US3872959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Positioning typewriter
Assignee: Wang Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1973-02-12
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A writer selectively operable in an alpha-numric symbol printing mode and a positioning mode. The writer includes a horizontally movable type head having a plurality of corresponding alphanumeric printing symbols, operable in response to printing signals to print the symbols and horizontally movable in response to horizontal spacing function signals; and a platen rotatable in response to vertical spacing function signals. Type head drive means are provided for incrementally horizontally moving the type head in fine increments, the alpha-numeric spacing increments being an integral multiple thereof, and platen drive means are provided for incrementally rotating the platen in fine increments. In general, this is done by control means for operating the type head comprising horizontal function signal generating means for incrementally horizontally moving the type head in fine increments, and platen drive means comprising vertical function signal generating means for incrementally rotating the platen in fine increments, the function keys providing function signals being connected to the function signal generating means for generating a plurality of fine increment signals equal to an alpha-numeric increment.
Inventors
- 👤 An Wang
- 👤 Ge Yao Chu
- 👤 Edward S Wu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:16
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J19/00; B41J19/76; B41J19/78; B41J19/96; B41J19/18; B41J19/20; B41J19/32; B41J25/00; B41J25/20; B41J5/00; B41J5/30; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S400/00; Y10S400/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
An output writer responsive to input signals comprising horizontal space signals and selection and print signals, said writer having record sheet supporting means, a type head providing a plurality of alpha-numeric symbols and operable to select and print an alpha-numeric symbol on a record sheet carried on said supporting means, selection and printing means connected to said type head for moving said type head relative to said carriage means to select a particular alpha-numeric symbol and sequentially to print the selected alpha-numeric symbol on the record sheet, selection and printing drive means including a main motor, said selection and printing drive means being responsive to input selection and print signals for operating said selection and printing means, type head carriage means supporting said type head, said type head carriage means being driven independently of said selection and printing means for independent control and timing of said carriage means and said selection and printing means, and being horizontally movable with respect to said record sheet supporting means, type head carriage drive means independent of said selection and printing drive means, said type head carriage drive means including a stepping motor and responsive to input horizontal space signals for moving said carriage means horizontally with respect to said record sheet supporting means, said carriage drive means and said selection and printing drive means being independently responsive to the input horizontal space signals and the selection and print signals respectively for causing said selection and printing means to select and print an alpha-numeric symbol and for causing said carriage to move horizontally with respect to said record sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
265 words
An output writer responsive to input signals comprising horizontal space signals and selection and print signals, said writer having record sheet supporting means, a type head providing a plurality of alpha-numeric symbols and operable to select and print an alpha-numeric symbol on a record sheet carried on said supporting means, selection and printing means connected to said type head for moving said type head relative to said carriage means to select a particular alpha-numeric symbol and sequentially to print the selected alpha-numeric symbol on the record sheet, selection and printing drive means including a main motor, said selection and printing drive means being responsive to input selection and print signals for operating said selection and printing means, type head carriage means supporting said type head, said type head carriage means being driven independently of said selection and printing means for independent control and timing of said carriage means and said selection and printing means, and being horizontally movable with respect to said record sheet supporting means, type head carriage drive means independent of said selection and printing drive means, said type head carriage drive means including a stepping motor and responsive to input horizontal space signals for moving said carriage means horizontally with respect to said record sheet supporting means, said carriage drive means and said selection and printing drive means being independently responsive to the input horizontal space signals and the selection and print signals respectively for causing said selection and printing means to select and print an alpha-numeric symbol and for causing said carriage to move horizontally with respect to said record sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
An output writer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input signals further comprise a select and print completion signal, a plot mode signal and a print mode signal, said carriage drive means being responsive to said print mode signal in combination with said select and print completion signal to move said type head carriage horizontally with respect to said record sheet through one standard letter space independently of said input horizontal space signals, and said carriage drive means being responsive to said plot mode signal to respond to said input horizontal space signals independently of said select and print completion signal to move said type head carriage horizontally with respect to said record sheet through a distance defined by said horizontal space signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The output writer of claim 1, wherein said record sheet supporting means is a rotatable platen, said input signals further comprise vertical space signals, and said writer further includes platen drive means including a stepping motor for rotating said platen responsive to said input vertical space signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
The output writer of claim 2, wherein said record sheet supporting means is a rotatable platen, said input signals further comprise vertical space signals and a line return signal, and said writer further includes platen drive means including a stepping motor for rotating said platen said platen drive means being responsive to said print mode signal in combination with said line return signal to rotate said platen through a standard line space independently of sAid input vertical space signals, and said platen drive means being responsive to said plot mode signal to respond to said input vertical space signals independently of said select and print completion signal and said line return signal to rotate said platen through a distance defined by said vertical space signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
280 words
An output writer responsive to input signals, comprising horizontal space signals, vertical space signals, selection signals and print signals, said writer having a rotatable platen, a type head providing a plurality of alpha-numeric symbols and operable to select and print an alpha-numeric symbol on a record sheet carried on said supporting means, type head carriage means supporting said type head, said type head carriage means being horizontally movable with respect to said record sheet supporting means, selection means connected to said type head for moving said type head relative to said carriage means to select a particular alpha-numeric symbol responsive to an input selection signal, imprinting means connected to said type head for moving said type head relative to said type head carriage means to imprint the selected alpha-numeric symbol on the record sheet responsive to an input print signal, type head carriage drive means independent of said selection means and said imprinting means, said type head carriage drive means including a stepping motor for moving said carriage means horizontally with respect to said record sheet supporting means responsive to input horizontal space signals, platen drive means including a stepping motor for rotating said platen responsive to said input vertical space signals, timing means responsive to the input horizontal space signals, vertical space signals, selection signals and print signals for producing timing signals, said carriage drive means and said platen drive means being responsive to said timing signals and the input horizontal and vertical space signals simultaneously to move said carriage horizontally with respect to said record sheet and to rotate said platen to move said record sheet vertically with respect to said type head during operation of said writer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
280 words
An output writer responsive to input signals, comprising horizontal space signals, vertical space signals, selection signals and print signals, said writer having a rotatable platen, a type head providing a plurality of alpha-numeric symbols and operable to select and print an alpha-numeric symbol on a record sheet carried on said supporting means, type head carriage means supporting said type head, said type head carriage means being horizontally movable with respect to said record sheet supporting means, selection means connected to said type head for moving said type head relative to said carriage means to select a particular alpha-numeric symbol responsive to an input selection signal, imprinting means connected to said type head for moving said type head relative to said type head carriage means to imprint the selected alpha-numeric symbol on the record sheet responsive to an input print signal, type head carriage drive means independent of said selection means and said imprinting means, said type head carriage drive means including a stepping motor for moving said carriage means horizontally with respect to said record sheet supporting means responsive to input horizontal space signals, platen drive means including a stepping motor for rotating said platen responsive to said input vertical space signals, timing means responsive to the input horizontal space signals, vertical space signals, selection signals and print signals for producing timing signals, said carriage drive means and said platen drive means being responsive to said timing signals and the input horizontal and vertical space signals simultaneously to move said carriage horizontally with respect to said record sheet and to rotate said platen to move said record sheet vertically with respect to said type head during operation of said writer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The output writer of claim 5, said timing means further being responsive to the selection and print signals for causing said selection means to operate during movement of said carriage and platen drive means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |