By Electric-power Drive Patents (Class 400/568)
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Patent number: 4775254Abstract: In a method and apparatus for changing the line of a sheet to be printed, the sheet is set in a print starting position, in which a front end of the sheet is located in front of bail rollers which feed the sheet together with a platen, and a carriage with a print head and a sheet guide is moved to a predetermined guide position in which the sheet guide is located at or near the center of width of the sheet, prior to every change of line, until the front end of the sheet is held between the bail rollers and the platen.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1986Date of Patent: October 4, 1988Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Fumio Nakao, Kaneatsu Uchiyama, Takashi Maekawa, Mitsugu Inomata, Tetsu Endo
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Patent number: 4769585Abstract: In a printer in which a printing medium is moved by a line-feed stepping motor during line-feed operation, and the line-feed stepping motor is stopped during printing operation and in a ready state, the line-feed stepping motor is caused to generate a first holding torque for preventing unwanted movement of the printing medium while permitting the operator to feed the printing medium manually, in the ready state of the printer, and the line-feed stepping motor is caused to generate a second holding torque which is greater than the first holding torque, during the printing operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1987Date of Patent: September 6, 1988Assignee: OKI Electric Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jiro Tanuma, Takao Uchida, Chihiro Komori, Kuniharu Hayashi
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Patent number: 4759646Abstract: A portion of print medium transport system of an electrically operable printer is constructed to house battery power sources. This construction enables size reduction of the printer. Disclosed embodiments include housing cylindrical batteries in a printer platen and housing batteries of other configurations in sheet guide structure of the printer.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1986Date of Patent: July 26, 1988Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventor: Michael J. Piatt
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Patent number: 4759648Abstract: A printing device with an improved printing quality is proposed. A printed line never becomes rugged even when the cover of the printing mechanism is operated during the printing. The printing device includes a sheet feed means including a feed motor, a movable cover for covering a printing mechanism, a detector for detecting an opening a last position of the feed motor at a time when the opening of the cover is detected, and a feed control means for setting the feed motor at the last phase position when the closing of the cover is detected.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1986Date of Patent: July 26, 1988Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masanari Kobayashi, Shinken Ozeki
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Patent number: 4755070Abstract: In an electronic typewriter having a printing device of the daisywheel type, the direct current electric motors which control the rotation of the character-carrying element, the movement of the carriage along the various printing positions and the rotation of the platen roller for line spacing are associated with corresponding transducers which detect the angular position thereof, and are actuated by a single integrated circuit connected to a microprocessor by an address and data bus (43). The microprocessor determines, for each of the motors, the angular amplitude of the rotary movement and the time required to cover each of the elementary angular distances, in accordance with a given speed law and addresses with data, including the said time, a plurality of circuit modules (B1, B2, B3) individual to the motors. The modules issue motor command signals (e.g. M11, M21, M31).Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1985Date of Patent: July 5, 1988Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A.Inventor: Walter Cerutti
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Patent number: 4723855Abstract: A compact printer has a type drum having at least one row of types, the types, including at least one space, being arranged on the periphery of the drum at regular intervals. The type drum is rotated by a stepper motor and a hammer member is provided for moving a selected type towards the paper for printing. The stepper motor is turned by signals which correspond to each step necessary to move the type drum through at least one pitch distance between types. Ratchet teeth, moving with the type drum, can be engaged by a blocking lever when rotation of the type drum is reversed, so as to stop vibration of the type drum at the time of printing.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 1986Date of Patent: February 9, 1988Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp.Inventors: Hitoshi Mikoshiba, Hiroshi Takizawa
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Patent number: 4715737Abstract: A printer comprises a paper feed roller, an intermediate gear coupled with the paper feed roller and having a spur gear section on an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a paper feed cam having an axis extending perpendicularly to an axis of the intermediate gear and having on its outer circumferential surface a helical tooth for meshing engagement with the spur gear section of the intermediate gear. The paper feed roller is angularly movable for a predetermined angular interval through the intermediate gear in response to angular movement of the paper feed cam. The paper feed cam has in the outer circumferential surface thereof a gap for disengagement with the intermediate gear. The helical tooth has an inclined end edge for guiding meshing engagement with the intermediate gear.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1983Date of Patent: December 29, 1987Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Fumihasa Hori
