This invention relates to a keyboard-operable print¬ ing means and, whilst not restricted thereto, is part¬ icularly applicable to electric typewriters, word proc¬ essors, computer terminals and the like. The object of the invention is to provide an imp¬ roved printing means which is directly controllable by manual operation of a keyboard, that is to say the prin¬ ter prints only such items as are each individually inserted manually into the keyboard, but which is optio- nally also operable such that at the will of the opera¬ tor the operation of certain keys or combinations of keys of the keyboard will serve as instructions to a data storage and recall facility to produce signals adap- ted to operate the printer for the printing of one or more items without the necessity for the keyboard to be operated correspondingly to that item or items.

According to the present invention, a keyboard- operable printing means comprises in combination a key- board unit arranged to produce a respective different output signal for each of a plurality of keys, a printer unit arranged to print a respective item of subject mat¬ ter corresponding to each of the different output sig¬ nals of the keyboard unit, means for transference of output signals from the keyboard unit to the printer

unit, a programmable data storage and recall facility, means for transference of the output signals of the keyboard unit to the data storage and recall facility, means associated with the data storage and recall facil- ity for placing it selectively in conditions of produc¬ tion and non-production of signals, and means for trans¬ ference from the storage and recall facility to the printer unit of at least a signal produced by the data storage and recall facility as a result of it receiving a signal from the keyboard unit whilst being in its production state.

When the data storage and recall facility is in its non-production state, the signals from the keyboard unit merely pass to the printer unit in the normal manner, and the subject matter which is printed by the printer unit is solely that which is inserted manually into the keyboard. However, when the operator modifies the app¬ aratus temporarily by placing the data storage and rec¬ all facility in its signal-producing state, e.g. by operating a special "code state" key on the keyboard, the last preceding simultaneous, or next succeeding signal (or two or more signals) coming from the keyboa¬ rd serve as coded instructions to the data storage and recall facility to produce one or more signals which are fed to the printer unit and cause it to print the appropriate items without any manual intervention by

the operator.

In a conventional electric typewriter the keyboard has a respective switching means for each key, and in such a case the keyboard unit may have an encoder σonn- ected to all of the switching means and arranged to pro¬ duce a respective different signal upon the operation of each switching means. Similarly, where the printing unit comprises a printing means having a respective cir¬ cuit for each printable item, there may be provided a decoder connected to all of the said circuits and arran¬ ged to modify each said circuit, e.g. to close it, upon receipt of a respective different signal.

It will be appreciated that the printer unit need not physically produce a printed impression on a sheet of paper or the like, and that accordingly in the cont¬ ext of this specification the term "printer unit" inc¬ ludes a display device, word processor, computer and any other device normally operable by a manual keyboard. Two embodiments of apparatus in accordance with the invention are hereinafter particularly described v/ith reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a block schematic diagram of a first emb¬ odiment of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a block schematic diagram of a second emb¬ odiment of the apparatus.

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Referring to figure 1, a keyboard 1 is connected by a line 2 to feed its output to a printing means 3.

The keyboard 1 is adapted to produce an output sig¬ nal upon operation of each key, which is different from the output signal produced upon operation of each other key. The difference may be, for example, one of voltage level, pulse duration, number of pulses, or number of voltage levels.

The line 2 may be replaced by any other means for transferring signals, e.g. radio connection or light beam connection. The printer 3 is any form of printer which is capable of acting to print or display items, e.g. letters or numbers, in accordance with the signals supplied to it by the keyboard. The keyboard 1 and the printer 3 may be parts of an electric typewriter of the kind in which each type-arm is actuated by a respective solenoid energised by operation of a respective key switch of the keyboard, but in that case the electrical connections between the keyboard switches and the res- pective solenoids would be additional to the connection 2.

The output of the keyboard 1 is also fed to a solid state memory 4 (storage and recall facility) which can be programmed by an inserted programming means 5, e.g. a tape cassette. An output from the memory 4 goes back to line 2 for feeding of signals to the printer 3.

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Associated with the keyboard 1 is a "code state" keying means 6 connected to the memory 4. The arrang¬ ement is such that, unless the keying means 6 is actu¬ ated, the memory 4 ignores any signals received via line 2 from keyboard 1, and the printer 3 thus receives only those signals which are directly originated by the keyboard 1.

When the code state keying means 6 is operated at and appropriate moment, say simultaneously with, or immediately prior to, or immediately after a predeter¬ mined key (or selection of keys) of the keyboard 1, the memory 4 is activated to treat the signal(s) in¬ coming from line 2 as an instruction which causes it to produce a signal or a series of signals, according to its programming, which are fed to the printer 3. The memory 4 might be programmed to produce only a single subsequent letter of the alphabet, or several letters, or a phrase, or a line or a paragraph of kno¬ wn content. By way of example, the key for the letter "Y" on the keyboard 1, in the absence of operation of the code state keying means 6, will simply transmit to the printer 3 an instruction to print the letter "Y". If however the key for "Y" on the keyboard 1 is operated in conjunction with, or immediately before or after, the code state key 6, the memory will take the "Y" signal as instructions and, according to its

programming, will thereafter produce in the correct order the appropriate signals for the letters "OU", or the letters "OUR" or the letters "OURSELF" and will feed these to the printer 3 which will print those letters, without there being any further operation of the keyboard 1. ^" The memory 4 may be arranged so that the operator need not wait until the printer has in fact printed those letters, but may continue immediat¬ ely with operation of the keyboard 1. Figure 2 shows an embodiment which is similar to that of figure 1, and operates in the same manner, but in this instance the keyboard 1 and the printer 3 are of the kind wherein there is an individual line conn¬ ection between them for each individual key, the bund- le of connections being represented by the line 7. The bundle of connections 7 is connected also to a coder 8 which is adapted to produce a different sig¬ nal for each connection of the bundle 7. When the code state key 6 is not operated, the signals produc- ed by the coder 8 are received by the memory 4 but do not cause it to produce any output. When a key of the keyboard 1 is operated in association with the code state key 6, the signals produced by the coder 8 act¬ ivate the memory to produce, according to its progra- mming one or a train of signals which are fed to a decoder 9 serving to transform those signals into

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individual print-head operating pulses fed to the appr¬ opriate one of the bundle of connections 7. With this arrangement, items 4, 5, 8, 9 can be added to an exist¬ ing electrical typewriter or other electrically operable printer without other modification of the existing app¬ aratus.

To provide an example in the field of operation of an electric typewriter, although the invention is clea¬ rly not limited thereto, typically typewriters will type a single letter, number or punctuation mark at a single depression of the appropriate key.

For an average piece of correspondence of say 150 words, which could comprise 600 individual letters of the alphabet, the typist would have to depress the keys at least 600 successive times, discounting punctuation marks and other items.

The amount of time taken to complete the piece of correspondence depends on the skill of the operator, and not the speed at which the machine is able to work. It is the speed at which the typist is able to comprehend a letter, word or sentence, and resolve this into a finger movement or sequence of movements which regulates the speed at which material is typed. The machine will type at whatever speed successive finger movement dic- tate.

In human terms, the fast typing speeds are in the

region of 80 words per minute. It can be assumed that human reactions are unlikely to improve or much exceed this level whereas, on the other hand, electrically-op¬ erated typing mechanisms can react and type when trigg- ered electronically at rates far in excess of the human limitation. The invention thus provides the desiderata of (i) decrease of key manipulation by the operator, coupled with (ii) increase of typed output.

The electronic data storage and recall facility may be programmable so that operation of a further key of the keyboard, e.g. a second key will cause addition to and/or modification of the sequence originated by the operation of the preceding key. By way of simple exam¬ ple, to illustrate the concept, the operation of the key "Y" may be arranged to cause typing of the sequence

"YOU", and the operation of the keys "YO" may be arran¬ ged to cause typing of the sequence "YOUR".

The apparatus can be arranged so that the data storage and recall facility can be brought into use to any extent from zero to full operation, so that an op¬ erator may utilise the keyboard in the normal manner, but may progressively programme recall sequences as proficiency in the new manner of operation is obtained. The data storage and recall facility may be prog- rammable to cause the operation of the keyboard to pro¬ duce not only entire words from operation of a single

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key (or at least a lesser number of keys) , but also ent¬ ire sentences, especially where these are of a conven¬ tional nature and standard form, e.g. "We thank you for your letter of..." might be obtainable by operating in suitably rapid succession the keys for "WTYL". Thus, in this example, for the printing of a phrase of 25 letters, it is only necessary for the operator to operate four keys to obtain the necessary coded input to the recall facility. The apparatus may thus be adapted to receive and store information related to the composition of standard business letters, by the typing of certain coded inputs, and the operation of the respective keys by the operator will result in the automatic typing of the word or words appropriate to the coded input, as determined by pro¬ gramming of the recall facility.

The electronic data storage and recall facility including its programming means and code state key would preferably be incorporated in the structure of the type- writer, but could be remote provided that there was co¬ nnection by cable, radio signal, or any other equivalent connection means.

Advantageously, the combination includes provision for the insertion of a selected programme from a number of programmes available. The store of programmes may be stored electronically in the recall facility, or

there may be provided a magnetic tape cassette or like system to permit a selected programme to be inserted, e.g. for each individual typist who may use the machine, and/or for different types of subject matter to be typed.

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