Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the feeding of paper about a printer platen. Controlled are paper aligning, rear roller feeding, front roller feeding and paper bail operation. The apparatus is primarily made up of a rocker button, reed switches, a drive motor, a cam gear, a comb, and a paper bail. Upon operator manipulation of the rocker button, the drive motor is turned on for rotating the cam gear. Rotation of the cam gear effects bi-directional rotation of the comb and a paper bail arm carrying the paper bail. Rotation of the comb in a first direction results in (1) a rear feed roller being displaced from the platen to provide a feeding path for paper when inserted into the printer, and (2) a paper aligner being positioned for aligning the paper. Rotation of the comb in a second direction results in the rear feed roller causing engagement of the paper and platen and the paper aligner being brought out of the feeding path of the paper.

Abstract: A system for printing a plurality of sequentially stored text columns in a side-by-side format with the line spacing of one column varying from that of another. Each column is to be printed out in an operator defined location. After a line from one of the columns is printed on a print line in a defined location, the carrier is caused to escape. Any corresponding lines from succeeding columns, as determined by their line spacing requirements, are printed on the same line prior to causing a printer carrier return. That is, the line spacing requirement of a column is utilized to determine whether a line from the column is to be printed on the print line being printed.

Abstract: A system for handling multiple printer font requirements during playout of a plurality of sequentially stored text columns in a side-by-side format. A line from one column is printed on a print line, the carrier is caused to escape, and any corresponding line from a succeeding column is printed on the same line. Printing and escapement continue until all corresponding lines from each column are printed on the same print line prior to causing a printer carrier return. During playout within a column, or from column to column, printer font requirements stored with the text are used to determine subsequent system events. If one of the columns, or a portion thereof, is to be printed in a different type style or language, the system will signal a need for a font change, stop the playout and await an indication that a font change has been made.

Abstract: A rotatable print disc is mounted on a carrier which traverses along the print line. The disk is moved from each character position to the next by the shortest distance and it is stopped at the time of printing. The carrier is moved from one print position to the next at a speed which is selected depending on the time required for the disk to rotate to the next character. Printing takes place with the carrier moving at one of a number of speeds. The force utilized to drive the hammer to print the characters is varied dependent on which character is being printed. Hammer firing for each character is timed dependent on printing speed and upon the force utilized to drive the hammer.

Abstract: An automatic format control for controlling text format upon playout from a text buffer loaded from segmented media, such as magnetic cards. At the beginning of a job and during input keying, format information made up of tab set locations, a measure length, index values, adjust modes, etc., is stored in a text buffer. The keying of this information causes appropriate printer format control settings. Text to be formatted and controlled by the printer according to this format information is then keyed and stored in the text buffer. A later change in format for the same page of the job is handled by keying new format information. This results in new printer tab, etc., settings. This new format information is also stored in the text buffer. Upon later recording onto a magnetic card, all format information is stored on the card along with the text. Also, the last format information recorded on the card is written into a format buffer.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing multiple operations during a memory revolution in an electronic dynamic shift register. The memory is initially arranged by the input of control codes such as record, operation, separator, and hold flags. The separator flag defines a normal section and an alternate section, and the operation and hold flags define the position of the next character to be addressed in each of the sections. The record flag is the operating point for an output operation in the normal section. When one of the sections is addressed and it does not contain the operation flag, the hold and operation flags are exchanged in order that the operation flag is in the section addressed. With the operation flag in the normal section, an input zone is defined by the separator flag in the alternate section, and a revision zone is defined from the record flag to the separator flag in the normal section.

Abstract: A system for arranging the memory in an electronic dynamic shift register for performing multiple operations during a memory revolution. Control codes, such as separator and record flags, are input into the shift register memory for defining an input and a revision zone. Upon detecting these control codes during a memory revolution, data codes are input into the input and revision zones and deleted from the revision zone. Another control code, such as a page end code, input into the revision zone defines an output zone. During an output operation data codes in the output zone are output from the record flag through the page end code.

Abstract: A system for merging data flow having a typewriter electronically connected to a buffer, which is a dynamic electronic shift register, for inputting data into sections of the buffer and for merging the data in the sections into a single printout. System control logic is provided to allow (1) a separator, or partition, code to be input into the buffer for defining sections (2) codes corresponding to hold and operation flags to be input into the sections, and (3) text data codes corresponding to characters and switching and/or stopping points to be input into the sections. In addition, the system control logic is operable to allow the operator to insert characters into and delete characters from the sections of the buffer for text editing and revision.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving documents which tend to kite and/or curl upon being fed thereinto. The apparatus is made up of an elevatable platform which reduces curling problems upon low velocity feeding, and document elevatable wings which trap the leading edge of each document and overcome any curling and kiting problems during high velocity feeding.

Abstract: A system for resetting or repositioning one set tab and causing following tabs to be repositioned. The apparatus is primarily made up of an electronic tab rack for storing the location of set tabs, input means for defining a new location for one of the set tabs, and logic means for repositioning the one tab to the new location in the tab rack and causing all following tabs to be repositioned in the tab rack. The system of this invention also has a memory for storing text and tab codes, an output device for displaying text, and control means for controlling the display of text relative to the repositioned tabs.

Abstract: A document hopper having a platform which can be lowered and elevated. The platform is operably connected to a rotatable leadscrew through a shoe engaging the threads of the leadscrew. The leadscrew is held against rotation by a pawl engaging a detent about one end of the leadscrew. When so held, the platform is maintained at a determined height. When the pawl is withdrawn from the detent, the weight of the platform against the shoe is sufficient to cause rotation of the leadscrew. Upon rotation of the leadscrew, the platform is lowered. When lowered a desired extent, the pawl is permitted to reengage the detent. Elevation of the platform is manual with the leadscrew rotating and the pawl ratcheting over the detent.

Abstract: A low distortion sinusoidal oscillator made up of a two transistor negative resistance element combined with an LC tank for generating bias and erase signals for battery powered magnetic media recording apparatus.

Abstract: A method of both testing all loops of a long serial magnetic bubble domain chip, and repairing the chip for automatic bypass of defective loops. Each repair station associated with each loop is sequentially loaded with a bubble domain. Then new domains are sequentially generated and positioned adjacent each loop. The domains initially loaded into the repair stations are shifted out in parallel for propagation along the loops. The new domains are then loaded in parallel into the repair stations. The domains propagated along the loops are read to determine defective loops, and form a basis for generating a repair pattern. The repair pattern is then loaded in parallel into the repair stations for sealing off defective loops.

Abstract: A system which utilizes a floating hot zone for controlling quality of ultimately justified output text. In preparing text for later justified output, the minimum space size is set at three units. The zone is variable in width and located within the measure and adjacent the right margin. The width of the zone is partially dependent upon the number of spaces on a line. During printing, the left side of the zone is tentatively established when the residue is equal to, or less than, 36 units. Then, when the residue is equal to, or less than, the number of spaces times nine, the system will cause a bell to ring. This will alert the operator that the zone has been entered and if printing is thereafter terminated, the maximum space size will not exceed 12 units during later justified output.

Abstract: A system for automatically arranging a stored sequence ot textural character codes and control codes to provide textual line lengths within a predetermined range. If a tab code is detected within the stored sequence, the amount of line length corresponding to the tab code is calculated by the control logic, since the tab code, itself, includes no indication of the amount of line length for execution of the tab code. The number of character codes and space codes on a line containing a tab code is reduced to accommodate the line length required to execute the tab code upon print-out by a printer. In forming a group of codes corresponding to a line, a hyphenation decision may be necessary when inclusion of a word at the end of a line would result in too great a line length, while exclusion of the word would result in too short a line length.

Abstract: A portable disc recorder control apparatus operable both upon insertion of a recording disc and manipulation of a single control button. After insertion and positioning of the disc, such functions and operations as special instruction recording, stopping, ejecting, playing, and reviewing are controlled by the apparatus. These functions and operations are initiated through the single control button.

Abstract: A system for positioning final copy printed text, upon a first printing, at a specified location on a line in a format determined by input keying. The location can be a blank block on a form to be filled in. After initial setup and during any input or output operation, a final copy printed text mode can be entered by an operator and stored. This will inhibit printing upon further keying until a carrier return is keyed following the text. The printer carrier is positioned through spacing, backspacing, tabbing, etc. relative to the left side of the block, and codes representative thereof are also stored. When the carrier is at the left side of the block, the keying of a variable space or character will define a tentative format and this location, and a variable space or character code will be stored. Then the text is keyed and stored.

Abstract: An apparatus for causing sheets to be stacked in an offset manner for facilitating later separation. The apparatus is made up primarily of a stacking bin into which sheets are fed from a sheet feeding apparatus, means for translating the bin from one position to another, biasing means for urging the bin toward one of the two positions to provide for startup, and a clutch. Upon command, the clutch is tripped, and the bin is initially translated under the influence of the biasing means. The bin is thereafter frictionally driven by the translating means to a position where a sheet, when loaded, will be offset from a previously loaded sheet.