Patent ID: 7973982

Claim:
A method for producing 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 method comprising: configuring a support arrangement to include a platen for supporting 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; providing a movement arrangement for moving 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 positioning a configuration for at least one of reading and writing information across the width of said first surface of said sheet as the sheet is moved along said path, passing a read/write plane that is at least generally transverse to said lengthwise path.