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Patent number: 4699534Abstract: There is provided a sheet advancing device including a driving source for driving a sheet advancing roller, a manual advancing member for manual drive of the sheet advancing roller, detention mechanism with a detention function for elastic detent of rotation of the sheet advancing roller at a determined position, and control means for disabling the detention function in sheet advancement with the drive source but enabling the detention function in sheet advancement with the manual advancing member.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1987Date of Patent: October 13, 1987Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Asakura, Mineo Nozaki, Yoshio Uchikata, Masasumi Nagashima
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Patent number: 4697943Abstract: The present invention relates to a driving device of platen used in printing devices such as typewriters, printers, etc., which is equipped with a motor, a first gear adapted to transmit the output from this motor and provided with notches on part thereof, a second gear which is intermittently driven by continuous rotation of this first gear and a platen driven through this second gear. A pawl holds the platen in place, but allows manual rotation thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1985Date of Patent: October 6, 1987Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroaki Ookubo
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Patent number: 4645365Abstract: A paper feed system in a printer includes a platen for supporting a recording paper sheet, a paper feed drive motor, and a transmission gear mechanism for transferring the rotation of the paper feed drive motor to the platen so as to conduct an automatic paper feed operation. The paper feed system further allows a manual paper feed operation wherein the platen is manually rotated. A detection system is provided which detects the manual paper feed operation. If the manual paper feed operation has been conducted before the automatic paper feed operation, a compensating paper drive is first conducted when an automatic paper feed instruction is developed. In the compensating paper drive, the platen is first driven to rotate in the reverse direction by a predetermined amount and, then to rotate in the forward direction by the same amount, thereby compensating for the displacement of the paper sheet location caused by the backlash of the transmission gear mechanism during the manual paper feed operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1985Date of Patent: February 24, 1987Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroji Iwai
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Patent number: 4630949Abstract: A device for controlling the rotary movement of a platen roller of a typewriter comprises a bidirectional electric motor coupled to the platen by a worm gear and gear wheel and a pair of knobs which are disposed at the sides of the platen and which are rotatable with respect thereto. The knobs are fixed to a bar which extends rotatably through the platen roller and carries the gear wheel. Selective bidirectional rotation of the knobs causes corresponding rotary movement of a disc in a transducer. The disc has a toothed sector in mesh with the gear wheel and is the moving part of a rotary switch which generates electrical signals which determine both the power supply to the electric motor and the direction of rotation thereof. Small degrees of rotary movement of the knobs against a first spring force establish continuous rotary movement of the platen roller at low speed. A further slight rotary movement of the knobs against a stronger spring force establishes rotary movement of the platen at high speed.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1984Date of Patent: December 23, 1986Assignee: Ing C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A.Inventors: Marcello Boella, Ugo Carena
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Patent number: 4618278Abstract: A paper feed control system in a printer allows two types of manual paper feed operation. In a first type of manual paper feed operation, a course manual paper feed is conducted while an electrical detent operation is conducted by a paper feed drive pulse motor. In a second type of manual paper feed operation, a fine adjustment of the paper position is carried out while the electrical detent operation is precluded. A counter system is associated with the rotation of the paper feed drive pulse motor so as to provide the electrical detent operation at preselected positions. When the second type of manual paper feed operation is completed, the counter system is reset so that the subsequent electrical detent operation is carried out with reference to the finely adjusted paper position.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1985Date of Patent: October 21, 1986Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroji Iwai
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Patent number: 4615631Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a power supply for supplying power thereto and a battery supply for supplying back-up battery power. A printing mechanism effects printing on a printing paper in accordance with one of a plurality of printing pitches, and a processor controls the printer and produces data signals. A selector selects one of a plurality of printing pitches and applies a signal indicating the selected printing pitch to the processor. A plurality of indicators each indicates a respective one of the plurality of printing pitches and one of the indicators is energized by a data signal produced by the processor. A memory is supplied with back-up battery power by the battery power supply and stores a selected one of the plurality of printing pitches. The memory is accessed by the processor.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1984Date of Patent: October 7, 1986Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Ueda, Yasuaki Yamada, Toshiaki Ozawa, Hiroharu Nakajima, Hiroatsu Kondo
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Patent number: 4606663Abstract: There is disclosed a paper transport device for printers. The device transports either single sheets or continuous paper through a printer in such a manner that switching between single sheet feed or continuous paper feed does not degrade print quality. When feeding single sheets, the platen determines the paper feed rate and is driven at a first circumferential speed. When feeding continuous paper, the platen is driven at a second and faster circumferential speed, which is slightly greater than the rate at which the paper tractor feeds the paper to the platen.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1984Date of Patent: August 19, 1986Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Gunter Christoph, Heinz Stickel
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Patent number: 4582440Abstract: An automatic line spacing device which can be advantageously incorporated in typewriters, especially of the type which has no constantly rotating power shaft. A feed pawl is mounted on a rockable member and cooperates with a ratchet to angularly rotate a typewriter type platen. The rockable member is constantly coupled to a bidirectional electric motor which is first energized sufficiently to angularly rotate the rockable member from its home position to a rotated limit position defined by a fixed positive stop element for effecting a line spacing operation and then secondly energized sufficiently to rotate the rockable member back to its home position as defined by another stop element. A cam adjusts the angle during which the feed pawl engages the ratchet so as to effect different line spacing increments.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1982Date of Patent: April 15, 1986Assignee: Silver Seiko Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Aoki, Masami Hayakawa
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Patent number: 4573814Abstract: The dot printer, which is of small dimensions, is used with desk top computers or as a peripheral unit with small processors. The printer writes in the serial-parallel mode by means of a thermal head (26) on a paper tape (16) wound on a writing platen (10) which advances intermittently to effect line spacing. This advancing is effected by means of a pawl (56) on a beam (50) controlled by a face cam (46) and a radial cam (48) on a cam cylinder (44) driven by a motor (45). A third cam (42) reciprocates the head (26) and, at the reversals of the head, the face cam (46) allows a spring (45) to engage the pawl (56) with a toothed wheel (62) on the platen (10) and the radial cam (48) then moves the pawl to advance the platen. The head comprises a small plate (29) of insulating material with twenty point-like resistive writing elements, and is fixed to a support (24 ) which is moved parallel to the cylinder by means of the third (42).Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1984Date of Patent: March 4, 1986Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C. S.p.A.Inventors: Pierangelo Berruti, Giancarlo Cella
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Patent number: 4565461Abstract: The printer includes a print head moveable in a lateral direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of a sheet of recording paper. The print head is supported on a carriage which is reciprocably driven. Different paper feed pitches are selectable depending upon the lateral position of the carriage at the end of printing. A paper feed cam includes two or more feed grooves and pitch changing grooves connecting the feed grooves so that the paper feed means can operate from any selected one of the feed grooves. A cam follower connected to the carriage rides in a groove causing the paper feed cam to be driven by motion of the carriage. Different feed pitches for graphics and text are provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 1983Date of Patent: January 21, 1986Assignee: Epson CorporationInventors: Minoru Usui, Toshiaki Oshima
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Patent number: 4558965Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a type wheel carrying a plurality of type elements and a platen for mounting and advancing a printing paper. A hammer can strike any one of the type elements against the printing paper and an ink ribbon is positionable between the type elements and the paper to imprint a character on the paper when any one of the type elements is struck. The ink ribbon is advanced by a driving mechanism. First, second, and third selecting systems respectively select one of a plurality of degrees of advancement of the printing paper, one of a plurality of time intervals of actuation of the hammer, and one of a plurality of amounts of advancement of the ink ribbon. First, second, and third counters each count pulses from respectively associated first, second, and third pulse generators to, respectively, first, second, and third set values determined by the selected degree of paper advancement, time interval of hammer actuation, and amount of ribbon advancement.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1985Date of Patent: December 17, 1985Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Ueda, Yasuaki Yamada, Toshiaki Ozawa, Hiroharu Nakajima, Hiroatsu Kondo
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Patent number: 4553869Abstract: A mechanical torque transmitting apparatus such as a one-way clutch which includes two distinct sets of flexural arms (primary and auxiliary) and a cylindrical engagement surface. The primary flexural arm is adapted to be in edgewise continuous engagement with the cylindrical surface. Preferably, the primary flexural arm has a long, straight, narrow cross-section area and applies a relatively low force against the cylindrical surface when said surface is rotating in a free-wheeling direction. In the non free-wheeling direction, the force against the cylindrical surface increases until the rotational forces overcome and buckle the primary flexural arm whereupon the auxiliary flexural arm is brought into contact with the cylindrical surface to resist further rotation.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1983Date of Patent: November 19, 1985Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.Inventors: Douglas E. Alexander, James F. Holland, Herbert G. Leonard, Alvin R. Reed
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Patent number: 4549825Abstract: An electronic mail terminal 10 that includes a keyboard 12, multi-character display 14, thermal printer 22, tape drive 118, and communication and control circuitry. The tape drive and printer mount to molded-in features of a base housing 20. A printed circuit board 28 containing the communication and control circuitry and the display is mounted to molded-in features of the base housing. The keyboard plugs into the printed circuit board from above and is supported at the sides by stand-offs in the base housing. A cover housing 88 mates with molded-in features of the base housing. The tape drive mechanism includes cassette guides 98 and 376 that are molded into the base and cover housings and a spring loaded motor mount that automatically compensates for wear and positioning tolerances. A printer carriage motor 184 drives a toothed belt 182 to position a carriage 138 which holds a thermal print head 140.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1984Date of Patent: October 29, 1985Assignee: Post Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Russell Fish, III, James R. Yurchenco
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Patent number: 4531850Abstract: A line spacing device for printing machines comprises an electric motor arranged to rotate selectively in a clockwise direction and anticlockwise direction and a control disc carrying a pawl on an eccentric. The tooth of the pawl describes a closed trajectory engaging in the teeth of a wheel and of a sense the same as the rotation of the disc, whereby a paper support platen is rotated by one increment in the opposite sense. A central control unit controls the clockwise and anticlockwise rotations of the electric motor. A cam disengages a detent pin from the wheel so that the motor is only lightly loaded when actuating the platen.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1984Date of Patent: July 30, 1985Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A.Inventors: Franco Valle, Pietro Musso
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Patent number: 4500219Abstract: A paper guiding device and operating method for use in an office writing machine, the device including a platen carried by a shaft and constituting a paper support, the platen shaft and platen being rotatable in a first direction for insertion of a paper sheet in the machine and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a paper holding rail disposed adjacent the platen and carrying a plurality of pressure rollers which are pressed toward the platen, a rocker member supporting the rail and mounted to undergo pivotal movement about the axis of rotation of the platen shaft between a paper insertion position and a normal printing position; and a coupling member coupling the rocker member and platen such that rotation of the platen in the second direction effects pivotal movement of the rocker member into the paper insertion position for insertion of the leading edge of a paper sheet between the rollers and the platen and rotation of the platen in the first direction effects pivotal movement of the roType: GrantFiled: August 18, 1982Date of Patent: February 19, 1985Assignee: Olympia Werke AGInventors: Heinz Lange, Albert Rix, Dieter Drogi
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Patent number: 4494887Abstract: A high speed printer comprises a molded base having a plurality of plastic towers integrally molded thereon. A cylindrical platen is mounted on a first pair of plastic towers and a drive shaft having a helical groove along the length thereof and an eccentric drive pin at one end is mounted on a second pair of plastic towers. A slide bar mounted for reciprocating motion and having a drive slot for receiving the eccentric drive pin supports a paper feed pawl and a ribbon feed pawl. A single motor drives the drive shaft, whereby the helical groove drives a print head across the platen and the eccentric drive pin reciprocates said slide bar to drive the paper feed pawl and the ribbon feed pawl.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 1984Date of Patent: January 22, 1985Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.Inventor: Karl T. Wincent
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Patent number: 4462709Abstract: A carriage return device in a typewriter including: an interposer operable through operation of a key lever for the carriage return; a cycle bail driven by the interposer; a driving source adapted to rotate a main shaft by a predetermined number of rotations in association with the cycle bail; a cycle clutch for intermittently transmitting a driving force to the main shaft; an actuating bail for performing a cycle of movement having a locus of a predetermined mode to cause the interposer to disengage from the cycle bail; a carriage return bell crank for operating in association with the interposer when the interposer moves in the direction of disengaging from the cycle bail; a carriage return clutch operable by the carriage return bell crank; a carriage driving device for driving the carriage to return through operation of the carriage return clutch; and a mechanism for operating to return the carriage return bell crank upon completion of carriage return; wherein the carriage return device further includes aType: GrantFiled: July 8, 1981Date of Patent: July 31, 1984Assignee: Tokyo Juki Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Giancarlo Horeschi, Gian P. Barozzi
