Repeat mechanism for a printer

Claim 2

In a single element printer, the combination comprising: type key means for controlling the printing of a type character and Including a type key lever depressible to initiate the printing of the type character, character selection means including code selector members corresponding to the different positions of a plurality of type characters on a print element and being movable from a rest position to an operated position for determining the orientation of the print element. said character selection means further including an interposer associated with said type key lever and being movable from a rest position in response to the depression of said type key lever for an operating movement to move said code selector members corresponding to the type character of said type key lever from the rest position to the operated position to determine the orientation of the print element to print the selected type character, coupling means for controlling the application of drive power to the print element to effect an orienting movement of the print element to the orientation determined by said character selection means and to effect a printing movement of the print element to a printing position to impact the selected type character against a recording medium, said coupling means being movable to effect the orienting and printing movements of the print element and stationary to prevent movement of the print element, control means normally blocking the movement of said coupling means and being actuated in response to the operating movement of said interposer for actuating the movement of said coupling means to effect the orienting and printing movements of the print element to print the selected type character, said coupling means having a camming surface formed thereon for defining a printing cycle of the print element, said control means having a cam follower engaging the camming surface during the movement of said coupling means for returning said control means to blocking relation with said coupling means at the end of the printing cycle to prevent further printing of the print element, and said interposer being returned to the rest position upon completion of the operating movement to actuate said control means so as to enable said control means to return to blocking engagement with said coupling means upon completion of the printing cycle of the print element, and repeat means operable in response to a further depression of said type key lever for retaining said control means in the actuated condition subsequent to the return of said interposer to the rest position to continue the movement of said coupling means so as to effect repeated printing movement of the print element.

Claim 3

In a single element printer according to claim l: said control means including an actuating member movable from a rest position to an actuated position in response to the operating movement of said interposer to prevent a subsequent operating movement of another interposer during the printing cycle so as to prevent a subsequent operation of said character selection means, said actuating member normally being returned to the rest position at the end of the printing cycle as determined by the camming surface of said coupling means, and said repeat means including holding means operable in response to the further depression of said type key lever for holding said actuating member in the actuated position to effect repeated printing of the selected type character.

Claim 4

In a single element printer according to claim 2: said holding means being a pawl supported for movement between a rest position and a holding position for holding said actuating member in the actuated position, said repeat means further including a repeat linkage means connected with said holding means for normaly maintaining said holding means in the rest position and being movable to effect movement of said holding means from the rest position to the holding position, and said type key lever having a portion for engaging said repeat linkage means upon movement to a depressed repeat posItion for moving said repeat linkage means to effect movement of said holding means to the holding position.

Claim 5

In a single element printer, the combination comprising: type key means for controlling the printing of a type character and being depressible to initiate the printing of the type character, character selection means for determining the orientation of a print element having a plurality of type characters at different positions to print the type character corresponding to said type key means, said character selection means including code selector members corresponding to the positions of the type characters on the print element and being movable from a rest position to an operated position for determining the orientation of the print element, said character selection means further including an interposer associated with said type key means and being movable from a rest position in response to the operation of said type key means for an operating movement to move said code selector members corresponding to the type character of said type key means from the rest position to the operated position to determine the orientation of the print element to print the selected type character, coupling means for controlling the application of drive power to the print element to effect an orienting movement of the print element to the orientation determined by said character selection means and to effect a printing movement of the print element to a printing position to impact the selected type character against a recording medium, said coupling means being movable to effect the orienting and printing movements of the print element and stationary to prevent movement of the print element, said control means normally blocking the movement of said coupling means and being actuated in response to the operation of said character selection means for actuating the movement of said coupling means to effect the orienting and printing movements of the print element to print the selected type character, said control means including a coupling member for blocking the movement of said coupling means and being supported for movement between a blocking position and an enabling position. said control means including an actuating member movable from a rest position to an actuated position in response to the operating movement of said interposer to prevent a subsequent operation of said character selection means by preventing a subsequent operating movement of said interposer during the printing cycle, said coupling member having a portion for engaging said actuating member, resilient biasing means for urging said coupling member into engagement with said actuating member for movement therewith, said actuating member having an abutment formed thereon for maintaining said coupling member in the blocking position upon said actuating member being in the rest position, said coupling member being urged to the enabling position by said resilient biasing means upon movement of said actuating member to the actuated position to serve the abutment from engagement with said coupling member, said coupling means having a camming surface formed thereon for defining a printing cycle of the print element, said control means having a cam follower engaging the camming surface during the movement of said coupling means for returning said control means to blocking relation with said coupling means at the end of the printing cycle to prevent further printing of the print element, resilient biasing means for urging said interposer to the rest position upon completion of an operating movement, said actuating member normally being returned to the rest position at the end of the printing cycle as determined by the camming surface of said coupling means, repeat means operable in response to further depression of said type key means for retaining said control means in the actuated condition to continue the movement of said coupling means so as to effect repeated printing movement of the print element, and said repeat means including holding means operable in response to the further depression of said type key means for holding said actuating member in the actuated position.

