Abstract: A keyboard and circuitry for recording the key on the keyboard that is depressed. The recorded information is then supplied to a computer which acts in accordance with the information associated with the depressed key. The keyboard is arranged in a matrix of rows and columns. The recording circuitry comprises a shift register having two groups of cells, the first group receptive of an information bit from the column of the depressed key and the record group receptive of an information bit from the row of the depressed key. The shift register are then shifted and the information stored therein is utilized by the computer. The encoding and the storage of the information entered on the keyboard are effected by the central unit carrying out the commands in a control store under the control of a microprogram.

Abstract: A loading device for reels of paper tape wound on a central spool is provided with an automatic device for ejecting the empty spools, by introducing a new full reel.

Abstract: An automatic sheet changing system for a reprographic machine comprising a cyclically movable, sheet transporting member having gripping elements for retaining a sheet thereon, a support band wound from a feed reel to a take-up reel and carrying thereon sheets spaced along and interwound with the band, recovery means operative in a sheet changing cycle to remove a used sheet from the sheet-transporting member, feed means operable in the sheet changing cycle to wind a length of the band off the feed reel on to the take-up reel, means operative to separate a fresh sheet from the band advancing between the reels and to guide the sheet to the gripping elements, and means for actuating the gripping elements to grip the fresh sheet.

Abstract: In an electronic computer, a magnetic card is recorded along two tracks for storing information. The relative delay between the sequential records on the tracks is controlled by two reference bits simultaneously written on the tracks of the card. During the reading, the first sensed reference bit starts a count which is stopped upon sensing the second reference bit. All data bits following the anticipated bits are transferred to the internal memory only after a delay proportional to the count.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard comprises a plurality of depressable keys each one of which comprises a stem normally movable and connected through a spring to a metallic actuator. Each actuator is lodged in a supporting element jutting out from the stem and cooperates with a permanent magnet which retains it in a rest position. Upon the depression of a key, the corresponding spring is loaded and after a predetermined displacement of the key a shoulder of the supporting element cooperates directly with the corresponding actuator disengaging it from the permanent magnet. The actuator is then pushed by the action of the spring to a movable contact of an electronic switch which generates an electrical signal.

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 invention concerns a form handling device for an accounting machine wherein a continuous form, a journal form and an accounting card are independently supplied on the printing platen.

Abstract: An inked ribbon of a high-speed printer for office machines is wound on two spools connected each one with a corresponding electric motor. The ribbon is transferred stroke by stroke from the feed spool to the take-up spool with a substantially constant tensioning force. To this end an oscillating lever is disposed between the two spools and, cooperating with the ribbon, forms a loop thereof under the action of a tensioning spring. The oscillating lever in correspondence of a minimum and of a maximum of the ribbon loop cooperates with a pair of microswitches which alternately stop and actuate the electric motors in manner that the ribbon is transferred alternately from the feed spool to the loop and from the loop to the take-up spool under the action of the tensioning spring. A changeover device alternates the function of the two spools when the ribbon is fully wound on the take-up spool.

Abstract: In an office machine keyboard comprising a plurality of keys formed by an array of areas of layer of elastic material, each key is provided with an identifying character in relief on an insert. The insert is embedded in the elastic layer so that the character is visible on the fingering surface of the layer, is surrounded by the material of the elastic layer and contrasts in color with the material. The insert is provided with internal passages. The elastic material engaging the internal passages forms struts interlocking the inserts in the elastic layer.The keyboard is formed by injection of a hot elastomer in a moulding die in which are positioned the inserts.

Abstract: A direct current motor driving and control system comprising a permanent-magnet direct-current motor with a rotor winding not having an iron core, a source of a reference voltage which rises in magnitude with a certain slope to a normal running level in response to a start command and falls again with a certain slope in response to a stop command, a drive circuit responsive to the reference voltage for feeding energizing current to the rotor winding, a resistor in series with the motor arranged to develop a feedback voltage proportional to the speed of the motor and a combining circuit arranged to apply the feedback voltage to act in combination with the reference voltage to establish a positive feedback action serving to compensate variations of the speed of the motor.

Abstract: An improved mounting mechanism for a non-impact dot matrix printing head comprising a guide for positioning the support carrying the head on a base member, a resiliently actuated mechanism for removably fixing said head to said base member, and a manually operable device for activating the mechanism to remove the support from the base member.

