US3738471A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Type head shifting apparatus
Assignee: Olympia Werke AG
•
Filing: 1971-02-26
•
Granted: 1973-06-12
•
Expires: 1991-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A type head has two substantially hemispherical surfaces, with lower case and upper case types, respectively, arranged in circular rows. The lower case surface is normally in an operative position for printing. The shaft of the type head is normally connected with setting means for selecting a type for printing, but is turned by shifting means under the control of a shift key to turn the type head 180* to place the upper case surface in a position for printing, and to turn the type head 180* back to the normal position after a desired type has been selected by the setting means, and printed. A clutch is operated by the shift key to connect either the setting means, or the shifting means, with the motor driven drive means of the typewriter.
Inventors
- 👤 Van Der Werff Chien
- 👤 D Hellebrandt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:40
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J1/00; B41J1/60; B41J25/00; B41J25/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
343 words
Type head shifting apparatus comprising a support means; type head means mounted on said support means and including a type head and a type head shaft mounted on said support means for rotation about an axis, said type head having an annular surface concentric with said axis and having a first surface portion with first character types and a second surface portion with second character types, and first and second character types being disposed along at least one circular line concentric with said axis, said type head means having first and second angular positions in which said first and second surface portions, respectively, are in operative positions for printing; drive means; shifting means including a shift key means, and cyclically operating means connectable with said drive means under the control of said shift key means, said cyclically operating means including a rotary member having an excentric pin, and having a first rotary output means including an output gear; shift clutch means operable by said shift key means to connect said drive means with said rotary member for rotation so that said pin moves along along a circular path; a rack member guided for straight movement and having a slot receiving said pin so that said rack member is accelerated and decelerated in accordance with a sine function during rotation of said rotary member by said drive means and by said engaged shift clutch, said output gear meshing with said rack member; setting means driven by said drive means and having a second output means; and clutch means controlled by said cyclically operating means to move between a first coupling position for coupling said first rotary output means with said type head shaft for rotating said type head from any one of said angular positions to the other angular position, and a second coupling position for coupling said second rotary output means with said type head shaft for rotating said type head until a selected type on the surface portion in said operative position is placed by said setting means in a printing position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
343 words
Type head shifting apparatus comprising a support means; type head means mounted on said support means and including a type head and a type head shaft mounted on said support means for rotation about an axis, said type head having an annular surface concentric with said axis and having a first surface portion with first character types and a second surface portion with second character types, and first and second character types being disposed along at least one circular line concentric with said axis, said type head means having first and second angular positions in which said first and second surface portions, respectively, are in operative positions for printing; drive means; shifting means including a shift key means, and cyclically operating means connectable with said drive means under the control of said shift key means, said cyclically operating means including a rotary member having an excentric pin, and having a first rotary output means including an output gear; shift clutch means operable by said shift key means to connect said drive means with said rotary member for rotation so that said pin moves along along a circular path; a rack member guided for straight movement and having a slot receiving said pin so that said rack member is accelerated and decelerated in accordance with a sine function during rotation of said rotary member by said drive means and by said engaged shift clutch, said output gear meshing with said rack member; setting means driven by said drive means and having a second output means; and clutch means controlled by said cyclically operating means to move between a first coupling position for coupling said first rotary output means with said type head shaft for rotating said type head from any one of said angular positions to the other angular position, and a second coupling position for coupling said second rotary output means with said type head shaft for rotating said type head until a selected type on the surface portion in said operative position is placed by said setting means in a printing position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second surface portions are first and second surface halves; wherein said first and second angular positions are spaced 180*; and wherein said first output means rotate said type head shaft and said type head 180* in one direction under the control of said cyclically operating means when said shift key means is actuated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first character types on said first surface halves represent lower case characters; wherein said second character types on said second surface half represent upper case characters; wherein said type head means has a normal lower case position in which said first surface half is in said operative position; and wherein said cyclically operating means turns said type head means 180* to an upper case position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said shift key means includes a key lever and a spring urging said key lever to a normal position of rest; wherein said key lever is manually operable for moving said key lever through an actuating position to a depressed position; wherein said key lever in said actuating position actuates said cyclically operating means to turn said type head means from said lower case position to said upper case position; and wherein said key lever when returned by said spring to said normal position of rest, moves again through said actuating position and actuates said cyclically operating means to turn said type head means 180* back to said normal lower case position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said shift clutch has an engaged position connecting said drive means with said cyclically operating means and said first output means, and a normal disengaged position; electromagnetic means for placing said shift clutch in said engaged position, when energized; and switch means closed by said key lever when passing through said actuating position and connected with said electromagnetic means for energizing the same.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cyclically operating means includes cam means connected with said rotary member for rotation; and cam follower means connected with said clutch means and operated by said cam means to move said clutch means to said first coupling position before said rack member turns said output gear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein rotary member has an inner gear ring; wherein said drive means include a drive gear, a clutch shaft connected by said shift clutch in said engaged position with said drive gear, and a pinion secured to said clutch shaft and meshing with said inner gear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said clutch means include a clutch pin on said type head shaft; wherein said second output means of said setting means has a first coupling part forming part of said clutch means and being movably mounted on said type head shaft, said first coupling part having a first coupling cutout; wherein said clutch means further include a spring urging said first coupling part to said second coupling position in which said clutch pin is located in said first coupling cutout, wherein said first rotary output means of said shifting means has another coupling part having a second coupling cutout and forming part of said clutch means; and wherein said cam follower means move said other coupling part to said first coupling position in which said clutch pin is located in said second coupling recEss, and outside of said first coupling recess.