Abstract: Improved rotary-type printing wheels, components thereof and mechanisms for mounting the printing wheels to a drive are disclosed. The disclosed printing wheels have a reduced rotary moment of inertia. As compared to all plastic printing wheels, they have improved print characteristics and service life while still having a reduced rotary moment of inertia. The printing wheels include a central hub having teeth extending along its periphery which are engaged by a drive. Alignment apparatus is provided for aligning the hub and drive, but rotary torque need only be applied to the printing wheel hub through the peripherally disposed teeth. The spoke elements of the printing wheel are made of metal and can be formed as one piece with the hub or separately. The tips of the spoke elements have a configuration which facilitates and improves attachment of a character element thereto while reducing the rotary moment of inertia of the print wheel.

Abstract: A web, such as a ribbon in a printer, is provided with bar code markings arranged thereon to provide selected information, such as ribbon footage used and ribbon type. A printing fluid applied to the ribbon may be provided with particles having magnetic properties which are readable by a magnetic static read head wherein the presence of the magnetic printing fluid in the vicinity of magnetic gaps in such a head completes magnetic circuitry. Also, such printing fluid may be provided with fluorescent pigmentation, thereby affording optical sensing. In a printer embodiment, a mechanism is shown for synchronizing the output signals of the bar code sensors with a distance measuring device.

Abstract: A controlled paper transport arrangement utilizes a flexible belt which attracts the paper to its surface by the application of a reduced air pressure on the other side. In a preferred embodiment, the belt operates in a continuous loop and in combination with a vacuum feed roller, the belt and the vacuum feed roller being arranged on respective sides of a print strike bar. The presence of the paper against the flexible belt causes trip valves to change state such that the full force of the air pressure differential between the ambient air and the reduced air pressure, on either side of the flexible belt, is applied only in the vicinity of the paper to be printed. In some embodiments, the vacuum feed roller is sectored so that the reduced air pressure is applied only in the region which communicates with the paper to be printed. The flexible belt and its associated assembly is tiltable about its vacuum supply inlet for achieving compact storage and for delivering printed sheets to a storage bin.

Abstract: A printer having extended ribbon capacity is provided with a vacuum buffering system which stores ribbon on either side of a ribbon utilization mechanism, illustratively an impact print head. In a preferred embodiment, the ribbon is stored in a pair of vacuum chambers which are arranged to pivot about a common axis as a carriage which bears the print head is translated along a carriage path. The vacuum chambers are each provided with telescopically extendable members which compensate for variations in the distance between the pivot of the vacuum chambers and the print carriage, as the print carriage is translated. A ribbon lift system for multitrack embodiments utilizes off-carriage drive and a direction-determining clutch toggle system.

Abstract: A printer of the type used with typewriters and computerized equipment is provided with a system for monitoring the supply of printable media, such as paper. A first thickness measuring caliber is used to measure the thickness of the paper to be printed, and a second such caliber measures the thickness of a supply stack stored in a bin. With such information, the approximate number of sheets remaining in the stack can be determined, and the decision whether a sufficient paper supply is available to complete a printing job can be made. One or both such calibers may utilize an electrical component, such as a potentiometer, for providing an electrically measurable parameter responsive to the thickness being measured. The sheet thickness measurement signal can be used to control a motorized arrangement which controls the throat opening of the printer. In addition, this signal can be used to select one of several available platen surfaces of different hardnesses.

Abstract: A keyboard arrangement for reducing stress and tension experienced by a human operator during communication with an information processing machine. The keyboard, which may have the actuators thereon arranged in a conventional keyboard distribution, such as a QWERTY keyboard system, is splitable into first and second sections, each such section containing respective portions of the actuators. When joined, the two keyboard sections form a unitary keyboard which is conventional in appearance and operation. When separated, a display screen may be interposed between the keyboard sections, and the keyboard sections may be arranged in selectable spatial positions and orientations selected for the comfort of the operator. An adjustable mechanical mounting arrangement is provided for ensuring positional stability of the keyboard sections. In a further embodiment, an information processing system is arranged to be portable in a housing which permits the screen to assume a sloped position.

Abstract: A ribbon supply arrangement for a printer is provided with a first ribbon supply portion having supply and take-up reels therein, the ribbon being provided to a second ribbon supply portion which is installed on a carriage of the printer. In one embodiment, the first ribbon supply portion is pivotally coupled to the second ribbon supply portion, and also pivotally coupled to a pivot coupling on the frame of the printer such that the bulk of the weight of the first ribbon supply portion, including the ribbon supply therein is borne by the frame, and not the print carriage. In a further embodiment, the first ribbon supply portion is provided with a large supply reel and a plurality of take-up reels.