Abstract: A selector system for a printing head for use in printing machines and the like for selecting a character to be printed from the printing head. The system comprises at least two actuatable code bars. The printing head is positioned with respect to a first coordinate by the use of a selector lever having a set of pivot elements thereon each defining a pivot axis about which the selection lever pivots a preselected amount. In response to the actuation of the code bars, the pivot element about which the selector lever pivots is selected by two stop members each pivotable in response to the actuation of one of the code bars and each engageable with one of two pivot elements, a third stop member engaged with a third pivot element and not pivoting in response to the actuation of any of the code bars and a fourth stop member engaged with a fourth pivot element and pivotable in response to the actuation of either of the two code bars.

Abstract: Device for detaching a copy sheet from the photoconductive drum of an electrophotographic copying machine, wherein the drum has a radial protuberance to which the leading edge of the copy sheet is held by electrostatic attraction and wherein a pick off finger is fixedly mounted adjacent the periphery of the drum at such a distance from the periphery to engage the drum, during its rotation, only in correspondence with the protuberance, so as to detach the copy sheet from the drum.

Abstract: There is disclosed an accounting system comprising a computer, an insertion device for receiving and printing on a card and including means for writing information on and reading information from a magnetic track on the card. A control unit operates in conjunction with the computer to control feed of the card in the insertion device and the said writing and reading operations, and to detect the occurrence of errors in the reading or writing. A register is arranged to count the number of times that a reading or writing operation has been performed. When an error is detected the computer repeats the operation until either the operation is performed without an error being detected or the register indicates that the operation has been repeated a predetemined number of times.

Abstract: A cartridge for containing sheets to be fed into a reprographic machine comprising a container having an opening and a support band wound from a feed reel to a take-up reel mounted on said container, and carrying thereon sheets spaced along and interwound with the band on the feed reel. The support band and a sheet positioned thereon is guided from the feed reel to the take-up reel along a predetermined path passing adjacent to the opening. Adjacent to the opening the sheet is separated from the band to guide it through the opening, whereby the sheet is fed out from the cartridge.

Abstract: A system for introducing the instructions of a program into an accounting or similar programmable office machine comprises a drum mounted rotatable into a container and carrying at its periphery a plurality of removable and programmable code bars. A feed mechanism and a reading unit are disposed into the office machine for rotating step by step the drum with respect to the container to bring serially the code bars in front of the reading unit. A locking mechanism locks the container into the office machine during the reading cycle. At the end of the reading of the program the locking mechanism is released allowing the container to be removed from the office machine.

Abstract: A magnetic information carrier comprises a support or base strip made, for example, of plastic material or of light metal, on which a layer of magnetizable material is deposited.The support is pretensioned so as to assume at rest a stable configuration following a spiral path, without the auxiliary of a central core. This carrier is written on and/or read by an apparatus comprising a first cavity on which the carrier is placed. The carrier is fed by a capstan in front of a magnetic head and is pushed into a second cavity of the apparatus, wherein the carrier winds itself following a spiral configuration similar to the initial one. In a second embodiment, the carrier is mounted in a removable cartridge having one or two cavities.

Abstract: An electrophotographic copying machine in which the drum is rotatable about a given axis and is at least partly formed by a plurality of sectors each having a surface constituting part of the cylindrical periphery of the drum and each being mounted within the drum as to be slidable in a direction perpendicular to the said axis between a first position in which it defines the respective part of the cylindrical periphery of the drum, and a second position into which it is shifted radially with respect to the remainder of the cylindrical periphery; each of the sectors has a portion of a photoconductive band wound around its surface and extending from a feed reel to a take-up reel; these reels are mounted inside the respective sector and reversible locking means are provided for maintaining the sectors in their first position during the rotation of the drum about the said axis.

Abstract: A textual processing system having a keyboard for entering textual information and for conditioning the system into a plurality of modes of operation including a search mode. The system also includes a record unit for recording and reading out textual information, on and from, respectively; a record medium; a printing unit for printing textual information; a display unit for displaying textual information; and a control unit connected to the above units. The control unit, during the search mode of operation, controls the record unit and the display unit for searching a group of textual information, entered from the keyboard, among the textual information stored on the record medium. The control unit displays the group of textual information entered from the keyboard and displays a predetermined fixed portion of the textual information containing the group of textual information found by the search.

Abstract: A removably mountable electrothermal print head for writing dots-matrix characters while moving along a thermosensitive recording medium and a mounting for the hand or a movable carriage of a printer, the head comprises a plurality of electrically energizable resistive printing elements coated on a support; the outer surface of said elements is partly cylindrical with the generatrices in parallel relation with a common direction which is transversal with respect to the printing line of the recording medium. The print head is positioned with respect to the recording medium with the part-cylindrical outer surface of the resistive printing elements in tangential relation with the recording medium. The printing head is positioned on and removably fixed to the carriage by a manually actuatable latch.

