Type head arrangement

Claim 2

Type head arrangement comprising, in combination, a platen having a line-shaped printing area; rotary type head means having an axis of rotation spaced from, and crossing said line-shaped printing area at right angles and including a plurality of adjoining axially stacked type discs forming a type head and having circumferential rows of type faces, first mounting means for mounting each type disc for movement toward and away from said printing area independently of the other type discs between a first position fully retracted from said printing area, and a second position advanced toward said printing area but spaced from the same, and a support supporting said first mounting means and thereby said type head; second mounting means mounting said support for rotation about said axis and for axial movement so that a selected type face can be placed opposite said printing area, and also mounting said support for movement with said type head in a printing motion toward and away from said platen; and control means operable for placing a selected type disc having said selected type face in said second advanced position and any type disc adjoining the selected type disc in said first retracted position during the placement of said selected type face opposite said printing area so that when said support is moved in said printing motion toward said platen with said selected type disc in said second advanced position, said selected type face impresses said printing area while the type faces of said adjoining type discs in said first retracted position are spaced from areas of said platen adjacent said printing area.

Claim 3

Type head arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said type discs have central openings; and wherein said control means is movable in said central openings for placing at least said selected type disc in said second advanced position, and said adjacent type discs in said first retracted position.

Claim 4

Type head arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means include integral journal means supporting alternate type discs of said stacked type discs for rotation about two parallel axes.

Claim 5

Type head arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means include a first journal portion for supporting said selected type disc for rotation about a first axis coinciding with said axis, and a second journal portion for supporting a type disc adjacent said selected type disc for rotation about a second parallel axis.

Claim 6

Type head arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said type discs have overlapping eccentric openings and central bearing openings; wherein said first mounting means include end members at the ends of said stacked type discs, connecting bolt means pressing through said eccentric openings and being secured to said end members, and pivot pin means secured to said end members and mounting said type discs for movement between said first and second positions in which said connecting bolt means abut the edges of said eccentric openings; and wherein said control means include a control member having a plurality of journal portions respectively located in said bearing openings, alternate journal portions being offset to each other and supporting the respective type discs for rotation about two parallel axes, one of said axes coinciding with said axis of rotation of said support, and a control rod connected with said control member and being operable for shifting said control member between two positions in which each journal portion is located in the bearing openings of alternate type discs; and wherein said support is a rotary tubular member in which said control rod is located, said tubular member being secured to one of said end members.

Claim 7

Type head arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said platen is a stationary cylinder having an axis, and wherein said axis of rotation of said type head is perpendicular to the axis of said platen.

Claim 8

Type head arrangement comprising, in combination, a platen having a line-shaped printing area; rotary type head means having an axis of rotation and including a plurality of axially stacked type discs forming a type head and having circumferential rows of type faces, said type discs having overlapping openings, first mounting means for mounting each type disc for movement transverse to said axis independently of the other type discs between a first position retracted from said platen and a second position advanced toward said platen, said first mounting means including end members at the ends of said stacked type discs, connecting means passing through said openings and being secured to said end members, and pivot means secured to at least one of said end members and mounting said type discs for movement between said first retracted and second advanced positions in which said connecting means abut the edges of said openings, and a support supporting said mounting means and thereby said type head; second mounting means mounting said support for rotation about said axis, for axial movement, and for displacement toward and away from said platen together with said stacked type discs so that a selected type face of a selected type disc can be first placed opposite said printing area and then moved toward the same in a printing motion; and control means operable for placing the selected type disc in said second advanced position, and any type disc adjacent said selected type disc in said first retracted position so that the type faces of said adjacent type discs are spaced from areas of said platen adjacent said printing area when said selected type face impresses said printing area.

Claim 9

Type head arrangement comprising, in combination, a platen having a line-shaped printing area; rotary type head means having an axis of rotation and including a plurality of axially stacked type discs forming a type head and having circumferential rows of type faces, said type discs having overlapping openings, first mounting means for mounting each type disc for movement transverse to said axis independently of the other type discs between a first position retracted from said platen and a second position advanced toward said platen, said first mounting means including end members at the ends of said stacked type discs, connecting means passing through said openings and being secured to said end members, and pivot means secured to at least one of said end members and mounting said type discs for movement between said first retracted and second advanced positions in which said connecting means abut the edges of said openings, and a support supporting said mounting means and thereby said type head; second mounting means mounting said support for rotation about said axis, for axial movement, and for displacement toward and away from said platen together with said stacked type discs so that a selected type face of a selected type disc can be first placed opposite said printing area and then moved toward the same in a printing motion; and control means operable for placing the selected type disc in said second advanced position, and any type disc adjacent said selected type disc in said first retracted position so that the type faces of said adjacent type discs are spaced from areas of said platen adjacent said printing area when said selected type face impresses said printing area.

