US3440956A - Apparatus for sequentially printing and projecting data such as game scores - Google Patents

Description

D. D. MILLER April 29, 1969 APPARATUS FOR SEQUENTIALLY PRINTING AND PROJECTING DATA SUCH AS GAME SCORES Filed June 26, 1967 Sheet INVENTOR DANIEL D. MILLER BY MLLLQLML 3,440,956 PRINTING AND PROJECTING Sheet 2 of4 Aprll 29, 1969 APPARATUS FOR SEQUENTIALLY DATA SUCH As GAME SCORES Filed June 26, 1967 ATTORNEY '3 440,956 TIiIG I Sheet of 4 Apnl 29, 1969 D. D. MILLER APPARATUS FOR SEQUENTIALLY PRINTING AND PROJEC DATA SUCH AS GAME SCORES Filed June 26, 1967 INVENTOR DANIEL D. MILLER April 29, 1969 D. D. MILLER 3,440,956

APPARATUS FOR SEQUENTIALLY PRINTING AND PROJECTING DATA SUCH AS GAME SCORES Filed June 26, 1967 Sheet 4 INVENTOR DANIEL D. MILLER LAW!- A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,440,956 APPARATUS FOR SEQUENTIALLY PRINTING AND PROJECTING DATA SUCH AS GAME SCORES Daniel D. Miller, Sunnyvale, Calif., assignor to Doban Labs, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif., a corporation of California Filed June 26, 1967, Ser. No. 648,863 Int. Cl. B41j 9/36 U.S. Cl. 101-93 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A printing mechanism employs a movable shuttle mechanism which carries a form on which data may be printed. The form may be a multi-part form, one part of which is transparent for projecting an image of the printed data. At the printing position, all parts of the form receive printing from a common print mechanism, and as the shuttle moves to the projecting position, the non-projectable parts of the form are separated from the projectable part so that only the transparent part is carried to the projecting station. Printing is accomplished by placing the form adjacent printing wheels carrying the characters to be printed and forcing the form against the wheels by solenoid-operated print hammers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates in general to printing and projecting mechanisms, and relates more particularly to such mechanisms for printing on a plurality of parts of a multipart form and utilizing one of the form parts for projection while retaining another form part for record purposes.

Description 07 the prior art In the field of bowling, there is a need for automatic scorekeeping equipment to keep pace with the advances contributed by automatic pinsetting machines. Such equipment is desirable both to speed up the play and to eliminate the costs and other problems associated with the use of human scorekeepers. In U.S. Patents 3,211,371 and 3,236,149, assigned to the same assignee as the present application, there is disclosed and claimed printing and projecting apparatus particularly adapted for use in bowling scoring. In that apparatus, signals are received from equipment which automatically senses and interprets the number of pins knocked down by each bowled ball, and these signals are utilized to control the setting of printing wheels to print this number of pins on the appropriate area of the score sheet. The score sheet comprises a translucent sheet which is first carried by a movable carriage to a printing position at which the printing is performed on the sheet by moving the printing wheels into contact with the sheet. The sheet then moves to a projecting position where light is projected through the sheet to form an enlarged image on a scoreboard for viewing.

This apparatus performs very satisfactorily to produce a projectable image of the individual scores as the bowling progresses, but there are a number of areas in which it can be improved. On the one hand, it is often desirable to have one or more printed copies of the completed bowling score in addition to the projectable image gen erated and used as the game progresses. These printed copies may be used for league record purposes or for re tention by the bowling alley or the individual bowlers. Additionally, it is desirable in the printing mechanism to avoid having to move the print wheels into contact with the printing surface, since this places mechanical strain on the printing elements and places limitations on their design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, there is provided a printing mechanism which prints on one or more parts of a form sheet. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device is capable of simultaneously printing on a plurality of parts of a multi-part form, one of which parts is to be used to provide a projectable image and the other parts are used as permanent records. This mechanism employs a shuttle device which carries the form in a reciprocating motion between the projecting position toward the printing position. In response to a signal from the printer control mechanism, the shuttle mechanism is stopped at the proper position to locate the desired line under the printing means. The printing means includes printing units carrying printing wheels which can be indexed to locate the proper character or characters to be printed at the printing position facing the form. In response to a print signal, print hammer means comprising solenoid-operated printing anvils or hammer-s located on the side of the form opposite to the printing units are actuated to firmly press the form against the printing units, thus printing on all parts of the form that character or characters which were in printing position.

Upon completion of the printing, the shuttle continues to the end of its reciprocating travel and commences to return toward the projecting position. During this return, the parts of the form overlying the projectable part are peeled back therefrom and retained away from the projec table part. This separation of the parts of the form is facilitated by the configuration of the leading edge of the projectable form part which cooperates with a grooved portion of the device frame to initiate separation of the non-projectable form parts from the projectable part. The shuttle thus returns to the projecting position with only the projectable form part thereon, and this part is then in position for projection in enlarged form on a scoreboard. The position of the shuttle is controlled by a contact strip underlying the shuttle and having a plurality of electrical contacts corresponding to the difierent positions of the shuttle. These contacts are sequentially engaged by a contact member carried by the shuttle, and when the contact member reaches an energized contact, the shuttle is stopped for printing.

This action continues for each new item of scoring information to be printed, with the shuttle mechanism carrying both the projectable form part and the permanent part or parts to the printing position for printing on all parts of the form, and with the non-projectable parts of the form being separated from the projectable part as the shuttle returns to the projection position. Upon completion of the game, the complete form may be removed from the machine and the permanent parts thereof retained for whatever use is desired.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved device for printing on a sheet which is movable to position different parts thereof adjacent the printing means.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a device for selectively positioning a movable member at any one of a number of discrete positions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved device for sequentially printing and projecting data in one continuous operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for simultaneously printing on each part of a multi-part form and then separating the parts to display one of them.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a device for printing on a multi-part form to produce a projectable image of the printing and at least one permanent copy of the printing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for printing on a multi-part form by moving the form to a printing position to place the form between a printing unit and a movable print hammer and then returning one of the parts of the form to a projection station for projecting the data printed on that one part.

-It is an additional object of this invention to provide a device of the type described which is inexpensive, reliable and easy to maintain.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying two printing-projecting units of this invention, with portions thereof broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred form of a score sheet for use in this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the printingprojecting units showing the shuttle and score sheet approaching the projecting position;

'FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the unit of FIG. 3 showing the shuttle and score sheet at a printing position;

'FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional plan view, on an enlarged scale, showing the mechanism for securing the score sheet to the shuttle;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional plan view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the printing action;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional plan view, on an enlarged scale, showing the separation of the nonprojectable parts of the score sheet from the projectable part as the shuttle returns toward the projecting position; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view, on an enlarged scale, showing the contact strip and print hammers of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the overall printing-projecting device is illustrated, and includes a frame member 11 on which is mounted equipment for printing and projecting the scores of two bowling teams. As is common in league bowling, two teams of five bowlers each generally bowl against each other using two adjacent alleys on which they alternate play. The illustrated embodiment of the invention operates to print and project the scores of the individual players of each of these two teams, with separate score sheets for each team. Thus, the device includes two symmetrical parts, each of which prints and projects data for one of the bowling teams. In the description, the reference numerals applied to the unit on the left side are given a prime to differentiate them from from those applied to the right side unit.

Overall operation Prior to describting the details of the device, the following general description of its operation is presented to provide a better understanding of the overall device.

Referring to FIG. 1, the score sheet 13 is carried by a shuttle mechanism 16 which moves in a reciprocating motion behind a front plate between a projecting position at the front of the unit and a printing position toward the rear of the unit. This motion is imparted to the shuttle mechanism by means of a motor 18 through a linkage mechanism which converts the unidirectional rotary motion of motor 18 to the desired reciprocating motion. The shuttle mechanism is stopped at a selectable point on its rearward movement for printing to take place. This stopping is controlled by signals from the pin sensing and scoring computer and serves to stop the shuttle mechanism so as to position the desired line of the score sheet under the stationary printing mechanism.

The printing mechanism 21 includes a plurality of individually controllable printing units, each of which contains one or more printing wheels which are indexableto position a given character or symbol at the print position. These printing units are controlled by signals from the sensing and scoring computer to position the desired symbol or symbols at the printing position after a ball has been bowled.

The printing mechanism also includes a plurality of printing hammers or anvils, one of which is shown in 'FIG. 1, which are actuated by print signals from the sensing and scoring computer to press score sheet 13 against those print characters of the printing units which are located in the printing position. This impact simultaneously produces a printing at the desired line on all parts of the multi-part score sheet.

