Data processing form

Abstract

A data processing form of the type having rows and columns of indicia receiving positions characterized by having two separate timing mark columns so as to make the form useful with two different types of photoelectric sensing apparatus employing different timing schemes for sensing indicia receiving positions. A first timing mark column containing a plurality of first timing marks is aligned with a column of indicia receiving positions, with one of said first timing marks preceding each row of indicia receiving positions in sequence. A second timing mark column is spaced from and parallel to the columns of indicia receiving positions and contains a plurality of second timing marks, each of which second timing marks is approximately aligned with a corresponding row of indicia receiving positions and is positioned with respect to the first timing mark preceding the corresponding aligned row of indicia receiving positions to be sensed after completion of the sensing of said first timing mark.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to data processing forms for use with photoelectric sensing apparatus of the type for sensing the presence or absence of indicia in indicia receiving positions on the form.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical of this class of data processing forms are those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,518,440 to Hanson et al. and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,439 to Sokolski et al. Each of the embodiments of the data processing forms described in these two patents is useful with only the photoelectric sensing apparatus described in the patent in which the respective embodiments of the forms are described.

Each of these embodiments of data processing forms have the following features in common: (a) a generally rectangular shaped sheet of paper or like material having longitudinal and transverse axes, and at least one generally straight edge parallel with one of said axes, said straight edge providing a reference edge for guiding the movement of the paper through said sensing apparatus; (b) a series of indicia receiving locations indicated on said sheet of paper, with each location having a given number of positions in which an indicia can be placed, said given number of positions of each location being spaced to form rows generally perpendicular to said straight edge of the sheet and said series of locations being spaced with each position of said given number of positions therein being aligned with similar positions of adjacent locations to form columns generally parallel with said straight edge of the sheet; and (c) a timing mark column containing a plurality of timing marks, with one of the timing marks being positioned with respect to each row of indicia receiving positions to time the sensing of the indicia receiving positions in said row.

These prior art data processing forms differ with respect to the positioning of their respective timing mark columns. The Hanson et al. forms have a timing mark column containing a plurality of timing marks aligned with one of the columns of indicia receiving positions, with one of the timing marks preceding each indicia receiving location. The Sokolski et al. forms have a timing mark column containing a plurality of timing marks spaced from the columns of indicia receiving positions and aligned parallel with said straight edge of the sheet, with each timing mark being aligned with a corresponding row of indicia receiving positions perpendicular to said straight edge of the sheet.

The timing mark column of the Sokolski et al. data processing form further contains a start of sensing mark and a termination of sensing mark. The "start of sensing" mark is of a first length. The plurality of timing marks aligned with the corresponding rows of indicia receiving positions are of a second length different from the first length, and the "termination of sensing" mark is of a third length different from both the first and second lengths.

The respective timing mark columns of the Hanson et al. and Sokolski et al. data processing forms have the different features described hereinabove in order to make the respective forms useful with the respective photoelectric sensing apparatus having their own unique timing schemes for sensing indicia receiving positions. Such schemes are described in their respective patents referred to hereinabove.

In accordance with the present state of the art it is seen that a user of these two different photoelectric sensing apparatus has the problem of having to procure different data processing forms for use with each apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a data processing form which is compatible for use with both of these two different photoelectric sensing apparatus employing different timing schemes.

The data processing form of the present invention includes a first timing mark column containing a plurality of first timing marks aligned with one of the columns of indicia receiving positions, with one of the first timing marks preceding each indicia receiving location in sequence; and a second timing mark column containing a plurality of second timing marks spaced from the columns of indicia receiving positions and aligned parallel with said straight edge of the sheet, with each second timing mark being approximately aligned with a corresponding row of indicia receiving positions perpendicular to said straight edge of the sheet and being positioned with respect to the first timing mark preceding said corresponding aligned row of indicia receiving positions so as to be sensed after the completion of sensing of said first timing mark.

It is pointed out that unless each second timing mark is positioned with respect to the first timing mark preceding the corresponding aligned row of indicia receiving positions so as to be sensed after the sensing of said first timing mark, then such a first timing mark could be erroneously sensed as an indicia in a following indicia receiving position in the column thereof aligned with the first timing mark column whenever the data processing form of the present invention were used with a photoelectric sensing apparatus having a timing scheme such that as described in the Sokolski et al. patent.

In a preferred embodiment of the data processing form of the present invention, blank spaces are indicated at a position following the series of indicia receiving locations in sequence. These blank spaces are indicated for receiving information related to the use of the form, such as "Name," "Subject," and "Date." Such information is usually necessary when the data processing form is used as a student answer sheet, such as described in the Sokolski et al. patent. In this preferred embodiment the first timing mark column further contains a mark having a length greater than the length of any of the other marks and extending beyond the blank spaces in order to inhibit photoelectric sensing apparatus of the type described in the Hanson et al. patent form erroneously sensing any writing in such spaces as an indicia in an indicia receiving position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The FIGURE of the drawing is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the data processing form of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The data processing form of the present invention comprises a generally rectangular shaped sheet of paper 10 or like material having longitudinal and transverse axes, and at least one generally straight edge 12 parallel with one of said axes. The straight edge 12 provides a reference edge for guiding the movement of the paper 10 through sensing apparatus of the type described in the Hanson et al. and Sokolski et al. patents.

A series of indicia receiving locations 14 are indicated on the sheet of paper 10. Each location 14 has a given number of positions 16 in which an indicia can be placed. The given number of positions 16 of each location 14 are generally equally spaced to form rows generally perpendicular to the straight edge 12 of the sheet 10. The rows are shown on the form as being numbered "1" through "50." The series of locations 14 are equally spaced with each position 16 of said given number of positions 16 therein being aligned with similar positions 16 of adjacent locations 14 to form five columns generally parallel with said straight edge 12 of the sheet 10. The columns are shown on the form as being indicated by the letters "a" through "e."

A first timing mark column 24 containing a plurality of first timing marks 26 is aligned with the e column of indicia receiving positions 16, with one of the first timing marks 26 preceding each indicia receiving location 14.

A second timing mark column 28 is spaced from the five columns a-e of indicia receiving positions 16 and is aligned parallel with the straight edge 12 of the sheet 10. The second timing mark column 28 contains (i) a start of sensing mark 30 having a first length; (ii) a plurality of second timing marks 32 having a second length different from said first length, each second timing mark 32 being approximately aligned with a corresponding row of indicia receiving positions 16 perpendicular to the straight edge 12 of the sheet 10; and (iii) a termination of sensing mark 34 having a third length different from both said first and second lengths.

Each of the second timing marks 32 is positioned with respect to the first timing mark 26 preceding said corresponding aligned row of indicia receiving positions 16 with which the second timing mark 32 is approximately aligned so as to be sensed after the completion of sensing of the first timing mark 26. The precise distance 36 between the end of each of the first timing marks and the beginning of the next second timing mark 32 in sequence depends upon the speed with which the data processing form is advanced with in relation to the photoelectric sensing apparatus during the sensing of the indicia receiving positions 16. It is preferred that this distance be such that there is approximately a 2 millisecond interval between the completion of the sensing of each of the first timing marks 26 and the beginning of the sensing of the next of each of the second timing marks 32 in sequence. It is also preferred that there be approximately a 4 millisecond interval between the completion of the sensing of each of the indicia receiving locations 14 and the beginning of the sensing of the next succeeding first timing marks 26 in sequence.

The data processing form also includes blank spaces 38 indicated at a position following the series of indicia receiving locations 14 in sequence. These blank spaces 38 are indicated for receiving information related to the use of the form, such as "Name," "Subject," and "Date." In this preferred embodiment the first timing mark column 24 further contains a mark 40 having a length greater than the length of any of the other marks 26, 30, 32, 34 and extending beyond the blank spaces 38 in order to inhibit photoelectric sensing apparatus of the type described in the Hanson et al. patent from erroneously sensing any writing in such spaces 38 as an indicia in an indicia receiving position 16.

The data processing form of the present invention may be used with either of the photoelectric sensing apparatus described in the Hanson et al. and Sokolski et al. patents. The form may be so used in the manner described in these two patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,518,440 and 3,800,439), the essential disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference thereto.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A data processing form for use with photoelectric sensing apparatus of the type for sensing the presence of indicia in indicia receiving locations on the form, said form comprising

a. a generally rectangular shaped sheet of paper or like material having longitudinal and transverse axes, and at least one generally straight edge parallel with one of said axes, said straight edge providing a reference edge for guiding the movement of the paper through said sensing apparatus;

b. a series of indicia receiving locations indicated on said sheet of paper, with each location having a given number of positions in which an indicia can be placed, said given number of positions of each location being spaced to form rows generally perpendicular to said straight edge of the sheet and said series of locations being spaced with each position of said given number of positions therein being aligned with similar positions of adjacent locations to form columns generally parallel with said straight edge of the sheet;

c. a first timing mark column containing a plurality of first timing marks aligned with one of the columns of indicia receiving positions, with one of the first timing marks preceding each indicia receiving location in sequence;

and

d. a second timing mark column containing a plurality of second timing marks, spaced from the column of indicia receiving positions and aligned parallel with said straight edge of the sheet, with each second timing mark being approximately aligned with a corresponding row of indicia receiving positions perpendicular to said straight edge of the sheet and being positioned with respect to the first timing mark preceding said corresponding aligned row of indicia receiving positions so as to be sensed after completion of the sensing of said first timing mark.

2. A data processing form according to claim 1, wherein the second timing mark column further comprises a start of sensing mark and a termination of sensing mark, said start of sensing mark having a first length, said plurality of second timing marks having a second length different from said first length, and said termination of sensing mark having a third length different from both said first and second lengths.

3. A data processing form according to claim 2, further comprising blank spaces indicated at a position following the series of indicia receiving locations in sequence for receiving information related to the use of the form, and characterized by the first timing mark column further containing a mark having a length greater than the length of any of the other marks and extending beyond the blank spaces.

4. A data processing form according to claim 1, further comprising blank spaces indicated at a position following the series of indicia receiving locations in sequence for receiving information related to the use of the form, and characterized by the first timing mark column further containing a mark having a length greater than the length of any of the other marks and extending beyond the blank spaces.