Abstract: A handwriting capture device which includes an integral printer for printing forms and for feeding the forms over a digitizer for signature by a customer. The handwriting capture device employs a highly sensitive digitizer to accurately capture signature information entered using a writing force greater than or equal to a predetermined writing force. The handwriting capture device includes a housing having a top surface, a resistive membrane digitizer mounted in the top surface, circuitry for processing digitizer information and for controlling operation of the printer, and a clamp for retaining a receipt in place over the digitizer during movement of the device. The clamp also serves to minimize finger contact with the digitizer.

Abstract: An electronic graph drawing apparatus comprises an input device for inputting numerical data, a memory responsive to the input device for storing the input data, a selection circuit responsive to the memory for selecting the maximum numerical data from the input numerical data, and a define circuit responsive to the selection circuit for defining an integer as the maximum of the scale in a graph to be drawn. Additionally, a second define circuit may be provided for defining the number of sectional divisions between the maximum scale and the minimum scale. Further, a scale assignment circuit may be provided for assigning scale information. Still further a line drawing circuit may be provided for drawing broken lines parallel to the X- and the Y-axis.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus has a recorder, a control circuit, a display circuit, a sensor for detecting a quantity of remaining recording paper, and an auxiliary memory for storing data which has been received but not yet recorded due to short supply of recording paper. When image information is recorded in a divided manner or recording of image information is interrupted during reception of such information, this state can be displayed.

Abstract: A method of generating character patterns to be printed on a printer, wherein each character is divided into line segments in the X or Y axis direction or 45.degree.-angle direction on the X/Y coordinates. Segments are processed in pairs of contiguous, linked lines. The method eliminates the need for storing positional data for the node of linked lines, whereby the capacity of memory for storing numerous complex character patterns can be saved.

Abstract: A printer includes a carriage supporting a print head and movable across print paper for enabling the print head to print on the print paper, a fixed frame, a switch device mounted on one of the carriage and the fixed frame, the switch device being composed of a light transmission means and a light blocking means for blocking light passing through the light transmission means, a sensor means on the other of the carriage and the fixed frame for sensing light passing through the switch device to produce an electric signal, and a means for reading the electric signal as information indicative of printer functions in response to movement of the carriage.

Abstract: A thermal message printer for printing a wide block of text which is produced with low cost printheads. The printer includes a thermal printer having a first number of fixed printheads equal in number to the lines to be printed on thermographic paper. Each of the fixed printheads has a second number of dot elements which are energized in a column fashion according to a pattern of dots to be energized from a matrix of dots for each of the characters. Control means are included for sequentially energizing selected ones of the dot heads in order to form the series of characters such that a wide block of text is printed.

Abstract: To miniaturize an electronic device such as an electronic table computer provided with a printer, the display part and printing part of the device are united together to form a unitary component. Wiring of signal lead line for driving the display and printing part is disposed on a base board. Furthermore, heat generated from the printing part is used to record on the heat sensitive recording paper.

Abstract: A circuit for coded symbol conversion has first and second memories and a switching stage. Standard code characters from a keyboard are entered into the first memory and if the entered character is one which can be represented by a single binary word the switching stage enables transmission of the single word. If the entered character is one requiring more than one binary word for representation the input is transmitted to the second memory which generates an equivalent set of binary words to represent the symbol and further transmission is delayed until all such binary words are generated.

Abstract: A control circuit for momentarily energizing an electromagnetic coil in a teleprinting device recorder has a pair of switching transistors respectively operated by control pulses having a lag between respective switching times and a control transistor biased by a single operating voltage source. When a first of the switching transistors is switched on a rapid current rise in the coil takes place for immediate and rapid activation of the coil plunger which is followed by a maintenance time during which the first switching transistor is either switched off or is in pulsed operation and also during which the energy stored in the electromagnetic coil serves as the maintenance current source, which is followed by switching on of the second control transistor. By the addition of a diode between the coil and the operating voltage source, a feedback circuit is formed so that after disconnection of the electromagnetic coil, the energy stored in the coil is fed back into the operating currents supply network.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for use with teletypewriter consoles in teleprinter communication networks for providing transmission time information during message preparation; namely, the number of whole minutes of message time plus either the number of characters remaining to the next full minute, or tenths of minutes of additional message time used. Such information enables the user to anticipate and thus optimize message time for which he is charged in a rounding-up charge procedure commonly used in such teleprinter communication networks. A preferred embodiment consists of a microprocessor-based computer for converting each character on a perforated tape to a sub-unit of time corresponding to the appropriate transmission rate of either TELEX or TWX network services.

Abstract: An automatic teletypewriter is provided. The teletypewriter includes a keyboard having alpha and numeric characters and includes means to utilize the numeric character keys for dialing into the telex network. The teletypewriter also automatically keeps count of the characters generated on each line and generates a carriage return-line feed signal at the end of each line if not directed to do so.

Abstract: A device for limiting the number of printing columns in a printer in which a group of printing data codes transferred from a data source are successively compared with a group of type codes which are determined in correspondence to the instantaneous positions of type on a type carrier, so that a type in a place where a printing data code coincides with a type code is printed. The device comprises a reversible counter adapted to subject a coincidence signal relating to said printing data code and type code and a printing completion signal for each place to addition and subtraction, respectively, so that when the count value of the reversible counter reaches a predetermined value, printing for further places is inhibited.

Abstract: An electrostatic printing apparatus having a transfer medium with a charge retentive surface for forming an electrostatic latent image, and a developer to develop the electrostatic latent image on the transfer medium for transfer to a support material. An array of printing electrodes supported by a flexible insulator abutting the transfer medium are uniformly spaced from the transfer medium.

Abstract: Printed characters are transmitted by storing data words in a transmitter representing character sequences for operating a printing head in accordance with a first mode, producing in the transmitter code words different from data words representing the character sequences and transmitting messages including the code words to a receiver which has a printing head which can operate selectively in accordance with the first mode or a second mode. A printing head provided with at least one printing element at the receiving station is supplied with binary character sequences which trigger printing commands. A character generator is provided which stores the binary character sequences of predetermined characters and, following the reception of data words assigned to the characters, emits the appropriate binary character sequences.

Abstract: In a system in which characters or graphic patterns are representd in punctiform fashion, the redundancy of binary character sequences which describe the characters or graphic patterns is reduced such that, within the binary character sequences, each binary character having a first binary value is assigned to a point which is to be represented and at least one interval corresponding to one element exist between two points represented by the same output component. Each element is split into a plurality of sub-elements and the binary character sequences which represent the characters or graphic patterns are split into sub-elements. Of the possible combinations (2.sup.

Abstract: Predetermined characters or graphic patterns are transmitted from a transmitting station to a receiving station in a system wherein a printing head is provided with at least one printing component in the receiving station and is supplied with binary character sequences which trigger printing commands. The binary character sequences which represent the predetermined characters are stored in the receiving station in a character generator from which the sequences are read following the transmission of data words assigned to the predetermined characters, and are fed to the printing head. When graphic patterns are transmitted, code words are produced in the transmitting station to describe the graphic patterns, which words possess the same format as the data words.

Abstract: The first signal transition of a teletypewriter signal triggers a resettable one-shot that activates the motor run switch to turn the teletypewriter motor on for a minimum interval of from two seconds to several minutes and also is applied to the input of a shift register that digitizes and delays the teletypewriter input signal enough to allow the motor to reach operating speed, typically 600 milliseconds, before the delayed signal is applied to the Teletype printer. If no signal is received for a duration that exceeds the shift register delay, logical circuitry increases the shift pulse rate so that the delay shift register furnishes negligible delay. Absence of an input signal for an interval longer than the astable ON interval of the resettable one-shot deactivates the motor run switch.

Abstract: A control system is disclosed for the control of sequential flow of functions in teletypewriters and data typewriters. Input signals are presented to the control system which release the carrying out of the functions. The control system produces output signals which correspond to individual steps of the functions to be carried out successively. A plurality of control units are provided in the control system with each of the control units being provided with a respective allocator. The control units produce control signals which are formed in accordance with the state of signals presented at inputs of the control units. These control unit input signals may correspond to the control system input signals and/or the control signals at the outputs of the control units. At least a portion of the control signals are utilized as the output signals for the control system.

Abstract: The teleprinter is provided with a bialphabetic keyboard, for example latin and arabic, and a dot printing head controlled by two different character generating units corresponding to the two alphabets. The teleprinter is normally predisposed for one of the two alphabets and can be switched to the other alphabet by means of a sequence of characters. The arabic character generating unit is adapted to recognize predetermined sequences for generating composite characters, i.e. the lam-alef group. Furthermore, some characters at the end of a word are generated by adding a tail to the normal character in response to the spacing code. The teleprinter can be connected to the conventional existing teleprinters, since neither the composite characters, nor the tails are transmitted on the line.

Abstract: A printer, comprising a printing element which, when in operating position, is placed in a magnetic field, and is connected to a secondary winding of a transformer. This transformer has two additional secondary windings and two primary windings which are connected to a circuit so arranged that after a start pulse, two current pulses of opposite directions are successively supplied to the transformer of which only the second pulse effects movement of the printing element. The two primary windings are each connected to an amplifier, each of which supplies one of the current pulses. The input of the circuit and the amplifiers are coupled in such a way that the start pulse controls one of the amplifiers which in turn, through the two additional secondary windings and a blocking circuit, controls the other amplifier to produce the second pulse.

Abstract: An automatic page selector comprises a counter, a page selector device responsive to the output of the counter to select pages for decoding and display, and a clock for providing pulses to the counter. Means may be provided for writing data into a memory the locations of which are sequentially addressable by the counter, and for controlling the intervals between successive clock pulses applied to the counter in accordance with the written data.

Abstract: A flying printing system using a type belt, in which in order to determine a type pitch M different from a predetermined print pitch N determined by the pitch of type hammers, the respective numbers d.sub.1 and d.sub.2 (d.sub.1 >d.sub.2) of print pitches N and type pitches M per a unit length L selected to be an integral of the print pitch N are selected so that M=N.multidot.d.sub.1 /d.sub.2. Types are arranged on the type belt in the order such that respective telegraph codes of the successively arranged types successively increase or decrease in binary numbers. Type-corresponding codes are shifted in a shift register in response to shift pulses synchronized with shifting of each type of the type belt. The type-corresponding codes in the shift register and input codes to be printed are compared with each other at time intervals d.sub.1 /d.sub.2 times the pulse intervals of the shift pulses to obtain a coincidence output to thereby drive the corresponding type hammers.

Abstract: A digital printout arrangement to print out a predetermined character response to a known coded input signal. The printout arrangement has a rotatably moveable platen for moving the medium upon which the printing is to occur in both forward and reverse directions. A printhead, which may be of the dot matrix type, is mounted on a carriage that moves reciprocatingly adjacent the platen. An incremental print ribbon is intermediate the platen and printhead to allow printing on the medium in response to activation of the dot printers in the printhead. The platen, printhead and print ribbon are digitally moved in response to digital control signals. A microprocessor, which comprises, essentially, a mini, special purpose computer is provided and has a storage means, a memory means and logic for generating the digital control signals in response to known input signals. The input signal may, for example, be of the serial by bit coded type and is converted into a parallel by character coded signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for coding input data characters from a keyboard incorporates apparatus for recognizing characters which are to be represented by two successive code representations, rather than the usual single code representation for each character. When a two-code character is recognized, ordinary operation of the apparatus is inhibited, and an auxiliary counter is energized which, in conjunction with a fixed-value storage device, causes the plural code signals to be generated in the correct sequence, after which normal operation of the apparatus is resumed.

Abstract: A bearing assembly and drive shaft particularly useful in connection, for example with a point-of-sale terminal in which the drive shaft is held within the terminal by a simple bowed spring retainer which spring-loads the bearing body elements against the side walls of the print stations of the terminal and which is easily removable so that the bearing assemblies and shaft can be removed from, and inserted in, the terminal by a simple bayonet type action. This concept provides a drive shaft in a POS terminal which facilitates maintenance of the terminal in situ, if desired.

Abstract: An arrangement for effecting a variable modification of information used to control a printer unit of a teleprinter has a first store containing information for basic functions required to control the printer unit. A first decoding circuit analyzes received teleprinter characters and drives the first store. A second store contains information required to modify the basic functions. A second decoding circuit analyzes the count reached by a counter and drives the second store. A setting up matrix is sampled by the counter and feeds its output via a multiplexing circuit to a comparator device. The comparator device compares the result of a sampling of the setting up matrix and a read out from the second store with the received teleprinter character, and, if the result is positive, the comparator device causes information contained in the second store to be combined with information from the first store to create a modified information feed to the printer unit.

