Japanese character word processing system

An automatic typewriter adapted for use with a large number of characters comprising:

• tabular chart means for providing an array of character positions;
• a movable font storage means for storing the individual font characters;
• a stylus member connected to the font storage means and coordinately positioned relative to the tabular means to individually select a character on the tabular means;
• print means for printing a font character selected by the stylus member including motor means for actuating a hammer assembly to select and impact a font character;
• encoder means for generating a positional signal identifying the font character selected and impacted including
• first means for generating an X direction positional signal of an individual font character and
• second means for generating a Y direction positional signal of said individual font character, said first and second means comprise an encoder plate member and sensor member mounted adjacent the encoder plate member, wherein the encoder plate member of said first means is mounted to said font storage means for movement therewith, and wherein the sensor member of said first means is mounted for movement with its encoder plate member in the Y direction and remain stationary with respect to its encoder plate member in the X direction.

An automatic Japanese character word processing system for printing at least Kanji, Katakana and Kirakana characters comprising:

• a movable tray storage means for storing individual font characters;
• a tabular chart providing an array of stored character positions that are coordinately positioned relative to the storage means;
• means for selecting an individual character on the tabular chart;
• encoder means for optionally generating a positional signal representative of a selected font character;
• first motor means for optionally driving the tray storage means including first leadscrew means for driving said font storage means along an X direction and second leadscrew means for driving said font storage means along a Y direction perpendicular to said X direction;
• a hammer assembly mounted adjacent the tray storage means for receiving a font character from the storage means and impacting it against an appropriate medium;
• and
• a second motor means for automatically actuating the hammer assembly, whereby a character can selectively be encoded into a storage means, imprinted onto a medium, or both encoded and imprinted.