Typewriter with electronic keyboard

Claim 2

A typewriter having an operating mechanism and a printing mechanism using a single element print head operable to present one character at a time to a printing position and print the same where the character is determined by tilt and rotational movement in response to distinct typewriter keyboard characters and operations, said typewriter operating and printing mechanism comprising: a. electrical matrix means having components interconnected to be representative of said distinct typewriter keyboard characters and operations, and producing output signals representative thereof; b. switch means including electrical power means electrically connected to said electrical matrix means and disposed in a typewriter keyboard pattern representative of the distinct typewriter characters and operations; c. keyboard buffer means having its input excited by said electrical matrix means for storing and releasing said signals representative of said keyboard characters and operations, said buffer means having a high speed input and a slow speed output characteristic; d. solenoid drive means operatively interconnected to said keyboard buffer means, said solenoid drive means being actuated in accordance with the characters and operations of the typewriter selected by an operator; e. buffer control means electrically interconnected to said electrical matrix means and said keyboard buffer means and controlling the flow of signals to said solenoid driver means; f. first timing means interconnected with said buffer control means and said solenoid drive means for inhibiting said keyboard buffer means while said solenoid drive means is energized; g. second timing means interconnected with said buffer control means and said keyboard buffer means for inhibiting said keyboard buffer means during a predetermined rest period; h. and printing cycle timing means operably interconnected to said printing mechanism and said second timing means providing a signal cutting off the operation of said second timing means prior to the end of said predetermined rest period.

Claim 3

The structure as set forth in claim 1 including: a first circuit board having said electrical matrix and said plurality of switches disposed in said keyboard pattern connected thereto, said first circuit board being hinged to said typewriter to swing between its normal position and another position for servicing.

Claim 4

The structure as set forth in claim 2 including: a second circuit board having said keyboard buffer, said buffer control and said plurality of solenoid driver circuits connected thereto, said second circuit board disposed beneath said first circuit board when in its normal position and both circuit boards being exposed in said position for servicing.

Claim 5

The structure as set forth in claim 1 including: f. buffer pile-up means electrically interconnected to said buffer control means and said electrical matrix means and generating a signal when said buffer control means blocks entry of an incoming signal.

Claim 6

The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electrical matrix means includes: a first plurality of electrical interconnected to represent a first motion of said single element print head; and a second plurality of electrical components interconnected to represent a second motion of said single element print head.

Claim 7

The structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein said electrical matrix means includes: an additional electrical component interconnected with said first and second plurality of electrical components to represent an operational function of said typewriter.

Claim 8

The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said keyboard buffer means includes: at least three successive stages, each of which receives and passes to the next stage, said signals representative of said keyboard characters and operations.

Claim 9

In a typewriter having an operational drive mechanism including a carriage member and a printing drive mechanism using a single element print head movable with the carriage member and operable to present one character at a time to a printing position and print the same where the character is determined by movement about two axes, means for actuating said mechanisms comprising: a. electrical matrix means, having components interconnected to be representative of distinct typewriter keyboard operations, and producing output signals representative thereof; b. switch means including electrical power means electrically connected to said electrical matrix means and disposed in a typewriter keyboard pattern representative of the distinct typewriter operations; c. keyboard buffer means having its input excited by said electrical matrix means for storing and releasing said signals and said electrical matrix means; d. signal discriminator means interconnected to said electrical matrix means and said keyboard buffer means providing a clock pulse for admitting data into said keyboard buffer means; e. solenoid drive means operatively connected to said keyboard buffer means, said solenoid drive means being actuated in accordance with the operational function of the typewriter selected by an operator; f. clutch means interconnected between the operational drive and printing drive mechanisms and said solenoid means, said clutch means causing printing or operational functions to be performed; g. carriage means operably connected to said clutch means carrying said single element print head and being movable from an initial position to a final position for each line of characters to be printed; h. line return means coupled between said clutch means and said solenoid means whereby said carriage means is returned to its initial position upon selection of a distinct typewriter operational function; i. bail means connected to said clutch means and being movable from a first position to a second position; j. first and second input means coupled between said solenoid and bail means at first and second points respectively and being movable singly into engagement with said bail means in response to operation of said solenoid means; k. index means connected to said bail means and being responsive thereto upon said bail means being moved from said first position to said second position; l. and latch means operably connected between said line return means and said bail means upon movement of said second input means whereby said carriage means and said index means are actuated.

Claim 10

In a typewriter having an operational drive mechanism including a carriage member and a printing drive mechanism using a single element print head movable with the carriage member and operable to present one character at a time to a printing position and print the same where the character is determined by movement about two axes, means for actuating said mechanisms comprising: a. electrical matrix means, having components interconnected to be representative of distinct typewriter keyboard operations, and producing output signals representative thereof; b. switch means including electrical power means electrically connected to said electrical matrix means and disposed in a typewriter keyboard pattern representative of the distinct typewriter operations; c. keyboard buffer means having its input excited by said electrical matrix means for storing and releasing said signals and said electrical matrix means; d. signal discriminator means interconnected to said electrical matrix means and said keyboard buffer means providing a clock pulse for admitting data into said keyboard buffer means; e. solenoid drive means operatively connected to said keyboard buffer means, said solenoid drive means being actuated in accordance with the operational function of the typewriter selected by an operator; f. clutch means interconnected between the operational drive and printing drive mechanisms and said solenoid means, said clutch means causing printing or operational functions to be performed; g. carriage means operably connected to said clutch means carrying said single element print head and being movable from an initial position to a final position for each line of characters to be printed; h. line return means coupled between said clutch means and said solenoid means whereby said carriage means is returned to its initial position upon selection of a distinct typewriter operational function; i. bail means connected to said clutch means and being movable from a first position to a second position; j. first and second input means coupled between said solenoid and bail means at first and second points respectively and being movable singly into engagement with said bail means in response to operation of said solenoid means; k. index means connected to said bail means and being responsive thereto upon said bail means being moved from said first position to said second position; l. and latch means operably connected between said line return means and said bail means upon movement of said second input means whereby said carriage means and said index means are actuated.

Claim 11

The structure as set forth in claim 8 including: m. interlock switch means interconnected between said line return input means and said keyboard buffer means for inhibiting said buffer means while said carriage means is returning to its initial position.

Claim 12

The structure as set forth in claim 8 including: i. interlock switch means interconnected between said line return input means and said keyboard buffer means for inhibiting said buffer means while said carriage means is returning to its initial position.

Claim 13

The structure as set forth in claim 8 including: n. tab interlock switch means interconnected between said keyboard buffer means and said carriage means for inhibiting said buffer means while said carriage means is moving to a new position during a tab operational function.

Claim 14

The structure as set forth in claim 8 including: margin set means having left and right hand margin stops constructed and arranged to follow the margin rack of the typewriter and being engagable by said carriage means when said carriage means is moving left and right; q. latch means connected to said margin set means for actuation when said left hand margin stop is engaged by said carriage means moving to the left; t. and interlock switch means interconnected between said keyboard buffer means and said latch means for inhibiting said buffer means while said carriage means is moving.

Claim 15

The structure as set forth in claim 12 including: zone switch means interconnected between said keyboard buffer means and said margin set means whereby said switch is actuated upon said carriage means encountering said right hand margin stop.

