Abstract: An arrangement for detecting the angular position for a rotatable part, for example, the printing head of an office machine comprises a shaft coupled to the rotatable part for rotating in synchronism therewith, a first rotatable cylinder arranged to rotate with the shaft and having disposed along a circumferential track a plurality of recognition apertures which are associated with predetermined discrete angular positions of the rotatable part. A first detecting unit is arranged to co-operate with the plurality of apertures to detect the predetermined discrete angular positions of the rotatable part. A second rotatable cylinder is rotatably mounted inside the first cylinder and is coupled to the shaft through speed reduction gears. On the second cylinder there is disposed at least one synchronizing element co-operating with a second detecting unit to detect complete revolutions of the rotatable part.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A numerical control system for machining centers, having a RAM and two groups of peripheral units, comprises two proessors interconnected by means of a common signal bus and adapted to operate simultaneously sharing access automatically to the RAM and to the peripheral units.One of the two processors is specialized for executing the computations relating to the interpolation of the path of the center of the tool with respect to the workpiece to be machined, while the second processor is specialized in control of the said peripherals. One group of peripherals comprises input and output means for data and programs and another group comprises a series of units for measuring and controlling the movement of the said tool and the said workpiece. The said processors are connected to the said memory and to the said input and output means by means of one signal bus, the measuring and control units are interconnected by means of a second signal bus connected to the first bus through a bidirectional interface.

Abstract: A transducer for measuring linear positions comprises a scale formed of a tensioned flexible band and a slide movable with respect to the scale. A rigid guide plate fast with the slide extends over the whole area of the slide winding and cooperates with a resilient plate having guide lugs at each end of the guide plate and so bent as to have lips bearing against two edges of the band. A leaf spring element on the resilient plate urges the lips against the side of the band opposite to the plate.

Abstract: An electronic desk-top accounting machine is adapted to operate in the usual programmed mode as well as in a manual mode as an arithmetic calculator. It comprises a keyboard for entering numeric data and operative commands, a printing unit, a programming unit and an electronic data processing unit. A working memory contains data and processing results arising during execution of the accounting program. There are provided a selector switch for selecting the operating mode, programmed or manual, and a preserving memory. The execution of the accounting program can be interrupted, upon actuation of the selector switch, for enabling the use as an arithmetic calculator, while the content of the working memory is transferred into the preserving memory. The execution of the program can be resumed upon request and will take place from the data and processing results present in the working memory on the interruption of the execution of the program.

Abstract: A method of printing on thermographic paper according to which the heat for causing the imaging color change in the thermographic coating is generated by means of current in a portion of the coating dampened by a thin film of a conductive salt solution which is dispensed on the thermographic coating. The current is generated by a printing head having spaced electrodes in contact with the dampened portion of the coating. The conductive salt solution may be deposited on the thermographic coating in liquid film form, combined with a thermographic material to form a conductive coating for printing in the dry state, or mixed with the thermographic material in liquid form and dispensed on plain paper in a thin film in the path of the writing head.

Abstract: In a computer having a keyboard for entry of data represented by a series of bytes and/or instructions, processor is provided for processing data entered via the keyboard with a control unit controlling the entry and processing of data. An activatable guiding device including a single digit display instructs the operator by displaying as a number of machine conditions to the operator, a number of signals corresponding to a plurality of configurations of a single byte output from the processor. The control unit generates an activating instruction for activating the display.

Abstract: An autoadaptive working center for programmable automation comprises sensing means adapted to recognize a set of different situations of the working process, and program means for storing a program constituted by a set of subroutines corresponding to the said situations. The said sensing means are adapted to address, in response to the recognition of a given situation of the working process, the corresponding subroutine of the program. The working center comprises at least a pair of autoadaptive operating devices programmable separately and controllable by separate control units, under coordination made by a central unit as a function of the duration of the respective operations, the working positions of the various tools and the overall dimensions of the said heads. Each operating head is movable along at least two coordinates by numerical control units, each unit commanding a corresponding stepping motor.

Abstract: An electronic computer is provided with a numerical keyboard, a microprogrammed CPU, as well as RAMs and ROMs, some of them of pluggable type. A pluggable ROM stores a plurality of programs and comprises a portion formed of an associated plurality of registers each one storing a jump instruction and the associated programs. The numerical addresses of said registers are represented by a series of numerals which can be entered by the keyboard. Programs can be entered from the numerical keyboard into a RAM memory, in form of a sequence of numerical codes, each code corresponding to a subroutine prerecorded in a ROM. Each program so "learned" by the computer can be repeatedly executed by depressing a fixed code on the keyboard.

Abstract: Disposable toner cartridge for copying machine which has an outer casing with a first opening, and a container mounted within the casing and provided with a second opening. The container is movable between a position of containment of the toner, in which it is maintained during shipment, and a position of discharge, in which it is turned upon positioning of the cartridge in the copying machine and in which the first and second openings are aligned for discharging therethrough the toner into the copying machine. The casing is provided with clamping elements for clamping the container in the discharge position to prevent any subsequent movement of the container starting from the discharge position, so avoiding the re-use of the cartridge.

Abstract: In an electronic computer, an arrangement for retrieving by means of search key words, information records on a record carrier having index key words associated with the records. The search key word is compared in succession with the index key words for identifying the position of the index key word on the carrier. The position of the index key word on the carrier enables the identification of the location of the record associated with the search keyword. The location so identified is used for accessing the information record associated with the search key word.

