Recording arrangement for the graphic reproduction of alpha-numerical indicia on a recording strip
United States Patent Riedl Apr. 22, 1975 RECORDING ARRANGEMENT FOR THE GRAPHIC REPRODUCTION OF ALPHA-NUMERICAL INDlCIA ON A RECORDING STRIP Inventor: Hermann Riedl, Erlangen. Germany Assigneei Siemens Aktiengesellschait,  
 Erlangen. Germany Filed: Jan. 25, 1974 Appl. No.1 436,806  
 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jane 31. i973 Germany 2304740 [52] U.S. Cl 346/76 R; 178/30; 346/6! [5i] Int. Cl. 601d 15/) [58] Field of Search 346/76 R, l4]. 6|; 178/30; 197/] R; 101/1 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.659.652 ll/l953 Thompson 346/50 3.l09 (l58 ill/i963 Luhn l78/3U X 3.754.279 8/1973 Valenti et al 346/76 R Primary E.\&#39;aminerloseph W. Hartary [57] ABSTRACT A recording arrangement for the graphic reproduction of alpha-numerical indicia on a recording strip which is moved relative to a recording instrument. including an indicia generator for the digitalizing of the indicia pursuant to prescribed segment-code and the generation of control impulses for the recording instrument. which determines the time points and duration of the indicia segments reproduction. In the arrangement extending transversely of the direction of movement of the recording strip, there are positioned a number of segment recorders each having an impulse transmitter associated therewith, in which the impulse transmitters are controllable through a control installation in the sense of the succession of the segments of the tobe-recorded indicia for pressing the recorder against the recording strip. and wherein the number of the recorders are selected in conformance with the desired degree of reproducing precision for the indicia.  
 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures RECORDING ARRANGEMENT FOR THE GRAPHIC REPRODUCTION OF ALPHA-NUMERICAL INDICIA ON A RECORDING STRIP FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a recording arrangement for the graphic reproduction of alpha-numerical indicia on a recording strip which is moved relative to a recording instrument, including an indicia generator for the digitalizing of the indicia pursuant to prescribed segment-code and the generation of control impulses for the recording instrument. which determine the time points and duration of the indicia segments reproduction.  
 DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART Through the intermediary of German Laid-Open Patent Specification No. 2,I08.24l. there has become known an ink-vapor or spray recording arrangement for the graphic reproduction of alpha-numerical indicia on a moving paper strip by means of horizontal dashes. Herein. in order to effect the rapid transmission of the ink beams or rays into the particular recording position. the ink vapor nozzle had imparted thereto deflect ing impulses at wide transition intervals. Due to extremely rapid deflection of the ink stream perpendicular to the direction of movement ofthe paper strip. the drawing of lines or dashes transverse to the horizontal line segments was suppressed.  
  In addition to ink vapor recording arrangements of that type. there are also known a large number of other recording arrangements which. in view of the relatively large mechanical inertia of the recorders. do not allow for rapid deflection or deviating movements of these recorders above the recording strip. as for example in the ink vapor recorder according to the German Laid- Open Patent Specification. The application of the analogical deflecting impulses of the recorder pursuant to the German-Laid Open Patent Specification to recording arrangements of that type would then lead, for example, to the blending in of undesirable vertical lines. and thereby to falsification of the indicia.  
  In actual practice there are also instances. particularly in the case of desired large-surfaced indicia reproduction. in which the indicia are reproduced by means of horizontal. as well as through vertical lines. However. to begin with, indicia reproduction of that type is not possible with an ink-vapor recorder according to German Laid-Open Patent Specification No. 2,l08.24l, inasmuch as just this ink-vapor recorder suppresses vertical lines.  
  The mentioned recording arrangements are, for example. such recording arrangements in which, for recording. the recording instrument must be directly pressed against the recording strip and. in particular. pencil recorders with thermally sensitive paper serving as the recording strips.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is. accordingly, an object of the present invention to also construct such recording arrangements which do not operate with an ink beam or vapor. so as to render these possible of the graphic reproduction of alphanumerical indicia. and in particular also through longitudinally and transversely extending lines.  
  The foregoing object is inventively attained in that. extending transversely of the direction of movement of the recording strip. there are positioned a number of segment recorders each having an impulse transmitter associated therewith. in which the impulse transmitters are controllable through a control installation in the sense of the succession of the segments of the to-berecorded indicia for the pressing of the recorder against the recording strip. and wherein the number of the recorders are selected in conformance with the desired degree of reproducing precision for the indicia.  
  The inventive arrangement of a number of segment recorders extending transversely relative to the direction of movement of the recording strip permits the reproduction of indicia without specialized deflection or deviating motion ofa recorder. for example a recording pen. above the recording strip and perpendicular to the direction of its movement. Since for reproduction of individual indicia segments the segment recorder need only be pressed against the recording strip. this affords an increase in the extent. as desired. of the recording arrangement for graphic reproduction of alphanumerical indicia from previously only applicable ink vapor recording arrangements into the sphere also of recording arrangements having pressure recorders. By means of suitable constructional formulation of the individual segment recorders. respectively. through cor responding control of the segment recorders. the reproduction of an indicia may be. as desired. effected either through only horizontal or vertical. or through horizontal and vertical lines.  
  In a particularly simply constructed embodiment of the inventive recording arrangement the recorders are positioned in close proximity to each other transverse to the direction of movement ofthe recording strip. For the reproduction of an indicia through mutually per pendicular longitudinal and transverse lines. it is further advantageous. to select the writing width of the re corder for the longitudinal lines in conformance with the desired line thickness. and for the transverse lines in conformance with the desired line lengths. In a fur ther embodiment of the recording arrangement having an indicia generator which digitalizes the indicia in seven-segment-code, it is preferable that there be used. in spaced relationship to each other, a total of two exterior and one interior longitudinal line recorders. and to locate a transverse line recorder between each exterior and the inner longitudinal line recorder.  
  From the standpoint of the faithful or accurate generation of control impulses for the segment recorder, it is purposeful to provide in an advantageous embodiment of the invention. in each of the impulse transmitters. an impulse generator producing base impulses whose lengths correspond with the graphic reproduction width of an indicia. and which determine the time point as well as the duration of the reproduction of the particular segment by means of occurrence time point and the lengths ofimpulses formed by monostable stepping oscillators which are superimposed on the base impulses. The impulse generator and the monostable stepping oscillators are suitably connected to each other through the intermediary logic interconnecting elements so as to generate pressing impulses for the recorder for each coincidence between the impulses of the impulse generators and the stepping oscillators.  
  Furthermore. the recording arrangement according to the invention is suitably applicable to the recording of alpha-numerical indicia, as well as for the recording of measuring parameters, for example. body-action stresses ln this case, it is purposeful to divide the recording strip into a total of two recording segments, wherein one recording segment is provided for the reproduction of the indicia, and the other for the reproduction of the measuring parameters.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is now had to the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention and to the operation thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
  FIG. 1 illustrates digitalized numerals in sevensegment-code, as reproduced by the exemplary em bodiment of the invention;  
  FIG. 2 is a generally schematic perspective represen tation of a recording apparatus according to the invention, as well as its spacial location with respect to a recording strip; and  
  FIG. 3 illustrates a typical schematic circuit diagram of a possible embodiment for the impulse transmitters, as well as a control installation for the control of the individual segment recorders of the recording apparatus of FIG. 2.  
 DETAILED DESCRlPTlON Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, for the formation of numerals in seven-segment-code, there is required a maximum total of three longitudinal lines, as well as four transverse lines (for example, for forming the numeral 8). In order to form these lines there are provided, along the writing edge 1 of a recording strip 2 which is conveyed in the direction of arrow 3, a total of three longitudinal-line recorders 4, S and 6, and intermediate the exterior longitudinal-line recorder 4, and respectively 6 and the inner longitudinal-line recorder 5, transverse-line recorder 7 and, respectively, 8.  
  The recording strip 2 consists of a thermally sensitive paper. For the formation of recording lines on this paper, the segment recorders 4 through 8 must therefore be connected to a suitable heating installation (not shown) for effecting the heating of the recorders.  
  The individual segment recorders 4 through 6 consist of thin leaf springs, which are tensioned at their lower ends through a support element 9 which is fastened to a suitable recorder arrangement housing (not shown). The leaf springs are each preferably formed, due to heat as well as elasticity grounds, of steel. The widths of the springs 4, 5 and 6 are selected in conformance with the desired width of the longitudinal line of an indicia, and the width of the springs 7 and 8 in conformance with the desired lengths of the transverse lines.  
  ln order to effect the pressing of the untensioned ends of the recorder springs 4 through 6 against the recording strip 2. there are provided lifting magnets 10 through 14, which are operatively connected by means of linkage rods with the untensioned ends of springs 4 through 6.  
  In order to prevent spring oscillations after raising a spring from the recording strip 2, there further is provided in impact or contact rod 17 which is mounted on another support element 16.  
  The recording arrangement as shown in FIG. 2 fur ther includes, in addition, another heatable recording stylus 18 for the recording of a measuring curve 19, for  
 example an EKG, adjacent the indicia (for example, 20). The recording of the indicia and, respectively, the measuring curves, is effected on two mutually separated segments along the paper strip 2.  
  In FIG. 3, paper strips. segment recorders, as well as lifting magnets are designated with the same reference numerals as the comparable elements in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the segments of an indicia formed by the recorders 4 through 8 are individually designated by ref erence numerals S, through 8,. The thickness of the particular transverse line segment is designated with r,, the time interval between two successive transverse line segments with as well as the lengths of longitudinal line segments (corresponding to the total reproduced width of an indicia) with An indicia generator is designated by reference numerals 21 and 22. This indicia generator contains a BCD-encoder 21 for the indicia which are to be copied. The indicia generator further contains a sevensegment-code converter 22, which converts the indicia received in BCD-code seven-segment-code. The converter 22 is therefore provided with a total of seven outputs, which are also designated by 8, through 5,. These outputs S, through S, are so correlated with the indicia segments S, through S, of the indicia which is to be recorded so that there is generated, for the to-berecorded indicia segments S, through 8, at the corresponding outputs S, through S, of the converter 22, a voltage impulse having a length in conformance with the overall indicia width In the absence of particular segments in an indicia, the associated outputs at the converter 22 indicate zero voltages with respect thereto.  
  The outputs S, through 8, of the seven-segment-code converter 22 are each separately connected to an input of associated AND-elements 23 through 29. The other inputs of the AND-element 23 through 29 are in view thereof, as shown in the illustrated schematic circuit, connected to the outputs of monostable stepping oscil lators 30 through 33, which are displaceable into their unstable oscillating positions for variable time periods in dependence upon a starting impulse 34. The oscillating durations of the monostable stepping oscillators are thereby so selected that, upon the occurrence of a starting impulse 34, the stepping oscillator 30 generates a voltage impulse having the duration t,, the stepping oscillator 31 an output impulse of duration and the stepping oscillator 32 an output impulse of duration 1 At the end of the voltage impulse of the stepping oscillator 31 there is contact against the stepping oscillator 32 which will then also generate a voltage impulse of duration 1,.  
  The output impulses of the AND-elements 23 through 29, which are generated due to the coincidence between the output impulses of the sevensegment-code converter 22, as well as the impulses of the monostable stepping oscillators 30 through 33, serve as actuating impulses for the lifting magnets 10 through 14. In order to generate the excitation current required for the excitation of the lifting magnets, drive steps 35 through 39 are switched-in intermediate each of the respective AND-elements and lifting magnets. For the copying of successive transverse segments of an indicia by means of one and the same segment recorder 7 and, respectively, 8, the transmission of the output impulses of the AND-elements 24 and 29 and the AND-elements 26, as well as 28, toward the successively switched in drive steps 36, respectively, 38, is effected through OR-elements 40, 4].  
  The operation of the principal circuit according to FIG. 3 is effected, for example, at the instance of the desired reproduction of a numeral, such as the numeral 8,&#34; as follows:  
  The commencement of the desired copying ofthe numeral 8 on the thermally sensitive recording strip 2, which is moving at a uniform speed, in the direction of arrow 3, is solved by means of a starting impulse 34 for the numeral 8. Upon the occurrence of this starting impulse, there is transmitted from the BCD encoder the numeral in BCD-code to the seven-segment-code con verter 22, which generates the above-described output impulse of duration 1;, in conformance with the various present part segments S, through S of this numeral at each of its outputs S, through 5,. Concurrently, the stepping oscillator 30, 31, as well as 32, are contacted. On the basis of the illustrated logic interconnection of the output impulses of the stepping oscillators with the output impulses of the seven-segment-code converter 22, in each of the AND-elements 23 through 29, there is generated at the outputs of the individual AND- elements, the following impulse schematic:  
  At the inputs of the AND-elements 23, 25, as well as 27, there are present during the total time period t, concurrent impulses of the converter 22 as well as of the stepping oscillator 32. The magnets l0, 12, as well as 14, are thereby continually excited during this period through the previously switched-in drive steps 35, 37, as well as 39, and the segment recorders 4, 5, as well as 6, are continuously pressed against the recording strip 2 during this time period Consequently, the longitudinal segments S,, S, and S of the numeral 8 to be recorded, are thus formed.  
  correspondingly, during the time interval 1,, after the starting-commencement there are, at the AND- elements 24 and 26, the output impulses of the stepping oscillator 30 in coincidence with the impulses of the converter 22 at the outputs 5,, as well as 5,. During this time interval T after the starting-commencement, the transverse-line recorders 7 and 8 are first pressed against the recording paper 2 so as to draw the segments S 2 and 5,.  
  After the passing of time period 1 the stepping oscillator 33 is displaced into its unstable condition for a further period t, by the stepping oscillator 31. The thereby generated output impulses of the stepping oscillator 33 are located at the AND-elements 28 and 29 in coincidence with the signals at the outputs S and S of the converter 22. By means of OR-elements 40 and 41, the magnets II and 13 are actuated again for a time period I, after passing of time interval 1 and thereby the transverse-line recorders 7 and 8 are again pressed against the paper for a time period 1,. Thereby the still lacking indicia segments S and S, are thus formed.  
  The arrangement according to FIGS. 2 and 3 is not limited to the illustrated formation of numerals. Understandably, in accordance with the same functional schematic, alphabetical letters may be formulated. For this purpose, these letters must be divided into individual segments in conformance with a correspondingly adapted schematic, and the individual segment recorders 4 through 8 must be controlled in a corresponding manner, as previously described, for the reproduction of these segments.  
  While there has been shown what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that modifications may be made which come within the scope of the disclosure of the specification.  
 What is claimed is:  
  l. In a recording arrangement for the graphic reproduction of alpha-numerical indiciaon a recording strip formed of thermally sensitive paper, which is movable relative to a recorder means, comprising indicia generating means for digitalizing the indicia pursuant to seven segment-code; and means generating control impulses for the recording means for determining the time points and duration of the reproduction of the indicia segments, the improvement comprising; five segment recorder means each including a heatable stylus and being positioned transverse to the direction of movement of said recording strip, said recorder means including two exterior and one intermediate recorder means in spaced relationship for reproducing said longitudinal lines on said recording strip, and a recorder means for reproducing transverse lines being positioned between each said exterior recorder means and said intermediate recorder means, said recorder means reproducing said indicia through mutually perpendicular longitudinally and transversely extending lines on said recording strip, said recorder means for the longitudinal lines having a writing width in conformance with the intended longitudinal line thickness, and said recorder means for the transverse lines having a writing width in conformance with the intended transverse line lengths, said styli comprising thin resilient leaf springs, stationary support means clampingly engaging one end of said leaf springs, the other ends of said leaf springs being movable relative to said recording strip; impulse transmitter means being associated with each of said segment recorder means; lifting magnets associated with each of said styli, said lifting magnets being energized through impulses generated by said impulse transmitter means for imparting movement to said styli relative to said recording strip, said impulse transmitter means each including an impulse generator for generating base impulses having lengths in correspondence with the reproduction width of an indicia; and monostable stepping oscillator means generating inpulses adapted to be superimposed on said base impulses, the time point and duration of the reproduction of the respective segments of an indicia being dependent upon the lengths and occurrence time points of said superimposed impulses, logic interconnecting elements operatively connecting said impulse generators and said monostable stepping oscillators for generating pulses pressing said recorder means against said recording strip at each coincidence of the impulses of said impulse generators and said stepping oscillators; and a control installation operatively connected to said impulse transmitter means for controlling the latter to effect pressing of said recorder styli against said recording strip with respect to successive segments of the indicia being recorded.  
  2. A recording arrangement as claimed in claim I, said plurality of segment recorder means being positioned in closely spaced relationship, and perpendicular to the direction of movement of said recording strip.  
  3. A recording arrangement as claimed in claim 1, comprising drive step means for transmitting said coincidence impulses to said lifting magnets.  
 . 7 8 4. A recording arrangement as claimed in claim I. and the other segment being adapted for the reproducsaid recording strip being divided into two adjacent tion of measuring parameters. such as body-action longitudinally extending recording segments. one said stresses and the like.  
 segment being adapted for reproduction of said indicia.