US3696906A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Character selecting device for a printing mechanism
Assignee: Olivetti SpA
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Filing: 1971-03-22
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1991-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A character selecting device for a printing mechanism comprising a type-bearing element having a set of characters selected in accordance with the combination of a plurality of binary code units. Each code unit is associated with a selector cam rotatable between a first position and a second position. Each selector cam is in turn carried by a shaft, and at least one of the selector cams is so interconnected with at least one of the other shafts to cause the other shaft to shift perpendicularly to its axis when the one cam rotates from the first to the second position. Output means are engaged by the cam carried by the other shaft to move the type-bearing element to select the character to be printed.
Inventors
- 👤 Rinaldo Salto
- 👤 Domenico Roano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:26
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J7/00; B41J7/54; B41J7/56; B41J7/62; H; H04; H04L; H04L17/00; H04L17/16; H04L17/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A character selecting device for a printing mechanism comprising a type-bearing element provided with a set of characters selectable in accordance with a code combination established by a plurality of binary code units, each said code unit having associated therewith a selector cam rotatable selectively between a first position and a second position, each said selector cam being carried by a corresponding shaft, at least one said selector cam being interconnected with at least one other said shaft of at least one other said selector cam to cause said other shaft to shift perpendicularly to said other shaft axis when said one selector cam rotates from said first position to the said second position, and output means engaged by said other selector cam to move said type-bearing element to select the character to be printed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A character selecting device for a printing mechanism comprising a type-bearing element provided with a set of characters selectable in accordance with a code combination established by a plurality of binary code units, each said code unit having associated therewith a selector cam rotatable selectively between a first position and a second position, each said selector cam being carried by a corresponding shaft, at least one said selector cam being interconnected with at least one other said shaft of at least one other said selector cam to cause said other shaft to shift perpendicularly to said other shaft axis when said one selector cam rotates from said first position to the said second position, and output means engaged by said other selector cam to move said type-bearing element to select the character to be printed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said one selector cam causes the said other shaft to be shifted by means of a first roller rotatable on an intermediate support and engaged between said one selector cam and a second roller rotatably mounted on said other shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein the engagement of said selector cams and said rollers is irreversible, whereby the type-bearing element remains in the position reached.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein said intermediate support is a slider slidable on said shaft of said one selector cam and on said other shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said shaft of one of said selector cams is fixed and said shafts of said other selector cams are each carried by a corresponding movable element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein each said movable element comprises an arm pivotable on a corresponding pivot, the plurality of said pivots being coplanar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein each said selector cam carried by said movable element is rotated by a train of gears comprising two like pinions, one of said pinions being integral with the corresponding said selector cam, while the other said pinion is rotatable on the corresponding said pivot, means being provided for maintaining the orientation of the corresponding one of said selector cams unchanged during the movement of the said corresponding movable element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein the said means for maintaining the orientation comprises a toothed wheel pivoted on the said corresponding movable element and in mesh with the said two pinions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein each said pinion rotatable on a corresponding said pivot is rotated by a toothed sector, all but one of said toothed sectors turning respectively on the said pivot of the adjacent said movable element, whereas the said one toothed sector turns on an additional fixed pivot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein the said selector cam with the said fixed shaft is integral with a pinion which is rotated by a second toothed sector which also turns on the said additional fixed pivot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said selector cams are rotated by gear means comprising corresponding toothed sectors being rotatable by corresponding latches shiftable from one to the other of two positions by the action of at least one universal member, means representing the said binary units being provided for causing said latches to be actuated selectively by the said universal member, and cyclic actuation means being adapted to operate the universal member in correspondence with the presentation of a code combination.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device according to claim 11, wherein said latches are carried by a series of pivoted arms individually connected to said toothed sectors, said latches being provided with two opposed shoulders adapted to cooperate selectively with one or the other of two lug plates connected to said universal member in such manner as to be moved selectively in opposite directions thereby.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein the binary units are represented by a set of sliders movable into one of two positions by means of corresponding code bars.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein each of said sliders is locked in the position into which said universal member has caused it to shift by positioning means comprising a common crosspiece controlled by said cyclic actuation means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein said two lug plates are connected to said universal member by means of two flexible couplings to allow the shifting of said latches also during the movement of said lug plates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
130 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein with each said code unit there is associated a pair of said selector cams having complementary profiles which are off-set from one another, said selector cams of each pair being connected such that when one said selector cam of said pair rotates from said first position to said second position the other said selector cam of said pair rotates from said second position to said first position, said pairs of selector cams forming a sequence such that each said pair of selector cams other than the last pair shifts the corresponding said shafts of the next said pair of said selector cams by the same amount and in opposite directions and the last said pair of selector cams positions said output means positively.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device according to claim 16 wherein each of said shafts of said selector cams of each said pair is carried by a corresponding one of two supports which are turnable about a fixed common pivot, the said selector cams of each said pair being rotated by a single pinion rotatable on said fixed common pivot.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device according to claim 16 wherein said output means comprise a rocking lever engaged simultaneously by said last pair of selector cams, said rocking lever being engaged with a toothed sector in engagement with a toothed wheel that positions said type-bearing element correspondingly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device according to claim 16 wherein said type-bearing element is shiftable in accordance with at least two coordinates, the shifting in accordance with each said coordinate being controlled by a corresponding group of the said selector cams.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
111 words
A device according to claim 19, wherein the said type-bearing element is carried by a transversely movable carriage and is shifted in accordance with two coordinates by means of two prismatic shafts operatively connected to said type-bearing element, said two prismatic shafts being parallel to the direction of movement of the carriage and rotatable in the frame of the machine, each of said two prismatic shafts being rotatable by a corresponding one of a pair of rocking levers, one of said rocking levers being operated by a first said group of said selector cams and the other of said rocking levers being operated by a second said group of selector cams.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 20 wherein said selector cams of at least one of said groups have a lift varying in accordance with powers of two.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
176 words
A device according to claim 21, wherein said first group of said selector cams comprises a kinematic train of four said pairs of said selector cams with a lift varying in accordance with powers of two, in which said pair with the greatest lift is rotatable on fixed shafts and the other three said pairs are rotatable on three corresponding pairs of supports, and in which said pair with the smallest lift cooperates with said one rocking lever, said second group of selector cams comprising a kinematic train of three pairs of said selector cams in which one said pair of selector cams of said second group is rotatable about fixed shafts and the othEr two said pairs of said selector cams of said second group have a lift which is double that of said first pair of selector cams of said second group and are rotatable on corresponding movable shafts of two pairs of supports, one pair of said two pairs of said selector cams of said second group cooperating with said second rocking lever.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
82 words
A device according to claim 19 wherein said type-bearing element is of spheroidal form, said set of characters being distributed in a plurality of rows selectable by rotation of said type-bearing element about one axis by means of a first group of said selector cams, said set of characters being distributed in a plurality of rings round said type-bearing element and selectable by rotation of said type-bearing element about a second axis by means of a second group of said selector cams.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 20, wherein one of said prismatic shafts is connected to said type-bearing element by means of gears and a universal joint borne by the carriage.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |