Abstract: Printing apparatus, having a rotatable platen with a printing element in front of it and a reversible platen drive for rotating the platen counterclockwise or clockwise relative to the printing element, is operable to feed, from an upper hopper extending upwardly and rearwardly from the bottom of the platen, an unprinted sheet to the bottom of the platen and forwardly and upwardly to the front of the platen into printing position. A selector switch may be provided for selecting the direction of rotation of the platen after completion of printing so that its rotation counterclockwise moves the printed sheet upwardly and rearwardly toward the upper hopper and its rotation clockwise moves the printed sheet downwardly for sequential stacking in the lower hopper to collate successive printed sheets in their order of printing.

Abstract: A word processing machine for printing text in the form of successive lines of characters on a record carrier and including a printing mechanism constructed to operate with interchangeable typing elements, each typing element carrying a selected set of type characters each corresponding to a respective character representation, a function keyboard for effecting input of first and second function instructions, input of the first instruction being effected when character representations are to be inputted which correspond to type characters carried by another typing element; and a control unit responsive to the first function instruction for temporarily preventing printing of characters corresponding to character representations subsequently inputted via a character input keyboard and for storing each character representation together with the first function instruction in the memory in a manner to indicate the intended location of the associated character on the record carrier, while causing the printing mecha

Abstract: A daisy wheel printer print package including a daisy wheel print element and a cartridge. The cartridge is adapted to have the print element inserted thereinto and maintained in a latched and properly oriented position for either acceptance by a printer or storage and shipping. When the package is installed in a printer, the print element is adapted to be unlatched for rotation within the cartridge for printing. Also, the cartridge is adapted to have the print element unlatched and removed therefrom.

Abstract: A print wheel mounting assembly for a serial printer comprising means for transmitting a torque from a rotary shaft to a print wheel, means for positioning the print wheel in the direction of its rotation and means for regulating the position of the print wheel axially thereof, whereby no special tool is required for mounting or detaching the print wheel on the rotary shaft.

Abstract: There is disclosed a print wheel and a method of making a print wheel. The print wheel includes a generally annular base and a molded, unitary, flexible printing band having end portions. The printing band has a series of different printing elements disposed at spaced intervals along its length between the end portions. The printing band is disposed about the outer periphery of the base and the end portions of the band are inserted into spaced recesses in the outer periphery of the base. There is a printing element support between the end portions and one of the printing elements is disposed at a printing position on the support.

Abstract: A printing head for use in a thermal printer or a discharge type printer has a groove formed in the side thereof, and balls or rollers are resiliently projected therewithin. When mounted on a connector resting on the carriage of the printer, the printing head is positively held at a regular mounting position.

Abstract: A device to facilitate the changing of disc-shaped type carriers in typewriters or printers includes a lever operated device to push against the type disc and to press it off its shaft. A basket is provided to catch the type wheel after its disengagement from the shaft to prevent it from falling into the interior of the machine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel print element for a serial impact printer having a novel character set which permits the typing of text as well as chemical symbols and formulae with a small number of character elements. Closed ring structures may be formed with the character set which may be expanded to various sizes. Also disclosed is a serial impact printing system using the aforementioned printing element which automatically subscripts small numerals when the printing element is positioned without further action on the part of the typist.

Abstract: An impact printer of the type wherein a print wheel is rotated to a print position by a drive motor, and printing is caused by impacting a particular character on the print wheel by a print hammer. The print wheel has coarse alignment and fine alignment means formed in the print wheel. The coarse alignment means is used to drive the wheel, and the fine alignment means is utilized during hammer impact.

Abstract: A lining-up assembly for a "daisy printer" or printing disc having a hub presenting radial arms whose free ends are provided with relief characters, wherein the assembly comprises a casing in which at least one movable drawer is slidable. So as to avoid any manual contact by the user with the printing disc, this assembly also comprises tongs for locating or securing the hub of the disc to the drawer; said tong constituting a manipulating tool for the printing disc.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, engaging and disengaging a selection motor drive hub and a daisy wheel print element. Included therein and utilized therefor are means for permitting a pivoting of a ribbon cartridge and means for connecting the ribbon cartridge to a selection motor. The motor and cartridge are connected such that upon a pivoting of the ribbon cartridge for (1) a print element change, the hub is translated out of engagement with the print element, and (2) continued printing, the hub is translated into engagement with the print element.

Abstract: A printwheel for an impact printer is disclosed. The printwheel has a central hub in which are located several index holes. The printwheel is also provided with multiple sets of character of symbol type fonts, each set having an index hole associated therewith and each index hole being located in the same relative position with respect to its associated set.

