JPH0143631B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electronic typewriter;
an input unit for inputting the characters to be typed; a printing unit comprising a character-bearing member for typing the characters; a device for correcting written characters;
a device for inverted typing for creating a dark background of the color of a typing ribbon in a typing area larger than the width of the input character in response to an input character; and a typing area corresponding to the input character. and a correction device for correcting the background portion of the image.

Printing devices of the above type (for example, JP-A-56-
67264), the character carrying member is provided with one or more special characters, and this special character can be selected and reversed to form the character to be typed. There is one that creates a dark background.

However, the above-mentioned printing device is not suitable for forming a uniform background when the width varies depending on the characters. Moreover, this printing device is also not suitable for use with standard character-bearing members that are not provided with special characters.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to enable characters of various widths to be typed in reverse using a character carrying member not provided with special symbols, and to print the background uniformly. To provide typewriters.

The electronic typewriter according to the present invention is capable of printing and printing performed after character typing.
Spacing units that represent the width of characters entered as multiple basic spacing units.
a first memory location for storing a code; and a plurality of spacing sub-portions associated with the entered characters and the width of the typing area, the spacing sub-portions being smaller than the basic spacing unit; computing means for computing from a pacing code; printing control means for selecting a vertical code included in a character-bearing member that is wider than said spacing sub-portion; printing said vertical symbol a number of times equal to a pacing subsection and moving said printing unit between the front and rear limits of said typing area, continuously covering said typing area with a dark background by said vertical symbol; a first actuating means for locating said printing unit on a central axis of said dark background; and actuating a correction device to invert characters to be printed via a correction ribbon. and third actuating means for causing typing in a central position with respect to the central axis.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The typewriter 10 shown in FIG. , a control console 22, a typing platen 26, and a serial printing device 25. The serial printing device 25 is advanced by a drive motor 24 using a wire 31 and a guide 27 stepwise and parallel to the rollers 26 . The device 25 comprises a character carrying member 28 in the form of a "daisy wheel" which is rotated step by step by an electric motor 29 to select the "pedal" carrying the symbol to be printed, a stamping hammer 3
0, and a typing ribbon 33 carried by a cartridge 32 and lifted for printing action by a solenoid 34.
The machine further includes a correction ribbon 39 which may be of either a "cover-up" correction type or an erasure or "lift-off" type. Ribbon 39 is lifted for corrective action by solenoid 38. Although the details of the operating modes of the typing ribbon 32 and the correction ribbon 39 do not constitute a main part of the present invention, details can be found in the specification of British Patent No. 2030076 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 55-37394) filed by the applicant. )It is described in.

The control console 22 has a selector 96 that has a slider that allows for normal print modes such as ``underlining'' and ``bold typing,'' as well as special printing modes in negative form, such as printing white text on a black background. You can select the print mode.

The character-carrying element 28 has in particular (see FIG. 2) one "petal" 51 which bears at its end the symbol "1" of the specification of Italian Patent No. 1015590 to the Applicant. Support a vertical bar representing . This vertical bar is used to generate a table or to perform a "vertical line drawing" and is usually referred to in Reference 1.
used in typewriters.

Referring now to FIG. 3, this machine has a control device 50 of the type described in reference 1 above. Briefly, this controller 50 includes a microprocessor 100, two controllers 115 and 119 for the drive motor 24 and selector motor 29, respectively, a hammer 30 and solenoids 34, 3.
Actuation circuit 133 for 8, time delay device 51,
It has a control console 22 and a keyboard encoder 138.

Microprocessor 10 of known type
0 is, for example, British Patent No. 1561364 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
37097), which includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101, a ROM (read-only memory) 102 and ROM 103 for storing sequences of microinstructions, and a ROM 103 for temporarily storing data. Two working RAMs (Random Access Memory) used to store data in
It has storage devices 105 and 106 and two input/output (I/O) devices 111 and 112 for exchanging data and instructions with logic devices 115, 119, 133, 138 and 22. Storage devices 102, 103, 105 and 106 are connected to CPU 101 by address bus 108 and data exchange bus 110.

As described in reference 1 above, the logic device 115 and the motor 24 are connected to the printing device 25.
can be operated to add up to a minimum of 0.07 mm (1/360 inch) of elementary movement downward to the

Storage devices 105 and 106 include a line buffer 160 (FIG. 4) having a capacity to store 256 character positions. This buffer 160 stores the code of symbols introduced by the keyboard or printed or being printed by the machine on the typing line during the setup process.

Each character position 160a of buffer 160 is formed by 16 bits having the following meanings (FIG. 5). In the following explanation, the words "dead character" and "live character" will be used, so the meanings of these words will be explained here. A "dead character" is a character that has no spacing after its print, such as ′,
They are accent marks and diacritical marks such as ¨ and ^. On the other hand, "live characters" are
It is a character with spacing after its print.

-Bit 9 = 1 indicates that the character is underlined; -Bit 10 = 1 indicates that the character is bold typed; -Bit 11 = 1 indicates that the character is in an overlapping relationship with the next character; - bit 12 = 1 indicates that the character is a live character (bit 12 = 0 indicates that the character is a dead character); - bit 13 = 1 the character should be printed in reverse mode and If selector 96 is set to ``reverse mode,'' indicates that character code buffer 160 is set to ｜ during keyboard input; The head must be spaced 0.4mm after character printing has been done in order to move it to the desired position.
Indicates the number of increments (1/60 inch) in binary code.

As described in reference 1 above, this typewriter is 2.5 mm (1/10 inch), 2.1 mm (1/1 inch)
2 inches) and with a constant spacing of 1/15 inch (1.7 mm) or with a proportional spacing (PS) which can be selected by selector 90 on console 22. With proportional spacing, each character has 4
Spacings or widths in the form of 4 to 60 inches to 7/60 inches, referred to as 7 to 7 increments, are associated. In order to center each character in the space available for it, after printing the character, the head performs a movement equal to the spacing associated with that character. When the next character to be printed has an associated spacing of 4 or 5 increments, the carriage is in the correct position and can print. On the other hand, when the next character to be printed has an associated spacing of 6 or 7 increments, the carriage advances by 5 and 6 increments, respectively, before printing. In the latter case, after printing further characters, the head performs a forward movement equal to the last spacing printed minus one spacing increment made before printing. Bits 14-16 of each character position accurately represent the effective amount of movement that the printing device must perform after printing that character.

Storage devices 105 and 106 also contain all temporary storage cells for data needed to control the operation of the machine, which are used by control programs stored in ROM 102 and ROM 103. For the purpose of the present invention, the following cells may be mentioned.

CRIGA: Buffer pointer and buffer 1
contains 60 addresses; BUFFER: cell of buffer 160 addressed by pointer GRIGA; COTAST: 16-bit cell operable for temporary storage of the contents of one cell of buffer 160; RETN: character with spacing 4-bit cell used as a counter for dead characters associated with or overlapping with it; CODRON: 16-bit cell containing information needed for printing and spacing of the character whose code is stored in COTAST Storage device. Bits 1-8 store the character code,
Bit 9 indicates whether to underline or not.
10 indicates whether it is bold typing, bit 11 indicates whether it is printed overlapping the next character, bit 12 indicates whether the character is dead or live, i.e. after printing. Bits 13-15 indicate the spacing associated with the character whose code is specified by bits 1-8 of cell COTAST (bit 16 is empty).

NUNFI: A 4-bit storage device operable to store the amount of spacing associated with the character to be printed in reverse mode; COVAS: The amount of head movement expressed in number of 0.4 mm (1/60 inch) increments. POTE: 16-bit memory to store the number of 0.4 mm (1/60 inch) increments that the head is spaced from the left edge of the machine; REVE: 16-bit storage device used to mark the position of the printing device in 0.4 mm (1/60 inch) increments relative to the left edge of the machine during printing; CODBAR: Stores the code for the character “|” PRCT: 8-bit memory used by the "subroutine print" STP to store the code of the character to be printed; CANCEL: 1 used by the routine STP
bit flag.

Programs for controlling various operations of the machine stored in the ROMs 102 and 103 are described in Reference 1 above. For purposes of the present invention, the following subroutines are emphasized.

INDI: 0.4mm (1/60 inch) stored in COVAS
AVA: 0.4 mm (1/60 inch) stored in COVAS
AV1/120: Performs a forward movement of the printing device 25 by the number of increments of 0.2 mm (1/120 inch); STPAVN: Performs the forward movement of the printing device 25 by the number of increments indicated by CRIGA 160, performs normal printing of the character code stored in bits 1-8 of the cell and directed by bits 14-16 of that cell.
The printing device 25 is sequentially moved forward by a number of 0.4 mm (1/60 inch) increments.

Perform the following without performing a routine STP forward movement.

(b) By the rotation of the shaft of the electric motor 29,
(b) When the CANCEL flag is 0, the typing ribbon 33 is lifted up for printing operation by energizing the solenoid 34; or
When CANCEL flag is 1, solenoid 3
(c) energizing the hammer 30 with printing of the characters stored in the PRCT in positive or negative mode according to the lifted ribbon;

Printing in reverse mode is accomplished using the print routine whose flowchart is shown in Figure 6.
Performed by STP. Routen STP whenever printing of characters takes place.
RN is performed, its code is stored in the cell of buffer 160 specified by buffer pointer CRIGA, and printing device 25
Already in the exact print position as stored in POTE.

Subroutine STP RV begins with a check of bit 13 of the buffer cell (logical decision 200). Bit 13 = 0 when selector 96 is not in the inverted position.
(the output of logic decision 200 is NO), the characters stored in this buffer should be printed in normal mode, and the subroutine
An STP AVN (block 201) is performed, followed by a return to the main control program (RTN). However, when selector 96 is in the inverted position, bit 13 of the buffer = 1 (logical decision 200 output YES), the character should be printed in inverted mode, and 1 is on the counter.
It is placed in RETN (block 203).

At this time (logical decision 204), bit 12 of the buffer cell is examined to see if the character to be printed is a dead character (one with no spacing). If spacing is affirmative (bit 12 = 1; output of logic judgment 204
YES), counter RETN or buffer pointer
Either CRIGA (block 205) is given an increment of one. Therefore, the next cell in buffer 160 is addressed and the buffer cell addressed by CRIGA no longer contains information relating to the live character (spacing bit 12=0) to which the previous dead character is associated. The sequence of logic decision 204 and block 205 is repeated until. . At the end of loops 204 and 205 (output NO of logic judgment 204), the counter
RETN thus stores the number of characters that must be printed in overlap at the print position where the head is placed.

When the buffer cell stores printed character information (NO output of logic decision 204), this information is
It is transferred to COTAST (block 206) and with it all information related to the printing of that character is provided to the CODRON cell. In particular, the spacing associated with that character (bits 13-15 of CODRON) is stored in the NUNFI cell (block 207), and this spacing divided by 2 with rounding is stored in COVAS (block 207). Block 208). Then the subroutine
INDI is performed (block 209), which
Because of the value of COVAS, the printing device 25 prints the starting edge 190 (7a
Printing device 2 until it is moved to
Move 5 in the opposite direction.

Then the end edge 192 of the print area of that character
The position is calculated for (POTE−
COVAS+NUNFI) and the results are stored in the REVE cell (Figure 6, blocks 210 and 211).
By multiplying the contents of NUNFI by 2 (block 212), the spacing value of the characters to be printed is determined to the nearest 0.2 mm (1/120 inch) and that value is also stored in NUNFI. . .
In this case, the contents of cell CODBAR are the contents of cell PRCT.
, i.e. the code of the character "|" and the vertical bar 52 are stored (block 213). At this time, the subroutine STP is executed with the CANCEL flag set to 0 (block 214).
and 215), resulting in subroutine AV1/1
20 (block 216). In this way,
The printing device 25 produces a typing of the character "|" using a typing ribbon, and then 0.2 mm
(1/120 inch) (Figure 7b).