After printing, motor 18 continues to drive the shuttle mechanism rearward until the end of travel is reached, at which time the shuttle motion is reversed and it returns in a forward direction until it stops at the projec tion position at the front of the unit. During this forward motion, the parts of the score sheet overlying the projectable part are peeled back from and retained away from the projectable part, so that the projectable part alone returns with the shuttle mechanism to the projection position.

At the projection position, light from a light source 26 is focussed by means of an elliptical mirror 27 and projected upwardly through the projectable form in the projectable position. This projected image is transmitted through an opening 20e in an upper front panel 20 to a lens and mirror arrangement generally identified at 28 in FIG. 1, to produce an enlarged image of the score sheet on a scoreboard 29. This lens arrangement includes a first mirror 28a disposed at a 45-deg-ree angle to reflect the projected image through a lens 28b to a second mirror 280. From mirror 280, the image is reflected to a mirror 28d and then to scoreboard 29.

With the above description of the overall operation of the device in mind, the following more detailed description of the different components of the device will be clearer.

Multi-part score sheet As shown in FIG. 2, the multi-part score sheet 13 includes a projectable part 13a and at least one non-projectable part 1311-. The columns and legends on all parts of the form are identical and are aligned with each other when the parts of the score sheet are positioned adjacent each other (as they are at the printing position). Thus, the printing mechanism can simultaneously produce the desired printing on the same line of all parts of the score sheet. As shown, each sheet includes individual columns for the scores of the five individual members of the bowling team, as well as headings for team totals and other entries.

The different parts of the score sheet are joined together at the top thereof along the edge so as to maintain the parts in registry during printing while per mitting easy separation of non-projectable part 13b for a permanent record or other use after completion of the game.

Projectable part 13a may be of any suitable transparent material, such as Mylar or acetate, capable of receiving and retaining the impressions from the printing mechanism and having the column headings and lines and other fixed data printed or otherwise impressed thereon as opaque areas. The non-projectable part 1312 of the form s milarly m y b of any uitable mate ial. capable of re ceiving and retaining the impression from the printing mechanism.

One particularly satisfactory construction of the score sheet is as follows. Non-projectable part 13b is of the socalled canbonless carbon paper type employing a coating of microcapsules on the top surface of the sheet. These microcapsules rupture upon impact with the printing mechanism to release a coloring material which produces a visible image on the top surface of part 13b in the areas struck by the printing mechanism. The bottom or back surface of part 13b carries a suitable marking material 13a, such as colored wax, carbon or the like, which is normally retained on this part, but which may be transfer-red to the face of the projectable part 130 when contacted by the printing mechanism. This marking material 13d may be either a coating on the back of part 1315 or a separate transfer sheet interposed between parts 13a, 13b. Thus, contact of the printing mechanism with the score sheet simultaneously produces printing on both the non-projectable part 13b by selective rupturing of the microcapsule coating in the impact area, and on the projectable part 13a by transfer of the coating 130. from the back of part 13b to the face of projectable part 13a in the areas contacted by the printing mechanism.

If desired, the non-projectable part 13b may include perforations 13a which extend generally along the column lines separating the individual team members scores. Thus, upon completion of the game, non-projectable part 13b may be separated from projectable part 13a along edge 13c and then divided along perforations 13e to provide each individual bowler a printed and permanent copy of his score for that game.

The leading edge of projectable part 13a extends beyond the leading edge of part 13b, and is provided with a unique configuration to facilitate separation of the score sheet parts as the shuttle returns towards the projecting position. This configuration includes a first step portion 137 which is bent downwardly from the rest of part 13a, and a second step portion 13g which is shorter than step portion 13 and is bent upwardly with respect thereto. These step portions of part 13a cooperate with a grooved portion of frame 11, in a manner to be described below, to initiate separation of the score sheet parts as the shuttle returns toward the projecting position.

Shuttle mechanism As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shuttle mechanism is .in the for-m of a generally planar plate 16 for holding score sheet 13. The outer edges of the shuttle mechanism slide in and are guided by guideways or guide grooves 31 provided in the sides of frame 11. Shuttle 16 carries an electrical contact member in the form of a pair of conductive rollers 34a, 34b which sequentially make contact with a plurality of electrical contact areas disposed on a contact strip 37. Contact strip 37 is mounted under shuttle 16 so that contact members 34a, 34b sweep across strip 37 as the shuttle is driven rearward. The details of the operation and structure of contacts 34a, 34b and contact strip 37 are given below, but, in general, those contact members are connected to controls for motor 18, and by energizing a selected one of the areas of contact strip 37 in response to a signal from the sensing and scoring computer, when members 34a, 34b reach that selected contact in their rearward motion, motor 18 is stopped to thus stop the motion of shuttle 16 at that point. Printing then occurs and motor 18 is re-energized to drive shuttle 16 to the rearmost position and then forward to the projection position.

