US3739720A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of selective high speed printing using letters with flared limbs and gaps to compensate for smearing
Assignee: ELECTRONIC DATA PREPARATION CO
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Filing: 1970-10-06
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1990-10-06
Abstract
Abstract Printing methods and apparatus applicable to computer printing of the kind wherein a continuously rotating cylinder is provided with a plurality of rows of type characters operable to imprint paper or other print-receiving media through an ink transfer medium. The characters of each row of characters are identical and unlike the type characters in any other row and the array or arrangement of rows of characters is such with reference to the direction of rotation of the cylinder and the probable frequency of printing of the different characters in the printing of the composition that the characters are presented at a printing station in the order of increasing probability of printing. The type characters on the drum are so constructed with reference to the direction of rotation of the cylinder as to compensate for smearing of the printed characters due to wiping movement of the characters relative to the print-receiving medium and thereby enable the printed characters to present an appearance unmarred by smearing. Some of the type characters on the cylinder are adapted to overprint or be overprinted by other type characters so as to produce printed characters unlike any of the type characters on the cylinder, and others of the type characters are shaped to print characters having more than a single meaning. The type characters include upper case letters, lower case letters, numerals, punctuation marks, and special symbols by means of which a composition can be printed by the computer in virtually the same form as a typewritten composition.
Inventors
- 👤 D Jones
- 👤 A Kolthoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
A method of printing a character on a print-receiving medium by means of a type character on a carrier which is movable relatively to said print-receiving medium for presenting said type character in printing position relative to said printreceiving medium, said type character having a printing surface one limb of which extends generally in the direction of movement of said carrier and has at least one free end which flares laterally of said direction of movement, whereby said free end of said limb has a width greater than that of the remainder of said limb, said method comprising positioning a smearable transfer medium between said carrier and said print-receiving medium; moving said carrier relatively to said print-receiving medium to present said type character transiently in printing position; and effecting printing pressure between said type character and said print-receiving medium through said transfer medium when said type character is transiently presented in printing position during movement of said carrier whereby to produce relative wiping movement between said type character, said transfer medium, and said print-receiving medium in the direction of movement of said carrier, said wiping movement causing smearing of said transfer medium on said print-receiving medium, the extent of lateral flaring of said free end of said limb being so selected with reference to the extent of said smearing that the character printed on said print-receiving medium has a limb corresponding to said one limb but has the appearance of substantially uniform width laterally of the direction of such relat1ve movement.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
251 words
A method of printing a character on a print-receiving medium by means of a type character on a carrier which is movable relatively to said print-receiving medium for presenting said type character in printing position relative to said printreceiving medium, said type character having a printing surface one limb of which extends generally in the direction of movement of said carrier and has at least one free end which flares laterally of said direction of movement, whereby said free end of said limb has a width greater than that of the remainder of said limb, said method comprising positioning a smearable transfer medium between said carrier and said print-receiving medium; moving said carrier relatively to said print-receiving medium to present said type character transiently in printing position; and effecting printing pressure between said type character and said print-receiving medium through said transfer medium when said type character is transiently presented in printing position during movement of said carrier whereby to produce relative wiping movement between said type character, said transfer medium, and said print-receiving medium in the direction of movement of said carrier, said wiping movement causing smearing of said transfer medium on said print-receiving medium, the extent of lateral flaring of said free end of said limb being so selected with reference to the extent of said smearing that the character printed on said print-receiving medium has a limb corresponding to said one limb but has the appearance of substantially uniform width laterally of the direction of such relat1ve movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein both ends of said limb of said type character are free and both of said free ends are flared similarly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said free end of said limb of said type character is flared on both sides of said limb.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said free end of said limb of said type character is flared on one side only of said limb.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the length of said type character limb in the direction of movement of said carrier is less than the length of the corresponding limb of the character to be printed on said print-receiving medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said type character limb is joined to a second limb which extends laterally of the direction of movement of said carrier and wherein said second limb has a width in the direction of said movement less than the width of said remainder of the first-mentioned limb.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the printng surface of said type character includes a second limb which extends laterally of the direction of movement of said carrier and wherein said one limb has a width greater than the width of said second limb, the relative widths of said one and said second limbs being so related to the extent of said smearing that the character printed on said print-receiving medium has limbs corresponding to said one limb and said second limb but have the appearance of substantially uniform width.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said type character has at least one other limb extending laterally of the direction of movement of said carrier from adjacent the first-mentioned limb and spaced therefrom by a gap, said gap being of such length with respect to the extent of said smearing that tHe limbs of the character printed on said medium by said type character have the appearance of being joined.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said limbs of said type character form an included angle greater than about 30*.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein siad carrier comprises a continuously rotating cylinder.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of printing a character on a print-receiving medium by means of a type character on a carrier which is movable relatively to said print-receiving medium for presenting said type character in printing position relative to said print-receiving medium, said type character having a printing surface comprising a pair of limbs which extend along lines converging generally opposite the direction of movement of said carrier and terminate short of intersection to form a gap between said limbs extending substantially in the direction of movement of said carrier, said method comprising positioning a smearable transfer medium between said carrier and said print-receiving medium; moving said carrier continuously relatively to said print-receiving medium to present said type character transiently in printing position; and effecting printing pressure between said type character and said print-receiving medium through said transfer medium when said type character is transiently presented in printing position whereby to produce relative wiping movement between said type character, said transfer medium, and said prnt-receiving medium in the direction of movement of said carrier, said wiping movement causing smearing of said transfer medium on said print-receiving medium, the size of said gap being so selected with reference to the extent of said smearing that the character printed on said print-receiving medium has limbs corresponding to said pair of limbs but which have the appearance of intersecting one another.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of printing a character on a print-receiving medium by means of a type character on a carrier which is movable relatively to said print-receiving medium for presenting said type character in printing position relative to said print-receiving medium, said type character having a printing surface comprising a pair of limbs which extend along lines converging generally opposite the direction of movement of said carrier and terminate short of intersection to form a gap between said limbs extending substantially in the direction of movement of said carrier, said method comprising positioning a smearable transfer medium between said carrier and said print-receiving medium; moving said carrier continuously relatively to said print-receiving medium to present said type character transiently in printing position; and effecting printing pressure between said type character and said print-receiving medium through said transfer medium when said type character is transiently presented in printing position whereby to produce relative wiping movement between said type character, said transfer medium, and said prnt-receiving medium in the direction of movement of said carrier, said wiping movement causing smearing of said transfer medium on said print-receiving medium, the size of said gap being so selected with reference to the extent of said smearing that the character printed on said print-receiving medium has limbs corresponding to said pair of limbs but which have the appearance of intersecting one another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein one of the limbs of said type character extends generally in the direction of said movement and the other of said limbs of said type character extends laterally of the direction of said movement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein the limb extending generally in the direction of said movement terminates short of said other of said limbs to form said gap.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said included angle is more than about 30 degrees.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 90 wherein said carrier comprises a cylinder rotatable about its longitudinal axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein one limb of said type character extends substantially normal to said axis of rotation and the other of said limbs extends laterally of said axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein the limb extending substantially normal to said axis of rotation has a width greater than the width of said other limb.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the relative widths of said limbs of said type character are so related to the extent of said smearing that the widths of the limbs printed on said print-receiving medium have the appearane of substantial uniformity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |