Patent ID: 8189240

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 substantially define a cylindrical shape having said lengthwise edges positioned in a confronting relationship; a sheet feeder to move said flexible sheet material so supported in a direction along a lengthwise path generally parallel to 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 transversely across the width of said first surface of said sheet as the sheet is moved along said path.