Claim 6

In a single element printer, the combination comprising: type key means for controlling the printing of a type character and being depressible to initiate the printing of the type character, character selection means for determining the orientation of a print element having a plurality of type characters at different positions to print the type character corresponding to said type key means, said character selection means including code selector members corresponding to the positions of the type characters on the print element and being movable from a rest position to an operated position for determining the orientation of the print element, said character selection means further including an interposer associated with said type key means and being movable from a rest position in response to the operation of said type key means for an operating movement to move said code selector members corresponding to the type character of said type key means from the rest position to the operated position to determine the orientation of the print element to print the selected type character, coupling means for controlling the application of drive power to the print element to effect an orienting movement of the print element to the orientation determined by said character selection means and to effect a printing movement of the print element to a printing position to impact the selected type character against a recording medium, said coupling means being movable to effect the orienting and printing movements of the print element and stationary to prevent movement of the print element, said control means normally blocking the movement of said coupling means and being actuated in response to the operation of said character selection means for actuating the movement of said coupling means to effect the orienting and printing movements of the print element to print the selected type character, said control means including a coupling member for blocking the movement of said coupling means and being supported for movement between a blocking position and an enabling position. said control means including an actuating member movable from a rest position to an actuated position in response to the operating movement of said interposer to prevent a subsequent operation of said character selection means by preventing a subsequent operating movement of said interposer during the printing cycle, said coupling member having a portion for engaging said actuating member, resilient biasing means for urging said coupling member into engagement with said actuating member for movement therewith, said actuating member having an abutment formed thereon for maintaining said coupling member in the blocking position upon said actuating member being in the rest position, said coupling member being urged to the enabling position by said resilient biasing means upon movement of said actuating member to the actuated position to serve the abutment from engagement with said coupling member, said coupling means having a camming surface formed thereon for defining a printing cycle of the print element, said control means having a cam follower engaging the camming surface during the movement of said coupling means for returning said control means to blocking relation with said coupling means at the end of the printing cycle to prevent further printing of the print element, resilient biasing means for urging said interposer to the rest position upon completion of an operating movement, said actuating member normally being returned to the rest position at the end of the printing cycle as determined by the camming surface of said coupling means, repeat means operable in response to further depression of said type key means for retaining said control means in the actuated condition to continue the movement of said coupling means so as to effect repeated printing movement of the print element, and said repeat means including holding means operable in response to the further depression of said type key means for holding said actuating member in the actuated position.

Claim 7

In a single element printer, the combination comprising: a type key lever for controlling the printing of a type character and being depressible to initiate the printing of the type character, an intermediate key member associated with said type key lever and being depressible from a rest position in response to the depression of said type key lever to an actuated position in blocking relation to the depression of another type key lever, character selection means associated with said type key lever and operable in response to the depression of said intermediate key member for determining the orientation of a print element having a plurality of type characters at different positions to print the type character corresponding to said type key lever and for removing said intermediate key member from blocking relation to the depression of another type key lever, coupling means for controlling the application of drive power to the print element to effect an orienting movement of the print element to the orientation determined by said character selection means and to effect a printing movement of the print element to a printing position to impact the selected type character against a recording medium, said coupling means being movable to effect the orienting and printing movements of the print element and stationary to prevent movement of the print element, control means normally blocking the movement of said coupling means and being actuated in response to the operation of said character selection means for actuating the movement of said coupling means to effect the orienting and printing movements of the print element to print the selected type character, said coupling means having a camming surface formed thereon for defining a printing cycle of the print element, said control means having a cam follower engaging the camming surface during the movement of said coupling means for returning said control means to blocking relation with said coupling means at the end of the printing cycle to prevent further printing of the print element, and repeat means operable in response to further depression of said type key lever for retaining said control means in the actuated condition to continue the movement of said coupling means so as to effect repeated printing movement of the print element.