Abstract: An inked ribbon cartridge is removably mountable in a printing machine of the type comprising a support for the cartridge, two transport elements engageable with two spools, respectively, of the cartridge around which the ribbon is wound, two sensing elements for sensing the amount of the ribbon wound on the two spools, respectively, of the cartridge, a ribbon movement reversing mechanism controlled by the sensing elements for determining the direction of the rotation of the two shafts, and a control element for shifting the sensing elements from an operative position in which they sense the ribbon to an inoperative position in which they are disengaged from the spools.

Abstract: A mechanism for reversing the movement of an inked ribbon in an office printing machine or the like comprising first and second rotors each for effecting the rotation of one of two ribbon spools on which the ribbon is mounted and a driving element for alternately imparting a driving force to one of the rotors. The driving element is alternately selectively coupled to one of the two rotors to effect the reversal of the movement of the ribbon. A reversing member is shiftable between a first position wherein the driving element is coupled to the first rotor and a second position wherein the driving element is coupled to the second rotor. The reversing member is resiliently coupled to the driving element for rotational movement therewith. The reversing member is maintained in one of the two positions and is permitted to shift to the other of the two positions in response to the application of a predetermined torque.

Abstract: A visual display for an electronic accounting computer comprising a keyboard and a console. The computer concurrently executes two programs. The console is provided with a changeover switch for selectively allocating the keyboard, the display and the console to one of the programs. As introduction from the keyboard is required, an operator guidance message is displayed. This message is replaced by the response of the operator when it is initiated. If the program not selected by the allocating switch requires attention, an operator call message is developed. The changeover switch is moved to select the program requiring attention. An appropriate message requesting the needed data is displayed, to be replaced by the data as the operator introduces it. The operator then repositions the allocating switch, and the message defining the next required introduction of the original program is displayed, so that data introduction may resume.

Abstract: A sheet feeder for the single feed of sheets from a stack, comprising a first member which moves with a reciprocating motion across the top sheet of the stack, performing a forward stroke from a position of departure to a position of arrival in the direction of feed of the sheets and a return stroke to the position of departure, and a second member which depends pivotably from the first member so as to lean on the top sheet in a direction such that, during the return stroke the second member trails across the top sheet, whereas, in the forward stroke the second member wedges against the top sheet and, during a first part of the forward stroke, sticks to the top sheet and detaches it from the subadjacent sheet of the stack and in the remaining part of the forward stroke advances the top sheet in the direction of feed. The stack is supported in a sheet container having a support plate movable upwardly by a spring biased system of scissors levers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in electronic computer for altering a stored program. The deletion of an instruction from a main memory storing it results in a compression of the program that included the deleted instruction in order to conserve memory space. The insertion of an instruction in a program stored in a main memory results in the shifting of subsequent instructions stored therein. The memory may be divided into arbitrary sections in response to an instruction enabling the search of a particular subroutine to be shortened. The subroutines in the program which can be reached each have a corresponding program level register. At each subroutine jump instruction the contents of the program level registers are shifted up in order to save the current program level register contents.

Abstract: A dot-matrix printing device for a printing office machine, comprising a series of striking bars in the proximity of the recording medium movable transversely of the medium for printing dots in different locations. The bars are adapted to be actuated by the armatures of corresponding electromagnets for impressing individual dots of characters. The striking bars are guided in the proximity of the recording medium by a movable guide which effects the transverse movement and each electromagnet has a fixed core and a movable armature in articulated engagement with the corresponding bar. Each armature is provided with an actuating spring which tends to move the armature away from the core of the electromagnet.

Abstract: A paper and a continuous-form feed system for a desk-top printing electronic calculating machine comprises a platen, pin elements spaced from the platen and rotatable for driving perforated forms, and a guide support for supporting and conveying the forms towards the pin elements. A pair of guide elements disposed at the sides of the guide support guide the continuous forms laterally. A pair of locating elements, associated with the guide elements, position the forms transversly with respect to the guide support and the pin elements. A container, fixed removably to the calculating machine during the use of the forms, comprises a distributor from which the forms are conveyed toward the machine and a collector in which the forms coming from the machine are accommodated.

Abstract: A selector for a keyboard of a calculating machine comprises a series of sliders for indicating information relevant to operations to be performed and a plurality of switches driven by the sliders for the entering of this information in the machine. The sliders are slidably mounted on a common support, in front of which there is mounted the support of a printed circuit. A series of movable contacts, carried by the sliders, are actuatable by the sliders to contact the fixed contacts for the input of the said information.

Abstract: A grinding machine having a movable workhead for carrying a workpiece and a movable wheelhead for carrying a grinding wheel, the workhead and the wheelhead being axially movable along intersecting paths. The wheelhead is provided with a lead screw drive in which the screw is fixed against rotation and the nut carried by the wheelhead platform is rotated by a gear drive but is fixed axially. This drive is used to provide micrometric movement. The screw terminates at one end in a piston in a hydraulic cylinder, this providing piston/cylinder drive for large amounts of wheelhead movement. Workhead feed is provided by a rotatable and axially displaceable spindle drive by a step-by-step electric motor through a gear train that converts the rotary motion output of the electric motion to corresponding axial movement of the spindle. .Iadd.