ARRANGEMENT FOR RECORDING ALPHA-NUMERIC SYMBOLS

• US 3,792,483 A
• Filed: 06/05/1972
• Issued: 02/12/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Josef Pfeifer, Richard Wick, Wilfried Hofmann
• Original Assignee: Josef Pfeifer, Richard Wick, Wilfried Hofmann
• Inventors: Wick, Richard, Pfeifer, Josef, Hofmann, Wilfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Horan, John M.
• Application Number:
  US05/259,866
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 95/4.5
• US Class Current: 396/551
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/12 by photographic printing , e.g. by laser printers

Abstract

An endless band has a plurality of symbols spaced at equal intervals and is transported along a predetermined path in the lengthwise direction. A number of sources of illumination are arranged at predetermined positions along the path, each of these sources of illumination illuminating a symbol as it passes by, when said source of illumination is energized. Electronic control means energize the illuminating sources in correspondence to the symbol to be recorded. The film is positioned relative to the sources of illumination to record the so illuminated symbols.

Claims

1. An arrangement for photographic recording of alpha-numeric symbols, comprising, in combination, endless band means having a plurality of symbols spaced at predetermined intervals in a predetermined order along the length thereof;

band transport means for transporting said endless band means along a predetermined path;

a plurality of light sources arranged at predetermined illuminating positions along said predetermined path, each for illuminating one of said symbols on said endless band means when energized;

a plurality of light guide means, each positioned between said light sources and one of said symbols, said light guide means having a cross section in the vicinity of said light source which corresponds to the shape of said light source and a cross section varying in size to a size in the vicinity of said symbols, which corresponds to the size of said symbol.

2. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the width of said symbols in the direction of the length of said band relative to height is shorter by a predetermined width than the corresponding desired width of the symbols on said photographic film.

3. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said predetermined intervals are equal intervals.

4. An arrangement as set forth in claim 3, wherein the distance between consecutive ones of said predetermined positions along said predetermined path of said plurality of light sources corresponds to said equal intervals.

5. An arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein said plurality of light sources comprises a plurality of luminescent diodes.

6. An arrangement as set forth in claim 4, wherein said endless band means has a first track along the length thereof, and a second track parallel to said first track.

7. An arrangement as set forth in claim 6, wherein each position in said second track has the same symbol as the corresponding position in said first track and wherein said plurality of light sources comprises a first and second row of light sources;

and wherein said electronic control means selectively energize light sources in said first and second rows.

8. An arrangement as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first and second tracks have the same symbols, but in a different form.

9. An arrangement as set forth in claim 8, wherein said plurality of light sources comprise a first and second row of light sources;

and wherein said control means selectively illuminate said first or said second row.

10. An arrangement as set forth in claim 8, further comprising means moving said endless band means in a direction perpendicular to the length thereof in response to band control signals;

and wherein said control means furnish said band control signals.

11. An arrangement as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first and second track comprise symbols oriented in parallel to the direction of advance of said endless band means and perpendicular thereto;

wherein said plurality of light sources of light comprises one row of sources;

further comprising illumination positioning means for moving said light sources in a direction perpendicular to said predetermined path.

12. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, further comprising record advance means for advancing said record means.

13. An arrangement as set forth in claim 12, wherein said record locations are arranged in a plurality of record rows;

and wherein said record advance means transport said record means stepwise for a distance corresponding to the distance between consecutive ones of said record rows upon completion of the recording of each of said rows.

14. An arrangement as set forth in claim 13, wherein said electronic control means furnish record advance pulses;

and wherein said record advance means advances said record means in response to said record advance pulses.

15. An arrangement as set forth in claim 13, further comprising punched tape means;

photoelectric tape scanning means for scanning said punched tape;

said photoelectric tape scanning means furnishing record advance pulses for activating said record advance means.

16. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said endless band means further comprise a plurality of timing marks, each arranged in a predetermined position relative to a corresponding one of said symbols.

17. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said endless band means further comprise a plurality of code marks, each signifying one of said symbols, each positioned in a predetermined position relative to the so-signified symbol.

18. An arrangement as set forth in claim 17, further comprising code mark scanning means for scanning said code marks and furnishing code mark signals corresponding thereto;

and wherein said electronic control means comprise buffer storage means storing said symbols to be printed, and comparator means for comparing said code mark signals to said so-stored symbols and energizing said light sources when said code mark signals signify a so-stored symbol.

19. An arrangement as set forth in claim 1, further comprising disk means having a plurality of code marks, each signifying one of said symbols;

means rotating said disk means at a rotational speed corresponding to the speed of said band transport means; and

disk scanning means for scanning said code marks and furnishing corresponding code marks signals, mounted in operative proximity to said disk means.

20. An arrangement for photographic recording of alpha-numeric symbols, comprising, in combination, endless band means having a plurality of symbols spaced at predetermined intervals in a predetermined order along the length thereof;

band transport means for transporting said endless band means along a predetermined path, lines defining said symbols which run parallel to the direction of transport of said band having an intensity substantially less than the intensity of lines perpendicular to the direction of transport of said band;

a plurality of light sources arranged at predetermined illuminating positions along said predetermined path, each for illuminating one of said symbols on said endless band means when energized;

a plurality of light guide means each positioned between one of said light sources and one of said symbols, said light guide means having a cross-section in the vicinity of said light source which corresponds to the shape of said light source and a cross-section varying in size to a size, in the vicinity of said symbol, which corresponds to the size of said symbol.