Abstract: In a multi-position graphics plotter pen carousel system employing a pen capping mechanism therein at each pen position for capping and uncapping pens held by the carousel, an improvement for allowing the sensing of pen presence at the pen positions and the indexing of the carousel with a single sensor. Each pen capping mechanism is adapted to assume a first position with a pen in the pen position and assume a second position with no pen in the pen position. A plurality of first sensible attributes are associated with respective ones of the pen capping mechanisms for exhibiting a first characteristic when a pen is contained at the associated pen position and for exhibiting a second characteristic when no pen is contained at the pen position. A plurality of second sensible attributes are associated with respective ones of the pen positions for constantly exhibiting the first characteristic.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing perforated pounce patterns from sheet material has a work-engaging surface for moving and supporting the sheet material. A tool carriage is supported adjacent, and movable relative to the work-engaging surface, and a tool mount is supported on the tool carriage and movable between elevated and lowered positions relative to the work-engaging surface. A pouncing tool is supported in the tool mount and has a tool shaft and a pouncing wheel rotatably suspended from the tool shaft. The pouncing wheel has a plurality of radially extending pins for forming a perforated path in the shape of a pounce pattern when engaged with the sheet material on the work-engaging surface. A keying member is engaged with the tool mount, and the tool shaft has a longitudinally extending keyway engageable with the keying member for fixing the orientation of the pouncing tool relative to the tool mount.

Abstract: A method of exchanging writing implements for automatic drafting machine and its device in which a plurality of writing implement holders consisting of a stationary arm and a rotary arm at a stocker side, and a writing implement holder consisting of a stationary arm and a rotary arm is provided at a drawing head side, and when the drawing head moves to pick up a writing implement at the stocker side, a position of the stocker is shifted relatively to the drawing head so that a writing implement holding side end of the stationary arm at the drawing head side is shifted at a predetermined interval in the inside direction of an open portion of the writing implement holder at the stocker side relative to the writing implement holding side end of the stationary arm at the stocker side, and when the drawing head moves to place a writing implement at the stocker, a position of the stocker is shifted relatively to the drawing head so that the writing implement holding side end of the stationary arm at the stocker sid

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a dot printer head wherein a plurality of needles having their ends arranged along a straight line have gradually increasing lengths towards opposite outer end ones thereof so that when the needles are being inserted into respective needle holes in a needle guide, they can be positioned one after another each under the guidance of a needle located outwardly adjacent thereto. Thus, even where an arrangement of needles is such that there remain some gaps between adjacent needles, the needles can be guided one after another beginning with the outermost ones thereof and be inserted smoothly into the needle holes.

Abstract: A thermal ink transfer printing system comprising an ink material selected from the group consisting of thermal meltable inks and thermal sublimatable inks, a container for such ink material, at least a part of one wall of the container being a filter material, a heater for heating the ink adjacent the filter in the selected pattern to be printed and activating the ink in the selective pattern to pass through the filter holes in the pattern and print such pattern on a paper adjacent the filter.

Abstract: A method for reducing the redundancy of binary character sequences which are utilized in matrix printing assigns coordinates to each image point in a character matrix and determines and stores data corresponding to the difference between image point coordinates which are necessary to print a particular character. The differences are stored in terms of magnitude and direction of movement within the character matrix in order to control operation of a printing head for printing the character. The code words for each image point contain an operation byte which may direct a "step" or a "skip" coordinate change. A further reduction is achieved by additional information in the form of a multiplication byte which effects multiplication of specified coordinate steps and by an end byte which signifies the end of a particular character. The method may also effect a constant image point displacement by means of a change-over byte so that the printing can be undertaken in cursive script or shadow script.

Abstract: A multi-color pen recorder comprises a platen rotatable about its own axis, a pen carriage mounted on the platen and movable axially therealong, a pen holder removably mounted on the pen carriage for removably supporting a plurality of pens on the pen holder, and a hammer mounted on the pen carriage for pushing one of the pens in a position on the pen holder toward the platen.

Abstract: Pressure transients are used to produce motion for high speed printing of DOTS; in a first embodiment each printing element in an array of printing elements has the form of an angled rigid tube sealed at the ends; one end is fixed, the other end is free to move; the tube is filled with suitable fluid and has two electrodes associated with it and the fluid; a spark across the electrodes on demand produces a pressure transient by expanding the fluid, in turn tending to straighten or otherwise suitably deform the angled tube in a direction advancing the free end for printing; in a second embodiment employing ink as the fluid, a ball point pen arrangement dispenses ink as the second end advances on spark actuation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a damping means particularly for drawing heads for use in map-plotting and the like. The vertical movement of a drawing instrument of the drawing head is controlled by a first electro-magnet. The downward movement of the drawing instrument is arrested by a stop provided at a lever held by a second electromagnet so that the drawing instrument is at an intermediate position spaced from a drawing plane by a small distance. The remaining distance is passed after a definite delay in that the lever is released by said second electromagnet so that the instrument contacts the drawing plane without any bouncing on and damage to said plane.

Abstract: In an automatic drafting apparatus having at least one tubular writing pen (1) held in a drawing head (3), and movable between a rest position, in which the lower end of its tubular writing tip (2) is sealed by a laterally movable sealing element (9), and into a raised intermediate position, in which the element (9) is moved laterally out of the way of the writing tip (2), enabling the writing pen (1) then vertically to be lowered into a drawing position. An improved actuation element (11) means is moved laterally back and forth to move both the tubular writing pen (1) and the sealing element (9). This actuation element further comprises a cam or guide contour surface (13, 14, 15, 16) to engage a pin guide operatively connected to the writing pen, thereby to effect vertical movement of the writing pen (1) and also an oblong lateral recess coupled with the sealing element (9) through a second pin (19), for the purpose of defining a selective lateral displacement of the sealing element.

Abstract: An ink cartridge has a plurality of ink supplying elements coaxially mounted on a shaft for rotation therewith with each element having an ink containing layer molded integrally with an ink impervious layer covering a side face of the ink layer while an exposed radially outward edge face provides an ink supply surface. The ink containing layers are initially each molded into the ink impervious layer which provides a covering for one side face and a radially outward edge face of the ink containing layer. The edge face covering is subsequently removed from the ink containing layer to expose an ink supply surface of the ink layer. A substantial portion of the ink impervious material is retained in the exposed ink supply surface of the ink containing material to reinforce the surface pores therein while permitting an ink flow therefrom.

Abstract: A multiple position recorder having mechanisms for rocking a check lever for preventing a dot print wheel or dot and figure print wheels from lowering which is mechanically constructed while the recorders other mechanisms, such as mechanisms for setting the gap of dot printing and figure printing, mechanisms for synchronization with a driving shaft and the like are constructed by electric circuits.

Abstract: A direct-writing recorder of dot type causes an area of a record paper (70) which is to be printed to oscillate in a direction perpendicular to the paper plane for contact with a printing element (22) on a pointer (21) at a given periodic interval. A vibrator unit (50) is disposed at a distance below the printing element (22), and drives the record paper (70), passing between the printing element (22) and the vibrator unit (50), to be urged against the printing element (22).

Abstract: A printing device adapted to print a bar code on a moving information carrier, preferably in the form of a label for marking an article or packaged goods, said bar code consisting of a plurality of parallel bar imprints of different widths separated by spacings lying therebetween. The invention is characterized in that there is provided one single printing member for all of the bar imprints of the bar code, the imprint width of said printing member being not greater than the smallest width of any bar imprint appearing in said bar code, and said printing member being operatively connected to an actuating unit coupled to a programmable control unit, which is adapted to generate control signals at small enough time intervals to form bar imprints of larger width by juxtaposing of bar imprints of the width of said printing member without intervening spacings.

Abstract: A chart recorder is described in which the writing head is rotatable by a motor to position any one of several writing tips over the paper. The motor is mounted on the same carriage as the writing head for movement relative to the paper.

