Abstract: An intelligent data acquisition interface for deriving and decoding data from the interface between a printer driver and a printing mechanism in an electronic cash register is shown. The apparatus is responsive to a wide variety of predetermined character position timing pulses available for various types of electronic cash registers (ECRs) to decode the characters as appropriate control signals are provided to the printing mechanism. As the apparatus collects and decodes data, it is loaded into a buffer within a microprocessor. When the device detects the provision of a complete print row of material for the receipt on the ECR, the contents of the buffer is transmitted serially, preferably in ASCII coded format, to a utilization system over a standard 9600 baud serial data link. The device is controlled by a microprocessor 65 having a program memory, and ECR specific look-up tables stored in an interchangeable PROM.

Abstract: A table driven print formatting system that accepts a text data stream including individual text commands and produces a printable data stream including individual print commands. The formatting system uses the text data in combination with printer status data to select subsection entries from a printer description table. The subsection entries include specific print command subsections each having print commands that can be placed immediately into the printable data stream upon selection. The table also includes general print command subsections which each have printer description data and a general print command shell. When a general print command subsection entry is selected, the printer description data is used in combination with the text data to calculate a parameter for inserting into the general shell thereby producing a print command for placing in the printable data stream. The printer description table also uses a unique entry indexing scheme that minimizes storage requirements for the table.

Abstract: Inaccurate duplication of the first and the secnd prints due to the inequality of the distance and arrangement therebetween occurs in a serial printer in which a carriage is moved parallel to a platen by a servo motor etc. The first printing in duplex printing is performed after sufficient time for damping of the oscillation of the carriage in this invention. The second printing is done after sufficient time for damping of the oscillation as well as before. The control may be performed by sensing the necessary carriage displacement. The duplex printing may be performed when the displacement is zero or a small value.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the control of the format of documents, such as letters, prepared automatically on a printer in response to code signals read from a record medium (magnetic storage medium) and to mode control means for associated apparatus. The invention concerns itself particulary with the handling of left margins and indentation levels for different paragraphs in a document especially when a document under preparation has line lengths that are either shorter or longer than the line lengths of an original document that was prepared concurrently with the storage of the coded signals on the record media. A preferred embodiment includes an input/output printer having a keyboard for entry of information and a single element print head for printing of information and an associated unit including an associated recorder for recording key entries as code signals on a magnetic tape record medium and an associated reader for subsequently reproducing the code signals for printing.

Abstract: The print data and the head shift data which instruct feeding of a print head input from a keyboard of a typewriter, are sequentially stored temporarily in a print buffer. Print processing or heat shifting is executed on the basis of the data sequentially read from the print buffer. In case the head shift data is stored continuously in the print buffer, the head shifting apparatus calculates finally the target position of the print head and shifts the print head to such position.

Abstract: A printer once stores input data in a buffer memory and then sequentially reads them out for printing. Whether the input data is predetermined one is determined and, based on the result, the sequence of input data stored in the buffer memory is changed. Even in an auto-back mode of operation, the printer prevents a host system associated therewith from erroneously detecting a printer error to stop a job thereof.

Abstract: A printing apparatus wherein character data to be tabulated is input. Data representing the printing position of a specified digit of one piece of character data is input in a tab memory. Then, data designating a tab operation is supplied to an address converting circuit. In accordance with this data, the address converting circuit converts the addresses of the pieces of character data such that the specified digit of every piece of character data is printed at the position represented by the data stored in the tab memory.

Abstract: In a method for obtaining common mode information and common field attribute information for a plurality of card images belonging to a "box" in a data processing system, fixed information and field indicating information are written into a mode image buffer and the content of the mode image buffer is displayed on a display unit. The field indicating information written into the mode image buffer is analyzed to make field definition information tables, and a field name, for each field, is detected to make a field name table. By sorting and merging the contents of the field definition information tables and the field name table, a blank form is made.

Abstract: A serial printer adapted to print on a recording medium consisting of a plurality of paper sheets stacked on each other and temporarily bound with temporary binding or fastening portions provided along opposite side edges of the medium. The printer has a first memory for storing the rightmost character position of a current line, and a second memory for storing the position of the rightmost character of all the characters of previous lines printed in a rightward direction, or the position of the rightmost character of all the characters of all previously printed lines. When the rightmost character of the current line is located to the left of the rightmost character whose position is stored in the second memory, the medium is advanced to the next line.

Abstract: A pen recorder for writing characters and graphic patterns with recording pens on a sheet of recording paper by moving the recording pens in an X-axis direction and moving the sheet of recording paper in a Y-axis direction. When a desired key on a keyboard is depressed, the recording pens and the sheet of recording paper are moved to write a character corresponding to the depressed key on the sheet of recording paper. The size of the character can relatively freely be selected by operation switches for selecting horizontal and vertical character sizes. The pen recorder is automatically controlled for the same operability when the character size is changed in any of horizontal and vertical directions. Where the character size is changed horizontally, an alarm is issued prior to the completion of recording in a recording position a prescribed number of characters prior to a preset right margin.

Abstract: For accurate completion of pre-printed forms on computer systems having printers with different characters-per-inch (CPI) printing capabilities, the desired data print locations of blank fields along respective print lines of a form are defined independently of CPI density, as distances from a reference location on the form. The distances are determined by positioning a user-selected reference mark on a print carrier (of a printer) at the beginning of each field. Data is then accurately printed in each field at a selected CPI density by converting the distances to printable character locations at the selected density and printing corresponding data at each of the determined locations.

Abstract: A word processing program is configured to produce a series of examples, for operator examination, of alternative implementations of certain printer functions. By observing the printer performance and physical appearance during the printing of these examples, the operator interactively chooses one of a plurality of implementations for each of these functions. The operator choices of implementation are saved by the work processing program and subsequent printing is effected in accordance with the implementation chosen by the operator.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording graphs or other graphical representations, with relative movements between a writing instrument on a carriage which is moved by a carriage drive unit, and a sheet of paper which is fed by a paper feed unit in opposite directions perpendicular to the line of movements of the carriage. The writing instrument is moved between a recording position, and a non-recording position in which the writing instrument is spaced away from the paper. The apparatus comprises a controller for activating the paper feed unit and carriage drive unit to effect relative non-recording movements of the writing instrument and the paper with the writing instrument held in the non-recording position.

Abstract: Method for resetting the print head of a typewriter or similar machine to a starting position. In a processor-controlled typewriter or similar machine, the steps of a vertical repositioning of the recording medium are added and stored. If the added value indicates an upward movement of the recording medium, this value is cancelled as a character is printed. If, contrarily, a downward movement of the recording medium is indicated, the value is retained. Moreover, the current horizontal position of the printing head and, when it is repositioned horizontally, also the position of the last printed character, are stored. Upon initiation of an automatic reset function of the printing head to the end of the printed text, after a repositioning in horizontal and/or vertical direction, for instance for purposes of a correction, the stored information is evaluated for activation of the printing head drive and the recording medium drive.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a power supply for supplying power thereto and a battery supply for supplying back-up battery power. A printing mechanism effects printing on a printing paper in accordance with one of a plurality of printing pitches, and a processor controls the printer and produces data signals. A selector selects one of a plurality of printing pitches and applies a signal indicating the selected printing pitch to the processor. A plurality of indicators each indicates a respective one of the plurality of printing pitches and one of the indicators is energized by a data signal produced by the processor. A memory is supplied with back-up battery power by the battery power supply and stores a selected one of the plurality of printing pitches. The memory is accessed by the processor.

Abstract: An electronic typewriter equipped with a text memory for storing data including character data representing characters to be printed, and format data for arranging the characters to be printed, comprising a line deleting device for deleting data for a line stored in the text memory, a detector for detecting the format data associated with the line to be deleted, and a device for saving the detected format data so that the format data are not deleted from the text memory during a line deleting operation.

