Patents Examined by Charles A. Pearson
  • Patent number: 4632581
    Abstract: A type wheel stack, a typewheel mounting shaft and a motor are arranged on a movable carriage. The type wheel arrangement is rotatable with and axially movable along the shaft. The motor is coupled to the type wheel stack through a clutch and cam mechanism to both rotate and axially shift the type wheels in order to select a desired character to be printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Ito, Taro Takekoshi
  • Patent number: 4629341
    Abstract: For underlining a text section a command is typed both before and after the text section in the typing sequence, which command causes the storing of position values in two registers. The underlining is then performed underneath the already entered characters. A command for line advance, facultatively in connection with returning the printing head to a left position, ensures that the underlining will be performed prior to the line advance, but that the conditions for the underline will be retained also for the next line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Olympia Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Brinkmann, Claus Bordasch
  • Patent number: 4629346
    Abstract: A printer ribbon cassette of the type employing two ribbon spools. In this one, the ribbon is driven by a belt engaging the spools and, in turn, the belt is engaged by both of two alternately driven drive rollers and wherein each drive roller, when it is driven, effects removal or unwinding of ribbon from the spool with which it is directly associated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Inventor: Tyrone N. Surti
  • Patent number: 4629343
    Abstract: A matrix printing device includes a housing body which can effect a translational movement relative to a printing surface in use, a plurality of wires slidable in the housing body and each having one end for acting on the print surface as a result of a thrust exerted on the other end, and a plurality of oscillating operating members each of which can exert a thrust on a respective wire. Electromagnetic excitation circuits selectively oscillate each of the operating members from a rest position to a position of thrusting the respective wire. The operating members are fixed to a single resilient support element. The position of fixing of each operating member to the support element and the resilient properties of the support element determine, respectively, the path of oscillation of the operating member and the degree of resilient force which returns the member to the rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Bernardis, Carlo Motta
  • Patent number: 4626117
    Abstract: A typewriter comprises a carriage (1) sliding parallel to a platen (3). The typing device (2) operates in a printing zone which is displaced along this platen (3).The casing (7) of the machine is open above the platen (3) and has a transparent anti-noise hood (10) covering its opening (8).In order to facilitate the reading of the last line of type across the hood (10) which absorbs a part of the light, the typewriter is provided with means for illuminating the platen (3). These illumination means are constituted by electric bulbs (17) either carried by a transparent slide (14) housed in a U-shaped throat (12) or lie in the direction of the platen (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Hermes Precisa International S.A.
    Inventor: Pierre Dumusc
  • Patent number: 4624589
    Abstract: A dot printer head in which each radially directed armature is urged to pivot about its primary fulcrum in the return direction by a metallic return spring and is urged to pivot in the opposite angular direction by a metallic holding spring. The metallic return springs and metallic holding springs are sized and positioned so that the metallic holding springs exert a torque urging the radially directed armature to pivot in the actuating direction that is lower than the torque urging the armatures to pivot in the return direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuniaki Ochiai, Masami Horii, Shigeo Komakine, Shinzi Tsuyuki
  • Patent number: 4622897
    Abstract: A machine for imprinting numbers on sheets of paper, particularly in a consecutive order, includes a base in the form of a box-like housing in which is located a levelling mechanism for levelling a platen against which sheets of paper are supported for imprinting a number by means of an imprinting head supported for reciprocal movement toward and away from the platen by means of an arm extending upward from the base member and including a solenoid for reciprocal movement of the print head toward and away from the platen. The level of the platen for precisely adjusting the support surface of the platen for uniformly printing the numbers includes a pair of adjustable screw mechanism disposed on orthogonal axes for selectively adjusting the slope of the platen. An alternative embodiment includes a solenoid operated plunger acting against a fixed platen disposed in the center of a sheet support table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Wizer Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Laverick, George A. Kendall
  • Patent number: 4620808
    Abstract: A text preparation system involving a packaging of the elements of a word processor in a typewriter-like configuration. The system includes a detachable keyboard positioned as in a conventional typewriter with the printer set on an angle so that the user can observe the positioning of the paper as is necessary when filling in preprinted forms. An electronic memory and video display unit are provided which allow text storage and editing prior to printing. The video display is supported by an articulated arm and the position and attitude of the video display can be locked using a single clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Assignee: Protype Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Kurtin, Dan L. McGurk, Daniel E. Fedele, Edward C. Kelm
  • Patent number: 4618275
    Abstract: Method for resetting the print head of a typewriter or similar machine to a starting position. In a processor-controlled typewriter or similar machine, the steps of a vertical repositioning of the recording medium are added and stored. If the added value indicates an upward movement of the recording medium, this value is cancelled as a character is printed. If, contrarily, a downward movement of the recording medium is indicated, the value is retained. Moreover, the current horizontal position of the printing head and, when it is repositioned horizontally, also the position of the last printed character, are stored. Upon initiation of an automatic reset function of the printing head to the end of the printed text, after a repositioning in horizontal and/or vertical direction, for instance for purposes of a correction, the stored information is evaluated for activation of the printing head drive and the recording medium drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Olympia Werke AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Brinkmann, Bolko Wietrzynski
  • Patent number: 4613246
    Abstract: A printer having a print head with a mounting portion, and a carriage with a supporting structure engaging the mounting portion of the print head to hold it in place on the carriage. The supporting structure includes a lateral positioning portion for positioning the print head laterally in a direction of movement of the carriage, a downward positioning portion for positioning the print head downwardly of the carriage, and a rear wall for receiving a force of reaction of the print head upon printing action on a platen. The printer comprises a biasing device for biasing the mounting portion of the print head downwardly and rearwardly against the downward positioning portion and rear wall of the supporting structure of the carriage, respectively. The carriage may include a serrated portion fixedly engaging a toothed belt for driving the carriage along the platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiro Sugiura, Toshiki Morita, Koichi Takenaka
  • Patent number: 4611936
    Abstract: A thermal printer is provided with a detecting member adapted to detect the presence of a thermal ribbon cassette on the printer. When the thermal ribbon cassette is mounted on the printer, the thermal print head is held at a release position until a cycle of ribbon feeding action has been completed. The thermal head is moved from the release position to a print position to print data on the next line, after the used part of the thermal ribbon has been taken up and an unused part of the thermal ribbon is positioned opposite a sheet of ordinary paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuneo Yasui
  • Patent number: 4610555
    Abstract: A universal typewriter ribbon spool comprises a base member including a first flange member, and a centrally disposed annular hub having an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall defining an opening extending end-to-end therethrough; four splines equidistantly secured about the outer wall; four posts equidistantly secured about the inner wall and each having a longitudinal aperture therein; an annular ribbon holder having an inner wall defining an opening extending end-to-end therethrough and positioned about the hub; four splines equidistantly secured about the inner wall of the ribbon holder and which engage with the splines on the hub to prevent rotation of the ribbon holder about the hub; a resilient spool adapter positioned within the hub and formed of opposing arcuate gripping members which grip opposing posts of the hub, and a resilient center section having a central aperture, the center section connecting the gripping members together and being spaced from the remaining two posts when positione
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Inventor: Eugene Di Luco
  • Patent number: 4607969
    Abstract: A sheet front loading printer comprising a printer body with a chute beneath the body and having the inner portion bent upwards in order to guide a sheet inserted therein up to the platen. The platen also doubles as a sheet feeding device. To allow the use of sheets having a dimension less than the one defined by the path of the bottom of the chute, the chute is provided with at least one elongated opening or indentation and an arrangement of the printer supports which allows the printer to rest on a working plane. This permits further advancement of the sheet by manual action performed by the operator through the opening in the bottom of the chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: Honeywell Information Systems Italia
    Inventor: Giancarlo Collina
  • Patent number: 4602877
    Abstract: There is provided electronic equipment with a printer unit capable of printing on a self-contained first print medium and printing on a second print medium disposed on a desk or the like and means for facilitating the use of the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Fushimoto
  • Patent number: 4600320
    Abstract: A printer for producing both standard printed characters and braille characters on a recording medium comprising a platen having a cylindrical exterior recording medium surface, a braille embossing mechanism on the inside of the platen and the surface of the platen having solid and perforated regions so that on rotation of the platen the solid regions serve as a backing for standard printed characters and the perforated regions comprise holes in a 6 dot braille pattern, thereby providing for the simultaneous printing or typing of printed words and braille words. The braille characters are embossed directly below the printed characters in a one to one fashion which permits the typed correspondence to be read by the sighted and the braille embossing to be read by the blind simultaneously thereby saving time, effort and money for communicating with the blind and the sighted in the fields of entertainment, education and employment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Inventors: Thomas H. Hoovler, Antonina Vertino
  • Patent number: 4599942
    Abstract: A stamping tool used for cold marking comprising a container and at least one marking element. Each of the marking elements is a rotatable wheel mounted to rotate individually whereby the character stamped may be changed. The marking elements are mounted in the container in a manner such that the rotatable wheels may be manually rotated without dismantling the tool. Each wheel extends beyond the container in a lateral direction to permit manual adjustment of the wheel and downwardly below the container to facilitate marking with the wheel. A plunger is supported on the marking elements, and is adapted to be hit by a piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignee: Societe B.B.M. S.A.
    Inventor: Ermano Bo
  • Patent number: 4600325
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to an arranging structure in which an ink ribbon extended from a ribbon cassette is arranged between a platen and a print head. The printing apparatus comprises a platen rotatably supported on a frame, a print head capable of moving reciprocally along the platen, a ribbon cassette replaceably loaded at one end side of the movable range of the print head and housing an ink ribbon with some portion extending outwardly as a loop, and a ribbon guide body located inside the loop of the ink ribbon and for pulling out the same. The ribbon guide body is movably provided along the platen and enters inside the loop of the ink ribbon when the ribbon cassette is mounted on the frame with the ribbon guide body located at one end side of the movable range of the print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsugio Okamoto, Junichi Maeda
  • Patent number: 4599944
    Abstract: A flexible wrap-on printing plate structure has a flexible printing plate body extending between opposite first and second edges at which the printing plate structure is attached to a rotary printing form cylinder. A thickening of the printing plate body or other means extend along a third edge of the printing plate body between the mentioned first and second edges for mechanically stiffening the printing plate body along that third edge, so that no warping of the printing plate structure and no printout of printing plate margins can occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignee: MDC Max Datwyler Bleienbach AG
    Inventor: Max Datwyler
  • Patent number: 4598642
    Abstract: The plate cylinder is provided with at least one groove opening out at the cylinder periphery, and disposed therein a fastening device for the two plate ends extending into the groove. This fastening device consists of a tightening bar which can be tilted about an axis parallel to the cylinder axis by means of hydraulically actuatable pistons provided in one groove boundary wall, a clamping piece, and a tightening support. The two plate ends are introduced on both sides of the clamping piece and, when the tightening bar is tilted by the action of the piston, are wedged tight between tightening bar and clamping piece or clamping piece and groove boundary wall, simultaneously tightening the printing plate. The tightening support can be forced radially outwards for the purpose of wedging the tightening bar in its position tightening the plates. The fastening device requires a groove of only small width which moreover tapers radially outwards, forming only a narrow circumferential gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: De La Rue Giori S.A.
    Inventors: Hartmut K. Sauer, Albrecht J. Germann
  • Patent number: 4598641
    Abstract: To reliably hold a sheet in a rotary sheet-fed offset printing machine, a plurality of pin or needle-like projections (11), preferably held on a holding strip (12), are located transversely just behind or beneath the grippers. The sheet is pressed against the pins by the rubber blanket of the blanket cylinder, to impale the sheet on the pins; or, if the projections are located beneath the grippers, the grippers indirectly apply pressure on the sheet to impale the sheet on the projections. In another embodiment (FIG. 6), a pressure block (13) with a resilient engagement surface (14) presses the grippers on the sheet for also impaling the sheet on the pins or needles. The projections may also be formed as knife edges (FIG. 4). Alternatively, the printing line can be shifted forwardly (FIG. 5), so that the rubber blanket will engage the ends of the grippers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: M.A.N.-ROLAND Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hermann Fischer