Abstract: In a digital electronic computer which comprises a memory including a first and a second register, the first register is receptive of a number to be converted from fixed to floating point notation and the second register is receptive of a significant zero digit with an associated decimal point. Shifting means including a register is operable to shift the contents of either register and aligning means is operable to cause shifting of the second register until the decimal point stored therein is aligned with the decimal point in the first register. Indicating means indicates whether the number stored in the first register is greater or less than one and the shifting means next begins shifting the contents of one or the other of the registers when the number is indicated greater or less than one respectively.

Abstract: A cartridge for an ink or carbon ribbon of an office machine comprises a container of parallelepipedal form in which a pair of spools are rotatable for the ink or carbon ribbon. A part of the ink or carbon ribbon extends through one aperture to the exterior of the container and returns to the interior through another aperture. Two arms are associated with the two apertures and project from the exterior of the container. The arms support the portion of the ink or carbon ribbon exterior of the container, away from the container, when the container is removed from the machine and makes the insertion of the ink or carbon ribbon arms in a lift ribbon guide upon mounting of the container on the same machine. The container is further provided with a window disposed over the periphery of one of the two spools for manually rewinding the ink or carbon ribbon on the spool after the container is mounted on the machine.

Abstract: A selector system for a type-bearing element of a typewriter, accounting machine or other office machines, wherein a positioning member for the type-bearing element is positioned positively by a series of cam followers movable by a corresponding series of cyclically actuated cams and controlled by selectively settable stop elements. The type-bearing element comprise a shell on which the types are distributed in rows and columns. The shell is rotatable on a support sleeve provided with two side walls external to the shell. The types are distributed in two groups selectable by a transport mechanism connected to the type-bearing element through differential gears controlled by a bistable spring and two stop elements.

Abstract: An electrothermal printing unit for writing dots matrix characters on a thermosensitive paper comprises a print head carrying a plurality of thermo-activable printing elements aligned along a printing line of the recording medium.The head is reciprocated in a direction parallel to the printing line of the recording medium. The recording medium is moved incrementally perpendicular to the direction of a line of printing in synchronization with the movement of the head and control means are provided for selectively activating the printing elements at a succession of positions of the head in each of a succession of strokes thereof in an arrangement such that each element print all the points of at least one character of the line of characters during the succession of strokes.

Abstract: A temperature-responsive record material for use in a thermographic recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a supporting sheet carrying a single layer containing, as the temperature-sensitive composition, a mixture resulting by a dispersion of a basic chromogenic compound and of an acidic compound in a binder having as assential binding agent a latex or a mixture of a latex with a non-ionic cellulose ether.

Abstract: A device for reading from and writing on, magnetic cards for use in a desk-top computer having a cover with an introduction slot and an exit slot for the cards. The device comprises two parallel guides between the introduction and exit slots for defining the path to be traversed by the cards, two support plates for the guides disposed perpendicular thereto for guiding the lateral edges of the cards and a belt cooperating with pressure rollers to entrain the card as it passes through the guides. The device also includes a microswitch and a shoe which has two projections contacting the non-magnetizable face of the card, the shoe being hinged on a lever actuating the microswitch when the card has passed below the projections.

Abstract: A magnetic information recording and reading device is embodied in an electronic equipment for the data processing. On a plurality of parallel tracks of a magnetic tape are recorded information blocks aligned at the starting point so as to form a matrix of information blocks. Each column of information blocks is addressable by a corresponding address recorded in a further track of the tape. Each address block comprises a timing character sequence for the addressing of an information block and for synchronizing the reading and/or the recording of data. The energization of a recording head is controlled by the readinng of timing character included in the corresponding address block so that the recording starting point of each of the information blocks are perfectly aligned independently from the speed of the tape.

Abstract: An electroerosion apparatus utilizing a wire electrode supported at opposite sides of a workpiece is adapted to cut a given profile in the workpiece with a rake by shifting the electrode supports and thereby inclining the electrode with respect to the cutting plane. The electrode supports are at the end of two arms which can move in coordinate axes in conjunction with the movement of the workpiece table to define the profile by means of orthogonal coordinate control.

Abstract: A support for fixing an object, for example an ashtray, palette, container or pen holder, removably in projecting manner to a substantially vertical structural member of office furniture, such as a leg of a chair or writing desk. The support comprises a wall of the object, following in complementary form substantially the shape of one side of a structural member having a predetermined cross-section, and a projection of the object opposite the wall. The wall and the projection bear against the structural member when in the operative position and are spaced from one another in such manner that the support may be removed by tilting it upwardly with respect to the structural member.