Abstract: The function of the arrangement consists in connecting the terminal to the supply system (switching-on) and in loading therein the programs required for its operation (initialization) in the absence of the operator. A call signal (RING) sent by the remote computer produces the switching-on and initialization of the terminal. When the initialization has been completed, the terminal sends a ready-to-receive signal on the line and the conversation begins. At the end of the transfer of data, the telephone line is disconnected without the need to switch off the terminal . This is switched off after all the home processing operations (on the data received from the computer) are at an end. Finally, the terminal returns to the initial state, that is it is ready to switch on and be initialized on the arrival of the signal RING.

Abstract: In a line control unit for teleprinters, a pair of isolating circuits are disposed between the line transistors and the generating circuit, so that there is no electrical connection between the line and the signal generator circuit. The generating circuit is coupled to each isolating circuit by a delay circuit which delays only the edges of the corresponding switching signal at which the corresponding transistor turns from the blocked to the conductive state, whereby the conduction of each transistor is delayed while the other transistor recovers to its blocked state.

Abstract: A serial printing device comprises a type head mounted rotatably on a carriage which is slidable along a printing line of an office machine. A continuously rotating driving shaft is connected to a differential mechanism which normally transfers the motion to the type head for the selection of the character to be printed. A selectively actuatable electromagnet arrests the rotation of the head in the printing position and simultaneously transfers the motion of the driving shaft to a striking mechanism to effect the printing of the selected character. A positioning element, commanded by the striking mechanism at the actuation of the electromagnet, keeps the head locked during the striking movement and the electromagnet is immediately deenergized. After the striking of the selected character the head is freed by the positioning element and is set in rotation again.

Abstract: In a perforated tape reader, the tape is sensed by detecting elements rotatable on one end of rocker arms. The other end of the rocker arms is provided with a fork. A flat spring urges on the upper arm of the fork and a conductive resilient element is engaged between the arms of the fork. When the detecting elements sense a perforation on the tape, the conductive element abuts against a fixed electric contact in a intermediate position between the arms of the fork; when the detecting elements sense no perforation the lower arm of the fork lifts the conductive element in order to open the electric contact.Since the space between the arms of the fork is greater than the thickness of the conduction element, but less than the shifting of the fork, any small amplitude movements of the rocker arms in not transmitted to the conductive element.

Abstract: In an office machine keyboard comprising a layer of elastic material provided with individually depressible reliefs representing the keys, each having a top fingering surface, the characters are composed of a second elastic material moulded in accordance with the shapes of the characters and superimposed on the fingering surface.The elastic keyboard is obtained pressing under heat a mould in which are inserted the two elastic materials.

Abstract: A fixing device for a type-carrier disk in which the selection shaft includes a selection shaft, a flange defining a rotation plane and a conical end. The type-carrier disk comprises a central part cooperating with the flange and a conical seat for housing the conical end of the shaft. The central part of the disk has two apertures disposed symmetrically with respect to the conical seat for housing fixing members pivotally mounted on the flange. Resilient elements cooperate with the fixing members for holding the central part of the disk tight against the flange and the conical seat tight against the conical end of the shaft. A knob of the central part is adapted to remove the disk from the selection shaft against the action of the resilient elements.

Abstract: An arrangement for driving a printing head along a printing line of a recording medium comprises a reversible direct-current electric motor which is coupled to the head for moving the latter forwards and backwards along the printing line. The head prints only during the forwards movement and during this movement the motor is supplied with a first voltage which causes the forwards movement of the head at a first substantially constant velocity. After the printing of a last character the head is moved away from the recording medium by an electromagnet and the motor is supplied with a second voltage which causes the backwards movement of the head at a second substantially constant velocity, greater than the first velocity. During the backwards movement of the head two rollers advance the recording medium and held it tensioned in correspondence with the printing line.

Abstract: A ribbon feed device for a ribbon in a cartridge, comprises means for supporting the cartridge with spools therein engaged on hubs of the device, guide means for guiding a length of ribbon looped out of the cartridge, and a single control member operable from a normal position to an operated position to shift the guide means transversely of the length of the ribbon to a position of greater accessibility for fitting the ribbon therein. The ribbon feed device is capable of accepting either an inked ribbon cartridge or a carbon coated cartridge and includes a pair of sensing levers urged by a spring adapted to sense the inked ribbon wound on the two spools respectively through apertures in the inked ribbon cartridge and to control means for effecting reversal of the movement of the inked ribbon. Moreover, the feed mechanism includes a feed roller and counter-roller for unidirectionally feeding the carbon coated ribbon.