Abstract: A three-position ribbon guide comprises a ribbon guide bar which is pivoted at one end and carries a ribbon guide at an opposite end. Arranged transversely to the guide bar, one above and one below, are two pivotable armature levers each coupled to the guide bar by a pin which rides in a slot in the guide bar. Each slot has a generally vertical and a horizontal portion. An armature fixed in each lever near a pivot axis thereof is subjected selectively to a magnetic attraction when a current flows through an adjacent electromagnet. Energization of one or the other of the electromagnets will pivot the lever and cause its coupling pin to slide along the horizontal portion of the slot in the guide bar. Such movement raises the ribbon guide bar about its pivot, the coupling pin of the other lever remaining steady but sliding through the vertical portion of the guide slot thereof as the guide bar moves.

Abstract: A voltage controlled frequency source has an output frequency which varies in accordance with primary power line frequency variations. The output frequency of the voltage control frequency source is used to control the rate at which data is fed into a teleprinter machine thereby providing the teleprinter with data at a rate that can be varied in accordance with power line frequency variations. A method of modifying input data rate into a teleprinter machine in accordance with frequency variations of the primary power line frequency is also provided.

Abstract: A hand held pager is disclosed which displays a transmitted message in hard copy form on a tape to permit a written record of the message for readout at the convenience of the recipient of the message. The hard copy pager is provided with a printing system in which the printing medium is continually moved past the printing head without significant degradation of the information recorded so that indexing of either the head or the printing medium is avoided.

Abstract: A thermal line printer includes a semiconductor chip for control of A .times. N heaters arrayed in N groups past which thermally sensitive paper is stepped B times in printing a line of characters in an A .times. B dot matrix. A sequential access memory stores N multibit words, one word for each character to be printed on a given line with a commutator cyclically to read words from the memory A .times. B times for each line to be printed. A ROM has an A .times. B dot matrix code therein for each available character. A time sequencer and decoder connected to the ROM is synchronized with the commutator to produce a different one bit output from the ROM each time each given word is read from memory. A set of N enable circuits leads from the ROM to N groups of heaters. A set of A enable circuits leads from the sequencer to A groups of heaters where one heater in each A group is from one of the N groups.

Abstract: A recording typewriter of the type including a memory arranged to record codes corresponding to typed characters as they are typed, and to drive the typewriter to type characters corresponding to stored codes. A single line readout is provided, preferably positioned between the typewriter keyboard and roller so as to be easily accessible to the view of an operator. The readout displays a selected line of characters as recorded in the memory. The particular line to be displayed is selected in dependence upon the typewriter elements associated with line control, such as the position or change of position of the typewriter roller or the actuation of the carriage return control. The system provides an economical and effective means of accessing stored data, allowing correction of stored documents, for example, to be easily accomplished.

Abstract: A logic system for controlled energization of predetermined stepper motor phases for various optimal times employing a read only memory having a plurality of memory element arrays corresponding to predetermined stepper motor sequencing commands corresponding to all possible tilt position change attempts for a print head. The memory element arrays are addressed by a shift register which stores data representative of the previous print head tilt position and the destined print head tilt position as provided by a two bit latch. The addressed memory element array is sequenced by a counter incrementing the read only memory address provided by the shift register at various predetermined optimal time intervals provided by a timer which is preset by individual preset values stored in the memory element now being addressed.

Abstract: A data interface between a plurality of data sources and a printer wherein the interface can accept data from such sources on a pre-established priority basis. The priority of any source is determined by the time relationship of its bid strobe signal to a synchronizing signal. The bid strobe signals are timed to occur at different time intervals in accordance with the pre-established priority basis.

Abstract: Maximizing the printing rate of an electronic printer by causing it to print data characters at a relatively constant rate despite variations in the pattern of the incoming data. The number of characters in an incoming data pattern to be printed substantially simultaneously is monitored and the printing rate controlled within certain limits to provide a maximum printing rate consistent with the power and mechanical limits of the printer design.