Abstract: This invention relates to liquid crystal display devices. One aspect of the invention concerns the electrolytic growing of projections on one plate of the device so that the projections register with the tin-oxide segment array on the other plate; another aspect concerns utilizing similar projections as internally placed spacers. An insulative sheet is deposited over the segment array in order to filter D.C. components, according to a third aspect of the invention, and, according to a fourth aspect, a spacing technique is disclosed which utilizes alumina particles in a glass matrix as an edge spacer. Further, a light concentration technique, utilizing a one-way mirror and a prism or fiber optic assembly, is disclosed.

Abstract: A tape feeding apparatus for perforators or reader of punched tape in which a circular cam continuously rotates in a slot machined in a first lever. A second lever, selectively activated by an electromagnet, enables the first lever to be operated by the cam for jogging a saw tooth wheel integral with a sprocket pulley, feeding the paper.

Abstract: An interface control unit is included in a digital computer system for controlling the transfer of sets of characters between a main memory and a peripheral unit of the mass storage type. The information is transferred in parallel by the interface control unit at the speed of the main memory, independent of the speed of the mass storage. A buffer memory adapted to store a pair of characters is provided; it alternately operates by writing a first and at the same time by reading a second set. The first character of the burst is always transferred to the memory by the microprocessor and the following by the interface control unit.

Abstract: An electronic computer comprising a first memory for recording instructions and data to be processed, a second memory for recording microinstructions and addressable by the instructions to provide a succession of microinstructions which is associated with each of the instructions and a third memory for recording a plurality of words and addressable by the microinstructions to provide at least one word associated with each of the microinstructions. Operation control means and a plurality of registers connectable to the control means and to the memories are provided for processing the data and two groups of signals are included in the words for controlling the operations of the control means and the registers. The control means and the registers are directly supplied with the signals of the first group for selecting the operations to be performed according to the signals of the first group.

Abstract: The stabilization of all of the output voltages of a switching power supply is obtained by varying the time of flow of the current in a semiconductor interrupter circuit with a constant interruption repetition cycle, by controlling the interrupter through a magnetic amplifier. The power supply includes a voltage converting circuit comprising an automatic balancing circuit, magnetic amplifiers and a saturable reactor for limiting the dissipation of power in conditions of overload through an increase of the frequency of operation of the discharge stabilizing circuit.

Abstract: An automatic text processing system, wherein a text is printed by a typewriter and simultaneously recorded line by line in corresponding blocks of a magnetic tape. The system automatically prints the address of the block in which each line is stored, whereby an operator can cause the system to print selected lines of the text by posting the corresponding addresses on the typewriter. The lines or paragraphs of a text can be cancelled or added and their succession can be changed, by posting the addresses of the lines which are to be cancelled, added or shifted in the text. The fair copy is then automatically printed with the lines justified according to a format selected by the operator. According to another embodiment the system can be used to automatically search the information recorded on the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A keyboard for a typewriter, teleprinter, calculator and similar office machines comprises a series of keys, a series of setting elements selectable by the keys and a group of code bars. A setting spring moves a common setting member which positions the selected setting element on the trajectory of the code-bars. A bridge controls the code-bars and is positioned, through a cam, by a driven part of a starting clutch for a setting cycle. An intermediate member connects the common setting member with a releasing member of the starting clutch, and when the key is depressed, the intermediate member activates the starting clutch after a predetermined path of the setting member. A series of flexible laminae are flexed by the selected setting element and successively arrest temporarily the returning at rest of the selected setting element avoiding the beginning of a new setting cycle in the case a key is kept depressed.

Abstract: An automatic text processing system, wherein a text is printed by a typewriter and simultaneously recorded line by line in corresponding blocks of a magnetic tape. The system automatically prints the address of the block in which each line is stored, whereby an operator can cause the system to print selected lines of the text by posting the corresponding address on the typewriter. The lines or paragraphs of a text can be cancelled or added and their succession can be changed, by posting the addresses of the lines which are to be cancelled, added or shifted in the text. The fair copy is then automatically printed with the lines justified according to a format selected by the operator. According to another embodiment the system can be used to automatically search the information recorded on the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A device for inking the type-carrier element of a calculating machine or similar office machine. The type-carrier element includes a wheel from the edge of which protrudes corresponding characters. These are selected by a recording support for the rotation of the wheel and define the various writing positions for the movement of the wheel along a line of writing. The device includes a container with an ink-deposit element inside it and which has a long window substantially the same length as the line of writing and covered with a permeable, wear-resistant layer which is in contact with the deposit element in order to permit the outflow of the ink. A spring element keeps the said permeable layer tight against the type-carrier element during the rotation and movement of the wheel.

Abstract: A multiple control unit for selectively connecting a plurality of peripheral units to a central processor comprising a register for storing the interruptions coming from the peripherals; a disabling circuit for disabling the cell storing the interruption executed by the central processor in response to an end-of processing signal generated from the CPU.

Abstract: In a computer for executing a program made up of a plurality of instructions stored in an operational memory, in which the system is controlled by a set of microprograms stored in a read-only memory, the program instructions to be executed are transferred one at a time to a scratch pad memory, where they are used to address corresponding microprograms in the read-only memory. The microinstructions of the addressed microprogram are transferred one at a time to a microinstruction register, where each one is used to control the generation of a plurality of sets of commands to various components of the machine for executing the program instruction. The control unit includes means for transmitting control signals and data to the peripheral units with the data being already decoded into a form in which it is able to directly control the data output mechanism of the peripheral unit, without further modifications by a peripheral unit control unit.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the distance of a printing head from a platen for an office machine comprises a printing head movable parallel to a platen along two guides. One of these guides is fixed to the frame of the machine; the other is transversely shiftable by a cam for correspondingly shifting the head, the cam being swung by a manually operable linkage. The device further comprises means for preventing the driving belt from excessive stresses and wear.

Abstract: The apparatus is used for writing on and/or reading two magnetic discs of flexible type each one contained for rotation in a protective cover provided with transducer apertures. The apparatus comprises two insertion devices on which the protective covers of the discs are inserted in manner that the discs lie substantially in two parallel planes, having the corresponding magnetizable surfaces oppositely faced therebetween. The insertion devices through corresponding counter-mandrels, causes the discs to engage a pair of driving mandrels for the rotation of the two discs. The driving mandrels and the discs are rotated in opposite senses and, between the two discs, are disposed two transducers which are jointly positioned with respect to the magnetizable surfaces of the discs along the transducer apertures.

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: A cartridge for endless magnetic tape loops including a cover containing a pair of supports substantially coplanar with the other and between which is wound a magnetic tape in lengthening coils. A third support guides a connecting coil which connects the innermost coil with the outermost coil of the loop. The third support is substantially coplanar with the pair of supports in such a way that the connecting coil is substantially coplanar with the other coils of the tape recording and/or reading device for a magnetic tape contained in a cartridge which includes at least one window through which the tape contained therein may be reached. The device includes a capstan, a pressure roller and a magnetic recording and/or reading head mounted on an activation lever. A spring element normally holds this lever against the action of a pressure spring.

Abstract: A biprogrammable computer is provided with an operator actuable selector switch. Each position of the selector switch of the computer assigns the keyboard, the console and the display to a selected one of the two programs in progress, so that the data entered by the keyboard is automatically transferred to the memory zone allocated to the program selected at the same time the display displays messages of the selected program. If the program not selected by the selector switch must alert the operator to some abnormalities, it activates a lamp and an associated buzzer. The operator after the end of the keyboard operation, actuates the selector switch and removes the cause of the abnormality. Registers are provided for storing the point of interruption of a program being processed, as well as information for determining if the data being entered by the keyboard relates to the program selected.

Abstract: A wire printing device comprises a frame removably mounted on a carriage which can move parallely to a platen. On the frame is removably mounted a guide block of resin material which guides a plurality of printing wires individually actuatable by a plurality of electromagnets, mounted on the frame. For an easy assembly of the printing device, a terminal guide is removably mounted on the frame for guiding the printing wires in proximity of the platen. Moreover, between the terminal guide and the guide block, a lubricating pad is disposed at contact with the printing wires and an oil container, mounted on the guide block, is connected through a wick to the pad for holding it constantly impregnated.

Abstract: A cartridge for a carbon ribbon of an office machine, comprises a container in which are rotatable a feed spool and a take-up for the carbon ribbon. The carbon ribbon passes from the feed spool out of a first aperture and back into the container through a second aperture of the container. The take-up spool is rotatable mounted on a support which is pivoted in the container about a fixed axis. The container has at the bottom an opening arranged in correspondence of a toothed roller also rotatable in the container and adapted to receive a driving shaft of the machine for the rotation of the toothed roller. A spring biases the support of the take-up spool against the teeth of the toothed roller for holding the outermost turn of the carbon ribbon wound on the take-up spool in engagement with the toothed roller, so that for the rotation of the take-up spool by the toothed roller, the ribbon is unwound from the feed spool to the take-up spool.

Abstract: A fixing unit for fixing the developing powder on a copy sheet produced in a copy machine which comprises a first roller having its outer surface covered by a layer adapted to resist adhesion of the powder thereto, a second roller cooperating with the first and defining with said first roller a nip through which the copy sheet is passed by rotation of the rollers, with the face bearing the powder in contact with the surface of the first roller, and a third roller rotated in contact with the first roller carrying in its interior a plurality of selectively actuable heating units for selectively heating portions of the surface of the first roller, in accordance with the length of a copy sheet.