US3640216A

US3640216A - Parallel printing apparatus for recorded data

Info

Publication number: US3640216A
Application number: US855082A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bruno Piazza
Original assignee: Olivetti SpA
Current assignee: Telecom Italia SpA; Olivetti SpA
Priority date: 1968-09-26
Filing date: 1969-09-04
Publication date: 1972-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-08
Also published as: DE1949279A1; NL6914386A; FR2018926A1; GB1264693A; CH510306A

Abstract

A parallel printing apparatus for data recorded in a store comprises a set of type wheels sequentially set up by a setting wheel, which is transversely moved step by step and is variably rotatable according to the code recorded for each type wheel. The setting wheel is rotated through a clutch which is held engaged under the control of a step counting device sensing a toothed wheel rotated synchronously with the setting wheel. The apparatus is adapted to print on a bank book both parallel and perpendicular to the seam of the book. The book is carried by a carriage, the line spacing of which is effected under the control of a program device.

Description

w Qltcmmmuircnrrucummmcu United States Patent 1151 3,640,216

Piazza Feb. 8, 1972 [54] PARALLEL PRINTING APPARATUS 2,351,281 6/1944 Nachemov ..101/110 FOR RECORDED DATA 2,934,006 4/1960 Oberdorf et al. .....10l/99 I 2,966,843 1/1961 Eckley l0l/l 10 I721 lhvehtofl Bruno Flam, Turm, Italy 3,049,992 8/1962 Brown et al ..101/99 73 A I or & C 3,117,515 1/1964 Barthelmes ..101/93 1 S p my 1 3,141,403 7/1964 Brown et a1 ..101/99 [22] Filed: Sept. 4, 1969 Primary ExaminerWilliam B. Penn [2H Appl' sssosz Attorney-Irons, Birch, Swindler & McKie Foreign Application Priority Data ABSTRACT Sept. 26, 1968 Italy ..5327 l -Al68 A Parallel Printing apparatus for data recorded in a Show June 21,1969 Italy ..5233l-A/69 prises a Set of p wheels sequentially set p y a swing wheel, which is transversely moved step by step and is variably [52] US. Cl. ..101/93 c, 101/1 10 rotatable according to the code recorded for each W Wheel- 51 1111. c1. ..B4lj 5/44 The Setting wheel is "hated through a clutch which is held 58 Field 61 Search ..101/93 94 95 96 97 99 gaged the a StPP cmmtihg device sehsing a 6 3 5, toothed wheel rotated synchronously with the setting wheel. The apparatus is adapted to print on a bank book both parallel and perpendicular to the seam of the book. The book is car- [56] References cued ried by a carriage, the line spacing of which is effected under UNITED S A PATENTS the control of a program device.

1,663,588 3/1928 Glass ..101/ 20 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures WEIEB FEB 8m SHEET 1 [IF 7 33:33::zQU95333333333:

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INVENTOR. BR UNO PIAZZA SHEET 2 OF T "7V Fig. 2

INVENTOR BRUNO PIAZZA PATENTEUFEB 8l972 3.640.216

SHEET 3 0F 7 INVENTOR. BRUNO PIAZZA PATENIED rm 8M2 sum u or 7 3540216 INVENTOR BRUNO PIAZZA Pmmmm 8|972 3340 21s SHEET 8 OF 7 INVENTO BRUN 0 PIAZ PATENTED FEW 8 [Q72 sum 7 OF 7 INVENTOR. BRU N 0 PIAZZA PARALLEL PRINTING APPARATUS FOR RECORDE DATA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for the printing in parallel data recorded in a store and including a series of like type carriers movable individually for selecting the type to be printed.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are known various devices of the aforesaid type for printing in parallel in which the different type carriers are set serially under the control of a store. These devices, however are generally very complicated and costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of this invention is to provide a printing apparatus in which the type carriers can be set in succession without dead time between the setting of one type carrier and the following one, while keeping the apparatus of simple and economic construction and adapted to operate rapidly and reliably.

According to the present invention I now provide an apparatus for the printing in parallel of data recorded in a store and including a series of like type carriers movable individually for selecting the type to be written, a setting wheel transversely movable to be coupled with the said elements in succession and adapted to be rotated variably to set the type carriers in succession, a clutch adapted to be actuated under the control of said store and arranged to rotate the setting wheel each time in accordance with the corresponding datum recorded in the store. and means for producing the printing action of the type carriers in parallel after such setting.

Printing devices adapted to write in bank books are moreover known. These, however, are not suitable for printing lines perpendicularly to the seam of the book, since the thickness of the book at the two pages is variable and unequal. The embodiment of the present invention now to be described can be used for printing in bank books and is adapted to be connected easily on line as a terminal of a data transmission system.

The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial longitudinal section from the left of an apparatus embodying the invention for printing in parallel;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view showing a left portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a partial section of the line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial section of the line IVIV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is another partial longitudinal section of the apparatus from the left;

FIG. 6 is another partial plan view showing a right portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a partial longitudinal section of a detail of the apparatus from the left;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the detail of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a terminal including the apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a logic diagram of the control unit of the apparatus;

FIG. 11 shows a modified constructional form of the mechanism of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The printing apparatus, indicated generally by the reference S1 (FIG. 9), is particularly suitable for printing the data of banking transactions to be carried out, for example, at a bank counter. The data are printed on the usual savings bank books, but may also be printed on record cards following upon an accounting entry made in another apparatus constituted, for example, by an accounting machine S2. Each apparatus 81, S2, is controlled by means of a corresponding electronic control unit G1, G2, respectively, from a central unit C. This unit, in turn, is connected to a central computer by means of a transmission unit T and a telephone or telegraph line L, as a result of which the apparatus S1 constitutes a part of a data transmitting terminal.

The central unit includes a store M adapted to store the data to be written on the apparatus S1. The printing is effected through the medium of a series of type-carrying elements which are set serially in accordance with the data recorded in the store M and are then operated to write in parallel a whole line of data at a time. The transmission unit T provides in known manner for the control of the programming language, the keeping of a check on errors, the serialization of the data to be transmitted and the parallelization of the data received.

PRINTING DEVICE The printing apparatus is constituted essentially by a printing device including a group of type wheels 11 (FIG. 1) each provided with 15 characters stamped on the outer surface of an equal number of teeth 12. Each wheel 11 carries 10 digital characters from zero to nine, a full stop, a comma and three function symbols, that is the last of which is normally in the writing position. Each wheel 11 is rotatable on a pin 13 fixed to a corresponding slider 14 slidable by means of two vertical slots 16 and 17 on two

transverse bars

18 and 19. On another pin 20 carried by each slider 14 there is fulcrumed a positioning member 21 adapted to cooperatewith the wheel 11 and normally bearing against the bar 18 by the action of a spring 22 stretched between the positioning member 21 and the slider 14.

Each slider 14 is moreover provided with a projection 23 normally bearing against a universal bar 24 by the action of a spring 25. By pulling the corresponding slider 14 downwardly, said spring 25 is adapted to cause the wheel 11 to strike against a resilient pad 26. The universal bar 24 is carried by two

arms

27 and 28 fixed on a shaft 29 which can turn in the fixed frame of the machine. The arm 28 normally bears against a cam 33 fixed on a main shaft 34 controlling the writmg.

The shaft 34 is adapted to be rotated by means of a onecycle writing clutch indicated generally by the reference 36 (FIG. 5). The clutch 36 includes a clutch wheel 37 fixed to a sleeve 38 (FIG. 6) rotatable on the shaft 34. To the sleeve 38 there is moreover fixed a pulley 39 connected by means of a belt 41 to a pulley 42 fixed to a driving shaft 43 (FIG. 5), which is continuously rotated clockwise by means of an electric motor not shown in the drawing.

The clutch 36 moreover includes a coupling or engaging dog constituted by a tongue 44 fixed to a slider 46 guided in a slot in a bent lug 47 of a crank 48. The crank is fixed on the shaft 34 and is provided with a pin 49 engaged in a slot 51 in the slider 46. Said slider 46 is moreover connected by a pin and slot to the lever 53 which can turn on the shaft 34 and is connected to the crank 48 by a spring 54. A projection 55 of the lever 53 is normally biased by the spring 54 to bear against a lug 56 of a lever 57 fulcrumed on a fixed pin 58. The lever 57 is normally held so that it bears against a fixed stop 59 by means of a spring 61 and is connected by a pin and slot to an armature 62 of a printing electromagnet 63. On the shaft 34 there is fixed a cam 68 having a step normally held engaged by a back-movement catch 71. This catch is fulcrumed on a fixed pin 72 and is normally kept bearing against a fixed stop 73 by means of a spring 74.

Each type wheel 11 (FIG. 1) is normally in engagement with a corresponding toothed wheel 76. The wheels 76 are rotatable on a shaft 77, which is rotatable in turn in the fixed frame of the machine. Each wheel 76 is provided in the center with a depression 78 into which a zerozing tooth 79 projects. A corresponding tooth 81 carried by the shaft 77 can cooperate with each tooth 79.

On the main shaft 34 (FIG. 3), there is fixed another cam 82 against which a lever 84 normally bears by the action of a spring 83. The lever 84 is fulcrumed on a fixed pin 86 and is connected by a pin and slot to an arm 87 fixed on a spindle 88 which can turn in the fixed frame of the machine. A universal bar 89 is carried by the arm 87 and by a second arm 91 also fixed on the spindle 88 and is adapted to cooperate with a series of positioning members 92. These positioning members are fulcrumed on a spindle 93 carried by two right-angled or bracket portions 95 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the fixed frame of the machine.

Each positioning member 92 (FIG. 1) is normally biased clockwise by a corresponding spring 94 and cooperates with a corresponding wheel 76. Each positioning member 92 is moreover provided with a tooth 96 adapted to cooperate with a projection 97 of the corresponding slider 14. In the inoperative position of the

wheels

11 and 76, which is shown in FIG. 1, the positioning member 92 engages in a zero space 98 of the wheel 76, but shows a certain gap with respect to the base of said space 98. Since the space 98 is deeper than the other spaces between the teeth of the wheel 76, when the cam 82 (FIG. 3) allows the positioning members 92 to bring themselves in contact with the base of the space 98 (FIG. 2), the tooth 96 of the positioning member 92 is brought into the path of the projection 97 of the slider 14, as a result of which the character cannot be written as long as the wheel 76 is in the inoperative position. This character can, however, be written after the wheel 11 has been rotated for a complete revolution. To this end, the diameter of the wheel 76 is greater than that of the wheel 11, so that the wheel 11 can be rotated anticlockwise for a complete revolution to select any character without the tooth 79 of the corresponding wheel 76 reaching the tooth 81 of the shaft 77.

On the shaft 77 there is moreover fixed a pinion 99 (FIG. 3) in mesh with a toothed sector 101 fixed on a shaft 102 which can turn in the frame of the machine. The sector 101 is connected by means of a pin and slot to a lever 103 fulcrumed on a fixed pin 104 and adapted to cooperate with a cam 106 on the main shaft 34. The lever 103 is biased clockwise by a spring 107, as a result of which the sector 101 and the shaft 102 are urged anticlockwise. Another lever 203 (FIG. also fixed on the shaft 102 is provided with a projection 204 normally bearing through the action of the spring 107 (FIG. 3) against a lug 207 (FIG. 5) of a lever 208. This lever 208 is fulcrumed on a spindle 125 and is provided with a lug 209 normally engaged with a step 211 of a lever 212 through the action of a spring 206. The last-mentioned spring prevails over the spring 107 (FIG. 3), as a result of which, in the rest state, the lever 103 is held detached from a depression 105 in the cam 106. The lever 212 (FIG. 5) is pivoted on a fixed pin 214 and is biased clockwise by a spring 216. V

The printing apparatus is provided with a serial setting device for the type wheels (FIG. 1) which includes a toothed setting wheel 108 having a pitch equal to that of the

wheels

76 and 11. The wheel 108 (FIG. 2) is provided with teeth which extend laterally with tapered portions 109 in the form of truncated cones for assisting the transverse engagement of the wheel 108 with the different wheels 76. The wheel 108 is integral with a pinion 110 which is in mesh with a pinion 111. The last-mentioned pinion is provided with a hub 115 slidable axially on a splined shaft 112, but fast angularly therewith.

The wheel 108 and the

pinions

110 and 111 are mounted on a carriage constituted by a bail 113 having two arms 114 and 116 (FIG. 1) which can turn on the hub 115 but are fast axially therewith. The arm 114 of the bail 113 is provided with a pin 117 on which the wheel 108 and the pinion 110 can turn. The arm 116 (FIG. 4) of the bail 113 is provided with a slot 121 in which there engages a transverse bar 122. This bar is carried by two

arms

123 and 124 fixed on a spindle 125 which can turn in the fixed frame of the machine. The am 123 is nonnally held so that it bears through the action of a spring 126 against a cam 127 fixed on the main shaft 34.

On the shaft 34 there can turn a sleeve 128 to which there is fixed a ratchet wheel 129 cooperating with an escapement device indicated generally by the reference 131. To the sleeve 128 there is moreover fixed a reel 132 to which there is fixed one end of a flexible metal cable 133 normally wound on the reel 132. The other end of the cable 133 is attached to a projection 134 of the am 116 of the bail 113. The cable 133 is moreover guided by a return pulley 136 rotatable on a fixed pin 137. The projection 134 (FIG. 2) is moreover bent in the form ofa U and is connected to one end ofa long spiral spring 138, the other end of which is fixed to a portion 139 of the fixed frame of the machine. The spring 138 is guided by a pulley 141 rotatable on an inclined fixed spindle 142.

The escapement device 131 (FIG. 4) includes a pair of like

escapement dogs

143 and 144 each provided with a slot 145 in engagement with a pin 146. The pin is fixed to an oscillating plate 147 fulcrumed on two fixed vertical pins 148 (FIG. 2), for alternately engaging the

dogs

143 and 144 with the wheel 129. Each dog 143 and 144 (FIG. 4) is connected to the plate 147 by means of a spring 151 and is provided with a projection 152 normally bearing against a stud 153 on the plate 147. Each

dog

143 and 144 is moreover provided with a projection 154 adapted to cooperate with a movable element 155 of a microswitch 156.

A bent lug 158 (FIG. 2) of the plate 147 is connected by a pin and slot to an annature 159 of an advancing or feed electromagnet 160. A spring 161 tends to cause the plate 147 to turn clockwise and, when the electromagnet is deenergized, causes the dog 143 to engage with the wheel 129 as shown in FIG. 2. The wheel 129 (FIG. 4) is provided with a portion 157 devoid of teeth. When the first tooth of the wheel 129 engages the escapement dog 143, the wire 133 holds the setting wheel 108 in mesh with the first wheel 76 on the left, as shown in FIG. 2.

On the reel 132 (FIG. 4) there is fixed a pin 162 adapted to cooperate with a lug 163 ofa lever 164. Said lever 164 is fulcrumed on a pin 165 ofa crank 166 fixed on the main shaft 34. The lever 164 is provided with another lug 167 normally bearing against the crank 166 through the action of a spring 168. To the lever 164 there is moreover fixed a pin 169 adapted to cooperate with a projection 17] of an arm 172 fixed to the frame of the machine.

