CH632191A5 - TYPEWRITER. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a typewriter comprising a support for a printing device and a typing cylinder capable of moving relative to each other under the action of a drive motor, a keyboard , a line memory capable of recording typing orders of characters given on the keyboard and corresponding to a writing line, and means for reading the content of the line memory intended to control the printing of characters whose Typing orders are stored in the line memory.

In known typewriters comprising a movable carriage capable of moving along the typing cylinder, the carriage remains fixed in a position, generally at the left margin, when storing a line of text in the line memory. A key on the keyboard is used to control the reading of the content of the memory and the printing of this content. The carriage then moves from left to right while printing the stored line of text.

A user of known typewriters of this type has great difficulty in representing the position that the character which he introduces in memory will occupy on the writing sheet after its printing. Some line memory machines are equipped with a display device. This display device generally only ensures the display of the last fifteen characters entered in memory and makes it possible to control the memorized text, but it usually does not give any correspondence of the position of the characters between the writing sheet and the displayed characters. . In some machines, the display gives a number indicating the number of characters stored in memory since the start of line recording. When the escape pitch is proportional to the width of the characters, this figure gives no indication of the position where the characters are printed.

The object of the invention is to provide a line memory typewriter allowing a user to represent the positions that the characters he introduces into memory will occupy on the writing sheet.

The typewriter forming the subject of the invention is characterized in that it comprises an index disposed opposite the striking cylinder and means for controlling the relative movements between this index and the striking cylinder, these means being associated to the line memory, so as to be made active during the recording of each character typing order and to control a relative movement between the index and the cylinder, in the writing direction, and of a value equal to the spacing step corresponding to the character whose typing order is saved.

The accompanying drawing shows, schematically and by way of example, an embodiment of the machine object of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view thereof.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the elements making up this machine and their interaction.

Fig. 3 is a symbolic representation of the line memory.

With reference to fig. 1, the typewriter comprises a carriage 1 carrying a writing head 2 and capable of moving along a typing cylinder 3. An indicator 4 is arranged above the keyboard 5. The indicator 4 contains a display of a portion of a writing line.

As illustrated in fig. 2, this machine comprises a read-only memory of the characters 6 associating with each key of the keyboard 5 the information necessary for typing the corresponding character. This information is in particular the markers for setting up the character carried by the writing head 2, the striking force necessary to ensure the printing of this character and the width of the escape pitch corresponding to this character for a machine for no proportional exhaust.

A selection device 7, a striking member 8 and a drive motor 9 of the carriage 1 are connected in the usual way to the character memory 6 and are intended to respectively ensure the establishment of the commanded character, its striking and the exhaust movement of the carriage 1.

A position indicator 10 transmits the position of the carriage 1 at all times to a logic circuit for managing the machine, not shown.

A switch 11 is provided between the character memory 6 and the selection member 7. This switch 11 is placed on the left of the keyboard 5 and allows a user to choose the operating mode of the machine between the usual operating mode. and a storage operating mode. In the usual operating mode of a typewriter, the typing of a character is consecutive to its command on the keyboard 5, the command of the next character being carried out after this typing.

The switch 11 makes it possible to change the operating mode by deflecting the character typing commands given to the keyboard 5 on a line memory 12.

A writing pointer 13, visible in FIG. 3, and an exhaust totalizer 14 are connected parallel to the line memory 12. During operation in storage mode, the line memory 12 records each character typing command and the corresponding typing characteristics, the pointer writing 13 designating the memory box in which this typing command is recorded. The exhaust totalizer 14 adds to its value the magnitude of the exhaust pitch corresponding to the character whose typing order is recorded. The line memory is connected in a known manner to a display device 15 visible in the LED 4. The display device 15 makes it possible to display, for example, the last fifteen characters whose typing orders have

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have been saved by memory and provides the user with a means of checking the stored text.

The exhaust totalizer 14 is connected to a test circuit 16 controlling in particular a locking of the keyboard 18 when the recorded text exceeds the right margin 17. This test circuit 16 5 also controls an audible warning signaling to the user that it is near the right margin.

A comparison circuit 19 is connected between the exhaust totalizer 14 and the position indicator 10 of the carriage 1. If the quantities contained in the exhaust totalizer 14 and 10

the position indicator 10 of the carriage 1 are different, the comparison circuit 19 acts on the amplifier of the drive motor 9 of the carriage 1 to cause the latter to move, making the two quantities considered equal. Each time a typing command is entered into the memory, the carriage 1 is therefore moved by a distance equal to the magnitude of the escape pitch corresponding to this character. This amounts to saying that the carriage always occupies the position it would have if the machine operated in the usual operating mode, thus indicating to the user the place that the character which he will introduce in memory will occupy; o on the sheet writing.

A read pointer 20, visible in FIG. 3, is connected to the line memory 12 and designates the first occupied cell of this memory.

A print command key 21, disposed near the keyboard 5, makes it possible to command the reading of the content of the line memory 12 and the reversal of the switch 11. This key is generally constituted by the return command key carriage and line spacing.

The typewriter may be provided for writing from left to right only or for writing in both directions: from left to right when the machine is used in the usual operating mode, and from right to left for printing of a memorized text. In the first case, the carriage 1 returns to the beginning of the writing line following a print command, 35

and the read pointer 20 reads the contents of the memory of line 12 from left to right. After printing, the carriage 1 is again brought to the left margin before the introduction of new text in memory.

In the second case, the carriage 1 will perform the printing of the stored text starting from the last character entered in the memory of line 12, the pointer 13 being used to read the content of this memory. When printing is complete, the carriage is at the left margin and a new line of text can be stored. A machine capable of printing in both directions makes it possible to halve the movements of the carriage 1, which reduces the wear of the guide elements of the carriage 1 and minimizes the loss of time.

As illustrated in fig. 2, the typing orders contained in the memory 12 are transmitted by the pointers 13 or 20 to the selection means 7, to the typing member 8 and to the drive motor 9 of the carriage to cause the printing of the text on the writing sheet.

The machine described above has all the functions usually fitted to this type of machine. It notably comprises means for scanning the line memory 12 by the display device 15, keys for correcting the stored text, etc.

Many variants of the typewriter forming the subject of the invention can be provided. In general, one can envisage an index moving along the typing cylinder to indicate to a user the locations that the characters entered in the line memory will occupy on the writing sheet. This index constitutes a repeater of the indication of the exhaust totalizer. Of course, it is possible to provide a typewriter with a movable typing cylinder with a memory circuit allowing the recording of a text, and with means for driving the typing cylinder ensuring movements corresponding to the pitch. escape characters stored in memory. In this case, the index is fixed relative to the frame of the machine and is constituted by the mark of the printing location generally arranged above the ribbon guide.

1 sheet of drawings

Claims (3)

632191 CLAIMS 1. Typewriter comprising a support for a printing device and a typing cylinder capable of moving relative to each other under the action of a drive motor, a keyboard, a memory line capable of recording typing orders of characters given on the keyboard corresponding to a writing line, and means for reading the content of the line memory intended to control the printing of the characters whose typing orders are recorded by the line memory, characterized in that it comprises an index arranged opposite the striking cylinder and means for controlling the relative displacements between this index and the striking cylinder, these means being associated with the line memory so as to be made active during the recording of each character typing order and to control a relative movement, between the index and the cylinder, in the writing direction and of a value equal to the escape pitch correspondent of the c character whose typing order is saved. 2. Machine according to claim 1, comprising a movable carriage capable of moving along the striking cylinder and constituting the support of the printing device, characterized in that the index consists of the carriage, control means auxiliaries of the carriage drive motor being connected parallel to the line memory, so as to be made active at each recording by the memory of a typing order. 3. Machine according to claim 2, comprising a circuit indicating the position of the carriage relative to the striking cylinder and an exhaust totalizer connected parallel to the line memory and making it possible to control overshoots, characterized in that the auxiliary control means comprise a circuit for comparing the position of the carriage and the indication of the exhaust totalizer, this circuit being intended to issue commands to the drive motor to ensure movements of the carriage making the position of the carriage coincide and the indication of the exhaust totalizer.