Abstract: An easily produced and assembled one piece connector adapted to be detachably fastened to a movable carriage, for example the movable carriage of a printer. The connector is formed of various parts which can be folded relative to one another and joined together to secure plug connections between a flexible flat band cable and electrical motors or electromagnets on the carriage, and to retain and secure the flat band cable adjacent to its plug connection so as to provide tension relief.

Abstract: An improved ribbon lift mechanism for alternately raising a ribbon from a lowered position to first and second elevations relative to a print line. A ribbon lift lever is raised by a cam ring having alternating high and low lift cams separated by valleys for acting on a cam follower directly connected to the ribbon lift lever. The cam ring is indexable by a cyclically movable powered lever which acts to control a locking lever to lock the raised ribbon lift lever at said first and second elevations and to release it for return to lowered position incident to a cycle of the powered lever. The arrangement allows an economy of parts and operation by a relatively weak power source.

Abstract: A flexible member is mounted in an inked ribbon cartridge such that it presses a high friction pad against a cartridge wall between a ribbon entry aperture, and the nip of a take-up spool and an associated drive wheel, thereby to apply a drag force on and to smooth out ribbon passing between the pad and cartridge wall in advance of winding on the take-up spool.In one embodiment a cantilever member formed with the cartridge is flexed by a cam on the cartridge cover to produce pressure on the friction pad secured to the member. In another embodiment, the member is wedged between spaced abutments in the cartridge such that overcentering action applies pressure to the friction pad.

Abstract: An image conversion apparatus has a line array of light responsive circuits connected in parallel across a voltage source. Each circuit comprises the capacitance of an elemental area of a photoconductive insulating layer arranged in series with a capacitor which is shunted by a normally open switch. The levels to which charge is distributed in the capcitance of the photoconductive insulating layer and in its associated capacitor is related to the quantity of light incident on the elemental area of the photoconductive insulating layer over intervals an associated switch is open. Closure of a switch serves to discharge its associated capacitor and to cause the capacitance of the photoconductive insulating layer to charge to the voltage of a source from a lower level obtained during open switch intervals. The magnitude of the charging current is related to the quantity of light incident on the elemental area of the photoconductive insulating layer.

Abstract: An engage/disengage coupling between a drive and driven part for imparting rotational force without axial force components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mechanism for raising and lowering a ribbon in front of the typing area of a typewriter or similar machine. The mechanism is so designed that only a few lightweight plastic parts need be moved thereby greatly reducing the actuating force necessary to elevate a ribbon. The mechanism also is configured to track the ribbon such that deformation of the ribbon as could impair proper functioning of the lifting and/or transporting of the ribbon during the ribbon lifting motion is minimized.

Abstract: A keyboard is pivotally mounted on a pull out shelf to be raised from a reference position to desired angles of inclination within a range of angles, and is associated with apparatus for positively locking the keyboard following movement of the keyboard to a desired angle of inclination and its release; with the weight of the keyboard acting to maintain locking action. The apparatus effecting the locking action comprises a toothed segment whose arc and teeth define a range of angles. Associated with the toothed segment is a supporting arm biased to follow upward keyboard movement and on which the keyboard after being raised to a desired angle of inclination rests.

Abstract: For use with a matrix printer, a method for printing dot columns at uniform spacing regardless of irregular print carrier motion, the column spacing selected, and the use of a low resolution pulse source. The pulse source generates control pulses at intervals representing carrier movement through a given distance greater than any selected dot column spacing. As disclosed the method calculates the distances from a control pulse to the possible printing positions between two control pulses, according to the column spacing selected, and the known distance between pulses. Also, the time between control pulses is measured and used with the known distance between pulses to calculate the carrier velocity. From the carrier velocity and the distance from a control pulse to printing positions between control pulses, the times of energization of the print wires to effect printing at the uniformly spaced printing positions are calculated.

Abstract: A printer having a carriage guided for movement along a platen and supporting a wire matrix printing element includes means for changing the distance between the printing element and the platen an amount to facilitate paper feeding and an additional amount for paper insertion.The means of changing the distance between printing element and platen includes an electric motor driven in accordance with a stored program which determines motor acceleration characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism so arranged that a relatively weak power source can be employed to effect error ribbon elevation and incremental feed. A bridge which is pivotably mounted on a frame carries a rotatably mounted ratchet and a pivotably mounted pawl which, when the bridge is rotated by a magnet to elevate the bridge, is caused to react with a frame part and pivot relative to and to drive the ratchet to feed ribbon.

