Abstract: Flexible flat ribbon cables with a polyester binder silver particle conductive ink deposited on a heat bondable substrate are bonded to each other or to rigid circuit boards by applying ultrasonic energy to the cables. The conductors are bonded to form connections and are prevented from being deformed laterally to bridge to adjacent conductors due to preferential substrate bonding between adjacent conductors. Both apparatus for and the method of preferential substrate bonding is disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic typewriter or other keyboard entry display device may have a voice or audio prompt option incorporated therein. The option provides for the operator to record a series of commands to position the print point as desired and then to code a series of characters spelling the word or words to be vocalized as a prompt. The recorded commands and the prompt may subsequently be played back to position the print point at a desired position on the page and the prompt vocalized to instruct the operator the nature of the entry for that position.

Abstract: A pivoting means for pivoting back and forth a mechanical load such as a print hammer about a given axis and within a low amplitude angle includes two elongated leaf springs. The leaf springs are located in planes at a given angle with respect to each other but both planes being perpendicular to the plane of pivotation of the mechanical load. A frame fixed relative to the pivotable mechanical load is used for attaching the extremities of both elongated leaf springs. The mechanical load is attached to both leaf springs equidistant from their attached extremities. A power source pivots the mechanical load from its rest position to its work or print position causing the two leaf springs to be flexed in torsion. The torsion flexing generates a return torque for self restoring the mechanical load back to its original position.

Abstract: A CRT display having a rotatable display face for presenting data in a vertical and horizontal orientation is disclosed. The reorientation of the CRT face causes activation of the switches that control the electronic logic to reorient the data and present the data properly on the face of the CRT.

Abstract: An LED/photodetector structure is disclosed positioned to cooperate with a daisy wheel print element of a daisy wheel printer and a light interrupter such that under microprocessor control, a stepping motor will rotate and home the daisy wheel print element, sense the escapement pitch corresponding to that element, sense the font weight or impact force level associated with that print element and then cause the carrier to be translated to the left frame, thereby engaging the light beam interrupter with the left frame and forcing it into the light beam indicating the presence or the carrier at a known spacial position for homing of the carrier position.The data carried by the print element in the form of apertures formed in the hub thereof and are all spacially positioned within one semicircular portion of the print element hub.

Abstract: A print mechanism is described which has a constant current driven solenoid acting against an arch-shaped hammer to power the hammer through an arc of powered flight followed by an arc of free flight. The solenoid/hammer engagement point removes the solenoid to a position which does not obstruct print line visibility and the hammer rest position is withdrawn to improve print line visibility.

Abstract: The feeding of typewriter ribbons is improved by utilizing a cartridge carried driving element engaging the periphery of a translatable take-up spool where the driving element is driven by an interface connection with a driving member connected either directly or through a gear reduction train to a stepper motor. The simplified ribbon feed mechanism provides control over the increment of feed electronically as well as each ribbon cartridge carrying the appropriate gear reductions, if necessary, for different types of ribbons.

Abstract: A typewriter is described which has an electronic keyboard utilizing a timed delay to determine whether a depressed key is indicative of the desire to print or display repetitive letters represented by that key. The typewriter is provided with a technique for automatically adjusting the length of the delay such that a slow typist with sluggish finger movement will automatically cause the extension of the delay time and thereby prevent unwanted repetitive characters while a fast, very rhythmic typist will not cause the automatic extension of the delay time and thereby will benefit from a shorter delay time and will have a higher output or productivity as a result thereof.The automatic extension is accomplished by timing the period of time that keylevers are held depressed and when that time approaches but does not exceed the preset automatic delay time, the delay time is then extended a predetermined amount.

Abstract: Electromagnetic actuator release characteristics are evaluated by sampling at high frequency the voltage waveform resulting when the magnet coil is deenergized. The samples are converted to a digitally coded form and stored in sequence. The stored values are then examined in reverse sequence to identify the first examined sampling interval in which the sample value exceeds a predetermined characteristic release level for the electromagnetic actuator. Finally, the release time is determined by calculating the time after energization corresponding to the sampling interval that has been identified as the release interval.

Abstract: A ribbon of the single use film substrate, completely transferrable ink layer type, is disclosed wherein the leader and trailer are formed by adhering over the inked side of the ribbon a thin adhesive faced tape or foil and where the tape or foil is adhesively engaged with the substrate in a region having had all or part of the ink removed therefrom to provide an adherent surface. The tape or foil is further provided with a region of adhesive engagement for attachment to supply and takeup spools.

