Document printing system

System for printing particular information-bearing symbols corresponding to data emanating from a source, comprising:

• source means capable of generating data in a serial sequence;
• memory means for storing information-bearing symbols;
• a medium comprising a printable record material adapted to bear printed information-bearing symbols;
• selection means comprising illumination means for selecting particular symbols from said memory means corresponding to data emanating from said source;
• transmitting means for transmitting each of said particular symbols from said memory means to said medium;
• said memory means comprising mask means for storing said information-bearing symbols in a visible format;
• said mask means being movable relative to said illumination means for bringing said information-bearing symbols into operative proximity to said illumination means for subsequent selective illumination thereof;
• said mask means comprising an endless loop of material embodying said information-bearing symbols;
• said information-bearing symbols being arranged on said mask in rows and columns, an entire column of said symbols being brought into operative proximity to said illumination means at a given time and successive columns of said symbols being brought into operative proximity to said illumination means at corresponding successive times;
• said illumination means ordering said particular symbols by selectively illuminating, simultaneously, certain desired symbols included within the given column which is in operative proximity with said illumination means;
• said transmitting means transmitting in a column-by-column format said selectively illuminated desired symbols to said record material;
• whereby
• said record material is printed by simultaneously printing the desired symbols in a column-by-column sequence, the columns being substantially perpendicular to the direction in which said record material would conventionally be read by a human agency.