US3895704A

US3895704A - Word processor with right-hand margin control

Info

Publication number: US3895704A
Application number: US254750A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard C Norris
Original assignee: Arthur D Little Inc
Current assignee: Arthur D Little Inc
Priority date: 1972-05-18
Filing date: 1972-05-18
Publication date: 1975-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 1992-07-22

Abstract

The invention comprises a right hand margin control for a typewriter that serves as the input/output terminal of an electronically controlled word recording and printing system. The right hand margin adjustment means is operative only when the typewriter is printing out previously recorded data. As the typewriter reaches its so-called ''''return zone,'''' the right hand margin adjust means looks ahead at data about to be printed in the return zone and determines whether or not a return opportunity (such as a space, hyphen or carriage return) is in the recorded data. If a space or hyphen is present in such data, the margin adjust means allows the typewriter to continue to operate in response to all data up to and including the data representing the return opportunity, and then causes the typewriter to return to its left margin position. If the return opportunity is a carriage return, the typewriter operates in response to all data preceding the carriage return and then executes the carriage return. If no return opportunity is present, the typewriter is caused to stop at the beginning of the return zone so as to give the operator an opportunity to intervene and determine whether to allow the typewriter to print out beyond the normal right-hand margin limit or to hyphenate a word that would otherwise extend beyond the right hand margin limit.

Description

MARGIN CONTROL [75] Inventor: Richard C. Norris, Belmont, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge,

Mass.

[22] Filed: May 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 254,750

[52] U.S. Cl. 197/19 [51] Int. Cl B4lj 5/30 [58] Field of Search 197/19, 20, 66, 133; 199/18 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,217,150 10/1940 Ayres 197/20 2,938,618 5/1960 Niccolls 197/66 2,968,383 l/l961 Higonnet et a1. 197/20 3,042,178 7/1962 West 197/133 R 3,063,536 ll/1962 Dirks 197/19 3,260,340 7/1966 Locklar et a1. 197/20 X 3,308,932 3/1967 Debus et a1 199/18 3,386,552 6/1968 Lorber et al.... 197/20 3,413,624 11/1968 Murdoch et a1. 197/20 X 3,439,341 4/1969 Dolby et a1. 197/19 X 3,466,604 9/1969 Sinnott 197/20 UX 3,483,527 12/1969 Terry 197/20 UX 3,490,004 l/1970 Ross 197/20 X 3,529,296 9/1970 Friedman et a1... 197/19 UX 3,579,193 5/1971 Bernier 197/19 X 3,605,997 9/1971 Sinnott 197/20 X 3,664,479 5/1972 Arjani et al..... 197/20 X 3,757,921 9/1973 Bishop 197/19 United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,895,704

Norris July 22, 1975 [54] WORD PROCESSOR WITH RIGHT-HAND 3,760,376 9/1973 Tanner 197/19 UX Primary E.raminer Ernest T. Wright, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Schiller & Pandiscio [57] ABSTRACT The invention comprises a right hand margin control for a typewriter that serves as the input/output terminal of an electronically controlled word recording and printing system. The right hand margin adjustment means is operative only when the typewriter is printing out previously recorded data. As the typewriter reaches its so-called return zone, the right hand margin adjust means looks ahead at data about to be printed in the return zone and determines whether or not a return opportunity (such as a space, hyphen or carriage return) is in the recorded data. If a space or hyphen is present in such data, the margin adjust means allows the typewriter to continue to operate in response to all data up to and including the data representing the return opportunity, and then causes the typewriter to return to its left margin position. If the return opportunity is a carriage return, the typewriter operates in response to all data preceding the carriage return and then executes the carriage return. If no return opportunity is present, the typewriter is caused to stop at the beginning of the return zone so as to give the operator an opportunity to intervene and determine whether to allow the typewriter to print out be yond the normal right-hand margin limit or to hyphenate a word that would otherwise extend beyond the right hand margin limit.