Score sheet 13 is retained on the shuttle by means of gripping jaws 41. As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, these jaws comprise an upper jaw 41a and a lower jaw 41b, both of which are carried on a shaft 42. Jaws 41a, 41b are normally urged toward each other by spring means 43 to grip the score sheet therebetween, as shown in FIG. 7.

To separate the jaws for insertion and removal of the score sheet, a separating block 44 is provided. This block is normally retained in the position shown in FIG. 7 by spring 43, but is movable under the camming action produced by lifting of a cover 46 which normally overlies the score sheet in the projection position. Cover 46 is a generally open frame member, as shown in FIG. 1, and serves to hold the score sheet down on a glass sheet member 45 in the projecting position. Cover 46 may be manually raised to pivot it about a shaft 47 journalled in bearing supports 48 mounted on frame 11. Cover 46 may be provided with an interlock switch 50 (FIG. 4) to prevent operation of motor 18 and shuttle 16 when the cover is raised.

Cover 46 is provided with a lug or ear portion 46a which extends rearwardly of the pivot on shaft 47, so that as cover 46 is raised from the horizontal position, lug 46a moves downwardly to engage separating block 44. As cover 46 continues upwardly about pivot 47, lug 46a forces separating block 44 and lower jaw 41b downwardly into a recess 11a formed in frame 11 to separate jaw 41b from upper jaw 41a. With jaws 41a, 41b separated as .shown in FIG. 5, score sheet 13 may be inserted therebetween or removed therefrom. When cover 46 is lowered from the raised position, lug 46a withdraws from separating block 44 so that spring 43 forces jaws 41a, 41b back together to firmly grip the score sheet.

Shuttle drive As indicated above, shuttle 16 is driven by a motor 18 through a linkage Which converts the unidirectional rotary motion of the motor to the desired reciprocating motion of the shuttle. Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, motor 18 carries a crank 51 which is driven by rotation of the motor through a gear reduction unit which may 'be built into the motor. Crank 51 has a stud 51a on the end thereof away from the motor which rides in a slot 52a in an arm 52. Arm 52 is disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of shuttle 16 and has one end pivotally secured to frame 11 by a pivot pin 53 and has its other end pivotally secured to the rear of shuttle 16 in the center thereof by a pivot pin 54.

As motor 18 rotates, the linkage mechanism operates in a well-known figure eight manner to move shuttle 16 in a reciprocating motion from the projecting position at the front of the unit toward the rear of the unit. Thus, when crank 51 is in a position pointing toward the front of the unit, shuttle 16 will be in its most forward position, corresponding to the projecting position. As crank 51 rotates counter-clockwise from this position, it pulls arm 52 with it to thereby move shuttle 16 rearwardly from the projection position. At some point in this rearward travel, the shuttle motion will be stopped for a printing operation (FIG. 4), as will be described in detail below, and the shuttle motion then continues rearwardly until crank 51 is pointing toward the rear of the unit. As crank 51 continues to rotate counter-clockwise from this position, it carries arm 52 and shuttle 16 forward again until the shuttle again reaches the projecting position, at which time motor 18 is de-energized to await a signal for another print operation from the computer. By connecting arm 52 to shuttle 16 at a point equidistant between guideways 31, shuttle 16 is always properly centered in the guideways and does not stick or bind during its movement.