Abstract: To change a type disc without moving or removing a ribbon cartridge while yet permitting the location of a ribbon cartridge closer to the printing point of a type disc printer, there is provided mechanism to allow pivoting movement of a hammer assembly relative to an independently pivoted type disc drive assembly thereby to change their relative orientation, after which continued movement of the hammer assembly carries the pivotally mounted type disc drive assembly to a type disc change position. The change in orientation of the hammer assembly relative to the type disc drive assembly, before pivoting the type disc assembly, allows greater arcuate movement to type disc change position without interference between the hammer assembly and the ribbon cartridge.

Abstract: A daisy wheel printer carrier for print element and ribbon cartridges. The carrier is made up of a frame having a vertically oriented print element cartridge receptacle adjacent one end and support means for carrying a pivotable ribbon cartridge adjacent the other end. The frame is structured to be mounted on adjustable eccentric rails for slidable translation toward and away from a printer platen, and for orientation relative to the platen upon adjustment of the rails.

Abstract: An arrangement in an electric office printing machine which makes it possible, in a simple manner, to replace and safely retain a print element of a circular disc type on the motor shaft of the machine. This result is achieved by a coupling device which can be acted upon by an operating means. The coupling device is so designed that the print element attached to the end of the motor shaft is placed on a plate, included in the coupling and axially movable, after which the print element, by way of the operating means, is moved on to and fixed on the motor shaft.

Abstract: A printer having a mechanism for easy loading of a type wheel rotatably supported by a type wheel cartridge. The type wheel cartridge can be inserted into or withdrawn from a cartridge holder by moving the type wheel cartridge in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the type wheel supported by the type wheel cartridge. Coupling of a shaft of a type selection motor to the type wheel within the type wheel cartridge can be effected by relatively moving the cartridge holder and the type selection motor axially of the type wheel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printing unit in an electric office printing machine, and more exactly the invention has for its object to provide an arrangement which makes it possible with a minimum of manual operations to change print elements of circular disc type. This is achieved by moving the printing unit away from the carriage at the same time as the print element by the action of a special coupling is detached from the motor shaft on which the print element is supported, this being possible only when the attachment device for the print element is in such a position that it can receive a new print element.

Abstract: A printing disc (1) is applied by a leaf spring (9) against a plate (6), provided with projections (14), of a support (2). These projections (14) lock the printing disc (1) in a predetermined position in the support (2). This support (2) is provided to be introduced in a typewriter transversely to the selecting shaft (15) between the driving plate (18) and the card press (16) the two folded over borders (23) of which form lateral guides. Two slots (26) of these borders (23) form abutments for bosses (25) of the support (2). The support (2) has an opening (8) opposite the hub (3), the engagement of the hub (3) of the disc (1) on the driving plate (18) is effected by pivoting the support (2) in the direction of the selecting shaft (15). The driving plate (18) passes through the opening (8) and holds the printing disc (1) spaced apart from the projections (14). This device is light and permits the mounting of the disc (1) without having to displace the selecting shaft (15).

Abstract: An automatic typefont loader is sequenced to change the printwheel typefont of a printer. An elongated rack supports plural picker holders along its length and is normally located beneath the platen of the printer. Typefonts to be exchanged are held by the picker holders. During an exchanging sequence, the typefont carrier which is positioned along the platen to effect printing at discrete printing positions is positioned to a discrete printing position adjacent an empty picker holder for a typefont unloading operation. The elongated rack is then elevated so that the empty picker holder contacts the typefont. The typefont is removed from its carrier by moving the typefont carrier perpendicular to its normal motion. The picker holder rack is then withdrawn and the now empty typefont carrier is positioned to a second discrete printing position adjacent a selected typefont located on a picker holder.

Abstract: A cartridge for housing a daisy wheel print element during printing use and non-use. The cartridge has a front, sides, and a back, and is structured to substantially enclose the print element. Included in the makeup of the cartridge are (1) a slot in the top of the front for accommodating a print hammer during printing operations, (2) an orientation opening generally centralized within the front to accept a matching orientation protrusion carried by the print element, (3) a loading opening in the bottom for insertion and removal of the print element, (4) a card holder carried by the top of the back, (5) a ribbon guide carried by the top of the front, and (6) a center bowed leaf spring located within the cartridge. The lower end of the spring acts against the lower inside of the back and the bow acts against the inside of the front adjacent the orientation opening.

Abstract: Dating wheel with a tracer symbol unit which can be manually inserted on or removed from the wheel. To change the tracer symbol, the operator simply uses thumb and forefinger to grasp the unit and extract same and then replace with an identical unit having a different symbol. This can be done without slowing or stopping the cases or other medium being printed. There is no machine down-time.

