Abstract: Mechanism for automatically adjusting the feed increment according to the type of ribbon in a ribbon cassette is characterized by a pawl and feed ratchet and to means operative by coded features on a cassette, when the cassette is mounted, to control the interval of engagement of the pawl and feed ratchet.

Abstract: The invention concerns a mechanism for raising and feeding different types of ink ribbons in typewriters and similar machines. With a simple design and using only one motor under programmed control, the mechanism is capable of utilizing ink ribbons economically, e.g. printing alternately in several printing zones of a ribbon or in several colors. It also feeds ribbon by a length which corresponds to the type of ribbon, or type of operation, e.g. proportional typing. The starting point for the various functions is a basic position to which the mechanism is positioned by the motor.

Abstract: A drive system to raise and transport both print and correction ribbons on typewriters or like machines is powered by a single bidirectional stepping motor. In one direction of rotation the motor acts via a special action clutch to first drive mechanisms for raising a print ribbon and then to establish gear connections for driving mechanisms for transporting the print ribbon. In the other direction, the motor acts to establish gear connections for driving mechanisms for raising and transporting a correction ribbon.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette incorporates a locking mechanism which acts to prevent both rotational spool movement and axial displacement or "treeing" of the coils of ribbon wound on a single flange supply spool prior to mounting for use in a typewriter. The locking mechanism is automatically released when the cassette is mounted for use in a typewriter or like machine.

Abstract: A disk for use in a dedicated surface track following servo system has a plurality of radially spaced circumferential tracks on which synchronizing, position, and track region identifying transition pairs are recorded together with guard transition pairs between the synchronizing and position transitions pairs and between the position and track region identifying transition pairs. The guard and position transition pairs each bridge two adjacent tracks and are separated radially and circumferentially from track to track in repetitive staircase fashion.

Abstract: Elastic bearings supporting bearing bushings for shafts are mounted in recesses in plates of a machine frame. The elastic material is shaped so that, in at least one predetermined direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, its dimension is a multiple of that in other directions. What is achieved thereby is that the shaft is constrained to move in one defined direction only.

Abstract: A typewriter having a thermal print head defining an array of print elements and a thermal print ribbon, both of which are supported on a carriage movable relative to a platen, is provided with a control system which responds to a character print command to move the print head into controlled pressure contact with the platen and to engage a substantially play free clutch for coupling carriage movement initiated by a print command to advance ribbon opposite the direction of carriage movement whereby relative movement between said ribbon and platen is avoided during printing.

Abstract: An arrangement for the line by line scanning of a document has a line array of individual light sensor elements each of which is characterized by a gas discharge chamber limited on one side by a cathode and on the opposite side by photoconductor layer carrying a transparent and a non-transparent signal electrode. The signal electrodes are common to all the sensor elements in the line array, extend parallel to each other, and are connected to a differential amplifier to eliminate switching transients and dark signals from the information signal.

Abstract: An n stage array of gas discharge chambers is divided into m groups of y stages each. Priming arrangements are provided whereby serial readout of the stages in each group can be accomplished simultaneously thereby increasing the speed of readout.

Abstract: An arrangement of light wave conductors are correlated with the sensor areas of an image sensor array. The individual light wave conductors consist of glass wafers or glass fibers whose width or diameter each corresponds to the width of a sensor area. The light wave conductors are joined to form a block whose top surface area corresponds to the area of a document to be scanned line by line.

Abstract: A photoelectric keyboard for typewriters and similar machines comprises two parallel plate modules spaced one above the other, the upper plate module comprising a plate of transparent material having holes supporting and guiding light transparent depressible key stems, and having cutouts supporting light sources, and the lower plate module comprising a printed circuit board supporting photo elements opposite the ends of key stems. The ends of the transparent key stems are, in normal position, spaced a predetermined optical distance from the photo elements arranged on the lower plate such that the light radiated from the ends of the key stems is insufficient to activate associated photo elements. On depressing a key, the distance between the end of the key stem and an associated photo element is reduced and the light beam radiated from the end of the key stem is sufficient to activate the associated photo element. Thus only the corresponding photo element is activated by a depressed key.

Abstract: A device for monitoring paper feed movement in typewriters, printers or other paper-feeding apparatus, e.g. photocopiers wherein paper sheets inserted between a rotatable platen and pressure rollers are driven incident to rotation of the platen. A signal generator has a driving roll of the same size as the pressure rollers and axially aligned therewith which is prevented from being driven by the platen by the interposition of a narrow stationary belt positioned between the platen and drive roller adjacent one end of the platen. When paper is inserted a side edge passes between the belt and the drive roll and movement of the paper incident to platen rotation drives the drive roll of the pulse generator which monitors paper movement. If there is no paper movement due to paper jams or the end of a paper sheet is reached this condition is detected by the absence of pulses at the output of the pulse generator. The absence of pulse sequences serve to shut down the machine.

Abstract: An optical document scanning apparatus of high resolution employs diaphragms defined by a line array of spaced opaque areas which are located midway between an object plane and an image plane containing a line array of spaced light sensors. The object plane is illuminated from a light source located in the image plane parallel to said line array of light sensors. The distance between object and image planes is twice the distance from the lead edge of one light sensor to another and the opaque areas defining the diaphragms are located opposite the areas between light sensors to restrict exposure of the light sensors substantially only to light diffusely reflected from the object plane which is normal to the light sensors thereby to achieve high resolution.

Abstract: A method for controlling a cursor of a one-line display device in a text writing equipment, where a text stored in a working memory of the text writing equipment can be displayed on the display device. The one-line display device is divided into three zones, in each of which a different control of the cursor is effected. In the first zone, comprising a plurality of display positions, the cursor works as a movable mark, i.e., after each cursor shift command or after each reproduce command, a cursor movement occurs with the displayed text standing still. When the cursor reaches the second zone of the display device, which is operator selectable, there occurs before each further cursor movement ordered by cursor shift commands or reproduce commands, a check to determine whether the last symbol stored in the working memory is displayed on the display. If not, a displacement of the displayed text occurs while the cursor remains stationary.

Abstract: A concrete and wire placement mechanism mounted for bodily movement relative to a form is provided with a tube for conveying concrete to the form and includes driven elements supported by the tube operative to feed, cut and to throw off discrete cut lengths of reinforcing wire on the order of at least 10 inches in length for embedment in axially aligned and ordered arrays in layers of concrete deposited in the form as the mechanism moves relative to the form. In one embodiment for making utility poles the concrete form is a hollow, elongated substantially-cylindrical member which is axially movable to and fro and which is rotated about its axis during axial movement thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for lifting print and correction ribbons in typewriters or printers having a bidirectional motor for driving a lift lever coupled to lift, according to the direction of rotation, either the print or correction ribbon, as required. In order to be able to use a relatively weak motor, the lifting movements of the lift lever driven directly by the motor are transmitted directly to the print or correction ribbon guides without interconnecting members. Print ribbon feed is implemented by means of camming surfaces on the lift lever operating to feed ribbon during the return movement of the print ribbon to rest position below the printing line.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting deflection rollers about which a belt extending between machine side walls is trained comprises plug-in parts which enable the deflection rollers to be assembled one to one machine side wall, and the other to a guide plate supported by and adjustably spaced outwardly of another side wall with the spacing establishing belt tension which holds the assembly together. The guide plate also mounts a detector for monitoring the rotary position of the deflection roller.

Abstract: A method for making reinforced concrete including the steps of laying down layers of concrete and contemporaneously automatically cutting, and bodily ejecting into the contemporaneously layed down layers of concrete oriented wire lengths in any desired aligned patterns. In one embodiment the concrete layers are injected into a rotating cylindrical form and the oriented wires are cyclically bodily thrown off at selected angular intervals for embedment in axially aligned annular arrays in the concrete layers.

Abstract: Information stored in a working memory of a word processor comprising symbols representing alpha-numeric text characters and word processor functions are displayed by means of a line display unit with alpha-numeric text characters and function symbols each occupying only one display position on the line display unit.When the meaning of a function symbol identified by a cursor positionable to identify the next display position to be processed is not evident, its meaning is automatically displayed in leftmost positions of the display unit, with suppression or shift of the text already displayed in said leftmost positions taking place as necessary to display the meaning of a function symbol.