Abstract: A thermal printer paper feeding mechanism having a reciprocable print head carrier. A paper feeding roller has a ratchet cross section with the ratchet teeth twisted along the length of the paper feed roller. The paper feed roller rotates for advancing paper to be printed on while the print head carrier returns to a start position after having printed a line.

Abstract: A character printing system in an electronic data processing apparatus is provided that is adapted for printing language characters in response to numerical value coded data entered through numeral keys of a keyboard, each character being represented by a respective numerical value coded data of a predetermined convention, wherein said language characters comprises at least two kinds of language characters, such as upper case type alphabet characters and lower case type alphabet characters, or English alphabet characters and Japanese kana characters, or the like, and the keyboard includes language character code entry mode key and language character kind specifying key as well as numeral keys and ordinary commanding keys, and a printer operable responsive to a storage for storing information entered through said keyboard is controlled by a print control responsive to said storage, whereby said printer is controlled to selectively print numerical value coded data in a kind of language characters specified by t

Abstract: A ribbon feed failure in a printer can cause serious problems, particularly for a printer that uses heat to cause selective ink transfers. Localized heat buildup may injure the printhead and, if allowed to continue, might injure other printer instrumentalities.According to the invention, it is recognized that for ribbons having a degree of electrical conductivity, a mechanical ribbon failure will almost always result in a detectable change of electrical properties. By monitoring the characteristics of an electrical circuit passing through a section of the ribbon around the print point and, preferably, also the printhead-ribbon interface, abnormal electrical parameter values that indicate ribbon failure may be detected to trigger a cessation of printer operation.

Abstract: A text recorder of the type which includes a text display device to record text in intelligible form on a typewritten page or line or page-like display in response to character and function identifying signals, a keyboard with a plurality of alphabetic, numeric, symbol and function keys for actuation by an operator to produce a keyboard signal unique to the actuated key, decoding means responsive to keyboard signals from said keyboard to produce character and function identifying signals and wherein the decoding means includes a word completion means for producing one of at least two groups of one or more character identifying signals in response to actuation of a selectd key on said keyboard, each group of character identifying signals representing a different word ending and wherein the word completion means includes means for selecting among the group dependent upon the identity of one or more keys actuated prior to actuation of the selected key.

Abstract: An automatic erasing typewriter determines, in response to actuation of an erase key, if automatic erasing is possible. If not, the typewriter terminates the erase cycle with a backspace and conditions the typewriter for manual erase. Actuation of a character key as the next actuated key completes the manual erase. Actuation of a key other than a character key deconditions the manual erase.

Abstract: A cartridge for an inked ribbon for type bar typewriters comprises a container adapted to be mounted on one side of the printing point and a terminal part which guides a length of ribbon to the printing point and reverses the direction thereof for reentry of the ribbon into the container. Two return surfaces of the terminal part carry the ribbon reentering the container back at the same height as the emerging ribbon. The container is of elongated shape and is mounted removably on a support on the machine which rocks in front of a platen in such manner that the terminal part of the cartridge is disposed below the printing line. There is provided a mechanism for actuating the inked ribbon which comprises a control element actuatable by the type bars and a toggle joint which rock the cartridge support for effecting a precise raising of the ribbon in response to variable stroke control actuated by the selected key.

Abstract: A printer which may be used in a billing/accounting machine having a single servo motor to drive both the printing mechanism (horizontal motion) and the record media feed (vertical motion). While the printing mechanism is always engaged with the servo motor for transportation across the record media, provision is made for disengaging the record media feed from the servo motor during the printing mode and for re-engaging the record media feed with the servo motor during the non-printing mode for the proper feeding of the media past the printing mechanism to provide line-by-line printing. With the printing mechanism continuously engaged, its exact horizontal position is always known and controlled.

Abstract: A protective carton-enclosed typewriter ribbon pancake assembly and associated cartridge frame having a biased-open top are disclosed. The pancake assembly includes a typewriter ribbon pancake spirally wrapped around a supply hub. The ribbon and supply hub are enclosed by a protective paper carton configured for insertion within the cartridge frame. The carton has holes through which the ends of the supply hub pass. The free end of the ribbon is attached to a take-up hub. A used ribbon pancake assembly is disposed of by merely releasing the biased top of the frame so that the used ribbon, protective carton and hubs free fall into an underlying waste receptacle. The carton is shaped to insure proper alignment of the pancake assembly within the cartridge.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spring operating beyond the elastic limit of the material of which it is constructed, the spring including a length of resilient material having terminal end portions and a central body portion, one of the terminal end portions being adapted for connection to a first member. A convoluted portion of the resilient material has a central axis substantially perpendicular to the body portion and is adapted for connection to a second member, at least the convoluted portion being dimensioned so that upon separation of the first and second members due to a predetermined load, the convoluted portion uncoils and is stressed beyond the yield point of the material so that a substantially constant load placed on the convoluted portion by member separation effects further uncoiling of the convoluted portion.

Abstract: A marking device for a shorthand machine selectively marks the margins of the paper tape output of the shorthand machine to denote a portion of the shorthand notes for ready reference. The activating keys for the device are located in close proximity with the machine keyboard, whereby the operator may activate the device with minimal interruption of the recording process. Disposable marking instruments may be employed in the device. Incorporation of the device in the machine cover preserves the first planar surface of the cover and further, facilitates storage of the device when not in use.

Abstract: A printing apparatus of the type having a printing station, a printing force exerting and resisting means, an image carrier and a font element with a raised character and a tape-ribbon cartridge therefor. The improvement of the present invention relates to an improved device for exerting a printing force and an improved tape-ribbon cartridge for supplying tape and ribbon to the printing station and for guiding and supporting the font element into printing alignment.

Abstract: An arrangement for bidirectionally driving a hammer bank shuttle assembly along a linear path in a line printer includes an opposite pair of circular, rotatable elements having an elongated shuttle assembly mounting element and an elongated counterbalancing element extending between the pair of rotatable elements on the opposite sides thereof. Pole pieces and a magnet disposed between and adjacent the shuttle assembly mounting element and the counterbalancing element provide magnetic flux which flows through portions of the opposite elements to attract and maintain the elements in contact with the opposite rotatable elements.

Abstract: A ribbon cartridge is provided to be used in a high speed impact printer having means for driving only one reel in the ribbon cartridge, the take-up reel. The ribbon cartridge comprises a cartridge housing having an open end, and supply and take-up reels rotatably mounted in said housing. The supply reel supports an inventory of unused ribbon web which runs from the supply reel to the take-up reel. The rib is mounted in the cartridge housing facing the open end in a position closer to the supply reel than to the take-up reel.The printer into which the ribbon cartridge is to be inserted contains driving means for driving only the take-up reel. The printer receiving means into which the cartridge is to be inserted includes a stop element disposed so as to block the rib to stop the engagement of the cartridge and the receiving means when the cartridge is being inserted in a direction towards the undesirable engagement of the drive means with the supply reel rather than with the take-up reel.

Abstract: The device disclosed is a combination sound hood and glare suppressing visor for use on office machines such as typewriters, to contain machine operating noise while at the same time retaining visibility of the document being printed.The device is moveable away from the paper opening of the typewriter or office machine to allow access to the printing region of the typewriter and, upon the removal of the device from the printing region, the glare shield is lowered or collapsed controllably to remove obstructions to operator access of the printing zone. As the sound hood is replaced over the paper aperture of the typewriter or printer, the glare shield is again erected to its preset position to suppress glare from overhead and back lighting illumination. The visor is adjustable to present substantially an edge view thereof, thereby minimizing operator distraction. The sound hood may be pivotally raised to a vertical or past vertical position to give access to the printing element or the typing zone.

Abstract: A search system is provided that locates a reference point in a string of text-representative codes based on comparisons with an operator keyboarded text string (the address string). Such comparisons are automatically modified, however, to equate certain codes and code patterns that present an ambiguity to the operator in establishing the address string, e.g. a tab operation and a series of space operations may have the same apparent result for printing but are stored as different codes. By so expanding the acceptable "matching" code patterns selectively with respect to the codes presented for comparison, the likelihood of operator success in identifying a desired text location is increased significantly.

Abstract: In a typewriter having text storage capability, the hyphen code that is stored in response to depression of a hyphen key is conditioned on printing position and on the codes adjacent to the hyphen code in a text string. If a hyphen is keyed after the start of the return zone, is preceded by a graphic representative code and is followed by a keyed carrier return, a distinctive hyphen code representative of a syllable hyphen is recorded. Otherwise, a regular hyphen is recorded unless the hyphen key has been depressed in conjunction with a condition key (e.g. the CODE key), in which case a code representative of a required non-breaking hyphen is recorded. As a result of so controlling the recorded hyphen codes at the time of keyboarding, the operator's intentions for hyphenation may be achieved with little departure from normal keyboarding routine.

Abstract: A printer subsystem receives command and data information from a host system and retains a large number of font images in an associated storage area within the printer subsystem. A base font image set is ordinarily selected by the user but provision is made to dynamically change the font images as may be required in a real time fashion during actual printing operations. The font images are stored in a compressed form in the storage area. Routines involve use of pointer tables and data tables. It is possible to select an entire set of new font images in place of the base set of images or to modify only selected character images within the base font image set.

Abstract: A printer is provided with facilities for increasing the printing throughput. This involves a partial line turnaround operation. The printer has means to move a form or document past a print line, a ribbon drive assembly, and a print assembly incorporating a plurality of print wires arranged in print head groups, each group comprising a predetermined number of print wires. If, as an example, the print assembly has two, four, six, or eight print heads, each can accommodate eight wires in the embodiment described. The print wires are arranged in a slanted serrated pattern and provision is made herein to insure that the print heads move at least far enough to print their assigned character locations prior to the performance of any turnaround in individual lines being printed. Routine involves the accessing of tables stored in conjunction with a microprocessor, the tables indicating the optimum turnaround situations for the different print head configurations.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a ribbon cartridge which can be made from bendable material such as cardboard. The cartridge is folded around the ribbon 27 connected to supply spool 5 and take-up spool 23 from a blank having top panel 1 joined to bottom panel 35 by separated front panels 61. An extension 69 from top panel 1 is folded into the cartridge to form an internal post 19. The cartridge is glued together.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette having a body portion and a nose portion which pivots with respect to the body portion to obtain bi-color printing capability. The cassette also includes hinges and a fracturable member interconnecting the body portion and the nose portion. The fracturable member retains the nose portion in fixed relationship with respect to the body portion; however, upon removing the fracturable member, the nose portion is free to pivot between first and second positions with respect to the body portion and thereby present first and second colors of inked ribbon to an associated print means.