The shaft 112 is adapted to be rotated for a variable distance through the medium of a clutch indicated generally by the reference 173 (FIG. 5). The clutch 173 includes a clutch wheel 174 similar to the wheel 37 and fixed to a sleeve 176 rotatable on the shaft 112. On the sleeve 176 there is fixed a pulley 177 connected through the medium of a belt 178 to another pulley 179 integral with the pulley 39. The clutch 173 moreover includes a coupling or engaging dog constituted by a tongue 181 fixed to a slider 182. This slider is connected by a pin and slot to a crank 183 fixed on the shaft 112. The slider 182 is connected here by a pin and slot to a wheel 186 provided with teeth 187 spaced from one another in such manner that one step of the wheel 186 corresponds to one step of the wheel 108. A spring 184 is stretched between the wheel 186 and the crank 183.

The wheel 186 is normally arrested by one of the teeth 187 against a lug 188 of a bail 189 fulcrumed on a fixed pin 191 and normally bearing through the action of a spring 192 against a fixed stop 193. Fixed to two lugs carried by the two arms of the bail 189 is an armature 194 of a normally deenergized selection electromagnet 196. On a fixed pin 197 there is fulcrumed a back-movement lever 198 nonnally bearing through the action ofa spring 199 against a fixed stop 201. The lever 198 normally engages a toothed back-movement wheel 202 having an angular step equal to that of the wheel 186, but fixed on the shaft 112. A lug 217 of the lever 212 can cooperate with the wheel 186, while a projection 218 of the same lever can cooperate with the wheel 202.

The teeth 187 of the wheel 186 are adapted to cooperate with a pulse generator indicated generally by the reference 219, which is adapted to emit a pulse every time a tooth 187 passes in the vicinity of a ferromagnetic core 221. More particularly, the generator 219 comprises an oscillator connected between the base and the emitter of a transistor, in the manner described in the U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 779,993, filed on Nov. 29, 1968.

The inductance of the oscillator comprises the ferromagnetic core 221 which, when it is in the vicinity of a tooth 187, as in FIG. 5, causes the value of the inductance to vary and clamps the oscillator. On passage from a tooth 187 to a space, on the other hand, the oscillator renders the transistor conductive, as a result of which the relative wave front generates a count signal.

When the control unit G1 (FIG. 9) emits a signal for setting a character, as will be seen better hereinafter, the electromagnet 196 (FIG. 5) is energized and attracts the armature 194. The bail 189 is then turned anticlockwise and releases the wheel 186 from its lug 183. The wheel 186 is rotated clockwise by the spring 184 with respect to the crank 183 and causes the slider 132 to shift radially so as to engage the tongue 181 with the wheel 174, thus closing or engaging the clutch 173. The wheel 174 now carries the slider 182 along clockwise as it rotates and, together therewith, the wheel 186, the crank 183, the shaft 112 and the wheel 202, on the teeth of which the lever 198 now skips.

Through the pinion 111, (FIG. 1) the shaft 112, in turn, causes the pinion 110 to rotate anticlockwise together with the setting wheel 1116. The latter thus causes the engaged wheel 76 to rotate clockwise, moving the tooth 79 away from the tooth 81. The wheel 76 then causes the type wheel 11 to turn anticlockwise, bringing the various characters one by one in front of the pad 26. During this rotation, the teeth 187 (FIG. 5) of the wheel 186 pass in front of the core 221 of the pulse generator 219. This therefore generates a count signal for each tooth 187 and sends it to the control unit G1 (FIG. 9), which compares this count with the code of the character recorded in the store.

As will be seen better hereinafter, on the arrival of the count signal corresponding to the recorded character code, the control unit G1 issues a signal which causes the electromagnet 196 (FIG. 5) to be deenergized. The spring 192 then brings the bail 189 back so that it bears against the fixed stop 193, as a result of which the lug 188 reengages the wheel 186, reopening the clutch 173. The shaft 112 is thus arrested, while the lever 198 prevents any rebound thereof by means of the wheel 202. The wheel 11 (FIG. 1) thus remains positioned with the selected character opposite the pad 26.

Normally, the electromagnet 160 (FIG. 4) is deenergized, so that the wheel 129 is engaged by the dog 143, as shown in the drawing. As will be seen better hereinafter, simultaneously with the deenergization of the electromagnet 196, the control unit G1 (FIG. 9) now causes the magnet 160 (FIG. 2) to be energized and said magnet causes the oscillating plate 147 to turn anticlockwise, thereby disengaging the tooth 143 from the wheel 129 and engaging the dog 144 therewith. The dog 143 (FIG. 4) now jumps upwardly through the action of its spring 151 and releases the movable element of the microswitch 156, which opens, while the spring 138 (FIG. 2) pulls the bail 113 to the right and causes the wheel 108 to en gage the second wheel 76 from the left. Moreover, through the medium of the cable 133, the spring 138 causes the reel 132 (FIG. 4) to rotate anticlockwise together with the wheel 129 and the' crank 166. The second tooth of the wheel 129 now carries the dog 144 downwardly until it is arrested against the pin 146. In the last part of the stroke of the tooth 144, its projection 154, engages the movable element 155 of the microswitch 156, which recloses and signals to the control unit G1 (FIG. 9) that movement of the bail 113 (FIG. 4) by one step has occurred.

The electromagnet 196 (FIG. 5) is now reenergized, as a result of which the setting of the second type wheel 11 in the manner seen hereinbefore is initiated. When the electromagnet 196 is deenergized again, the electromagnet 160 is also deenerg ized this time, as will be seen better hereinafter. The

electromagnet 160 now brings the oscillating plate 147 back into the position of FIG. 2, causing the wheel 129 and, therefore, the bail 113 to perform another step in a manner similar to that seen hereinbefore.

If a wheel 11 is not to write, the control unit G1 (FIG. 9) sends only a signal which changes over the electromagnet 160 (FIG. 4), as a result of which the bail 113 advances by one step without the wheel 108 having caused the wheel 76 to turn. On the other hand, if a wheel 11 is to write the character normally disposed in the writing position, the electromagnet 196 is deenergized after fifteen steps of the wheel 108, as a result of which the wheel 11 performs a complete revolution. Since the wheel 76 (FIG. 1) has a diameter larger than that of the wheel 11, its tooth 79 does not reach the tooth 81 of the shaft 77, but the space 98 is brought out of engagement with the positioning member 92.

If, for any reason, the clutch 173 does not reopen after 15 steps, the tooth 79 (FIG. 3) of the wheel 76 encounters the tooth 81 of the shaft 77. Since the cam 106, when at rest, presents the depression to the lever 103, the shaft 77 is then rotated clockwise for a certain distance and, via the pinion 99, causes the sector 101 to turn anticlockwise together with the lever 203 (FIG. 5). The projection 204 of the lever 203, by acting on the lug 207, then causes the lever 208 to turn clockwise in opposition to the action of the spring 206, thus releasing the lever 212. The lug 217 of the lever 212 then engages the wheel 186, thus immediately locking the shaft 112, while the projection 218 engages the wheel 202, preventing rebound of the shaft 112. This can then be unlocked and bring the lever 212 back to rest after the cause of the trouble has been removed.

After all the wheels 11 have been set, the control unit G1 (FIG. 9) emits a printing signal which causes the electromagnet 63 (FIG. 5) to be energized for a limited time. Said electromagnet then causes the lever 57 to turn anticlockwise and release the projection 55 of the lever 53 from the lug 56. The spring 54 now causes the lever 53 to turn with respect to the crank 48 and thus cause the tongue 44 to engage with the wheel 37, as a result of which the writing clutch 36 is closed or engaged. The shaft 34 thus begins to rotate clockwise for a writing cycle, while the electromagnet 63 is deenergized and allows the spring 61 to bring the lever 57 back to rest and thus prearranges the lug 56 in the path of the projection 55 of the lever 53.

