Abstract: The control device is characterized by including a linear encoder for storing two pieces of information on two phases about a printing position in one storing part located on a longitudinal axis of the linear encoder, reading means for reading the pieces of information on two phases stored in the storing part of the linear encoder, and control circuits for controlling a printing position based on the informations on two phases read by the reading means.

Abstract: A carriage motor controller for a printer. The controller includes a drive mechanism for driving a carriage motor to thereby cause a carriage to travel; a detector for detecting a position and a speed of the carriage while the carriage is travelling; a measuring device for measuring characteristics of the carriage motor on the basis of the detected position and speed; storage for storing the measured characteristics; a first controller for controlling the drive mechanism and causing the carriage to travel for the purposed of taking the necessary measurements, the measurements being taken after a power switch has been turned on, after a sheet has been fed, or after a predetermined time has elapsed; and a second controller for controlling the drive mechanism upon reception of a print command on the basis of the print command and the stored characteristics to thereby cause the carriage to travel for printing.

Abstract: A serial printer for recording with a recording head while synchronizing with a movement of a carriage reciprocated on an apparatus body and on which the recording head is mounted. A position of a linear encoder is detected by a detecting portion. A detecting signal from this detecting portion is compared with a reference voltage, and a pulse output as a synchronous signal is generated. A duty of this pulse output is adjusted to obtain a well-recorded result.

Abstract: Inversion of the encoder signal--during pen-carriage operation in just one of two printing directions--advantageously causes development of the position-signal pulse at each encoder bar to be generated from the same edge of each bar, even though the pulse-using circuit is always triggered from the same apparent waveform feature (e. g., a so-called "falling edge"). As a result, the position at which ink is fired from a pen on the carriage is independent of tolerances in bar width. Further asymmetry of timing, provided by addressing each position based on an earlier-arriving encoder-signal pulse and passing that pulse through a delay line, is preferably used to compensate for the fact that ink-drop time-of-flight acts in opposite senses, during pen scanning in the two different printing directions respectively. This time-of-flight effect, for the bidirectionally flying ink drops, produces undesirable offset of the actually printed ink position in opposite directions from the nominal ink-firing point.

Abstract: The encoder scale has features to be automatically read by a single-channel sensor of the device to determine position of a carriage that is part of the device and moves bidirectionally across the sheet. These features include a first group of many graduations formed in a single row along the substrate; and a second group of many graduations also formed in the same row along the substrate and interspersed among those of the first group over at least a distance that corresponds approximately to the full transverse dimension of the sheet. The scale also includes some provision for automatically distinguishing --by the single-channel sensor of the image-related device--between graduations of the first and second groups. This provision includes, for each graduation of the second group, some feature (such as width) that is distinctive in relation to the graduations of the first group.

Abstract: When a tape cassette having a special tape, such as a lettering tape, is mounted into a tape printing device, which normally permits user set margins, for printing image data on a tape by driving a thermal head and a tape feed motor until all image data is printed out, the user set margin is disregarded and the tape is automatically fed for predetermined amount for setting a predetermined rear margin behind the print end portion. The tape is then automatically fed further for the same amount prior cutting the tape, at the rear end of the margin by driving a tape cutter mechanism. Thus, a rear margin is provided for the cut tape and a front margin established before the next print start portion. The amount the tape is fed is an amount that is long enough to hold the lettering tape when an image printed on the tape is transferred onto the image receiving medium.

Abstract: Kerning information that allows font characters to contact the outlines of immediately preceding characters when the setting of character spaces is zero is set for the data on said font characters. The result of output with the setting of character spaces being zero is such that all font characters contact each other continuously. If the character space is set to a desired value greater than zero, a uniform space is provided between every font character. This insures that in a line of type such as where the letter "A" follows "W", the "A" is automatically kerned into the letter region of "W". As a result, the method of kerning in the processing of documents written in European languages is rationalized to obviate the need to perform calculations for setting letter spaces.

Abstract: A printing system for a shuttle-type printer includes a platen and a carriage configured to move bidirectionally across the platen. An optically responsive demarcation is provided on the platen outside of the media feed path. A printhead and an optical sensor are disposed on the carriage. During operation, the carriage is operable to position the optical sensor over the platen demarcation, whereby the optical sensor generates a position signal when it detects the platen demarcation. A control subsystem is operably coupled to the optical sensor to determine absolute position of the carriage relative to the platen in response to optical identification of the platen demarcation by the optical sensor. Several methods for operating such a printing system are also described.