Abstract: An electronic stencil cutter having a rotatable drum with an original subject sheet and a stencil sheet mounted side by side thereon. Scanning and stencil cutting heads are mounted on a common carriage for simultaneous movement along the original and stencil sheets. The original subject sheet is retained in a holder consisting of a flexible, transparent sheet wrapped about the drum, one end of the retainer sheet being held releasably against the drum by a pressure-sensitive adhesive strip. The ends of the stencil sheet are held by an elongated clamp bar in a slot in the drum, the clamp bar being urged outwardly by springs and manually releasable by latch members at the ends of the bar. The stencil cutting head has a plastic stylus which is deflectible by a solenoid to press a wire electrode against the stencil sheet while cutting the stencil. The solenoid has a soft, felt-like nose which engages the stylus to dampen vibration of the electrode.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a multiple head for a remotely controllable plotting device in which a body carries a plurality of pen carriers each of which in turn carries a pen having a tip, each pen carrier including a hollow bobbin of non-magnetic material having an axial bore for movement of a pen therealong in a generally downward advancing direction and an opposite retracting direction, in electromagnetic coil surrounding the bobbin, a first magnetic element movable with the pen axially with respect to the bore, a second magnetic element carrried by the bobbin, at least one of the magnetic elements being a magnet whereby when the coil is energized, it influences the first magnetic element to cause the pen to move in one of the directions depending upon the sense in which the coil is energized, the first and second magnetic elements cooperating to hold the pen in a retracted position, the bore defining an axis and the axes being convergent in a single common point externally of the bobbin such that when any

Abstract: An improved device for translational movement of automatic drawing machine tools of the type having a frame connected to a drawing machine, a permanent magnet system, and a controlling plunger attached for free movement, with respect to said frame. The plunger is interconnected to a tool carrier which accepts a writing tool in a manner wherein an electromagnetic control coil around the plunger and the tool carrier are moved by a mechanical linkage, pivoted upon said frame, so that the plunger and the carrier are simultaneously moved in opposite directions. The linkage preferably comprises a closed band, which runs around and over two deflection rollers, so that its mutually opposing and essentially parallel side portions are respectively connected to the tool carrier and the plunger. The interconnecting linkage also includes means to statically compensate for the different weights of the plunger and carrier.

Abstract: A printing device for chronocomparators comprising a striker, an ironless cylindrical coil mounted for rotation in an air gap of a magnetic circuit and connected to the striker, the magnetic circuit being formed by a permanent magnet placed inside the coil and an outer part of magnetically permeable material surrounding the coil. The coil is connected through spiral springs to a source of electric control pulses. The spiral springs provide a return force for bringing the coil back to a rest position in the absence of a control pulse. A cylinder with a helical rib is placed to be stricken by the striker and a recording strip is inserted between the striker and the said cylinder.

Abstract: A multipoint recorder has a multicolor ink cartridge arranged to be selectively aligned with a recording head having a plurality of selectively energizable recording elements whereby a color from the multicolor ink cartridge is selected for printing by the recording elements. A fixed color operation of the recorder enables a recording to be made in a single color by maintaining a preselected alignment of the recording head and a desired color in the multicolor ink cartridge. Alternatively, the color of the recording can be selectively altered at any time to produce a multicolor recording by selecting a corresponding color from the multicolor ink cartridge for each recording.

Abstract: A multiple recorder printing device for recording values of variable amounts on a moving recording tape in the form of consecutive symbols of the same or different colors includes a driven common drive means to both rotate the rotary printing head and move the printing head toward and away from the recording tape. The drive means permits rotation of the rotary printing head to be momentarily arrested during the period that a printing tip on the rotary printing head is in contact with the recording tape to assure clear printing on the recording tape without smudging.

Abstract: A device for producing imprints on a recording medium having a member acting on the medium which strikes or presss against a surface of the medium in its forward position. The member is in the form of an elongated arm being resiliently connected to a frame or other support. The arm is also provided with means to prevent ink from adhering to the member as a result of the latter striking the printing ribbon and the ink moving between the arm and the impact surface when said arm is in its rear position.

Abstract: A sealing element for an automatic drafting pen with a tubular tip wherein a reciprocating horizontal actuating means that acts through a linkage operates a horizontal slide that in one position permits the pen to contact the drafting surface and in a second position seals the pen with the horizontal slide.

Abstract: An automatic drafting instrument of the type supporting a plurality of stylographic pens above a drafting surface. The instrument includes a reciprocating mechanism for lowering the pens from an upper rest position to a lower drafting position in contact with the drafting surface. The device is characterized by a vertically actuable and pivotable sealing element which engages the writing pen tip in its rest position and is actuable vertically downwardly and pivotably away from the pen as it is lowered to the writing surface.

Abstract: A recording head for a multipoint recorder including a drum bearing a number of stylii regularly spaced around the drum periphery and rotatably mounted on an axle in a moving carriage sliding along a bearing bar mounted in the chassis of the recorder, means for rotational driving said drum means for temporarily displacing the drum in the direction of the strip chart and means for translational displacement of the carriage along the bearing bar with the means for rotational driving the stylii bearing drum has a Geneva cross rigidly connected to the drum and driven by a pin on a member wedged in a longitudinal nut in the bearing bar which is rotationally driven by a motor gear system mounted on the chassis of the device and that the means for causing the displacement of said recording head are formed by a cam rigidly connected to a gear wheel which meshes with a gear wheel of said pin bearing member whereby the cam is cooperating with an abutment of a housing supporting the stylii bearing drum and mounted on sa

Abstract: A marking device includes a case which may be held by a user in the fashion of conventional writing and marking instruments. A ball point pen, felt tip pen, pencil or crayon is positioned within the case. In the instances of the pens, a soft iron collar is fixed or adjustably connected to the pen. In the instances of the pencil or crayon, a movable, hollow, soft iron collar is positioned about the pencil or crayon, a plurality of balls of non-magnetic, non-magnetizable material are provided within the collar to hold the pencil or crayon in fixed, preferably adjustable, position when the collar is moved downwardly. An electro-magnet or solenoid responsive to electrical signals or pulses is placed in the vicinity of the fixed or movable soft iron collar.

Abstract: A pen holding device has a pen or pens slidable in a pen holder which is fixed removably to a drafting head frame. The pens are moved up and down by actuating means mounted on the drafting head frame, for drafting and mooring. The engagement of the actuating means to the pens are very easily released by a single releasing mechanism for easy and quick exchange of the pens.

Abstract: A inker network for use with a tester and a probing machine for marking semiconductor wafers and including a delay circuit for receiving clocking pulses and a first ink command pulse from the tester and for generating a delayed ink command pulse which is delayed an integer number of clock pulses, a direction detector for receiving first and second transport signals from the probing machine and for generating first and second direction signals dependent on the direction the wafer is being transported, and a steering circuit responsive to the delayed pulse in one mode and for generating a double pulse of adjustment width and amplitude on first or second output lines in response to the first and second direction signals, respectively, and in a second mode for generating the double pulse of adjustment width and amplitude on the first or second or both of the output lines in response to the first or second ink command pulse from the tester or both pulses simultaneously, respectively.

Abstract: In a marking device for marking an information carrying medium, a marking tip is provided on an arm, and the arm is resiliently mounted by means of a leaf spring. In order to relieve stresses on the joints between the leaf spring and the arm, a region of the leaf spring to which the arm is affixed is bent, so that one portion of the leaf spring is affixed to the side of the arm toward the information carrying medium, and another portion of the leaf spring is affixed to the opposite side of the arm.

Abstract: Automatic drafting device of the type employing a tubular writing pen, particularly an adjustable sealing element which is used against the writing tip of the pen when the pen is in a retracted rest mode. The sealing element is laterally disengaged from the pen tip when the pen is an extended writing mode. The sealing element which may be in the form of an elastic spheroid prevents drying out of ink within the capillary channel when the pen is not in use.

Abstract: Automatic drafting device of the type employing a tubular writing pen, particularly an adjustable sealing element which is used against the writing tip of the pen when the pen is in a retracted rest mode. The sealing element is laterally disengaged from the pen tip when the pen is an extended writing mode. The sealing element which may be in the form of an elastic spheroid prevents drying out of ink within the capillary channel when the pen is not in use. The blocking assembly is characterized by its ability both to lock the tubular writing pen in its rest position and to lock the sealing element in its laterally outward position so as to avoid interference with the pen during temporary moments of non-writing.

Abstract: An ink pen has an ink tank for supplying ink to a pen nib such as a needle or capillary tube nib. The ink tank is connected to a change-over valve by way of an air pipe. The valve opens the ink tank into a positive pressurized air source for pressing ink out in good moderation through the nib during writing or drawing operation of the ink pen. On the other hand, when the ink pen is stopped to operate writing or drawing, the valve opens the ink tank in turn into a negative pressurized air source for preventing ink in the tank from leaking out or dropping down through the nib.

Abstract: A data recorder for recording and simultaneously printing both analog and gital data on the same strip chart. The simultaneous recording of both the analog and digital data provides a permanent time base correlation of the event(s) represented thereby which is extremely useful for instant analysis of later study. In a preferred embodiment, two channels of analog information are recorded by pen styli and are representative of the output of a pair of condensation nuclei counters for monitoring atmospheric pollution. The digital data is recorded simultaneously adjacent the analog information in its own channel and represents position coordinates corresponding to the location of the airborne counters at any given point in time and may, for example, comprise the digital output of a LORAN-C navigator. The simultaneous output allows immediate correlation between the maxima and minima of the analog traces and position.

Abstract: A unique printer head employs a plurality of bimorph benders to drive a wire matrix. The benders are of the circular, high power type, having centrally located coupling washers. A housing supports the benders which are stackably mounted therein such that the washer openings form a central cavity which is aligned with an opening in the housing. Each wire couples to a corresponding bender to be ballistically driven thereby. The wires are routed through the central cavity and wire guides for actuation out the housing opening.Because of the high efficiency of the bimorph bender drivers, the improved printer head has reduced size and weight, while maintaining a high reliability.

Abstract: A continuously rotatable shaft is employed in a multipoint recorder for slidably and rotatably supporting a print carriage thereon in order to minimize the friction occurring between the print carriage and the shaft while the carriage traverses the shaft and as a print wheel supported by the carriage is rocked into and out of printing engagement with a record medium. A print pad wheel is provided with characterized gear teeth for meshing with characterized gear teeth of the print wheel. This print pad-print wheel construction allows each of the markers on the outer surface of the print wheel to be brought into proper precise color alignment with an associated colored ink pad formed in the ink pad wheel as the print wheel is directly indexed by a pawl and ratchet drive from one print position to another.

Abstract: A device for selectively depositing spots of a liquid ink electrode is provided for forming an electric field which acts on the meniscus of the liquid on a liquid-conduit as a deformation pulse is disposed behind the record carrier and the liquid-conduit is laterally movable with respect to the record carrier.

Abstract: An arrangement for actuating dot-producing printing elements of a mosaic printing head, employing piezoelectric transducers which may be set in elongated and contracted states by the application of a suitable electric field, by means of which the printing elements, on transition from one state to the other state, are actuated, whereby as a result of their own mass inertia they are moved toward the printing position and subsequently return into their initial position, comprising an actuating circuit for each piezoelectric transducer which has controlled circuit elements operative to effect an elongation of the transducer, and circuit elements which are controlled in dependence upon the return of the operated dot-producing printing element to the piezoelectric transducer, operative to control the operation of such piezoelectric transducer.

Abstract: An electronic printer comprising a printing head having two straight grooves perpendicular to each other, a pin provided on a carriage and engageable with one of the two grooves, and a plate spring secured to the carriage and engageable with the other of the two grooves to hold the printing head on the carriage, in order to facilitate the attachment of the printing head on the carriage. The plate spring can also hold a flat cable connected to the printing head.

Abstract: A writing device for writing with liquid ink in which the transfer of the ink to the record carrier is electrically controlled having a piezoceramic beam provided with electrodes on the surface thereof and formed with ducts which extends longitudinally to accommodate electrodes and/or ink. A writing stylus is secured to the end face thereof.