US4239400A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronically controlled printing unit
Assignee: TIM SpA
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Filing: 1978-06-28
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Granted: 1980-12-16
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Expires: 1998-06-28
Abstract
Abstract The printing unit includes a daisy wheel typecarrier tranversely movable with respect to the paper. The various operations and printing functions are actuated by electronic means controlled by a mechanical memory, which through an electromechanic transducer causes a set of electronic controls to selectively control a set of linkages.
Inventors
- 👤 Alberto Giolitti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:11
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J1/00; B41J1/22; B41J1/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
305 words
A printing unit, comprising a fixed guide, a printing assembly movable along the guide and comprising a type bearing element, and actuating means adapted to actuate the type bearing element and to shift the printing assembly along said guide to cause the printing assembly to perform a given number of functions, and electronic control means for the actuating means, wherein the actuating means comprise a motor, a mechanical store, at least one electromechanical transducer acting as an interface between the electronic control means and the mechanical store, and a plurality of kinematic chains for mechanical transmission, each comprising coupling means movable, under the control of the mechanical store, between an inoperative position of uncoupling from the motor and an operative position of coupling to the motor, wherein the mechanical store comprises a cylindrical drum rotatable about its own axis and having a plurality of axial slots in which there are slidably mounted a first and a second type of sliders movable, as a result of the actuation of the said electromechanical transducer, between two positions corresponding to the inoperative and operative positions, wherein the first and second types of movable sliders each have a radially corresponding extending coupling tooth slidably engaged in a first and second annular guide, respectively, formed in the interior of a tubular body coaxial with respect to the drum and with respect to which the drum is mounted rotatably, and wherein there are two sliders on the first type, disposed in two of the slots which are diametrically opposed, the first annular guide housing the coupling tooth of each first type slider comprising a groove having two axially offset sections connected at a first end by an inclined section and at a second end diametrically opposed to the said first end by an axial section perpendicular to the two offset sections.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
305 words
A printing unit, comprising a fixed guide, a printing assembly movable along the guide and comprising a type bearing element, and actuating means adapted to actuate the type bearing element and to shift the printing assembly along said guide to cause the printing assembly to perform a given number of functions, and electronic control means for the actuating means, wherein the actuating means comprise a motor, a mechanical store, at least one electromechanical transducer acting as an interface between the electronic control means and the mechanical store, and a plurality of kinematic chains for mechanical transmission, each comprising coupling means movable, under the control of the mechanical store, between an inoperative position of uncoupling from the motor and an operative position of coupling to the motor, wherein the mechanical store comprises a cylindrical drum rotatable about its own axis and having a plurality of axial slots in which there are slidably mounted a first and a second type of sliders movable, as a result of the actuation of the said electromechanical transducer, between two positions corresponding to the inoperative and operative positions, wherein the first and second types of movable sliders each have a radially corresponding extending coupling tooth slidably engaged in a first and second annular guide, respectively, formed in the interior of a tubular body coaxial with respect to the drum and with respect to which the drum is mounted rotatably, and wherein there are two sliders on the first type, disposed in two of the slots which are diametrically opposed, the first annular guide housing the coupling tooth of each first type slider comprising a groove having two axially offset sections connected at a first end by an inclined section and at a second end diametrically opposed to the said first end by an axial section perpendicular to the two offset sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
A printing unit according to claim 1, wherein the second annular guide housing the coupling tooth of each second type slider comprises a first annular groove and a second groove having a first section extending parallel to the said first annular groove over an angle greater than 180° and connected to the first groove at one end by an inclined section and at the opposite end by a section perpendicular to the plane defined by the first groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
A printing unit according to claim 2, wherein there is a plurality of sliders of the second type, each of said second type sliders having a corresponding dog extending outward radially and arranged axially in such a manner as to sweep respectively first and second annular portions of space adjacent one another and characteristic of the said dog and corresponding to housing of the coupling tooth in the first and the said second groove, corresponding in turn to the said inoperative and operative positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
A printing unit according to claim 3, wherein the radial dog of a first slider of the second type sliders allows, in the inoperative position, the positioning of a first clutch element engaging a first mechanical transmission chain which produces a slow forward movement of the printing assembly by at least one printing step, and, in the operative position, actuates the first clutch element to engage a second mechanical transmission chain causing a backward movement of the printing assembly by at least one printing step and at a speed higher than that of the slow forward movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A printing unit according to claim 4, wherein the radial dog of a second slider of the plurality of second type sliders produces, in the operative position, the positioning of a second clutch element through which is caused a reversal of the backward movement, producing a consequent forward movement of the printing assembly at a speed higher than that of the slow forward movement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
108 words
A printing unit according to claim 3, wherein the type bearing element is constituted by a character wheel having a plurality of resiliently deformable radial appendages each bearing a corresponding character at a free end, and wherein the type bearing element is coupled angularly to a first toothed wheel coupled rotationally in a releasable manner to a shaft of the motor, the first toothed wheel being arrestable in a predetermined angular position through the medium of arresting means actuated by a mechanism for decoding the respective inoperative and operative positions of the radial dogs of a third and a fourth slider on the plurality of second type sliders.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
102 words
A printing unit according to claim 6, wherein the first toothed wheel has a number of radial teeth equal to a submultiple to a factor of four of the number of the radial appendages and the arresting means comprise four rods movable radially by means of respective actuating levers with respect to the axis of the toothed wheel to engage a portion of space defined between two teeth of the first wheel, the four rods being progressively offset with respect to one of them by an angle proportional to one fourth, two fourths and three fourths of the said portion of space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A printing unit according to claim 7, wherein the number of radial appendages is one hundred.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
A printing unit according to claim 7, wherein the decoding mechanism comprises two plates having a plurality of holes and the relative position of which is established by the inoperative or operative positions of the radial dogs of the third and fourth sliders, each of the said relative positions producing, by combination of the said plurality of holes, a single through hole which, being engaged by a facing tooth of the corresponding lever, causes a rotation of the lever and a consequent radial shifting of the respective rod.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
A printing unit according to claim 6, wherein the releasable coupling is provided by means of at least one ball which is housed in a first recess in one of the first and a second toothed wheel coupled rotationally to the shaft of the motor and is movable into the recess in opposition to the action of a spring, the spring urging the ball inside a corresponding second recess of a plurality of axial recesses uniformly distributed around a circle on a surface of the other of the first and second toothed wheels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A printing unit according to claim 10, wherein the number of the second axial recesses is five.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A printing unit according to claim 6, wherein the radial dog of a fifth slider of the plurality of second sliders allows, in the inoperative position, release of a mechanism actuating a hammer acting as one of the radial appendages of the character wheel to cause a striking action of a type, and, in the operative position, a disabling of the hammer actuating mechanism.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
A printing unit according to claim 12, wherein the hammer actuating mechanism comprises a first and a second lever interconnected by a spring, one end of the first lever being supported on an inclined surface of a frontal cam rotated about its own axis and coupled rotationally to the shaft of the motor, and one end of the second lever engaging in a corresponding seat of the hammer, a movement of the second lever being controlled by means actuated by the radial dog of the fourth slider.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A printing unit according to claim 3, wherein the radial dog of a sixth slider of the plurality of second sliders allows, in the operative position, actuation of a correcting ribbon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A printing unit according to claim 4, wherein actuation of the first and second types of movable sliders takes place serially through the medium of a plurality of consecutive energizations of one electromechanical transducer by the electronic control means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
242 words
In a printing device comprising a platen, a printing assembly movable on a guide along the platen and including a type bearing element and a hammer for printing a desired type of said type bearing element, and actuating means for controlling the selection of said desired type and the operation of said hammer and a given number of functions of said assembly, the combination comprising kinematic chains actuatable for operating said hammer and the given number of functions of said printing assembly, a motor shaft for selecting the types of said type bearing element, a movable mechanical store including a plurality of command elements associated to said hammer and to said given functions and movable between an inoperative and an operative position, at least one transducer disposed adjacent to said store for cooperating with said command elements in response to the movement of said store, and means actuating said transducer for selectively moving said command elements into said operative position for causing one of said command elements on said operative position to couple said mechanical store with said motor shaft to be moved thereby and the other of said command elements positioned on said operative position to selectively connect said kinematic chains with said motor shaft for the operation of said hammer and said given functions in response to the movement of said mechanical store, and means for supporting said motor shaft, said hammer and said kinematic chains on said printing assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
