Abstract: Disclosed is a printer having a correction ribbon tape for correcting printed characters. A plurality of characters printed in the same print position can be corrected in one step of feed of the correction ribbon tape.

Abstract: A baseplate attachment (12) having actuator elements which extend into an electrical typewriter (13) to initiate operations in response to signals indicative of successive characters to be printed further provides for dead key print operations when desirable including at typewriters which have no built-in mechanism for such purpose. Dead key mechanism (11) on the attachment responds to a dead key signal in conjunction with a print signal by suppressing the character spacing escapement operation of the typewriter that normally follows printing of a character. The capability of dead key printing simplifies and speeds certain operations during automatic printout. For example, underscored characters may be printed without back spacing operations. If a specialized printing element with two underscores is used in the typewriter, the underscoring may also be accomplished without case shift operations. Repetitive printings of a character at a single space may be made to provide boldface emphasis.

Abstract: A typewriter with a character erasing apparatus capable of consecutively erasing a series of characters as well as a single character once printed on a sheet of printing paper. The typewriter is provided with a retaining crank movable to first, second and third positions. In the first position the retaining crank retains a ribbon vibrator supporting an erase ribbon in non-operative status. In the second position the retaining crank permits the ribbon vibrator to operate while interrupting transmission of power for moving a platen. The retaining crank is automatically restored to the first position in response to return movement of the ribbon vibrator after the single character erasing. The retaining crank is moved to and held at the third position by a manual member for permitting the ribbon vibrator to operate consecutively. The retaining member does not interrupt the transmission of the power for moving the platen.

Abstract: A correction device for a typewriter is disclosed. The correction device includes a correction key which is linked to the escapement device which normally advances the carriage each time a key is depressed. The correction key disengages the escapement device so that the carriage is not advanced during correction of a misprinted character. Therefore, it is not necessary to backspace following the correction of the character. The correction key also causes the correction ribbon to be raised to the printing position so that it can be easily seen whether that portion of the ribbon has been used.