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Patent number: 4461587Abstract: Conveying apparatus for embossing machines for producing printing plates for address printing machines or for identification means made out of sheet metal or plastic material. The embossing machine conveying apparatus is capable of moving the printing plates in two directions which are perpendicular to each other. One of these directions is the direction required for character embossing within a print or read line and the second direction, which is perpendicular to the first, is in the direction of line spacing.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1979Date of Patent: July 24, 1984Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Helmut A. M. Schottle
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Patent number: 4459054Abstract: A serial impact printer 11 includes a frame 15 mounted drive motor 47 coupled to a print wheel 31 to effect rotation thereof. The print wheel 31 is mounted on a movable print carrier 29 which serially moves from print position to print position along the print line. The motor 47 is coupled to the wheel pulley 51 of the print wheel 31 through a belt 49 which is wrapped about two idler pulleys 57 and 59 located on a sub-carrier 61. The sub-carrier 61 moves one half the distance of the print carrier 29 so that during escapement motion of the print carrier 29, the belt 49 imparts no rotary motion to the wheel pulley 51 and hence to the print wheel 31. The print carrier 29 may be clamped by clamp 77 to the belt 49 to effect the return motion thereof. The motor 47 is also coupled through a clutch 127 to the line feed apparatus of the platen 23.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 1982Date of Patent: July 10, 1984Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: William L. Dollenmayer
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Patent number: 4444521Abstract: A single stepper motor is utilized in a printing device to lift a print head from the surface of recording material upon the initial angular rotation of the stepper motor output drive shaft and to move the recording material within the printing device upon further rotation of said drive shaft. The print head is returned to the surface of the recording material by operating the stepper motor in the reverse direction until the output drive shaft of the stepper motor traverses an angular displacement equal but opposite to the initial angular displacement. A cam surface couples the output drive shaft of the stepper motor to a drive gear and transforms the initial angular displacement of the output drive shaft into linear motion to lift the print head from the surface of the recording material. Further rotation of the stepper motor drive shaft rotates the drive gear to move material within the printing device.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 1982Date of Patent: April 24, 1984Assignee: United Systems CorporationInventors: Bruce W. Rickard, Bernard Fisher
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Patent number: 4423972Abstract: A small and light-weight serial printer adapted to portable electric-powered typewriters and output devices of personal computers. The serial printer of the present invention requires a reduced number of drive sources and is simply constructed. The serial printer further possesses a small and light-weight carriage which does not mount drive sources such as motors or electromagnets and which does not mount a hammering mechanism, either.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1982Date of Patent: January 3, 1984Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ikutaro Inoue, Kousaki Yanata
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Patent number: 4405248Abstract: In an advancing device for the motorized vertical displacement of a record carrier in an electrically driven office machine, which device includes an operating element mounted for movement in either one of two directions from a zero position, and members responsive to movement of the operating element in either one of its two directions for displacing such carrier in a respective vertical direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the operating element, the members are made to be responsive to movement of the operating element in at least one direction from the zero position for advancing the record carrier at a rate which increases as the extent of displacement of the operating element from the zero position increases.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1981Date of Patent: September 20, 1983Assignee: Olympia Werke AGInventors: Klaus Wunderlich, Udo Schlegel, Heinz Ricke
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Patent number: 4383778Abstract: In the typewriter driving of the platen (1) is effected by the motor shaft (3) which operates a character selection device. This motor shaft (3) and the platen (1) occupy predetermined angular positions at rest.During a driving command of the platen, a part (26) brings a transmission pinion (22) into mesh with the last controlled pinion (9) of a gear train (5 to 9) coupled to the motor shaft (3) before this shaft is actuated by the motor (4). The transmission pinion (22) is secured to one end of the transmission shaft (16, 19, 20) and the other end of the shaft carries a toothed wheel (15) in mesh with a driving pinion (14) secured to the platen. The angular notching of the pinions and their number of teeth is provided in such a manner that the teeth of the pinion (22) engage exactly between the teeth of the controlled pinion (9).Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1981Date of Patent: May 17, 1983Assignee: Hermes Precisa International S.A.Inventor: Jorge Costa
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Patent number: 4376585Abstract: A matrix printer, having a movable print head, a paper feed and advance mechanism and an ink ribbon system, is driven by two motors; one for the print head and one for paper feeding and ribbon movement. This second motor is a reversible one and drives the paper advance when rotating in one direction and the ink ribbon when rotating in the opposite direction. Speed control for the paper feed phase is derived from a cam on the input shaft for the paper advance. A reset mechanism for that shaft is also included.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1981Date of Patent: March 15, 1983Assignee: Mannesmann AktiengesellschaftInventors: Lorenz Fromme, Wolfgang Hendrischk, Werner Rupp
