Abstract: Paper insertion apparatus for indexing a typewriter to a desired first line printing position is triggered using a position detector cooperating with an operator movable paper hold-down bail. When the paper bail is moved to a withdrawn position relative to the paper feed path, the detector produces a signal that causes a logic processor to access, from a dedicated storage location, a code indicating paper advancing increments corresponding to a desired first line printing position. The processor then commands an indexing drive to advance that number of increments. In a preferred implementation, the operator can condition the typewriter to receive a new first line code into storage by means of the keyboard.By so using the presence of the paper bail in a withdrawn position to input the operator's paper insertion request, problems of automatically clearing the path for the leading paper edge are averted and the natural association of the paper bail with paper handling is exploited.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for effecting semi-automatic insertion of paper into a typewriter concentrates operator interactions, (1) to condition the typewriter for a distance input selection and (2) to trigger indexing for paper insertion, so as to merely involve positioning of the paper bail. A detection of the paper bail at a predefined position withdrawn from the paper feed path conditions the typewriter to interpret keyboard actuations--preferably of the number keys--as representing desired first line distances e.g., the "2" key represents a first line one inch from the top of the sheet. And, in a presently preferred implementation, the number keys represent a fixed distance increment (three lines or approximately one half inch) multiplied by the key number.