Abstract: A document issuing apparatus wherein images of different forms and images of data to be printed on the forms are stored in memory. Form images and data images are combined, edited, and printed to produce a series of sets of transaction control slips in an order dependent upon classification information contained in the data to be printed.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording on a recording paper characters and symbols as well as graphs based on pattern data stored in memories by actuating keys of a keyboard section. The recording of a character or symbol is effected by moving a writing instrument relative to the recording paper, and an upright position or a lying position may be selected as a recorded posture of the character or symbol. The recording apparatus includes a writing instrument restoring device which enables the writing instrument to be automatically restored, when the recorded posture is switched from the lying position back to the upright position from which it was previously switched to the lying position, to a position on the recording paper in which the writing instrument was disposed when the recorded posture was previously switched from the upright position to the lying position.

Abstract: Text and graphics are recursively (includes iteratively) distributed among a set of balanceable columns capable of receiving text and graphics. The recursive distributions are at successively varying columnar depths (all columns in each recursion have a common target depth), upon completing each recursion, the difference between the resulting shortest and longest column depths is measured and compared with a standard. If the standard is met, the distribution is made final, otherwise subsequent recursions up to a predetermined number of recursions are employed. If the standard is not met, then after the predetermined number of recursions, the distribution yielding the least differential is selected as the final distribution. Vertical justification of the columns follows.

Abstract: When data entered from a keyboard of a typewriter is stored in a text memory and a text is created, the text creation work may be stopped temporarily. When a text is created, after stopping the text creation, in continuation to that stored already in the text memory, margin information and tab information in the text already stored in the text memory are retrieved in the text from the beginning to the end, the content of the register to store the margin information and tab information, is rewritten depending on the retrieved margin information and tab information.

Abstract: A printer control device reading out printing data and format data stored separately from each other for superposing these data to send these data to a printer in a superposed state is disclosed. An identifier indicating a position where printing data is to be superposed on format data is contained in the format data in order to superpose the printing data on the format data with a predetermined positional relation therebetween. As soon as the identifier is read out in course of an operation for reading out the format data, the printing data is read out, and the read-out printing data is combined with the format data.

Abstract: An electronic typewriter comprises a character-bearing disk movable along the platen and a selector to space selected characters according to a plurality of constant spaces or proportional spaces. A permanent, alterable memory has a series of locations, wherein are recorded positioning information for the disk and the platen and constant phrases. A series of keys are operable to select associated registers of the memory to execute the movement of the disk or the printing of the recorded constant phrases, as recorded. An evidence selector is further operable at any point of the printing line to cause an evidence of printed character as bold-facing or underlining and a cancel key is provided to automatically cancel the already printed characters.The characters are carried by regularly spaced petals of the disk.

Abstract: Data entered from a keyboard is displayed sequentially on a display unit, while the data which has overflowed the display unit, is printed out by a printer having a print head. The print head is capable of being shifted in a normal direction through operation of a special key provided on the keyboard, without changing the data displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: A printer includes a carriage supporting a printing mechanism, a platen for carrying printing paper, a detector for detecting presence of the printing paper on the platen, a device for determining margin and/or tabulator positions in relation to an end of the platen, a central processing unit for determining the distance between the end of the platen and the printing paper in response to the detector to convert the margin and/or tabulator positions into positions determined from the edge of the paper and to control the printing mechanism in response to thus converted positions, and a memory for storing signals representing the margin and/or tabulator positions.

Abstract: A speed normalization circuit for eliminating the need to fine tune a servomechanism, such as a daisy wheel printer, after manufacture, for example, in order to compensate for speed variations caused by tolerance variations throughout the manufacturing process and evidenced by variations in the actual print wheel speed and the actual carriage speed, is disclosed. In operation, when a restore sequence is called for (power up, remote restore, cover open/resume, check/resume), the carriage is restored to the leftmost home position and is then stepped three times by an identical amount (twelve increments, 1/120 of an inch per increment). The average value of the actual carriage speed for these three movements is determined and a compensation value is selected. If the carriage speed is too slow, the nominal speed value stored in a read only memory look-up table is incremented by a fixed value (i.e.

Abstract: An electronic typewriter comprises a character-bearing disk movable along the platen and a selector to space selected characters according to a plurality of constant spaces or proportional spaces. The electronic unit provides a line buffer on which the entered characters of a line are sequentially stored and a series of editing functions to have the entered characters directly printed in editing form and a permanent, alterable memory wherein are recorded positioning information for the disk and constant phrases to be printed can be recorded and recalled upon request of the operator. Justification of a line is commanded by a selector which allows the printing of entered characters up to a set zone of the printing line while stores, without printing, the remaining characters on the line buffer. Following actuation of a service key causes the delayed printing of stored part of the line aligned to the fixed right margin.

Abstract: A tabulation system for delivery to a medium of data information suitably arranged for tabulation of character series and ruled lines, and a control for controlling the data information arrangement applied to the medium. The control operates to allow the medium to sequentially deliver out control information for defining desired vertical ruled lines (columns), information regarding a horizontal ruled line (row) defining the upper side of a field between adjacent vertical ruled lines, information regarding character series to be written in the field and control commands for the writing, and information regarding a horizontal ruled line defining the lower side of the field.

Abstract: In an impact printing apparatus including a carriage which carries a rotary type element, the length of time required for a motor drive system for the carriage stop hunting and stabilize at a desired printing position depends on variables including the distance the carriage was moved, character pitch and the like. The apparatus senses these variables and delays hammering of the type element for printing for a length of time calculated to reduce the displacement of the carriage from the desired printing position caused by hunting to an acceptable value while maximizing the effective printing speed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a printing apparatus having control equipment for controlling the printing position. The control equipment is detachably mounted on the printing apparatus.

Abstract: In a column layout operation in an interactive word processing system, the unoccupied character escapement along a column example line is automatically evenly distributed by the insertion of an appropriate number of space characters responsive to the stroking of a predetermined function key.

Abstract: An emiter marking pattern is provided on a lead screw in parallel with the thread of the lead screw. A carriage driven along by the lead screw contains a transducer for sensing the emitter marking pattern on the lead screw to produce electrical output signal pulses indicative of incremental displacement of the carriage. A printhead can be mounted on the carriage and the electrical output signal pulses from the transducer used to control printing operations. The emitter marking pattern can be designed to provide control signals for other purposes, for example for controlling start-up, running, deceleration and reversal of a motor driving the lead screw.

Abstract: A printing apparatus having a printing assembly and a paper handling assembly including a paper feeding device for feeding sheets of paper of one kind from a first paper stacker along a first path and further including a paper advancing device selectively advancing to the printing assembly either the sheets of paper of the one kind or sheets of paper of another kind fed along a second path. The apparatus comprises a first memory for storing information representing margin positions and tabulation positions, and other data associated with the sheet of paper of one kind, a second memory for storing similar information associated with the sheet of paper of another kind, a detector for detecting an operative or inoperative position of the paper feeding device and generating a signal representing the detected position, and a control device responsive to the signal from the detector and selecting the first or second memory.

Abstract: A method for the automatic center tab insertion within a column example line comprising the steps of an operator cursor move to a column margin to define an end position; and responsive to a function key stroke, the machine steps of concurrently moving the cursor to the other column margin and counting the text characters of the example; calculating the distance to the column center position; concurrently moving the cursor to the calculated center position, and inserting a centered tab stop control character therein.

Abstract: The automatic tab insertion in those null-entry positions in a tab-stopped positioned multicolumn table having row lines which include text right adjacent the null entries so as to inhibit right-to-left, text-to-null-entry migration in the same row.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is used, for example, for controlling and driving thermal heads of a facsimile apparatus and includes a first circuit activated when power is supplied to the semiconductor device and a second circuit activated only when both power and a power control signal are applied to the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device further includes a power switch circuit which includes a semiconductor electronic circuit and which supplies power to the second circuit only when the power control signal is applied thereto.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for printing a file of spatially related data stored in an interactive text processing system as vector formatted records. The method involves establishing for the printer the number of print positions for the print line, and transferring the field titles which make up the header portion of the file from storage to the print buffer sequentially, along with an indication of the maximum permissible field width until all of the field names have been transferred. The process involves determining when a new print line is to be started for the header data in those situations where more than one print line is necessary to accommodate all of the field name data of the header by determining if the next field in the sequence to be printed will fit in the space left on the print line previously specified and, if not, then entering a carriage return signal after the last transferred field. The process continues until all of the field names have been transferred.

Abstract: In a printer system in which hammers mounted along a shuttle assembly which reciprocates relative to a print paper are selectively energized to impact the paper and print dots thereon, the dot density is made variable by an encoder system responsive to the position of the shuttle assembly as it traverses a linear path of motion. The encoder system includes a decoder for generating a succession of fence post pulses as the shuttle assembly reaches each of a succession of different positions along the linear path of motion and circuitry for generating a succession of hammer firing pulses in response to and having a desired phase relationship with the fence post pulses. The hammer firing pulses may occur at a frequency the same as or different from the frequency of the fence post pulses to provide a desired print density. A stored initial offset value is used to initially establish the desired phase relationship between the hammer firing pulses and the fence post pulses.

Abstract: A typewriter has a Keyboard (12), including a Tab Set Key (22), a Tab Clear Key (24), and a Tab Actuating Key (26). Operation of the tab set key stores stop positions of the Carrier (18) with respect to the typewriter's Platen (14). Shallow depression of the tab actuating key causes the carrier to move forward (right) to the next tab stop position. A first deep depression of the tab actuating key establishes a Reverse Tab Mode causing the carrier to move backward (left) to the nearest preceding tab stop position and causing the platen to rotate (index) so as to position the Printing Element (16) one line down on the paper, thereby to facilitate typing the next line of single column material without effecting a carrier return and forward movement of the carrier to the beginning of the column.

Abstract: A microprogrammed word processor, e.g., a typewriter or accounting machine or billing machine, has both normal and special modes of operation. During the normal mode, as alphanumerics and control characters (e.g., space, tab, line feed) are keyed in, the printing carriage is stationary at a margin. While fed-in characters are being memorized in the normal mode, the alphanumerics are viewable on a display. However, neither printing nor carriage movement takes place until later, when one of several separate print instruction signals are recognized by the computer program. During a special mode, as characters are keyed in, there is still no printing of alphanumerics; but, there is non-printing carriage movement along the line of print, to the particular printpoint associated with each keyboard actuation.

Abstract: The electronic controls for a typewriter disclosed herein allow the operator to erase a character using automatic erase capability such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,846 and at the same time to remove any underscores associated with that character. When an underscore command is entered the memory which stores the code representing the characters typed is caused to be altered in its content to indicate upon the reading of that code segment that the character has been underscored and that the character must be erased along with the underscore. The apparatus accomplishes multiple erase cycles to remove the underscore and then the character. In proportional space mode of operation it is possible that multiple underscore erase cycles will be necessary to remove an underscore which is wider than the underscore type font on the type element.

Abstract: A character printing system in an electronic data processing apparatus is provided that is adapted for printing language characters in response to numerical value coded data entered through numeral keys of a keyboard, each character being represented by a respective numerical value coded data of a predetermined convention, wherein said language characters comprises at least two kinds of language characters, such as upper case type alphabet characters and lower case type alphabet characters, or English alphabet characters and Japanese kana characters, or the like, and the keyboard includes language character code entry mode key and language character kind specifying key as well as numeral keys and ordinary commanding keys, and a printer operable responsive to a storage for storing information entered through said keyboard is controlled by a print control responsive to said storage, whereby said printer is controlled to selectively print numerical value coded data in a kind of language characters specified by t

Abstract: An automatic erasing typewriter determines, in response to actuation of an erase key, if automatic erasing is possible. If not, the typewriter terminates the erase cycle with a backspace and conditions the typewriter for manual erase. Actuation of a character key as the next actuated key completes the manual erase. Actuation of a key other than a character key deconditions the manual erase.