Shuttle motor control The motion of shuttle 16 during a print operation is controlled by energizing the selected one of the contacts on contact strip 37 which corresponds to the location of the line on score sheet 13 at which printing is to occur. This selection of the desired line is under control of the pin sensing and score decoding computer, which energizes the appropriate one of the contacts at the start of the shuttle motion for printing. Such pin sensing and scoring equip ment may be of any suitable type, such as that shown and claimed in US. Patents 3,140,872 and 3,295,849, assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

As best seen in FIG. 8, the contact strip 37 may be a printed circuit board having a common conductor 37a and a plurality of contacts 37b corresponding to the different frames of a bowling game. Twelve such contacts 37b. are provided corresponding to the ten frames of a bowling game and the two additional frames which may result. The contacts on strip 37 may be energized by the desired signals through connections made to the back of the strip, in accordance with techniques well-known in the printed circuit art. When shuttle motor 1 8 is energized, the computer will have energized the one of contacts 37b corresponding to the line on score sheet 13 to be printed. As shuttle 11 moves rearwardly, contact roller 34a will engage common conductor 37a and roller 34b will sequentially engage the different contacts 37b until it reaches the energized one. When the energized contact is reached by roller 34b, this action completes a circuit through the rollers and control circuitry (not shown) to stop motor 18 and thus stop shuttle 11. Printing is then performed on the line of the score sheet positioned under the printing units at that time, and the motion of the shuttle is resumed. The shuttle continues rearwardly to the end of its travel and then moves forward to the projecting position. As the shuttle nears the limit of its forward travel, rollers 34a,

34b engage home position contacts 37c, and closure of these contacts de-energizes motor 18 to stop shuttle 11 at the home or projecting position.

An additional conductor 37d is provided on strip 37 for printing the total team score on score sheet 13 upon completion of the game. When the team total print switch on the front of the device is actuated upon completion of the game, motor 18 is energized to drive the shuttle, with roller 34a in contact with conductor 37a, until roller 34b engages conductor 37d. Conductor 37d is energized at this time, so that motor 18 and shuttle 11 stop at this point to position score sheet under a team total printer to be described below. After printing of the team total score, shuttle 11 returns to the home position and its motion is stopped by engagement of rollers 34a, 34b with the home contacts 370.

Printing mechanism The printing mechanism includes a plurality of printing units, as indicated above, which are operable to print selected characters or symbols on the different lines of the score sheet. In the illustrated embodiment, it is assumed that there are spaces for the scores of five players on sheet 13. As shown in FIG. 2, each players score area has three separate columns; a first column for a score for the first ball of each frame, a second column for the second ball score of each frame, and a larger third column for the players accumulated score for each frame as the game progresses. Also, the first column may have therein a strike indication (X), while the second column may have an indication of a spare and either the first or the second column may have an indication of a foul (F).

To accomplish this printing, the printing units preferably comprise a plurality of printing counters for each players score. As shown in FIG. 3 for the first player, a first printing device 61 is provided having two individual printing units or counters therein for printing in the first two columns of the first players score, and a second printing device 62 is provided having three individual printing units therein for printing the accumulated score for the first player. Similar sets of printing devices 63-64, 65-66, 67-68, and 69-70 are provided for printing the scores of the other four players on the team.

Each of the printing counters in the printing units may be of any suitable type capable of receiving electrical signals, such as on the contract pins 61a, 62a illustrated for devices 61, 62, which operate to step or advance the printing wheels of the counters to position different characters or symbols on the wheels at the printing position. One of such printing wheels 61b is shown for device 61 in FIG. 6, and is illustrated having a plurality of raised characters 61c around the periphery of the wheel. The one of characters 610 which is located at the bottom of the wheel is at the printing position, and it will be clear that any one of different characters on the wheel may be positioned at the printing position by the appropriate rotation of wheel 61b. These printing counters may be of any suitable type, such as the count module manufactured by Practical Automation, Inc. under the type designation Model CM.

Each of the printing counters has associated therewith a print hammer or anvil which is movable to strike score sheet 13 against the character on the selected print wheel which is at the print position, to produce an impression of that character on all parts of the multi-part score sheet. Print hammers 71, 72 associated with devices 61, 62 are illustrated in FIG. 3, and similar hammers 73-80 (FIG. 8) are provided for the other printing devices 63-70.

As best illustrated in FIG. 6 which shows print hammer 71 associated with one of the printing counters of device 61, the hammers include a solenoid having an armature 71a which is movable upwardly in response to an electrical signal supplied to the solenoid winding to press score sheet 13 against the character on print wheel 61b which is located at the printing position. The face of armature 71a which strikes score sheet 13 is preferably provided with a pad of slightly resilient material 71b to insure uniform contact of the score sheet with the character on the print wheel. In the illustrated embodiment, print hammer 71 cooperates with the two printing counters of device 61, while hammer 72 cooperates with the three printing counters of device 62; a similar relationship prevails for the remainder of hammers 73-80 and counters 63-70. This arrangement is utilized to permit separate printing of the characters on the printing mechanisms for each player. Thus, if a player achieves a strike, the strike symbol X) is printed in the first column of that players score, but no total score is printed until the results of the two bonus balls to which the player is entitled are known.

