United States Patent: 3610890

[US Patent & Trademark Office, Patent Full Text and Image Database]

( 179 of 179 )

United States Patent	3,610,890
Strimling	October 5, 1971

DATA INPUT APPARATUS

Abstract

Punched tape, printout, and display implementations are realized with common character bearing apparatus in which simultaneous positioning of a variety of character representations is achieved primarily by mechanical linkages.

Inventors:	Strimling; Walter E. (Weston, MA)
Assignee:	United States Dynamics Data Engineering Inc. (Needham Heights, MA)
Appl. No.:	04/776,436
Filed:	November 18, 1968

Current U.S. Class: 235/433 ; 235/434

Current International Class: G06K 1/00 (20060101); G06K 1/04 (20060101); G06k 001/02 (); G06k 001/12 ()

Field of Search: 234/11,12,36,37,131 101/19,91RC 235/61.9,61.1

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


1842491	January 1932	Schettler
2788879	April 1957	Rand
2981179	April 1961	Schwend
3020116	February 1962	Pudelko
3223033	December 1965	Sundblad

Primary Examiner: Cook; Daryl W.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Information transcription apparatus comprising information bearing means having a sequence of faces, means for defining on each of said faces first and second different character representations, first and second means at first and second positions for coacting with first and second representations of a selected character, means for defining on said information-bearing means coded positional information, means for providing coded position select information, and means responsive to said position select information for repositioning said information-bearing means in accordance with said positional information such that first and second representations of a selected character are positioned at said first and second positions.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second means comprises punch tape and print out apparatus respectively.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second means comprises punch tape apparatus and a viewing window respectively.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second means comprises print out apparatus and a viewing window respectively.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 also including means mechanically linked to said information-bearing means for simultaneous movement therewith, said last-mentioned means including third character representations organized in a sequence and adapted for sequential presentation at a viewing window as corresponding first and second character representations are moved to said first and second positions.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said information-bearing means also includes a third character representation for movement to a third position as said first and second representations are moved to said first and second positions, and viewing means positioned at said third position for displaying said third character representation.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said information-bearing means comprises a circular disk.

8. Apparatus comprising a plurality of information-bearing means each including a plurality of faces movable about a common axis between first and second positions, means for defining on each of said faces a plurality of different character representations in a manner to provide first and second representations of a selected character at said first and second positions simultaneously, first means for coacting with said first representation at said first position, second means for coacting with said second representation at said second position, means for defining positional information on each of said information-bearing means, means for providing position select information for each of said information-bearing means, and means responsive to said position select information for repositioning each of said information-bearing means in accordance with said positional information for presenting different selected characters at said first and second positions.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first and second means comprises punch tape and print out apparatus respectively.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first and second means comprises punch tape apparatus and viewing means respectively.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first and second means comprises print out apparatus and viewing means respectively.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 also including means mechanically linked to said information-bearing means for simultaneous movement therewith, said last-mentioned means including third character representations organized in a sequence and adapted for sequential presentation at a viewing window as corresponding first and second character representations are moved to said first and second positions.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said information-bearing means also includes a third character representation for movement to a third position as said first and second representations are moved to said first and second positions, and viewing means positioned at said third position for displaying said third character representation.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said means for providing position select information comprises a card receiver, electrical means responsive to coded indications on cards for providing a plurality of sets of position select representations each associated with a particular one of said plurality of information bearing means, and means for storing said plurality of sets of position select representations.

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said means responsive to position select information includes a comparator and counter means for applying said plurality of sets of position select representations to said comparator controllably.

16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 15 also including locking apparatus associated with each of said plurality of information-bearing means, means for unlocking only the information-bearing means corresponding to an applied one of said plurality of sets of position select representations.

17. Apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein each of said means for providing positional information comprises coded apertures in said information bearing means indicative of the relative position thereof, said apparatus also including a light source and light detection means responsive to light passed by said coded apertures for applying said positional information to said comparator.

18. Apparatus in accordance with claim 17 wherein said common axis comprises drive means responsive to a control signal for rotating about an axis, said drive means comprising a plurality of retractable bearing surfaces for rotating unlocked ones of said information bearing means about said common axis and for slipping past locked ones of said information-bearing means.

19. Apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein each of information-bearing means comprises a disk having a sequence of faces thereon, each of said disks having a central aperture for engaging said retractable bearing surfaces of said drive means.

20. Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 also including means engaging ones of said disks and movable upon an axis for moving an associated character bearing band past a reference position, said last-mentioned means including a plurality of sleeves each engaged for movement by the associated disk, said associated bands including like numerical sequences for presenting a said reference position a number corresponding to the selected characters first and second representations of which are simultaneously at said first and second positions.

21. Apparatus including information-bearing means defining a sequence of faces rotatable about an axis, means for defining on said faces first and second different representations of each of a plurality of characters, means for rotating said information-bearing means for positioning first and second representations of a selected character at first and second positions, means positioned at said first position for coacting with the first representation of a selected character when activated, means positioned at said second position for simultaneously coacting with the second representation of said selected character when activated, said information-bearing means also including means for defining positional information for each of said surfaces, means for providing position select information, and means responsive to said position select information and said positional information for rotating said information bearing means for positioning said first and second representations of a selected character at said first and second positions for recordation.

22. Apparatus comprising a member movable about an axis and having a plurality of faces thereon, means for defining first representations of different characters on different ones of said faces, means for defining associated position indicating representations of said different characters on said member, and means for positioning said first representations with respect to a reference position, said last-mentioned means comprising means responsive to position-select information and to the one of said first representations at said reference position for providing an output indicative of a difference therebetween, and positioning means responsive to said output for moving said member about said axis for positioning a next adjacent first representation and the associated position indicating representation at said reference position.

23. Apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein said first representations comprise coded recesses on each of said faces, said apparatus also including punch tape apparatus at said reference position.

24. Apparatus in accordance with claim 22 wherein said first representations comprise printer's characters, said apparatus also including print out apparatus at said reference position.

25. Apparatus comprising a plurality of information-bearing means movable about a common axis, each of said means having a plurality of areas, said areas bearing first and second representations of each of a plurality of related characters, each of said means including coded representations of the relative position of that means, positioning means adapted to receive coded input information and responsive to differences between said coded representations and said input information for repositioning said information-bearing means thereby moving selected ones of said areas to associated reference positions, and means for recording the first and second representations of each character at said reference positions.

26. Apparatus including a plurality of information-bearing disks controllably rotatable about a common axis for presenting a plurality of independent coded recess sets representative of information at a reference position in combination with punch tape apparatus positioned at said reference position and including pins for coacting with and for receding into said plurality of coded recess sets when activated, thus recording on paper tape therebetween the information represented by the lands defined by said coded recess sets.

27. Apparatus in accordance with claim 26 wherein said punch tape apparatus includes a plurality of pin sets each adapted to mate with the recesses in an associated disk, each of said pin sets including pins of a characteristic length different from the pins of any other set.

28. A combination including an element having a surface, means for defining on said surface a plurality of representations of each of a set of characters, said representations being distributed on said surface such that the movement of said element moves the representations of a selected character to a plurality of different positions simultaneously, means responsive to input signals for so moving said element, ans separate means positioned at each of said plurality of different positions for coacting with an associated one of said representations.

29. A combination in accordance with claim 28 wherein said plurality of representations of each of said characters includes a printer's character and coded recesses, and said separate means comprises a printing means and a punched tape means for recording the representations of the character selected.

30. A combination including a plurality of elements each in accordance with claim 28 and means for moving said elements selectively wherein each of said separate means is adapted to coact with the associated representations of selected characters on the surfaces of all the elements when activated.

31. A combination including an element having a surface bearing a plurality of representations of each of a set of characters and a plurality of means positioned with respect to said surface each for coacting with an associated one of the plurality of representations of a selected character, said representations being distributed on said surface such that relative motion between said element and said means for coacting positions the representations of a selected character for coacting with said means for coacting, and means for so moving said element responsive to input signals.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to data-processing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus which alters the form of information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is frequently important to alter the form of information in data-processing systems. In a retail business context, such a requirement arises when merchandise identification information is altered from a tag form to, for example, punched tape for inventory control or for billing purposes. In a manufacturing context, such a requirement might arise when parts inventory information on data-processing cards is compared with parts withdrawal tags in a supply department. The requirement is widespread.

A great deal of attention has been given to providing equipment for altering that form. Cash registers, for example, used normally to key in price information, may be used to key other transaction information onto a slip or sales journal. Some registers read merchandise tags automatically and provide punched tape for inventory control. Computers function to alter the form of information say from punched card to magnetic tape and compile outputs of a variety of forms.

The most sensitive and vulnerable area in a data-processing system is at the input where such alteration occurs. The reason for this is that first the human element is present and inaccuracies occur as a result, frequently causing the data-processing system to operate erroneously. Secondly, the cost of system operation increases when the information is handled by many intermediate steps involving operators and paperwork.

It is clear then that the attention given to this input area in data-processing systems is inspired by a well recognized need to simplify the human-machine interface. But certain well defined needs do not justify a great expense to satisfy those needs. Thus, the cashiers station, for example, cannot be equipped with a computer because the expense is not justified.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and inexpensive input device which alters the form of input information and simplifies the data-handling procedure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the realization that a number of familiar transcription implementations can be realized with simple mechanical apparatus which, in effect, carries out multiple transcription functions simultaneously in response to electrical signals.

In one embodiment, a plurality of circular disklike cylinders are ganged for rotation on a common spindle. Each face of the cylinder bears a character such as a numeral or letter. Illustratively, a different face of the cylinder bears coded grooves which correspond to the character. For each position of the cylinder, a set of characters and a related set of grooves are positioned simultaneously with respect to print out and punched tape apparatus for producing printed and punched records of a transaction. The drive mechanism for some of the cylinders is coupled by a simple mechanical arrangement to simultaneously position corresponding characters for display.

The cylinders are adapted for positioning in response to the output of a plurality of comparators. Specifically, a plurality of comparators are adapted to receive input data from identification cards, merchandise tags, or keyboard inputs. One set of inputs to each comparator is controlled by input data; the other by coded position indicating equivalents of a selected character. Each comparator output activates a mechanism to enable a corresponding cylinder to be rotated to the appropriate position. The so-positioned numbers or letters may be displayed, for example, for viewing by a purchaser while, simultaneously, the positioning of the related other characters for punched tape and print out operations is effected. The presence of the coded equivalent of the alphabetic or numerical representation permits translation and transcription of that representation in a simple and direct manner with shared apparatus sufficiently inexpensive for retail cashier stations, hospital financial or medical automation, and manufacturing inventory control as well.

In another embodiment, a comparator circuit is not necessary; the disks rather, include coded recesses engaged by fingers. Input signals cause the fingers to disengage the recesses and permit movement of the disks until a next coded recess is engaged.

Although the various implementations involved may appear incompatible and have been implemented separately in the prior art only through complicated electromechanical coupling along with costly control implementations, this is due primarily to the fact that attention has been directed at achieving high speeds. Applicant has taken advantage of the fact that a large number of transcription requirements can be satisfied at operation speeds considerably below those contemplated by, for example, high-speed printers. The reduction of the speed requirements permits a variety of transcription implementations to be realized with common apparatus.

The advantage can be demonstrated with an example. A high-speed printer, typically includes a drum which bears a large number of characters and is rotated at high speeds. Pressure-sensitive paper is pressed against the drum by trip hammers triggered electronically thus providing the requisite printed matter. The slowest element in the arrangement is the rotating drum and attention is often directed at increasing its speed. But if the speed of the drum is reduced, even to the extent of maintaining the drum normally at rest and determining at each instant its next consecutive position in response to an input representing each business transaction to be recorded, then the printing drum may be shared with a display arrangement. Indeed, even punch tape apparatus when sufficiently reduced in speed may be seen to be compatible with this same common apparatus. The apparent sacrifice then is speed; but the gain is economy. The result is an economical arrangement suited to a variety of needs and sufficiently inexpensive to justify its use.

Nor is speed reduction serious. Applicant's apparatus makes up in parallel operation what prior art apparatus achieves serially. Consider, for example, a printing "drum" comprising a plurality of cylinders with a paper (punched) tape for receiving punched information aligned coaxially with the spindle about which the cylinders are rotated. When trip hammers punch the paper, representations of the selected characters on all of the cylinders are punched at once. This is in contradistinction to sequential operations to punch a like number of characters as is the case in the prior art. A similar speed enhancement is achieved in printing also.

An added advantage to applicant's apparatus is its essentially noiseless operation. Those familiar with data-processing apparatus are familiar with the noise accompanying punched tape operations. Applicant avoids most of this noise by, for example, reducing (by parallel operation) the number of punch operations per unit time. Applicant also employs punch pins of variable length designed to shear rather than punch paper. Because a number of information representations are punched at once (in parallel) in accordance with this invention, the set of pins employed to make the punch can be formed such that the striking surfaces thereof align at an angle with the paper tape perforating the paper in a manner to form the holes therein continuously rather than simultaneously. In this manner, a shear rather than punch function is achieved. The result is a relatively quiet operation, an attribute highly prized in, for example, a hospital environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of an arrangement in accordance with this invention;

FIGS. 2 through 5 and 7 through 9, and 11 are schematic illustrations of portions of the arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6 and 10 are schematic illustrations of input and output formats suitable for operation in accordance with the invention; and

FIGS. 12 and 13 are schematic illustrations of portions of alternative arrangements in accordance with this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an isometric projection of apparatus 10 in accordance with this invention.

The apparatus includes several principal components seen most clearly in an open side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2. The casing of apparatus 10 is identified by outline 11 in FIG. 2 Within that outline are shown paper punch apparatus 12, print out apparatus 13, display coupling apparatus 14, and common apparatus 15 which enables apparatus 13 and, 14 to cooperate in a simple manner.

The common apparatus 15 comprises, in the illustrative embodiment, a plurality of cylinders 16 which are disks in an end view as shown in FIG. 2. The cylinders are ganged on a common gearlike spindle 17 and each can be rotated thereabout when driven in a manner to be described hereinafter.

The periphery of each disk is divided into 10 faces. Each face of each disk bears a character such as a printer's numeral or letter and a set of grooves. The latter represent a numeral or letter in a coded form familiar in paper tape operations. In the illustrative embodiment, paper tape apparatus 12 and print out apparatus 13 are placed on different sides of the disk. The plurality of representations for each character are positioned on appropriate faces of the disk to correspond. For example, face 18 of disk 16, adjacent apparatus 12, may bear grooves for the numeral 7 while face 20, adjacent print out apparatus 13, bears a printer's numeral 7 as indicated at 21.

Each disk also includes a set of inverted teeth 22 each pair of which defines a face of disk 16 therebetween. Teeth 22 of each disk 16 mate with the teeth of a timing belt 23 for coupling the disk to a display unit. Each belt 23 rotates on a separate pair of idler wheels 24 and 25. Since the teeth of the timing belt mate with the inverted teeth of the disk, the rotation of the disk rotates the belt and therefore rotates wheels 24 and 25, about which the timing belt rotates. Alternatively, the printer's character on each face may be adapted to drive chain 23 in the absence of the inverted teeth.

Wheels 24 are composed of a concentric independent sleeve arrangement shown in FIG. 3. The remote end of each sleeve is coupled to a display band 30 of FIG. 3. The bands, illustratively, bear like sets of numerals. It is clear, then that a rotation of a disk 16 rotates a sleeve of a "wheel" 24 causing a corresponding movement of an associated band 30 for display at window 31 of FIG. 1.

The disks are rotated to position the printer's character and punching grooves at printing apparatus 13 and punch tape apparatus 12 as the corresponding numeral is displayed. Thus a simple common mechanical implementation permits a variety of transcription operations and a display as well. We will now consider the drive arrangement for that implementation and the data input arrangement for controlling that drive before proceeding with a discussion of the print out, punched tape and display arrangements.

FIG. 2 shows a slot S into which identification cards are inserted. The identification cards bear familiar coded information in the form of holes, for example. The information is sensed by a familiar arrangement of pins, shown schematically at 32. The signals representing that information are stored in a register 41 of FIG. 4. Alternatively, input information may be introduced in a similar manner from merchandise tags for which like slots (not shown) are provided, or may be keyed in directly as described further hereinafter.

FIG. 4 also shows a comparator circuit 40 responsive to a first set of inputs stored in register 41. A second set of inputs to the comparator represents a set of positional information signals from the disks identified collectively as 42 in FIG. 4. The manner of provision of the second set of signals is described in detail immediately hereinafter. For the moment, however, we may assume that two sets of signals are provided and in response to the two sets of signals, the comparator circuit generates a mismatch signal which sets a flip-flop 43 in a first direction. Flip-flop 43 in combination with the output of a counter 46 activates a solenoid 47 for unlocking an associated disk as shown in FIG. 2. The insertion of an identification card at S of FIG. 2, then, may, for example, activate counter 46 for enabling movement of disks 42 (in FIG. 4) consecutively. A solenoid (motor) 48 drives spindle 17 which rotates those disks which are unlocked. When a match occurs between two sets of inputs, flip-flop 43 is set to a second (match) direction, solenoid 47 is deactivated, and the associated disk locked. Spindle 17 conveniently has a form similar to that of a television tuner, the surface of the spindle including spring-loaded ball bearing which act like gears to drive the disk which is unlocked and to recede into the spindle for those disks which are locked.

An understanding of an illustrative arrangement for realizing the two sets of signals to comparator circuit 40 will expedite an understanding of the operation of that circuit.

FIG. 5 shows a plane view of a disk 16. The disk includes a coded set of apertures which pass light. Sensors, identified at 44 in FIG. 4 are responsive to the light code for supplying disk position information to the comparator circuit. The sensors may be any light-responsive elements such as photocells for providing the requisite inputs to the comparator.

The illustrative aperture code may be recognized as a simple binary arrangement. The radius from the center of the disk to the center of each face has four apertures therealong thus permitting passage of light from source 45 in FIG. 4 through each aperture to four sensors 44. When all the disks are stationary, light is passed by each aperture and all the sensors are illuminated. When a disk moves as described, a light code is detected. It is important to bear in mind at this juncture that only one disk of a group of disks sharing a sensor need move at a time, a fortunate circumstance related to the fact that only one numeral at display window 31 of FIG. 1, or any decade counter, need change at one time. Let us assume that the one of the four apertures most remote from the center of the disk (the spindle hole) is an A position and that the remaining apertures are, in order, B, C, and D positions. Also assume that the sensors 44 are positioned to detect light directed through those apertures. Consider the rotation of a disk counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 5 until the next face of the disk moves one position. First, light shines only at A, then through all the apertures as the next set of apertures A', B', C', and D' align with the light. The next rotation passes light only at B followed again by light passed through all apertures. As consecutive faces of the disk are moved to the vertical position as shown in FIG. 5, the consecutive codes AB, C, AC, BC, ABC, D, AD, and a null are generated. In each instance, sensors 44 of FIG. 3 receive the appropriate position information.

The first set of inputs (viz: position select information) is received from register 41 of FIG. 4 responsive to, for example, the insertion of an identification card such as 50 in FIG. 6. Card 50 includes 12 columns with illustratively five rows for defining positions for apertures 51. Electrical contact fingers 31 of FIG. 2 provide electrical signals corresponding to the code as already noted. Each row or column may be used to provide the signal for a new position for a corresponding disk. For example, the right-hand column of apertures may correspond to the "ones" disk; the next column to the "tens" disk; the next to the "hundreds," and so on.

Comparator 40 of FIG. 4 responds to the two sets of inputs in pairs to adjust the associated disk in incremental rotations until a match is found between the two sets. At that time, solenoid 47 (of FIG. 2 and FIG. 4) is deactivated and the next "higher decade" disk is unlatched under the control of counter 46 of FIG. 4. The inputs from the sensors 44 are now compared to the inputs corresponding to the next adjacent column of card 50 in a similar manner and the next adjacent disk is positioned. The process repeats until all the disks are positioned, all the printed characters are aligned with print out apparatus 13 of FIG. 2, all the associated grooves are aligned with punch tape apparatus 12, and the corresponding characters are displayed at window 32 of FIG. 1. Of course there may be more disks than display bands because of alphabetic codes which are necessary for punch tape and print out but not display. It is clear then that a simple mechanical implementation positions common apparatus for permitting a variety of transcription operations simultaneously.

FIG. 7 shows the organization of the grooves in selected faces 18 of the disks 16. These grooves correspond to an illustrative number 582.67 shown in the display window of FIG. 1 in a manner well understood in the art. Of course, the corresponding print is on the side of the disks opposite that shown in FIG. 7. Paper tape is routed along a path in conventional fashion into groove 60 of apparatus 12 in FIG. 2 in a direction away from the viewer along an axis coaxially aligned with spindle 17. The punch tape thus is opposite all the grooves of FIG. 7 at once. The tape similarly is aligned to record the information on all other disks simultaneously. Trip hammer 62 of FIG. 2, also overlying all the grooves at once, is electrically activated under the control of counter 46 of FIG. 4, causing the tape to be perforated by pins in lifter 63 and by hammer 62 except where those pins are opposite grooves. In the latter case, the pins recede into the grooves when the trip hammer strikes thus avoiding perforation at those points and recording only the code represented by the lands between the recesses. The lands cause the pins to move into holes in support 64 thus perforating the paper therebetween. It is important to note that in each instance, the perforations corresponding to all the information on all of the disks are punched at once in contradistinction to a conventional sequential punch thus permitting enhanced speed and relatively noiseless operation as already mentioned.

The relatively noiseless operation achieved in accordance with this invention is due to fewer punch operations per second and to the shape of the pins, the alignment of the striking surfaces of consecutive pins along an angle with respect to the paper tape rather than parallel to that tape, and the progressively changed pin length as mentioned hereinbefore. This organization is clear from FIG. 8 which shows each consecutive pin larger than the next preceding one from left to right as viewed in the figure. A paper "shearing" operation for an entire number of many digits is provided, in each instance, in contradistinction to a paper punched operation of each of the digits in order, a relatively noisy operation. The paper tape apparatus is adapted in a conventional manner not shown for displacing the tape appropriately for punching of the representations of the next set of characters. FIG. 9 shows a projection view of the cylinders with respect to the paper tape implementation indicating the direction of that displacement.

FIG. 9 shows the position of the print out apparatus 13 as well. Paper in triplicate is fed through apparatus 13 from rollers indicated at 70 in FIG. 2. The first and second copies are perforated to permit removal of a receipt at 72; the third copy is accumulated on roller 73. The third copy may also be displayed at a window 75 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Customer or patient information may be repeated in a form for stencilling at 76 in FIGS. 1 and 2 in response to the movement of a slidable member not shown thereacross, as is customary, as well as included in coded form. The repeated information is conveniently included in section 77 of the card 50 of FIG. 6.

The form of the information which gives rise to the input information to the comparator of FIG. 4 may be quite conventional. For example, consider a typical sales slip as shown in FIG. 10. The slip has the store name and location as a heading. This is normally preprinted on the paper from rollers 70 of FIG. 2. The remaining information is shown on nine rows and 22 columns. Each column is associated with a particular disk in FIG. 2. Only the eight columns on the right as viewed need by printed on a receipt. These columns show local tax (L), cash sale (CA), no tax (N), federal tax (F), subtotal (STL), total tax (TAX), and total (TOTL). The columns on the left show merchandise number and quantity, the store number, department number and clerk number as well as the date. Thus the first row shows the date 9/15/68. The second row shows item 134562209780 and quantity 01. The bottom row shows store number 12940, department number 321, and clerk's number 0014. The next to the bottom row indicates the register number and the transaction number.

Each clerk has an identification card which he inserts at slot S in FIG. 2. Apertures in the card are sensed by contact pins 32 of FIG. 2 to provide the clerk identification. The register number and transaction number are supplied automatically in a well understood manner and followed by the information on the bottom line of FIG. 10. Merchandise tags are then placed consecutively into a second slot (not shown) like slot S. Each tag is apertured to provide disk repositioning information as already described.

A keyboard permits entering of quantity, tax,...etc. information as shown in the slip in FIG. 10. FIG. 11 shows an illustrative keyboard which can be seen to have a format convenient for commercial transactions. Each rectangle represents a pushbutton and is clearly designated in a manner to indicate its functional operation. The depression of a selected button or sequence of buttons applies an input or sequence of inputs to the comparator 40 of FIG. 4 for rotating the disks of FIG. 2. Operation proceeds in a manner similar to that already described. After a merchandise tag is inserted, the merchandise quantity button is depressed, the specified type of sale button is depressed, and the type-of-charge button is depressed as indicated by the customer. Price information, if it is not on the tag, is keyed in and totalled in conventional fashion employing familiar counters and registers (not shown) to this end. It is convenient to adapt the apparatus such that clerks identification card is necessarily maintained within slot S of FIG. 2 for operation to be enabled.

All the information in a row in FIG. 10 is recorded at once although only the information in the eight columns on the right as viewed need be displayed as already mentioned. Accordingly, a view of FIG. 9 indicates that all transaction information is printed at once as well as punched.

This organization is suitable to a hospital context as well. For example, a patient in a hospital (as well as a salesman) may be assigned a number which is on the identification card in code. When a service is ordered, the card is inserted at slot S in FIG. 2 and the number is recorded both on the printed slip and the punch tape. The patient receives a copy with the code number shown and the code number also accompanies the punched information. The service ordered also may have an identification card (as does the merchandise). Similar coded information such as cost, the doctors' identification number,....etc., may be keyed in or may again be recorded in a like manner by identification card. It is expected that, for example, each area of a hospital such as the pharmacy, X-ray lab...etc. could be equipped with apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 without a keyboard. A keyboard may be included where specialized procedures are expected as, for example, in a comptroller's office.

The arrangement shown in FIG. 2 permits each display character to be of a size which is adequate for direct viewing. FIG. 12, on the other hand, shows an embodiment in which some magnification is helpful. In this embodiment, each surface of a disk 16 bears a translucent area with an opaque character for projection. Light from a light source 80 projects the opaque character on a viewing screen 81 which may be window 31 of FIG. 1. Light from source 80 can be used as well in this instance to project positional information as indicated in the figure, each surface of a disk now bearing positional, projection, print out, and punch tape information. The design of the enclosure determines the organization of the various character representations as to the relationship between the faces on which the various representations of a single character are placed.

FIG. 12 also shows a coded set of recesses 90 in disk 16 indicating positional information. A resilient finger 91 engages a recess to stop the rotation of a disk 16. Fingers 91 for all the disks 16 pivot on sleeved spindle 92 in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 3 responsive to signals from register 41 of FIG. 4 in the absence of a comparator. The implementing circuits are considered within the skill of a worker in the art and are not described in detail herein.

The character bearing apparatus need not be a circular disk. A decagon is shown in FIG. 12 for example as convenient for bearing 10 numerals. All that is necessary is a sequence of surfaces which can be rotated about an axis. A chain arrangement may be suitable and a chain can be positioned on a square, pentagon, hexagon, etc. in a manner quite similar to that shown in FIG. 13. A circular cylinder is useful as shown as long as each position of the circle bears on its face a plurality of character representations distributed in a manner such that the representations of a selected character are in positions for permitting the variety of transcription operations specified.

Whatever the implementations, a common attribute of apparatus in accordance with this invention is a mechanical implementation fixing, in each instance, the positions of the various representations of a selected character and associated position code, and a mechanism responsive to input information and the position codes for repositioning those representations.

What has been described is only illustrative of the principles of this invention. Accordingly, numerous other embodiments can be devised in accordance with those principles by one skilled in the art in keeping with the spirit and scope of this invention.

* * * * *

Current U.S. Class:	235/433 ; 235/434
Current International Class:	G06K 1/00 (20060101); G06K 1/04 (20060101); G06k 001/02 (); G06k 001/12 ()
Field of Search:	234/11,12,36,37,131 101/19,91RC 235/61.9,61.1