Abstract: A daisy wheel printer print element adapted to be housed and oriented in a cartridge during printing and storage. The element has a hammer impact side and a printing side and is made up of a circular central hub, petals connected to the hub and extending radially therefrom, and types carried on the outer extremities of the petals on the printing side of the element. The central hub is dish shaped with its protruding side on the impact side of the element. Carried on the protruding side of the central hub is an orientation protrusion having a stabilizing surface engulfing the axis of rotation of the element. The orientation protrusion is for cooperating with a matching opening in the cartridge. The stabilizing surface is for cooperating with a mating face on a selection motor drive hub. Within the orientation protrusion is a depression also engulfing the axis of rotation of the element. Located within the depression and radially displaced from the axis of rotation of the element is a drive opening.

Abstract: A wire matrix print head is configured for detachable mounting in a complementary shaped support and held thereto by a spring device which urges the complementary surfaces of the head and its support in secure contact with one another.

Abstract: A type-carrier disk with flexible tongues for a printing device includes a central part for fixing onto a selection shaft and a peripheral notched crown from which issue several flexible tongues each tongue ending with a base from which projects a corresponding character. For different fonts, in the corresponding disks, the characters present a similar angular position and the base of a similar character has the same dimension and form able to edge the envelope of the different fonts. A positioning wedge protrudes from the base of the character and cooperates with a V notched hammer of the machine. The tongues are regularly spaced following regular angular spaces and in the disk used for differential spacing characters, the axis of the characters are angularly shifted in relation to the wedges of the tongues in inverse ratio to the sizes of the character and to the spacing steps of which the disk is to be spaced after the printing of said characters.

Abstract: A single element print head having an apparatus for firmly and releasably attaching itself to the drive shaft of a typewriter. The body of the print head is provided with a central opening therethrough for receipt of the drive shaft. A cap is secured on the body around one end of the opening with the purpose of slidably holding a manual slide member in its guide recess and fixedly holding a base portion of a hair pin shaped spring in its holding groove. The spring has a pair of arms for firmly fastening therebetween, and for releasing the drive shaft by virtue of its resilience and the action of a pair of cam surfaces. The pair of cam surfaces are formed in the bottom portion of the slide member, diverging from one end to the other end like a front portion of a bullet, for expanding the arms from each other to release the arms from the drive shaft by means of the slide movement of the slide member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism for mounting a print head or like device to the shuttle of a printer. The mechanism includes means for securely fastening the print head to the shuttle and is designed to facilitate easy removal and replacement of the print head. The print head includes a cylindrical head section and a generally tapering guide section and has a pair of wedge-shaped locking fins integrally molded on opposite side of the guide sections. In addition, a pair of bosses are molded on the guide section a spaced distance from the locking fins. The shuttle includes a generally upright member having an opening through which the guide section is insertable, and includes two slots whose shape corresponds to that of the molded bosses. The bosses fit into the slots and secure the print head into the proper operating alignment. A releasable retaining assembly is mounted on the shuttle and includes two locking members adapted for clamping engagement with the locking fins.

Abstract: The device of the present invention is an automated version of an attachment for a ball element type typewriter intended to permit rapid automatic or semi-automatic switching among a plurality of ball elements. While the invention has utility in any instance where the need arises for switching rapidly and frequently among a number of ball elements, it is particularly useful in systems as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,088,217 for utilization of a standard typewriter to type Chinese or Japanese.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for mounting a daisy type character array within the air gap of a variable reluctance rotary stepping motor used to drive the daisy. The assembly comprises a guide means which accurately positions the daisy within the air gap. The daisy is supported in the air gap by means of a retractable support means. The invention further comprises a means for latching the support means within the air gap after the daisy has been mounted in order to provide rigidity to the daisy.

Abstract: A typing device includes a frame; a drive shaft rotatably supported in the frame; a type disc arranged in the frame for being rotated by the drive shaft; a conically centering bearing assembly situated between one side of the type disc and a frame part; a coupling arrangement for torque-transmittingly and axially relatively displaceably connecting the type disc to the drive shaft; and a spring axially urging the type disc against the frame part for a conical centering of the type disc on the frame part by the bearing assembly.

Abstract: An impact printer is provided with an easy load print wheel mechanism. A print wheel cartridge containing a print wheel therein, is inserted into position without disturbing the position of a print wheel drive motor, a ribbon cartridge or hammer mechanism. The easy load mechanism automatically grabs the print wheel cartridge to swing the cartridge into a print wheel loaded position whereby the print wheel within the cartridge is automatically coupled to the print wheel drive motor shaft.

Abstract: The device of the present invention is intended to be attached to a ball-element type typewriter to permit rapid switching among a plurality of ball elements. While the invention has utility in any instance where the need arises for switching rapidly and frequently among a number of ball elements, it is particularly useful in systems as described for utilization of a standard typewriter for typing Chinese or Japanese.