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first output means is an output shaft coaxial with said type head shaft and having a portion forming said output gear; wherein said output shaft moves axially with said first coupling part to said first coupling position; and wherein said output gear is longer in axial direction than the corresponding dimension of said rack member so as to remain meshing engagement meshingengagement with the same during axial movement of said output shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a platen; wherein said support means include a carriage movable in a writing direction along said platen, and a slide mounted on said carriage for movement transverse to said writing direction toward said platen; wherein said type head shaft is supported on said slide for rotation about said type head axis, and for movement with the same toward said platen; wherein said shifting means are mounted on said carriage; and wherein said type head shaft and said setting means are mounted on said slide for movement with the same in said second coupling position of said clutch means so that said selected type in said printing position is moved toward said platen for making an imprint.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
286 words
Type head shifting apparatus comprising a support means; type head means mounted on said support means and including a type head and a type head shaft mounted on said support means for rotation about an axis, said type head having an annular surface concentric with said axis and having a first surface portion with first character types, and a second surface with second character types, said first and second character types being disposed along at least one circular line concentric with said axis, said type head means having first and second angular positions in which said first and second surface portions, respectively, are in operative positions for printing; drive means; shifting means including a shift key means, cyclically operating means connectable with said drive means under the control of said shift key means and having a first rotary output means, and a transmission including positively engaged movable members for accelerating and decelerating said first rotary output means in a sinusoidal movement so that said type head is gradually accelerated and decelerated when turning from one of said angular positions to the other angular position; setting means driven by said drive means and having a second output means; and clutch means controlled by said cyclically operating means to move between a first coupling position for coupling said first rotary output means with said type head shaft for rotating said type head from any one of said angular positions to the other angular position, and a second coupling position for coupling said second rotary output means with said type head shaft for rotating said type head until a selected type on the surface portion in said operative position is placed by said setting means in a printing position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
286 words
Type head shifting apparatus comprising a support means; type head means mounted on said support means and including a type head and a type head shaft mounted on said support means for rotation about an axis, said type head having an annular surface concentric with said axis and having a first surface portion with first character types, and a second surface with second character types, said first and second character types being disposed along at least one circular line concentric with said axis, said type head means having first and second angular positions in which said first and second surface portions, respectively, are in operative positions for printing; drive means; shifting means including a shift key means, cyclically operating means connectable with said drive means under the control of said shift key means and having a first rotary output means, and a transmission including positively engaged movable members for accelerating and decelerating said first rotary output means in a sinusoidal movement so that said type head is gradually accelerated and decelerated when turning from one of said angular positions to the other angular position; setting means driven by said drive means and having a second output means; and clutch means controlled by said cyclically operating means to move between a first coupling position for coupling said first rotary output means with said type head shaft for rotating said type head from any one of said angular positions to the other angular position, and a second coupling position for coupling said second rotary output means with said type head shaft for rotating said type head until a selected type on the surface portion in said operative position is placed by said setting means in a printing position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
233 words
Type head shifting apparatus comprising a support means; type head means mounted on said support means and including a type head and a type head shaft mounted on said support means for rotation about an axis, said type head having an annular surface concentric with said axis and having a first surface portion with first character types, and a second surface with second character types, said first and second character types being disposed along at least one circular line concentric with said axis, said type head means having first and second angular positions in which said first and second surface portions, respectively, are in operative positions for printing; drive means, shifting means including a shift key means, cyclically operating means connectable with said drive means under the control of said shift key means and having a first rotary output means, and a transmission including a rotary eccentric first member rotatable by said drive means, a second member positivelY connected and driven by said first member along a straight path, said first output means including a rotary third member positively connected with said second member for being accelerated and decelerated in a sinusoidal movement, said shifting means further including shift clutch means operable by said shift key means to connect said drive means with said eccentric first member so that said third member causes a rotation of said type head in a sinusoidal movement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
233 words
Type head shifting apparatus comprising a support means; type head means mounted on said support means and including a type head and a type head shaft mounted on said support means for rotation about an axis, said type head having an annular surface concentric with said axis and having a first surface portion with first character types, and a second surface with second character types, said first and second character types being disposed along at least one circular line concentric with said axis, said type head means having first and second angular positions in which said first and second surface portions, respectively, are in operative positions for printing; drive means, shifting means including a shift key means, cyclically operating means connectable with said drive means under the control of said shift key means and having a first rotary output means, and a transmission including a rotary eccentric first member rotatable by said drive means, a second member positivelY connected and driven by said first member along a straight path, said first output means including a rotary third member positively connected with said second member for being accelerated and decelerated in a sinusoidal movement, said shifting means further including shift clutch means operable by said shift key means to connect said drive means with said eccentric first member so that said third member causes a rotation of said type head in a sinusoidal movement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2895584A
Cited
US2919002A
Cited
US3414103A
Cited
US3382963A
Cited
US3524527A
Cited
US3666070A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |