Abstract: A system for printing an image onto a target area of a moving substrate with an actuatable print head having an actuation delay time, the substrate movable at a variable speed to a print position relative to the print head. The system includes a trigger signal generator for generating a trigger signal when the target area of the substrate is a specified distance from the print position so selected that a time required to move the target area of the substrate the specified distance to the print position is not less than the actuation delay time of the print head. Encoder signals based on movement of the substrate decrement a reference count during a delay time to generate a delay count, wherein the delay time corresponds to the actuation delay time of the print head. The encoder signals decrement the delay count in response to the generation of a trigger signal, wherein a print signal is generated when the delay count is decremented to zero.

Abstract: A split seal paper sheet in which the width of split seals composing the split seal paper sheet in the direction of conveyance of the paper sheet is smaller than the print width of a serial head is used. One or more of the split seals is/are positioned in one scanning region of the serial head, to print an image on the split seals. Line feed for printing on one or more split seals in the subsequent line is performed in such a manner that the line feed width is the same as the print width of the serial head. Consequently, the entire image is formed on one split seal without conveying the paper sheet (performing line feed). Even if a pitch between lines becomes non-uniform in conveyance of the paper sheet, the image on the split seal is not degraded.

Abstract: A method for controlling energizing of an ink jet printhead includes the steps of generating encoder pulses to a motor to activate the motor to move the printhead at a desired speed over a recording medium; generating and sending fire pulses at a fire pulse frequency from an ASIC to an ink jet printhead driver chip to selectively energize ink jet printhead nozzles to eject drops of ink onto the recording medium based on a predetermine relationship between an expected encoder pulse frequency and the fire pulse frequency; compensating for variations in the speed of the ink jet printhead movement caused by variations in the encoder pulse frequency by using the ASIC for continuously comparing the encoder pulse frequency to the fire pulse frequency and for adjusting the fire pulse frequency based upon the variations to the encoder pulse frequency to maintain the predetermined relationship thereby synchronizing the ink jet printhead movement with the energizing of the printhead nozzles.

Abstract: A dot matrix printer having a plurality of hammers forming in part a hammerbank, with a motor for driving the hammerbank, and a controller for releasing the hammers for printing on a print media. A counterbalance is mechanically linked to the hammerbank for balancing it during movement. Lands and grooves are connected for rotation with the motor. A sensor sends pulses corresponding to the lands and grooves for controlling the hammerbank movement. The hammerbank is linked to the position of the lands and grooves as mechanically connected to the motor.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and method for printing on a recording medium at locations being determined by encoder pulses of an encoder signal generated by an encoder including an encoder pending circuit. The encoder pending circuit outputs an encoder pending signal indicating the generation of one of the encoder pulses during a current printing operation. A controller coupled to the encoder pending circuit, receives the encoder pending signal and generates an enable signal after the completion of the current printing operation. The method of printing includes receiving one of the encoder pulses; determining whether the received one of the encoder pulse is generated during a current printing operation and completing the current printing operation before responding to the received one of the encoder pulses.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by scanning a recording head, includes a scan unit for scanning the recording head by changing the scan speed of the recording head, and a control unit for controlling the scan unit to change the scan speed of the recording head according to the resolution of image data to be recorded by the recording head so as to perform recording. A recording controller for controlling the recording apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording data on a recording medium comprises: a recording device capable of moving along a passage through which a recording medium passes and recording data on the recording medium; a conveyance device for conveying the recording medium; a moving device for moving the recording device along the conveyance passage; a driving source; a first transmission device for transmitting the power from the driving source to the conveyance device; a second transmission device for transmitting the power from the driving source to the moving device; and a switch for selectively connecting the first transmission device and the drive source while maintaining the connection between the driving source and the second transmission device.