Claim 8

In a single element printer, the combination comprising: a type key lever for controlling the printing of a type character and being depressible to initiate the printing of the type character, an intermediate key member associated with said type key lever and being depressible from a rest position in response to the depression of said type key lever to an actuated position in blocking relation to the depression of another type key lever, character selection means associated with said type key lever and operable in response to the depression of said intermediate key member for determining the orientation of a print element having a plurality of type characters at different positions to print the type character corresponding to said type key lever and for removing said intermediate key member from blocking relation to the depression of another type key lever, coupling means for controlling the application of drive power to the print element to effect an orienting movement of the print element to the orientation determined by said character selection means and to effect a printing movement of the print element to a printing position to impact the selected type character against a recording medium, said coupling means being movable to effect the orienting and printing movements of the print element and stationary to prevent movement of the print element, control means normally blocking the movement of said coupling means and being actuated in response to the operation of said character selection means for actuating the movement of said coupling means to effect the orienting and printing movements of the print element to print the selected type character, said coupling means having a camming surface formed thereon for defining a printing cycle of the print element, said control means having a cam follower engaging the camming surface during the movement of said coupling means for returning said control means to blocking relation with said coupling means at the end of the printing cycle to prevent further printing of the print element, and repeat means operable in response to further depression of said type key lever for retaining said control means in the actuated condition to continue the movement of said coupling means so as to effect repeated printing movement of the print element.

Claim 9

In a single element printer according to claim 5: said character selection means including code selector members corresponding to the positions of the type characters on the print element and movable from a rest position to an operated position for determining the orientation of the print element, said character selection means further including an interposer associated with said intermediate key member and being movable from a rest position in response to the depression of said intermediate key member for an operating movement to move said code selector members corresponding to the type character of said type key lever from the rest position to the operated position to determine the orientation of the print element to print the selected type character and for removing said intermediate key member from blocking relation to the depression of another type key lever, said control means including an actuating member movable from a rest position to an actuated position in response to the operating movement of said interposer to prevent a subsequent operation of said character selection means by preventing a subsequent operating movement of said interposer during the printing cycle, resilient biasing means for urging said interposer to the rest position upon completion of an operating movement, said actuating member normally being returned to the rest position at the end of the printinG cycle as determined by the camming surface of said coupling means, and said repeat means including holding means operable in response to the further depression of said type key lever for holding said actuating member in the actuated position to effect repeated printing of the selected character.

Claim 10

In a single element printer according to claim 6: said holding means being a pawl supported for movement between a rest position and a holding position for holding said actuating member in the actuated position, said repeat means further including a repeat linkage means connected with said holding means for normally maintaining said holding means in the rest position and being movable to effect movement of said holding means from the rest position to the holding position, said type key lever being supported for a depressible movement from a normal rest position to a depressed repeat position, and said type key lever having a portion for engaging said repeat linkage means upon movement to the depressed repeat position for moving said repeat linkage means to effect movement of said holding means to the holding position.

Claim 11

In a single element printer according to claim 6: said control means including a coupling member for blocking the movement of said control means and supported for movement between a blocking position and an enabling position, said coupling member having a portion for engaging said actuating member, resilient biasing means for urging said coupling member into engagement with said actuating member for movement therewith, said actuating member having an abutment formed thereon for maintaining said coupling member in the blocking position upon said actuating member being in the rest position, and said coupling member being urged to the enabling position by said resilient biasing means upon movement of said actuating member to the actuated position to move the abutment from engagement with said coupling member.