Patent ID: 8842345

Claim:
An apparatus for reading information from and/or writing information to at least one sheet of flexible sheet material, said sheet having a length and a width defining first and second opposing surfaces and opposing lengthwise and widthwise edges, said apparatus comprising: a platen to support said sheet in a curved configuration across said width such that said first surface is inwardly oriented with respect to said curved configuration to define a tubular shape having said lengthwise edges positioned in a confronting relationship; an actuator to move said flexible sheet material so supported in a direction along a lengthwise path oriented at least generally along said length and transverse to the direction of curvature, but without rotation about the lengthwise path; and at least one of a read head and a write head for at least one of reading and writing information widthwise across said first surface of said sheet as the sheet is moved along said path in said tubular shape.