Abstract: A ribbon feed and elevating mechanism is so constructed that active parts for incrementally feeding and for elevating a ribbon from a rest position into one or more working positions form one structural unit mounted on a common shaft thereby providing a compact, easy to assemble unit for association with a typewriter of the type having a print element supported on a movable carriage. Due to the interaction of a lifting lever with a control lever and a pivoting lever to which a ribbon guide is linked, it is possible in a simple manner to raise the ribbon alternately into two different reproduction levels. A rocker, arm also mounted on the common shaft, serves to establish the increment of feed by which ribbon is to be advanced.

Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge is provided with means to control ribbon tension which takes the form of an O-ring driven by the supply spool which is trained around a drag post. When ribbon is to be drawn from the supply spool as by ribbon feed mechanism operative incident to a print action, the rotation of the supply spool is resisted by the drag or friction between the O-ring and the post. The drag force to be overcome to rotate the supply spool is low and does not vary significantly from full to empty supply spool. The resilience of the O-ring also stores energy which acts oppositely on the supply spool when the force to draw off ribbon is removed.

Abstract: An error correcting typewriter having separate elevating and feed mechanism for carbon and error correction ribbons includes a common cyclic motive source operable in response to type commands to drive a cam shaft which is axially shiftable by means of an electromagnet energized by a correction signal. Normally, the cam shaft is positioned in engagement with a carbon ribbon drive lever and out of engagement with an error correction ribbon drive lever. A shift of the cam shaft disengages it from the carbon ribbon drive lever and engages it with the error correction ribbon drive lever. The carbon ribbon drive lever simultaneously operates a carbon ribbon elevating mechanism and a feed mechanism. Energization of the electromagnet operates a lever which directly operates the correction ribbon feed mechanism and simultaneously shifts the cam shaft to engage it with the error correction ribbon drive lever which when driven is operative on the correction ribbon elevating mechanism.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making reinforced concrete products wherein arrays of reinforcing rods are distributed and imbedded automatically during the introduction of concrete into a form. A novel reinforcing wire cutting-ejection mechanism is provided to throw off cut wire into concrete deposited in the form at any spacing and pattern desired. Novel hollow reinforced concrete poles having high tensile strengths are produced automatically in one embodiment.

Abstract: The invention is a mechanism for raising and lowering the ribbon in typewriters to make typed text visible. No separate drive such as a motor or magnet is required to raise the ribbon. The ribbon is raised by means of a spring-loaded bar prior to each character reproduction. To accomplish this, an armature of a control magnet releases a pivoting lever and the spring loaded bar. A pin wheel, driven by a motor and acting on the lever serves to return the bar and allow return of the ribbon. The motor is energized after each character reproduction to advance either a type element carrier or the paper carrier by one character space. In typewriters with ribbon spools fixed to the machine frame, the ribbon spool drive also can be derived from the spring powered bar.

Abstract: A line spacing mechanism having a platen, a line spacing ratchet, a line spacing lever mounting a pawl adapted to engage and to drive said ratchet upon pivoting movement of said line space lever, a setting lever for controlling the time of engagement of said pawl and ratchet and adjustable stop means for limiting driving movement of said pawl and overtravel of the platen. The mechanism includes a single detent means for detentably holding said ratchet, said setting lever and said stop means, and includes means on said setting lever operable on said detent means to release said ratchet for irregular movement.

Abstract: In a movable printing point typewriter wherein line feed mechanism on a stationary platen is driven by type element carrier drive mechanism, provision is made to detect the distance of the carrier from an established left margin and, if it is too short, to move the carrier first in escapement direction a sufficient distance from the left margin and then in carrier return direction so that a line feed can be completed before the carrier is returned to the left margin.

Abstract: A support for the paper carrier in typewriters or similar machines extends between a base frame and the paper carrier. The support not only has the function of interconnecting the base frame and the paper carrier but it also functions, due to the provision of a tool deformable slot, as an adjustable support whereby the platen mounted on the paper carrier can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally relative to a printing element.

Abstract: A pullout shelf provided with rollers is mounted on static roller guide structure having several tracks with openings in the tracks to allow manipulation of the shelf and a supported machine to desired heights and inclinations.

Abstract: A large format paper handling assembly has an axially stationary platen which is rotatably mounted on pivotally mounted support arms. The platen is supported on spaced frame supported front guide rollers and rear feed rollers. The off axis rear feed rollers are adapted to be manually and/or automatically line indexed to frictionally feed paper between the rear feed rollers and the platen. Hold down rollers are mounted on a bail extending between spaced paper feed release levers which are pivotally mounted on the frame about the axis of the front guide rollers and are movable away from the platen against the bias of springs. The springs acting through the hold down rollers maintain the platen in frictional engagement with its supporting front guide rollers and rear feed rollers. The pivotal movement of the paper feed release lever withdraws the hold down rollers and also acts to pivot the platen support arms to move the platen away from the front guide rollers and the rear feed rollers.