Heading 8469 : Typewriters other than printers of heading 84.43; word-processing machines.
Typewriters are, in general, characterised by a hand-operated keyboard, the keys of which when depressed cause the corresponding characters to be printed directly onto the paper. In some cases they operate by a series of levers and hammers, the character being engraved in relief on the faces of the hammers; in other cases the characters are carried on a ball, a cylinder, a daisy wheel or on cylindrical elements (shuttles) which present the required character to the paper on which it then prints. The text is produced letter by letter, though in exceptional cases combinations of letters (e.g., standards, words or abbreviations) may be used. Typewriters are classified here whatever the characters used (e.g., normal letters and figures, stenotype symbols, music symbols or Braille characters). Machines for writing in code or for de-coding, operating in the same manner as normal typewriters, are also covered by the heading. Electric typewriters, whether operated by electric motors, by electro-magnetic relays or, in the case of certain automatic typewriters, with electronic devices, are also classified in this heading. The typewriters of this heading can also be used to cut waxed paper stencils for use in duplications, or to emboss sheets of plastics or thin metal foil for use in printing machines. On the other hand, it should be noted that the stencils used on addressing machines or for marking packing cases are cut on special machines quite distinct from typewriters; these latter machines fall in heading 84.72. The heading also covers :(1) Automatic typewriters. These include : (a) Machines in which a previously perforated paper band is run through the machines, thus causing it to type a stock paragraph or a complete stock letter. The perforating machine for preparing the paper bands is classified in heading 84.72. (b) Machines with a memory of limited capacity which are able, using additional functional keys, to memorise, correct and retype texts automatically. (c) Keyboardless machines (printers) which print character by character using interchangeable typewheels. These machines are designed to be connected, by means of an appropriate interface, to other typewriters, word-processing machines, automatic data processing machines, etc. Subject to Note 5 (B) to this Chapter, the printers which satisfy the conditions of Note 5 (D) (¥¡) to this Chapter are to be classified as printers of heading 84.43. (2) Machines for typing identifying characters (and sometimes also branding with heated characters) on to insulated tubing for electrical wiring. (3) Typewriters, not incorporating any calculating device but specially designed for accounting purposes (e.g., for typing on specially prepared forms such as invoices, loose leaf ledgers, day books or filing cards). (4) Typewriters incorporating a device for transmitting the figures being typed to a separate calculating machine, or incorporating a counting device for use in speed tests. (5) Word-processing machines. These comprise, in addition to a keyboard, one or more large-capacity memories (e.g., disc, minidisc or cassette), a visual display unit and a printer. The various components may be housed in a single unit or be in separate units connected by cables. Word-processing machines may be fitted with interfaces permitting, for example, relay to other word-processing machines, to phototype-setting equipment, to automatic data processing machines, or to telecommunications systems. Their ability to correct or compose texts is greater than that of automatic typewriters. Their ability to perform arithmetical operations does not compare with that of automatic data processing machines (as defined in Note 5 to this Chapter) and thus they do not lose the character of word-processing machines. They are different from automatic data processing machines of heading 84.71 in that, in particular, they cannot take the logical decision during processing to modify the execution of a program (see Note 5 to this Chapter). PARTS AND ACCESSORIES Subject to the general provisions regarding the classification of parts (see the General Explanatory Note to Section XVI), parts and accessories for machines of this heading are classified in heading 84.73. The heading also excludes : (a) Accounting machines (heading 84.70). (b) Automatic data processing machines (heading 84.71). (c) Machines for completing or signing cheques (heading 84.72). (d) Teleprinters (heading 85.17) (e) Toy typewriters (heading 95.03).
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