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Patent number: 4368994Abstract: A printer which may be used in a billing/accounting machine having a single servo motor to drive both the printing mechanism (horizontal motion) and the record media feed (vertical motion). While the printing mechanism is always engaged with the servo motor for transportation across the record media, provision is made for disengaging the record media feed from the servo motor during the printing mode and for re-engaging the record media feed with the servo motor during the non-printing mode for the proper feeding of the media past the printing mechanism to provide line-by-line printing. With the printing mechanism continuously engaged, its exact horizontal position is always known and controlled.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 1979Date of Patent: January 18, 1983Assignee: The Singer CompanyInventor: David F. Sweeney
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Patent number: 4365904Abstract: A linespacing apparatus includes a slip clutch assembly which is driven by an electric motor. The slip clutch assembly includes a face cam which drives a linkage which, in turn, indexes a platen in order to linespace the platen. The face cam includes an abutment portion which abruptly halts the motion of the linkage and the slip clutch assembly prevents bounce or recoil of the linkage thereby promoting smooth operation of the apparatus. The linkage may be adjusted by an operator to vary the amount of rotation of the platen during each operating stroke of the linkage.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1981Date of Patent: December 28, 1982Assignee: SCM CorporationInventors: Hans W. Mueller, Richard E. Shattuck, Albert H. Cryder, John L. Nelson
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Patent number: 4363558Abstract: A shorthand machine including an electric drive system to advance the platen. In accordance with the invention, the platen can be advanced in a fully mechanical, conventional mode, fully electric mode, or by a combination of electric and mechanical drives. In the electric or electric/mechanical modes, after the shorthand machine operator makes a key stroke and releases the keys, an electric circuit pulses an electric motor connected to the platen to drive the platen for a predetermined duration of time. Subsequent to the driving pulse, power to the motor is reversed to quickly brake the motor and bring it to a rapid stop. The duration of time that the motor is activated may be varied, varying the amount of advancement of the platen, and thus varying the distance between received key strokes for each word or part of word generated by the operator of the shorthand machine.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 1980Date of Patent: December 14, 1982Assignee: Stenograph CorporationInventors: Richard A. Michals, Frank H. Mozer, Ralph E. Zum Bahlen
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Patent number: 4347006Abstract: A powered gear driven paper insert and line feed mechanism capable of rotating a platen through one half line spacing increments and which is both power operated and disconnectable for manual operation is disclosed. The platen of the typewriter or printer may be manually rotated using platen or may be electronically rotated by energizing the control magnet, thus engaging the clutch assembly to connect the drive motor to the platen. The clutching assembly is such that two separate clutches are operable to disconnect the platen and gear train from the overall clutch apparatus and also to disconnect the drive motor belt and other related hardware which is driven by the drive motor and belt.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1980Date of Patent: August 31, 1982Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Iraj D. Shakib
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Patent number: 4347009Abstract: A support for an idler gear is pivotally mounted about the driving gear axis in a gear driven platen drive for a typewriter. A constraining member mounted with the interchangeable platen engages and constrains the support in a position to insure engagement of the idler with the platen gear and may be sized or shaped to insure proper positioning of the support and idler for a number of different platen gears of varying diameters, allowing platens and platen gears to be readily changed to vary the line feed increment as desired by the operator.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1981Date of Patent: August 31, 1982Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Clifford G. Brown
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Patent number: 4324500Abstract: A printer of the daisywheel type in which the existence of a carriage control signal and a printwheel control signal operate inhibiting apparatus for a control signal otherwise gated to a paper feed operator.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1980Date of Patent: April 13, 1982Assignee: Qume CorporationInventors: Suhdok D. Moon, Marshall H. Trackman
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Patent number: 4311399Abstract: The specification discloses a method and apparatus for setting and varying margins, line spacing and printing direction of a data printing machine by a machine user before and during printing by use of a keyboard with push-button control which is coupled to a digital controller to input information about the actual and the desired location of a print head relative to a printing surface, in response to which the controller outputs signals which control relative motion of the print head and indexes its relative position, from the actual to the desired direction and location.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 1979Date of Patent: January 19, 1982Assignee: Sycor, Inc.Inventors: William Wegryn, Juan F. Velazquez
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Patent number: 4310256Abstract: In an extra-small sized printer of the so called serial type, which prints one character every time a type wheel is shifted by a distance corresponding to one character in the direction of the line of typing, the simplification of a driving source as well as the simplification of the overall mechanism are accomplished by a modification of the system.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1979Date of Patent: January 12, 1982Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ikutaro Inoue
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Patent number: 4273456Abstract: Paper insertion apparatus for indexing a typewriter to a desired first line printing position is triggered using a position detector cooperating with an operator movable paper hold-down bail. When the paper bail is moved to a withdrawn position relative to the paper feed path, the detector produces a signal that causes a logic processor to access, from a dedicated storage location, a code indicating paper advancing increments corresponding to a desired first line printing position. The processor then commands an indexing drive to advance that number of increments. In a preferred implementation, the operator can condition the typewriter to receive a new first line code into storage by means of the keyboard.By so using the presence of the paper bail in a withdrawn position to input the operator's paper insertion request, problems of automatically clearing the path for the leading paper edge are averted and the natural association of the paper bail with paper handling is exploited.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1978Date of Patent: June 16, 1981Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John J. Bisczat, Robert R. Lisk, William R. McCray, James L. Sizemore
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Patent number: 4272205Abstract: An indexing mechanism for a typewriter provides a signal controlled transfer to a fast paper advance rate, say for semi-automatic paper insertion, while storing the last operator-selected rate. Two cams are employed which influence, through a follower, the engagement point of a pawl of a pawl and ratchet platen drive. One cam is operator positionable to change the portion of its cam profile that is tracked by the follower and, attendantly, the paper advance rate. By arranging a signal-controlled actuator to deflect the positionable cam from operative engagement with the follower, the outer cam, which has a less prominent profile, is enabled to influence the pawl engagement point and provides high speed paper advance. Upon removal of the actuator signal the positionable cam is automatically returned to its operative position i.e., the last operator selected position.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1978Date of Patent: June 9, 1981Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John J. Bisczat, Charles D. Bleau
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Patent number: 4266880Abstract: Improved apparatus for effecting semi-automatic insertion of paper into a typewriter concentrates operator interactions, (1) to condition the typewriter for a distance input selection and (2) to trigger indexing for paper insertion, so as to merely involve positioning of the paper bail. A detection of the paper bail at a predefined position withdrawn from the paper feed path conditions the typewriter to interpret keyboard actuations--preferably of the number keys--as representing desired first line distances e.g., the "2" key represents a first line one inch from the top of the sheet. And, in a presently preferred implementation, the number keys represent a fixed distance increment (three lines or approximately one half inch) multiplied by the key number.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1978Date of Patent: May 12, 1981Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: James C. Buchanan
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Patent number: 4255063Abstract: A platen for a typewriter, is rotated intermittently by pulsing a winding to establish flux between poles of a stator and a rotor, which rotates through a fixed angle and then back to a datum position under the action of a spring. The magnetic flux also engages an electro magnetic clutch formed by the rotor and a part rotationally fast with the platen so that the platen is rotated only during the forward rotation of the rotor. The stator, rotor and said part are all coaxial with the platen and may be housed inside the platen.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1978Date of Patent: March 10, 1981Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A.Inventors: Adriano Zaltieri, Giuseppe Coli
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Patent number: 4242006Abstract: The present invention is an improved media advancement mechanism for use in combination with a printer that includes a frame, a print head mechanically coupled to the frame and a platen mechanically coupled to the frame so that a print media may pass between it and the print head. The printer also includes a pair of sprockets which are adapted to support the print media and which are mechanically coupled to the frame by a sprocket shaft. The improved media advancement mechanism includes a ratchet wheel which is mechanically coupled to the sprocket shaft in order to provide rotational motion thereto in response to an electrical signal from the printer thereby moving the print media incrementally. The improved media advancement mechanism also includes an adjustment plate pivotally coupled to a sidewall of the frame and a restraining device for restraining the adjustment plate from its pivotal motion.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1978Date of Patent: December 30, 1980Assignee: C. Itoh Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Nicholas Kondur, Jr.
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Patent number: 4212554Abstract: A printer includes a paper transport cylinder which is intermittently driven by a motor to automatically advance the paper by one line each time a line has been printed. In order to advance the paper before printing begins a manually actuable key is provided which, when depressed, couples the transport cylinder to the motor and actuates the motor. The transport cylinder is rotated while the key is depressed to rapidly advance the paper.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1978Date of Patent: July 15, 1980Assignee: Firma Precisa AG RechenmaschinenfabrikInventor: Helmut Gelling
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Patent number: 4195940Abstract: A control for platen rotation in printers, and particularly in telex machines where the platen rotation drive, either a stepping motor or a DC motor, is provided with an incremental control actuated by keyboard keys to advance or counter advance the platen by a small increment of the full line space whereby alignment of the imprinting line with form spaces is facilitated.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1977Date of Patent: April 1, 1980Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Rudolf Rekewitz
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Patent number: 4181444Abstract: A device is disclosed for index and exponent impression printing in typewriters. An exponent or index switching key has associated with it an edge detector, and parallel thereto, a state detector. A time function element which triggers a gate circuit for the triggering of the drive motor for the roller is connected behind the edge detector. A rotational direction reversal switching device is connected behind the state detector. The device is useful in office typewriters, data printers or telex machines not equipped with their own exponent or index printing symbols.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1977Date of Patent: January 1, 1980Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Ulrich Heider
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Patent number: 4120593Abstract: A printing office machine of the type having a carriage, a controllable line spacing mechanism and a controllable carriage return mechanism for returning the carriage to the beginning of the printing line with a manually actuatable control actuated by a first key for enabling both the line spacing mechanism and the carriage return mechanism to effect both the line spacing and the return of the carriage to the beginning of the printing line. A manually actuatable stop device, actuated by a second key, is provided for preventing the movement of the carriage to override the carriage return mechanism to effect the line spacing of the carriage without the return of the carriage to the beginning of the printing line.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1976Date of Patent: October 17, 1978Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A.Inventor: Domenico Roano
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Patent number: 4111293Abstract: To more fully utilize the surface area of a typewriter ribbon in a cartridge ribbon receptacle, the cartridge locating plate supporting the receptacle is caused to oscillate with respect to the print head assembly. The ribbon cartridge assembly is a part of a print head and ribbon carrier that is positionable along a line of print by a drive motor through a belt drive engaging a drive pulley rotatably mounted to the carrier. Mounted to rotate with the drive pulley is a cam that engages a cam follower also mounted to the head and ribbon carrier. An upstop forms a part of the cam follower and engages the cartridge locating plate. With the cam follower driven by the cam, an oscillating motion is imparted to the upstop with reference to the head and ribbon carrier which motion is then imparted to the cartridge locating plate. Also fastened to the head and ribbon carrier is a solenoid that when energized spring biases the cartridge locating plate through a leaf spring attached to the plate.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 1977Date of Patent: September 5, 1978Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Barry C. Kockler, Ronald L. Beaty
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Patent number: 4088214Abstract: An improved thermally sensitive printer for recording characters on a thermally sensitive medium is provided. An exothermic printing head includes a substrate and a plurality of selectively energized resistance elements supported on the substrate, the resistance elements being energized during a printing operation to print characters on a thermally sensitive medium in contact therewith. A rotary platen is provided for bringing the thermally sensitive medium into printing contact with the resistance printing elements to thereby effect printing on the thermally sensitive medium during a printing operation. The rotary platen is also adapted to incrementally advance the thermally sensitive printing medium after each printing operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1976Date of Patent: May 9, 1978Assignees: Shinshu Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa SeikoshaInventors: Takemasa Shindo, Yoshikazu Ito, Kenichiro Arai