EP0200439A2 — Rotary character-carrying member and selector dev…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 221 words

A selector device for a rotary character-carrying member (15) of printing machines, comprising a motor shaft (33) which can be selectively positioned in a plurality of angular positions, in which the said member is removably connected to the motor shaft for selection of the characters to be printed and is provided with identification elements (203, 204) disposed in coded fashion along a circular ring thereon and in which a recognition circuit (171, 172, 183, 174) rotates the character-carrying member and detects the presence of the identification elements in given angular positions to recognise a reference position of the character-carrying member, characterised by a transducer having a movable portion (32) synchronous with the character-carrying member (15) and a detection portion (38) which generates a position signal (A) having a period which is double the angular spacing of two adjacent characters of the character-carrying member, and in that the recognition circuit (171, 172, 183, 174) functions as a zeroing circuit which coarsely positions the character-carrying member (15) in a zero area associated with the said reference position and by a servo mechanism (173) which is controlled by the position signal (A) of the transducer (32, 38) and which precisely stops the character-carrying member in a zero position which is unambiguously associated with the zero area and with a character of predetermined positional parity.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 221 words

A selector device for a rotary character-carrying member (15) of printing machines, comprising a motor shaft (33) which can be selectively positioned in a plurality of angular positions, in which the said member is removably connected to the motor shaft for selection of the characters to be printed and is provided with identification elements (203, 204) disposed in coded fashion along a circular ring thereon and in which a recognition circuit (171, 172, 183, 174) rotates the character-carrying member and detects the presence of the identification elements in given angular positions to recognise a reference position of the character-carrying member, characterised by a transducer having a movable portion (32) synchronous with the character-carrying member (15) and a detection portion (38) which generates a position signal (A) having a period which is double the angular spacing of two adjacent characters of the character-carrying member, and in that the recognition circuit (171, 172, 183, 174) functions as a zeroing circuit which coarsely positions the character-carrying member (15) in a zero area associated with the said reference position and by a servo mechanism (173) which is controlled by the position signal (A) of the transducer (32, 38) and which precisely stops the character-carrying member in a zero position which is unambiguously associated with the zero area and with a character of predetermined positional parity.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 104 words

A selector device according to claim 1, characterised in that the recognition circuit (171, 172, 183, 174) comprises a photoelectric pair (94) formed by a lighting element and by a detector element beside the lighting element and in which the identification elements comprise' reflective identification plates (204), and that each plate reflects to the detector element the energy of the lighting element for generation of a presence signal (REMAIN) when the plate is disposed substantially in front of the photoelectric pair and the character-carrying member (15), as well as the reflective plates, comprises a phase timing plate (203) associated with the said zero area.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 71 words

A selector device according to claim 2, characterised in that each of the reflective identification plates (204) occupies an angular sector of constant width which is congruent with the sector occupied by an even fraction of the number of characters and the phase timing plate (203) occupies an angular sector of magnitude congruent with the sector occupied by an odd fraction of the number of characters, less than the even fraction.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 102 words

A device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the character-carrying member (15) comprises on the circular ring a zone (206) which is without plate members, preceding the position of the phase timing plate (203), and in that the zeroing circuit detects the state of the presence signal (REMAIN) in correspondence with the angular positions of the predetermined parity and identifies the zone which is without plates in response to the absence of the presence signal consequent upon a predetermined minimum number of detections and in response to the presence of the presence signal after this minimum number of detections.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 124 words

A selector device according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the character-carrying member (15) of the type comprising flexible spokes (47) which can each be aligned with a print hammer and the transducer (32, 38) is of optical type and comprises a collimator and in which the movable part of the transducer comprises a disc (32) provided with a number of transmissive windows (34) equal to half the number of spokes of the character-carrying member, and the detection portion (38) supplies a signal (A) having a rising edge in correspondence with alignment of the spokes of given parity with respect'to the hammer and a falling edge in correspondence with alignment of the spokes of opposite parities with respect to the hammer.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 169 words