After that, the value contained in NUNFI (Figure 6) is 1
It is decremented by a unit, which involves verifying whether the decremented value is equal to zero (block 217, logic decision 218). If the result of this verification is negative (logical judgment 2
18 output NO), blocks 213 to 217
That sequence of instructions is repeated a number of times equal to the number needed to adjust NUNFI to zero. Therefore, at the end of the repeated sequence (NUNFI=0), the print areas of the characters are 0.2
completely occupied by the character “|” or 52, spaced by mm (1/120 inch), and this spacing distinguishes one bar from an adjacent bar in terms of vertical bar width. not enough.
In this way, a background of the same color as the typing ribbon, for example black in FIG. 7a, is produced in the printing area with the printing device 25 positioned at the end 192 of the printing area 191. These bars are separated in FIG. 7C for illustrative purposes.

When the result of the verification by the logical judgment 218 (Fig. 6) is affirmative (NUNFI=0), the counter RETN
is decremented by 1 and the buffer pointer
CRIGA is updated (so that it contains the code of the first character (live or dead depending on whether RETN=0) to be printed in contrast on the black background of the printing area. CRIGA indicates which cells of buffer 160 are to be stored). The indicated character is a space (bit 1)
-7=0) is also checked (logical judgment 2
21), if negative (output NO), the difference between the actual position of the head (REVE) and the position required to center the marking hammer on the printing position (POTE) is stored in COVAS ( block 230),
Subroutine INDI is then executed (block 231), which returns printing device 25 to the rear while centering it for printing operations (FIG. 7d).

The code of the character to be printed is transferred from the designated buffer cell to cell PRCT (block 232), while the CANCEL flag is set to 1 (block 233), thus selecting the correction ribbon 30. A subsequent execution block 234) of the subroutine STP causes the printing by the correction ribbon 30 of the character whose code is stored in the PRCT. When the machine uses a "lift-off" type of ribbon, this results in the removal of the background location corresponding to the character to be highlighted. When the correction ribbon is of the "cover-up" type, the dye on the ribbon is superimposed on the background. As a result, in both cases the printed characters appear in negative form, contrasting with the background and centered on the background itself. At this time, the CANCEL flag is set to 0 (block 235) and the counter RETN
is equal to 0, i.e. whether a single typed character is printed at the printing position in question (a character that has already been printed)
A test is made (logical decision 236).

In case of negation, i.e. when the character to be printed is a dead character and is associated with possible other useless characters and valid characters that are still to be printed, the counter RETN is decremented by one unit and buffer pointer
CRIGA is incremented by one unit (block 23
7). This thus specifies the next successive buffer cell containing the code of the new character to be printed, and the printing in reverse mode of that new character where the sequence of blocks 231-234 is superimposed on the first character. repeated against. Similarly, the sequence of blocks 231-236 is repeated until the detection operation performed by logic decision 236 confirms that RETN = 0, and printing in reverse mode of all characters in the superimposed position is completed. This is done at the printing position in question.

When RETN = 0 (YES output of logic decision 236, point C), the contents of cell POTE are transferred to COVAS (block 238), and the contents of cell POTE are used to determine the spacing to be done after printing the last character. (block 222)
It is then stored in bits 13-15 of Batshua (SP, Batshua). In addition, pointer CRIGA is incremented by one unit (block 223), thus pointing to the buffer cell in which the code of the character to be printed at the next print position is stored. Bit 13 of the designated character is then examined (logic decision 224). If selector 96 has not been moved, the next character can also be printed in reverse mode (bit 13=1). In that case (output of logic judgment 224
YES), the difference between the contents of REVE and COVAS is stored in COVAS (block 225), in other words, the printing device 25 is used to go to the beginning 190 of the print area 191 of the next character to form a background in that print area. must be moved
The number of 0.4 mm (1/60 inch) increments is memorized.
Routine AVA is then performed, which advances the printing device to the zone entry position (block 226). The instructions of subroutine STPRV are then executed again from block 203 (point D).

However, if selector 96 of console 22 has been switched from the inverted position, the operational result of logic test 224 is negative (output
NO), hence the character is not printed in reverse mode, and in this case it is checked whether the indicated buffer cell is empty (logical decision 24
0). In the affirmative (output YES), there are no characters to be printed, the subroutine has completed and the program returns to the execution of another control program RTN (block 242). When this buffer cell is not empty (logical judgment 240 output NO),
The number of 0.4 mm (1/60 inch) steps (POTE-COVAS) that the printing device 25 must advance to get to the position to print the next character stored in the buffer is stored in COVAS ( Block 241). Routine AVA is then executed, which advances printing device 25 to the printing position (block 243), which finally calls routine STRAVN to print the character in the usual manner.
(block 201).

When the check of bits 1-7 of the buffer cell by logic decision 221 described above is positive, that is, the character to be stamped in inversion mode is spaced (output
YES), this indicates that there is no hope of producing any characters in the print area in question from the printing operations (blocks 213-220) that contributed to the formation of the background. The head is already at the beginning of the next print area, which causes the contents of REVE to
COVAS (block 250) and the instructions described above are then executed with reference to blocks 222-226 and 240-243. As a result, the printing device 25 remains in its current position preparing for forming the background in the next print area when the next character is to be printed in reverse mode, and the subroutine STPRV starts from point E and then returns to carried out. However, when the next character is to be printed in the normal manner, the printing device is advanced until it is in the print position associated with that character.

The inverted characters are printed by the procedure explained above, but here, the blocks 7a to 7a of FIG. 6 are printed.
The relationship with Figure 7d will be described below.

Cell in block 211 of FIG.
FIG. 7a shows the relationship between the contents of COVAS, NUNFI, POTE, and REVE using parameters such as print area, left edge, and desired character width.

FIG. 7b shows that in relation to blocks 215 and 216, a vertical bar "|" is printed at the starting edge 190 of the character printing area, after which the printing unit advances with a spacing of 1/120". represent.

FIG. 7c shows a state in which the last vertical bar "|" is printed on the end edge 192 of the printing area. At this time, in logic decision 218, NUNFI is zero, and in block 220, the buffer pointer is
CRIGA will be updated.

Figure 7d shows character code recognition (block 2).
21), the printing unit is backspaced to the center of the printing area (block 231), and the desired character is printed in reverse (block 234).

Among the many possible variations are: First, the formation of the background can be done with one or more "whole" characters of the character-bearing member,
Its width is made equal to the width of the space associated with the character to be emphasized. Examples of full characters of this kind can be found in the specification of Italian Patent No. 889086, where a single typing cycle is sufficient to generate the background.

Second, the background can be formed using characters other than vertical bars and/or another cycle of advancing movement of the typing point. As an example, the underscore symbol "-" can be used. In this case there is no need for horizontal movement of the character-carrying member, and the background is formed by repeating the symbol after repeated basic rotations of the typing platen 26.

In addition to electronically controlled machines, the invention is also readily applicable to mechanical or electronic typewriters which are provided with correction devices. As an example, the applicant's Italian patent application No. 68019-1976
Reference may be made to a machine of the type described in A.

It is sufficient for the machine to be provided with all the characters that can be selected for forming the background. The characters are highlighted on the background by printing them after selection of the correction device. In order to perform various operations sequentially while using the minimum possible number of keys on the machine's keyboard, the machine has eight keys.
00 (FIG. 8), this key 800 prints the entire character 801 without any forward movement and presets the correction cycle for the character to be emphasized, which is selected by the correction key of the machine. A progressive movement of the typing point is followed by a different correction cycle.

In particular, the above Italian patent application No. 68019-1976
Using substantially the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 of FIG. The fork-like member 338 that lifts the correction ribbon 358 cooperates by means of its pin portion 341 with another positioning member (not shown) which is substantially the same as that for the correction cycle. A pawl member 813 is pivotally mounted on the positioning member 812 , and this member 813 is attached to the rim portion 81 of the cam follower 811 .
Collaborate with 4. The key 800 moves the stop member 802 through the connecting rod 804 into the travel path of the rim portion 803 of the spouting actuation member 142 . In turn, the rim portion 816 of the connecting rod 804 has a pawl member 8
The pawl member 81 acts on the arm portion 821 of 13.
3 into engagement with cam follower 811 by spring 822.

The operation of key 800 is normal typing ribbon 3
37 prevents forward movement of the typing point after printing the entire character 801. In addition, almost at the end of the print cycle, cam 81
The high lobe portion of 0 causes the cam follower 811 to pivot clockwise, resulting in the positioning means 8
12, this is a fork-like member 33
8 to raise the correction ribbon to the position shown in phantom in the drawing and into the position previously placed for the correction operation. The pin portion 343 of the fork-shaped member 338 then remains within the travel path of the lobe portion of the correction cam 342.

Here, in addition to the ink ribbon 337, the pin portion 3
When any typing key is pressed down by the action of the cam portion 342 on 43, the correction ribbon is also lifted, as described in the above-mentioned patent application.
1976, 68019-A, which causes the erasure or covering-up of the background portion corresponding to the character to be emphasized. In turn, the lifting movement of the fork-like member 338 frees the positioning member 812,
Member 812 returns to its rest position under the action of spring 823. In addition, positioning member 812
Since is not connected to any anti-escape mechanism, the typing points progress regularly and the typing of the next character in reverse mode is effected by sequential repeated actuation of key 800 and one of the typing keys.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typewriter incorporating a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the typing mechanism of the typewriter, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for controlling the typewriter of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the storage device of the logic device; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the bit arrangement of characters in the line buffer forming part of the storage device; FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the typewriter of FIG. 1, FIGS. 7a to 7d are diagrams showing various stages of the operation of typing on recording paper with the typewriter of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the typewriter of FIG. It is a schematic diagram of a modification. 10: Typewriter, 20: Alphanumeric keyboard, 22: Control console, 24: Drive motor,
25: Printing device, 28: Character carrying member, 3
0: Hammer, 32: Cartridge, 33: Typing ribbon, 34: Solenoid, 39: Correction ribbon, 50: Control device, 51: Delay device, 10
0: Microprocessor, 101: Central processing unit, 102, 103: Read-only storage device, 10
5,106: Random access storage device, 11
1, 112: input/output device, 115, 119: control device, 133: logic device, 138: keyboard encoder.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An input unit for inputting characters to be typed, a printing unit including a character-carrying member for typing characters, and a printing unit for inputting characters on the character-carrying member through a correction ribbon. a device for correcting typed characters by typing, and for producing, in response to the typed characters, a dark background in the color of a typing ribbon in a typing area larger than the width of the typed characters; in an electronic typewriter, comprising a device for inverted typing, and a correction device for correcting the part of the background of the typing area corresponding to the entered character, the printing performed after the typing of the character.
Spacing units that represent the width of characters entered as multiple basic spacing units.
a first memory location (NUNFI in RAM 105) for storing the code; and a plurality of spacing fractions associated with the input characters and the width of the typing area, where the spacing fractions are smaller than the base spacing units. calculating means (blocks 207-210) for calculating a portion from said spacing code; and for selecting a vertical code (“|”) included in said character-bearing member and wider than said spacing sub-portion. Printing control means (subroutine 2)
15) printing said vertical symbol a number of times equal to said plurality of calculated spacing fractions and moving said printing unit between the front and rear limits of said typing area; First actuating means (blocks 215, 21
6, 217, 218); second actuating means (blocks 220, 230, 231) for positioning the printing unit on the central axis of the dark background; an electronic type, characterized in that it comprises third actuating means (blocks 232, 234) for causing characters to be typed in reverse through said correction ribbon and in a central position with respect to said central axis. lighter. 2 further comprising a buffer memory 160 having a location 160a for storing the character code of each input character, each character code being a given state representing that the input character is to be printed in reverse; Contains a bit (bit 13) with
2. An electronic typewriter according to claim 1, wherein said reversing type device is activated in response to said given state of said bit. 3 a current spacing memory location (REVE) for storing the current position of said print unit; An electronic typewriter according to claim 1, further comprising: spacing calculation means (209) for moving the printing unit backwards by a given fractional width of the character to be written. . 4 A bit ( An electronic typewriter according to claim 3, in which each character code includes a bit 11), comprising counter means (RTN) for counting the number of characters to be printed in a superimposed manner; - pointer means (CRIGA) for addressing a next location in memory 160 to identify a valid first input character requiring spacing of said print unit, said calculating means comprising: responsive to said valid input character spacing codes to define a background for said superimposed characters; said third actuating means to define the character codes of all superimposed characters and said counter; An electronic typewriter characterized in that, in response to the content of the means, all characters to be printed in reverse in superimposition are printed in reverse on said background.