Abstract: A search system is provided that locates a reference point in a string of text-representative codes based on comparisons with an operator keyboarded text string (the address string). Such comparisons are automatically modified, however, to equate certain codes and code patterns that present an ambiguity to the operator in establishing the address string, e.g. a tab operation and a series of space operations may have the same apparent result for printing but are stored as different codes. By so expanding the acceptable "matching" code patterns selectively with respect to the codes presented for comparison, the likelihood of operator success in identifying a desired text location is increased significantly.

Abstract: In a high speed trail printer an improved electronic tab rack is provided. A method and apparatus are disclosed for decreasing the time required to determine the location of the next tab involving accessing a condensed tab rack. The condensed tab rack is set up when the tabs are entered and contains for each byte of the basic tab rack one bit indicating whether or not the associated tab rack byte specifies at least one tab stop position.

Abstract: Circuit for generating from a pair of pulse trains produced in phase quadrature both an indication of the direction of print head motion and the production of timing signals from the leading and trailing edges of the pulses of only one of the two pulse trains. A pair of transducers is used to sense a timing disk rotating in synchronism with the movement of a carrier for a plurality of print elements moving along a print line which transducers are generating respective output pulse trains which are in phase quadrature relation to the other. The circuit provides timing signals for controlling the energization of the print elements at print positions along the print line and retains the same polarity for printing in either direction.

Abstract: Tab codes produced at a typewriter keyboard are converted to a form for text storage that includes travel distance and destination information. By using a multiple section code with distinct tab code identifier bytes on either end, the overall tab code can be embedded with normal single byte character codes in a text string and processed specially during forward or reverse operations with storage. For forward operation on a text string, coded destination information is extracted from a preselected byte of the multisection code, upon detecting the tab identifier, and special logic, first extracts the destination information, and then automatically passes over the remainder of the code to arrive at the next code of the text string. By so indicating the tab destination in the tab code, a tab operation is enabled to be independent of the active tab settings at the time of playback.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method and apparatus for setting and varying margins, line spacing and printing direction of a data printing machine by a machine user before and during printing by use of a keyboard with push-button control which is coupled to a digital controller to input information about the actual and the desired location of a print head relative to a printing surface, in response to which the controller outputs signals which control relative motion of the print head and indexes its relative position, from the actual to the desired direction and location.

Abstract: An electric typewriter includes a RAM memory for storing selected characters to be printed and for storing data relating to the present escapement position and future escapement destination of a printing head of the typewriter. A control unit operates a printer to print the stored characters in the memory unit and, when a power interrupt occurs and power is subsequently restored, the control unit accesses particular position data in the memory in accordance with the angular position of a print shaft of the typewriter at the time of the power interrupt. The accessed data is employed to define a proper return escapement position for the printing head of the typewriter.

Abstract: In a typewriter environment, a carrier mounted sensor for calculating the width of a sheet of paper on the platen and for thereafter setting-up margins for that sheet of paper. In addition to supporting the sensor, the carrier supports the printhead and associated apparatus for detecting the position of the carrier relative to the platen at each escapement position of the carrier. The sensor starts its scan at the extreme left position of the carrier and senses the left edge of the paper at a transition from dark-(the platen surface) to-light (the sheet of paper). This transition point is detected and stored. The carrier continues its rightward scan and the right edge of the sheet of paper signals a transition from light-to-dark. This position is detected and stored. The carrier and sensor continue scanning to the right for a specific distance to eliminate errors that are caused by dark areas on the paper that prematurely trigger light-to-dark transitions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a digital escapement control system in which the motor (DC) control is completely digital requiring no tachometer generation of feed back signal nor any analog to digital convertors. Connected to the DC motor shaft is a code wheel and detector to determine the time between discreet positions of the motor shaft as it rotates. The time between discreet positions is then compared with a desired time, and the difference is stored, as by a register. The difference is then converted to a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) signal which directly controls the rotational velocity of the motor, increasing or decreasing it as necessary. The system operates, in a ramp, open loop start up mode and digital velocity controlled braking mode while in the motional mode with the feed back as described above. At start up, provision is made for inserting the feed back loop when the velocity reaches some predetermined level or percentage of the desired velocity.