23 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures Jumms 3.895704 PATENTED SHEET 3 SHEET ICG PATENTED JUL 2 2 I975 SHEET FORC E BSP FORCE CR E D O M T WM RI PC FORCE SP ENABLE PIM ANY FU N C- TlON FROM KEYBOARD DELAY PULSES P S B OPERATOR ENABLE TAB TABS

DECODER vm WEE-mama 0 mm A 2251 RRRTTSP ENABLE 2 5 RMZR T PARITY CHECKER PATENTED JUL 2 2 ms 3 8 9 5 7 O 4 SHEET 1 1 ((305 304 PRINT D Q MODE 3/5 5 744 3/4 30?' 3/7 30/ CRAT 5/0 1& D Q NORMAL 201 SHIFT 322 320 j C 6 TO TYPE IN BLANK CELL o- AT 8/0 4 NORMAL INSERT {Re 526 3/] 302 CYCLE WSE E 5 378 K V Q T\ 201 SHIFT 328 c 6 I47 g D Q Q J INSERT C 6 ME FJN CTION 7Q QVERFLOW FROM K/B (r PIM 306 TERMINATE SHIFT 344 X CLEAR BUFFER PATENTEDJUL 22 I975 SHEET 1g 350 R14 R2 OW 2 SHIFT R5 REGISTER DEMULTI- 2 PLEXER 274 w 262 IFORWARO| L 359 I V V I E370 BCD 362/ 374 COUNTER V 356 47 372 Q :5a V 376 0 g gK CONVERTER L 364 /T 375/ MONO 373 V V 377 gg MOTOR DISPLAY DRIVE {y CIRCUITS [240 READ/WRITE 238 CASSETTE HEAD WORD PROCESSOR WITH RIGHT-HAND MARGIN CONTROL This invention relates to word processing systems and more particularly to word processing systems incorporating electronically-controlled data recording and printing systems employing a typewriter as the input- /output terminal and including an automatic right hand margin control mechanism.

In typewriters used in word processing systems means are normally provided to define a so-called return zone located adjacent the right-hand margin of a typed line, i.e., a zone of a predetermined number of character positions in which a return opportunity is desirably to be found. A return opportunity will always be provided by a space between words and it may be provided by a hyphen in a compound word or by a recorded Carriage Return.

In the prior electronically-operated word processors, when the return zone is reached, automatic printing continues until a return opportunity is encountered. Once a return opportunity is found, the printer is caused to execute a Carrier Return after executing the hyphen, if appropriate. If, however, no return opportunity is encountered, then printing will continue until the right-hand margin is reached and then it will stop. The typist must now play out beyond the right-hand margin to hyphenate the last word or to cause a Carrier Return to be executed at the end of the last word if it cannot be hyphenated. Such a system has the disadvantage that it is necessary to print outside and beyond the established right-hand margin. In such situations, the width of the return zone is effectively increased by a significant amount and the right-hand margin of the final typing is ragged.

It would, therefore, be desirable to have a means of right-hand margin control which is capable of deter mining, upon entry of the return zone, if a return opportunity exists in the recorded data about to be played in the return zone. If a return opportunity is not found, then printing can be halted at the beginning of the return zone and the operator is free to intervene and hyphenate a word that would normally extend beyond the limits of the return zone. The anticipatory margin control system of this invention provides such a capability.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide an improved means for adjusting the righthand margin of a word processing system incorporating electronically-controlled data recording and printing systems employing a typewriter as the input/output terminal. It is another object to provide a right-hand margin adjustment means of the character described which has the ability to look ahead at data about to be printed in the return zone to determine whether or not the operator must intervene and hyphenate a word. An additional object of this invention is to provide a word processing system capable of automatically printing out text material wherein the right-hand margin is more easily and more evenly adjusted.

In the copending application of Heitman et al. Ser. No. 254,727, filed May 18, 1972 for Data Processing Apparatus now U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,323 issued Aug. 6, 1974 and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, there is disclosed a new word processing system that conveniently incorporates an input/output device, a buffer memory for temporary data storage, and a mass data storage means. The input/output printer is conveniently a typewriter such as is described in US. Pat. No. 2,919,002 to palmer, so that data retrieved from the mass data storage means via the buffer memory is printed out line-by-line on paper. This new word processing system also is adapted to operate in a Draft or Final operating mode. In the Draft mode, data recording and data retrieval and display (playing) are all possible. In the Final mode, data recording is not permitted. Further, in the Draft mode, editing changes in the nature of selective deletion of a character, a word, or a line is possible; while in the Final mode, it is possible to skip selectively over a character, a word or a line without deleting any data from the mass data storage means. In the aforesaid system, play character, play word, and play line controls are provided which causes a recorded character, word or line to be printed out or displayed on the output device. Another auto play control causes continuous playing out until the end of a document or some other condition is encountered. The play controls are operative regardless of whether the system is in the Draft or Final operating mode.

Accordingly, another object of this invention is to provide a word processing system as described in said copending application in which data display is under the control of means for automatically adjusting the right hand margin. Another object of this invention is to provide in a word processor of the character described in said copending application a right hand margin control means that is selectively operable but only when the processor is operating in the Final Mode.

