(19)
(11) EP 0 308 633 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
27.12.1989 Bulletin 1989/52

(43) Date of publication A2:
29.03.1989 Bulletin 1989/13

(21) Application number: 88112552.0

(22) Date of filing: 02.08.1988
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)4: B41J 7/96
(84) Designated Contracting States:
BE CH DE ES FR GB IT LI NL SE

(30) Priority: 25.09.1987 US 101045

(71) Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
Armonk, N.Y. 10504 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Brown III, John Knox
    Lexington Kentucky 40502 (US)
  • Gerstle, Patrick Joseph
    Nicholasville Kentucky 40356 (US)
  • Koble, Ann Margaret
    Lexington Kentucky 40502 (US)
  • Smith, David Richmond
    Lexington Kentucky 40502 (US)
  • Graham, Patricia Anne
    Lexington Kentucky 40502 (US)
  • Tucker, Kevin Neil
    Lexington Kentucky 40505 (US)

(74) Representative: Bonin, Jean-Jacques 
Compagnie IBM France Département de Propriété Intellectuelle
06610 La Gaude
06610 La Gaude (FR)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Automatic function control for an electronic typewriter


    (57) A function for an electronic typewriter (10) is described. The function assures that when an operator moves the print mechanism back into a region where text has been typed either using a different pitch print element (15) or using a different language keyboard (14), the operation of the typewriter (10) is not enabled until the operator is notified that there exists a condition where a mismatch exists. In the case of the pitch mismatch, the typewriter (10) is only enabled after the operator takes steps to change the print element (15) or position the print point to a position where the mismatch no longer exist.
    In the situation where a keyboard (14) mismatch exists, the operator must take some step to restart the typewriter operation. This may be the changing of the keyboard (14) to correspond to the keyboard used to key the text in that region, and the changing of the print element (15). The changing of the keyboard (14) may be the only change required, since some languages share print elements.







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