A selector device for a character-carrying member (15) having flexible spokes (47) and identification elements (204) in angular coded positions, comprising a print hammer (16), a motor shaft (33) which can be positioned in a plurality of angular positioning, means (42, 43) for coupling the motor shaft to the character-carrying member in a plurality of predetermined positions for selection of a spoke in front of the hammer and a detection member (94) for detecting the presence of one of the identification elements in front of the detection member and generating a corresponding presence signal (REMAIN), characterised in that the detection member (94) is mounted on a support (91) such as to provide angular adjustment with respect to the hammer (16) to modify the position of the detection member with respect to the character-carrying member in correspondence with a position of alignment of the spoke with respect to the hammer and for modifying the phase of the presence signal (REMAIN) with respect to the position of alignment of the spoke.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 169 words

A selector device for a character-carrying member (15) having flexible spokes (47) and identification elements (204) in angular coded positions, comprising a print hammer (16), a motor shaft (33) which can be positioned in a plurality of angular positioning, means (42, 43) for coupling the motor shaft to the character-carrying member in a plurality of predetermined positions for selection of a spoke in front of the hammer and a detection member (94) for detecting the presence of one of the identification elements in front of the detection member and generating a corresponding presence signal (REMAIN), characterised in that the detection member (94) is mounted on a support (91) such as to provide angular adjustment with respect to the hammer (16) to modify the position of the detection member with respect to the character-carrying member in correspondence with a position of alignment of the spoke with respect to the hammer and for modifying the phase of the presence signal (REMAIN) with respect to the position of alignment of the spoke.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 93 words

A selector device according to claim 6, characterised in that the identification elements (204) comprise reflective plates which each occupy an angular sector congruent with the sector occupied by a given fraction of the number of spokes of the character-carrying member and that the detection member (94) is formed by a photoelectric pair comprising a lighting element and a detector element disposed beside the lighting element and in which each plate reflects to the detection element the energy of the lighting element when the plate is disposed in front of said photoelectric pair.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 70 words

A selector device according to claim 7, characterised in that the character-carrying member (15) comprises a support hub (52) for the reflective plates (204) and that the said support (91) is mounted on an intermediate support (69) by means of an eccentric element (99) which provides the said angular adjustment, and that the intermediate support (69) is in turn movable axially with "respect to the hub of the character-carrying member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 135 words

A removable character-carrying disc with flexible character-carrying spokes (47) and reflective identification plates (204) in coded positions, for a print unit of typewriters comprising a motor shaft which can be connected to a hub of the character-carrying disc for rotation of the disc and a recognition circuit for controlling the rotation of the motor shaft and identifying a code associated with coded positions of the identification plates, and in which the disc (15), as well as the identification plates, comprises a reflective phase timing plate (203) associated with a zero position of the character-carrying disc, characterised in that each of the identification plates (204) occupies an angular sector of constant width and the phase timing plate (203) occupies an angular sector of an extent which is substantially less than that occupied by each identification plate.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 135 words

A removable character-carrying disc with flexible character-carrying spokes (47) and reflective identification plates (204) in coded positions, for a print unit of typewriters comprising a motor shaft which can be connected to a hub of the character-carrying disc for rotation of the disc and a recognition circuit for controlling the rotation of the motor shaft and identifying a code associated with coded positions of the identification plates, and in which the disc (15), as well as the identification plates, comprises a reflective phase timing plate (203) associated with a zero position of the character-carrying disc, characterised in that each of the identification plates (204) occupies an angular sector of constant width and the phase timing plate (203) occupies an angular sector of an extent which is substantially less than that occupied by each identification plate.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 65 words

A character-carrying disc according to claim 9, characterised in that the angular sector occupied by each identification plate (204) is substantially congruent with the sector occupied by a given even fraction of the number of character-carrying spokes (47) of the disc and the angular sector occupied by the reflective phase timing plate (203) is substantially congruent with an odd fraction of the number of spokes.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 112 words

A character-carrying disc according to claim 10, characterised in that the character-carrying member (15) carries one hundred spokes (47), the sector occupied by each identification plate (204) is congruent with a sector of four spokes and the sector occupied by the phase timing plate (203) is congruent with a sector of three spokes, and in which the sector of the phase timing plate is preceded by a sector (206) without plates which comprises at least six sectors each of four spokes and a further sector of one spoke and is followed by a plate-free sector (202) of four spokes along a complete ring of twenty five different angular sectors of the disc.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 99 words

A character-carrying disc according to any of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the identification code is associated with four groups of iden-- tification plates (204), of which the first group (208) concerns items of information relating to the spacing pitch of the characters, the second group (204) concerns items of information relating to the intensity of printing which is on average required by the characters, the third group (210)'is concerned with the language to which the characters belong and the fourth group (211) represents in binary coding the number of plates present in the other three groups.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 156 words

A removable character-carrying disc with coded identification elements (204) for a print unit of typewriters, comprising a motor shaft which can be connected to a hub of the character-carrying disc for rotation of said disc and an electronic circuit comprising reading means for detecting the presence of one of the coded elements in front of a given index in given angular positions of the disc and generating a corresponding signal and a recognition circuit operatively connected to the reading means for forming a code for identification of the disc, characterised by a plurality (206) of coded control elements (204), the presence of which can be detected by the reading means of the electronic circuit to define a reference control code, and such as to permit the electronic circuit to verify that the reference control code is the same as a calculated control code generated by the electronic circuit unambiguously from the identification code of said disc.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 156 words

A removable character-carrying disc with coded identification elements (204) for a print unit of typewriters, comprising a motor shaft which can be connected to a hub of the character-carrying disc for rotation of said disc and an electronic circuit comprising reading means for detecting the presence of one of the coded elements in front of a given index in given angular positions of the disc and generating a corresponding signal and a recognition circuit operatively connected to the reading means for forming a code for identification of the disc, characterised by a plurality (206) of coded control elements (204), the presence of which can be detected by the reading means of the electronic circuit to define a reference control code, and such as to permit the electronic circuit to verify that the reference control code is the same as a calculated control code generated by the electronic circuit unambiguously from the identification code of said disc.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 81 words

A character-carrying disc according to claim 13, characterised in that the coded elements comprise a plurality of reflective plates (204) which can be detected by a photoelectric pair formed by a lighting means and a detector means of said reading means, and that the plurality of plates comprises three groups (208, 209, 210) of plates which define the identification code and represent three characteristic parameters of the disc and a fourth group (211) of plates which defines the reference control code.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 43 words

A character-carrying disc according to claim 14, characterised in that the fourth group (211) of plates (204) represents in binary code the sum of the reflective plates contained in the three groups - (208, 209, 210) of plates which define the identification code.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 60 words

A character-carrying disc according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the reflective plates - (204) are disposed along a circular ring and also comprising a sector (206) without a predetermined number of plates, which precedes a phase plate - (203), and a further sector (202) without a plate, unambiguously associated with a zero position of the character-carrying disc.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 146 words

A selector device for a rotary character-carrying member of printing machines, comprising a motor shaft (33) which can be selectively positioned in a plurality of angular positions and which is capable of being removably connected to the character-carrying member (15) for selection of the characters to be printed, first initialisation means comprising reading means (94) for detecting the presence of a phase timing element and coded identification elements in given angular positions of the character-carrying member and a recognition circuit operatively connected to the reading means for defining a zero position of the character-carrying member and forming a corresponding identification code, characterised by second initialisation means (59) which define the zero position of the character-carrying member (15) independently of the first initialisation means and means which detect the non-reading of the phase timing element and/or non-recognition of the identification code for activating the second initialisation means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 146 words

A selector device for a rotary character-carrying member of printing machines, comprising a motor shaft (33) which can be selectively positioned in a plurality of angular positions and which is capable of being removably connected to the character-carrying member (15) for selection of the characters to be printed, first initialisation means comprising reading means (94) for detecting the presence of a phase timing element and coded identification elements in given angular positions of the character-carrying member and a recognition circuit operatively connected to the reading means for defining a zero position of the character-carrying member and forming a corresponding identification code, characterised by second initialisation means (59) which define the zero position of the character-carrying member (15) independently of the first initialisation means and means which detect the non-reading of the phase timing element and/or non-recognition of the identification code for activating the second initialisation means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 70 words

A selector device according to claim 17, characterised in that the second initialisation means comprise a first stop element (58) which is synchronous with the character-carrying element, a second stop means (59) which can be activated to interfere with the first stop element for stopping the character-carrying member in a zero position and means for rotating the character-carrying member for a sufficient time to perform at least one complete revolution.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 119 words

A selector device according to claim 17 or 18, characterised in that the coded identification elements (204) comprise a plurality of reflective plates of the same dimensions disposed along a circular ring on the character-carrying member (15), in which the phase timing element (203) comprises a reflective phase timing plate preceded by a sector (206) without a predetermined number of plates and followed by a sector (202) without a plate and in which the reading means comprise a photoelectric. pair (94) having a lighting element for a lit sector of said ring and a detection element which generates a presence signal (REMAIN) in response to the light reflected by a plate present in the lit sector of said ring.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 98 words

A device according to claim 19, characterised in that the recognition circuit detects the state of the presence signal (REMAIN) in correspondence with the angular positions of the predetermined parity and identifies the sector (206) without plates in response to the absence of the presence signal for a predetermined minimum number of detections and to the presence of the presence signal after the said minimum number to activate the first initialisation means and responds to the absence of the presence signal after the said minimum number and after a predetermined maximum time for activating the second initialisation means.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 85 words

A device according to claim 19 or 20, characterised in that the plurality of plates (204) comprises a first series of plates (208, 209, 210) which identifies the identification code and a second series of plates (211) which identifies a reference control code of the first series of plates and that the recognition circuit generates from the identification code a calculated control code and activates the second initialisation means in response to non- equality as between the calculated control code and the reference control code.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 193 words

A selector device for a rotary character-carrying member of printing machines, provided with a plurality of characters disposed in accordance with a given angular pitch and comprising a transducer - (32, 38) which produces a periodic position signal - (A) of variable amplitude in response to the rotary movement of the character-carrying member about given reference positions, a selector motor (26) whose rotor is connected to the character-carrying member (15) for rotation thereof, and a control circuit (Fig. 8) for the selector motor which positions the character-carrying member in' a zone which is adjacent to the reference position and which activates the motor in response to the position signal from the transducer on reaching the zone adjacent to the reference position, characterised in that the period of the position signal (A) is double the angular spacing, and by a discrimination circuit (173) which activates the selection motor (26) for an increasing, direction of rotation upon an increase in the position signal for the characters having a given position parity and activates the selector motor for a decreasing direction of rotation upon an increase in the position signal for the characters of opposite parity.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 193 words

A selector device for a rotary character-carrying member of printing machines, provided with a plurality of characters disposed in accordance with a given angular pitch and comprising a transducer - (32, 38) which produces a periodic position signal - (A) of variable amplitude in response to the rotary movement of the character-carrying member about given reference positions, a selector motor (26) whose rotor is connected to the character-carrying member (15) for rotation thereof, and a control circuit (Fig. 8) for the selector motor which positions the character-carrying member in' a zone which is adjacent to the reference position and which activates the motor in response to the position signal from the transducer on reaching the zone adjacent to the reference position, characterised in that the period of the position signal (A) is double the angular spacing, and by a discrimination circuit (173) which activates the selection motor (26) for an increasing, direction of rotation upon an increase in the position signal for the characters having a given position parity and activates the selector motor for a decreasing direction of rotation upon an increase in the position signal for the characters of opposite parity.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 117 words

A selector device according to claim 22, characterised in that the character-carrying member (15) is of the type having flexible spokes (47) which can be aligned with a print hammer and that the transducer is of optical type comprising a collimator, a disc (32) synchronous with the character-carrying member and provided with a number of transmissive windows (34) equal to half the number of spokes (47) of the character-carrying member, and a detector (38) which produces a position signal having a rising edge in correspondence with alignment of the spokes of given parity with respect to the hammer and a falling edge in correspondence with alignment of the spokes of opposite parity with respect to the hammer.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 79 words

A selector device according to claim 22 or 23, characterised by a switching-type feeder (174) for the selector motor (26) and by a pulse modulation circuit (182) which activates the feeder with positive and negative pulses whose ratio is variable in two different ranges in relation to the direction of movement selected, and that the discrimination circuit - (173) controls the regulation range of the positive and negative pulses in response to the positional parity of the desired character.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 151 words

A selector device for a rotary character-carrying member of printing machines which can be positioned in a plurality of positions having a given angular spacing, comprising a transducer (32, 38) which generates a periodic position signal (A) in response to the rotation of the character-carrying member (15) and a zeroing circuit (109, 171) responsive to a zeroing element (203) which is synchronous with the character-carrying member, characterised in that the period of the signal (A) from said transducer (32, 38) is double the said angular spacing, by a circuit (172) which discriminates the position signal associated with the angular positions of the character-carrying member having a given parity from that associated with the positions of opposite parity, and in which the zeroing circuit recognises the position of the zeroing element in a zero area for stopping the character-carrying member in a position of predetermined parity adjacent to the said zero area.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 151 words

A selector device for a rotary character-carrying member of printing machines which can be positioned in a plurality of positions having a given angular spacing, comprising a transducer (32, 38) which generates a periodic position signal (A) in response to the rotation of the character-carrying member (15) and a zeroing circuit (109, 171) responsive to a zeroing element (203) which is synchronous with the character-carrying member, characterised in that the period of the signal (A) from said transducer (32, 38) is double the said angular spacing, by a circuit (172) which discriminates the position signal associated with the angular positions of the character-carrying member having a given parity from that associated with the positions of opposite parity, and in which the zeroing circuit recognises the position of the zeroing element in a zero area for stopping the character-carrying member in a position of predetermined parity adjacent to the said zero area.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 73 words

A device according to claim 25, characterised in that the zeroing element comprises a stop element (58) synchronous with said character-carrying member and with which there is engageable a corresponding co-operating stop element (59) which can be activated under the control of the zeroing circuit, and wherein the zeroing circuit recognises the stop position of the character-carrying member for positioning the character-carrying member in correspondence with a predetermined value of the periodic signal.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 40 words

A selector device according to claim 25, characterised in that the character-carrying member (15) comprises in a ring thereon a series of identification elements (204) and that the zeroing element comprises a phase timing element (203) included in said ring.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 191 words

A selector device for a character-carrying member having flexible spokes for printing machines comprising a platen roller, a carrige, a motor shaft mounted on the carriage, a member for coupling the character-carrying member to the motor shaft to rotate the character-carrying member in front of the platen roller, a position transducer for generating a position signal associated with the angular position of the shaft with respect to a marker on the carriage, a control circuit which selectively positions the motor shaft in a plurality of angular positions for selection of one of said spokes and a print hammer for moving the character on a selected spoke in the print position to the platen roller, characterised in that the motor shaft is rotatable on a support frame which in turn can be fixed in an angularly variable manner with respect to a support portion of the carriage for modifying the angular positions of the marker with respect to-the support portion of the carriage and defining a predetermined value in respect of the position signal from the transducer, in the condition of alignment of one of the character-carrying spokes with the print hammer.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 191 words

A selector device for a character-carrying member having flexible spokes for printing machines comprising a platen roller, a carrige, a motor shaft mounted on the carriage, a member for coupling the character-carrying member to the motor shaft to rotate the character-carrying member in front of the platen roller, a position transducer for generating a position signal associated with the angular position of the shaft with respect to a marker on the carriage, a control circuit which selectively positions the motor shaft in a plurality of angular positions for selection of one of said spokes and a print hammer for moving the character on a selected spoke in the print position to the platen roller, characterised in that the motor shaft is rotatable on a support frame which in turn can be fixed in an angularly variable manner with respect to a support portion of the carriage for modifying the angular positions of the marker with respect to-the support portion of the carriage and defining a predetermined value in respect of the position signal from the transducer, in the condition of alignment of one of the character-carrying spokes with the print hammer.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 107 words

A selector device according to claim 28, characterised in that the transducer is of optical type and comprising a collimator, a disc fixed on said motor shaft and provided with a number of transmissive windows equal to half the number of spokes of the character-carrying member and a detection portion which produces a signal having a rising edge in correspondence with alignment of the spokes of given parity with respect to the hammer and a falling edge in correspondence with alignemnt of the spokes of opposite parities with respect to said hammer and in which the. collimator and the detection portions are fixed on said support frame.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 112 words

A selector device according to claim 29, characterised by identification elements disposed in angularly coded positions on said character- carrier member and by a detection member for detecting the presence of one of said identification elements in front of said detection member and generating a corresponding presence signal, and characterised in that said detection member is carried by an intermediate support mounted in such a way as to provide for angular adjustment with respect to the support portion of said carriage for modifying the position of the detection member with respect to the character-carrying member in correspondence with a position of alignment of one of said spokes with respect to the hammer.

Rotary character-carrying member and selector device therefor for a print unit in typewriters

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