Abstract: In a printing-plate preparation apparatus employed in a screen printing machine comprising a thermal printhead provided with a heating-element portion, a rotatably supported platen roller for delivering a stencil paper and urging the same against a surface of the heating-element portion of the thermal printhead, and a manuscript-reading unit movable back and forth between a first position and a second position an improvement resides in that an outer peripheral surface of the platen roller is made of non-adhesive material while urged against a surface of the heating-element portion of the thermal printhead, whereby the stencil paper is clamped between the platen roller and the thermal printhead so as to be delivered while subjected to a perforation operation conducted by the heating-element portion of the thermal printhead.

Abstract: A holder for a ribbon for typewriters or similar machines where the holder is insertable into a receptacle. The holder must assume a firm and above all functionally correct connection with the receptacle. For this purpose two sliders with hook-shaped ends are disposed on pivotable side elements of the receptacle. These hooks embrace in their locking position edges provided on the ribbon guide arms. Only when the hooks are in their closed position can the combined device be inserted into the typewriter or the printer. The operationally correct insertion of the combined device would be prevented by a side element which is not closed or a protruding slider with its hook.

Abstract: A paper transfer feed separator automatically separates paper-drive edge tear strips from paper forms along perforations. The paper transfer feed separator may be hand-held and motor driven for removing the paper drive edge tear strips after the paper form is removed from a printer, or the like, or incorporated into a printer so that separation of the edge strips occurs simultaneously with printing on the paper. The frame of the separator causes a divergence in the paths of the body of the form and the edge paper strip to cause separation thereby, eliminating the need for knife blades or other elements requiring maintenance.

Abstract: A platen for a printer includes a tubular body section, shaft sections extending from opposite ends of the body section away from each other and coaxially with the body section and an elastic layer provided on an outer periphery of the body section. The shaft sections are smaller in diameter than the body section.

Abstract: Disclosed is a text processing system such as a word processor and an electronic typewriter. The disclosed system comprises a plurality of text data memory means including external memories, and title memory means for storing the titles of the text data stored in the text data memory means in relation to the kind of the text data memory means. The titles of the text data stored in the title memory means are visually represented on the outputting means with being classified by the kind of the text data memory means.

Abstract: A typewriter with variable color display visually presents typed text in a color variable in accordance with the typing speed and accuracy.

Abstract: A ribbon protector is used for protecting paper from contamination by an ink ribbon in a printer, where the protector is inserted between paper located between a platen and a printing head. The printing head facing the platen performs spacing movement for printing. Two connected plate-like elements are provided with through openings for passage of the pin of the printing head. Mutually engageable electroconductive elements are provided on the inner walls of the two plate-like elements, at least in the area where they are compressed by the tip of the printing head, and spacers which are made from resilient materials are located between the two plate-like elements.

Abstract: A transport device for edge-perforated recording support material (1) comprises two casing parts (2, 6) disposed at a distance relative to the perforation edges (1a) for drivable endless pin belts (5) with respectively a guide flap (4) for the recording support material (1), where the casing in each case comprises two casing parts (2, 6) disposed next to one another, and where the guide flap (4) is tiltably disposed on a first casing part (2), where inner and outer guide ribs (7, 10, 11) for the pin belt (5) are provided, where aligned disposed means for the detachable attachment of the two casing parts (2, 6) are provided aligned at the first and the second casing parts (2, 6) where at least the inner guide ribs (7) form a rest contact surface (6a) for the second casing part (6).

Abstract: A thesaurus feature for finding synonyms of words is provided for use with electronic typewriters having electronic spelling dictionaries for storing words in a data base contained in an electronic memory. Each word in the electronic dictionary which appears in the thesaurus is identified by a special code immediately following the word, so that the dictionary can be scanned quickly to determine if a given input word is in the thesaurus. If the word is in the thesaurus, the search for synonyms can proceed quickly. The input operations required of the typist are patterned after previously known operations to eliminate extensive learning or relearning on the part of the typist. Cascaded scanning of the display and listing operations are utilized to conserve time.

Abstract: An improved thermal transfer printer which is so arranged that a winding motor for driving a transfer ribbon winding device in synchronization with a carriage motor is mounted on the carriage separately from the carriage motor so as to reduce the load applied onto the carriage motor, with simultaneous elimination of an engaging mechanism between a carriage scanning mechanism and the ribbon winding device.

Abstract: An output apparatus for outputting information in accordance with a margin position and a tab position includes a device for changing a margin position, a memory for storing a tab position, and a device for deriving a new tab position for changing the tab position stored in the memory in association with the change of the margin position by the changing device, such that a balanced output layout is obtained.

Abstract: A means for assuring ink ribbon and correction tape compatibility in a device which utilizes a first cassette having an ink ribbon therein and second cassette having a correction tape therein including a switch means in the device that controls the on-off condition of the device, and means located on one of the cassettes which will activate the on-off switch only when the device contains an ink ribbon in the first cassette which is functionally compatible with the correction tape in the second cassette, such as, for example, functional compatibility between a single-strike ink ribbon and a lift-off correction tape, or functional compatibility between a multiple-strike ink ribbon and a cover-up correction tape.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette having a casing with a releasable cover, includes a pulley mounted for rotation in the casing, key-means project beyond the casing of the cassette for engagement with an external drive, a pressure roller is rotatably mounted in the case, a slide movably mounts the pressure roller to obtain a first position of engagement with the pulley and a second retracted position, a projection on the slide is externally accessible through an opening in the casing for shifting the slide from the first to the second position and vice versa; an additional projection on said slide runs in another opening in the casing for guiding movement of the slide along a long wall of the cassette casing; a brake is also disposed in the cassette which holds a removable endless ink ribbon that is insertible and inserted in the casing and fills the casing essentially in its entirety, the ribbon runs through a gap between the pulley and the pressure roller on one hand and the brake on the other.

Abstract: An electronic typewriter having a punctuation checking feature checks each punctuation feature as it is stored in a memory section, against a set of predetermined rules which define punctuation errors in terms of the context of the punctuation mark. If the punctuation mark does not agree with the defined rules, a suitable alarm, such as a visual and/or audible signal is given to the typist. A plurality of algorithms form the basis for sub-routines which a microprocessor can execute to determine if any of the rules are violated. The punctuation of a complete file can be checked by calling out each character in the file, from beginning to end and applying the checking procedure.

Abstract: An overlappingly overstrikeable ink ribbon for matrix or needle printing systems is described having a carrier film and an ink-releasing coating, as well as optionally further conventional intermediate coatings. A rubber-elastic layer is formed on the needle impression side. A process for producing this ribbon is also described. This ribbon has many advantages compared with known ribbons. It protects the print head, withstands the needle pressure for a longer time due to the elastic layer and improves the printing definition. It can be produced by coextrusion of the starting materials of the carrier film and the rubber-elastic layer.

Abstract: A tape cassette has a sensing arm pivotally mounted therein biased against a correction tape on a take-up spool for sensing the amount of correction tape thereon. A correction tape feed mechanism mounted in a typewriter has a metering post for engaging the sensing arm at varying locations to cause the correction tape feed mechanism to feed the correction tape at substantially equal amounts regardless of the amount of correction tape on the take-up spool.

Abstract: A ribbon selecting mechanism for use with a printer comprising a ribbon cassette table on which a ribbon cassette for housing a ribbon is mounted opposite to a platen, said ribbon having plural color tracks formed thereon in the width direction thereof, a carriage movable along the platen, support arms each pivoted on the ribbon cassette table and the carriage at the upper and lower ends thereof to support the ribbon cassette table above the carriage, a drive mechanism having a drive plate to move the ribbon cassette table in the width direction of the ribbon, and a detent mechanism for stopping the drive plate at any of plural positions to oppose one of the plural color tracks to the platen.

Abstract: An improved ink ribbon cassette for a serial printing apparatus comprises a body, first and second substantially coextensive spaced ink ribbon guide arms projecting from the body, each having a free end, and an ink ribbon mounted in the body for advancement during printing and having a portion extending between the free ends of the guide arms so as to be available for printing. One of the guide arms has a window therein through which the ribbon is visible. A first optically detectable indicator is carried on the ribbon at a position to be visible through the window when the ribbon is substantially exhausted. A second optically detectable structure is mounted on the guide arm adjacent the window and laterally spaced therefrom in the direction of movement of the ribbon. This second optically detectable structure indicates the type of ribbon in the cassette.

Abstract: A shuttle matrix printer cartridge has a housing for storing the ribbon, an exit arm, an entrance arm spaced from the exit arm and a drive mechanism for removing ribbon from the storage chamber through the exit arm into position for printing between a printhead and a substrate and reentry into the cartridge through the entrance arm. The entrance arm is flexible in the plane of the cartridge toward and away from the exit arm to facilitate changes in ribbon drag produced during high dot density printing. The cartridge has three spacer legs along its underside for supporting the cartridge on the printer platform in use. Additionally, a post engages a recess in the exit arm to maintain the latter arm rigid during use, while such post, in conjunction with a drive shaft carried by the printer and received in a cartridge drive wheel, positions the cartridge in the printer against lateral movement.

Abstract: A color printer inludes an ink ribbon supporting frame mounted on a base unit swingingly about an axis parallel to a platen. A ribbon cassette comprises a cassette case for accommodating a color ink ribbon which as a plurality of different color longitudinal stripes so that at least a part of the ink ribbon forms a loop exposed from and extending to the cassette case. The ribbon loop is positioned along the platen and between a printing head and the platen, when the ribbon cassette is set on the ribbon frame. A ribbon guide is slidably mounted on a carrier for supporting the ink ribbon at a position adjacent to the printing head. The ribbon frame and ribbon guide are simultaneously shifted so that a desired one of color stripes of the ink ribbon is positioned on a predetermined printing line.