Apparatus for erasing typewriter tape

Claim 2

In a typewriter having a tape with a smooth surface upon which a low melting point ink has been flowed and a pair of spools which function respectively as supply and takeup reels for said typewriter tape depending upon which direction the tape is being moved, the improvement which comprises: electrical circuit-actuable heating means disposed intermediate said spools and positioned to make contact with said tape to selectively heat portions of said tape to cause the ink to reflow from portions of said tape unstruck by type keys to portions of said tape struck by said type keys thereby erasing portions of said tape as said tape is moved between said spools; and means in circuit with said heating means for energizing said heating means.

Claim 3

In a typewriter which includes a pair of spools which function respectively as supply and takeup reEls for said typewriter tape depending upon which direction the tape is being moved in a path between said spools, the improvement which comprises: a pair of electrical circuit-actuable heating means respectively disposed in said path adjacent said spools, each of said heating means being positioned to make contact with said tape to selectively heat portions of said tape to cause the ink to reflow from portions of said tape unstruck by type keys to portions of said tape struck by said type keys thereby erasing portions of said tape when said tape is moved between said spools; and means in circuit with each of said heating means for energizing said heating means.

Claim 4

In a typewriter which includes a pair of spools which function respectively as supply and takeup reEls for said typewriter tape depending upon which direction the tape is being moved in a path between said spools, the improvement which comprises: a pair of electrical circuit-actuable heating means respectively disposed in said path adjacent said spools, each of said heating means being positioned to make contact with said tape to selectively heat portions of said tape to cause the ink to reflow from portions of said tape unstruck by type keys to portions of said tape struck by said type keys thereby erasing portions of said tape when said tape is moved between said spools; and means in circuit with each of said heating means for energizing said heating means.

Claim 5

In the typewriter as defined in claim 2 wherein said heating means comprises a structure comprising a metallic element and a bimetallic element mounted on said metallic element, said bimetallic element being so chosen whereby, below a given temperature it is in contact with said metallic element and at said given temperature it breaks contact with said metallic element; and wherein said energizing means is in circuit with said metallic element and said bimetallic element.

Claim 6

In a typewriter as defined in claim 3 wherein said metallic element comprises nichrome.

Claim 7

In a typewriter as defined in claim 2 wherein said heating means comprises a radiant lamp having an inner surface which is curved and mirrored in part, and planar in part said curved part being so chosen as to effectively reflect radiant energy onto said planar part, said planar part including a heat-absorbing material, the outer portion of said lamp opposite said planar part being positioned to make contact with said tape.

Claim 8

In a typewriter as defined in claim 2 wherein said energizing means comprises a potential source and means for connecting said source to said heating means.

Claim 9

In a typewriter as defined in claim 2 wherein said energizing means comprises an alternating current potential source whose output is applied to a transformer, the output of said transformer being applied to said heating means to energize said heating means.

Claim 10

In a typewriter which includes a pair of spools which function respectively as supply and takeup spools for said typewriter tape depending upon which direction the tape is being moved in a path between said spools, the improvement which comprises: a pair of electrical circuit-actuable heating means respectively disposed intermediate said spools in a path adjacent said spools, each of said heating means being positioned to make contact with said tape to selectively heat portions of said tape to cause the ink to reflow from portions of said tape unstruck by type keys to portions of said tape struck by said type keys thereby erasing portions of said tape when said tape is moved between said spools an ink reservoir adjacent one of said spools in said path, said ink reservoir being operative to be heated and to make contact with said tape to re-ink said tape; and means in circuit with said heating means and said ink reservoir for energizing said heating means and for heating said ink reservoir.

Claim 11

In a typewriter which includes a pair of spools which function respectively as supply and takeup spools for said typewriter tape depending upon which direction the tape is being moved in a path between said spools, the improvement which comprises: a pair of electrical circuit-actuable heating means respectively disposed intermediate said spools in a path adjacent said spools, each of said heating means being positioned to make contact with said tape to selectively heat portions of said tape to cause the ink to reflow from portions of said tape unstruck by type keys to portions of said tape struck by said type keys thereby erasing portions of said tape when said tape is moved between said spools an ink reservoir adjacent one of said spools in said path, said ink reservoir being operative to be heated and to make contact with said tape to re-ink said tape; and means in circuit with said heating means and said ink reservoir for energizing said heating means and for heating said ink reservoir.

Claim 12

A typewriter as defined in claim 8 wherein said heating means comprises a metallic element and a bimetallic element mounted on said metallic element said metallic element being adapted to be placed in contact with said tape and wherein said ink reservoir comprises a receptacle containing ink, a wire wound around said receptacle for receiving energy for heating said ink in said receptacle, and a felt pad for absorbing ink from said receptacle and adapted to be placed in contact with said tape.