Separation of projectable form part To separate the non-projectable parts of score sheet 13 from projectable part 13a as the shuttle returns toward the projecting position, knife edge portions 46b are provided on the back edge of cover 46, as shown in FIG. 4. These knife edge portions engage the non-projectable part 13b of the score sheet and lift it off transparent part 13a as the shuttle returns. This lifting is greatly facilitated by the construction of part 13a and the design of a special groove in frame 11.

This dished groove 110, best seen in FIG. 4, extends across frame 11 between recesses 11a which receive lower gripping jaw 41b. Groove lie is gently dished or concave and is located just back of knife edge portions 46b.

As indicated above, step portions 131, 13g of projectable part 13a extend beyond the leading edge of part 13b. When these step portions encounter dished groove in frame 11 as the shuttle is returning, they ride down into this groove and up again, and this motion serves to separate the leading edge of part 13a from the overlying part 13b, so that part 13b may be readily engaged by knife edges 46b. This separation is extremely important, because the static attraction between parts 13a and 13b is very high and these form parts are difficult to separate without this novel construction of part 13:: and the dished groove 110.

After this separation, shuttle 16 continues to carry part 13a forward to the projecting position, while part 13b is diverted by knife edges 46b and travels up the back of plate 15, as shown in FIG. 7.

When shuttle 16 reaches the forward or projecting position, part 13a is positioned in the projecting position on glass plate 45, while part 13b is disposed behind plate 15 in the position shown in FIG. 7. For the next printing operation, as shuttle 16 moves rearwardly, part 13b will be drawn back down plate 15 and will again overlie part 13a when the printing position is reached. Part 13b thus does not interfere with the projection of the printed information on part 13a, but is still secured thereto and is carried with part 13a by shuttle 1-6 for each printing operation.

Team total printer In addition to printing the scores of the individual players of the team, the device may also print the total team score at the completion of the game. This printing is accomplished by a team total printer unit 86 located rearwardly of the printing mechanism 21 and having four printing units with printing wheels 86b for printing the four digits of the total team score. This printer receives electrical signals on pins 86a from the sensing and scoring computer to index the print wheels to the desired positions. A print hammer 87 associated with printer 86 is operable upon command to move upwardly in a manner similar to that described above for hammer 71 to press score sheet 13 against print wheels 86]) for printing. This printing is placed in the indicated space on the upper right hand corner of score sheet 13 (FIG. 2), and is performed after completion of the game under the control of a team total print signal. As indicated above, this signal causes shuttle 16 to be positioned at the proper location for printing this information on score sheet 13.

Other controls and displays In addition to the operations described above, additional controls and displays may be provided on the device for use in different phases of bowling. As shown in FIG. 1, the front panel is preferably provided with an illuminated display in a window 202: indicating the numher and color (red or white) of the player bowling on that team at that time. This information is provided by the player pushing his corresponding number button out of the five such buttons 20b for each color. The player pushes his button before each frame, and this serves to identify him to the computer so that the appropriate portion of the score sheet is addressed by the printing mechanism. Player cancel switches 20 20f are provided to allow correction if a player inadvertently presses the wrong one of player buttons 20b or 20b. Additionally, a display of the team total score is provided for each team in a window 2011, each window displaying the score for the home team for its associated alley.

In adidtion to a Start button on panel 15, a frame advance switch may be provided to allow a player when is late to advance his scoring to the current frame being bowled, thus forfeiting any score for the missed frames.

A provisional ball switch is provided for use in the event of a dispute as to scoring on a given ball. When this switch is operated, the computer ignores the scoring on the next or provisional ball and a note is made of the provisional ball score for possible use in settling the dispute after the completion of the game.

A team total switch is provided to control the printing of the team total score on score sheet 13 upon completion of the game, as discussed above.

Summary It will be seen that there is provided a novel and useful device for printing and projecting data. The printing portion of the device acts on a matrix basis to select a row on sheet 13 for printing in response to energization of the appropriate contact on strip 37. The device then selects one or more columns within that row in response to energization of the appropriate one or ones of the print hammers 71-80 to produce printing on the selected row and column or columns.

Although the invention has been illustrated showing the use of a multi-part score sheet for printing and separation of these parts for projecting, it will be apparent that the invention is useful where only printing or only projecting is desired. Further, it will be seen that the motor control circuitry which is operable to control the positioning of a movable member at any one of a number of discrete positions, is useful in a number of applications other than the particular one illustrated and described. Also, it will be apparent that the invention is useful in a number of areas in addition to the illustrated application to bowling scoring device.

While the above detailed description has shown, described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for printing data on all parts of a multi-part form and subsequently projecting the data printed on one of the parts, the form including a projectable part and at least one non-projectable part, comprising:

shuttle means for holding said form with all parts thereof aligned with each other;

drive means for moving said shuttle means;

control means for controlling said drive means to move said shuttle means with said form to a printing position; printing means actuable to strike said form for producing a visible impression of said data on all parts of said form when said form is at said printing position; said control means being operable after actuation of said printing means to cause said drive means to move said shuttle means toward a projecting position; separating means for separating said non-projectable part of said form from said projectable part as said shtzlttle means moves toward said projecting position; an projecting means at said projecting position for projecting an image of the data on said projectable part of said form.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said shuttle means has a plurality of discrete positions at which printing may occur.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which said separating means includes knife edge means for lifting said non-projectable parts of said form from said projectable part of said form as said shuttle moves toward said projecting position.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which said projectable part comprises a transparent sheet whose leadmg edge is provided with a downwardly extending portion defining a step portion.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which said separating means includes a groove in which said step portion of said projectable part rides as said shuttle means moves toward said projecting position, to facilitate separation of said non-projectable part from said projectable part.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which said non-projectable part of said form overlies said projectable part and said non-projectable part comprises a sheet having a first coating on the front surface thereof and a second coating on the back surface thereof adjacent said projectable part, said first coating forming a visible impression on said front surface in response to said printing means, and portions of said second coating being transferrable to said projectable part in response to said printing means to form a visible impression on said projectable part.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which said projectable part of said form comprises a plurality of different portions joined together by perforated sections.

8. A device for printing data on a sheet, comprising: shuttle means for holding said sheet; drive means for moving said shuttle means, said shuttle means including:

a unidirectional electric motor; an arm lying in a plane parallel to the plane of said shuttle means, said arm having a slot therein and having one end pivotally connected to said shuttle means and having its other end pivotally connected to a frame member; and a crank driven by said motor and oscillatable in said slot to drive said shuttle means in a reciprocating motion in response to rotation of said motor; control means for controlling said drive means to move said shuttle means with said sheet to any one of a plurality of discrete positions; and printing means disposed adjacent the path of movement of said sheet, said printing means comprising a plurality of stationary printing units disposed on one side of said sheet and a plurality of movable print hammer means disposed in registry with said printing units on the other side of said sheet;

each of said printing units having print characters thereon which are selectively positionable in a spaced apart printing position facing said sheet; said plurality of print hammer means being selectively actuable to strike said sheet against selected ones of said printing units to produce an impression on said sheet of the print characters facing said sheet. 9. A device in accordance with claim 8 in which said control means includes:

a contact strip having a plurality of electrical contact means thereon corresponding to the different positions of the shuttle means, said contact strip being positioned adjacent the path of movement of said shuttle means; and electrical roller means on said shuttle means for engaging said contact means as said shuttle means is driven in said reciprocating motion, whereby said drive means is stopped when said roller means engages a selected one of said contact means, to stop said shuttle means at the desired printing position. 10. A device in accordance with claim 8 in which said frame member is provided with guideways in which said shuttle means rides; and

said one end of said arm is connected to said shuttle means equidistant between said guideways to prevent binding of said shuttle means in said guideways.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,582,830 4/1926 Landsiedel 235-58 2,746,304 5/ 1956 Kuhlmann.

3,087,594 4/1963 Seymour et al. 197-177 3,091,387 5/1963 Locke 197-176 X 3,106,341 10/1963 Maier et al. 197-177 X 3,124,355 3/1964 Mentzer et a1. 273-54 3,211,371 10/1965 Bolger 235-58 3,236,149 2/1966 Bolger 88-24 3,272,123 9/1966 Webb 101-407 X 3,289,574 12/1966 Webb 101-93 3,295,438 1/1967 Webb et al. 101-407 X 3,295,439 1/1967 Miller et a1 101-93 WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

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