Abstract: The electronic controls for a typewriter disclosed herein allow the operator to erase a character using automatic erase capability such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,846 and at the same time to remove any underscores associated with that character. When an underscore command is entered the memory which stores the code representing the characters typed is caused to be altered in its content to indicate upon the reading of that code segment that the character has been underscored and that the character must be erased along with the underscore. The apparatus accomplishes multiple erase cycles to remove the underscore and then the character. In proportional space mode of operation it is possible that multiple underscore erase cycles will be necessary to remove an underscore which is wider than the underscore type font on the type element.

Abstract: A cardholder of a single element moving carriage typewriter may be modified to accept and accurately position with respect to the print point of the typewriter a correction media holder so that a correction operation may be performed correcting erroneously typed characters. The correction media holder is configured to mate in a precise condition with the modified cardholder and to support a supply and takeup spool of correction media on the holder as well as to cause the deflection of the correction media as it traverses across the region of the print point to present the active or operative face of the correction media to a printed page.

Abstract: A carriage return device utilizing a spring clutch and shock unloader spring is disclosed in conjunction with a cord tension sensing mechanism for detecting the cord tension increases when the paper carriage of a typewriter ceases to move and the carriage return drive mechanism continues to operate. It is desirable to disengage the drive mechanism at that point rather than to cause frictional wear or overloading of the motor pending a predetermined amount of driving time prior to disengagement. Upon the cord tension reaching a preset value, the clutch pawl will disengage the drive clutch and prevent further wear of the clutching arrangement. To prevent premature disengagement of the clutch, a shock unloading pretensioned spring is incorporated in the drive unit to absorb the initial shocks of clutch engagement and the forces experienced during acceleration of the paper carriage.

Abstract: A feed roll/paper deflector assembly for a printer or typewriter having a platen is described. The feed roll assembly is fabricated in such a way as to allow simple insertion into the printer or typewriter assembly and the retention of the feed roll assembly in a proper position within the typewriter by a hooking engagement with a paper release bail. Movement of the paper release bail will compress a spring allowing the paper deflector and feed rolls to be withdrawn from the periphery of the platen. The device allows automated assembly of the paper feed roll assembly into a machine and, in addition, provides complete self-alignment capability for the feed rolls with respect to the periphery of the platen.

Abstract: The device disclosed is a combination sound hood and glare suppressing visor for use on office machines such as typewriters, to contain machine operating noise while at the same time retaining visibility of the document being printed.The device is moveable away from the paper opening of the typewriter or office machine to allow access to the printing region of the typewriter and, upon the removal of the device from the printing region, the glare shield is lowered or collapsed controllably to remove obstructions to operator access of the printing zone. As the sound hood is replaced over the paper aperture of the typewriter or printer, the glare shield is again erected to its preset position to suppress glare from overhead and back lighting illumination. The visor is adjustable to present substantially an edge view thereof, thereby minimizing operator distraction. The sound hood may be pivotally raised to a vertical or past vertical position to give access to the printing element or the typing zone.

Abstract: A ribbon and tape feed mechanism for a single element typewriter is disclosed. The ribbon feed mechanism and correction tape mechanism are mounted and configured to oscillate with the ribbon and correction tape cartridges when the cartridges and support therefore are tilted to present a portion of the ribbon or the correction tape to the print point of the typewriter for impact. The ribbon feeding and the tilt control of the cartridge is accomplished from a single cam having a plurality of sets of rises. The correction tape feed is driven from a second cam which is only engaged during those machine cycles when the machine is in a correction mode. The control of the correction mode is through the depression of the rear of the cartridge thus effecting the raising of the front portion of the cartridge and the correction tape to its operative position.

Abstract: A feed roll/paper deflector assembly for a printer or typewriter having a platen is described. The feed roll assembly is fabricated in such a way as to allow simple insertion into the printer or typewriter assembly and the retention of the feed roll assembly in a proper position within the typewriter by a hooking engagement with a paper release bail. Movement of the paper release bail will compress a spring allowing the paper deflector and feed rolls to be withdrawn from the periphery of the platen. The device allows automated assembly of the paper feed roll assembly into a machine and, in addition, provides complete self-alignment capability for the feed rolls with respect to the periphery of the platen.