Typewriter system

Claim 2

A line searching typewriter system capable of indexing to a desired line solely by the alpha-numeric symbols of that line, comprising a keyboard with a plurality of symbol printing keys providing alphanumeric printing signals line end signal means providing line end signals and search function means providing a search signal type means having a plurality of corresponding alphanumeric printing symbols, said type means being operable in response to said printing signals to print said symbols in a line means for providing movement of a sheet relative to said type means to provide for printing a plurality of lines of symbols recording means for recording said symbol and line end signals and control logic means having first means for storing a plurality of said symbol printing signals and a said line end signal together comprising a recorded line and second means for storing a plurality of symbol printing signals comprising at least a portion of a line to be searched for, said control logic means being responsive to said search signal and to said symbol printing signals stored in said second means to locate said desired line solely by reference to the said symbol printing signals comprising said line, the symbol printing signals of said desired line being then available to control operation of said type means to print said line of symbols.

Claim 3

A typewriter system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said portion of the symbols of a desired line are its initial symbols.

Claim 4

A typewriter system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means providing line end signals includes a return key.

Claim 5

A typewriter system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for providing movement of a sheet is a rotatable platen.

Claim 6

A typewriter system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said type means includes a horizontally movable type head having a plurality of corresponding alpha-numeric printing symbols, said type head being operable in response to said printing signals to print said symbols and being horizontally movable in response to horizontal function signals to print said symbols in a line.

Claim 7

A line searching typewriter system capable of indexing to a desired line solely by the initial alpha-numeric symbols of that line, comprising a keyboard with a plurality of symbol printing keys providing alpha-numeric printing signals line end signal means providing line end signals and search function means providing a search signal type means having a plurality of corresponding alpha-numeric printing symbols, said type means being operable in response to said printing signals to print said symbols in a line terminated responsive to a said line end signal means for providing movement of a sheet relative to said type means to provide for printing a plurality of said lines of symbols recording means for recording said symbol and line end signals and control logic means having storage means for storing said symbol and line end signals, having a first search buffer portion and a second recording means buffer portion, said control means being responsive to said search signal and to said symbol printing keys upon printing the initial symbols of a desired line to store said initial symbol signals into said search buffer portion, successively to store lines of symbol signals terminating in a said line end signal from said recording means into said recording means buffer portion, and to perform for each line a symbol-by-symbol comparison of the contents of said first buffer portion with the contents of said second buffer portion until the desired line is found, identifying said desired line solely by the initial symbols of said line said desired line of symbol signals in said second buffer portion being then available to control operation of said type means to print said line of symbols.

Claim 8

A line searching typewriter system capable of indexing to a desired line solely by the initial alpha-numeric symbols of that line, comprising a keyboard with a plurality of symbol printing keys providing alpha-numeric printing signals line end signal means providing line end signals and search function means providing a search signal type means having a plurality of corresponding alpha-numeric printing symbols, said type means being operable in response to said printing signals to print said symbols in a line terminated responsive to a said line end signal means for providing movement of a sheet relative to said type means to provide for printing a plurality of said lines of symbols recording means for recording said symbol and line end signals and control logic means having storage means for storing said symbol and line end signals, having a first search buffer portion and a second recording means buffer portion, said control means being responsive to said search signal and to said symbol printing keys upon printing the initial symbols of a desired line to store said initial symbol signals into said search buffer portion, successively to store lines of symbol signals terminating in a said line end signal from said recording means into said recording means buffer portion, and to perform for each line a symbol-by-symbol comparison of the contents of said first buffer portion with the contents of said second buffer portion until the desired line is found, identifying said desired line solely by the initial symbols of said line said desired line of symbol signals in said second buffer portion being then available to control operation of said type means to print said line of symbols.

Claim 9

The typewriter system of claim 6 in which said control logic means further provides computation means connected to said storage means and a read-only memory connected to said computation means and containing a plurality of predetermined control words, each said predetermined control word including a predetermined set of fields, said fields including a plurality of computation means control fields and a further field for determining the next control word to be accessed, one of said control fields controlling the transfer of signals between said computation means and said storage means, said computation means including means responsive to said control fields for controlling the operation of said computation means, said computation means being responsive to said search function means to cause said read-only memory to provide a selected series of search control words for controlling the operation of said typewriter system in indexing to a desired line.

Claim 10

A tabulating typewriter system capable of aligning a column of numbers with respect to the virtual decimal points therein, comprising a keyboard with a plurality of symbol printing keys providing alpha-numeric and decimal point printing signals instruction key means providing a tabulation instruction signal and a decimal point alignment instruction signal column setting means providing a signal for setting the desired position of the decimal points of said numbers type means having a plurality of corresponding alpha-numeric and decimal point printing symbols, said symbol printing keys being initially operated to print the initial symbol of a number in alignment with said desired position recording means for recording said symbol signals, and control logic means responsive to said decimal point alignment signal tabulation instruction signal decimal point printing signal and column setting signal to record said symbol and decimal point signals on said recording means with said decimal point aligned with said desired position, said type means being operable in response to said recorded signals to print said numbers and decimal points so aligned.