Described briefly, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a word processor in which data retrieval and display involves transferring data from a mass data storage means to a buffer memory and then applying that data to the input/output printer for display. The look ahead capability of this invention is provided by the buffer memory which stores data temporarily in blocks on a line-by-line basis. The word processor is adapted to sense when the printer has reached the return zone, and before printing out any character in that zone, to examine the contents of the buffer memory to determine whether an opportunity exists to return the carrier or print head among data stored in the buffer memory corresponding to characters to be printed out or operations to be carried out while the carrier or print head is in the return zone. More specifically, the buffer memory is a shift register, and when the return zone is reached, the contents of the shift register are circulated once around the register and the first n data codes are examined for a return opportunity (n defines the effective width of the return zone). If no such opportunity exists, a signal is generated which causes the printer to stop and which is used to provide a visual or audio indication that the operator is required to intervene to complete the line, with or without hyphenation as desired, and to return the print head or carrier to the left-hand margin. The system also includes means, operative when a return opportunity is found in the return zone, to allow the printer to execute acarrier or print head return if the sensed return opportunity is a Carrier Return code and to force the printer to execute a carrier or print head return if the sensed opportunity is a Space or a Hyphen code.

The right-hand margin adjustment is adapted to operate with any selected return zone length. However, it has been determined that the optimum return zone length is between four and ten characters. The longer zone lengths require less intervention by the operator but also produce a right-hand margin of greater variation in width; while the shorter zone lengths require more intervention but give rise to a neater right-hand margin. For example, the operator will have to intervene less than about of the lines when the return zone is eight characters wide and about 25% of the lines when the return zone is four characters wide. Return zone widths of less than four characters are not practical since syllabic hyphenation points may not exist in the return zone when a long word is encountered.

Although the look ahead capability in the right hand margin control mechanism of this invention is particularly suitable for a word processing system using a buffer memory, it is also possible to use it to search down a magnetic tape medium character-by-character, across or along a magnetic card, or down a punched tape storage means in like manner. However, any of these procedures would be relatively slow in comparison with the circulating buffer memory.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention are set forth in or rendered obvious by the following detailed description of a word processor that is constructed as disclosed in said copending application and incorporates a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The following description is to be considered together with the accompanying sheets of drawing wherein:

FIG. 1' is a perspective illustration of a typewriter and coupled console embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the console of FIG. 1 showing various control buttons, displays and other elements;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a standard tape cassette illustrating in phantom the organization of information on the tape according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the organization of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing details of the keyboard interface logic of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing details of the buffer memory of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a logic diagram, partly in block form, illustrating a clocking control system forming part of the buffer control of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a logic diagram, partly in block form, illustrating output .multiplexer, input demultiplexer and read-and-write circuits shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a timing diagram illustrating the operation of elements in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a logic diagram, partly in block form, showing the print control logic system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating some logic employed in the main control of FIG. 3 for controlling clocking of the buffer memory;

FIG. 11 is a diagram, partly in block form, showing address display logic coupled with the control console;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating logic in the main control of FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is an additional logic diagram illustrating the main control of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 14 is a logic diagram, partly in block form, showing some of the margin adjust logic of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the sheets of drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a preferred arrangement of equipment in which the invention is incorporated. The apparatus of the invention includes an input/output printer 20 interconnected by an electrically conductive cable 21 to a control console unit 22 for controlling recording, reproducing, and editing. Printer 20 typically includes a manually operable keyboard 23 for controlling a single head printer of the Palmer-type which has been adapted (for example, by being emplaced on a baseplate 24 which is capable of detecting the condition of the latch and cycle shaft switches in the printer 20 and also having solenoids capable of driving the latches and cycle shaft of the printer 20) for producing an output indicative of the condition of those switches. Such a baseplate 24 is described in US. Pat. Nos. 3,452,851 and 3,453,379 issued to L. Holmes, Jr. As well known, the print head 16 of 21 Palmer type printer is intended to strike a sheet carrier or platen 17 to form or print alphanumeric characters. Printer 20 preferably also includes within its housing, means 15 for moving print head 16 along a line between predetermined margins and means for indexing platen 17, all by mechanisms described in detail in the aforesaid Palmer patent. In printers of the Palmer type each character is automatically encoded when typed. When such a printer 20 is combined with a Holmes type baseplate 24 the combination will be capable of translating or interconverting formation of typed characters and performance of printing functions with corresponding coded character and function signals.

Unit 22 has a control panel 26 shown in more detail in FIG. 2, the panel 26 including a spring-loaded, normally closed cassette door 27 which is moveable so that a magnetic tape cassette 240 (shown in more detail in FIG. 2A) can be loaded into a tape transport mechanism located behind the door 27. Adjacent door 27 is a display 28 for indicating a record number corresponding to the position of a data location on the tape 18 in a cassette 240 which may be loaded into the machine. On control panel 26 are also a number of keys or buttons and display lights associated with data entry, editing and playback. The system of the invention is intended to have three basic operating modes, a draft mode, a final mode and an insert mode. To provide for selection of the mode of operation of this system there are provided a Draft button 30, a Final button 31, and an Insert button 32. To provide for control of printing out onto the printer 20 of a character, word, or line from storage, either while the system is in draft or final mode, there are included a Character button 33, a Word button 34, and a Line button 35, plus an Automatic button 36 for allowing the system to print continuously. An On button 37 is also provided for starting the system. Stop button 38 is included for stopping any printing operation by the machine. The deleting or skipping of characters, words and lines respectively is provided by manipulation of Character, Word and

Line buttons

45, 39 and 40.

A brief description of the functional consequences of the operation of the various buttons on control panel 26 will be helpful in understanding the detailed structural description of the device. It is intended that the system be capable of both recording data onto a cassette 240 or printing data from a cassette 240 onto printer 20 when operating in the draft mode. Specifically, it is intended during draft mode operation that any data entered by manipulation of keyboard 23 of printer should be stored in a magnetic storage or record in the system with any previously recorded characters being overwritten by new data being stored at the same data locations. In order to accomplish this end one need merely start the system, select the record location, press Draft button and proceed to type in data on the keyboard 23. To cause the data thus stored to actuate printer 20 and therefore to be type out, it is only necessary to return to the beginning of the stored data, to push Character button 33 to obtain print out of a single character, to push Word button 34 to obtain a single word, to push Line button to obtain a single line, or to push Automatic button 36 to permit the entire stored data to be reproduced on printer 20.

If one should now press Final button 31, the system is conditioned so that no storage of data manually typed or entered on printer 20 can occur, but that only the data stored in the machine can be printed by printer 20. When playing in the Final mode it will be later seen that an automatic right margin control system operates. The Draft and Final modes of operation are mutually exclusive and the system provides that if either the Draft or

Final buttons

30,31 are pushed, the machine is switched from the one to the other mode of operation.

Depression of Insert button 32 while the system is in the Final mode will be ineffective, i.e. will not in any sense allow the machine to operate other than in normal Final Mode operation. On the other hand, if the Insert button 32 is depressed while the system is in the Draft mode, the system switches to an Insert Mode of operation, and if desired, visual indication can begiven that the machine is in an Insert Mode, as by lighting Insert button 32 or the like. The Insert Mode is intended to provide an operation such that data entered on printer 20 by manual operation of the keyboard 23 will i be inserted into storage, up to a limit, without overwriting or otherwise destroying previously stored data. Only typing and recording can take place while in the Insert Mode since pushing any other buttons (except the Draft 0r Final buttons 30,31) on the control panel 26 will cause the machine to trip out of the Insert mode and revert to the Draft mode. If Insert button 32 is pushed again, the system will switch out of the Insert Mode back to the Draft Mode and, of course, any vi sual indication of Insert Mode operation will terminate. If Final button 31 is pressed, the system will switch to Final mode operation.

The play or

print buttons

33, 34, 35, 36 or 38 control the extent to which data will be read out of storage, either in Draft or Final mode operation, and displayed on printer 20. Each time Character button 33 is pushed, the next character in storage will be read out on printer 20. Similarly, depression of Word button 34 or Line button 35 will cause the next word or line in storage to be read out on the printer 20. When the Automatic button 36 is pushed, the system will cause the printer 20 to type out the data in storage continuously until some stopping command occurs. The latter can be obtained by pressing Stop button 38, or by certain special condi tions which will be described hereinafter.

Step Right and Step

Left buttons

41 and 42 control the shifting of data in storage. Each time either is pushed the data in storage is shifted by one character in the appropriate direction and the single print head 16 or carrier on the printr 20 similarly steps. In this

respect buttons

41 and 42 actuate the print head 16 to move in the same manner as the space bar and backspace key on the printer keyboard 23 with certain exceptions as will be explained later. Prferably, if one of the

buttons

41 and 42 is held down, repetitive action is initiated so that the system steps sequentially character by character.

As described, there are three delete/

skip buttons

45, 39 and 40. When the system is in Draft mode depression of these

buttons

45, 39, 40 will serve to delete a recorded character, word or line from storage. When the system instead is in the Final mode, these

buttons

45, 39, 40 act as skip buttons which cause the system to skip the appropriate character, word or line in storage without striking or otherwise destroying the skipped data. Because the functioning of these

buttons

45, 39, 40 to cause either deletion or skipping depends upon the mode in which the system is then operating, means are provided in the form of visual indicating

lights

43 and 44 which respectively light up to indicate the nature of the function of the buttons, 45, 39, 40 Le. delete or skip as the case may be.

There are two buttons for controlling tape motion, a Tape Forward button 46 and a Tape Back button 47. These are preferably of the spring-loaded type and each has a first or up position and a second or down position. Pushing either of the

tape buttons

46 or 47 to its down position causes the system to move the tape 18 either back or forward (as the case may be) to the be ginning of the next of a number of predetermined data blocks 19 or stations on the tape 18. This motion from predetermined station to predetermined station on the tape 18 will continue as a smooth sequence until the

appropriate button

46 or 47 is released. After release of the

button

46 or 47, the motion of the tape 18 in the cassette 240 will continue until the next predetermined station on the tape 18 is reached, at which time the motion of the tape 18 is stopped. Similarly pushing either

buttons

46 or 47 to their up position causes the system to shift to a fast forward or fast rewind movement (as the case may be) during which the tape 18 winds continuously. Fast winding due to pushing the Tape Back button 47 to its up position will continue until the button 47 is released, at which point the system then shifts to slow forward speed and continues to move the tape 18 until the next predetermined station on the tape 18 is located. A similar operation in the opposite direction is effected by manipulation of the Tape Forward button 46.

In the preferred embodiment the cassette tape 18 is at least a two track (25 and 29) tape, and two read/- write heads, one for each of tracks 25 and 29, (or a single two-channel head such as head 238) are incorporated into the system. One of the tracks 25 of the tape 18 is for the data to be stored. The other tape track 29 is intended to contain data addresses 48, preferably in the form of coded conversions of sequentially numbered three decimal digits, each data address 48 being physically located substantially adjacent the beginning of a data block 19 on track 25. Thus, when the tape 18 is moved either forward or back in the cassette 240, circuitry associated with the address read/write head 238 and the record number display 28 will cause the latter to be appropriately indexed each time an address 48 corresponding to a data block 19 or record moves past the read head 238. If desired, one can provide an erase mechanism associated with the tape transport mechanism and the control panel 26 so as to erase selectively all data from the tape 18, and also if desired to regenerate the addresses 48 on the tape 18.

Also in the preferred embodiment, associated with the control panel 26 are a number of visual indicators or special lights 49 in addition to the delete/skip light and insert indicator light discussed earlier. Similarly, a number of audio signal devices to indicate certain conditions of the apparatus can also be provided and will be described hereinafter.

The operation of the device thus described can be advantageously described in connection with a typewriter as an example of the printer 20. There are three basic situations to be described:

1. Basic entering of data through the typewriter keyboard 23, i.e. recording an initial draft;

2. Insertion, deletion and other operations made on data after entry of the latter, i.e. editing; and

3. Data retrieval, i.e. typing of final copy.

In order to record data initially, the operator will first activate the typewriter 20 and also will depress button 37 to turn on the remainder of the system. The operator should first set margins and tabs on the typewriter 20 as desired although one or more embodiments of the invention may include the ability to set and clear tabs on the basis of prior stored information. Then a magnetic tape cassette 240 is placed in the carrier behind door 27 and the operator then depresses button 30 to place the system in the draft mode of operation. The position of the tape 18 in the cassette 240 will be indicated by the address 48 displayed at display 28. if the cassette 240 is not rewound and it is desired to start from the beginning of the cassette 240, the latter can be rewound by pushing Tape Back button 47 to its up position and waiting until rewind is completed. If the operator wishes to start beyond previously recorded material that is to be preserved, the tape 18 can be moved with

buttons

46 and 47 until the appropriate address 48 is noticed at display 28.