At the beginning of the cycle of the shaft 34, the cam 127 (FIG. 4) causes the arm 123 to turn clockwise together with the shaft 125, the arm 124 and the bar 122. The bar, in turn, causes the bail 113 to turn clockwise about the sleeve and disengage the wheel 108 from the last wheel 76 that has been set. Immediately afterwards, the lever 164, turning together with the crank 166, engages the pin 162 of the reel 132 with the lug 163 and begins to carry the reel along clockwise together with the wheel 129. Via the cable 133, the reel 132 therefore brings the bail 113 back to the left. Towards the end of the cycle, the pin 169 encounters the fixed projection 171, as a result of which the lever 164 disengages its lug 163 from the pin 162 at the instant when the first tooth of the wheel 129 is recoupled with the escapement dog 143, which is disposed in the plane of the wheel 129.

Moreover, at the beginning of the cycle of the shaft 34, the cam 82 (FIG. 3) leaves the lever 84, which is turned anticlockwise by the spring 63. The lever 84 then causes the arm 67 to turn clockwise together with the arm 91, so that the bar 89 moves away from the positioning members 92 and is brought into the position shown in dashes in FIG. 1, being engaged with the wheels 76. These wheels are thus rectified as to any slight misalignments and locked positively in the position that has been reached. The positioning members 92 corresponding to the wheels 76 which have remained in the zero position are then turned subsequently by their own springs 94, being brought into contact with the bottom of the space 98. The tooth 96 of the positioning member 92 which is turned in this way is brought into the path of the projection 97 of the corresponding slider 14, preventing the corresponding wheel 11 from effecting any writing.

Immediately afterwards, the cam 33 releases the arm 28, as a result of which the universal bar 24 releases the sliders 14, which jump downwardly by the action of their springs 25. Those sliders 14 whose wheels 11 have been set out of the rest or inoperative position, since they are not arrested by the projections 96 of the positioning members 92, continue their downward stroke to effect the striking operation. During the first part of the stroke of the sliders 14, the positioning members 21 turn clockwise and lock the wheels 11 in the position reached before they are disengaged from the wheels 76. The wheels 11 locked in this way then strike against the pad 26 and efiect the writing.

Thereafter, the cam 33 causes the arm 28 to return to rest together with the arm 27, as a result of which the universal bar 24 brings the sliders 14 back upwardly. The wheels 11 then reengage the wheels 76, while the positioning members 21, encountering the bar 18, are turned anticlockwise and disengage themselves from the respective wheels 11. The return to rest of the sliders l4 ends about halfway through the cycle.

The return to rest of the sliders 14 having been completed, the cam 82 (FIG. 3) causes the lever 84 to turn clockwise beyond its rest or inoperative position, as a result of which, by means of the

arms

87 and 91, the universal bar 89 completely disengages the positioning members 92 from the wheels 76. Immediately afterwards, the cam 106 begins to turn the lever 103 anticlockwise, thus causing the toothed sector 101 to turn clockwise. The sector, in turn, causes the pinion 99 to rotate anticlockwise together with the shaft 77. As the teeth 81 of the shaft 77 encounter the teeth 79, they carry the respective wheels 76 along anticlockwise, bringing them back into the zero position together with the type wheels 11 (FIG. 1). Towards the end of the return of the wheels 76 to the inoperative position, the cam 82 (FIG. 3) allows the bar 89 to return to the position shown in the drawing, as a result of which the positioning members 92 reengage the wheels 76, first checking or braking the return movement thereof and then locking them in the zero position.

Thereafter, the cam 106 releases the lever 103, which is now turned clockwise by its spring 107. The sector 101 is thus turned anticlockwise, bringing the shaft 77 into the rest position shown in FIG. 3, so that the teeth 81 move away from the teeth 79 again.

Towards the end of the cycle of the shaft 34, the cam 127 (FIG. 4) allows the spring 126 to bring the arm 124 back to rest anticlockwise together with the arm 123 and the bar 122. The bail 113 is thus turned anticlockwise and reengages the wheel 108 with the first wheel 76 on the left, so that the device is ready for a fresh setting. At the end of the cycle, the projection 55 (FIG. 5) is arrested against the lug 56 and causes the tongue 44 to be disengaged from the wheel 37, as a result of which the clutch 36 opens. The shaft 34 is thus stopped, while the lever 71 prevents rebound thereof through the medium of the cam 68.

According to a variant of the apparatus, the teeth of the wheel 108 are tapered on both sides. The pin 117 of the wheel 108 is carried by a bail 340 (FIG. 11) which can turn on the hub 115 and is slidable transversely on the shaft 112 together therewith. The ball 340 is provided with an arm 341 having 9. lug 342 to which the carriage draw spring 138 is attached. The bail 340 is provided with another arm 343 connected by a pin and slot to a slider 344 provided with two notches 345 adapted to cooperate with a pin 346 on the arm 341. The slider 344 has a slot 347 in engagement with a bar 348 extending over the entire width of the machine and fixed to the frame itself of the machine. The slider 344 is engaged in a slot in a bent lug 349 of the arm 341 in such manner as to be carried along transversely by the latter. A spring 350 stretched between the slider 344 and the bail 340 normally holds the upper notch 345 of the slider 344 in engagement with the pin 346 ofthe arm 341.

Fixed on the main shaft 38 in place of the cam 127 (FIG. 4) is a cam 351 (FIG. 11) having a substantially spiral profile over an angular range of about and a circular profile over the remaining 180. The arms 123 and 124 (FIG. 4) are therefore eliminated. The cam 351 (FIG. 11) is adapted to cooperate with a roller 352 of a toothed sector 353 which can turn on a fixed spindle 354. The sector 353 is constantly is mesh with a pinion 355 fixed on the sleeve 128 and therefore fast both with the reel 132 and with the escapement wheel 129.

During the setting of the wheels 76, the escapement wheel 129, acting through the reel 132 and the cable 133, causes the bail 340 to move to the right step by step together with the slider 344 and the wheel 108. The pinion 355 is then rotated anticlockwise through the medium of the sleeve 128, causing the sector 353 to turn clockwise, as a result of which the roller 352 approaches the bottom of the cam 351.

When the writing cycle is then ordered, the cam 351 engages the roller 352 during the first 180 of the rotation of the shaft 38 and causes the sector 353 to turn anticlockwise. Via the pinion 355, the reel 132 and the cable 133, the sector 353 causes the bail 340 to return to the left together with the slider 344 and the wheel 108. Since the wheels 76 are still held still and aligned by the universal bar 89, the tooth of the wheel 108 facing the wheels 76 passes through the space of these wheels, that is to say the wheel 108 is brought back to the left and remains in engagement with said wheels 76.

About 180 through the cycle, the cam 35] has caused the sector 353 to perform its maximum stroke, bringing it beyond the position shown in the drawing in such manner that the wheel 108 is brought to the left of the first wheel 76. Subsequently, after the printing has been effected, the type wheels 11 are reengaged with the intermediate wheels 76. The shaft 77 then brings the wheels 76 back to the inoperative position together with the wheels 11. At the end of the cycle, the cam 351 leaves the roller 352, as a result of which the spring 138 brings the wheel 108 back into the plane of the first wheel 76 on the left and the sector 353 into the position shown in FIG. 1 1.

If, during the setting, a wheel 76 accidentally performs a complete revolution, the tooth 79 engages the back of the tooth 81 of the shaft 77, as seen hereinbefore. Since the cam 106 (FIG. 3) is now without the depression or recess 105, the tooth 81 immediately arrests the tooth 79 and, therefore, the wheel 76. As the wheel 108 (FIG. 11) has not been arrested, however, it overcomes the action of the spring 350 and causes the bail 340 to turn clockwise. The wheel 108 is then disengaged from the wheel 76, while the pin 346 is engaged in the lower notch 345 and remains locked in the new position. The operator can therefore produce the opening of the clutch 173, for example by means of a pushbutton control, and look for the cause of the faulty operation of the apparatus. Obviously, the variant of FIG. 11 also renders unnecessary the levers 208 and 212 (FIG. 5) controlling the locking of the wheel 186 hereinbefore described.

IMPROVEMENT OF THE RECORD SUPPORT The record support, for example a savings bank book, in which it is desired to effect the writing, is indicated here by the reference 222 (FIG. 1). By way of example, it will be assumed that it is desired to make records in the book 222 parallel to the folding edge 223. The book 222 is slipped through a slot 224 provided in the front part of the apparatus in correspondence with a fixed horizontal plate 225. The plate is provided with a window 226 in which the resilient pad 26 is inserted, the pad being held at the bottom by a section 227 fixed to the plate 225.

The plate 225 is provided with another two windows 228 (FIG. 2) in which there are housed two feed or advancing rollers 229 of rubber or similar material having a high coefficient of friction. The roller 229 are fixed on a shaft 231 rotatable in the frame of the machine. On the shaft 231 there is moreover fixed a pulley 232 (FIG. I) connected by means of a belt 233 to another pulley 234 fixed on the driving shaft 43.

Against each roller 229 there normally bears a pressure roller 236 rotatable on a corresponding pin 237 fixed to a bail 238. The two bails 238 are fulcrumed on a shaft 239 which can turn in the frame of the machine and are each urged clockwise by a spring 240. A crank 241 fixed on the shaft 239 can moreover cooperate with the crosspiece of each bail 230.

The plate 225 is provided with another window 242 (FIG. 2) disposed between the two windows 220 and extending to the rear for a length equal to the maximum advance that the book 222 (FIG. 1) can have. Through the window 242 (FIG. 2) there extend two lugs 243 of a plate 244. This plate is provided with a vertically bent portion246 (FIG. 1) which is bent to form another longitudinal lug 247 fixed by means of two adjusting screws 248 to a carriage 249. To the plate 244 there is fixed a microswitch 245 adapted to be closed by the book 222 to indicate the presence thereof. The carriage 249 includes two apertured

bent portions

250 and 251 slidable longitudinally on a bar 252 of rectangular section. The bar 252 is fixed to two angle irons 253 secured to the plate 225.

The carriage 249 is provided with two projections 254 connected by means of two pins 255 to a rack 256. The rack meshes with a pinion 257 fixed on a shaft 250 rotatable in the fixed frame of the machine. The rack 256 is provided with a projection 259 to which a long spiral spring 260 is attached. The spring is guided by a pulley 261 rotatable on a fixed pin 262 and is attached at the other end to a portion 262 of the fixed frame of the machine. The spring 260 normally biases the carriage 249 forward in such manner as to close a microswitch 303 by means of a projection 304 of the rack 256;.

On the shaft 253 there is fixed another pinion 263 (FIG. 7) in mesh with a gear 264 fixed on another shaft 265 rotatable in the frame of the machine. The gear 264 is of plastics material and is integral with a positioning wheel 266 provided with a notch for each line to be written in the book. The wheel 266 therefore comprises a first portion 267 devoid of notches and corresponding to the upper margin of the book 222, that is to say to the space above the first line of writing, and a second portion 263 devoid of notches and corresponding to that part of the book 222 which is adjacent the fold 223 (FIG. 1), which is not used for the record. The wheel 266 (FIG. 7) moreover comprises a projection 269 which defines the rest position of the carriage 249 (FIG. 1).

A positioning member 270 fulcrumed on the shaft 239 and biased clockwise by a spring 290 cooperates with the notches of the wheel 266 (FIG. 7). The positioning member 270 normally prevents the spring 260 (FIG. 1) from moving the rack 256. A pin 311 on a crank 312 fixed on the shaft 239 can cooperate with the positioning member 270.

Another wheel 271 (FIG. 7), also integral with the wheel 264, can be actuated manually to prearrange the book 222 (FIG. 1) for writing on the desired line. This wheel is provided with a series of notches or recesses 272 (FIG. 7) corresponding to the notches of the wheel 266. Appearing in the notches 272 are progressive numbers (FIG. 8) corresponding to the numbers appearing on the lines of the book. The numbers of the notches 272 can be read in correspondence with a pointer 273 formed on the cover of the machine.

On the wheel 266, in correspondence with the portion 268, there is fixed a pin 274 adapted to cooperate with a lug of a lever 276 (FIG. 7) fulcrumed on a fixed spindle 277. The lever 276 is normally held by a spring 278 so that it bears against the shaft 265 and is provided with a shaped projection 279 with which a lug 280 of a line spacing control pawl 281 can cooperate. The lug 280 is adapted to act on a sawtoothed wheel 282 fixed on the shaft 265 and having an angular step equal to that of the wheel 266. The pawl 281 (FIG. is fulcrumed with considerable play on a pin 283 carried by a lug 284 of a lever 205. The pawl 201 is moreover guided by a slot in a fixed angle iron 206 against which it normally bears by the action of a spring 207. The lever 205 is fulcrumed on a fixed pin 200 and is provided with a lug 209 normally bearing against a projection 291 of the lever 203 by the action of a spring 292.

On the shaft 239 (FIG. 6) there is fixed a screw 293 which connects a bail 294 angularly with the shaft 239. Two

arms

295 and 296 of the bail 294 are provided with two slots 297 (FIG. 7) in engagement with the shaft 239 in such manner as to permit the bail 294 a certain rotation about an axis perpendicular to the shaft 239. The arm 295 of the bail 294 is engaged in a slot 290 (FIG. 8) in a lever 299 fulcrumed on a fixed pin 300. The lever 299 is connected by a pin and slot to an armature 301 of an ejection electromagnet 302. This electromagnet is adapted to be energized when the control unit G1 (FIG. 9) emits a book ejection signal, as will be seen hereinafter. The electromagnet 302 (FIG. 8) is in any case kept deenergized as long as the microswitch 303 (FIG. 1) is kept closed by the projection 304 of the rack 256.

The lever 299 (FIG. 3) is moreover provided with a step 305 adapted to cooperate with the upper edge of the arm 295. This arm has a long extension 306 (FIG. 6) adapted to cooperate with a pin 307 on a crank 308 (FIG. 7) fixed on the shaft 43. A spring 309 (FIG. 3) normally holds the lever 299 turned anticlockwise in the position shown in FIG. 8, as a result of which the bail 295 holds the extension 306 (FIG. 6) out of the path of the pin 307. Another spring 310 (FIG. 7) moreover holds the arm 295 bearing against the slot 298 in the lever 299.

In order to make a record in a book 222 (FIG. 1), after the operator has read the number of the first free line in the book, he sets the wheel 271 (FIG. 7) manually. To this end, the wheel 271 is rotated anticlockwise, overcoming both the action of the spring 260 (FIG. 1) and the action of the positioning member 270 (FIG. 7), until the notch 272 having the same number is brought into correspondence with the pointer 273. The gear 264 then causes the pinion 263 to rotate clockwise together with the shaft 258 and the pinion 257 (FIG. 1). The latter causes the rack 256 to move to the rear (to the left in FIG. 1) together with the carriage 249 and the plate 244, which thus prearranges the lugs 243 in a position corresponding to the line to be written. This position is always behind the

rollers

229 and 236, which are there spaced from the lugs 243 by less than the length of the upper margin of the book 222. The rack 256 then releases the microswitch 303 from its projection 304, starting the motor of the machine in the manner which will be seen hereinafter.

The operator then pushes the book 222 (FIG. 1) into the slot 224 by hand, making it slide over the plate 225. The book 222 first encounters the rollers 236, which are raised in opposition to the action of the springs 240. The book 222 is now pushed to the rear by the rollers 229, which are rotated continuously by means of the belt 233 (FIG. 1). The book 222 then engages the microswitch 245 and closes it, indicating to the control unit G1 the presence of the book 222 in the apparatus. Immediately afterwards, the book 222 is stopped against the lugs 243 (FIG. 1) of the plate 244, thus arranging the line on which the writing is to be carried out between the wheels 11 and the resilient pad 26, while the rollers 229 now begin to slip on the book 222.

When the main shaft 34 is then rotated for a writing cycle, the wheels 11 carry out the writing on the selected line in the manner seen hereinbefore. In the second half of the cycle, when the cam 106 (FIG. 3), acting through the lever 103, causes the sector 101 to turn clockwise together with the lever 203 (FIG. 7), the projection 291 of the latter causes the lever 285 (FIG. 0) to turn anticlockwise. The pawl 281 (FIG. 7) is then shifted upwardly and, in the first part of its stroke, engages the shaped projection 279 of the lever 276 with its lug 200. Thereafter, the lug 280 engages the line spacing wheel 282, causing it to rotate by one step in opposition to the action of the spring 260 (FIG. 1), so that the book 222 advances by one step, bringing the following line on to the writing line.

When the last line of the first half of the book 222 is on the writing line, the pin 274 (FIG. 7) engages the lug 275 of the lever 276, which is then turned into the position shown in dash lines in FIG. 7. In this case, when the pawl 201 is shifted upwurdly, the lug 200 immediately engages the wheel 2B2, causing this to perform three steps. The pin 274 then moves beyond the lug 275, as a result of which the lever 276 returns to the position of FIG. 7, while the book 222 brings the first line of its second half on to the writing line.

The ejection of the book 222 from the apparatus is controlled automatically by the control unit G1 (FIG. 9), as will be seen better hereinafter, by means of a suitable ejection signal emitted by the control unit G1. This ejection signal can be generated under the control of the central unit C at the end of one or more recording operations or on the closing of a microswitch 314 (FIG. 1). This switch is closed by the bent portion 250 of the carriage 249 when it arrives at the end of its travel, that is when the book 222 moves beyond the last line of writing.

It is to be noted that the pin 307 (FIG. 6), rotating continuously together with the crank 308 and the shaft 43, does not normally encounter the extension 306 of the bail 294. When the control unit G1 (FIG. 9) emits the ejection signal the electromagnet 302 (FIG. 8) is energized and attracts the armature 301. The armature is now shifted for a certain stroke and causes the lever 299 to turn clockwise. The lever 299 then causes the bail 294 to turn in the plane of the shaft 239 and the screw 293 in such manner as to bring its extension 306 (FIG. 6) into the path of the pin 307 of the crank 308.

In the following rotation of the shaft 43, the pin 307 now engages the extension 306 of the bail 294 (FIG. 7), which is turned anticlockwise together with the shaft 239. The arm 295 of the bail 294 (FIG. 8) is now disengaged from the slot 297, as a result of which the armature 301 can move further and causes the lever 298 to turn clockwise. The step 305 is now brought above the arm 295, locking the bail 294 (FIG. 7) in the position in which it is turned clockwise, together with the shaft 239.

During the rotation of the shaft 239, the two cranks 241 (FIG. 1) engage the crosspieces of the respective bails 238, which are then turned in such manner as to move the pressure rollers 236 away from the rollers 229. The pin 311 (FIG. 7) of the crank 312, in turn, carries the positioning member 270 along anticlockwise, releasing the wheel 266. The spring 260 (FIG. 1) then pulls the rack 256 forward together with the carriage 249 and the lugs 243, which push the book 222 forward.

When the projection 304 returns to the position of FIG. 1, the microswitch 303 is closed and controls the deenergization of the electromagnet 302 (FIG. 8), as will be seen hereinafter. The spring 309 now brings the armature 301 back into the position of FIG. 8 together with the lever 299, which disengages its step 305 from the arm 295. The spring 310 (FIG. 7 in turn, brings the bail 294 back to rest clockwise. The shaft 239, on the one hand, acting through the two cranks 241 (FIG. 1), releases the bails 238, so that the rollers 236 are brought back into contact with the rollers 229, and, on the other hand, acting through the crank 312 (FIG. 7), releases the positioning member 270, which reengages the wheel 266. The entire feed device is thus returned to the inoperative state.

Obviously, the group of

wheels

264, 266 and 267 is specific for each format of book and is therefore easily removable and exchangeable. In the event of it being desired to write in books in which the lines of writing are perpendicular to the folding edge 223 of the book, the wheel 266 will have to have notches in place of the portion 268. The escapement wheel 129 (FIG. 4) will have to be replaced by a wheel having an intermediate portion devoid of teeth to permit the bail 113 and, therefore, the wheel 108 to jump over the intermediate wheels 76 (FIG. 1) corresponding to that zone of the book 222 which is not usable because it is close to the edge 223.

CONTROL UNIT OF THE APPARATUS The control unit G1 (FIG. 10) of the printing apparatus S1 includes, inter alia, a decoder 315 for the code signals sent by the central unit C. The code used is of the type having seven bits C1, C2 C7, the first four of which C1, C2, C3 and C4 are used to identify the 15 graphic characters carried by the wheels 11 (FIG. 1). The bits C1-C4 moreover identify in binary code the values of the characters themselves.

The decoder 315, which is of a type known per se, is adapted to invert the input signals and recognize three different combinations of service characters on the basis of the combination of the direct signals and the negated signals. Correspondingly, the decoder 315 emits special signals. The decoder 315 emits a signal CN on reception of any character which cannot be printed by the apparatus S1. The signal CN is sent by the decoder 315 to inhibit a circuit 316 commanding the selection of the character. The circuit 316 essentially comprises a flip-flop and is connected to the selection electromagnet 196.

Moreover, the decoder 315 generates a signal CS on reception of the space character and sends it via an OR-gate 317 to a circuit 318 commanding the advance. The circuit 318 also comprises a flip-flop and is connected to the electromagnet commanding the transverse advance of the setting wheel 108 (FIG. 1). On reception of the line spacing character, the decoder 315 (FIG. 10) emits a third signal CL, which is sent via an AND-gate 319 to a corresponding monostable circuit 321 commanding the printing and connected to the printing electromagnet 63. The gate 319 is inhibited through the medium of an inverter 320 on the closing of the microswitch 314. A fourth signal CF, generated on the reception of the end-ofmessage character, is sent via an AND-gate 322 and an OR- gate 325 to a circuit 323 commanding the ejection of the book 222 (FIG. 1). The circuit 323 (FIG. 10) comprises a flip-flop and is connected to the ejection electromagnet 302.

The code bits ClC4 are moreover inverted by four inverters 330 and sent to a counting register 324 having four binary elements. The register 324 is moreover adapted to accumulate the count signals generated by the pulse generator 219 during the rotation of the wheel 186. The four elements of the register 324 are connected to a decoder 326, which is adapted to recognize the combination Ill 1. The decoder 326 is connected to an AND-gate 327 also connected to the generator 219 and adapted to emit a signal S which drives the circuit 316 commanding the selection. Via the gate 317, the signal S moreover drives the circuit 318 commanding the advance.

The control unit G1 moreover includes an electronic circuit 328 for controlling the electric motor M of the apparatus. The circuit 328 comprises a semiconductor device commonly known by the name Triac and driven by the microswitch 303 (see also FIG. 1). As long as the microswitch 303 is closed, the circuit 328 (FIG. 10) does not close the circuit of the motor M; on the other hand, when the microswitch 303 is opened, the circuit 328 closes the circuit of the motor on the passage to zero of the sinusoid of the mains current. The control unit also includes an AND-gate 329 connected to an OR-gate 331, and a staticizing circuit 332 with a flip-flop having an output connected to the circuit 316 and to the register 324.

Finally, the control unit G1 includes a flip-flop 333 having an output connected to the gate 331 and to an OR-gate 334 connected in turn to the staticizing circuit 332. The flip-flop 333 is moreover connected to an OR-gate 336 adapted to emit a signal when any one of its inputs is energized. The inputs of the gate 336 are respectively connected to the circuit 321, to the decoder 315 and to the generation 219. The flip-flop 333 controls the staticizer 332 and the gate 331. Finally, an OR- gate 337 is connected at its output to the register 324 and at its inputs to the circuit 323 and to the microswitch 156.

The operation of the control unit G1 in a sequence of printing operations of the apparatus S1 will now be described.

Non'nally, the circuit 328 is inactive and the electric motor M is stationary. When a record is to be made in the book 222 (FIG. 1), the operator, by turning the numbered wheel 271 (FIG. 7), causes the microswitch 303 (FIG. 10) to open. The circuit 328 then closes the circuit of the electric motor M, which thus begins to rotate the driving shaft 43 (FIG. 1). The circuit 328 (FIG. 10) moreover sends a pulse PR to the central unit C, indicating that the apparatus is ready for reception. In

reply, the central unit C emits in known manner a ready-fob transmission signal PT which, via the gate 329, in coincidence with said signal PR, emits a signal, thus making the first character request. This signal causes the dispatch via the gate 331 to the central unit C of a character request signal RC, to which the central unit C replies with a here-is-the-character signal EC. The latter signal enables the circuit 332, which staticizes the code signals in the register 324, while it changes over the circuit 316, which immediately energizes the selection electromagnet 196.

Let it be assumed first of all that the character sent by the central unit C is a printable character. The decoder 315 does not recognize any signal, as a result of which the four

circuits

316, 318, 321 and 323 are not affected. Through the medium of the inverters 330, the register 324, on the other hand, is filled with the inverse of the bits C1-C4, which represents the complement of the value of said bits to 16. If the code received is that of zero, the inverse of which is 1111, it is recognized by the decoder 326, which therefore emits a signal. In the meantime, the wheel 186 has begun to turn to select the corresponding character. At the first step of the wheel 186, the generator 219 sends a signal which, via the gate 327, changes over the circuit 316, as a result of which the electromagnet 196 is deenergized and the wheel 186 stopsafter one step, bringing the character zero into the writing position.

If, on the other hand, the code received is that of a digit from one to nine, it is not recognized by the decoder 326, as a result of which the count signals emitted by the generator 219 are accumulated in the register 324. When the wheel 186 has performed a number of steps equal to the value ot the digit to be written, the register 324 will have the code 1 l 1 1 at its output. This state will be recognized by the decoder 326, which will enable the gate 327 on the arrival of the following signal from the generator 219, thus taking account of the extra step that the wheels 11 (FIG. 1) must perform to position the cor responding digit at the writing point. The other writing symbols are encoded suitably so that they can be selected by a number of count signals corresponding to their position on the wheels 11.

The signal S emitted by the gate 327 also reaches the circuit 318 commanding the advance via the OR-gate 317 and said circuit then energizes the advance electromagnet 160. This magnet causes the tooth 143 to be disengaged from the wheel 129 (FIG. 4) and engages the tooth 144 therewith, as a result of which the microswitch 156 opens temporarily. At the end of the transverse movement of the setting wheel 108, the tooth 144 recloses the microswitch 156 (FIG. 10), generating a signal FA in known manner. This signal, on the one hand, resets the register 324 via the gate 337 and, on the other hand, changes over the flip-flop 333, which now generates a signal DC for the following character request.

Via the gate 334, the signal DC temporarily inhibits the staticizer 332. Moreover, this signal causes the OR-gate 331 to emit another character request signal RC, as a result of which a fresh reception cycle begins. If the code received is again a printable character code, the first signal emitted by the generator 219 through the gate 336 changes over the flip-flop 333. When, moreover, the gate 327 causes the circuit 316 to change over, the circuit 318 is also changed over and now causes the advance electromagnet 160 to be deenergized, thus causing the tooth 143 to be reengaged with the wheel 129 (FIG. 4) and causing the setting wheel 108 to perform another transverse step. All the other operations following the advance are effected as in the preceding case.

If the code received is not that of a writing character, whether it is a character which does not have any effect on the apparatus or one of the three characters recognizable by the decoder 315 (FIG. 10), this decoder emits in each case a signal CN which inhibits the circuit 316 commanding the selection. More particularly, if the code received is that of the space character, for example for spacing one group of digits from another during printing, or for preventing the printing of the nomiignificant zeros of an amount, this code is recognized by the decoder 315, which emits a signal CS in addition to the signal CN. Via the gate 336, the signal CS changes over the flip-flop 333, while via the gate 317 it changes over the circuit 318, immediately commanding the transverse advance of the setting wheel 108 (FIG. 4) as in the case of the selection of a printable character. At the end of this advance, the closing of the microswitch 156 (FIG. 10) changes over the flip-flop 333, producing a request for another character to the central unit C, while it resets the register 324 via the gate 337.

At the end of the setting of all the data to be printed on the wheels 11 (FIG. 1), the central unit C (FIG. 10) sends a line spacing character. This is then recognized by the decoder 315 which, in addition to the signal CN, generates the signal CL, which is sent to the gate 319. This gate enables the circuit commanding the printing 321 only if the microswitch 245 indicating the presence of the book is closed and the microswitch 314 indicating the end of the page is open. Moreover, the gate 319 is controlled by the circuit 321 itself in such manner as to be capable of enabling the latter only after it has returned to its stable state. The circuit 321 then energizes the printing commanding electromagnet 63 for a time of about 200 ms., thus commanding a cycle of the main shaft 34 (FIG. 5), as a result of which the data that have been set are written in the book 222. Since the energization of the electromagnet 63 has a duration less than the duration of the cycle of the main shaft 34, the shaft is stopped in any case at the end of the cycle. Moreover, the circuit 321 (FIG. 10) changes over the flip-flop 333 via the gate 336, as a result of which any further request for characters is blocked. Finally, the circuit 321 inhibits the circuit 318, so that the electromagnet is in any case deenergized and causes the tooth 143 to be reengaged with the wheel 129 (FIG. 4) irrespective of the fact that the last tooth in engagement therewith before the printing operation might have been the tooth 143 or the tooth 144.

During the printing cycle, the setting wheel 108 returns transversely to rest, as a result of which the microswitch 156 opens. At the end of this return movement, the wheel 129 is locked by the tooth 143, reclosing the microswitch 156, which changes the circuit 333 over again and produces a new request for characters and the resetting of the register 324.

If the new code received from the central unit is that of a printable character or a space, the selection of a fresh writing line begins and is effected in the manner seen hereinbefore. If, on the other hand, the new code received is the end-ofmessage code, it indicates that the operation of printing in the book is terminated. The decoder 315 then emits, in addition to the signal CN, a signal CF which goes to the gate 322. Since also the microswitch 245 is then closed, the gate 322, via the gate 325, changes over the circuit 323 which, on the one hand, via the gate 337, resets the register 324 and, on the other hand, causes the ejection electromagnet 302 to be energized. The book 222 (FIG. 1) is then ejected in the manner seen hereinbefore, causing the microswitch 245 to be opened, while the wheel 272 (FIG. 7) is brought back to rest together with the carriage 249 (FIG. 1). The carriage now causes the microswitch 303 to be closed, as a result of which the circuit 328 (FIG. 10) opens the circuit of the motor M. Moreover, the closing of the microswitch 303 causes the inhibition of the circuit 323, so that the electromagnet 302 is deenergized, while via the gate 334 it causes the inhibition of the circuit 332.

When, after the printing of a line, the book 222 (FIG. 1) reaches the end of its travel and closes the microswitch 314, this switch, via the inverter 320 (FIG. 10), inhibits the gate 319, as a result of which the circuit 321 does not command printing even if the wheels 11 (FIG. 1) have already been preset. Moreover, the closing of the microswitch 314 produces through the gate 325 the changeover of the circuit 323, as a result of which the book 222 (FIG. 1) is expelled as in the case seen hereinbefore. The data set on the wheels 11 can then be printed on a fresh page by introducing the book 222 into the apparatus and following upon the closing of the microswitch 245 in the manner seen hereinbefore.

It is understood that various modifications, improvements and additions of parts may be made in the apparatus described without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the apparatus may be equipped with a reset key to bring the register 324 back to zero in known manner at the beginning of a series of printing operations.

What is claimed is:

1. A parallel printing apparatus for recorded data including a store for recording said data in coded form, a series of similar type carriers each one carrying a plurality of types, said type carriers being mounted for individual movement from a rest position to a differential position to select a type to be printed, a setting wheel mounted on a shaft to be angularly bodily rotated therewith, means for axially shifting said setting wheel on said shaft to cause said setting wheel to be coupled with said type carriers in succession for individually setting each of said type carriers, and means for producing the printing action in parallel after such setting wherein the improvement comprises:

a clutch including a continuously power operated driving part, a driven toothed wheel connected to said shaft for concomitant rotation therewith, said toothed driven wheel having a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the type of said type carriers, and connecting means operable under the control of said store for causing said driving part to rotate said driven toothed wheel step by step each time a datum of said recorded coded data in said store is to be printed, a pulse generator for generating a pulse for each step effected by the driven toothed wheel, and means controlled by said store and said pulse generator for generating a disabling signal after said toothed wheel has been rotated a number of steps corresponding to said recorded datum, said connecting means being disabled by said disabling signal.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said generator comprises an oscillator and a ferromagnetic core adapted to cooperate directly with the driven wheel to damp the oscillator on the passage of each tooth of said driven wheel to generate a pulse irrespective of the speed of passage of said tooth.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an escapement device for controlling said setting wheel to be axially shifted step by step, and means effective in response to said disabling signal for actuating said escapement device.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the escapement device comprises a toothed spacing member, a pair of escapement dogs alternately engaging and disengaging said spacing member, an oscillating plate mounting said escapement dogs, an electromagnet for oscillating said plate, and circuit means for energizing said electromagnet consequent upon alternate disengagements of said clutch and for deenergizing it consequent upon intervening disengagements.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, comprising a control element operable by each of said escapement teeth when in engagement with said spacing member, and means for engaging said clutch following upon the actuation of said control element.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, comprising means operable during the printing to control the electromagnet in such manner as to engage a predetermined escapement tooth of the said pair with said spacing member.

7. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the setting wheel is toothed, and comprising a series of intermediate toothed wheels connected to said type carriers by said setting wheel sequentially engaged, the teeth of said setting wheel being tapered parallel to the axis of said setting wheel to assist the engagement thereof with said intermediate wheels.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of said type carriers comprises a toothed-type wheel meshing with a corresponding intermediate wheel and bearing the type on outer surface of its teeth.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, comprising a series of supports associated with said type wheels each of said supports rotatably mounting a corresponding one of said type wheels, and a universal bar controlling the supports to cause said type wheels to print in parallel the set data under the control of a cyclic actuating mechanism.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, comprising a common stationary shaft rotatably mounting said intermediate wheels, said type wheels being disengaged from said intermediate wheels during the printing operation, locking means being provided for locking said type wheel and said intermediate wheels during the printing.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said locking means comprises a series of positioning members normally engaging said intermediate wheels, one of the spaces between the teeth of said intermediate wheels having a greater depth than the others for defining the inoperative position of said intermediate wheels, and an element secured to each one of said positioning members and adapted to prevent the striking movement of the support of the corresponding type wheel, when the corresponding positioning member engages the space of greater depth.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said intermediate wheels have a diameter greater than that of the type wheels so that the type normally in the printing position on each type wheel can effect the printing after the corresponding type wheel has rotated for a complete revolution.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, comprising a universal second bar controlling said positioning members and means for engaging said universal second bar with said intermediate wheels before the writing operation for the purpose of rectifying the positions of said type wheels.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, comprising a series of cam elements secured to said common shaft, means for rotating said common shaft on the reengagement of said type wheels with said intermediate wheels to bring said intermediate wheels back into their inoperative position together with the type wheels, and means for causing said universal bar to disengage said positioning members from said intermediate wheels during a first part of the return of the intermediate wheels to rest and to reengage them with said intermediate wheels during a final part of the return to rest.

15. An apparatus according to claim 7, comprising a pivot member rotatably mounting said setting wheel, means to displace said pivot member during the printing operation to disengage said setting wheel from said intermediate wheels, and return means for bringing said setting wheel back transversely to rest.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, including a pawl comprised in said return means, operating means to actuate said pawl at constant speed during the printing operation for moving the setting wheel back, and a cam element for rendering said pawl inoperative after the setting wheel has been brought back to its rest position.

17. An apparatus according to claim 7, comprising a pivot member rotatably mounting said setting member and carried by a sliding support which is slidable transversely, and resilient means for holding said sliding support in a position as to engage said setting wheel with said intermediate wheels.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, comprising a cam cyclically operated to bring the setting wheel transversely towards the rest position during the writing operation, said cam arranging the setting wheel temporarily at a transverse position where it is in engagement with said intermediate wheels during a period in which they are brought back angularly to rest.

19. An apparatus according to claim 1, engaging the document and rotatable to print on a bank book or other flat document, comprising at least one pair of rollers adapted to cause the document to advance by friction, and a carriage movably mounted parallel to the advancing movement of the document, said carriage comprising a part engageable by the document for controlling the advance and being arranged to be actuated by a line spacing mechanism connected thereto and concomitantly operated with said means for producing the printing action.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, including a manual element bearing references corresponding to the lines to be printed on the document for positioning the carriage at the Patent No. 3,640,216 Dated February 8, 3.972

Bruno Piazza Inven tor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 8, line 17, after the numerals "180 insert 0 Column 16, line 2'7, "universal second should read second universal line 28 "universal second" should read second universal Signed and sealed this 31st day of October 1972 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MJLETCHERJR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner? of Patents 3 PO-150(10-59) USCOMM-DC wave-p69 Q U.S, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I965 0*"365334,

Claims

1. A parallel printing apparatus for recorded data including a store for recording said data in coded form, a series of similar type carriers each one carrying a plurality of types, said type carriers being mounted for individual movement from a rest position to a differential position to select a type to be printed, a setting wheel mounted on a shaft to be angularly bodily rotated therewith, means for axially shifting said setting wheel on said shaft to cause said setting wheel to be coupled with said type carriers in succession for individually setting each of said type carriers, and means for producing the printing action in parallel after such setting wherein the improvement comprises: a clutch including a continuously power operated driving part, a driven toothed wheel connected to said shaft for concomitant rotation therewith, said toothed driven wheel having a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the type of said type carriers, and connecting means operable under the control of said store for causing said driving part to rotate said driven toothed wheel step by step each time a datum of said recorded coded data in said store is to be printed, a pulse generator for generating a pulse for each step effected by the driven toothed wheel, and means controlled by said store and said pulse generator for generating a disabling signal after said toothed wheel has been rotated a number of steps corresponding to said recorded datum, said connecting means being disabled by said disabling signal.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, including a manual element bearing references corresponding to the lines to be printed on the document for positioning the carriage at the first line to be printed, and comprising means for conditioning the line spacing mechanism to jump over predetermined lines of the document.