CARD TRANSDUCING APPARATUS & METHOD

• US 3,818,500 A
• Filed: 08/02/1972
• Issued: 06/18/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1955
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moffitt, James W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eddleman, Alfred H.
• Application Number:
  US05/277,401
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 179/1.2CA,1.2MD,1.2R 340/174.1F,174.1C,174.1R,149A 35/35C 235/61.11D
• US Class Current: 360/2
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/18 Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks applying data to information carriers G06K1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0016 Selecting or retrieving of images by means of their associated code-marks, e.g. coded microfilm or microfiche microfilm reading G03B21/11; computers therefor G06F16/00; teaching devices G09B5/02; accessing record carriers G11B27/002; static digital stores using optical elements G11C13/04; intermediate storage of facsimile picture signals H04N1/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/08 by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/084 sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/683 wherein the recorder or player is moved according to the location of a selected cassette G11B15/684 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6875 wherein the recorder or player is moved towards a selected cassette in the magazine
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6895 Automatic tape changing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/04 using flat record carriers, e.g. disc, card
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/02 Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/55 Track change, selection or acquisition by displacement of the head

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for transducing signals with respect to record cards, first by recording signals representing document information on selected tracks of a record card and thereafter by selectively reproducing the signal information recorded on selected tracks of the cards. In a preferred form, the information record is in the form of full frame video picture signals capable of generating still monitorable images on the screen of a cathode ray tube. The signals are so generated and recording is selectively controlled and effected that a full frame vodeo picture signal occupies a single track of a plurality of such tracks extending parallel to each other along most of the length of the card. A single transducing unit is provided capable of recording full frame video signals on selected tracks of a card and of coding the tracks. The unit contains a mount for magnetic heads which mount is movable in a plurality of directions to bring the heads into alignment with a selected card track and then to move the information signal transducing head parallel to and along the selected track to effect transducing relative thereto. An automatic control system is provided permitting recording on selected tracks of a card including automatic recording on the first unrecorded track appearing to a magnetic recording head as it moves or the first unrecorded track of a selected group of a plurality of track groups.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transducing information relative to record cards and the like comprising in combination:

a support, first means for prepositioning a record card on said support which card contains a plurality of parallel record tracks which extend in a first direction, means movably supported on said support for transducing information with respect to selected record tracks of a record card, second means supported by said support for guiding and driving said transducing means in a second direction along a path which is normal to said first direction wherein said transducing means is moved adjacent to and across a record card which is prepositioned by said first means, first control means for controlling operation of said second means to stop the driving movement of said transducing means when said transducing means is aligned with a selected track of a card, third means for driving said transducing means in a path which is parallel to said first direction, second control means operable when said transducing means is in alignment with a selected track of a card for controlling operation of said third means to initiate driving movement of said transducing means from its stopped position at which it is aligned with said selected track to move said transducing means in said second direction so as to cause said transducing means to scan the selected track of the card with which it is aligned and to travel to the end of the selected track, and means for controlling operation of said third means to return said transducing means to the position at which it was located prior to the initiation of its scanning movement along the selected track.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first means includes a movable stop for engaging one end of a card and means for aligning a card against said stop, means for moving said stop out of the way of a card to allow it to pass said stop, and means for controlling operation of said stop moving means to permit movement of a card past said stop, and means for activating said card stop control means and means for driving a card past said stop after a transducing operation has been completed.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transducing means is operable to engage and move along a surface of a card during the transducing operation and said first means includes means for retentively engaging a card prepositioned by said first means to prevent it from being moved during the transducing operation.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said cards contains scannable means for locating the individual record tracks of each card and said means for controlling operation of said second means includes means supported to move with said transducing means for scanning said track locating means and for generating feedback signals as said transducing means is driven by said second means in said second direction across a record card and said scanning means senses said track locating means, and presettable means for receiving said feedback signals and generating a control signal when the feedback signals received thereby define that the transducing means is aligned with a selected track of a card in accordance with the presetting of said presettable means.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said scannable locating means comprise a plurality of marker signals aligned across said card and including at least one marker signal recorded aligned with each track of the card for identifying same and said scanning means is located and moved when said transducing means is driven in said second direction along a path to permit said scanning means to scan said recorded marker signals and to generate said feedback signals.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transducing means includes means for magnetically recording record signals, said first means comprises a support for said second and third means, said support including means for predeterminately supporting and presenting a magnetic record card in a flat condition to said transducing means, means for generating information signals, control means for controlling said signal generating means to generate selected information signals, means for generating a control signal when said magnetic recording means is aligned with a selected track of a card, means for receiving said control signal and responding thereto to stop the driving of said transducing means with the magnetic recording means thereof aligned with a selected track of a card, further means responsive to the received control signal for initiating operation of said third means to drive said magnetic recording means along the selected card track to permit signal transducing with respect to said selected track and means for activating said control means for said signal generating means after initiating operation of said third means to generate a selected information signal, said information signal generating means being operatively connected to said magnetic recording means whereby the information signal generated thereby will be recorded on the selected track of the card as it is scanned by said magnetic recording means.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said third means includes a first flexible belt-like member, means for securing said transducing means to said first belt-like member, reversable motor means connected to drive said belt-like member and means for guiding said transducing means as it is driven by said belt-like member in a path parallel to said first direction and in engagement with the surface of said magnetic record member, a support for said first belt-like member, means for guiding said first belt-like member support in said second direction, said second means includes a second flexible belt-like member, means for securing said second belt-like member to said support for said first belt-like member, means for supporting and guiding said second belt-like member in said first direction across said first means, a second reversable motor means connected to drive said second belt-like member and thereby move said support for said first belt-like member in said second direction, said means for generating said control signal being connected to terminate the operation of said second motor and initiate the operation of said first motor when said magnetic recording means is aligned with a selected track of the card.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said second motor is a stepping motor operable to move said magnetic recording means across a record card from track-to-track thereof past a different record rack as said second motor is pulsed by an electrical signal, and means for generating a chain of pulses to step said support for said magnetic recording means in said second direction.

9. In an apparatus for selectively recording and reproducing signals relative to selected parallel tracks of multiple track flat record cards comprising:

a support, recording and reproduction transducing means supported by said support, means for prepositioning a record card on said support, first means for effecting relative movement in a first direction parallel to the parallel tracks of a record card supported by said support, second means for effecting relative movement in a second direction of said transducing means and a record card supported by said support wherein said recording transducing means may be brought into alignment with a selected track of said parallel tracks and may be moved thereafter by said first means in scanning said selected track, means for generating information signals to be recorded on said record member by said transducing means, said information signal generating means being connected to transmit the information signals it generates to said recording transducing means, control means for said signal generating means operable to cause it to generate a selected information signal, first control means for controlling operation of said first means to position said recording transducing means in alignment with any selected track of a card prepositioned on said support, second control means for controlling operation of said second means to position said recording transducing means in alignment with a first track of a card approached by said transducing means on which first track there is no recording and means operable upon alignment of said recording transducing means with a selected track of a card for activating said first control means to effect scanning of the selected track by said recording transducing means and for activating said control means for said signal generating means to cause a selected information signal to be generated and to be transmitted to said recording transducing means while movement is effected in said first direction whereby said information is recorded along said selected track of said card.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said first control means and said control means for said signal generating means are connected to a common control circuit, and means for generating a control signal on said common circuit to deactivate said second means to position said transducing means aligned with said selected track, and delay means connected to receive said control signal for activating said control means for said information signal generating after the initiation of said relative movement of said card and transducing means in said first direction.

11. In a magnetic record card transducing apparatus having a support and means for prepositioning a magnetic record card on said support, a first transducer operable to scan a record card prepositioned on said support by engagement therewith and effecting relative movement between said first transducer and a first track of the card in a first direction, a second transducer, a common mount supporting said first and second transducers, said second transducer being operable to scan said record card in a second direction after termination of scanning by said first transducer, the improvement comprising power operated means for projecting and retracting said first transducer to cause it to engage and disengage the surface of a card for effecting magnetic coupling and uncoupling with the recording surface of the card and control means for said power operated means operable to control the projection of said first transducer to engage the card while scanning said first track of the card in said first direction and to retract said first transducer while said second transducer scans a record card in said second direction.

12. A magnetic record card transducing apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said common mount for said first and second transducers is pivotally supported, means pivoting said common mount with the transducers supported thereon in a manner such that when one is engagement with a card, the other is disengaged from said card and means for controlling said pivoting means to cause said first transducer to engage said first track while scanning in said first direction and to disengage the card when scanning is effected in said second direction and wherein said second transducer is brought into engagement with the card when relative movement is effected in said secOnd direction.