Abstract: Apparatus for retaining control of moving carriage impact dot matrix print eads when subjected to strong external forces such as shock and/or vibration. Position and direction of carriage movement is provided by a photo emitter-sensor assembly and a slotted timing wheel or disc having a plurality of equally spaced slots whose slot width is equal to the slot separation. The slot width is sufficient to frame a pair of side-by-side emitters which operate in conjunction with a pair of side-by-side sensors on the other side of the timing wheel. The order or sequence in which the sensors receive photo energy from their respective emitters indicates the direction of rotation of the timing wheel while simultaneous reception of photo energy by the side-by-side sensors provides an indication of valid rest position of the carriage drive motor.

Abstract: Apparatus for implementing a multi-color printout capability with respect to a dot matrix printer and the like. The apparatus is comprised of an ink reservoir system which includes individual ink reservoirs for replenishing ink of a selected color from a reservoir to individual sections of ink transfer material. The sections are mounted in tandem pairs on elongated ink transfer material holding members which are reciprocally moved linearly back and forth beneath the print head and across the face of a printing medium by a solenoid actuated cam. Each reservoir is continuously in contact with respective section of ink transfer material.

Abstract: A control processing method and apparatus for dot matrix printers which are ubjected to relatively high levels of vibration and shock. Vibration and shock are detected and, in the event that a known safe vibration or shock level is exceeded, print line data being fed alternately to the print head from a pair of data print buffers coupled to the output of a logic data input buffer are inhibited while the input buffer temporarily stores the incoming data. Drive pulses applied to the stepper motor used to move the print head carriage are simultaneously stopped. When the detected level falls below a set threshold indicative of a safe operating level, normal operation is resumed with the print data again being fed from the input buffer to the print line buffers which are reactivated along with the carriage stepper motor.

Abstract: An inherently rugged multi-color dot matrix impact printer having a yoke type optical code detector assembly mounted on the neck portion of an impact dot matrix print head through which a multi-colored print ribbon passes. The print ribbon is configured in alternating vertical segments of selected colors of ink which have top and bottom photo-optical code regions on the outer edge of the ribbon. Coding comprises the presence or lack of an aperture in the form of a hole which is adapted to pass light therethrough and which is aligned with each ink segment. The yoke additionally includes upper and lower light emitter/sensor pairs for sensing the coded aperture pattern to control the presence of a predetermined colored segment of printing ribbon in front of the print head.

Abstract: A control system utilizing prerecorded photographic film in a miniature mage terminal device as both a display and memory medium for applications requiring interactive operator processing of rigidly structured messages, and particularly, from lists of allowable multiple choice entries.

Abstract: A relatively compact, inexpensive and portable viewer for reading photogric reductions, such as microfiche film cards, includes a cylindrical translucent diffuser tube which provides for entry of sufficient light under usual ambient conditions for viewing the film; a transparent cylindrical mounting tube axially centered within the diffuser tube; and a slide tube axially and longitudinally movable, by hand operation, within the transparent mounting tube. The slide tube forms an optical path comprising a rectangular opening in its wall near one of its ends which acts as a film gate, a reflecting mirror positioned in line with the wall opening, a magnification lens and an eyepiece lens. The film is inserted in the cylindrical gap formed between the diffuser tube and the mounting tube and the slide tube is moved so that the desired portion of the film may be viewed, enlarged and read.

Abstract: A film projector system including a sealed film cassette removeably mounted ithin an aperture in the projector and driving means in said projector mechanically engaging coupling means extending through said cassette for driving the sealed film between hubs sealed in said cassette intermittently past a film projection location in said cassette and continuously past a sound detection location therein, with the projection plane of the film at said projector locations being disposed normal to the projector optical projection optical sound beams and twisted ninety degrees with respect to the plane of that portion of the film wound on said hubs so that the projector beams do not pass between the film hubs.