Claim 11

A tabulating typewriter system capable of aligning a column of numbers with respect to the virtual decimal points therein, comprising a keyboard with a plurality of symbol printing keys providing alpha-numeric and decimal point printing signals instruction key means providing a tabulation instruction signal and a decimal point alignment instruction signal column setting means providing a signal for setting the desired position of the decimal points of said numbers type means having a plurality of corresponding alpha-numeric and decimal point printing symbols, said symbol printing keys being initially operated to print the initial symbol of a number in alignment with said desired position recording means for recording said symbol signals, and control logic means responsive to said decimal point alignment signal tabulation instruction signal decimal point printing signal and column setting signal to record said symbol and decimal point signals on said recording means with said decimal point aligned with said desired position, said type means being operable in response to said recorded signals to print said numbers and decimal points so aligned.

Claim 12

A typewriter system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said control logic means is responsive to a space following a printing symbol to align said space with said desired position.

Claim 13

The typewriter system of claim 8 wherein said control logic means provides storage means for storage of said printing signals and said column setting signals, said control means being responsive to said decimal point alignment instruction signal to store a corresponding alignment signal into said storage means, responsive to said symbol printing keys to store said alpha-numeric and decimal point printing signals in said storage means with said initial symbol in alignment with said desired position, and responsive to said tabulation instruction signal, said stored column setting signal, said stored corresponding alignment signal and said stored decimal point printing signal to modify said stored printing signals to align said decimal point signal with said desired position.

Claim 14

The typewriter system of claim 10 in which said control logic means further provides computation means connected to said storage means and a read-only memory connected to said computation means and containing a plurality of predetermined control words, each said predetermined control word including a predetermined set of fields, said fields including a plurality of computation means control fields and a further field for determining the next control word to be accessed, one of said control fields controlling the transfer of signals between said computation means and said storage means, said computation means including means responsive to said control fields for controlling the operation of said computation means, said computation means being responsive to said decimal point alignment instruction signal to cause said read-only memory to provide a selected series of alignment signal control words for controlling the storage of said corresponding alignment signal into said storage means, and responsive to said tabulation instruction signal, said stored column setting signal, said stored corresponding alignment signal and said stored decimal point printing signal to cause said read-only memory to provide a selected series of decimal tabulation control words for controlling the alignment of said decimal point with said desired position.

Claim 15

An editing typewriter system capable of printing lines of symbols centered with respect to selected margins in response to uncentered input lines, comprising a keyboard with a plurality of symbol printing keys providing alpha-numeric symbol printing signals and function keys providing function signals, line end signal means providing a line end signal defining a line left and right margin setting means providing margin setting signals defining left and right margins centering key means providing a centering instruction signal type means having a plurality of corresponding alpha-numeric printing symbols, said type means being operable in response to said symbol printing and function signals, recording means for recording said symbol and function signals, line end signal and centering instruction signal playback request means for initiating operation of said type means in response to said recorded symbol and function signals, storage means for storage of said recorded signals and said margin setting signals and control means responsive to said playback request means to transfer a line of said recorded signals from said recording means to said storage means, to said stored centering instruction signal, line end signal, and symbol and function signals to provide a count signal of the total spaces to be occupied by said line of signals when typed, to said count signal and said left and right margin setting signals to derive an initial positioning signal, and to said stored centering instruction signal, said initial positioning signal and said stored symbol and function signals to operate said type means to print said line of symbols centered with respect to said left and right margin settings.

Claim 16

An editing typewriter system capable of printing lines of symbols centered with respect to selected margins in response to uncentered input lines, comprising a keyboard with a plurality of symbol printing keys providing alpha-numeric symbol printing signals and function keys providing function signals, line end signal means providing a line end signal defining a line left and right margin setting means providing margin setting signals defining left and right margins centering key means providing a centering instruction signal type means having a plurality of corresponding alpha-numeric printing symbols, said type means being operable in response to said symbol printing and function signals, recording means for recording said symbol and function signals, line end signal and centering instruction signal playback request means for initiating operation of said type means in response to said recorded symbol and function signals, storage means for storage of said recorded signals and said margin setting signals and control means responsive to said playback request means to transfer a line of said recorded signals from said recording means to said storage means, to said stored centering instruction signal, line end signal, and symbol and function signals to provide a count signal of the total spaces to be occupied by said line of signals when typed, to said count signal and said left and right margin setting signals to derive an initial positioning signal, and to said stored centering instruction signal, said initial positioning signal and said stored symbol and function signals to operate said type means to print said line of symbols centered with respect to said left and right margin settings.