Hereafter, recording in the Draft mode is accomplished automatically merely by typing the desired information on the typewriter keyboard 23. Each time the operator types a Carrier Return, the data associated with the preceding typed line is then transferred from the buffer memory 52 of the system onto magnetic tape 18. if the operator observes that a wrong key has been struck, correction can be made by depressing the Step Left button 42 which causes the typewriter 20 to automatically backspace. When the typewriter 20 has been backspaced to the error, the operator can strike over the error with the correct character key. To get back to the point where recording had been interrupted, the Step Right button 41 can be depressed, or as will appear later, one can play out the intervening material which has been recorded, or lastly one can retype the intervening material and rerecord it.

If the operator wishes to underscore a word upon entry, the word can be typed and then, using the regular backspace key on the typewriter keyboard 23 which will provide a recorded backspace, the typewriter 20 should be backed up to the beginning of the word. The word can then be underscored, the underscoring being recorded also.

When the operator has completed the draft, a Stop Code should be entered. The Stop Code is generated by depressing the shift key and striking Stop button 38 on the control panel 26.

Editing of a draft can be done in three basic ways:

l A new draft can be generated in the Draft mode of. operation, combining the desired parts of the old draft with typed and recorded corrections;

2. Only specific lines requiring editing can be modified; or

3. A final copy can be generated in the Final mode of operation with corrections being entered on the copy as the document is printed, without recording the corrections.

Normally, the first approach would be used especially if further author revisions are anticipated. The

third approach isappropriate if only final, minor corrections are to be made and a final copy is desired.

In generating a new draft, the following situations are likely to be encountered. First, one can edit simple typographical errors by playingback the tape 18 in the Draft mode, by first striking any one of

buttons

33, 34,

35 or 36. This will cause the material recorded on the cassette 240 to be printed by the typewriter 20, assuming of course that the cassette 240 has been rewound to the appropriate starting position. The material is then played up to but not through the error and the error is corrected by Overstriking. Overstriking using the keyboard 23 will automatically erase the erroneous material from the system and insert the corrected material in the appropriate place.

If the error in the draft is surplus'age of material such as an extra letter or the like, it can be corrected by printing the material'out on the printer 20 up to but not through theextra matter. The latter can now be deleted by simply pressing the appropriately selected one of Delete/

Skip buttons

45, 39 or 40 inasmuch as these

buttons

45, 39, 40 generate signals to place the system in condition to delete the material when the system is also in. the Draft mode.

If the error in the Draft mode is due to missing material, the latter can be added by playirig'out the recorded material (in the Draft mode) up to the appropriate position, pushing Insert Button 32 and typing on keyboard 23 the missing characters or words. The machine can then be taken out of the Insert mode simply by pushing any of the buttons 33 to 36 inclusive, all of which when actuated switch the system back to the Draft mode of operation.

Final copy can b e typed in either the Draft or Final mode. In typing out copy, the basic difference in operation between the two modes is simply that in the Draft mode the system will execute each carrier return signal that has been recorded whereas, in the Final mode the carrier returns may or may not be executed depending upon the operation of an automatic right margin control feature, v V i If no further editing is required, the operator merely inserts paper into the printer 20, sets the tabs and margins of the latter, putsthe cassette 240 into the machine, and moves tape 18 to the beginning of the document with

buttons

46 and 47. The machine then is placed in automatic play by striking Automatic button 36. The material or text stored in the machine will now be printed by the printer 20 on a substantially continuous basis until the printing is stopped by either striking Stop button 38 or because the operator has preferably recorded an appropriate Stop Codeat the end of each page of text. If manual entry of certain material such as the name and address of the person to whom a letter is to be sent is to be inserted'on the final copy,a Stop