Abstract: A movement distance monitoring pulse counter counts drive pulses being applied to a carriage-moving pulse motor, and produces a count value M. An optical sensor attached to a head carriage detects slits of a slit encoder passed by the head carriage. A slit counter counts output pulses of the optical sensor, and produces a reset signal every time the count reaches a preset number of output pulses corresponding to a monitoring carriage movement distance. The count value M is reset in response to the reset signal. When the count value M exceeds a preset number of drive pulses corresponding to the monitoring carriage movement distance, an abnormality detection signal is produced.

Abstract: A machine comprising, structure for printing an indicia, structure for feeding a sheet having a leading edge downstream in a path of travel to the printing structure, structure for controlling the sheet feeding and printing structure, the controlling structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including structure for sensing the leading edge of a sheet in the path of travel, the sensing structure connected to the microprocessor and providing a signal thereto indicating that the leading edge has been sensed, the microprocessor programmed for commencing counting a predetermined time delay in response to the signal, the microprocessor programmed for causing the printing structure to commence printing the indicia on the sheet a selected marginal distance from the leading edge thereof corresponding to the predetermined time delay, the controlling structure including structure for manually selecting the marginal distance and thus the predetermined time delay from a plurality thereof, the control

Abstract: In a printer having P+X printing elements for printing pixels with a vertical center-to-center spacing R.sub.1 during a plurality of line scans, and a stepper motor for moving a record medium in increments R.sub.2 where R.sub.2 is greater than R.sub.1, all points addressable printing is obtained by a combination of movement of the record medium orthogonal to the line scan direction and shifting address signals applied to the print elements. The stepper motor moves the record medium a distance k.sub.2 R.sub.2 between successive line scans and address signals are applied to (n+k.sub.1)th . . . (n+k.sub.1 +P-1)th print elements to cause a shift k.sub.1 R.sub.1 such that the sum of the distance the record medium is moved before a line scan and the shift caused by the address signals during a scan is equal to PR.sub.1 where P is the number of print elements active during the preceding line scan, or equal to any desired integral multiple of R.sub.1 in other print modes.

Abstract: Printing control includes determining printing dot density of print data to be supplied to a printing head, averaging the printing dot density during a predetermined period of time based on the printing dot density determined, selecting a printing speed in response to the average value of printing dot density, and controlling printing to print at the selected printing speed.

Abstract: The processing system described by the invention comprises a memory means for storing print information and a printer for printing the print information stored in the memory means. The printing means using exchangeable printing material to print the print information. The printer has a detector which detects when the printing material is used up. The processing system further includes a controller for controlling the printer which in response to the detection of the using-up of the printing material, stops the printer. After the used-up printing material is exchanged, the controller restarts the printer and the remaining portion of the print information is printed, connected to the earlier portion in a smooth manner and that there is no evidence of the interruption. print information when the printing material is used up in the middle of the printing of the print information.

Abstract: A control device for a matrix printer in which the mechanical printing elements of the matrix printer are selectively triggered by the control device a certain time before they reach the desired printing spot on the information carrier in order to compensate for the fact that the printing head will move further over a certain distance between the triggering moment and the moment that the printing element actually hits the information carrier. This distance depends on the speed of the printing element. If the print signal, however, is always generated a constant distance before the printing element reaches the desired printing spot, this signal must be delayed as a function of the speed of the printing element if the printing head is to print accurately also during its run-up and slow-down. To this end, a delay device is provided which delays the print signal for the relevant printing element by a time interval which depends on the printing head speed.

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 printer controlling system which can perform printing at predetermined printing density even when the carriage is being accelerated or decelerated is disclosed. When the carriage is traveling, position pulses are generated at constant travel distance intervals. The carriage travel speed is measured on the basis of the time intervals during which the position pulses are generated. Further, the time at which the carriage reaches each predetermined printing position is estimated on the basis of the measured travel speed, and the actual printing is made when the current time matches the estimated arrival time.

Abstract: A carriage position control circuit which locates a carriage at a center position of a printing sheet regardless of the paper size to maintain the printing sheet in contact with the platen. The carriage position control circuit includes a sensor (30) which moves, together with the carriage (2), in parallel to a center axis of the platen (1) of a serial printer and senses a printing sheet (10), a sheet position detector (43) which detects left and right edge positions of the printing sheet based on the sensor output and a center position calculating circuit (45) which calculates the center position of the printing sheet based on the left and right edge positions. The detection of the left and right edge positions and the calculation of the center position are performed before the leading edge of the printing sheet reach the anti-floating device (3).

Abstract: A printing control system A in which a printing head 7 is moved by a belt 10 coupled to a carriage drive motor 4, and a printing command signal 301 generated in response to an encoder pulse signal 501 synchronized with the revolution of the carriage drive motor 4 is applied to the printing head 7, the system A comprises a unit 1 for detecting the moving speed of the printing head 7; and units 2 and 3 for correcting timing at which the printing command signal 301 is generated, in association with both the belt expansion and contraction rate and flight time at the detected moving speed. The control system A further comprises a unit 15 for discriminating whether the printing head 7 is being accelerated or decelerated. The results discriminated by this unit 15 are given to the correcting units 2 and 3 so that the timing rate differs according to the acceleration and deceleration.

Abstract: A movable plate (7) of a paper lateral ends positioning mechanism (5) is located on the side of a home position (HP), and a fixed plate (6) of the paper lateral ends positioning mechanism (5) is located on the other side opposite to the home position (HP) side. A paper width detecting device (10) is so designed as to detect a width (W1, W2) of a printing paper (P) by subtracting from a known distance (C1) a quantity of movement (X) of a carrier (3) from the home position (HP) at the time when a lateral end of the printing paper (P) on the home position (HP) side is detected by a paper lateral end sensor (11).

Abstract: In a typewriting apparatus in the invention, the carrier is driven by a stepping motor. Characters printed by this apparatus are divided into two groups, one for characters frequently used but requiring no higher printing position precision and the other for characters less frequently used but requiring higher printing position precision. Furthermore, each group can be printed in a normal printing mode or in a boldface printing mode. These four kinds of printing are executed by selecting their respective suitable pulse rates of the stepping motor.

Abstract: A serial recording apparatus for reciprocating a recording head with respect to a recording medium to perform bidirectional recording includes a position detector for detecting a reference position of the recording head, a driving unit for reciprocating the recording head within a predetermined area including the reference position, a calculating unit for calculating a difference between reference positions detected by the position detector by reciprocal movement when the recording head is reciprocated by the driving unit within the predetermined area, and a correcting unit for correcting a positional error in bidirectional recording on the basis of the difference calculated by the calculating unit.

Abstract: A paper edge detecting device for a printing apparatus in which a paper margin of a print paper can be detected with high accuracy. A mark printing process is executed upon power-on of a printer, so that a carriage is displaced from an original position H0 to a position corresponding to a set pulse number H.sub.P and stopped at that position to print on the print paper a linear mark M aligned in a direction perpendicular to a displacement direction of the carriage. Thereafter, a mark detection process is executed, and the carriage is displaced from the original position H0 until the mark M is detected by the photosensor. Subsequently, a correction amount generating process is executed to calculate a correction value .alpha. on the basis of the set pulse number H.sub.P and the count value C.sub.P when the mark M is detected by the photosensor.

Abstract: A character processing apparatus such as an electronic typewriter which can erase the recorded characters on a word unit basis.

Abstract: A process for controlling the operation of a printing head detects defects in the transport of the printing head along a printed line and if necessary corrects them. A control unit (24) controls a current source (16) which supplies current to a transport motor (12) which moves the printing head (10). The printing elements (14) of the printing head (10) are supplied with pulsed drive current (ID) by a driver component (18). A position indicator (20) records the distance travelled by the printing head (10) along a printed line. According to the invention, the transport time between two printing positions is monitored to detect whether a limit value (G) is exceeded. If the limit value (G) is exceeded, the drive of the printing head (10) is stopped and if necessary the printing head is moved in the opposite direction and/or at least one printing element (14, 15) is operated with less energy that that required for printing.

Abstract: A device for PWM control of the printer carriage motor (1) which has a circuit (65) for generating a first PWM pulses of 100% duty ratio, a circuit for computing second PWM pulses (31, 37, 39, 15, 17, 53, 57, 59) according to the PI control method based on the difference between the motor current speed and the predetermined standard speed, and a circuit (121) for holding the optimum integrated value for controlling the motor current speed agree with the standard speed. Until the motor current speed reaches a predetermined transfer speed slightly lower than the standard speed, the carriage motor is accelerated with the maximum acceleration according to the first PWM pulses, when the transfer speed is reached, the optimum integrated value is set as the initial integrated value of the PI control, and thereafter the speed control is carried out according to the PI control method.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus, even if print position data and its associated printing data are inputted at random in a memory, the print position data are rearranged in a predetermined order in which to move a printing heat at a minimum distance during the printing of the data in the specified position. Specifically, the print position data are rearranged so that the printing head is moved from the top of a printing paper toward the bottom thereof. If a plurality of position data are specified which are printed on the same line, the printing head is moved from the left to the right of the line.

Abstract: In the determination of the length of a sheet that has been inserted in a printer, an optical sensor scans the length of the sheet as it is fed into the printer, and a counter is controlled to provide a count corresponding to the length of the sheet. When the sensor encounters a mark on the sheet, such as a line, it provides an output indicating that the sheet is not present. This erroneous output is corrected by moving the sensor laterally of the sheet to a position displaced from the mark to enable further sensing of the presence of the sheet in a region that does not include the mark.

Abstract: The invention provides the user with the capability of viewing a form positioned in a printer associated with a computer, a keyboard and a monitor. The printer has a camera and a lens positioned thereon, the camera including an image sensing array for providing video signals corresponding to images sensed on the form. The computer processes the video signals to display images sensed on various portions of the form. The user responds by entering via a keyboard data corresponding to the various portions of the form displayed. During the first use of a form, the computer memorizes the portions of the form for which data are entered and on which data are to be printed. For subsequent uses of the form the corresponding data are entered via the keyboard, and the printer automatically fills in the form.

Abstract: Calibration apparatus for an ink jet printer of the type having a rotary drum which has a cylindrical surface and which rotates about an axis, and a print head which is movable parallel to that axis in an axial direction along the drum surface and between a head home position and a position beyond one end of the drum, the head projecting an ink jet comprised of ink droplets towards the drum surface. The apparatus comprises a needle-like ink jet sensor having a needle tip positioned at a selected distance in the axial direction beyond the one end of the drum and with its axis perpendicular to the drum axis. The sensor is movable in the direction of its axis between a sensor home position at a selected location relative to the drum and a position in which the sensor can intercept the ink jet and the sensor produces a sensor signal when it does intercept the ink jet.

Abstract: A printing controller for a serial printer, wherein a carriage having a printing head is reciprocated by a motor via transmitting a means, includes a carriage position detector for detecting the position of the carriage to produce a position detection signal; a timing signal generator for detecting the rotational position of the motor, thereby producing a timing signal synchronously with the movement of the carriage in a line direction; a synchronizing signal generator for producing a synchronizing signal per each predetermined plurality of timing signal synchronously with the timing signal, and a control circuit for producing a printing initiation signal, on the basis of the position detection signal, the timing signal and the synchronizing signal, in accordance with a first timing signal after the carriage leaves a home position and receives a first synchronizing signal.

Abstract: The position of a print head, movable back and forth over the width of a paper band, is used as an index versus parameter data in menu presentation recorded parallel to the extension of the print-head motion path in a device for the setting of operating parameters of a printer. In order to eliminate a conventional continuous and repeated printing of the operating parameters on paper, a new setting of the programming at the printer can be performed such that the operating parameters (3) are visually displayed in form of a permanent or callable display (4) at the casing (5) of the printer. A position-determining element (6) is furnished at the print head (1). The momentary position indicator (7) of the print head (1) is reproduced on the display (4) for the operating parameters (3), as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Abstract: A serial printer includes a carrier motor which moves a printing head; a signal generator for supplying an output signal to the carrier motor to control the carrier motor to drive the printing head; a microprocessor for controlling operation of the signal generator; a counter for counting movement of the printing head in response to the output signal from the signal generator; and a malfunction detector for detecting a malfunction when the value of the counter reaches a predetermined count and for resetting the microprocessor in response thereto.

Abstract: In a dot printer having a print head, a moving mechanism for laterally reciprocating the print head relative to a recording medium, a driving circuit for driving the print head, a memory for storing basic dot patterns, and a controller for reading a basic dot pattern from the memory that corresponds to input data, a printing pattern is produced by processing the basic dot pattern and controlling the moving mechanism and the driving circuit according to the printing dot pattern to print the data on the recording medium. A reference dot pattern is produced by replicating n vertical lines of the same dot arrangement as that of the dot lines of the basic dot pattern. The controller produces the printing dot pattern by omitting m dots following the head dot of each dot line, and each successive remaining dot, of the reference dot pattern consisting of successive dots.

Abstract: A printer which includes a position controller for moving a printing head to a predetermined initial position by driving a stepping motor during initial processing operation, and a current controller for supplying a second current to the stepping motor to spontaneously start the stepping motor. Since the stepping motor is driven by the second current which is smaller than a first current to be supplied during printing, the noise to be produced during the initial homing operation can be minimized.

Abstract: A serial printer comprises a movable carrier, a print head mounted on the carrier, sliders mounted to either a fixed member of the printer or the carrier and selectively slidable to a plurality of positions to select a desired print mode, a sensor mounted to the other member and movable relative to the sliders when the carrier is moved so as to sense the position of the sliders, and an initial condition control system for changing print modes in response to the position of the sliders as sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: The subject invention comprises a printer system for a serial printer having an optical sensor detection system for the alignment of images on a sheet of print media, the correction of misalignment as a result of inaccurate alignment of the print media and the determination of the orientation of print media in a printer.

Abstract: A printer comprises a sheet feeding device for starting to feed a printing sheet to the position of the next line immediately after data of one line is completely printed and deceleration of a carriage from a predetermined printing speed is started, a control table preparing device for storing drive control information for the next line in a control table as soon as the data of the one line is completely printed and deceleration of the carriage from the printing speed is started, a first computing device for computing a first period of time required from the completion of printing of the data of the one line until the carriage starts its movement from its stopped state in the direction opposite to the direction of movement of the carriage during printing the data of the one line and reaches a printing enable speed so that data of the next line can be printed, a second computing device for computing, from the time the carriage is stopped, and a second period of time required until the operation of the sheet fe

Abstract: A text processing method and apparatus for storing inputted text data and for printing newly stored text data on paper on which text characters have been previously printed. The previously printed paper is set in a printer. New text data is input through a keyboard. The new text data is stored serially with the previously printed text data. Upon receiving a print instruction, the text data is serially searched. The paper is fed without printing whenever previously printed text data is searched. Characters are printed when the new text data is come across in the search.

Abstract: In the print apparatus of this invention, a ruled line is formed on a print medium as a line-up of lines printed by plural printing operation with a line type. A carriage on which the printing unit including the line type is installed is moved from the position where the end of the ruled line composing the outline of a table, is located toward the center of the table at a half print pitch of maximum print pitch, irrespective of the print pitch set by an operator, when the edge of the ruled line is printed. And the ruled line is printed on the print medium by the operation of the printing unit. Moreover, when the middle size of type which can be used corresponding to various print pitches is installed on the carriage, the ruled line can be printed not to protrude from ruled line composing the outline contacting with this ruled line whatever print pitches are set.

Abstract: A recording apparatus in which a stepping motor is used as a driving source to reciprocate a carriage on which a recording head is mounted and recording is executed by the recording head in accordance with the timing when the stepping motor rotates. The apparatus includes a rotational position detector to detect a rotational position of the stepping motor; a current switching circuit to switch energization currents to the stepping motor on the basis of a detection signal from the rotational position detector; a motor speed control circuit to closed loop control a rotational speed of the stepping motor through the current switching circuit; and a controller for detecting a load corresponding to the stepping motor by a speed control output from the motor speed control circuit and for controlling the motor so as to change output torque of the stepping motor in accordance with the load.

Abstract: The elements of a printing mechanism, including a platen, print head and drive motors, are constructed and arranged to provide a clearance permitting an envelope to remain entirely in a flat condition in a plane tangent to the platen at the location of the printing line while the envelope is being printed by the print head. The housing of the printing mechanism is constructed with specially configured slots. First and second opposite end walls of the housing, and a third wall, extending from one end wall to the other, provide at least partial coverage of the print head and platen. The third wall has a slot extending from one end wall to the other, the slot being arranged to receive an envelope and to allow the envelope to be inserted in a flat condition between the print head and the platen. The end walls have parallel slots, meeting and continuous with the slot of the third wall.

Abstract: A printer has a bi-directional stepper motor that drives an endless toothed belt which is secured to a print head carriage for driving the carriage back and forth across the printer along a line of printing. A timing strip is molded integral with the frame of the printer and positioned under the print head carriage. An optical sensor of the light emitting diode and phototransistor type is secured to the underside of the carriage and positioned to straddle the timing strip as the carriage is driven back and forth across the printer. The printer controller uses timing strip/sensor signals to place the print head in a home position when the printer is turned on and also when the print head has been moved from an operating position, e.g. in the case of changing a ribbon. The timing strip/sensor signals are also used to detect a carriage jam condition.

Abstract: Both a test printing pattern during a forth direction printing and a test printing pattern during a back direction printing are displayed on a screen of a display apparatus. The test printing pattern is occurred at a predetermined detection position by counting a value of an up/down counter. A printing position drift between the forth direction printing and the back direction printing is shown on the screen. The optimum printing position drift having the smallest printing position drift amount is detected on the screen by the test printing patterns. A corrected result of the printing position drift is printed. A correction value of the printing position drift is renewed at an optimum value. The printing position drift in such as ruled lines is set at the minimum value. A high quality printing for a document data can be maintained and a high throughput for the document data can be obtained.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus for use in an electronic typewriter, wire dot printer or the like in which image information including character data is divided into a plurality of blocks and can be recorded as the continuous contents at a plurality of preset margin positions of a recording medium. The output format of the image information can be set for every divided block. Those set positions are variable for every output data amount of the image information or for every predetermined area of the output section of the image information. With this apparatus, image information can be divisionally and distributively recorded in many desired print areas due to simple key operations.

Abstract: In a printing device capable of executing printing operation in a bold face print mode, provided are means for controlling a carriage so as to be stopped in a predetermined period of time before the first printing operation is executed so that an inconvenient vibration of the carriage is attenuated, and means for executing a plurality of printing operations included in a bold-face print after the vibration is sufficiently attenuated.Thus, qualities of the printed characters in the bold-face print mode are extremely uniform with each other.

Abstract: Document processing equipment comprising an input device to input enlarged character data covering a plurality of lines, a memory to store enlarged character data input, a printing/erasing device which can print or erase the stored enlarged character data in the form of enlarged character pattern on a recording medium, a commanding device to instruct erasing of a plurality of enlarged character patterns printed on the recording medium by the printing/erasing device and a control device to erase en bloc the enlarged character pattern covering several lines printed on the recording medium line by line in response to the erasing instruction given by the commanding device.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus for drawing up documents. The apparatus includes an indicator for indicating registration of information, a keyboard for entering indicia and print pitch information, a memory including a first area for storing keyboard information, a second area for storing entered print pitch information, and a third area for storing registration information according to an indication by the indicator. The apparatus further includes a controller for, in response to the registration indication, storing the indicia information stored in the first area and the pitch information stored in the second area in the third area.

Abstract: Character and control code data are input from a keyboard into a memory. A CRT display unit displays one line of data stored in the memory. A printer is automatically activated to print the line of data in response to a carriage return or line feed code, a hyphen near the right margin or a space near the right margin with a character in the right margin position. In the latter case, the next line is displayed starting with the character position following the space. The printer prints the line while the next line is being input and displayed. The margins, tab positions and a hot zone near the right margin are displayed above the line of data while a cursor is displayed below the line. Character codes such as backspace codes are displayed with the data and the positions of the data on the display always correspond to the printed data positions.

Abstract: A printer including a stepper motor for moving a carriage, a detector for detecting arrival of the carriage at a detection point within a range of the carriage movement, a stop for determining one end of the carriage movement range, and a first setting device operable upon power application to the printer, for activating the motor to move the carriage toward the stop until the carriage arrives at the detection point, and further activating the carriage in the same direction by a predetermined number of steps from the detection point such that the motor is activated without displacement thereof with the carriage held in abutment on the stop for at least the last one step, whereby a zero point of the carriage is established for the first time after the power application.

Abstract: A documentation system having a page format function wherein a desired number of input area beginning positions can be designed in a given documentation area, comprising designating means for designating input area beginning position information; storing means for storing said input area beginning position information designated by said designating means; left margin controlling means for retrieving one of said input area beginning position information stored in said storing means and for controlling a left margin of said documentation area according to said retrieved information; and indent mode setting means for activating said left margin controlling means.