplicating machine from said original in accordance with said value.

The method of duplicating which includes:

• introducing text information into a computer associated with an output printer in such manner that the text information will appear as a body of text in parallel lines in the central portion of a printout sheet to be used as an original for duplicating;
• introducing into the computer, coded information relative to the operation of a duplicator in such manner that the coded information will appear on a margin of the printout sheet as a line of marks parallel to the lines of text material in the body of text;
• operating the computer to cause printing of said text information and said coded information on a printout sheet to thereby produce an original;
• placing said original on the cylinder of a rotary duplicator with the line of coded information extending peripherally thereof;
• sensing the marks in said line of coded information by means of a stationary read head as the cylinder is rotated and generating unit value data signals each corresponding to one of said marks electrically progressively summing said unit value data signals, expressing the total number of such unit value data signals according to a number system having a base greater than one, and storing the thus expressed total in electrical signal form;
• operating the duplicator to print copies;
• and
• controlling the operation of the duplicator in accordance with thus stored signal.

The method of rotary lithographic duplicating on a duplicating machine having a cylinder which includes:

• encoding copy processing information on the face of an original to be used for duplicating;
• inserting the encoded original on the cylinder of the lithographic duplicating machine;
• treating said original in preparation for printing by applying ink to the face thereof as the cylinder rotates;
• thereafter photoelectrically sensing the encoded information on said original as the cylinder is rotated, and generating signals corresponding to said information;
• and
• controlling operation of the duplicator in accordance with the sensed copy processing information,
• whereby the encoded copy processing information is treated in preparation for duplication along with the original to thereby enhance the readability of the information during the sensing thereof.