242 words
In a printing device comprising a platen, a printing assembly movable on a guide along the platen and including a type bearing element and a hammer for printing a desired type of said type bearing element, and actuating means for controlling the selection of said desired type and the operation of said hammer and a given number of functions of said assembly, the combination comprising kinematic chains actuatable for operating said hammer and the given number of functions of said printing assembly, a motor shaft for selecting the types of said type bearing element, a movable mechanical store including a plurality of command elements associated to said hammer and to said given functions and movable between an inoperative and an operative position, at least one transducer disposed adjacent to said store for cooperating with said command elements in response to the movement of said store, and means actuating said transducer for selectively moving said command elements into said operative position for causing one of said command elements on said operative position to couple said mechanical store with said motor shaft to be moved thereby and the other of said command elements positioned on said operative position to selectively connect said kinematic chains with said motor shaft for the operation of said hammer and said given functions in response to the movement of said mechanical store, and means for supporting said motor shaft, said hammer and said kinematic chains on said printing assembly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
A printing unit according to claim 16, wherein a single electromechanical transducer cooperates with said plurality of command elements, further comprising means for moving said mechanical store for causing said command elements to be serially cooperable with said transducer for the movement thereby, and means controlled by said store for holding said command elements on said operative position independently by said transducer during the operation of said hammer and said given functions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
A printing unit according to claim 17 wherein said moving means comprises a clutch commanded by one of said command elements for rotatably connecting said store with said motor shaft when said one command element is on said operative position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
A printing unit according to claim 16 wherein the mechanical store comprises a cylindrical drum rotatable about its own axis and wherein said command elements comprise a plurality of sliders slideable in slots of said drum as a result of the actuation of the said transducer, between two positions corresponding to said inoperative position and said operative position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A printing unit according to claim 16, wherein the or each electromechanical transducer is an electromagnet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
A printing unit according to claim 16, comprising a plurality of detector assemblies of photoelectric type for control of the movement of some parts of the printing assembly and of the movement of the printing assembly with respect to the guide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A printing unit according to claim 19, wherein a first type of sliders effects angular coupling between the drum and the motor in the operative position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
67 words
A printing unit according to claim 22, wherein said sliders comprise a second type of sliders, wherein the first and second types of movable sliders each have a radially corresponding extending coupling tooth slidably engaged in a first and second annular guide, respectively formed in the interior of a tubular body coaxial with respect to the drum and with respect to which the drum is mounted rotatably.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a printing device of the type comprising a platen, a printing point, a wheel bearing a plurality of types, a motor shaft, means for releasably connecting for rotation said motor shaft with said wheel for the rotation of said wheel and an arrest member arresting said wheel and disconnecting said connecting means, the combination comprising: a rotating member synchronous with said wheel and having thereon a number of teeth equal to a given fraction of the number of said plurality of types, wherein said teeth are spaced through a constant pitch, arresting pawls equal in number to the inverse of said given fraction movable between a rest position outside to rotating teeth to an operative position interfering with said teeth, wherein said arresting pawls on said operative position are progressively offset said given fraction with respect to said teeth, and actuating means for said arresting pawls including means synchronous with said rotating member controlling said pawls to be moved on said operative position only when a space between two of said teeth is passing in front of said pawls and means actuating one of said arresting pawls, for causing said rotating member to be angularly arrested on positions each aligning a type in front of said printing point.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a printing device of the type comprising a platen, a printing point, a wheel bearing a plurality of types, a motor shaft, means for releasably connecting for rotation said motor shaft with said wheel for the rotation of said wheel and an arrest member arresting said wheel and disconnecting said connecting means, the combination comprising: a rotating member synchronous with said wheel and having thereon a number of teeth equal to a given fraction of the number of said plurality of types, wherein said teeth are spaced through a constant pitch, arresting pawls equal in number to the inverse of said given fraction movable between a rest position outside to rotating teeth to an operative position interfering with said teeth, wherein said arresting pawls on said operative position are progressively offset said given fraction with respect to said teeth, and actuating means for said arresting pawls including means synchronous with said rotating member controlling said pawls to be moved on said operative position only when a space between two of said teeth is passing in front of said pawls and means actuating one of said arresting pawls, for causing said rotating member to be angularly arrested on positions each aligning a type in front of said printing point.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
A printing device according to claim 24, wherein the wheel bearing a plurality of type comprises a plurality of resiliently deformable radial fingers each bearing a corresponding character at a free end, and wherein said wheel is fixed to said rotating member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a printing device of the type comprising a platen, a wheel bearing a plurality of types, a rotatable motor shaft, means releasably connecting said motor shaft with said wheel for the rotation of said wheel and an arrest member arresting said wheel and disconnecting said connecting means, the combination comprising: a pair of members rotating synchronously with said wheel and said motor shaft, respectively, and each having a surface, the surface of one of said members being faced to the surface of the other member, said surface defining thereon recesses uniformly distributed aligned with respect to a common circle, ball means housed in the recess of a first member of said rotating members, and spring means for normally urging said ball means against the recess of the second member of said pair for the coupling of said pair of members, said spring means causing said ball means to leave the recess of said first member and to slide on the surface of said second member for disconnecting said wheel from said motor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a printing device of the type comprising a platen, a wheel bearing a plurality of types, a rotatable motor shaft, means releasably connecting said motor shaft with said wheel for the rotation of said wheel and an arrest member arresting said wheel and disconnecting said connecting means, the combination comprising: a pair of members rotating synchronously with said wheel and said motor shaft, respectively, and each having a surface, the surface of one of said members being faced to the surface of the other member, said surface defining thereon recesses uniformly distributed aligned with respect to a common circle, ball means housed in the recess of a first member of said rotating members, and spring means for normally urging said ball means against the recess of the second member of said pair for the coupling of said pair of members, said spring means causing said ball means to leave the recess of said first member and to slide on the surface of said second member for disconnecting said wheel from said motor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
185 words
A printing device of the type comprising a platen having a printing point, a wheel bearing a plurality of types, a motor shaft, means connecting said motor shaft with said wheel for the rotation thereof, a hammer for the printing of said types and an arrest member arresting said wheel and disconnecting said connecting means, the combination comprising: cam means coupleable to said motor for operating said arrest member and said hammer, transducer means responsive to said electronic means to selectively couple said cam means to the shaft of said motor for operating said arrest member and said hammer when the selected type is positioned in front of said printing point, and a mechanical store coupled for rotation with said cam means, said mechanical store having at least a command element, settable on an operative position by said transducer means, wherein said hammer is normally loaded through a spring by said cam means and is arrested by a latch member against the action of said spring and wherein said command element causes said latch member to release said hammer for the printing of said types.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
185 words
A printing device of the type comprising a platen having a printing point, a wheel bearing a plurality of types, a motor shaft, means connecting said motor shaft with said wheel for the rotation thereof, a hammer for the printing of said types and an arrest member arresting said wheel and disconnecting said connecting means, the combination comprising: cam means coupleable to said motor for operating said arrest member and said hammer, transducer means responsive to said electronic means to selectively couple said cam means to the shaft of said motor for operating said arrest member and said hammer when the selected type is positioned in front of said printing point, and a mechanical store coupled for rotation with said cam means, said mechanical store having at least a command element, settable on an operative position by said transducer means, wherein said hammer is normally loaded through a spring by said cam means and is arrested by a latch member against the action of said spring and wherein said command element causes said latch member to release said hammer for the printing of said types.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-16 | 1984-06-16 | 1984-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-16 | 1988-06-16 | 1988-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-16 | 1992-06-16 | 1992-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |