Serial printing device

Claim 2

A serial printing device comprising a record supporting platen, a type head adapted to print numerical amounts as a result of an operation and signs indicating the nature of said operation and/or said amounts, spacing means for effecting relative character-spacing movement between said type head and said record supporting platen and for causing said signs to be printed in predetermined character positions, said type head having characters including digits for printing said numerical amounts and symbols for printing said signs, said digits and said symbols being respectively carried by two separate zones of said type head, shift means for causing said type head to prearrange one of said two zones for printing, setting elements means permutable for representing a code combination of one corresponding of both said digits and said symbols, selecting means controlled by said setting elements for causing said type head to select, for printing, one of said characters corresponding to said code combination in said one prearranged of said two zones, and a programming mechanism connecting said spacing means with said shift mechanism as to cause said type head to automatically prearrange for printing the zone of said two zones carrying the characters corresponding to said predetermined character positions.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, wherein said character positions are successive positions in a row, said supporting platen being transversely fixed and said spacing means comprising a power drive shaft, and means connecting said shaft with said type head for transversely moving said type head with respect to said platen, and wherein said programming mechanism includes a shift clutch for operating said shift means, said shift clutch including a driving part, a driven part connected to said shift means and a command member for connecting for rotation said driving part with said driven part, cam means operatively connected synchronously to said power driven shaft, sensing lever means cooperating with said cam means as to be moved between a first position causing said command member to connect said driving part with said driven part, to a second position causing said command member to disconnect said driving part from said driven part, and means for synchronizing said power driven shaft with said driven part of said shift clutch.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 1 wherein said character positions are successive positions in a row, a predetermined number of said signs being printed before said amounts, said supporting platen being transversely fixed and said spacing means comprising a power driven shaft and means connecting said shaft with said type head for transversely moving said type head with respect to said platen, and wherein said programming mechanism comprises counting cam means synchronous with said power driven shaft, a sensing lever cooperating with said counting cam means as to count the successive character positions and a shift command member cooperating with said sensing levers as to cause said shift means to be operated after said predetermined number of signs has been counted so that the head is caused to alternate one of said two zones with the other of said two zones before said selector means is operated to select the particular character for the next one of said character positions.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 1 wherein said character positions are successive positions of a printing line and a predetermined number of said signs are printed before the printing of the digits of said amounts, said selecting means comprising a cyclically operable shaft and said programming mechanism comprising a selection sensor adapted to count cycles of operation of said selector for operating said shift means and a shift sensor adapted to sense the operation of said shift means for operating said selector.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 1, wherein said spacing means comprise a motive shaft and means connecting said shaft with said type head for moving said type head with respect to said platen, and wherein said programming mechanism comprises a shift clutch having a shift driven part connected to said shift means, a shift driving part connectable with said shift driving part for imparting drive to said shift means, a selection clutch having a selection driven part connected to said selector means, a selection driving part connectable with said selector driven part for imparting drive to said selector, and a power shaft for powering said shift driving part and said selection driving part, synchronizing means being provided in said shift clutch and in said selector clutch for angularly displacing said selection driven part with a predetermined phase relative to said shift driven part.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 5, wherein said shift clutch and said selection clutch include corresponding clutch dogs, said shift driven part and said selector driven part including corresponding guide means for carrying said clutch dogs, said synchronizing means comprising a common cylindrical member carried by said power shaft and having a first axial portion forming said shift driving part of said shift clutch and a second axial portion forming said selection driving part of said selection clutch, each one of said first and second axial portion being provided with entraining openings so arranged around the corresponding peripheries of said axial portions and adapted to be engaged by said corresponding clutch dogs as to establish said predetermined phase.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 5 wherein said shift clutch includes a shift command member movably supported by said shift driver part, between a rest position holding said shift driven part disconnected from said shift driving part and a released position holding said shift driven part connected with said shift driven part and further comprising an actuatable start electromagnet, a control member of said shift clutch connected to said electromagnet for being moved between a first position wherein said control member arrests said shift command member in said rest position and a second position wherein said control member respectively releases said shift command member, a programming cam carried by said shift driven part and a shift sensor responsive to the rotation of said programming cam for actuating said selection clutch.

Claim 9

In a serial printing device for a calculating machine adapted to print numerical amounts as a result of an operation and a predetermined quantity of signs indicating the nature of said operation and/or said amounts comprising a record supporting platen; a type head having two separate zones carrying respectively digits for printing said numerical amounts and symbols for printing said signs; a rotatable motive shaft; shift means including a shift driving part connected to said motive shaft, a shift driven part, shift connecting means connecting said shift driven part with said type head for causing said type head to prearrange either of said two zones for printing and a shift command member movably supported by said shift driven part between rest positions holding said shift driven part disconnected from said shift driving part and released positions holding said shift driven part connected with said shift driving part; setting elements means permutable for representing a code combination of one character corresponding of both said digits and said symbols; selecting means including a selector driving part connected to said motive shaft, a selector driven part, a selector command member movably supported by said selector shift driven part between a rest location holding said driven part disengaged from said driving part and a released location holding said driven part connected to said driving part and a decoding mechanism controlled by said setting elements and interconnecting said selector driven part with said type head for causing said type head to select, for printing, said character corresponding to said code combination in said one prearranged of said two zones; and spacing means for effecting relative character-spacing movement between said type head and said record supporting platen, the combination comprising: a first control member actuatable between an inoperative position wherein arrests said shift command member in one of said rest positions, and an operative position wherein releases said shift command member in one of said released positions; a programme cam positioned by said shift driven part; a shift sensor cooperating with said cam for controlling said selector command member, as to start a printing cycle of the character to be printed in correspondence of the prearrangement of said two zones; a selection cam positioned by said selection driven part; a selection sensor cooperating with said selection cam, said selection sensor being normally disposed in the path of said shift command member as to interfere with said shift command member and arrest said command member in another of said rest positions wherein said type head prearranges for printing the zone corresponding to said symbols, said selection cam causing said selection sensor to be shifted out of the path of said shift command member so that said shift driven part is reengaged to said shift driving part after printing cycles corresponding to said quantity of signs; a second control member actuatable for arresting said shift command member in a further of said rest positions wherein said type head prearranges for printing the zone corresponding to said digits; and means responsive to a last digit of said numerical amounts for moving said selector command member in said rest position, for arresting said printing cycles.

Claim 10

In a serial printing device for a calculating machine adapted to print numerical amounts as a result of an operation and a predetermined quantity of signs indicating the nature of said operation and/or said amounts comprising a record supporting platen; a type head having two separate zones carrying respectively digits for printing said numerical amounts and symbols for printing said signs; a rotatable motive shaft; shift means including a shift driving part connected to said motive shaft, a shift driven part, shift connecting means connecting said shift driven part with said type head for causing said type head to prearrange either of said two zones for printing and a shift command member movably supported by said shift driven part between rest positions holding said shift driven part disconnected from said shift driving part and released positions holding said shift driven part connected with said shift driving part; setting elements means permutable for representing a code combination of one character corresponding of both said digits and said symbols; selecting means including a selector driving part connected to said motive shaft, a selector driven part, a selector command member movably supported by said selector shift driven part between a rest location holding said driven part disengaged from said driving part and a released location holding said driven part connected to said driving part and a decoding mechanism controlled by said setting elements and interconnecting said selector driven part with said type head for causing said type head to select, for printing, said character corresponding to said code combination in said one prearranged of said two zones; and spacing means for effecting relative character-spacing movement between said type head and said record supporting platen, the combination comprising: a first control member actuatable between an inoperative position wherein arrests said shift command member in one of said rest positions, and an operative position wherein releases said shift command member in one of said released positions; a programme cam positioned by said shift driven part; a shift sensor cooperating with said cam for controlling said selector command member, as to start a printing cycle of the character to be printed in correspondence of the prearrangement of said two zones; a selection cam positioned by said selection driven part; a selection sensor cooperating with said selection cam, said selection sensor being normally disposed in the path of said shift command member as to interfere with said shift command member and arrest said command member in another of said rest positions wherein said type head prearranges for printing the zone corresponding to said symbols, said selection cam causing said selection sensor to be shifted out of the path of said shift command member so that said shift driven part is reengaged to said shift driving part after printing cycles corresponding to said quantity of signs; a second control member actuatable for arresting said shift command member in a further of said rest positions wherein said type head prearranges for printing the zone corresponding to said digits; and means responsive to a last digit of said numerical amounts for moving said selector command member in said rest position, for arresting said printing cycles.

Claim 11

A device according to claim 8, further including a start electromagnet connected to said control member and actuatable for moving said shift control member, a control cam positioned by said shift driven part and an intermediate member connecting said control cam with said shift command member as to maintain said control member temporarily in the path of said shift command member independently of said start electromagnet and of said selection cam, so as to start at least one complete of said printing cycles of symbols and digits independently of the control of said start electromagnet.

Claim 12

A device according to claim 8, wherein said motive shaft is driven by an electric motor, further comprising a switch for arresting said electric motor, said switch being actuated by said start electromagnet, and being kept closed under the control of said shift driven part so as to keep said shift and selection driving parts in rotation independently of said start electromagnet until a started printing cycle is completed.

Claim 13

A device according to claim 8, wherein said type head is mounted on a carriage movable transversely with respect to said platen and said spacing means are operatively connected with said selection driven part, for moving said carriage during each one of said printing cycles, further comprising a stop element interfering with the movement of said carriage with respect to said platen, said stop element causing said shift command member to be positioned in one of said rest position so that the reengagement of said shift clutch for a new printing cycle is prevented until the return of said type head to a rest position with respect to said platen.

Claim 14

A device according to claim 8, wherein said type head is mounted on a carriage movable transversely with respect to said platen, and said spacing means include a rack parallel to said platen, and a worm rotatably supported by said carriage, said rack being adapted to be engaged by said worm for advancing said carriage in correspondence of the rotation of said worm, further comprising a feed cam carried by said shift driven part for disengaging said rack from said worm, a shaft parallel to said platen and rotated by said selection driven part, said worm being fast in rotation with said shaft and axially slidable thereon and a return spring for shifting said carriage toward a rest position, so that said feed cam disengages said rack from said worm at the end of the printing of a line of print.

Claim 15

A device according to claim 8, wherein said setting elements means comprise a plurality of actuating elements, urged by springs, further comprising a plurality of electromagnets provided with actuatable cores, adapted to retain selectively said actuating elements, a store on which are stored coded signals corresponding to said one character, a follow-up element for bringing cyclically said actuating elements into contact with said cores, a synchronizing element for retrieving fresh data from said store at the end of each selection cycle, said follow-up element being positioned by said selection driven part and a follow-up cam positioned by said shift driven part further controlling said follow-up cam as to cause said actuating elements to be kept into contact with said cores at the end of each of said printing cycles.

Claim 16

A device according to claim 13, further comprising striking means actuatable for causing said type head to strike against said platen to print the selected character, a sensing element cooperating with said actuating elements, as to sense said actuating elements and means controlled by said sensing element to prevent the actuation of said striking means in the event of a predetermined code combination of said actuating elements.

Claim 17

A device according to claim 8, wherein said shift connecting means comprise a differential gear including an output gear connected to said type head, a first input connected to said shift driven part, and a second input connected to said decoding mechanism.

Claim 18

A device according to claim 8, wherein said type head comprises a cylindrical sleeve having a substantially vertical axis and wherein said device further comprises a transverse support parallel to said platen, a carriage slidable on said transverse support and mounting said sleeve for rotation about said vertical axis, means connecting said spacing means with said carriage for moving said type head transversely to said platen, a toothed cylinder rotationally positioned by said decoding mechanism, said toothed cylinder being parallel to said transverse support having teeth parallel to said platen and extending over the entire transverse range of movement of said head, at least one gear rotatably supported by said carriage and engaging with said toothed cylinder, and intermediate gear means connecting for rotation said gear with said sleeve.

Claim 19

A device according to claim 16, further comprising means for turning said carriage on said transverse support to bring a selected character into engagement with said platen for printing, and a ring gear fixed to said type head sleeve, said gear including a face having lateral teeth arranged thereon to mesh with said ring gear, and the engagement of said teeth with said toothed wheel being also partially retained during the turning of said carriage for printing the character.

Claim 20

A serial printing device for an electronic calculating machine comprising a platen; a type head including a two separate zones, a first of said zones carrying a group of digits and a second of said zones carrying a group of symbols; spacing means for transversely moving said type head with respect to said platen, as to cause said head to print, in a single row numerical amounts constituted by said digits and, before said numerical amounts, a predetermined number of symbols indicating the nature of said amounts; a shift clutch having a motive shaft, a shift driven and a shift command member carried by said shift driven part of said shift clutch, said shift command member describing a circular path as a result of the rotation of said shift driven path; transmission means connecting said shift driven part to said type head for causing said head to prearrange for printing said first and said second of said zones, said shift command member being adapted, when arrested, to disengage said shift driven part from said shift motive part and to hold said driven part in the reached position, said shift command member being adapted, when released, to engage said shift driven part with said motive part, so that said type head prearranges for printing either of said zones; a first control member actuatable between a rest position, wherein said control member interferes with the path of said shift command member for arresting it in a first position, and an operative position wherein said control member releases said shift command member; an electronic control unit including storing means for storing said digits and said symbols as single characters having a code combinations of signals, and electromagnet means actuatable for starting a printing cycle of said row, said electromagnet means actuating said control member in said operative position; a selector connected to said storing means and to said type head for selecting a particular character corresponding to said code combinations of signals in each of said zones; a shift sensor for operating said selector; programme cam means positioned by said shift driven part of said shift clutch and cooperating with said shift sensor, said programme cam means having a first portion positioning said shift sensor for operating said selector after a presetting rotation of said shift driven part; a selector sensor movable into the path of said shift command member, for arresting said shift command member in a second position such that said type head prearranges said second zone; counting means responsive to said predetermined number of selected symbols for moving said selector sensor out of the path of said command member as to cause said shift clutch to be reengaged independently from said first control member; and a second control member also actuated by said electromagnet means and movable in the path of said shift command member for arresting said shift command member in a third position such that said type head prearranges for printing said first zone, said programme cam means having a second portion for the printing of the digits of said amounts, and said electromagnet means releasing said second control means upon selection of a last digit of said amounts, so that said programme cam means cause said shift sensor to arrest said selector until said last digit of said amounts has been selected.

Claim 21

A serial printing device for an electronic calculating machine comprising a platen; a type head including a two separate zones, a first of said zones carrying a group of digits and a second of said zones carrying a group of symbols; spacing means for transversely moving said type head with respect to said platen, as to cause said head to print, in a single row numerical amounts constituted by said digits and, before said numerical amounts, a predetermined number of symbols indicating the nature of said amounts; a shift clutch having a motive shaft, a shift driven and a shift command member carried by said shift driven part of said shift clutch, said shift command member describing a circular path as a result of the rotation of said shift driven path; transmission means connecting said shift driven part to said type head for causing said head to prearrange for printing said first and said second of said zones, said shift command member being adapted, when arrested, to disengage said shift driven part from said shift motive part and to hold said driven part in the reached position, said shift command member being adapted, when released, to engage said shift driven part with said motive part, so that said type head prearranges for printing either of said zones; a first control member actuatable between a rest position, wherein said control member interferes with the path of said shift command member for arresting it in a first position, and an operative position wherein said control member releases said shift command member; an electronic control unit including storing means for storing said digits and said symbols as single characters having a code combinations of signals, and electromagnet means actuatable for starting a printing cycle of said row, said electromagnet means actuating said control member in said operative position; a selector connected to said storing means and to said type head for selecting a particular character corresponding to said code combinations of signals in each of said zones; a shift sensor for operating said selector; programme cam means positioned by said shift driven part of said shift clutch and cooperating with said shift sensor, said programme cam means having a first portion positioning said shift sensor for operating said selector after a presetting rotation of said shift driven part; a selector sensor movable into the path of said shift command member, for arresting said shift command member in a second position such that said type head prearranges said second zone; counting means responsive to said predetermined number of selected symbols for moving said selector sensor out of the path of said command member as to cause said shift clutch to be reengaged independently from said first control member; and a second control member also actuated by said electromagnet means and movable in the path of said shift command member for arresting said shift command member in a third position such that said type head prearranges for printing said first zone, said programme cam means having a second portion for the printing of the digits of said amounts, and said electromagnet means releasing said second control means upon selection of a last digit of said amounts, so that said programme cam means cause said shift sensor to arrest said selector until said last digit of said amounts has been selected.

Claim 22

A device according to claim 18, wherein said type head includes a rotatable cylindrical support, said zones including two diametrically opposed sectors of said support and wherein said selector, for selecting said digits and said symbols, rotates said support about opposite directions starting from corresponding rest positions of said type head, and wherein said rest positions of the head are such that said digits and said symbols of said zones are off-centre with respect to the platen, said shift driven part of said shift clutch centering said digits and said symbols of said zones when said shift command member is arrested in said second position and in said third position.

Claim 23

A device according to claim 18, wherein said head comprises a cylindrical sleeve, said zones including two diametrically opposed surface sectors of said sleeve, and wherein said shift means further comprises a differential gear including an output gear connected for rotation to said type head, a first input of said differential being connected to said shift driven part, and a second input of said differential being connected to said selector.

Claim 24

A serial printing device for accounting and calculating machine comprising a type head including a plurality of characters selectable for printing and a selector for selecting said character, said selector comprising at least one prearranging setting element associated with a group of said plurality of characters; a selection element; support means for movably supporting said selection element in a first and in a second direction, said selection element carrying at least one prearranging cam; first moving means for moving said prearranging setting element between a un-set position far from said prearranging cam and a set position interfering with said prearranging cam; second moving means for moving cyclically said selection element in said first direction as a result of which said at least one prearranging cam co-operates with said prearranging setting element in said set position for shifting said selection element in said second direction by a predetermined stroke; positioning means supported adjacently said selection element associated with said plurality of characters; a groups of positioning cams carried by said selection element, one of said cams being adapted to co-operate with said positioning means, when said selection element is shifted by said stroke in said second direction, to move further said selection element by variable steps in said second direction; and transmission means connecting said selection element with said type head as to position said head in response to said variable steps and thereby select one character of said group of characters of said type head associated to said set prearranging setting element and to said positioning cam.

Claim 25

A serial printing device for accounting and calculating machine comprising a type head including a plurality of characters selectable for printing and a selector for selecting said character, said selector comprising at least one prearranging setting element associated with a group of said plurality of characters; a selection element; support means for movably supporting said selection element in a first and in a second direction, said selection element carrying at least one prearranging cam; first moving means for moving said prearranging setting element between a un-set position far from said prearranging cam and a set position interfering with said prearranging cam; second moving means for moving cyclically said selection element in said first direction as a result of which said at least one prearranging cam co-operates with said prearranging setting element in said set position for shifting said selection element in said second direction by a predetermined stroke; positioning means supported adjacently said selection element associated with said plurality of characters; a groups of positioning cams carried by said selection element, one of said cams being adapted to co-operate with said positioning means, when said selection element is shifted by said stroke in said second direction, to move further said selection element by variable steps in said second direction; and transmission means connecting said selection element with said type head as to position said head in response to said variable steps and thereby select one character of said group of characters of said type head associated to said set prearranging setting element and to said positioning cam.

Claim 26

A device according to claim 21, wherein said positioning means comprise a series of two positioning setting element associated with two of said plurality of characters of said head which may co-operate with two corresponding of said group of positioning cams, further comprising means for individually positioning each of said setting elements as to co-operate with said positioning cams of the said group.

Claim 27

A device according to claim 21, wherein said selection element comprises a drum, said supporting means comprising a shaft on which said drum is axially slidable along said second direction and angularly fixed thereon, said second means driving said shaft by a cyclic rotation in said second direction, further comprising a centering member for co-operating with said drum to bring said drum back to a rest position after said variable steps in said second direction, another prearranging cam also carried by said drum as to form a pair of prearranging cams together said at least one prearranging cam; another prearranging setting element associated with said one prearranging setting element as to form a pair of prearranging setting elements, said pair of elements being connected to said first moving means in such manner that to the un-set position of one there corresponds the set position of the other and vice versa, each of said pair of elements being adapted to co-operate with a corresponding prearranging cam of said pair of prearranging cams so as to shift said drum axially from the rest position in one direction or in the opposite direction.

Claim 28

A device according to claim 23, wherein said positioning cams of said group define grooves substantially helicoidal and arranged in contiguous pairs, the grooves of each pair being inclined in opposite directions with respect to the shaft supporting said drum, each of said positioning setting elements comprising a pin associated with a corresponding pair of said grooves to co-operate with one or the other groove of said pair, depending on the direction of movement occasioned by one of said pair of prearranging setting elements.

Claim 29

A device according to claim 22, further including interlocking levers associated to said positioning setting elements, pivot means for pivoting said levers adjacently said positioning elements, each of said locking levers including a pair of arms, one of said arms being disposed in the path of at least one associated setting element, so that each of said levers is rotated into a locking position for the other setting elements when the associated setting element is positioned, the arms of said levers co-operating mutually, so that the rotation of one of said levers into the locking position rotates the adjacent levers in corresponding locking positions.