US2932692A - Device for printing a selection character on address labels - Google Patents

Description

C.E.HUNT,JR

April 12, 1960 DEVICE FOR PRINTING A SELECTION CHARACTER ON ADDRESS LABELS,

Filed May '7. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY AGE/V7' April 12, 1960 C;V E, HUNT, JR 2,932,692

DEVICE FOR PRINTING A SELECTION CHARACTER ON ADDRESS LABELS Filed May '7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CLAYTON E HUNT, JR.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY AGE/VT United States Pater,1t O

DEVICE FOR PRINTING A SELECTION CHARACTER N ADDRESS LABELS 7 Claims. (Cl. 178-30) The invention relates to facsimile apparatus for printing address labels and more particularly to an arrangement whereby a particular configuration or character is i printed in any one or a combination of the lines of a label for subsequent use to selectively transfer the printed address from the tape to the proper mailing piece.

In the mailing of magazines, periodicals, advertisements, etc., it is common practice to adhere an address label to each mailing piece which designates the recipients name, address, city and State as well as any other pertinent data such as subscription expiration date, location, occupation, etc. The use of such address labels, in many instances, tends to distract from the appearance of the mailing piece, such as with adherence of a label to the front cover o f a magazine. To eliminate this distraction, the labels can be printed as a mirror image thereof on the tape and then transferred to the mailing piece by application of heat. One Vway in which this printing of mirror images of the address on the tape can be accomplished is disclosed in U.S. Patent application Serial No. 469,619, filed November 18, 1954, and now U.S. Patent 2,892,030. v

The invention is concerned with the printing offaddress labels as set forth and described in my copending applications Serial No. 651,752, led April 9, 1957, now US. Patent 2,903,961 and Serial No. 618,005, tiled October 24,1956, as well as copending application Serial No. 394,926, tiled November 30, 1953', now U.S. Patent 2,899,498 of which I am coinventor with Russell G.

' Thompson. While the invention is applicable to the pro- As described in the patent application Serial No. V

618,005, a mailing list comprising a large number of punched cards can be transposed to a magnetic tape which is then utilized as a source of input signals fora multiple stylus printer, such as disclosed in any one of the above-mentioned applications. In a magazine suJbscription fulllment system utilizing punched cards for each subscriber and a printer arranged to print mailing address labels in accordance with the data derived from such cards, it is desirable to be able to segregate the list into various groups, for example, on the basis of current, expired or about to expire subscriptions. This can be accomplished by recording the data of each group on separate tapes with a single pass of the punched card, b

"ice

appears in the same column of eachcard, it will be recorded on the magnetic tape along with and in proper relation to the other information. In this way a single le of cards can be `maintained for a number of magazines having the same mailing date. When the labels are printed from the magnetic tape, each label will be provided with a conguration or special character located in a predetermined line at a predetermined position to designate the magazine to which it is to be applied. The strip of labels is then fed intermittently past a sensing device and in proper relation to the mailing piece for transferring only those labels having the conguration in the line corresponding to the mailing piece. The strip is then rerun to transfer those labels to be transferred to another mailing piece. Configuration, as used herein, is meant to include any symbol, character or mark which is capable of being read or sensed to initiate the transfer operation. Furthen'such configuration can be printed in any one line of the label, or in any combination of lines to increase the number of mailing lists associated with any one tape.

The primary object of the invention is, therefore, to

provide an apparatus for selectively printing a predetermined coniiguration in a tiXed relation to a group of characters in the same line of an address label.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for translating and printing a visual representation of the characters represented by code arranged on a medium in successive columns and for selectively printing a predetermined configuration in a predetermined position with respect to said representation in accordance with the code of a preselected character in a predetermined position on the medium.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for printing a multiple line label in accordance with characters represented by code arranged on a medium in successive columns and for selectively printing a predetermined configuration in a predetermined position in a predetermined line of the label in accordance with the code of a preselected character in a predetermined position on the medium.

And still another object of the invention is toprovide an apparatus -for printing a multiple line label in accordance with code arranged on a medium in successive columns and for selectively printing a predetermined conguration in a predetermined position in one or more lines of the label in accordance with the code of a plurality of preselected characters each representative of a combination of said lines and in a predetermined position on the medium.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art by the description which follows:

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like parts and wherein: i

Fig. l is a schematic block diagram of the various circuits utilized in an apparatus for printing address labels in accordance with the invention; Y

Fig. 2 is an elevation view of a portion of the address label tape showing the arrangement of the address lines and the relation of the configuration in dierent lines;

Fig. 3 is an elevation View of a portion ,of a strip of magnetic tape showing the arrangement and relationship of the code and timing marks;

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a form of gating circuit; and

Fig. 5 is a partial schematic diagram of a portion of Fig. 1 showing an arrangement -by which the invention may be used to selectively print a configuration in one or more address lines.

The magnetic tape 10,v as shown in Fig. 3, comprises successive columns of magnetized areas 11 arranged adjacent timing marks 12. Each column of areas 11 is therefore representative of `a character designated in a six position code derived directly yfrom record cards punched inaccordance Vwith the'same code or a code which is iirs't, converted to the six position code before recording on .the tape. The first-mentioned record card can be a commercially available card, such as a Remington Rand card, which is provided with forty-tive possible code columns in each of the upper and lower halves of the card. In this instance, the upper columns are numbered 1 45 and the lower columns 46490. When the columns of code are transposed to a magnetic tape, the columns are recorded successively in an order of 1, 462, 47 etc. On the other hand, a record card, such as an IBM card has eighty possible code columns and these are recordedr on the magnetic tape 10, after conversion to a six position code, in the same order as presented; namely 1, 2, 3, etc. As shown in Fig. 3, a label cycle will therefore include aiixed length of tape in which 114 or 104 code columns-.are recorded plus a suiiici'entspac'e between successive labels to allow for resetting of the circuitry to a condition in which it is receptive to the code of the next label. The numbers 1.14 and 104 are derived from-the 90 and 8O possible code columns on the above-mentioned cards plus an additional 24 Acolumns in which code representative orcharacters punched in a header card can be recorded. rThe recorders are of the 7-channel type adapted to record inl seven parallel channels of tape 10, six being used for recording data and the seventh being used to record syncfpulses which are continually recorded even though rio-code is'recorded. As a result, tape 10 is provided with. timing marks 12 along one edge thereof and the code for each character is recorded across the tape and in alignment with its respective timing mark. A more detailed description of the manner in which the code 'representative of the characters on the cards is transposed to tape can be obtained with reference to the above application, Serial No. 618,005.

With reference to Fig. 1, tape 10 is moved continuously with respect to magnetic pick-up devices 15 arranged across tape 10. Each of the devices 15 is aligned with.l

^ beingk connected to and associated with one' of said devices 15. "Upon coincidence of an output signal from its respective device 15 and a signal from amplifier 17, an electrical signal appears on the corresponding line 19; As each column of code on tape 10 is moved past devices 15, a signal will be derived from each timing mark 12 and from any code in the column aligned therewith. If a coded character is sensed by one or some combination of devices 15, then an electrical signal will be presented on the corresponding one or combination of lines 19.

Read-in ring counter 18 consists of a number of units equivalent to the code columns on tape 10 comprising a label. In the embodiment being described the number can be 114 to correspond to the maximum number of code columns per label when usingv a 90 column record card. Such a ring counter can be of the type disclosed lin my pending application, Serial No. 704,472, or lin the text Pulse and Digital Circuits, Millman and Taub, published by McGraw-I-Iill Publishing Company and is analogous to a stepping switch in thateach output pulse from amplier 17 causes the counter to advance one unit and provide an output pulse. Since the timing marks 12 are. arranged in identical spaced form rate past devices 15, the output pulses from ring counter 18 are periodic intheir occurrence.

Memory means 20 is provided for each line of the label and comprises a number of units at least equivalent to the number of vcharacters which can be printed on a single line of the label. Each memory unit is therefore associated with a possible character or space on the label and' comprisesy six elements in accordance with the six position-code. Y As disclosed in the above-mentioned applicatiomy Serial No. 394,926, each unit of memory means20` can be connected to lines 19 in any order to produce the required label. For example, the name, address, andany other information punched into' the record cards can andare located in different areas of the cards in accordance with the. iiling, accounting, or any other system used. However, in printing an -address label it -is customary for the name to appear in the rst line, the address in the second line, the city and possibly' the state in the third line, and the state alone or with other data in the fourth line as shown in Fig. 2. Foi-example, each unit of memory means 20-1 is therefore connected to lines 19 and to a unit of ring counter 18 in accordance with the desired appearance of the label, the unit of the ring counter determining the unit of the memory means which is to be rendered receptive to the storage of signals. This may be best explained by assuming the location of .a character on the card, the tape and the label. If the first digit of the street number is punched into column 1 of either of the abovementioned types of cards, the corresponding code will appear in the rst column of tape 10. The digit, however, is to be printed in the rst position of the second line on the label, see Fig. 2. The rst unit of memory means 20-2 will therefore be connected to lines 19 and the iirst unit of ring counter 18. 'Ihe electrical sig,- nals presented on some predetermined combination of lines 19 'and representative of the digit will then be stored in the rst unit of memory means 20-2 associated with the second line because this is the only unit which has beenrendered receptive to signals by the rst pulse fromy ring counter 18. By thisrarrangement, any systemV utilizedv for encoding the data or information on the cards can be readily Vadapted to the device. Whileeach of memory'y means V20 in Fig. 1 is shown as being connected to' each of lines 19 and to ring counter 18, it is to be'v understood that this showing is only schematic and that each unit of each memory means 20-1, 20-2, 20432 and20-4' (the latter two not being shown) is connected to lines 19 and to a unit of counter 18.

Uponcompleting the scanning or reading of the code columns associated with a label whereby all the code is stored in the respective memory means 20, the tape 10 comes to a stop at the area designated reset period, see Fig'. 3,-at which time read-out of the stored signals takes place to print-the label. Upon completion of the read-out andprinting of Vthe label, tape 10 again starts to move past heads 15. At this time, the area between the code of successive labels provides an interval for resetting ofthe various circuits, such as the ring counter 18, so the circuits will" be conditioned and rendered receptive tothe code for the next label which follows the reset area. on tape 10.

A pulse generator 25 supplies a series of periodic pulses to amplifier 26 which, in turn, supplies a signal to a group of sevenA flip-flop circuits 27 connected so as to obtain an output from each in turn. Five of these output pulses are connected to each of thematrices 28 to sequentially operate printer 29 and the seventh pulse is utilized to step read-out ring counter 30 once for every seven rpulses and to pulse a voltage source in memory meansr 20. Read-out ring counter 30 is the same as read-in ring' counter 18 with the exception that the number of units isequivalent to the number of characters which cani be printed in a label line. Since each of the 'relation alongtape 10 and tape 10 is moved at a uni- 75 labels 13-1 and 13-2, as shown in Fig. 2 provide for comprise twenty-seven units.

twenty-seven possible character positions, counter 30 will It will be noted however the label tape 31 is provided with spaced perforations 32 which necessitate the printing of fewer characters. The output pulses from ring counter 30 are connected to each of memory means 2t) and serve to release the electrical signals stored therein in successive order. Since the electrical signals were read into the proper units of memory means 20 for printing in their designated position on the label, they are read out of the corresponding units of each of memory means Ztl-1, 20-2, etc. simultaneously and successively. With this arrangement each line of the label is printed at the same time, that is', characters or spaces in each line are provided at the same time. For example, with reference to Fig. 2, the first characters in each line, of label 132 namely, M, 7, R and N are printed simultaneously, whereas in the fourth position spaces are provided in lines 1, 2 and 4 and H is printed in line 3. Spaces are automatically provided by those memory units in which no signals have been stored.

The signal or signals read out of memory means 20 and individual to each character are converted by a decoder circuit 40 into a single electrical signal which is representative of the character. This electrical signal is then transmitted to a synthesizing circuit 41 in which each electrical signal is directed to the proper elements of matrix circuit 28 for obtaining outputs to ultimately produce a visual representation of the character corresponding to each electrical signal. The outputs from matrix 28 are applied to styli 44 of printer 29 through amplifier inverters 45. The printer 29 comprises four units, one unit being associated with each line and comprising seven styli 44. The styli are actuated singly or in any combination by the outputs of matrix 28 delivered through inverters 45. In response to a signal, the respective stylus is moved toward anvil roll 46 over which paper tape 31 and a carbon tape 33 are moved in synchronism with the movement of magnetic tape 10, the carbon tape being arranged over the paper tape whereby the carbon is transferred to the paper tape by movement of one or more of styli 44 into engagement with roll 46. It is to be understood that a memory means 20, a decoder circuit 40, a synthesizing circuit 41, a matrix circuit 28, an amplier inverter 45 and a printer 29 are associated with each label line and that ring counter 30 and llipflop circuits 27 are common to each label line to provide for printing of all label lines simultaneously. The circuitry described thus far is substantially the same as that disclosed in the above-mentioned application Serial No. 394,926, with the exception that the signals are derived from a magnetic tape by magnetic pick-ups rather than from punched cards by light-responsive devices.

In accordance with the switching arrangement disclosed in a co-pending application in the name of Russell G. Thompson, Serial No. 469,619, led November 18, 1954, now U.S. Patent 2,892,030, mirror images of the address label are printed on tape 31 for transferring the complete label to the mailing piece by the application of a heated anvil to the portion of the tape containing the label to be transferred to the mailing piece. As described hereinabove, it has been found that in many instances, a tape comprising 18,00020,000 labels to be aliixed to more than one mailing piece necessitated handling and matching each mailing piece to the label. This operation was very time consuming. In order to eliminate this matching of label and mailing piece, it was found that by identifying each label with a particular mailing piece, all of the labels on a reel associated with a particular mailing piece could be automatically aixed and then by repeating the run for each other mailing only one mailing piece need be concerned with each run thereby greatly increasing the rate at which transfers can be made.

, This has been accomplished by punching a character in a predetermined position of the card to identify it with a particular mailing and resulting in a configuration being printed in a line of the label to permit selecting the label for axing it to the proper mailing piece. In Fig. 2, the last digit of 91372 is label 13-1 and of 51435 in label 13-2 that is 2 and 5, are each representative of different mailings for printing the coniiguration 50 in the trirst and second lines of their respective labels. Since the code of these identifying digits 2 and 5 as well as any other identifying digit is located in the same column of its respective card, such code will also appear in the same column on tape 10 for each label.

In order to utilize the identifying code for printing the conguration in the proper line of the label, decoder circuit 35 is connected to lines 19 for receiving the electrical signals derived from each code column on tape 10 and may be of the same type as decoder circuit 40. Since configuration 50 can be printed in any one line or any combination of the lines, decode circuit 35 need only be required to decode sixteen characters based on the combinations of lines possible with a four-line address label. IIt is to be understood, of course, that this number of combinations can be increased or decreased depending on the number of label lines and the system with which the cards are associated. In Fig. 1 of the drawings, an arrangement is disclosed in which configuration Sii is selectively printed in only one line of the label in accordance with a predetermined character. Decoder 35 provides a single electrical signal individual to each character in accordance with the electrical signals presented on the lines 19. These signals from decoder 35 are connected to their respective terminals on plugboard 36. Gate circuits 37, as shown in Fig. 4, are coincidence type circuits which provide an output signal only upon coincidence of input signals to the respective grids. Each of gating circuits 37 is associated with a line of the label and have one input side connected to the terminal of plugboard 36 corresponding to the character identifiable with the line and the other input of each gating circuit connected to the same unit of ring counter 18 via plugboard 38. The output from each gating circuit 37 is connected to one side of a fiip-op circuit 39 which can be of a type disclosed in the above-mentioned application Serial No. 394,926. The other side of each iiipflop circuit 39 is connected via plugboard 51 to the same unit of ring counter 30. The output signal from each flip-Hop circuit 39 is connected to the matrix circuit 28 associated with its respective line and by proper choice of the circuit parameters the output signal is individual to the coniiguration 50.

As described above, the preselected character is punched into a predetermined column or position on the card and, hence, is recorded in the same predetermined column on tape 10. Since the column is therefore readily determined, the output signal or pulse derived from the unit of ring counter 13 corresponding to this column is also connected either directly or via plugboard 38 to each of gate circuits 37. The other inputs of gate circuits 37 are connected to the contacts of plugboard 36 in accordance with the character to be identified with its respective line. As shown in Fig. l, "2 is connected to gate 37-1 of line 1, 5 is connected to gate 37-2 of line 2, "7 is connected to gate 37-3 of line 3 and "9 is connected to gate 37-4 of line 4. Since any one of gates 37 will provide an output pulse only with coincidence of two signals, a signal from decoder circuit 35 individual to any one of the above identifying characters which appears in `any other column of tape 10, aside from the predetermined column, wiil not result in a coniiguration being printed in a normal manner. This may best be explained by assuming certain positions of the characters and following the logic by means of an example.

Assuming that the code representative of the preselected characters 2 is punched in the 51st column of an IBM card, the code will rst be converted to its equivalent 7 in a position code and recorded on tape 10 in alignment with the 51st timing mark. 12 for the label. Also assuming that the character .2 Visto be printed in the 22nd position of line 4 onV the labeland the conguration Sti representative thereof is to be printed in the tirst line of the label and in the 25th position, as Vshown in label 13-1, then the output of the 5lst unit of ring counter 18 is connected to the 22nd unit of memory means 29-4 (not shown), for line 4 and via plugboard 3S to each of gating circuits 37. Also, the output of the 25th unit of ring counter 30 is connected either directly or via plugboard 51 to each of flip-Hop circuits 39, as well as the 25th unit of each of memory means 2t). As a result, signals on one or a combination of lines i9 corresponding to and representative of the digit 2 will be directed to decoder 35 and the proper unit of one of memory means 20. If these signals occur with an output pulse from any unit of ring counter 1S other than the 51st unit, the signalsare stored in the corresponding and proper unit of one of memory means 26 but the signal from decoder 35 to gate circuit 3'7-1 has no efiect. However, when these signals for the digit 2 appear on lines 19 with the stepping of the 51st unit of counter 1S, gate 37-1 receives a signal from decoder 35 together with a signal from the 51st unit of counter i8 and an output pulse is transmitted to iiip-op 39-1 to trigger this circuit. At the same time, these same signals appearing on lines 19 are stored in the 22nd unit of memory 26-4. Since iiip-ops 39 are bistable circuits, flip-flop 39-1 remains in the triggered state until read out of the memory means 20 takes place. During the read-out interval and upon stepping of the 22nd unit of ring counter 30, any stored signals in the 22nd units of memory means 20-1, Ztl-2, 20-3 and 26-4 are released and result in printing of the digit 2 in line 4, as shown in Fig.v 2. Upon stepping of the 25th unit of ringcounter 30,.an output signal is transmitted to the corresponding units of memory means 20 as Well as to the'iiip-liops 39. This output signal causes flip-flop 39-1 to reverse its state and to provide an output signal individual to the configuration which is transmitted to matrix 28-3L and results in the configuration being printed in the 25th position of the iirst line. As shown in Fig. 5, a plurality of preselected characters canbe utilized by connecting gating circuits 37 to more than one of said characters. ous combinations of' the configuration printed in one or more lines of the label can be utilized to obtain a greater degree of selection.

From the above description, it is evident that the apparatus is capable of printing a multiple line label in accordance with characters represented by code arranged in -a medium in successive columns and ot selectively printing a predetermined configuration in a predetermined position in one or more predetermined lines of the label in accordance with the code of a preselected character or characters in a predetermined column on the medium. Although the invention has been described with the use of a digit or a number as the preselected character, it is to be understood that any number, letter, symbol or representation can be used. Likewise, the printed configuration can take any form which will permit it to be used for the purpose of either visual or sensed selection.

Since many modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skillled in the a-rt, the invention is not to be limited to the described disclosure but is del-ined by the appended claims.

Having now particularly described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States and what I claim is:

1. Apparatus for translating into visual representation the characters represented by code arranged on a medium in successive columns, each column of code being arranged vWith respect to a timing mark on said medium, and tor` selectively printing a predetermined contiguration in a predetermined position with respectto said repre- As a result, vari-V sentation in accordance with the code of a preselected character in a predetermined position on said medium,

the combination comprising means for scanning said medium and deriving output pulses in accordance with the code in each column and individual to the character represented thereby and a sync pulse from each of said timing marks, a ring counter having a predetermined number of units for providing a series of periodic output pulses, each unit being responsive to one of said sync pulses, distribution means responsive to said output pulses and the corresponding sync pulse for delivering successive electrical signals representative of the coded characters in each of said scanned columns, memory means connected to said distribution means and responsive to said periodic output pulses for read-in and storage of the electrical signals in any predetermined order, pulse generating means for providing a series of periodic pulses to said memory means for successively reading out the stored electrical signals in a fixed order and in a predetermined relation to the electrical signals being stored, means responsive to the electrical signals successively read out of said memory means for converting said signals into an electrical signal individual to the character represented thereby, decoder means responsive to the electrical signals of said distribution means for converting said electrical signals into 4an electrical signal individual to the character represented thereby, means connected to said decoder means, said ring counter and said pulse generating means and responsive to coincidence of the decoder riodic pulses corresponding to the position of said cong-uration with respect to said character `for supplying an electrical signal individual to said configuration, Vand means responsive to said electrical signals derived from said converting means and to said electrical signal representative of said conguration for printing the characters and the configuration in accordance with the predetermined arrangement.

2. Apparatus for translating into visual representation the characters represented by code arranged on a medium in successive columns, each column of code being arranged with respect to a timing mark on said medium, and for selectively printing a predetermined conguration in a predetermined position with yrespect to said representation in accordance with the code of a preselected character in a predetermined position on said medium, the combination comprising means for scanning said medium and deriving output. pulses in accordance with the code in each column and individual to the character represented thereby `and a sync pulse from each of said timing marks, a -ring counter having a predetermined number of units for providing a series of periodic output pulses, each unit being yresponsive to one of said sync pulses, `distribution means responsive to said output pulses and the corresponding sync pulse for delivering successive electrical sign-als representative of the coded characters in each of said scanned columns, memory means connected to said distribution means and responsive to said periodic output pulses for read-in and storage of the electrical signals in any predetermined order, pulse generating means for providing a series of periodic pulses to said memory means for successively reading out the stored electrical signals in a fixed order and in a predetermined relation to the electrical signals being stored, means responsive to the electrical signals successively read .out of said memory means for converting said signals into an electrical signal individual to the character represented thereby, decoder means responsive to the electrical sig? decoder means and said ring counter and responsive to coincidence of the decoder electrical signal correspond- -ing to the preselected character with the one of the output pulses from the unit of said ring counter corresponding to the predetermined position on said medium of the code representative of the preselected character for supplying an output signal, bistable circuit means responsive to the output signal from said supplying means and to the one of said pulse generating periodic pulse corresponding to the position of said contiguration with re spect to said characters for releasing an electrical signal individual to said coniiguration, and means responsive to said electrical signals derived from said converting means and to said electrical signal representative of said configuration for printing the characters and the cong11ration in accordance with the predetermined arrangement.

3. Apparatus for translating into visual representation the characters yrepresented by code arranged on a medium in successive columns, each column of code being arranged With respect to ya timing mark on said medium, and for selectively printing a predetermined configuration in a predetermined position with respect to said representation in accordance with the code of a preselected character in a predetermined position on said medium, the combination comprising means for scanning said medium and driving output pulses in accordance with the code in each column and individual to the character represented thereby and a sync pulse from each of said timing marks, a ring counter having a predetermined nurnber of units for providing a series of periodic output pulses, each unit being responsive to one of said sync pulses, distribution means responsive to said output pulses and the corresponding sync pulse for delivering successive electrical signals representative of the coded characters in each of said scanned columns, memory means connected to said distribution means and responsive to said periodic output pulses for read-in and storage of the electrical signals in any predetermined order, pulse generating means for providing a series of periodic pulses to said memory means for successively reading out the stored electrical signals in a xed order and in a predetermined relation to the electrical signals being stored, means responsive to the electrical signals successively read out of said memory means for converting said signals into an electrical signal individual to the character represented thereby, decoder means responsive to the electrical signals of said distribution means for converting said electrical signals into an electrical signal individual to the character represented thereby, a gating circuit connected to said decoder means and said ring counter and responsive to coincidence of the decoder electrical signal corresponding to the preselected character with the one of the output pulses from the unit of said ring counter corresponding to the predetermined position on said medium of the code representative of the preselected character for supplying an output signal, bistable circuit means triggered in one direction in response to the output signal from said gating circuit and in the other direction in response to the one of said pulse generating periodic pulses corresponding to the position of said conguration with respect to the characters for providing an electrical signal individual to `said configuration, and means responsive to said electrical signals derived from said converting means and to said electrical signal representative of said conguration for printing the characters and the conguration in accordance with the predetermined arrangement.

4. Apparatus for printing a multiple line label in accordance vvith characters represented by code arranged on 'a medium in successive columns, each column of code being arranged with respect to a timing mark on said medium,A and for selectively printing a predetermined conguration in a predetermined position in a predetermined line of said label in accordance with the code of a preselected character in a predetermined column on said medium, the'combination comprising means for scanning said medium and 'deriving output pulses in ac#- cordance with the code in each column and individual to the character represented thereby and a sync pulse derived from each of said timing marks, a ring counter having a number of units at least equal to the number of code columns comprising said label for providing a series of periodic output pulses, each unit being responsive successively to one of said sync pulses, distribution means responsive to said output, pulses and the corresponding sync pulse for delivering `successive electrical signals representative of the coded characters in each of said scanned columns, memory means associated With each of said label lines and connected to said distribution means, said memory means being responsive to said periodic output pulses for read-in and storage of the electrical signals associated with its respective line, pulse generating means for provi-ding a series of periodic pulses, each of said periodic pulses being applied simultaneously to each of said memory means for successively reading out the stored electrical signals in a iixed order and in a predetermined relation to said elec-trical signals being stored, means responsive to the electrical signals successively read out of said memory means for converting said signals into an electrical signal individual to the character represented thereby, decoder means responsive to the electrical signals of said distribution means for converting said electrical signals into an electrical signal individual to the character represented thereby, means associated with each line of said label and connected to said decoder means, said ring counter and said pulse generating means and responsive to coincidence of the decoder electrical signal corresponding to the preselected character with one of the output pulses from said ring counter corresponding to the predetermined position of the code of the preselected character on said medium and to the one of said pulse generating periodic pulses corresponding to the predetermined position of said conguration in the lin'e of the label for supplying an electrical signal individual to said coniiguration, and means responsive to said electrical signals derived from converting means and to said electrical signal representative of said conguration for printing the characters and the configuration in accordance with the predetermined relation.

5. Apparatus for printing a multiple line label in accordance with characters represented by code arranged on a medium in successive columns, each column of code being arranged with respect to a timing mark on said medium, and for selectively printing a predetermined configuration in a predetermined position in a predetermined line of said label in accordance with the code of a preselected character in a predetermined position on said medium, the combination comprising means for scanning said medium and deriving output pulses in accordance with the code in each column and individual to the character represented thereby and a sync pulse derived from each of said timing marks, a ring counter having a number of units at least equal to the number of code columns comprising said label for providing a series of periodic output pulses, each unit being responsive successively to one of said sync pulses, distribution means responsive to said Voutput pulses and the corresponding sync pulse for delivering successive electrical signals representative of the coded characters in each of said scanned columns, memory means associated with each of said label lines and connected to said distribution means, said memory means being responsive to said periodic output pulses for read-in and storage of the electrical signals associated with its respective line, pulse generating means for providing a series of periodic pulses, each of said periodic pulses being applied simultaneously to each of said memory means for successively reading out the stored electrical signals in a fixed order and in a predetermined relation to said electrical signals being stored, means responsiveto the electrical signals successively read out of said imemory means for converting said signals yinto an electrical signal individual .to the character represented thereby, decoder means responsive to the electrical signals of said distribution means for conventing said electrical signals into an electrical signal individual to the character represented thereby, means associated with `each line of said label and connected to said decoder means and said ring counter and responsive to coincidence of the decoder electrical signal correspending to theV preselected character with the one of the output pulses from the unit of said ring counter corresponding to the predetermined position on said medium of the code representative of the preselected character for supplying an output signal, bistable circuit means associatedV with each of said supplying means and re sponsive to the output signal therefrom and to the one of said pulse generating periodic pulses corresponding to the position of said configuration with respect to said characters for releasing an electrical signal individual to said conguration, and imeans responsive to said electrical signals derived from said converting means and to said electrical signal representative of said configuration for printing the characters and the configuration in accordance with the predetermined relation.

6. Apparatus for printing a multiple line label in ac cordance with characters represented Vby code arranged on a medium in successive columns, each column of code being arranged with respect to a timing mark on said medium, and for selectively printing a predetermined lconiiguration in a predetermined Yposition in a predetermined line of said label in accordance with the code of a preselected character in agpredetermined position ou said medium, the combination comprising means for scanning said medium rand deriving output pulses in accordance with the code in each column and individual to the character represented thereby and a sync pulse derived from each of said timing marks, Va ring counter having a number'of units at least equal to the number of code columns comprising said label for providing a series of periodic output pulses each unit being responsive successively to one of said syncpulses, distribution means responsive to said output pulses and the corresponding sync pulse for delivering successive electrical signals representative of the coded characters in .each of said scannedrcolumns, memory means associated with each of said label lines and connected to said distribution means, said memory means being responsive to said periodic output pulses for read-in Vand storage of the electrical signals associated with its respective line, pulse generating means for providing a series ofvperiodic pulses, each of said periodic pulses beingapplied simultaneously lto' each of said memory means for successively reading out the stored yelectrical signals in a iixed order and in a predetermined relation to said electrical signals being stored, means responsive to the electrical signals successively read out of said memory means for converting said signals into an electrical signal individual to the character represented thereby, decoder means responsive to the electrical signals of said distribution means for converting said electrical signals into an electrical signal individual to the character represented thereby, a gating circuit associated with each line of said label and connected to said decoder means and said ring counter and responsive to coincidence Iof the decoder electrical signal corresponding to the preselected character with the one of the output pulses from the unit of said ring counter corresponding to the predetermined position on said medium ofthe code representative of the preselected character for supplying an output signal, bistable circuit means associated with each of said gating circuits and triggered in one direction in response to the output signal from its'respective gating circuit and in the other direction in response to the one of said pulse generating periodic pulses corresponding to the position of said contiguration with respect to `the predetermined position in said predetermined line for providing an electrical signal individual to said Vconfiguration, andmeans responsive to'said electrical signals derived from said converting means ,andV to said electrical signal representative of said configuration for printing the characters and the configuration in accordance with the predetermined relation.

7. lApparatus for printing a multiple line label in accordance with characters represented by code arranged on afmedium in successive columns,reach column of code being arranged with respect to a timing mark on said medium, and for selectively printing a predetermined configuration in a predetermined position inone or more lines .of said label in accordance with the code of a plus rality of vpreselected characters eachrepresentative of a combination of said .lines and in a predetermined-position on saidzmedium, the combination comprising means for'scanning said medium and deriving output pulses in accordance with the code in each column and individual to the character represented thereby and a sync pulse derived from :each of said timing marks, a ring counter having a knumber of units atleast 'equal to the number of code columns comprising said label for providing Va series of 'periodic output pulses, each unit being responsive successively to one of said sync pulses, distribution' means yresponsive to said output pulses and the corresponding sync pulse Vfor'delivering successive electrical signals representative of the coded characters in each of .said scanned columns, memory means associated with each of said label lines and connected to said distribution means, said vmemory means being responsive to said periodic output pulses for read-in and storage of the electrical signals associated with its respectiveline, pulse generating means for providingv a series of periodic pulses, each of said Vperiodic pulses being appliedisimultaneously to each of said memory means for successively reading out the stored electrical signals in .a iixed order and in a predetermined relation to said electrical signals being stored, means responsive to the electrical signals successively read out of said memory means 'for converting said signals into an electrical signal individual to the character represented thereby, decoder means responsive tothe electrical signals of said distribution means for converting said electrical signals into an electrical signal individual to the characterrepresentedthereby, a plugboard having two sets of contacts, one set of contacts being connected to said decoder means for posting the electrical signals corresponding to said preselected characters, a plurality of gating circuits equivalent in number to the number of label lines, each gating circuit having a first input connected to the other set of those contacts of said plugboard corresponding to the preselected characters associated with its Vrespective line and a second input connected to the unit of said ring counter corresponding to the predetermined position on said medium of the preselected characters and providing an output signal only upon coincidence of an electrical signal corresponding to one `of the preselected characters with the output pulse from the connected unit of said ring counter, bistable circuit means associated with each of said gating circuits and triggered in one direction in response to the output pulse from its respective gating circuit and in the otheridirection in response to the one of said pulsevgenerating periodic pulses corresponding to the position of said conf guration with respect to the predetermined position in the line for providing an electrical signal individualto said configuration, and means responsive to vsaid electn'cal signalsderived from said converting means to said electrical signal representative of said conguration cordance with the predetermined relation.

No references cited.

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