Abstract: A method for printing an enhanced postal indicia image on a mailpiece utilizing a postage meter having a printing mechanism including a plurality of nozzles that deposit an ink in a dot-matrix pattern includes moving the printing mechanism and the mailpiece relative to each other over a first swath area on the mailpiece; selectively energizing the nozzles during step A) thereby printing a dot-matrix pattern of a postal indicia within the first swath area; moving the printing mechanism and the mailpiece relative to each other over a second swath area on the mailpiece, the second swath area in overlapping relationship with the first swath area; and selectively energizing the nozzles during step C) for printing a dot-matrix pattern of selected portions of the postal indicia which is complimentary to the dot-matrix pattern of the postal indicia such that a dot-matrix pattern of the enhanced postal indicia is produced by a combination of the dot-matrix pattern of the postal indicia and the dot-matrix pattern of se

Abstract: The present invention provides a tape printing device for printing a desirable series of characters on a tape and cutting the tape to a label of a desirable length, and also a tape cartridge used in the tape printing device. The tape cartridge has a characteristic element readably storing specific information on the tape such as a width of the tape. The tape printing device reads the characteristic element to control printing conditions according to the type of the tape cartridge. More specifically, the tape printing device determines a variety of parameters including a number of lines and character sizes of the character series printed on the tape as well as lengths of left and right margins. When a tape of a relatively large width is set in the tape cartridge, the device increases a rotation torque of a platen for feeding the tape.

Abstract: A printing method for performing enlargement printing of one continuous line by simultaneously shifting a plurality of printing heads by a shifting magnitude. The shifting magnitude of the printing heads is set to be greater than a shifting magnitude utilized in standard printing. Dividing points for shifting traces of each of the printing heads are set such that the shifting traces of adjacent printing heads partially overlap one another. Divided printing zones are established between the dividing points, and the printing timing of the printing heads is controlled for performing the enlargement printing of the one continuous line. Additionally, a printing method for performing reduction printing of one continuous line is performed by setting a shifting magnitude of the printing heads to be equal to that used in standard printing. Divided printing zones are established to be printed by at least two printing heads in a non-overlapping manner.

Abstract: The variation is the moving speed of a carriage, mainly due to the variation of the mass of the carriage with the consumption of ink, is corrected every printing cycle to enhance the accuracy of printing. PWM values for an acceleration period and a constant-speed period are examined to see if the PWM values are appropriate every printing cycle. A moving speed in the present acceleration period is compared with a first desired moving speed. When the moving speed is lower than the first desired moving speed, the PWM value is incremented by 1 to increase the duty factor of a PWM signal to be given to a CR motor in the next acceleration period. A maximum and a minimum moving speed are measured in the present constant-speed period, the maximum and the minimum moving speed are compared with a second desired traveling speed, or a maximum and a minimum allowable moving speed, and a PWM value for the next constant-speed period is determined on the basis of the comparison.

Abstract: A controller for a serial printer carriage in a serial printer for printing characters line by line with an interval at the end of each line by moving a carriage with a motor, the controller comprises: an interval timer for setting an interval between the termination of printing one line and the commencement of printing the next line by the motor; a motor driver for starting supplying a driving current to the motor so as to print characters of one line at the timing determined by the output of the interval timer; an energy measuring unit for measuring the energy consumed by the motor per unit time; a limitation-value limiter for setting the limitation value of energy consumption by the motor per unit time; comparator for comparing the measured value of the consumed energy from the energy measuring unit with the limitation value of energy consumption; and interval adjuster for generating a time setting signal for extending the interval set by the interval timer when the comparison made by the comparator indica

Abstract: In a control apparatus for a pulse motor, both a smooth acceleration property and a stable constant speed operation characteristic are realized in a process wherein the motor starts to run and then is accelerated to enter a constant speed operating state. A target value for the rotor phase, and motor speeds at N different phase switching times during an acceleration period of the pulse motor are determined in advance. Then, phase control values (for conducting respective phase switchings when the rotor phase reaches the target phase of each phase switching) and speed control values (for conducting respective phase switchings so that the motor speed at each phase switching further approaches a target speed) are integrated with each other in accordance with a predetermined weighting function, and then executed. In an early stage of acceleration, the weight of the phase control predominates. As the motor speed increases, the speed control is weighted more and more heavily relative to the phase control.

Abstract: A serial printing device that has a wider printing region without elongating the platen shaft. The serial printing device includes a serial printing head (7, 8) mounted on a carriage, a medium feed control device (23), a carriage control device (24), and a data discriminating device (21). The serial printing head includes a plural number of dot forming element series each having a plural number of dot forming elements linearly arrayed in a printing medium feeding direction. The dot forming element series are arrayed in a printing medium width direction. The medium feed control device controls a first printing process wherein, when the carriage is accelerated and moved from a home position at a constant speed for printing, print data is outputted to the serial printing head to print an image of one line by one printing path.

Abstract: There is provided a printer comprises a first type group having a first font; a second type group having a second font; a first read only memory in which a space traveling amount corresponding to each type of the first type group has been stored; a second read only memory in which a space traveling amount corresponding to each type of the second type group has been stored; and a microprocessor which selects the 1st read only memory when the 1st type group is used, thereby allowing the propotional spacing operation corresponding to each type of the 1st type group to be performed, and which selects the 2nd read only memory when the 2nd type group is used, thereby allowing the proportional spacing operation corresponding to each type of the 2nd type group to be performed. Since the invention can be constituted by a simple hardware, by merely adding this hardware to a conventional printer such as an electronic typewriter, the fine proportional spacing can be executed for each type of various kinds of fonts.

Abstract: A printer control method and apparatus are provided whereby print media feed and printhead carriage acceleration are overlapped in order to optimize the time which a printer spends preparing to print. The printhead carriage is accelerated at a time which has been determined to provide for concurrent completion of printhead carriage acceleration and media feed. This typically is accomplished by periodically previewing print data stored in memory for use in identifying a duration of time required to accelerate the printhead carriage to printing velocity and a duration of time required to advance the print medium. The difference between these times determines when to begin printhead carriage acceleration.

Abstract: A serial printer is composed of a paper feeding mechanism for feeding paper, a print head having a plurality of dot printing elements arranged in a feeding direction of the paper, a head moving mechanism for moving the print head in a direction substantially perpendicular to the paper feeding direction to scan the paper, a raster buffer for storing bit map pattern data for a scanning area of the print head, and a control section for causing the print head to print a dot image corresponding to the bit map pattern data stored in the raster buffer while moving the print head in a printing direction and reversing the printing direction after printing the dot image.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus for recording onto a recording medium by discharging ink includes a recorder for recording on the recording medium by discharging the ink through discharge ports, a setting device for setting a line recording mode in which recording is performed for every line or a page recording mode in which the recording is performed over a plurality of lines, with the recorder, and a controller, which, when the line recording mode is set, moves the discharging port face of the recorder outside of a conveyance passage for the recording medium for every termination of recording of one line, and which, when the page recording mode is set, reciprocates the recorder in the conveyance passage to record over a predetermined area, and after termination of recording of the predetermined area, moves the discharging port face of the recorder outside of the conveyance passage, and then conveys the recording medium for discharge from the apparatus.

Abstract: The printing apparatus or the sheet feeding apparatus disclosed here which employs vibration driven actuators as driving sources has a circuit for detecting the characteristics of the actuator during preparatory operation performed previous to the regular operation. Information detected by said circuit is used to control the actuators during the regular operation. As a result, a printing apparatus or a sheet feeding apparatus capable of reducing wasteful or unnecessary operation can be obtained.

Abstract: A printer employs a print head having a wire column arranged at an angle between 0.degree. and 90.degree. relative to a permitted line of motion of the print head. This angled print head allows for both portrait and landscape printing. Portrait mode printing is performed by controlling movement of the angled print head along the permitted line of motion during printing of each line of images. Landscape mode printing is controlled by maintaining a stationary position of the print head while the print receivable medium is moved in a direction perpendicular to the permitted line of motion of the print head.

Abstract: A method for optimally controlling the carriage of a serial printer which is capable of printing line by line is disclosed. In controlling the carriage motor, until before the drive of the head, the carriage motor is controlled based on the head drive basic unit, i.e., steps of 1/360 inches, thereby making it possible to recognize the head fire position accurately. After the drive of the head, the carriage motor is controlled based on the carriage drive basic unit, i.e., steps of 1/120 inches, thereby reducing the number of interruptions in the central processing unit, and improving the system efficiency.

Abstract: A serial printer for printing on a recording medium which includes a platen, a carriage and a recording medium discharge section. The platen serves as a recording medium insert member and is rotated by a motor. A carriage shuttles in parallel with the platen and includes a recording head and a paper holder attached thereto. The sheet discharge section is arranged on a downstream side of the carriage and is provided for guiding the recording medium to a sheet discharge outlet. The printer further includes a carriage controller for moving the carriage towards the center of the recording medium and stopping the carriage proximate the center of the recording medium, while decelerating the carriage before the center of the recording medium, when the recording medium is forwarded for printing until the recording medium reaches a sheet discharge section from a predetermined position on the downstream side of the paper holder.

Abstract: A printing apparatus capable of using recording media of different widths expands the range of print head movement while limiting the movement of the mask plate, which press the recording media against a platen, to within the area of the recording media, thereby preventing interference between the mask plate and the recording media, as a means of assuring the minimum print head travel required to sufficiently advance the ink ribbon or prevent overheating of the print head.

Abstract: A printer is provided comprising a carriage on which recording head is mounted. Drive mechanisms for moving carriage in reciprocating motions an encoder having openings provided contiguously in the circumferential direction at fixed intervals, attached thereto, and which rotates as carriage moves. A position detector is provided in proximity to the encoder for detecting the encoder's detection-target unit and generates timing pulses in response thereto. A shielding plate is attached to carriage for blocking the encoder from the position detector at the home position. A processor detects the home position for carriage based upon a timing pulse pause time.

Abstract: A serial printer has a moving unit for relatively moving a printing unit and a printing medium in two directions orthogonal to each other, and a detecting unit for detecting a trailing edge of the printing medium. The printing unit and the printing medium are relatively moved in a fast scan direction to print on the printing medium print data of a printing width of the printing unit. The printing unit and the printing medium are then relatively moved in a slow scan direction by a fixed distance corresponding to the printing width of the printing unit. The printing operation is then repeated. The number of nonprint lines for a final printing width is calculated by the serial printer based on a position of the trailing edge of the printing medium detected by the detecting unit. The print data of the final printing width is printed so that print data corresponding to the number of nonprint lines is absent.

Abstract: In the method, lines are printed on a sheet using a head unit, the lines having a pitch larger than a printing width of the head unit, the printing width being a width along a first direction. In the method, using the head unit, a first part of a first line is printed on the sheet along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A relative position of the head unit with reference to the sheet is moved along the first direction a distance equal to the printing width of the head unit. Using the head unit, a remaining part of the first line and at least a first part of a second line is printed on the sheet along the second direction. The relative position of the head unit with reference to the sheet is moved along the first direction a slight distance equal to or shorter than the printing width of the head unit. Using the head unit, a predetermined part of the second line is printed on the sheet along the second direction, the predetermined part including the first part of the second line.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printer with a reciprocating printing head for printing in both directions, capable of achieving satisfactory print precision without complicated positioning device. In case of printing certain particular information, if the printing head is moved to the corresponding print position in a particular direction, the printing head is moved further in the particular direction and is then returned to the corresponding print position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tape printing device for printing a desirable series of characters on a tape and cutting the tape to a label of a desirable length, and also a tape cartridge used in the tape printing device. The tape cartridge has a characteristic element readably storing specific information on the tape such as a width of the tape. The tape printing device reads the characteristic element to control printing conditions according to the type of the tape cartridge. More specifically, the tape printing device determines a variety of parameters including a number of lines and character sizes of the character series printed on the tape as well as lengths of left and right margins. When a tape of a relatively large width is set in the tape cartridge, the device increases a rotation torque of a platen for feeding the tape.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for performing recording uses a carriage mounted with a recording head moving along a guide shaft. The recording apparatus includes a magnetic linear encoder consisting of a scale element magnetized and a detection unit for detecting magnetized information magnetized to the scale element. Provided also are clicks formed on any one of the detection unit and the carriage and click engaging portions formed in the other one of the detection unit and the carriage. The clicks engage with the click engaging portions, whereby the detection unit is snap-locked to the carriage. This enables the detection unit of the magnetic linear encoder to be readily attached to the carriage and besides, when attached, prevents disorder of the information magnetized to the scale element. Further, even when a position of the carriage shifts corresponding to sheets having different thicknesses, a sliding load of the carriage does not change.

Abstract: The printing apparatus or the sheet feeding apparatus disclosed here which employs vibration driven actuators as driving sources has a circuit for detecting the characteristics of the actuator during preparatory operation performed previous to the regular operation. Information detected by said circuit is used to control the actuators during the regular operation. As a result, a printing apparatus or a sheet feeding apparatus capable of reducing wasteful or unnecessary operation can be obtained.

Abstract: A recording apparatus of the kind arranged to perform recording by moving a carriage on which a recording head is mounted is provided with a linear encoder which consists of a linear scale part arranged in parallel to a moving route of the carriage to have position information recorded in the longitudinal direction thereof at a predetermined pitch and a detecting head arranged to detect the position information of the scale part. The detecting head includes a protective film thereon and a slider which fittingly engages the scale part and is formed with a polyphenylene sulfide material containing 10 to 50% of a filler.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing money orders at a plurality of retail establishments is provided, including one or more data collector devices connected to a host device. Preferably, each of the money order dispensers include a digital processor for controlling the overall operation thereof, a keyboard for entering transaction data to request the printing of a money order, a display for displaying the transaction data, and a dot matrix printer for printing the requested money order. Each dispenser further includes an electrically-eraseable programmable read only memory (E.sup.2 PROM) for storing a security inhibit printing code, this code being automatically changed to prevent actuation of the printer when the security of the dispenser is compromised.

Abstract: A carriage driving motor is driven with acceleration during a time period substantially equal to the half period of periodic vibration generated in a carriage in its moving direction when the carriage shifts from a stopped state to a moving state. Subsequently, the carriage driving motor is driven at a constant speed. Thus, the vibration of the carriage is minimized and movement of the carriage at the constant speed is stabilized.

Abstract: A method of controlling a transportation velocity of a printhead carriage of a serial printer is disclosed. The printhead carriage is driven by a motor via a timing belt. First, a characteristic equation, which includes a motor speed, a current applied to said motor, an equivalent disturbance indicating environmental variations affecting said motor speed, is discreted. Thereafter, the equivalent disturbance is estimated using the characteristic equation which has been discreted. A value of the equivalent disturbance is determined and subsequently, a value of the equivalent disturbance compensating level is calculated using a discrete low pass filter. Finally, a current to be applied to said motor is obtained by adding a compensating level of the controller to the level of the equivalent disturbance.

Abstract: A printer for printing graphic and alphanumeric information on plastic disks utilizing a printhead having a line array of print pixels. The printhead is pivotally mounted and has an adjustable force mechanism to urge the line array of print pixels into contact with a plastic disk; the plastic disk is mounted on a movable carriage which linearly passes beneath the printhead and the adjustable force mechanism exerts a variable force which is a function of the position of the disk beneath the printhead.

Abstract: Optimization of printer throughput is achieved through the use of a printhead carriage control method and a corresponding apparatus which directs acceleration of the printhead carriage based on the length of a future printhead carriage swath. According to the improved method, print data is periodically previewed to determine the length of a future swath, and the carriage is accelerated to an optimal printing velocity which is selected based on the determined swath length. The printer prints at the selected printing velocity, and then decelerates the carriage to complete the pass. During deceleration, the medium is advanced to its next position, and the print data is again previewed in order to determine the swath length for use in selecting the optimal printing velocity for the next carriage pass.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for controlling the operation of a mailing machine having a postage meter which includes a thermal printer which transfers wax ink from an ink ribbon to an envelope being fed through the mailing machine, in such a way that the printer cannot operate if the envelope is not is a proper position in the mailing machine to completely cover a feed roller which controls movement of the envelope and the ink ribbon.

Abstract: An automatic print speed control for a barcode printer is shown, the printer includes a printhead to which power is applied during a strobe time to cause the printhead to print. The printer also includes a stepper motor that is responsive to a periodic drive signal for advancing a web of labels or the like past the printhead for printing thereon. The control is responsive to a number of measured operating variables of the barcode printer to adjust the printhead strobe time. The adjusted strobe time is compared to the period of the stepper motor drive signal in order to adjust the speed of the stepper motor if necessary.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dot matrix printer capable of recording character strings with a high quality at high speeds. The dot matrix printer includes an output processor for obtaining the numbers of effective dots of character patterns in a character string with respect to a character string reference line designating a print position of font of the character string according to information of the font and information of the character string reference line, comparing the numbers of effective dots with the number of printable dots of the print head, determining whether or not another character string in addition to the character string is admitted within the width of the print head if a maximum value of the numbers of effective dots is smaller than the width of the print head, and setting a print position of at least one of the character strings admitted within the width of the print head.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus of controlling the movement of a printing head in a printer for printing characters along a print pass while selectively reversing the moving direction of the printing head, in which the character heights of a plurality of character series are checked, image data of a plurality of lines are read out, the image data being contained in a pass which can be printed within the height of the printing head, are printed at once. It is then checked whether or not the printed image data is continuous to the image data of the next pass, the same moving direction of the printing head is kept for printing the image of the next pass if it is continuous, and the moving direction of the printing head is reversed for printing the image of the next pass if it is not continuous. The method and the apparatus can print characters in excess of the height of the printing head with a high quality.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing money orders at a plurality of retail establishments is provided, including one or more data collector devices connected to a host device. Preferably, each of the money order dispensers include a digital processor for controlling the overall operation thereof, a keyboard for entering transaction data to request the printing of a money order, a display for displaying the transaction data, and a dot matrix printer for printing the requested money order. Each dispenser further includes an electrically-eraseable programmable read only memory (E.sup.2 PROM) for storing a security inhibit printing code, this code being automatically changed to prevent actuation of the printer when the security of the dispenser is compromised.

Abstract: The object of the current invention is to print characters, for example, on a substantially full area of a recording medium extended up to the leading or trailing edge of the recording medium. A carriage is moved so that a print hole of a ribbon mask is positioned at a medium center as viewed in the direction of feeding of a recording medium. The recording medium is fed to a position so that the print hole is at a print start position. A print operation is carried out toward a first side edge of the recording medium. The recording medium is then fed in the reverse direction to a position where the print hole is away from the recording medium as viewed in the character pitch direction. The carriage is then moved so that the print hole is positioned at a medium center as viewed in the direction of feeding of a recording medium. Thereafter, the medium is fed to a position so that the print hole is at a print start position. A print operation is then carried out toward a second side of the recording medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for precisely printing information at a predetermined position on a label on a sheet which has been set at an arbitrary position in a document processing apparatus includes a keyboard for inputting into the document processing apparatus data representing the relative position of print information to be printed with a print head with respect to a print start position and data representing an absolute position of the print start position with respect to a predetermined and fixed reference position on a print plane. The apparatus also includes a central processing unit for controlling the movement of a carriage supporting the print head so that the print head first moves to the absolute position input by said second input means and then moves according to the data representing the relative position of the print information during printing.

Abstract: A printing apparatus system includes a plurality of type units each having a plurality of type elements and each being different from the others. Each type unit may be mounted in the apparatus. A detector detects which of the type units is so mounted and produces a detection signal representative thereof. The printing pressure with which each type element is imprinted on a print medium is determined in accordance with the particular type wheel mounted in the apparatus as indicated by the detection signal. Additionally, the amount of advance of an ink ribbon for imprinting a type element on a type unit is determined in accordance with the particular type unit mounted in the apparatus, again as indicated by the detection signal.

Abstract: A printer wherein a zero position sensor generates a zero-position signal and a non-zero-position signal depending upon whether the print head is placed in its zero position or not, and a print head locking mechanism is provided for permitting print head movement from the zero position when a ribbon holder supporting one or more ribbons is placed in a predetermined initial position, and inhibiting the print head movement from the zero position when the ribbon holder is not in the initial position, so that the non-zero-position signal is generated if the print head is moved away from the zero position with the ribbon holder placed in the initial position.

Abstract: A serial printer for preventing the coil of a print head from being burned, by detecting the temperature of the print head to switch the printing mode of the print mode from a bidirectional mode to a split mode in accordance with the detected temperature. This serial printer comprises: a print head bidirectionally movable for printing line by line according to print data; temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the print head; print data density discriminating means for discriminating whether the print data of one line of the print data inputted have high density or low density; and print control means for switching the printing mode of the print head from a bidirectional printing mode to a split mode, in which one line is printed separately by at least two times, when it is determined that the print data of the one line is of high density and that the detected value of the temperature detecting means exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A printer controller is for controlling a serial dot printer. The printer prints a dot picture on a paper by reciprocally scanning a recording head in horizontal forward and backward directions. The printer controller includes a buffer memory for storing print data in a dot pattern, a print starting address register for transferring the print data from the buffer memory to the recording head, a print end address register, an address counter, a print timing register for drive controlling the recording head, and a print timing pulse generator. The printer controller corrects vertical misregistration of print in the forward and backward printing by adjusting a set value of the print starting address of the print starting address register or a set value of the print timing register.

Abstract: A controller for a dot impact printer has capacitance sensors for sensing the motion of the dot wires in the print head, and a non-volatile, rewritable memory for storing self-adjustment data relating to dot-wire characteristics. A processor controls the driving of the dot wires according to the self-adjustment data stored in the memory. At certain times, the processor causes the dot wires to be driven in a test sequence and updates the self-adjustment data in the memory according to the resulting sensor output. Print quality is thereby maintained for the full guaranteed life of the print head.

Abstract: A print controller apparatus and method thereof for controlling the movement of a printhead assembly including a carriage, printhead, and head pins. First and second moving times of the carriage moving from first and second predetermined distances and a difference between these moving times are determined. The carriage at a third predetermined distance is then determined based on the first and second moving times and the difference of the moving times. A basic timing signal corresponding to the current print mode is generated in accordance with the current moving time of the carriage. A correction value is then computed based on the current moving time of the carriage and from a preceding detected moving time which equals a predetermined time the printhead arrives at the printing paper. The basic timing signal is corrected using the correction value to thereby generate a print timing signal.

Abstract: A carriage motor control device that uses speed determination means (3) for determining a set speed value (SN12) to be set on the basis of an aimed angle value (SN13A) indicative of an aimed rotation angle, an aimed speed value (SN13B) indicative of an aimed rotation speed and the rotation angle value, speed control means (4) for generating a speed control value (SN7) for making the rotation speed value closer to the set speed value on the basis of a difference between the rotation speed value and the set speed value, angle control means (5) for generating an angle control value (SN8) for making the rotation angle value closer to the aimed angle value on the basis of a difference between the aimed angle value and the rotation angle value, selection means (8) for selecting the speed control value as a motor drive control value when the rotation speed value is larger than a first speed value and selecting the angle control value as the motor drive control value when the rotation speed value is smaller than the