Claim 16

In a typewriter having an operational drive mechanism including a carriage member and a printing drive mechanism using a single element print head movable with the carriage member and operable to present one character at a time to a printing position and print the same where the character is determined by tilt and rotational movement, electrical means for actuating said mechanisms comprising: a. an electrical matrix having components interconnected in a manner representative of distinct typewriter keyboard characters and functional operations and producing output date signals representative of the same; b. a plurality of switches interconnected to said electrical matrix and disposed in a typewriter keyboard pattern representative of said keyboard characters and operations; c. a keyboard buffer having first, second, and third stages connected in serial relationship for storing and releasing said signals representative of said keyboard characters and operations and having its input excited by said electrical matrix; d. a buffer control circuit having first, second, and third stages connected in serial relationship, each of said stages being interconnected with a corresponding stage of said keyboard buffer for controlling the movement of said data through said keyboard buffer; e. a strobe pulse generator connected to, and excited by, said electrical matrix upon closing each of said predetermined number of said plurality of switches, the output of said strobe generator being connected to said first stage of said buffer control circuit to initiate action of said control circuits; f. a plurality of solenoid driver circuits connected to the third stage of said keyboard buffer; g. a plurality of solenoids individually connected to said plurality of solenoid driver circuits, each solenoid of said plurality being actuated in accordance with the characters and operational functions of the typewriter as selected by an operator; h. a first timer connected to said buffer control circuit to initiate a printing operation and producing a signal of a predetermined time duration; i. a second timer having its input connected to the output of said first timer and responsive to said signal produced by said first timer, said second timer producing a second signal of predetermined time duration; j. a time delay circuit interconnected to said second timer and said first timer, said time delay circuit being responsive to signals from said second timer and actuating said first timer to inhibit a printing operation; k. and a buffer unloader circuit connected between said first timer and said third stage of said keyboard buffer.

Claim 17

In a typewriter having an operational drive mechanism including a carriage member and a printing drive mechanism using a single element print head movable with the carriage member and operable to present one character at a time to a printing position and print the same where the character is determined by tilt and rotational movement, electrical means for actuating said mechanisms comprising: a. an electrical matrix having components interconnected in a manner representative of distinct typewriter keyboard characters and functional operations and producing output date signals representative of the same; b. a plurality of switches interconnected to said electrical matrix and disposed in a typewriter keyboard pattern representative of said keyboard characters and operations; c. a keyboard buffer having first, second, and third stages connected in serial relationship for storing and releasing said signals representative of said keyboard characters and operations and having its input excited by said electrical matrix; d. a buffer control circuit having first, second, and third stages connected in serial relationship, each of said stages being interconnected with a corresponding stage of said keyboard buffer for controlling the movement of said data through said keyboard buffer; e. a strobe pulse generator connected to, and excited by, said electrical matrix upon closing each of said predetermined number of said plurality of switches, the output of said strobe generator being connected to said first stage of said buffer control circuit to initiate action of said control circuits; f. a plurality of solenoid driver circuits connected to the third stage of said keyboard buffer; g. a plurality of solenoids individually connected to said plurality of solenoid driver circuits, each solenoid of said plurality being actuated in accordance with the characters and operational functions of the typewriter as selected by an operator; h. a first timer connected to said buffer control circuit to initiate a printing operation and producing a signal of a predetermined time duration; i. a second timer having its input connected to the output of said first timer and responsive to said signal produced by said first timer, said second timer producing a second signal of predetermined time duration; j. a time delay circuit interconnected to said second timer and said first timer, said time delay circuit being responsive to signals from said second timer and actuating said first timer to inhibit a printing operation; k. and a buffer unloader circuit connected between said first timer and said third stage of said keyboard buffer.

Claim 18

The structure as set forth in claim 14 including: m. a Printing cycle timer connected to the printing drive mechanism producing a signal representative of the end of the print cycle, said printing cycle timer being connected to said second timer and inhibiting its operation when said print cycle time is less than the total time of said first and second timers.

Claim 19

The structure as set forth in claim 14 including: a carriage shift circuit actuated by one of said plurality of switches producing an output signal and being connected to said keyboard buffer for initiating one of said plurality of solenoids controlling the typewriter shift mechanism; and a shift interlock switch mechanically connected to the said typewriter shift mechanism for determining the status of said carriage and electrically connected to said first timer to inhibit the same when said shift mechanism is actuated.

Claim 20

The structure as set forth in claim 16 including: a carriage shift lock circuit actuated by a distinct one of said plurality of switches and being connected to said shift circuit and said keyboard buffer including an electrical latch circuit causing said shift said circuit to continuously produce said output signal until said switch actuating said shift circuit is again actuated.

Claim 21

The structure as set forth in claim 14 including: a solenoid control circuit interconnected between said keyboard buffer and said plurality of solenoid driver circuits controlling said plurality of solenoids so that upon energizing either the printing solenoids or the operational solenoids, the others are disabled.