Claims

1. Apparatus for processing data in conjunction with formation of characters and performance of selected functions by a printer having a printing means for forming printed characters on a record medium, a carrier for said record medium, means for moving said carrier and printing means relative to one another in increments of distance along a line between a beginning-of-line position and an end-of-line position, means for moving said record medium substantially perpendicularly to said line, and printer control means for controlling said printer to form said characters responsively to corresponding coded character signals and to perform said functions responsively to corresponding coded function signals, said apparatus comprising in combination: signal storage means for storing a plurality of said coded character and function signals; means for applying a plurality of said coded character and function signals to the input of said storage means for storage therein; means for coupling the output of said storage means to said printer control means so that said printer control means is responsive to coded character and function signals appearing at the output of said storage mEans; and anticipatory margin adjust means, operative when said printing means and carrier are in a predetermined position on said line relative to one another intermediate said beginning-of-line position and said end-of-line position, for examining a predetermined plurality of those signals stored in the part of said storage means which would affect the operation of the printer during relative movement of said printing means and carrier between only said predetermined position and said endof-line position, to determine if any of the examined signals correspond to any of selected ones of said coded character and function signals, said examining being completed prior to any response by said printer control means to any of said plurality of signals.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said anticipatory margin adjust means includes means for inhibiting the performance of all said functions, other than those functions corresponding to said selected function signals, and for inhibiting the formation of any characters by said printer responsively to corresponding coded function and character signals stored in said storage means, said inhibiting means being responsive to determination by said margin adjust means that none of said selected coded function and character signals are included in said examined signals.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a mass data recording medium, and further wherein said means for a plurality of said applying coded character and function signals to said storage means comprises means for playing out coded character and function signals recorded in said recording medium.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined plurality of stored signals is between four and 10, inclusive.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined plurality of stored signals is eight.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said selected ones of said coded signals correspond to the following functions: A. restoring the relative position of said carrier and printing means to a margin position opposite said end-of-line position and moving said record medium a predetermined distance substantially perpendicularly to said line; B. providing relative motion between said carrier and printing means of at least one of said increments toward said end-of-line position; and C. formation of a printed character representing a hyphen.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including means for forcing said printer to execute Function (A) immediately following the execution of either Function (B) or Function (C) if the first of said selected signals found during examination of said predetermined plurality of stored signals is a signal corresponding to either Function (B) or (C).

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said selected signals comprise signals representative of a carrier return function, a space and a hyphen.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said anticipatory margin adjust means is operable to examine all of those signals stored in the part of the storage means which would affect the operation of the printer during movement of said printing means and carrier between said predetermined position and said end-of-line position.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said signal storage means is a shift register, and further including; recording apparatus having a mass data recording medium and reading means for reading coded character and function signals recorded in said mass data recording medium; and means for transferring coded signals read by said reading means to said means for a plurality of said applying coded character and function signals to said storage means; said anticipatory margin adjust means comprising register control means operative when said printing means and carrier are in said predetermined position for causing coded signals stored in said shift register to be circulated in said shift registEr without at the same time causing operation of said printing means; sensing means for examining the coded signals stored in said shift register as said coded signals are being circulated and for determining if a selected number of the coded signals in said shift register which would affect operation of the printer during relative movement of said printing means and said carrier between said predetermined position and said end-of-line position correspond to any of selected ones of said coded character and function signals; means for inhibiting operation of said printer; and means for operating said inhibiting means in response to a determination by said sensing means that none of said selected character and function signals are included in said examined signals.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 further including means for terminating said circulation of coded signals when said circulating coded signals have been restored to register positions that said circulating coded signals occupied at the time said circulation was initiated.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said margin adjust means comprises means operative if said examined signals include one of said selected signals for causing said printer to respond to at least those examined signals which were examined before said one selected signal.

13. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said register control means is operative to cause the signals stored in said shift register to undergo a single complete circulation cycle relative to said shift register.

14. Apparatus for processing data in conjunction with formation of characters and performance of selected functions by a printer having a printing means for forming printed characters on a record medium, a carrier for said record medium, means for moving said carrier and printing means relative to one another in increments of distance along a line to an end-of-line position, means for moving said record medium substantially perpendicularly to said line, and means for controlling said printer to form said characters responsively to corresponding coded character signals and to perform said functions responsively to corresponding coded function signals, said apparatus comprising in combination: a shift register comprising n cells each adapted to store one of said coded character and function signals, n being an integer, said shift register having an input and an output; first selectively operable means for applying a predetermined sequence of coded signals to the input of said shift register; second selectively operable means for applying coded signals appearing at the output of said shift register to said means for controlling said printer, and also to the input of said shift register; third selectively operable means for indexing coded signals stored in said shift register one cell position for each coded signal applied by said first selectively operable means to said shift register input or applied by said second selectively operable means to said means for controlling said printer; means for terminating operation of said first selectively operable means when all of the coded signals in said predetermined sequence have been applied to the input of said shift register; means for inhibiting operation of said first selectively operable means during operation of said second selectively operable means; and anticipatory margin adjusting means operable only if said second and third selectively operable means have been rendered operative and then only when said printing means and said carrier are in a predetermined position on said line relative to one another and to said end-of-line position, for examining a predetermined number of those coded signals stored in that part of said shift register which would affect operation of the printer during relative movement of said printing means and said carrier between said predetermined position and said end-of-line position and for determininG if any of the examined signals correspond to any one of a selected group of said coded character and function signals.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 including: another inhibiting means for inhibiting the performance of any of said functions and the formation of any of said characters by said printer responsively to corresponding coded signals stored in said shift register, said another inhibiting means being responsive to a determination by said margin adjusting means that none of the signals in said selected group are included in said examined signals.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said margin adjusting means includes: means operative when said printing means and carrier are in said predetermined position for indexing coded signals stored in said shift register n cell positions with the coded signals appearing at the output of said shift register being circulated back to the input of said shift register; means for examining said predetermined number of those coded signals stored in said shift register during circulation thereof which would affect operation of the printer during relative movement of said printing means and said carrier between said predetermined and end-of-line positions, and for determining if any of said examined signals correspond to any one of said selected group of said coded character and function signals; means for producing a margin control signal in response to a determination by said examining means that none of the signals in said selected group are included in said examined signals; and means for operating said another inhibiting means in response to said margin control signal.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said margin adjusting means further includes: a counter for counting successive one-cell indexing of coded signals stored in said shift register, said counter being operative to produce an output signal when said counter has counted a number of indices not exceeding the number of said increments between said predetermined position and said end-of-line position, and means responsive to the output of said counter for inhibiting production of said margin control signal if none of the signals in said selected group are included in said examined signals in executing the number of indices required to generate said counter output signal.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said counter is adjustable.

19. Apparatus for processing data in conjunction with formation of characters and performance of selected functions by a printer having a printing means for forming printed characters on a record medium, a carrier for said record medium, means for moving said carrier and printing means relative to one another in increments of distance along a line between a beginning-of-line position and an end-of-line position, means for moving said record medium substantially perpendicularly to said line, and control means for controlling said printer to form said characters responsively to corresponding coded character signals and to perform said functions responsively to corresponding coded function signals, said apparatus comprising in combination: signal record playback means having an output; signal storage means for storing a plurality of said coded character and function signals, said signal storage means including an input for receiving said coded character and function signals and an output; means for coupling the output of said playback means to the input of said storage means; means for coupling the output of said storage means to said control means so that said control means is responsive to output signals from said storage means; and anticipatory margin adjusting means operative when said printing means and carrier are in a predetermined position on said line relative to one another intermediate said beginning-of-line position and said end-of-line position, for examining a predetermined plurality of those signals stored in the Part of said storage means which would affect the operation of the printer during relative movement of said printing means and carrier only between said predetermined position and said end-of-line position, to determine if any of the examined signals correspond to any of selected ones of said coded function and character signals, said examining being completed prior to any response by said control means to any of said plurality of signals.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said anticipatory margin adjusting means includes means for inhibiting the performance of all said functions, other than those functions corresponding to said selected function signals, and for inhibiting the formation of any characters by said printer responsively to corresponding coded function and character signals stored in said storage means, said inhibiting means being responsive to a determination by said margin adjusting means that none of said selected function and character signals are included in said examined signals.

21. Apparatus for processing data in conjunction with formation of characters and performance of selected functions by a printer, said printer having means for forming printed characters on a record medium in a character-by-character and line-by-line format, and means for controlling said printer to form said characters and perform said functions responsively to corresponding coded character and function signals, said apparatus comprising in combination: storage means comprising n cells, each capable of storing one of said coded character and function signals, n being an integer and said storage means having an input and an output; means for applying to said input a plurality of said coded signals in a sequence that is predetermined as to content and order; first control means for operating said storage means so that said coded signals are stored in said storage means in the sequence in which said coded signals are applied at said input; second control means for operating said storage means so that coded signals stored therein appear at said output in the order in which said coded signals were stored; means for applying coded signals appearing at said output to said means for controlling said printer; signal sensing means for determining when said printer reaches a predetermined position short of an end-of-line printing position and before formation of any next character and the performance of any next function by said printer, whether any of a selected plurality of succeeding coded signals appearing at said output is a coded signal representative of a space, printer-return-to-left margin function or a hyphen; and means for terminating operation of said printer at said predetermined position if a coded signal representative of a space, printer-return-to-left-margin function or a hyphen is not present among said selected plurality of succeeding coded signals appearing at said output, said selected plurality not exceeding the number of increments of printer movement in moving from said predetermined position to said end-of-line position.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said storage means is a shift register.

23. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said signal sensing means comprises means, operative when said printer reaches said predetermined position, for examining those signals stored in said storage means which affect operation of said printer between said predetermined position and said end-of-line printing position, means for determining if any one of a selected number of coded character and function signals is among the signals examined by said sensing means, means for preventing application of coded signals to said means for controlling said printer during the time that signals stored in said storage means are being examined, and means for inhibiting operation of said second control means only if none of said selected signals is among said examined signals.