Claim 10

Type head arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein each type disc is formed with a radial slot; and wherein said pivot means in a pivot pin passing through said slots so that said type discs move in a translatory movement in a plane perpendicular to said printing area in a first angular position of said type head means, and move in a pivotal angular movement in a second angular position of said type head means spaced 90* from said first angular position.

Claim 11

Type head arrangement comprising, in combination, a platen having a printing area; rotary type head means having an axis of rotation and including a plurality of axially stacked type discs forming a type head and having circumferential rows of type faces, said type discs having central bearing openings, first mounting means for mounting each type disc for movement transverse to said axis independently of the other type discs between a first position retracted from said platen and a second position advanced toward said platen, and a support supporting said mounting means and thereby said type head; second mounting means mounting said support for rotation about said axis, for axial movement, and for displacement toward and away from said platen together with said stacked type discs so that a selected type face of a selected type disc can be first placed opposite said printing area and then moved toward the same in a printing motion; and control means operable for placing the selected type disc in said second advanced position, and any type disc adjacent said selected type disc in said first retracted position so that the type faces of said adjacent type discs are spaced from areas of said platen adjacent said printing area when said selected type face impresses said printing area, said control means including a control member having a plurality of journal portions respectively located in said bearing openings, alternate journal portions being offset to each other spaced different distances from said printing area and supporting the respective type discs for rotation about two parallel axes, one of said axes coinciding witH said axis of rotation of said support, and operating means for shifting said control member in axial direction a distance corresponding to the axial spacing of said type discs.

Claim 12

Type head arrangement comprising, in combination, a platen having a printing area; rotary type head means having an axis of rotation and including a plurality of axially stacked type discs forming a type head and having circumferential rows of type faces, said type discs having central bearing openings, first mounting means for mounting each type disc for movement transverse to said axis independently of the other type discs between a first position retracted from said platen and a second position advanced toward said platen, and a support supporting said mounting means and thereby said type head; second mounting means mounting said support for rotation about said axis, for axial movement, and for displacement toward and away from said platen together with said stacked type discs so that a selected type face of a selected type disc can be first placed opposite said printing area and then moved toward the same in a printing motion; and control means operable for placing the selected type disc in said second advanced position, and any type disc adjacent said selected type disc in said first retracted position so that the type faces of said adjacent type discs are spaced from areas of said platen adjacent said printing area when said selected type face impresses said printing area, said control means including a control member having a plurality of journal portions respectively located in said bearing openings, alternate journal portions being offset to each other spaced different distances from said printing area and supporting the respective type discs for rotation about two parallel axes, one of said axes coinciding witH said axis of rotation of said support, and operating means for shifting said control member in axial direction a distance corresponding to the axial spacing of said type discs.

Claim 13

Type head arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said operating means include electromagnetic operating means including first core means connected with said control member, coil means acting on said first core means, and key switch means for causing energization of said coil means; and comprising second core means moved by said coil means and connected with said support for moving said type head in axial direction between a plurality of positions in which different type discs are located opposite said printing area.

Claim 14

Type head arrangement as claimed in claim 10 wherein said control means include a control rod connecting said control member with said first core means; wherein said support is tubular and partly surrounds said control rod; wherein said coil means include a plurality of stacked coils; and wherein said key switch means cause energization of pairs of rod coils.

Claim 15

Type head arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said control member includes cylindrical guide faces located between said journal portions and being slated to the same.

Claim 16

Type head arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein each type disc includes a bearing ring bounding said central bearing opening, the axial thickness of each bearing ring being less than the axial thickness of each type disc; wherein said bearing rings are made of metal; and wherein said type discs are made of a plastic material.

Claim 17

Type head arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said type head means comprise rolling bearing elements located between said bearing openings and said journal portions.

Claim 18

Type head arrangement as claimed in claim 14 wherein said support is a tubular member having a tubular portion with openings confining said rolling bearing elements and located in said bearing openings.

Claim 19

Type head arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said support is a tubular member secured to said first mounting means for rotation therewith; and wherein said control means include a control rod connected with said control member and operable for shifting said control member between axially displaced positions in which each journal portion is located in the bearing openings of alternate type discs.